E-UBRARYd?/-, uij AavaaiH^ IE-UNIVEI \ i i I =n O fUDNv-an^ IE-UNIVER% ^ raoNV-so^ 'i/Aavaaii n 1 *^AQ '/- ^ IOS cp a; * I I ^Jl 1 1 y bnA PH PREFACE. AS there is no clafs of writers more freely cenfured than Poets, and that by judges of all forts, competent and incom- petent : I mall attempt to anfwer fome ob- jections that may be made to the following performance, by perfons not fufficiently ac- quainted with Epic poetry, and the rules upon which it ought to be formed. THE beauties of the piece, if it has any, mall be left to be difcovered by the reader for himfelf. This is "his undoubted privi- lege -, and I have no intention to break in upon it : neither would it be of any advan- tage to do fo j for poetical beauties, if they , are real, will make themfelves obferved, and have their full effect without a com- ment. SOME will object to the choice of the fub- jed, That it is taken from the hillory of an .age and nation, the particular manners of which are not now well known, and there - a 2 fore 975962 iv PREFACE. fore incapable of being juftly reprefented by any modern author. This objection wilt appear to be of little confequence, when we confider that the fad: upon which it proceeds is io far from being ftrictly true, that there are none who have any tolerable ihare of claffical learning, that are not better ac- quainted with the manners and cuftoms of the heroic ages, than with thofe of their own country, at the diftance of a few centuries. Neither is this knowledge of antient man- ners confined to the learned ; the vulgar themfelves, from the books of Mofes, and other accounts of the firft periods of the Jewilh ftate, are fufficientlyinftrujfted in the cuftoms of the earlieit times, to be able to relifh any work where thefe are are juftly re- prefented. With what favor, for inftance, has Mr. Pope's tranflation of the lUad been received by perfons of all conditions ? and how much is it commonly preferred to the Fairy Queen, a poem formed upon manners of a much more modern caft. But, fup- pofmg the fad upon which the objection proceeds to be true, and that the cuftoms and manners peculiar to the times from which the PREFACE. v the fubjeft of the poem is taken, are not now well underftood, 1 do not apprehend, that, even with this conceffion, the objection amounts to any thing confiderable ; for man- ners are to be diftinguiihed into two kinds, imiverfal and particular. Univerfal man- ners, are thofe which arife from the original frame and conftitution of the human nature^ and which confequently are the fame in all nations and periods of the world. Particular manners, on the other hand, confiil of fuch cuftoms and modes of behaviour, as proceed from the influence of partial caufes, and that fhift and vary as thofe caufes do upon which they depend. To make myfelf underftood by an example ; it is agreeable to common or imiverfal manners, to be angry and refent an injury ; but particular manners, in ordi- nary cafes, determine the methods of revenge. For great offences, an Italian poifons his ene- my , a Spaniard ftabs him over the moulder-, and a Frenchman feeks fatisfaction in a duel. From this example, it will be eafy to fee that particular manners ought to appear but very little, either in Epic poetry, Tragedy, or any other of the higher kinds of poetical compo- a 3 fitionj >! PREFACE. fition; for they are vulgar, and depend upon cmtom : but great pafiions and high charac- ters reject ordinary forms; and therefore muft, upon every occafion, break thro' all the common modes both of fpeech and be- haviour. Tho' antient manners, therefore* v/ere not ib precifely known as they are, I ihould imagine, that a ftory taken from the accounts which we have of the heroic ages,, might very well lerve for the fubject of an Epic poem, and have all the advantages ne- ceffary in refpect of that fpecies of compo- fition. IT may like wife be alledged, That I have done wrong in choofmg for my fubject a piece of hillory which has no connection v/ith prefent affairs ; and that, if 1 had done otherwife, my work would have been more interefling and ufeful. THIS objection, leemingly a very material one, admits, notwithftanding, of an eafy an- fwer, viz. that fubjefts for Epic poetiy ought always to be taken from periods too early to fall within the reach of true hiftory. And, if this rule is (hewn to be eflential, which I ihail attempt to do in what follows, it will be found PREFACE. vii found to be impofilble that any fubjeft pro- per for that kind of writing mould have a connexion with prefent affairs. The proper bufmefs of Epic poetry is to extend our ideas of human perfection, or, as the critics ex- prefs it, to excite admiration. In order to do this in any tolerable degree, characters muft be magnified, and accommodated, ra- ther to our notions of heroic greatnefs, than to the real ftate of human nature. There appears a certain littlenefs in all men when truly known, which checks admiration, and confines it to very narrow limits ; heroes, themfelves, tho' poffefied of the greateft qua- lities, are, in moft circumftancesof their con- dition, fo much upon a level with the ordi- nary run of mankind, that fuch as have an opportunity of being intimately acquainted with them, do not admire them at the fame rate that others do, who view them only at a di (lance. The common conditions of huma- nity leiTen every man j and there are many little circumftances infeparably connected with or ftate of being, which we cannot eafily reconcile with our idea of Epaminon- das, Plato, Scipio, or Casfar. From all this a 4 it viii PREFACE. it plainly appears, that admiration claims for its object fomething fuperior to mere huma- nity ; and therefore fuch poems as have it for their end to excite admiration, ought ta celebrate thofe perfons only that never have been treated of by regular hrftorians. For hitlory gives to all things their juft and na- tural dimenfions ; and, if it mould interfere with poetical fiction, would effectually con- fute thofe beautiful legends which are in- vented to raife our ideas of character and action, above the ftandard at which expe- rience has fixed them. LET it be obferved, as a further confirma- tion of the maxim which I am eftablifhing, that there is in our minds a principle which leads us to admire pad times; efpecially thofe which are moft remote from our own. This prejudice is ftrong in us ; and, without being directed or affifted by art, forms in the mere vulgar of all countries, the moft extravagant notions of the ftature, flrength, and other heroic qualities of their remote anceftors. This prejudice, fo favourable to poefical fic- tion, true hiftory effectually deftroys ; and therefore Poets, that they may have the ad- vantage P R E F A Cj E. ix vantage of it, ought t6 celebrate thofe per~ fons and events only that are of fo great an- tiquity, as not to be remembered with any degree of certainty and exactnefs. BUT, inftead of a thoufand arguments to this purpofe, let us only coniider the machi- nery which muft be employed in an Epic poem : how heaven and hell muft both be put in motion, and brought into the action ; how events altogether out of the common road of human affairs, and no ways coun- tenanced either by reafon or by experience, muft be offered to men's imaginations, fo as to be admitted for true. Let us confider all this, and it will appear, that there is nothing which Poets ought more carefully to avoid, than interfering with fuch regular and well vouched accounts of things as would effec- tually confute their fable, and make the meaneft reader reject it with contempt. This is a point of prudence which no poet has yet neglected with impunity. Lucan, accord- ing to his ufual rafhnefs, has taken, for the fubjecV of an Epic poem, one of the beft known events which he could have pitched upon in the whole feries of human affairs ; a 5 and, x PREFACE. and, in order to diftingurfh himfelf from a mere hiilorian, is often under a necefiity of flatting from his fubject, and employing the whole force of a very lively and fruitful in- vention in unnecelTarydefcriptionsand trifling digreflions. This, befides other inconve- niencies of greater importance, gives fuch an appearance of labor and {training to his whole performance, as takes much from the merit of it, with all who have any notion of eafe, majeftyy and fimplicity in writing. He, and all other poets who have fallen into the fame error, find always this difadvantage attending it, that the true and fictitious parts of their work refufe to unite, and {landing as it were at a diftance, upon terms of mutual averfion r reproach each other with their peculiar de- fects. Fiction accufes truth of narrownefs and want of dignity , and this again repre- fents the other as vain and extravagant. Spencer, who, in his Fairy ^uen^ not only treats of matters within the {phere of regular hiftory, but defcribes even the tranfactions of his own time, in order to avoid the in- conveniencies which he knew to be almoft infeparable from fuch an attempt, covers his. ftory PREFACE. xi ftory with a veil of allegory, that few of his readers are able to penetrate. This ftratagem leaves him at full liberty in the exercife of his invention; but he pays, in my opinion, too dear for that privilege, by facrificing to it all the weight and authority which a mixture of received tradition and real geography would have given to his fable. Milton takes the fubjecls of both his great poems from true hiftory, yet does not fucceed the worfe upon that account. But it is to be remem- bered, that his chief actors are not men, but divine and angelical beings ; and that it is the human nature only which fuffers by a juft reprefentation, and lofes in point of dignity, when truly known. Befides, the hiftorical circumftances upon which he builds are fofew, and of fo extraordinary a nature, that they are eafily accommodated to poetical fiction ; and therefore, inftead of limiting him, and fetting bounds to his invention, they ferve only to countenance and give a degree of credibility to whatever he pleafes to feign. Shakefpear may likewife be quoted as an ex- ception to the general rule, who takes the fubjects sof many of his pieces from periods . a 6 of xii PREFACE. of the Englifh hiftory not very remote, and, notwithftanding, fucceeds remarkably in ex- citing the heroic paffion. That Shakefpear makes us admire his heroes is undeniable; and no man of common fenie will ever pre- tend to affert, that' real characters of great men, touched up and heightened by a poeti- cal fancy, will, not very naturally excite ad- miration. But there are different degrees of this pafiion, as well as of all others : and it is evident, that the degree of it which Shake- ipear intends to raife, is not equal to that which Homer aims at, and the other writers of the Epic tribe. We admire no character in Shakefpear's works more than that of Henry V. but the idea which Homer gives us of Achilles is (till more noble and auguft. The Tragedian mixes fo much of the ordi- nary man in the character of his hero, that we become too familiar with him to admire him in a high degree : for in thofe very pieces in which he is reprefented as performing his moil remarkable exploits, he is often found at his leifure hours amufing himfelf with a knot of humorifts, pickpockets, and buf- foons. I do not pretend to cenfure Shake- fpear PREFACE. xiii fpear for this conduct ; becaufe it is not the bufmefs of a Tragedian to make us admire, but to intereft our other affections : and, to make his heroes very much objects of ad- miration, would poflibly be one of the great- eft errors than an author of that kind could fall into : for the principle of companion, to which Tragedy is peculiarly addrefTed, is in- compatible with high admiration ; and a man, in order either to be loved or pitied, muft appear with evident fymptoms of the weak- neffes common to the reft of the human kind. It is our own image in diftrefs which afflicts us j and we never pity one under calamities, who is not weak enough to be moved by them. Homer, upon this account, never at- tempts to excite pity, but from fuch private and domeftic diftrefles as mew his heroes in the light of ordinary men. Sophocles like- wife, from a juft apprehenfion that the he- roic paflion interferes with the proper fpirit of Tragedy, leflens on purpofe the great characters which he introduces, and ftrips them of more than half their dignity. Tho* therefore Shakefpear makes us admire his heroes as much as a Tragedian ought to do, and xiv PREFACE. and even more, in fome inftances, than the rules of art would juftify ; yet, as the degree of admiration which he excites is lefs by far than that which Epic poetry aims at, it may well be raifed from iiibjects that are ftrictly hiflorical, tho* the higher degrees of that paffion cannot. Were my judgment of fufficient authority in matters of criticifm, I would have it underftood as a rule, That the fubjects of Epic poetry mould be taken from tradition only : that Tragedy mould keep within the limits of true hiftory ; and that Comedy, without meddling at all with hiftorical facts, mould expofe vice and folly in recent inftances, and from living exam- ples. That part of the rule which regards Epic poetry, is fufficiently juftified from what has been already faid , and, concerning Tragedy, I have likewife obferved, that it ought not to exalt its greatefb characters above the ftandard of real life. From this it will follow, that it may be ftrictly hiftorical without lofing any real advantage, and attain its full perfection without the afiiftance of fable. I believe it will be eafily allowed, that where truth aud fiction are equally fub- fervient PREFACE. xv fervient to the purpofes of poetry, the firft ought always to be preferred ^ for true hii- tory carries a weight and authority with it, which feldom attend ftories that are merely fictitious, and has many other advantages for interefting our affections above the legends of remote antiquity. But as Tra- gedy mould never go fo far back as the fa- bulous ages, neither mould it, in my opi- nion, approach too near to prefent times - r for, tho' it does not aim at raifing and gra- tifying the paflion of admiration, yet it has a degree of dignity to maintain, which it would endanger by treating of events too recent, and characters too particularly re- membered. Comedy, on the other hand, and indeed every fpecies of fatire whatfo- ever, ought to attack living characters only, and the vices and follies of prefent times. That imperfection which appears in eveiy thing when viewed near, a circumftance fo unfavorable to the genius of Epic poetry and Tragedy, falls in precifely with that of Comedy, a kind of writing which has no- dignity to fupport, points always at what is ridiculous, and marks its objects with cha- racter* xvi PREFACE. rafters of littlenefs and contempt. We na- turally admire paft times, and reverence the dead; and confequently are not fo much difpoled to laugh at fools, who have already finifhed their parts, and retired, as at fools who are yet upon the ftage. The antient Comedy of the Greeks, which proceeded upon this maxim, was certainly, upon that account, the moil perfect fpecies of fatire that ever was invented. Homer, as he ex- ceeds all other poets in merit, has likewife the advantage of them in point of good for- tune ; the condition of the age in which he wrote gave him an opportunity of cele- brating, in his poems, events, which tho* they were in his days of no great antiquity, and confequently the more interefling, yet had fallen, thro* the want of authentic re- cords, into fo happy a degree of obfcurity, that he was at full liberty to feign concern- ing them what he pleafed, without any dan- ger of confutation. This is an advantage which fucceeding poets could not boaft of; and therefore have found themfelves under a necefiity, either of taking their fubjects from remote antiquity, as I have done, or (which, PREFACE. xvli (which, in my opinion, is worfe) of attempt- ing to mix fable with true hiftory, which ne- ver can be done with fuccefs. THE mythology in the following poem will probably give offence to fome readers, who will think it indecent for a Chriftian to write in fuch a manner as to fuppofe the truth of a Heathen religion. ^ They will be of opinion, that it would have been better, either to have introduced no religious fyftem at all, or to have chofen fuch a fubject as would have admitted of the true fyftem. I mall endeavour to anfwer this objection, by eftablilhing two maxims directly oppofite to what is propofed in the preceding alter- native, and fhew not only that divine beings are necefiary characters in an Epic poem, but likewife that it is highly improper to introduce the true God into a~work of that nature. If diefe two points are fully made out, the force of the objection will be taken away. As to the firft of them, let us again confider the end which Epic poetry proposes to itfclf : it aims at exciting admiration, by letting before us images of whatever is great and noble in the human character : it is ne- cefiary xviii PREFACE. cefiary for this purpofe that a poet mould give his heroes, not only all thofe intrinfic qualities which make men admired, but that he mould magnify them likewife by a fkilful management of outward circum- ftances. We do not form our notions either of perfons or things from their real qualities only; circumftances of a foreign nature, and merely acceffory, have as great an influence as thefe in determining our approbation and diflike. This obiervation fhews the importance of mythology to Epic poetry ; for nothing can render a perfon of greater confequence in the eye of the world, than an opinion that the gods regard him with a peculiar degree of attention, and are much interefted in all that relates to him. If people are once confidered as the favorites of heaven, or inftruments chofcn for . the accomplifliment of its important purpofes , poets may tell of them what great things they pleafe, without feeming to exaggerate, or fay any thing that ex- ceeds the bounds of probability. Homer was certainly of this opinion, when he aicribed, to his heroes, valor and other great PREFACE. xix great qualities in fo immoderate a degree : for, had the gods never interpofed in any of the events which he celebrates ; had his .chief actors been no ways connected with them, either in point of favor or conian- guinity, and reprefented, at the lame time, as performing the high exploits which he afcribes to them, inflead of being applauded as the firft of poets, he would have been cenfured as the moft falfe and moft cre- dulous of hiftorians. This argument in favor of poetical mythology, with another which might be taken from the advantage it is of in point of ornament, and a third from its ufe in allegory, has determined al- moft all the writers who have followed the Epic or heroic ftyle, to allow it a place in their compofitions : fuch of them as have taken their fubject from Greek or Roman ftory, have adopted the mythology of Ho- mer ; and the reft, in celebrating more modern heroes, have, inflead of that, made ufe of the true religion, corrupted by an unnatural mixture of northern fuperftition and Grecian fable. From a practice there- fore fo univerfal, we may juftly infer, that poets xx PREFACE. poets have looked upon mythology as a thing of great ufe in their competitions, and almoft efiential to the art. IT may be alledged, after all that has been faid, That, to bring gods into Epic poetry, is inconvenient on many accounts -, that it prevents a proper difplay of character in the human actors, turning them all into fo many machines, to be moved and guided by the immediate impulfes of Deity : that it breaks in upon the order of natural caufes, and renders all art, either in the plan or conduct of a work, fuperfluous and unne- ceflary. If what this objection fuppofes were true, and that the mixing of gods with men in the action of an Epic poem, neceflarily turned the whole into miracle ; if it were an unavoidable confequence of this method, that the human actors mould be governed in all they do by divine impulfe determining them, without regard to their natural characters, and the probable mo- tives which ought to influence them : in fhort, if mythology could have no place in a poem, but at the expence of manners, order, connection, and every other thing that PREFACE. xxi that can render a work either beautiful or inftructive, it would be an a'rgument againft it of fuch weight, as nothing alledged in its favor would be able to counterbalance. But the objection is by flo means well founded; for, tho' there maybe an indif- creet application of mythology, productive of all thofe ill effects which have been men- tioned ; yet it is obvious, both from reafon and experience, that mythology may be managed in fuch a manner as to be at- tended with none of them. And this will appear from a very obvious example : The greateft part of mankind, in every age, have believed that gods and fuperior beings go- vern and direct the courfe of human affairs. Many individuals, and even whole nations, have thought that all the actions and events .of our lives are predetermined by an over- ruling power, and that we fuffer the con- trol of an irrefiftible neceffity in all we do: yet this opinion never changes the moral fcelings of fuch as entertain it, and their judgment of characters and actions; they love and hate, approve and difapprove, ad* mire and defpife, in the lame njanner as others xxii PREFACE. others do who believe that men are abfo- lutely free, and that their final determina- tions proceed only from themfelves. But when it is underftood, that people ad with- out confcioufnefs, or that the organs of their bodies are not under the dominion of their own wills, but actuated by fome other being without their confent ; in Ihort, when mere phyfical necefllty is fubftituted in place of moral, all idea of character, all fenfe of ap- probation and difapprobation immediately ceafes. From this fact, the truth of which- no body will difpute, it is eafy to judge in what cafes the interpofition of gods in the action of a poem will prevent a proper dif- play of the human characters, and when not. Volition, as appears by the example now given, is that upon which all our moral ideas are founded : fo long then as volition is exerted, there is a character, and, when that ceafes, the character is loft. If there- fore the deities in a poem are employed in animating and deterring the heroes, only by fuggefting fuch motives as are proper to influence their wills j fuch interpofition by no means^ interferes with the difplay of cha- PREFACE. xxiii character, but rather favors it; for the quality of every mind may be known from the motives by which it is determined ; and Minerva's prevailing with Pandarus to be guilty of a piece of treachery, by fuggeft- ing that Paris would reward him for it, difcovered the venality of his temper as much as if he had done the fame action from a like motive occurring to himfelf. POETS often make the gods infufe an un- common degree of vigor into their heroes, for anfwering fome great occafion, and add to the grace and dignity of their figure. Sometimes they make a fecond rate hero the firft in a particular action, and, with their afllftance, he diftinguimes himfelf above fuch as are at other times more re- markable for valor and fuccefs : all this is fo agreeable to what happens naturally, and from mere mechanical caufes, that we for- get the gods, and interpret what happens as if they had not interpofed at all. For every body knows, that when people are roufed to any remarkable exertion of force, they become ftronger than they are at other times ; and that, when in this manner the fpirits xxiv PREFACE. fpirits rife to an uncommon height, the whole body acquires new graces. Valor is not a fixed and permanent quality, nor is it found in any one always in the fame degree. Plutarch obferves, that of all the virtues it exerts itfelf moft irregularly, and rifes by fits like a divine infpiration. The fenfe which every man has of thefe things, makes him look upon the interpofition of gods in fuch cafes as a mythological way of ex- prefling what is merely natural, and allow fuch as perform the great actions in a poem to pofiefs the whole merit of them. It never leflens our opinion of Hector's valor, for inftance, that Apollo often afiifts him ; nor do we think Ulyfles lefs prudent, be- caufe he is guided by the influence of Mi- nerva. We have as clear impreflions of thofc, and the other Homeric characters, as we have of any characters whatsoever, and difcern their limits and diftinguifhing marks as clearly, as if they had acted altogether of themfelves. That fuperior beings fhould be employed in governing the events of things, and interpofing by thunder, earth- quakes, inundations, peftilences, and the like, PREFACE. xxv like, can never be thought unnatural in poetry, by any one who believes that Pro- vidence actually manages the affairs of the world by fuch means. It belongs to men to defign and act, but to Heaven alone to determine events. Tho' a poet, therefore^ fhould reprefent an army weaker and worfe conducted, prevailing, in confequence of that kind of interpofition which has been mentioned, over another, evidently bet- ter and ftronger; there would be ftb- thing unnatural in fuch an account, or contrary to what is often experienced in real affairs. AFTER all that has been faid, it muft be owned, that if gods are brought in upon flight occafions, and for trifling pur- pofes ; if they are put upon working mi- racles in order to cover blunders, either in the plan or execution of a poem, and employed in cutting fuch knots as the author himfelf has not the fkill or patience to untie ; it mud be owned, I fay, that this is a very wrong application of mythology, .and attended with all the difadvantages b which xxvi P R E F ACE. v/hich the objection mentions. It is a ftratagem, which, if often practifed, would teach the reader at laft to difregard all appearances, and, when the moft impor- tant periods of affairs were approaching, to remain quite fecure and uninterefted, trufting that a god would always be at hand in time of need to manage every thing as the poet would have it, and put all to rights by the fhorteft and moil ef- fectual methods. I have confidered this objection at greater length, becaufe at firft view it appears very plaufible ; and fhall proceed to what remains, after I have taken notice of another, which has likewife fome appearance of force. It will be thought inconvenient, as it is the delign of Epic poetry to raife and dignify human cha- racters, that gods mould appear with men in the fame fcenes of action. It will be alledged, that in this cafe the divine per_ fons will neceflarily overfhadow the human, lefien them by a comparifon, and confe- quently produce an effect directly oppofite to what is intended. This objection, how- ever PREFACE. xxvir ever plaufible, does not feem to be fup- ported by experience j at leaft I never found in any inftance, that the fplendor of the divine characters in a poem eclipfed the human. Befides, this is what cannot eafily happen ; for, let us fuppofe two parties of boys engaged in fome trial, either of force or flcill, and that a few men take part in the debate, dividing themfelves be- tween the oppofite fides, and aflifting them againft each other, would the exploits of the full-grown men, however remarkable, leffen thofe of the boys ? by no means ; for things that are confefledly unequal, never come into competition, and therefore cannot be either leflened or magnified by appearing together. Are we lefs difpofed to admire the valor of Achilles, becaufe it is underftood he was not a match for Ju- piter ? or the lagacity of UlyfTes, becaufe his penetration was not equal to that of Minerva? But there is one circumftance which renders it abfolntely impomble for the gods in Epic poetry to eclipfe the men in point of heroifm , and it is this, That b2 the xxviii PREFACE. the gods are immortal, and confequently cannot exert that in which heroifm chiefly confifts, viz. the contempt of death. Ho- mer, in order to give his deities as much of that quality as poifible, has made them vulnerable and fufceptible of pain -, a free- dom which has mocked fome of the cri- tics, who did not attend to the reafon of his doing fo. But Homer was too good a judge of propriety, not to be fenfible that no perfon could appear with advantage in military actions who ventured nothing in point of perlbnal fafety, and that flature, force, magnificent armor, and even the higheft achievements, will never confti- tute the heroic character, where patience and a contempt of danger have no oppor- tunity of appearing. It is this circum- ftance which gives the mortals in Epic poetry a manifell advantage over the im- mortals ; and Mars, when ufhered into the field with all the pomp and magnificence of Homeric defcription, is an object lefs to be admired than Diomed, Ajax, and many others who combat bravely, tho 1 confcious of PREFACE. xxix of mortality. Homer, who has managed his great characters with the trueft judg- ment and ftricteft attention to circumftances, takes care to have Achilles early informed that he was to perilh at Troy, elfe he might feem too confcious of lafety, from his match- lefs valor and the armor which he wore, to be great in that which is moil to be ad- mired, the contempt of death, when the danger of it is imminent. It muft be ac- knowledged, that in Milton's Paradife Loft^ the p^rfons in the machinery over-fhadow the human characters, and that the heroes of the poem are all of them immortals: but then it is to be remembered, that Pa-. radife Loft is a work altogether irregular ; that the fubject of it is not Epic, but Tra- gic i and that Adam and Eve are not de- figned to be objects of admiration, but of pity: it is Tragic in its plot, and Epic in its drefs and machinery : as a Tragedy, it does not fall under the prefent quef- tion ; and as an Epic poem, it evades it likewile, by a circumftance very uncom- mon, viz. that in the part of it which is b 3 pro- xxx PREFACE. properly Epic, there are no human perfons at all. I HAVE in this manner endeavoured to prove that mythology is necefTary to an Fpic poem, and that the chief objections to the ufe of it are of little confequence. I proceed to eftablifh the other proportion which I mentioned, and mew, that the true God ought not to be brought into a. work of that nature. And if this propo- fition can be made out, it will eafily ap- pear from it and the preceding one taken together, that Poets are under a necefiity of having recourfe to a falie theology, and that they are not to be blamed for doing what the nature of Epic poetry on t-he one hand, and refpeft to the true religion on the other, render necelTary and unavoidable. For proving the point in queftion, 1 need only obferve, that no perfon can appear with advantage in poetry, who is not re- prefented according to the form and condi- tion of a man. This art addre fifes itfelf chiefly to the imagination, a faculty which apprehends nothing in the way of character that PREFACE. xxxi that is not human, and according to the analogy of that nature of which we our- felves are confcious. But it would be equal- ly impious and abfurd to reprefent the Deity in this manner, and to contrive for him a particular character, and method of acting, agreeable to the prejudices of weak and ignorant mortals. In the early ages of the church, he thought fit to accom- modate himfelf, by fuch a piece of con- defcenfion, to the notions and apprehen- fions of his creatures : but it would be in- decent in any man to ufe the fame free- dom, and do that for God, which he only has a right to do for himfelf. The author of Paradife Left has offended notorioufly in this refpect ; and, tho* no encomiums are too great for him as a poet, he is juftly chargeable with impiety, for prefuming to reprefent the Divine Nature, and the my- fteries of religion, according to the nar- rownefs of human prejudice : his dialogues between the Father and the Son ; his em- ploying a Being of .infinite wifdom in dif- cu fling the fubtleties of fchool divinity ; b 4 the xxxii PREFACE. the fenfual views which he gives of the happinefs of heaven, admitting into it, as a part, not only real eating and drinking, but another kind of animal pleafure too by no means more refined : thefe, and fuch like circumftances, tho' perfectly poetical, and agreeable to the genius of an art which adapts every thing to the human model, are, at the fame time, fo inconfiftent with truth, and the exalt id ideas which we ought to entenain of divine things, that they muft be highly orfenfive to all fuch as have juft impreiTions of religion, and would not choofe to fee a fyftem of doctrine revealed from heaven, reduced to a ftate of con- formity with Heathen fuperftition. True theology ought not to be ufed in an Epic poem, for another reafan, of no lefs weight than that which has been, mentioned, viz. That the human characters which it re- prefents mould never be formed upon a perfect moral plan, but have their piety, (for inflance) tinctured with fuperftition, and their general behavior influenced by affection, pafiion, and prejudice. This will be {PREFACE, xxxiii be thought a violent paradox, by fuch as do not know that imperfect characters in* tereft us more than perfect ones, and that we are doubly inftructed when we fee, in one and the fame example, both what we ought to follow, and what we ought to avoid. Accordingly Horace, in his EpilUe to Lollius, where he bellows the higheft encomiums upon the Iliad^ as a work which delineated vice and virtue better than the writings of the moft celebrated philofo- phers, fays of it, notwithstanding, That it is taken up in defcribing the animofities of foolifli kings and infatuated nations. To go to the bottom of this matter, it will be proper to obferve, that men are capable of two forts of character, which may be dif- tinguimed by the names of natural and ar- tificial. The natural character implies all thofe feelings, paflions, defires, and opi- nions which men have from nature and common experience, independent of fpecu- lation and moral refinement. A peribn of this character looks upon outward profpe- rity as a real good, and confiders the cala- b 5 mities xxxiv PREFACE. mlties of life as real evils ; loves his friends, hates his enemies, admires his fuperiors, is affuming with refpect to his inferiors, and ftands upon terms of rivalfhip with his equals; in fhort, is governed by all thofe paffions and opinions that poffefs the hearts and determine the actions of ordinary men. The force and magnitude of this character- is in proportion to the flrength of thefe natural difpofitions ; and its virtue confifls in having the generous and beneficent ones predominant. As to that fort of character, again, which I diflinguifhed by the name of artificial ; it confifts in a habit of mind formed by difcipline, according to the cool and difpaflionate dictates of reafon. This character is highly moral, but, in my opi- nion, far lefs poetical than the other, by being lefs fit for interefting our affections, which are formed by the wife Author of our nature for embracing fuch beings as are of the fame temper and complexion with our- felves, and are marked with the common infirmities of human nature. Perfons of the high philofophic character, are too firm and PREFACE. xxxv and unmoved, amidft the calamities they meet with, to excite much fympathy, and are too much fuperior to the Tallies of p^ fion and partial affection, the popular marks of generofity and greatnefs of mind, ever to be much admired by the bulk of man- kind. If the moft accomplilhed poet in the world mould take a rigid philoibpher for the chief character either of an Epic poem or a Tragedy, it is eafy to conjecture what would be the fuccefs of fuch an attempt ; the work would aflume the character of its hero, and be cold, difpafiionate, and un- interefting. There is, however, a fpecies of panegyric proper for fuch fort of perfec- tion, and it may be reprefented to advan- tage, either in hiilory or profe dialogue, but it will never ftrike the bulk of man- kind. Plato, in his apology of Socrates, deceives us ; as Mr. Addifon likewife does in his Tragedy of Cato : for both of them attempt to perfuade us, that we are affected with the contemplation of unfhaken forti- tude, while we are only fympathizing with fuffering innocence. The tendernefs of b 6 huma- xxxvi PREFACE. humanity appearing thro' the hardnefs of the philofophic character, is that which af- l^cts us in both inftances, and not that un- conquered greatnefs of mind, which occa^ fions rather wonder and aftonifhment than genuine affection. FROM what has been faid, it is eafy to infer, that the great characters, both in Epic poetry and Tragedy, ought not to be formed upon a perfect moral plan; and therefore heroes themfelves muft often be reprefented as acting from fuch motives, and governed by fuch affections as impar- tial reaibn cannot approve of: but it would be highly indecent to make a being, whom religion teaches us to confider as perfect, en- ter into the views of fuch perfons, and exert himfelf in order to promote their extrava- gant enterprizes. This would be to bring down the infinite wifdom of God to the level of human folly, and to make him al- together fuch an one as ourfelves. A FALSE theology, therefore, ought ra- ther to be employed in poetical competitions than PREFACE, xxxvii than the true , for, as the fuperior beings which are introduced mud of neceflity be reprefented as afiuming the paflions and opinions of thofe whom they favor, it is furely much fafer to employ a fet of ima- ginary beings for this purpofe, than God himfelf, and the bleffed angels, who ought always to be objects of our reverence. THE fame reafoning which leads to this conclufion, will likewife make us fenfible, that among falfe religions, thofe ought to be preferred which, are leaft connected with the true ; for the fuperflitions which priefts and poets have built upon the Chriftian faith, dimonor it, and therefore mould, if poflible, be buried in oblivion. The an- tient Greek theology feems upon all ac- counts the fitteft. It has no connection with the true fyftem, and therefore may be treated with the greateft freedom, with- out indecency or ground of offence. It confifts of a number of beautiful fables, fuited to the tafte of the moft lively and ingenious people that ever exifled, and ib much calculated to ravifh and tranfport a warm xxxviii PREFACE. warm imagination, that many poets in mo- dern times, who proceeded upon a dif- ferent theology, havfe