46

roar

TH

IO

Sce how he rears him from his bed ;

" Bold he rushed on. My honour to main. See the wreath that binds his head.

tain, Hail! thou gentle murmuring stream, " I fling my verdant garments on the plain. Shepherds' pleasure, Muses' theme;

" My arms stretch forth, my pliant limbs preThrough the plain ftill joy to rove,

pare,
Murmuring still thy gentle love.

“ And with bent hands exped the furious war.
" O'er my fleck skin now gather'd dus he
throws,

41 " And yellow fand his mighty muscles strows.

“ Oft' he my neck and nimble legs allails,
TRANSLATIONS,

“ He seems to grasp me, but as often fails :
" Each part he now invades with eager hand ;

“ Safe in my bulk, immoveable I stand.
THE STORY OF

“ So when loud storms break high, and foam and ACHELOUS AND HERCULES.

“ Against some mole that ftretches from the

More ;
From Ovid's MrTAMORPHESES. Book IX.

« The firm foundation lasting tempests braves,

D fies the warring winds, and driving waves.
HESEUS requests the God to tell his woes,
Whence his maim'd brow, and whence his " Awhile we breathe, then forward rusa
groans arose;

amain,

52 When thus the Calydonian Stream seply'd,

" Renew the combat, and our ground maintain ; With i wining reeds his careless treffes tied ;

56 Foot Itrove with foot, I prone 'extend my " Ungrateful is the tale ; for who can bear,

breast, “ When conquer'd, to rehearse the shameful “ Hands war with hands, and forehead forehead war?

press'd. " Yet I'll the melancholy story trace ;

« Thus have I seen two furious bulls engage, 55 " So great a conqueror softens the disgrace :

• Inflam'd with equal love, and equal rage; " Nor was it still so mean the prize to yield,

" Each claims the faireft heifer of the grove, " As great and glorious to dispute the fie;d. " And conquest only can decide their love :

Perhaps you've heard of Dejanira's name, " The trembling herds survey the fight frons far, “ For all the country spoke her beauty's fame.

« Till victory decides th' important war. 60 “ Long was the nymph by numerous suitors

“ Three times in vain he strove my joints to wrett, woo'd,

" To force my hold, and throw me from his • Each with address his envy'd hopes pursued :

breast; I join'd the loving band : to gair the fair, 15

" The fourth he hroke my gripe, that clasp'd him “ Reveald my passion to her father's car.

round, " Their vain pretensions all the rest resign ;

« Then with new force he ftretch'd me on the “ Alcides only Itrove to equal mine :

grounds “ He boa!s his birth from Jove, recounts his

• Close to my back the mighty burden clung, spoils,

" As if a mountain o'er my limbs were flung. 6 “ His step-dame's hate subdued, and finish'd “ Believe my tale ; nor do I boaftful, aim toils.

“ By feign'd narration to extol my fame.

" No lponer frora his grasp 1 freedom get, “ Can mortals then (faid 1) with gods com

“ Unlock my arms, that flow'd with crickling

sweat,
Behold a god ; mine is the watery care :
« Through your wide realms I take my mazy

« But quick he seiz'd me, and renew'd the Irite,

“ As my exhausted bosom pants for life :
way,
" Branch into streams, and o'er the regions (tray:

“ My neck he gripes, my knec to earth be

strains : « No forcign guest your daughter's charms adores,

“ I fall, and bite the sand with shame and pains. « But one who riles in your native fhorcs. 26 “ Let not his punishment your pity move; “ O'er-match'd in strength, to wiles and arts “ Is Juno's hate an argument for love ?

I take,

75 “ Though you your life from fair Alcmena drew,

“ And flip his hold, in form of speckled snake ; “ Jove's a feign'd father, or by fraud a true. 30 " Who, when I wreath'd in spires my body « Choose then; confess thy mother's honour lott,

round, " Or thy descent from Jove no longer boait."

