Within those ivory couches golden-fleeced,

Made wassail at the wondrous board, and held

Sweet stolen converse till the middle night.

And soulless servitors came gliding in,

Handmaidens, wrought of gold, the marvellous work

Of lame Hêphæstos; having neither will,

Nor voice, yet bearing on their golden trays

Lush fruits and Cyprian wine, and, intermixt,

Olympian food and nectar, earth with heaven.

These Erôs and Alectryôn took therefrom,