“Hermes, thou son and messenger of Jove, And bountiful of gifts, couldst thou endure, Fettered with such strong chains as these, to lie Upon a couch with Venus at thy side?”
The herald-god, the Argus-queller, thus Made answer: “Nay, I would that it were so, O archer-king, Apollo; I could bear Chains thrice as many, and of infinite strength, And all the gods and all the goddesses Might come to look upon me, I would keep My place with golden Venus at my side.”
He spake, and all the immortals laughed to hear. Neptune alone laughed not, but earnestly Prayed Vulcan, the renowned artificer, To set Mars free, and spake these winged words:—
“Release thy prisoner. What thou dost require I promise here—that he shall make to thee Due recompense in presence of the gods.”
Illustrious Vulcan answered: “Do not lay, Earthshaking Neptune, this command on me, Since little is the worth of pledges given For worthless debtors. How could I demand My right from thee among the assembled gods, If Mars, set free, escape from debt and chains?”
Again the god who shakes the earth replied:— “Vulcan, though Mars deny the forfeit due, And take to flight, it shall be paid by me.”
Again illustrious Vulcan said: “Thy word I ought not and I seek not to decline.”
He spake, and then the might of Vulcan loosed The net, and, freed from those strong fetters, both The prisoners sprang away. Mars flew to Thrace, And laughter-loving Venus to the isle Of Cyprus, where at Paphos stand her grove And perfumed altar. Here the Graces gave The bath, anointed with ambrosial oil Her limbs—such oil as to the eternal gods Lends a fresh beauty, and arrayed her last In graceful robes, a marvel to behold.