Her brother-twin viewing her image in His falling limbs She markes his rosie chin And gold-imbraided haire But her fierce Mother With threats inforc'd her then upon her brother Having first slaine her spouse and armes her hand As Lions brought toth ' Keepers soft command Forget their fiercenesse no affront or stroke Can their tame souls to wonted rage provoke So she fell downe upon him falne she keeps His blood which stream'd into her lap and dips Her torne haire in his wounds But when I saw Alcimides her fathers head display Which mutter'd still and brandish her pale steele My haire straight stood on end My soul did feele Strange horrour 'T was me thought my Thoas dead That hand seem'd mine Straight to my Fathers bed Distraught I went He for what sleep can seise On so great thoughts long since in 's bosome weighes What rustling ' t was Though 's palace stood not nigh The City in the dead of night what cry Had frighted rest I with a trembling tongue Relate their guilt how griev'd whence courage sprung How none could stop their rage Then cry'd away Wretch'd Sir they 're here They 'le intercept your stay We both perhaps shall rue it Mov'd with this He rises from his bed Our passage is Through the back-lanes of th' City where we spie Muffled in clouds heaps of night slaughters lie Who fell that bloody Vesper in the grove Here groveling faces with their pillows strove The rapiers hilt out o' th' clos'd wound appears And broken truncheons of their weighty spears Swords pinck'd their cloaths and breasts alike we view'd Goblets o'rthrowne with 's slaughter Feasts imbru'd Their wine like torrents from their mangled throats Mingled with blood stream'd back into their pots Young men lay mixt with old whose hoary head The sword would rev'rence Gasping infants spred Upon their groaning sires i' th' dawne of life Sob out their trembling souls With equall strife The feasting Lapithans doe riot in Cold Ossa's top when with large cups of wine The cloud-borne sons are warm'd Scarce angry growne They rise and fight their tables overthrowne Then Bacchus first affrights our sense i' th' night Aiding's distrest son Thoas glorious light Breakes from him sodainly I knew him well And yet no garlands made his temples swell No yellow grapes did part his haire He seem'd Clouded from 's eyes unworthy showres stream'd And spake Whilst Fate made powerfull Lemnos thine And fear'd of other Nations I did joyne My care with thy just labour Son but now â—he Destinies have cut their thred in two No prayers or tears which I have powr'd in vaine â—efore Ioves throne could a reprieve obtaine â—his dismall honour to his daughter 's paid â—asten your flight and thou deserving maid â—y grand-child guide thy Father where the shoare â—uns out by th' double peere There where they roare â—th ' gate unlucky Venus porter stands Girt with a sword and whets their rage What hands â—he Goddesse wears whence grew her martiall spirit â—ommit to th' Deep thy Father I le inherit â—hy cares This said he springs i' th' aire againe â—nd though darke shades obstruct our sight a traine Of light cleeres up his path Those markes I follow â—nd recommend my Sire clos'd in a hollow â—eele to the Sea-gods winds AEgeon too â—mbracing round the Cyclads Tears did flow â—t parting without measure Till the day Discovering star had chas'd the rest away â—rom th'Easterne heav'n Then I strange doubts did roul â—earfulll i' th' shoare whilst my divided soul â—urst scarce conside in Bacchus Walking thence â— left my heart there Nor could I dispence â—ith rest till I had view'd from every hill â—hat winds arose or if the seas were still The blushing morne breakes Titan sheds a ray â—ismantling heav'â— yet crosse to Lemnos Day â—oes guide her frighted steeds into a cloud â—hen were their works of darknesse seen their blood â—â—nted their cheeks fearing the light should peepe â—hough all were guilty Straight they buried deep Their slaughter'd corps or with nimble fires Consum'd them Glutted Venus now retireâ— With all her Furies from the Towne sh 'ad sack'd And then their leisure serv'd to recollect Their deeds to tear their haire and dew their face Our fruitfull Isle was knowne by th' site a place Once stor'd with wealth Armes Men inrich'd of late By th' Getick triumph Now 's an empty state Torne from the world not by th' Seas breach nor by The enemies force or an unluckie skie There 's none alive to plough the ground there 's none To cut the Seas Houses are silent growne Blood covers all black gore the fields does staine We onely wee i' th' spacious streets remaine And th' angry Ghosts hover about the spires I too did build a pile for lofty fires I' th' inner Court o' th' Palace throwing on 't My Fathers Armes and robes our Kings were wont To wear and 's Scepter Then I sadly stood Nigh the amaz'd flames my sword was staind with blood Where I wept ore the cheat o' th' empty pile Fearing their rage and prayd that by this wile My Fathers Fate and doubtfull fears of death Might vanish For these merits they bequeath This punishment his Kingdome I must sit I' th' royall Throne Such faith my craft did get Could I refuse then thus beset I went But call the Gods to witnesse my intent My faith and my unspotted hands I gain'd A bloodlesse Empire 't was a dire command Poor sad beheaded Lemnos Sorrow tore Their waking souls by this time more and more They sigh aloud Polyxo's curs'd anon And now they hate the thought of what they 'd done Altars toth ' Ghosts they straight decree to reare And by their buried ashes often sweare So when the trembling heifers see with fear A Mauritanian foe their Captaine teare Which serv'd them all and did command the Chase The pride o' th' herd They having lost their grace Dismembred droop because their King is slaine The fields and springs and the mute drove complaine But see the Pesian ship with stem of brasse Cutting the waves through th' untrack'd Seas does passe With spreading sailes which th' Argonauts do guide The clashing waves do foame on every side You 'd thinke Ortygia's bottome crack'd and th' hill Tumbled i' th' Sea But when the Ocean 's still And th' oares laid by a sweeter voice salutes Our ears fro'th ' keele then dying Swans or lutes Touch'd by Phoeb's hand waves danc'd to th' ship At last T was known there Orpheus leaning to the mast Sings in the midst o' th' mariners to cleer Their souls from sense of pains Their course they steer Toth ' Northerne coast and borders straightned by Cyanean flats We judging them by th' eye A Thracian power from house to house do roule In troops like droves or shoales of winged
fowle Where are the Furies now we climbe toth ' peere And wals o' th' harbour whence our prospect's cleere To th' Maine and scale our lofty turrets whither They trembling carry stones and clubs together With their late husbands Armes and weapons dy'd With slaughter Neither are they sham'd to hide Their wanton cheekes in helmets and put on Rough breast-plates Pallas blush'd to thinke upon Their boldnesse and Mars laugh'd in distant AEme Now their rash madnesse first forsaketh them Nor seemes it now a ship but that the Gods By sea sent slow-pac'd vengeance arm'd with rods And now they ride a flight-shot from the shoare When Iove brings clouds swolne-big with tempests o're The tackling of the Graecian ship anon The Sea wrought high The day had lost the Sun Mantled with darkenesse Th' water 's black as th' Aire Whilst labo'ring winds the hollow clouds do teare And roule the Seas up Moist'ned gravell heaves Out o' th' black whirle-pooles all the Oceans waves Hang on the wings o' th' wind and ready now To wash the stars the billowes breake in two The tottering Keele lesse nimble's leakie growne And Triton plac'd i' th' stem dives sometimes downe To th' bottom of the gulfe then strikes the skies Nor can the strength o' th' Demy-gods suffice The reeling mast does lash the streame and teare The curling waves whose unfixt weight they bear The oares are tug'd in vaine yet whilst they find Such labour to encounter Seas and wind We from the rocks and bulwarkes of the wall With feeble armes let flye our darts which gall Peleus and Telâ—mon how bold we grow And Hericules is aim'd at with a bow Indangered thus by Seas and darts together Some guard the ship some ply the pumpe and other Prepare to fight whose joynts unweâ—ldy faile With motion nor can tott'ring strength prevaile We ply our weapons still our shoures of darts Equall the clouds huge stakes and broken parts Of mil-stones spears granadoes streaming bright Sometimes i' th' Sea sometimes i' th' ship do light The cover'd vessel gapes and the close deck Opening the seames does give a mighty crack So Iove does batter fields with Northern haile All sorts of cattell droop drench'd wings do faile The birds Cone's lodg'd by th' bitter storme there fell Streames roaring from the hils and rivers swell But when his darted fires the clouds did teare And the brave Mariners by th' light appear Our courage shrunke our husbands Armes fell down From trembling hands and now our Sex we owne We see the sons of AEacus withall Ansaeus threatning ruine to our wall And Iphitus with a long spear does stop The ship from rocks then Herc'les does oretop Th' astonish'd troop by th' head and stradling keep The full barke poiz'd yet would step downe i' th' deep But fickle Iason whom I knew not yet Throughout the gall'ries oares and crowde does whet Now great O Enides forward Ida now Now Taelaus now Tyndarides whose brow Lardourd with froth With hand and voice aloud He cals on Calais hid in 's Fathers cloud Striving to fasten sailes toth ' mast The Seas And wals are shaken with their batteries Yet can they not beat back the foaming Maine And from our Towers their spears recoyle in vaine Tiphys tries all the billows tyring out Th' unruly sterne then 's pale and tackes about Winding the head which faine would split upon