Inquire of Amathus, whose wealthy ground + 

With veins of every metal does abound, + 

If she to her Propoetides would show + 

The honour Sparta does to him allow. + 

“No more,” she’d say, “such wretches would we grace, + 

Than those whose crooked horns deform’d their face, + 

From thence Cerastae call’d, an impious race, + 

Before whose gates a reverend altar stood, + 

To Jove inscribed, the hospitable god: + 

This had some stranger seen, with gore besmear’d, + 

The blood of lambs and bulls it had appear’d: + 

Their slaughter’d guests’ it was; not flock nor herd.” + 

Venus these barb’rous sacrifices view’d + 

With just abhorrence, and with wrath pursued. + 

At first, to punish such nefarious crimes, + 

Their towns she meant to leave, her once-loved climes. + 

“But why,” said she, “for their offence should I + 

My dear delightful plains and cities fly? + 

No, let the impious people, who have sinn’d, + 

A punishment in death or exile find: + 

If death or exile too severe be thought, + 

Let them in some vile shape bemoan their fault; + 

While next her mind a proper form employs, + 

Admonish’d by their horns, she fix’d her choice, + 

Their former crest remains upon their heads, + 

And their strong limbs an ox’s shape invades. + 

The blasphemous Propoetides denied + 

Worship of Venus, and her power defied; + 

Unknowing how to blush, and shameless grown, + 

A small transition changes them to stone. + 