A sacred shell Zephyritis divine,
Fair Selenæ a offers at thy shrine,
And thus thy Nautilus is doubly bless'd,
Since giv'n by her, and still by thee possess'd.
Of late small tackling from my body grew;
Thin fails I spread, when winds propitious blew,
But when the seas were calm, to gain the shores,
I stretch'd my little feet, like lab'ring oars,
And, from my busy limbs and painted pride,
Was call'd a Polyp as I stem'd the tide;
Till driv'n by winds, on Coan rocks I shone,
And now recline before Arsinoë 's throne.
Depriv'd of life no more in seas I rest,
Or draw young Halcyons from the wat'ry nest;
But be this boon to Clinia's daughter giv'n,
A virtuous maid and fav'rite of high heav'n;
The precious boon let Selenæ a gain,
When she from Smyrna ploughs the foaming main.