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THE > 



T H E B A I D 



OF 



S T A T I U S, 



TRANSLATED INTO 



ENGLISH VERSE, 

WITH 

NOTES AND OBSERVATIONS. 

-■•■-■■ 

THE SECOND EDITION CORRECTED. 

■ 1 



Vol. II. 



LONDON: 

Printed for T. B s c k e t, in the Strmd* 

MDCCLXXni. 

^1 



V'7 73 



THE 



HEBAID OF STATIUS. 



BOOK THE SEVENTH. 



The argument. 



JUPITER angered at the Belays of the Grecian 
Arntfy fends Mercury to Mars to command bim to 
forward the War. The Temple of that Deity is defcribed^ 
Then follows AdraftusV Speech over the Sepulchre of Ar- 
chemorus. Mars, by Means of Terror^ incites the Gre- 
cians to refume their March to Thebes. Bacchus inter-^ 
cedes for his native City with Jupiter, who pacifies him 
with Promifes of a Refpite. The Theban Troops and 
Auxiliaries are drawn out to Battle. Vhovhzs gives an^ 
Account of the Commanders of them to Antigone, who af- 
tends one of the Towers for that Purpofe. Eteocles ha- 
rangues his Army. The Greeks jr^ terrified with fever al 
Omens in their Route to Thebes. Jocaila with her two 
Daughters ventures into the Enemies Campj in order to 
bring about a Reconciliation between the two Brothers^ 
which fhe had effeSedy had not the Greeks kiUed two Ti- 
gers belonging to Bacchus. Hofiilities commencing^ feve^ 
ral of Note are flain on both Sides. Amphiaraus, after 
a great Slaughter of the Enemy ^ is fw allowed up by an 
Earthquake^ with an Account of which Prodigy the Book . 
ends. 



THE 

THEBAID OF STATIUS^ 

BOOK THE SEVENTH. 



INDIGNANT now, th' ethcrial King furvcy'd 
The Tbebqn War by funeral Games delayed. 
And (hook his Head : beneath the moving God 
From Pole to Pole the ftarry Regions nod. 
And Masy with unwonted Weight oppreft, J 

To the great Author of the Shock addreft 

His juft Complaint. To Maia's winged Son 

In awful Tone th' Almighty thus begun. 
CylkmuSy mount the Winds and fpeed thy Flight 
With fwift Defcent from Heav*ns imperial Height, to 
To where in Air the Thradan Domes arife. 
And fair Calyfto binds the northern Skies^ 



v^ I. Indignant »o<tv] Statins has here xnaoifefted his Belief of one 
fapr^me Almightjr Being, whom he introduces with a Dignity and 
Saperiority fuiting his Charadler and Nature. There is a Noble^ 
nefs in this Defidription, that would not have difgraced ^Virgil him- 
lelf ; and the Hupendous Efieds of the l^od are finely imagined. 
But after all, he feems more defirous of making this Deity formida- 
ble than amiable. He is jufl, but his Juftice is not tempered with 
Metcy. We find him the Author of all the Blood fhed between the 
two Nations ; he liftens to the Imprecations oiOedipiu^ and thinking 
Mars too dilatory, fends Mercury to hiin a fecond Time to rouie him 
to Battle by Dint of Threats. 

yo u II, B Oft 



^ STATlUS's THEBAID. Book VII. 

On Clouds and Dews celeftial feeds her Beams, 

And ftiuns old Ocean's interdided Streams : 

And, whether Mars^ iipon his Spear reclined, i^ 

Rcfpircs from Toil, or wroth with human Kind, 

Puifucs tka War near Hebrus' freezing Floods 

Ahd wantons ih a S^a of kindred Blood, 

Tq him our Wrath in our own Terms exprefs, 

Nofj €fttitiou5 of eS^nding, aught fupprefe : 20 

Long fim:fe be Was enjoi^'d by 6iy Commands 

1* o range in Arms the Greek and fhehan Bands, 

And kindle Difcord on th* Inachian Shore, 

And whe*e thfe thuud^riftg W^ves of Malea roar. 

See ! funVal Ritts th* Ar^Uc Youth detain 25 

Juft on tfife Cahfintt of their own JDomain. 

They aft like Cohquteroi^s, fuch Shouts arife 

Ik Intervals b«wwft tlte Sacrifice. 

O Mars I is t^fk a ^vti^t of thy Rage ? 

See! in firf oth«r COAwfts they engage : 30 

Oebalidn Gantlets tfeih, and with a Bound 

The rifihg Qi!loits ateft ih Air tefoum!. 

But, rf the cvttel Hoftofs of the Fight 

Are ftill his Joy ^ and give his Seul Deltgfet, 

Let him, averfc ttx Cowwawt and Truce, 35 

With Fire and Sword the guiltlefs Town reduce 

To Ruinsj, flawghter in the Aa of PrayV^ 

ExInaiVft the W^rld^ and lay Creatbn bai^« - 

But n6#pe'rverf€> and heedlefs of his Sire^ 

He qu4ts the Sitrife, atid moderates hi& Ir& 4a 

Yet kt hkft IpieedSy ow Wifl obey. 

And urge the Gredan W^Rriers to tfee 5^|r i 

EJfe (not to treat him wwfe) I change Yat iCind, 

And break tlie favage Kature t)f la% Mind : 



His Sword aA4 Courfers tiHf be rtiuft rd)<m ; 41 

Aiid clsAm th« Right of kin4red BloQd pfi tQOiC^ 

Trif&mid will fuMce to the Command^ 

And all befides fhall at Spei^atpr ^ ftand. 

He faid : the fwift*rwiDg'4 H^r^ £|llie^ forttb 

And to the frozen CUrtiatc^ of the North 50 

Purfues his Co^rfe^ JMoilP the ppl^ Qzxc 

Storms, Show'rs, and yawning Winds iusCoinfiM; wait 

In fable Trtpps : then down Wf ftecpy W^ 

The God, diftroded in his FUg^ conve^r* 

Thick on his Rol^e (he rattling H^l defc!^dS| 55 

And ill the fliading Hat kis Ears defends. 

With Horrpr pow he cafts his Ey^s around^ 

And view^ where on n iya^fia t^ra^ of Gi^Biffid 

T. 57. mtlf i§rnr mvA Le^t Ort^ kk hS$ lAfp ^ Aim Aq* 
fiufp cnuiigrib» oiis DefcnpMn of J\t^*$ 'tcmfik aUcf Falace, as 
t veiy iiie^e; fine hewevtr as it i^ AM in i>rjidM^% Msumm ^ni 
Jlni$€ is no| isMPTf a^ tke SiMid^r iidil jp«riti(r« Aott t iZompa- 
nioii. 

Beneath the XtrttAva^ 6row» ahi! on a Beo( 

llie Temple ftopd of 4^^ annipDtept : 

The ^ram^ of bomifli'd 9t^» ^^ 9^ a Gltt^. 

From ni*, an4 feem'd to th^w die freezing A&. 

A ftrait long Eutrjr to tie Tcmpk led> 

Blind with high Walls ^d Horjpr over H^ad : 

Thence IfTu'd fudi a Blaft^ and hollow Roaxp 

As threaten 'd from the HUge to heave the poor : 

In throa^ that ]>oor a normem Light there &one ; 

'Twas all it had> for Windows iherc ^vciy n^me. 

The Qate was Ad^nianr, eremd Frame ! 

Which hew'd by Mars himfclf, from Indium (^toarrifi camc^ 

The Labour of a God ; and all along 

Tough Iron*Placei were dench'd to mike it ^bofl^* 

A Ton about wa* cv*ry PiUar there : ^ 

A poiiih'd Mirror fhotie not half ib clear^ -^ 

There &w I, how the fecrec Felon wrought^ % 

And Treafon \zVmg in the Ttaitor'j Thcuj^t j t 

And Mi^wy^ Tiaif |he ^pen'd Flqt to MRr$l^ htpUFht. } 



4 STATIUB's T'^H£BA-I&/.^ Book VIL 

Beneath tbc^^froftting Height of yE^w^/'ftood- ' • 
The Fane of Mars^ encompafi'd by a Wood. 66 

There the red Anger dar'd the pallid Fear ; 
Next ftood HypocrHy with hofy Leer': ' ' 

Softcffldlingy add demHrely looking down^ ^ . 

But hid the Dagger underneath the Gown : 
Th* affaiEnating Wife, the Houfliold Fi^nd, 
And far the blackeft there, the Traytor-Friend. 

QvL t'other Side there ftood Deftrudion bare ; 

Unpunifti'd Rapine, and a Wafte of War. 
Contefi with fharpen*d Knives in Cloiflers dralwn^ 
And all with Blood befpread the holy Lawn. 
Ix)ud Menaces were heard, and foul Di^race, 
And bawling Infamy in Language bafe ; » 

Till Senfe was loft in Sound, and Silence fled the Place. 
The Slayer of himfelf yet faw I there. 
The Gore, congeal'd, was clotted in his Hair : 
with B^es half clos'd and gaping Mouth he lay, 
Aftd gnm, as when he bream'd his fuUen Soul away. 
In Midft of all the Don;ie, Misfortune fate. 
And glOQmy Difcontent ^l^di^ll -Debate. . 
Aftd Madbefs laughing ii^ his ireful Mood, , ^ 

Andtarm'd Complaint on Theft, and Cries of Blood.*- 
... .There - i«ai the murderM.Cgijjfcji^ in CoviCrt 

And violent Death in thoufand Stripes dlfplay'd : / \ 

The City to the Soldiers* Rage refign'd : 

Succefslcfs Wars, and Poverty behind : 

Ships burnt in Fight, or forc'd on rocky Shores, 

And the rialh Hunter ftrangled by the Boars : 

The new-bom Babe by Nurfes overlaid ; 

And the Cook cau|;ht within the raging Fire' he made. 

All Ills of M^rj his Nature, Flame and Sted, ' 

The.gafping Charioteer beneath the Wheel 

Of his own Car ; the ruin'd Houfe.that fajls, . 

And intercepts her Lord betwixt the WaUs : ' 

The whole Diviiion that to Mars pertains^ *'.\ 

#\ Trades of Death that deal in Steel for CSins 
ere there, the Butcher, Armourer and S;nJ;h, 
Who forges iharpen'd Faulchions, or the ScyAe. 
TlicJ fcarlet Conqueft on a Tow'r was plac'f. 
With Shouts, and Soldiers Acclamations grac'd : *. 
A pointed Sword hung threatening o*er nis Qeadj^ 
Softain'd but by a^flender, Twine of Threia^* ' .. ! . 
There. 6w \^pAars\ Ides, .the Capitol, . ■ 'J' 

The Seer Itf toU forctellihg Caffar\ Fill j * ^ 

Tht 



rs, 



Book Yfl. STATIUS's THEBAID- 5 

The Manfion, rear'd by more .than mortal Hands, 

On Columns fram'd of polifh'd Jron ftands ; 

The wcll-compa6tcd Walls are plated o'er 

With the fame Metal : juft without the Door 

A thoufaiid Furies frown. The dreadful Gleam, 6^ 

That iifues from the Sides, reflects the Beam 

Of adverfe Pbabusy and with chearlefs Light . . 

Saddens the Day, and ftarry Hoft of Night. 

Well his Attendants fuit the dreary Place : 

.Firft frantic Paffion, Wrath with reddening Face^ 76 

And Mifchief blind from forth the Thrcfhold ftart; 

Within lurks pallid Fear with quivVing Heart, 

Difcord, a two-edg'd Faulchion in her Hand, 

And Treachery ftriving to conceal the Brand. 

With endlcfs Menaces the Courts refound: 

Sad Valour in the Midft maintains her Ground, 

Rage with a joyful Heart, tho* Ihort of Breath, 

And, arm'd with Steel, the gory-vifag'd Death : 

Blood, fpilt in War alone, his Altars crowns. 

And all his Fire is frjatch'd from burning Towns. 80 

The laft Triumvirs, and the Wars they move, 
\. . And Jtttifony^ whaldft the World for love. ' >" J, 
. .Thcfe and a thoufand more the Fane adorn ; " *? 

Their Fates were painted ere the Men were born j 
All copied from the Heavens, and ruling FonA 
of thie red Star, in his revolving Coiu-fe. 
The Form of Mars high on a Chariot ilood, ' ' 

. AH fheath'd in Arms, and grufflly look'd the God ; 
Two Geomantic Figures were difplay'd ' 

Above his Head, a Warrior and a Maid, . 
One when dired, and one wiien retrqgrade. ' '■ 

I hope none of my Readers,, but fuch ?s are infenfible of the fin<i' 
Traits erf f.<3t?fy, will bedilpifeafed at this long 'Quotatioii ; as^'iAv 
liiig them together in this^ Manner is the bell Way- to iue\v thi 
beauties of both Aiithorsfahd nothing lis* qaore agreeaLic-.tt; v.;?". 
fPDS of Taile, than comparing the Flowers of Genias and l^;^;/ t . / 

B3 



I 



6 fe^AtlUS'slTHftBAJD. tebotVlt. 

Spoih hung around,, ^nd gaudy Trophies tdYh 
From vanquiihM States the vaulted Rbo^ acl'Qtn ; 
Fragments p^tron-Oates with Art ingravM, 
Vcffel^ half-burnt, or by the Billows ftav*d, 
jSppUs cruttiM by WhecK or by keen I^aulchions filcft, §5 
And ChariQ5i of their Ouides and Steeds bereft 
Nor were thi? Wounds, of War alone exprefs*d, 
For Groans were ^Imoft feen to heave the Bre^ft. 
Jierc grim to View w^s placM the God of Fight, 
$0 weil-dit]?6s'd, that ftUl he was in .Sight 90 

From cv'ry Path, tbaf to the Center brought i 
Such was the Work by j^cilful Fulcan wrought^ 
Before, by ^ol betrayM, th^ AdultVef ru*d 
His treacherous Ijovc by vengeful Scjiertics purfuM, 
$'carce had C^Ucnius call his %es around ^| 

In Search pf the fell p»non, when $hc Oroqncl 
*Gan Ihike, suid Hehrus^ horned Flood to roar. 
And vex With rejitJpi|t Wayfes the fhracian Sbpie^ 
TChen, as a Sign of his Appr^ch, the Steeds 
Springftool their Stajls,' and beat the trembling Mead^ i 

y. 96. JFben the •QfM$i]'¥lMti a 4|tftafiil Id^ >bf JkfM does ths 
Poet imprint op the itti|inaetibn xsf the R«i«|[^ • ^---'-^l^o u(her 
Kim in witk the 9fett«rToM|^, the ^j^ad trnftble^ tbe River 
jroars, and the <S^^ of hb Paiftce i!y open \» Msteive l^m. He is 
reprefented all coveittii ^^\ #t&0d; Ws Ckttiotv di%««n by BeL 
toftil, overturns TJc«8, |ivl|i hi iaow^ an^ e>%ry Thk^ in ks Way ^ 
andM^c«ijr^«lrothetf|>eity> i( ^ daoMed ^t liiM])paai«Uft:e, that 
Us t«cjy Bipod is chilfcd, $M hr ilcws wtxiafe dpliver ^:^'s Mef, 
4gc; nay, the Poet t^W «s, iJhatOod, fcreat w he is, '^««iild have 

0me RfBvefenc^ forM^w <UKd.YeeaU the M^iaeite |ie iitMed. 

A Painter might forin from this PafT^e the for^t of jj^frs in all 

Jiti^a ^efel^iijbii l^ Miti k &e £fft ^bck of tbe mad«.>i«*ln Siot^ 
Mm lift W)l(o])6) this Ite^r^it^&ii H fb^tatid and Ml, iSatt mt^ 
mi^9ik»iimti ft, 1i^ ^ IdiF % fittnfe^riiy i|i ^ dutd Bodft: 



BookVU- STATiyS*8 THEBAIP. 7 

The Gates df Adamwt, citcrnal Fnmt I jpi 

Flew open. Soon as the Deftroyer aim.e^ 

High in his Car, and grac'd wijth hoftile <?ore % 

The Wheels, fwift-rollifig, dafti'd th^ Meadows o'er 

With crimfon Drops y where'er he pooled ftlcwg^ 105 

The Forefts and deep Snows give Way,— *A Throng 

Ladfen with Spoils, fucceeds., Bfllona flsecrs 

The Chariot's Courfe, and plies her aflien Speaf,9, 

All cold and ftiff with Terror Hermes grew. 

And turns his Eyes from the terrific View. no 

E'en Jove himfelf might foftcn his Demands, 

And fpare his Threats. — WhHe mute Cyllenius ftaj>ds -, 

The God, preventing his Confufion, cries : 

What News from Jove P- what Orders from the Skies ? 

For fcarce; unlefs fome Pow'r thy Will contmuls, lij 

For this bleak Clime beneath the wrthern Poles . 

Wou'dft thou refign the iweet LyMcm Vales, 

And Menaios^ refrelb'd by Summer Gales* 

His Sire's Injunflions known, without Delay 

Great Mars impeb along the dreary W^ tip - 

Hi5 Horfcs, panting yet with recent Toils^ 

And fires the Gruks ivith Hopes of promised Spoils, 

This feen, the Cloud-compdiler half refigo'd 

His Wxath, and gcntlicr now his Faoe declin'd^ 

V. 99» Tkt Steetls]. The feeipg of a Horfe in a iorei^n Commy 
before any other Object of the animal Creation was reckoned hy 
the Antients as an Omen .of War. JEneas^ in relating jus Advjtu* 
tiurcs to Diilpj 4qll8 her thaj, in Italy 

Qnatttor hie, primum omen, cquos in gramlne vidi 
Tondentes caihpum l^te, candore nival! . 
£1 Mter i^Bchifiis^ bdftun, ^rftrhofpita, poptas^ 
BfiUPr^MWiiUttr rquL . gopfe 3. V^fe 537. 

B4 ^ • Thus, 



8 S TAT rU S's THE B A I D. fiook VIi: 

Thus, when the weary Blafts ofEuf-us ceafc, 125 

And leave the Deeps fubdu'd, at firft the Peace 

Is fcarce dvfcern'd, as.ftill the Waves retain 

Thrir Swell, and heave the Surface of the Main, 

Whiift, unrefrefh'd, the Seanien fcek their Oars, 

And Cordage, floating to the neighboring Shores. 130 

The fun'ral Games, and harmlefs Contefts cios*d, 

Adrafius Silence on the Crowd impos'd. 

And pour'd, to glad the royal Infant's Soul, 

A large Libation from the fparkling Bowl : 

Then thus the difcontentcd Shade addrcfs'd : 135- 

Grieve not, OBabe, in Heav'n fupremely bleft. 

If each third Year thefe fun'ral Rites Ihall fee. 

So may not Pelops feek with greater Glee 

Th' Arcadian Attars, nor with Iv'ry Hand 

Infult the Temples on th* EUan Strand; . 140 

So may not Corinth^ nor the Delphic Coaft 

Superior Fame, and prouder Honours boafl:. 

We deem thee more than mortal, and deny 

That Styx confines a Member of the Sky. 

Here end thy Rites : but fhould our Vows be crown'd. 

And haughty Thebes lie level with the Ground ; 145 

A fplendid Fane, and Altars Ihall be thine. 

And white-rob*d Prjefls with holy Pomp inflirine 

Thy facred Alhes : nor Ihall Greece alone 

Throiigh all her Cities make thy Godhead known, 159 

But Thebes to thy Divinity appeal. 

And fwear by thy dread Name with awful Zeal. 

V. 138; Sfi may not Pelops, £«fr.] The Senfe of this Par^phrafe is, 
^ May neither the Pythian^ Olympic nor IJibmian^ Gam«8 excel thofe 
* inftitutcd in Honour of thee, O Babe,' 



BookVIT. STATLUS'sTH^BAlD: 9 

Thus fpoke the Chief for all his Hoft. The reft « 

In filcnt Motions their Aflent cxprefs'd. 

Mean Time the Qod of Battle urg'd his Car • 155 

Bown Ephyra*% deep Shores, where feen from far 

The well-known Mount with daring Head invades 

The Clouds, and either Sea alternate (hades. 

Then Terror, deareft of his menial Train, 

He lends as Harbinger, nor fends in vain ; i5o 

Since none can on our Fear fo well impofe, ^ 

And fpecious Lyes with more Succefs difclo(e« * 

His Afpedt varies, as the Fiend commands. 

Unnumbered are his Tones of Speech, and Hands. 

Whether th' Exiftence of two Suns he feign$, 1 6^ 

Or fubterraneous Motions of the Plains, 

Whole Forefts fhifting Place, and Planets hurl'd 

From their own Spheres, to gild the nether World, 

Such is his Talent, that he ftill deceives. 

And the guU'd Dotard all alike believes. 170 

He calls forth all his Art to raife a Cloud 

Of feeming Duft, and awe the timVous Crowd. 

The Chiefs, aftonifh'd, from the Mountain's Brow 

Beheld it .mounting o'er the Fields below. 

To double ev'ry Fear, and fpreadth* Alarms, 175 

|ie mimics thundering Steeds, and claftiing Arms j 

V. 157. 7i^ well-known Mount} This was a Mountain in the A- 
f^onnefian X^mn^, called Acrocorinthus^ i, e. the highcft Part ok 
Corinth. Ephyra is an Ifland acijoining. 

V. 159. nen Terror] Mars is now preparing to obey Jupitet^t 
Commands by tenifyin^ the Coniederates with a falfe Account of 
the Thehan hxmy \\i\xX, all this is told us poetically; and agreeably 
to the Spirit of the Epofaiaj Terror becomes a Perfon, and fpeaks 
and 2&M as an Attendant of Mars. This allegorical Perfonificatioa 
it the ftrongeft Proof of a fefti^e Iiiia|;i^adon^ and the very Zunueu 
Xv'xn ©f iiexoic "Peefy. 

Then 



to STATIUS's THBBAID- Book VIL 

Then with delufive ^irieks be grates their £ars» 

And with falfe Clamours fhdkes the IbUd Spheres* 

Acthis with bidden Dread the Vulgar list, 

A Puire.unufualflutt'ring at their Heart: lim 

Terror oiay mock us widi imagined Cries : . 

But can it cheat at once our Ears and Eyes } 

See what a Duft !— — the Tbebam thefe ? tis fo. 

They come : foch is the Boldnefs of the Foe. 

But why this Stand ? — weUi firft difcharge our Vows, 1^5 

y And clofc the Rites. Thus they. The Terxor .grows, 

A thoufand different Shapes the Monfter toolc^ 

And varieci at his Will his Voice and Look^ 

Now the Pifis4m Mode of Drefs he wears ; 

And then a Suit of Pylian Armour bears : i^ 

Or in the Spartan Phrafe, t'augment their Fear, 

Swears by the Gods^ the ^Jbeian Hoft is near. 

All pafles with the Crowd for genuine Truth, 

And gains Belief from hoary Age and Youth. 

But, when on Whirlwinds borne, the direful Tale 195 

He wafts around^ and brooding o'er the Vale 

Thrice ihakes his founding Shield., thrice fmites his 

Steeds^ 
And lifts the Lance that flames o'er all the Meads, 
Arms, Arms they flaout, and no Decorum known, 
T^e up another's Weapons for their own. ?oo 

In borrowed Coats of Mail, and Cafques they flune. 
And to their Comrades' Car their Coarfers join. 
In ev'ry Breafl: Impatience to engage, 
And Lnft of Slaughter reigiis« Noi^ht checks their 

Rages 
Btt €in they fpeed, and iir'd.^th Thiril t9f; Prsufi^ 20$ 
By prcfent Haftc redeem theirpaft Peliay^ * 

Such 



Such is the TatMlt, when indulgent Oaks 
Blow from the Stmnd, and fiH the Q)ttading Sa3f, 
Before the Bkft the gaudy Vefiel ffies^ 
The ¥m ^c^ back, and felfens to their Eyes. lt# 
No# M the Surface of the Deep their Oatt, 
And Anchors float : while the deferted Shores, 
And Comrades left behind their Eyes ptrrftie. 
Till all is h^ and ranilh*d fix>m their View. 
When vinc-crownM Bacchus ey*d the Grecian Throng 
; A», flulh'd with martial Heat, they poft along, 216 
He turned his Eyes on TMrSy and inly groanM^ 
For muc4i his native City he bemoan'd. 
A Look, cxpreffive of his Grief he wore ; 
The purple Chaplets graced his Hair no mon^. atm 
Th* untafted Clufters from his Horns he flxook. 
And the wreatiiM Spear his better Hand forfbok. 
pivefted of hi3 Robes, before the Throne 
Of Jovey who preTs'd by chance the Pole alone, ' 
i^i all the N<eg^gence<rfWoe he flandsy M5 

And, fuf^tiant^ thus befpeaks with lifted Hanch 

Er^V^i iactJimhert inttccedes for <hiis natiVe Cit^> T'lrmv-ali^ Attrte 
IS nven ^iff>iur the fame te^ir Reg«fd for Ivm, at i& tke JBa&iii 
)ie djifcovers for Fenftf* FroiR ^tfpit€r*t AmlWer to Bmthut oa fim 
QcCfiiuMi, opnmred Ip what m ffty« eliewhm^ it a|>peari, that 
^iy^//<r)iim^fw!tu fiii^efi fo tiie ^ws of Fats.: but» in^cilit]^ 
liftk Sfe f9U|p^ to be«D4)iiher than the iimk 4Mid inHMCabte ti^ 
tennijaatiqas of . his owB WiU. Heire he tella that God^ inidoeoMt 
l^iil CoRMP^^c^ ^^ ^iprt'd Caprice, l)ttt omfbnoabljr to ibe «iid«- 
lera'b'le Crdcr of Deiiiny. But in the beginning of the ThebaiJ, 
we £ad hini pofitivelvdddftrilig toi&jpGodffiAvotineily hisReib- 
lution of deftroying uie royal Families of Thebes ^md Jii^My as a 
Ponifiimen^ for their Crimes; and, perhaps^ 4ie F^te of the .Stoics 

His 



X2 STATI.US'»THBBAID. BbokVII. 

