“It was her fortune once to take her way Along the sandy margin of the sea: The power of ocean view’d her as she pass’d, And, loved as soon as seen, by force embraced: Then thus, transported, to the nymph he cried: ‘Ask what thou wilt, no prayer shall be denied:’ This also fame relates. The haughty fair, Who not the rape ev’n of a god could bear, This answer, proud, return’d: ‘To mighty wrongs A mighty recompense, of right, belongs: Give me no more to suffer such a shame, But change the woman for a better name; One gift for all:’ she said; and while she spoke, A stern, majestic, manly tone she took: A man she was: and, as the godhead swore, To Caeneus turn’d, who Caenis was before.

“To this the lover adds, without request, No force of steel should violate his breast. Glad of the gift, the new-made warrior goes, And arms among the Greeks, and longs for equal foes.