notwithftanding been fo bewitched with its charms, as to admit it into their works, tho' it clamed violently with the fyftem which they had adopted. Milton is remarkable in this refpect; and the more fo, as his poem is altogether of a religious nature, and the fubject of it taken from Holy Writ. SOME may poflibly imagine, that the fol- lowing work would have had greater merit, if it had offered to the world a fet of cha- racters entirely new, and a ftory no ways connected with any thing that is already known. I am not of this opinion, but perfuaded, on the contrary, that, to invent a ftory quite new, with a catalogue of names never before heard of, would be an attempt of fuch a nature, as could not be made with tolerable fuccefs ; for every man muft be fenfible, that the wonders which Epic poetry relates, will mock even the ignorant vulgar, and appear altogether ridiculous, if they are not founded upon fome- PREFACE, xxxix fbmething which has already gained a de- gree of credit. Our firft ideas are taken from experience ; and, tho' we may be brought to receive notions, not only very different from thofe which experience fug- gefls, but even directly contrary to them, yet this is not to be done fuddenly and at one attempt : fuch, therefore, as would have their fictions favorably received, muft lay it down as a rule, to accommodate what they feign to eftablifhed prejudices, and build upon ftories which are already in fome meafure believed. With this pre- caution, they may go great lengths with- out appearing abfurd, but will foon mock the meaneft underftandings, if they neglect it. Had there been no fabulous accounts concerning the Trojan expedition current in Greece and Afia, at the time when Ho- mer wrote, the ftories which he tells, tho* the moft beautiful that ever were invented, would have appeared to his co- tempora- ries altogether ridiculous, and never been admired, till antiquity had procured them credit, or a tradition been formed after- wards xl PREFACE. wards to vouch for them to the world ; for, in matters of an extraordinary kind, not only reafon, but even imagination, requires more than a fingle tedimony to ground its aflent upon-, and therefore, tho' I mould have invented a fet of characters intirely new, and framed a ftory for the fubject of my poem no ways connected with any thing that has yet been heard of, and been fo happy in this attempt as to produce what might equal, in point of perfection, any of the moft beautiful fables of antiquity ; it would have wanted, notwithflanding, what is abfolutely necefiary in order to fuc- cefs, viz. that credit which new invented fictions derive from their connexion with fuch as are already become familiar to men's imaginations. TRADITION is the beft ground upon which fable can be built, not only becaufe it gives the appearance of reality to things that are merely fictitious, but likewife be- caufe it fupplies a poet with the moft pro- per materials for his invention to work upon. There are forne fabulous {lories that PREFACE. xii that pleafe more univerfally than others ; and of this kind are the wonders which tradition reports ; for they are accommo- dated to the affections and paffions of the bulk of mankind, in the fame manner as national proverbs are to their underftand- ings. The ftrict accommodation in both inftances proceeds from the fame caufe, viz. that nothing of either fort is the work of one man, or of one age, but of many. Traditions are not perfected by their firft inventors, nor proverbs eftablifhed upon a fingle authority. Proverbs derive their cre- dit from the general confent of mankind ; and tradition is gradually corrected and im- proved in the hands of fuch as tranfmit it to each other thro' a fuccefiion of ages. In its firft periods, it is a narrow thing, but extends itfelf afterwards, and, with the advantage of time and experiments often repeated, adapts itfelf fo precifely to the affections, paffions, and prejudices, natural to the human fpecies, that it becomes at laft perfectly agreeable to the fentiments of every heart. No one man, therefore, can xlii PREFACE. can pretend to invent fables that will pleafe fo univerfally, as thofe which are formed by the progrefs of popular tradition. The faculties of any individual muft be too narrow for that purpofe, and have too much of a peculiar caft to be capable of producing what will be fo ftri&ly adapted to the common feelings and fentiments of all. It is this fort of perfection which pleafes us in archeology, or the tradi- tional accounts which we have of the ori- gins of nations ; for we are often more agreeably entertained with ilories of that kind, tho' we know them to be abfolutely falfe, than with the jufteft reprefentations of real events. But as tradition, while it continues in the hands of the people, muft be but rude and drfagreeable in refpecl of its form, and have many things low and abfurd in it, neceflary to be palliated or fupprefled, it does not arrive at that per- fection of which it. is. capable, till it comes under the management of the poets, and from them receives its laft improvement. By means of this progrefs, tales that, in the PREFACE. xliiT the mouths of their firft inventors, were the moft abfurd that can be imagined, the effects of mere fuperftition, ignorance, and national prejudice, rife up at laft to aftonifh the world, and draw the admiration of all ages, in the form of an Iliad or Odyjfey. It is not the bufmels of a poet, then, to to make fable, but to form, correct, and improve tradition : and it is to his following this method, that Homer undoubtedly owes his fuccefs -, for it is obvious to any one who confiders his works with attention, that he only collected the various traditions that were current in his days, and reduced them to a iyftem. That infinite variety of inde- pendent (lories which occur in his works, is a proof of this: thefe are told with fo minute, and often fo unneceflary a detail of circumftances, that it is eafy to fee that he followed accounts already current, and did not invent. what he has recorded. I could as eafily believe that Prometheus made a man of clay, and put life into him, or aflent to any .other of the molt abfurd fic- tions of antiquity j I could even as foon be per- xliv PREFACE. perfuaded that all that Homer has written is ftridt matter of fact, as believe that any one mortal man was capable of inventing that infinite variety of hiftorical circum- flances which occur in the works of that celebrated poet : for invention is by no means an eafy thing , and to contrive a tale that will pleafe univerfally is certainly one of the moft difficult undertakings that can be imagined. Poets, therefore, have found themfelves under a necefllty of*trufting to fomething more powerful than their own invention in this important article, viz. the joint endeavours of many, regulated and directed by the cenfure of ages. WHAT has been faid, is not only fuffi- cient to juftify me in forming my poem upon hiftorical circumftances already known, and introducing characters which the reader is before acquainted with , but (hews the necefllty likewile of taking many of the hiftorical circumftances from the antient poets. For tradition, the proper founda- tion of Epic poetry, is now to be found only in their writings ; and therefore muft be PREFACE. xlv be ufed like a common (lock, and not con- fidered as the property of individuals. FOR the immoderate length of the two Epifodes, viz. thole in the fourth and feventh books, all that I can fay, is, that they are both brought in for very impor- tant purpofes, and therefore may be per- mitted to take up more room than is or- dinarily allowed to things of that fort. Befides, the firft of them is intended as an experiment in that kind of fiction which diftinguimes Homer's Odyfley, and the other as an attempt to heroic Tragedy, after the manner of Sophocles. THE language is fimple and artlefs. This I take to be an advantage, rather than a defect , for it gives an air of antiquity to the work, and makes the ftyle more fuit- able to the fubject. MY learned readers will be furprifed to find Agamemnon and Menelaus at the fiege of Thebes, when, according to Homer, they were not there : and, at the fame time, no xlvi PREFACE. no notice taken of Sthenelus, the friend and companion of Diomed, whom the fame author mentions as prefent in that expe- dition. WITH refpect to the firft circumftance -, I did not choofe, for the fake of a faft of fo little confequence, and that too depend- ing only upon poetical authority, to de- prive myfelf of two illuftrious names very proper for adorning my catalogue of he- roes. And as to the fecond-, it will be eafily allowed, that I could not have made Sthenelus appear, without aligning him that place in Diomed's friendfhip, and con- fequently in the action of the poem, which Ulyfles now pofiefies , and which is the only part in the whole fuited to his peculiar character. I muft have put a fecond-rate hero in the place of a firil-rate one ; and a name little known, in the place of one which every body is acquainted with. Be- fides, I muft have transferred, to Sthenelus, the valor, firmnefs, and addrefs of Ulyfles , becaufe the part he was to act would have re- PREFACE. xlvii required thefe, and muft, at the fame time, have funk Ulyfies into the character of Sthenelus, for want of a proper opportunity of difplaying him in his own. Thefe are inconveniencies too great to be incurred for the fake of a fcrupulous agreement with Homer in point of fact -, and are therefore, in my opinion,, better avoided. I HAVE explained myfelf upon the fore- going particulars, for the fake of the learned part of my readers only : and mail now drop a hint for fuch of them as do not fall under that denomination. THE following poem is called the Epi- gcniad, becaufe the heroes, whofe actions it celebrates, have got the name of 'The Epi- goni (or Deftendants\ being the fons of thofe who attempted the conqueft of Thebes m a former expedition. THUS far I have endeavoured to apolo- gize for the following performance. It may be cenfured, no doubt, upon many accounts befides thofe that have been men- tioned : xlviii PREFACE. tioned : but I am perfuaded, that what has been faid will determine every candid reader, not to be peremptory in condemning what at firfl view he may diflike j for the fpeci- men of criticifm which has been given, will convince him that the real faults of Epic poetry are not eafily afcertained, and dillinguifhed from thofe inconveniencies that muft be allowed to take place, in order to prevent greater faults, and pro- duce, upon the whole, a higher degree of perfection. THE THE E P I G O N I A D, BOOK I. YE pow'rs of fong ! with whofe immortal fire Your bard inraptur'd fung Pelides' ire, To Greece fo fatal, when in evil hour, He brav'd, in ftern debate, the fov'reign pow'r, By like example, teach me now to mow From love, no lefs, what dire difafters flow. For when the youth of Greece, by Thefeus led, Return'd to conquer where their fathers bled, And punifti guilty Thebes, by heav'n ordain'd For perfidy to fall, and oaths profan'd j Venus, ftill partial to the Theban arms, Tydeus' fon feduc'd by female charms; Who, from his plighted faith by paflion fway'd, The chiefs, the army, and himfelf betray'd. THIS theme did once your fav'rite bard employ, Whofe verfe immortaliz'd the fall of Troy : But time's oblivious gulf, whofe circle draws All mortal things by fate's eternal laws, A In 2 THE E PIG ONI AD. Bookl. In whofe wide vortex worlds themfelves are toft, And rounding fwift fucceffively are loll, This fong hath fnatch'd. I now refume the drain, Not from proud hope and emulation vain, By this attempt to merit equal praife With worth heroic, born in happier days. Sooner the weed, that with the Spring appears, And in the Summer's heat its blofibm bears, But, fliriv'ling at the touch of Winter hoar, Sinks to its native earth, and is no more ; Might match the lofty oak, which long hath ftood, From age to age, the monarch of the wood. But love excites me, and defire to trace His glorious fteps, tho' with unequal pace. Before me ftill I fee his awful fliade, With garlands crown'd of leaves which never fade ; He points the path to fame, and bids me fcale Parnaflus* flipp'ry height, where thoufands fail : I follow trembling; for the cliffs are high, And hoVring round them watchful harpies fly, To match the poet's wreath with envious claws, And hifs contempt for merited applaufe. But if great CAMPBEL, whofe aufpicious fmile Bids genius yet revive to blefs our ifle, V/ho, from the toils of flate and public cares, Oft with the mufes to the (hade repairs, My numbers fhall approve, I rife to fame ; For what he praifes, envy dares not blame. WHERE Book I. THE E P I G O N I A D. <$ WHERE high Olympus' hundred heads arife, Divide the clouds, and mingle with the fkies, The gods aflembled met ; and view'd, from far, Thebes and the various combats of the war. From all apart the Paphian goddefs fat, And pity'd in her heart her fav'rite ftate, Decreed to perifh, by the Argive bands, Pallas's art, Tydides' mighty hands : Penfive Ihe fat, and ev'ry art explored To charm the viftor, and reftrain his fword; But veil'd her purpofe from the piercing ray Of Pallas, ever jealous of her fway : Unfeen the Goddefs, from th' Olympian height To ftiady Cyprus bent her rapid flight, Down the fteep air, as, from the fetting fkies, At ev'n's approach, a flreaming meteor flies. Where lofty mores the tempeft's rage reftraki. And fleeps, in peace diflblvM, the hoary main ; In Love's fam'd ifle a deep recefs is found, Which woods embrace, and precipices bound, To Venus facred ; there her temple (lands, Where azure billows warn the golden fands, A hollow cave ; and lifts its rocky head, With native myrtle crown 'd, a lofty (hade; Whither refort the Naiads of the flood, AflembPd with the nymphs from ev'ry wood ; Her heifers there they tend, artd fleecy ftore, Along the windings of the defert ftiore. Thither the Goddefs, from th' Olympian height Defending fwift, precipitates her flight; A 2 Con- THE E P I G O N I A D. Book I. Confpicuous, on the yellow fand, fhe flood, Above the margin of the azure flood. From ev'ry grove and ftream the nymphs attend, And to their Queen in chearful homage bend. Some haft'ning to the facred grott repair, And deck its rocky walls with garlands fair ; Others produce the gifts which Autumn brings, And fparkling ne&ar quench'd with mountain fprings. And now the Queen, impatient to explain Her fecret griefs, addrefs'd her lift'ning train : YE rural Goddeffes, immortal fair ! Who all my triumphs, all my forrows (hare ; 1 come, affli&ed, from th* ethereal tow'rs, Where Thebes is doom'd to fall by partial pow'rs. Nor can intreaty fave my fav'rite ftate, Avert or change the rigour of her fate ; Tho*, breathing incenfe, there my altar ftands, With daily gifts fupply'd from virgin's hands. Juno now rules the fenate of the fkies, And with her dictates ev'ry pow'r complies ; Her jealous hate the guitlefs town condemns To wafteful havock, and the rage of flames ; Since, thither tempted by a ftranger's charms, The mighty Thunderer forfook her arms. Jove's v/arlike daughter too promotes her aim, Who, for Tydides, feeks immortal fame ; For him employs a mother's watchful cares, And the firft honours of the war prepares : To Book I. THE EPIGONIAD. 5 To fruftrate both, a monument would raife Of lafting triumph and immortal praife, To draw the fon of Tydeus from the field, To whofe victorious hands the town muft yield ; For, by the all-decreeing will of fate, He only can o'erthrow the Theban ftate. A way which promifes fuccefs I'll name : The valiant youth adores a lovely dame, Alcander's daughter, whom the Graces join'd With gifts adorn, above the human kind : She with her fire forfook th' Hefperian ftrand, By hoftfle arms expell'd their native land : For Echetus who rules, with tyrant force, Where Aufidus directs his downward courle, And high Garganus, on th' Apulian plain, Is mark'd by failors, from the diftant main ; Oft from her fire had claim'd the lovely maid, Who, flill averfe, to grant his fuit delay'd : For, barb'rous in extreme, the tyrant feeds With mangl'd limbs of men his hungry fteeds : Impatient of his love, by hoflile arms And force declar'd, he claim'd her matchlefs charms, Pelignium raz'd, the hero's royal feat, Who fought in foreign climes a fafe retreat : His flight, iEtolia's friendly Ihore receives, Her gen'rous lord protects him and relieves ; Three cities to pofiefs, the chief obtains, With hills for pafture fit, and fruitful plains. Caflandra for his bride, Tydides claim'd ; For hymeneal rites, the hour was nam'd, A 3 When $ THE E PIG ONI AD. Book I, When call'd to arms againft the Theban tow'rs The chief reluctant led his martial pow'rs. Hence jealoufy and fear his breaft divide, Fear for the fafety of an abfent bride ; Left, by his paflion rous'd, the tyrant rife, And unoppos'd ufurp the lovely prize. He knows not, that, in martial arms conceal'd, With him, fhe braves the terrors of the field ; True to his fide, noon's fultry toil endures, And the cold damps that chill the midnight hours, Jf dream?, or figns, could jealoufy impart, And whet the cares that fting the hero's heart, Impatient of his pain, he'd foon prepare, With all his native bands, to quit the war. THE Goddefs thus : a Paphian nymph reply'd, And drew the lift'ning crowd on ev'ry fide, Zelotype, whom fell Alefto bore, With Cupid mixing on th* infernal more. GO : DDESS! thefe fhafts (hall compafs what you aim, My mother dipt their points in Stygian flame ; Where'er my father's darts their way have found, Mine follow deep, and poifon all the wound. By thefe, we foon, with triumph, fliall behold Pallas deceiv'd, and Juno's felf control'd. THEY all approve ;'and, to the rural fane, ,j ; Around their fov'reign, moves the joyful train ; The Goddefs plac'd, in order each fucceeds, With fong and dance the genial feaft proceeds $ While Book I. THE E P I G O N I A D. 7 While to the fprightly harp, the voice explains The loves of all the gods in wanton drains : But when arriv'd the filent hour, which brings The (hades of ev'ning on its dewy wings, Zelotype, impatient to purfue Her journey, haft'ning to her cave, withdrew ; Firft to her feet the winged (hoes fhe binds, Which tread the air, and mount the rapid winds ; Aloft they bear her thro' th' ethereal plain, Abpve the folid earth and liquid main : Her arrows next fhe takes of pointed fteel, For fight too fmall, but terrible to feel ; Rous'd by their fmart, the favage lion roars, And mad to combat rum the tufky boars, Of wounds fecure ; for where their venom lights, What feels their power all other torment flights. A figur'd zone, myflerioufly defign'd, Around her waift her yellow robe confin'd : There dark Sufpicion lurk'd, of fable hue ; There hafty Rage his deadly dagger drew ; Pale Envy inly pin'd j and by her fide Stood Phrenzy, raging with his chains unty'd ; Affronted Pride with thirft of vengeance burn'd, And Love's excefs todeepeft hatred turn'd. All thefe the artifl's curious hand exprefs'd, The work divine his matchlefs fkill confefs'd. The virgin laft, around her moulders flung The bow ; and by her fide the quiver hung : Then, fpringing up, her airy courfe fhe bends For Thebes ; and lightly o'er the tents defcends. A 4 The 8 THE EPIGONIAD. BookL The fon of Tydeus, 'midft his bands, fhe found In arms compleat, repofing on the ground ; And, as he flept, the hero thus addrefs'd, Her form to fancy's waking eye exprefs'd. THRICE happy youth ! whofe glory 'tis to fliare- The Paphian goddefs's peculiar care ; But happy only, as you now improve The warning fent as earnefl of her love. Her meflenger I am : if in your heart, The fair Hefperian virgin claims a part : If, with regret, you'd fee her matchlefs charms- Deftin'd to blefs a happier rival's arms ; Your coafts defencelefs, and unguarded tow'rs Confom'd, and ravag'd, by the Latian pow'rs ; Withdraw your warriors from the Argive hoft, And fave whate'er you value, ere 'tis loft. For Echetus, who rules with tyrant force, Where Aufidus directs his downward courfe ;; And high Garganus on th' Apulian ftrand, Marks to the mariner the diftant land, Prepares, by fwift invafion, to remove Your virgin bride, and difappoint your love.' Before, excited by her matchlefs charms, He claim'd her from her fire by hoftile arms ^ Pelignium raz'd, the hero's royal feat, When in your land he fought a fafe retreat. Caflandra follow'd with reluctant mind, To love the tyrant fecretly inclin'd ; Book I. THE EPIGONIAD. s Tho' fierce and barb'rous in extreme he feeds, With mangl'd limbs of men, his hungry deeds. And now at anchor on the Latian tide, With all their train on board, his galleys ride : Prepar'd, when favor'd by the weftern breeze, With courfe direct to crofs the narrow feas. This to your ear thePaphian goddefs fends; The reft upon your timely care depends. SHE faid ; and turning fix'd upon the bow A venom'd (haft, the caufe of future woe : Then, with reverted aim, the fubtile dart Difmifs'd, and fix'd it in the hero's heart. Amaz'd he wak'd ; and, on his arm reclin'd, With fighs, thus fpoke the anguim of his mind. WHAT dire difafters all my ways befet! How clofe around me pitch'd the fatal net ! Here if 1 ftay, nor quit the Argive hoft, Etolia's ravag'd, and C'aflandra's loft : For fure the pow'rs immortal ne'er in vain, To mortals thus the fecret fates explain. If I retire, the princes muft upbraid My plighted faith infring'd, the hoft betray'd ; And, to fucceeding times, the voice of fame, With cowardice and floth, will blot my name. Between thefe fad alternatives I find No diftant hopes to footh my anxius mind ; Unlefs I could perfuade the Argive pow'rs To quit at once thefe long contefted tow'rs : A $ Nor io THE E PIG ON I AD. Book I. Nor want I reafons fpecious in debate To move the boldeft warriors to retreat. Divided thus, the mame would lighter fall ; Reproach is fcarce reproach which touches all. THIJS pond'ring in his mind the hero lay, Till darknefs fled before the morning ray : Then rofe; and, grafping in his mighty hand The regal ftaff, the fign of high command, Penfive and fad forfook his lofty tent, And fought the fon of Dares as he went ; Talthybius he fought, nor fought in vain ; He found the hero'midft his native train; And charg'd him to convene, from tent to tent, The kings to Eteon's lofty monument. OBEDIENT to the charge, he took his way, Where Thefeus 'midft the bold Athenians lay, The king of men ; in whofe fuperior hand, Confenting princes plac'd the chief command, Adraftus next he call'd, whofe hoary hairs By age were whiten'd and a length of cares ; Who firft to Thebes the Argive warriors led : In vain for Polynices' right they bled, By fate decreed to fall ; he now infpires The fons to conquer, and avenge their fires. TJlyfles heard, who led his martial train, In twenty mips, acrofs the founding main r The youth, in Ithaca, Zacynthus, bred, And Cephalenia crown'd with lofty fliade. The Book I. THE E PIG ONI A P. u The Spartan monarch, with his brother, heard The herald's call ; and at the call appear'd : Yet young in arms, but deftin'd to command All Greece, affembled on the Trojan ftrand. The Cretan chief appear'd ; and he whofe fway Meflenia and the Pylian realms obey. Oileus next he call'd, whofe martial pow'rs From Belfa move and Scarphe's lofty tow'rs. Elpenor too, who from the Chalcian ftrand And fairEretria led his martial band, Appear'd ; and all who merited renown In ten years war before the Trojan town. Achilles only, yet unfit to wield The Pelian jav'lin, and the pond'rous fliield, In Phthia ftaid ; to Chiron's care refign'd, Whofe wife inftru&ions form'd his mighty mind. The chiefs were plac'd. Superior to the reft The monarch fat, and thus the peers addreft. PRINCES ! letTydeus' valiant fon declare What caufe convenes the fenate of the war. If of himfelf, or from advice he knows Some fecret mifchief plotted by our foes, Which prudence may prevent, or force refift, We come prepar'd to counlel and aflift : The monarch thus. Tydides thus reply 'd, And drew attention deep on ev'ry fide. PRINCES! I have not now the hoft conven'd, For fecrets by intelligence obtain'd ; A. 6 But 12 THE EP ICON I AD. Book!, But openly my judgment to exprefs Of mifchiefs feen, which prudence muft redrefs : By war's devouring rage, our martial pow'rs Grow thin and wafte before thele hoftile tow'rs ; While Thebes, fecure, our vain attempts withftands, By daily aid fuftain'd from diftant lands. Shall we proceed to urge this dire debate, And prefs, with hoftile arms, the Theban ftate ? Or, by experience taught the worft to fear, Confult the public fafety, and forbear ? Had our great fires, by happier counfels fway'd, As prudence taught, neceffity obey'd ; Renounc'd in time this fatal ftrife, which brings Alike to nations mifchief, and to kings ; Thofe heroes had not, with their martial train, DirtinguiuYd by their fall a foreign plain. The Gods themfelves, in vengeance for our crimes,. With fuch difafters lafh the guilty times ; In judgment juft, they fow'd the feeds of ftrife, To fweep tranfgreflbrs from the feats of life. Let him, who obflinately will, proceed, And wait the vengeance hov'ring o'er his head; Since Thebes grows ftronger and the Argive pow'rs. Decrease, as famine or the fword devours, To-morrow I withdraw my martial train j Nor ftay to perifli, like my fire, in vain. THUS as the hero fpoke, the kings divide, Aad mingled murmurs round th' aflembly glide, Heard, Bookl. THE E^IGONIAD. 13. Heard like the found which warn th careful fwain Of fudden winds or thick defcending rain ; When mountain echoes catch the fullen roar Of billows burfting on the fandy ftiore^ And hurl it round in airy circles toft,. Till in the diftant clouds the voice is loft. The king of men to fudden rage refign'd, At once, the empire of his mighty mind, With fharp reproaches haft'ning to reply ; But, more fedate, the Pylian monarch nigh, In aft to rife, the angry chief confin'd ; And, whifp'ring, thus addrefs'd with head declin'd : It ill becomes the prince, whofe fov'reign- hand Sways the dread fcepter of fupreme command,, To be the firil in difcord ; and obey As headlong paffion blindly leads the way_ For when the kings in ralh debate engage, 'Tis yours to check and moderate their rage ;. Since, of the various ills that can diftrefs Confed'rate councils and prevent fuccefs,, Difcord is chief; where'er the fury fways,. The parts me fevers, and the whole betrays* THE hero thus. The king of men remain'd. By found advice perfuaded, and reftrain'd. Crete's valiant monarch rofe ; and to the reft,. Thus fpoke the dictates of his gen'rous breaft. CONFED'RATE kings, when any leader here Thfcwar duTuades, and warns you to forbear, I migjifc > 4 THE EPIG($NIAD. Book I. I might approve ; for, fafe beyond the fea, Creon and Thebes can nevsr injure me. And when the barb'rous tyrant, unwithftood, His hot revenge mall quench in Grecian blood ; When Thrace and Macedon, by his command, Shall ravage Argos and the Pylian ftrand ; Secure and guarded by the ocean's ftream, Crete's hundred towns fhall know it but by fame. Yet would not I, tho' many fuch were found, For open war, advife a peace unfound. Let Macedon to Thebes her fuccours fend, And Thrace, with all her barb'rous tribes, defcend ; By foreign aids the more our foes increafe, The greater glory waits us from fuccefs. You all remember, on the Ifthmean ftrand Where neighb'ring feas befiege the ftrait'ned land, When Greece enleagu'd a full aflembly held, By public juftice to the war compell'd ; That blood of flaughter'd viftims drench'd the ground, While oaths divine the willing nations bound, Ne'er to return, till our victorious pow'rs Had level'd with the duft the Theban tow'rs. Jove heard, and bid applauding thunders rolJ, Loud on the right ; they ftiook the ftarry pole : For Jove himfelf is -A'itnefs of our vows, And him, who violates, his wrath purfues. Our joyful fhouts the earth, the ocean heard ; We claim'd the omen, and the God rever'd ; In confidence of full fuccefs we came, To conquer Thebes, and win immortal fame. But Book I. THE E P I G O N I A D. *$ But if the gods and fate our fears diftruft, To public juftice and ourfelves unjuft ; Difhonour'd to our native feats we go, And yield a lafting triumph to the foe. Should now, from hence arriv'd, fome warrior's ghoft Greet valiant Tydeus on the Stygian coaft, And tell, when danger or diftrefs is near, That Diomed perfuades the reft to fear ; He'd fhun the fynod of the mighty dead, And hide his anguifh in the deepeft (hade : Nature in all an equal courfe maintains ; The lion's whelp fucceeds to awe the plains ; Pards gender pards ; from tygers tygers fpring j No doves are hatch'd beneath a vultur's wing : Each parent's image in his offspriag lives ; But nought of Tydeus in his fon furvivcs. HE faid ; and by his fharp reproaches ftung, And wav'ring in fufpence the hero hung, In words now prone to vent his kindl'd ire, Or fix'd in fullen filence to retire. As when a current, from the ocean wide, Rolls, thro' theCyclades, its angry tiUej Now here, now there, in circling eddies toft, The certain tenor of its courfe is loft, Each wary pilot for his fafety fears' In mute fufpence, and trembles as he fteers : Such feem'd the tumult of the hero's breaft, And fuch amazement long reftrain'd the reft. La* i6 THE EPIGONIAD. Bookl. Laertes* fon at laft the filence broke, And, rifmg, thus with prudent purpofe fpoke : PRINCES ! I counfel war; but will not blame The chief diflenting, whofe illuflrious name We all mull honor : yet, with patience, hear What now I offer to the public ear. I freely own the unnumber'd ills that wait On ftrife prolong'd, and war's difaftrous ftate. With war lean famine and difeafes dwell, And difcord fierce, efcap'd the bounds of hell. Where'er on earth her courfe the fury bends A crowd of mifchiefs ftill her fleps attends ; Fear flies before her fwifter than the wind, And defolation marks her path behind. Yet her, attended thus, the Gods ordain Stern arbitrefs of right to mortal men ; To awe injuflice with her lifted fpear, And teach the tyrants of the earth to fear. Jf Thebes is perjur'd, and exerts her might For uftirpation in contempt of right ; (If oaths dtfpis'd, and all the ties which bind The groat fociety of human kind) For Ereocles in the war ftie flood, Anddrench'dher thirfty fields with Grecian blood; The Gods themfelves have err'd, and plac'd in vain The fcepter'd kings injuftice to reflrain ; Elfe me deferves the laft extremes to feel Of wafteful fire and keen devouring fleel. Tho" Beokl. THE EPIGONIAD. Tho' prudence urg'd and equity approv'd, Joining to fecond what Tydides mov'd, We could not hope the war for peace to change, Thebes thinks not now of fafety, but revenge. Laft night, difguis'd, I mingled with the foe, Their fecret hopes and purpofes to know ; And found that Creon, with his martial train, This day intends to brave us on the plain. Greece too, I heard, by barbarous fbvereigns Some Athens, Argos, fome Myczne nam'd; Sparta and Pylos, with the various towns Which grace, in profpcft fair, th'Arcadian downs r Others Etolia challenged for their lot j Nor was even Ithaca itfelf forgot. Fromfuch vain hopes to boafting they proceed; Each promifes to win fome hero's head. Leophron too, diftinguifh'd from the reft, Superior pride and infolence exprefs'd ; In form a God he 'midft th' aflembly ftoodV By all ador'd the idol of the crowd ; And promis'd, if he chanc'd in fight to meet Th' Etolian chief, to ftretch him at his feet j Unlefs fome God oppos'd, or daftard fear, By fudden flight, mould (hatch him from his fp'ear. Can we then hope by peace to end our toils, When foes fecure already fliareour fpoils f Peace to exped from flight itfelf were vain ; And flight, I know, your gen'rous fouls difdain. He- 18 THE E PIG ONI AD. Book I. HE faid. The chiefs with indignation burn'd; And Diomed fubmitting thus return'd : Princes ! I need not for myfelfprofefs, What all have witnefs'd, all muft fure confefs ; That in the front of battle itill engag'd, I never (hun'd to mingle where it rag'd. Nor now does fear perfuade me to retire, Falfe Creon fafe, and guilty Thebes entire ; But war and famine thin our martial povv'rs, Whilft adverfe fates protect the Theban tow'rs. And as the careful mepherd turns his flock Back from the dangers of the flipp'ry rock, And from the haunts where foxes mark the ground, Or rapid rivers flow with banks unfound ; So kings ihould warn the people to forbear Attempts, when fymptoms mark deftru&ion near. But fince the leaders, with confenting voice, For war already fix the public choice j I freely yield, nor ever will divide, Where all deliberate, and all decide. THE hero thus, and ceas'd. And thus the reft, From his high feat, the king of men addrefs'4 : Since war is now decreed, 'tis next our care That all mould fpeedily for fight prepare. Creon, this day, intends with all his train To try our valor on the equal plain ; And will, with diligence, improve an hour, Which finds us inattentive and fecure. Firft Book I. THE E P I G O N I A D. Firft let each leader with his bands in hafte Snatch, as the time allows, a fhort repaft ; Then arm for fight, and to the field proceed, The phalanx following as the chariots lead. Who arms the firft, and firft to combat goes, Tho' weaker, feems fuperior to his foes ; But fuch as lag are more than half o'erthrown, Lefs in the eyes of others and their own. THE monarch thus. The princes all aflent. Straight from the council thro' the hoft they went, To arm their bands with diligence and care ; They all obey, and all for fight prepare. THE THE E P I G O N I A D, BOOK II. ASSEMBLED on the plain, the Theban pow'rs In order'd ranks appear before the tow'rs ; Creon their leader, whofe fuperior fway, The martial fons of facred Thebes obey. The chiefs obedient to his high command, Rul'd the whole war, and marfhal'd every band. His valiant fon the firft, his country's boaft, Her nobleft hope, the bulwark of her hoft, Leophron, to the field the warriors led, Whom Thebes herfelf within her ramparts bred : Peneleus, who from Medeon led his pow'rs, CEchalia low, and Arne's lofty tow'rs : Leitus from Thefpia, where the verdant fhades Of Helicon invite the tuneful maids : Porthenor rich, whofe wide pofleflions lay Where fam'd ^Efopus winds his wat'ry way ; Beneath Cytheron's height, the lofty mound Which parts Boeotian plains from hoftile ground : Phericles, who the valiant warriors led In Mycaleffus, Harma, Aulis, bred: An- zz The E PIG ON I AD. Book I. Andremon, Deader of his native band, From lofty Schoenus on th' Ifmenian ftrand : And Anthedon where fwift Euripus pent Divides Euboea from the continent : Thefe rul'd the Theban pow'rs beneath the care Of Creon, chief and fov'rejgn of the war. THE aids from Macedon the next were plac'd ; Their mining cafques with waving plumage grac'd ; A wolf's grey hide, around their moulders flung, With martial grace above their armour hung : From high Dodona's facred (hades they came; Caflander led them to the fields of fame. The Thracians next, a formidable band ; Nations and tribes diftinft, in order ftand : Byzantines fierce, whofe crooked keels divide The Pontic gulf, and ftem the downward tide : In Grecian arms the hardy warriors move, With pond'rous fhields and glitt'ring fpears above. The Thynians next were marfhaPd on the field ; Each with a faulcion arm'd and lunar fhield, Whofe bending horns a verge of filver bound ; And figures fierce their brazen helmets crown'd : With thefe the Daci came, a martial race ; Fierce as their clime, they rear the pond'rous mace ; In giant ftrength fecure, they fcorn the fpear, And crulh, with weighty blows, the ranks of war; From Ifier's icy ftreams, a barb'rous crowd, In Ihaggy furs, a herd promifcuous ftood; Swift 7 Bookl. THS E 1*10 ONI AD. z$ Swift as their favage game ; for wide they roam In tribes and nations, ignorant of home ; Excelling all who boaft fuperior (kill To fend the winged arrow fwift to kill : Thefe Rhcefus rul'd, of various tribes compos'd, By various leaders on the field difpos'd. To fight the Argives mov'd in clofe array ; Bright (hone their arms and flafti'd redoubl'd day ; Refolv'd, and Hill as filent night, they go j Nor with infulting (hours provoke the foe. Thick from their Iteps, in dufky volumes, rife The parched fields, and darken all the Ikies. Beneath the (hade, the ardent warriors clofe ; Their (hields and helmets ring with founding blows* FIRST Menelaus (truck a Theban lord ; His armed bread the weighty launce explor'd ; Burft the clofe mail ; the (hining breaft-plate tore; And, from life's fountain drew a dream of gore. Supine he fell amidft his native bands, And wrench'd the fixed dart with dying hands. To fpoil the (lain the fon of Atreus flies ; The Thebans interpofe with hoftile cries j And Creon's valiant (on his buckler fpread, An orb of triple brafs to guard the dead : As Jove's imperial bird her wings extends, And from the (hepherds rage her young defends ; So ftern Leophron bore his ample (hield ; Like Mars, he ftood the terror of the field. With dread unufual check'd, the Spartan band Recoil'd j Atrides only dar'd to (land. He * 4 THE EPIGONIAD. Book 11. He thus began. Prefumptuous youth ! forbear To tempt the fury of my flying fpear. That warrior there was by my javelin flain, His fpoils to guard you interpofe in vain. Atrides thus ; and Creon's fon replies : Thy launce I dread not, and thy threats defpife. This hand hath many a chief of high renown, And braver warriors oft in tight o'erthrown : Like theirs thy fall ftiall dignify my fpea-r, And future boafters thence be taught to fear. Thus as he fpoke his weighty launce he threw At Atreus's fon ; which rifing as it flew Upon the hero's creft with furious fway, Glanc'd as it pafs'd and lhav'd the plumes away. Hiding amidft the Spartan ranks it came, And ftruck a youth of undiflinguifh'd name : Cold, thro' his breaft, the fteel and poliih'd wood A paflage forc'd, and drew a ftream of blood. His launce Atrides next prepares to throw ; Poifes it long, and meditates the blow : Then, from his hand difmifs'd with happier aim, Thund'ring againft the Theban fhield it came ; Where wreath'd around a mimic ferpent twin'd, With plates of polifli'd filver lightly join'd : Thence turn'd with courfe oblique it drove along, And fpent its fury on the vulgar throng. Leophron ftraight his flaming faulcion drew, And at his foe, with eager fury, flew : As ftooping from above, an eagle fprings To fnatch his prey, and (hoots upon his wings. The Book II. THE E P I G O N I A D. The Spartan warrior dreads impending fate; And, turning, meditates a quick retreat. As when a fhepherd fvvain, in defert fhades, The blood-nurs'd offspring of the wolf invades ; If, from the opening of fome thicket near, With rage inflam'd, the angry dam appear, With darts at firft, and threat'ning fhouts he tries, To awe the guardian, and aflert the prize : But, when fhe fprings, the clofe encounter dreads, And, trembling, from the angry foe recedes. So Menelaus fled. His native train, In wild diforder, fcatters o'er the plain. His valiant brother heard upon the right, Where in his lofty car he rul'd the fight j And to his fquire Nicomachus : With fpeed, Turn to the left, and urge the flying fteed : For, if thefe founds deceive not, Sparta fails ; And, with a tide of conqueft, Thebes prevails. Quick as the word, the filver reins he drew, And thro' the fight the bounding chariot flew. Like fome fwift vefiel, when a profp'rous gale Favours her courfe, and ftretches ev'ryfail; Above the parting waves (he lightly flies, And fmooth behind a trad of ocean lies : So, 'midft the combat, rufh'd the lofty car; Pierc'd the thick tumult, and disjoin'd the war. But Clytodemon's fon a jav'lin threw ; With force impell'd, it lighten'd as it flew, And ftruck the right-hand courfer to the ground, Ethan, for fwiftnefs in the race renown'd. Behind *6 THE E P 1 G O N I A D. Book 1L Behind his ear the deadly weapon ftood, Loos'd his high neck, and drew a ftream of blood. Groaning he funk j and fpread his flowing mane, A fhining circle, on the dufty plain. Intangled deep the royal chariot ftood, With hoftile fpears befet, an iron wood. FROM his high feat the Spartan hero fprung Amid the foe ; his clanging armour rung. Before the king, the armed bands retire j As fhepherd fwains avoid a lion's ire, When fierce from famine on their darts he turns, And rage indignant in his eye-balls burns. Amid the fight, diftinguifli'd like theilar Of ev'ning, fhone his filver arms afar ; Which, o'er the hills, its fetting light difplays; And marks the ruddy weft with filver rays. Pale and amaz'd "his brother chief he found. An armed circle of his friends around. Alas, my brother ! have I liv'd to fee Thy life redeem'd with deathlefs infamy! (The hero cry'd) far better that a ghoft You now' had wander'd on the Stygian coaft, And by a glorious fall preferv'd your name Safe and unblafted by the breath of fame j Which foon (hall tell the world, amaz'd to hear, That Menelaus taught the hoft to fear. BY confcious guilt fubdu'd the youth appear'd ; Without reply, the juft reproach he heard : Confounded, to the ground he turn'd his eyes ; Indignant thus the great Atrides cries : Mycae- Book II. THE E P I G O N I A D. .Mycseneans ! Spartans ! taught to feek renown From dangers greatly brav'd and battles won ^ Ah warriors ! will ye fly, when clofe behind - ^ Difhonour -follows fwifter than the wind ? _ ^__ Return to glory : whether JOVE ordains, With wreaths of conqueft, to reward your pains, Or dooms your fall; be merits equal praife, With him who conquers, he who bravely dies. The hero thus ; and, like fwift light'ning driv'n Thro' fcatter'd clouds along the vault of heav'n By JOVE'S dread arm, his martial voice infpir'd The fainting hoft, and ev'ry bofom fir'd. Again upon the conqu'ring foe they rurn'd : The war again, in all its fury, burn'd. As when the deep, which ebbing from the land Along the coaft difplays a wafte of fand, Returns ; and, blown by angry tempefts, roars A ftormy deluge 'gainft the rocky fhores : So, ruming to the fight, the warriors came ; Ardent to conquer, and retrieve their fame. BEFORE his hoft the fon of Creon ftood, With labour'd duft obfcure, and hoftile blood ; He thus exclaim'd : And mall this daftard train (Warriors of Thebes !) difpute the field again ? Their better chief, I know him, leads the band; But fate (hall foon fubdue him by my hand. He faid ; and, at the king, his jav'lin threw j WJiich, aim'd amifs, with erring fury flew. B 2 Acrofs 2 3 THE E P I G O N I A D. Book II. Acrofs the armed ranks it fwiftly drove, The warriors ftooping as it rufh'd above. The Spartan hero aim'd his weighty fpear; And thus to JOVE addrefs'd an ardent prayer : Hear me, great Sire of gods ! whofe boundlefs fway The fates of men and mortal things obey ; Whofe fov'reign hand, with unrefifted might, Deprefles or exalts the fcales of fight : Now grant fuccefs to my avenging hand, And ftretch this dire deftroyer on the fand. JOVE, grant me now to reach his hated life, And fave my warriors in this doubtful ftrife. The hero thus ; and fent his weighty fpear. With fpeed it flew, and pierc'd the yielding air ; Swift, as a faulcon to her quarry fprings, When down the wind me ftretches on her wings. Leophron, ftooping, fhun'd the deadly, ftroke, Which on the (hield of Hegifander broke. Vain now his lute ; in vain his melting ftrains, Soft as Apollo's on the Lycian plains : His foul excluded, feeks the dark abodes By Styx embrac'd, the terror of the Gods ; Where furly Charon, with his lifted oar, Drives the light ghofts, and rules the dreary fhore. WITH grief Leophron faw the warrior flain. He fnatch'd a pond'rous mace from off the plain, Cut in the Thracian woods, with fnags around Of pointed fteel with iron circles bound. Heav'd Book II. THE EPIGONIAD. 