“Or shew'd my forky-congue with hisling sound, While thus I spoke, he look'd with stern dis- • Smiles at my threats. Such foes n.y cradle dain,

knew, Nor could the fallies of his wrat.. restrain, “ He cries ; dire snakes my infant-hand o'er. Which thus broke forth; " This arm decides our

threw ;

80 right;

" A dragon' form might other conquests gain ; « Vanquilh'd in words; be mine the prize in To war with me you take that shape in vain.

tight !".

20

pare ?

70

)

calt);

21

his ears.

horn;

“ Art thou proportion'd to the Hydra's length, Th’ Aonian chief to Neffus trusts his wife, 15 " Who by his wounds receiv'd augmented All pale, and trembling for her hero's life : ftrenth?

Cloth'd as he stood in the fierce lion's hide, ." He sais'd a hundred hissing heads in air ; 85 The laden quiver o'er his shoulder ty'd " When one I lopp'd, up sprung a dreadful pair. (For cross the stream his bow and club were By his wounds fertile, and with Naughter strong,

Swift he plung'd in ; these billows hall bo pass’d. " Singly I quell'd him, and stretch'd dead along. He said, nor fought where [muother waters • What cant thou do, a form precarious, prone, glide, " To rouze my rage with terrors not thy own!" But ftem'd the rapid dangers of the tide.. “ He said; and round my neck his hands he cast, The bank he reach'd : again the bow he bears ; "! And with his straining fingers wrung me falt: When, hark ! his bride's known voice alarms “ My throat he tortur'd, close as pincers clasp, $ In vain I (trove to loose the forceful grasp. Nessus, to thee I call (aloud he cries) ; 25 “ Thus vanquish'd too, a third form still re- Vain is thy trust in flight, be tinely wise : mains,

95

Thou nionfter dcuble-shap'd, my right set free, “ Chang'd to a bull, my lowing fills the plains. If thou no reverence owe my fame and

me, Straight on the left his nervous arms were Yet kindred should thy lawless lust deny. 1 tl.rown

Think not, perfidious wretch, from me to fly, "Upon my brindled neck, anå tugg'd it down; Though wing'd with horse's speed; wounds shall “ Then'deep he struck my horn into the sand,

pursue : " And felld my bulk along the dusty land. 100 Swift as his words the fatal arrow flew : “ Nor yet his fury coold; 'twixt rage and scorn, The Centaur's back adhits the feather'd wood, " From my maim'd front he core the stubborn And through his breast the barbed weapon fool;

Which when, in anguish, through the flesh he “ This, heap'd with flowers and fruits, the Nai- tore,

35 ads beat,

From both the wounds gush'd forth the spumy “ Sacred to plenty, and the bountcous year."

fore, He spoke ; when lo! a beauteous nymph ap- Mix'd with Lernæan venom ; this he took, pears,

Nor dire revenge his dying breast forfook. Girt, like Diana's train, with flowing hairs; His garments, in the reeking purple dy's, The horn he brings, in which all autumn's stor'd, To rouze love's paflion, he presents the bride. 40 And ruddy apples for the second board. Now morn begins to dawli, the sun's bright fire

The DEATH of HERCULES. Gilds the high mountains, and the youths retire;

OW a long interval of time fucceeds, Nor itay'd they, till the troubled stream subsides

When the great son of Jove's immortal And in its bounds with peaceful current glides.

deeds, But Aehclous in his oozy bed

And fep-dame's hate had fill'd earth's utmost Dtep hides his brow, deforna'd, and rustic head :

round;
No rcal wound the victor's triumph show'd. 115 He from Oechalia, with new laurels crown'd
But his loft honours griev'd the watery god ; In triumph was return'd. He rites prepares,
Yet ev'n that loss the willow's leaves o'erspread, And to the king of gods directs his prayers,
And verdant rceds, in garlands, bind his heads When Fame (who falschood clothes in truth's dis-

guise,
And swells her little bulk with growing lies)
Thy tender ear, o Dejanira mov'd,

That Hercules the fair lole lov'd.
DEATH OF NESSUS.

Her love believes the tale; the truth she fears
THE CENTAUR.