His gracious. Sire, who well the Caufes knew. 
Nor ftarte aftonilh'd at ttf unwonted View. . 
Say, Father of the Gods, wilt thou deftroy 229 

, Thy Thebes ? can none but vengeful Schemes employ ^ 
Thy Confort*s TJioughts ? and does no Pity njoye 
In our Behalf the tenderBrcaft oijov^? ^ , 
We grant, that.erft it griey'd thee to the Soul 
To dart thy Ligljt:ni|igs.from the cJoydy Pole : 
Yet why doft thojj renevsr thy bitter Ire, 235 

And threat thy 4^-lQv'd Town with Sword and Fire ?. 
No Promifes, nof paths thy Faith engage. 
Alas! where wUt^ou bound thy caufelefs Rage ? 
IiMlhls ^ FrQo£pCU^y parental Love? 
5fet gentler.far^tq the Parrhafian Grove, 24^ 

Argos zxA^Jjiia^s Dome ;hou didd: repair^ . 
For then a Virgin's Conqueft was thy Care. . 
Is Bacchus then of all thy num'rpus Line i 

The laft, who merits thy Regard divine ? . 

Bacchus^ whom in far happier Days of Yore 245 

(K plcafing Load) the Cloud-compeller bore, 

* ▼. 240. To the Parrhafian Gr^o;^] Calyfto was raviflied by Jupiter 
xQthis Grove. Argos was the Place, ^ere that God ixnpofed upon 
Dam^e in the Form of a Shower of Gold. Leda was debauched by 
the fame God in the Similitude of a Swan. 

V. 243. // Bacchus then] LaSantius informs us, that Bacchus com- 
plains of his being fo often negleAed by Mortals, as by Lycurgu; 
and Pentbeus. To corroborate Uiis AfTertion, he has cited a long 
Paflage from OwsTs MetamorphofeSf where Pentheus is introduced re- 
viling Bacchus. But this is a wrong Conibudion ; and the Senfe of 

Scilicet e cundtis ego negledUffima natis 

Progenies. 1 

is, I then am to he tht moftjlighted of all your Softs, i. e. lyyoUf jg 

V, 246. (A fleafing Load) the Cloud-compeller] When Semek was 

blafted by the Lightning of her Lover, Baccbufy with whom ihe was 

then 



BoiK.VII- StAtltr^is ffHElAfD. 13 

And fondly proved a •Mothet'S'kfecndl ThfX)e^, - 

To uftier into Life, and future Woes. * • 

Yet more. — The Tbebans are oinlkiird in Ar^, 

Rude and*unfcxercis*d in Wi^f^a Alarms ; ' 250 

My marfial Difcipline alone they know : 

To weave the leafy Garland for the Brow, ' 

And frame their Motions to the Pipe.— Can they 

Who dread the wreathed Lance, and female Fray^ 

Suftain the Trumpet's Sound ?— See furious Mirj/ 255 

What Feats hie meditates, what wafteful Wars f 

How would'ft thou rage, fhould he to Combat lead 

And force the Cretans to th* embattePd Mead ? 

A Tool was wanting, 'till entic'd by thee, 

Argos muff execute thy ftern Decree. 2 6# 

Tis this ftcflexion that augments our Woes, • 

We fall but to enrich omv Argive Foes. 

i yield : but whither fhall we now tranflate 

The Rites myfterious of our ruin'd State ? 

And what the pregnant Mother left behind, %Sg 

More happy, had fhe been lefs fair and kind ? 

Shall I fue p'roftrate at the Tbradan*s Feet, 

Or feck in conquered Ind a fafe Retreat ? 

O grant thy wand'ring Son a peaceful Dome. 

At the Requeil of Sol no longer roam 270 

then pregnant, was take^ from her Womb, aaid. Tewed ud in Ju* 
fitir's TEigh. ■ *^ -^ 

. gcnetricis ab alvo 

Eripitur, patrioqi^e tencr (fi credere; dignum ell) 
Infuitur fcmori, matcmaque tempera complet, 

V. 267. Jtthe Thracian'j Feet^] Lycurgus, King q{ Thrace, caufed 
molt of the Vmes of his Country to be rooted up : hence the Poetj 
have feigned, diat he'fought with, and perfeciited Bacchus. 

■ V ^l^\.^* ^ ^^i^^fi ^f Sol J ViHus upbraids Jupiter of his Par- 
Ualuy in like Manner. 

Antenor 



14 8TATIUS*t THBfAlD. Bopk Ylti 

The DeHaii Rock$» but gtn wi(h Wsiviu(» wkfi^ 
Nor envy I the happier God c^ Light. 
Mnerua from ktr Ckadel bdovVi 
Th* Invafions of cht Surgt with Eftft reoiov'^^ 
Great EpapbuSy (oa oft theie £]f«t iuve Yiew'4) a^K 
Gives Laws to JEgjpi by hk Ann Aibdu'd- 
Nor CW^M ,&£a> nor C>Z£rai< curc^ 
What hoftile Dced» the ocighb'rii^ Soitci pr«pwe, 
Alas ! 40 what then can oinr Rjm ofiSrod ? 
Here (fifice in vain ilefii}wK;e we ftfetead) aft* 

• Here dkUt tbou revel in Smtna\ ArflMi 
Here fair <^j6MMf c refigri'4 her Charms 

With eager Guftt and her^ ftvr^^^i play'4 
The Wanton, by thy ^^ous Form betray*d» 
Defert not then the guUdeft Race, ihat ^piioi^ 2!^ 
From thee, the Father of the 7b^(m Ki^gi. 
At this mvidious Sjpoech th' Ainaigbty fmil'd^ 
And, gently naifing irom the Ground iui Child^ 
As onr his Kn^ea bs ia*d with lifted HaadSf 
Bmbrac'd^ and kii»dly aofwer^ his Demands a^* 
Think not, O BMuhta, that the War's diUlgQ'4 
To glut with SlaugbJcer Jvmd^ veogfftd Mind* 



Ancenor potuit^ avriiis» A|lfi» AfHMiBy 
Illyricos penetrare finas, atque intima tutas 
Regna Lil>unK>ruoi> ^ fontem fuperait Timavii 
IMMie fer Ota novtm taflo cum murmtiit i&oiitb> *tcw 

V. 287. At tikimmSmm S ltf icb \ J^ifiigr^s Behaviour to Fmu$ af« 
tct her addrefl^g Un «iy h^^9miffinAffiAkii&iii^ Mtttimt* 

Ollt fohridens hominum iatpr amue T^oxvm$ 
VtAta, qnocoeltim teomeftaceftme ftre^at^ 
€HMa fliiiavh vaue .- 6hine j^a fatUr; 



We 



feooKVIL STATIUS's THEBAID, 15 

Wc aft in Concert with the Fates Decree : 

To fall in Battel was their Deftiny, 

Peace is my fole Delight : who feeks it a3ore» 295 

Or ^ills with fuch Reludtance bunum Gore ? 

Witnefs, thou conlcious Pole, andftarryHaU, 

How oft, when mortal Crimes iar Vengeance call^ 

I lay the ready Bolt afide, hpw rare 

My challei^'d Thunders roar, my Lightnings gbur.^oe 

Scarce could I to the Wrath of injur'd Mdrs^ 

And DiaHy exercised in fihran Wars, 

Tho* both had long defy*d the Rage divine 

Mine is the Lo& and Toil to r&^indue ^05 

So many Souls with Li&, and frame anew. 

On jlrgos and her Peer in Guilt too late 

I execute th* impartial Will of Fate. 

To wave the Sins o{ Greece in ancient Times, 

Thou knoVft, how prone the Theians are to Crimes, 3 lO 

Thee too,— ~-But fince 'twas done in Days of Yore, 

And we forgive, I pais the Trefpafs o'er. 

No Joys iftceftuous hapleis Pentheus knew. 

No Brothers he begot, no Sire he flew % 

Yet ftill difmember'd, he refign'd his Breath, 315 

And met an uadeferv'd, untimely Deaths 

V. 30jf. Yki X«apklie mnd Calydon] See Book tbe firft for an Ac- 
c«unt of Dianah Enmity to the Cafydoaiojis. The Ltifiih^ wei^ a 
Pecfple isHTbiffalyy inhabiting that Part of the Country that lay be* 
tween the Mountains Hindus and Qthryi^ Fat an Acootmt of the 
Combat betwixt them and the Centaurs. See Q'yid*^ Mitwnor' 
fbo/es. Lib. 12. 

V. 313. Na Joys inc4iftuHts hafU/s Pentheus ktumi,'\ Penthnu was 
torn in Pieces by the PrieAeiTes ol M^icchut^ for not attondibig the 
laorrd Rites of 4at Deity. 

With 



i6 STATIUS's THEBAIC. BooitVlL 

With better Grace thy Sorrow then had flow*d. 

Nor had thy Eloquence been iH bcftow*d. 

Nor will the ^bebans fuffer Punifhment, 

Tho* well deferv-d, for Crimes that I refent. ^20 

Heav'n, Earthy and Piety cxpelPd with Scorn, 

And Naturc^s facred Bonds afunder torn. 

And broken Faith, and e*en the Friends confpire 

Their Fall. But thou defift to tempt our Ire, 

Secure, that a long Interval remains 325 

Ere w*e fulfill on Thebes ^ what Fate ordains.- 
A new Avenger in a better Age 
Shall rife : firft Argos bleeds beneath our Rage. 
This heard, the God his wonted Look refumes. 
And with frefli Youth, and new-born Graces blcioms. 
Thus parch'd by fultry Suns and fouthern Gales, 331' 
The pale Rofe fades, and withers in the Vales j 
But if foft Zephyr fans the glowing Day, 
Arid tempers with his Wings the fcorching Ray, 
Its Bluih Revives, the Buds Ihine forth again, 335 

And waft the Scent thro* Florals fair Domain. 
/ Mean while, their March explored, the Scout returns; 
From whom Eteoclesy aftonilh'd, learns. 
That near the Confines of the Theban Sway 
The Grecian Hofts advance, and fpeed their Way, 340 

▼. 331. f bus parcVd hy fultry Suns] Artofto ha$ a Simile that vdy 
smdi refembles this ^ our Author. 

Qual fotto il pi& cocente ardore eflivo, 
X^ando di ber piu defioia e V erba, 
II fior, ch* era vicino a reflar privo , 
Di tutto queir umor, ch'in vita il ferba, 
SeAte Famata pioggia^ e fi fa vivo ; 

Orlando furiojb. Canto 23. Stan* 108. 

An4 



BootcVII. STATIUys THEBAID, 17 

And all, who view the Numbers of the Foe, 

To vanquifh'd Thebes portend* approaching Woe. 

Of ev'ry Chief he foon is taught the Name^ 

His Birth, his Quality, and martial Fame^' 

The prudent King difiembles well his Fears, 345 

And hates the Meflage, yet attentive hears : 

His Hoft he now infpirits and demands 

A faithful I^ift of all his able . iands. 

By Mars excited to the deathful Fields 

Aonia^ Pbocisy and Euhcsa yield 350 

Their Youth : for thus the Ruler of the Skies 

Decreed. Thro* all the Hoft the Signal flies. 

Now rang'd for War, and fheath'd in radiant Arms, 

Forth pour the Squadrons at. the firft Alarms, 

And take the Field, which next the City lay, ^^^ 

Thirfting for Blood, and dcftin'd for the Fray. 

Before th* expefted Foe was yet in Sights 

The Matrons climb the Walls to view the Fight j 

And teach, whilft to their Sons their Sires they fhow^ 

Their little Hearts with early Warmth to glow. 360 

The Senior-PrincefsL on a Turret ftood, 

Veil'd from the public Eye* A fable Hood 

V. 361. The Senior 'Frince/s^ 6tatius has alfb imitated Homer ia 
many Places ; and he feems particularly to have had an Eye to &^ 
Zrir's informing the old Men on the "Walls of Troy^ as ihe is th6re 
ddcribed in the Iliad^ of the CharaAer of the feveral Princes in the 
Grecian Camp ; for in the feventh Book, Antigone^ Siller to Eteociei 
and Polynices appears Handing on a Tower, attended by an old Offi« 
cejr who had been Lotuses Armour>bearer i \yho, iat.her Deiire^ gives 
an Account of the Allies that came to aiTifi th^^eSans. Though 
fome Circumflances are altered, it is very ea(y tq. imagine he took 
his Plan from- the ///W. Nor will any one condemn this Conduct 
of his, foch Imitations being not only very allowable, but commen* 
dable, when made with Art, and happily and fitly introduced.-— , 

Le^vis Crufius^ 

V I. IL C Laaantims 



i6 STATIUS's THEBAID. BoojtVlL 

With better Grace thy Sorrow then had flowM, 

Nor had thy Eloquence been ill bcftowM. 

Nor will the ^bebans fuffer Punifhment, 

Tho* well deferv'd, for Crimes that I refent. ^20 

Heav'n, Earth, and Piety expelPd with Scorn, 

And Nature's facred Bonds afunder torn. 

And broken Faith, and e*en the Friends confpire 

Their Fall. But thou defift to tempt our Ire, 

Secure, that a long Interval remains 325 

Ere We fulfill on Thebes ^ what Fate ordains. 

A new Avenger in a better Age 

Shall rife : firft Argos bleeds beneath our Rage. 

This heard, the God his wonted Look refumes. 

And with frefli Youth, and new-born Graces blooms. 

Thus parch'd by fultry Suns and fouthem Gales, 331 

The pale Rofe fades, and withers in the Vales i 

But if foft Zephyr fans the glowing Day, 

And tempers with his Wings the fcorching Ray, 

Its Bluih revives, the Buds Ihine forth again, 335 

And waft the Scent thro* Floral fair Domain. 

Meanwhile, their March explored, the Scout returns; 

From whom Eteoclesy aftonilh'd, learns. 

That near the Confines of the Theban Sway 

The Grecian Hofts advance, and fpeed their Way, 340 

▼. 331. Thus parcFd iy fultry Suns] Ariofto has a Simile that TCljf 
much refembles this pf our Author, * 

Qual fotto il pi& cocente ardore eflivo, 
Quando di ber piu defioia e T erba^ 
II fior, ch' era vicino a reflar privo 
Di tutto quell* umor, ch'invita il i^ih2,^ 
Sente Famata pioggia, e fi fa vivo ; 

Orlando furh/e^ Canto 25, Stan, ffi 




^ook VIL STATIUy^ THEBAID. 17 

And all, who view the Numbers of the Foe, 

To vanquilh'd I'bebes portend" approaching Woe. 

Of ev*ry Chief he foon is taught the Name, 

His Birth, his Quality, and martial Fame^. 

The prudent King diffemblcfs well his Fears, 345 

And hates the Meflage, yet attentive hears : 

His Hoft he now infpirits and c?emands 

A faithful I^ift of all his able iands. 

By Mars excited to the deathful Fields 

Aoniaj Pbocis, and Eubcea yield 350 

Their Youth : for thus the Ruler of the Skies 

Decreed. Thro* all the Hoft the Signal flics. 

Now rang'd for War, and iheath'd in radiant Arms, 

Forth pour the Squadrons at the firft Alarms, 

And take the Field, which next the City lay, 2S5 

Thirfting for Blood, and deftin*d for the Fray* 

Before th* expefted Foe was yet in Sights 

The Matrons climb the Walls to view the Fight i 

And teach, whilft to their Sons their Sires they fhow^ 

Their little Hearts with early Warmth to glow. 360 

The Senior-Princefst on a Turret ftood, 

Veil'd from the public Eye. A fable Hood 

V. 361. The Senior 'Frince/s^ $tatius has alio imitated Hamer in 
many Places ; and he feems particularly to have had an Eye to He^ 
fef's informing the old Men on the Walls of Treyy as fhe is there 
deicribed in .die lUadf of the Charader of the feveral Princes in the 
Grecian Camp ; for in the feventh Book, AntigBuef -Siller to Eteoclei 
and P^fymcet appears ftanding on a Tower, attended by an old Offi« 
cer who had been Lotuses Armour-bearer ; who, iather Defirci gives 
an Accooiit of the Allies that came to afllft thd^^^^iv/« Though 
fome Circijm fiances are altered, It 15 very eafy m imagine he took 
his Plan from the ///^^, Nor will a.ny one condemn this Cond^^i 
of his, fach Imitations being not onJy y^vy allowable, but coniurfii.. 

pily and fitly introduce r--^^**- 




i8 STATltJS^s THEfiAlD. Book VIL 

From the kedi Air her tender Cheeks defends : 

Pborbas afene of all her Train attends. 

The Squire pf Lamsj whilft at ^iles he reignM, 36^ 

And in the royai Service ftili ret^n'd. 

Him fair /intigone wkk kind Demand 

Thus queftions. May we hope to n>ake a Stand 

Againft our Enemies, finoe sdl die States 

Of Greece defcend to Fight, as Fame relates. 3;ro* 

I pray thee, firft inform me of the Name 

Of our Confederates, and what Rank they ckim ? 

For well I iee what Armom' Crein wears^ 

What are the Standards our Men^eeeus bear s» 

And how fierce Hjemon tow'rs above the reft, 57^ 

A brazen Sphinx well-im^d on his Creft. 

Thus fpake die Fmr unknowing. He replies : 

Yon Chiefs whofe warlike Figure ftrifccs your Eyes, 

Is Dryas. From ST^nMEgTii^s Hill he leads 

A thoudand Archers, trained to warlike Deeds. 380 

The great Oria^i^s Ofispring he : behold 

The Bolt and Trident, rudely formed in Gold 

Upon his Shield, — Nor do his A6ts dUgrace 

Th' untainted Honours of his godlike Race. 

From him, ye Gods, avert th' inveterate Ire 38^ 

OfftemD^fftf, fatal to his Sire ! 

LaSaxtim obferves, that in this AcQouiit of the Generals who 
took Part with Thehesi atfd the Provinces th^ cpinmanded, our Au*^ 
thor Jias adheiaed fuietty clofe to f/i^m^r's- Catalogue, fp far a« regards 
tlie Geography, and Epithets of Places.*— Mr. Pope ftrengthena 
this Remark. See Itiad^ I|ib. 2. 

y. 386. Fatal to bis Sire] The fabolous Account of this Hero is 
as io\viv/s,^^Pela/gus^ a pious Worihipp^r of the Gods hofpitaUy 
entertained Jupiter^ Neptmey and Merely ^ for whigh Favour they 
pfomifed to grAnt him whatfoever he wiihed. Therefore, as he 
had no JUTue, he requefted, that they would grant him a Son. The 
Gods promifed they would ; and piffing^ on the Hide of 'an Ox thac 

lie 



BpoicViJ. ^TATIUS^s THBBAID. 19 

Qcqle^ej MedeoMy Nifa ftock'd with Groves^ 

And Tbisbe^ fam'd for Cytberea's Doves, 

March to the Fight beneath his royal Care, 

And to his Banner, unconflrain'd, repair. ^^q 

Next comes Eurymedon : the Weapons bprnp 

^Y Faun^ his ruftic Sire, o^e Hand adorn, 

A Creft of Pine-leaves trembles on his Head s 

The fayage Race his malTy Javelin dre^. 

Nor lefs is his Defert in Arms» I ween ; ^o^ 

With him Erytbraj rich in Flocks, is f?en, 

YikoScolm^ andtbeCoaftsof /^i^tiil, 

Who Eteoms^ f QUgh \^it^ maHy a Hill, 

And^fi^i^^, ^«i|0ff/^'s 3i{th-place, hold^ 

in Manners ha^S^7» ^ ^9 P^^^?^ ^^^' 40Q 

The Lance of Aflx PelUaUj ^d the Shieldj 
Icp^netrable by ^ Dart they wield* 
See, with what CUmou^ s the N^ptman Throni^s 
The Natiyes of Onchefimj pour along ! 

he had juft facriSced to thqs, ordered him to dig a Hole for It in 
the Earthy and tafee it ont at die End of nine Months.' ' He did ^ 
and found on it the Child, whom he afterwards named Orhni from 
Ovpoy, which (ignifies Vrine. When Orion grew up to Man's Eflate^ 
he attempted to raviih Dianat who, itnplonng thr Affiance of tjhe 
Earth, was delivered, by a Scorpion, that ftung the Ravi^er to 
Death. Others ia/, that he was iuun \^y the Shaft* of th^t GoddeTs^ 
z$ Horace. 

yirgine& domitus iagittS* 

t. 399. Atlanta'/ Birth-ptace\ Ther6 yttttt two ladles of ^i 
Name i one an Arcadian Queen, the Mother of Paxthempaus^ stnd 
(he 6ther (who is here nieaiit)' of %m. She Was overcdine in a 
F6pt-|lace''by Uifponuaus^ who threw in her Waj threb golden Ap* 
pies, which Vinw had given him for that Pnrpofe, 

V. 401. The Lance ef^ Jfi^ Pdlxanl Ltican mentions this Soit tt 
VTjfAwui tfnd particularifes it, t& well a3 bur Author; bf ih« Namt 
ot^ar^. '•' • 

Primi Pella?a& arcu fregere Sariflas. 

C a Whom 



20 STATlUS's THEBAID. BookVIL 

Whom Myculijfos fhades with lofty Pines, ' 405 

Where, as a Mirror clear, Gargapkye Ihiiies, 
Thy Streams, O Melus^ lov'd of Pallas ^ rife, - - 
And Heliartos views with envying Eyes 
The Fruit of Ceres^ and, as it afcends. 
With the young Blades his noxious Herbage blends. 41a 
Their Shields are Bark. Huge Trunks fupply the Place 
Of Spears. A Lion*s Hide o'eripreads their Face, 
Thefe, as they want a Monarch pf their own» 
yifo5fpi&/^» (by the Damfel not unknown) ' 

Condu&s to War. The Badges df the Realm, 415 
A Bull and Lyre are wrought upon his Helm. 
Proceed, brave Youth, to i^gire the thickeft Foes, ■* 
And for our Walls thy naked Breaft cxpbfe.- 
You too, ye Warriors, favoured of the Nine ! • 
To yield us Aid forfake the Mount divine. 420 

And thori, O Olmius^ and Permeffids bleft 
With Streams, whofe gentle Murmurs lull to reft 
The weary Shepherd, roufe to Feats of Arms 
Yoof (lothful Sons, averfc to War's Alarms, 



▼. 414. By the Damfilnot unknofwn] I think it i« not improper ft> 
take Notice, that this Parentheiis is not to be underilood as fpoken 
by Phorbai to Antig^ney but hy the Author. to the Reader. • He hints, 
to him, that Phorbas is defcribing a Perfon to jlntigoney whom Ae- 
very well knew j fo that we may fairly conclude, there was fome 
Love-Match in the Cafe^ to which the Poet aUudes in this flight 
Manner. 

V* 415. The Badges of the Realm^ a BnU and Lyre'\ The Lyre was 
engraved on the Arms of the Thebans^ becaufe Amphion is faid te 
have built theii- Town ty his Skill' in^hRndjing that Inilrument;, 
and the Bull was added in YioviOMx o{ Cadmus^ \^o, when he fought 
his Sifter Europa^ who was raviflied by Jvftter in tha Shape* of mat 
Animal, was condudied by an Heifer to the Spot, where he after- 
wards ffiundcd the City of Thekesi. 

In 



BookVII. STATIUS's THEBAID. zi 

In Strains adapted to their Country's Rite 425 

They now exult, and harmonize the Fight, 

JThus, when in Spring Sol fheds a warmer Ray, 

On Strymon^s Banks the Swans renew their Lay. 

Purfuc with Chearfulnefs this Track to Fame, 

Secure, the Mufes ihall embalm your Name 430 

Jn never-dying Numbers, and convey 

To lateft Times the Honours of the Fray. 

The Princefs here broke in, and thus replieSji 

O Father, hither turn thy aged Eyes, 

For furc this Parity of Choice declares 435 

That thofe are Brothers. — Mark, how either wears 

The felf-fame Armour ! equal are their Crefts : 

But fay, what Motive thus cements their Breafts. 

Were ours as thefe unanimous and kind ! 

She ceas'd. The Sage foft fmiling, thus rejoin'd. 440 

Nor thou, O Queen, haft err'd in this alone : 

Many (the real Hiftory unknown) 

That thefe are Brethren, have alike believ*d. 

By all the Signs of equal Age deceived. 

Yet are they Sire and Son, tho* pach appears 445 

A Brother both in Stature, Form and Years. 

Fniv DirceliSy enamoured with the Charnjs 

Of Lapitbaony fnatch'd him to her Arms ^ 

T. 441. Nor thouy O ^ueen] It has been obferved of Statiusy that 
in his Catalogues he has happily imitated Homer and Firgil^ by 
keeping up the Dignity of his Stile, and Harmony of his Num- 
tcrs, and diverfifying the Detail with proper Epidiets, ihort De- 
fcriptions, and agreeable Narrations from FafTages of Hiilory and 
Fable, with which he diverts and refrefhes the Reader at due In- 
tervals. Of his Art in this laft Article the following Anecdote is 
a fliining Inftance ; and thovigh it borders upon the marvellous, 
does not tranfgrefs tiie Licence of Poetry. 

C 3 And, 



,4 S T AT I U S's T H E B A I D. Book VII. 

Where Glaucus^ leaping from the grafly Shore, 

Plung'd headlong in the Deeps, a Man no more. 