29 Heav'd with gigantic force the club to throw, He fwung it thrice, and hurPd it at his foe. Thund'ring upon his armed head it fell ; The brazen helmet rang with ilunning knell. As when a rock by forceful engines thrown, Where hoftile arms invert a frontier town, Threat'ning deftruftion, rolls along the fkies; And war itfelf Hands wond'ring as it flies : Falls on fome turret's top, the ftrufture bends Beneath the tempeft, and at once defcends With hideous crafh ; thus, ftooping to the ground, Atrides funk ; his filver arms refound. But Pallas, mixing in the dire debate, A life to reicue yet not due to fate, Had o'er his head her cloudy buckler held ; And half the fury of the blow repell'd. The fon of Creon rum'd to feize his prize, The hero's fpoils j and thus exulting cries: Warriors of Thebes ! your labours foon fhall ceafe, And final victory reftore your peace ; For great Atrides, by my valour flain, A lifelefs corfe, lies ftretch'd upon the plain. Only be men ! and make the Argive bands Dread in fucceeding times your mighty hands; That foes no more, when mad ambition calls, With dire alarms may make your peaceful walls. Exulting thus, the hero rum'd along ; And kindled, with his Ihouts, the vulgar throng. Refolv'd and firm the Spartan warriors ftand Around their king, a formidable band. B 3 Their 30 TE EPIGGNiAD. Rook IF. Their fpears, protended thick, the foe reflrain'd ; Their bucklers join'd, the weighty war fuftain'd. But as a mountain wolf, from famine bold, On prey intent, furvcys the midnight fold ; Where, in the fhelter of fbme arching rock, At ev'n the careful Ihepherd pens his flock; On fpoil and ravage bent, he flalks around, And meditates to fpring the lofty mound i Impatient thus the Theban chief furvey'd The clofe-compacled ranks on ev'ry fide ; To find where leaft the ferred orb could bear The ftrong impreffion of a pointed war. Him Mene'aus faw, with anguifh flung ; And, from amidft his armed warriors, fprung With wrath inflam'd ; as ftarting from a brake, Againft fome trav'ller, darts a crefted fnake. His rage in vain the Theban ranks withftand j The braveft warriors fink beneath his hand. Clytander, Iphitus, Palemon, fam'd For chariots rul'd and fiery courfers tam'd ; And Iphialtes, like the God of light, Whole pointed arrows thinn'd the lines of fight : Thefe the firft tranfports of his fury feel. Againft Leophron now he lifts his fteel, And fpeeds to vengeance ; but, in full career, He flood arrefted by a vulgar fpear. Fix'd in his thigh the barbed weapon hung, Relax'd the mufcles, and the nerves unflrung. The Spartan warriors to his fuccour flew ; Againft the darts their ample fhields they threw, Which Book II. THE E P I G O N I A D. 31 Which ftorm'd around ; and, from the rage of war, ! Convey'd the wounded hero to his car. WITH fierce impatience Creon's fon beheld The Spartan warriors ftill difpute the field. Before their leader fall'n the heroes flood ; i Their fpears erected, like the facred wood ! Which round fome altar rifes on the plain, The myflic rites to hide from eyes profane. Thither his native bands the hero turn'd ; Drawn to a wedge, again the combat burn'd. Thro' all the air a ftorm of jav'lins fung; With founding blows each hollow buckler rung. Firft Enopzus felt a deadly wound, Who in Amycle till'd the fruitful ground ; To great Andremon's fpear he yields his breath, And ftarts and quivers in the grafp of death. Next Hegefippus prefs'd th' infanguin'd plain ; Leophron's jav'lin mix'd him with the (lain. On Malea's cliffs he fed his fleecy ftore, Along the windings of the craggy fhore. He vow'd to Phoebus, for a fafe return, An hundred viftims on his hearth to burn. In vain ! the God, in juftice, had decreed, His gifts contemn'd, the offerer to bleed : For violence augmented ftill his flore ; And, unreliev'd, the flranger left his door. Prone on the bloody ground the warrior fell ; Hi* foul indignant fought the fhades of hell. B 4 NEXT 32 THE EPIGONIAD. BooklJ. NEXT Areas, Cleon, valiant Chromius, dy'd j With Dares, to the Spartan chiefs ally'd. And Phcemius, whom the Gods in early youth Had form'd for virtue and the love of truth ; His gen'rous foul to noble deeds they turn'd, And love to mankind in his bofom burn'd : Cold thro' his throat the hifiing weapon glides, And on his neck the waving locks divides. His fate the Graces mourn'd. The Gods above, Who fit around the ftarry throne of JOVE, On high Olympus bending from the fkies, His fate beheld with forrow-ftreaming eyes. Pallas alone, unalter'd and ferene, With fecret triumph faw the mournful fcene r Not hard of heart ; for none of all the pow'rs, In earth or ocean, or th' Olympian tow'rs, Holds equal fympathy with human grief, Or with a freer hand beftows relief; But confcious that a mind by virtue fteel'd, To no iinpreflion of diitrefs will yield ; That, ftill unconquer'd, in its awful hour O'er death it triumphs with immortal pow'r. Now Thebes prevailing, Sparta's hoft retreats ; As falls fome rampart where the ocean beats : Unable to refift its ftormy way, Mounds heap'd on mounds, and bars of rock give way; With inundation wide the deluge reigns, Drowns the deep valleys, and o'errpreads the plains. Thus Book II. THE E P I G O N I A D. 33 Thus o'er the field, by great Leophron led, Their foes repuls'd, the Theban fquadrons Ipread. The hero, ftooping where Atrides lay, Rent from his head the golden cafque away ; His mail unlock'd ; and loos'd the golden chains, The zone which by his fide the fword fuftains. The monarch now amid the vulgar dead, For wheels to crum and armed hoofs to tread, Defencelefs lay. But ftern Leophron's hate Retriev'd him, thus expos'd, from certain fate. In femblance dead, he purpos'd to convey The body naked to fome public way ; Where dogs obfcene, and all the rav'nous race, With wounds unfightly, might his limbs disgrace. Straight he commands ; and to a neighb'ring grove,. His warriors, charg'd, the Spartan chief remove. On their broad Ihields they bore him from the plain, To fenfe a corfe, and number'd with the flain. His fixed eyes in hov'ring (hades were drown'd i His mighty limbs in death- like fetters bound. The mouts tumultuous and the din of war, His ear receiv'd like murmurs heard afar ; Or as fome peafant hears, fecurely laid Beneath a vaulted cliff or woodland fhade,. When o'er his head unnumber'd infefts fing In airy rounds, the children of the fpring. ADRAS-MTS' valiant fon, with grief, beheld The Spartans to inglorious flight feompell'd j B 5 Their 34 THE E P I G O N I A D. Book II. Their valiant chief refign'd to hoftile hands, He thus aloud addrefs'd the fcatt'ring bands :. What fhame, ye warriors ! if ye thus expofe Your leader to the injuries of foes ! Tho' all fhould quit him, honor bids you bring His reliques back, or perifti with your king. Leophron fure injurioufly ordains, With infults, to deface his dear remains ; Spurn'd by the feet of men, expos'd and bare,. For dogs obfcene and rav'nous birds to mare. Exclaiming thus, thro' all the field he flew;. And call'd the hoft the conflict to renew. They flop, they charge ; again the combat burns : They bleed, they conquer, and retreat by turns. Hegialus excites the dire debate ;, And,, by example, leads the work of fate : For now he fees Atrides borne afar, By hoftile hands, beyond the lines of war. With indignation fierce his bofom glows ; He rumes fearlefs 'midft a hoft of foes; And now had merited a deathlefs name, And with a deed immortal crown'd his fame, Atrides fav'd ; but fate's fupreme command That honor, deftin'd for a mightier hand. LEOPHRON vex'd, that twice, conftrain'd to yield, The Spartan warriors re-aflum'd the field, His pow'rs addrefs'd : For ever loft our fame, Dishonour foul will blot. the. Theban name ; If. Book II. THE EPIGONIAD. 35 If daftard foes, twice routed and purfu'd, Shall brave the victors, ftill with rage renew'd. Your glory gain'd with vigor now maintain ; Nor let us conquer thus and bleed in vain. He faid, and 'gainft the Argive hero turn'd; With martial wrath his ardent bofom burn'd ; Who, fearlefs and undaunted, dar'd to wait; Nor by ignoble flight declin'd his fate. For, at the Theban chief, his launce he threw, Which, aim'd amifs, with erring fury flew : Beyond the hoftile ranks the weapon drove; The warriors (looping as it rufh'd above. Not fo the Theban fpear ; with happier aim, Full to the center of the fhield, it came ; And, rifing fwiftly from the polifh'd round, His throat transfix'd, and bent him to the ground; To fpoil the flain the ardent victor flew : The Spartan bands the bloody fhock renew; Fierce to the charge with tenfold rage return, And all at orrce with thirft of vengeance burn.. O'er all the field the raging tumult grows; And ev'iy helmet rings with founding blows: But moft around the Argive hero dead ; There toil the mightieft, there the braveft bleedL As when outrageous winds the ocean fweep, And from the bottom ftir the hoary deep ; O'er all the wat'ry plain the tempeft raves, Mixing in conflict loud the angry waves : But where fome pointed cliff the furface hides* Whofe.topunfeen provokes the angry tides, R 6, With, 36 THE EP ICON I AD. Book II. With tenfold fury there the billows fly, And mount in fmoak and thunder to the fky. ADRASTUS, by unaftive age reftrairi'd, Behind the army on a mount remairi'd ; Under an oak the hoary warrior fat, And look'd and liften'd to the dire debate. Now, tam'd by age, his courfers ftood unbound j His ufelefs arms lay fcatterM on the ground ; Two aged heralds there the chief obey'd ; The fquire attending by his mafter ftay'd. And thus the king : What founds invade mine ear B My friends ! what fad difafter muft we hear ? Some hero's fall ; for with the fliouts, I know Loud lamentation mixt, and founds of woe. So were we told, when mighty Tydeus fell. And Polynices trod the path to hell ; So rag'd the combat o'er the heroes (lain, And fuch the din and tumult of the plain. He faid; and lift'ning (what he greatly fear'd) Hegialus's name at laft he heard Mix'd with the noife ; and, fick'ning at the found* By grief fubdu'd, fell proftrate on the ground- But rage fucceeding and defpair, he rofe Eager to rufh amid the thickeft foes. His fpear hegrafp'd, impatient for the fight; And pond'rous (hield, unequal to the weight. Him frantic thus his wife attendants held ; And to retire with prudent care compdPd. Impa.- Book II. THE EPIGONIAD. 37 Impatient of his ftate, by quick returns, With grief he melts, with indignation burns. And thus at laft : Stern ruler of the flcy ! Whofe fport is man, and human mifery ; What deed of mine has ftirr'd thy boundlefs rage,. And call'd for vengeance on my helplefs age ? Have I, by facrilege, your treafures drain'd ; Your altars flighted, or your rites profan'd ? Did I forget my holy vows to pay ? Or bid you witnefs, and my faith betray ? Has lawlefs rapine e'er increas'd my ftore, Or unreliev'd the ftranger left my door ? If not; in juftice, can your ftern decree With wrath purfue my guiltlefs race and me ? Here valiant Tydeus, Polynices fell; In one fad hour they trod the path to hell : For them my daughters mourn, their forrows flow Still frefli, and all their days are fpent in woe. Hegialus remain'd my hopes to raife; The only comfort of my joylefs days : In whom I faw my vigorous youth return, And all our native virtues brighter burn. He's now no more ; and to the nether flties > Banifh'd by fate, a bloodlefs fpedlre flies. For what, ye Gods ! has unrelenting fate Curs'd my u:isfortunes with fo long a date J That thus 1 live to fee our antient race At once extinguifh'd, and for ever ceafe ! Gods ! grant me now, the only boon I crave, For all my forrows paft, a peaceful grave: Now x a THE EPIGONIAD. Book IF. Now let me perifh, that my fleeting ghoft May reach my fon in Pluto's fliady coaft ; Where, join'd for ever, kindred fouls enjoy An union fix'd, which nothing can deftroy. He faid ; and finking proftrate on the ground, His furrowM cheeks with floods of forrow drown'd ;. And, furious in the rage of grief, o'erfpread With duft the reverend honors of his head. T HE THE E P I G O N I A D, BOOK IIL TH E Spartan bands, with thirft of vengeance fir r cf The fight maintained; nor from their toils refpir'd. Before the hero falPn the warriors ftand, Firm as the chains of rock which guard the ftrand ; Whofe rooted ftrength the angry ocean braves,., And bounds the fury of his burfling waves.. So Sparta flood ; their ferred bucklers bar The Theban phalanx, and exclude the war. While from the field, upon their moulders laid, His warriors fad the Argive prince convey'd ; Leophron faw, with indignation fir*d, And, with his mouts, the ling'ring war infpir'd.. Again the rigor of the mock returns ; The flaughter rages, and the combat burns; Till, pufh'd and yielding to fuperior fway, In flow retreat the Spartan ranks gave way. As, in fome channel pent, intangled wood Reluftant ftirs before the angry flood; Which.,. 4 o THE EPIGONIAD. Book III. Which, on its loaded current, (lowly heaves The fpoils of forefts mix'd with harveft fheaves. PALLAS obferv'd, and from th* Olympian height Precipitated fwift her downward flight. Like Cleon's valiant fon, the Goddefs came; The fame her ftature, and her arms the fame. Defcending from his chariot to the ground, The fon of Tydeus, 'midil his bands, (he found ; His deeds unruPd : for, ftretch'd before the wheel, Lay the bold driver pierc'd with Theban Iteel. On the high car her mighty hand flie laid; And thus addrefVd the valiant Diomed : The Spartan warriors, prince ! renounce the fight, O'ermatch'd by numbers and fuperior might: While adverfe fate their valiant chief reftrains, Who dead or wounded with the foe remains ; Hegialus lies lifelefs on the earth, Brother to her from whom you claim your birth : The great Atrides, as he prefs'd to fave, Leophron's jav'lin mark'd him for the grave. To vengeance hafte; and, ere it is too late, With fpeedy fuccor Hop impending fate : For flern Leophron, like the rage of flame, With ruin threatens all the Spartan name. THE Goddefs thus; Tydides thus replies: How partial are the counfels of the fides ! For vulgar merit oft the Gods with care Honor and peace and happinefs prepare ; While Book III. THE E PIG ON I AD. 41 While worth, difUnguifh'd, by their partial hate, Submits to all the injuries of fate. Adraflus thus, with juftice, may complain His daughters widow'd, fons in battle flain. In the devoted line myfelf I fland ; And here muft perifh by fome hoflile hand : Yet not, for this, I Ihun the works of war, Nor fculk inglorious when I ought to dare. And now I'll meet yon terror of the plain ; To crown his conquefts, or avenge the flain. But wifh fome valiant youth, to rule my car And pufh the horfes thro' the (hock of war, Were prefent; for, extended in his gore, The brave Speufippus knows his charge no more, THUS as the hero fpoke, Caflandra heard, And prefent, to afiume the charge, appear'd. By love infpir'd, me fought the fields of war; Her hero's fafety was her only care. A polifh'd cafque her lovely temples bound, With flow'rs of gold and various plumage crown'd; Confus'dly gay, the peacock's changeful train. With gaudy colors mix'd of ev'ry grain; . ; The virgin white, the yellow's golden hue, The regal purple, and the mining blue, With female (kill compos'd. The (hield (he bore With flow'rs of gold was mark'd and fpangled o'er : Light and of (lend'refl. make, (he held a launce ; Like fome mock warrior armed for the dance, When 4 z THE E P I G O N I A D. Book III. When fpring's return and mufic's chearful ftrain. The youth invite to frolic on the plain. ILLUSTRIOUS chief, the armed virgin faid, To rule your fleeds on me the tafk be laid ; SkilPd *o direct their courfe with ffeddyrein, To wake their fiery mettle, or reftrain ; To flop, to turn, the various arts I know; To pufh them on direct, or fhun the foe. With ready hand your voice I fhall obey ; And urge their fury where you point the way. The virgin thus ; and thus Tydides faid : Your zeal I honor, but reject your aid. Fierce are my deeds ; their fury to reftrain The ftrongeft hand requires and ftiffeft rein : For oft, their mettle rous'd, they rum along ;. Nor feel the biting curb, or founding thong- Oft have I feen you brave the toils of fight, With dauntlefs courage but unequal might. Small is your force; and, from your arm unftrung, The harmlefs launce is impotently flung. Yet not for this you fhun the martial ftrife, Patient of wounds and prodigal of life.. Where'er I combat, faithful to my fide, No danger awes you, and no toils divide; Yet grudge not that your fervice I decline ; Homocleon's better hand fhall guide the rein z His manly voice my horfes will obey, And move fubmiffive to his firmer fway. Ta.* Book HI. THE E P I G O N I A D. 3 TV Etolian warrior thus ; and, with a bound, Rofe to his lofty chariot from the ground. The Goddefs to the driver's feat proceeds ; Aflumes the reins, and winds the willing deeds. On their fmooth fides the founding lafh fhe plies ; And thro' the fight the fmoaking chariot flies. Th' Athenians foon they pafs'd ; and Phocians ftrong, Who from fair Crifla led their martial throng. Th' Arcadians next from Alpheus' filver flood, And hardy Eleans, grim with duft and blood, In order rang'd. As when fome pilot fpies The rocky cliffs in long fucceflion rife, When near the land his galley fcours the fhores, By profp'rous winds impell'd and fpeeding oars : So, haftening to the fight, the hero flew. And now the Spartan hoft appears in view : By wounds fubdu'd, their br'avefl warriors lay ; Others, by lhameful flight, their fear obey ; The reft, in flow retreat, forfake the field, O'ermatch'd by numbers, and conftrain'd to yield. Th' Etolian hero faw, and rais'd his voice, Loud as the filver trumpet's martial noife ; And rufti'd to fight : through all the field it flew; The hoft at once the happy fignal knew; And joy'd, as they who, from the found'ring fliip Efcap'd, had ftruggled long amid the deep : Faint from defpair, when hope and vigor fail. If, haft'ning to their aid, appears a fail ; With force renew'd their weary limbs they ftrain, And climb the flipp'ry ridges of the main. So 44 THE EP ICON I AD. Book III. So joy'd the Spartans to repulfe the foe ; With hope reftor'd, their gen'rous bofoms glow : While Thebes, fufpended 'midft her conqueft, ftands ; And feels a fudden check thro' all her bands. LEOPHRON only, far before the reft, Tydides waited with a dauntlefs bread. Firm arrd unaw'd the hardy warrior itood ; Like fome fierce boar amid his native wood, When armed fwains his gloomy haunts invade, And trace his footfteps thro' the lonely fhade ; Refolv'd he hears approach the hoftile found, Grinds his white teeth, and threat'ning glares around ; So flood Leophron trufting in his might, And fhook his armor, eager for the fight. Tydides faw ; and, fpringing from his car, Thus brav'd the hero, as he rufh'd to war : O fon unhappy, of a fire accurft! The plague of all, and fated to the word ! The injuries of Greece demand thy breath; See, in my hand, the inftrument of death. Hegialus's ghoft fhall lefs deplore His fate untimely on the Stygian more, When banifh'd from the light, your fhade fhall come To mingle with the dark infernal gloom. Tydides thus ; and Creon's fon replies: Your fear-in vain, by boafting, you difguife; Such vulgar art a novice oft confounds, To fcenes of battle new and martial founds ; Tho* Booklll. THE E P I G O N I A D. 4$ Tho' loft on rne, who dwell amid alarms, And never met a greater yet in arms. THUS as the warrior fpoke, his launce with care He aim'd, and fent it hiffing thro* the air. On Diomed's broad fhield the weapon fell; Loud rung the echoing brafs with (tunning knell : But the ftrong orb, by Vulcan's labor bound, Repell'd, and fent it blunted to the ground. Tydides next his pond'rous jav'lin threw : With force impell'd, it brightened as it flew; And pierc'd the border of the Theban mield, Where, wrearh'd around, a ferpent guards the field ; Through the clofe mail an eafy paflage found, And mark'd his thigh, in paffing, with a wound. Now in clofe fight the angry chiefs engage ; Like two fell griffins rous'd to equal rage ; Pois'd on their rolling trains they fiercely rife, With Hood-befpotted crefts and burning eyes; With poifon fraught they aim their deadly ftings, Clafp their fliarp rangs, and mix their rattling wings, In combat thus, the ardent warriors clos'd, With mield to mield, and foot to foot oppos'd. Firft at his foe Leophron aim'd a ftroke ; But, on his polifh'd cafque, the faulcion broke : From the fmooth fteel the fhiver'd weapon fprung ; Aloft in air its hiffing fplinters fung. Not fo, Tydides, did thy weapon fail ; With force impell'd it pierc'd the filver mail, Whofe 4$ The EPIGONIAD. Book III. Whofe fliding plates the warrior's neck furround : A tide of gore came rufhing from the wound. Stagg'ring to earth he funk with head declin'd ; And life in long convulfive throbs refign'd. Nor ftop'd Tydides to defpoil the flain ; The warrior Goddefs led him, crofs the plain, Towards the grove where great Atrides lay ; Th' immortal fpear me ftretch'd, and mark'd the way. THITHER amid furrounding foes they hafte ; Who fhun'd them, dill retreating, as they pafs'd : And ent'ring found the Spartan hero laid On the green fward, beneath the bow'ring fliade. The guard fecure, lay ftretch'd upon the ground ; Their fhields refign'd, their launces pitch'd around : One only near a winding riv'let flood, Which turn'd its wand'ring current thro' the wood ; His helmet fill'd with both his hands he rear'd, In aft to drink; when in the grove appear'd Th'Etolian prince. His armour's fiery blaze The dark recefs illumin'd with its rays. Amaz'd theTheban flood; and, from his hand, The helmet flip'd, and roll'd upon the fand. Not more afraid the wond'ring fwain defcries, 'Midft night's thick gloom, a flaming meteor rife; Sent by the furies, as he deems, to fow Death and difeafes on the earth below. Tydides comes ! with fault'ring voice he cry'd, And ftraight to flight his willing limbs appl/d. With fudden dread furpris'd the guards retire; As Jthepherd fwains avoid a lion's ire, Who BooklJL THE E P I G O N I A D. 47 Who roams the heights and plains, from famine bold, The ftall to ravage or.aflault the fold. Now, lifelefs as he lay, the martial maid Atrides, with a pitying eye, furvey'd ; And with her fpear revers'd, the hero fhook-: The touch divine his iron (lumber broke; As when liis drowfy mate the fhepherd fwain Stirs with his crook, and calls him to the plain 5 When in the call he fees the morning rife, And red'ning o'er his head the colour'd fkies. When from the ground his head the hero rais'd, In full divinity the Goddefs blaz'd ; Her left, reveaPd, the dreadful JEgis rears, Whofe ample field the fnaky Gorgon bears ; Th' immortal launce flood flaming in the right, Which fcatters and confounds the ranks of fight. Speechlefs the chiefs remain'd ; amazement ftrong, In mute fufpence and filence, held them long. And thus the Goddefs : Atreus' fon ! arife, Confefs the partial favour of the fkies. For thee I leave the Thund'rcr's lofty feat, To wake thee flumb'ring on the verge of fate : To you let Diomed his arms refign ; Unequal were your force to govern mine ; His ftronger arm frail bear this pond'rous fhield; His better hand the weighty jav'lin wield. Arife ! be fudden, for your foes draw near ; Aflur'd to conquer when the Gods appear. THE 48 THE EPIGONIAD. Book HI. THE Goddefs thus ; and, mixing with the wind, Left in a heap her fhining arms behind Upon the field ; with loud harmonious peal, Th' immortal buckler rung, and golden mail. And thus Atrides, rifing from the ground : In this, approv'd is hoar tradition found ; That oft, defcending from th' ethereal tow'rs, To mix with mortals, come the heav'nly pow'rs : But ne'er till now I faw a God appear, Or more than human voice did ever hear. Do you, my friend, aflume thefe arms divine ; The mortal and inferior mall be mine. Atrides thus ; and Diomed reply'd : To heav'n obedience muft not be deny'd ; Elfe you yourfelf th' immortal arms mould wield, And I with thefe attend you on the field. But of the Pow'rs above, whofe fov'reign fway The fates of men and mortal things obey, Pallas, with fureft vengeance, ftill purfues Such as obedience to her will refufe. HE faid ; and ftraight his mining arms unbound, The cafque, the mail, the buckler's weighty round ; With fecret joy th' immortal helmet took : High on its creft the waving plumage (hook. This whofoever wears, his fharp'ned eyes All dangers mock of ambufh and furprize ; Their ray unquench'd, the midnight (hade divides ; No cunning covers, and no darknefs hides, The gaokltf.' THE E PIG ONI AD. 4$ * . ' ' ft a 't rn/jSI 'ii'"^ The breaft-plate next he takes, whofe matchlefs art Firm courage fixes in the bounding heart; The rage of war unmov'd the wearer braves, And rides ferene amid the ftormy waves : The glitt'ring mail a ftarry baldric bound, His arm fu&ain'd the buckler's weighty round ; -Impenetrably ftrong, its orb can bear And turn, like fofteft lead, the pointed fpear; Nor yields to aught, in earth or heav'n above, But the dread thunder of almighty JOVE. Th' immortal fpear the hero laft did wield, Which fixes conqueft and decides a field ; Nor ftrength nor numbers can its rage withftand, Sent by a mortal or immortal hand. THUS arm'd to meet the foe Tydides mov'd, And glory'd confcious of his might improv'd ; Like the proud fteed rejoicing in his force, When the mrill trumpet wakes him to the courfe : Fierce and impatient of reftramt, he ftraifis With ftiffen'd neck againfl the galling reins. Taller he feem'd ; as when the morning fpread, With golden luftre, crowns fome mountain's head In early fpring; when, from the meads belov, A wreath of vapors binds his rocky brow ; In cloudy volumes fettling as they rife, They lift the lofty profpeft to the fkies : So in immortal arms the chief appear'd, Ifis ftature broad difplay'd and higher rear'd. C Now jp THE EPIGON1A.D. Book IU. Now from the field approaching to the grove, Embattel'd thick, tire Theban warriors move ; Slowly they move, as fwains with doubtful fleps Approach the thicket where a lion fleeps. Tydides faw; and, ruming from the made, The Spartan call'd and to the combat led. Unaw'd the hero met the hoftile band ; Nor could united force his rage withftand. They wheePd aloof; as when a dragon fprings From his dark den, and rears his pointed wings Againft approaching fwains, when fummer burns, And thefrem lakes to parched defert turns; They fly difpers'd, nor tempt his fatal ire, His wrath-fwoln neck and eyes of living fire : SofledtheThebans, nor efcap'd by flight. Amid their fquadrons, like a faulcon light, The herofprung; who, (looping from the fkies, The feather'd race difperfes as he flies. Still from his hand th' immortal weapon flew ; And ev'ry flight an armed warrior flew. Andremon firfr, beneath his mighty hand, Of life bereft, lay ftretch'd upon the fand. Pherecydes gigantic prefs'd the plain ; And valiant Tereus funk amid the flain. Warriors to thefe of vulgar name fucceed ; And all his path is mark'd with heaps of dead. As when fome woodman, by inceflant ftrokes, Beftrews a mountain with its falling oaks ; Fells the thick planes, the hawthorn's flow'ry fliade, The poplar fair by pafiing currents fed, The Book III. THE EPIGONIAD, $t The laurel with unfading verdure crown'd ; Heaps roll'd on heaps, the foreft finks around: So fpreads the flaughter as the chief proceeds ; At ey'ry ftrcke an armed warrior bleeds. Atrides cambats by the hero's fide, To fhare his glory and the toil divide : Unmov'd amid the hoftile ranks they go ; Before them far retreats the routed foe. AND now the Spartan hoft appear'd in fight, By toil fubdu'd and ling'ring in the fight. Their valiant leader faw, and rais'd his voice, Loud as the filver trumpet's martial noife, With hopes of victory his bands to chear ; It fwiftly flew : the diftant Spartans hear With glad furprlze. Polyftes thus addreft, And rous'd the languid valor of the reft. Myceneans ! Spartans ! taught to feek renown From dangers greatly brav'd, and battles won ; With forrow and regret I fee you yield, And Thebes victorious drive you from the field. Atrides calls us ; to his aid repair: No foe fubdues you but your own defpair. He yet furvives, befet with hoftile bands, And, from your valor, prelent aid demands. He faid. The rigor of the (hock returns ; The flaughter rages, and the combat burns. As when a reaping train their fickles wield, Where yellow harveft loads feme fruitful field ; C 2 The 52 THE EP1GONIAD. Book III. The mafter's heart, with fecret joy, o'erflows; He prompts the work, and counts the length'ning rows; So 'midft the war, the Pow'r of battles flood, Pleas'd with the carnage and the ftreams of blood. ELPENOR firft lay lifelefs on the plain, By ftern Plexippus with a jav'lin flain, A grief to Thebes. Euryalus the bold, Rich in his flocks and rich in Aims of gold, Beneath the arm of Arifheus fell ; Loud rung his filver arms with echoing knell : And like fome flow'r, whofe painted foliage fair With fragrant breath perfumes the vernal air, If the rude fcythe its tender root invades, It falls diftionor'd and its luftre fades. Thus fell Euryalus ; whofe matchlefs grace, In youth's full bloom, furpafs'd the human race ; For Cynthius only could with him compare, In comely features, lhape, and flowing hair. Now o'er the fields the rage of war is fpread ; And heaps on heaps afcend the hills of dead. Ranks meeting ranks oppofe with equal rage : As when the north and ftormy fouth engage, Beneath their ftrife the troubled ocean roars; And rufhing waves o'erwhelm the rocky fliores; So rag'd the fight ; when, burfting from a crowd Of thick oppofing foes, the princes flood Between Booklll. THE E Pi G ON I AD, 53 Between the holts. And thus th' Etolian lord : Spartans ! behold your valiant chief reftor'd ; Ye owe his fafety to Minerva's care ; Let hecatombs your gratitude declare, Soon as from Thebes you reach your native ground, Where flocks and herds for facrifice abound; Now fight and conquer ; let this fignal day Your tedious toils, with vidtory, repay ; And, for Hegialus, let thoufands dead With ample vengeance gratify his (hade. As thus the hero fpoke, the warriors heard, And hope rekindling thro' the hoft appear'd ; With joyful (hours they rent the trembling air, And blcfs'd the gods, and own'd Minerva's care. Now, tow'ring in the midfl:, Atrides flood, And call'd his warriors to the fight aloud : As mariners with joy the fun defcry, Afcending, in his courfe, the eaftern (ky ; Who all night long, by angry tempefts toft, Shun'd with inceflant toil fome faithlefs coaft ; So to his wilhing friends Atrides came; Their danger fuch before, their joy the fame. Again the rigor of the (hock returns ; The (laughter rages, and the combat burns ; With thirft of vengeance ev'ry bofom glows. Tydides leads, and ru(hes on his foes ; Around his head a ray of light'ning (hone From the fmooth helmet and the glitt'ring cone ; C 3 Like 54 THE EPIGONIAD. Book III. Like that by night which ftreams with fiery glare When fome red meteor glides along the air, Sent by the angry gods, with tainted breath, To fow the feeds of peftilence and death : From look to look infedious terror fpreads ; And ev'ry wretch th' impending vengeance dreads. BEFORE the chief the Theban bands retire, As fhepherd fwains avoid the lion's ire. Clytander only, by the fates impell'd, Oppos'd him fingle and difdain'd to yield ; Lycaon's fon; deceiv'd by glory's charms, Superior might he brav'd and matchlefs arras. Nor was his brother prefent by his fide, To fhare the danger and the toil divide j Himfelf a youth, and yet by time unfieel'd, Single, he metTydides in the field. Againft th' immortal fhield his launce he flung, Whofe hollow orb with deaf 'n ing clangor rung : The tow'rs of Thebes re-echo'd to the found ; The fpear repuls'd fell blunted on the ground. Tydides next th' immortal jav'lin threw ; "With force impell'd, it brighten'd as it flew j And pierc'd the Theban helmet near the cone ; Behind his ear the ftarting weapon (hone. Supine the warrior fell, his fpirit fled, And mix'd with heroes in th'Elyfian (hade. To fpoil the (lain the ardent viclor flew : Firft from the wound the fixed lance he drew, The Book III. THE E P I G O N 1 A D. 55 The helmet loos'd, the coftly mail unbound, And mining fhield with fculptur'd figures crown'tf. Thefe fpoils the hero, in his grateful mind, A prefent for the gen'rous youth defign'd ; Who ftill in perilous battle fought his fide, And profftr'd late his warlike fteeds to guide. Fatal the gift, the caufe of future woe ! But good and ill th' immortals only know. The armoT to a vulgar hand confign'd, Again the hero, fwifter than the wind, To combat rufli'd. , * i mot/ 1 )$! iifUi ' lfU l i*l *J-''I JiWfe-'iT >' BUT, from his throne above Declin'd,'the all-furveying eye of JoVfi His progrefs mark'd. The herald pow'r, who brings His fov'reign mandates on immortal wings, He thus addrefs'd : To yonder fphere defcend; Bid Phosbus Itraight his ev'ning charge attend: For, with reverted eye, he views the war,::^J a. And checks the progrefs of his downward catr. Let him not linger in th' ethereal way, But lam his fteeds, and ftraight conclude the day ;. For, if the gods defcend not to her aid, Or ev'ning interpofe with friendly fhade^ r ; ; ,i|T oT Thebes now muft periih j and the doom of fat?:e u2 Anticipated, have an earlier date f r sS Than fate ordains : for, like devouring flame, Tydides threatens all the Theban name ; Immortal arms his native force improve, Conferr'd by Pallas, partial in her love. C 4 Theft 5 6 THE E PIG ON I A IX Book III. Thefe to retrieve muft be your next eflay ; Win them by art, and hither ftraight convey : For man with man an equal war fliall wage; Nor with immortal weapons arm his rage. HE fajd. And Maia's fan, with fpeed, addrefb His flight to Phoebus hov'ring in the wefti^ '>- Upon a cloud his winged feet he ftay'd; And thus the mandates of his fire convey'3.' Ruler of light ! let now thy car defcend, And filent night her peaceful made extend, Elfe Thebes muft perifh ; and the doom of fate,, Anticipated, have an earlier date Than fate decrcfcs: for,, like devouring flame,. Tydides threatens all the Theban name ; Immortal arms his native force improve,. Conferr'dby Pallas, partial in her love. THE fon of Maia thus. The God obey'd ; The founding laftv upon his fteeds he lay'd. Swift to the goal with winged feet they flewj- The night afcending as the day withdrew. To Thebes the herald next purfu'd his way ; Shot * like a meteor with the fetting ray. Behind Tydides in the fight he fray'd j. And on- his head the potent fceptre lay'd: Whofe magic pow'r on waking fen fe prevails; Or, in profoundeft fleep, the eye unfeals ; The Codf * J Bookltl, THE EP I G ONI AD. 57 The ftruggling ghoft unbinds from mortal clay, And drives it down the dark Tartarean way. Subdu'd the hero ftood by pow'rful charms, Till Hermes ftript him of th' immortal arms ; And, mounting to the ftarry roofs above, Difpos'd them in the armory of JOVE. And, recollefted, thus Tydides fpoke : Whate'er they give, }h' immortals may revoke. I own their favor ; that, of mortal line The firft, 1 wore a panoply divine. But it the day were lengthen'd to my will, With light to point my jav'lin where to kill r Thebes now fhould perifh ; but the morning ray Shall finilh what the ev'ning ihades delay. AND now the night began herfilent reign; Afcending, from the deep, th' ethereal plain, O'er both the hofts me ftretch'd her ample made, Their conflict to fufpend : the hofts obey'd. The field no more a noify fcene appears, Withfteeds and chariots throng' d and glitt'ring fpears ; Butftill, and filent: like the hoary, deep, When, in their caves, the angry tempefts ileep, Peaceful and fmooth it fpreads from more to more, Where ftorms had rag'd and billows fwell'd before : Such feem'd the field ; the martial clangors ceafe ; And war tumultuous lulls itfelf to peace. C 5 THE THE EPIGONIAD, .fy.