The rocks to th' right and left Till AEsons son I' th' foredeck holds up a Palladian bough Of Olive which before crown'd Mopsus's brow And asks a truce against his partners mind But 's words are overwhelm'd by th' boystrous wind This stop'd our Armes and now some rest was giv'n Toth ' breath-lesse winds day look'd down from heav'n Fifty leapt down o' th' sodaine on our shoare The ships being fastned as they us'd before The glory of brave Ancestours their brow Serene of an attractive feature now Their fear and rage had left them So they say The Deities brake out a secret way When entring house or coast they thinke it good To tast the sun-burnt AEthiopians food Rivers and hils make roome their foot-steps grace The earth whilst Atlas finds a breathing space Here we spie Theseus proud of Marathons Gain'd liberty with Boreas his sons Th' Ismarian brethren whose bright wings do beat Their temples and Admetus once more great Then unrepining Phoeb ' Smooth Orpheus son To rugged Thrace Thy off-spring Calydon With Nereus's son-in-law Th' O Ebalian pair Which tir'd our doubtfull eyes for both did wear Flame-colour'd cloaks both shooke their spears and both Had naked cheeks their shoulders both uncloath Stars paint their locks alike The way does c shine Young d Hylas following after does decline Great Herc'les's steps for though his weight did make him March softly yet his page could scarce o'retake him But carrying his Lernaean armes the boy Under his mighty quiver sweats with joy Now Venus once againe with Loves coole flames Kindles the churlish hearts o' th' Lemnian dames Queen Iuno then insinuates in their mind The Armes and garbe o' th' men their gallant kind All doores straight open'd to them Then they heat Their Altars first and hainous cares forget They banquet sleepe secure had quiet nights Nay heav'n design'd it sure their guilt delights Perhaps you long too Gentlemen to hear My crime-excusing Fate The Ghosts do bear Me record and my country Furies how Unwilling how untainted I did go T' a strangers bed Gods answer for me yet Iason by 's flat'ries could with toyles beset Young maides stain'd Phasis knows his loose desires You Colchians furnish'd him with other fires Now the thaw'd stars were warm'd by th' heightned sun When the swift year through halfe the girdle run Gave us new Sons whose birth did crowne our vows And Lemnos with unlook'd-for off-spring flowes I likewise made a mother brought forth two My forc'd beds Monument and did renew Their Grandsires name from this hard-hearted stranger Nor since I left them have I known their danger If fortune please a nurse Lycaste bred Them safe full twenty years have pass'd their head The rage o' th' Sea was faln and Southern gales Wait with more calmenesse now upon the sayles The ship i' th' quiet harbour hates to ride And draws the cable tite with which 't is tied At this the Arganauts will put to Sea Fierce Iason cals his comrades oh had he In smoother streames pass'd by my coast before Who thus neglects his babes and quits the score Of 's faith ingaged Fame saies at distance Greece Injoyes him now return'd with Phryxus's fleece At the fixt time when Tiphys had discover'd Th' approaching skie and fiery rednesse hover'd About the set suns bed new sighs alas Were spent another fare-well
Great Powers whence shall I fetch my verse Shall I that Nations infancy display Europa's rape Agenor's fatall Law Or Cadmus scowring th' Ocean 'T were too far Should I discourse how th' Plowman sowing war In his seditious furrows stood amaz'd At his own new-sprung blades How th'wals were rais'd With Tyrian Stones charm'd by Amphions ditty Whence grew that rage which seiz'd on Bacchus's City Sterne Iuno t was thy work against whose brow Unhappy Athamas did bend his bow Why slighting the Ionick sea the Mother Leapt with Palaemoâ— in the second Brother But farewell these farewell both grief and joy Which Cadmus found The miseries which annoy The house of O Edipus must be my song Who dare not sing the triumphs that belong To Caesars banners nor the double baies He bore from Rheine or Danow Or that praise The conquer'd Dacians yeild him who were thrown Down from the Hils they curs'd us on 'T is known How 's infant years brought succour to the glory Of Iovâ— Romes Capitol Thou larger story Of great Vespasians name borne to compleat Thy Fathers Vict'ries whom this Royall seat Wishes eternall Though the starres be crowded In narrower compasse Though the never-clouded East the cold North and Southerne climate free From blasts invite Thee Though Apollo be Ambitious to set off his round with those Rich glories of thy Raies And Iove dispose Halfe of his mighty Throne to Thee Great Soule Humble thy thoughts to earth stoope to controule The Sea and Land a while Divinity smother And make the heav'ns thy free gift to another The time may come when a diviner rage May swell my verse to thy great Acts. This page Tun'd on my harpe is fill'd with Thebane Wars One Crowne destructive to two Princes jars Which death could put no end to funerall flames Divided like the soules they carry names Of dead Kings without Tombstones many a Towne I' th' ruines of the people overthrowne When Dirce blush'd being stain'd with Graecian bloud And Ioves-beloved Thetis wondring stood To see Ismenos which was dry before Flow with such violence and chide his shore What Champion Muse do'st first remember Is 't Inraged Tydêus or Apollo's Priest Buried before he 's dead Or is 't the proud Hyppomedon whose slaughters stop the flood That overwhelm'd him Or wilt weep the tale Of young Parthenopaeus funerall When that 's spun out take Capanêus and tell But with a greater horrour how he fell The hand of O Edipus had eclips'd the light Of 's wicked eyes and brought eternall night Over his shame whilst he still liv'd the longer That he might long be dying But a stronger Beam's darted from his soule there Furies lye In thousand shapes invited thither by His bosome sins which watch him whilst he hides Himselfe in his hugg'd darknesse and resides In his close uâ—seen Chambers Then he raises The fresh wounds he had made those empty places Where 's eyes had been to heav'n Beating the ground The senselesse ground with 's bloudy hands a sound Of horrour thus breakes out Ye ' infernall Fiends Which raigne or'e guiltinesse and Hell whose ends Are narrower then our faults And thou darke Lake Of Styx whose prospect I though blinde can take Thou too Tisiphone which knowest best That voice th' hast heard so oft grant this request If I have serv'd thee truly whom I found Nurse to my infancy who heal'dst the wound They bored through my feet If I did go At thy command to Cyrrha's streames which flow Twixt the two-headed Hill when I might rather Have staid with Polybus my supposed Father Where in the Tower of three-top'd Phocis I Grappled with th' hoary King and did deny Life to his trembling joints seeking to find What there I lost a Father If my mind By thee inlightned could unty the knot Of Sphinx her riddle If the incestuous blot By which I stain'd my Mothers bed brought joyes To my free spirit where I got thee boyes Straight on these hands I fell desiring death And to my Mother did mine eyes bequeath Then here I aske a noble boone and that Which thou thy selfe would'st prompt My sons of late Sonnes still howe're begotten doe despise Their mournfull Father rob'd of 's power and 's eyes They will not guide me will not cheere my heart With words of comfort But O grievous smart Grown proud they raise their Scepters from my urne Triumph o're blindnesse laughing when I mourne Am I accursed in these too does dull Iove See this with silence Thou at least may'st prove Their scourge Sweet Mistresse of revenge come hither Entaile a Curse upon their heirs for ever Put on that Diadem besmeard with gore Which from my fathers head these fingers tore Goe winged with a Parents curse Divide Between the Brethren Let the sword decide That title too Dear Queen of Hell invent Some mischiefe great as my desires Th' event Will shew their courage Could'st thou plot a rage Worthy their souls they 'd prove their Parentage This said the Fury throwes a cruell glance Upon him She was sitting then by chance On black Cocytus banks where she did scatter Her serpent locks to let them drinke o' th water But swift as lightning or some falling Star She flies from thence The ghosts give place and fear Their Mistresse presence she her progresse makes Through the black shades where souls do swarm and takes The way to th' Iron gate at foot o' th' hill Of Taenarus where 's a free entrance still But no returne The day shrunke from her sight And hid her selfe in that dark cloud which night Brought for her mantle Distant Atlas fled And let the heav'ns fall from his trembling head But from the plaines of Malea she does hurry I' th' beaten path to Thebes Nor do's the Fury Fly any way with greater speed or takes More joy in hell A hundred horned snakes The life-guard of her head shades all her face A darke black colour fils the hollow place Where stood her worn-out eyes just as the Moone Blushes when by Art Magick shee 's charm'd down From heav'n Thus puffing out her hollow cheekes With rage and swolne with venom'd gore there breakes A black flame from her ugly mouth Whence came in An army of diseases Empty famine Devouring plagues grim death Her tattered coate Sits wrinckled on her back tied with a knot Or two about her if she change that hue The Destinies spin her another clue Then shakes she both her hands this flames does weare T'other with serpent fingers stings the ayre When she stood still where long Cithaeron meets Heaven with his cragged top her hissing greets The earth so loud that th'Ecchoed noise resounds Through vast Achaia and the Graecian townes Parnassus the worlds navell heard it so Did sharpe Eurotas doubtfull O
