you feed She said and to the neighb'ring Forest flew Our Courage fails us and our Fears renew Hopeless to win by War to Pray'rs we fall And on th' offended Harpies humbly call And whether Gods or Birds obscene they were Our Vows for Pardon and for Peace prefer But old Anchises off'ring Sacrifice And lifting up to Heav'n his Hands and Eyes Ador'd the greater Gods Avert said he These Omens render vain this Prophecy And from th' impending Curse a Pious People free Thus having said he bids us put to Sea We loose from Shore our Haulsers and obey And soon with swelling Sails pursue the wat'ry Way Amidst our course Zacynthian Woods appear And next by rocky Neritos we steer We fly from Ithaca's detested Shore And curse the Land which dire Ulysses bore At length Leucates cloudy top appears And Phoebus Temple which the Sailor fears Resolv'd to breath a while from Labour past Our crooked Anchors from the Prow we cast And joyful to the little City haste Here safe beyond our Hopes our Vows we pay To Jove the Guide and Patron of our way The Customs of our Country we pursue And Trojan Games on Actian Shores renew Our Youth their naked Limbs besmear with Oyl And exercise the Wrastlers noble Toil. Pleas'd to have sail'd so long before the Wind And left so many Grecian Towns behind The Sun had now fulfill'd his Annual Course And Boreas on the Seas display'd his Force I fix'd upon the Temples lofty Door The brazen Shield which vanquish'd Abas bore The Verse beneath my Name and Action speaks These Arms Aeneas took from Conqu'ring Greeks Then I command to weigh the Seamen ply Their sweeping Oars the smokeing Billows fly The sight of high Phaeacia soon we lost And skim'd along Epirus rocky Coast Then to Chaonia's Port our Course we bend And landed to Buthrotus heights ascend Here wond'rous things were loudly blaz'd by Fame How Helenus reviv'd the Trojan Name And raign'd in Greece That Priam's captive Son Succeeded Pyrrhus in his Bed and Throne And fair Andromache restor'd by Fate Once more was happy in a Trojan Mate I leave my Gallies riding in the Port And long to see the new Dardanian Court. By chance the mournful Queen before the Gate Then solemniz'd her former Husbands Fate To The Hon ble D r Io n Mountague Master of Trinity College in Cambridge AE 3. l 415. Green Altars rais'd of Turf with Gifts she Crown'd And sacred Priests in order stand around And thrice the Name of hapless Hector sound The Grove it self resembles Ida's Wood And Simois seem'd the well dissembl'd Flood But when at nearer distance she beheld My shining Armour and my Trojan Shield Astonish'd at the sight the vital Heat Forsakes her Limbs her Veins no longer beat She faints she falls and scarce recov'ring strength Thus with a falt'ring Tongue she speaks at length Are you alive O Goddess born she said Or if a Ghost then where is Hector's Shade At this she cast a loud and frightful Cry With broken words I made this brief Reply All of me that remains appears in sight I live if living be to loath the Light No Phantome but I drag a wretched life My Fate resembling that of Hector's Wife What have you suffer'd since you lost your Lord By what strange blessing are you now restor'd Still are you Hector's or is Hector fled And his Remembrance lost in Pyrrhus Bed With Eyes dejected in a lowly tone After a modest pause she thus begun Oh only happy Maid of Priam's Race Whom Death deliver'd from the Foes embrace Commanded on Achilles Tomb to die Not forc'd like us to hard Captivity Or in a haughty Master's Arms to lie In Grecian Ships unhappy we were born Endur'd the Victor's Lust sustain'd the Scorn Thus I submitted to the lawless pride Of Pyrrhus more a Handmaid than a Bride Cloy'd with Possession He forsook my Bed And Helen's lovely Daughter sought to wed Then me to Trojan Helenus resign'd And his two Slaves in equal Marriage join'd Till young Orestes pierc'd with deep despair And longing to redeem the promis'd Fair Before Apollo's Altar slew the Ravisher By Pyrrhus death the Kingdom we regain'd At least one half with Helenus remain'd Our part from Chaon He Chaonia calls And names from Pergamus his rising Walls But you what Fates have landed on our Coast What Gods have sent you or what Storms have tost Does young Ascanius life and health enjoy Sav'd from the Ruins of unhappy Troy O tell me how his Mothers loss he bears What hopes are promis'd from his blooming years How much of Hector in his Face appears She spoke and mix'd her Speech with mournful Cries And fruitless Tears came trickling from her Eyes At length her Lord descends upon the Plain In pomp attended with a num'rous Train Receives his Friends and to the City leads And Tears of Joy amidst his Welcome sheds Proceeding on another Troy I see Or in less compass Troy's Epitome A Riv'let by the name of Xanthus ran And I embrace the Scaean Gate again My Friends in Portico's were entertain'd And Feasts and Pleasures through the City reign'd The Tables fill'd the spacious Hall around And Golden Bowls with sparkling Wine were crown'd Two days we pass'd in mirth till friendly Gales Blown from the South supply'd our swelling Sails Then to the Royal Seer I thus began O thou who know'st beyond the reach of Man The Laws of Heav'n and what the Stars decree Whom Phoebus taught unerring Prophecy From his own Tripod and his holy Tree Skill'd in the wing'd Inhabitants of Air What Auspices their notes and flights declare O say for all Religious Rites portend A happy Voyage and a prosp'rous End And ev'ry Pow'r and Omen of the Sky Direct my Course for destin'd Italy But only dire Celaeno from the Gods A dismal Famine fatally fore-bodes O say what Dangers I am first to shun What Toils to vanquish and what Course to run The Prophet first with Sacrifice adores The greater Gods their Pardon then implores Unbinds the Fillet from his holy Head To Phoebus next my trembling Steps he led Full of religious Doubts and awful dread Then with his God possess'd before the Shrine These words proceeded from his Mouth Divine O Goddess-born for Heav'n's appointed Will With greater Auspices of good than ill Fore-shows thy Voyage and thy Course directs Thy Fates conspire and Jove himself protects Of many things some few I shall explain Teach thee to shun the dangers of the Main And how at length the promis'd Shore to gain The rest the Fates from Helenus conceal And Juno's angry Pow'r forbids to tell First then that happy Shore that seems so nigh Will far from your deluded Wishes fly Long tracts of Seas divide your hopes from Italy For you must cruise along Sicilian Shoars And stem the Currents with your struggling Oars Then round th' Italian Coast your Navy steer And after this to Circe's Island veer And last before your new Foundations rise Must
have chosen for your self a private Greatness and will not be polluted with Ambition It has been observ'd in former times that none have been so greedy of Employments and of managing the Publick as they who have least deserv'd their Stations But such only merit to be call'd Patriots under whom we see their Country Flourish I have laugh'd sometimes for who wou'd always be a Heraclitus when I have reflected on those Men who from time to time have shot themselves into the World I have seen many Successions of them some bolting out upon the Stage with vast applause and others hiss'd off and quitting it with disgrace But while they were in action I have constantly observ'd that they seem'd desirous to retreat from Business Greatness they said was nauseous and a Crowd was troublesome a quiet privacy was their Ambition Some few of them I believe said this in earnest and were making a provision against future want that they might enjoy their Age with ease They saw the happiness of a private Life and promis'd to themselves a Blessing which every day it was in their power to possess But they deferr'd it and linger'd still at Court because they thought they had not yet enough to make them happy They wou'd have more and laid in to make their Solitude Luxurious A wretched Philosophy which Epicurus never taught them in his Garden They lov'd the prospect of this quiet in reversion but were not willing to have it in possession they wou'd first be Old and made as sure of Health and Life as if both of them were at their dispose But put them to the necessity of a present choice and they preferr'd