Metamorphoses (Illustrated) (Inspirational Love Poems of Ancient Beauty - Cupid (Amor), Muses, Nymphs & Virgins Book 1)
Description
Metamorphoses, is a classic epic poem by the Roman poet Ovid. The 15 books describe the creation and history of the world and the mythological stories of ancient Greece and Rome. The fables tell wonderful adventures of muses and nymphs, gods transforming into animals, virgins, marriages and rapes, lust, desire, conquest, violence and death.
An important theme of Ovid's work is love. Amor (Cupid) is the central character / hero who ridicules the other gods. Rather than just following Cupid's adventures, the narrative jumps from story to story. Written in 8 AD Metamorphoses was immensely popular in antiquity, the middle ages and survived Christianity. Ovid's genius - his wit, intelligence, imagination and beautiful prose, still captivate the modern reader. It is important his classic works are read and appreciated by young minds today.
This kindle book has been formatted by human hand, contains a linked table of contents and is illustrated with renaissance paintings and artwork inspired by the book. It includes Books 1 to 7.
A summary of the chapters:
Book I: Cosmogony, Ages of Man, Jupiter, Neptune, Deucalion and Pyrrha, Daphne, Io;
Book II: Phaeton, Callisto, Mercury, Jupiter and Europa;
Book III: Cadmus, Actaeon, Bacchus, Echo, Narcissus and Pentheus;
Book IV: Pyramus and Thisbe, Perseus, Andromeda and Medusa.
Book V: Phineas, the Muses, the Rape of Proserpina, Lyncus;
Book VI: Arachne, Niobe, Philomela, Procne;
Book VII: Jason, Medea, Hercules, Cephalus, Procris
Below are some beautiful quotes from Metamorphoses, enjoy!
"By chance a fair Arcadian nymph he view'd,
And felt the lovely charmer in his blood.
The nymph nor spun, nor dress'd with artful pride,
Her vest was gather'd up, her hair was ty'd;
Now in her hand a slender spear she bore,
Now a light quiver on her shoulders wore;
To chaste Diana from her youth inclin'd,
The sprightly warriors of the wood she joyn'd.
Diana too the gentle huntress lov'd,
Nor was there one of all the nymphs that rov'd
O'er Maenalus, amid the maiden throng,
More favour'd once; but favour lasts not long.
The sun now shone in all its strength, and drove
The heated virgin panting to a grove;
The grove around a grateful shadow cast:
She dropt her arrows, and her bow unbrac'd;
She flung her self on the cool grassy bed;
And on the painted quiver rais'd her head,
Jove saw the charming huntress unprepar'd,
Stretch'd on the verdant turf, without a guard. He then salutes her with a warm embrace;
And, e're she half had told the morning chase,
With love enflam'd, and eager on his bliss,
Smother'd her words, and stop'd her with a kiss;
His kisses with unwonted ardour glow'd,
Nor cou'd Diana's shape conceal the God."
(The Story of Calisto, Book 2)
"She appeared lovely; the winds exposed her form to view, and the gusts meeting her fluttered about her garments, as they came in contact, and the light breeze spread behind her careless locks; and thus, by her flight, was her beauty increased. But the youthful God has not patience any longer to waste his blandishments; and as love urges him on, he follows her steps with hastening pace. .. And so is the God, and so is the virgin; he swift with hopes, she with fear. .. Hardly had she ended her prayer, when a heavy torpor seizes her limbs; and her soft breasts are covered with a thin bark. Her hair grows into green leaves, her arms into branches; her feet, the moment before so swift, adhere by sluggish roots; a leafy canopy overspreads her features; her elegance alone remains in her. This, too, Ph bus admires, and placing his right hand upon the stock, he perceives that the breast still throbs beneath the new bark; and then, embracing the branches as though limbs in his arms, he gives kisses to the wood, and yet the wood shrinks from his kisses. To her the God said: But since thou canst not be my wife, at least thou shalt be my tree; my hair, my lyre, my quiver shall always have thee, oh laurel!" (Book the First, Fable XII: Apollo and Daphne)
An important theme of Ovid's work is love. Amor (Cupid) is the central character / hero who ridicules the other gods. Rather than just following Cupid's adventures, the narrative jumps from story to story. Written in 8 AD Metamorphoses was immensely popular in antiquity, the middle ages and survived Christianity. Ovid's genius - his wit, intelligence, imagination and beautiful prose, still captivate the modern reader. It is important his classic works are read and appreciated by young minds today.
This kindle book has been formatted by human hand, contains a linked table of contents and is illustrated with renaissance paintings and artwork inspired by the book. It includes Books 1 to 7.
A summary of the chapters:
Book I: Cosmogony, Ages of Man, Jupiter, Neptune, Deucalion and Pyrrha, Daphne, Io;
Book II: Phaeton, Callisto, Mercury, Jupiter and Europa;
Book III: Cadmus, Actaeon, Bacchus, Echo, Narcissus and Pentheus;
Book IV: Pyramus and Thisbe, Perseus, Andromeda and Medusa.
Book V: Phineas, the Muses, the Rape of Proserpina, Lyncus;
Book VI: Arachne, Niobe, Philomela, Procne;
Book VII: Jason, Medea, Hercules, Cephalus, Procris
Below are some beautiful quotes from Metamorphoses, enjoy!
"By chance a fair Arcadian nymph he view'd,
And felt the lovely charmer in his blood.
The nymph nor spun, nor dress'd with artful pride,
Her vest was gather'd up, her hair was ty'd;
Now in her hand a slender spear she bore,
Now a light quiver on her shoulders wore;
To chaste Diana from her youth inclin'd,
The sprightly warriors of the wood she joyn'd.
Diana too the gentle huntress lov'd,
Nor was there one of all the nymphs that rov'd
O'er Maenalus, amid the maiden throng,
More favour'd once; but favour lasts not long.
The sun now shone in all its strength, and drove
The heated virgin panting to a grove;
The grove around a grateful shadow cast:
She dropt her arrows, and her bow unbrac'd;
She flung her self on the cool grassy bed;
And on the painted quiver rais'd her head,
Jove saw the charming huntress unprepar'd,
Stretch'd on the verdant turf, without a guard. He then salutes her with a warm embrace;
And, e're she half had told the morning chase,
With love enflam'd, and eager on his bliss,
Smother'd her words, and stop'd her with a kiss;
His kisses with unwonted ardour glow'd,
Nor cou'd Diana's shape conceal the God."
(The Story of Calisto, Book 2)
"She appeared lovely; the winds exposed her form to view, and the gusts meeting her fluttered about her garments, as they came in contact, and the light breeze spread behind her careless locks; and thus, by her flight, was her beauty increased. But the youthful God has not patience any longer to waste his blandishments; and as love urges him on, he follows her steps with hastening pace. .. And so is the God, and so is the virgin; he swift with hopes, she with fear. .. Hardly had she ended her prayer, when a heavy torpor seizes her limbs; and her soft breasts are covered with a thin bark. Her hair grows into green leaves, her arms into branches; her feet, the moment before so swift, adhere by sluggish roots; a leafy canopy overspreads her features; her elegance alone remains in her. This, too, Ph bus admires, and placing his right hand upon the stock, he perceives that the breast still throbs beneath the new bark; and then, embracing the branches as though limbs in his arms, he gives kisses to the wood, and yet the wood shrinks from his kisses. To her the God said: But since thou canst not be my wife, at least thou shalt be my tree; my hair, my lyre, my quiver shall always have thee, oh laurel!" (Book the First, Fable XII: Apollo and Daphne)
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