Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, HALIEUTICA [HALIEUTICKS]: EELS AND TORTOISES, by OPPIAN OF CILICIA


Poetry Explorer

Classic and Contemporary Poetry

HALIEUTICA [HALIEUTICKS]: EELS AND TORTOISES, by                     Poet's Biography
First Line: Strange the formation of the eely race
Last Line: To the loathed duties of an hated bed.
Alternate Author Name(s): Oppian
Subject(s): Courtship; Eels; Fish & Fishing; Reproduction; Turtles; Mating; Tortoises


STRANGE the formation of the eely race,
That know no sex, yet love the close embrace.
Their folded lengths they round each other twine,
Twist am'rous knots, and slimy bodies join;
Till the close strife brings off a frothy juice,
The seed that must the wriggling kind produce.
Regardless they their future offspring leave,
But porous sands the spumy drops receive.
That genial bed impregnates all the heap,
And little eelets soon begin to creep.
Half-fish, half-slime they try their doubtful strength,
And slowly trail along their wormy length.
What great effects from slender causes flow!
Congers their bulk to these productions owe:
The forms, which from the frothy drop began,
Stretch out immense and eddy all the main.
Justly might female tortoises complain,
To whom enjoyment is the greatest pain;
They dread the trial, and foreboding hate
The growing passion of the cruel mate.
He amorous pursues, they conscious fly
Joyless caresses, and resolved deny.
Since partial heav'n has thus restrained the bliss,
The males they welcome with a closer kiss,
Bite angry, and reluctant hate declare.
The tortoise-courtship is a state of war.
Eager they fight, but with unlike design,
Males to obtain, and females to decline.
The conflict lasts, till these by strength o'ercome
All sorrowing yield to the resistless doom.
Not like a bride, but pensive captive, led
To the loathed duties of an hated bed.





Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!


Other Poems of Interest...
Home: PoetryExplorer.net