continuance in Power Like the Wretch who call'd Death to his assistance but refus'd it when he came The Great Scipio was not of their Opinion who indeed sought Honours in his Youth and indur'd the Fatigues with which he purchas'd them He serv'd his Country when it was in need of his Courage and his Conduct 'till he thought it was time to serve himself But dismounted from the Saddle when he found the Beast which bore him began to grow restiff and ungovernable But your Lordship has given us a better Example of Moderation You saw betimes that Ingratitude is not confin'd to Commonwealths and therefore though you were form'd alike for the greatest of Civil Employments and Military Commands yet you push'd not your Fortune to rise in either but contented your self with being capable as much as any whosoever of defending your Country with your Sword or assisting it with your Counsel when you were call'd For the rest the respect and love which was paid you not only in the Province where you live but generally by all who had the happiness to know you was a wise Exchange for the Honours of the Court A place of forgetfulness at the best for well deservers 'T is necessary for the polishing of Manners to have breath'd that Air but 't is infectious even to the best Morals to live always in it 'T is a dangerous Commerce where an honest Man is sure at the first of being Cheated and he recovers not his Losses but by learning to Cheat others The undermining Smile becomes at length habitual and the drift of his plausible Conversation is only to flatter one that he may betray another Yet 't is good to have been a looker on without venturing to play that a Man may know false Dice another time though he never means to use them I commend not him who never knew a Court but him who forsakes it because he knows it A young Man deserves no praise who out of melancholy Zeal leaves the World before he has well try'd it and runs headlong into Religion He who carries a Maidenhead into a Cloyster is sometimes apt to lose it there and to repent of his Repentance He only is like to endure Austerities who has already found the inconvenience of Pleasures For almost every Man will be making Experiments in one part or another of his Life And the danger is the less when we are young For having try'd it early we shall not be apt to repeat it afterwards Your Lordship therefore may properly be said to have chosen a Retreat and not to have chosen it 'till you had maturely weigh'd the advantages of rising higher with the hazards of the fall Res non parta labore sed relicta was thought by a Poet to be one of the requisites to a happy Life Why shou'd a reasonable Man put it into the power of Fortune to make him miserable when his Ancestours have taken care to release him from her Let him venture says Horace Qui Zonam perdidit He who has nothing plays securely for he may win and cannot be poorer if he loses But he who is born to a plentiful Estate and is Ambitious of Offices at Court sets a stake to Fortune which she can seldom answer If he gains nothing he loses all or part of what was once his own and if he gets he cannot be certain but he may refund In short however he succeeds 't is Covetousness that induc'd him first to play and Covetousness is the undoubted sign of ill sense at bottom The Odds are against him that he loses and one loss may be of more consequence to him than all his former winnings 'T is like the present War of the Christians against the Turk every year they gain a Victory and by that a Town but if they are once defeated they lose a Province at a blow and endanger the safety of the whole Empire You my Lord enjoy your quiet in a Garden where you have not only the leisure of thinking but the pleasure to think of nothing which can discompose your Mind A good Conscience is a Port which is Land-lock'd on every side and where no Winds can possibly invade no Tempests can arise There a Man may stand upon the Shore and not only see his own Image but that of his Maker clearly reflected from the undisturb'd and silent waters Reason was intended for a Blessing and such it is to Men of Honour and Integrity who desire no more than what they are able to give themselves like the happy Old Coricyan whom my Author describes in his Fourth Georgic whose Fruits and Salads on which he liv'd contented were all of his own growth and his own Plantation Virgil seems to think that the Blessings of a Country Life are not compleat without an improvement of Knowledge by Contemplation and Reading O Fortunatos nimium bona si sua norint Agricolas 'T is but half possession not to understand that happiness which we possess A foundation of good Sense and a cultivation of Learning are requir'd to give a seasoning to Retirement and make us taste the blessing God has bestow'd on your Lordship the first of these and you have bestow'd on your self the second Eden was not made for Beasts though they were suffer'd to live in it but for their
Fortune shows the way 'T is fit we shou'd th' auspicious Guide obey For what has she these Grecian Arms bestow'd But their Destruction and the Trojans good Then change we Shields and their Devices bear Let Fraud supply the want of Force in War They find us Arms this said himself he dress'd In dead Androgeos's Spoils his upper Vest His painted Buckler and his plumy Crest Thus Ripheus Dymas all the Trojan Train Lay down their own Attire and strip the slain Mix'd with the Greeks we go with ill Presage Flatter'd with hopes to glut our greedy Rage Unknown assaulting whom we blindly meet And strew with Grecian Carcasses the Street Thus while their stragling Parties we defeat Some to the Shoar and safer Ships retreat And some oppress'd with more ignoble Fear Remount the hollow Horse and pant in secret there But ah what use of Valour can be made When Heav'ns propitious Pow'rs refuse their Aid Behold the royal Prophetess the Fair Cassandra drag'd by her dishevel'd Hair Whom not Minerva's Shrine nor sacred Bands In safety cou'd protect from sacrilegious Hands On Heav'n she cast her Eyes she sigh'd she cry'd 'T was all she cou'd her tender Arms were ty'd So sad a Sight Choraebus cou'd not bear But fir'd with Rage distracted with Despair To the Right Hon ble William OBryen Earle of Inchiquin in the Kingdom of Ireland ct AE 2. l 545. Amid the barb'rous Ravishers he flew Our Leader's rash Example we pursue But storms of Stones from the proud Temple's height Pour down and on our batter'd Helms alight We from our Friends receiv'd this fatal Blow Who thought us Grecians as we seem'd in show They aim at the mistaken Crests from high And ours beneath the pond'rous Ruin lie Then mov'd with Anger and Disdain to see Their Troops dispers'd the Royal Virgin free The Grecians rally and their Pow'rs unite With Fury charge us and renew the Fight The Brother-Kings with Ajax join their force And the whole Squadron of Thessalian Horse Thus when the Rival Winds their Quarrel try Contending for the Kingdom of the Skie South East and West on airy Coursers born The Whirlwind gathers and the Woods are torn Then Nereus strikes the deep the Billows rise And mix'd with Ooze and Sand pollute the Skies The Troops we squander'd first again appear From sev'ral Quarters and enclose the Rear They first observe and to the rest betray Our diff'rent Speech our borrow'd Arms survey Oppress'd with odds we fall Choraebus first At Pallas's Altar by Peneleus pierc'd Then Ripheus follow'd in th' unequal Fight Just of his Word observant of the right Heav'n thought not so Dymas their Fate attends With Hypanis mistaken by their Friends Nor Pantheus thee thy Mitre nor the Bands Of awful Phoebus sav'd from impious Hands Ye Trojan Flames your Testimony bear What I perform'd and what I suffer'd there No Sword avoiding in the fatal Strife Expos'd to Death and prodigal of Life Witness ye Heav'ns I live not by my Fault I strove to have deserv'd the Death I sought But when I cou'd not fight and wou'd have dy'd Born off to distance by the growing Tide Old Iphitus and I were hurry'd thence With Pelias wounded and without Defence New Clamors from th' invested Palace ring We run to die or disengage the King So hot th' Assault so high the Tumult rose While ours defend and while the Greeks oppose As all the Dardan and Argolick Race Had been contracted in that narrow Space Or as all Ilium