Of his new pallion, and gives way to lears.

i he flow ng tears diffus'd her wretched grief, HIS virgin too, thy lovė, o Nessus, found, Why s ek I thus, from streaming eyes, r.licf?

She cries ; indulge not thus thife fruitless cares, As the strong son of Jove his bride conveys. The harlot will but triumph in thy tears ; Where his paternal lands their bulwarks raise; Let so:nething be resolv'd, while get there's Where from her flopy uru Evenus pours 5 Her rapid current, swellid by wintery showers, My bed not conscious of a rival's crime. He came. I lie frequent eddies whirl'd the tide, In silence hall I mourn, or lou i complain ? And the deep rolling waves all pass deny'd. Shall I stek Calydon, or here re nain ? As for himself, he stood unmov'd by fears, What though ally'd to Meleger s fame, For now his bridal charge employ'd his cares. 10 I boast the honours of a fifter's name? The strong-limb d Nessus thus officious cry'd

My wrongs, perhaps, now urge me tepursue (For he the shallows of the stream had try'd), Some desperate deed, by which the we:ld thall Swim thou, Alcides, all thy strength prepare ;

view On yonder bauk I'll lodge thy nuptial care.

How

N

THE

time ;

1

OF

How far revenge and woman's rage can rise, 25 | What if the Thracian horses, fat with gore, 85 When weltering in her blood the harlot dies.

Who human bodies in their mangers tore, Thus various paffions rul'd by turns her breast. I saw, and with their barbarous lord o'erthrew ? She now retulves to send the fatal vest,

What if chefe hands Nemæl's lion llew ? Dyu with Lernæan gore, whoto power might move Did not this neck the heavenly globe sustain ?His foul anew, and rouze declining love. 30 The female partner of the thunderer's reign, 90 Nor knew the whit her sudden rage beltows, Fatigu'd, ac length suspends her harsh commands When he to Lichas trufts her future woes; Yet no fatigue hath Nack'd these valiant hards. With soit endearments she the boy commands But now new plagues pursue me ; neither force, To bear the garment to her husband's hands. Nor arms, nor darts, can stop their raging course.

Th' unwitting hero takes the gift in halte, 35. Devouring flame through my rack'd emtrails itrays, 95 And o'er his shoulders Lerna's poison caft.

And on my lungs and thriveld muscles preys; As first the fire with frankincense he itrows, Yet ftill Euryst neus breathes the vital air And utters to the gods his holy vows;

What mortal now thall seek the gods with prayer?
And on the marble altar's polish'd frame
Pours forth the grapy stream; the rising flanie 40
Sudden diffolves the fubtle poisonous juice,
Which taints his blood, and all his nerves bedews.
With wonted fortitude he bore the smart,
And not a groan confess'd his burning heart.

THE TRANSFORMATION
At length his patience was subdued by pain, 45
He rends the sacred altar from the plain ;
Oete's wide forests echo with his cries !
Now to rip off the deathful robe he tries.
Where'er he plucks the veít, the skin he tears,

LYCHAS INTO A ROCK.
The mangled muscles and huge bones he bares, 50
(A ghastly fight!) or, raging with his pain, THE hero said; and, with the torture ftung,
To rend the sticking plague he tugs in vain.

Furious o'er O-te's lofty hills he sprung:
As the red iron hiffes in the flood,

Stuck with the faft, thus fcours the tiger round, So boils the venom in his curdling blood.

And seeks the flying author of his wound. Now with the greedy fiame his entrails glow, 55 Now might you see trim trembling, now he vents 5 And livid sweats down all his body flow;

His anguish'd soul in groans and loud laments; The cracking nerves burnt-up are burst in twain, He strives to tear the clinging vest in vain, The lurking venom melts his swimming brain. And with up-rooted forests strews the plain;

Then, lifting both his hands aloft, he cries, Now, kindling into rage, his hands he rears, Glut thy revenge dread empress of the skies ; 60 | Avid to his kindred goos direcis his prayers. Sate with my death the rancour of thy heart, When Lychas, lo, he spies; who trembling flew, Look down with pleasure, and enjoy my smart. And, in a hollow rock conceal'd from view, Or, if e'er pity mov'd a hostile breast

Had shunn'd his wrath. Now grief renew'd his pain, (For here I stand thy enemy profest),

His madnels chaf'd, and thus he raves again: Take hence this hateful life, with tortures torn, 65 Lychas, tu thee alone my fate I owe,

15 Inur'd to trouble, and to labours born.

Who bore the gift, the cause of all my woe. Death is the gift most welcome to my woe, The youth all, pale with shivering fear was ftung, And such a gift a step-dame may bestow.

