and exempt from death for ever. Thereto Zeus consented and granted her
desire, but foolish of heart was the Lady Dawn, nor did she deem it good
to ask for eternal youth for her lover, and to keep him unwrinkled by
grievous old age. Now so long as winsome youth was his, in joy did he
dwell with the Golden-throned Dawn, the daughter of Morning, at the
world's end beside the streams of Oceanus, but so soon as grey hairs
began to flow from his fair head and goodly chin, the Lady Dawn held
aloof from his bed, but kept and cherished him in her halls, giving him
food and ambrosia and beautiful raiment. But when hateful old age had
utterly overcome him, and he could not move or lift his limbs, to her
this seemed the wisest counsel; she laid him in a chamber, and shut the
shining doors, and his voice flows on endlessly, and no strength now is
his such as once there was in his limbs. Therefore I would not have thee
to be immortal and live for ever in such fashion among the deathless
Gods, but if, being such as thou art in beauty and form, thou couldst
live on, and be called my lord, then this grief would not overshadow my
heart.

"But it may not be, for swiftly will pitiless old age come upon thee, old
age that standeth close by mortal men; wretched and weary, and detested
by the Gods: but among the immortal Gods shall great blame be mine for
ever, and all for love of thee. For the Gods were wont to dread my words
and wiles wherewith I had subdued all the Immortals to mortal women in
love, my purpose overcoming them all; for now, lo you, my mouth will no
longer suffice to speak forth this boast among the Immortals, {180} for
deep and sore hath been my folly, wretched and not to be named; and
distraught have I been who carry a child beneath my girdle, the child of
a mortal. Now so soon as he sees the light of the sun the deep-bosomed
mountain nymphs will rear him for me; the nymphs who haunt this great and
holy mountain, being of the clan neither of mortals nor of immortal Gods.