else were void of Fear And Tumult War and Slaughter only there Their Targets in a Tortoise cast the Foes Secure advancing to the Turrets rose Some mount the scaling Ladders some more bold Swerve upwards and by Posts and Pillars hold Their left hand gripes their Bucklers in th' ascent While with the right they seise the Battlement From their demolish'd Tow'rs the Trojans throw Huge heaps of Stones that falling crush the Foe And heavy Beams and Rafters from the sides Such Arms their last necessity provides And gilded Roofs come tumbling from on high The marks of State and ancient Royalty The Guards below fix'd in the Pass attend The Charge undaunted and the Gate defend Renew'd in Courage with recover'd Breath A second time we ran to tempt our Death To clear the Palace from the Foe succeed The weary living and revenge the dead A Postern-door yet unobserv'd and free Join'd by the length of a blind Gallery To the King's Closet led a way well known To Hector's Wife while Priam held the Throne Through which she brought Astyanax unseen To chear his Grandsire and his Grandsire's Queen Through this we pass and mount the Tow'r from whence With unavailing Arms the Trojans make defence From this the trembling King had oft descry'd The Grecian Camp and saw their Navy ride Beams from its lofty height with Swords we hew Then wrenching with our hands th' Assault renew And where the Rafters on the Columns meet We push them headlong with our Arms and Feet The Lightning flies not swifter than the Fall Nor Thunder louder than the ruin'd Wall Down goes the top at once the Greeks beneath Are piecemeal torn or pounded into Death Yet more succeed and more to death are sent We cease not from above nor they below relent Before the Gate stood Pyrrhus threat'ning loud With glitt'ring Arms conspicuous in the Crowd So shines renew'd in Youth the crested Snake Who slept the Winter in a thorny Brake And casting off his Slough when Spring returns Now looks aloft and with new Glory burns Restor'd with pois'nous Herbs his ardent sides Reflect the Sun and rais'd on Spires he rides High o're the Grass hissing he rowls along And brandishes by fits his sorky Tongue Proud Periphas and fierce Automedon His Father's Charioteer together run To force the Gate The Scyrian Infantry Rush on in Crowds and the barr'd Passage free Ent'ring the Court with Shouts the Skies they rend And flaming Firebrands to the Roofs ascend Himself among the foremost deals his Blows And with his Axe repeated Stroaks bestows On the strong Doors then all their Shoulders ply 'Till from the Posts the brazen Hinges fly He hews apace the double Bars at length Yield to his Ax and unresisted Strength A mighty Breach is made the Rooms conceal'd Appear and all the Palace is reveal'd The Halls of Audience and of publick State And where the lonely Queen in secret sate Arm'd Souldiers now by trembling Maids are seen With not a Door and scarce a Space between The House is fill'd with loud Laments and Cries And Shrieks of Women rend the vaulted Skies The fearful Matrons run from place to place And kiss the Thresholds and the Posts embrace The fatal work inhuman Pyrrhus plies And all his Father sparkles in his Eyes Nor Bars nor fighting Guards his force sustain The Bars are broken and the Guards are slain In rush the Greeks and all the Apartments fill Those few Defendants whom they find they kill Not with so
maze the Matrons wildly stare Then Pyrgo reverenc'd for her hoary Hair Pyrgo the Nurse of Priam's num'rous Race No Beroe this tho she belies her Face What Terrours from her frowning Front arise Behold a Goddess in her ardent Eyes What Rays around her heav'nly Face are seen Mark her Majestick Voice and more than mortal Meen Beroe but now I left whom pin'd with pain Her Age and Anguish from these Rites detain She said the Matrons seiz'd with new Amaze Rowl their malignant Eyes and on the Navy gaze They fear and hope and neither part obey They hope the fated Land but fear the fatal Way The Goddess having done her Task below Mounts up on equal Wings and bends her painted Bow Struck with the sight and feiz'd with Rage Divine The Matrons prosecute their mad Design They shriek aloud they snatch with Impious Hands The food of Altars Firs and flaming Brands Green Leaves and Saplings mingled in their haste And smoaking Torches on the Ships they cast The Flame unstop'd at first more Fury gains And Vulcan rides at large with loosen'd Reins Triumphant to the painted Sterns he soars And seizes in his way the Banks and crackling Oars Eumelus was the first the News to bear While yet they crowd the Rural Theatre Then what they hear is witness'd by their Eyes A storm of Sparkles and of Flames arise Ascanius took th' Alarm while yet he led His early Warriors on his prancing Steed And spurring on his Equals soon o'repass'd Nor cou'd his frighted Friends reclaim his haste Soon as the Royal Youth appear'd in view He sent his Voice before him as he flew What Madness moves you Matrons to destroy The last Remainders of unhappy Troy Not hostile Fleets but your own hopes you burn And on your Friends your fatal Fury turn Behold your own Ascanius while he said He drew his glitt'ring Helmet from his Head In which the Youths to sportful Arms he led By this Aeneas and his Train appear And now the Women seiz'd with Shame and Fear Dispers'd to Woods and Caverns take their Flight Abhor their Actions and avoid the Light Their Friends acknowledge and their Error find And shake the Goddess from their alter'd Mind Not so the raging Fires their Fury cease But lurking in the Seams with seeming Peace Work on their way amid the smouldring Tow Sure in Destruction but in Motion slow The silent Plague thro' the green Timber eats And vomits out a tardy Flame by fits Down to the Keels and upward to the Sails The Fire descends or mounts but still prevails Nor Buckets pour'd nor strength of Human Hand Can the victorious Element withstand The Pious Heroe rends his Robe and throws To Heav'n his Hands and with his Hands his Vows O Jove he cry'd if Pray'rs can yet have place If thou abhorr'st not all the Dardan Race If any spark of Pity still remain If Gods are Gods and not invok'd in vain Yet spare the Relicks of the Trojan Train Yet from the Flames our burning Vessels free Or let thy Fury fall alone on me At this devoted Head thy Thunder throw And send the willing Sacrifice below Scarce had he said when Southern Storms arise From Pole to Pole the forky Lightning flies Loud ratling shakes the Mountains and the Plain Heav'n bellies downward and descends in Rain Whole Sheets of Water from the Clouds are sent Which hissing thro' the Planks the Flames prevent And stop the fiery Pest Four Ships alone Burn to the wast and for the Fleet attone But doubtful thoughts the Hero's Heart divide If he should still in Sicily reside Forgetful of his Fates or tempt the Main In hope the promis'd Italy to gain Then Nautes old and wise to whom alone The Will of Heav'n by Pallas was fore-shown Vers'd in Portents experienc'd and inspir'd To tell Events and what the Fates requir'd Thus while he stood to neither part inclin'd With chearful Words reliev'd his lab'ring Mind O Goddess-born resign'd in ev'ry state With Patience bear with Prudence push your Fate By suff'ring well our Fortune we subdue Fly when she frowns and when she calls pursue Your Friend Acestes is of Trojan Kind To him disclose the Secrets of your Mind Trust in his Hands your old and useless Train Too num'rous for the Ships which yet remain The feeble old indulgent of their Ease The Dames who dread the Dangers of the Seas With all the dastard Crew who dare not stand The shock of Battel with your Foes by Land Here you may build a common Town for all And from Acestes name Acesta call The Reasons with his Friend's Experience join'd Encourag'd much but more disturb'd his Mind 'T was dead of Night when to his slumb'ring Eyes His Father's Shade descended from the Skies And thus he spoke O more than vital Breath Lov'd while I liv'd and dear ev'n after Death O Son in various Toils and Troubles tost The King of Heav'n employs my careful Ghost On his Commands the God who sav'd from Fire Your flaming Fleet and heard your just desire The Wholsom Counsel of your Friend receive And here the Coward Train and Women leave The chosen Youth and those who nobly dare Transport to tempt the