banish'd All day and comfort Heav'n it selfe is vanish'd Out of his sight whil'st his malignant brood Wicked beyond all president have stood Triumphing o're his blindnesse Th' hast obtain'd Old Mischief what thou ask'dst Thy night has gain'd Ioves eare and 's hand I le arme their rage and mock At th' ruine of both kingdomes All that stock I le root and branch destroy The quarrel 's spun With ease Adrastus pitying's exil'd son Joyn'd to that Line unhappily shall give Assistance 'T is decreed Nor must they live Deceitfull Tantalus sticks in our breast We han't digested yet his bloudy feast So spake the God But Iuno deeply wounded With such unlook'd-for news this answer rounded Must I to Armes great Justice must I fight 'T is known full well what strength of men what might I always brought to th' towers of Greece that Crowne Which my Phoronêus wore with what renowne Hast flourisht I have wink'd at one dull sleight When sleeping Argus found eternall night Within those borders when in a Golden shower Thou found'st a passage to the guarded tower 'T is pardon'd 't was a borrow'd shape offended But when thou wor'st thy selfe and wast attended With flames the tokens of our nuptiall sports My hate may justly blast such rivall Courts Let Thebes be punish'd what had Greece deserv'd Yet take thy pleasure If thy Queen 's reserv'd An object for thy scorne levell her Cities Samos Mycene and Sparta Sure it pities Thee shee 's so great What needs perfuming wood To warme her Altars wash'd with sacred blood Coptos in AEgypt sends a better savour Where Isis teares with Nile obtaine more favour But if old scores t' a new account we call And 't is decreed to squeeze the dregs of all The times are past Where shall this task begin What age will serve to purge Earths raging sin Looke back upon that kingdome whence by cunning Alphêus is joyn'd with Arethusa running Through sea and earth to find her Is 't not shame Th' Arcadians should build temples to thy name In so unchast a place There were the forces And charrets of O Enomâus whose horses Might make Getulian AEmus a fit stable Behold the mangled limbs of a whole rabble Of suiters lye unburied there False Ide The place of my disgrace thou mak'st thy pride So 's Crete which has bely'd thy sepulcher May not poore Greece be left thy spouse Forbeare Such furious threats Take pity on that Nation That claimes from thee by a most neeâ—e relation The world has many kingdomes None 's so good But may be dy'd in the false brethrens blood Thus ended she her suit made up of teares Lin'd with reproaches But Ioves patient eares Heard her without disturbance then replies 'T was not expected any curse should seize Upon thy Graecians were it ne'r so right But thou wouldst frown Nay Bacchus if he might Have liberty would plead for 's Thebes I know And durst she speake so would Dione too But witnesse all th' infernall lakes and those Black Stygian floods my brother Pluto chose There 's an irrevocable sentence past Wherefore my swift-wing'd Mercury make haste Outstrip the winds that beare thee Through the ayre Glide downe to th' darker region There repaire To grandsire Laius call him back from hell He 's not yet pass'd the Gulfe because he fell Untimely by the sword of O Edipus This is that kingdomes Fundamentall Thus Quickned by thee send him to 's Grandchilds Court With these commands His brother whose resort To Greece in 's banishment will swell his pride And strengthen's sufferings must be deni'd Accesse to 's presence He himselfe would chuse it And when the throne is ask'd let him refuse it Hence will I ground their anger and dispose The rest as order bids me Hermes goes As Iove commanded putting on a paire Of winged buskins whilst his golden haire And starry head was shadow'd with his hat Then takes his charming rod the scepter that Commands sleep or forbids it He lookes over Death's Court with this This can lost life recover Thus vaulting downe he flutters in the ayre Which parted gently Neither stops he there But with his sodain flight the welkin sounded And darting downward all the skie was rounded Now Polynices banish'd from his throne As 't was contracted wanders all alone By stealth i' th' Thebane deserts Whil'st his minde Feeds on the hopes of what must be resign'd E're long to 's hands Sometimes he thinks the Sun Stands still 'T is tedious e're the yeare be done One thought asleepe and waking has possest him What beames will guild that howre that shall invest him I' th strength o' th Kingdome When his humbled brother Must goe and seek new fortunes whil'st another Shall weild the scepter This were such a day He 'd spend an age to see 't But the delay Is irkesome to his fancy Yet that thought Is quell'd remembring how he shall be brought With pompe to th'Diadem and sit on high To laugh at 's wandring brothers misery Thus various passions do his soule annoy And over-greedy wishes spend his joy But now he settles his undaunted pace To Innachus his City's and the place VVhere Danâus reign'd To Mycene which would hide Her black deeds from the startling Sun His guide VVas rage or chance or destiny He flies By the Ogygian caves where frantick cryes Of the mad Priests are eccho'd where the fields Fatned with sacred bloud more plenty yields Then pass'd he by Cithaerons gentle plaine VVhere the high mount stoops downe to kisse the Maine Next climbs he Scyrons dangerous craggy rocks And sees where Nisus with his purple locks Once reign'd Then leaves he quiet Corinth where ' Two neighbour seas made musick in his eare By this time had the Moon begun her station And Sol tir'd out with 's last perambulation VVas gone to bed The silent world does view Her Ayery charriot pearld with drops of dew No beasts doe roare no birds doe chatter sleep Or'e mans desires and carefull thoughts does creep And nodding through the aire brings downe in hast A sweet forgetfulnesse of labour past But the gray skie promis'd no glorious beames From th' morning sun The duskie Twilight seemes To put out day too soone and keeps no light Reflected from the absent sun Grim night Arising thicker from the earth does cloud Heavens glittering fires Whilst the windes aloud Knock at th' AEolian barrs and rudely force A passage from their prisons Straight the hoarse And hollow throat of winter comes on scolding The winds fall out among themselves Each holding Heav'n by a proper title for his owne Till Poles are rent and th' Axle's overthrown But the prevailing Southern blast has giv'n Most clouds to th' worke and chiefly mantles heav'n Opening a thousand spouts whose
drops are stay'd By th' dry cold Northern breath and haile are made Nay heav'ns artillery comes in the Thunder And subtile lightning tear the clouds asunder By this time Nemêa and the hills that scatter About th' Arcadian groves are drench'd with water Old Inachus with nimbler floods does roare Cold Erasine's more active then before In sandy channels where men walk'd but now In spight of damms huge streames doe overflow You 'd think that Lerna's poys'nous troubled lake Sweld with new venome Every wood does cracke The trees let fall their armes And heav'n beholds What it ne're saw before Lycaean folds Our frighted travailer's amaz'd to see The stones drop from the craggy clifts But he The stones drop from the craggy clifts But he Startles at harsher musick whilst each mountain In dreadfull Cataracts powres down a fountain Of cloud-begotten waters which orethrow Both folds and cottages of shepheards too Benighted thus and mad at this disaster He gropes on Fear and 's brother spur him faster So when a storme has caught the mariner In raging seas when neither Moon nor star Lights him t' his channel troubled reason leaves His soul to th' angry heav'ns and boistrous waves Now fears he treacherous sholes now thinkes he knocks His reeling ship against the foming rocks Thus through the woods does Polynices flie Rousing with 's trusty spear the beasts that lie In their wild mansions His stout brest does tear A way through thickets now grown bold with fear Till from Larissa's top he spies a light Lariss a tower of Argos conquering night Through all the winding streets to this he plies With all his power O' th left hand he descries Iuno's Prosymna On the right he sees The lake of Lerna drain'd by Hercules At length he enters th' open gates and straight Beholds the Palace in whose porch he might Repose his stiffened limbes Here rests his head And sleep's invited to so hard a bed Adrastus then was King whose quiet fate Had spun his years beyond a middle date Nobly descended challenging from heav'n In both his parents Yet the gods had giv'n No male successour to him All his hope Rests in two daughters which must underprop His throne Apollo once being ask'd about'um Reply'd you 'd think the god had meant to flout'um But time discovers Truth Their chosen love A bristled Hog and Lion fierce shall prove This riddle could'st not thou grave Sire untwist Not thou Oiclides great Apollo's Priest The god forbad it Only care possest And gnaw'd upon their Fathers doubtfull brest As 't happen'd Tydeus at that instant leaving His native Calydonia Horrour cleaving Fast to his guilty soul for 's brothers blood I' th' dead of night trac'd the same desert wood And felt that storm of Ice and haile till raine Had wash'd his face and thaw'd his back again Then chances on that shelter where before T'other had stretch'd his limbs upon the floore Here chance presents a bloody rage The weather Can't make one roofe shroud both their heads together Their tongues beat the preparative till both Swoln big with anger rise And first they ' uncloath And strip their shoulders naked next they dare Each other Champion-like t' a single war The Thebane was the taller and had told Most suns o' th' two yet Tydeus was as bold And equal'd him in 's courage Give him 's merit In a lesse roome there raign'd a greater spirit By this time they were faln to cuffes