And vain excuses faulter'd on his tongue. Was it for this Bufiris was subdued,

Alcides snatch'd him, as with suppliant face Whole barbarous temples reek'd with itrangers' He strove to clasp his knees, and beg for grace.

20 blood ?

70 He tofs’d him o'er his head with airy courie, Press’d in these arms, his fate Antæus found, And hurld with more than with an engine's force ; Nor gain'd recruited vigour from the ground. Far o'er th' Eubean main aluft he flies, Did I not triple-form'd Geryon fell?

And hardens by degrees amid the skies. Or did I fear the triple dog of hell ?

So showery drops, when chilly teinpelts blow, 25 Did not these hands the bull's arm'd forehead hold? | Thicken at firtt, then whiten into friow; Are not our mighty toils in Elis told?

In balls congeal'd the rolling fleeces bound, Did not Stymphalian lakes proclaim my fame? In folid hail result upon the ground. And fair Parthenian woods resound my name ? "Thus, whirld with nervous force through distant Who reiz'd the golden belt of Thermodon?

air, And who the dragon-guarded apples won? 80 The purple tide forsook his veins with fear; Could the fierce Centaur's strength my force with All moitture left his limbs. Transtorm'd to stone, stand,

In arrient days the craggy Alint was known : Or the fell boar that spoil'd th' Arcadian land? Still in th’Eubæan waves his front he rears, Did not these arms the Hydra’s rage subdue,

Stili the small rock in human form appears, Who from his wounds to double fury grew? And fill the name of hapless Lychas bears. 35.

30

YOL. VIL

H

11

20

THE

Against Alcides' race. 'Alcmona goes
APOTHEOSIS OF HERCULES.

To lole, to vent maternal woes ;

Here she pours forth her grief, recounts the spoils s
BUT now the hero of immortal birth

Her fon had bravely reap'd in glorious toils.
Fells Oete's forests on the groaning earth; This Iole, by Hercules' commands,
A pile he builds; to Philoctetes' care

Hyllus had lov'd, and join'd in nuptial bands.
He leaves his deathful instruments of war;

Her swelling womb the teeming birth confess'd ;-
To him commits those arrows, which again

5 To whom Alcmena thus her fpeech address'd:
Must see the bulwarks of the Trojan reign,

0
may

the gods protect thee, in that hour,
The fun of Pain lights the lofty pyre,

When midst thy chroes thou call'st th’llithyan power!
High round the Itructure climbs the greedy fire; May no delays prolong thy racking pain,
Plac'd on the top, thy nervous shoulders spread As when I sued for Juno's aid in vain!
With the Nemæın spoils thy careless head; 10 When now Alcides mighty birth drew nigh, is
Rais’d on the knotty club, with look divine ; And the tenth sign rollid forward on the sky,
Here thou, dread hero of celestial line,

My womb extends with such a mighty load,
Walt stretch'i at ease; as when, a cheerful guest, As Jove the parent of the burden show'd.
Wine crown'd thy bowls, and flowers thy temples I could no more th’ increasing smart fustain :
drest.

