THE LANGUAGE OF BIRDS. 87 
Against the promis'd time provides with care, 
And hastens in the woof the robes he was to wear : 
And for herself employs another loom, 
New-dress to meet her lord returning home^ 
Flatt'ring her heart with joys that never were to 
come 
She fum^d the temples with an od'rous flame 
And oft before the sacred altars came, 
To pray for him who was an empty name ; 
All pow'rs implor'd, but far above the rest 
To Juno she her pious vows addressM, 
Her much-lov'd lord from perils to protect. 
And safe o'er seas his voyage to direct ; 
Then pray'd that she might still possess his heart, 
And no pretending rival share a part ; 
This last petition heard of all her prayer, 
The rest, dispers'd by winds, were lost in air. 
But she, the goddess of the nuptial bed, 
Tir'd with her vain devotions for the dead, 
ResolvM the tainted hand should be repell'd, 
Which incense offered, and her altar held : 
Then Iris thus bespoke : " Thou faithful maid, 
By whom thy queen's commands are well convey'd, 
Haste to the house of sleep, and bid the God 
Who rules the night, by visions, with a nod, 