And view*d with fuddcn Terror, as he fprung> 

The Fifties, that arouqd his Middlp clung. 

With Balearic Slings they cleave the Wind : 505 

Their Javelins teavp the fwifteft Shaft behind. 

Nor had NarciJJus fhun*d the Strife of Arms : 

But fmitten with his own reflefted Charms 

In Tbefpian Fields he grows. Cepbijfus laves 

The much lov*d Flow'ret with his childlefs Waves. 51Q 

Who caa recount the Pbocims fam'd of old. 

The Pbociansy in Apolloh Hoft inroU'd ? 

Who Pancpe and Cyparijfos plow. 

Or Lehdea*s Vales, and Di^^ulis fow ? 

HyampoliSy on pointed Rocks reclin'd, 515 

And high Pamajfus, at the Top disjoined ? 

Who thro* tjie Plains oiA^emoria rove, 

Thro* Cyrrba, and the dark Cerycian Grove •, 

And from LiUa\ fea-be^t Walls, difpread 

With oozy Banks, behold the Fountain-Head 520 

Pf hoar Cepbijfus^ where the Pytbian Snake 

|n the frefti Stream was wont his Thirtt to flake. 

l^ap^d into the Sfsa again, which }ic imitated, and became a God 
of the Sea. 

V. 509. Cepbtffus'] At prefent, Cepho is a River of Greece tiiat dif- 
embogues itfelf into the Gulph oi Negropont, It rifes in the Moun- 
tains ofPbociSi and is ftifed facred by Lucan^ from die Nearnefs "of 
its Springs to the Oracle of Delphos'. 1 his River was feigned to 
be the Father of Narcijfusy whole Story is in every School-bby*s 
Mouth, and therefore needs not to be told here. 

V. 513. ^i<?Panopc, ^f.] Thefe Lines are almoft a Tranfcript 
of thofe Subjoined from /ftfw^r's Catalogue. //. B. 2. 

Laurels, 



Book VIL S T AT IU S's T H E B A 1 D: a^ 

Laurels, inwoven with their Crefts, they wear. 

And on their brazen Arms infculptur*d bear 

DeloSj or Nioie^s or ^ytiotCs Fate, 525 

Both facrific'd to ftern Latcni^s Hate* 

Thefe Iphitus^ 2l Chief well-known to Fame^ 

Commands, whofe Father, Naubolus by Name^ 

Direfted once the Qir and Warrior-Steeds 

Of i^/«j, noted for his gentle Deeds, 530 

What Time (O Scene FJeart-wounding tO' behold !) 

His Neck, convuls'd with dying jMotions rolFd, 

And pour*d upon the Ground Life's purple Tide. 

O had I fhar'd his Fate, and with him dy'd ! 

Whilft thus he fpoke, his Checks grew wet with Tears, 

And his whole Vifage pale and wan appears 5 536 

"^hilft interrupting Sighs his Voice repreft. 

And heav*d, as they would rend his fwelling Brea^ 

With lenient Arts his Ward removes his Pain 1 

His Voice reftor'd, he faintly fpeaks again. 540 

O thou, who doft my ev'ry Thought employ, 

j^t once a pleafing Care, and anxious Joy ! 

For thee I linger on Life's bufy Stage, 

And drag along the flow Remains of Age, 

To fee perchance thy princely Brothers flain, 545 

And Ltfw' Slaughter afted o'er again. 

Yet till to fome brave Suitor I refign 

f hy Virgin-Charms, protraft, ye Pow'rs divine, 

My vital Thread : that Charge fulfill'd, Tgivc 

The Loaq of Nature back, and ceafe to live. 550 

But whilft we thus digrefs the Time away. 

What Leaders pafs, unnotic'd, to the Fray ! 

See Clonius with the Seed of Abas join'd, 

y^hok Pair depends in flowing Locks behind ! 

Unfung 



26 STATIUS^s THEBAID. Bdfifc VII. 

Unfung (kryfios^ ftock'd with m^bk Veins, 555 

Capbareus high, and A^ea^^yzk remains. 

And now the circling Troops their Chief encloie. 

While Heralds Silence on the Croud impofe. 

Scarce had he iatd, when from a fifing Ground, 

The Monarch thus befpeaks his Bands around. 560 ' 

Ye Warrior-Kin^, from whofe difpofing Hand 

I cake the Honours of the chief Command, 

Or midft the vulgar Herd affert my Right, 

Think not, I now exhort you to the Fight, 

Since bound by voluntary Oaths, you lend 5^5 

Your powerful Aid \ nor mean I to commend. 

Since Words can ill exprefs niy fateful Senfe, 

Nor Thanks requite your Zeal in our Defence, 

Yet fliall the Gods your high Defert regard^ 

And your own Hands the Victory reward. ^7^ 

Ko Foe leads hither his ai£bmbled Hods, 

No warlike PHlager from foreign Coafts 



V. 555. Caryftos] Now Caryfto^ an Ifland bordering on the Strai^ 
of Eubaa. ■'■ Capbareus was the Moantain on which wmj of 

die Grecian Ships were fplit in their Return from ?f^. 

V. 561. Te Warrior Kings'] It will be hard to £nd a more artfo) 
Spejpch dian this of Eteocles to the auxiliary Kings. He begins with ' 
telling them, that he is willing to refign the Command of the Army 
whenever they require it. He then pays them a genteel Complir 
ment on their Readinefs to affift him ; and fets this Ejcpedition of 
his Brother in the worft of Lights by attributing it to the Thiril t£ 
Bloody Dirafle^cm to his Parents, and an unnatural Averfion to his 
native Country.— Iii ihoxt, it is the compleateil Piece of Diffi-^ 
mulation I ever met with. Not the leaH of his malevolent Diipo- 
fition tranfpires, and no one from this Harangue cculd form an 
Idea of his true Charadter. 



Prepares 



feobKVft. STAtlUS^i THEBAIC ii 

Prepares to fack the TbWh Which you defbid, 

fiiifc a faJfe Native, and i)tetendfcd Friend. 

Here are his Siftert, Mochier^ agfed Sine, 575 

And here his Brothei: Wis. — iSee, flu(h*d with \\t^ 

{^is Countl'/men in advietfe Arms he meet^. 

And menace$ his own paternal Seats. 

^ek in xAj Califc th* AontaH Troops engage. 

Nor leave me, Monfter ! to thy ruthlefs Rage. $So 

Whofe WilUnd Sentiments thou flibuld'ft have known* 

Nor thdi afpir*d to my forbidden Crown. 

This fard, the King difpofed all arijght, 

jlnd orders, who fliall take the Field for Fight, 

Qr guard the City: who Ihall clofe the Rear, "5J5 

Compofe the Flanks, or in the Van appear. 

The Shepherd thus unbare at Break of Day ' 

Jiis Twig-built Folds, and calls the Sheep away. 

The Fathers of the FlOck iti Order lead 

The dewy Way, the Mother-Ewes ftrcceed. 59b 

With careful Hand he tends the teeming Dams, 

And carries in his Arms the fteble Lpmbs. 

Mean time, with Wrath impelled, thfe Grecian Hoft 

f\nfue their March along th* Aonian Coaft ; 

From Morn to Night, from Night to Morn again ^(j$ 

They bend beneadi their Armour, and difdain 

Xhe Gifts of Sleep, and grudge to fet apart 

An Hour for Reft, or Food to cbcar the Heart. 



r. 5^7. The Shepherd thus] This Simile, though taken from low 
life, admirably well illuftrates the parental Care and military Vi- 
gilance of Euocles : and with Relped to the Circumftances of it, 
^/r^Vhimielf has fcarcely in all lus Sdogues a finer piece of rural 

They 



28 S TAT I U S's T HE B A I D. 5e)0K VII. 

They feek their Enemies with, equal Speed, 

As if purfu'd themfelvcs by Foes ; nor heed 6qo 

The Prodigies, that, as they pafs along. 

Foretell their Fate in maijy a boding Song. 

The Stars, the Beafts and Birds of Prey difclofe 

Deftruftion; o'er their Banks the Rivers rofe : 

Malignant Lightnings glancM along the Poles, 605 

And Jove's own Hand portentous Thupderg rpjils. 

Spontaneous clofe ti^c holy Temple-Doors, 

The Shrine with more than mortal Voices roars j 

Alternate Show'rs of Bk>od ^i)d Stones flefcend, 

And kindred Shades in weeping Throngs attend. 610 

Then Cyrrlifa's Oracles rcfpond no more, 

Eleujis howls in Months unknown before, 

While in their opening Fanes (a fure Prefage 

Of future Ills) the Spartan Twins engage. 

At Depth of Night (for fo th* Arcadians telj) (5 1 5 

Lycaorls frantic Ghoft was heard to yell. 

OeHomaus renews the Race again. 

And guides the Car o*er J^ifa's cruel Plain, 

Whilft Acbelous weeps his other Horn 

From his difhonour'd Head unjuftly torn, 620 

Mycena^% iv*ry Juno Hands in Tears, . 

And Perfeus" Statue vents in Groans its Fears j 

Old Inacbus rebellows hoarfe and loud, 

And with his Roarings fcares the ruftic Crowd : 

V. 603. The Stars, &c.] The Prognoftics of the civil Broils be- 
tween C^/ar and Pompey are many of them parallel with thofe pre- 
ceding the Tbeban War. See Lucan*s Phar/aliay Book i and 7, 

V. 616. Lycaon^s] Lycaon was the Father of Helice^ who was de- 
floured by 'Jupiter. To revenge the Rape, he ferved up human E}efli 
to the Gods at a Banquet, and was therefore turned into a "Wolf, 
SceO*v/VsilZfr«wcr//6o/w, Lib, I. 

While 



BookVIL STATIUS's THEBAID, 29 

While fad PaUmn o'er the double Main 625 

Was notic'd for his Country to complain, 
Th* Inacbidm heard, yet oh their Courfe they ftecr, 
To heav'nly Counfels dcafy and blind to Fcan 
Now on the Banks of rough Afipus flood 
The Grecian Wings, and view'd the hoftile Flood, 630 
When fudden Doubts forbade them to pafs o*cr. 
And ftay'd their flack*ning Steps upon the Shore. 
The River thenby chance with deafning Sound 
Defcended on the trembling Fields around ; 
Whether he ow*d his Swell to Mountain- Snow, 635 
Or Showers; difcharg'd from the celeftial Bow, 
Or whether, to detain his daring Foes 
From facking ^hebes^ fpontaneous he arofc. 
Hippomedon firft plunges in his Steed, 
Huge Fragments of the brokert Bank fucceed : 640 
Then to his Comrades left behind he cries. 
While, burffing o*er his Head, the Waves arife : 
Come on, for thus to Thebes Til fhew the Way, 
Nor Walls, nor Gates (hall long my Progrels ftay. 
> 

V. 631. When fudden Douhtsl^ Cafar^s Irrefolutioa and Dread at 
pafling the Rubicon are defcribed in a fimilar Manner by Lucan^ and 
the following Lines in particular have a near Refemblance widi our 
AuthorV 

— Ut yen turn eft parvi Rubiconis an undas. 

Tunc perculit horror 
Membra ducis, riguere comae, greffumque coercens 
Languor in extrema tenoit veftigia ripa* 

v« 63^. The Rinnr tJbenJ Statius might have here introduced a £ne 
Piece of Machinery, and taken the fame Advantage of the River 
A/opus^ as Homer did of Scamanderj by making it oppofe the March 
of the Grecians, ^^ — ^But perhaps it was his Averiion to become aa 
Imitator that made him let flip this Opportunity; he rather chooiing 
to^go an Ornament than be indebted to another for the Hint 
of it. 

Now 



30 STATItJS's 'THEPAf^. Bpoi^Vlt 

Npiv all rufh down^ di(m($ thfir fovvapt Dre^clt 645 

And bluih to folloii^ when they might h^ve led» 

Thi\3 wh^n ihe lierdfman thro' fome Bro^k uiuiy'd 

Would drJiYe hk Cattle tp th(B farther Side^ 

Juft on the Brinl^ all nootipakf^ phey ft^e^ 

And yi?!p the Waves between* and dift^Qt §trandt 659 

But if t)^ i)Qlder B4U pef^v94^ th« Fof^i 

And gau3 t^e wifl^'drfor JVIcad, its pcpth. (^xplpr'jd. 

The Le;^ gipws eafy, fh^Jlpwer loolu the Streafn, 

And the two Banjcs ahnofi: united kptn. 

Not diftai^ far a Mountain they furvcy* Ssst 

And Fields^ from whence all Tbetes in Pit^pedt lay : 

Encamping here, they rais'd their Tents ;|nd e»fr*4 ' 

Their Limb?, fp well the Situ^ion plea^'d^ 

Beneath an open Tra^t. of Country lies^ 

Igp jHills be$weeo si^ Towii aad them arifft 6i6q 

From whofe (uperior Height the curious Eoe ' 

Might mark the Motions in their C^mp below. 

So well h^d Nature formed it's ev'ry Parr, 

That .nought remains improveable by Art. 

Here Rocks in Form of lofty Bulwarks rofc, 66ff 

There hollow Vales a Kind of Trench compofc, 

j^ Battlement, fel/-rais'd, defends each Side. 

What more was wanted, their own Hands fupply'd. 

Till 5^/ retired beneath Hefpefian Seas, 

And Sleep imposed an Interval of Eafe. 6jo 

But O what Tongue can l^eak the wild Affright 

QfTBeifeSj when veiFd in Gloom the fleeplefs l!light 

Doubles each Terror of the future Fray, 

And menaces the near Approach of Day. 

They run about the WaUs j and in their Fe^s i^^$> 

Ampbion^^ Fortrefs infecure appears. 

Mean 



BpojcVU. StAtlUS's THEBAIp. 31 

Mean whUc new Horrors of the Foe arife. 

Fame fwells tl^eir Number^ Fear augments thdir Sl^f 

But when they view the blazipg Fires, that (how 

The Grecian Tepts^ from off the Mountain^ Br^w^ 6do 

Theif Warrior-Steeds and Weapons, foofie e3diort9 

Others nx>re pious to the Fanes leiort. 

And tempt the Gods with Sfcrifice and Pray*ri 

Or in the very Height of their Defpair^ 

.£xad a PrYMDife of the burial Rite^ CS$ 

And funVal Honpurs, if they fall in Fight. 

Terrific Vifions bring to View their Foes, 

And deathful Dreams intrude 00 their Repc^e. 

To lofe the Life that's loathfbmi? grown^ they fe^r. 

And call for Death, but ihu;^ it when 'tis Bev4 -699 

li^ either Camp the Fury t^es het Stand, 

And brandilhes a Snake in either Hand : 

The * Chiefs with mutual If atred fhe infpiiies ; 

But both againft ^their aged JP^rent fires : 

Sequefter'd in ^ diftant CeU he lies, 695 

Iinplores the Fiords, and re^^wiaijids his Eyes. 

Now fainter (hone the filyer ^mp of Night, 

And the Suurs fied ^>efbre t^ new-born Lij^t, 

When Scly emerging fron^ his watry Bed, 

Above the Waves ^zalts his beaming Head, 709 

y» 678. Fame/wfJlstMr Kumier] Lucan has ibme animated Lin^s 
on the Terrors that Cafar^^ Afpioach cauled at Ktme. ^har, B. i« 

Barbaricas &vi difcurrere Csefaris alas : 
ipiofli omaes aqoiloi, cojUataque %iia ferentein^ 
Aginine.non UDpy dcuiiisqaeincederecafbis. 
Nee qaalem meminere vident: majorque fcrusque 
SMenub^s occaniit, riftoque immanior hofte. 

* £ti9cbf Ziyi P^ljmm^ 
3 And^ 



il StAtlUS'* THfeBAll>. BobfcVir. 

And, fcatt'ringfrom his Whccb the Sparks ofDaji 

Marks his bright Pn^rds with a goUen Rajr. 

Lo! firbm the Gate her Steps J^r^tf bends. 

And looks the otdeft of the Sifter Fiends 

In Majefty of Woe. Her Colour flies ;' yo$ 

Grey Hairs o'erhung her Cheeks and haggard Eyes. 

Black were her Arms t an Olive-Branch flie bore^ 

With Wool of (able Colour wreathed o'er. - 

Her Daughters, now the better Sex, fuftaiii 

The furious Queen, while (he exerts in yam* ^id 

Her aged Limbs, that, deftitute of Force^ 

Bend with her Weight, and faulter in the Gourfe. 

She ftands before the Grecians^ ftrikes her Breafts 

Againft the Gates, and movingly requefts 

Accefs in Terms like thefe. — ^Ye hoftile Bands, 715 

The guilty Mother of the War demands 

To fee her Son, long abfent fix>m her Sight, 

Nor afks it as a Favour, but her Right. 

The Troops aftounded, tremble at the View, 

But when (he fpoke, their Fears increafe anew. jr20 

The King*s Confent obtained, without Delay ' 

Through yielding Foes, fccure, Ihe takes her Way^ 

And, as (he firft th* InacbianLsezders eyes. 

Vents her outrageous Grief in horrid Cries; 

Ye Chiefs of Jrgos^ to my Eyes difclofe yis 

The worft of Children and the worft of Foes^ 

O fay, beneath what Helm his Vifage lies 

Concealed, what Arms his well-known Shape difguife. 

V. 703. Lq / from the Gate] I cannot but fency, there is a ftrong 
Refemblance between the Portrsdts of Amata and Jocafia : tlirougH 
the former endeavours to fow the Seeds of War, and the laher to 
make Peace. The Defcription of the Interview between the Mo^ 
ther Jtnd Son is wrought up to the utmoil Height of the Pathos. 

3 ^ - WhU* 



BoetcVIL STATIUS^s THEBAID, 33 

While thus fhc fpake, the fummon*d Prince appears j 
Forth bubble fronx his Eyes the joyful Tears. 7311 

He claips her in his Arms, and aw'd with Shame, 
Relieves her Pains, and dwells upon her Name* 
His Sifters now, his Mother then he tends, 
Who thus with Pity juft Reproaches blends. 
O Partner of Mycena*^ fair Domain ! y^^ 

Why doft thou Tears, and Names refpeflful feign. 
And ftrain thy odious Mother to thy Breaft, 
Her tender Bofom by thy Armour prefs*d ? 
Didft thou a wretched Gueft and Outlaw rove ? 
What Heart's fo ftecly that thou would'ft not move ? 74O 
The Troops from far cxpeft thy laft Commands, 
And many a glittVing Sword befide thee ftands. 

V. 735. O Farmer «/'Mycense*/] This Speeck xXjocafia breatiei 
very ftrongly of motherly Tendernefs and Affe^on. — She opens it 
with declaring her Doubts of her Son's Sincerity, then tells him, 
the Troops are fo much at his Command, thiit th6/ will eafily dif- 
mifs their Rage, if they know his Incliaations are for Peace« She 
next reminds him ofiier Care and Regard for him, and advifes him 
to try his Brother once more, adding at the fame time, that if he 
perfifts in withholding the Crown from hinii he will then have a 
good Pretence for commencing Hoftilities. She then obviates any 
Sttipidons he might entertain of her Treachery, and ironically 
profkipts him to make him and her Daughters Prifbners^ She ton-* 
dudes with an Apofirophe to the Grecian Princes, wherein fhe in-* 
treats them to make Peace, and ufe their Influence with her Son, to 
reconcile him to his Friends^ by telling them what Anxieties theif 
Reladons undergo in their Abfence. — It is impoifible to point out 
the Beauties of thefe long Orations, without analyflng them in this 
Kfanner, and confidering thdr ibveral Objedls and Motives fepa-^ 
rately. , 

V. 740. What Hearths fo fleelyt that thou ^ouldfft not move] JocaRa 
ipeaks here interrogatively :— The Senfe is, there is no one, but. 
what is 'Cither moved witn Terror at the approaching Invajfion, or 
with Compafiion for yoor Misfortunes. 

Vol. IL D Alas! 



34 STATIUS^s THEBAID. BookVIL 

Alas ! the Cares that haplcfs Mothers prove ! 
Witnefs, how oft I've wept, ye Pow'rs above. 
Yet if thou wilt the Words of Age revere, 745 

And to thy Friends' Advice incline thy Ear, 
Now, while the Camp is ftill, as in the Night, 
And Piety fufpends the dreadful Fight, 
I pray thee, as a King of mighty Sway, 
.But charge thee, as my Son, to fpeed thy Way 75.0^ 
To Tbebesj and fee again thy native Hall, 
Before to Fulcan^s Rage a Prey it fall. 
Once more addrefs thy Brother in my Sight, 
And ril be Judge to afcertain thy Right : 
Should he refufe again, he will aflFord 755; 

A bettqr Plea to wield again the Sword. 
Deem not, that by thy confcious Mother's Aid, 
perfidious Snares are for thy Ruin laid. 
Some Sparks of nat'ral Love we ftill retain •, 
Such Fears, thy Sire conducing, would be vain. 76a 
Tis true, I married, and from our Embrace 
You fprung, the lafting Badges of Difgrace : 
Yet vicious as you are, you (hare my Love : 
I pardon, what I yet muft difapprove. 
But, if thou doftperfift to play the King, 765 

A Triumph ready to thy Hands we bring. 
Come, tie thy captive Sifters' Hands behind. 
And to the Car thy fettered Parents bind. 
Now to your Shame, O Greeks^ my Groans I turn. 
For your ^Id Sires, and Babes your Abfence mourn^ 
Such then (believe me) is the fecret Dread, 7711 

That Parents feel, fuch Tears at home they Ihed. 
If in fb fhort a Time fo dear he's grown 
To you,, by whom his Merits icarce wer^ known,. 

What 



BookVIL STATIUS'8 THEBAID. 35 

What anxious Thoughts muft thcfe my Breafts engage, 

Thefc Breafts, the Solace of his tender Age ? 776 

From TbraHan Kings fuch Ufage I might bear. 

But not from thofe, who breathe the Grecian Air* 

Then graiit my Wilh, and fecond my Dcfire, 

Or in my Son's Embraces I expire. 789 

Thefe powerful Words the wrathful Cohorts move^ 

And all the Mother's virtuous Suit approve : 

Whilft on their glitt'ring Shields and Armour flow 

The pious Streams of fympathctic Woe. 

As when the brindled Monarch of the Wood 785 

Beholds the Hunter proftrate and fubdu'd^ 

His Anger paft, he takes a greater Joy 

To fpare the ready Viftim, than deftroy. 

Thus Pity through their Hearts unnoticed, glides. 

And the fell Ardour of Revenge fubfides. 790 

Before them all the Warrior turns his Face 

To meet his loving Mother's kind Embrace, 

And tries to yield Antigone Relief, 

And chace with Kiiles izxc Ifmene^% Grief: 

While, various Tempefts raging in his Mind, 795 

Ambition for a Time the Reins refign'd. 

He wills to go. Adrafius not denies j 

When, mindful of paft Injuries, 3ji^«j cries. 

Rather let me addrefs the gen'rous Foe, 

Wh« his experienc'd Faith and Honour know, ;8oo 

Though not a Brother. — In this wounded Breaft 

I bear his Eeace and Covenants imprefs'd. 

V. 801. Thmgb n§t a Brother] Nothing could be more aptly con- 
trived to -render Eiepctes odious to his Brother, and confequently to 
diffuade him jfrom trufting himfelf in his Hands, than tUis Refledion. 

Heobfervee lo Polynias y that, though he was fo mal- treated 

by £/for/«, he was not his Brother ; which is equivalent to faying, 
that he, who was his Brother, would be ufcd with a nruch greater 
Degree of Rigour and Crusty- „_. 

D %^ Why 



36 STATIUS'sTHEBAID. Book Vlf^ 

Why did'ft thou not, O gentle Mother-Queen ! 

As Judge and Mediatrefs Itand between. 

When the fee'd Guards in nightly Ambufli lay? 805 

Such is the League by which thou would*ft betray 

/Thy Son. — But lead him to yon reeking Mead, 

That ftill bears Witnefs to the bloody Deed. 

Yet wilt thou follow ? — Do not thus neglefl: 

Our friendly Counfels through a falfe Refpeft. 8i# 

Say, when the hoftile Weapons round thee glare, 

.Will ftie, lamenting, make thy Life her Care, 

And turn each Dagger's menaced Point away ; 

Or will the Tyrant King forego his Prey, 

And fend thee to our Camp unhurt again ? 815 

Firft Inachus fhall ceafe to feek the Mair^, 

And Achelous run back, while in my View 

This Lance itsr verdant Honours (hall renew. 

Beneath this friendly Converfe lurks a Sword : 

Know, that our Gates too will Accefs afford : 82b 

In us, unperjured yet, he may confide; 

Yet, ftiould he me fufpeft, I ftep afide. 

Then let him come, while privy to the Scene, 

His Mother and his Sifters ftand between. 

But, fhould he the contefted Crown reftore, 825 

Wilt thou refign, thy Term, of ruling o'er ? 

This heard, their firft Refolves the Warriors change^ 

And for the Fight again themfelves arrange. 

V. 817. While in my Fieuu] The hint of this Paflagc is taken from 
yalerius Flaccus^ Argonautics, Book 3. 

Hanc ego magnanimi (pollum Didymaonis haftam, 

Utfemel eft avulfa jugis, a matre perenipta. 

Quae neque jam frondes virides neque proferet ambras, 

Fida minifteria, et duras obit horrida pugnas, 

Tcftor. 

ThM 



BookVIL STATIUS's THEBAID. 37 

Thus the fierce South by fudden Whirlwinds gains 

The wide-ftretch'd Empire of the liquid Plains 830 

From Boreas. — Peace and Leagues they feek no more^ 

But give a Loofe to Rage, and third for Gore. 

