Their hair was in part braided
round their bright and polished foreheads, and in part it hung in wavy
and careless ringlets about their slender necks, and heaving bosoms.
Their forms were veiled in loose and flowing folds of silk of the finest
texture, and whiter than the driven snow. The robes were not embroidered
with gold and silver; they were not studded with emeralds and diamonds;
but were adorned on every side with chaplets of the fairest and freshest
flowers. Their heads were crowned with garlands of amaranth and roses.
Though their conduct were tainted with lasciviousness, and their minds
were full of looser thoughts, yet, awed by the virtuous dignity of
Imogen, they suppressed the air of dissolute frolic, and taught by the
guileful lessons of their lord, endeavoured to assume the manners of
chaste and harmless joy.
The shepherdess, struck with the objects which so unexpectedly presented
themselves to her eyes and her ears, started back with involuntary
astonishment. "Is this," cried she, "the artless feast, and this the
simple fare of which you invited me to partake?" "Imogen," replied the
principal nymph, "we were willing to do you honour, and the preparation
we have made is slight compared with that which the roof can afford.
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