leave and the Moon 's paler light Shines out declining Stars soft sleeps invite Whilst she alone her sorrows entertains And flung on his forsaken bed remains Thinks still she hears him speak and in despight Of absence alwaies fancies him in sight Or in her arms his son and likenesse takes To try if Love could lessen by mistakes Now the late-rising Towers neglected stand The youth and fortresses alike unman'd All great beginnings interrupted lye And walls before which promis'd to be high When Iuno saw her languish in a flame Whose fury shrunk not at opposing fame Venus with haste she finds and thus then saies You and your Boy will purchase glorious praise And spoils as ample as your powers when fame Shall tell Two gods one woman overcame Nor am I blinded so but it appears The walls of rising Carthage cause your fears But why these quarrells rather let them cease In Hymen's bonds wrapt in eternal peace Your wishes all are crown'd in Dido's flames Which fill instead of bloud her burning veins With equall power and kindnesse let us sway These severall Nations let her too obey A Phrygian Lord and unto thy desire Submit the Tyrians and the wealth of Tyre To her for the perceiv'd a crafty mind Sent all these words by which she had design'd To Lybian shores th' Italian crown to joyne Venus replies Who is it will decline What you propose or is so void of sense To chuse to have with you a difference If the fates yield to your propos'd intents But varying fates I fear if Iove consents That Troy and Carthage should as one be joyn'd The mingled Nations too by leagues combind You that enjoy his breast 't is just that you Attempt his mind I 'le second what you do The Queen of Heaven then replies That toil And labour shall be mine A little while I aske you now to hear whilst I lay down The means which our designes at last may crown Aeneas with the wretched Queen prepares In woods and hunting to divert their cares When the next rising Sun gives day a birth And with his raies shews the unvailed earth Upon the Hunters whilst the game 's pursu'd A storm sweld big with hail in blacknesse brew'd Its fury shall discharge at the same time The Heavens to the storm shall Thunder joyn Th' affrighted Hunters all shall take their flight Confus'd in darknesse as if lost in night The Prince and Queen shall flye for shelter too Into one Cave if we receive from you Your promis'd aid there Hymen being by Wee 'l make her thy perpetuall Votary Fair Cytherea finding her designes Smiles and in shew to what she ask't inclines In the mean time the Sun the briny streams Of Neptune leav's the youth rise with his beams And forth the toyl's and well-nos'd hounds are brought With spears whose tops were round with Iron wrought Next marching forth Massylian troops are seen The Punick Princes all expect their Queen Who slower than the rest forsakes her bed Whilst her proud horse stands richly furnished In purple on which Gold in windings flow's Champing his bitt in foam his mettall show's At length attended by a noble train Clad in a rich Sydonian robe she came Her quiver gold her hair too weaved lies In gold and gold her purple garments ties The Phrygians next advance and before these Ascanius came whom youthfull hopes did please Of promis'd sport with these Aeneas joyns And all the troop in charming looks out-shines As when cold Lycia and where Xanthus flowes Apollo leav's his visits now bestowes Upon his native Delos where again The Driopes and Cretans fill his train With Agathyrsians whom strange colours dye And in wild motions round the Altars flye VVhilst he upon the top of Cynthus goes His flowing hair soft laurell-wreaths inclose Through which the weaved gold its lustre flung And at his back his ratling Quiver hung Nor did Aeneas looks admit an odds But with his lustre equalled the gods VVhen new these troops unto the hills arrive And beat the unfrequented shades they drive VVild goats from their high holds and wing'd with fear On t'other side rush down vast heards of Deer But young Ascanius in the vales employes Himselfe and in his horse's fiercenesse joyes Now vies with these now others leaves behind And wanting beasts to chase wishes to find A chafing Boar o're-spread with rage and foam Or from the hills to see a Lion come Whilâ—t thus he wish't lowd murmurs fill the skie Follow'd by storms of hail the hunters flie For severall shelters whilst amazed sight From mountains tops sees Rivers take their flight The Queen and Trojan Prince seeking to save Themselves from storms meet in one fatall cave The earth first shook and Iuno gave the signe And at such rites ungentle flashes shine While through the conscious aire the Marriage-song VVas howls of Nymphs which from the