Erinnys takes Advantage of th' Alarms, 

And fows the Seeds of War and future Harms. 

Two Tigers mild and innocent of Blood, i'^^ 

Purfu'd their Way to Dirce's facred Flood. 

By Bacchus for the Chariot they were broke, . 

And, with their Country, bow'd beneath the Yoke 5 

Now old and ufelefs in his Service grown. 

They graze the Fields befide the Theban Town, 840 

Gentle as Lambs, and fmelling as they pafs. 

Of Indian Herbage, and Sahaan Grafs. 

The Bacchanalian Crowd, and elder Pricft, 

At each Renewal of their Patron's Fcaft,, 

V. 835. T'wo Tigers mild and innocent of Bloo/] Lewis CrufiuSy in 
his Account of our Author, obfervcs, that, it being more artful to 
let the War break out from a trivial Occaiion, $tatm has in this 
PalTage imitated FirgiU who informs us, the War between JEneas 
and Turnus was caufed by the killing of a favourite Stag. — I readily 
grant with thi^ ingenious Gentleman, , that this is an Imitation of 
rirgil, but cannot think the Death of the two Tigers a trifling Oc-p 
cafion of the War. There is certainly a wide biffcrcnce between 
the killing a Deer, the Property of a Country Girl, and two Ti» 
gers confecrated to Bacchus^ the tutelary God and Patron of the 
nebans : and whoever coniiders what fupei ftitious Bigots they were, 
at that Time of Day, will e^ly iniagine, that there could not be 
a greater tReafbn for the Ti^^^Sin/ going to War, than fuch an Infult 

en their Gods, and fuch an Affront to. their Religion. In de- 

icribing the Carefles and Ornaments which were bellowed on them^ 
he has taken fome of the Circumflances from Virgil. , 

AfTuetum imperils foror omni Sylvia cura 

Mollibus intexens omabat cornua fertis, 

Pedebatque ferum, puroque in fbnte lavabat. 

Ille manum patiens, meni^^que affuetus herili, 

Errabat fylvis ; rurfufque ad limina nota 

Ipfe domum ftra qaamvis fe node ferebat, V, 486 

D 3 Their 



38 STATIUS^s THEBAID. Book VIL 

Their fable Spots with purple Fillets blend, 845 

While various Cluftcrs from their Necjcs depend. 

By Flocks and Herds they were alike beloved. 

Secure with them the lowing Heifers rov'd, 

On nought they prey, but from each friendly Hand 

Their daily Food in placid Guife demand, 850 

And to the Ground their horrid Mouths incline. 

To lap the purple Produce of the Vine. 

Around the Country all the Day they roam, 

But when at Noon they feek' their wonted Home, 

With facred Fires, the Domes and Temples ftiine, 855 

As if to grace the prefent God of Wine, 

But when her founding Lafli the Fury (hakes, 

jHer founding Lafh, composed of twifted Snakes, 

Their former Rage returning, from the Town 

They break forth, by the Grecian Troops unknown. 869, 

As from a diflPrent Quartef of the Sky 

Two Thunder-bolts, with Ruin pregnant, fly. 

And thro' the Clouds a Lenjgth of Light extend ; 

Thus thro* the Fields their Courfe the Tigers bend. 

And, fiercely growling, as they rufli along, - 855 

invade a Stragler of th' Jnacktan Throng, ,' 

The Prophet's Charioteer, as o'er the Meads 

jle drove to Directs Stream his Mailer's Steeds. 

Next Ida'j the T^nafianj they gurfue. 

With him jEtoUan Acamas they flew, 87^ 

The Cpurfers in Diforder fpced their Flight, 

Till brave Aconteus^ kindlfcd at the Sight, 

A<^onteus^ expert in the lylvan Chace, 

(In fair Arcadia was his native Place) 

To the Purfuit well-arm'd with Weapons fpcd, 875 

As turning to their much-lov'd TbeheSj they fled. 



BookVII. STATIUS^s THEBAID. 39 

And, eager his long-ftudied Art to prove. 

Thro' their pierc'd Back, and guQiing Bowels drove 

The Icveird Jav'lin. ^To the Town again 

They fly, and flying, draw upon the Plain 880 

A bloody Line, while o'er their upper Skin 

The Darts appear, the Points deep-lodg*d within. 

They imitate with Groans the human Cry, 

And to the Walls their wounded Bneafts apply. 

This feen, fuch Shrieks and mournful Clamors rife, 885 

As if (the City made a hoflile Prize) 

The Syrian Fanes and facred Manfions ihone 

With Argive Fires, and Splendors not their own. 

Lefs would they grieve, fliould, Cadmus^ regal Hall, 

Or fair Harmonia^ihndzX Chamber fall. 890 

But PhegeuSj to revenge his injur'd God, 

With haughty Mien towards Aconttus fl:rode ; 

And as difarm'd, he triumphed o'er the flain, 

Aim*d a deftruftive Blow, nor aim'd in vain. 

The youthful Bands of "Tegea fly too late, 895 

To fave the Warrior, and avert his Fate. 

Thrown o'er the flaughter'd Animals, he lies. 

And to th' offended Pow'r a Vidlim dies. 

The Council broke and Congrefs held in vain 

O'er all the Camp loud Tumults rife again. 900 

Back thro' the hoftile Troops Jocajla flies. 

Nor longer on her Pray'rs or Tears relies. 



V. 879. Ta the Town again] Thefc lines are taken from the fol- 
lowing of Virgil^ who fpeaking of the wounded Stag, fays. 

Saucius at quadrupes nota intra te6ia refugit, 

Succeilitque gemens ilabuiis, quefluque cruentus, 

Atque imploranti fimilis, tedium omnc replevit. v. 5C0 



D 4 Her 



4a STATIUS's THEBAID. BookVIL 

Her and her Daughters thence the Greeks remove. 

While 23'^<rt^ ftrives th* Advantage to improve. 

Go, hope for Peace, and the juft Fight delay, 905 

fill the more prudent Foe commence the Fray. 

Say, could ye thus the Work of Death adjourn. 

And wait for the commiffion'd Queen's Return, 

He fpokb, and to his Comrades high difplay'd, 

(A Signal of the Charge) his naked Blade. 910 

On cither Side now Wrath and Vengeance rife. 

And one vaft Shout groans upward to the Skies. 

No martial. Laws obferv*d, nor Order known. 

The Soldiers with their Captains mix, nor own 

Superior Rank: Horfc, Foot and ratling Cars 915 

Form one dire Chaos. Urg'd by furious Mars^ 

ileadlong they rufb, no Leifure giv*n to (hew 

Themfelves, or from the Foe their Comrades know. 

This Mode of Fight the clofing Armies bore ; 

The Trumpets, Horns and Clarions now no more, 9201 

^s whilom, in the marching Van appear. 

But with the Standards join'd, bring up the Rear, 

Such rofe thy Conflift from few Drops of Blood, 

And to ah Ocean fweird the purple Flood, 

As Winds at firft make Trial of their Force 925 

On Leaves and Trees, then bolder in their Courfe, 

V. 905, Go, hope for Pe^ce] Our Author fecms In this Place to have 
had an Eye to the ironical Scoff bf Turnus upon the Latians in the 
I ith Book of the j£neid, as maj be feen from the praaps tempore 
Tydeus utitur, which is an Imitation q{ arrepto tempore Turnu?, 

Imo, ait, O civcs, arrcpto tempore Twnus, 
Cogite concilium^ & pacem laudate fedentes, lie, 

y, 925. Js Winds at firfil This Simile is borrowed from VirgiU 
§0 Winds, while yet unfledg'd in Woods they lie. 
In Whifpers firft their tender Voices try ; 

. Then 



BookVII. STATIUS's THEBAID. 41 

Overturn the Forcfts, bear the Groves away, 

And lay whole Mountains open to the Day. 

Yc Mufes, now record your Country's Hofts, 

And fing the Wars that vex'd your native Coafts, 93a 

For dwelling near the blood-mark'd Seat of Fight, 

The War^s whole Art was obvious to your Sightt 

What Time th* Aonian Lyre's mellifluous Sound 

Was in the louder Blalt of Trumpets drown'd. 

The Horfc of PterelaSj unus'd to Arms, 935 

And new to all the Battle's dire Alarms, 

Soon as his wearied Hand had broke the Reins, 

Tranfports his Mafter to the diftant Plains, 

The Spear of ^ydeus through his Shoulder flies, 

Then glancing down, tranfpierces borh his Thighs, 94^ 

And nails him to the Seat : th' affrighted Steed, 

Fix'd to his Rider, bounds along the Mead, 

And bears him on, tho' now he wields no more 

His Arms and Bridle ting'd with reeking Gore. 

The Centaur thus (his Life in Part retain'd) 945 

Hangs from the Courfer which he lately rcin'd. 

The Conflift glows. Menaceus vents his Rage 

On Peripbaf. In adverfe Arms engage 

Hifpomedon and Sybaris^ while near 

Rafh Itys; and th' Arcadian Prince appear. 950 

A Sword, O Sybaris^ fupprefs'd thy Breath ; 

Young Itys from a Shaft receiv'd his Death, 

Then iflae on the Main with bellowing Rage, 
And Storms to trembling Mariners prcfage. BryietCt JEn. 
V. 929. Ye Mufesy noiv ncordyour Country* t\ Sec Note on the 41ft 
line of the 4th Book, and 541ft of the 8th. 

V. 945 f The Cemiaur thus^ &c.] A Poet is not confined in his Com- 

parifon to Things that really have an £xiilence in Nature : he may 

derive them as well from thofe that have only a Place in the Crea. 

tiOB of Fancy, and World of Imagination. Of this latter Sort it 

z the 



4Z STATIUS's THEB AID. Book ViL 

While Peripbds beneath a Javelin bled. 

The Steel of Hamon lops away the Head 

Of Grecian Ccsntus^ whofe wide-yawning Eyes 555 

Erolore the fevered Trunk that bleeding lies. 

This Abas faw, and rufh'd to fpoil the Foe ; 

When lo ! an Arrow from an Argive Bow 

Prevents his Aim,— expiring with a Groan, 

He quits the hoftile Buckler and his own. 960 

Em^teus^ thee what Daemon could perfuade 

To kave thy rofy Patron's hallow'd Shade^ 

That Shade, to which thou fhould'ft have been confined. 

For War's tumultuous Fury ill-refign'd ? 

Ah! hope not thou to fcatter wild Affright 965 

Whofe fine-wove Shield (a poor Defence in Fight) 

With Ivy- Wreaths, on Nyfa cuH'd, is crown'd. 

And whofe whitc-Stole> defcending on the Ground, 

Difplays its filken Fringe.— Beneath his Hair 

Each Shoulder lies conceal'd with artful Care. , 970 

The^ tender Down his florid Cheeks o'erfpreads ; 

Whtk his weak Cuirafs fhines with purple Threads, 

A Woman's Bracelets on his Arms he bears, 

And on his Feet embroider'd Sandals wears. 

A Jafper-Button, fet in purefl: Gold 975 

Clafp^d his Robes, grac'd with many a ruftling Fold. 

A Quiver, which a Lynx's Hide furrounds,. 

And pcdifh'd Bow-Cafe on his Back refaunds, 

tke Siimk before us, which admirably well illuftrates the Look and 
]Pofture of the dying Warrior, and is as ftrong and expreffive, as it 
IS cOBcife* ' 

v» "965- Ah / bofe not thou] It may be obferved, that thofe Priefts 
and Minifters of the Gods, who bear a Part in the ^Thcban War, aie" 
diiUngiiiihed £rom other Leaders by the Splendor and Richnefs of 
dbkeir Habits,.- — Our Poet fcems to have had in View the Chloreus 
«f Virzil at the Time he wrote this^ 
: ^ Full 



BookVII. STATIUS's THEBAID. 43 

Full of the raging God, the Warrior hies 

Amid the Prefs^ and thus loud-vaunting cries, o8<^ 

Rcftrain your Rage.^-^Thefc Walls Apollo fliew'd 

To Cadmus^ for his high Deferts beftow'd 5 

TJiefe Walls to,build (if we may credit Fame) 

The willing Rocks, an happy Omen came. 

Our Nation, facred to the Powers above, 585 

Alliance claims with Mar$ and greater Jove : 

Nor feign we this to be the native Earth 

Of Hercules J and Place of Bacchu^ Birth, 

Fierce Capaneus towards the Boafter ftecrs 

His Courfe, and brandifhes two beamy Spears. 99^1 

As when the King of Beafts at early Dawn 

Springs from his Thicket to the dewy Lawn^ 

And views a Deer that bounds along the Green, 

Or Calf, whofe budding Horns are fcarcely feen, 

Tho* the ftern Swains a dreadful Circle form, 59^^ 

And darted Javelins rain a fteely Storm, 

Fcarlefs, regardlefs, he purfues his Way, 

And unappaird with Wounds, invades the Prey. 



V. 991. As luhen &c.] This Simile is borrowed from ffoi^. 

Tlntcujv fiebiet yoi^ t< xarta^tn, uvtp av avrlf 
*n; l^a^, &C. 

As Firgil h3Ls copied it too, I fhall give the Reader an Opportonl^ 
of coxnjHuing the two Imitations with the Original • 

Impafliis ilabula aha Leo ceu faepe peragrans, 
. (Suadet enim vefana fames) fi forte fugacem • 
Confpexit capream, ant furgentem in cornua cervum^ 
Gaudet hians immane, comafque arrexit & haret 
'Viiceribus fuper accumbens i lavat improba tetiv . 
Ora cruor. 



44 STATIUS's THEBAID. Book VIL 

Thus Capaneus exulting o'er the Foe, ^ 

With his pois'd Javelin meditates a Blow, looo 

But ere the ponderous Weight of Death defcends, 

With Blafphemy Reproaches thus he blends. 

Why doft thou, doom'd to bleed beneath my Spear 

With Shrieks unmanly ftrike our Hofts with Fear ? 

In wordy Wars with Syrian Dames engage, 1005 

But where*S the vaunted Author of thy Rage ? 

Would he were prefent ! ere he fcarce had faid. 

Unknowing of Repulfe, the Weapon fled. 

And faintly tinkled on the glittering Shield 5 

Whofe folded Hides a fpcedy Paflagc yield. loio 

Forth wells the Blood, his Armour knocks the Gr6und, 

And with long Sobs the Plates of Gold refound. 

He dies, he dies, the rafli Boy- Warrior dies. 

And wept and honoured by his Patron lies. 

Him druajcen Ifmaros (the Tbyrfus broke) .1015 

And TimoluSy long reluftant to the Yoke, 

Him Nyfaj and Tbefean l^axos mourn. 

And Ganges^ to difcharge his Orgies fworn.' 

Nor was Eteocles in Combat flow ; 

Leis oft his milder Brother aims a Blow. 1020 

Confpicuous in his Car the Prophet fate : 

His Steeds^ as prefcicnt of their haft'ning Fate, 

1020. Lefs oft bis milder Brother] The Poet here pays a great Com- 
pliment to Polynices, He tells the Reader, that while Eteocles i% 
Wftdine through Blood and Carnage to the Crown» and making 
Havock among the Grecians ^ Polynices was checked in his Conqueft 
by the tender Impalfes of Humanity^ and Regard to his Coun- 
trymen. 

V. 1 01 1. Conjpicuoiis in his Car 9 &c.] Wc find Jupiter in the fe- 
^enteenth Book of the lUad» beftowing the fame Honours on Hec- 
tor 9 and dignifying his Exit with a Blaze of Glory, as Mr. Fope ex- 
preiTesit. 



BooKVa STAT lUS^s THE B AID. 45 

With Dread move on, while Clouds of Duft arife, 

Obfcure the Fight, and blacken half the Skies. 

Him Phosbus honours on his dying Day, 1025 

And gives a Luftre to his fetting Ray. 

He decks his Shield and Helm with ftarry Fires ; 

While Mars with fierceft Rage his Soul infpires. 

And, in Compliance tp the God's Requeft, 

From hoftile Swords defends his manly Breaft, 1030 

That pure, nor violated here above 

By Wounds, he may defcend to Stygian Jove. 

Thus, confcious, he mull foon refign his Breath, 

Serene, he walks the dreadful Path of Deatn, 

And ruflies on his Foes, -Defpair of Life 1035 

Supplies new Strength and Vigour in the Strife. 
His Limbs increafe in Beauty, Force and Size, 
And ne'er before fo well he read the Skies. 
With unexftinguifti'd Heat of War he glows. 
And pours redoubled Fury on his Foes. 1043 

Oft was he known to break with lenient Art * 
The Strokes of Chance, and eafe the human Heart, 
T'encroach on Fate's juft Rights and interpofc 
To fave the wretched from impending Woes. 



-At/ ^f fAiv "Affi? 



V. 1038. Andnt^tr hefort\ Amphiaraus is reprefcnled as being en- 
dued with a greater Degree of Prefcience and Divination juft before 
his Deaths which Circumihmces brings to my Remembrance four 
Lines of the celebrated WalUr. 

Wifer Men become^ 

As they draw near to their eternal Home, 
Leaving the old, both Worlds at or ce they view. 
That Hand upon the Threfhold of the new. 

Alas! 



46 STATIUS's THEBAID. Book VIL 

Alas ! how changed from him, who great and good, 1^45 

At Phabus* Shrine in holy Office ftobd. 

Who what each Ipw'ring Cloud portended knew. 

And Omens read from ev*ry Wing that flew ! 

A countlefs Herd expired beneath his Blade 

(Unhappy Vidimsi to his future Shade) 1050 

As when fell Planets rule the deathful Year, 

And dart Deftruftion from their baleful Sphere, 

Pbkgyas and Phyleus fell (his Javelin thrown) 

His Scythe-hung Car mows Cremetaon down, 

And Cbromis : one in adverfe Fight was flain •, 1055 

His Knee cut off, the other prefs'd the Plain. 

Next ChromiSj Ipbinous^ and Sages bled. 

By miffive Weapons rank'd among the dead. 

Unfliorn Lycoreus groans his Soul away. 

And Gyas^ facred to the God of Day ; • 1060 

His Helm uncrcfted by the forceful Spear, 

He knew, but knew too late the mitred Seer, 

Then at Alcatbous a Stone he threw^ 

The well-aim*d Stone the haplefs Warrior flew. 

RearM on the Margin oiCaryftos^ Flood 10^5 

His Houfe, with Infants 'Cries refounding, fl:ood. 

His Friends at length the fenfelefs Wretch perfuade 

To change the Sailor's for the Soldier's Trade. 

Nor dying he prefers th* experienced Main, 

And wintry Tempefts to the bloody Plain. 1070 

V. 1 05 1. As tjuhen fell Planets] Homer ^ Virgil 2CcA Milton have fine 
Similics drawn from Planets, Comets, 6fr. there is one of the Jaft 
mentioned Author in particular, that is wonderfully fublimc. 
He Like a Comet burn'd 
That fires the Length of Ophiuchus huge 
In th' Ardlic Sky ; and from his horrid Hair 
Shakes Peltilence and War* 

The 



BookVII. STATIUS's THEBAID. \f 

The Rout and Slaughter of his Hoft furvey'd, 

Afopian Hypfeus rufties to their Aid : 

Rage in his Eyes; and Ruin in his Hand, 

He galls the Rear of the Tyrinthian Band, 

But the Prieft feen, the Tide of Wrath he turns 1075 

On him, and with redoubled Fury burns. 

Ranged in a Wedge, his Troops befide him ftood. 

And form'd with Spears ere6t an ambient Wood. 

He lifts, in Front of all the hoftile Ranks, 

A Javelin, cuird on his paternal Banks, 108a 

And cries O Father of th' Aonian Streams, 

Whofe Surface with etherial Embers gleams, 

Direft my Aim : this I, thy Son, demand, 

And th' Oaken Spear, the Native of thy Strand* 

If thou haft fought the Ruler of the Skies, 108^ 

Give me the mighty Phcehus to defpife. 

From his galh'd Head Til tear the circling Crown, . 

And with his Armour in thy Current drown. 

Afopus heard his Pray V, but Sol deny'd 

Indulgence to his Son, and turned afide 1090 

To faithful Herfes the well-darted Spear,. 

HerfeSy the valiant Augur's Charioteer* 

Apollo now direfts the flowing Reins, 

And Aliagnwn*s Form and Vifage feigns. 

V. 1077. Rang* ^ in a Wedge] Qn reading this PaiTage, how natu- 
rally do the following Verfes of Milton fteai in upon our Memory 1 

While thus he fpake, th' angelic Squadrons bright 
Turn'd fiery red, iharp'ning in mooned Horns, ^c^ 

Book, 4. Line 977, 

V. 1093. Apollo niTM dire^s] This Piece of Machinery is beauti- 
ful to a great Degree: it is imitated from the cth Book of Horner^ 
where Pallas thrults Sthcnelus out of Diomede^s Chariot, and vaulting 
into ithcrfelf, affifts that Heroin his Attack upon Mars. 

^•3 Their 



48 STATIUS's THEBAID, Bodic VIL 

Their Souls unman'd, and all Rcfiftance loft, 1095 

A fudden Panic feiz'd the ThebtAYLoU, 

Their Gripe relax'd, their Weapons ftrew the Ground; 

They fall thro' Fear, and die without a Wound. 

•T was doubtful, if th' augmented Burden fpeeds. 

Or clogs the Progrefs of the furious Steeds. 1 100 

As from fome Cloud-capt Hill a Fragment worn 

By Dint of Age, or by fierce Whirlwinds tqrn. 

Rolls down, and fweeps along in its Defcent 

Men, Trees and Cots from their Foundations rent ; 

Nor ftops, till fome deep Vale confines its Force, 1 105 

Or River, intercepted in its Courfe. 

So rolls th' enfanguin*d Car beneath the Load 

Of the great Hero, and the greater God. 

. V. 1 1 01. Js from] I wonder, that neither Mr. Pope nor Mr. 
Wharton have taken Notice of this truly fublime Comparifon in 
their Obfenration on a fimilar one in Homer and Firgil^ efpecially 
as they have quoted one of Taffhy in my Opinion, much inferior 
to our Author's 1 ihall tranfcribe all three. 



OXw*T^''%'^ u; ccTTo fly/TfUc, 



*0>Tf ZXTX r»^a»J? tffoTafAo; X**f*^C®^ ucri^ 
T^Jx? a^'«T6; o^^^w a>a»^«^ i'Xf<'«Ta «yiT/:»j;, 

Ac veluti montis faxum de vertice pncceps 
Cum ruit avulfum vento, ceu turbidus imber 
Proluit, aut annis folvit fublapfa vetuftas ; 
Fertur Jn abruptum magno mons improbur^ adlu, 
Exnltatque folo, fylvas, armenta virofque 
Invoivens lecum, 

Qual gran faflb talor, ch'o la vecchiezza 
Solve da un montc, o fvelle ira de* venti 
Kuinofadifupa, e p.arta, e ipezza 
Le felve, e colle cafe anco gli armenti 
Tal gia trahea della, ^^ 

v. 1 107. So rolls'] It is remarkable, that thefe two Lines are almo^ 
a Tranfcrlpt of Homer* 5, 

Miy* 



Book VII STATlUS's THEBAID. 49 

High o'er the deathful Scene Apollo (lands. 
And wields the Spears and Reins withequal Hands : 1 1 iO 
UneAing Skill he to his Prieft imparts. 
But niocks the Tbekan Shooter's ufelefs Arts. 
Now AntipbuSy unaided by his Steed, 
And ALtnalus lie proftrate on tlie Mead : 
jElbion then of Heliconian Strain ; 1 1 15 

PoliteSy noted for his Brother flain. 
And LampttSy who with Luft tranfported, ftrove 
To force fair Mantbo^s interdifted Love : 
At him the God himfeif direfts a Dart, 
And dix)ve the (hining Mifchief to his Heart. 1 120 
On Hills of flain the rapid Courfers tread, 
Deftroy the living, and deform the dead. 
The mangled Carcafes are furrow'd o'er; 
And the dafli'd Axles blufti with human Gore. 
O'er fonle the kindling Car, unnotic'd, rolls, 11 25 

Breaks ev'ry Limb, and cruflics out their Souls i 
Whilft others, helplefs with a mortal Wound, 
Forefee it fmoaking o'er the diftant Ground, 
Now thro' his Hands the flipp'ry Bridle glides. 
And the befprinkled Beam, unftable. Aides: iijo 
The Steed's, their Hoofs involv'd in Carnage ftood. 
And the fpik'd Wheels are clogg'd with clotted Bloodi 
The Javelins, which (their Points infix'd within) 
Stand extant on the Surface of the Skin, 
The raging Hero frbm the wounded drew, 1 135 

' Whofe parting Souls with Groans the Car purfue. 
At length (his whole Divinity confefs'd) 
Pbcebus the wondring Augur thus addrefs'd. 

-M/y« y«5fa%e ^iyiv^ a^uv 



B^iSc^o'nj* ^i»M|» yxp ayof S«i:, a^^^ar a^ift. Ibad. 5. 838. 

