244 MEMOIRS OF 



ing Canto. Her's is a day, and this is a 

 night voyage. Europa draws up her feet 

 beneath her robe, fearful of touching the 

 water ; thcjecure Nereid drops them care- 

 lefsly down. Europa clings timidly round 

 the neck of her Taurus, and refts her cheek 

 upon the curls of his forehead, while her 

 mantle floats unheeded on the breeze. The 

 Nereid has no apprehenfion ; flie and her 

 fteed are both in their element. She gives 

 him the rein, lifts her eyes to the evening 

 ftar, and fmgs the birth of Venus. She 

 reftrains her arching veil, with her hands, 

 from floating on the gales of night, while 

 the mantle of, Europa was abandoned to 

 the day-breeze. The Nereid is without 

 fear, and therefore attends to the prefer- 

 vation of her drefs ; Europa is fomewhat 

 frightened, and therefore pays no attention 

 to hers. Thefe differences, however ap- 

 parently, are not really trivial. The mere 

 verfifier knows not how to create them. 



The 



