HYACINTH. 117 



it from its course towards the head of the unfortu- 

 nate youth. Ovid, however, mentions the circum- 

 stance as sollows : — 



A well poised disk first hasty Phoebus threw, 

 It cleft the air and whistled as it flew ; 



It reach'd the mark, a most surprising length, 

 Which spoke an equal share of art and strength. 

 Scarce was it falTn, when, with too eager hand, 

 Young Hyacinth ran to snatch it from the sand ; 

 But the curst orb, which met a stony soil, 

 Flew in his face with violent recoil. 



As in a water'd garden's hlooming walk, 



"Whensome rude hand has hruised its tender stalk, 



A fading Lily droops its languid head, 



And bends to earth, its life and beauty fled, 



So Hyacinth, with head reclined, decays, 



And, sick'ning, now no more his charms displays. 



Quick to his aid distressed Apollo flew, 



And round the hero's neck his arms he threw ; 



But whilst he held him to his throhhing breast, 



And all the anguish of his soul exprest, 



His polish' d limbs, by strange enchantment's power, 



Shoot into buds and blossom into flower, 



His auburn locks in verdant foliage flow, 



And wreaths of azure flow'rets shade his brow. 



Ovid. 



Nor are the Spartans, who so much are famed 

 For virtue, of their Hyacinth ashamed ; 

 But still, with pompous woe and solemn state, 

 The Hyacinthian feasts they yearly celebrate. 



Ibid. 



An annual solemnity, called Hyacinthia, was 

 held at Amycta, in Laconia, in honour of Hya- 

 cinthus and Apollo, which lasted three days, the 