Dangers of the War The stern Italians will their Courage try Rough are their Manners and their Minds are high But first to Pluto's Palace you shall go And seek my Shade among the blest below For not with impious Ghosts my Soul remains Nor suffers with the Damn'd perpetual Pains But breaths the living Air of soft Elysian Plains The chast Sybilla shall your steps convey And Blood of offer'd Victims free the way There shall you know what Realms the Gods assign And learn the Fates and Fortunes of your Line But now farewel I vanish with the Night And feel the blast of Heav'ns approaching Light He said and mix'd with Shades and took his airy flight Whether so fast the filial Duty cry'd And why ah why the wish'd Embrace deny'd He said and rose as holy Zeal inspires He rakes hot Embers and renews the Fires His Country Gods and Vesta then adores With Cakes and Incense and their Aid implores Next for his Friends and Royal Host he sent Reveal'd his Vision and the Gods intent With his own Purpose All without delay The Will of Jove and his Desires obey They list with Women each degenerate Name Who dares not hazard Life for future Fame These they cashier the brave remaining few Oars Banks and Cables half consum'd renew The Prince designs a City with the Plough The Lots their sev'ral Tenements allow This part is nam'd from Ilium that from Troy And the new King ascends the Throme with Joy A chosen Senate from the People draws Appoints the Judges and ordains the Laws Then on the top of Eryx they begin To raise a Temple to the Paphian Queen Anchises last is honour'd as a God A Priest is added annual Gifts bestow'd And Groves are planted round his blest Abode Nine days they pass in
Anchors drop'd his Crew the Vessels moor They turn their Heads to Sea their Sterns to Land And greet with greedy Joy th' Italian Strand Some strike from clashing Flints their fiery Seed Some gather Sticks the kindled Flames to feed Or search for hollow Trees and fell the Woods Or trace thro Valleys the discover'd Floods Thus while their sev'ral Charges they fulfil The Pious Prince ascends the sacred Hill Where Phoebus is ador'd and seeks the Shade Which hides from sight his venerable Maid Deep in a Cave the Sibyl makes abode Thence full of Fate returns and of the God Thro Trivia's Grove they walk and now behold And enter now the Temple roof'd with Gold When Dedalus to shun the Cretan Shore His heavy Limbs on jointed Pinions bore The first who sail'd in Air 't is sung by Fame To the Cumaean Coast at length he came And here alighting built this costly Frame To y e Right Hon ble Basil Earle of Denbigh Vis-count Fielding Baron Newenham Padox S t Lis AE 6. l. â— Inscrib'd to Phoebus here he hung on high The steerage of his Wings that cut the Sky Then o're the lofty Gate his Art emboss'd Androgeos Death and Off'rings to his Ghost Sev'n Youths from Athens yearly sent to meet The Fate appointed by revengeful Creet And next to these the dreadful Urn was plac'd In which the destin'd Name by Lots were cast The mournful Parents stand around in Tears And rising Creet against their Shore appears There too in living Sculpture might be seen The mad Affection of the Cretan Queen Then how she cheats her bellowing Lover's Eye The rushing leap the doubtful Progeny The lower part a Beast a Man above The Monument of their polluted Love Nor far from thence he grav'd the wond'rous Maze A thousand Doors a thousand winding Ways Here dwells the Monster hid from Human View Not to be found but by the faithful Clue 'Till the kind Artist mov'd with Pious Grief Lent to the loving Maid this last Relief And all those erring Paths describ'd so well That Theseus conquer'd and the Monster fell Here hapless Icarus had found his part Had not the Father's Grief restrain'd his Art He twice essay'd to cast his Son in Gold Twice from his Hands he drop'd the forming Mould All this with wond'ring Eyes Aeneas view'd Each varying Object his Delight renew'd Prepar'd to read the rest Achates came And by his side the mad divining Dame The Priestess of the God Deiphobe her Name Time suffers not she said to feed your Eyes With empty Pleasures haste the Sacrifice Sev'n Bullocks yet unyok'd for Phoebus chuse And for Diana sev'n unspotted Ewes This said the Servants urge the Sacred Rites While to the Temple she the Prince invites A spacious Cave within its farmost part Was hew'd and fashion'd by laborious Art Thro' the Hills hollow sides Before the place A hundred Doors a hundred Entries grace As many Voices issue and the sound Of Sibyl's Words as many times rebound Now to the Mouth they come Aloud she cries This is the time enquire your Destinies He comes behold the God! Thus while she said And shiv'ring at the sacred Entry staid Her Colour chang'd her Face was not the same And hollow Groans from her deep Spirit came Her Hair stood up convulsive Rage possess'd Her trembling Limbs and heav'd her lab'ring Breast Greater than Human Kind she seem'd to look And with an Accent more than Mortal spoke Her staring Eyes with sparling Fury rowl When all the God came rushing on her Soul Swiftly she turn'd and foaming as she spoke Why this Delay she cry'd the Pow'rs invoke Thy Pray'rs alone can open this abode Else vain are my Demands and dumb the God She said no more The trembling Trojans hear O're-spread with a damp Sweat and holy Fear The Prince himself with awful Dread possess'd His Vows to great Apollo thus address'd Indulgent God propitious Pow'r to Troy Swift to relieve unwilling to destroy Directed by whose Hand the Dardan Dart Pierc'd the proud Grecian's only Mortal part Thus far by Fates Decrees and thy Commands Through ambient Seas and thro' devouring Sands Our exil'd Crew has sought th' Ausonian Ground And now at length the flying Coast is found Thus far the Fate of Troy from place to place With Fury has pursu'd her wand'ring Race Here cease ye Pow'rs and let your Vengeance end Troy is no more and can no more offend And thou O sacred Maid inspir'd to see Th' Event of things in dark Futurity Give me what Heav'n has promis'd to my Fate To conquer and command the Latian State To fix my wand'ring Gods and find a place For the long Exiles of the Trojan Race Then shall my grateful Hands a Temple rear To the twin Gods with Vows and solemn Pray'r And Annual Rites and Festivals and Games Shall be perform'd to their auspicious Names Nor shalt thou want thy Honours in my Land For there thy faithful Oracles shall stand Preserv'd in Shrines and ev'ry Sacred Lay Which by thy Mouth Apollo shall convey All shall be treasur'd by a chosen Train Of holy Priests and ever shall remain But oh commit not thy prophetick Mind To flitting Leaves the sport of ev'ry Wind Lest they disperse in Air our empty Fate Write not but what the Pow'rs ordain relate Strugling in vain impatient of her Load And lab'ring underneath the pond'rous God The more she strove to shake him from her Breast With more and far superior Force he press'd Commands his Entrance and without Controul Usurps her Organs and inspires her Soul Now with a furious Blast the hundred Doors Ope of themselves a rushing Wirlwind roars Within the Cave and Sibyl's Voice restores Escap'd the Dangers of the wat'ry Reign Yet more and greater Ills by Land remain The Coast so long desir'd nor doubt th' Event Thy Troops shall reach but having reach'd repent Wars horrid Wars I view a field of Blood And Tyber rolling with a Purple Flood Simois nor Xanthus shall be wanting there A new Achilles shall in Arms appear And he too Goddess-born fierce Juno's Hate Added to hostile Force shall urge thy Fate To what strange Nations shalt not thou resort Driv'n to sollicite Aid at ev'ry Court The Cause the same which Ilium once oppress'd A foreign Mistress and a foreign Guest But thou secure of Soul unbent with Woes The more thy Fortune frowns the more oppose The dawnings of thy Safety shall be shown From whence thou least shalt hope a Grecian Town Thus from the dark Recess the Sibyl spoke And the resisting Air the Thunder broke The Cave rebellow'd and the Temple shook Th' ambiguous God who rul'd her lab'ring Breast In these mysterious Words his Mind exprest Some Truths reveal'd in Terms involv'd the rest At length her Fury fell her foaming ceas'd And ebbing in her Soul the God decreas'd Then thus the Chief no Terror to my view No frightful Face of Danger can be new To S r Fleetwood Sheppard Knight Gent Vsher of