mountains rung This day first usher'd death and from this day Misfortunes took their birth nor did she weigh Her present act or think of future fame Nor could this amorous theft beget a shame She cal'd it marriage with a fond designe Believing in the name to hide the crime But quickly now that slighted fame took wings And all the newes through Lybian Cities flings Unto ill fame compar'd swift things are sloath For as it flies it gathers strength and growth Fear keeps it low at first but free from dread Quickly in clouds hides its aspiring head To Câ—us and Enceladus the earth Brooded on by the rage of gods gave birth Unto this sister last than winds more fleet Swift in her wings and not lâ—sse swift in feet A horrid and strange monster as she flyes Under her feathers hides an hundred eyes As many mouths nor furnisht lesse with ears As many tongues to tell the tales she hears When night has spread her shades through heaven she flies Nor has soft sleep the power to close her eyes By day where poor and great men live she sits And with her tales gives Citties shaking fits The false and true alike to people brings With equall joy things done and undone sings Of Troy's great Prince she quickly did report How entertaind in Dido's breast and court Unmindfull of their Crowns ruld now by lust The winter spent in passions too unjust Among the rest to whom she spread this Fame It quickly unto King Hiarbas came The storie rais'd his furie who was son To Iove from ravisht Garamantis sprung An hundred Temples he to Iove had rais'd As many shrines where constant fires still blaz'd The Gods perpetuall watch th'enriched ground With blood th'entrances with garlands crown'd The bitter news rage and distraction brings To fill his breast who in his furie flings Before the Altars of the gods and there With raised hands sends this disputing pray'r Great Iove to whom on beds that richly shine We Moors indulge our feasts with sparkling wine Seest thou these things or shall we free from fright See the dark air with sudden
neglect but preserv'd by an indifferency that destroys not my civilitie to others nor my own content dâ—siring not to engrosse but share satisfaction If in any thing I justly need or designe to ask pardon 't is for Errors that probably the Reader may meet with having been reduc'd to the strait of neglecting this or businesse I confesse my Interest prevail'd with me though not wholly to neglect the Reader since I prevail'd with a worthy Friend to take so much view of my blotted Copies as to free me from grosse Errors Having thus set down all my designe and reasons I leave the Reader with as little Concern to use his as I have shewed him mine To my Honored Friend S r ROBERT HOWARD On his Excellent Poems AS there is Musick uninform'd by Art In those wild Notes which with a merry heart The Birds in unfrequented shades expresse Who better taught at home yet please us lesse So in your Verse a native sweetnesse dwells Which shames Composure and its Art excells Singing no more can your soft numbers grace Then Paint adds charms unto a beauteous Face Yet as when mighty Rivers gently creep Their even calmnesse does suppose them deep Such is your Muse no Metaphor swell'd high With dangerous boldnesse lifts her to the sky Those mounting Fancies when they fall again Shew sand and dirt at bottom do remain So firm a strength and yet with all so sweet Did never but in Samâ—son's Riddle meet 'T is strange each line so great a weight should bear And yet no signe of toil no sweat appear Either your Art hides Art as Stoicks feign Then least to feel when most they suffer pain And we dull souls admire but cannot see What hidden springs within the Engine be Or 't is some happinesse that still pursues Each act and motion of your gracefull muse Or is it Fortune's work that in your head The curious Net that is for fancies spread Let 's through its Meshes every meaner thought While rich Idea's there are onely caught Sure that 's not all this is a piece too fair To be the child of Chance and not of Care No Atoms casually together hurl'd Could e're produce so beautifull a world Nor dare I such a doctrine here admit As would destroy the providence of wit 'T is your sâ—rong Genius then which does not feel Those weights would make a weaker spirit reel To carry weight and run so lightly too Is what alone your Pegasus can do Great Hercules himself could ne're do more Than not to feel those Heav'ns and gods he bore Your easier Odes which for delight were penn'd Yet our instruction make their sâ—cond end We 're both enrich'd and pleas'd like them that woo At once a Beauty and a Fortune too Of Morall Knowledge Poesie was Queen And still she might had wanton wits not been