Графични страници
PDF файл
ePub

The goddess smil'd: and, with a fudden leap, ·
From the high mountain plung'd into the deep.
But Jove repair'd to his celeftial towers:
And, as he rofe, up-rofe th' immortal powers.
In ranks, on either fide, th' affembly caft,
Bow'd down, and did obeisance as he pafs'd.

To him enthron'd (for whispering she had seen
Clofe at his knees the filver-footed queen,
Daughter of him, who, low beneath the tides,
Aged and hoary in the deep refides).
Big with invectives, Juno filence broke,
And thus, opprobrious, her refentments spoke:
Falfe Jove! what goddefs whispering did 1 see è
O fond of counfels, ftill conceal'd from me!
To me, neglected, thou wilt ne'er impart
One fingle thought of thy close-cover'd heart."
To whom the Sire of gods and men reply'd;
Strive not to find, what I decree to hide.
Laborious were the fearch, and vain the ftrife,
• Vain ev'n for thee, my fifter and my wife.
The thoughts and counfels, proper to declare,
Nor god nor mortal shall before thee share:
But, what my fecret wifdom fhall ordain,

Think not to reach, for know the thought were vain. Dread Saturn's fon, why fo fevere?' replies

The Goddess of the large majestic eyes.

Thy own dark thoughts at pleasure hide, or show;
Ne'er have I afk'd, nor now afpire to know.
Nor yet my fears are vain, nor came unfeen
To thy high throne the filver-footed queen,

6 Daughter

.

Daughter of him, who low beneath the tides
Aged and hoary in the deep refides.

Thy nod affures me fhe was not deny'd :

• And Greece muft perish for a madman's pride.'

To whom the god, whofe hand the tempeft forms, Drives clouds on clouds,andblackens heaven with ftorms, Thus wrathful answer'd: Doft thou ftill complain ? Perplex'd for ever, and perplex'd in vain!

[ocr errors]

• Should't thou difclose the dark event to come,
How wilt thou stop th' irrevocable doom!
This ferves the more to sharpen my disdain;
And woes foreseen but lengthen out thy pain.
• Be filent then. Difpute not my command;

Nor tempt the force of this fuperior hand :
• Left all the gods, around thee leagu'd, engage
• In vain to shield thee from my kindled rage.'
Mute and abafh'd fhe fat without reply,
And downward turn'd her large majestic eye,
Nor further durft th' offended fire provoke :
The gods around him trembled, as he spoke.
When Vulcan, for his mother fore distrest,
Turn'd orator, and thus his speech addrefs'd:
Hard is our fate, if men of mortal line

• Stir up debate among the powers divine,
• If things on earth disturb the bleft abodes,
• And mar th' ambrofial banquet of the gods!
Then let my mother once be rul'd by me,
Though much more wife than I pretend to be:
Let me advife her filent to obey,

. And due fubmiffion to our father pay.

• Nor

Nor force again his gloomy rage to rise,
Ill-tim'd, and damp the revels of the skies.
For fhould he tofs her from th' Olympian hill,
• Who could resist the mighty monarch's will ?
Then thou to love the Thunderer reconcile,
And tempt him kindly on us all to fmile.'

:

He faid and in his tottering hands up-bore
A double goblet, fill'd, and foaming o'er.

Sit down, dear mother, with a heart content,
• Nor urge a more disgraceful punishment,
Which if great Jove inflict, poor I, dismay'd,
Muft ftand aloof, nor dare to give thee aid.
Great Jove shall reign for ever, uncontrol'd:
Remember, when I took thy part of old,
Caught by the heel he fwung me round on high,
And headlong hurl'd me from th' ethereal sky :
From morn to noon I fell, from noon to night;
Till pitch'd on Lemnos, a most piteous fight,
The Sintians hardly could my breath recall,
Giddy and gasping with the dreadful fall.

She fmil'd and, fmiling, her white arm display'd
To reach the bowl her aukward fon convey'd.
From right to left the generous bowl he crown'd,
And dealt the rofy nectar fairly round.

The gods laugh'd out, unweary'd, as they spy'd
The busy skinker hop from fide to fide.

Thus, feafting to the full, they pass'd away,
In blissful banquets, all the live-long day.
Nor wanted melody. With heavenly art
The Mufes fung; cach Mufe perform'd her part,

Alternate

[ocr errors]

Alternate warbling; while the golden lyre,
Touch'd by Apollo, led the vocal choir.
The fun at length declin'd, when every guest
Sought his bright palace, and withdrew to reft:
Each had his palace on th' Olympian hill,
A mafter-piece of Vulcan's matchless skill.
Ev'n he, the god, who heaven's great fcepter fways,
And frowns amid the lightning's dreadful blaze,
His bed' of state afcending, lay compos'd;
His eyes a sweet refreshing flumber clos'd:
And at his fide, all glorious to behold,
Was Juno lodg'd in her alcove of gold.

TO THE EARL OF WARWICK, ON THE
DEATH OF MR. ADDISON.

F, dumb too long, the drooping Mufe hath stay'd,
And left her debt to Addifon unpaid,

Blame not her filence, Warwick, but bemoan,
And judge, oh judge, my bosom by your own.
What mourner ever felt poetic fires!

Slow comes the verfe that real woe infpires:
Grief unaffected fuits but ill with art,
Or flowing numbers with a bleeding heart.
Can I forget the dismal night that gave
My foul's best part for ever to the grave!
How filent did his old companions tread,
By midnight lamps, the manfions of the dead,
Through breathing ftatues, then unheeded things,

Through rows of warriors, and through walks of kings!

What

What awe did the flow folemn knell inspire;
The pealing organ, and the pausing choir;
The duties by the lawn-rob'd preiate pay'd;
And the last words, that duft to dust convey'd !
While fpeechlefs o'er thy clofing grave we bend,›
Accept thefe tears, thou dear departed friend.
Oh, gone for ever! take this long adieu;
And fleep in peace, next thy lov'd Montague.
To ftrew fresh laurels, let the task be mine,
A frequent pilgrim, at thy facred shrine ;
Mine with true fighs thy abfence to bemoan, ›
And grave with faithful epitaphs thy ftone.
If e'er from me thy lov'd memorial part,
May shame afflict this alienated heart;
Of thee forgetful if I form a fong,

My lyre be broken, and untun'd my tongue,,
My grief be doubled from thy image free,
And mirth a torment, unchaftis'd by thee.
Oft let me range the gloomy aifles alone,
Sad luxury to vulgar minds unknown,
Along the walls where fpeaking marbles show
What worthies form the hallow'd mould below;
Proud names, who once the reins of empire held;
In arms who triumph'd; or in arts excell'd;
Chiefs, grac'd with fears, and prodigal of blood;-
Stern patriots, who for facred freedom stood;
Just men, by whom impartial laws were given;
And faints who taught, and led, the way to heaven i
Ne'er to these chambers, where the mighty reft,

Since their foundation, came a nobler guest;

No

« ПредишнаНапред »