defensive fight They rowl down Ribs of Rocks an unresisted Weight To break the Penthouse with the pond'rous Blow Which yet the patient Volscians undergo But cou'd not bear th' unequal Combat long For where the Trojans find the thickest Throng The Ruin falls Their shatter'd Shields give way And their crush'd Heads become an easie Prey They shrink for Fear abated of their Rage Nor longer dare in a blind Fight engage Contented now to gaul them from below With Darts and Slings and with the distant Bow Elsewhere Mezentius terrible to view A blazing Pine within the Trenches threw But brave Messapus Neptune's warlike Son Broke down the Palisades the Trenches Won And loud for Ladders calls to scale the Town Calliope begin Ye sacred Nine Inspire your Poet in his high Design To sing what Slaughter manly Turnus made What Souls he sent below the Stygian Shade What Fame the Souldiers with their Captain share And the vast Circuit of the fatal War For you in singing Martial Facts excel You best remember and alone can tell There stood a Tow'r amazing to the sight Built up of Beams and of stupendous height Art and the nature of the Place conspir'd To furnish all the Strength that War requir'd To level this the bold Italians join The wary Trojans obviate their design With weighty Stones o'rewhelm their Troops below Shoot through the Loopholes and sharp Jav'lins throw Turnus the Chief toss'd from his thund'ring Hand Against the wooden Walls a flaming Brand It stuck the fiery Plague The Winds were high The Planks were season'd and the Timber dry Contagion caught the Posts It spread along Scorch'd and to distance drove the scatter'd Throng The Trojans fled the Fire pursu'd amain Still gath'ring fast upon the trembling Train Till crowding to the Corners of the Wall Down the Defence and the Defenders fall The mighty flaw makes Heav'n it self resound The Dead and dying Trojans strew the Ground The Tow'r that follow'd on the fallen Crew Whelm'd o're their Heads and bury'd whom it slew Some stuck upon the Darts themselves had sent All the same equal Ruin underwent Young Lycus and Helenor only scape Sav'd how they know not from the steepy Leap Helenor elder of the two by Birth On one side Royal one a Son of Earth Whom to the Lydian King Lycimnia bare And sent her boasted Bastard to the War A Priviledge which none but Free-men share Slight were his Arms a Sword and Silver Shield No Marks of Honour charg'd its empty Field Light as he fell so light the Youth arose And rising found himself amidst his Foes Nor flight was left nor hopes to force his Way Embolden'd by Despair he stood at Bay And like a Stag whom all the Troop surrounds Of eager Huntsmen and invading Hounds Resolv'd on Death he dissipates his Fears And bounds aloft against the pointed Spears So dares the Youth secure of Death and throws His dying Body on his thickest Foes But Lycus swifter of his Feet by far Runs doubles winds and turns amidst the War Springs to the Walls and leaves his Foes behind And snatches at the Beam he first can find Looks up and leaps aloft at all the stretch In hopes the helping Hand of some kind Friend to reach But Turnus follow'd hard his hunted Prey His Spear had almost reach'd him in the way Short of his Reins and scarce a Span behind Fool said the Chief tho' fleeter than the Wind Coud'st thou presume to scape when I pursue He said and downward by the Feet he drew The trembling Dastard at the Tug he falls Vast Ruins come along rent from the smoking Walls Thus on some silver Swan or tim'rous Hare Jove's Bird comes sowsing down from upper Air Her crooked Tallons truss the fearful Prey Then out of sight she soars and wings her way So seizes the grim Wolf the tender Lamb In vain lamented by the bleating Dam. Then rushing onward with a barbr'ous cry The Troops of Turnus to the Combat fly The Ditch with Faggots fill'd the daring Foe Toss'd Firebrands to the steepy Turrets throw Ilioneus as bold Lucetius came To force the Gate and feed the kindling Flame Rowl'd down the Fragment of a Rock so right It crush'd him double underneath the weight Two more young Liger and Asylas slew To bend the Bow young Liger better knew Asylas best the pointed Jav'lin threw Brave Caeneus laid Ortygius on the Plain The Victor Caeneus was by Turnus slain By the same Hand Clonius and Itys fall Sagar and Ida standing on the Wall From Capys Arms his Fate Privernus found Hurt by Themilla first but slight the Wound His Shield thrown by to mitigate the smart He clap'd his Hand upon the wounded part The second Shaft came swift and unespy'd And pierc'd his Hand and nail'd it to his side Transfix'd his breathing Lungs and beating heart The Soul came issuing out and hiss'd against the Dart. The Son of Arcens shone amid the rest In glitt'ring Armour and a Purple Vest Fair was his Face his Eyes inspiring Love Bred by his Father in the Martian Grove Where the fat Altars of Palicus flame And sent in Arms to purchase early Fame Him when he spy'd from far the Thuscan King Laid by the Lance and took him to the Sling Thrice whirl'd the Thong around his head and threw The heated Lead half melted as it flew It pierc'd his hollow Temples and his Brain The Youth came tumbling down and spurn'd the Plain Then Young Ascanius who before this day Was wont in Woods to shoot the salvage Prey First bent in Martial Strife the twanging Bow And exercis'd against a Humane Foe With this bereft Numanus of his life Who Turnus younger Sister took to Wife Proud of his Realm and of his Royal Bride Vaunting before his Troops and lengthen'd with a Stride In these Insulting terms the Trojans he defy'd Twice Conquer'd Cowards now your shame is shown Coop'd up a second time within your Town Who dare not issue forth in open Field But hold your Walls before you for a Shield Thus threat you War thus our Alliance force What Gods what madness hether steer'd your Course You shall not find the Sons of Atreus here Nor need the Frauds of sly Ulysses fear Strong from the Cradle of a sturdy Brood We bear our new-born Infants to the Flood There bath'd amid the Stream our Boys we hold With Winter harden'd and inur'd to Cold. They wake before the Day to range the Wood Kill e're they eat nor tast unconquer'd Food No Sports but what belong to War they know To break the stubborn Colt to bend the Bow Our youth of Labour patient earn their Bread Hardly they work with frugal Diet fed From Ploughs and Harrows sent to seek Renown They fight in Fields and storm the shaken Town No part of Life from Toils of War is free No change in Age or diff'rence in Degree We plow and till in Arms our Oxen feel Instead of Goads the Spur and pointed Steel Th' inverted Lance
falling Corps were strowd When once his Fauchion found the Taste of Blood With Fury scarce to be conceiv'd he flew Against Niphaeus whom four Coursers drew They when they see the fiery Chief advance And pushing at their Chests his pointed Lance Wheel'd with so swift a Motion mad with Fear They threw their Master headlong from the Chair They stare they start nor stop their Course before They bear the bounding Chariot to the Shore Now Lucagus and Liger scour the Plains With two white Steeds but Liger holds the Reins And Lucagus the lofty Seat maintains Bold Brethren both the former wav'd in Air His flaming Sword Aeneas couch'd his Spear Unus'd to Threats and more unus'd to Fear Then Liger thus Thy Confidence is vain To scape from hence as from the Trojan Plain Nor these the Steeds which Diomede bestrode Nor this the Chariot where Achilles rode Nor Venus's Veil is here nor Neptune's Shield Thy fatal Hour is come and this the Field Thus Liger vainly vaunts The Trojan Peer Return'd his answer with his flying Spear As Lucagus to lash his Horses bends Prone to the Wheels and his left Foot protends Prepar'd for Fight the fatal Dart arrives And thro' the borders of his Buckler drives Pass'd through and pierc'd his Groin the deadly Wound Cast from his Chariot rowl'd him on the Ground Whom thus the Chief upbraids with scornful spight Blame not the slowness of your Steeds in flight Vain Shadows did not force their swift Retreat But you your self forsake your empty Seat He said and seiz'd at once the loosen'd Rein For Liger lay already on the Plain By the same Shock then stretching out his Hands The Recreant thus his wretched Life