Withdrawn from all his friends and fellow-fwains,
Who fed their flocks beneath, and fought the plains:
In pleafing folitude the youth the found.
Intent upon his lyre's harmonious found.

Before his eyes Jove's beauteous daughter stood,
In form and dress, a huntress of the wood;
For had he feen the goddess undisguis'd,

The youth with awe and fear had been furpriz`d.
Fix'd he beheld her, and with joy admir'd
To fee a nymph fo bright, and fo attir'd.
For from her flowing robe a luftre spread,
As if with radiant flames fhe were array'd;
Her hair in part difclos'd, in part conceal'd,
In ringlets fell, or was with jewels held;
With various gold and gems her neck was grac'd,
And orient pearls heav'd on her panting breast :
Bright as the moon fhe fhone, with filent light,
And charm'd his fenfe with wonder and delight.
Thus while Anchifes gaz'd, through every vein
A thrilling joy he felt, and pleasing pain.
At length he fpake---" All hail, celestial fair!.
"Who humbly doft to visit earth repair.
"Whoe'er thou art, defcended from above,
"Latona, Cynthia, or the Queen of Love,
"All hail! all honour shall to thee be paid ;

"Or art thou* Themis ? or the † blue-ey'd maid!

66

Or, art thou faireft of the Graces three, "Who with the gods fhare immortality?

"Or elfe, fome nymph, the guardian of these woods, "Thefe caves, thefe fruitful hills, or cryftal floods?' "Whoe'er thou art, in fome confpicuous field, “I, to thy honour, will an altar build, "Where holy offerings I 'll each hour prepare ; "O prove but thou propitious to my prayer! "Grant me, among the Trojan race, to prove "A patriot worthy of my country's love; "Blefs'd in myself, I beg I next may be "Plefs'd in my children and pofterity :

Happy in health, long let me fee the fun,

“And, lov'd by all, late may my days be done.” He faid.---Jove's beauteous daughter thus reply'd, Delight of human-kind, thy fex's pride! "Honour'd Anchifes, you behold in me "No goddess blefs'd with immortality; "But mortal I, of mortal mother came, “Otreus my father (you have heard the name) "Who rules the fair extent of Phrygia's lands, "And all her towns and fortreffes commands. "When yet an infant, I to Troy was brought, "There was I nurs'd, and there your language taught; "Then wonder not, if, thus inftructed young, "I, like my own, can fpeak the Trojan tongue.

"In me, one of Diana's nymphs behold;

Why thus arriv'd, I fhall the caufe unfold. "As late our fports we practis'd on the plain, "I and my fellow-nymph of Cynthia's train

Dancing in chorus, and with garlands crown'd, "And by admiring crowds encompafs'd round,

"Lol

"Lo! hovering o'er my head I faw the god "Who Argus flew, and bears the golden rod : “Sudden he feiz'd, then bore me from their fight, Cutting through liquid air his rapid flight. "O'er many states and peopled towns we pass'd, “O'er hills and valleys, and o'er deserts wafte; "O'er barren moors, and o'er unwholefome fens, "And woods where beafts inhabit dreadful dens. "Through all which pathlefs way our fpeed was fuch, "We ftopt not once the face of earth to touch. “Meantime he told me, while through air we fled, "That Jove ordain'd I should Anchifes wed, "And with illuftrious offspring blefs his bed: "This faid, and pointing to me your abode, "To heaven again up-foar'd the fwift-wing'd God; "Thus, of neceffity, to you I come,

Unknown, and loft, far from my native home. "But I conjure you, by the throne of Jove,

By all that's dear to you, by all you love,

By your good parents (for no bad could e'er "Produce a fon fo graceful, good, and fair); "That you no wiles employ to win my heart, "But let me hence an untouch'd maid depart; "Inviolate and guiltless of your bed,

"Let me be to your house and mother led. "Me to your father and your brothers show, "And our alliance first let them allow :

"Let me be known, and my condition own'd, “And no unequal match I may be found.

N4

}

"Equality

Equality to them

Worthy a daughter's or a fifter's name, "Though for your wife, of too inferior fame. "Next, let ambassadors to Phrygia haste, "To tell my father of my fortunes pafs'd, "And eafe my mother in that anxious state,

"Of doubts and fears, which cares for me create.
They in return fhall presents bring from thence
"Of rich attire, and fums of gold immense :
"You in peculiar fhall with gifts be grac'd,
In price and beauty far above the rest.

"This done, perform the rites of nuptial love,
"Grateful to men below, and Gods above."
She faid, and from her eyes shot fubtle fires,
Which to his heart infinuate defires.

Refiftlefs love invading thus his breast,
The panting youth the fmiling queen address'd ;
"Since mortal you, of mortal mother came,
"And Otreus you report your father's name;
"And fince th' immortal Hermes from above,
"To execute the dread commands of Jove,
"Your wondrous beauties hither has convey'd,
"A nuptial life with me henceforth to lead :
"Know, now, that neither gods nor men have power
"One minute to defer the happy hour,

"This inftant will I feize upon thy charms,
"Mix with thy foul, and melt within thy arms:
"Though Phoebus, arm'd with his unerring dart,
"Stood ready to transfix my panting heart;

"Though

"Though Death, though Hell, in confequence attend, "Thou shalt with me the genial bed ascend.”

He faid, and fudden fnatch'd her beauteous hand;
The goddess fmil'd, nor did th' attempt withstand:
But fix'd her eyes upon the hero's bed,
Where soft and filken coverlets were spread,
And over all a counterpane was plac'd,
Thick fown with furs of many a favage beast,
Of bears and lions, heretofore his fpoil:
And ftill remain'd the trophies of his toil.
Now to afcend the bed they both prepare,
And he with eager hafte difrobes the fair.

Her fparkling necklace, firft, he laid aside;
Her bracelets next, and braided hair unty'd :
And now, his bufy hand her zone unbrac'd,
Which girt her radiant robe around her waste ;
Her radiant robe at laft afide was thrown,
Whose rofy hue with dazzling luftre fhone.

The Queen of Love the youth thus difarray'd,
And on a chair of gold her vestments laid.
Anchifes now (fo Jove and fate ordain'd)
The sweet extreme of ecstasy attain'd;

And mortal he, was like th' immortals bless'd,

Not conscious of the goddess he poffefs'd.

But when the swains their flocks and herds had fed,' And from the flowery field returning, led

Their sheep to fold, and oxen to the shed;
In foft and pleafing chains of fleep profound,
The wary goddess her Anchifes bound:

Then