My horror kindles to recount the pain;
Now on all sides the potent fames aspire, 15 Cold chills my limbs while I the tale pursue,
And crackle round those limbs that mock the fire. And now methinks I feel my pangs anew.
A sudden tremor seiz'd th' immortal host,

Seven days and nights amidst incessant throes,
Who thought the world's profeit defender loft. Fatigued with ills I lay nor knew repose ;
This when the thunderer faw, with smiles he When lifting high my hands, in shrieks I pray'd, 25
cries,

Implor’d the gocio, and callid Lucina's aid.
'Tis from your fears, ye gods, my pleasures rise; 20 She

came, but prejudic'd, to give my fate
Joy føvells my breast, that my all-ruling hand A facrifice to vengefuil Juno's hate.
O'er such a grateful people boasts command, She hears the groaning anguith of my fits,
That you my suffering progeny would aid ;

And on the altar at my door the sits;

30
Though to his deeds this just respect be paid, O'er her left knee her crossing leg she cast,
Me you've oblig'd. Be all your fears forborn, 25 Then knits her fingers close and wrings them faft:

Th Detean fires do thou, great hero, scoin. This stay'd the birth; in muttering verse ihe pray'd,
Who vanquish'd all things, shall subaue the flame.

The muttering verse th' unfinish'd birth delay'd.
That part alone of gross maternal frame

Now with fierce Itruggles, raging with my pain, 35
Fire shall devour; while what from me he drew At Jove's ingratitude I rave in vain.
Shall live immortal, and its force fubdue ; 30 How did I with for death ? 'such groans I sent,
That, when he's dead, I'N raile to realms above; As might have made the finty heart relent.
May all the powers the righteous act approve! Now the Cadmeian matrons round me press,
If any god cislent, and judge too great

Offer their vows, and seek to bring redress. 40
The sacred honours of the heavenly feat,

Among the Theban danes Galanthis stands,
Ev'n he ihall own, his deeds deserve the sky, 35 Strong limb’d, red-hair'd, and just to my commands:
Evi'n he, reluctant, thail at length comply.

She first perceiv'd that all these racking woes
Th' assembled powers affent. No frown till now From the persisting hate of Juno rofe.
Had mark'd with passion vengeful Juno's brow. As here and there she pass’d, by chance she sees 45
Meanwhile whate'er was in the power of flame The seated goddess; on her close-press'd knees
Was all consum'd, his budy's nervous frame 40 | Her fast-knit hands the leans : with cheerful voice
No more was known;-or human form bereft, Calanıhis cries, Whoe'er thou art, rejoice;
Th'eternal part of Jove alone was left.

Congratulate the dame, the lies at rest,
As an old serpent calts his fcaly veit,

At length the gods Alcmena's womb have bleft. 50
Wreathes in the sun, in youthful glory dreft; Swift from her seat the startled goddess springs,
So when Alcides mortal mould refign'd, 45 | No more conceal’d, her hands abroad the fings;
His better part enlarg'd, and grew refin'd,

The charm unloos’d, the birth my pangs reliev'd;
August his visage shone ; almighty Jove

Galanthis' laughter vex'd the power deceiv'd.
In his swift car his honour'd offspring drove; Fame says, the goddess drage'd the laughing maid 55
High o'er the hollow clouds the coursers fly, Fast by the hair ; in vain her force essay'd
And lodge the hero in the starry sky.

50 Her groveling body from the ground to rear;

Chang'd to fore-feet her shrinking arms appear;
Her hairy back fier former hue retains,
The form alone is loit; her strength remains ;

бо Who, since the lie did from her mouth proceed, THE TRANSFORMATION

Shall from her pregnant mouth bring forth her breed;

Nor fall the quit her long-frequented home,
OF GALANTHIS.

But haunt those houses where the lov'd to roam.
ATLAS perceiy'd the load of heaven's new guest.

Revenge ftill rancour'd in Euryftheus' breast

20

Aurora for her aged spouse complains,

5 THE STORY or IOLA ÜS And Ceres grieves for Jason's freezing veins;

Vulcan would Erichthonius' years renew;

Her future race the care of Venus drew,
RESTORED TO YOUTH.

She would Anchises' blooming age restore ;
A different care employ'd each heavenly power. 10

Thus various interests did their jars increase,
ARGUMENT.

Till Jove arose ;-he spoke theic tumults cease.
Iole having related the fable of her sister Dryope, who Then why this discord ʼmong the powers of heaven?

