Thetis, one of the sea deities, was daughter of Nereus and Doris and is
often confounded with Tethys, her grandmother. She was loved by Neptune and
Jupiter; but when the gods were informed that her son would become greater
than his father, they ceased their addresses, and Peleus, the son of
Aeacus, was permitted to solicit her hand. Thetis refused him, but the
lover had the artifice to catch her when asleep, and by binding her
strongly, prevented her escaping from his grasp. When Thetis found she
could not elude the vigilance of Peleus, she consented to marry him, though
much against her inclination. Their nuptials were celebrated on Mount
Peleon with great pomp, at which all the deities attended.
"Proteus thus to virgin Thetis said,
'Fair goddess of the waves, consent to wed,
A son you'll have, the terror of the field,
To whom, in fame and power, his sire shall yield.'
Jove, who adored the nymph with boundless love,
Did, from his breast, the dangerous flame remove;
He knew the fates, nor cared to raise up one,
Whose fame and greatness, should eclipse his own.
On happy Peleus he bestowed her charms,
And blessed his grandson in the goddess' arms:
--A silent creek Thessalia's coast can show,
Two arms project, and shape it like a bow;
'Twould make a bay, but the transparent tide
Does scarce the yellow, gravel bottom hide;
A grove of fragrant myrtle near it grows,
Whose boughs, though thick, a beauteous grot disclose
The well wrought fabric, to discerning eyes,
Rather by art than nature seem to rise.
A bridled dolphin, oft fair Thetis bore
To this her loved retreat, her favourite shore:
Here Peleus seized her slumbering where she lay,
And urged his suit, with all that love could say:
The nymph o'erpowered, to art for succour flies,
And various shapes the eager youth surprize.
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A bird she seems, but plies her wings in vain,
His hand the fleeting substance still detain:
A branchy tree, high in the air she grew,
About its bark, his nimble arms he threw:
A tiger next she glares with flaming eyes,
The frightened lover quits his hold and flies.
The sea-gods he with sacred rites adores,
Then a libation on the ocean pours;
While the fat entrails crackle in the fire,
And sheets of smoke in sweet perfume aspire:
Till Proteus, rising from his oozy bed,
Thus to the poor, desponding lover said,
'No more in anxious thoughts your mind employ,
For yet you shall possess the dear, expected joy,
You must once more the unwary nymph surprize,
As in her cooly grot she slumbering lies:
Then bind her fast with unrelenting hands,
And strain her tender limbs with knotted bands;
Still hold her under every distant shape,
Till tired, she tries no longer to escape?
Thus he then sunk beneath the glassy flood,
And broken accents fluttered where he stood.
Bright Sol had almost now his journey done,
And down the steepy, western convex run;
When the fair Nereid left the briny wave,
And, as she used, retreated to her cave,
He scarce had bound her fast, when she arose,
And into various shapes her body throws;
She went to move her arms, then found them tied,
Then with a sigh 'Some god assists,' she cried,
And in her proper shape stood blushing by his side."