demands Now by thy self O more than Mortal Man By her and him from whom thy Breath began Who form'd thee thus Divine I beg thee spare This forfeit Life and hear thy Suppliant's Pray'r Thus much he spoke and more he wou'd have said But the stern Heroe turn'd aside his Head And cut him short I hear another Man You talk'd not thus before the Fight began Now take your turn And as a Brother shou'd Attend your Brother to the Stygian Flood Then thro' his Breast his fatal Sword he sent And the Soul issu'd at the bloody Vent As Storms the Skies and Torrents tear the Ground Thus rag'd the Prince and scatter'd Deaths around At length Ascanius and the Trojan Train Broke from the Camp so long besieg'd in vain Mean time the King of Gods and Mortal Man Held Conference with his Queen and thus began My Sister Goddess and well pleasing Wife Still think you Venus's Aid supports the Strife Sustains her Trojans Or themselves alone With inborn Valour force their Fortune on How fierce in Fight with Courage undecay'd Judge if such Warriors want immortal Aid To whom the Goddess with the charming Eyes Soft in her Tone submissively replies Why O my loving Lord whose Frown I fear And cannot unconcern'd your Anger bear Why urge you thus my Grief When if I still As once I was were Mistress of your Will From your Almighty Pow'r your pleasing Wife Might gain the Grace of lengthning Turnus's Life Securely snatch him from the fatal Fight And give him to his aged Father's sight Now let him perish since you hold it good And glut the Trojans with his pious Blood Yet from our Lineage he derives his Name And in the fourth degree from God Pilumnus came Yet he devoutly pays you Rites Divine And offers daily Incense at your Shrine Then shortly thus the Sov'raign God reply'd Since in my Pow'r and Goodness you confide If for a little Space a lengthen'd Span You beg Reprieve for this expiring Man I grant you leave to take your Turnus hence From Instant Fate and can so far dispense But if some secret Meaning lies beneath To save the short-liv'd Youth from destin'd Death Or if a farther Thought you entertain To change the Fates you feed your hopes in vain To whom the Goddess thus with weeping Eyes And what if that Request your Tongue denies Your Heart shou'd grant and not a short Reprieve But length of certain Life to Turnus give Now speedy Death attends the guiltless Youth If my presaging Soul divines with Truth Which O! I wish might err thro' causeless Fears And you for you have Pow'r prolong his Years Thus having said involv'd in Clouds she flies And drives a Storm before her thro' the Skies Swift she descends alighting on the Plain Where the fierce Foes a dubious Fight maintain Of Air condens'd a Spectre soon she made And what Aeneas was such seem'd the Shade Adorn'd with Dardan Arms the Phantom bore His Head aloft a Plumy Crest he wore This Hand appear'd a shining Sword to wield And that sustain'd an imitated Shield With manly Meen He stalk'd along the Ground Nor wanted Voice bely'd nor vaunting Sound Thus haunting Ghosts appear to waking Sight Or dreadful Visions in our Dreams by Night The Spectre seems the Daunian Chief to dare And flourishes his empty Sword in Air At this advancing Turnus hurl'd his Spear The Phantom wheel'd and seem'd to fly for Fear Deluded Turnus thought the Trojan fled And with vain hopes his haughty Fancy fed Whether O Coward thus he calls aloud Nor found he spoke to Wind and chas'd a Cloud Why thus forsake your Bride Receive from me The fated Land you sought so long by Sea He said and brandishing at once his Blade With eager Pace pursu'd the flying Shade By chance a Ship was fasten'd to the Shore Which from old Clusium King Osinius bore The Planks were ready laid for safe ascent For shelter there the trembling Shadow bent And skip'd and sculk'd and under Hatches went Exulting Turnus with regardless haste Ascends the Plank and to the Gally pass'd Scarce had he reach'd the Prow Saturnia's Hand The Haulsers cuts and shoots the Ship from Land With Wind in Poop the Vessel plows the Sea And measures back with speed her former Way Mean time Aeneas seeks his absent Foe And sends his slaughter'd Troops to Shades below The guileful Phantom now forsook the shrowd And flew sublime and vanish'd in a Cloud Too late young Turnus the Delusion found Far on the Sea still making from the Ground Then thankless for a Life redeem'd by Shame With sense of Honour stung and forfeit Fame Fearful besides of what in Fight had pass'd His Hands and hagger'd Eyes to Heav'n he cast O Jove he cry'd for what Offence have I Deserv'd to bear this endless Infamy Whence am I forc'd and whether am I born How and with what Reproach shall I return Shall ever I behold the Latian Plain Or see Laurentum's lofty Tow'rs again What will they say of their deserting Chief The War was mine I fly from their Relief I led to Slaughter and in Slaughter leave And ev'n from hence their dying Groans receive Here over-match'd in Fight in heaps they lye There scatter'd o're the Fields ignobly fly Gape wide O Earth and draw
went Of solid Brass of Linnen trebly rowl'd And three Bull-hides which round the Buckler rowl'd All these it pass'd resistless in the Course Transpierc'd his Thigh and spent its dying Force The gaping Wound gush'd out a Crimson Flood The Trojan glad with sight of hostile Blood His Fauchion drew to closer Fight address'd And with new Force his fainting Foe oppress'd His Father's Peril Lausus view'd with Grief He sigh'd he wept he ran to his Relief And here Heroick Youth 't is here I must To thy immortal Memory be just And sing an Act so noble and so new Posterity will scarce believe 't is true Pain'd with his Wound and useless for the Fight The Father sought to save himself by Flight Incumber'd slow he drag'd the Spear along Which pierc'd his thigh and in his Buckler hung The pious Youth resolv'd on Death below The lifted Sword springs forth to face the Foe Protects his Parent and prevents the Blow Shouts of Applause ran ringing thro' the Field To see the Son the vanquish'd Father shield All fir'd with gen'rous Indignation strive And with a storm of Darts to distance drive The Trojan Chief who held at Bay from far On his Vulcanian Orb sustain'd the War As when thick Hail comes ratling in the Wind The Plowman Passenger and lab'ring Hind For shelter to the neighb'ring Covert fly Or hous'd or safe in hollow Caverns lye But that o'reblown when Heav'n above 'em smiles Return to Travel and renew their Toils Aeneas thus o'rewhelm'd on ev'ry side The storm of Darts undaunted did abide And thus to Lausus loud with friendly threat'ning cry'd Why wilt thou rush to certain Death and Rage In rash Attempts beyond thy tender Age Betray'd by pious Love Nor thus forborn The Youth desists but with insulting Scorn Provokes the ling'ring Prince Whose Patience tyr'd Gave Place and all his Breast with Fury fir'd For now the Fates prepar'd their cruel Sheers And lifted high the flaming Sword appears Which full descending with a frightful sway Thro Shield and Corslet forc'd th' impetuous Way And bury'd deep in his fair Bosom lay The purple Streams thro' the thin Armour strove And drench'd th' imbroider'd Coat his Mother wove And Life at length forsook his heaving Heart Loath from so sweet a Mansion to depart But when with Blood and Paleness all o'respread The pious Prince beheld young Lausus dead He griev'd he wept the sight an Image brought Of his own filial Love a sadly pleasing Thought Then stretch'd his Hand to hold him up and said Poor hapless Youth what Praises can be paid To Love so great to such transcendent Store Of early Worth and sure Presage of more Accept what e're Aeneas can afford Untouch'd thy Arms untaken be thy Sword And all that pleas'd thee living still remain Inviolate and sacred to the slain Thy Body on thy Parents I bestow To rest thy Soul at least if Shadows know Or have a sense of human Things below There to thy fellow Ghosts with Glory tell 'T was by the great Aeneas hand I fell With this his distant Friends he beckons near Provokes their Duty and prevents their Fear Himself assists to lift him from the Ground With clotted Locks and Blood that well'd from out the Wound Mean time his Father now no Father stood And wash'd his Wounds by Tyber's yellow Flood Oppress'd with Anguish panting and o'respent His fainting Limbs against an Oak he