The goddess ended, and her wish was given Back she returnād in triumph up to heaven; Her gaudy peacocks drew her through the skies; Their tails were spotted with a thousand eyes; The eyes of Argus on their tails were ranged, At the same time the ravenās colour changed.
Apollo is informed by the raven, whose plumage was originally white, of the infidelity of Coronis, his favourite mistress, whom he destroys, while he delivers her newborn son, Esculapius, to the custody of Chironā āA dark colour is bestowed on the raven as a punishment of his garrulity.
The raven once in snowy plumes was dressād, White as the whitest doveās unsullied breast, Fair as the guardian of the capitol, Soft as the swan, a large and lovely fowl; His tongue, his prating tongue, had changed him quite To sooty blackness from the purest white.