Is any reverence to our presence given? was changed into a tree för violating the bloljoms of Who can the settled will of Fate subdue ? 15 the plant Lotis (once a nymph); while she is dif- 'Twas by the Fates that lolaüs knew courfing on these mattersw th Alcmena, she finds new

A second youth. The Fates' determin'd doom matter of wonder in the sudden change of Iolais to a Shall give Callirhoe’s race a youthful bloom. youth.

Arrrs nor ambition can this power

obtain :

Quell your desires ; even Me the Fates reitrain. WHILE Iolé the fatal change declares,

Could I their will control, no rolling years Alcmena's pitying hand oft' wip'd her tears. Had Æacus bent down with silver hairs; Griet too ftream'd down her cheeks; soon sorrow Then Rhadamanthus ftili had youth possess’d, Hies,

And Minos with eternal bloom been bless'd. And rising joy the trickling moisture dries :

Jove's words the fynod mov'd; the powers give o'er,
Lo lolaüs stands before their eyes.

And urge in vain unjust complaint no more.
A youth he stood; and the soft down began Since Rhadamanthus' veins now Nowly flow'd,
O'er his smooth chin to spread, and promise man. And Æacus and Minos bore the load;
Hebe submitted to her husband's prayers,

Minos, who, in the flower of youth and fame,
Inftil'd new vigour, and reitor'd his years.

Made mighty nations tremble at his name, 30
Infirm with age, the proud Miletus fears,
Vain of his birth, and in the strength of years ;
And now, regarding all his realms as loft,

He durst not force him from his native coast.
THE PROPHECY OF THEMIS. But you by choice, Miletus, fled his reign, 35

And
your

swift vefsel plow'd th' Egean main; NOW from her lips a fo!emn oat! had pass’d,

On Asiatic shores a town you frame, That lolaü; the gift alone should taste,

Which still is honour'd with the founder's name. Had not juit Themis thus maturely said

Here you Cyanëe knew, the beauteous maid, (Which check'd her vow, (and awd the blooming As on her father's winding banks the stray’d: 40 maid) :

Cauous and Byblis hence their lineage trace,
Thebes is embroil'd in war. Capaneus stands 5

The double offspring of your warm embrace.
Invincible; but by the thunderer's hands
Ambition shall the guilty * brothers fire,
Both rush to mutual wounds, and both expire.
The reeling earth shall ope her gloomy womb,
Where the t yet breathing bard shall find his tomb.

THE STORY OF ARACHNE,
The I fon shall bathe his hands in parent's blood,
Ard in one act be both unjust and good.
Of home and sense deprivd, where'er he fies,

From the Beginning of the Sixth Book of Ovid's
The furies and his mother's ghost he spies.

METAMORPHOSES.
His wife the fatal bracelet shall implore, 15
And Phege'is (tain his sword in kindred gore.
Callirhoe shall then with suppliant prayer
Prevail on Jupiter's relenting ear.

Pallas, visiting the Muses on their hill to see the foune
Jove shall with youth her infant fons inspire,

tain Hippocrene, is by. them informed how the Pierides And bid their bofoms glow with manly fire.

were changed into chattering pies for rivaling the
nine fifters in song - This stimulating the Goddess to
take

vengeance un Arachne, the daughter of lamong
who deped her in her own art, gives rise to the fole

lowing story.
THE DEBATE OF THE GODS.
WHEN Themis thus with prescient voice had spoke PALLAS, attentive, heard the Muses' song,

Pleas'd that so well they had reveng'd cheir wrongs
Among the gods a various murmur broke;
Difienfion role in each immortal breast,

Reflecting thus,--A vulgar foul can praise ;
That one should grant what was deny'd the rest.

My fame let glorious emuiation raise;
Swift vengeance shall pursue ti' audacious pride 5

That dares my facred Deity deride : • Eteocles end Polynices.

Revenge the Goddess in her breait revolves; + Amphiaraus.

Alimeong And Itraight the bold Arachne's fate refolyes ;

ARGUMENT.