leant A Bough his Brazen Helmet did sustain His heavier Arms lay scatter'd on the Plain A chosen Train of Youth around him stand His drooping Head was rested on his hand His grisly Beard his pensive Bosom sought And all on Lausus ran his restless thought Careful concern'd his Danger to prevent He much enquir'd and many a Message sent To warn him from the Field Alas in vain Behold his mournful Followers bear him slain O're his broad Shield still gush'd the yawning Wound And drew a bloody Trail along the Ground Far off he heard their Cries far off divin'd The dire Event with a foreboding Mind With Dust he sprinkled first his hoary Head Then both his lifted hands to Heav'n he spread Last the dear Corps embracing thus he said What Joys alas cou'd this frail Being give That I have been so covetous to live To see my Son and such a Son resign His Life a Ransom for preserving mine And am I then preserv'd and art thou lost How much too dear has that Redemption cost 'T is now my bitter Banishment I feel This is a Wound too deep for time to heal My Guilt thy growing Virtues did defame My Blackness blotted thy unblemish'd Name Chas'd from a Throne abandon'd and exil'd For foul Misdeeds were Punishments too mild I ow'd my People these and from their hate With less Resentment cou'd have born my Fate And yet I live and yet sustain the sight Of hated Men and of more hated Light But will not long With that he rais'd from Ground His fainting Limbs that stagger'd with his Wound Yet with a Mind resolv'd and unappal'd With Pains or Perils for his Courser call'd Well mouth'd well manag'd whom himself did dress With daily Care and mounted with Success His Aid in Arms his Ornament in Peace Soothing his Courage with a gentle Stroke The Steed seem'd sensible while thus he spoke O Rhaebus we have liv'd too long for me If Life and long were Terms that cou'd agree This Day thou either shalt bring back the Head And bloody Trophees of the Trojan dead This Day thou either shalt revenge my Woe For murther'd Lausus on his cruel Foe Or if inexorable Fate deny Our Conquest with thy conquer'd Master dye For after such a Lord I rest secure Thou wilt no foreign Reins or Trojan Load endure He said And straight th' officious Courser kneels To take his wonted Weight His Hands he fills With pointed Jav'lins On his Head he lac'd His glitt'ring Helm which terribly was grac'd With waving Horse-hair nodding from afar Then spurr'd his thund'ring Steed amidst the War Love Anguish Wrath and Grief to Madness wrought Despair and secret Shame and conscious thought Of inborn Worth his lab'ring Soul oppress'd Rowl'd in his Eyes and rag'd within his Breast Then loud he call'd Aeneas thrice by Name The loud repeated Voice to glad Aeneas came Great Jove he said and the far-shooting God Inspire thy Mind to make thy Challenge good He spoke no more but hasten'd void of Fear And threaten'd with his long protended Spear To whom Mezentius thus Thy Vaunts are vain My Lausus lies extended on the Plain He 's lost thy Conquest is already won The wretched Sire is murther'd in the Son Nor Fate I fear but all the Gods defy Forbear thy Threats my Bus'ness is to dye But first receive this parting Legacy He said And straight a whirling Dart he sent Another after and another went Round in a spacious Ring he rides the Field And vainly plies th' impenetrable Shield Thrice rode he round and thrice Aeneas wheel'd Turn'd
as he turn'd the Golden Orb withstood The Strokes and bore about an Iron Wood. Impatient of Delay and weary grown Still to defend and to defend alone To wrench the Darts which in his Buckler light Urg'd and o're-labour'd in unequal Fight At length resolv'd he throws with all his Force Full at the Temples of the Warrior Horse Just where the Stroke was aim'd th' unerring Spear Made way and stood transfix'd thro' either Ear. Seiz'd with unwonted Pain surpriz'd with Fright The wounded Steed curvets and rais'd upright Lights on his Feet before His Hoofs behind Spring up in Air aloft and lash the Wind. Down comes the Rider headlong from his height His Horse came after with unweildy weight And flound'ring forward pitching on his Head His Lord 's incumber'd Sholuder overlaid From either Hoast the mingl'd Shouts and Cries Of Trojans and Rutulians rend the Skies Aeneas hast'ning wav'd his fatal Sword High o're his head with this reproachful Word Now where are now thy Vaunts the fierce Disdain Of proud Mezentius and the lofty Strain Strugling and wildly staring on the Skies With scarce recover'd Sight he thus replies Why these insulting Words this waste of Breath To Souls undaunted and secure of Death 'T is no Dishonour for the Brave to dye Nor came I here with hope of Victory Nor ask I Life nor fought with that design As I had us'd my Fortune use thou thine My dying Son contracted no such Band The Gift is hateful from his Murd'rer's hand To Tho Hopkins of y e Middle Temple Esq. For this this only Favour let me sue If Pity can to conquer'd Foes be due Refuse it not But let my Body have The last Retreat of Human Kind a Grave Too well I know th' insulting People's Hate Protect me from their Vengeance after Fate This Refuge for my poor Remains provide And lay my much lov'd Lausus by my side He said and to his Throat the Sword apply'd The Crimson Stream distain'd his Arms around And the disdainful Soul came rushing thro' the Wound The Eleventh Book of the Aeneis The Argument Aeneas erects a Trophy of the Spoils of Mezentius grants a Truce for burying the dead and sends home the Body of Pallas with great Solemnity Latinus calls a Council to propose offers of Peace to Aeneas which occasions great Animosity betwixt Turnus and Drances In the mean time there is a sharp Engagement of the Horse wherein Camilla signalizes her self is kill'd And the Latine Troops are entirely defeated SCarce had the rosie Morning rais'd her Head Above the Waves and left her wat'ry Bed The Pious Chief whom double Cares attend For his unbury'd Souldiers and his Friend Yet first to Heav'n perform'd a Victor's Vows He bar'd an ancient Oak of all her Boughs Then on a rising Ground the Trunk he plac'd Which with the Spoils of his dead Foe he grac'd The Coat of Arms by proud Mezentius worn Now on a naked Snag in Triumph born Was hung on high and glitter'd from afar A Trophy sacred to the God of War Above his Arms fix'd on the leafless Wood Appear'd his Plumy Crest distilling Blood His brazen Buckler on the left was seen Trunchions of shiver'd Lances hung between And on the right was plac'd his Corslet bor'd And to the Neck was ty'd his unavailing Sword A Crowd of Chiefs inclose the Godlike Man Who thus conspicuous in the midst began Our Toils my Friends are crown'd with sure Success The greater Part perform'd atchieve the less To y e Right Noble Charles Duke of Shrensbury Marquis of Alton Earle of Shrensbury Wexford Water-ford Baron Talbot Strange of Blackmere Gifford of Brimsfield ct One of the Lords of his Ma. ties most Hon. ble Privy Councill Principall Secretary of State and Knight of y e most Noble Order of the Garter AE 11. l. 1. Now follow chearful to the trembling Town Press but an Entrance and presume it won Fear is no more For fierce Mezentius lies As the first Fruits of War a Sacrifice Turnus shall fall extended on the Plain And in this Omen is already slain Prepar'd in Arms pursue your happy Chance That none unwarn'd may plead his Ignorance And I at Heav'n's appointed Hour may find Your warlike Ensigns waving in the Wind. Mean time the Rites and Fun'ral Pomps prepare Due to your dead Companions of the War The last Respect the living can bestow To shield their Shadows from Contempt below That conquer'd Earth be theirs for which they fought And which for us with their own blood they bought But first the Corps of our unhappy Friend To the sad City of Evander send Who not inglorious in his Ages bloom Was hurry'd hence by too severe a Doom Thus weeping while he spoke he took his Way Where new in Death lamented Pallas lay Acaetes watch'd the Corps whose Youth deserv'd The Father's Trust and now the Son he serv'd With equal Faith but less auspicious Care Th' Attendants of the slain his Sorrow share A Troop of Trojans mix'd with these appear And mourning Matrons with dishevell'd Hair Soon as the Prince appears they raise a Cry All beat their Breasts and Echoes rend the Sky They rear his