Employ’d laborious, to his palace-gate
The silver-footed Thetis now advanced,
Whom Charis, Vulcan’s well-attired spouse,
Beholding from the palace portal, flew
To seize the Goddess’ hand, and thus inquired. 475
Why, Thetis! worthy of all reverence
And of all love, comest thou to our abode,
Unfrequent here?  But enter, and accept
Such welcome as to such a guest is due. 
So saying, she introduced and to a seat 480
Led her with argent studs border’d around
And foot-stool’d sumptuously;[8] then, calling forth
Her spouse, the glorious artist, thus she said. 
Haste, Vulcan!  Thetis wants thee; linger not. 
To whom the artist of the skies replied. 485
A Goddess then, whom with much cause I love
And venerate is here, who when I fell
Saved me, what time my shameless mother sought
To cast me, because lame, out of all sight;
Then had I been indeed forlorn, had not 490
Eurynome the daughter of the Deep
And Thetis in their laps received me fallen. 
Nine years with them residing, for their use
I form’d nice trinkets, clasps, rings, pipes, and chains,
While loud around our hollow cavern roar’d 495
The surge of the vast deep, nor God nor man,
Save Thetis and Eurynome, my life’s
Preservers, knew where I was kept conceal’d. 
Since, therefore, she is come, I cannot less
Than recompense to Thetis amber-hair’d 500
With readiness the boon of life preserved. 
Haste, then, and hospitably spread the board
For her regale, while with my best dispatch
I lay my bellows and my tools aside. 
He spake, and vast in bulk and hot with toil 505
Rose limping from beside his anvil-stock
Upborne, with pain on legs tortuous and weak. 
First, from the forge dislodged he thrust apart
His bellows, and his tools collecting all
Bestow’d them, careful, in a silver chest, 510
Then all around with a wet sponge he wiped
His visage, and his arms and brawny neck
Purified, and his shaggy breast from smutch;
Last, putting on his vest, he took in hand
His sturdy staff, and shuffled through the door. 515
Beside the King of fire two golden forms
Majestic moved, that served him in the place
Of handmaids; young they seem’d, and seem’d alive,
Nor want they intellect, or speech, or force,
Or prompt dexterity by the Gods inspired. 520
These his supporters were, and at his side
Attendant diligent, while he, with gait
Uncouth, approaching Thetis where she sat
On a bright throne, seized fast her hand and said,
Why, Thetis! worthy as thou art of love 525
And of all reverence, hast thou arrived,
Unfrequent here?  Speak—­tell me thy desire,
Nor doubt my services, if thou demand