-i-'^-tc >-f7!:,j : ''-:!> tts ".v'^'rrT BOOK IV. AN D now the princes of the Theban ftatt In council fat, affembled in the gate, Where rows of marble pillars bound the fpace, To judgment facred in the days of peace. And Creon thus, with public .cares opprefs'd And private griefs, the fenators addrefs'd. PRINCES of Thebes, and valiant aids- from far, Our firm aflbciates in the works of war, Heroes, attend ! I fhall not now propofe To fupplicate, for peace, our haughty foes ; No peace can grow, no friendfhip e'er be found, When mutual hate has torn fo wide a wound. Yet for a truce of feven days fpace I plead, And fun'ral obfequies to grace the dead. Nor were it juft, that they, who greatly fall From rage of foes to guard their native wall, Should want the honors which their merits claim, Sepulchral rites deny'd and fun'ral flame. C 6 THUJ 60 THE E P IG O N I A D. Book IV. THUS as he fpoke,. parental grief fuppreft His voice, and fwell'd within his lab'ring breaft. Silent amidft th'aflembled peers heftands, And wipes his felling tears with trembling hands ji J*or great Leophron, once his country's boaft, The glory and the bulwark of her hoft, Pierc'd by a foe and lifelefs on the plain, Lay drench'd in gore and mix'd with vulgar flain : Silent he ftood; theTheban lords around His grief partake, in ftreams of forrow drown'd ;. Till fage Palantes rofe, and to the reft, The Monarch feconding, his words addreft. .tt* ; ; riWntot.j&KwnrtJPi. PRINCES ! renown'd for wifdom and for might, Rever'd in council and approv'd in fight; What Qreon moves the laws themfelves require, With obfequies to grace and fun'ral fire Each warrior, who in battle bravely falls From rage of foes to guard his native walls. If all approve, and none will lure withfland . What Creon counfels and the laws command,. Charg'd with the truce, Apollo's prieft fhall ga To ojrer and conclude it with. the foe. His filver hairs a mild rcfpedl may claim, And great Apollo's ever honor'd name. {i^Drr? >> oojnaldo ' r^'r-/* fotA THE reft aflent, The venerable man, Slow from his feat anting, thus began : Princes of Thebes! and thou, whofe fov'reign hand Swiys the dread fceptre of fupreme command ; Tlio' BooklV. TOT EPIGONIAD. Tho' well I might this perilous talk refufe, And plead my feeble age a juft excufe ; Yet nothing mall reflrain me, for I go, Pleas'd with the pious charge, to meet the foe. Willing I go ; our bleeding warriors claim Sepulchral honors and the fun'ral flame. If all approve, let Clytophon attend ; With juil fuccefs our labors thus mall end: For fure noTheban hoafts an equal fkill, With pleafing words, to bend the fixed will. SOOTH'D with the friendly praife, the hero faid,. No felf-regard mall hold me or difluade ; The pious charge my inmofi thoughts approve. He faid ; and flow thro* yielding crowds they move ; While Thebes on ev'ry fide aflembled ftands, And fupplicates the gods with lifted hands : O grant that wrathful enemies may fpare Thefe rev'rend heads ; nor wrong the filver hair ! AND now theypafs'd the lofty gates, and came Where flow Ifmenus winds his gentle ftream j Amphion's grove they pafs'd, whofe umbrage wide His rural tomb defends on ev'ry fide. The fcene of fight they reach'd, and fpacious fields With mangled daughter heap'd, andfpears and fliields. Undej: their feet the hollow bucklers found ;. And fplinter'd faulcions glitter on the ground. And now the ftations of the camp appear, Far as a fliaft can wound the flying deer. Thither, < 2 THE EPIGONIAD. BooklV. Thither, amid the wrecks of war, they go With filent fteps ; and fcape the watchful foe. Now full in view before the guards they Hand ; The prieft difplays his enfigns in his hand, The laurel wreath, the gold befpangled rod With ftars adorn'd, the fymbols of the god. HB thus began : ye Argive warriors, hear ! A peaceful meffage to your tents we bear : A truce is alk'd, till the revolving fun, Seven times from eaft to weft his journey run, Again afcends j and, from the ocean's ftreams, Crowns the green mountains with his golden beams : That mutually fecure, with pious care, Both hofts funereal honors may prepare For ev'ry hero, whom the rage of fight Has fwept to darknefs and the ihores of night. THUS as he fpoke, the lift'ning warriors heard With approbation and the prieft rever'd. The chief of Salamis, their leader, went Himfelf to guide them to the royal tent ; Which (hone confpicuous ; thro' the ftiades of night Its fpacious portal pour'd a ftream of light. Thither conducted by the chief, they found The king of men with all his peers around. On thrones whh purple fpread each royal gueft In order fat, and fliar'd the genial feaft. Silent they enter'd. From his chair of ftatfe, Full in the midft oppofed to the gate, The BooklV. THE EPIGONIAD. 63 The monarch faw ; and rifing thus expreft The gen'rous dictates of his royal breaft. MY guefts, approach! no enemy is near; This roof protefts you, ftraight forget your fear. Ev'n tho* from yon devoted walls you come, For vengeance mark'd by fate's eternal doom ; Here in my tent, with fafety, you mail reft, And with the princes, (hare the genial feaft. You freely then your meflage may propofe, When round the board the chearing vintage flows. Which fooths impatience, and the open'd ear, With favour and attention, bends to hear. THE hero thus. Apollo's prieft replies : Humane thy manners, and thy words are wife; With thee the nobleft gifts the gods have plac'd, And pow'r fupreme with equal wifdom grac'd : Tho' oft, by parts, for others they ordairr, The arts of fway, the privilege to reign ; Jn thee their partial favor has combin'd The higheft fortune with the greateft mind. As thus the fage reply'd, the princely band By turns prefented each his friendly hand, The fign of peace. For each a fplendid throne, Where fring'd with gold the purple cov'ring flione^ The ready waiters, by command, prepar'd ; There fat the envoys and the banquet ftiarM. On ev'ry fide the fparkling vintage flows, The momentary cure of human woes. The 64 THE EPIGONIAD. Book IV. The rage of thirft and hunger thus fupprefs'd, To Neftor turning Clytophon addrefs'd. ILLUSTRIOUS chief! an honor now I'll claim, Which not to publifh, fure, would merit blarne. Your father's guefl I was ; by fortune led, When from Trinacria's defart mores I fled With ills befet : but, in his friendly land, His gen'rous heart I prov'd and lib'ral hand. A grateful mind excites rue to reveal His fov'reign bounty, and attempt a tale Of dear remembrance. But the fond defign, Prudence diflenting, warns me to decline ; For when to public cares your thoughts you bend> A private ftory mingled muft offend. THE artful Theban thus: The chief reply 'd, Whofe fov'reign mandates all the hoft obey'd : My honor'd guefl ! proceed ; nor aught conceal Which gratitude enjoins you to reveal : For gen'rous deeds, imprudently fuppreft, Lie unapplauded in the grateful breaft : And now the feaft, fhort interval of care,, To vocal fymphony unbends the earj Or fweet difcourfe, which to the foul conveys Sublimer joys than mufic's tuneful lays. The monarch thus. The prudent fage fupprefs'd His inward joy, and thus the peers addrefs'd : Each chief he ftrove to gain, but Neftor moft, Whofe wifdom fway'd the councils of the hoft. CON- Book IV. THE E P I G O N I A D. % COKFED'RATE kings! and thou whofe fbv'reign hand Sways the dread fceptre of fupreme command, Attend and hearken f fince you feck to know The fad beginnings of a life of woe. In Rhodes my father once dominion claim'd, Orfilochus, for deeds of valor fam'd. The Sporades his fbv'reign fceptre own'd, And Carpathus with waving forefts crown'd. His youngeft hope I was, and fcarce had feeit The tenth returning fummer clothe the green, When pirates fnatch'd me from my native land : While with my infant equals on the ftrand I play'd, of harm fecure, and from the deep With pleafure faw approach the fatal fliip ; Pleas'dwith thewhitenefsof the fails we flood. And the red ftreamers fhining on the flood j And fearlefs faw the hofttfe gafley land, Where from the hills a current fecks the ftrand. They climb'd the rocky beach, and far around, Intent on fpoil and rapine, view'd the ground ; If any herd were near or fleecy ftore, Or lonely manfion on the winding fhore* My young companions ftraight their fear obey. I, bold and unfufpe&ing, dar'd to ftay. Me ftraight they feiz'd ; and doom'd to fervile toil A wretched captive in a foreign foil. Struggling in vain, they bore me down the bay, Where, anchor'd near the beach, their veflel lay ; And .1 I, 3 VI 66 The E PIG ONI A 0. Book IV. And plac'd me on the deck. With bitter cries, To fpeeding gales I faw the canvafs rife; The boundlefs ocean far before me fpread ; And from my reach the fhores at diftance fled. All day I wept; but when the fetting light Retir'd, and yielded to the fhades of night, Sleep ftole upon my grief with foft furprize, Which care ne'er banifh'd long from infant eyes. NINE days we fail'd; the tenth returning ray Show'd us Trinacria rifing in our way, Far in the weft; where, with his ev'ning beams, The fun defcending gilds the ocean's ftreams. Thither the failors ply, and blindly run On hidden dangers which they ought to Ihunj For whom the gods diftinguifh by their hate, They firft confound and then refign to fate. All day we fail'd ; and with the ev'ning hour, Which calls the fhepherd to his rural bow'r, Approach'd the fhore. The forefts on the land We mark'd, and rivers op'ning from the ftrand. Then gladnefs touch'd my heart ; the firft I knew Since fate had mix'd me with that lawlefs crew : With joy I faw the rifing mores appear ; And hop'd to find fome kind deliv'rer near ; Some gen'rous lord, to whom I might relate, Low bending at his knees, my wretched fate. Vain was the hope ; the Cyclopes ne'er know Companion, not to melt at human woe. NEAR Book IV. THE E P I G O N I A D. 67 NEAR on the left, and where the parted tides A promontory's rocky height divides, A bay they found ; and on the fatal ftrand Defcending, fix'd their veflel to the land. The valleys ftraight and mountains they explore, And the long windings of the defart fhore ; And find, of ftieep and goats, a mingled flock, Under the fhelter of a cavern'd rock. The largeft and the beft the pirate band Seiz'd, and prepared a banquet on the ftrand. With joy they feafted ; while the goblet, crown'd With Mithymnean vintage, flow'd around. Of harm fecure they fat ; and void of fear To mirth refign'd; nor knew deftruftion near. AMID them there I meditating fat; Some god infpir'd me, or the pow'r of fate, To 'fcape their hated hands : and foon I found The wifh'd occafion ; when along the ground, Each where he fat, the ruffians lay fupine, With deep opprefs'd and fenfe-fubduing wine ; Softly I rofe, and to a lofty grove, Which (haded all the mountain tops above, Afcending, in a rocky cavern lay, Till darknefs fled before the morning ray. Then from above I faw the pirate band, In parties, roaming o'er the defart ftrand ; The mountain goats they drove and fleecy ftore, Ftom all the paftures, crowded to the ftiore.. Me 66 THE EPIGONIAD. Book IV. Me too by name they call'd ; and oft, in vain, Explor'd each grove and thicket on the plain j While from above I faw, with carelefs eye, Them fearching round and lift'ning for reply. Some to the fhip the bleating fpoil convey'd ; While others to prepare a banquet ftay'd, And call'd their mates : to fhare the full repaft With mirth they came, nor knew it was their lafh THEN from the rocky fummit, where I lay, A flock appear'd defending to the bay j Which thro' a narrow valley rufli'd along, Oxen and fheep, an undiftinguifh'd throng. With thefe the doping hills were cover'd o'er, And the long windings of the fandy more. Behind a Cyclops carre; and, by degrees, Rofe to my view, and tower'd above the trees. His giant ftature, like a lofty rock, Appear'd : and in his hand a knotted oak Of talleft growth ; around his moulder flung His bag enormous, by a cable hung. Panting I lay; as when a lurking deer, From fome clofe thicket, fees the hunter near. By dread fubdu'd, confounded and amaz'd, My fixed eye-balls darken'd as I gaz'd. Soon from abave my wretched males he knew, As on the level more, in open view, They fat fecure, with flow'ry garlands crown'd ; The figns of fpoil and ravage fcatter'd round. Wit4i Book IV. THE E P I G O N I A D. 69 With indignation, for .his wafted flock, Inflarn'd, he thus like diftant thunder fpoke. Whoe'er thefe are, who from their native foil To foreign climates thus, in queft of fpoii, Licentious roam ; they foon {hall feel my hand. And rue that e'er they touch'd Trinacria's ftrand. As mutt'ring thus, along the craggy road He came, the mountain trembled as he trode. The wretches faw with horror and affright; Each limb enfeebled loft the pow'r of flight. Their cries in vain the monfter mov'd to /pare; His club he rear'd and fwung it thrice in air, Then hurl'd it crofs the bay: it (wiftly drove O'er the fmooth deep, and raz'd the beach above. Threat'ning it rufli'd along; but, bending low, Each, where he fat, efcap'd the weighty blow. Beyond them far it pitch'd upon the land, Tore the green fward, and heav'd a mount of fand. Now ftarting from the ground they ftrove to fly, Prefs'd by defpair and ftrong neceflity; The woody fummits of the cliffs to gain, With fault'ring hafte they fled acrofs the plain. But the impending mountains barr'd their flight, High and projecting from their airy height ; Back from the flipp'ry arch, in heaps, they fall ; And with imploring cries for mercy call, In vain. The monfter with gigantic ftrides, At twenty fteps, the fpacious bay divides ; Around his knees the whit'ning billows roar, And his rude voice like thunder fhakes the fhore. THERE 7 o THE EPIGONIAD. Book IV. THERE thirty youths he flew ; again/I the ftones And ragged cliffs, he dafh'd their crackling bones. Twenty his feet and heavy hands purfue, As to the ocean in defpair they flew ; Striving the fummit of the beach to gain, With headlong courfe to rufli into the main : For there they hop'd a milder fate to have, And lefs abhor'd, beneath the whelming wave. Thefe too he reach'd ; and, with his weighty hand, Their flight opprefs'd, and mix'd them with the fand. Two yet furviv'd ; who fupplicating ftrove, With humble fuit, his barb'rous foul to move. With trembling knees the fandy beach they prefs'd ; And, as he came, the monfter thus addrefs'd. O THOU! with whom no mortal can compare For ftrength refiftlefs, pity now and fpare. O let the blood, already fhed, atone For our provoking guilt, and trefpafs done ! O fpare and pity ! fure, the gods above, Who fit around the ftarry throne of JOVE, Are won by pray'r ; and he whofe matchlefs might The folid earth fuftains and ftarry height, Oft fpares the guilty ; for his foul approves Companion, and the works of mercy loves. - * Let fov'reign pity touch thy mighty breaft ; And him revere, thegreatefl and the beft; Who pardons oft, but meaftires grief and pain To fuch as hear the wretched plead i vain. As Book IV. THE E P I G O N I A D. 7 x As thus to touch his iron heart they try'd, The Cyclops fmiling, fcornful thus reply'd : The praife of mercy well your words proclaim ; And vengeance mark, tho' merited, with blame. Well have you fpoken ; therefore, from my hand, More favor hope than any of your band ; They, on the defart more expos'd and bare, The wolves mail feaft and ev'ry bird of air j But ye, prefer'd above the reft, mall have This body for your monument and grave. HE laid, and feizing lifts them both on high, With hands and feet extended in the flcy : Then dafli'd them thrice againft the rocky more ; ' Gnaw'd their warm flefh, and drank their ftreaming gore. Oft have I feen the havoc of the plain, The rage of tempefts and the ftormy main ; But tate, in fuch a form, ne'er met my eyes, And, while I fpeak, afrelh its horrors rife To chill my veins : nor can the vary'd (late Of fprightly youth, and middle age fedate, Or life's laft ftage with all its griefs oppreft, Banifh the dire impreffion from my breaft. For ftill I fee the monfter, as he flood, His hairy vifage dy'd in human blood : As the grim lion leaves the wafted plains, Red from the ravage of the Eocks and fwains. WIT* 7 3 THE E P I G O N I A D. Book IV. WITH vengeance pleas'd he view'd the fliores around; And, riding near the beach, our veffel found: Her by the maft he feiz'd ; and to the land, With all her anchors, dragg'd along the ftrand. Exploring, next the folid deck he tore, And found, conceal'd below, his fleecy ftore. With fcornftil fmiles he faw the theft bewray'd ; And fidelong on the beach the galley laid ; And call'd his flock : to open light they ftrain, Through the wide beach, and crowd Upon the plain : Still, as they pafs'd, his weighty hands he laid On their foft backs, and, ftroaking gently, faid: Go now, my flock ! enjoy the verdant hills, The rivers cool, the fweet refrefhing rills, The meads and fhady forefts, fafe from harm ; Your foes lie crufh'd beneath your matter's arm. The giant thus ; and next the hold explor'd : Four jars he found with Lefbian vintage ftor'd. Thefe firft he drain'd; then to his lips apply'd His flute, which like a quiver by his fide, Of fize enormous, hung. Its hollow found The woods repeated and the caves around. Its mufic fuch, as when a ftormy gale Roars thro' a hollow cliff with hideous peal, Refounding deep, along the level ihore : He play'd, and drove his paft'ring flock before. HORROR and grief at once my heart aflail'd; Prefages fad o'er ev'ry hope prevail'd. My BooklV. THE E PIG ON I AD. 73 My diftant country rufh'd upon my mind ; My friends, my weeping parents, left behind. Now lofl to hope, and furious from defpair, With both my hands I rent my rooted hair ; And, in an agony of forrow, preil With ilrokes repeated oft, my heaving breaft. All day I mourn'd ; but when the fetting ray Retir'd, and ev'ning ftiades expel'd the day ; Encourag'd by the night, I fought the plain ; And, wand'ring anxious 'midft the mangled flain, Oft call'd, to know if any of the band Did yet furvive, efcap'd the monfter's hand : But none reply'd. Along the defert more All night I wander'd, 'midfl the fullen roar Of burfting billows ; till the morning ray Appear'd to light my folitary way. 'Twas then I reach'd a mountain's height, o'erfpread With thickets clofe, and dark impending made, Hung o'er a valley, where a river leads His wand'ring current thro' a grove of reeds. THITHER. I went; and, op'ning to the deep, A cavern found beneath the rocky fteep j The haunt of mountain goats, when wint'ry rains Have chac'd them from the hUls and naked plains. Gladly I enter'd ; for, deceiv'd by fear, I always thought the barb'rous Cyclops near; His form defcry'd in ev'ry tree behind, ,._, .-., ~^_ And heard his voice approaching in the wind. ^^ D Of 74 THE EPIGONIAD. Book IV. Of honey there a fwcet repafl I found, In clufters hanging from the cliffs around. My hunger foon appeas'd, the gentle pow'r Of fleep fubdu'd me till the ev'ning hour. 'Twas then I wak'd j and to the deep below, Thro' thickets, creep'd with careful fteps and flow; And gaz'd around if any hut were there, Or folitary wretch my grief to fhare : But none appear'd. I climb'd a mountain's head, Where, wide before me, lay the ocean fpread j And there no objeft met my wifhing eyes, But billows bounded by the fetting fkies. Yet ftill I gaz'd, till night's prevailing (way Extinguifh'd, in the weft, the ev'ning ray. Hopelefs and fad, defcending from my (land, I vvander'd on the folitary ftrand, Thro' the thick gloom ; and heard the fullen roar Of billows burfting on the defert fhore. THUS ten long years I liv'd, conceal'd by day, Under a rock on wither'd leaves I lay ; At dawn and twilight on the mountains flood, Exploring with my eyes the pathlefs flood ; Impatient till fome friendly fail fhould come, To waft me to my fire and native home: But none appear'd. The pilots fhun the fhores Where JEtna flames, and dire Charybdis roars; And where the curs'd Cyclopean brothers reign, The lonely tyrants of the defert plain. Prefs'd BooklV. THE E P 1 G O N I A D. ft Prefs'd by defpair, at lail I dar'd to brave, Even in a fkiff, the terrors of the wave ; Contemning all the perils in my way, For worfe it feem'd than death itfelf to ftay. OF oziers foft the bending hull I wove; And ply'd the fkins of mountain goats above. A {lender fir, ten cubit lengths, I found Fall'n from a mould'ring bank, and ftript it round. This for the maft, Avith bulrufti ropes I tyM; A p'ole to fteer the rudder's life fupply'd: Four goat-fkins join'd I fitted for the fail, And ipread' it with a pole to catch the gale. Each chink with gum, againft the brine, I closed: And the whole work beneath a made difpos'd, Where, from the hills defending to the main, A winding current cuts the fendy plain. Nuts and dry'd figs in baflcets next I fharM ; And liquid flores in bags of fldn prepar'd : And waited anxious till the fouthern gale, From the dire coaft, ihould bear my flying fail. Nine days I ftay'd ; and ftill the northern breeze, :From great Hefperia, fwept the whit'ning feas.: But on the tenth it chang'd ; and, when the hour Of twilight call'd the giant to his bow'r, Down from my grotto to the more I came, And call'd the God who rules the ocean's ftream; Oblations yow'd, if, by his mighty hand Conducted fafe, 1 found 'my native land. And, turning where conceal'd rny veffel lay, The rope I loos'd, and pufh'd her to the bay ; Dz The 76 THE E P I G O N I A D. Boot IV. The fail unfurl'd, and, fleering from the ftrand, Behind me left with joy the hated land. ALL night, by breezes fped, the prow divides The deep, and o'er the billows lightly glides. But when the dawn, prevailing o'er the night, Had ting'd the glowing caft with purple light, The air was hufh'd : defcrted by the gale, Loofe to the mart defcends the empty fail. And full againft my courfe a current came, Which hurl'd me backwards, floating on its ftream, Towards the land. I faw the fhores draw near ; And the long billows on the beach appear. The cruel Cyclops fpy'd me, as he drove His paft'ring flock along the hills above ; And winding thro' the groves his fecret way, Conceal'd behind a promontory lay ; Prepar'd to fnatch me, when his arm could reach My Ikiff, which drove ungovern'd to the beach. 1 mark'd his purpofe ; furious from defpair, With both my hands I rent my rooted hair ; And on the poop with defp'rate purpofe ftood, Prepar'd to plunge into the whelming flood. But Neptune fav'd me in that perilous hour ; The headlong current felt his prefent pow'r : TJack from the fliore it turn'd, at his command, And bore me joyful from the fatal ftrand. The Cyclops vex'd ; as when fome fowler fpies, Safe from his cover'd fnares, the quarry rife : His feat forfook, and, leaning o'er the fteep, Strove with foft words to lure me from the deep. Stranger, Book IV. THE E PIG ONI AD. 77 Stranger, approach ! nor fly this friendly ftrand; Share the free bleflings of a happy land : Here, from each cliff, a ftream of honey flows ; And ev'ry hill with purple vintage glows. Approach; your fear forget; my bounty (hare; My kindnefs prove and hofpitable care. As to allure me thus the inonfter try'd, His fraud I knew; and rafhly thus reply'd: Talk not of friendship ; well I know the doom Of fuch as to your dire dominions come. Thefe eyes beheld when, with a ruthlefs hand, My wretched inates you murder'd on the ilrand. Two fu'd for mercy; but their limbs you tore With brutal rage, and drank their ftreaming gore. If heav'n's dread Sov'reign to my vengeful hand His wafting flames would yield, and forked brand, Scorch'd on the cliffs, your giant limbs fliould feed The mountain wolves, and all the rav'nous breed. I SAID ; and from the fouth a riling breeze Brufli'd the thick woods, and fwept the curling feas. Above the waves my veflel lightly Hew; The ocean widen'd, and the mores withdrew. Inrag'd the Cyclops, rufliing down the fteep, Eager to fnatch me, plung'd into the deep : My flight he follow'd with gigantic ftrides, And ftem'd with both his knees the rufliing tides. Soon had I perifh'd, but efcap'd again, Prote&ed by the God who rules the main. P 3 He 7 8 The E P I G O N I A D. Book IV. Hefent a fpeftre from his wat'ry caves; Like mift it rofe and hover'd o'er the waves, A fkiff like mine, by art divine, it grew;. And to the left acrofs the ocean flew. With courfe divided, where the pilot fpies Amid the deep two defert iflands rife, Jn fhape like altars, fo by failors nam'd, A mark for pilots, elfe for nothing fam'd ; The angry giant doubting flood, nor knew Which to forfake, the fhadow or the true : For both feemM equal. By the fates milled', He chac'd the airy image as it fled ; Nor reach'd it : for it kd him thro' the main, As the bright rainbow mocks fome fimple fwainj. Who flill intent to catch it where it ilands, And grafp the mining meteor with his hands, Along the dewy meadows holds his way ; But ftill before him flies the coloured ray. The Cyclops fo, along the wat'ry plain, The fhadowy phantom chac'd and chac'd in vain : The billows burfled on his hairy fides, And far behind him i ulh'd the parted tides. DhTolv'd at laft, its airy ftrufture broke, And vanifh'd hov'ring like a cloud of fmoke. His error then, and my efcape, he knew; For, favour'd by the breeze, my velfel flew Far to the deep : yet plunging in the waves, Torn from its bed a pond'rous rock, he heaves, Craggy and black, with dangling fea-weed hung ; Pufli'd from his hand the weighty mafs he flung, Book IV. THE E P I G O N 1 A D. 79 To crufh my flight : along th' ethereal plain It roll'd, and thund'ring downwards fhook the main. Behind it fell ; and farther from the fhore, Hurl'd on the mounting waves, my veffd bore Towards the deep. The giant faw, with pain, His fraud detected, force eflay'd in vain. He curs'd the partial pow'rs, and lafh'd on high, With both his hands, the ocean to the Iky. Now fafe beyond his reach, a profp'rous gale Blew frefh behind, and ftretch'd my flying fail : The mores retir'd; but, from the diftant main, J faw him tow'ring on the wat'ry plain, Like a tall ftiip ; and moving to the fhore, Sullen and fad, to tend his fleecy ftore. Seven days I fail'd; the eighth returning light The Pylian fhores prefented to my fight, Far in the eaft ; and where the fun difplays, Along the glitt'ring waves, his early rays. Thither I fteer'd, and, where a point divides Extended in the deep, the parted tides, A farre I mark'd ; whofe tow'ring fummit, rear*d High in the air, with gilded fpires appear'd. To Neptune facred on the beach it Hands, Confpicuous from the fea and diftant lands. Affembled on the fhore the people flood On ev'ry fide extended, like a wood ; And in the midft I faw a pillar rife, Of facred fmoke, afcending to the fkies. 80 THE E P I G O N I A D. Book IV. 'Twas there I reach'd the hofpitable ftrand, And, joyful, fix'd my veflel to the land. THERE, with his peers, your royal fire I found; And fell before him proftrate on the ground^ Imploring aid ; my lineage 1 reveaPd, Nor aught of all my tedious toils conceal'd. Attentive, as I fpoke, the hero heard, Nor credulous nor diffident appear'd ; For prudence taught him, neither to receive With eafy faith, or rafhly difbelieve. O sow of Neleus ! tho' you juftly claim, For eloquence and fkill, fuperior fame; Yet to an equal glory ne'er afpire : Vain were the hope to emulate your fire. Eight days we feafted : iliil the flowing bowl Return'd, and fweet difcourfe, to glad the foul, With pleafure heard ; as comes the found of rain, In fummer's drought, to chear the careful fwain. And when the ninth returning morn arofe, Sixty bold mariners the hero chofe, Skill'd, thro' the deep, the flying keel to guide, And fweep, with equal oars, the hoary tide : They trimm'd a veflel, by their lard's command,. To waft me to my fire and native land. With gifts enrich'd of robes and precious ore, He fent me joyful from the Pylian fliore. Such Neleus was ! and fuch his matchlefs praife For hofpitable deeds in former days; The friend, tha^patron, deftin'd to redrefs The wrongs of fate, and comfort my diftrefs. BUT Book IV. THE EP ICON I AD. Si BUT what is man ! a reptile of the earth ; To toils fuccefiive fated from his birth ; Few are our joys ; in long fucceflion flow Our griefs ; we number all our days in woe Misfortune enter'd with my infant years ; My feeble age a load of forrow bears. Driv'n from my country by domeftic foes, Thebes but receiv'd me to partake her woes. The fword I've feen and wide devouring fire, Againft her twice in fatal league confpire. The public griefs, which ev'ry heart muft mare, By nature taught to feel another's care, Augment my own : our matrons "keeping ftand ; Our rcv'rend elders mourn a ruin'd land ; Their furrow 'd cheeks with ftreams of forrow flow; And wailing orphans fwell the gen'ral woe ; They mourn their deareft hopes, in battle flain, Whofe limbs unbury'd load their native plain ; And now by us entreat that war may ceafe, And, for feven days fuccefiive, yield to peace : That mutually fecure, with pious care, Both hofts funereal honors may prepare For ev'ry warrior, whom the rage of fight Has fwept to daiknefs and the coafls of night,. To ratify the truce, if ye approve, We come alike commifllon'd, as to move. THUS Clytophon ; and'he, whofe fov'reiga fway The warriors of the Pylian race obey, D 5 Neftor, 8z THE EPIGONIAD. Book IV. Neftor, his partial favor thus exprefs'd ; And to the Theban chief himfelf addrefs'd. The truth you fpeak, nor do your words appear Prepar'd with art, or dictated by fear ; For what you tell, my memory recalls, When young I faw you at my native walls, Yourfelf a youth; tho' now a length of years, Imprinted deep, in all your form appears ; Yet ftill, with fure remembrance, can I trace Your voice the fame and lineaments of face. An infant then upon your knees I hung, And catch'd the pleafing wonders from your tongue ; Your woes I pity'd, as I pity ftill ; And, were the chiefs determin'd by my will, The truce fhould ftand : for piety confpires With juftice, to demand what Thebes requires. THE hero thus ; the king of men replies : Princes, in fight approv'd, in council wife ! What Thebes propounds 'tis yours alone to chufe Whether ye will accept it or refufe : For tho' your votes confenting, in my hand Have plac'd the fceptre of fupreme command ; Yet ftill my pow'r, obedient to your choice, Shall with its fanftion join the public voice. THE monarch thus ; and thus the chief reply'd, Whom fair Etolia's martial fons obey'd : Princes, attend ! and thou, whofe fov'reign hand Sways the dread fceptre of fupreme command ! What BooklV. THE EPIGONIAD. % What Thebes requires I do not now oppofe, Becaufe, infenfible to human woes, The widow's tears Ifcorn, the mother's fighs, The groans of fathers, or the orphans cries, Whofe deareft hopes, in rage of battle flain, With wounds defae'd, lie fcatter'd on the plain: Compaflion for the hoft, which fruitlefs toil So long has wafted in a foreign foil, What Thebes propounds, impels me to difluade, And, for the living, difregard the dead. How long has war and famine thin'd our pow'rs, Inactive camp'd around the Theban tow'rs ? And peftilence, whofe dire infedion flies, Blown by the furies thro' the tainted Ikies ? Many now wander on the Stygian fhore, Whom fires and conforts fliall behold no more ; And manyftill, who yet enjoy the day, Mull follow down the dark Tartarean way, if, blinded by the fates, our counfels bar The courfe of conqueft and protraft the war. Since equity and public right demands That Thebes fhould fall by our avenging hands, Now let us combat, till the gods above, Who fit around the ftarry throne of JOVE, The judges of the nations, crown our toil, So long endur'd, with victory and fpoil j Or, deftine us to fall in glorious fight, Elate and dauntlefs in the cauie of right. Shall we delay till dire infedion fpreads Her raven wings o'er our devoted heads ? D 6 Till S 4 THE E PIG ONI AD. Book IV. Till gen'rous wrath, by flow difeafe fuppreft, Expires ina&ive in the warrior's breaft, And life, the price of glory, paid in vain, We die forgotten on a foreign plain. TVDIDES thus; and he, whofe fovereign fway The warriors of the Pylian race obey, Neftor reply'd, for eloquence approv'd, By Pallas and the tuneful fitters lov'd : Confed'rate kings ! and thou, whofe fov'reign hand Sways the dread fceptre of fupreme command, With patience hear the reafons which I plead Fof fun'ral rites, the honors of the dead. Well have you heard the various ills that wait On ftrife prolonged, and war's difaftrous ftate : And they, who choofe to dwell amid alarms, The rage of (laughter and the din of arms, Know little of the joys, when combats ceafe, That crown with milder blifs the hours of peace. Tho' gladly would I fee, in vengeance juft, The Theban tow'rs confounded with the duft ; That from the war released, we might again Each mare the pleafures of his native reign: Yet let us not prefumptuoufly withftand What piety alike and right command, The honors of the dead; nor tempt the gods, To curie our labors, from their bright abodes. Far in the heav'ns, above this mortal fcene, In boundlefs light, the Thund'rer fits fcrene j He Book IV. THE E P I G O N I A D. * 5 He views the works of men ; the good he knows, And on their juft attempts fuccefs be/lows ; But blafts impiety, and mocks its aim, With difappointment lure, and Jailing fliame. ATTEND, ye princes! and I mall unfold What fage Harmodius taught my fire of old. The Locri fummon'd all their martial pow'rs, And fought around the Orchomenian tow'rs. From oxen feiz'd, began the dire debate ; And wide and wafteful was the work of fate. The Orchomenians oft a truce propos'd For fun'ral rites ; the Locrian chiefs oppos'd. Nine days expir'd, the bleeding warriors lay ; Their wounds hot ftreaming to the folar ray. From Styx's fable more their ghofts implor'd, With fuppliant cries, hell's dread avenging lord 1 .. He heard, and from the gloomy deep below Of Erebus profound, the houfe of woe, A fury fent, the fiercer! of the crew, Whofe iron fcourges human crimes purfue: DLfcord her name ; among th' infernal gods She dwells, excluded from the bleft abodes ; Tho' oft on earth flie rears her baleful head, To kindle ftrife, and make the nations bleed. The fury came; and, hov'ring o'er the plain. Devoted with her eyes the Locrian train. In form a raven, to a tow'r fhe flew, Which rofe upon a precipice in view, And on the airy fummit took her feat, With potent charms, to kindle dire debate. Tho $$ THE EPIGONIAD. Book IV. The howling dogs her prefence firft declare; The war-horfe trembling fnorts aloft in air; On man at laft the dire infection fell, The awful vengeance of the pow'rs of hell. Confufion ftraight thro' all the camp is found; The wand'ring centinel defcrts his ground, Fatally gay and crown'd with ev'ry weed, Which weeping matrons (batter o'er the dead ; Of dire portent: but when the filent reign Of night pofiefs r d the mountains and the plain, Above the camp her torch the fury rear'd, R^d, in the air, its baleful flame appear'd, Kindling debate : outrageous ftrife arofe, Loud as the ocean when a tempeft blows, O'er all the plain, and ftun'd the ear of night With Ihouts tumultuous and the din of fight. Down from her airy fland the Goddefs came, Shot like a meteor, with a ftream of flame, To kindle fiercer ftrife, with ftronger charms, To fweli the tumult and the rage of arms. The combat burn'd ; the Orchomenians heard With horror, nor beyond their walls appear'd, By awe divine reftrain'd : but when the light Return'd fucceflive on the fteps of night, From ev'ry tow'r they faw the fpacious plain With havoc heap*d, and mountains of the flain The fecret caufe the augurs firft declar'd ; The jufticeof the gods they own'd and fear'd. No fun'ral rite the Orchomenian ftate On them beftow'd, the vulgar or the great ; Book IV. THE EPIGONIAD. .