Out of the lofty cavern wandering

He found a tortoise, and cried out—'A treasure!'

(For Mercury first made the tortoise sing)

The beast before the portal at his leisure

The flowery herbage was depasturing,

Moving his feet in a deliberate measure

Over the turf. Jove's profitable son

Eying him laughed, and laughing thus begun:—

#alchemy #animal symbolism #mythology #percy bysshe shelley #quest

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