VVho like ill Guardians liv'd themselves at large And not content with that debauch'd their charge Like some brave Captain your successfull Pen Restores the Exil'd to her Crown again And gives us hope that having seen the days VVhen nothing flourish'd but Fanatique Bays All will at length in this opinion rest A sober Prince's Government is best This is not all your Art the way has found To make improvement of the richest ground That soi which those immortall Lawrells bore That once the sacred Maro's temples wore Elisa's griefs are so exprest by you They are too eloquent to have been true Had she so spoke Aenâ—as had obey'd VVhat Dido rather then what Jove had said If funerall Rites can give a Ghost repose Your Muse so just'y has discharged those Elisa's shade may now its wandring cease And claim a title to the fields of peace But if Aeneas be oblig'd no lesse Your kindnesse great Achilles doth confesse VVho dressd by Statius in too bold a look Did ill become those Virgin 's Robes he took To understand how much we owe to you VVe must your Numbers with your Author's view Then we shall see his work was lamely rough Each figure stiffe as if design'd in buffe His colours laid so thick on every place As onely shew'd the paint but hid the face But as in Perspective we Beauties see VVhich in the Glasse not in the Picture be So here our sight obligeingly mistakes That wealth which his your bounty onely makes Thus vulgar dishes are by Cooks disguis'd More for their dressing than their substance priz'd Your curious Notes so search into that Age VVhen all was fable but the sacred Page That since in that dark night we needs must stray VVe are at least misled in pleasant way But what we most admire your Verse no lesse The Prophet than the Poet doth confesse Ere our weak eyes discern'd the doubtfull streak Of light you saw great Charls his morning break So skilfull Sea-men ken the Land from far VVhich shews like mists to the dul Passenger To Charls your Muse first pays her dutious love As still the Antients did begin from Jove VVith Monck you end whose name preserv'd shall be As Rome recorded Rufus memory VVho thought it greater honor to obey His Countrey 's interest than the world to sway But to write worthy things of worthy men Is the peculiar talent of your Pen Yet let me take your Mantle up and I VVill venture in your right to prophesy This VVork by merit first of Fame secure Is likewise happy in its Geniture For since 't is born when Charls ascends the Throne It shares at once his Fortune and its own JOHN DRIDEN A PANEGYRICK To the KING THE true Parnassus Sir which Muses know Are Subjects which they choose to whom they owe Their Inspirations differing as the times Unhappy Vertues or successfull Crimes The greatest Choyce is where the most Successe Makes Fears as great nor their Ambitions lesse With the Usurped Crowns they strive for Bays Those readier not to Act than These to Praise My Muse Great Sir has no such fears or knows A better Inspiration than your Woes To sing those Vertues which are all your own Not brought you by Successes or a Throne But by the malice of the world withstood So much 't is easier to be Great than Good Which knows no end or change by human things But like the world Eternall whence it springs Greatness is as forbidden Pleasures are Reach'd by th'impious hands that will but dare Attempt all Crimes still scorning a retreat Onely the Bad can be unjustly Great By Falls from Thrones such and the vertuous know What Fate to them or they to Fortune owe. By courage nor by vertue can be staid Fortune which tired grows by lending aid So when all Thrones on Caesar were bestow'd Not Fate to him but he to Fortune ow'd And paid her back the vastest Principall She ever lent in his too-wretched Fall To whose successfull Courage once she gave The Mistress of the World to be his Slave To fair days storms succeed to storms the fair We know but what
to do nought but grieve Forgive the time I lost to share with thee You may forgive the injuries of kindnesse And though my self were witnesse to the action Thy griefs made it a new afflicting story Each storm renews in Merchants minds The story of the shipwrack Nor do I blush To avow this since I must not lose The justnesse of my breast that does believe His innocence above suspition Amio. May heaven inspire you to wish well And grant your wishes too you might have then Perhaps a joy as great as he would have Did he but know you pitty him Prin. In the performance then of what I say He will have more which I so much wish him That you shall witnesse all pursued with haste Nor shall you be a stranger longer to me Yet I shall blush although I give you leave To see the partiality but more time