$7 In one deep pit, whofe mouth extended wide F.our hundred cubit length from fide to fide, They whelm'd them all; their bucklers and iheir fpears, The deeds, the chariots, and the charioteers, One ruin mix'd ; for fo the will of JOVE The priefts declar'd; and heap'd a mount above? Such was the fate, by heav'n and hell decreed, To punilh bold contemners of the dead. And let not us their fatal wrath provoke, Nor merit by our guilt an equal ftroke j But feal the truce,, and pioufly beftow What to the reliques of the dead we owe. HE faid ; the peers their joint aflent declare,. The dead to honor, and the gods revere. The king of men commands a herald ftraigbt The priells to call, and haften ev'ry rite. While thus the fov'reign mandate they obey'd, Th' Etolian leader rofe, and frowning faid : O BLIKD to truth ! and fated to fuftain A length of woes, and tedious toils in vain I By founds deceived, as to her fatal den Some vocal forc'refs lures the fteps of men ; O eloquence ! thou fatal charm ! how few, Guided by thee, their real good purfue ! By thee, our minds, with magic fetters bound, In all decifions, true and falfe confound. Not the unnumber'd wrecks, which lie along The Syrens' coail the trophies of their fong, Nor 88 THE EPIGONIAD. BooklV. Nor there where Circe from the neighb'ring deep, With ftrong inchantments, draws the palling ftiip, Can match thy fpoils : O let me ne'er obey, And follow blindly, as you point the way ! Confederate kings 1 fmce nothing can oppofe The truce you purpofe with our trcach'rous foes, With mifchief pregnant ; 1 alone am free, Nor thefe my eyes the fatal rite mall fee ; Left it be faid, when mifchief fhall fucceed, Tydides faw it, and approv'd the deed. SPEAKING he grafp'd his fpear and pond'rous fhieldj And mov'd like Mars, when, 'midft th' imbattd'd field, Sublime he ftalks to kindle fierce alarms, To fwell the tumult and the rage of arms. Such feem'd the chief : the piiuces with furprize Turn'd on the king of men, at once their eyes. HE thus began : Since now the public choice The truce approves, with one confenting voice ; Tydides only, with fuperior pride, Tho' youngeft, ftill the readieft to decide, Our gen'ral fenfe condemns; his haughty foul Muft not the counfels of the hoft control, Brave tho' he is : the altars ready ftand; In order waits the confecrated band ; Straight let us feal the truce with blood and wine, And, to atteft it, call the pow'rs divine* THE BooklV. THE EPIGONIAD. 3$ THE monarch thus; Tydides to his tent, Thro' the ftill hoft, in fallen forrow went. Fix'd in his mind the fatal vifion ftay'd, Snatch'd by invading force his lovely maid; The fraud of Cytherea ; ftill his heart Inceflant anguifh felt, and lafting fmart : And, as a lion, when his fide retains A barbed fhaft, the caufe of bitter pains, Growls in fome lonely fhade; his friends declb'd, He brcath'd in groans the anguifh of his mind. Now round the flaming hearth th' aflembly ttands* And Thefeus thus invokes with lifted hands: Hear me, ye pow'rs, that rule the realms of light ! And ye dread fov'reigns of the fliades of night 1 If, till the eighth fucceeding fun difplays, Above the eaftern hills, his early rays, Any bold warrior of the Argive bands, Againfl a Theban lifts his hollile hands By us approv'd ; let ev'ry curfe fucceed On me, and all, for perjury decreed. And as by blood our mutual oath we feal, The blood of viftims drawn by deathful fteel ; So let their blood be fhed, who, fcorning right, Profanely mail prefume its ties to flight. Apollo's prie/t, for Thebes, refum l d the vow. The gods above, invoking, and below, Their vengeance to inflift, if force, or art, The truce fhould violate on either part. THE 90 THE EFIGONIAD. Book IV, THE rites concluded thus, the king commands Two younger warriors of his native bands A chariot to prepare ; the driver's place Sophronimus afTum'd ; with tardy pace, Afcend the fage ambaffadors ; before A lighted torch Afteropaeus bore, And led the way ; the tents, the field'of war, They pafs'd> and at the gate difmifs'd the car. THE THE E P I G O N I A D. BOOK V, SOON as the fun difplay'd Us orient ray, A'nd crown'd the mountain tops with early day ; Thro' ev'ry gate the Theban warriors flow, Unarm'd and fearlefs of th' invading foe : As when, in early fpring, the fhepherd fees Rufh from fome hollow rock a ftream of bees, Long in the cliffs, from winter's rage, conceal'd,. New to the light, and ftrangers to the field ; In compafs wide their mazy flight they fleer, Which wings of balmy zephyrs lightly bear Along the meads, where fbme foft river flows,. Or forefts, where the flow'ry hawthorn blows ; To tafte the early fpring their courfe they bend, And lightly with the genial breeze defcend : So o'er the heights and plains the Thebans fpread ;, Some, 'midfl the heaps of flaughter, fought their dead;: Others with axes to the woods repair'd, Feli'd the thick forefts, and the mountains bar'd. WITH 92 THE EPIGONIAD.' Book V. WITH like intent the Argive warriors mov'd, By Thefeus led, whom virgin Pallas lov'd. Ten thoufand oxen drew the harnefs'd wains, Jn droves collected from the neighboring plains ; Slow up the mountains move the heavy wheels, The llcep afcent each groaning axle feels : In ev'ry grove the temper'd axes found; The thick trees crackle, and the caves refound. Now to the plain the moving woods defcend, Under their weight a thoufand axles bend : And round the camp, and round the Theban vralls, Heaps roll'd on heaps, the mingled foreil falls. OF this the Spartan chief, his native bands, With fpeed to rear a lofty pile, commands ; Which for Hegialus, with grateful mind, Adraftus' valiant fon, the chief defign'd ; Who to his aid, when ev'ry warrior fled, Repair'd, and for his refcue greatly bled : His native bands the hero thus addreft, While fighs inceflant labor'd from his breaft. THE chief of Argos, warriors ! full demands Funereal honors from our grateful hands ; For him this lofty ftruclure is decreed, And ev'ry rite in order mall fucceed : His dear remains in my pavilion reft ; Nor can Adraftus at the rites aflift ; Who to defpair and phrenzy has refign'd, By age and grief fubdu'd, his generous mind : Th e BookV. THE E P I G O N I A D. 93 The other princes of the army wait The obfequies to grace, with mournful ftate. HE faid ; and to his tent the warriors led, Where flood already deck'd the fua'ral bed : With Syrian oil bedew'd, the corfe they found Frefli from the bath, and breathing fragrance round : For Menelaus, with divided care, Each rite domsftk hafl'ned to prepare. Twelve princes to the pile the corfe fuftain'd ; The head on Agamemnon's hand reclin'd : With mournful pomp the flow proceflion mov'd ; For all the hero honor'd and approv'd. FIRST on the top th'fun'ral bed they place; And next, the fad folemnity to grace, And gratify the manes of the flain, The blood of fteeds and bullocks dtench'd the plain. The four fair fteeds which drew the rapid car, That bore the hero thro' the ranks of war, Their lofty necks the pointed faulcion tore, With force impell'd, and drew aftream of gore": Three groaning fell ; but, fiercer from thelfcroke, The filver reins the fourth with fury broke, And fled around the field : his fnowy cheft, Was dafh'd with ftreaming blood, and lofty creft. In circles ftill he wheel'd ! at ev'ry round, Still nearer to the pile himfelf he found ; Till drain'd of life, by blood alone fupply'd, Juft where he felt the blow, he funk, and dy'd. Bv 94 T*E E P 1 G O tfl A D. Book V. BY awe divine fubdu'd, the warriors ftand; And filent wonder fixes ev'ry band : Till thus Atrides : Sure th' immortal gods, The glorious fynod jof the bleft abodes, Approve our rites; the good their favor (hare, In death and life the objects of their care. ATRIDES thus : and, further to augment The mournful pomp, the martial Goddefs went Thro' all the camp, in Merion's form exprefs'd^ And thus aloud the public ear addrefs'd : Warriors and friends! on yonder lofty pyre, Hegialus expefts the fun'ral fire: For fuch high merit, public tears mould flow ; And Greece aflembled pour a flood of woe. Now let us all his obfequies attend ; And, with the mournful rites, our forrows blend. Proclaiming thus aloud the Goddefs went; The army heard ; and each forfakes his tent ; ;Her voice had touch'd their hearts ; they mov'd along, .Nations and tribes, an undiftinguifh'd throng. Ground the pile the wid'ning circle grows ; -As, fpreading, in fome vale, a deluge flows, By mountain torrents fed, which ftretches wide, And floats the level -lands on ev'ry fide. Diftinguifh'd in the midft the princes ftand, With fcepters grac'd, the enfigirs of command. Atrides, with fuperior grief opprefs'd, Thus to the fire of gods his pray'r addrels'd, D*E, IBookV. THE EPIGON I AD. 95 DREAD fov'reign, hear! whofe unrefifted fway The fates of men and mortal things obey : From thee the virtue of the hero fprings ; Thine is the glory and the pow'r of kings. If e'er by thee, and virgin Pallas, led, To noble deeds this gen'rous youth was bred.? If love to men, or piety, pofleft, With higheft purpofe, his undaunted breaft j Command the winds in bolder gufts to rile, And bear the flames, I kindle, to the Ikies. THE hero thus ; and with the fun'ral brand The ftru&ure touch'd ; afcending from his hand, Spreads the quick blaze : the ruler of the fky Commands ; at once the willing tempefts fly:: Rufliing in ftreams invifible, they came, Drove the light fmoke, and rais'd the fheeted flame. The favor of the gods the nations own, And, with their joint applaufe, the hero crown. From morn till noon the roaring flames afpire, And fat of vidims added feeds the fire ; Then fall their lofty fpires, and, finking low, O'er the pale aflies tremuloufly glow. With wine, the fmoke, and burning embers lay'd; The bones they glean'd, and to a tomb convey'd Under an oak, which, near the public way, Invites the fwains to (huh the noontide ray. Now twenty warriors of Atrides' train, Loaded with treafure, brought a harnefs'd wain ; Vafes 96 THE E P I G O N I A D. Book V. Vafes and tripods in bright order plac'd, And fplendid arms with fair devices grac'd : Thefe for the games the Spartan chief decreed, The fun'ral games in honor of the dead. Amid the princes firft a polifh'd yew, Unbent upon the ground the hero threw, Of work divine; which Cynthius claim'd before, And Chiron next upon the mountains bore ; His fire the third receiv'd it : now it lies, For him who fartheft moots, the deftin'd prize. HEROES, approach! Atrides thus aloud, Stand forth, diftinguifh'd from the circling crowd, Ye who, by (kill or manly force, may claim Your rivals to furpafs and merit fame. This bow, worth twenty oxen, is decreed For him who fartheft fends the winged reed : This bowl, worth eight, (hall be referv'd to grace The man whofe merit holds the fecond place. He fpoke. His words the bold Ajaces fir'd ; Crete's valiant monarch to the prize afpir'd ; Teucer for mooting fam'd ; and Merion ftrong, Whofe force enormous drag'd a bull along ; Prompt to contend, and rais'd with hope, they flood Laertes' fon the laft forfook the crowd. Tydides too had join'd them, and obtain 'd Whatever could by {kill or force be gain'd ; But in his tent, indulging fad defpair, He fat, fubdu'd byheart-confuming care. STRAIGHT in a cafque the equal lots were thrown; Each hero with his name had mark'd his own : Thefe Book V. THE E P I G O N I A D. 97 Thefe, mix'd with care, the chief of Sparta drew ; Idomeneus's the firft he knew : Teucer, with hope infpir'd,- the fecond claim'd ; The third Oileus, much for (hooting fam'd : Next claim'd the wearer of the feven-fold mield, Tho' young in arms, diftinguim'd in the field : Ulyfles ! thine came next ; and, laft of all, Hold Merion with a fmile receiv'd his ball. PRESS'D with incumbent force, the Cretan lord Stratn'd the ftifF bow, and bent it to the cord; Then, from the full-ftor'd quiver, chofe with art, Wing'd for th' aerial flight, a pointed dart. Thefeus commands the warriors to divide, Who crowded thick and prefs'd on ev'ry fide ; Straight they retire ; as, at the word of JOVE, From day's bright face the fcatt'ring clouds remove ; And thro' the hoft appear'd a fpacious way, Where woods and fields in diftant profpecl lay. With force im men fe, the Cretan monarch drew, Stretch'd the tough cord, and ftrain'd the circling yew ; From his firm gripe the ftarting arrow fprung, The ftifF bow crack 'd, the twanging cordage fung. Up the light air the hifling weapon flies, Pierces the winds, and ftreams along the ikies: Far to the diftant plain it fwiftly drove ; The hoft ftood wond'ring as it ruih'd above : Defcending there upon a mount it ftood ; A depth of foil receiv'd the trembling wood. E Applaufe 9 8 THE E P I G O N I A D. Book V. Applaufe from all, tumultuous fhouts declare, By echoes wafted thro' the trembling air. Such joy the hero feels, as praife infpires, And to the circle of the kings retires. THE valiant Teucer next receiv'd the bow, And to Apollo thus addrefs'd a vow : Hear me, dread king! whofe unrefifted fway Controls the fun, and rules the courfe of day ; Great patron of the bow ! this fliaft impell ; And hecatombs my gratitude fhall tell ; Soon as to Salamis our martial pow'rs Return, victorious, from the Theban tow'rs. He faid, and bid the winged arrow fly; It pierc'd the winds, and fwept a length of fky ; In compafs, like the coloured arch, which Ihines Exalted, as the fetting fun declines ; From north to fouth it marks th' ethereal fpace, And woods and mountains fill its wide embrace : Beyond the Cretan ihaft, it reach'd the plain ; As far before, as now a fhepherd fwain, Hurl'd from a fling, the founding flint can throw, From his young charge, to drive the deadly crow. OILEAN Ajax next the weapon claim'd, For fkill above the reft, and practice fam'd ; But Phoebus, chief and patron of the art, Retarded in its flight the winged dart : For, nor by pray'rs, nor holy vows, he drove, Of grateful facriiice, the God to move. Dowa- Book V. THE E P I G O N~I A D. -99 Downwards he turn'd it, where a cedar fair Had ftiot its fpiring top aloft in air ; Caught in a bough the quiv'ring weapon flood, Nor forc'd a paflage thro' the -clofing wood. AJAX the next appear'd upon the plain, With ftrength untaught, and emulous in vain ; With fmewy arms the folid yew he bends ; Near and more near approach the doubling ends : The arrow fprung ; but erring took its way, Far to the left, where oozy marfhes lay, And groves of reeds ; where flow Ifmenus ilrays, And winds, thro' thickets green, his wat/ry maze. Abafh'd the youth, with painful fteps, retires.; And now Ulyfles to the prize afpires. IN filence thus the prudent warrior pray'd, And, in his heart, addrefs'd the martial maid : Great queen of arts ! on thee my hopes depend; With favor, to thy fuppliant's fuit, attend 1 By thee my infant arms were taught to throw The dart with certain aim, and bend the bow : Oft on my little hands, immortal maid ! To guide the lhaft, thy onighty hands were laid : Now, Goddefs, aid me, while I ftrive for fame ; Wing the fwift weapon, and aflert my claim. He pray'd : the Goddefs, at his fuit, defcends ; And prefent from th' Olympian courts attends. With force divine his manly limbs fhe lining. The bow he ftrain'd : the ftarting arrow fung ; 2 As ico THE EPIGONIAD. Book V. As when the fire of gods, with wrathful hand, Drives the fwift lightning and the forked brand, To wafie the labors of the careful fwains, Confume the mountain flocks, or fcorch the plains ; With fudden glare appears the fiery ray ; No thought can trace it thro' th' ethereal way : So fwift thy winged (haft, Ulyfles ! flew, Nor could the following eye its fpeed purfue. The flight of Teucer's arrow far furpaft, Upon a rural hearth it pitch'd at lad, To Ceres built ; where fwains, in early fpring, With joy were wont their annual gifts to bring; When firft to view, above the furrow'd plain, With pleafing verdure, rofe the fpringing grain. Thro' all the hoft applauding fhouts refound ; The hills repeat them, and the woods around. THE bended bow bold Merion next aflumes, A Ihaft felefts, and fmooths its purple plumes : He plac'd it on the firing, and bending low, With all his force collected, ftrain'd the bow. Up the light air the llarting arrow fprung; The tough bow crack'd ; the twanging cordage fung. Beyond the reach of fight the weapon drove, And tow'r'd amid th' ethereal fpace above : But as it rofe, a heron crofs'd before, From inland marflies fleering to the fliore ; Under the wing it reach'd her with a wound ; Screaming fhe wheel'd, then tumbled to the ground. And BookV. THE E P I G O N I A D. 101 And thus the youth : Illuftrious chiefs ! 1 claim, If not the prize, at leaft fuperior fame : Ungovernd ftrength alone the arrow fends ; To hit the mark, the fhooter's art commends. Jn mirthful mood the hero thus addrefs'd ; And all their favor and applaufe exprefs'd. ULYSSES ! take the bow, Atrides cries, The filver bowl, brave Teucer ! be thy prize. In ev'ry art, my friends ! you all excel ; And each deferves a prize for mooting well : For tho' the firll rewards the victors claim, Glory ye merit all, and lading fame. He faid ; and pond'ring in his grateful mind, DiftinguiftYd honors for the dead defign'd. WARRIORS of Greece, and valiant aids from far, Our firm aflbciates in the works of war ! Here from a rock the Theban ftream defcends, And to a lake its filver current fends ; Whofe furface fmooth, unruffled by the breeze, The hills inverted (hows and downward trees : Ye daring youths ! whofe manly limbs divide The mounting furge, and brave the rufliing tide; All ye, whom hopes of victory infpire, Stand forth diftinguifh'd ; let the crowd retire. This coftly armor ftiall the youth obtain, Who comes victorious from the wat'ry plain ; That ifland compafs'd, where the poplar grows, And in the lake its wav'ring image mows, E 3 Who ,02 THE EPIGONIAD. Book V. Who meafuring back the liquid fpace, before His rivals, lhall regain the flow'ry fliore. This golden bowl is fix'd the fecond prize, Efleem'd alike for falhion and for fize. THE hero thus : with thirft of glory fir'd, Crete's valiant monarch to the prize afpir'd ; With Sparta's younger chief; Ulyfles came; And brave Clearchus emulous of fame, A wealthy warrior from the Samian fliore, In cattle rich, and heaps of precious ore : Dirtmguifh'd in the midft the heroes flood. Eager to plunge into the fhining flood. His brother's ardor purpos'd to reftrain, Atrides drove, and counfel'd thus, in vain : Defift, my brother ! fhun th' unequal ftrife; For late you flood upon the verge of life : No mortal man his vigor can retain, When flowing wounds have empty'd ev'ry vein* If now you peiifh in the \\ at'ry way, Grief upon grief fliall cloud this mournful day : Defift, refpeft my counfel, and be wife ; Some other Spartan i your place will rife. To change his brother's purpofe thus he try'd ; But nothing mov'd : the gen'rous youth replj'd, Brother ! in vain you urge me to forbear, From love a-nd fond affe&ion prompt to fear ; For firm, as e'er before, my limbs remain, To dafli the fluid waves, or fcour the plain. HE BookV. THE EPIGONI AD. 103 HE faid, and went before. The heroes move To the dark covert of a neighb'ring grove ; Which to the bank its fliady walks extends, Where mixing with the lake a riv'let ends. Prompt to contend, their purple robes they loofe, Their figur'd vefts and gold embroider'd fhoes } And thro' the grove defcending to the ftrand, Along the flow'ry bank in order ftand. As when, in fome fair temple's facred Ihrine, A ftatue ftands, exprefs'd by fkill divine, Apollo's or the herald pow'r's, who brings IOVE'S mighty mandates on his airy wings ; The form majeftic awes the bending crowd : In port and ftature fuch, the heroes flood. STARTING at once, with equal ftrokes, they fweep The fmooth expanfe, and ftioot into the deep ; The Cretan chief, exerting all his force, His rivals far furpafs'd, and led the courfe ; Behind Atrides, emulous of fame j Clearchus next ; and laft Ulyfles came. And now they meafur'd back the wat'ry fpace, And faw from far the limits of the race. Ulyfies then, with thirft of glory fir'd, The Samian left, and to the prize afpir'd ; Who, emulous, and dreading to be laft, With equal fpeed, the Spartan hero pafs'd. Alarm'd, the Cretan monarch ftrove, with pain, His doubtful hopes of conqueft to maintain ; v E 4 Exerting 104 THE E PIG ONI AD. BookY. Exerting cv'ry nerve, his limbs he ply'd, And wifhing, from afar, the more dcfcry'd : For near and nearer ftill Ulyffes preit ; The waves he felt rebounding from his breaft. With equal zeal for victory they ft rove ; When, gliding fudden from the roofs of JOVE, Pallas approach'd; behind a cloud conceal'd, Ulyfles only faw her form reveal'd. Majeftic by the hero's fide me flood ; Her Ihining fandals prefs'd the trembling flood. She whifper'd foft, as when the weilern breeze Stirs the thick reeds, or makes the ruftling trees; Sdll mall thy foul, with endlcfs thirft of fame, Afj ire to viclory, in ev'ry game. The honors, which from bones and finews rife, Are lighily valu'd by the good and wife : To envy (lilt they roufe the human kind ; And oft, than courted, better far declin'd. To brave Idomeneus yield the race ; Contented to obtain the fecond place. The Goddefs thus : while, ftretching to the land, With joy the Cretan chief approach'd the llrand ; Ulyfles next arriv'd ; and, fpent with toil, The weary Samian grafp'd the welcome foil. BUT far behind the Spartan warrior lay, Fatigu'd, and fainting, in the wat'ry way. Thrice ftruggling, from the lake, his head he rear'd ; And thrice, imploring aid, his voice was heard. The Cretan monarch haftes the youth to fave, And Ithacus again divides the wave ; With BookV. THE E P I G O N I A D. tp With force renew'd their manly limbs they ply ; And from their breafts the whit'ning billows fly, Full in the midft a rocky ifle divides The liquid fpace, and parts the filver tides ; Once cultivated, now with thickets green O'erfpread, two hillocks and a vale between. Here dwelt an aged fwain ; his cottage ftood Under the cliffs, encompafs'd by a wood. From poverty fecure, he heard afar, In peace profound, the tumults of the war. Mending a net before his rural gate, From other toils repos'd, the peafant fat ; When firft the voice of Menelaus came, By ev'ning breezes wafted from the ftream. Haft'ning, his fkiff he loos'd, and fpread the fail j, Some prefent god fupply'd a profp'rous gale : For as the Spartan chief, with toil fubdu'd, Hopelefs of life, was finking in the flood; The fwain approach'd, and in his barge receiv'c! Him fafe, from danger imminent retriev'd. UPON a willow's trunk Therfites fat, Contempt and laughter fated to create, Where, bending from a hollow bank, it hung, And rooted to the mould'ring furface clung ;. He faw Atrides fafe ; and thus aloud, With leer malign, addrefs'd the lift'ning crowd. Here on the flow'ry turf a hearth fhall rtand j A hecatomb the fav'ring gods demand, E 5 Who io6 THE EP ICON I AD. EookV, Who fav'd Atrides in this dire debate, And fnatch'd the hero from the jaws of fate: Without his aid we all might quit the field ^ Ulyfles, Ajax, and Tydides, yield: His mighty arm alone the hoft defends,. But dire difafter ftill the chief attends : Laft fun. beheld him vanquifh'd on the plain; Then warriors fav'd him, now a fhepherd fwain. Defend him ftill from perfecuting fate ! Proteft the hero who protefts the ftate ; In martial conflicts watch with prudent fear,. And, when he fwims, let help be always near !. He faid ; and, fcorn and laughter to excite, His features foul he writh'd, with envious fpite, Smiling contempt ; and pleas'd his ranc'rous heart With aiming thus oblique a venorn'd dart. But joy'd not long; for foon the faithlefs wood, Strain'd from the root, rcfign'd him to the flood. Plunging and fputt'ring as his arms he fpread, A load of foil came thund'ring on his head, Slipt from the bank : along the \vinding more,. With laughter loud he heard the echoes roas, When from the lake his crooked form he rear'd, With horror pale, with bloating clay befmear'd : Then clamb'ring by the trunk, in fad difmay, Which half immersed with all its branches lay, Confounded, to the tents he fculk'd along, Amid the fticuts and infults of the throng. Now BookV. THE E PIG ON I AD. 107 Now cloth'd in public view the heroes ftand, With fcepters grac'd the enfigns of command. The Cretan monarch, as his prize, aflumes The polifh'd helmet, crown'd with waving plumes, The filver mail, the buckler's weighty round, Th' embroider'd belt, with golden buckles bound. The fecond prize Laertes' fon receiv'd, With lefs applaufe from multitudes deceiv'd ; The firft he could have purchas'd ; but declin'd, And yielded, to the martial maid refign'd. THUS they. The Thebans, near the eaftern gate, Around their pyres in filent forrow wait : Hopelefs and fad they mourn'd their heroes (lain, The befl and braveft on their native plain. The king himfelf, in deeper forrow, mourn'd; With rage and mingled grief his bofom burn'd. Like the grim lion, when his offspring (lain He fees, and round him drawn the hunter's train ; Couch'd in the made with fell intent he lies, And glares upon the foes with burning eyes : Such Creon feem'd : hot indignation drain'd Grief's wat'ry fources, and their flow reftrain'd. Upon a turret o'er the gate he flood, And Jaw the Argives, like a fhady wood, Extended wide ; and dreading fraud defign'd, Still to the plain his watchful eyes confm'd, Sufpicious from his hatred, and the pow'r Of reftlefs paffions, which his heart devour : E 6 And ,o* THE EPIGONIAD. Book V. And when at ev'n's approach the hoft retir'd, And from the labors of the day refpir'd, Within the walls he drew his martial pow'rs, And keipt with ftricleft watch the gates and tow'rs. SOON as the night poflefs'd th' ethereal plain, And o'er the nations flretch'd her filent reign, The guards were plac'd, and to the gentle fway Of deep fubdu'd, the wean- warriors lay. Tydides only wak'd, by anxious care Diftrafted, ftill he mourn' d his abfent fair, Deeming her loft j his flighted counfel mov'd Lifting refentment, and the truce approv'd : Contending paffions fhook his mighty frame; As warring winds impel the ocean's ftream, When fouth and eaft with mingled rage contend, And in a tempeft on the deep defcend : Now, ftretch'd upon the couch, fupine he lay ; Then, rifing anxious, wifh'd the morning ray. Impatient thus, at laft, his turbid mind, By various counfels varioufly inclin'd, The chief addrefs'd : Or (hall I now recall Th'Etolian warriors from the Theban wall ; Obey the warning by a goddefs giv'n, Nor flight her counfel dictated from heav'n ? Or fhall I try, by one deciding blow, The war at once to end, and crufh the foe ? This pleafes moft ; nor fhall the voice of fame The daring deed, in after ages, blame. No truce I fwore, butfhun'dir, and remov'd, Alone 'difienti-ng while the reft approv'd. Soon BookV. TE E PIG ONI AD. 109 Soon as the morn, with early light reveal'd, Has call'd the Theban warriors to the field 5 Againft the town I'll lead my martial pow'rs, And fire with flaming brands her hated tow'rs : The bane of Greece, whence dire debate arole To bid the peaceful nations firft be foes ; Where Tydeus fell, and many heroes more, Banim'd untimely to the Stygian more. The public voice of Greece for vengeance calls; And lhall applaud the ftroke by which me falls. He purpos'd : but the gods, who honor right, Deny'd to treafon what is due to might. WHEN from the eaft appear'd the morning fair, The Theban warriors to the woods repair, Fearlefs, unarm'd ; with many a harnefs'd wain, The woody heights were crowded and the plain. Tydides faw ; and, ifluing from his tent, In arms complete, to call his warriors, went. Their leader's martial voice the foldiers heard Each in his tent, and at the call appear'd In mining arms. Deiphobus began, For virtue fam'd, a venerable man. Him Tydeus lov'd ; and in his faithful hand Had plac'd the fceptre of fupreme command, To rule the date ; when, from his native tow'rs, To Thebes the hero led his martial pow'rs ; His fon, an infant, to his care refign'd, With fage advice to form his tender mind. The 1 10 THE EPIGONIAD. Book V. The hero thus : Illuftrious chief! declare What you intend, and whither point the war. The truce commenc'd, you cannot, and be juft, The Thebans now aflault, who freely truft To public faith engag'd : unarm'd they go Far thro' the woods and plains, nor fear a foe. His leader's purpofe thus the warrior try'd ; And, inlyvex'd, Tydides thus reply'd : Father ! thy words from ignorance proceed; The truce I fwore not, nor approv'd the deed. The reft are bound, and therefore muft remain Ling'ring inactive on this hoftile plain : The works of war abandon'd, let them fhed Their unavailing forrows o'er the dead : Or aim the dart, or hurl the difk in air ; Some paultry prefents (hall the viflors fhare. Warriors we came, in nobler ftrifes to dare ; To fight and conquer in the lifts of war ; To conquer Thebes : and JOVE himfelf ordains^ With wreaths of triumph, to reward our pains* Wide to receive us ftand the Theban gates ; A fpacious entry, open'd by the fates, To take deftruftion in ; their turrets ftand Defencelefs, and expeft the flaming brand. Now let us fnatch th'occafion while we may, Years wafte in vain and perifh by delay, That, Thebes o'erthrown, our tedious toils mayceafe, And we behold our native walls in peace. TYDIDES BookV. THE EPIGONIAD. us TYDIDES thus: the antient warrior burns With indignation juft, and thus returns : O fon ! unworthy of th' illuftrious line From which you fpringj your fire's reproach and mine ! Did I e'er teach you, juftke to difclaim; And fteal, by treachery, difhoneft fame r The truce fubfifts with all the reft ; are we Alone excepted, unengag'd and free ? Why, warriors ! do not then thefe hoftile tow'rs,. Againfl us, fend at once their martial pow'rs ? And are we fafe, but that the treaty ftands, And from unequal force prote&s our bands r In this our foes confide ; the dead they burn. And mix with tears their afties in the urn. Their tow'rs defencelefs, and their gates unbarrM,. Shall we with wrongs their confidence reward ? No ; tho' each warrior of this num'rous band Should yield to execute what you command; Yet would not I, obedient to thy will,. Blot my long labors with a deed fo ill. Whatever hard or dang'rous you propofe, Tho' old and weak, I fhun not, nor oppofe : But what the gods command us to forbear, The prudent will avoid, the braveft fear. He faid j and to the ground his buckler flung ; On the hard foil the brazen orbit rung : The reft, approving, dropt upon the field His pond'rous jav'lin, each, and mining Ihield. THB 112 THE EP1GONIAD. BookV. THE warlike fon of Tydeus ftraight refign'd, To dire diforder, all his mighty mind, And fudden wrath ; as when the troubJed air, From kindled lightning, fhines with fiery glare : With fury fo inflam'd, the hero burn'd, And frowning to Deiphobus return'd : I know thee, wretch ! and mark thy conftant aim, To teach the hoft their leader thus to blame. Long have I borne your pride ; your rev'rend age, A guardian's name, Aipprefs'd my kindling rage : But to protect your infolence, no more Shall thefe avail, and fcreen it as before. HE faid ; and more his fury to provoke, Replying thus, the aged warrior fpoke : Vain youth ! unmov'd thy angry threats I hear ; When tyrants threaten, flavts alone fhould fear : To me is ev'ry fervile part unknown, To glory in a fmile, or fear a frown. Your mighty fire I knew by counfel rul'd ; His fierceft tranfports fober reafon cool'd. But wild and lawlefs, like the Hormy wind, The fport of paflion, impotent, and blind, The defp'rate paths of folly you purfue, And fcorn inftrudtion with a lofty brow : Yet know, proud prince ! my purpofe I retain, And fee thy threat'ning eye-balls roll in vain : Never, obfequious to thy mad command, Againft the foe I'll lift a hoftile hand ; Till, BookV. THE EPIGONiAD. 115 Till, righteoufly fulfill'd, the truce expires Which heav'n has witnefs'd and the facred fires. HE faid ; and, by his fharp reproaches flung, With fudden hand, his launce the hero flung : Too fure the aim ; his faithful friend it found, And open'd in his fide a deadly wound : Stagg'ring he fell; and, on the verge of death, Jn words like thefe refign'd his parting breath : O Diomed, my fon ! for thee I fear : Sure heav'n is angry, and its vengeance near : For whom the gods diftinguifh by their hate, Them! elves are made the minifters of fate ; Far from their fide, the deftin'd victims drive Their friends intent to fuccor and retrieve. Ere yet their vengeance falls, the pow'rs invoke While uninflicled hangs the fatal ftroke ; And rule the tranfports of your wrath, left fear Make found advice a ftranger to your ear. Speaking he dy'd ; his gen'rous fpirit fled To mix with heroes in th' Elyfian fliade. AMAZ'D, at firft, th' Etolian warriors flood ; No voice, no aftion, thro' the wond'ring crowd ; Silent they flood, like rows of foreft trees, When JOVE'S dread thunder quells the fummer breeze : But foon on ev'ry fide a tumult rofe, Loud as the ocean when a tempeft blows ; Diforder wild the mingling ranks confounds, The voice of forrow mix'd with angry founds. On 1 14 The EPIGONIAD. Book V, On ev'iy fide againft the chief appears A brazen bulwark rais'd of fhields, and fpears, Faft clofmg round. But from his thigh he drew His mining blade, and on the phalanx flew ; With gefture fierce the threat'ning fteel he wav'd ; But check'd its fury, and the people fav'd : As the good fhepherd fpares his tender flock, And lightens, when he ftrikes, the falling crook. The crowd dividing fhun'd the hero's ire ; As from a lion's rage the fwains retire, When dreadful o'er the mangled prey he flam's, By brandifh'd darts unaw'd and flaming brands. AND now the flame of fudden rage fuppreft, Remorfe and forrow ilung the hero's breaft. Diftra&ed thro' the fcatt'ring crowd he went, And fought the dark recefles of his tent ; He enter'd : but the menial fervants, bred To wait his coming, flraight with horror fled. Againft the ground he dafh'd his bloody dart ; And utter'd thus the fwellings of his heart : Why fly my warriors ? why the menial train, Who joy'd before to meet me from the plain, Why (hun they now their lord's approach ; nor bring, To wafh my bloody hands, the cleanfing fpring ? Too well, alas! my fatal rage they know, To them more dreadful now than to the foe ; No enemy, alas ! this fpear has ftain'd, With hoftile gore in glorious battle drain'd : My BookV. THE E PIG ONI AD. 115 My guardian's blood it (hews, whofe hoary hairs Still watch'd my welfare with a father's cares. Thou Pow'r fupreme ! whofe unrefifted fway The fates of men and mortal things obey ! If wife and good, why did thy hand impart So fierce an impulfe to this bounding heart ? By fury rul'd and impotent of mind, No awe reilrains me, and no tie can bind : Hence, by the madnefs of my rage o'erthrown, My father's friend lies murder'd, and my own. He faid; and, yielding to his fierce defpair, With both his hands he rent his rooted hair ; And, where his locks in fhining ringlets grew, A load of afhes from the hearth he threw, Rolling in duft : but now around the flaia His warriors flood, affembled on the plain ; For total infurreftion ripe they flood ; Their angry murmurs rofe to tumult loud. ULYSSES foon the dire diforder heard ; And prefent to explore the caufe appear'd : The hero came, and, 'midft the warriors, found Deiphobus extended on the ground. A flood of forrow flarted to his eyes, But foon he check'd each fymptom of furprize With prudent care ; while preffing round the chief Each flrove to fpeak the univerfal grief: Their mingled fpears in wild diforder fhaok ; Uke the (harp reeds along fome winding brook, When ii6 THE E PIG ONI AD. Book V. When thro' the leafiefs woods the north wind blows, Parent of ice and thick defcending fnows : Now fell revenge had bath'd in flreams of blood, And pow'r in vain her defp'rate courfc withilood : But Ithacus, well fkill'd in ev'ryart To fix, or change each purpofe of the heart ; Their item decrees by foft perfuafion broke; And anfw'ring, thus with prudent purpofe fpoke : Warriors ! your gen'rous rage approve I muft ; Dire was the deed; the purpos'd vengeance juft ; But, when the kings in full aflembly fit, To them the crime, and punifliment commit: For rafh procedure wrongs the faireft caufe ; And private juftice ftill infults the laws. Now to your tents ycur fhields and launces bear j Thefeus expects us, and the hour is near : The altars flame; the pricfts in order Hand, With facrifice, to hallow ev'ry band : But to the covert of a tent convey, Sav'd from the fcorching winds and folar ray, Thefe dear remains ; till Thefeus has decreed Diftinguifh'd obfequies to grace the dead. The hero thus ; and, from his moulders, threw The regal cloak of gold, and mining blue ; Which o'er the flain, with prudent care, he fprcad, His ghaftly features, from the crowd, to made. Thrice to his eyes a flood of forrow came ; Thrice on the brink he check'd the gufhing ftream In aft to flow ; his rifing fighs fuppreft ; Patient of grief, he lock'd it in his breaft. T H E THE E P I G O N I A D. BOOK VI. TO fad defpair th' Etolian chief refign'd, And dire remorfe, which fhing his tortur'd mind, From early dawn, in duft extended lay, By all abandon'd till the fetting ray. 'Twas then Cafiandra came ; and, at the door, Thrice call'd her lord : he ftarted from the floor : In fullen majeily his chair of ftate, Full in the midft oppofed to the gate, The hero prefs'd : the anxious maid drew near, By love excited, and reftrain'd by fear: , Trembling before th chief me flood ; and held A bowl of wine with temp'ring mixtures quell'd; The fragrant juice which fam'd Thefprotia yields, The vintage of her cliffs, and funny fields. And thus : Dread lord! reject not with difdain A prefent offer'd by a humble fwain. This bowl receive, of gentle force to charm Diftrefs, and of its rigor grief difarm. How si8 THE EJ ICON I AD. Book VI. How vain to grieve for ever for the palt ! No hour recals the a&ions of the laft : Nor groans, nor fighs, nor ftreams of forrow flied, From their long (lumber can awake the dead. When death's ftern pow'r his iron fceptre lays On the cold lips, the vital fpirit ftrays To worlds unknown : nor can the dead perceive The tears of friends or lovers when they grieve. To footh his paflion, thus the virgin try'd; With wonder, thus th' Etolian chief reply'd: Say who you are, who thus approach my feat, Unaw'd by good Deiphobus's fate ? When all avoid my prefence, nor appear, By indignation banim'd, or by fear. What is thy name ? what deed of mine could bind To friendlhip fo unchang'd thy conftant mind ; Still to furvive the horror of a crime, Whofe color blots the regifters of time ? THE hero thus. Caflandra thus replies: Iphicles is my name ; my country lies Where Antirrihum's rocky mores divide, Extended in the deep, th' Ionian tide. There dwells my fire pofleft of ample ftore, In flocks and herds and gold's refulgent ore. Oeneus his name ; his veflels on the main, From rich Hefperia waft him yearly gain, And that fam'd land, whofe promontories run Far to the weft, beneath the fetting fun ; Where Book VI. THE EP1GONIAD. 