the blows Like Scythian haile or darts an Army throws Flie thick about their ears Nor do they stick With buckled hammes their empty guts to kick So when th' Olympick games returne again At five years end to Iove on Pisa's plain The dust is laid with falling drops of sweat And the spectators differing votes do whet The striplings valour whilst the Matrons barr'd From entrance stand expecting their reward Thus quickned by their rage they fight this duell For 't was not praise they look'd for whilst their cruell Hook'd fingers claw their faces Each man cryes How he can best tear out his fellows eyes Perhaps their angry swords too had been drawn Which they had girt about them where thy bane Unhappy Thebane had been better wrought By a strangers hand But that Adrastus thought He heard some deep-fetch'd grones and outcryes passe I' th dead o' th night which call'd him to the place Whose hoary head since care and age did cumber He could not freely harbour quiet slumber Thus when by torch-light he was brought in state Down through the Courts and had unbar'd the gate He spies strange faces there scratcht mangled cheaks Which dropt large showers of blood With that he breaks To these expressions What inflames your angers To these uncivil broyles young fiery strangers None of my subjects durst presume I 'me sure To breake the peace thus rudely Why does your Unbounded rage disturbe the silent night Is the whole day too short Or d' ee delight To banish peace and rest Speak whence d' ee come Or whither go ye why so quarrelsome Your rage say's y' are not base A noble house â—s wrot in bloody letters on your brows Scarce had he done when speaking both together They mixe these words and frown on one another Milde King what need we talke this quarrell over These streames of blood you see our wrongs discover They utter'd this confusedly But next Tidêus goes on alone My soul being vext At her misfortunes left her native Land Of Monster-bearing Calydonia and Th' AEtolian plaines hoping to find some ease But close within your borders night did seize With all her powers upon me Who is this Denies my head a shelter here cause his Took ' first possession in the place We see The double shapen Centaures will agree To lodge together And the Cyclops rest But in one AEtna Nay the wildest beast Knows natures Laws and can't one roof contain Us two But why do I spend my self in vain Be whoso ' ere thou wilt thou art not like To triumph long If guilty blood don't strike New horrour to my soul I le make thee know I 'm O Eneus son and Mars his grandchild too We have both stock and courage too says t'other But 't was a startled conscience made him smother His Fathers name Stay saies the King asswage Such churlish thoughts begot by night or rage Or valour Use my Court come enter hither And let your shak'd hands joyn your hearts together 'T is not in vain nor were the gods asleep When first you quarreld Love perhaps may creep Through these rough paths then you may with laughter Remember these past discontents hereafter How truly did this reverend King foretell Their fortunes I when this storm was o're they fell In such a league as made another paire And might with Thesêus and his friend compare In
parted smeard with infants blood On both sides of her hung a babe whose hearts â—eak'd with her clawâ— which search their vitall parts Our Champion here sets on her guarded round With all his traine His sword siâ—ks intoth ' wound â—t made in her black brest and hunts her soule Through all her limbs till hell receives her foule â—espotted carcesse 'T was a joy to come â—nd see her ghastly lookes and panch that wombe â—n which sh 'ad cram'd our sucklings To behold â—er venom'd brest Amazement strooke us cold â—nd these extreames of joy turn pale again â—ome thrash'd her senslesse limbs seeking in vain This solace for their griefs Others brought trees â—o dash her teeth out rage their power out-vies â—e rav'nous skrieking birds few from these grounds â—hough hungerbitten when as deep-mouth'd hounds â—nd chap-faln wolves gaping at distance stood Greedy of prey yet durst not take such food Inrag'd Apollo sets an edge on 's spleen â—hus disappointed Sitting then between â—arnassus double top he armes his bow â—ith poyson'd arrows Whilst the fields below â—nd all the Graecian houses seem'd to flame â—hrough the thick clouds which hung about the same â—weet souls of all sides dropt Death cut the thred â—f Fate and captive townes in triumph led But when the Oracle was sought to why â—uch flames and dire Aspects possest the sky â—he same Power bids their lives should pay to hell â— sacrifice by whom his monster fell Couragious soul deserving when th' art dead â— lasting name Thou didst not hide thy head Through base degenerous fear nor trembled'st when Thou metst grim death to 'th face Thus Corâ—bâ— then With an undaunted looke stands at the doâ—â— Of the gods Temple and inrageth more The diviâ—e brest thus speaking I 'me not sent Phoeb ' to thy shrine nor come I to relent And beg thy pardon 't was mine own free spirit And care to th' publike brought me 'T was my merit That tam'd thy vengeance god 't is me th' hast sought With clouded foggy dayes and pest'lence brought From heav'n unjustly But if gods delight So much in monsters and regard so slight The losse o' th' world and death of men if heav'n Be so unkind How have the Graecians giv'n Just cause of anger May not I suffice Great Power to be the Fates just sacrifice Or does thy gentle heart declare more pity When it depopulates a well-fill'd City When the fields shine with bonfires which are made Of plowmens bones But why should I disswade Or stop thy striking hand The matrons vow Powr'd out long since attends me 'T is enough I have deserv'd that stroake that shall not spare me But draw thy well strung bow Let th' arrows tear me Send a triumphing soul to th' grave But then Drive that black cloud away that blasts our men So that I die be satisfied 'T is just To punish onely those who break their trust Phoeb's rage gave back aâ— this and grants a boone More then was ask'd His life The tempest soone Blew from our heav'n â— whilst Choroebe is intreated To leave the startled god This cause created These solemn feasts which yearly we renew T' appease the god whose Altars now ye view But what blood fils your veines my Friends Although If fame deserves beliefe Tydêus does owe His birth to Calydoniae and may claim Parthaons ancient scepter But what same Brought you to Argos Tell me who 's this other Since 't is a time to talke in nothing smother The noble Thebane now with down-cast eyes Swolne big with grief now with side-glances spies Tydêus his wounds then breakes his silence thus Before these Altars here it fits not us To mingle such discourses What I am How stock'd what bloud the country whence I came Will blast your sacrifice yet if yee 'r bent To know my wretched fortunes My descent Came from my grand-sire Cadmus Thebes the joy Of Mars my Country I Iocasta's boy And now Adrastus startled with his guest Discover'd thus saies why d' ee hide the rest 'T is known already Fame does take her rise Not so remote from Argos He that lies Under the North pole chatt'ring He thâ—t drinks I' th' Indian Ganges He i' th' West that thinks To trace the sun to bed and those that saile Amongst the Africk shoals have learn'd the tale Of Thebes beset with Furies and those eyes Which shrunk from their own guilt Let this suffice To thy complaints and score not up their sin On thine own head Such staines may be of kin To us from our forefathers But that blot Don't prejudice their off-spring Equall not Their vices but endeavour by thy merit To purge their guilt Them not their faults inherit But now Charls-waine declines and the chill sire Does disappear with fresh cups feed the fire Chant out Apollo's hymnes repeat his praise Our guardian still from our fore-fathers dayes Great Father Phoeb ' whether the snowy tops Of Patara delight thee Or the drops Of pure Castalian dew do bath thy haire Thy golden haire Or whether Troy does weare Thy name and presence where thou didst submit Thy self to labours for thy selfe unfit And serv'dst the Mason willingly or tir'd With seeking floating Delos if desir'd Cynthus Latona's welcome mount does please Cynthus whose top shades the AEgaean seas The Quiver's thine and bow stiffe-bent to quell Thy daring foes Eternall youth does dwell Upon thy cheeks Thou canst foretell the doome Of th' unjust Fates and know'st what is to come Knowst what decrees Iove means to passe doest shew What plagues or wars shall raigne what overthrow Of crowns heav'n points at 'T was thy harpe subdu'd The Phrygian minstrell Thou did'st drag the rude Earths offspring Titius downe to hell and take Just vengeance for thy mother Thou dost shake Envenom'd Python with thy lookes and quaile The Theâ—aâ—e dame with thy triumphant spoile Wrinckled Megara is thy Minister Tormenting hungry Phlegîas who does fear The ever-falling stone she proffers meat To 's empty stomach but he loathes to eat Great God be present thinke upon the place That entertain'd thee shew a smiling face To Iuno's land whether thou please to choose Faire Titans name which th' Achaemonians use Or if Osiris's title take the more Whom AEgypt makes the Author of her store Or as the Persians in their caves below Mitra which drawes by th' hornes a stubborn Cow Finis Lib. I. Statii Thebaid Argument Lib. 2. Statii Thebaidos Hermes returnes with Laius's Ghost which steales Tiresias's shape and in a dreame reveales To th' Tyrant Joves decree Adrastus gives Argia and Deiphile for wives To Polynice and Tydeus They are married With prodâ—gies because Argia carried Hermiones chaine The Thebane Prince desires His Crowne which Tydeus in his name requires Denied by th' King he war denounceth then Returnes by Sphinx her rock where fifty men Way lay