Vot. II. . E Ufe 



50 STATIUS^s THEBAID. Book VH. 

Ufe well thy Time, whilft in Refped to me 
Grim Death delays the Work of Deftiny, 1 140 

We're overcome. — — Whate'er the Fates ordain. 
They execute, nor weave the Woof again. 
Go then, and mindful of the Promife made. 
Gladden Elyfium with thy prefent Shade, 
Secure, no Burial-Honours thou fhalt want, IH5 

Nor fue in vain for cruel Creorfs Grant. 
To this the Chief, furcharg'd with hoftile Spoils, 
Replies, and for a while refpires from Toils : 
At firft I knew thee thro* thy borrowed Look ; 
J5eneath th* unwonted Weight the Chariot fhook : 1 150 
yet fay, how long wilt thou defer my Fate ? 
Thefe Honours ill become my wretched State. 
E*en now I hear the Porter's triple Yell, 
Hoarfe-founding %x, and all the Streams of Hell. 
Take then the laurelled Honours of my Head, 1 155 
Too holy for the Regions of the dead. 
If to thy dying Prophet aught is due. 
With my laft Voice this Boon 1 now renew, 
And to thy Wrath refign my traitorous Spoufe 5 
Avenge, avenge the broken Marriage- Vows. n6« 

The grieving God defcending on the Plains, 
The Courfers groan'd, and bow'd to Duft their Manes. 
Thus fares a Veffel in a ftormy Night, 
When the twin-Stars withhold their friendly Light j 
Death in their Thoughts, they ftiriek at ev'ry Blaft, 
And deem the prefent Moment for their lath 1 166 
And now the grafly Surface of the Mead, 
Convuls'd with frequent Tremors *gan recede : 
A thicker Cloud of Duft obfcures the Skies, 
And Murmurs dire from decpeft Hell arife. 1 1 70 

This 



BookVIL STATlUS's THEBAID. 51 

This Sound miftaken for the Crafh of Fight, 

From Fidd the trembling Warriours urge their Flight; 

Another Tremor now bends to the Ground 

Men, Horfes, Arms, and fhakes the Fields around. 

The leafy Grove inclines its various Head^ ^^75 

And filent from his Banks Ifmenos fled* 

The public Anger loft in private Fears, 

They ground their Arms, and leaning on their Spears, 

Start back, as on each other's Face they view 

Wild Terror imag'd in a pallid Hue. 1180 

As when Bellona forms a naval Fray, 

In Scorn of Neptune^ on the watry Way : 

If haply fome fell Tempeft interpofe, 

Each thoughtful of himfelf, negledls his Foes : 

The common Dangers caufe their Ire to ceafe, 1 185 

And mutual Fears impofe a fudden Peace. 

Such was the flu6luating Fight to view : 

Whether from fubterraneous Prifons flew 

Imbofom'd Blafts, and gathered from afar. 

In one vaft Burft difcharg'd the windy War : 1 igo 

Or latent Springs had worn tl^e rotten Clay, 

And opened to themfelves a gradual Way : 

Or on this Side the Iwift Machine of Heav'n 

Inclined, by more than wonted Impulfe driv'n. 

Or whether Neptune bade old Ocean roar, 1 195 

And dafh*d the briny Foam from Shore to Shore : 

Or Earth herfelf would warn by thefe Portents 

The Seer, or Brother-Kings of both Events ; 

r*o ! ftie difclofes wide her hollow Womb : 

(Night feared the Stars, the Stars the nether Gloom.) 

The Prophet and his Courfers, while they ftrive 

To pafs, the yawning Cleft ingulphs alive ; 

E 2 Nor 



52 STATIUS's THfiBAID. Book VII. 

Nor did he quit the Reins and Arms in Hand, 
But with them plung'd to the Tartarean Strand; 
And as he fell, gaz*d backward on the Light ; 1205 
And grieved to fee the Field would foon unite, 
;,Till now a lighter Tremor ,cfos*d again 
,The Ground, and darken^d'P/t^/^*s wide Domain 



End of Book Vlli 



THE 



THE 



THEBAID OF STATIUS, 



BOOK TBB EIGHTH, 



The argument. 



^T^HE Poetj having defcribed the Effe£ls of Amphia- 
rausV Coming into the infernal Regions^ introduces 
Pluto expreffing his Difpkafure at his abrupt Intrufion^ and 
exhorting the Furies to retaliate the Infult by an Excurfton 
to the World above. At lengthy however^ Amphiaraus 
pacifies him. The Confederates, terrified by this extraordi- 
nary Phcenomenon, quit the Field- in great Diforder and 
Confujion, and exprefs their Concern for the Death of the 
Seer in a long Oration. The Thebans fpend the Night in 
Feajiing and Jollity. Adraftus calls a Council in the 
Morning, in which it is refolved, that TKiodizm^s fhould 
fuaeed Ampbi^tSLXJ^ as Augur: who, in.Purfuance of bis 
BleRion appeafes the-Earth by Sacrifice, and delivers afu*^ 
neral Oration in Praife of his Predeceffor. The Battle re^ 
commencing, Tydcus on the Part of the Allies, and Hae- 
mon on the Part of the Thebans, Jignalize themfelves, by 
Feats of Prowefs and Gallantry. T^ife^ Thebans, dif-' 
heartened by the Death of^Atys, and Retreat, (?/Haemon, 
are raiUed by Menseccus, atid renkv the Flghf^ith re^ 
doubled Vigour and Alacrity. The Poet then returns to 
Thebes: and while Ifmene /V relating a Dream, which 
fSe had about her Lover Atys, to her Sifter, he is brought 
into the Palace jufi upon the Point of Death : this gives 
Rife to a very affeSiing Scene. Tydeus in the mean Time 
makes a great , Slaughter of his Enemies ; and meeting with 
Eteocles, exchanges a Dart with him : but the other fly^ 
ing, in the Purfuit of him he is overpozvered by his Ene^ 
piies, and receiving a mortal Wound, expires gnawing the 
Head of Mcnalippus, who gave it him. 
Z 



f 55 J 

THE 

THEBAID OF STATIUS. 



BOOK THE EIGHTH. 



SO O N as the Prophet reach'd the dreary Coafts 
Of %flf, the Manfion of pale-vifag'd Ghofts, 
Explored the Secrets of the World below. 
And pierc'd the Regions of eternal Woe ; 
His Garb terrific, and loud-braying Arms 5 

Fill Pluto^s wide Dominion with Alarms. 
The Shades jvith Horror gaze upon his Car, 
His Weajpbns, Steeds diftinguifh*d in the War, 
And his new Body : for he neither came 
Black from the Urn, nor feafon*d with the Flame ; 10 
But with the Sweat of Mars was covered o'er. 
And his hack*d Target ftain'd with dewv Gore. 
Nor had Erinnys yet with impious Hand 
O'ei^ his cold Members wav'd her flaming Brand, 

There is fomething very awful and folemn in the Poet's Defcrip- 
tion of the Terror and Confufion which the Prefence of Amphiaraus 
occafioned in the infernal Regions. But what we* fhould princi« 
pally icgard it for, is the great Light it throws on many Parts of the 
heathea Mythology, whic£ would otherwife feem dark and myfle* 
rioDs, In fliort, it is ^together as fine a Reprefentation of Hell, 
as any wc meet with in the ancient Poets. 

£4^ - Or, 



56 STATIUS's TfiEB AID. Book Vlir. 

Or Proferpine^ admitting him a Ghoft, t^ 

Infcrib'd his Name upon the murky Poft. 

Nor to the Tafk the Sifters' Hands fufficM ; 

The Work as yet unfini(h*d he furpriz'd : 

Then, nor tilPthen, they cut Ae fatal Thread, 

And freed the Seer, irregularly dead. 20 

The Manes of Elyfium gaz*d around, 

(Their Pleafures interrupted at the Sound) 

And thofe, who ftation'd in the Gulph beneath. 

An Air lefs pure, and lefs enlivening breathe. 

Then groan the Lakes that parched with Sulphur glow ; 

And fluggifh Waters, fcarcely feen to flow y 26 

While Cbarottj' -wont to plough the loaded Stream, 

Mourns his loft Fare, a melancholy Theme ; 

And grieves, that Shades had gain'd the Stygian Shore, 

By Chafms in Earth, and Means unknown before. 30 

lu the mid Part of this unhappy State 

The King of Erebus in Judgment fate : 

The Shades he queftion'd on their former Crimes, 

DifpleasM with all that fill his dreary Climes, • 

There Death in various Shapes and Orders ftands, 55 

The Sifter Fiends with Vengeance in their Hands, 

And Punifhment, diftinguilh*d in the Throng 

By Chains harj(h clanking, as fhe ftrides along. 

With the fame Thumb the pates condemn and fave, 

Mean while frelh Numbers iflue from the Grave. 40 



y. 39. With the fame Thumi] The Thumb was ^ Token of Fa- 
vour aAd Difplcafure among the Antients. When a Man px^ed 
Jii»^hambj> it was a Sign of his Regard, as Pljny informs us, Li^. 
%S. Cap, li. PoUiceSj eumfavemus^ premere etiampro'verbiojubimur. 
When ibc Thumb was turned, his Difpkafure was fignifiedj which 
was ^ great a Mark of Malevolence, that by this alone the People 

of 



Book VIII. S TAT I U S'^ T H E B A 1 D. 57 

There Minos with his Colleague hears each Caufe^ 

Reftrains the King, and mitigates the Laws. 

Nor was Cocjios abfent, ^tream of Woes, 

And Phlegethouy that kindles as it flows. 

Or Styx^ whom e'en th' attefting Gods revere. 45 

Then trembkng Pluto firft experienced Fear 5 

And fpoke in Wrath, as fick*n;ng he furvey*d 

The ftarry Splendors, through the Cleft difpl^y'd* 

What PowV has forc'd Earth-s Barrier thus away. 

And join'd the upper and the nether Day ? 50 

Who pierced our Glooai ? fay, whence thefe Threats 

arife. 
From the; ftcrn Lord of Ocean or the Skies ? 



ef Rome ordered the Gladiators to be flaio, as we learn from Ju* 
wenaly Sat. 3. 

Mnnera^nnnc edunt^ et verfb pollice vulgi 
Quemlibet occidunt popularitex. 
V. J3. Nor lAJos Cocytos] Milton k^ given us a fine PidtlUt of 
the Rivers of Hell in the zd Book of Par. Loft^ Verfe y;. 

Abhorred Styx^ the Flood of deadly Hate, 

Sad Acheron of Sorrow, black and deep : 

Cocytosy nam'd of Lamentation loqd 

Heard on the rueful Stream ; fierce Phlegethom 

Whofe Waves of Torrent Fire inflame with Ragfw 

Far off from thofe a ilow ai^d filent Stream, 

Letbe^ the River of Oblivion rolls * 

fter watry Labyrinth, whereof who drinks 
prthwith his former State and Being forgets. 
Forgets both Joy and Grief, Pleafure and Pain. 
V. 45* Or ^ty^O Though I have fpoken of this River el{ewkere» 
I cannot deny myfelf the Pieafure of tranfcribing Hejiod's humiorous 
Account of the Pnnifliment of thofe Gods who had fwore falfly by 
it. For one whole Year (fays he) they muft abflain from NedUr 
and Ambrofia, and He on the Ground dunnb and lethargic. After 
a Year, greater Punifhments await them : for they are banifhed for 
nine Years, and debarred the Society of the Gods. At the End of 
the tenth Year however, they itfume their priAine State and Dig- 
nitjr. . 

Boafter, 



58 STATIUS's T HE B AID. Book VIII. 

Boafter^ ftand forth on thy own Terms of Fight ; 

Hence let Form fink to Chaos, Day to Night, 

To whom more dear ? — I guard ^he guilty World, g^ 

Hither from Heav'n by adverfe Fortune hurl'd. 

Nor e'en is this my own : I rule in vain. 

When Jove encroaches thus upon my Reign.- 

When on my Throne the Rays of Titan beat. 

And Light abhorr'd pervades my gloomy Seat. 60 

Wants he, the King of Heav'n, my Strength tO prove ? 

The fettered Giants will each Doubt remove. 

The reftlcfs Tif^ns (who did crft afpire 

Earth to revifit) and his wretched Sire. 

Why wills he, that my Toils fhould never ceafe, 65 

, Why muft the Light I loft difturb my Peace ? 
But ffiould it pleafe, each Kingdom FU difplay. 
And veil in Stygian Mifts the Blaze of Day. 
Hence the twin Sons of Tyndar Y\l detain, ' 
Nor render back th' Arcadian Youth again. 70 

For why does he thus journey to and fro. 

And waft around the Meflages of Woe ? 

,Why fhould Ixion^ with frefli Labours worn, 

Ahdwthirfting Tantalus my Anger mourn ? 

How fo»flfhall living Ghofts, unpunifti'd roam 75 

From Bank to Bank, and violate my Dome ? 

V. 49. What Ponv^r] Of all the Orations m ^e^Thhaidthttt is 
none that can give lefs Pleafure to the Reader^ and confequently 
kfft Credit to the Tranflator than this before us. Not that Pluta 
ijpeaks without Spirit, but his Speech has mdny Allu£ons to dark 
Circumftances in heathen Mythology ; fo that I very much queT- 
tion, if, after all the Pains I have taken, it is intelligible to thq 
^eateft Part of my Readers, It is not of a Nature to (hine in Poe- 
try : arid all I could do to make it tolerable, was to give it asr 
fnooth Numbers as pofUble, and curtail that Length which makes 
it ilill more difgufting. 

With ^ 



Book VIII. STATIUS's THEB AID. s^ 

With me Piritbous durft once contend, 
And T befeus fwom to his audacious Friend : 
Then of Akides too (my Guard remov'd) 
The furious Arm and Strength robuft I prov'd. 8a 
Now Hell, bccaufc fome idle Feuds arife 
Between two petty Princes, open lies. 
I law, when Orpheus the fad Strain purfu'd. 
The Fiends in Tears, the Sifters* Talks renewed. 
The fweet Mufician o*er my Wrath prevaiPd, 85 

Yet, heedlefs of the ftern Condition, fail'd 
Once, and but once I fought the World above, 
j^nd fnatch'd in Sicily the Joys of Love : 
The bold Excurfion ftung th' etherial Prince, 
As tiie hard Laws that quick enfu'd, evince. 90- 

At each fix Moons her Mother at my H^nds 
My Confort for an equal Term demands. 
But why thefe Plaints ? — Go, Minifter of 111^ 
Revenge the Infult, and our Wrath fulfill. 
If aught yet unconceiv'd, and unexprefs'd 95 

Thy ready Wit, and fertile Brain fuggeft. 
On which thy Sifters may with Envy gaze. 
And I with Wonder. — Go, and win our Praifc. 
Bat, as an Omen of our future Hate, 
And as a Prelude to the ftern Debate, loo 

Let the two Brothers meet without the Wall, 
And, fir'd by mutual Rage, in Combat fall. 
Let one with more than brutal Fury feed 
On his Foe*s Head, ej^piring in the Dc^ 
. Another the laft fun'ral Flames deny, 105 

And taint with Carcafcs his native Sky, 
Siuch Afts mdy Jupiter with Pleafure view. 
Nor let thy Wrath our Realms alone purfue. 

Seek 



6q STATIUS^s THEBAID. Book VIII. 

Seek one, who may with Hcav'n itfelf engage, 
And with hi3 Shield repcll the Thund'rePs Rage, no 
Why fhould they rather dare thro' Hell to rove. 
Than with heap'd Mountains fcalc the Walls of Jove t 

This faid, he ceased His dreary Palace takes 

The Signal dire, and to the Centre (hakes. 

His Earth and that which overhangs him, nod ii^ 

Beneath his Voice, and own the fpeakingtjod. 

Great was the Shock, as when his Brother rolls 

His Eyes around, and bends the fjtarry Poles. 

He then rejoins. For thee, who durft explore 

The facred Void inviolate before, \%% 

What Pains can I devife ? — half fhrunk with Fear, 

His Arms and Chariot gone, proceeds the Seer. 

Yet ftill the Badges of his Order grace 

The Chief extind, and Ihade his clay-cold Face 5 

Tho* black, a Fillet decks his awful Brow, 12^ 

And his Hand grafps a withered Olive-Bough. 

If in this holy Synod I may fpeak. 

And in my own Defence my Silence break, 

(Grand End of all Things, but to me who knew 

Each myAic Caufe, that mortal Eye can view) I30r 

Source of Exiftence, thy ftern Threats rcfign 

Ajid to my Pray'r thy willing Ears incline ; 

Nor deign tq punifh one who ftriftly fears 

To difobey, and all thy Laws reveres. 

No Rape Hercuhan drew me to thy Co^» *35 

Nor was illicit Vcnery my Boaft : 

v. 135. No Rape Herculean] The Reader muft obfcrvc, '^^at Sir- 
€uUs himfelf did not deiign a Rape upon Pro/erpine* but Qnly went 
down to Hell with a View of refcuing The/eus avA Piritkous^ who 
had attempted it> from the Puniihment that Plnto ha4 intended for 
them. 

On 



BookVIII. STATIUS's THEBAID. 6i 

On thefe Infignia for the Truth rely, 
Alas ! my coward Heart ne'er foar^d fo high. 
Let not our Charibt pale thy Confort's Cheek, 
Nor Cerberus with Grief his Cavern fcek. 140 

An Augur once by Pbabus much carefs'd. 
The gloomy Void of Chaos I atteft, 
(For why by Sol fhould Pluto'^ Subjeft fwear) 
That for no Crime this Punifhment I bear. 
This facred Truth the Cretatfs Urn muft know, 145 
This facred Truth impartial Minos (how. 
Bought of my treacherous Wife for curfed Gold, 
And in the Lift of Argive Chiefs enroled, 
Refign'd to Fate, I fought the Tbeian Plain, 
*^Whence flock the Shades that fcarce thy Realms 

contain. 150 

When (how my Soul, yet dreads !) an Earthquake came 
Big with Deftruftion, and my trembling Frame, 
Rapt from the Midft of gaping Thoufands, hurl'd 
To Night eternal in thy nether World. 
[What were my Thoughts, while thro* Earth's hollow 

Womb 155 

I roll'd upheld in Air, and loft in Gloom ? 
Nought to my Comrades or my Country leftj 
JNor of my captive Life by Tbebes bereft. 
Doomed never more to breathe Lermean Air, 
Or to my wondVing Friends, inurn*d, repair. i5a 

Ko fculptur'd Tomb to lengthen out my Fame, 
No weeping Parents, nor odorous Flame : 
To thee the whole of fun'ral Pomp I bear. 
Nor (hall I aught with thefe fleet Courfers dare, 
' Or murmur to become a Subjcdt Shade : 165 

I wave the Honours that were whilom paid : 

No 



62 STATIUS's THEBAID. ISooK Vlir. 

No.Prefcience of the future doft thou want. 

Secure of all the Deftinies can grant* 

But check thy Rage, the Deities regard, • 

And for my Spoufe rcferve the dire Reward : 170 

If, in the Procefs of advancing Age, * 

She fall, a Viftim worthier of thy Rage. 

The Monarch heard, nor hearing difapprov'd, 

Tho* loth to fpare, and fcorning to be mov'd. 

The Lion thus, when menac'd with the Sight 175 

Of obvious Weapons, calls forth all his Might ; 

But, if his poftrate Foe declines the Strife, 

Stalks o'er him, and difdains fo cheap a Life. 

Mean while they feek the late-redoubted Car, 

Adorn'd with Fillets, and the Wreaths of War, j8© 

Aftonifh*d, as by hone it was furvey'd. 

Or cruOi'd in Conflift, or a Capture made. 

The Troops, fufpicious now, recoiling yield. 

Walk round the Traces of the treacherous Field, 

And all prefer the Sweets of vital Breath 185 

To Stygian Pomp, and an inglorious Death. 

While at a Diftance in the Road to Fame 

Adraftus guides his Troops, PaUmon came. 

The Meflenger of Woe, and trembling cries, 

(For fcarce he trufted to his confcious Eyes, 150 



^ V. 175. This AUufion to the Generofity of the Lion has the Sanc- 
tion of all the Naturalifts that ever treated on this Animal to con-, 
firm it. Claudian in his Eulogy on Stilicon, Lib. 4. fays, 

Obvia profternas, proftrataque more Leonum 
Pefpicias : alacres ardent quum ftcrnere Tauros, 
Tranfiliunt prxdas humiles. Hac ipfe magiftra 
Dat veniam viftis, hac exhortante calores 
Horrificosy Sc quap nunquam npcitura tixnentUr 
Jorgia, contentus fojo terrore coercet, 

Tho* 



BookVIIL STATIUS's THEBAID. 6^ 

Tho* ftation*d near the Chief ingulph'd, he faw. 
All pale and fad, the difcontinuous Flaw.) 

Monarch, turn thy Steps, and feek with Speed 
The Doric Turrets, and our native Mead ; 

If haply, where we left them, they remain. 195 

No Arms we need ; the Battle bleeds in vain* 

Our unavailing Swords why wield we more i 

When Earth (a Prodigy unfeen of Yore) 

Abforbs our Warriors. From beneath our Feet 

The Ground we prels feems ftriving to retreat. 200 

1 view'd myfclf the Path to Night profound^ 
OecUdes rufhing thro' the fudden Wound, 

Than whom of mortal Race was none more dear. 
To the bright Lamps that gild yon azure Sphere. 
Long did I ilretch my fault'ring Hands, andilrain 205 
My Voice ; at length convinced, that Help was vain^ 
I ply*d the founding Lafli, and quickly left 
The fteaming Champain, in huge Furrows cleft^ 
Nor common is the 111 ; the Mother knows 
Her Sons, and Favour to the Tbebans fhows. 2io 

Thus he. The Monarch doubts, till Mopfus came. 
And trembling ASor^ who report the fame. 
But Fame, who loves each Terror to enhance. 
Relates, that more had fhar'd the fame Mifchancc. 
Spontaneous then the Soldiers quit their Ground, 215 
Nor wait, as Cuftom was, the Trumpet's Sound. 



v. 216. Nor nvait as Cuftom ovat] LaSantius in his Note on this 
PaiTage fumiihcs as with a Piece of Antiquity, that, I believe, few 
of oor Readers are acquainted with : viti, that among the Antients 
every Sbldier, previoufly to his being enliiled, took an Qath, that 
1i€ would never leave the Battle, before the Sounding of a Retreat. 

Yet 



•64 STATIUS's THEBAID. BookVIIL 

Yet was their Progrcfs flow. They fcarcely trail 

Their Legs along, fo much did Fear prevail. 

Theh" very Steeds, as fenfible, oppofe 

Their Flight, regardlefs of repeated Blows ; 220 

Nor, won by Blandifhmertts, increafe their Speed, 

Or lift their Eyes from the terrific Mead. 

The Thebans pufti'd the Charge, till Vefper led 

Bright Cynthia^ ^ Steeds, with duflcy Shades o'erfprcad : 

Now Night, that foon their Terrors muft increafe, 225 

Impofesf a Ihort Interval of Peace. 

What wefe their Afpefts, When they took theif Fill 

Of Sorrow's fjraught ? fall many a pearly Rill 

Stole from their Helms unlac'd. Nought then could 

eafe 
Their jaded Spirits that was wont to pleafe. 230 

They throw afide their Bucklers wetted o'er. 
Such as they were. Nor cleans'd their Darts of Gore^ 
Nor praisM their Horfcs, nor for Battle dreft 
The high-raisM Honours of the fhining Creft. 
JSuch was their Grief they fcarcely care to clofe 235 
Their Woiinds, and ftaurich the Blood that freely AqwSj^ 
Or with the due Refource of Food and Reft 
Renew their Strength, by Toils of War oppreft : 
All dwell with Tears on the late Augur's Praife, 
His Love of Truth, and Merit of the Bays. 240 

V. 225. Noav Night] Milton has fome beautiful Lines on the fame 

Now Night her Courfc began, and over Heav*n 
Inducing I>arknefs, gratefcrl Truce impos'd. 
And Siiente on tiie (xiious Din of War. 

Par. haft, B. 6. L. 406. 

V. 239. All dwell"] The Reader cannot but fympathize with the 
' Grecians 00 th^ Lofs of their Patriqt and Prophet Amfhiaroftiy whofe 

Yijrtut^ 



feooKVIIL STATIUS'8 THEBAID. ^$ 

One Rumour only thro' the Gamp is fprcad. 

That all their Fortune with the Gods is fled : 

Where are his facred Arms, reverM in War, 

His Creft with Fillets grac'd, and laurelled Car ? 

Could not Caftalian Lakes and Caves retard 245 

His Death ? was this his Patron Grod's Reward ? 

Who'll teach us now, what falling Stars declare^ 

And^hallow'd Light'nings inaufpicious Glare ? 

What rieav'n betokens in the Viftim flain. 

When ye ftiould march ; what Accidents detain ? 250 

What Hour is moft averfe to Dove-ey'd Peace, 

And when to bid the Trump of Difcord ceafe ? 

Who now will all Futurity difclofe. 

The juft Interpreter of Blifs or Woes ? 

To tliee the War's Events were all foreknown, 255 

And all the public Evils, and thy own •, 

Yet, (fuchwas Virtue's Influence) thou didftjoia 

Our Tooops, and clad in focial Armour fhine. 

And when the fatal Hour and Period came, "" 

Didft find a leifure Time to purchafe Fame 2 60 

By adverfe Signs o'erthrown, and Heroes flain. 

Till Heaps of Carcafes dcform'd the Plain. . 

What Deeds of Slaughter, and what Scenes of Death 

Might we have feen, had Heav'n prolong'd thy Breath ? 

What Lot befalls thee ? canft thou vifit. Earth 265 

Again, and, as it were, renew thy Birth ? 

Virtues endear him to the lateft Pofterity . And here it may not 
be improper to obferve, that the old Propofition, All Men are alike af^ 
ter Death, is only partially true. For the virtuous and ufeful Member 
of Society lives in the Memory of the Public, and is never thought 
of but with Sorrow, nor mentioned but with Honour ; whereas the 
Villain and Peil of his Country is either foon forgotten, or remem- 
bered but with Infamy and Deteftation. 

Vol- II. F Say> 



•64 STATIUS's THEBAID. BookVIIL 

Yet was their Progrcfs flow. They fcarcely trail 

Their Legs along, fo much did Fear prevail. 