119 Where ev'ry cliff with veins of filver gleams, And fands of gold lie glitt'ring in the rtreams. In Hymen's facred ties two fons he bred, Me, and my valiant brother Lycomed. The youngeft 1, was charg'd his flocks to keep : My brother rul'd his galleys on the deep. Once as he left Iberia's wealthy fliore, WithBcetic fleeces fraught and precious ore; Phoenician pirates waited on the ftrand, Where high Pachynus ftretches from the land ; In that fam'd ifle where ^Etna lifts his fpires, With fmoke obfcure, and blows his fulph'rous fires. Behind the cliffs conceal'd, the treach'rous band Waited the Greeks, defcending on the ftrand : My brother there with twenty youths they flew; Their fudden arrows from an ambulh flew. Dire was the deed ; and ftill my forrows ftream, Whene'er that argument of woe I name, And grief prevails ; but, in your prefence, moft; You ftill recall the brother whom I loft: For fuch he w.as in lineaments of face, In martial ftature, and majeftic grace ; Tho' lefs in all; in form inferior far; And llill, tho' valiant, lefs in works of war. Hence, deeply rooted in my conftant heart, You challenge, as your own, a brother's part : And I alone, of all the hoft, remain To (hare your grief and fuffer in your pain. THUS ! 20 THE EPIGONIAD. Book VI. THUS by an artful tale, the virgin ftrove To fliun difcov'ry, and conceal her love. Yet ftill her looks, her geftures, all exprefs'd The maid; her love inblufhes flood confefs'd. Tydides faw ; and quickly, to his thought, Each circumftance the fair Cafiandra brought. Silent he fat ; and fix'd in deep furprize, Her flufhing features mark'd and downcaft eyes. He thus reply'd : The native truth reveal ; And, what I afk you, hope not to conceal. Or fhall I credit what you now have faid, Oeneus your fire, your brother Lycomed ? Or art thou flie, whole beauty firfl did move, Within my peaceful brcaft, the rage of love? WITH look and voice fevere, the hero fpoke. Aw'd and abafh'd, the confcious virgin fhook ; She dropt the filver goblet on the ground; The fragrant liquor drench'd the pavement round, And thus Tydides with a frown addrefs'd : Thy art is ufelefs, and the truth confefs'd ; Nor can that fair difguife of martial arms And male attire, conceal thy fatal charms. Thofe eyes I fee, whofe fcft inchantment ftole My peace; and ftirr'd a tempefl in my foul: By their mild fight, in innocence array'd, To guilty madnefs was my heart betray'd. Deiphobus is dead ; his mournful ghoft, Lamenting, wanders on the Stygian coaft ; And Book VI. THE E P I G O N I A D. iz t And blames my wrath. Oh ! that the fun, which gave Light to thy birth, had fet upon thy grave ; And he had liv'd ! now lifelefs on the plain A corfe he lies, and number'd with the flain. THE hero ended thus ; with melting eye, The virgin turn'd, unable to reply. In forrow graceful, as the queen of love Who mourn'd AHonis in the Syrian grove, Confounded and abafh'd, fhe left the tent, And thro' the hofl in filent anguifh went, Far to the left ; where, in a lonely wood, To Ceres built, a rural temple flood ; By fwains frequented once, but now the place Unfightly fimibs o'erfpread and weeds difgrace. Thither Cafiandra went; and at the Ihrine, With fuppliant voice addrefs'd fhe pow'r divine ; Hear me, dread genius of this facred grove ! - Let my complaints thy fov'reign pity move. To feek the friendly fhelrer of thy dome, With heart unftain'd, and guiltlefs hands, I come : Love is my crime ; and, hi thy rural feat, From infamy I feek a fafe retreat. By blame unmerited, and cold neglect, Banim'd I come ; receive me and protect ! She pray'd, and ent'ring, 'gainft a pillar, ftaid. Her launce ; and on the floor her armor laid. Then falling proftrate pour'd a flood of tears, With prefent ills opprefs'd and future fears. F TWAS i ?2 THE E P I G O N I A D. Book VI. 'TWAS then the herald of the queen of love, Zelotype, defcended in the grove, By Venus fent; but Hill her counfels fail'd; And Pallas with fuperior fway prevail'd: The phantom enter'd, and aflum'd a form, Pale as the moon appearing thro' a ftorm ; In Amyclea's fhape difguis'd fhe came; The fame her afpeft, and her voice the fame. Callandra faw ; a fudden horror froze Her veins j ereft her parted locks arofe, Stir'd from the root : impatient thus the maid, With trembling lips, in fault'ring accents, faid : My lov'd, my honor'd parent! have my groans, From death's deep {lumber, rous'd thy facred bones : I hop'd that nothing could your peace moleft ; Nor mortal cares difturb eternal reft; That fafe for ever on th' Elyfian more, You heard of human mifery no more. CASSANDRA thus; and thus the Paphian maid : Your gen'rous love, my child, is ill repaid ; Your griefs I feel, and bear a parent's part; Tho' blood no more returns to warm my heart ; And that, which firft your mortal being bred, To duft lies mould'ring, in its earthy bed. To Calydon, my child, with fpeed return ; Your father grieves ; your gay companions mourn ; He deems you loft, and defp'rate of his ftate, By grief fubdu'd, invokes his ling'ring fate : .;*. Inceflant Book VI. THE E PIG ON' I AD. iz Inceflant tears bedew his wrinkled face, And afhes foul his hoary locks difgrace. Return, return! nor let misjudging pride, With further errors, ftrive the paft to hide. Return, once more to blifs his aged eyes, Or, by your guilty ftay a parent dies. SHE ended thus. Her arms CafTandra fpread To fold, in clofe embrace, the parting lhade ; In vain ; for, flarting from her grafp, it flew, And, gliding thro' the ftiady walks, withdrew. The virgin now awaits the rifing morn, With purpofe fix'd impatient to return: And when, thro' broken clouds, a glimm'ring ray Of early dawn foretold approaching day; The fpear me grafp'd, and on her temples plac'd The golden cafque, with various plumage grac'd; Tydides' gift; when in the ranks of fight The brave Clytander funk beneath his might. The gods me call'd ; and, bending to the ground, Their aid invok'd with reverence profound. Then left the dome ; and where Ifmenus flrays, Winding thro' thickeft woods his wat'ry maze, Her way purfu'd : a hoftile band drew near ; Their tread fhe heard, and faw their armor clear; Chief of the Theban youth ; the herds they drove* And flocks collected from the hills above. For thus the Paphian goddefs had betray'd, To hands of cruel foes, the guiitlefs maid. 124, The E PIG ON I AD. Book VI. BY fudden terror check'd, at firft fhe flood; Then turn'd, and fought the covert of the wood; Nor fo efcap'd: her glitt'ring armor fhone, The flurry helmet and the lofty cone, Full to the glowing eafl ; its golden rays Her winding flight betray'd thro' all its maze. TheThebans faw; and, rufhing 'midfl the made With fhouts of triumph, feiz'd the trembling maid. Amaz'd and pale, before the hoflile band, She flood ; and dropt the jav'lin from her hand : fpare my life ! me cry'd, nor wealth, nor fame To purchafe in the works of war, I came. No hate to you I bear, or Creon's fway, Whofe fov'reign will the fons of Thebes obey : Me haplefs friendfhip hither led, to mare, With Diomed, the dangers of the war. 1 now return and quit the martial flrife, My fire to fuccor on the verge of life ; Who crufh'd beneath a load of forrow bends, And to the grave, with painful Heps, defcends. But if the plea of pity you rejeft, The flronger ties of equity refpeft : A truce wefwore;. JOVE witnefies the deed; On him who breaks it, vengeance will fucceed. THUS as the virgin fpoke, Phericles ey'd The arms fhe wore ; and flernly thus reply'd : Ill-fated wretch ! that panoply to wear; The fame ray brother once in fight did bear ; Whom Book VI. THE EPIGONI A IX 125 Whom fierce Tydides, with fuperior might, O'erthrew and vanquifh'd in the ranks of fight. If with his foe my brother's fpoils you fhar'd, A mark of love, or merited reward ; Prepare to yield them and refign thy breath; To vengeance due : Clytander claims thy death. FROWNING he fpoke, and drew his fhining blade ; Beneath the lifted fteel, th' unhappy maid Confounded ftoop'd : Menoetius caught the ftroke On his broad ihield ; and interpofing fpoke : Brave youth ! refpeft my counfel, and fufpend The fudden vengeance which you now intend. The chiefs of Thebes, the rulers of the ftate, In full affembly, at the Cadmean gate, A monument for great Leophron rear ; His name, achievements, and defcent to bear. Thither let this devoted youth be led, An ofF'ring grateful to the hero's made : Nor fhall Clytander lefs the deed approve; Or friendly zeal applaud, and feel our love ; When fame lhall tell, in Pluto's gloomy reign, How ftern Tydides mourns this warrior ilain. Thus ignorantly they ; nor knew the peace Of happy patriots, when their labors ceafe ; That fell revenge and life- con fuming hate Find no admittance, to moleft their ftate. AND now they led the captive crofs the plain; Scarce could her trembling knees their load fuftain ; F 3 Thrice , ,6 THE E P I G O N I A D. Book VL Thrice had her fault'ring tongufe her fex reveal'd, But confcious fhame oppos'd it and conceal'd. Their monarch at the Cadmean gate they found,. In mournful ftate r with all his peers around. Oblations to Leophron's mighty fliade, In honey, milk, and fragrant wines they paid. And thus Lycaon's fon addrefs'd the king : A grateful off 'ring to your rites we bring. This youth, the friend of Diomed, we found Clad in the armor which Clytander ovvn'd ; My brother's fpoils, by Diomed pofleft, When his keen jav'lin pierc'd the hero's breaft. Soon had my rage the hoftile deed repaid, With vengeance grateful to his kindred fliade ; But public griefs the firft atonements claim, And heroes of a more diftinguifh'd name. Leophron, once his country's pride and boaft ; Anciremojn too, the bulwark of the holt, His blood demands ; for when their fouls {hall know The fweet revenge, in Pluto's fhades below, Pleas'd with our zeal, will each illuftrious ghoft, With lighter footfteps, prefs th' Elyfian coaft. HE fpoke; the princes all at once incline ; The reft, with fhouts, applaud the dire delign. An altar foon of flow'ry turf they raife : On ev'ry fide the facred torches blaze : The bowls, in fhining order, plac'd around ;. The fatal knife was whetted for the wound. Decree*! Book VI. THE E P I G O N I A D. 127 Decreed to perifti, flood the helplefs fair; Like fome foft fawn, when, in the hunter's fnare Invol-v'd, fhe fees him from his feat arife, His brandifh'd truncheon dreads, and hears his cries : Silent fhe flands, to barb'rous force refign'd, In anguifh foft, difiblv'd her tender mind. The priells in order ev'ry rite prepar'd ; Her neck and bofom, for the blow, they bar'd ; The helmet loos'd, the buckled mail unbound, Whofe mining circles fcnc'd her neck around. ',"'* Down funk the fair difguife ; and full to fight The virgin flood, with charms divinely bright. The comely ringlets of her flowing hair, Such as the wood-nymphs wear, and Naiades fair, Hung loofe ; her middle by a zone embrac'd, Which fix'd the floating garment round her waift. Venus herfelf divine effulgence flied O'er all her ftature, and her lovely head ; Such as in fpring the color'd blofibms fhow, When on their op'ning leaves the zephyrs blow : Amazement feiz'd the chiefs ; and all around, With murmurs mix'd the wond'ring crowds refound. Moft vote to fpare : the angry monarch cries : Ye miniflers, proceed ! the captive dies. Shall any here, by weak companion mov'd, A captive fpare by ftern Tydides lov'd ? The fcourge of Thebes, whofc wide-dellroying hand Has thin'd our armies in their native land, And flain my fon : by all the gods I fwear, Whofe names, to cite in vain, the nations fear, F 4 That 123 THE E P I G O N I A D. Book VI. That none, he loves, lhall ever fcape my rage : The vulgar plea I fcorn, of fex, or age, F.v'n (he, who now appears with ev'ry grace Adorn'd, each charm of ftature and of face; Ev'n rho' from Venus me could claim the prize,. Her lii'e to vengeance forfeited, flie dies. STER.NLY the monarch ended. All were fUll, With mute fubmiflion to the fov'reign will : Lycaon's valiant fon except j alone His gen'rous ardor thus oppos'd the throne : Dread fov'reign ! liften with a patient ear, And what I now fhall offer, deign to hear. When firft by force we ftiz'd this captive n.aid, The truce was vi'lated, our faith betray'd ; And juftice, which, in war and peace, prevails Alike, and weighs their deeds with equal fcales. Her freedom claims, with prefents to atone For what our rage perfidioufly has done : Let us not, now, to further wrongs proceed j But fear the curfe for perjury decreed. PHERICLES thus: and, with a ftern regard, His indignation thus the king declar'd : Vain giddy youth ! forbear, with factious breath, To roufe my juftice to pronounce thy death: In oppcfition, firft of all you move, While others hear in filence, and approve. Your bold prefumption check, and learn to dread My vengeance thunder'd on your wretched head. FROWN Book VI. THE EPIGONIAD. 129 FROWNING he ended thus: his threats defy'd, With gen'rous heat Phericles thus reply'd : Princes ! attend, and truft my words fmcere ; The king I honor, and his will revere, When truth gives fan&ion to his juft commands, Nor common right in oppofition ftands : Yet gen'rous minds a principle retain, Which promifes and threats attempt in vain, Which claims dominion, by the gods impreft, The love of juftice in the human breaft : By this infpir'd, againft fuperior might, I rife undaunted in the caufe of right. And now, by all th* avenging gods, I fwear, Whofe names, to cite in vain, the nations fear ; That no bold warrior of the Theban bands, This maid (hall violate with hoftiie hands ; While thefe my arms have force the launce to wield, And lift in her defence this pond'rous fhield, Not ev'n the king himfeJf, whofe fov'reign fway The martial fons of facred Thebes obey. HE faid ; and, by his bold example fir'd, Twelve warriors rofe, with equal zeal infpir'd. With mining fteel the altar they furround, The fire now riaming, and the viclim crown'd. On ev'ry fide in wild diforder move The thick compacted crowds ; as when a grove, Rock'd by a fudden whirlwind, bends and llrains r From right to left, along the woodland plains : F 5 Fell I 3 o THE E PIG ONI AD. Book VI, Fell difcord foon had rag'd, in civil blood, With wide deftruction not to be withftood ; For from his feat the angry monarch fprung, And lifted, for the blow, the fceptre hung : But 'midft the tumult Clytophon appear'd, Approv'd for wifdom, and with rev'rence heard. Straight, by the robe, the furious chief he feiz'd, And thus, with fage advice, his wrath appeas'd : Hear, mighty prince ! refpect the words of age, And calm the wafteful tempeft of thy rage ; The public welfare to revenge prefer, For nations fuffer when their fov'reigns err. It ill becomes us now, when hoftile pow'rs With ftrideft fiege invert our ftrait'ned tow'rs j It ill becomes us thus, with civil arms, To wound the ftate, and aggravate our harms- Hear, all ye princes ! what to me appears A prudent counfel, worthy of your ears: Let us inquire, if in our hands we hold A life efteem'd by Diomed the bold : If, in his breaft, thofe tender paflions reign, Which charms like thefe muft kindle and maintain > Our mandates freely to his tent we fend,- For to our will his haughty foul muft bend : Nor dares he, while the Theban walls inclofe A pledge fo dear, invade us or oppofe ; But muft fubmit, whenever we require, Or with his pow'rs to aid us, or retire. Book VI. THE E P I G O N I A D. ifi HE faid ; the monarch painfully fuppreft His burning rage, and lock'd it in his breaft. He thusreply'd: Thy prudent words infpire Pacific counfels, and fubdue mine ire : But if in peace I rul'd the Theban ftate, Nor hoftile armies thunderM at my gate ; They had not dar'd, with infolence and fpight, My purpofe to oppofe and fcorn my might. He faid, and to his feat again retir'd ; While fudden tranfport ev'ry breaft infpir'd ; As fwains rejoice, when, from the troubled fkies^ By breezes fwept, a gather'd tempeft flies ; With wifh'd return the fun exerts his beams, To chear the woods and gild the fhining flreams, MEAN while the fon of Tydeus, thro* the plain,. With wilhing eyes, Caflandra fought in vain ; At ev'ry leader of the bands inquir'd ; Then, fad and hopelefs, to his tent retir'd. 'Twas then his grief the bounds of filence broke*. And thus in fecret to himfelf he fpoke : Me fure, of all men's fons, the gods have curft With their chief plagues, the greatefl and the worft f . Doom'd to difafters, from my earlieft hour ; Not wife to fhun nor patient to endure. From me the fource, unnumber'd ills proceed: To all my friends ; Deiphobus is dead ! His foul excluded feeks the nether Ikies, And wrong'd Caflandra from my prefence flies. 152. TH* EPIGONIAD. Book VI. Me furely, at my birth, the gods defign'd Their rod of wrath, tofcourge the human kind j For flaughter form'd, with brutal fury brave, Prompt to deftroy, but impotent to fave. How could my madnefs blame thee, gen'rous maid ? And, with my crime, thy innocence upbraid ! Deiphobus is fall'n ! but not by thee ;. Thy only fault, alas ! was love to me : For this, in plated fteel thy limbs were drefsM* A weighty fhield thy tender arm opprefs'd : For this, thou didll to hoftile fields repair, And court fuch objects as diftraft the fair ; Patient above thy fex ! an ill reward, Blame and unjuft reproach, was all you fhar'ck By my unkindnefs banifh'd, now you roam, And feek, thro' paths unknown, your diitant home: To mountain wolves ex.pos'd, a helplefs prey* And men unjuft more terrible than they. Save her, ye gods ! and let me ftand the aim. Of JOVE'S all-dreaded bolt, and fcorching flame. THUS plain'd the hero till the letting ray Withdrew, and ev'ning fhades expell'd the day ; Then in his tent,, before his lofty feat, Appear'd a herald from the Theban ftate ; The hero's knees, with trembling hands, he prefs'd, And with his meffage thus the chief addrefs'd : Hear, mighty prince ! the tidings which I bring, From Thebes afierubled, and the Theban king. Book VI. THE E PIG ONI AD. 133 An armed warrior of your native train, At early dawn, was feiz'd upon the plain. What others did, forgive, if I relate ; Creon commands me and the Theban flare. A fairer youth, in martial arms, ne'er came To court bright honor in the fields of fame. A cafque of polifh'd fteel his temples prefs'd, The golden cone with various plumage drefs'd ; A filver mail embrac'd his body round, And greaves of brafs his llender ancles bound : To Thebes well known the panoply he wore> The fame, which once, renown'd Clytander bore. Our warriors dragg'd him to the Cadmean gate, Where Creon, with the rulers of the ftare, Aflembled fat ; the trembling captive Hood, With arms furrounded, and th' infulting crowd 1 . Ofpare my life f he cry'd, nor wealth, nor fame To purchafe m the works of war, I came. No hate to you I bear, or Creon's fway, Whofe fov'reign will the fons of Thebes obey. Me lucklefs friendship hither led, to fhare* With Diomed, the dangers of the war. I now return, and quit the martial ftrife, My fire to fuccor on the verge of life ; Whofe feeble age the prefent aid demands^ And kind affiftance of my filial hands. His words inclin'd the wifeft and the beft, And fome their gcn'rous fympathy expreft : But others, nothing mov'd, his guiltlefs head" With threats demanded, to avenge the dead : And , 34 T B EPIGONIAD. Book VI. And thus the king : My countrymen, attend ! In this, let all your loud contention end : If Diomed, to fave this valu'd life, The field abandons and the martial ftrife ; The captive fafe, with prefents, I'll reftore, Of brafs, and fteel, and gold's refulgent ore : But if thefe terms the haughty chief fhall flight, And for the Argives ftill exert his might; Before our heroes' tombs, this youth ihall bleed, To pleafe the living, and avenge the dead. His fentence all approv'd ; and to your ear, As public herald, I the meffage bear ; And muft your anfwer crave, without delay ; Creon and Thebes already blame my flay. THUS as he fpoke, contending paflions ftrove r With force oppos'd, the hero's foul to move ; As fluffing winds impel the ocean's tide, And fway the reeling waves from fide to fide > Rage dictated revenge ; but tender fear, From love and pity, warn'd him to forbear :. Till, like a lion, fiercer from his pain, Thefe words broke furth in wrath and high difdain : Go, tell your tyrant, that he tempts a foul, Which prefents cannot win, nor threats control : Not form'd, like his, to mock at ev'ry tie ; With perjury to fport, and heav'n defy. A common league the Argive warriors fwore,. Aod feal'd the facred tie with wine and gore : My Book VI. THE E P I G O N I A D. I 3S My faith was plighted then, and ne'er mall fail, NorCreon's arts, to change me, aught avail. But tell him loud, that all the hoft may hear, And Thebes thro' all her warriors learn to fear j If any, from himfelf, or by command, The captive violates with hoftile hand ; That all fhall quickly rue the guilty deed, When, to requite it, multitudes mall bleed. STERNLY the hero ended, and refign'd, To fierce diforder r all his mighty mind. Already in his thoughts, with vengeful hands, He dealt deftru&ion 'midft the Theban bands,. In fancy faw the tott'ring turrets fall, And led his warriors o'er the level'd wall. Rous'd with the thought, from his high feat he fprung; And grafp'd the fword y which on'a column hung; The mining blade he balanc'd thrice in air ; His launces next he view'd, and armor fair. When, hanging 'midft the coftly panoply, A fcarf embroider'd met the hero's eye, Which fair Cafiandra's fkilful hands had wrought; A prefent for her lord, in fecret brought, That day, when firli he led his martial train In arms, to combat on the Theban plain. As fome ftrong charm, which magic founds compofe, Sufpends a downward torrent as it flows; Checks in the precipice its headlong courfe, And calls it trembling upwards to its fource: Such 136 THE EP1GONIAD. Book VI. Such feem'd the robe, which, to the hero's eyes, Made the fair artift in her charms to rife. His rage, fufpended in its full career, To love refigns, to grief and tender fear. Glad would he now his former words revoke, And change the pnrpofe which in wrath he fpoke. From hoftiie hands his captive fair to gain, From fate to fave her, or the fervile chain : But pride, and fhame, the fond defign fuppreft i Silent he flood, and lock'd it in his breafr. Yet had the wary Theban well divin'd, By fymptoms fure, each motion of his mind : With joy he faw the heat of rage fupprefs'd j And thus again his artful words addrefs'd : Illuilrious prince ! with patience bend thine ear, And what I now mail offer, deign to hear. Of all the griefs, diftrefsful mortals prove, The woes of friendship moft my pity move. You much I pity, and the youth regret, Whom you too rigidly refign to fate ; Expos'd, alone, no hope of comfort near, The fcorn and cruelty of foes to bear. O that my timely counfel might avail, For love, and fyir.pathy, to turn the fcale I That Thebes releas'd from thy devouring fword,. The captive honor'd, and with gifts reftor'd, We yet might hope for peace, and you again Enjoy the bleflings of your native reign. INS*- Book VI. THE E PIG ONI AD. 137 INSINUATING thus, the herald try'd His aim to compafs; and the chief reply'd : In vain you ftrive to fway my conftant mind ; I'll not depart while Thefeus ftays behind : Me nothing e'er, to change my faith, fhall move, By men attefted, and the gods above : But fince your lawlefs tyrant has detained A valu'd hoftage, treacheroufly gain'd ; And dire injuftice only will reftore When force compels, or proffei 'd gifts implore : A truce I grant, till the revolving fun, Twice ten full circuits of his journey run, From the red ocean, points the morning ray, And on the fteps of darknefs pours the day : Till then, from fight and council I abltain, Nor lead my pow'rs to combat on the plain : For this, your monarch to my tent fhall fend The captive, and from injuries defend. This proffer is my laft ; in vain will prove All your attempts my fixed mind to move : If Thebes accepts it, let a fign declare, A flaming torch, difplay'd aloft in air, From that high tow'r, whofe airy top is known By trav'lers from afar, and marks the town ; The fane of JOVE : but if they (hall rejeft The terms I fend, nor equity refpeft, They foon fhall feel the fury of mine ire, In wafteful havoc, and the rage of fire. THE 138 THE E P I G O N I A D. Book VJ. THE hero thus; and round hisfhoulders flung A ftiaggy cloak, with vulgar trappings hung ; And on his head a leathern helmet plac'd, A boar's rough front with grifly terrors grac'd ; A (pear he next aflum'd, and pond'rous fhield, And led theTheban, iffuing to the field. Amid furrounding guards th-y pafs'd unfeen, For night had ftretch'd her friendly made between ; Till nearer, thro' the gloom, the gate they knew ; The herald enter'd, and the chief withdrew : But turning oft to Thebes his eager eyes, The fignal, on the tow'r, at laft he fpies ; A flaming torch, upon the top, expos'd, Its ray at once his troubled mind compos'd : Such joy he felt, as when a watch-tow'r's light, Seen thro' the gloom of fome tempeftuous night, Glads the wet mariner, a ftar to guide His lab'ring veffel, thro' the ftormy tide, THE THE E P I G O N I A D, BOOK VII. NO W filent night the middle fpace pofleft, Of heav'n, or journey'd downwards to the weft ; But Creon, ftill with thirft of vengeance fir'd, Repofe declin'd, nor from his toils refpir'd j But held his peers in council to debate Plans for revenge fuggefted by his hate. Before the king Dienices appear'd ; To fpeak his tidings fad, the hero fear'd ; Return'd from Oeta ; thither fent to call Alcides to protect his native wall. AND Creon thus : Dienices ! explain Your forrow ; are our hopes of aid in vain ? Does Hercules negleft his native foil ; While ftrangers reap the harveft of his toil ? We from your filence cannot hope fuccefs ; But further ills your falling tears confefs : Cleon my fon is dead ; his fate you mourn ; I mufl not hope to fee his fafe return. Sure 140 THE EPIGONIAD. Book VII, Sure, if he liv'd, he had not come the laft; But found his father with a filial hafte. His fate, at once, declare, you need not fear, With any tale of grief, to wound mine ear, Proof to misfortune : for the man, who knows, The whole variety of human woes, Can ftand unmov'd tho' loads of forrow prefs ; Praclis'd to bear, familiar with diftrcfs. THE monarch queftion'd thus ; and thus the youths Too well thy boding fear has found the truth- Cleon is dead ; the hero's afties He Where Pelion's lofty head afcends the fky. For as, on Oeta's top, he vainly ftrove To win the arrows of the fon of JOVE ; Compelling Philodetes, to refign, The friend of Hercules, his arms divine j The infult to repel, an arrow flew, And from his heart the vital current drew : Proftrate he funk ; and welling from the wound, A flood of gore impurpled all the ground. THUS fpoke Dienices. The king fuppreft His big diftrefs, and lock'd it in his breaft : Sighing he thus reply'd : The caufe declare, Which holds the great Alcides from the war j And why another now, the bow commands And arrows, facred from his mighty hands. Nor fear my valiant fon's untimely fate, With all its weight of forrow, to relate : Book VII. THE EPIGONIAD. jVe come to callAlcides to our aid; By m THE EPIGONIAD. Book VI I. By us the fenators of Thebes entreat The hero, to protect his native ftate : For hbftile arms invert the Theban tow'rs ; Famine within, without the fword, devours. If you have learn'd where Hercules remains, In mountain caves, or hamlets on the plains, Our way direft ; for, led by gcn'ral fame, To find him in thcfe defert wilds we came. HE fpoke ; and Philoctetes thus again : May JOVE, for Thebes, fome other aid ordain; For Hercules no more exerts his might, Againft oppreflive force, for injur'd right : Retir'd, among the gods, he fits ferene, And views, beneath him far, this mortal fcene : But enter now this grotto, and partake What I can offer, for the hero's fake : With you from facred Thebes he claim'd his birth, For god-like virtue fam'd thro' all the earth ; Thebes therefore and her people ftill fliall be, Like fair Trachines and her fons to me. Enter ; for now the doubtful twilight fails ; And o'er the filent earth the night prevails : From the moift valleys noxious fogs arife, To wrap the rocky heights, and fhade the fkies. THE cave we enter'd, and his bounty fhar'd ; A rural banquet by himfelf prepar'd. But foon the rage of thirft and hunger ftay'd, My mind ftill doubtful, to the youth I faid : Muft Book VII. THE E P I G O N I A D. Muft haplefs Thebes, defpairing and undone, Want the aiMance of her braveft fon? The hero's fate explain, nor grudge mine car The fad aflurance of our lofs to hear. 1 queftion'd thus. The youth, with horror pale, Attempted to recite an awful tale ; Above the fabled woes which bards rehearfe, fxT When fad Melpomene Lnfpires the verfe. THE wife of JOVE (Pceonides reply'd) All arts in vain to crufh the hero try'd; For brighter from her hate his virtue burn'd; And difappointed frill, the Goddefs mourn'd! His ruin to effeft at laft flic ftrove By jealoufy, the rage of injur'd love. The bane to Deianira's bread convey'd, Who, as a rival, fearM th'Oechalian maid. The Goddefs knew, that jealous of her lord, A robe fhe kept with latent poifons ftor'd ; The centaur's gift, bequeath'd her, to reclaim The hero's love, and light his dying flame; If e'er, devoted to a ftranger's charms, He ftray'd inconftant, from her widow'd arms j But giv'n with treacherous intent to prove The death of nature, not the life of love. Mad from her jealoufy, the charm me try'd; His love to change, the deadly robe apply 'd .- And, guildefs of the prefent which he bore, Lychas convey'd it to Centura's more : Where 146 THE EPIGONIAD. Book VII. Where to the Pow'rs immortal, for their aid, A grateful hecatomb the hero paid : When favor'd from above, his arm o'erthrew The proud Eurytus, and his warriors flew. The venom'd robe the hero took, nor fear'd A g^i by conjugal refpeds endear'd : And ftruight rcfigird the lion's maggy fpoils, The mantle which he wore in all his toils. No fign of harm the fatal pjefent fhow'd ; Till rous'd by heat its fecret venom glow'd : Straight on the fiefh it fciz'd, like ftifteft glue, And fcorching deep, to ev'ry member grew. Then tearing with his hands th' infernal fnrre, His fkin he rent, and laid the mufcles bare ; W hile ilreams of blood, defcending from the wound, Mix'd with the gore of victims on the ground. The guiltlefs Lychas, in his furious mood, He feiz'd, as trembling by his fide he flood : Him, by the flender ancle fnatch'd, he fwung; And'gainft a rocky promontory flung: Which, from the dire event, his name retains ; Thro' his white locks impurplcd rurti'd the brains. Aw'd by the deed, his defp'rate rage to fliun, Our bold companions from his prefence inn : I too, conccal'd behind a rock, remain'd ; My love and fympathy by fear reftrain'd : For furious 'midft the facred fires he flew; The victims fcatter'd, and the hearths o'erthrew. Then finking proftrate, where a tide of gore From oxen flain had blacken'd all the fliore, His Book VII. THE E PIG ON I AD. , 47 His form divine he roll'd in duft and blood ; His groans the hills re-echo'd and the flood. Then rifing furious, to the ocean's ftreams He rafli'd, in hope to quench his raging flames ; But burning ftill the unextinguifli'd pain, The fliore he left, and ftretch'd into the main. " A galley anchor'd near the beach we found; Her curled canvafs to the breeze unbound ; And trac'd his defp'rate courfe, till far before We faw him land on Oeta's defert fhore. Towards the flues his furious hand* he rear'd, And thus, acrofs the deep, his voice we heard : SOV'REIGN of heav'n and earth! whofe boundlefs f\vay The fates of men and mortal things obey ! If e'er delighted from the courts above, In human form, you fought Alcmena's love; Jf fame's unchanging voice to all the earth, With truth, proclaims you author of my birth ; Whence, from a courfe of fpotlefs glory run. Succefsfo! toils and wreaths of triumph won, Am I thus wretched ? better, that before Some monfter fierce had drunk my dreaming gore; Or crum'd by Cacus, foe to gods and men, My batter'd brains had ftrew'd his rocky den : Than, from my glorious toils and triumphs part, To fall fubdu'd by female arts, at laft. O cool my boiling blood, ye winds, that blow From mountains loaded with eternal faow, G * And 148 THE EPIGONIAD. Book VII. And crack the icy cliffs: in vain! in vain ! Your rigor cannot quench my raging pain ! For round this heart the furies wave their brands, And wring my entrails with their burning hands. Now bending from the ikies, O wife of Jove ! Enjoy the vengeance of thy injur'd love : For fate, by me, the Thund'rer's guilt atones ; And, puninYd in her fon, Alcmena groans : The objeft of your hate fliall foon expire ; Fix'd on my fhoulders preys a net of fire : Whom nor the toils nor dangers could fubdue, By falfe Euryftheus dictated from you; Nor tyrants lawlefs, nor the monftrous brood, " Which haunts the defert or infefts the flood, Nor Greece, nor all the barb'rous climes that lie Where Phcebus ever points his golden eye j A woman hath o'erthi own ! ye gods! I yield To female arts, unconquer'd in the field. My arms alas ! are thefe the fame that bow'd Anteus, and his giant force fubdu'd ? That chagg'd Nemea's monfter from his den; And flew the dragon in his native fen ? Alas, alas ! their mighty mufcles fail, While pains infernal ev'iy nerve aflail : Alas, alas ! I feel in ftreams of woe Thefe eyes difiblv'd, before untaught to flow. Awake my virtue, oft in dangers try'd, Patient in toils, in deaths unterrify'd, Roufe to my aid ; nor let my labors part, With fame atchiev'd, be blotted by the laft : Firm BookVlL THE EPIG ON I AD. 149 Firm and unmov'd, the prefent Chock endure; Once triumph, and for ever reft fecure. THE hero thus; and grafp'd a pointed rock With both his arms, which ftraight in pieces brcke, Crufh'd in his agony : then on his breaft Defcending proftrate, further plaint fuppreft. And now the clouds, in dufky volumes fp read, Had darken'd all the mountains with their (hade : The winds withhold their breath; the billows reft; The fky's dark image on the deep impreft. A bay for flicker, op'ning in the ftrand, We faw, and fteer'd our vefTel to the land. Then mounting on the rocky beach above, Thro* the thick gloom, defcry'd the fon of JOVE. His head, declin'd between his hands, helean'd; His elbows on his bended knees fuftain'd. Above him ftill a hov'ring vapor flew, Which, from his boiling veins, the garment drew. Thro' the thick woof we faw the fumes afpire ; Like fmoke of victims from the facred fire. Companion's keeneft touch my bofom thrill'd; My eyes, a flood of melting forrow fill'd : Doubtful I flood ; and pond'ring in my mind, By fear, and pity, varioufly inclin'd, Whether to fhun the hero, or eflay, With friendly words, his torment to allay : When burfting from above with hideous glare, A flood of lightning kindled all the air. G 5 From 150 THE EPIGONI A I>. Book VIL From Oeta's top it rufh'cl in fudden ftreams ; The ocean redden'd at its fiery beams. Then, bellowing deep, the thunder's awful found Shock the firm mountains and the fhores around. .Far to the eafi it roll'd, a length of fky ; We heard Eubcea's rattling cliffs reply, As at his mafter's voice a fwain appears, When wak'd from fiefp his early call he hears, The hero rofe; and to the mountain turn'd, "Whofe cloud-involved top with lightning burn'd : And thus his fire addrefs'd : With patient mind, Thy call I hear, obedient and refign'd; faithful and true the oracle ! which fpoke, In highDodona, from the facred oak; " That twenty years of painful labors paft, " On Oeta's top I mould repofe at lafl:" Before, involv'd, the meaning lay conceal'd; But now I find it in my fate reveal'd. Thy fov'reign will I blame not, which denies, With length of days, to crown my victories : Tho* ftill with danger and diflrefs engag'd, For injur'd right eternal war I wag'd ; A life of pain, in barb'rous climates, led, The heav'ns my canopy, a rock my bed : Mere joy I've felt than delicacy knows, Or all the pride of regal pomp beftows. Dread fire! thy will I honor and revere, And own thy love with gratitude fmcere, Which watch'd me in my toils, that none could boaft To raife a trophy from my glory loft : And Book VII. THE E P I G O N I A D. 151 And tho'at laft, by female arts, o'ercome, And unfufpecled fraud, I find my doom ; There to have faiPd, my honor ne'er can make, Where vice is only ftrong and virtue weak. HE faid; and turning to the cloudy height, The feat of thunder, wrapt in fable night, Firm and undaunted trod the fteep afcent ; An earthquake rock'd the mountain as he went. Back from the making mores retir'd the flood; In horror loft, my bold companions flood, To fpeech or motion : but the prefent pow'r Of love infpir'd me, in that awful hour ; With trembling fteps, I trac'd the fon of JOVE ; And faw him darkly on the fteep above, Thro' the thick gloom. The thunder's awful noife Ceas'd; and I calFd him thus with feeble voice: O fon of mighty JOVE ! thy friend await; Who comes to comfort thee, or mare thy fate. In ev'ry danger and diftrefs before, His part your faithful Philo&etes bore. O let me ftill attend you, and receive The comfort which a prefent friend can give, Who come obfequious for your laft commands, And tenders to your need his willing hands. My voice he heard ; and from the mountain's brow Saw me afcending on the fteep below. To favor my approach his fteps he ftay'd ; And pleas'd, amidft his anguifh, fmiling faid: G 4 Approach, 1 52 THfi E P 1 G O N I A D. Book VII. Approach, my Fhilo&etes ! Oft I've known Your friendly zeal in former labors fliown : The prefent, more than all, your love proclaim?, Which braves the Thund'rei j s bolts and volley'd flames ; With daring ftep, the rocking earthquake treads, While the firm mountains make their trembling heads. As my lair, gift, thcfc arrows, with the bow, Accept ; the greateft which I can beftow ; My glory all my wealth; of pov'r to raife Your name to honor and immortal praife ; If for wrong'd innocence your (hafts fliall fly, As JOVE by figns directs them from the iky. STRAIGHT from his mighty flioulders, as he fpoke, He loos'd and lodg'd them in a cavern'd rock ; To lie untouch'd, till future care had drain'd Their poifon from the venotr.'d robe retain'd. And tHus again: The only aid I need, For all my favours part, the only meed, Is, that, with vengeful hand, you fix a dart Jn cruel Deianira's fauhlefs heart : Her treach'rous meflenger already dead, Let her, the author of his crime, fucceed. This awful fcene forfake without delay; In vain to mingle with my fate you flay Jll V11U IV lUJitgAV lYlill lll^V ICtlV J| UU *M*J "\ i No kind afliflance can my flate retrieve, I K Nor any friend attend me, and