Pleased with her office, and unwilling to take upon herself the troubles of marriage, she vowed perpetual celibacy. Numerous were the suitors who attempted to win her from her rash determination, but to all of them the answer was alike in the negative: tho' Vertumnus, one of the most zealous, pursued her with unchanging ardour.
"Long had she laboured to continue free
From chains of love and nuptial tyranny;
And in her orchard's small extent immured,
Her vow'd virginity she still secured.
Oft would loose Pan, and all the lustful train
Of satyrs, tempt her innocence in vain.
Vertumnus too pursued the maid no less,
But with his rivals, shared a like success."
Ovid.