Hippomenes and Atalanta

Man and Woman into Lions

 

Venus helps Hippomenes win the hand of Atalanta. But he forgets to give the goddess proper thanks. So she waits until the young couple visits a temple, then fills the man’s heart with lust. Their blasphemous act inspires the temple gods to kill them, but Venus intercedes.

 

Too light that sentence seems: straight yellow manes

Cover their soft smooth necks; their fingers curve

To mighty claws; their arms to fore-legs turn;

And new-form'd tails sweep lightly o'er the sand:

Angry their countenance glares; for speech they roar;

They haunt the forests for their nuptial dome.

Transform'd to lions, and by others fear'd,

Their tam'd mouths champ the Cybeleïan reins.