him they 're subdued He sends this story By Maeon back and sings Minerva's glory MEane time wing'd Mercury with Ioves embassage Returns from hell thick clouds oppose his passage And troubled aire infolds him Ne're a blast To drive't away but stinking fogges are cast Out of the silent region Then appear The spreading floods of Styx and flames of fire Belch'd out of sulph'rous streams which choak thâ— way Behind crawles Laius trembling whose delay His wound might yet excuse for in his side His sons rash sword sunke hilts and all He try'd The onset of the Furies yet he creeps And Hermes's powerfull wand doth guide his steps The barren groves were startled and those coasts Where the dark shades were fill'd with trembling Ghosts The Earth herselfe's amaz'd to see her womb Lye open back again nay there were some In their cold senselesse Urnes whose wither'd brows Spoke envy One amongst the rest whose vows Were still unlucky and which wrought his bane Heav'ns grief his joy heav'ns joy his grief began Saies Go and prosper whatsoe're designe Thou' rt call'd for whether Iove did so injoyne Or uncontrol'd Erinnys by thee sent Greeting toth ' day Or some Enchantresse spent Her charmes upon thy Tombe Thou shalt have sight Of the fresh aire and the forgotten light O' th' sun thou'lt tread upon the springing grasse And hear the warbling Rivers as they passe From their clear fountaines Yet at last with pain Look to return to these black shades again No sooner Cerb'rus spies them from the dark Cell where he lay but he begins to bark With all his mouthes at once The cur does grin At such strange ghosts as seek to enter in But now he swels his bristled neck inraged And would have torne them piece-meal But asswaged By the gods powerfull Scepter down he lies And treble sleep tames his three paire of eyes There is a place which the old Graecians said Was Taenarus where foaming Malea's head Which seamen tremble at towrs to the sky's Till it hath quite lost the beholders eyes The lofty top's still faire and does disdain Th' inferiour power of wind or force of rain But the tir'd stars rest on it and the wind There ye may trace the lightning and the ranks And shapes o' th' clouds are moulded on those banks The soaring Lark could never raise her flight So high nor thunder could this Mountain fright But when the day grows old the shade does flee Strange bounds are these toth ' midst o' th' neighbour Sea There Taenarus crooks his broken shoars as though His coward banks gave backward from the rough And boistrous waves Here Neptune lands his steads Tir'd in th' AEgean Sea whose fore-hoof treads The sands but spread to a fishes tail behind From hence as men report the pale Ghosts find A by-way path through which due Custome's reard By death to Pluto's Court Here may be heard Strange shreeks and groans if any truth be found In the Arcadian Plow-men all the ground Rings with a hellish noise Sometimes a stroak Sometimes a word which the last Fury spoak Sounds till high-noon It frights the Country-boare Out of the fields to hear Deaths Porter roare Here Hermes with a Stygian fog surrounded Springs into th' ayre The clouds which late abounded Break with his Glory His warm breathing makes Fair weather round about him Thence he takes His circuit by Arcturus mounting then Through Phoebes silent Orbe ore lands and men Sleep meets him with Nights chariot and does rise With reverence and straight departs the skies Laius beneath him hovers and does view The stars he 's robb'd of whence his soul he drew And now to Cyrrha's craggy top was come Whence he spies Phocis stained with his tombe At last he reaches Thebes there sighs out tears Neer his sons threshold Yet at first forbears To passe those wel-known dores But when he spies Those stately roofs whose beauteous tops did rise On pillars he had laid and saw those wheels Stain'd yet with bloud troubled he backward reels The Thund'rers high command the charming force Of the Arcadian rod scarce stopp'd his course As 't chanc'd too 't was a solemn Day which heav'n Mark'd out with thunder when young Bacchus giv'n To 's Fathers thigh found a too early birth From Semele This caus'd the Tyrants mirth To banish sleep that night but spread abroad Through house and ground belch'd out the pursie God Amongst their Crowns and empty Cups till day Did part them There ye might have heard them play On their loud Pipes and Trumpets which o'recome In their shrill noise the ratling of the Drum And glad Cithaeron tie'd the women out Inflam'd now not inrag'd to dance about His un-trod thickets So the Thracians spread Bankets to their rash troups o' th' snowy head Of Rhodope or Dale of Ossa where The panting limbs of beasts which they did tear From Lions jaws and bloud with milk allaid Proves a rich Feast but if their sense be staid With wines inraging sent then 't is their play To dash their cups throw stones or any way To shed their partners bloud with which the rabble Will make new feasts and garnish a new table Such was the night when swift Cyllenius crept Toth ' Thebanes privy-Chamber who then slept Stretch'd out at large upon his Ivory bed With cov'rings of Assyrian tap'stry spred How carelesse is mans heart He feasts he sleeps But Laius did as he was taught and creeps In blind Tiresias's borrow'd hiew left this Might seem a dream he wears his voice and fleece His own locks still remain'd and the driv'n snow Upon his chin so did his palenesse too But a false Miter on his hair was plac'd And 's veyle with wreaths of Olive boughs was grac'd Then seems to touch the breast o' th' sleeping King With 's bough and thus the Fates decrees to sing This is no time for sleep secure from fear Of thy false brother Dullard Doest not hear Heroick acts invite thee Doest not see What preparations Foole he makes for Thee Thou dalliest like a sleeping Pilot when The Sea works high with winds his Compasse then Is quite forgot his Stern let loose And yet Thy brothers new-match'd spouse Fame saies has set New wings on 's soul He 's gathering strength to gain Thy Kingdome from thee and deny 't again H'appoints thy Court the nurs'ry for his age Adrastus his Wives Father does ingage His resolution deeper with what force Her Dowry th' Argives bring Nay which is worse Tydeus who 's stain'd in 's brothers bloud has tied A solemn knot of friendship Hence his pride Puffs up it self this raises his intent To promise thee a lasting banishment The King of heav'n in pity sent me down With this advice Keep Thebes It is thine own Banish th' ambitious brother who would deal As ill with thee let not his gaping
wives and Orphans with sad Parents spred Through all the plaines and rocks run who should feed Their eyes first with their miseries It was A sad contest whilst many thousands passe Along to comfort them And some haste on To see what one man in one night had done The way reek'd with their sighs Their cries were heard Through all the fields But when those rocks appear'd And that unhallow'd wood as if their shreikes Now first began and tears first stain'd their cheeks One generall out-cry's made this sight of blood Had kindled all their rage Black sorrow stood In mourning weeds all torne and mangled paps Inviting on the Matrons They unclaspe The beavers from their stiff'ned brows and shew The bodies as they found them which they knew Falling on friends and strangers One besmeares Her locks with goare some close the eyes Her tears Are shed to bath his wounds This plucks a dart With a vaine pity from her husbands heart Part fit the trunke limbs as they grew before And joyne the shoulders to the head they bore But Ide mother to the Thespian paire Wandring i' th' braky sands whose scatter'd haire Was tuck'd up as her double losse commands In carelesse manner having bath'd her hands I' th blood of her pale cheekes Not wretched now Now not unhappy Fear and dread does flow From both her eyes Thus through the field of war And slaughter powd'ring her neglected haire With dust she seekes her widow'd joyes and moanes O're ev'ry slaughter'd carkasse for her sons As a Thessalian hag joy'd with the newes Of some late battell from whose Countries use Shee' has learnd to charme up some departed wight With seare-branch'd-Cedar-torch-light in the night Traces the fields where ev'ry corpse is tost As 't welters in its blood to see what Ghost To her commands freest it selfe engages Whilst the black Round complaines and Pluto rages Those lay together underneath the rock Happy to fall the same day by th' same stroke Their breasts were pegg'd together with the speare Which when her eyes saw having drop't a teare Sons is 't a Mother saies she that beholds These your close kisses These your loving folds Has deaths too cruell wit thus coupled you I' th close of life Whose wounds first shall I view Whose lips salute Are you your Mothers glory My wombs best fortune Which should raise my story To heav'n outvying other Matrons names Ah! how much happier are those coupled Dames Whose barren wombes n'ere call'd Lucina down To ease their paines my paines my ills may owne Nor fell you nobly in the day of war The talke of Nations what things you did dare Leaving a badge of honour to your Mother You died a poor base death which night would smother Could so great blood steale without praise to th' grave But I le not strive to part you or to have Your hands untwined as they lie embrac't And breake your league of death Goe Brethren last Long undistinguisht when your bodies burne And may your kinde Ghosts mingle in your Urne Thy wife laments no lesse Chromis for thee And Pentheus mother sad Astioche Having prepar'd the Fun'rals You might gather From Phaedrims infants they had lost their Father Phylleus her spouse Marpissa weepes alas Whilst sisters bath the bloody Achamas Now they lop'd downe the wood and shav'd the head O' th' neighbour hill which witness'd this black deed And saw their teares But