Naiad  of  the  Bath.


Slowly she unfastens the high- girded zoster,
turns and gracefully looses her monochiton
that covers the pearly beauty of her flesh.

Here she has the luxury of her mirror
with its undistorted image of her body
free of the ripples in her maidens' spring .

A long slow turning study of herself and then,
with languorous and dainty step she glides
to be embraced by the waters of her bath;
back now to a differing element she returns,
sinuous in the water's steamy warmth.

The scented flowers and oils disposed  
around the deep tub's rim sit waiting
unneeded as enhancements of her beauty.

Relaxing, she can dismiss the satyr's constant gaze,
for there are no friendly shrubs and bushes here
to conceal his salacious leer and capering lust,
and peacefully free of his pursuit  she drowses.

Later she will arise and with fresh linens
rejoin her sisters by  the colder stream;
perhaps to enjoy there the amorous wooing
of some passing god, or even of Zeus himself.