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Passage 4. Pygmalion

A. Melville (class text--1986)

She was alive! The pulse beat in her veins!
And then indeed in words that overflowed
He poured his thanks to Venus, and at last
His lips pressed real lips, and she, his girl,
Felt every kiss, and blushed, and shyly raised
Her eyes to his and saw the world and him.
(234)

B. Golding (1567)

He felt it very flesh indeed. By laying on his thumb
He felt her pulses beating. Then he stood no longer dumb
But thanked Venus with his heart. And at the length he laid
His mouth to hers who was as them become a perfect maid.
She felt the kiss and blushed thereat and, lifting fearfully
Her eyelids up, her lover and the light at once did spy.
(10.315-20, 304)

C. Dryden (1717)

He would believe, but yet is still in Pain,
And tries his Argument of Sense again,
Presses the Pulse, and feels the leaping Vein.
Convinc'd, o'erjoy'd, his studied Thanks, and Praise,
To her who made the Miracle he pays:
Then Lips to Lips he join'd; now freed from Fear,
He found the Savour of his Kiss sincere:
At this the waken'd Image op'd her Eyes,
And view'd at once the Light, and Lover with Surprize.
(345-6)

D. Mandelbaum (1993)

it is a body! Now the veins--beneath
his anxious fingers--pulse. Pygmalion
pours out rich thanks to Venus; finally,
his lips press lips that are not forgeries.
The young girl feels these kisses; blushing, she
lifts up her timid eyes; she seeks the light;
and even as she sees the sky, she sees
her lover.
(337)

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