Now spent in grass or leaves would be his injury And we may ruine what we would relieve Should we without attempting succour grieve Exeunt ACT 2. SCEN. 3. Enter Mironault Hyppasus Pysenor Pys. WOuld I were a Dog and could lick my self whole I shall be as fly-blown as a ruine cheeâ—e How i' st Hyppasus Hyp. But scurvy would we might rest Miro O me 'T is an unhappinesse that I should bring You into these misfortunes you have deserved Better of me and yet you may forgive me I would have shared as much with you Hyp. We would not make such an excuse then Sir Miro You chide me nobly I find I need some rest And yet by all those powers that caused these mischiefs My life shall end them e're I 'le be his prisoner Pys. Nay wee 'l all dye I hope 't is no offence To talk of saving our sweet lives In order to that this next fair house Must be our Garrison 't is ten to one But there we find some three or four brown loaves To victuall us for a day perhaps a sample Of good seed-Corn lies in the parlour Cubbard We shall eat moderately come we must advance And storm it Hyp. You have no other way Sir we are so weak There is no refuge else and we are still Hotly pursued if they intend our mischiefs VVe may hold out against that petty number If they raise more we too shall have relief By the Princesse or your friends if not VVe may make some Conditions Miro A wretched shift and yet it may preserve us But let us use it nobly Heaven guide us Pys. I 'le advance and knock Within there â— Ho! knock He struck so hard the baâ—on broke Ho! what a Tarquin's here Enter Peter Pet. VVho have we here Pys. Two or three strangers that have lost their way Pet. And you would be directed Pys. Pox on your nimble Charity Aside We have been sett upon by thieves and hurt And must desire some small refreshment Pet. Why this 't is The age is grown so perfect now That all fall's in the way of Bâ—gging And by the word Refrâ—shment Pys. Nay Sir none of your moralitiâ—s on the age Help us to the speech of the Master Or Miâ—â—ris of the house It must be so Sir Pet. Hâ—re's neither Pys. What the Devil i' st Pet. A Lady Pys. Plague on your formall Coxcomb Le ts see your Lady then Pet. That 's more then shee 'l do you Pys. By this light but she shall Pet. Had she sworn so she had been set-sworn Pys. Sir we would willingly be Civill Pray let 's receive your Ladie 's answer But no more of yours Pet. You shall have it Exit Pys. This Rogue has bagg pipes in his Lungs A meer Land Remora we wanted but the plagâ—e To have heard his pedigree He had learn't the policy of the old Roman To ruine by delayes we might have fainted Under his wise Cunc-tator-ship Hyp. 'T was a rare Scene be sure Pysenor You shall have none of the best drink Miro VVhen she comes you shall be chief And we your humble servants Pys. And I 'le be insolent enough now Sir For such a Bird as the Princesse Miro Nay Pysenor Pys. Hang it this love 't will make your wounds ranâ—kle There 's nothing like a merry plaister Hark I hear them rusling Enter Caeca Ruinever and Peter Mercy on us what have we here December with the too scurvy months at her â—eels She ha's dig'd up all her ancestors And wrap't their winding sheets about her I 'le advance Caeca VVhere stands he Peter Peter Straight on now must not I proceed For fear I should discover she wâ—re blind Pys. VVhither a divell will she march She goes straight on Hippasus lie down in the way Hyp. And be hanged put on your serious face Pys. Save you sweet Reverence Caeca Are you the Gentleman Peter is this he Pet. Yes forsooth Pys. Slight shee 'd have her man make affidavit of it aside VVe are those Madam that would fain obtain Some pitty in your eyes why shee 's blind aside Blind as an old Do-Cunny VVe want a Charity and we hope That your grave years ha's taught you that fair story Caeca From whence come you Pys. VVe are Gentlemen and have been hurt by thieves You need not fear to help our hard misfortunes Our weak Conditions cannot threaten danger You may believe we would deserve your kindnesse And our lives which if you preserve Shall wait upon your beauty Hyp. What a dissembling tongue the rogue has aside Pys. We went as long as we could gain a leave From weaknesse as unwilling To be a burthen to any but our fates Threw us on you for which we dare not chide them Hyp. This rogue would court a bitch aside Pys. Sirrah I 'le fit you Caeca A fine well-spoken gentleman Pys. For if we did we should be too unjust For you must needs be good because the gods Let you so long live to instruct the world aside Or else afraid of your blind company But at your feet We throw our selves and all our miseries And cancell fear whilst we expâ—ct to hear Our doom from your fair lips Caeca