Theif very Steeds, as fenfible, oppofe 

Their Flight, regardlefs of repeated Blows ; 220 

Nor, won by Blandifhments, increafe their Speed, 

Or lift their Eyes from the terrific Mead. 

The Thebans pufti'd the Charge, till Vefper led 

Bright Cyntbia^s Steeds, with duflcy Shades o'erfprcad : 

Now Night, that foon their Terrors muft increafe, 225 

Impofesf a Ihort Interval of Peace. 

What wefe their Afpefts, When they took theif Fill 

Of Sorrow's fjraught ? fall many a pearly Rill 

Stole from their Helms unlac'd. Nought then could 

eafe 
Their jaded Spirits that was wont to pleafe. 230 

Tliey throw afide their Bucklers wetted o'er. 
Such as they were. Nor cle^ns'd their Darts of Gore^ 
Nor pralsM their Horfcs, nor for Battle dreft 
.^The high-raisM Honours of the fhining Creft. 
Such was their Grief they fcarcely care to clofe 235 
Their Woiinds, and ftaurich the Blood that freely AqwSj^ 
Or with the due Refource of Food and Reft 
Renew their Strength, by Toils of War oppreft : 
All dwell with Tears on the late Augur's Praife, 
His Love of Truth, and Merit of the Bays: 240 

V. 225. Now Night] Milton has fome beautiful Lines on the fame 

Now Night her Courfc began, and over Heav*n 
Inducing I>arknefs, gratcftrl Truce imposM, 
And ^iente on tiie odious Din of War. 

Par, Lefty B. 6. L. 406^ 

V. 239. All dweW] The Reader cannot but fympathize with the 
Credans 00 th^ Lofs of their Patriqt ^d Prophet Amfhiarajtiy whofei 



JBookVIIL STATIUS'8 THEBAID. «5 

One Rumour only thro' the Camp is fpread. 

That all their Fortune with the Gods is fled : 

Where are his facred Arms, revered in War, 

His Creft with Fillets grac'd, and laurelled Car ? 

Could not Caftdian Lakes and Caves retard 245 

His Death ? was this his Patron God's Reward ? 

Who'll teach us now, what falling Stars declare^ 

And hallow 'd Light'nings inaufpicious Glare ? 

What Heav'n betokens in the Viftim flain. 

When ye ftiould march ; what Accidents detain ? 250 

What Hour is mod averfe to Dove-ey'd Peace, 

And when to bid the Trump of Difcord ceafe ? 

Who now will all Futurity difclofe. 

The juft Interpreter of Blifs or Woes ? 

To thee the War's Events were all foreknown, 255 

And all the public Evils, and thy own -, 

Yet, (fuchwas Virtue's Influence) thou didftjoia 

Our Tooops, and clad in focial Armour fhine. 

And when the fatal Hour and Period came, "" 

Didft find a leifure Time to purchafe Fame 2 60 

By adverfe Signs o'erthrown, and Heroes flain. 

Till Heaps of Carcafes dcform'd the Plain. 

What Deeds of Slaughter, and what Scenes of Death 

Might we have feen, had Heav'n prolong'd thy Breath ? 

What Lot befalls thee ? canft thou vifit. Earth 265 

Again, and, as it were, renew thy Birth ? 

Virtues endear him to the lateft Pofterity. And here it may not 
be improper to obferve, that the old Propofition, All Men are alike of* 
ter Deaihy is only partially true. For the virtuous and ufeful MemlJer 
of Society lives in the Memory of the Public, and is never thought 
of but with Sorrow, nor mentioned but with Honour ; whereas the 
Villain and Peil of his Country is either foon forgotten, or remem- 
bered but with Infamy and Deteftation. 

Vot. II. F S!Ly> 



66 STAtlWS's rUEtAW. fiooKVIir. 

Say, art thbii thr6n*d befide thy fav'ririg Fates, 

A Counfelldf ip all tteir high Debates ? 

Still by a grateful Chahge doft thou bbtaiti 

The Knowledge of the Future, and explain ? 276- 

Or did the Pow'r who rules the Realms bcIoW, 

In Pity to thy Sufferings, beftow 

Elyfium, and her fiifds of hallowed JFTight ? 

Whate'er*s thy Lot beneath, the G6d 6f Light, 

Bewailing long his Lofs, fhallloith Relief, ^^^ 

And Delphos mourn thy Death iti fijfeilt Grief. 

Shut on this Day (hall Delos e'er feniiirt, 

The Sea-girt ^^^«fe^, and Gyrr^4*s FaiW ; 

No bold Enquirer ope the ClariaH Gate,. 

Nor Brancbus from his Shriite interpret Fite : itm 

V. 278. Tenedos'i ft an ifland df the HetieJ^onit fittiated over agalnfl 
Troy and facred to AfelUy ^Vl^hce Chryfes in Us Addrefs to Apolh 

V, 278. And Cyrrha'x Fane] See Not* on Ae 673d Verfe of tBe 
^d Book. 

V. 279. The Clariaft Gate] This and tke oth<ir Places here men- 
tioned were noted for the moft famous Oracles. 

V. 280. JVl^rBranchus.] As a Supplement to my Note on the 686tt 
VcHe of the 3d Book, I (hall defcribe the following Account of 
Brancbus from Farro. ^ Olas quidem decimus ab Apolline, cum in 
« peregiinatione pranderet in littore, ac deinde groficifceretur^ ob- 
' litus eft fiiium nomine Simeruniy qui p'ervenit in falcam Patronis 

* ctfjnfdam, ef cum efiet receptus, C2bpi% cum fuis pueris capras 
'pafcere. Aliquando jprehenderunt cygnum, et ilium veiie coope- 

* ruerunty dumque ipii pt^ant titer illuch patri munus ofFerrety et 
^eflent fatigati certamine: rejedla veile mulierem invenerunt, et 
^ clim fhgerent revocati ab ea roc^iiiti funt, ut patres unice Simerum 
^diligerent ptfenlih: illi quae audierunt Patroni indicarunt. Tune 

* Patloii Simerum pro filib fuo niihio dilexit afFedtu, eique filiam 

< fuath dttcendftm locavit nxorem« Ilia cum pregnans ex eo eiTet 

* Vidit in fomniis per faucej fuas introiiTefolemi et exifTe per vcn- 
^ trem : ideo infans ^itus Branchus vocatus e(l, quia mater ejus per 

* fauces fibi viderat uterum penetrable. Hie cum in fylvis Apol- 

< linem ofculatus fuifTetj comprehenfus eft ab eo, et accepta co« 

* rona 



Book VIII. STATIUS^s THEBAID. 6^ 

For Lycia none fhould leave his native Air, 

Nor for Advice to Didyma repair. 

Jave^s panting Oaks fhall on this Day be mute,. 

Nor horned Ammon grant the Pilgrim's Suit : 

The very Laurels wither. Rivers ceafc * . a8|; 

To flow, and Trojan Thymbra refts in Peace. 

No certain Knowledge fhall the Air unfold 

By Chirpings fage, nor Dcftiny be told 

By flapping Pinions.— Soon the Day (hall come. 

When, other Oracles fuppreft and dumb, 290 

Temples (hall rife in Honour of thy Art, 

And thy Refponfes ready Priefts impart. 

Such folemn Dirges with due Reverence paid 

To the prophetic Monarch's honoured Shade, 

In Lieu of Rites funereal Greece beftows 295 

And gives his wandering Ghoft the wi(h'd Repoibi 

Then were their Souls unman'd with wild Affright, 

And all with equal Horror loathe the Fight. 

Thus when fome (kilful Pilot yields his Breath, 

The Crew delponding at his fudden Death, 300 

* rona virgaque raticinari caepit et fubito nui^ttam comparuit. Tcm- 

* plum ei fadum t^ quod Branchiadon nominatur et Apollini Phi* 

* lefio pariter confecrata funt templa, quce ab ofculo BrancKi, fite 
"* certamine paerorum) Philefia nuncupantur.' 

V. 299. ThkSy ^whenl Statius varies his Similies with all poffible 
Artv fometimes deriving them ^m the anhnai Creatioft, foitietimeg 
from the Paflions of Msinkind, and fometimes horn the vulgar 
Scenes and Occurrences of Life ; but wherever we follow him, We 
find him a feithfui Copier of Nature. This befors^ us, trifiihg and 
unworthy of N6tice as it may appear to fome for its Brevity, is 
notwithftanding very juii, and anfwers in every Point to the Thing 
defcribed with the utmoft Precifion and Propriety. Nothing in Na- 
tore could be more happily conceived, than the compariitg jim^ 
phiaraus^ who was the Guide and Oracle of his People, to the Pilot 
•fa Ship. 

V F 2 Thcif 



68 STATIUS^s THEBAID. HookVIIL 

Their Oars ferm fhort of half their wonted Force, 

And the frefh Gale lefs aidful to their Courfe. 

But Converfe long indulged had eas'd their Smart, 

And duird each quick Senfation of the Heart, 

When Sleep, unnotic'd, ftole to their Relief, 305 

And hufh'd the Voice, and clos'd the Eye of Grief. 

Not fo the joyful Thebans fpent the Night ^ 

But favoured by the Stars and Phcsb^s Light, 

In the thronged Streets and Houfes, madly gay. 

With various Sports they chac'd the Hours away. 310 

Each Centinel lay dozing at his Poft, 

And fenfelefs Riot reign'd thro' all the Hoft. 

In antic Meafures fome obliquely bound 

To the hoarfe Drum's and tinkling Cymbal's Sound, 

While others pipe, and fwell the mellow Flute, 315 

Or fing in Concert with the flirill-tonM Lute 

Their Gods propitious, and in Order name 

The Deities, whofe Favours Worlhip claim* 

Paeans arife to ev'ry Pow'r divine^ 

And the crown'd Goblets foam with fparkling Wine. 

They ridicule the Grecian Augur's Death, 321 

And, as in feeming Contrail, fpend their Breath* 

In Praife of their Tirefias. Now they fing 

The Feats and Prowefs of each ancient King, 

Thebes from its Origin celeftial trace, 325 

Jove and Europa mixing in Embrace, 

And boaft, how on his Back the Damfel rode. 

And grafp'd his Horns, unconfcious of the God : 

Of Cadmus^ the tir'd Heifer, and the Field, 

That erft was feen an Iron Crop to yield : 330 

Of Rocks that foUow'd when Amphion ftrung 

His Theban Lyre, and dancing Groves they fung. 

While 



Book VIII. STATIUS's THEBAID- 69 

While others celebrate in equal Strains 

Harmonia^ bound in Hymenasal Chains, 

Or tune to pregnant Semele their Lays : 335 

None want a Fable for a Theme of Praife. 

While thus the genial Banquet they prolong 

In friendly Guife, and urge th' unfinifh*d Song, 

The Son of Laius^ long conceal'd, forfakes 

His gloomy Cell,^nd focial Blifs partakes. 340 

No wonced Filth was on his Vifage feen. 

Unruffled was his Brow, his Look fcrenc. 

Such Wonder would arife, fhould Bacchus (how 

Barbaric Trophies, and his Indian Foe, 

Brought from the Banks of mix*d Hydafpes^ ^zc^^ 345 

With Beds of Gems, and orient Realms laid wafte. 

His Friends' Addrefs with Courtefy he bore. 

Nor ftiunn'd their proffered Solace as before ; 

But cleans'd his Cheeks of Gore, approved the Food, 

Atid Life's Ibng-unexperienc'd Joys renewed. 350 

E'en Qedipus in Mirth and Converfe gay 

Aflum'd a Part, who late was known to pray 

To PJuto^ and the Sifter-Fiends alone. 

Or at his Daughter's Feet to pour his Moan. 

Yet latent was the Caufe- The Palm of Fight, 355 

Gain'd by his Country, gave him no Delight j 

The War was all he wifli'd. To this his Son 

He fpurr'd, nor car'd by whom the Day was won. 

Bvt firft with tacit Vows he view'd the Sword, 

And all the Seeds of Wickednefs explor'd. 360 

V, 34.5. Hyifafpes^ A River that rifes in the mod northern Part 
of /Wi^toward the Mountain Imaus, and falls into the Lidusy in Al- 
iufion to which Circu^illance, Jl have given it the Epithet mix^. 

F 2 Hence 



7© STATIUS's THEBAID. BookVIH, 

Hence fmird upon his Afpeft Peace unknown. 

And the Feaft pleased with Merit not its own. 

Thus PbineuSj when, hjs Limbs with Hunger worn. 

And the laft Period of his Torture borne. 

His Palace freed from Harpies he perceived, ^6$ 

Incredulous his Refcue difbeliev'd^ 

Then gave » Loofe to Joy, as long unftain'd. 

His Veflels, Beds and coftly Board remained. 

Stretched in their Tents the Grecian Cohorts lay. 

And loft in Sleep the Labours of the Day : 370 

All but 4draftus\ he, confign'd by Fate 

To watchful Cares, the Curfe of regal State, 

With Horror heard, unknowing the Repofe 

His Age required, the Revels of his Foes. 

He fickens 4t the Trumpet's brazen Sound, 375 

And Shoqt3 pf haughty Triumph that rebound 

jr. 363. Thus pliineus, ^hen his Limhsl Phin^us was a King of 
Arcadia^ who, having at the Infligation othis Qupen, put out the 
Eyes of his Children by a former Wife, was himfelf ilruck blind 
by Jupiter f who fent the Harpies to puniih him ; but directing the 
Argonauts in their Way to Colchis^ they, in Return, drove away the 
jfiarpies. Valerius Ftaccusj who has expatiated on 'this Fable in h;s 
jirgonauticst has die following beautiful Lines on Phineus^s Joy and 
AAonifhment on being delivered froni thofe rapacious Animals. 

Ipfe inter medios, ceu dulcis imagine fomn^ 

Laetus, ad obiitx Cereris fufpirat honqres. B. 5. 

V. 3;73. With fiorr^ heard] Homer opens Ac tenth Book of his 
Siad with a fimilar Ddfcription of the Diflrefs Agamemnon labeored 
under the Night after his Defeat by the Trojans. The following 
Lines feem to haye giyen our Author die Hint of t^c fix Vcrfcf^ 
bplbre us. 

''Htoi ori<; w«J*o» to TpuXxov u^prio-BiSf 

From 



BookVIII. STATIUS's THEBAID. 71 

From ecchoing Rocks. The Pipe augments his Fearst 

Dwdls on his Thoughts, and grates his loathing Ears. 

Thea from his Camp, delponding, he fqrveys 

Their wav'ring Torches, and triumphal Blaze. 380 

Thus when the Fury of the Tempeft paft. 

The Veffel drives with an indulgent Blaft, 

Secure, and trufting to the fettled Deep, 

The Mariners refrefh their Limbs in Sleep ; 

And all, unmindful of their Office, nod, 385 

Save the pale Matter, and his painted God. 

Now SoPs fair Sifter, viewing from afar 

His Couriers yok'd, and ready for the Car, 

(While Ocean roar'd beneath the rufliing Day, 

And redden'd with Auroral orient Ray,) ^o 

Collefts her Beams, recalls her fcatter'd Light, 

And with her Whip compells the Stars to Flight. 

When, ever oq the public Welfare bent, 

Adraftus fumnoioa'd to his royal Tent 

The Grecian Poers, the Queftion in Debate, ^9^ 

Who fhould fucceed Jiwcerpreter of Fate, 

On whom the Wreaths and Tripods fhould devolve. 

And who could beft their Oracles refolve. 

Scarce had they xru^x^ when with united Voice 

On fam'd Tbiodamas they fix'd their Choice, 40Q 

To whom Awjpbiaraus oft reveaPd 

The Myfterics of Heav*n, nor blufh'd to yield 

Invidious of his Art, a Share of Fame, 

jBut own'd his Merit, and approv'd his Claim. 

V. 386. And his painied God] It was a Cudom among the Antients 
:to name their Ships from fome particular God?, whom they looked 
jupon as tutelary Patrons to them, and paint their Images upon the 
Stern. 

F 4 Such 



72 S TAT I U S's T H E B A I D. Book VIIL 

Such uncxpefled Honours muft confound 405 

The Youth, for Modefty as Skill renown'd : 

With Awe unfeigned he views the proffered Leaves, 

JMiftrufts his Art, and fcarce the Charge receives. 

As when fome Youth of royal Blood fucceeds 

To his paternal Crown^ and rules thtMedeSy 41 q 

(More fafe, had Fafe prolonged his Father's Life) 

With Piffidence he treads the Path of Strife j 

Much from th' afpiring Temper of his Peers, 

And from the Vulgar's headftrong Will he fears, 

Doubtful with whom his wide Domain to fhare, 41 r 

Whom make a Partner of imperial Care. 

}^ flender Grafp, he fears, will ill contain 

The weighty Sceptre, and his Bow fuftain, 

And trismbling takes the Courfer's Reins in Hand, 

And huge Tiara^ Badge of high Command. 42^ 

Soon as a Chaplet for his Brow he twin'd, 

And in a Wreath his flowing Locks confined. 

With Shouts triumphant thro' the Camp he went. 

And, as a Specimen of bis Intent 

To ferve the Public, pioufly prepares, 425 

Earth to propitiate with due Rites and PrayVs, 

ffor ufelefs to the Greeks the Scheme appeared. 

JFirft then two Altars on the Champaign rear'd. 

With Turf high-heap'd, and Ever-greens he grac'd^ 

And various Flow'rs, ii> decent Order plac'd, 430 

V. 418. And his Bo^M fufiain\ The Bow was borne by the Perjidn 
Kings as an Enfign of Royalty, as we learn front Dio^ Book 49, 
who informs us, that the Ambaffadors fent by Mark Anthony to 
Phraates found him fitting on a 7 hrone of Gold, and playing op 
his Bow-ftrjng with his 1 ingers, as I think the Words^ T>jy nv^x^ 
T*J Tc»|« >^aWka/y, fignify. 

Thf 



BookVIIL STATIUS's THEBAID. 73 

The Goddefs's own Gift. On thefe he threw. 

Whatever the vernal Rays of Sol renew 

On her green Surface : laft he pour'd a Bowl 

Of pureft Milk, and thus confirms the whole. 

O bland Creatrefs of the Gods above, 435 

And Men beneath, from whofe omnific Love 

The Woods are clad with Verdure, Rivers flow. 

And Animals with Life's warm Current glow 5 

Hail, faireft Part of the material World, 

From whom arofe the Stones by Pyrrba hurl'd, 440 

Premethean Arts, and Food for human Kind, 

Improved by Change, with various Arts refin'd. 

pld Ocean refts fuftain'd on thy Embrace, 

Tiiy wide Extent contains the finny Race, 

The feathered Kind, and Savage in his Lair : 445 

Round thee, the Prop of Worlds, in vacant Air 

Sublimely poi3'd the fwift Machine of Heav'n, 

And the bright Cars by Sol and Luna driv'n, 

Whofe J-ights alternate gild the Star-pav'd Pole, 

In Motion annual and diurnal roll. 45A 

panft thou, who, fituate in the Midftof Things, 

And undivided by the Brother-Kings, 

So m,any Towns and Nations far and wide. 

From thy vail. Store with Nourifliment fupply'd, 

y<, 435. hlanJ CreatreJ)'] The Poet has confirmed the Clianc* 
XtxoiTbiodamas by this beautiful Hymn to the Earth. There it a 
genuine claffical Simplicity in it not without a Mixture of Grandeur^ 
that none but Homer and Callimackus were truly Mall:rs of, except 
our MiltoHf whofe Stile and Manner of Hymn-writing approach very 
sear to our Author's. 

v« 452. Jnd utidi'vided'] Statius alludes here to the Hemillick ia 
the fifteenth Book of the Iliads where Neptune, fpcaking of tkff 
Divifion of the World bnween Jupiter ^ Pluto and himlelf, fays. 

Alone 



74 STATiyS's THEBAII?. doofzVm. 

Alone ancj unafliftcd dofl: fuftaip, ^rr 

And Jilasy who without thee toiU in v^in 

Beneath th* Incumbent Atmofphcre, his Cw(r» 

Us only of thy Sons rcfufe to bear ? 

Why, Goddefs, doft thou murmur at pur Weight ? 

O fay, what Crime has merited thy PJatc ? 460 

Is it, becaufe a^ foreign Birth we boafl:. 

The wretched Natives of th* Inacbian Coaft ? 

Our Country lies in ev^ry Trad of Earth : 

Nor fhould'ft thou thefe or thofe, as void of Worth, 

Mark out for Vengeance, or extraneous call, 465 

Since thou'rt alike the Mother, of «us all. 

Common to all alike may'ft thou remain. 

Nor grudge, that aught but ^bebans prefs thy Plain, 

fitiU in the Chance of War, and Couiie of Fate 

May we expire, not whelm'd thro* fudden iiatc 47* 

Snateh not our breathing Bodies, ere they lie 

On the known Pile, but give us Time to die. 

Soon fliall we come the Path that all muft tread, 

When Deftiny has cut the fatal Thread. 

O flop the moving Field, nor thus prevent 475 

The Sifters* Hands, but to our Pray'rs relent. 

But thpu, whom dear to Heav'n no J'behan Hand 

Depri^'d of vital Breath, nor hoftile Brand, 

But Nature, who prepared a Bed of Reft 

Between her Arms, ^nd fnatch*d thee to her B^eaft, 480 

As if, in Recompence, fhe would beftow 

A Burial-Place on Cyrrba's facred Brow : 

Conciliate to the' Gods thy wretched Friend, 

And let a Portion of thy Skill defcend 

To. guide my Breaft. Whatever thou didft prepare 485 

To teach our grieving Hoft, to me declare. 

As 



BopjcVm. STATIUffs THEBAID. 71 

As thy Interpreter, to thcc VU pay 

My Vows, in Abfencc of the God of Day. 

The Place that fnatch'd thee hence, is nioce divine 

Than Cjrrba^ Ddas^ or the God's own Shrine. 490 

This faid, in Earth he plung'd the fable Herd, 

And Sheep, for their black Fleeces much preferj^d : 

Then o'er them heap'd the Sand. Such Rites they paid 

For fun'ral Honours to the Prophet's Shade. 

Thus toiFd the Gretks^ when in the brazen Sound 495 

Of Swords and noartial Horns their Shouts are drown'cL 

The Queen of Furies from Tbeumufui iieight 

Her Trefies flu>ok, and rais'd the Din of Fight ^ 

She mingled Hiifings with the Clarion's Tone, 

And the Trump bieath'd a Clangour yet unknown. 500 

(jitbarau 4arts aftom&'d, and the Quire 

Of Tow'ers that danc'd to great Jmpbi(aC% Lyi«. 

Now Aefn Btliona thunders at each Gate, 

Tq wake thg WiU", and ad the Will of Fate. 

The founding Hinges ring, as they unfold : 505 

The Waves erf People to the Paffage roU'd, 

As if the Qrecians prefs'd them from behind ; 

Horfe mix with Foot, and claihing Chariots join'd. 

Long in th'*entangling Entrance diey remain, 

^nd view the Fjudd, thyey llrove to reach in vain. 510 



▼. 49.1. In Bartb'] The Ancients always (acrificed black Animals 
to die £arth : dius Homer in the 3d Book of the //;W. 

Of which (fays die old Scholiafl) die white Lamb was facrificed to 
the Sun as the Father of Light, and the black one to the Earth, as 
being the Moi;)^r and Nurfe of Msmkind, 

CreoK 



76 STATIUS's THEBAID. Book VUL 

Creon by Lot from the Ogygian goes 5 

Neit^t theii Ettocles difclofe : 

The Hamoloides H^mon occupies ; 

Thro* Hypfeus to the Plain Pratides flies : 

Next thro' EJeSlra warlike Dry as takes 515 

His Way ; Eurymedon Hypjifta fhakcs. 

The Gate of Dirce for a while retards, 

Theo frees the brave Mancsceus with his Guards. 

Thus when tht Nile with Heav'ns defccnding Show'rs, 

And eaftern Snows retrieves his leff*ning Pow'rs, 520 

Impatient of th' Increafe, imbib'd with Force, 

And foaming o'er he burfts his latent Source, 

Then difembogues his Burden in the Main, 

And from fev'n Mouths overflows the neighboring Plain, 

While to their Caves the routed Nymphs retreat, 525 

Nor even dare their native River meet. 

Mean while th' Inachian Youths, and Spartan Bands 

With thofe who cultivate EUan Lands, 



V. 511. From the Ogygian] LaSlaniius in his Notes on our Au- 
thor, efleems this dull Enumeration of the Thehan Gates as a ilrikii|g 
Elegancy: but, I c^nfefs, I fear it is Folly to have tranflated it. 
Dry, however, and uninterefting as it is, I doubt not but there are 
many Lovers of Antiquity, who extoll Statins, to tfee Skies for hav- 
ing handed down to Pollerity fuch a confiderable Piece of ufeful 
Knowledge. All I requeft of the Reader with Relpedl to it is, 
that he will not blame the Dullnefs of the Tranflator, ilnce he could 
not have been faithful to the Original without being jfo. 

V. 519. Thus ivheu^ The Poet has in this Comparifon dcfcende^ 
to the Minutiae of Exadlnefs; but the Delicacy of the Allufion, 
which may poffibly efcape the Obfervation of the Generality of our 
Readers, is the Correfpondence of the feven Mouths of tlie Nile to the 
feven Gates of Thebes : for as each of the former difcharges a Tor- 
rent of Water, fo from each of the latter a Band of Warriors iffues 
to the Field of Combat 



And 



Bboic Vlir. STATIUS's THEBAID. ^^ 

And Tjlos^ feck the Batde, fadly flow. 