sage Alethes stood Before the piles and whilst no mourner could Be drawne from their owne fires his reverend age Seekes with these words their sorrows to asswage Our Nation seldome has been free from danger by 'th' sport of Fate since the Sidonian stranger Threw his curs'd seed in our Aonian plaines Whence new blades sprung fields affright their Swaines But Thebes ne're wept so loud when lightning turn'd Old Cadmus court to ashes where it burn'd By Iuno's counsell Nor when Athamas Downe from the mount with fun'rall spoiles did passe Shouting for his halfe-dead Learchus feares Nay Thebes was bath'd in no more fruifull teares When tir'd Agave's madnesse found reliefe And stood amaz'd at her companions griefe The fate and mischiefe of this single day Is like the time when Niobe did pay For her proud boasts where overwhelm'd with ills She gives so many corpses to their piles So left the people then the naked City Whilst aged Sires and rankes of Matrons pity That heav'n should envy thus and ev'ry gate Was crowded with two Funerals My Fate Then taught me like my Parents to lament Although my years knew not what sorrowes meant Heav'n wrought all this Nor griev'd I more because The furious dogs knew not their Masters face Wandring by Delia's fountaines where he spi'de Forbidden sights or when thy blood did glide Great Queen in new-sprung streames 'T was the decree Of Fate and Ioves high pleasure Whereas we Are rob'd o' th' kingdomes pillars all our power By one false Tyrants fault Nor at this hower Greece how th' Ambassage was rejected hears And now we thinke we waile the worst of wars How shall the horses foame what sweaty brows Will roule i' th' dust how red the Current flowes Green years will see this Whilst I may will I Kindle my pile and in my Country lie Thus spake th' old Father and much aggravates Etheocles his sin whil'st he relates His cruell wicked purpose which ere long Just vengeance would pursue What taught his tongue This freedome He foresaw his end was nigh His dayes were spent and he would bravely die The King of heav'n from 's stately palace view'd These Nations first in their owne blood imbru'd And sends post-haste for Mars Who laying waste Some Thracian and Getick townes did haste And drove his charret furiously toth ' skie Lightning did creast his helme the gold did die On 's cruell armes which quickned with the shapes Of monstrous beasts he shooke Whilst thunderclaps Crack heav'n a bloody-red light sets upon His shield whose envy strikes the distant Sun When Iove beheld him puffing with his late Sarmatick paines and swelling still with hate And warr 's huge Tempest Go saies he appeare Through Greece as th' art Nor sword nor anger clear Bid them scowre up the rusty bits and hate All but thy selfe Thee in their lives estate And fortunes Breake delaies Cashiere that peace We gave them Thou maist fire heav'n if thou please Thou maist disturbe my quiet I have sowne The seed of discord thus Tydeus does frowne At his returne reporting the base act Attempted by the King fit to contract As base a war The treacheries which were laid And by his steele reveng'd 'T is thou must adde Credit to 's words Ye gods which draw your line From me dissent not Hope not to decline My sentence by your prayers The black clew O' th' sister-Fates has sworne this day is due To Mars from th' Earths first
visage breaks Through the red lake neer him Harmione keeps From both whose crowns a double serpent creeps The Gyants Mars his brood about him stand Whose age was but one day Each hath his hand Upon his sword each do's regard his armes â—pposing rushing plotting others harmes â—ith Live-mens rage Nor is their drinke so good â—'th ' furrows they thirst one anothers blood â—ext come their daughters for their Children crying â—ereft Autonoe breathlesse Ino spying â—he bow still offering her sweet babe the teat â—nd Semele with armes cross'd o're her great â—nd pregnant wombe Then Agave with teares â—ursues her Pentheus breaking th' Ivy speares Now dispossest by th' God she open laies Her bloody breast He flies through desert wayes Of Styx and Lethe where his milder Father Weeps for him and his sâ—atter'd limbs do's gather â— know sad Lycus Athamas I know With 's hands behind on 's shoulders he does throw His dead sons corps Nor hath Aristeus's son Chang'd yet his habit or ill shape pâ—t-on Antlets still arme his brows and darts his hand He kick's of 's dogs at 's wounds which gaping stand See envious Niobe following with her traine Recounts her losses in a swelling straine And not dejected joyes she has outgone The pow'r o' th' Gods now thinks her tongue 's her own While the unspotted maid sung thus t' her Sire His hoary haires raise up his garland higher Standing on end and some thin bloud do's flow In 's wither'd cheekes on 's staffe he leanes not now Or 's daughters hand but standing bolt upright Break off thy song saies he I want no light My clouds begin to scatter the darke mist Breakes from mine eyes Supream Apollo is 't Thy spirit fils me What I heard I see But marke â— the Graecian shadows pensive be With down-cast eyes there frowning Abas and Mischievous Proetus mild Phoroneus stand With mangled Pelops and O Enomaus too Besmear'd with bloody sand Their large tears do Bedew their cheekes Hence I conceive successe Will crown the Thebanes But what meanes this prease Of fighting souls as armes and wounds discover Shewing their heads and breasts all blouded over And hands lift up with seeming cries If I Mistake not they 're those fifty D'ont you spie Chronius and Chromis Phegeus Maeon too Grac'd with our baies Be not enraged so Brave Captaines Thinke not mortall counsailes durst Conspire your deaths Th' hard-hearted sisters first Had spun your years You have o're-past your paine We must feele war and Tydeus once againe This said he drives away the Ghosts that stood With Chaplets crown'd and shews them offer'd blood Laius stands on Cocytus bankes alone Brought back to hell by Hermes he squints on His wicked grand-son For he knew his looke No draughts of blood or other showres he tooke As th' other Ghosts but breathes immortall hate Tiresias straight leaps out Thou whom the State Of Thebes call'd their deserving Generall Since whose death no good day did e're befall Amphions towers Thou whose bloody slaughter Is full reveng'd in those which follow'd after And Ghost appeas'd Oh whither do'st thou flye He whom thou hat'st a lingring death doth dye And knocks now at hels thresholds dawbing o're His empty eye-holes with black filth and gore Depriv'd of day beleev 't no death's so vile Why then do'st shun thy harmlesse Nephew Smile On us let this blood-offering suffice And set this war's event before our eyes Angry or pittying Then I le make good Thy deny'd passage over Lethes flood In the desired boat and holy dust Shall cover thy pleas'd ashes which I le trust Toth ' care of Stygian Gods These dignities Appease the Ghost who moistning's cheekes replies Why coaetanean Priest am I by thee Raising the Ghosts call'd to this Augury And chosen first to speake of chance to come When thoughts of what 's past are too burdensome Brave Nephews Fie for shame must our advice Be ask'd Bring to your hellish sacrifice Him him whose falchion made his Father bleed And to the womb that bare him rais'd up seed Who now the Gods and the black Furies crew Doth tire and for theâ—e wars to us doth sue But if I needs must sing such times as these So far as Lachesis and Megaera please I le speake War war vast troopes on all sides finds And fatall Mars spurs on the Graecian minds These must expect Earths monsters darts from heav'n Brave deaths to which no Fun'rals may be giv'n by th' Law the vict'ry Thebes will be thine owne Fear not thy brother shan't enjoy thy Crowne But yet the Furies and that double sin Back't with thy Fathers curse woes me shall win Mid'st the sharp swords This said he disappears And 's doubtfull riddles left them full of fears Meane time cold Nemea and the thickets where Hercules's fame resounds the quarters were o th' Graecian regiments who are greedy now To get Sidonian pillage thinking how To rifle batter'd houses Phoebus tell Who turn'd their rage how stop'd what crosse befell Them in their journey The reports of Fame Gives little light at first Tir'd Bacchus came From warfare on tam'd AEmus where he taught Arm'd Getes his Orgies and two winters brought The top of snowy Othrys to looke green On Rhodope Icarian shades were seen And now he drives his vine-spread Chariot to His mothers wals unbridled Lynxes goe On either hand and Tygres lick the fome â—rom reines long steep'd in wine Behind do come Triumphing Priests with spoiles of cattell slaine Halfe slaughter'd wolves torne beares Nor was this train More dull for Anger Fury Courage Fear And fiery Heat still in extreames was there With stumbling steps Tents like their King beside But when he saw a cloud of dust did hide Trac'd Nemea and the sun-beames glistred bright Upon their steele Thebes unprepar'd to fight Mov'd at the sight though pin'd in face and breast The drums and trumpets and still pipes he ceast Whose divers tunes fill'd his astonish'd ears Then thus he spake This Army here prepares My ruine and my Nations Cruell Greece Thus rag'd he and my stepdame plotted this Could not my Mothers unjust flames suffice Could not the fires which at my birth did rise And lightnings which I felt my self But must Curst shee strike at the reliques too and dust Of Ioves lost Concubine shall she destroy What 's left of Thebes I le cheat them to delay Holla Companions haste to yonder plaines At 's word the harness'd Tygres raise their manes And hurry straight toth ' field It was the time When the faint day perceiv'd the Sun to climbe Toth ' height of heav'n whilst little moysture