drooping Forehead from the Ground But when Aeneas view'd the grisly Wound Which Pallas in his Manly Bosom bore And the fair Flesh distain'd with Purple Gore First melting into Tears the pious Man Deplor'd so sad a sight then thus began Unhappy Youth When Fortune gave the rest Of my full Wishes she refus'd the best She came but brought not thee along to bless My longing Eyes and share in my Success She grudg'd thy safe Return the Triumphs due To prosp'rous Valour in the publick View Not thus I promis'd when thy Father lent Thy needful Succour with a sad Consent Embrac'd me parting for th' Etrurian Land And sent me to possess a large Command He warn'd and from his own Experience told Our Foes were warlike disciplin'd and bold And now perhaps in hopes of thy return Rich Odours on his loaded Altars burn While we with vain officious Pomp prepare To send him back his Portion of the War A bloody breathless Body which can owe No farther Debt but to the Pow'rs below The wretched Father e're his Race is run Shall view the Fun'ral Honours of his Son These are my Triumphs of the Latian War Fruits of my plighted Faith and boasted Care And yet unhappy Sire thou shalt not see A Son whose Death disgrac'd his Ancestry Thou shalt not blush old Man however griev'd Thy Pallas no dishonest Wound receiv'd He dy'd no Death to make thee wish too late Thou hadst not liv'd to see his shameful Fate But what a Champion has th' Ausonian Coast And what a Friend hast thou Ascanius lost Thus having mourn'd he gave the Word around To raise the lifeless Body from the Ground And chose a thousand Horse the flow'r of all His warlike Troops to wait the Funeral To bear him back and share Evander's Grief A well becoming but a
before the Town both Armies lye While Night with sable Wings o'respreads the Sky The Twelfth Book of the Aeneis The Argument Turnus challenges Aeneas to a single Combat Articles are agreed on but broken by the Rutili who wound Aeneas He is miraculously cur'd by Venus forces Turnus to a Duel and concludes the Poem with his Death WHen Turnus saw the Latins leave the Field Their Armies broken and their Courage quell'd Himself become the Mark of publick Spight His Honour question'd for the promis'd Fight The more he was with Vulgar hate oppress'd The more his Fury boil'd within his Breast He rowz'd his Vigour for the last Debate And rais'd his haughty Soul to meet his Fate As when the Swains the Lybian Lion chase He makes a sour Retreat nor mends his Pace But if the pointed Jav'lin pierce his Side The lordly Beast returns with double Pride He wrenches out the Steel he roars for Pain His sides he lashes and erects his Mane So Turnus fares his Eye-balls flash with Fire And his wide Nostrils Clouds of Smoke expire Trembling with Rage around the Court he ran At length approach'd the King and thus began No more excuses or Delays I stand In Arms prepar'd to Combat hand to hand This base Deserter of his Native Land The Trojan by his Word is bound to take The same Conditions which himself did make To y e Right Hon ble Phillip Lord Stanhope Earle of Chesterfield Baron of Shelford in the Kingdom of England AE 12. l. 1. Renew the Truce the solemn Rites prepare And to my single Virtue trust the War The Latians unconcern'd shall see the Fight This Arm unaided shall assert your Right Then if my prostrate Body press the Plain To him the Crown and beauteous Bride remain To whom the King sedately thus reply'd Brave Youth the more your Valour has been try'd The more becomes it us with due Respect To weigh the chance of War which you neglect You want not Wealth or a successive Throne Or Cities which your Arms have made your own My Towns and Treasures are at your Command And stor'd with blooming Beauties is my Land Laurentum more than one Lavinia sees Unmarry'd fair of Noble Families Now let me speak and you with Patience hear Things which perhaps may grate a Lover's Ear But sound Advice proceeding from a heart Sincerely yours and free from fraudful Art The Gods by Signs have manifestly shown No Prince Italian born shou'd heir my Throne Oft have our Augurs in Prediction skill'd And oft our Priests a Foreign Son reveal'd Yet won by Worth that cannot be withstood Brib'd by my Kindness to my kindred Blood Urg'd by my Wife who wou'd not be deny'd I promis'd my Lavinia for your Bride Her from her plighted Lord by force I took All tyes of Treaties and of Honour broke On your Account I wag'd an impious War With what Success 't is needless to declare I and my Subjects feel and you have had your Share Twice vanquish'd while in bloody Fields we strive Scarce in our Walls we keep our Hopes alive The rowling Flood runs warm with human Gore The Bones of Latians blanch the neighb'ring Shore Why put I not an end to this Debate Still unresolv'd and still a Slave to Fate If Turnus's Death a lasting Peace can give Why shou'd I not procure it while you live Shou'd I to doubtful Arms your Youth betray What wou'd my Kinsmen the Rutulians say And shou'd you fall in Fight which Heav'n defend How curse the Cause which hasten'd to his end The Daughter's Lover and the Father's Friend Weigh in your Mind the various Chance of War Pity your Parent 's Age and ease his Care Such balmy Words he pour'd but all in vain The proffer'd Med'cine but provok'd the Pain The wrathful Youth disdaining the Relief With intermitting Sobs thus vents his Grief The care O best of Fathers which you take For my Concerns at my Desire forsake Permit me not to languish out my Days But make the best exchange of Life for Praise This Arm this Lance can well dispute the Prize And the Blood follows where the Weapon flies His Goddess Mother is not near to shrowd The flying Coward with an empty Cloud But now the Queen who fear'd for Turnus Life And loath'd the hard Conditions of the Strife Held him by Force and dying in his Death In these sad Accents gave her Sorrow breath O Turnus I adjure thee by these Tears And what e're price Amata's Honour bears Within thy Breast since thou art all my hope My sickly Mind's repose my sinking Age's Prop Since on the safety of thy Life alone Depends Latinus and the Latian Throne Refuse me not this one this only Pray'r To wave the Combat and pursue the War Whatever chance attends this fatal Strife Think it includes in thine Amata's Life I cannot live a Slave or see my Throne Usurp'd by Strangers or a Trojan Son At this a Flood of Tears Lavinia shed A crimson Blush her beauteous Face o'respread Varying her Cheeks by Turns with white and red The driving Colours never at a stay Run here and there and flush and fade away Delightful change Thus Indian Iv'ry shows Which with the bord'ring Paint of Purple glows Or Lillies damask'd by the neighb'ring Rose The Lover gaz'd and burning with desire The more he look'd the more he fed the Fire Revenge and jealous Rage and secret Spight Rowl in his Breast and rowze him to the Fight Then fixing on the Queen his ardent Eyes Firm to his first intent he thus replies O Mother do not by your Tears prepare Such boding Omens and prejudge the War Resolv'd on Fight I am no longer free To shun my Death if Heav'n my Death decree Then turning to the Herald thus pursues Go greet the Trojan with ungrateful News Denounce from me that when to Morrow's Light Shall guild the Heav'ns he need not urge the Fight The Trojan and Rutulian Troops no more Shall dye with mutual Blood the Latian Shore Our single Swords the Quarrel shall decide And to the Victor be the beauteous Bride He said and striding on with speedy Pace He sought his Coursers of the Thracian Race At his Approach they toss their Heads on high And proudly neighing promise Victory The Sires of these Orythia sent from far To grace Pilumnus when he went to War The drifts of Thracian Snows were scarce so white Nor Northern Winds in fleetness match'd their Flight Officious Grooms stand ready by his Side And some with Combs their flowing Manes divide And others stroke their Chests and gently sooth their Pride He sheath'd his Limbs in Arms a temper'd Mass Of golden Metal those and Mountain Brass Then to his Head his glitt'ring Helm he ty'd And girt his faithful Fauchion to his side In his Aetnean Forge the God of Fire That Fauchion labour'd sor the Hero's Sire Immortal Keenness on the Blade bestow'd And plung'd it hissing in the Stygian Flood Prop'd on a Pillar which the Ceiling