Adjusts his flowing curls, and in his hand
  Waves with an air the sleep-procuring wand;
  The glittering sandals to his feet applies,
  And to each heel the well-trimmed pinion ties. 
     His ornaments with nicest art displayed,
  He seeks the apartment of the royal maid. 
  The roof was all with polished ivory lined,
40
  That, richly mixed, in clouds of tortoise shined. 
  Three rooms, contiguous, in a range were placed,
  The midmost by the beauteous Herse graced;
  Her virgin sisters lodged on either side. 
  Aglauros first the approaching god descried,
  And as he crossed her chamber, asked his name,
  And what his business was, and whence he came. 
  ‘I come,’ replied the god, ’from heaven, to woo
  Your sister, and to make an aunt of you;
  I am the son and messenger of Jove,
50
  My name is Mercury, my business, love;
  Do you, kind damsel, take a lover’s part,
  And gain admittance to your sister’s heart.’ 
     She stared him in the face with looks amazed,
  As when she on Minerva’s secret gazed,
  And asks a mighty treasure for her hire,
  And, till he brings it, makes the god retire. 
  Minerva grieved to see the nymph succeed;
  And now remembering the late impious deed,
  When, disobedient to her strict command,
60
  She touched the chest with an unhallowed hand;
  In big-swoln sighs her inward rage expressed,
  That heaved the rising AEgis on her breast;
  Then sought out Envy in her dark abode,
  Defiled with ropy gore and clots of blood: 
  Shut from the winds, and from the wholesome skies,
  In a deep vale the gloomy dungeon lies,
  Dismal and cold, where not a beam of light
  Invades the winter, or disturbs the night. 
     Directly to the cave her course she steered;
70
  Against the gates her martial lance she reared;
  The gates flew open, and the fiend appeared. 
  A poisonous morsel in her teeth she chewed,
  And gorged the flesh of vipers for her food. 
  Minerva loathing turned away her eye;
  The hideous monster, rising heavily,
  Came stalking forward with a sullen pace,
  And left her mangled offals on the place. 
  Soon as she saw the goddess gay and bright,
  She fetched a groan at such a cheerful sight.
80
  Livid and meagre were her looks, her eye
  In foul, distorted glances turned awry;
  A hoard of gall her inward parts possessed,
  And spread a greenness o’er her cankered breast;
  Her teeth were brown with rust; and from her tongue,
  In dangling drops, the stringy poison hung. 
  She never smiles but when the wretched weep,
  Nor lulls her malice with a moment’s sleep,
  Restless in spite:  while watchful to destroy,
  She pines and sickens at another’s joy;
90
  Foe to herself, distressing and distressed,
  She bears her own tormentor in her breast.