furvive. S te'i Book VII. THE EPIGONIAD. ijj THE hero thus his tender care expreft, And fpread his arms to clafp me to his breaft ; But foon withdrew them, left his tainted veins Infection had convey'd and mortal pains : Silent I flood in ftreams of forrow drown'd, Till from my heart thefe words a pafiage found : bid me not forfake thee, nor impofe What wretched Philocletes muft refufe. By him I fwear, whofe prefence now proclaim The thunder's awful voice and forked flame, Beneath whofe fteps the trembling defert quakeJ, And earth affrighted to her center (hakes ; 1 never will forfake thee, but remain While ftruggling life thefe ruin'd limbs retain : No form of fate ihall drive me from thy fide, Nor" death with all its terrors e'er divide ; Tho' the fame ftroke our mortal lives Ihould end, One flam confumeus, and our alhes blend. I SPOKE ; and to the cloudy fteep we turn'd; Along its brow the kindled foreft tmrn'd. The favage brood, defcending to the plains, The fcatter'd flocks and dread diftrafted fwaina, Rufh'd from the fhaking cliffs : we faw them come, In wild diforder mingled, thro' the gloom. And now appear'd the defert's lofty head, A narrow rock with foreft thinly fpread. His mighty hands difplay'd aloft in air, To JOVE the hero thus addrefs'd a pray'r: G 5 Hear i$4 THE EPIGOKIAD. Book VJI, Hear me, dread Pow'r ! whofe nod controls the Ikies, At whofe command the winged lightning flies : Almighty fire ! if yet you deign to own Alcmena's wretched offspring as your fon j Some comfort in my agony impart, And bid thy forked thunder rend this heart : Round my devoted head it idly plays ; And aids the fire, which waftes me, with its rays ; By heat inflam'd, this robe exerts its pow'r, My fcorched limbs to flirivel and devour j Upon myfhoulders, like a dragon, clings, And fixes in my flefti a thoufand flings. Great fire ! in pity to my fuit attend, And with a fudden ftroke my being end. As thus the hero pray'd, the lightning ceas'd, And thicker darknefs all the hill embrac'd. He faw his fuit deny'd : in fierce defpair, The rooted pines he tore, and cedars fair ; And from the crannies of the rifted rocks, Twifted with force immenfe the ftubborn oaks. Of thefe upon the cliff a heap he laid, And thus addrefs'd me, as I flood difmay*di Behold, my friend ! the ruler of the fkies, In agony invok'd, my fuit denies : But fure the oracle infpir'd from heaven, Which in Dodona's facred grove was given, The truth declared; " that now my toils mail ceafe, *' And all my painful labors end to peace :" Peace, Book VII. THE E PIG ON I AD. Peace, death can only bring : the raging fmart, Warpt with my vitals, mocks each healing art. Not all the plants that clothe the verdant field, Not all the health a thoufand mountains yield, Which on their tops the fage phyfician finds, Or digging from the veins of flint unbinds, This fire can quench. And therefore, to obey My laft commands, prepare without delay. When on^this pile you fee my limbs compos'd, Shrink not, but hear what muft not be oppos'd Approach, and, with an unrelenting hand, Fix, in the boughs beneath, a flaming brand. I mult not longer truft this madding pain, Left feme rafli deed fhould all my glory ftain. Lychas 1 flew upon the Ccenian Ihore, Who knew not, fure, the fatal gift he bore : His guilt had taught him elfe to fly, nor wait, Till from my rage he found a fuddcn fate. J will not Deianira's action blame ; Let heav'n decide, which only knows her aim : Whether from hate, with treacherous intent, This fatal garment to her lord fhe fent j Or, by the cunning of a foe betray'd, His vengeance, thus imprudently convey'd. If this, or that, I urge not my command, Nor claim her fate from thy avenging hand : To lodge my lifelefs bones, is all I crave, Safe and uninjur'd in the peaceful grave. THIS i 5 6 THE EPIGONIAD. Book VII. THIS with a hollow Voice and alter'd look, In agony extreme, the hero fpoke. I pour'd a flood of forrow, arid withdrew, Amid the kindled groves, to pluck a bough ; With which the ftrufture at the bafe I fir'd : On ev'ry fide the pointed flames afpir'd. But ere involving fmoke the pile inclos'd, I faw the hero on the top repos'd ; Serene as one who, near the fountain laid, At' noon enjoys the cool refreshing made. The venom'd garment hifs'd ; its touch the fires Avoiding, flop'd oblique their pointed fpires : On ev'ry fide the parted flame withdrew, And level'd, round the burning ftruclure, flew. At laft victorious to the top they rofe ; Firm and unmov'd the hero faw them clofe. His foul, unfetter'd, fought the bleft abode?, By virtue Fais'd to mingle with the gods. His bones in earth, with pious hands, I laid ; The place topublifh nothing fhall perfuade^ Left tyrants, now unawM, and men unjuft, With infults, mould profane his facred daft. E'er fmce, I haunt this folitary den, Retir'd from all the bufy paths of men ; For thefe wild mountains only fait my ftate, And footh, with kindred gloom, my deep regret, HE ended thus ' amazement long fupprefs'd My voice j butCleon anfw'rlng thus addrefs'd : Brave Bdok VII. THE E P f G O N I A D. 157 Brave youth ! you offer, to our wond'ring ears, Events more awful than tradition bears. Fix'd in my mind the hero's fate remains, I fee his agonies, and feel his pains. Yet fuffer, that for haplefs Thebes I mourn, Whofe faireft hopes the envious fates o'erturrt. If great Alctdes liv'd, her tow'rs mould ftand Safe ahd prote&ed by his rrighty hand : On you, brave youth ! our fecond hopes depend ; To you the arms of Hercules defcend. He did not, fure, thofe glorious gifts beftow, The (hafts invincible, the mighty bow j ' From which the innocent protection claim, To dye the hills with blood of favage game. Such toils as thefe your glory ne'er can raife, Nor crown your merit with immortal praife ; And with the great Alcides place your name, To Aand diftlnguifh'd in the rolls of fame. THE hero thus. The fon of Pcean faid : Myfclf, my firms, I offer fbr your aid ; If fav'ring from rhe fkies, the figns of JOVE Confirm what thus I purpofe and approve. For when Alcides, with his laft commands, His bow and (hafts committed to my hands; In all attempts he charg'd me to proceed As JOVE by figns and auguries fliould lead, But thefe the rifing fun will bed difclofe ; The feafon now invites to foft repofe. Hz I 5 8 THE EP IGONIAD. BookVil. HE faid ; and, from the hearth a flaming bough, To light us thro' the fhady cavern, drew. Far in the deep recefs, a rocky bed We found, with (kins of mountain monflers fpread. There we compos'd our weary limbs, and lay, Till darknefs fled before the morning ray. Th en rofe, and climb'd a promontory ileep, Whofe rocky brow, impending o'er the deep, Shoots high into the air, and lifts the eye, In boundlefs ftretch, to take a length of iky. With hands extended to th' ethereal height, The pow'r we call'd, who rules the realms of light; That fymbols fure his purpofe might explain, Whether the youth fhould aid us, or refrain : We pray'd ; and on the left along the vales, With pinions broad difplay'd, an eagle fails. As near the ground his level flight he drew, He ftoop'd, and brufh'd the thickets as he flew; When, ftarting from the center of a brake, With horrid hifs appear'd a crefted fnake : Her young to guard, her venom'd fangs fhe rear'd; Above the fhrubs her wavy length appear'd ; Againft his fwift approaches, as he flew, On ev'ry fide her forked tongue fhe threw, And armed jaws ; but wheeling from the fnare The fwift affailant ftill efcap'd in airj But, ftooping from his pitch, at laft he tore Her purple creft, and drew a ftream of gore. She wreath'd ; and, in the fiercenefs of her pain, Shook the long thickets with her twifted train : - Relax'd Book VII. THE E P I G O N I A D. 159 Relax'd at laft, its fpires forgot to roll, And, in a hifs, fhe breath'd her fiery foul : In hafte to gorge his prey, the bird of JOVE Down to the bottom of the thicket drove; The young defencelefs from the covert drew; Devour'd them ftraight, and to the mountains flew. This omen feen, another worfe we hear ; The fubterraneous thunder greets our ear : The worft of all the figns which augurs know ; A dire prognoflic of impending woe. AMAZ'D we flood, till Philoftetes broke Our long deje&ed filence thus, and fpoke : Warriors of Thebes ! the auguries difluade My purpofe, and withhold me from your aid ; Tho' pity moves me, and ambition draws, To mare your labors and aflert your caufe; In fight the arms of Hercules to (how, And from his native ramparts drive the foe. But vain it is againft the gods to ftrive ; ) Whofe counfels ruin nations or retrieve;^ Without their favor, valor nought avails, And human prudence felf-fubverted fails ; For irrefiftibly their pow'r prefides In all events, and good and ill divides. Let Thebes aflembled at the altars wait, And long procefiions crowd each facred gate : With facrifice appeas'd, and humble pray'r, Their omens fruftrated, the gods may fpare, To j6o THE E PIG ONI AD. Book VII. To-day, my guefts, repofe ; to-morrow fail, If heav'n propitious fends a profp'rous gale : For, (hifting to the fouth, the weftern breeze Forbids you now to truft the faithlefs feas. ' THE hero thus ; in filence fad, we mourn'd; And to the folitary cave return'd, Defpairing of fuccefs ; our grief he (har'd, Aird for relief a chearing bowl prepar'd j The vintage which the grape fpontaneous yields, By art untutor'd, on the woodland fields, He fought with care, and mingled in the bowl, A plant, of pow'r to calm the troubled foul ; Its name Nepenthe ; fwains, on defeit ground, Do often glean it, elfe but rarely found; This in the bowl he mix'd ; and foon we found, In foft oblivion, all our forrows drown'd : We felt no more the agonies of care, And hope, fucceeding, dawn'd upon defpair. From morn we feafted, till the fetting ray Retir'd, and ev'ning (hades expell'd the day; Then in the dark recertes of the cave, To {lumbers foft, our willing limbs we gave : But ere the morning, from the eaft, appear'd, And fooner than the early lark is heard, Cleon awak'd, my carelefs (lumber broke, And bending to my ear, in whifpers fpoke: Dienices ! while (lumbering thus fecure, We think not what our citizens endure. The BookVII. THE EPIGONI AD. 161 The worft the figns have threaten'd, nought appears With happier afpeft to difpel our fears ; Alcides lives not, and his friend in vain To arms we call, while auguries reftrain : Returning thus, we bring the Theban (rate Bat hopes deceiv'd, and omens of her fate : Better fuccefs our labors fhall attend. Nor all our aims in difappointment end; If you approve my purpofe, nor diffuade What' now I counfel for your country's aid. Soon as the fun difplays his early beam, The arms of great Alcides let us claim ; Then for Boeotia's fliores direft our fails ; And force muft fecond if perfuafion fails : Againfl reproach neceflity mail plead ; Cenfure confute, and juftify the deed. THE hero thus, and ceas'd: with pity mov'd, And zeal for Thebes, I ramly thus approv'd. You counfel well ; but prudence would advife To work by cunning rather, and furprize, Than force declared ; his venom'd (hafts you know, Which fly refiftlefs from th' Herculean bow ; A fafe occafion now the filent hour Of midnight yields ; when, by the gentle pow'r Of carelefs (lumber bound, the hero lies, Our neceflary fraud will 'fcape his eyes ; Without the aid of force (hall reach its aim, With danger lefs incurr'd, and left of blame. I COUN- i6z The EPIGON-I AD. Book VII. I COUNSEL'D thus; and Cleon ftraight approv'd. In filencc from the dark recefs we mov'd ; Towards the hearth, with wary fteps, we came, The afhes ftir'd, and rous'd the ilumb'ring flame. On ev'ry fide in vain we turn'd our eyes, Nor, as our hopes had promis'd, found the prize : Till to the couch, where Philodetes lay, The quiver led us by its filver ray ; For in a panther's furr together ty'd, His bow and fhafts, the pillow's place fupply'd : Thither I went with careful fteps and flow ; And by degrees obtain'd th' Herculean bow : The quiver next to difengage eflay'd ; It ftuck intangled, but at laft obey'd. The prize obtain'd, we haiten to the ftrand, And roufe the mariners, and ftraight command The canvafs to unfurl : a gentle gale FavorM our courfe, and fiil'd the fwelling fail : The fliores retir'd ; and when the morning ray Afcended, from the deep, th' ethereal way ; Upon the right Cenasum's beach appear'd, And Pelion on the left his fummit rear'd. All day we fail'd ; but 'when the letting light Approach'd the ocean, from th'Olympian height, The breeze was hufh'd ; and, ftretch'd acrofs the main* Like mountains rifmg on the wat'ry plain, The clouds collected on the billows ftood, And, with incumbent fhade, obfcur'd the flood. Thither a current bore us ; foon we found A night of vapor clofing faft around. Loofe Book VII. THE E PIG ONI AD." 163 Loofe hung the empty fail : we ply'd our oars, And ftrove to reach Eubcea's frienc'ly (hores ; But flrove in vain: for erring from the courfe, In mazes wide, the rower fpent his force. Seven days and nights we try'd fome port to gain, Where Greek or baab'rous mores exclude the main ; But knew not, whether backwards, or before, Or on the right, or left, to feek the fhore : Till, rifing on the eighth, a gentle breeze Drove the light fog, and brufh'd the curling feas. Our canvafs to its gentle pow'r we fpread ; And fix'd our oars, and follow'd as it led. Before us foon, impending from above, Thro' parting clouds, we faw a lofty grove. Alarm'd, the fail we flacken, and explore The deeps and fhallows of the unknown Ihore. Near on the right a winding creek appeared, Thither, directed by the pole, we fteer'd ; And landed on the beach, by fate mifled, Nor knew again the port from which we fled. The gods themfelves deceiv'd us:- to our eyes New caverns open, airy cliffs arife ; That Phiiodetes might again pofTefs His arms, and heav'n our injury redrefs. . THE unknown region purposed to explore, Cleon, with me^alone, forfakes the fhore ; Back to the cave we left, by angry fate Implicitly conducted, at the gate The injur'd youth we found ; a thick difguife His native form conceal'd, and mock'd our eyes; For 164 THE EPIGONIAD. Book VII. For the black locks in waving ringlets fpread, A wreath of hoary white involv'd his head, Beneath a load of years, he feem'd to bend, His breafl to fink, his moulders to afcend. He faw us ftraight, and, riling from his feat, Began with fharp reproaches to repeat Our crime; but could not thus fufpicion give; So ftrong is error when the gods deceive ! We queftion'd of the country as we cair.e, By whom inhabited, and what its name ; How far from Thebes : that thither we were bound ; And thus the wary youth our error found. Smooth'd to deceive, his accent flraight he turn'd, While in his breaft the thirft of vengeance burn'd i And thinking now his bow and fhafts regain'd, Reply'd with hofpitable kindnefs feign'd : On Ida's facred height, my guefts! you (land; ^lere Priam rules, in peace, a happy land. Twelve cities own him, on the Phrygian plain. Their lord, and twelve fair iflands on the main. From hence to Thebes in feven days fpace you'll fail, If JOVE propitious fends a profp'rous gale. But now accept a homely meal, and deign To (hare, what heav'n affords a humble fwain. HE faid ; and brought a bowl with vintage fill'd, From berries wild, and mountain grapes dillill'd, Of largeft fize ; and plac'd it on a rock, Under the covert of a fpreading oak ; Around Book VII. THE EPIGONI AD. 165 Around it autumn's mellow ftores he laid, Which the fun ripens, in the woodland fhade. Our thirft and hunger thus at once allay'd, To Cleon turning, Philo&etes faid : The bow you wear of fuch unufual fize, With wonder ftill I view and curious eyes; For length, for thicknefs, and the workman's art, Surpafling all I've feen in ev'ry part. DISSEMBLING, thus inquir'd the wary youth, And thus your valiant fon declared the truth : Father ! the weapon, which you thus commend, The force of great Alcides once did bend ; Thefe fhafts the fame which monfters fierce fubdu'd, And lawlefs men with vengeance juft purfu'd. THE hero thus j and Pecan's fon again : What now I afk, refufe not to explain : Whether the hero ftill exerts his might, For innocence opprefs'd, and injur'd right? Or yields to fate ; and with the mighty dead, From toil repofes in the Elyfian (hade ! Sure, if he liv'd, he would not thus forgoe His fhafts invincible and mighty bow, By which, he oft immortal honor gain'd For wrongs redrefs'd'and Jawlefs force reftrain'd. THE rage fupprefs'd, which in his bofom burn'r with unceafmg rage the tempeft rav'd, And o'er the rocky beach the ocean Wd. 11 At ! 7 o THE E P I G O N I A D. Book VII. At laft with care the hero's limbs we burn'd, And, water'd with our tears, his bones inurn'd. There, where a promontory's height divides, Extended in the deep, the parted tides, His tomb is feen, which, from its airy ftand, Marks to the mariner the diftant land. THIS, princes! is the truth; and tho'the will Of heav'n, the fov'reign caufe of good and ill, Has dafli'd our hopes, and, for the good in view, With griefs affiidls us and difafters new : Yet, innocent of all, I juflly claim To ftand exempt from punifhment, or blame. That zeal for Thebes 'gainft hofpitable laws Prevail'd, and ardor in my country's caufe, I freely have confefs'd ; but fure, if wrong Was e'er permitted to inducement ftrong, This claims to be excus'd : our country's need, With all who hear it, will for favor plead. HE ended thus. Unable to fubdue His grief, the monarch from the throne withdrew : In filent wonder fix'd, the reft remain'd ; Till Clytophon the gen'ral fenfe explain'd : Your juft defence, we mean not to refufe ; Your prudence cenfure, or your zeal accufe : To heav'n we owe the valiant Cleon's fate, With each clifafter which afHifts the ftate. Soon as the fun forfakes the eaftern main, At ev'ry altar let a bull be flainj And Book VII. THE E P I G O N I A D. 171 And Thebes aflembled move the pow'rs to Ipare, With vows of facrifice' and humble pray'r ; But now the night invites to foft repofe, The momentary cure of human woes ; The ftars defcend ; and foon the morning ray Shall roufe us to the labors of the day. The hero thus. In filence all approv'd, And rifing, various, from th' aflembly mov'd. H 2 THE THE E P I G O N I A D, BOOK VIII. BEHIND the palace, where a ftream defcends, Irs lonely walks a fiiady grove extends ; Once facred, now for common ufe ordain'd, By war's wide licence and the ax profan'd : Thither the monarch, from th'afiembly, went Alone, his fury and defpair to vent, And thus to heav'n : Dread Pow'r ! whofe fov'reign fway The fates of men and mortal things obey! From me expecl not fuch applaufe to hear, As fawning vot'ries to thine altars bear ; But truth fevere. Altho' the forked brand, Which for definition arms thy mighty hand, Were level'd at my head ; a mind 1 hold, Ey prefent ills, or future, uncontrol'd. Beneath thy fway, the race of mortals groan; Felicity fincere is felt by none : Delufive hope th' unpraftis'd mind aflails, And, by ten thoufand treach'rcus arts, prevails : .H 3 Thro* I 7 4 THE E PIG ONI AD. BookVlIL Thro' all the earth the fair deceiver ftrays, And wretched man to mifery betrays. Our crimes you punilh, never teach to fhun, When, Wind from folly, on our fate we run : Hence flghs and groans thy tyrant reign confefs, With ev'ry rueful fymptom of diftrefs. Here war unchain'd exerts his wafteful pow'r; Here famine pines ; difeafes there devour, And lead a train of all the ills that know To fhorten life, or lengthen it in woe. All men are curft j but J, above the reft, With tenfold vengeance, for my crimes, oppreft: With hoftile pow'rs befet my tott'ring reign, The people wafted, and my children (lain ; In fwift approach, I fee deftruftion come, But, with a mind unmov'd, I'll meet my doom ; Fcr know, ftern Pow'r ! whofe vengeance has decreed That Creon, after all his fons, fhould bleed j As from the fumrnit of force defert rock, The fport of tempefts, falls the leaflefs oak, Of all its honors ftript, thou ne'er (halt find, Weakly fubmifs, or ftupidly refign'd This dauntlefs heart ; but purpos'd to debate Thy ftern decrees, and burft the chains of fate. HE faid ; and turning where the heralds ftand All night by turns, and wait their lord's command ; Meneftheus there and Hegefander found, And Phasrnius fage, for valor once renown 'd ; He Book VIII. THE EPIGONIAD. 175 He charg'd them thus : Beyond the eaflern tow'rs, Summon to meet in arms our martial pow'rs. In filence let them move; let ilgns command. And mute obedience reign thro' ev'ry band ; For when the eaft with early twilight glows, We rufi), from cover'd ambuffi, on our foes Secure and unprepar'd : the truce we fvvore, Our plighted faith, the feal of wine, and gore, No ties I hold ; all piety difclaim : Adverfe to me the gods, and I to them. The angry monarch thus his will declar'd ; His rage the heralds fear'd, and ftraight repair'd To roufe the warriors. Now the morning light Begins to mingle with the fhades of night: In ev'ry ftreet a glitt'ring ftream appears, Of polifh'd helmets mix'd with fin rung fpears: Towards the eaftern gate they drive along, Nations and tribes, an undiftinguifh'd throng : Creon himfelf fuperior, in his car, Receiv'd them coming, and difpos'd the war. AND now the Argives from their tents proceed, With rites fepulchral, to intomb the dead. The king of men, amid the fun'ral fires, The chiefs afiembles, and the work infpires. And thus rhe Pylian fage, in counfel wife : Princes ! 1 view, with wonder and furprize, Yon field abandon'd, where the foe purfu'd Their fun'ral rites before, with toil renew'd : H 4 Not 176 THE EPIGONIAIX Book VIII. Not half their dead interr'd, they now abflain, And filence reigns thro' all the foioaky plain : Thence jealoufy and fear poficfs my mind Of faith infring'd, and treachery defign'd: Eehind thofe woody heights, behind thofe tow'rs, I dread, in ambufh laid, the Theban pow'rs j Wkh purpofe to affault us, when they know That we, confiding, leafl expedl a foe : Let half the warriors arm, and Hand prepar'd, From fudden violence, the hoft to guard; While, in the mournful rites, the reft proceed,. Due to the honor'd reliques of the dead. THUS as he fpoke; approaching from afar, The hoftile pow'rs, embattled for the war, Appeaj'd ; and ftreaming from their pclim'd fhields A bhze of fplendor brighten'd all the fields. And thus the king of me, with lifted eyes, And both his hands extended to the fkies : Ye Pow'rs fuprcme I \vhofc unrefiftcd fway The fate of men and mortal things obey! Let all the plagues, which perjury attend, At once, and fudden, on our foes dcfcencl : Let not the facred feal of wine and gore, The hands we plighted, and the oaths we fwore, Be now in vain ; but, from your bright abodes, Confound the bold defpifers of the gods. HE pray'd ; and nearer came the hoftile train-, With fvvift approach advancing on the plain ; Em- BookVIIl. THE EP1GONIAD. 177 Embattled thick ; as when, at fall of night, A fhepherd, from fome promontory's height, Approaching from the deep, a fog defcries, Which hov'i ing lightly o'er the billows flies ; By breezes bcrne, the folid foon it gains, Climbs thefteep hills, and darken- all the plains: Silent and fwift the Theban pow'rs drew near; The chariots led, a phalanx clos'd the rear. CONFUSION flraight thro' all the hoft arofe, Stir'd like the ocean when a tempeft blows. Some arm for fight ; the reft to terror yield, Inactive ftand, or trembling quit the field, On ev'ry fide, aflaults the deafen'd ear The difcord loud of tumult, rage, and fear. Superior in his car, with ardent eyes, The king- of men thro* all the army flies j The rafh reftrains, the cold with courage fires > And all with hope and confidence infpires ; As when the deep, in liquid mountains hurl'd > Aflaults the rocky limits of the world ; When tempefts with unlicenc'd fury rave, And fweep from fliore to fhore the flying wave : If he, to whom each pow'r of ocean bends, To quell fuch uproar, from the deep afcends, Serene, amidft the wat'ry war, he rides, And fixes, with his voice, the moving tides : Such feem'd the monarch. From th' Olympian height, The martial maid precipitates her flight; Hi To I 7 8 THE EP ICON I AD. BookVIIL To aid her fav'rite hoft the goddefs came, Mentor fhe feem'd, her radiant arms the fame ; Who with Ulyfles brought a chofen band Of warriors from the Cephalenian ftrand ; Already arm'd the valiant youth fhe found, And arming for the fight his warriors round. And thus began : Brave prince ! our foes appear For battle order'd, and the fight is near. Dauntlefs they come fuperior and elate, While fear unmans us, and refigns to fate. Would fome immortal from th' Olympian height^ Defcend, and for a moment flop the fight ; From fad dejection rous'd, and cold defpair, We yet might arm us, and for war prepare ; But if on human aid we muft depend, Nor hope to fee the fav'ring gods defcend, Great were the hero's prr.ife, who now could boafl From ruin imminent to fave the hoft ! The danger near fome prompt expedient claims, And prudence triumphs oft in worft extremes. THUS, in a form affum'd, the martial maid j The generous warrior, thus replying, faid: In youth, I cannot hope to win the praife, With which experience crowns a length of days : Weak are the hopes that on my counfels ftand, To combats new, nor praftis'd in command : But as the gods, to fave a finking ftate, Or fnatch an army from the jaws of fate, When Book VIII. THE E PIG ON I AD. 179 When prudence ftands confounded, oft fuggeft A prompt expedient to fome vulgar bread ; To your difcerning ear I (hall expofe What now my mind excites me to difclofe. Sav'd from th' unfinifh'd honors of the flain, The mingled fpoils of forefts load the plain; In heaps contiguous, round the camp they lie, A fence too weak to flop the enemy : But if we mix them with the feeds of fire, Which unextinguifh'd glow in ev'ry pyre, Againft the foe a fudden wall (hall rife, Of flame and fmoke afcending to the Ikies : The fteed difmay'd mail backward hurl the car; Mix with the phalanx, and confound the war. HE faid. The Goddefs, in her confcious breaft > A mother's triumph for a fon poflefs'd, Who emulates his fire in glorious deeds, And, with his virtue, to his fame fucceeds : Graceful the Goddefs turn'd, and with a voice, Bold, and fuperior to the vulgar noife, O'er all the field commands the woods to fire ; Straight to obey a thoufand hands confpire. On ev'ry fide the fpreading flame extends, And, roll'd in cloudy wreaths, the finoke afcends* CREON beheld ; inrag'd to be withftood; Like fome fierce lion when he meets a flood Or trench defenfive, which his rage reftrains For flocks unguarded, left by carelefs fwaihs ; H 6 O'er iSo THE EPI^GONIAD. Book VIII. O'er all the field he fends his eyes afar, To mark fit entrance for a pointed war : Kear on the right a narrow fpace he found, Where fun'ral afnes fmok'd upon the ground: Thirher the warriors of theTheban hoft, Whofe martial fidll he priz'd and valor moft, The monarch fent, Chalcidamus the ftrong, Who from fairThefpia led his martial throng Where Helicon erects his verdant head, And crowns the champaign with a lofty (hade; Oechalia's chief was added to the band, For valor fam'd and fkilful in command ; Erithsus, with him, his brother, came, Of worth unequal, and unequal fame. Rhefas, with thefe, the Thracian leader, went,. To merit fame, by high achievements, bent; Of ftature tall, he fcorns the pointed fpear, Andcruihes with his P. ace the ranks of warr. With him twelve leaders of his native train, In combats, taught the bounding fteed to rein* By none furpafs'd who boafl Aiperior fkill To fend the winged arrow fwift to kill, MovM to the fight. The reft of vulgar name,. Tho' brave in combat, were unknown to fame. THEIR bold invafion dauntlefs to oppofe,. Full in the midft, the bulk of Ajax rofe; Unarm'd he flood ; but, in his mighty hand, JJrandilhM, with gefture fierce, a burning brand, Suatch'd Book VIII. THE EPIGONIAD. igi Snatch'd from the afhes of a fun'ral fire ; An olive's trunk, five cubit length? entire. Arm'd for the fight, the Cretan monarch flood; And Merion, thirfting ftill for hoftile blood ; The prince of Ithaca, with him who led The youth, in Sycion, and Pellene, bred. But ere they clos'd, theThracian leader preft, With eager courage, far before the reft; Him Ajax met, inflam'd with equal rage : Between the wond'ring hofts the chiefs engage j Their weighty weapons round their heads they throw, And fwift, and heavy falls each thund'ringblow; As when in ^Etna's caves the giant brood, The one-ey'd fervants of the Lemnian god, Jn order round the burning anvil ftand, And forge, with weighty ftrokes, the forked brand : The making hills their fervid toil confefs, And echoes rattling thro' each dark recefs : So rag'd the fight; their mighty limbs they ftrain;. And oft their pond'rous maces fall in vain i For neither chief was deftin*d yet to bleed ; But fate at laft the victory decreed. The Salaminian hero aim'd a ftroke, Which thund'ririg on theThracian helmet broke ^ Stun'd by the boift'rous (hock, the warrior reel'd With giddy poife, then funk upon the field. Their leader to defend,, his native train With fpeed advance,, and guard him on the plain. Againft his foe, their threat'ning launces rife, And aim'd at once, a ftorm of arrows flies ; Around i8z THE EPIGONIAD. BookVIIf. Around the chief on ev'ry fide they fing ; One in his fhoulder fix'd its barbed fling. Amaz'd he flood, nor could the fight renew j But flow and fallen from the foe withdrew. Straight to the charge Idomeneus proceeds, With hardy Merion try'd in martial deeds, Laertes' valiant fon, and he who led The youth in Sycion, and Pellene, bred ; With force united, thefe the foe fuftain, And waileful havoc loads the purple plain : In doubtful poife the fcales of combat fway'd, And various fates alternately obey'd. BUT now the flames, which barr'd th' invading foe, Sunk to the wafted wood, in a flies glow; Thebes rufhes to the fight; their polifh'd fluelds Gleam thro' the fmoke, and brighten all the fields ; Thick fly the embers, where the courfers tread, And cloudy volumes all the welkin fhade. The king of men, to meet the tempefl, fires His wav'ring bands, and valor thus infpires. Gods! fhall one fatal hour deface the praife Of all our fleeplefs nights, and bloody days ? Shall no jufl meed for all our toils remain ? Our labors, blood, and victories in vain ? Shall Creon triumph, and his impious brow Claim the fair wreath, to truth and vaior due ? No, warriors ! by the heav'nly pow'rs, is weigh'd Juflice with wrong, in equal balance laid : From Book VIII. THE E P I G O N I A D. 183 From JOVE'S high roof depend th' eternal fcales, Wrong mounts defeated ftill, and right prevails. Fear then no odds ; on heav'n itfelf depend, Which falfliood will confound, and truth defend. HE faid ; and fudden in the mock they clofe, Their fhields and helmets ring with mutual blows ; Diforder dire the mingling ranks confounds, And ftiouts of triumph mix with dying founds; As fire, with wafteful conflagration, fpreads, And kindles, in its courfe, the woodland lhades, When, mooting fudden from the clouds above* On fome thick foreft fall the flames of JOVE j The lofty oaks, the pines and cedars burn, Their verdant honors all to afhes turn ; Loud roars the tempeft ; and the trembling fwains See the wide hovoc of the wafted plains : Such feem'd the conflict j fuch the dire alarms, From Ihouts of battle mix'd with din of arms. Phericles firft, Lycaon's valiant fon, The fage whofe counfels prop'd theTheban throne, Rofe in the fight, fuperior to the reft, And brave Democleon's fall his might confeft, The chief and leader of a valiant band, From fair Eione and th' Afmian ftrand. Next Afius, Iphitus, and Crates fell ; Terynthian Podius trode the path to hell : And Schedius, from Mazeta's fruitful plain, Met there his fate> and periih'd with the flain. Aw'd ,84, THC EPIGONIAD. Book VIII. AvvM by their fall, the Argive bands give way; As yields fome rampart to the ocean's fv.y, When rous'd to rage, it fcoms oppofir.g inouivds, And fweeps victorious thro* forbidden grounds. BUT Pallas, anxious for her fav'rite hoft, Their beft already wounded, many loft, Ulyffes fought : me found him, in the rear, Wounded and faint, and leaning on his fpear. And thus in Mentor's form ; Brave prince ! I dread Our hopes defeated, and our fall decreed : For conqu'ring on the right the fee prevails, And all defence againft their fury fails ; While here, in doubtful poife, the battle fways, And various fates alternately obeys ; If great Tydides, who beholds from far Our danger imminent, yet fiiuns the war, Held by refentment, orfoir.e caufe unknown, Regardlefs of our fefety and his own, Would rife to aid us ; yet we might refpire, And Creon, fruftrated, again retire. Great were his praife, who could the chief perfuade, In peril fo extreme, the hoft to aid. The fitteft you, who boaft the happy (kill, With pleafing words, to move the fixed will :. Tho' Nefior'jultly merits equal fame, A friend the fooneft will a friend reclaim. AND thus UlyfTes to the martial maid : 1 cannot hope the hero to perfuade . The BookVTIT. THE E P I G O N I A D. ig ? The fource unknown from which his rage proceeds, Reafon in vain from loofe conjecture pleads ; The fatal truce, with faithitfs Creon made, Provokes him not, nor holds him from our aid ; He eafily refign'd whate'er he mov'd, Till now, approving as the reft approv'd, Some dire difafter, feme difgrace unfeen, Confounds his fteady temper, elfe ferene : Bat with my utmoll fearch, I'll ftrive to find The fecret griefs which wound his gen'rous min^; If drain'd of blood, and fpent with toils of war, My weary limbs can bear their lead fo far. Hs fpoke ; his words the martial maid admir'd; With energy -divine his breaft infpir'd; Lightly the hero mov'd, and took his way Where broad encamp'd th' Etolian warriors lay : Already arm'd he found the daring band, Fierce and impatient of their lord's command j Some, murm'ring, round the king's pavilion ftood, While others, more remote, complain'd aloud : With pleafing words he footh'd them as he went, And fought their valiant leader in his tent : Him pond'ring deep in his diftra&ed mind, He found, and fitting fad, with head declin'd. He thus addrefs'd him : Will the news, I bring, Afflift, or gratify, th' Etoliaa king ? " That wav'ring on the brink of foul defeat, Without the hopes of fuccefs or retreat, Our itftf THE E PIG ON I AD. Book VIII. Our valiant bands th' unequal fight maintain ; Their beft already wounded, many (lain." If treach'rous Thebes has brib'd you with her ftore, And bought the venal faith which once you iwore; Has promis'd precious ore, or lovely dames, And pays to luft the price which treafon claims : Name but the proffers of the perjur'd king, And more, and better, from your friends I'll bring; Vaft fums of precious ore, and greater far Than Thebes, in peace, had treafur'd for the war; Or, tho', to gratify thy boundlefs mind, Her private wealth and public were combiu'd. If beauty's pow'r your am'rous heart inflames, Unrival'd are Achaia's lovely dames ; Her faireft dames Adraftus fliall beftow, And purchafe thus the aid you freely owe. Gods ! that our armies e'er (hould need to fear Deflruclion, and the fon of Tydeus near ! ULYSSES thus; and Tydeus' fon again: Your falfe reproaches aggravate my pain Too great already : in my heart I feel Its venom'd fting, more fharp than pointed fteel. No bribe perfuades, or promife from the foe, My oath to vi'late, and the war forgoe : In vain for this were all the precious ftore, Which trading Zidon wafts from fhore to ftiore ; With all that rich Iberia yet contains, Safe and unrifled in her golden veins. The Book VIII. THE E P I G O N 1 A D. 187 The fource from which my miferies arife, The caufe, which to the hofl my aid denies, With truth I mall relate ; and hope to claim Your friendly fympathy, for groundlefs blame. In yonder walls a captive maid remains, To me more dear than all the world contains; Fairer me is than nymph was ever fair ; Pallas in ftature and majeftic air ; As Venus foft, with Cynthia's fprightly grace, When on Tai'getus Ihe leads the chace, Or Erymanthus ; while in fix'd amaze, At awful diftance held, the fatyrs gaze. With oaths divine our plighted faith we bound ; Hymen had foon our mutual wiflies crown'd ; When, call'd to arms, agamlt the Theban tow'rs, From Calydon I led my martial pow'rs. Her female form in martial arms conceal'd, With me (he brav'd the terrors of the field : Unknown and unrewarded, from my fide No toil could drive her, and no mock divide. But now proud Thebes injurioufly detains The lovely virgin, lock'd in hoftile chains; Doom'd, and referv'd to perim, for my fake, If of your counfels, I, or works, partake ; Till twenty mornings in the eaft fhall rife, And twenty ev'nings gild the weftern Ikies. See then the caufe which holds me, and confines My arm, to aid you, tho' my heart inclines ; Love mix'd with pity, whofe reftraints I feel Than adamant more ftrong, and links of fteel. THE i8S THE EP ICON I AD. Book VIII. THE hero thus. Laertes' Ton reply'd : Oft have I heard what now is verify'd ; That Hill when pailion reigns without control, Its fway confounds and darkens all the foul. If Thebes, by perjury, the gods provok'd, The vengeance flighted, by themfelves invok'd; Affaulted us, fecure, with hoftile arms, And mix'd our pious rites with dire alarms : With better faith, by faithlefs Creon fway'd, Will they at lafl reftore the captive maid ? When from their battlements and lofty fpires, They fee their champaign fhine with hoftile fires: And, pitch'd around them, hofls of armed foes, Withftrift embrace, their ftraiten'd walls inclofej The gods they fcorn as impotent, and vain ; What will they do, when you alone remain ? Our princes fall'n, the vulgar warriors fle.d, Shall to your tent the captive fair be led ? Or rather muft you fee her matchlefs charms Referv'd toblefs fome happier rival's arms; While rage and jealoufy divide your brealr, No prefent friend to pity or aiM ? Now rather rife ; and, ere it is too late, Refcue our armies from impending fate. The captive maid uninjur'd you'll regain ; Force oft obtains what juftice afks in vain. With fuccefs thus your wiflies fhall be crown'd, Which truft in Thebes would fruftrate and confound? ULYSSES Book VIII. THE EPIGONJAD. j8 9 ULYSSES thus : his weighty words iaclln'd, Long tortur'd with fufpence, the hero's mind ; As fettling winds the moving deep control, And teach the wav'ring billows how to roll : Straight from his feat th' Etolian warrior rofe ; His mighty limbs the martial greaves inciofe ; His breaft and thighs in poliuYd fteel he drefs'd; . A plumed helmet next his temples prefs'd : From the broad baldric, round his moulders