Quinever Quin. Madam Caeca I' st a handsome man Quin. Yes indeed as e're I saw Caeca I feel just such a Qualm as I had When I was still falling in love he has a sweet tongue Noble gentleman you 're very welcome You shall have all you want pray come neâ—r Indeed I am much taken with your speech 'T is very curteous once in my youth I understood these complemâ—nts And have not yet forgot them I shall remember them more fresh If you repâ—at them Pys. Why so I shall be engaged to tell tales aside In the chimney-corner Caoec Peter Go in get the best chambers râ—ady Let them have something presently to eat Pray come in you 'r very welcom Your hand good Sir Pys. We are your servants Now do I walk Like the great Turk that newly has put out The eyes of an old kinswoman Here we shall find Good Fortune sure for that whore too is
act what I now would do And make a storm the lustfull Thief pursue With all the Sea-Nymphs help'd Storms now will come Too late the Rape and Injury is done Yet I will go and all the remedy That 's left attempt I 'le move each deity That rules in Flouds and beg the Ocean's King By Tethys on the waves one storm to fling No sooner said but she the god espy'd Who from Oceanus crown'd boards arriv'd The chearing Nectar in his looks yet shin'd At whose approach the storms with every wind Were all in silence hush'd and round by him Sounding their wreathed shells the Tritons swim The shoals of Whales like moving Rocks make way And round their King the crooked Dolphines play He rais'd above the quiet Ocean rides And with his Trident his yok'd Horses guides They with their crooked tails the Chariot row And from their breasts the foaming surges throw To whom sad Thetis said Great Ocean's King Dost thou not see thy waves assistance bring To strange designes The guilty safely go Since Sea's reserved rights were sleighted so By the bold Iason His example left See by these follow'd both in crime and theft And from the friendly shores an unjust prey By the rash Judge of Ida's born away Ah me what mournings shall this cause to be In heaven and earth and what alas to me Is this a Foster-child's return This way Will Venus for her Phrygian Garland pay At least o're-whelm these ships for in the throng No Heroes nor our Theseus goes along If any justice yet in waves can be Or else commit the power of storms to me Nor is 't ungentle while 't is just that I Fear for a child Let the mad waves swell high Nor suffer me from Flouds to take my leave Onely by his affected Tomb to grieve Thus begging she before the Chariot stood With scattered hair The Ruler of the Flood Invites her up and strives such words to find As might appease her sad afflicted mind Ask not their ruine Thetis 't is in vain The gods and Fates do otherwise ordain Sad years to come with slaughters are decreed By Iove Europe and Asia both must bleed What triumphs shalt thou have in Phrygian plains To see thy son there feed the funerall flames When he the Trojan fields shall stain with blood And with like slaughters cram the blushing Flood Great Hector's weight shall make his Chariot slow Those walls we rais'd his hand shall overthrow Nor grieve that thou hast stoop'd to Peleus love The Son thou hast by him is worthy Iove Nor shalt thou unreveng'd for ever mourn When they return thy pow'r shall raise a storm False flames by night shall Caphareus then show And joynt-revenge wee 'l on Ulysses throw At this she hung those looks that did incline To raise a storm and changing the designe With labouring arms to Thessaly she swims And on those shores she rests her snowy limbs The mountains joy with that much loved place Where Peleus did the goddesse first embrace Above his banks the swel'd Sperchios rose Joy'd whilst his stream about the goddesse flows She took no joy in all but still oppress'd With the sad fancies of her carefull breast Thus fill'd with busie thoughts the goddesse then Approacheth to the aged Chirons den Under the rock where Pelion doth encline Like a bent bow so wrought by Art and Time Still here the signs remain'd where at their feasts The beds were press'd by the immortall guests Which in the stables of the Centaur stood Not like the rest of the prodigious brood His darts unstain'd with human cruelties Never did he with vast subverted trees Or massy bowls disturb the geniall crue Only at Beasts his guiltlesse arrows flew But now by age disarm'd with herbs he tries To restore life her tired faculties Or to Achilles all the glorious things Fam'd Heroes did upon his harp he sings 'Gainst whose return from his pursued game The boards are crown'd and with the kindled flame The cave growes bright whilst thus he did provide Looking for him his Mother he espy'd To her he hasts