Alpheus, gliding by old Pisa's towers,
Deep in the sea his eager way pursues
With sacred dust, and olive-leaves, and flowers,
With which he hastens to his Arethuse.

Smoothly he runs; the sea not feels the river
With soft unmingled stream its water rive;
Eros it was, that subtle counsel-giver,
Who taught a river how for love to dive.

translated by M. J. Chapman