And drooping with the Weight of recent Woe ; ^yi 

Nor willing yet Thiodamas obey. 

Deprived of their late Prophet's gentle Sway. 

Nor, Prince of Augurs, does thy Cohort boaft 

Alone of thee : the univerfal Hoft 

Defcftive feems, as thro' the Wings of Fight 535 

Thy Succeflbr appears excell'd in Height. 

Thus fhould fome envious Cloud fecrete a Star 

From the fair Groupe that forms the northern Car, 

Short of its Complement, the mangled Wain 

Would fcarce be known, and Seamen gaze in vain. 540 

But fee ! frefli Labours to the Poet rife. 

And War unfung demands the God's Supplies : 

Another Pbabus then attune my Lyre, 

A greater Mufe the growing Song infpire. 

The fatal Hour arrives fo rafhly fought, 545 

With Horror, Sorrow, Blood and Carnage fraught ; ' 



V. 537. Thus Jhould] This Simile likewife has all the Prccifion 
and Juftnefs of the former : the feven Captains being reprefented 
by the feven Stars in Charles's Wain. 

V. 541. But fee.! frejh Labours] Statius is not the only Author 
whoKas renewed his Invocation to the Deities who prefide over 
Poetry, at the Middle of his Book, when he is going to enter upon 
a different Sabjedl. 

Nunc age, qui reges, Erato, &c. 
Tu vatem, tu diva mone : &c. 

Major rerum mihi nafeitur ordo, 
Majus opus moveo. f^irgiip jEn» Lib. 7. 

i^nd Milton likewife ; 

Defcend from Heav'n, Urania^ &c. 

Half yet remains unfung, ^c. Par. Lofif B. 7. 

And 



And Death, from Ch^uns and Stygian Darkneft freed^ 

Enjoys the Light, and ftalking o'er the Mead^ 

Expands his Jaws, and to his Arms invites 

The Men of Worth, but vulgar Triumphs flights. 55a 

He marks the Chiefs who mdl deferve their Life, 

The firft in Arms, and forcmoft in the Strife ; 

Of thefe, fcaree numbered with the mighty dead, 

The Fiends rapacious fnatch the vital Thread. 

Mars occupies the Centre of the Field, gg^ 

His Javelin dry ; where'er he turns his ShieU, 

The fatal Touch erazcs from the Mind 

Wives, Children, Home, and leaves a Blank bchindi 

The Love of Life too flies among the reft. 

The laft that lingers in the human Breaft. 560 

Wrath fits fufpended on their thirfty Spears, 

And half uniheath'd each angry Blade appears^ 

Their Helmets tremble, formidably gay 

With nodding Crefts, and fhed a gleamy Ray. 

Loud beat their daring Hearts againft the Mails : 5G5 

Nor wonder we, with Men the God prevails 5 

The very Steeds with warlike Ardour glow. 

And fnow- white Show'rs of Foam the Plain o'erflow. 

Thc^ champ the Bit, or neighing paw the Ground, 

Afid bound and prance at thefhrill Trumpet's Sound, 

As if their Rider's Soul transfus'd infpires 57 1 

Their Breafts with equal and congenial Fires. 

V. 547. jfjtd DeatH] We are here dazzfed and confounded with a 
V^icty 6f Sc^hfes, and Complicalion of Ihtagdry. What can be 
more grand and magnificent than the Prelude to this Battle* We 
fee Death let loofe from Hell, and finding with open Mouth over 
the Field, Mars fpiriting, the Soldiers^ and with the Touch of his 
Shield infiifing a Forgetfulnefs of all domeftic Connedions^ and the 
very Horfes feemingly voluntary in their Mailer's Service, 

, . When 

• 3 



Bo6kVIIL StAtlUS^s THEBAIC 7^ 

When now they rafh, thick Cbuds of t)uft arife 

From either Part encountring in the Skies. 

As they advance, the middle Space between ^y^ 

Grows kis, tin fearce an Interval is feen. 

Now Front to Front oppos'd in juft Array, 

The clofing Hofts with Groans commence the Fray : 

Sword is repeffd by Sword, Shields clalQi on Shields, 

Foot prefles Foot, and Lance to Lances yields. 58^ 

Their Helfrfits alfnoft join, and mingling Rays, 

Alternately itfkdt each other's Blaze. 

Beauteous as yet the Face of Waf appears, 

No Helms uncrefted^ and no broken Spears ; 

Without a Flaw the deepning Lilies remain, 58^ 

Their Belts and Bucklers fhine without a Stain : 

Pzit hung the Quiver at the Watridr's Side 5 

Nor did one Charidt ftahd without a Guide. 

But when ftern Valour, prodigal of Lift, 

And Wrath arofc, increafing with the Strife, 59^ 

V. 57 J. Js they adnjance^ the middle] Tbcfe are good Lines, tboagb 
I cannot think them equal to the following. 

— For now 
'Twixt Hoft and Hoft a narrow Space was left, 
A dreadful Interval, arid Front to Front 
Prefented ftcfod in terrible Array " 
Of hideous Length : Par. Lofi^ fr. 6* 103. 

V, 579. S<word is] The Lines in the Original, w«. 

Jam dypeus dypeis, umbone repeMitur ambo, 
Enfe Ininax enfis, pede pea Be cufpide caQiis. 

Afe iauuted (fays Mr. Pope) tery happily liom die foilomng 
Lines in die fbnrth Book of the //rW, Verie 446. 

''S,'jrXti9 T* d^i^O'k- ■ ■ * ■< 

Darts 



S6 STATIUS's THEBAID. BookVIU. 

Darts thrown aloft with fwift Succeffion glare. 

Glow in the Whirl, and hifs along the Air : 

A Cloud of Arrows intercepts die Skies, 

Scarce can the crowded Heav*ns for more fufficc. 

Not with fuch Force the flaky Sheets of Snow 595 

Defccnd on Rbodopi^ aerial Bfow : 

Great was the Crafli, as when from either Pole 

Jove bares his Arm, and bids the Thunder roll : 

Thus roars the Storm when gloomy Bonus pours 

The Hail on Lybian Sands in rattling Showers* 6od 

Some fall by fent, fome by returning Spears, 

And prefent Death in various Forms appears. 

With Stakes, in Lieu of Javelins, they engage. 

And mutual Blows are dealt with mutual Ragei 

Their whizzing Slings a ftony Tempefl: rain ; 605 

The Bullets flaQi, like Lightning, o'er the Plain. 

A double Fate is lodg'd in ev'ry Dart, 

And, the Steel failing, Poifon faps the Heart. 

No random Weapons fly without a Wound ; 

The Prefs fo thick, they cannot reach the Ground. 610 

Oft ignorant they kill, and fall in Fight, 

And Fortune does the Work of val'rous Might. 

They gain and lofe with fwift Viciflitude 

The well-fought Ground, purfuing and purfu'd. 



V. 595. Not ijuiihfuch Force] The Reader may compare this with 
the following* quoted from VirgiVs jEneidy Book 9. Vcrfe 668. 

Quantus ab occafu veniens pluviaHbus hsedis 
Verberat imber humum : quam multa grandine nimbi 
In vada precipitant cum Jupiter honidus auflris 
Torquet aquofam hyemem, & coelo cava nubila rumpit. 



As 



BookVIII. STATlUS's THEBAID- 8i 

As when great Jove of adverfe Winds and Storms, 615 

To vex the World, a double Tcmpeft forms % 

The Skies and Surges waver with the Blaft, 

Which then prevails, and ftill obey the laft % 

Till the light Clouds with ^riving Aujier i^^tt^-^ 

Or ftronger Boreas rules the wat*ry Deep. (>i0 

Apypian Hypfeus firft the Slaughter led,- 

And (lew MeHalcas, at his People's Head. 

Th' Of Italians proud ; who, wedg'd in firm Array 

Withclofe-eompafted Shields, had forc'd their Way 

Thro* the Eubaan Ranks: their mightieft flain, 625 

They fwerV'd afide and forrowing quit the Plain. 

He, a rough Native of the rapid Flood, 

A Spartan both in Nature and by Blood, 

Back thro' his Bowels drew the thrilling Dart, 

That quiver'd in his Bofom near his Heart, 630 

(Left in his Back by finking deeper found. 

His Troops Ihould deem it a difhonefl: Wound.) 

Then at his Foe the Weapon faintly threw. 

The bloody Weapon unavailing fle\Y; 

Here end the rural Sports of the deeeas'd^ 635 

His Wars, ^nd Stripes that erll his Mother pleas'd; 

V. 615. As nvhitt great ]avt] So Silius Italitus,h, 4. 
Had pontum vice (ubi exercet difcordia ventos) 
Fert Boreas, Eurulque refert, molemque profondi^ 
Nunc hue alterno, nunc illuc flamine geflant. 
V. 636. Jn J Strifes that erft his Mother fleas* d'\ Orejie's having 
tranfported the Image of Diana from Scythia into Sparta^ and that 
Goddefs being only placable with human Blood, left die divine 
Vengeance ihould be incurred by an Intermiffion of Sacrifice, and 
that their Cruelty might not excite the Greeks t(^ a Rebellion, they 
inured'their Children to undergo a fevere Scourging with a Kitid of 
emulous Patience and Fortitude, till the Blood guihed out in fuch 
a Quantity as might appeafe the crud Goddefs. TertuUian in hia 
Proem to his lives of th« Martyrs gives much the fame Account : 
V<ii. XL G • Nam 



Zz STATIUS's THEBAID. BookVIIH 

• At Pbddimm Awyntas lifts his Bow ; 

When (ah ! how fwift the Sifters wing the Blow) 
Supine the Chief lies panting on the Ground, 
e .Ere the recoiling String had ceas*d to found. 640 

On Pbegeus next a forceful Stroke defcends. 
And his right Arm from off the Shoulder rends. 
Long trembling on the Pain the Member ftay'd. 
Nor from its faithful Grafp difmifs'd the Blade 5 
jlcetes vicvf'd with Horror, as it ky 645 

*Midft other Arms, and lopp'd the Hand away. 
Stern Atbamas his furious Lance impelled 
At IpbiSy angry Pberes Abas felPd ; 
The Sword of favage Hypfeus Argus found : 
They lay, lamenting each a difPrent Wound. 65a 

Rapt in a Chariot, Abas fought the Mead j 
Argus on Foot : but Ipbis rein*d a Steed. 
Two Tbeban Twins together ranged the Field, 
In Cafques, the fatal Mafk of War, concealed ; 
Thefe, as along the Paths of Fight they fped, 655 
Two Twins of Argos mingled with the Dead : 
But when each kindred Feature they defcry^d. 
As to defpoil them of their Arms they try'd ; 

* Nam quod hodie apod LacedsBmonios folemnitas maxima eft 

* ^ecfd^nyuffn; [/• e. Flagellatio] non latet. In quo facro ante aram 

* nobiles quique adolefcentes fiagellis affliguntur aftantibus paren- 

* tibus 8c propinquis Sc uti perfeverent adhortantibus.' 

V. 637-, Jt Phaedimus] As the perpetual Horror of Combats and 
aSucceifion of Images of Slaughter could not but tire the Reader 
in the Courfe of a long Work, Statius has endeavoured to remedy 
diis Defed b^ a conftant Variety in the Deaths of his Heroes. 
Thefe he dimnguiihes feveral Ways : fometimea hy the CharaAers 
of the Men, their Age» Office, Frofeflion, Nation and Family, 
fometimes by the Difference of their Wounds, and at others by the 
feveral Poftures and Attitudes in which his Warriors are defcrib«d» 
eithq: felling or Agisting* 

Thex 



BookVIH. STATIUS's THEBAID. 83 

They gaze upon each other, and bemoan 

The cruel Lot, that foon may be their own. 660 

Unhappy Dapbnis by fierce Ion bleeds, 

Who took Advantage of his hcadftrong Steeds : 

y^t^^fmiles in Triumph, Phcebus mourns in vain ; 

This dwelt at P//i, that on Cyrrha^ Plain. 

Two Chiefs above the reft were mark*d with Fame; 66^ 

By Fortune, Heroes of diftinguifli'd Name; 

Fierce H^emon chac*d the Grecians o'er the Field, 

The Theban Troops to raging Tydeus yield : 

In him Akides gen'rous Heat inftills. 

Him Pallas fires, — Thus from their ecchoing Hills 670 



T. 670. Tbms from their ecchoing Hilts] I fhall take this Opportu- 
nity of prelenting my Readers with three very fine Similies froxu 
three different Authors ; the laft of which is perhaps as pompous^ 
copionsy pidhircfqae, not to* fay every Way poetical, at ever was 
drawn from this Part of the Creation. 

Ut torrens celfi prxceps e vertice Pindi 
Cum ibnitu ruit ad campam, magnoque furore 
Convulfum montis volvit latus, obvia paffim 
Armenta^ immanefque ferae, fylvseqoe trahunCar. 
i>puniea faxofis clamat convallibus unda. 

Siiius Italicus de Bsllo PunicOy Lit, 4 

Con quel furor> chel re de fiumi aldero, 
Quando rompe tal volta argini e fponde, 
£ che nei campi Ocnei s' apre il fentiero, 
£i graffi folchi, e le biade feconde, 
E con le fue Capanne il gregge intiero, 
E coi cani i paflor porta neir onde. 

ArioftB*% Orlan. Furicfo. Canto 40. 

Comme un voit un Torrent du haut des Pirennees, 
Menacer des vsillons les nymphes ccnfternees ; 
Cent digues qu'on oppole a fes flots orageux, 
Soutiennent quclque temps fon choc impetu-'ux 
Mais bienft)t renverfant w Barriere impuiflante, 
II porte au loin le bruit, la mort, & I'epouvante 5 
Deracine en paflant ces chenes orgueilleux, 
Qui bravoient les hlvers, & qui touchoient les cieux. 

G 2 Detache 



84 S T AT I U S^s T H.E B AI D. Book VIIL 

Two Tonrcnts rufb, incrcasM with wintry Rains, 

And pour a double Ruin on the Plains, 

Contending, who (hould highefi overflow 

The Bridge, or fooneft lay the Forpft low ; 

Till fome ftrait Vale udites their watry Force, 675 

And joins their Streams in one continued Courfe •, 

Then, Ocean near, they labour to disjoin 

Their Currents, ere they mingle with the Brine. 

Bold Idas iflu'd thro* the middle Fight, 

And wav'd a Torch that ftied a ftnoaky Light : 680 

The Warrior's Frolic ftruck his Foes with Fear ; 

They fhun'd his Sight, and left the Paffage clear : 

But Tydeus^ Lance purfu*d him, as he fped. 

Tore off his Helm, and pierc'd his naked Head. 

Supine the Giant lay, the barbed Spear 685 

Stands fixed upon his Forehead. Round his Ear, 

And Temple fwift the curling Flames arife. 

When ^ydeus thus in Triumph boafting cries ;. 

call not Argos cruel in Return 

For this thy fun'ral Pile ; in Quiet bum. 690 

As the gaunt Wolf, pleased with the firft Eflay 
Of Slaughter, flies, uncloy'd to make a Prey 

Detacbe les rochers du pendant d<s montagnes^ 
£t pourfuit Its croupeaux fuiant dans les campagnes. 

Fohaire*s Henr. Chant. 6* 

V. 6pi. Ji the gaunt Wolf] Tajfo has paraphrafed this. 
Come dal chiufo ovil cacciato viene 
Lupotal'or, che fugge, e fi nafconde; 
Che fe ben del gran ventre omai ripiene 
Ha 1' ingorde voragine profonde. 
Avido pur di fanguo anco fuor tien» 
La lingua, e'el fugge dalla labra immonde ; 
Tal'ei fen gia dopo il fanguigno Stratio 
Dtila fua eupa fame aaco non {atio, 

G$r* Lib, Canto lo. Stanza 2. 

1 . Of 



Book VIII. STATIUS's THEBAID. ^5 

Of the whole Flock. Thus rulh'd the vengeful Son 

OfOeruus to compleatthe Tafk begun. 

Brave Aon perifh'd by a well-aim'd Stone ; 695 

His Sword hew*d Pholus and bold Cbromis down. 

The Sons oiM^era funk to nether Night 

Beneath his piercing Dart, whom in Defpitc 

Of V^nusj once her Patronefs, flie bare : 

Mean time the Matron wearies Heav'n with Pray*r. 

Nor with lefe Wrath infatiatc Hosmon glows, 701 

But dies the Ground with Purple as he goes ; 

In ev'ry Quarter of the Field engag'd. 

But moftly where the thickcft Combat rag'd. 

At length as on he fped, tho' fhort of Breath, 705 

Yet ftill unwe^ed with the Work of Death 5 

He falls on Butes^ who addrefs'd his Hoft 

To dare the threatned Shock, nor quit their Poft : 

On the fair Youth, unknowing whence it came, 

Defcends the Pole- Ax with unerring Aim, 710 

And cleaves his Temples, graced with youthful Charms j 

His Locks divided fall upon his Arms, 

The crimfon Life gufh'd upward frpm the Wound 5 

Prone falls the Chief, and falling fpqrns the Ground. 

Polites then beneath his Falchion bow'd, 715 

And Hypanisy who long unftiorn had vow'd 



V. 716. Who long unjbom had vow'd] Their letting their Hair 
grow to a great Length, and dedicating it to the Gods was efteemed 
a principal Aft of Religion by the Ancients. Thus we find J- 
£hilUs confecrated his Hair to the River Sperchius in Order to pro» 
cure himfelf and Friend a fafe Return from Troy. 

"£►6* aW' aiXK* itoiffs aro5ap«i»5 ^»^ Axi}iXsVf 

G q Their 



86 STATIUS'8 THEBAID. BookVIIL 

Their Hair to Bacchus^ and the God of Day : 

Yet neither came to drive the Peft away. 

To thefe the Warrior ffyperenor pm'dj 

And DamafuSj who fain would have declined yzd 

Th' unequll Coufliit •, but the Spear he threw. 

Athwart his Brcaft, and thro' his Shoulders flew j 

From his tenacious Grafp the Buckler tore. 

And on its Point in feeming Triumph bore. 

Much niore had Hamon tQO that Day atchiev'd, 725 

The Pow'r affifting; hut Minerva griev'd 

For her (lain Greeks^ and to his Wrath opposed 

Oenides. Now the God and Goddefs clos'd 

In Converfe mutual, when Alcmene*% Son, 

Peace at his Heart, ferenely thus begun. 73^ 

Say, faithful Sifter, by what Fortune driven. 

We meet in Battle ? has the Queen of Heav*n, 

For ever ftudious in promoting 111, 

DevisM this Scheme? — whatever is thy Will, 

Let that be done : much fooner I'd withftand 735 

The Wrath of Heav'n, and brave the Thund'rer's ' 

Hand. 
Dear as my Hafnon is, him I difown. 
If Pallas favours Heroes of her own. 
No more with thee in any Mortal's Caufe 
I combat, tho' thy favour'd T^ydeus draws 740 

On Hyllus^ or ftiould menace with his Spear 
Amphitryon^ recent from the nether Sphere. 
Frefti in my Mind thy Favours I retain ; 
How^oft (when o'er the fpacious Earth and Main 

V. 741. On Hyllus] Hyllus and Amphitryon were his Sons by Om- 
fhale* 

V, 743. Frejb in my Mind thy Favcurs] In the eighth Book of the 
^ ' Jliad, 



BookVIH. STATIUS*8 THEBAID. 87 

I roam'd; that Hand upheld me in the Fray, 745 

And Jove's own jEgis gave my Arm the Day. 

With me the Realms ofStyx thou hadft explored. 

Could Acheron to Gods Accefs afford. 

To thee my Rank and Place in Heav'n 1 owe. 

My Sire, and more than I can utter now. 750 

Then aft thy Will on Thebes, To thee I yield 

The fole Command, and Guidance of the Field. 

This faid, he ftrode away. — His Words aiTuage 

The Wrath oi Pallas j - and appeafe her Rage. 

Her Anger paft, the wonted Smiles return ; 755 

The Snakes fubfide, her Eyes defift to burn. 

The Warrior, conlcious that the God retir'd. 

No more with Strength endu'd, with Ardour fir'd. 

With faint Effort whirls round his ufelefs Brand, 

Nor in one Stroke dcfcries his Patron's Hand. 760 

Would Pride and Shame permit, he fain would fly : 

He blufhes to retreat, yet fears to die. 

Oemdes urges his retreating Foe ; 

And brandifliing what no one elfe could throw, 

Direfts His Arm, where 'twixt his Helm and Shield, 

The joining Throat and Neck a Paflage yield. 766 

Nor err'd his Hand, but Pallas chofe to fpare 

The haplefs Youth, and made his Life her Care. 

lUadf Pallas mentions Jo^e*s Ingratitude in not rewarding her for 
the Services (he had done his Son Hercules at his Requcft, when 
diibefled by the Artifice of Juno. 

V. 756. The Snakes fuhfide] The Poet muft here allude to the 
Snakes on MeJuja's Head, depictured on Jufiter*s jEgis, whigh 
Pallas generally carried about her. 

*AfA,^l ^* up* ufju:na-m pacXsr Alyt^cc ^vc&a»oiff0'»9 

*£» $i T£ T'jpyUn «sf ^Xr) hiitoTo in^MfH, Iliad ^, Fer. 738. 

G 4 The 



86 STATIUS'8 THEBAID. BookVIIL 

Their Hair to Bacchus^ and the C5od of Day : 

Yet neither came to drive the Peft away. 

I'o thefe the Warrior Hypcrenor']6m*dy 

And Damafus^ who fain would have declined 720 

Th' unequll Coufli(!:t •, but the Spear he threw. 

Athwart his Brcaft, and thro' his Shoulders flew ; 

From his tenacious Grafp the Buckler tore. 

And on its Point in feeming Triumph bore. 

Much niore had Hamon tQO that Day atchiev'd, 725 

The Pow'r ^(lifting j but Minerva griev'd 

For her (Iain Greeks^ and to his Wrath opposed 

Oenides. Now the God and Goddefs closed 

In Converfe mutual, when Alcmene'% Son, 

Peace at his Heart, ferenely thus begun. 73^ 

Say, faithful Sifter, by what Fortune driven. 

We meet in Battle ? has the Queen of Heav*n, 

For ever ftudious in promoting 111, 

DevisM this Scheme? — whatever is thy WilU 

Let that be done : much fooner Td withftand 735 

The Wrath of Heav'n, and brave the Thund'rer's ' 

Hand. 
Dear as my Hafnon is, him I difown. 
If F alias favours Heroes of her own. 
No more with thee in any Mortal's Caufe 
I combat, tho' thy favoured Tydeus draws 74Q 

On Hyllus^ or ftiould menace with his Spear 
Amphitryon^ recent from the nether Sphere. 
Frefti in my Mind thy Favours I retain ; 
How^oft (when o'er the fpacious Earth and Main 

V. 741. 0/1 Hyllus] HyUus and Amphitryon were his Sons by Om- 
fhale, 

V. 743. Frejb in my Mind thy Favours] In the eighth Book of the 

Jliad, 



Book VIII. STATIUS's THEBAID. 87 

I roam*d; that Hand upheld me in the Fray, 745 

And Jove*^ own v£^/Vgave my Arm the Day. 

With me the Realms oi Styx thou hadft explored, 

Could Acheron to Gods Accefs afford. 

To thee my Rank and Place in Heav'n 1 owe. 

My Sire, and more than I can utter now. ^ 750 

Then aft thy Will on "fbebes^ To thee I yield 

The fole Command, and Guidance of the Field. 
This faid, he ftrode away. — His Words affuage 
The Wrath oi Pallas^ ^ and appeafe her Rage. 
Her Anger paft, the wonted Smiles return ; "j^^ 

The Snakes fubfide, her Eyes defift to burn. 
The Warrior, conlcious that the God retired. 
No more with Strength endu*d, with Ardour fir'd. 
With faint Effort whirls round his ufelefs Brand, 
Nor in one Stroke defcries his Patron's Hand. 760 

• Would Pride and Shame permit, he fain would fly : 
He blufhes to retreat, yet fears to die. 
Oenides urges his retreating Foe ; 
And brandifliing what no one elfe could throw, 
Direfts His Arm, where 'twixt his Helm and Shield, 
The joining Throat and Neck a Paffage yield. 766 

Nor err'd his Hand, but Pallas chofe to fpare 
The haplefs Youth, and made his Life her Care. 

iliady Pallas mentions Joije's Ingratitude in not rewarding her for 
the Services (he had done his Son Hercules at his Requcft, when 
diftrefled by the Artifice of Juno, 

V. 756. The Snakes fuhjide] The Poet muft here allude to the 
Snakes on MeJuJa's Head, depictured on Jufiter^s jEgis^ whigh 
Pallas generally carried about her. 

*AfA,^l ^' up* oSfjurna-iv jSa'XsT* Aiyt^cc ^vc&avoiffO'at 

*£» ^* CfiKj ly y cfcA«»5, i* ^v >tpv6ta<Tx luKn* 

*£y $6 T£ TopyUn tiffxT^r, hmoTo frihtifii, Iliad ^. Fer, 73 ^» 

G 4 The 



86 STATIUS's THEBAID. BookVIIL 

Their Hair to BacchuSj and the C5od of Day : 

Yet neither came to drive th^ Peft away. 

lo thefe the Warrior Hyper enor'}om*dj 

And DamafuSy who fain would have declined 720 

Th' unequll Coufliit •, but the Spear he threw. 

Athwart his Brcaft, and thro' bis Shoulders flew ; 

From his tenacious C^rafp the Buckler tore. 

And on its Point in feeming Triumph bore. 