while strength his gladnesse yields And trots upon the long unused fields To her he bowes his aged Limbs and then Leads the sad goddesse to his humble den Her busie eye that would not be delay'd Quickly views all as soon to Chiron said Where is my pledge or why do you thus trust My child alone Are my sad dreams then just Those dreadfull visions which the gods have set Before mine eyes I wish as vain as great My breast seems wounded now my hands to bear The signes of strokes wild beast's my bosome tear And many times I fancy in my dreams Again I dip my child in Stygian streams With Magick art at last a way I 've got To cure my fears by the kind Proteus taught The Youth must be to those fit parts convay'd For such designes in secret billows laid Where horrid sacrifices are to th' hid And unknown gods But more I am forbid These rites demand him now Thus Thetis said The aged Chiron else had not obey'd If he had known what garments once should hide The youth But ignorant he thus repli'd Pursue kind goddesse this unknown designe With humble vows th' ungentle powers encline Not thy ambitious prayers can succeed To please the envious gods nor would I breed New fears in thee but I confesse my share Nor yet deceived by a Father's care 'T is his vast strength that thus procures my fears Which shews too early for his tender years At first my threatning words he would obey Nor would too farre about the mountains stray Not Ossa now nor Pelion can contain His wandrings nor Thessalian feather'd rain To me the Centaurs often make their moan Forâ—'t from their Heards pursu'd by him alone Who singly dares with all their troops engage Whilst force and fraud they threaten in their rage Lately I saw Alcides on this shore And Theseus whom the Argive ship then bore But see he comes At this abruptly staid Th' expecting goddesse chilling fears invade The Youth arriv'd loaded with dust and sweat And wearied with his arms and labours yet His snowy looks the rosy blushes stain'd His hair the shining Gold with glittering sham'd Upon his cheeks no Down yet seem'd to rise A gentle lustre in his sparkling eyes Still shin'd his face those charming beauties wore VVhich his admired Mother had before So shews young Phoebus when he doth retire From Lycia and for shafts assumes his lyre By chance he came in pleas'd O how much more It added to what was so well before For under Pholoe in a Cave he slew A Lionesse and took the young ones too Which in his arms he bore But the lov'd prey At his dear mother's sight he threw away By Chiron now embrac'd and then again Doth in his mother's jealous arms remain When streight his dearest friend Patroclus came In love and age his equall and the same Assay'd in generous Arts to imitate Yet
short in strength but shar'd an equall fate The next adjacent stream Achilles seeks And with the River cleans'd his sullied cheeks So tired Castor in Eurota's streams Restores his looks bright as his new Star's beams Pleas'd Chiron on his fair proportion stares The joy that Thetis took made great her cares The Centaur then invites them to his Feast And fills Lyaeus to his troubled guest His Harp to welcome Thetis he prepares Whose charming notes lessen the weight of cares And having gently tri'd the warbling strings He gives it to Aeacides who sings The acts of Heroes how great Iuno's spleen Vanquish'd so oft by Hercules had been The Victories of Pollux and how too The monstrous Minotaur fam'd Theseus slew Lastly great Peleus and his Mother's love He sung the Marriage grac'd by those above At this sad Thetis seem'd to force a smile Night now laid on her heavy charms the while Achilles the kind Centaur's shoulder took And his affecting Mother's breast forsook ANNOTATIONS On the first Book of STATIUS his ACHILLEIS 2. AN issue fear'd by heaven's thundring King When Iove sought the marriage of Thetis he was told by Proteus that the issue that came from Thetis should exceed the father who begot it At which mistrusting his own Omnipotency he left his Love to keep Heaven The Fable is thus rendred by the incomparable Sandys Motamorph 11. For aged Proteus thus foretold the truth To wave-wet Thetis thou shalt bear a Youth Greater then him from whom he took his birth In Arms and Fame Left any thing on earth Should be more great than Jove Jove shuns the bed Of Sea-thron'd Thetis though her beauty led His strong desires Who bids Aeacides Succeed his Love and wed the Queen of Seas 6. Scyros An Island of the Aegean Sea one of the Cyclades over against Peloponnesus as Strabo l. 10. relateth having a Town of the same name Famous most in being the place where Achilles lived disguised See Servius and Sabinus on Virgil's Aen. 2. 