flung, His mining fword and ftarry faulcion hung : The fpear he laft aflum'd, and pond'rous fhield, With martial grace, and iffu'd to the field : To mingle in the fight, with eager hafte He rufti'd, nor call'd his warriors as he pafh Ulyflcs thefe conven'd ; his prudent care Their ranks difpos'd, and led them to the war. Afar diftinguim'd by his armor bright, With (hours Tydides rous'd the ling'ring fight ; Thro' all the hoft his martial voice refounds, And ev'ry heart with kindling ardor bounds; As when the fun afcends, with gladfome ray, To light the weary trav'ler on his way; Or chear the mariner by tempefts toft Amidft the dangers of fome per'lous coaft : So to his wifhing friends Tydides came ; Their danger fuch before, their joy the fame. PHERICLES faw ; and, fpringing from the throng, Call'd the bold Thebans, as he rufli'd along : Ye i0o The E PIG ONI AD. Book VIII- Ye gen'rous youths ! whom fair Bceotia breeds. The nurfe of valor and heroic deeds ; Let not, tho' oft renew'd, thefe tedious toils Your martial ardor quench, and damp your fouls. Tydides comes ; and leads, in armor bright, His native bands, impatient for the fight ; Myfelf the firft the hero's arm (hall try, And teach you how to conquer, or to die. We ftrive not now, as when, in days of peace, Some prince's hymeneal rites to grace, In lifted fields bedew'd with fragrant oil, In combat feign'd, the mimic warriors toil ; Alike the victors, and the vanquifh'd fare, And genial feafts, to both, conclude the war : We now muft conquer ; or it ftands decreed That Thebes mall perifti, and her people bleed. No hopes of peace remain ; nor can we find New gods to witnefs, or new oaths to bind, The firft infring'd : and therefore muft prepare To ftand or perifli by the lot of war : Then let us all undaunted brave our fate : To flop is doubtful, defp'rate to retreat. THE hero thus ; and to the battle led ; Like Mars, he feem'd, in radiant armor clad, Tow'ring fublime ; behind his ample fhield, He mov'd to meet Tydides on the field : As when at noon, defcending to the rills, Two herds encounter, from the aeighb'ring hills ; Before Book VIII. THE E P I G O N I A D. j$i Before the reft, the rivat-buITs prepare, With awful prelude, for th' approaching war; With defp'rate horns they plough the fmoaking ground ; Their hideous roar the hollow caves refound ; Heav'd o'er their backs the ftreaming fand afcendsj Their ftern encounter both the herds fufpends : So met the chiefs ; and fuch amazement quell'd The reft, and in fufpence the combat held. Tydides firft his weighty weapon threw, Wide of the mark with erring force it flew. Phericles ! thine fucceeds with happier aim, Full to the center of the fliield it came : But flightly join'd, unequal to the ftroke, Short from the fteel, the ftaff in fplinters broke. With grief Tydides faw his aim deceiv'd ; From off the field a pond'rous rock he heav'd ; With figures rude of antique fculpture grac'd, It mark'd the reliques of a man deceas'd. Pufh'd at his foe the weighty mafs he flung ; Thund'ring it fell; the Theban helmet rung: Deep with the brain the dinted fteel it mix'd, And lifelefs, on the ground, the warrior fix'd. AW'D by his fall, the Theban bands retire; As flocks defencelefs fliun a lion's ire j At once they yield, unable to withftand The wide deftruAion of Tydides' hand. Diforder foon, the form of war confounds, And fliouts of triumph mix with dying founds. Crcon > 9* THE EPIGONIAD. Book VIII. Creon perceiv'd, where ruling on the right In equal poife he held the fcales of fight, Blafpheming heav'n, he impioufly refign'd, To ftern defpair, his unfubmitting mind : Yet, vers'd in all the various turns of fate, The bri(k affault to rule, or fafe retreat, He drew his firm battalions from the foe, In martial order, regularly How. The Argive leaders, thund'ring in the rear, Still forwards on the yielding fquadrons bear : The ftrife with unabated fury burns, They flop, they combat, and retreat by turns ; As the grim lion fourly leaves the plains, By dogs compell'd, and bands of armed fwains ; Indignant to his woody haunts he goes, And with retorted glare reftrains his foes. MEAN while Tydides, near the Cadmean gate, Urg'd with incefiant toil the work of fate ; Towards the walls, an undiftinguifh'd throng, The viftors and the vanquifli'd, rufh'd along. Accefs to both the guarded wall denies; From ev'ry tow-'r, a ftorm of jav'lins flies ; Thick as the hail defcends, when Boreas flings The rattling tempeft from his airy wings : So thick the jav'lins fell, and pointed fpears j Behind them clofe, another hoft appears, In order'd columns rang'd, by Creon led : Ulvfies faviT; and thus to Diomed : Eolrf .Book VIII. THE -E P I G O N I A D. 193 Bold as you are, avoid thefe guarded tow'rs. From loofe purfuit recal your fcatter'd pow'rs : SeeCreon comes; his thick embattled train, In phalanx join'd, approaches from the plain. Here if we flay th' unequal fight to prove, The tow'rs and ramparts threaten from above With darts and ftones j while to th' invading foe, In order loofe, our fcatter'd ranks we fliow ; Nor by your matchlefs valor hope, in vain, Such odds to conquer, and the fight maintain; jftgainfl an army fingle force mult lofe; Immoderate courage ftill like folly ftiows. See where into the field yon turret calls, Drawn to a.point the long-extended walls: There force your way, and fpeedily regain The fpace, and fafety of the open plain. ULYSSES thus; and, by his prudence fway'd, The martial fon of Tydeus ftraight obey'd. Thrice to the height the hero rais'd his voice, Loud as the filver trumpet's martial noife, The fignal of retreat; his warriors heard, And round their chief in order'd ranks appear'd, Drawn from the mingled tumult of the plain ; As, fever'd on the floor, the golden grain Swells to a heap ; while, whirling thro' the fkies, The dufty chaff in thick diforder flies ; Tydides leads ; between the guarded tow'rs And hoftile ranks, he draws his martial pow'rs I Towards I 9 4 THE E PIG ONI AD. BookVIH. Towards the plain ; as mariners, with oar And fail, avoid fome promontory's Ihore ; When, caught between the ocean and the land, A fudden tempeft: bears them on the ftrand; The ftem oppofing to its boift'rous fway, They Ihun the cape and ftretch into the bay: So fcap'd Tydides. Cover'd by their tow'rs, In fafety flood retir'd the Theban pow'rs, For from above an iron tempeft rain'd, And the incurfions of the foe reftrain'd. THE THE E P I G O N I A D, BOOK IX, AN D now the king of men his army -calls Back from the danger of th' impending walls; They quit the combat, and in order long The field poflefs, a phalanx deep and ftrong. Rank following rank, the Theban fquadrons move Still to the rampart, and the tow'rs above: Creon himfelf, unwilling, quits the field, Enrag'd, defeated, and coijftrain'd to yield : 'Gainft all his foes, his indignation burns, Eut firft on Diomed its fury turns. He call'd a vulgar warrior from the crowd, A villain dark, and try'd in works of blood, Erembus nam'd, of huge gigantic fize, With cloudy features mark'd, and down-caft eyes; Cold and inadive ftill in combat found, Nor wont to kindle at the trumpet's found; But bold in villainy when pow'r commands j A weapon fitted for a tyrant's hands. I 2 And* 1 9 6 THH E P I G O N I A D. Book IX. And thus the wrathful monarch: Take this fword, A fign, to all my fervants, from their lord ; And hither bring the fair Etolian's head ; I, who command you, will reward the deed: But let not pity, or rcmorfe, prevail; Your own fliall anfwer, if in aught you fail. HE faid : the murth'rer, pradUs'd to obey, The royal fword receiv'd, and took his way Straight to the palace, where the captive fair, Of hope bereft, and yielding to defpair, Lamenting fat. Their mutual griefs to blend, The queen and all the royal maids attend. And thus the queen : Fair ftranger ! mail your grief All hopes rejeft of comfort and relief? Your woes I've meafur'd, ail your forrows known ; And find them light when balanc'd with my own. In one fad day my valiant fire I mourn'd ; My brothers (lain; my native walls o'erturn'd; Myfelf a captive-, deftin'd to fulfill, In fervile drudgery, a mailer's will ; Yet to a fall fo low, the gods decreed This envy'd height of greatnefs to fucceed. The pow'rs above, for purpofes unknown, Oft raife the fall'n, and bring the lofty down; Elude the vigilance of all our care : Our fureft hopes deceive, and mock defpair. Let no defponding thoughts your mind pofleCs, To banilh hope, the med'cine of diftrefs : For Book IX. THE E P I G O N I A D. 197 For nine fhort days your freedom will reftore, And break the bondage which you tints deplore. But I, alas ! unhappy ftill, muft mourn Joys once pofiefs'd, which never can return ; Four valiant ion?, who perrnYd on the plain In this dire ftrife, a fifth on Octa flain : Thefe fhall return to blefs my eyes no more j The grave's dark rnanfion knows not to reftore, For time, which bids fo oft the folar ray Repeat, with light renew'd, th' ethereal way, And from the foil, by heat and vernal winds, To fecond life the latent plant unbinds, Again to flourifh, nurs'd by wholefomc dews, Never to mortal man his life renews. Thefe griefs are fure ; but others ftill I fear ; A royal hufband loft, and bondage near ; Myfelf, my daughters, dragg'd by hoftile hands ; Our dignity exchang'd for fervile bands : All this the gods may purpofe, and fulfill; And we with patience muft endure their will. As thus Laodice her forrow try'd With fympathy to footh ; the maid reply'd : Great queen! on whom the fov'reign pow'rs beftow A gen'rous heart to feel another's woe ; Let ftiil untouch'd thro' life your honors laft, With happier days to come for forrows paft ! Yet ftrive not thus a hopelefs wretch to chear, Whom fure conjecture leads the worft to fear. T 3 Shall 198 THE EP1GONIAD. FooklX". Shall Diomed a. public caufe forgoe, His faithful friends betray, and trull a foe ? By treachery behold the hoft o'erthrown, Renounce the public intereft and his own ? Shall kings and armies, in the balance laid, Avail not to out-weigh a fingle maid ? One, whom his fury falfely did reprove For crimes unknown, whofe only crime was love : No, fure ere this he triumphs in the field ; Your armies to his matchk-fs valor yield : And loon lubmitting to the fatal Wow, This head muft gratify a vanquifh'd foe.. If fymbols e'er the fecret fates explain, If vifions do not always warn jn vain, Jf dreams do ever true prognofiics prove, And dreams, thefugesfay, deicend from JOVE,. My fate approaches : Late at dead of night; My veins yet freeze with horror and affright ! I thought that, all fbrfaken and alone, Penfive I wander'd far thro? ways unknown ; A gloomy twilight, neither night nor day Frown'd on my ftep<>, and fadden'd all the way r Long dreary vales I faw on ev'ry fide, And caverns finking deep, with entrance wide ;". On ragged cliffs the blalled forefts hung ; Her baleful note the boding fcreech-owl fung* 'At laft, with many a weary llep, I found This melancholy country's outmoft bound, An ocean vaft : upon a cliff I ftood, And faw. beneath me far, the fable flood ; No Book IX, THE EP1GONIAD. 199 No iflands rofe the dull expanfe to grace, And nought was feen, thro' all the boundlefs fpace, But Icw-brow'd clouds, which on the billows frown'd, And, in a night of fhadc, the profpect drown'd. The winds, which feem'd around the cliff's to blow, With doleful cadence, utter'd founds of woe, Wafting, from ev'ry cave and dreary den, The wail of infants mix'd with groans of men : Amaz'd, on ev'ry fide my eyes I turn, And fee depending from the craggy bourn Wretches unnumber'd ; fome the mould'ring Toil, Some grafp'd the flipp'ry rock, with fruitlefs toil; Some hung fufpended by the roots, which pafs Thro' crannies of the cliffs, or wither'd grafs. Still from the fteep they plung'd into the main ; As from the eves defcends the trickling ram. Amaz'd I turned, and ftrove in vain to fly ; Thickets oppos'd, and precipices high To ftop my flight : and, from the airy fteep, A tempeft fnatch'd, and hurl'd me to the deep. The fudden violence my (lumber broke ; The waves I feem'd to touch, and ftraight awoke. With fleep the vifion fled ; but, in my mind, Imprinted deep, its image left behind. For had the frightful fcene which fancy drew, And what I feem'd to fuffer, all been true ; Had fate appear'd, in blacked colors drefs'd, No deeper had its horrors been imprefs'd. When thus the gods by certain fymbols warn, And fure, from dreams, their purpofes we learn, 14 No zoo THE EPIC ONI A IX Book IX. No blame I merit, that to fear refign'd, Fate's dread approach fits heavy on my mind. CASSANDRA thus; Laodice again : Futurity, in dreams, we feek in vain ; For oft, from thoxights difturb'd, fuch phantoms rile, As fogs from marfhes climb, to blot the ikies : With a dark veil, the chearful face of day They fadden, and eclipfe the folar ray ; But foon, in dews and foft defcending rains, Fall to refrefh the mountains and the plains. For Diomed's offence you ne'er can bleed; Favor, your fex and innocence will plead, Ev'n with the worft ; nor will a genVous foe His rage, in cruelty and-bafenefs, mow. New to the tow'rsl hafte, to view from far The danger, or fuccefs of this day's war. Let Clymene with me the walls afcend ; The reft at home domellic cares attend. SHE ended thus ; and from her feat arofe j The royal maid attends her, as me goes Towards the weftern gate ; where full to view Expos'd, the armies and the camp fhe knew^ And now appear' d within the lofty gate, Ey Creon fent, the meflenger of fate. His mining blade, for execution bar'd, And aipeft dark, his purpofc ftraight declar'd. Alarm'd, at once the royal virgins rife, And featuring, fill the dome with female cries r But, Book IX. THE E P I G O N I A D. 201 But, bolder from defpair, CafTandra ftaid, And to th' aflaflih thus, undaunted, faid : Approach ! divide this neck with deathful fteel, A tyrant's valfal no remorfe fnould feel. Diomed ! let this example prove, In man, that ftubborn honor conquers love : With weight fdperior, great ambition draws The fcale for glory, and a public caufe. 1 blame thee not for this ; nor will impeach- A great example, which I could not reach ; : For had whole armies, in the balance laid,. And kings and mighty ftates with thee been weigh'd, And I the judge appointed to decree, They all had pertfhed to ranfem thee. CaiTandra thus; and for the blow prepar'd r With both her hands, her (hining neck fhe bar'd, And round her head a purple garment roll'd, With leaves of filver mark'd, and flow'rs of gold. Rais'd for the ftroke, the glitt'ring faulcion hung,, And fwift defcending, bore the head along. A tide of gore, diffus'd in purple ftreams, Dalh.es the wall, and o'er the pavement fwims, Prone to the ground the headlefs trunk reclines,, And life, in long convulfive throbs, refigns. Now on the open plain before the walls',. The king of men the chiefs to council calls. And Diomed, with fecret griefs opprefs'd, Impatient, thus the public ear addrefs'd : I 5 Con^ 202 THE E PIG ONI AD. BookJXT. Confed'rate kings ! and thou, whofe fov'reign hand Sways the dread fcepter of fupreme command ! What holds us, and reftrains our martial pow'rs ; "While haughty Thebes infults us, from her tow'rs J In vain we conquer thus, and bleed in vain, If viftory but yields the empty plain. Behind his walls, perfidious Creon lies,. And fafely meditates a new furprize : When on the urn our pious tears we pour; Or mirth difarms us, and the genial hour ; No; let us rather, now when fortune calls, With bold afiault, attempt to mount the walls ; Myfelf the firft a chofen band mall lead, Where yon low rampart finks into the mead: There will I gain the battlements, and lay, ' For others to fucceed, an open way, If bars of fteel have force their works to tear, Or, from their hinges heav'd the gates, can bear- TYDIDES thus. His counfel to oppofe, The leader of the Cretan warriors rofe: Confed'rate kings ! and thou, whofe fov'reign handT Sways the dread fcepter of fupreme command 1 . ; i Let not Tydides now, with martial rage, In meafures hot and ram, the hoft engage; To fober reafon, ftill let paflion yield, Nor here, admit the ardor of the field : If Thebes could thus with one affault be won, Her armies vanquifh'd, and her walls o'erthrown; Could BooklX. THE E P I G O N I A D. 203 Could this one fignal day reward our toil, So long endur'd, with viftory and fpoil : No foldier in the ranks, no leader here, Would fhun the fight, or counfel to forbear. But if for viftory, a foul defeat, With all the fliame and danger of retreat, Should be the iflue, which the wife muft dread, To flop is better, fure, than to proceed. On yonder walls and lofty turrets, ftand, Not, fav'd from lhameful flight, a heartlefs band* Who, defp'rate of their ftate, would foon forego Their laft defences, and admit a foe j. But who, from fight recall'd, without difnaay, A fafe retreat maintain'd, iu firm array. Secure they combat from protecting walls ; Thrown from above each weapon heavier falls ; Againft fuch odds, can we the fight maintain, And with a foe found equal on the plain ? Though we defift, no leader will oppofe That thus the fruits of viflory we lofe i When, pent within their battlements and tow'rs, In narrow fpace, we hold the Theban pow'rs : For oftner, than by arms, are hofts o'erthrown By dearth and ficknefs, in a ftraiten'd town. I le who can only wield the fword and fpear, Knows Icfs than half the inftruments of war* Heart-gnawing hunger, enemy to life, Wide-wafting peftilence, and civil ftrife, 16 By 204 THB E Ft G ONI AD. Book IX. By want inflam'd, to all our weapons claim Superior force, and ftrike with furer aim : With thefe, whoever arrn'd to combat goes, Inftrufted-how to turn them on his foes, Shall fee them foon laid proftrate on theground, His aims accomplinVd, and his wifhes crown'd. Our warriors, therefore, let us ftraight recall, Nor, by aflault, attempt to force the wall; But with a rampart, to the gates oppos'd, Eefiege, in narrow Ipaccj our foes inclos'd. THE hero thus ; and, eager to reply, Tydidcs" rofc : when on a turret high Creo>n appeared ; Caffandra's head, difplay'd Upon a launce's point, he held, and faid : Ye Argive warriors ! view this fign ; and know 3 That Creon never fails to quit a foe. This bloody trophy mark ; and if it brings Grief and defpair to any of the kings, Let him revenge it on the man who broke His faith,, and dar'd my fury to provoke. HE ended thus, Tydides, as he heard,. With rage diftraclcd, and defpair, appear'd. Long on the tow*r he fix'd his burning eyes ; The reft were mute with wonder and furprize ^ But, to the council turning, thus at laft : If any favor claim my merits paft ; ir> SooklX. TAB EPIGONIAD. 263 If, by a preient benefit, ye'd bind To future fervices a grateful mind ; Let what I urge, in council, now prevaif, With hoftile arms yon rampart to aflail : Elfe, with my native bands, alone I'll try The combat, fix'd to conquer or to die. THE hero thus. Ulyfles thus expreft The prudent dictates of his generous breaft: Princes ! mall dire contention ftill prefide In all our councils, and the kings divide ? Sure, of the various ills that can diftrefs United armies and prevent fuccels, Difcord is chief: where'er the fury ftrays. The parts me fevers and the whole betrays. Now let Tydides lead his native pow'rs To combat, and aflault the Theban tow'rs ; The reft, on various parts, their forces mow, By mock approaches to diftrad the foe. If he prevails, to victory he leads; And fafe behind him all the hoft fucceeds ; If JOVE forbids and all- decreeing fate, The field is open, and a fafe retreat, ULYSSES thus. The princes all affent; Straight from the council thro' the hoft they.wenr^ Review'd its order> and in front difpos'd The flingers, and the rear with bowmen clos'd ; Arming *o6 THE E P I G O N I A D. Book IX. Arming the reft with all that could avail, The tow'rs and battlements to fap or fcale. Tydides firft his martial fquadrons leads; Ulyfles, with his native band, fucceeds. Upon them, as they came, the Thebans pour A ftorm of jav'iins, mot from ev'ry tow'r ; As from the naked heights the feather'd kind, By bitter Ihow'rs compell'd, and wintry wind, In clouds afiembled, from fome mountain's head, To flicker crowd, and dive into the made ; Such and fo thick the winged weapons flew, And many warriors wounded, many flew. Now on their ranks, by forceful engines thrown, Springs, from the twifted rope, the pond'rou* flone, With wide deftru&ion thro' the hoft to roll, To mix its order and confound the whole. INTREPID ftill th'Etolian chief proceed?; And ftill Ulyfles follows as he leads. They reach'd the wall. Tydides, with a bound, Twice ftrove in vain to mount it from the ground. Twice fled the foe ; as, to the boift'rous fway Of fome proud billow, mariners give way ; Which, rous'd by tempefts, 'gainft a veflel bends Its force, and mounting o'er the deck afcends : Again he rofe : the third attempt prevail'd ; But, crumbling in his grafp,. the rampart fail'd : For /Book IX. THE EPIGONIAD. 207 For thunder there its fury had impreft, And loos'd a Ihatter'd fragment from the reft. Supine upon the earth the hero falls, Mix'd with the fmoke and ruin of the walls. By difappointment chaf'd, and fierce from pain, Unable now the rampart to regain, He turn'd, and faw his native bands afar,. By fear reftrain'd, and ling'ring in the war. From Creon ftraight and Thebes, his anger turns, And 'gainft his friends, with, equal fury, burns ; As when, from fnows dhTolv'd or fudden rains, A torrent fwells and roars along the plains j If, rifing to oppofe its angry tide, In full career, it meets a mountain's fide ; In foaming eddies, backwards to its fource, It wheels, and rages with inverted courfe : So turn'd at once, the fury, m his breaft, Againft Ulyfles, thus itfelf expreft : Author accurs'd, and fource of all my woes ! Friend more pernicious than the worft of foes ! By thy fuggeftions from my purpofe fw^y'd, 1 Hew Caflandra, and myfelf betray'd; Hence, lodg'd within this tortur'd breaft, remains A fury, to inflict eternal pains. I need not follow, with vindictive fpear, A traitor abfent, while a worfe is near : Creon but acted what you well foreknew, -When me unwilling to the fight you drew. To *o& THE E P 1 G O N I A D. Book IX, To you the firft my vengeance fhall proceed, And then on Creon and myfelf fucceed : Such facrifice Caffandra's ghoft demands, And fuchl'il offer with determin'd hands. THUS as he fpoke, Ulyfles pond'ring ftoorf, Whether by art to footh his furious mood, Or, with a fudden hand, his launce to throw, Preventing, ere it fell, the threaten'd blow. But, gliding from above, the martial maid Between them ftood, in majefty difplay'd ; Her radiant eyes with indignation burn'd, On Diomed their piercing light me turn'd ; And frowning thus : Thy frantic rage reftrain j Elfe by dread Styx I fwear, nor fwear in vain, That proof mall teach you whether mortal might This arm invincible can match in fight. Is't not enough that he, whofe hoary hairs Still watch'd your welfare with a father's cares, Whodar'd, with zeal and courage, to with (land Your fatal phrenzy, perifli'd by your hand ? That, flighting ev'ry tie which princes know, You leagu'd in fecret with a public foe ? And, from your faith by fond affection fway'd, The kings, the army, and yourielf betray'd ? Yet, ftill unaw'd, from fuch atrocious deeds, To more and worfe your defp'rate rage proceeds, And BoaklX. THE E P I G O N I A P, so<> And dooms to perHh, by a mad decree, The chief who fav'd alike the hofi and tlwe. Had Thebes prevail'd, and one decifive hour The victory had fix'd beyond thy pow'r ; Thefe limbs, ere now had captive fetters worn To infamy condemu'd, and holtile fcorn ; While fair Caflandra, with her virgin charms, A prize decreed, had bleft feme rival's arms. Did not the worth of mighty Tydeus pkad, Approv'd when living, and reverdwhen dead, For favor to his guilty fon, and (land A rampart to oppofe my vengeful hand; You fcou had found how mad it is to wage War with the gods, and tempt immortal rage. This Thebes mail know, ere to the ocean's ftreams The fun again withdraws his fctting beams ; For now the gods confent> in vengeance juft, For all her crimes, to mix her with the dutr. The Goddefs thus; and turning to the field,. Her deity in Mentor's form conceal'd : With courage new each warrior's heart infpires, And wake's again, in all, their martial fires. CONSCIOUS of wrong, and fpeechkfs from furpiize, Tydides flood, nor dai j d to lift his eyes, Of fate regardlefs ; tho' from ev'ry tow*r, Stones, dart;,, and arrows fell,, a mingled fhow'r :, For awe divine fubdu'd him, and the mame Which virtue fuffers from the touch of blame. But ziv The E P I G O N J A D. BooHX, But to Ulyfles turning, thus at laft : Prince ! can thy gen'rous love forget the paft ; And all remembrance baniih from thy mind, Of what my fury and defpair defign'd ? If you forgive me, ftraight our pow'rs recall Who fliun the fight, while I attempt the walL Some prefent god infpires me; for I feel My heart exulting knock the plated fteel : In briflcer rounds the vital fpirit flies, And ev'ry limb with double force fupplies.. TVDIDES thus. Ulyfles thus again : Shall heav'n forgive offences, man retain ; Tho' born to err, by jarring paflions toft ? The beft, in good, no fteadinefs can boaft : No malice therefore in my heart (hall live; To fin is human ; human to forgive. But do not now your fmgle force oppofe To lofty ramparts, and an hoft of foes ; Let me at Icaft, attending at your fide-, Partake the danger, and the toil divide : For fee our pow'rs advancing to the ftorm ! Pallas excites them in a mortal form. Let us, to mount the rampart, ftraight proceed; They of themfelves will follow as we lead. ULYSSES thus; and, fpringing from the ground, Both chiefs at once afcend the lofty mound. Before Book IX, THE EPIC ON I AD. 21 Before him each his mining buckler bears 'Gainft flying darts, and thick portended fpears. Now, on the bulwark's level top, they ftand, And charge on ev'ry fide the hoftile band : There many warriors in clofe fight they flew, And many headlong from the rampart threw. Pallas her fav'rite champions ftill infpires, Their nerves confirms, and wakes their martial fire?. With courfe divided, on the foe they fall, And bare between them leave a length of wall ; As fire, when kindled on fome mountain's head, Where runs, in long extent, the woodland made, Conlumes the middle foreft, and extends Its parted progrefs to the diftant ends : So fought the leaders, while their fcatter'd pow'rs, In phalanx join'd, approach'd theTheban tow'rs; With hands, and heads againft the rampart lean'd* The firft, upon their fliields, the reft fuftain'd : Rank above rank the living ftru&ure grows, As fettling bees the pendent heap compote*. Which to fome cavern's roof united clings, Woven thick with complicated feet and wings : Thus mutually fuftain'd, the warriors bend ; While o'er their heads the erder'd ranks afcend* AND now the martial goddefs with delight, Plac'd on a turret's top, furvey'd the fight. Thrice 112 THE E PIG ONI AD. BooklX. Thrice to the height flie rais'd her awful voice; The tow'rs and bulwarks trembled at the noifc : ' Both warring hofts alike the fignal hear ; To this, the caufe of hope, to that, of fear. And Thefeus thus addrefs'd his martial train : Here fhall we wage a diftant war in vain, When now Tyciides, from the conquer'd tow'rs Defcendiag, on the town his warriors pours ? Your glory if ye would allerr, nor yield At once the praife of many a well-fought field ; Afcend thefc lofty battlements, and claim With thofe who conquer now an equal fame. The monarch thus ; and to the combat leads;. With emulation fii'd, the holt proceeds j Under a fhow'r of falling darts they go, Climb the fteep ramparts, and affault the foe ; As winds outrageous, from the ocean wide, Againft fome mole impel the ftormy tide, Whole rocky arms, oppofcd to the deep, From tempefts, fafe the anchoring veflel keep ; Wave heap'd on wave, the Itormy deluge tow'rs, And o'er it, with refiftlefs fury, pours : Such feem'cl the fight, the Theban hoft overthrown,. The wall deferts, and mingles with the town. CREON in vain the defp'rare rout withftands, With marp reproaches and vindictive hands ; BooklX. THE EP ICON I AD, 113 His rage they fhun not, nor his threat'nings hear, From ftunning clamors deaf, and blind from fear. And thus the monarch with uplifted eyes, And both his hands extended to the Ikies : Ye Pow'rs fupreme, whofe unrefifted fway The fates of men and mortal things obey! Againft your counfels, vain it is to ftrive, Which only ruin nations or retrieve. Here in your fight, with patience, I refign That envy'd royalty which once was mine ; Renounce the cares, that wait upon a crown, And make my laft attention all my own. Seven virgin daughters in iny houie remain, Who muft not live to fwell a victor's train ; Nor mall my wretched queen, in triumph borne, Be lifted to the eye of public fcorn : One common fate our miferies mall end, And, with the duft of Thebes, our aifaes blend. His fix'd decree the monarch thus expreft; One half the fates confirm'd, deny'd the reft : For now furrounded by the hoftile crowd His captive queen, an humble fuppliant, flood. Tydides found her as fhe left the walls j Before the hero to the ground (he falls ; With trembling hands, his mighty knees Ihe prefs'd, And, fupplicating, thus with tears addrefs'd : llluftvious ei4 THE E PIG ONI AD. Book IX. llluftrious chief! for fure your gallant mien No lefs proclaims you, fpare a wretched queen ; One whom the gods with endlefs hate purfue, To griefs already fumlefs adding new ; O fpare a helpleft wretch, who humbly bends, And for protection on thy might depends ! As fupplicating thus her fuit me prefs'd, Ulyffes heard, and thus the chief addrefs'd : See how th' immortals, by a juft decree, Caffandra's fall avenge, and honor thee ! See, at thy feet, the wife of Creon laid, A victim offer'd for the injur'd maid. Let her the firft your juft refentment feel ; By heav'n prefented to your vengeful fteel. ULYSSES thus. With fighs the hero faid: Enough is offer'd to Caffandra's made ; With wide deftmction, wafting fword and fire, To plague the authors of her fall, confpire. Yet all in vain. No facrifice recalls The parted ghoft from Pluto's gloomy walls. Too long, alas I has lawleft fury rul'd, To reafon deaf, by no reflection cool'd; While I unhappy, by its dictates fway'd, My guardian murder'd, and the hoft betray 'd. No victim, therefore, to my rage I'll pay ; Nor ever follow as it points the way. THE BooklX. THE E P I G O N I A D. THE fon of Tydeus thus; and to his tent, From infults fafe, the royal matron fent. Himfelf again the courfe of conqueft led Till Thebes was overthrown, and Creon bled. THE END. DREAM, IN THE Manner of SPENSER; DREAM. In the Manner of S P E N S E R, ON E evVmg as by pleafant Forth I ilray'd, In penfive mood, and meditated ftill On poets learned toil, with fcorn repaid By Envy's bitter fpite, and want of (kill; A cave I found, which open'd in a hill. The floor was fand, with various (hells yblended, Through which, in flow meanders, crept a rill ; The roof, by Nature's cunning flight fufpended : Thither my fteps I turn'd, and there my journey ended. K 2 II. 220 A D R E A, M. n. Upon the ground my liftlefs limbs I laid, Luird by the murmur of the parting ftreatn : Then fleep, foft flealing, did my eyes invade ; And -waking thought, foon ended in a dream. Tranfported to a region I did feem, Which with Theflalian Tempe might compare ; Of verdant fhads compos'd, and wat'ry gleam s. Not even Valdarno, thought fo pafllng fair, Wight match this pleafant land, in all perfections rare. Ill, One, like a hoary palmer, near a brook, Under an arbor, feated did appear ; A fhepherd fwain, attending, held a book, And feem'd to read therein that he mote hear.. From curiofity 1 ftepped near ; But ese I reach'd the place where they did fit, The whifp'ring breezes wafted to my ear The found of rhymes which I myfelf had writ: Rhymes much, alas, too mean, for fucka judge unfit. A D R E A M, *2 1 IV. For him he feem'd who fung Achilles' rage, In lofty numbers that fhall never die, And wife Ulyfles' tedious pilgrimage, So long the fport of ftiarp adverfity : The praifes of his merit, Fame on high, With her fhrill trump, for ever loud doth found; With him no bard, for excellence, can vie, Of all that late or ancient e'er were found ; So much he doth furpafs ev'n bards the moft renown'd.. V. The ftiepherd fwain invited me to come Up to the arbor where they feated were ; For Homer call'd me : much I fear'd the doom Which fuch a judge feem'd ready to declare. As I approach'd, with meikle dread and care>, He thus addrefs'd me : Sir, the caufe explain Why all your ftory here is told fo bare ? Few circumftances mix'd of various grain j Such, furely, much enrich and raife a poet's ftrain. K 3 VL * A D R E A M. VI. Cerres, quoth I, the critics are the caufe Of this, and many other mifchiefs more; Who tie the Mufes to fuch rigid laws, That all their fongs are frivolous and poor. They cannot now, as oft they did before, Erepow'rful prejudice had dipt their wings, Nature's domain with boundlefs flight explore, And traffick freely in her precious things : Each bard now fears the rod, and trembles while he fings. VII. Though Shakefpear, ftill difdaining narrow rules,. His bofom fill'd. with Nature's facred fire, Broke all the cobweb limits fix'd by fools, And left the world to blame him and admire*. Yet his reward few mortals would defire; For, of his learned toil, the only meed That ever I could find he did acquire, Is that our dull, degenerate, age of lead, Says that he wrote by chance, and that he fcarce could read. V11I. A D R E A Ml 82t VUI. 1 ween, quoth he, that poets are to blame When, they fubmit to critics tyranny : For learned wights there Is no greater ihame, Than blindly with their dictates to comply. Who ever taught the eagle how to fly, Whofe wit did e'er his airy traft define, When with free wing he claims his native fky, Say, will he fteer his courfe by rule and line ? ertes, he'd fcorn the bounds that would his flight- confine.. ix; Not that the Mufes' art is void of rule?:: Many there are, I wot, and ftridler far, Than thofe which pedants dictate from the fchools, Who wage with wit and tafte eternal war : For foggy ignorance their fight doth mar j Nor can their low conception ever reach To what dame Nature, crown'd with many a ftar^ Explains to fuch as know her learned fpeech ; But few can comprehend the lefibns flie. doth teach. X. 224 A D R E A M. X. As many as the ftars that gild the flcy, As many as the flow'rs that paint the ground, In number like the iftfecl tribes that fly, The various forms of beauty flill are found ; That with ftrift limits no man may them bound, And fay that this, and this alone, is right : Experience foon fuch rafhnefs would confound, And make its folly obvious as the light; for fuch prefumption fure becomes not mortal wight. XL Therefore each bard mould freely entertain The hints which pleafmg fancy gives at will ; Nor curb her fallies with too ftrift a rein, Nature fubjeting to her hand-maid Skill : And you yourfelf in this have done but ill ; With many more, who have not comprehended That Genius, crampt, will rarely mount the hill, Waofe forked fummit with the clouds is blended : Therefore, when next you write, let this defeft be mended. X1L A DREAM. **$ XU. But, like a friend, who candidly reproves For faults and errors which he doth efpy, Each vice he freely marks ; yet always loves* To mingle favor with feverity. Certes, quoth he, I cannot well deny, That you in many things may hope to pleafe : You force a barbarous northern tongue to ply, And bend it to your purpofes with eafe ; Tho' rough as Albion's rocks,, and hoarfer than her feas. Xiri. Nor are your tales, I wot, fo loofely yok'd, As thofe which Colin Clout * did tell before ; Nor with defcription crouded fo, and choak'd, Which, thinly fpread, will always pleafe the more. Colin, I wot, was rich in Nature's ftore ; More rich than you, had more than he could ufe : But mad Orlando t taught him had his lore ; Whofe flights, at random, oft mifled his mufe: To follow fuch a guide, few prudent mfn would chufe. Spenfer. J Arioso,, fo caUed from his Lcro. XIV. 226 A D R E A M. XIV. Me you have follow'd : Nature was my guide j To this the merit of your verfe is owing : And know for certain, let it check your pride, That all you boaft of is of my bellowing. The flow'rs 1 fee, thro' all your garden blowing, Are mine; moft part, at leaft : I might demand, Might claim them, as a crop of my own fowing, And leave but few, thin fcatterM o'er the land : A claim fo juil, I wot, you could not well withftand. X.V. Certes, quoth I, that juftice were full hard, Which me alone would fentence to reftore; When many a learned fage, and many a bard, Are equally your debtors, or much more. Let Tityrus f himfelf produce his ftore, Take what is thine, but little will remain : Little, I wot, and that indebted fore To Afcra's bard J, and Arethufa's fwain ; And others too.befide, who lent him many a ftrain.. t Virgil. J Hcfiod, Theocritus. XVI. A DREAM. 127 XVI. Nor could the modern bards afford to pay, Whofe fongs exalt the champions of the Crofi ; Take from each hoard thy fterling gold away, And little will remain but worthlefs drofs. Not bards alone could ill fupport the lofs ; But fages too, whofe theft fufpicion fhunn'd : E'en that fly Greek J, who fteals and hides fo clofe, Were half a bankrupt, if he fhould refund. While thefe are all forborn, lhall I alone be dunn'd, XVII. He fmil'd j and from his wreath, which well could fpare Such boon, the wreath with which his locks were clad, Pluck'd a few leaves to hid my temples bare ; The prefent I receiv'd with heart full glad. Henceforth, quoth I, I never will be fad ; For now I ftiall obtain my lhare of fame : Nor will licentious wif, or envy bad, With bitter taunts, my verfes dare to blame : This garland fliall protect them, and exalt my name. J Plato, reckoned, by Longing s, one of the greateft Imitator* of Homer. XVIII. a2 3 A D R E A M. XVIII. But dreams are fhort ; for as I thought to lay My limbs, at eafe, upon the flow'ry ground. And drink, with greedy ear, what he might fay, As murm'ring waters fweet, or mufic's found, My fleep departed ; and I, waking, found Myfelf again by Fortha's pleafant ftream. Homewards I ftepp'd, in meditation drown'd, Reflefting on the meaning of my dream ; "Which Jet each wight interpret as him beft doth feem, FINIS. UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA LIBRARY Los Angeles This book is DUE on the last date stamped below. iJMy 3 r r>ol 5 9 < K i A 000000721 1 i S IR% ^cios-Ascno^ %OJ!1VJJO^ .^OffAllFO% ^A ^^ S