waters have No rest far from the fount Ev'n now the flood â—as pure and cleare toth ' bottom now the mud â—tirr'd up defiles it Then they breake the banke â—read down the grasse Their thirst though quench'd they dranke â—his puddle water still You 'd thinke they are â—ighting a battell thinke that open war â—aged now i' th' channell or some City were â—aken and sack'd by the proud Conquerer And one o' th' Captaines in the mid'st o' th' flood Begins thus Nemea thou most springing wood â— mansion fit for Iove as dang'rous now As Herc'les found thee when he brake in two The monsters crested neck and prest his tough â—roud soul in his swolne limbs Be it enough That hitherto malitious windes did blow Upon thy peoples enterprise And oh Thou horned spring of this eternall river â—ntam'd by th' Sun flow joyfull swelling ever â—rom whatsoever house thy cold head flows â—or neither hoary winter lends thee snows Nor th' Bow powres streames stol'n from another spring Nor watry Plyads clouds to feed thee bring Thou run'st thine owne unconquer'd by the stars Not either Xanthus nor Phoeb's t Ladon dares Compare with thee nor threatning Sperchius nor Monstrous Lycorme In peace and clouds of war â—le celebrate thy praise at sacred Feasts Next Iove's thy honour Welcome but thy guests From war with joy open kind streames againe T' our weary limbs Owne thy defended traine Argument Lib. V. Statii Thebaidos After their thirst was quench'd Hypsip'les story Is ask'd by King Adrastus She though sorry Replies I 'me borne a Lemnian Thoas's daughter Where Venus by Polixo's mouth breath'd slaughter To all our males and all but Thoas feel Our swords Him Bacchus guides The Argo keel Touch here in a storme Their landing's stop'd before We knew them then receiv'd Two sons I bore To Jason They depart I 'me banish'd Here A serpent kill'd Opheltes Cap'neus's spear Dispatch'd him She laments Lycurgus tried Her death they guard her Th' infant's deified THeir thirst now quenc'd i' th' river roil'd with mud The bankes were broke whilst they dranke downe the floud The mettall'd horse prance fiercer in the plaine The foot do shout mens soules reviv'd again So did their rage and wishes as if fire Mixt with the streame had kindled their desire To bloody war In ranke and file they 're plac'd And order'd strictly as they were listed last Under their leaders they are bid advance And now the first dust rais'd the sun-beames glance Through the thick woods upon their Armes So when Hoarse shoales of cranes come from white Nile agen When winters over where warme AEgypt had Defended them they crost the maine and shade Both Sea and Land The untract aire does hear Their gagling flight Now Northern stormes they bear Swim in thaw'd streames on bleake Haeme summering Adrastus here incircled with a ring Of Nobles under an old ash did stand Resting on Polynices Spear his hand And spake thus Thou who hast the glory that So many troops to thee do owe their fate An honour worthy of heav'ns Soveraign King Tell us since we stand quickned by thy spring Thy stock or land derived from what star Thy Father yet some God-head can't be far Though fortune 's fled thy blood does Nobler flow And Majesty shines in thy afflicted brow The Lemnian sighes and shedding modest tears Shee answers Gen'rall you renew my cares And rub my wounds to speak o' th' Furies and Lemnos and Geniall beds with weapons stain'd And all our Males slaine with accursed steel The horrid fact strikes terrour now I feel Cold Furies at my heart Oh Caitiffs thus Inrag'd oh night oh Sire 'T was I ne're blush For your kind guide 'T was I alone that freed My rescued Father But these evils need No such long Preface And your armes controle With the great resolutions of your soule This may suffice I Thoas's daughter call'd Hypsip'le serve Lycurgus now inthral'd This does possesse their soules and now she shines More glorious and seemes fit for such designes Then all would know her chance Adrastus first Exhorts her thus Come on report the worst Of their base enterprise thy praise their grief How there depos'd thou sought'st here for relief Our Van does march before for in the wood O'regrowne with shrubs and briars 't is not good To passe in a full body 'T is some rest In misery to have our griefs exprest Th' AEgaean waves saies shee beat on the shoare Of sea-girt Lemnos Vulcan tir'd before In fiery AEtna here takes breath the Land Is cloth'd with Atho's shade which nigh does stand Darkning the sea with 's woods The Thracians trace The other side That fatall shoare of Thrace Our plague The Isle was rich in valiant spirits Not Samos not resounding Dele inherits More buds of Fame Not all the coasts are wash'd By foaming AEgeus But the Gods have dash'd Our peace Nor want we guilt No fires did shine On Venus Altars nor had she a shrine Thus grief long since her heav'nly mind controls And slow-pac'd punishment creeps on our souls Paphos and th' hundred Altars she forsooke Carelesse of face or haire they say she broke Her coupling girdle banishing her payre Of young Idalian doves Nay some declare They saw the Goddesse i' th' darke shades of night Weare other flames and with new darts affright 'Mongst Furies she into their chambers breakes Filling their closest roomes with twining snakes And terrifies all houses without pity To her poor faithfull husbands wretched City Forthwith all tender Love from Lemnos fled Hymen's displac'd his Torches trail'd the bed The Geniall bed grew cold No joyes at night No soft imbraces cherish'd sleep But spite Rage hatred discord fils the sheets Our men Are plotting how to rout proud Thracians in Th' opposite Coast and how to triumph over That war-like people and when they discover Their house or babes stand on the adverse shoares They chose AEdonian cold where Arctos roares Or after battaile in the silent night Loud torrents breaking from the hills delight The woman sad drench'd night and day in tears My virgin years were not then ripe for cares Mix'd comfortable words or gaz'd upon Curs'd Thrace on t'other side The mid-day Sun Poiz'd then his horses in the height of heav'n As though they 'd stop'd Four thundercracks were giv'n From the clear skie Four times black Vulcans deâ— Open'd its flaming top Th' AEgaean when The windes were quiet did worke high and roare And with proud swelling waves did beat the shoare When sodainly Polixo ripe of age Carried by th' Furies in a horrid rage Unusually flies from her cell abroad Like Thebane Thyas toss'd by th' frantick God When 's Orgies call th' Idaean pipes invite And Evan sounds downe from the mountaines heigâ— Thus with ghast looks chill'd blood and roaving
dedicated to Iuno Samos had the honour to see her Nuptials i A City devoted to Isis formerly Io now deified k This sacrifice began with sound of kettledrums where Isis's teares for her Osâ—â—is were thought to cause Niles inundations l Pisa in Arcadia by whose wall Alphâ—us flowes neere which was Ioves grove m Alpheus afâ—er a long câ—urse under earth and sea rises againe with the fountaine Arethusa in Sicily n Who proposed his daughter Hippodamia a prize to him that conquerd him in a chariot combat which cost the lives of thirteen wooers o Thracia where Diomedes his horses were fed with mans flesh p Where Paris gave the rash judgement against Iuno q The place of Ioves nativity which does likewise boâ—st of his tombe r There worship'd s Mother to Venus and solicitous for her grandchild Hermione t The Embassadour of heav'n u Father to O Edipus w Of Lethe whence no returne x That the souls of slaughtered bodies wander a hundred yeares y Etheocles z Called Atlantiades from his grandsire Atlas King of Arcadia a Not daring openly to appear there in his brothers year b Himselfe by course c First King of the Argives whence they are called Inachidae d Who expelling King Sthenelus governed Argos e Where Atreus frighted Thyestes with a banquet of his own children At which sight the Sun fled backward f In which Bacchus's Priestesses performed their howling sacrifices g Of the Bacchae which lance themselves h A Boeotian mountaine devoted to Bacchus on whose smooth top was a long continued plaine i A famous thiefe who threw the passengers he had rob'd from this place headlong into the sea k The City Megara where Scylla cut off her fathers fatall haire l The Isthmos where Corinth stands is between the Ionian and AEgean Seas m AEolia is a part ef ' Asia minor where AEolus king of the windes kept Court n A wooddy country near the city Cleonâ— where Hercules slew the famous Lyon o Five in number viz. Cyllenus Lycaeus Lycormis Argoleon and Maenalus p Named from the first Argive king q Arising in the North. r The poole where Hercules killed the serpent Hydra s In which shades Pan kept his summer Court of residence t For there was a Thessalian City of that name which named Achilles Larissaeus u Where stood Iuno's Temple w This lake was dried up by Hercules burning the spungy ground about it The name of Hydra being fetch'd 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 x Where Adrastus kept Court y Son to Tà laus the grandchild of Iupiter and Eurynome daughter to Apollo z Dcipbile and Argia a Amphiaraus Oicles's son b The son of O Eneus raigning over Calydon Pleuros and Oleuos Cities of AEtolia c Menalippus whom unawares he had slaine as he was hunting d Ripâ—eus the most Northern mount of Scythia is famous for these stormes e A City of Elis â—â—eer which the Olympick games were celebrated every fifth year to the honour of Iupiter f No women were admit 〈…〉 g 〈…〉 h Killing his brother unawares i The boar slain by Meleager and sent by Diana k Which were wash'd by Achelous a â—iver springing in Thessalia l Halfe men halfe horses indeed Thessalians the first that back'd horses m The shop where they make Ioves thunderbolts n Of hiâ— late slaughter o Melâ—â—ger the father to O Eneus was son to 〈…〉 p 〈…〉 q The four paire of friends are famous Theseus and Perithous Pylades and Orestes Patroclus