'Twas thine to conquer by Minerva's power,
Favoured of heaven, thy mercy I implore,
For life I sue, the rest to thee I yield:
In pity from my sight remove the shield!'
Phineus turned to shun the shield,
Full in his face the staring head he held,
As here and there he strove to turn aside,
The wonder wrought, the man was petrified,
All marble was his frame, his burned eyes,
Dropped tears which hung upon the stone like ice;