7. Not of dragg'd Hector c. Statius here proposeth his designe to sing the acts of Achilles onely from his infancy which Homer had omitted justly presenting the death of Hector for all his Victories whose fate was Troy's ruine Senec. Troad v. 185. Aut cùm superbo victor in curru stetit Egitque habenas Hectorem Trojam trahens Or when the Conqueror did his Horses guide And Troy which Hector at his Chariot ty'd For Achilles having killed him tied him to his Chariot and dragged him thrice round the walls of Troy as Homer Iliad 22. Which unwelcome sight Aeneas saw painted at Carthage Virg. Aen. 2. 487. Ter circum Iliacos raptaver at Hectora muros Examinumque auro corpus vendebat Achilles Tum verò ingentem gemitum dat pectore ab imo Vt spolia ut currus utque ipsum corpus amici Tendentemque manus Priamum conspexit inermes About Troy's walls Hector's dead body thrice Achilles dragg'd and sold it for a price Then from the bottom of his breast he drew A grief-expressing sigh his friend to view His Spoils and Chariot and how Priam stands Begging with his erected aged hands 12. With sacred fillets bound These were Ornaments for the Priests heads in Latine Vittae Hence Iuvenal Sat. 4. of the Vestall Virgin Vittata Sacerdos And Virgil thus presenteth Anius Aen. 3. 80. Rex Anius Rex idem hominum Phoebique Sacerdos Vittis sacra redimitus tempora lauro Anius a King and Priest his Temples bound With sacred Fillets and with Lawrel crown'd The Title of Priest was antiently conferr'd on Kings as Casaubon on Suetonius in Augusto delivereth from Aristotle Polit. 3. and Synesius Epist. 121. by reason that the Government of all Commonwealths consisted in Eccleâ—iasticall Ceremonies and Politicall Laws the care of both which belonged to Kings Hence Augustus was created chief Priest that all kinds of power might be in him And as Servius observeth on Aen. 3. 80. the style of Pontifex Max. was still assumed by the succeeding Emperors as may also be seen in the Inscriptions of the Caesars at the end of Suetonius set forth by Schildius 1651. Poets called themselves Phoebus Priests so Tibullus and Propertius frequently Hereupon Statius here dresseth himself with Priestly Ornaments 13. Witnesse those Theban fields c. Our Poet here intimateth his Poem of the Theban-War So that hence and by the ensuing Complement to Domitius it is clear that this was Statius his second Work and his Silvae the last To his Thebans with confidence enough he here promiseth as lasting a same as Thebes could give Amphion the son of Iupiter and Antiope who having as Plinie saith l. 7. c. 56. found out the use of the Harp handled it so harmoniously that he made stones come of their own accord to raise the Walls of Thebes Sence Theb. act 4. nulla quaâ— struxit manus Sed convocatus vocis cith arae sono Per se ipse turres venit in summas lapis Rais'd by no labouring workman's hands but brings With his harmonious voice and charming strings The willing stones together which compose Themselves and into lofty Towers rose Some joyne his brother Zethus with him in the businesse So Palaephatus who reducing the Fable to a seeming truth saith The two Brothers admitted their Auditors to their Musick on condition that every one should afford his assistance to the Building A far truer Mythologie is glanced at by Horace De arte Poet. v. 391. Silvestres homines sacer interpresque Deorum Caedibus victu foedo deterruit Orpheus Dictus ob hoc lenire Tigres rabidosque Leones Dictus Amphion Thâ—banae conditor arcis Saxa movere sono testuainis prece blandâ Ducere quò vellet Orpheus inspir'd from gods first rude men brought From loving blood and slaughters hence was thought Fierce Lions and wild Tigers to have tam'd And so Amphion with his Harp was fam'd To raise the Theban walls and at his choice To move deaf stones with his admired voice So perhaps the Fable arose from his reducing a savage people to live under a form of Government and for their safety than which no argument can be more prevalent perswading them to compasse in their City with a Wall And herein in my opinion he was much more judicious than Lycurgus and Agesilaus who believed the breasts of valiant Citizens defence enough And so also thinketh Plato l. 6. De leg For these reasons Orpheus was said to have made wild beasts gentle and Amphion to have moved stones that is men of savage lives and obdurat natures Macrobius in Somn. Scip. l. 2. c. 3. keepeth closer to the Fable for setting forth the excellencies of Musick he saith That from it the Universall Soul of the world took its originall and that by it therefore all men not onely the civill but the barbarous also are either animated to vertue or dissolved into pleasure quia anima in corpus defert memoriam Musicae cujus in coelo