and Achilles Tydeus and Polynices r Perithous accompâ—nied by his friend to hell in search of Proserpina s Orâ—stes haunted by the Furies for Clytemnestra's murther was freed by Pylades's advice t Hercules whilst a child slew a Lion neer Teumessus whose â—kin he alwayes used as a mantle u For there is another Tempe in Thessalia this in Boeotia w Afterwards one of his twelve labours x Famous formerly for the great boare Diana sent y Where the Tripos was z The colour making them proper for the night Macr. a Having been shut up five years whence they were called Lustralia b With which they used to sprinkle the inferâ—all sacrificeâ— and those offered to the Dii minores c The place where the Pythiaâ—ate â—ate when she prophesied d Having sacrificed the day before to Apollo e At whose Altars they use to be presented spotlesse on their marriage day by a matron f Two former kings of the Argives f Two former kings of the Argives g He was said to flye to the Gorgons execution because he was the first that used a ship with sailes h Tros his son beloved of Iupiter and mounted to heaven on an Eagles back where he was made the gods cup-bearer i Retaining still Daphnes temper k Said to be born of the earth and slaine by Apollo because the sun dries up those vapours which are exhaled from the moist ground l Nothing staind with bloud before expiation made might be admitted to the court of heaven m Once king of the Argives n Psamate beloved of and ravish'd by Apollâ— p Not broke it off as in common destinies q As that of the dogâ—r so generally hurtfull r Called Thymbraeus from a place neer Troy where he was worshipped s Provoking it by these affronts t Son to O Eneus King of Calydonia * AEtoliae where now raign'd Praetus Tydeus's unkle u Named her from Ismenos a Thebane river w Modestly for shame concealing his fathers name x Either from Queen Hermione Mars's daughter or for the Gyants springing from the dragons teeth both being the delight of Mars y As from Tantalus z Two Northern signes viz. Sepâ—entrio and Opiochus which at the first appearance of the morne burne dim z Two Northern signes viz. Sepâ—entrio and Opiochus which at the first appearance of the morne burne dim a As when Apollo taught Thyestes after Atreus his wickednesse to marry his own daughter Pelopeia on whom he begat AEgisthus who reveng'd his father by Agamemnons death b A Lycian City dedicated to Apollo c Apollo enamourd of Castalia who threw herself into a fountain used to dip his locks in the waters d That of Thymbraeus e When he and Neptuneâ—ere â—ere hired to build the wals of Troy by Laomedon f When Delos could not be found by Latona Cynthus the highest mountaine discovered it self where she brought forth Apollo and Diana g The sun never grows old h By Comets i Marâ—ias who challeng'd Apollo k Seeking to inforce l Niobe contending with Diana was deprived by Apollo of all her children m Who burning the temple of Apollo was placed in hell under a huge stone whose downfall was daily threatned and he fed there by Megara n â—n Crotopus's time o These were part of Persia named from their King Achaemenes p Worshipped under that â—ame by the AEgâ—ptians q The Persian worshipped the sun eclipsed in a Cave by the name of Mitra in the shape of a Lion
fabrick and those are A people destin'd from their birth to war But should my justice finde you her gaine-saiers Not to plague old offences in the heires Witnesse y'Eternall Towers Thou Cabinet Of mine owne thoughts And what as heav'n I set In mine esteeme Thou cleare Elyzian water This hand shall Thebes and her proud bulwarkes batter Whose towers raz'd to the ground on Greece I le powre Or turne them both to poysoned Lakes by a shower Of blood rain'd downe Though Iuno in her armes Embrace her hils and Temples midst these harmes This said they trembling doe their speech forbear And quell their thoughts as if they mortalls were As when the windes in league becalme the seas No waves forbid the shoare to sleepe at ease The shady leaves and clouds are scorch'd with heat Without a blast to coole them Then the great And roaring lakes contract themselves The Sun Drinkes up the streames which now with silence run Mars triumphs at these summons as he rides On 's fâ—ery wheeles toth ' left the reynes he guides And having reâ—ch'd his journey Heav'ns ascent Venus does boldly 'fore his steedes present Herselfe They startling back let fall their manes With reverence She on their harnesse leanes And glancing her moist eyes makes this complaint Meane while his steeds were fed with Adamant Which sprung besides her feet Prepar'st thou war For Thebes Doest thou her lovely Sire prepare So kind a war And seek'st thou to destroy Thy off-spring Can't Harmonie nor the joy Of heav'n those weddings Can 't my tears be heard To stop thy rage Is this a just reward For my offence Left I my bashfull spirit And wore I Lemnian chaines that I might merit This boone Proceed But 't is another duty Wrong'd Vulcan payes whose anger serves my beauty He would be glad eternally to sweat In 's forge at my command And nightly sit Watching at 's anvile He would hammer Thee Ev'n Thee a suite of armes Yet Thou But I Thinke by my teares to melt a rockie heart A heart of brasse This onely this impart I beg it Why didst cause my childe to take A Tyrian spouse and fatall wedlock make Thy boast was that those champions of Tyre Though sprung from Vipers challeng'd Iove their Sire Brave lively spirits Oh that my girle had joyn'd To a Northern blade of the Sithonian kind Beyond thy Thrace I' st not enough disgrace Queen Venus's daughter creeps upon the grasse And spits her poyson in th' Illyrian coast But now a Nation undeserving's lost The Warriour could no longer bear this waste Of teares but handling's speare leaps downe in haste From 's lofty Chariot where his buckler meets her With rough embraces and thus kindly greets her Thou sweet refreshment from my warlike toyles My soules content whose beauty only foyles My darts 'mongst gods or men who safely charm'st My foming steeds and this right hand disarm'st I ha'nt forgot th' alliance Cadmus claimes Nor thy dear Love Let me not bear these blames Unjustly sooner I le be drench'd in hell And driv'n disarm'd to the pale Furies cell But now the Fates decree and Ioves command I must obey Thy Vulcan has no hand Fit for such service How dare I oppose Ioves pleasure or contemne what hee 'l impose When late he spoke heav'n earth and the vast deep Strange power stood trembling Nay the gods did creep And hid themselves though of his ranke Yet dear Be not possess 't with a despairing fear Since there 's no change I le an assistant sit Toth ' Thebane armes when both their hosts shall meet Under the Tyrian wals Then shalt thou see Me hurry through the field of blood and be A terrour to the Graecians with more joy No law nor destiny does this deny This said he whips his horses through the skie Ioves thunderbolts do not more swiftly flie To th' distant Earth when on the snowy head Of Othrys or cold Ossa he does tread And armes his hand i' th clouds Downe fall his darts Bearing his sad commands Their sparkeling starts The Universe should they a drought infer Toth ' Earth or shipwrack to the Mariner Now Tydeus did his wary steps recall Toth ' Graecian plaines and sweet Prosymna's dale His lookes affright his haire with dust abounds A showre of sweat fals into 's open wounds His eyes looke red with watching thirst contracts His drawn-up mouth his mind feeds on his acts And breathes his lasting fame Just so comes back The pushing bull to 's pastures with his neck And deawlap and torne shoulders drench'd in gore Of 's owne and 's enemies blood Though tir'd before His courage rises now His pride does grow From sight of 's mangled breast His conquer'd foe Lies roaring as he tumbles on the ground Which bids him slight the anguish of his wound Thus he returnes and as he pass'd enflames The Inland townes betwixt Asopus streames And Argos Every where discoursing how Himselfe Ambassadour from Greece did goe To aske for banish'd Polynices right Where he endur'd such force so black a night That craft those treach'rous armes combin'd together by 'th' Tyrants charge who 'l not resigne tâ—'s brother The people soone beleeve him Mars prepares Their credulous souls and Fame does raise their feares He entring on a sodaine at the gate What time Adrastus and his Nobles sate â—n Parliament cries out at th' Palace doore â—rme Arme my sparkes and thou great Soveraigne power â—hich rulest Greece if any grandsires blood â—oe swell thy veines to Armes All that is good And right all thoughts of heav'n are fled from men More safely I a Legate might have been To th' greedy Scythians or that bloody theife Of the Bebrician wood Nor do I grieve Or check you for commanding I am glad I 'm glad I went and prov'd what strength they had In guilty Thebes Trust me an Army back'd With night and craft besieg'd me in a tract Of ground I knew not naked yet in vaine As they had gone some fortresse to obtaine Or well-fenc'd towne appointâ—d Cap-a-pe And arm'd with plots they came t' encounter me There weltring in their blood before the wall O' th empty City Now 's the time to fall On our affrighted foes when they have made Their fun'rall piles ere I ungraspe my blade Though tir'd with sending fifty soules toth ' grave My wounds not cleans'd and bleeding yet I crave Let 's march away Th' amazed Graecians rise But first the Thebane meets with downe-cast eyes I am accurs'd of heav'n who guilty view Thy wounds untouch'd my selfe Was this my due At my returne dear Brother was this strife Level'd at me O base desire of life Wretch that I should deny this crimson staine To my false Brother But may you remaine Long blest with peace A stranger shan't beget Your trouble Neither ha's my fortune yet Swell'd me so high but that I know what smart And griefe it is from wife