Much more had Hamon tQo that Day atchievM, 725 

ThePow'r ^flifting; butM*»^ri;tf griev'd 
For her (Iain Greeks^ and to his Wi-ath opposed 

Oenides. Now the God and Goddefs closed 

In Converfe mutual, when Alcmene*^ Son, 

Peace at his Heart, ferenely thus begun. 73^ 

Say, faithful Sifter, by what Fortune driv'n. 

We meet in Battle ? has the Queen of Heav*n, 

For ever ftudious in promoting 111, 

DeyisM this Scheme? — whatever is thy WilU 

Let that be done : much fooner Fd withftand 735 

The Wrath of Heav'n, and brave the Thund'rer's 

Hand. 
Dear as my "H^sfnon is, him I difown. 
If Pallas favours Heroes of her own. 
No more with thee in any Mortal's Caufe 
I combat, tho' thy favoured ^ydeus draws 740 

On HylluSy or ftiould menace with his Spear 
Amphitryon^ recent from the nether Sphere. 
Frelh in my Mind thy Favours I retain \ 
How^oft (when o'er the fpacious Earth and Main 

V. 741. 0/1 Hyllus] HyUus and Amphitryon were his Sons by Om- 
fhale. 

V, 743. Frejh in my Mind thy Favour $1 In the eighth Book of the 

Jliadf 



Book VIII. STATIUS's THEBAID. 87 

I roam*d; that Hand upheld me in the Fray, 745 

And Jove\ own jEgisgz,vt my Arm the Day. 

With me the Realms oi Styx thou hadft explored, 

Could Acheron to Gods Accefs afford. 

To thee my Rank and Place in Heav'n 1 owe. 

My Sire, and more than I can utter now. ^ 750 

Then aft thy Will on thebes^ To thee I yield 

The fole Command, and Guidance of the Field. 

This faid, he ftrode away. — His Words affuage 

The Wrath of Pallas^ ^ and appeafe her Rage. 

Her Anger paft, the wonted Smiles return ; yg^ 

The Snakes fubfide, her Eyes defift to burn. 

The Warrior, confcipus that the God retired. 

No more with Strength endu'd, with Ardour fir*d. 

With faint Effort whirls round his ufelefs Brand, 

Nor in one Stroke dcfcries his Patron*s Hand. 760 

Would Pride and Shame permit, he fain would fly : 

He blulhes to retreat, yet fears to die. 

Oenides urges his retreating Foe ; 

And brandifhing what no one elfe could throw, 

Direfts His Arm, where *twixt his Helm and Shield, 

The joining Throat and Neck a PaiTage yield. 766 

Nor err'd his Hand, but Pallas chofe to fpare 

The haplefs Youth, and made his Life her Care. 

iliadj Pallas mentions Jo<ve^s Ingratitude in not rewarding her for 
the Services (he had done his Son Hercules at his Requeft, when 
diftreffed by the Artifice of Juno. 

V. 756. The Snakes fubfide] The Poet muft here allude to the 
Snakes on Meduja's Head, depictured on Jufiter^s jEgis^ whigh 
Pallas generally carried about her. 

'Afjb^] ^' op* ufAoteriv jSaXsr' Alyt^a ^vc&avoiartrat 
*£» ^* 6pt?j |y ^' cfcA«ij, iy ^v upv6ia<TX luKn' 

G 4 The 



88 STATIUS^5 THE B A ID, Book VIII, 

Xhe Dart, diverted from its dcftin'd Gourfc, 
His Shoulder graz'd, and fpent in Air its Force. 770 
A Fate fo near him chills his Soul with Dread ; 
At once his Fortitude and Vigour fled : 
No more he dares prolong th* unequal Fight, 
But even fickens at. the Hero's Sight. 
Thus, when fome Hunter's Spear has drawn the Gore 
From the tough Forehead of a briftled Boar, 776 

put lightly raz*d the Skin, nor reached the Brain s 
The daunted Savage wheels around with Pain, 
Grinding his Tufks, pr ftands aloof thro- Fear, 
Nor tempts again the Fury of his Spear. .780 

Jl,ong had brave Prothous with unerring Hand 
Peak out his Shafts, and gall'd the Grecian Band : 
This Tydetis faw, and rufhing at the Foe 
And his gay Courfer aim'd a double Blow. 
On him, as prone he tumbles on the Plains, . 785 

Falls the pierc'd Steed, and, while he feeks the Keins, 
Stamps on the Helm, till by his Feet compreft 
Dn his Lord's Face, it crufb'd his Ihielded Breaft j 
Then fpouting out amidft a purple Tide 
The Bit, expir'd recumbent at his Side. y^q 

Thus often on the Cloud-fupporting Crown 
Of Gaurus, Vine and Helm are both o'erthrown, 
A double Damage to the Swain : but mod 
Th' uxorious Elm bewails his Confort loft ; 
• Nor groans fo much for his own haplefs Fate, 795 

As for the Grapes he prefics with his Weight. 
ChorcsbuSy Comrade of the Nine, fcrfook 
His native Mount, and the Cajialian Brook; 
Though oft Urania from th* infpefted Stafs 799 

Forcwarn'd his Death, and bade liim Ihun the Wars : 

^eedlef§ 



BookVIII. STATIUS^s THEBAID. 89 

Hecdlefs he mixes with the daring Throng, 

And, whjk he meditates the future Song, 

Becomes himfelf a Theme of public Praife. 

The Sifters weep, forgetful of their Lays, 

SwoFn with ambitious Hopes, young Atys came 805 

From Phocian Cyrrba to the Field of Fame, 

To fair Ifmtna from his tender Age 

Efpous*d ; nor did her Father's impious Rage, 

Or the negleflied Beauties of her Face, 

The Idol Fair-One in his Eyes difgrace. 810 

Nor in her Turn the Damfel difapproves. 

His faultlefs Perfon j mutual were their Loves. 

Put War forbids their Nuptials 5 hence arofe 

The Champion's Hatred to his Argive Fpes. 

^e fhines the foremoft in the deathful Scene, 815 

And laboring to be noticed by his Queen, 

Now wars on Foot, and now with loofen'd Reins, 

And foaming Horfes pours along the Plains. 

^is doating Mother deck'd his amVous Breaft, 

And graceful Shoulders with a purple Veft. 820 

His Arms and Trappings were embofs'd with Gold, 

Lefli: he fhould feem lefs glorious to behold 

Than his fair Spoufe. — On thefe the Chief rely' J, 

And the ftern Greeks to fingle Fight defy'd. 

The weaj^eft of his Enemies fubdu'd, 825 

And none attack'd, who were not firft purfu*d. 

Trembling he bears their Trophies to his Train, 

And with his Troops, inglorious, herds again. 

V. 827. He hears their Trophies^ This Paffage gives us an In fight 
into the ancient Method of fighting. We fee the Leaders advancing 
before their Tro^?ps and making an Excurfion^ and foon as they 
)iad obtained the Spoils of the vanquifhed, returning to them again. 
U this Paflage is attended to, it will clear up many Things in Homer ^ 

and 



88 STATIUS^5 THE B A ID, Book VIII, 

Xhe Dart, diverted from its dcftin^d Gourfc, 
His Shoulder graz'd, and fpent in Air its Force. 770 
A Fate fo near him chills his Soul with Dread 5 
At once his Fortitude and Vigour fled : 
No more he dares prolong th* unequal Fight, 
But even fickens at. the Hero's Sight. 
Thus, when fome Hunter's Spear has drawn the Gore 
From the tough Forehead of a briftled Boar, 776 

put lightly raz*d the Skin, nor reached the Brain i 
The daunted Savage wheels around with Pain, 
Grinding his Tufks, or ftands aloof thro- Fear, 
Nor tempts again the Fury of his Spear. 780 

Long had brave Prothous with unerring Hand 
Peak out his Shafts, and gall'd the Grecian Band ; 
This Tydeus faw, and rufhing at the Foe 
And his gay Gourfer aim'd a double B1o\y. 
On him, as prone he tumbles on the Plains, . y8^ 

Falls the pierc'd Steed, and, while he feeks the Keins, 
Stamps on the Helm, till by his Feet compreft 
Dn his Lord's Face, it crufb'd his Ihielded Breaft j 
Then fpouting out amidft a purple Tide 
The Bit, expir'd recumbent at his Side. j^g 

Thus often on the Cloud-fxipporting Crown 
Df Gaurus, Vine and Helm are both o'erthrown, 
A double Damage to the Swain : but mod 
Th' uxorious Elm bewails his Confort loft; 
Nor groans fo much for his own haplefs Fate, 755 

As for the Grapes he preffcs with his Weight. 
ChorcsbuSy Comrade of the Nine, fcrfook 
His native Mount, and the Cajialian Brook; 
Though oft Urania from th* infpefted Stafs 799 

Forcwarn'd his Death, and bade him Ihun the Wars : 

Pee^lef§ 



BooKVra. STATIUS's THEBAID. 89 

Hecdlefs he mixes with the daring Throi^ 

And, whjle he meditates the future Song, 

Becomes himfelf a Theme of public Praife. 

The Sifters weep, forgetful of their Lays, 

SwoFn with ambitious Hopes, young Atys came 805 

From Phocian Cyrrba to the Field of Fame, 

To fair Ifmena from his tender Age 

Efpous'd ; nor did her Father's impious Rage, 

Or the neglcflied Beauties of her Face, 

The Idol Fair-One in his Eyes difgrace, 810 

Nor in her Turn the Damfel difapproves. 

His faultldfe Perfon ; mutual were their Loves. 

Put War forbids their Nuptials ; hence arofc 

The Champion's Hatred to his Argive F,oes. 

Jit fhines the foremoft in the deathful Scene, 815 

And lab'nng to be noticed by his Queen, 

Now wars on Foot, and now with loofen'd Reins, 

And foaming Horfes pours along the Plains. 

His doating Mother decked his amVous Breaft, 

And graceful Shoulders with a purple Veft. 820 

His Arms and Trappings were embofs'd with Gold, 

Left he fhould feem Icfs glorious to behold 

Than his fair Spoufe. — On thefe the Chief rely* J, 

And the ftern Greeks to fingle Fight defy*d. 

The weaj^eft of his Enemies fubdu'd, 825 

And none attacked, who were not firft purfu'd. 

TrembUng he bears their Trophies to his Train, 

And with his Troops, inglorious, herds again. 

V. 827, He hears their Trophies^ This Paffage gives us an In fight 
into the ancient Method of fighting. We fee the Leaders advancing 
before their Tro^^ps and making an Excurfion, and fcon as they 
)iad obtained the Spoils of the vanquifhed, returning to tliem again. 
If this Paflage is attended to, it will clear up many Things in Homer ^ 

and 



90 STATIUS's THEBAip. Book VUr. 

Thus the young Lion in the Cafpian Shade, 

(No Length of Mane terrific yet difplay'd) 830 

Yet innocent of flaughter'd Bull or Ram, 

If chance he lights upon a ftraggling Lamb 

Without the Fold, in Abfence of the Swain, 

Riots In Blood, and glories in the Slain. 

On *Tydeus then unknown he calls his Eyes, Z^S 

And meafuring his Valour by his Size, 

Proudly prefumes to make an eafy Prey 

Of the flain Chief, and bear his Arms away.* 

He now had levelled many a diftant Blow, 

Ere the brave Prince perceived his puny Foe : 840 

At length contemptuoufly he viewed the Man^ 

And formidably fmiling thus began. 

I fee vain Fop, too prodigal of 3reath, 

Thou feekeft Honour from a glorious Death, 

He paused : nor deigning to difcharge a Blow 845 

With Sword or Spear on fuch a worthlefs Foe, 

His Arm fcarce raised, a flender Javelin threw. 

With fatal Certainty the Weapon flew ; 

And, as if driven with his utmoft Force, 

Deep in his Groin infix'd, there ftopt its Courfe, .850 



and his Imitators, which would otherwife feem very abfurd. ■ 

jitys would have made a good Hero in a Romance. He was one 
of thofe Gentlemen wlio go to War only to pleafe the Ladies, and 
mix the Beau with the Hero, two Characters the mofl inconiiftent 
in Nature,^ though often unite^^in Practice. Whiift however we are 
pitying the rafli and ill-timed Gallantry of this young Man, we can- 
not but applaud the rough Soldier-like Behaviour of Tyiieus, and the 
blunt Wit he fhews on this Occafion. I (hall only obferve farther, 
that this Charader is admirably well fupported, and is a fufficient 

Proof of our Author's Vein for Sadie. The former Part of this 

Note belongs to Barthiuu 

The 



BookVIH. STATIUS-s THEBAID. 91 

The Chief of Life thus feemiagly bereft. 

The gcn'rous Victor pafles on, and kft 

His Anns untouched, and thus jocoiely faid, 

Thefc fuit not MarSy nor thee, O fav'ring Maid : 

What Man of Courage would not blufh to wear 855 

Such gaudy Trifles ? — nay, I icarce would dare 

Prefent them, by my Contort to be borne. 

Left ihe lejecl them with indignant Scorn. 

Thus fpake OatuUs^ fir'd with Luft of Fame, 

And Tallies forth in queft of nobler Game. 86a 

Thus, when the Lion roams, where Heifers feed. 

And lowmg Beeves expatiate o'er the Mead^ 

The royal Savage traverfing the Plain 

In fuUen Majefty, and four Difdain, 

Spares the weak Herd, and culling out their Head, 

Some lordly Bull, arrefts and lays him dead. Z66 

MefueceuSj lift^ning to the dying Cries 

Of Jtysy fwiftly to his Refcue flies ; 

And left his Steeds fliould flag, deferts his Car, 

And bounds impetuous thro* the Ranks of War. " 870 



V. 861. Thus tvben the Lion] In order to obviate any Obje^on 
^lat may ariie to the frequent Repetition of Similies drawn frpm 
the fame Obje6l, I ihall tranfcribe Mr. Pcfis Defence of Homer on 

that Point. ' Is it not more reafonable to compare the fame Maa 

always to the fame Animal, than to iee him ibmetimes a Sun, Some- 
times a Tree, and fometimes a River ? though Homer ipeaks of the 
iame Creature, he fo diver£es the Circumllances and Accidents of 
the Comparifons, that they always appear quite different. And to 
lay Truth, it is not fo much the Animal or the Thing, as the Ac- 
don or Poiiure of them that employs our Imagination : two difie- 
rent Animals in the fame Aftio.i are more like each other than one 
and the fame Animal is to himielf in vko di£erent Adions. And 
j^ofe who in reading Homer are (hocked that 'tis always a Lion, 
may as \vdl be angry diat it is always a Man.' See ESkf on Homer'% 
Battlers. 

Th' 



94 STATIUS's.THEBAID. JBookVIIJ. 

I faw him, when my Marriage was proposed. 

At Court. But foon the glittering Scene was clos'd. 

The Fires extinguifli'd fuddenly I view*d, 015 

And Omens and Prognoftics dire enfu'd. 

My Mother followed then, with Fury fir*d, 

And Atys at my Hands with Shouts required. 

What mean thefc dark Portents of Death obfcure ? 

I fear not, while our Houfe is thus fecurc, 920 

While the Foe (lands aloof, and Hope remains. 

Fraternal Concord may reward our Pains. 

While thus each other's Sorrows they report, 

A fudden Tumult fills the fpacious Court ; 

And Atys enters (moving Scene of Woe) 525 

By Toil and Sweat recovered from the Foe. 

Life's ebbing Stream ran trickling on the Ground, 

One feeble Hand reclined upon the Wound, 

And his loofe Hairs his bloodlefs Face conceal'd. 

His languid Neck dependent on the Shield. 93a 

Jocafia^^ the killing Objeft ey'd. 

And trembling caird his fair intended Bride. 

This he requefts, that with his dying Voice, 

And laft Farewell he n\^y confirm his Choice. 

Her Name alojie, a pleafing Sound, long hung • ^^^ 

On his pale Lips, and trembling on his Tongue. 



V. 923. WhlU thus\ This Defcription of the Diftrefs of the two 
Lovers is beyond all the Encomiums that can be given it ; though 
the Grief of Ifmene on this Occafion is not fo outrageous, as if fne 
had not been prepared for it by a previeas Dream. The dying 
Warrior is very artfvlly introduced, his Condition and Appear- 
ances are very piAurefque, and the EiFefts of his ,violent Paflioa 
finely imagined, though at the fame Time \txy natural. 



The 



Book VIII. STATIUS'sTHEBAID. 9^ 

The Servants fliriek, the Virgin with her Hands 

Conceals her BluOies : Modefty commands. 

The Queen, indulgent to th* intrcating Chief, 

Conftrains her to impart this laft Relief. 940 

Thrice at her Name he lifts his drooping Head, 

And thrice finks back, his vital Spirits fled. 

On her, the Light of Heav*n no more cnjoy'd. 

He feafts his Eyes, admiring and uncloy'd. 

No Parents near to rear the facred Pyre, ^j^^ 

Nor frantic Mother, or defponding Sire 5 

To her th* ungrateful Office they affign. 

To tend his Obfequies and Rites divine. 

There, no one prefent, o'er the Corle fhe fighs, 

Clofes each Wound, and feals her Lover's Eyes. 950 

Mean while Bellona wak'd anew the Fray, 

And turn'd the doubtful Fwtune of the Day : 

She chang'd her Torch, and other Serpents wore, 

Heap'd Slain on Slain, ^nd iwcird the Stream of Gore 

As if the Toil of Fight was fcarce begun, 955 

Much Work of Death remaining to be done. 

But Tydeus fhines the moft ; tho' fure to wound 

Partbenopaus deals his Shafts around. 



X. 957. But Ty6e.\xs Jhims the mojf] The PiAure of TjJeus in tlie 
folio .ving Lines is very elaborately drawn. As his Fate is near at 
Hand, 3ie Poet endeavoars to make him quit the Stage with Ho^ 
noor, and immortalize him in his Verfes. Accordingly this being 
the laft Scene he is to appear in, he is ufhered in with the greatel 
Pomp ; and left there (hould be any Dowbt of his Su|>erionty, af- 
ter having been compared to the King of Beafts, he is represented 
by the Ea^le, King of Birds. The Poet by this Accamolation of 
Similies raifes our Ideas of his Hero mcch higher than any fimple 
Defcription can reach « 



Tho* 



96 STATIUS^s THEBAID. BdbKVltt 

Tho' fierce Hippomedon impells his Horfe 

Thro* the gor'd War, and cruftics many a Corfc, 960 

And Capaneus^s Javelin wings its Flight, 

Afar diftinguifliM in the Ranks of Fight, 

His was the Day : before him trembling flies 

The ^beban Herd, as thus aloud he cries. 

Why this Retreat, when unreveng'd remain g6^ 

Your valiant Comrades, late in Ambufti flain ? 

Behold the Man, by whom alone they bled : 

Behold, and wreak on his devoted Head 

Your Wrath coUeded. Can ye thus forego 

The Chance of War, and fpare the prefent Foe ? 976 
Is there a Man, whom this wide-wafting Steel 
Has wrong'd, for Vengeance let him here appeal. 
Now by my Soul it grieves me, that content 
With fifty Deaths, my Courfe I backward bent 

To fair Mycetue. Fly then, but this Day 975 

The proud Ufurper for your Flight ftiall pay. 
Scarce had he fpoke, when on the left he fpy'd 
The King confpicuous for his plumy Pride, 

Rallying his routed Forces. At the View 

The kindling Hero to th* Encounter flew, 980 

As on a Swan the royal Eagle fprings 

With fwift Defcent, and fhades him with his Wings. 



V. 981. Jj on a SiAjari] This Comparifon is very minutely co- 
pied from Horner^ as may be feen from the Circumflance of tlie Sha- 
dowing of the^Eftgle's Wings. 

So the ftrong Eagle from his airy Height, 
Wko marks the Swan's or Crane's emDodied Flight, 
Stoops down impetuous, as they light for Food, . 
And Hooping, darkens with his Wings the Flood. 

Pipe's Iliad. 

Then 



teftoK Villi STATlUS^s THEBAID. 97 

Then thus.--:^— O Monarch, ftudious of the R^hc, 
Meet wcfthus fairly hy Apollo's Light ? 
Or hadft thou rather truft thy worthlcfs Life 985 

To Night and Ambufcades, than open Strife ? 
To this the fullen Tyrant nought replies, 
But at the Foe a Spear loud-whizzing flies. 
Charged with an Anfwer. Rapid was its Force; 
But towards the Period of its furious Courfe 990 

Oenides beat it off, and whirls his own 
With Strength and Vigour until then unknown. 
Swift rulh'd the Lance, and promised in its Flight 
To put an End to the deftrudive Fight. 
The fav'ring Gods of either Party bent 995 

Their Eyes towards it, anxious for th* Event;; 
But for his Brother the fell Fiend, preferv'd 
Eteocles. Afide the Jav'lin fwerv'd 
To BblegyaSy his Squire, where midft the Prefi 
He toird with equal Honour and Succefs. 1000 

Now fiercer grown, th* Mtolian draws his Sword, 
And rufhes, but the TCbehan Arms afford 
A grateful Shelter to the Coward-King. 
As when the Shepherds, gathering in a Ring, * 
Attempt to drive the nightly Wolf away ; 1005 

The prowling Savage, heedful of his Prey, 
Purfues that only, nor attacks his Foes, 
Whofe Clubs and Stones annoy him as he goes. 
Thus ^ydeus difregards th' inferior Crowd, 
And Vengeance on their guilty Monarch vow*d. loia 
Yet, fcorning Oppofition in the Chace, 
He ftruck the daring T'i&^^j in his Face; 
A well-aim'd Dart Beilocbus arrefts. 
And left its Point deep-buried in his Breafts; 
yoL. II. H Pierced 



98 STATlUS's THEBAIC Book VIU. 

Picrtfd in the Side, then Clmus bit the Gromid, lox ^ 
And Acm HippotaJes^ from whc^e wide Wound 

The Bowels guih'd. Full Helmets oft He flcims 

In Air, and to the Trunk reftores his Limbs. 

And now the Prince, unweary*d yet with Toils, 

Block'd himfelf up with Carcafes and Spoih : loza 

With him alone the circling Hofts engage. 

The fingle Objed): of their miflile Rage. 

Fart glitter on the SUifate of his Skin, 

Part fniffratc fall -, and Part are lodg'd within : 

Some Palias plucks away. His Targe appears' 1025 

An'^ Iron-Grove, thick fet with gleamy Spears. 

NdCreft is extant; thro' the briftling Hide 

His naked Back and Shoulders are defcry'd : 

And Afiirj, which on his CafqUe depiftur'd fate. 

Fell off, a joylefs Omen of his Fate. 103^ 

The IhiverM Brafs into his Body pent. 

Wrought him fuch Pain as ftiight have riiade rtient 

The braveft Heart, when lo ! a Stroke defcends. 

And from the Gums his gnafliing Grinders rends. 

His Bread is deluged with a Tide of Gore, 1035 

.With Duft embrown'd, while each dilated Pore 

v» joig. And now the Prince] The magnantmo\is Scceva Is in 
ttittch the fame Plight in the iixth Book of Lucan's Fhar/aliu, 
lUam tottpremit moles, ilium omnia tela. . 
■ Fords crebris fonat i^ibus umbo, 

£t galeae fragmenta cavas compreffa perunmt 
Teinlpoim : nee quicquam nudis vitanbus obftat 
Jam patorifantes in fummis oillbus haflas. 

■ ^ fat hon fi^gilis pro Caefare murus, 
PompejuQique tenet: jampedora hon tegit armisr - 
Ac veiitus credi dypeo, isvaque vacafTe, 
Ant culpa vixiiTe foa non tdlnera belli 
JSolas obit, deiifamque ferens in pedoie fylvam, 
, TvagnuUbiif leilis, in quern cadet, eligithoftem* 

3 to 



ioKVm. StATIUS's THEfiAlD. 99 

In copioU^ Drops pcrfpires Pleas'd he furvey'd 

His Bands applauding^ and the Martial Maid, 
Who o*er her Eyes the fpreading JEgis threw. 
As to her Sire in his Behalf ihe flew. 1040 

But fee, an afhcn Jav'lin cuts the Wind, 
And leaves, with Anger charg'd, the Clouds behind^ 
Long was the A uthof of the Deed unknown, 
Great Menalippusy for he durit not own ; 
At length the Foe*s untimely Joy difplay^d 1045 

The Warrior, herding in his Troop, betrayed. 
For the pierc'd Hero, now no longer fteel'd 
Againit the. growing Anguifli, loos'd his Shield, 
And bent beneath the Wound. This feen, the Greeks 
Rufli to his Aid with Groans, nor manly Shrieks : 1050 
The Sons of Cadmus^ fmiling at their Grief, 
With Shouts triumphant intercept Relief. 
The Chief, infpeding clofe the adverfe Side, 
The Markfman, lurking in the Crowd, efpy*d, 
Colleds his whole Remains of Life and Strength, '1055 
And throws a Weapon of enormous Length, 
Which neighboring Hopleus gave, nor gave in vain : 
Forth fpouts the Blood, extorted by the Strain. 
By Force his (ad Companions drag hkn thence, 
(While yet unconfcious of his Impottence) 1060 

■\_ 

v^ 1041* But fee, dx aflan Jawlin\ Thefe Verfes are ioiitated 
from VirgiL 

' Has inter voces, media inter talia verba, 
Ecce viro fbidens alis allapfa fagit^ eft: 
Incertum qua pulfa manu, quo turbine adafla ; 
Quifi tantam Rutulis laudem, cafufne, Deufne, 
Attolerit : prefla eft infignis gloiia fa^. 
Nee fefe &x»vi ja^vit vui^erc quifqnam. 

- ^tiiii^ lib. If. r$r. 323. 

Ha Then 



100 STATIUS's THEBAID. Book VIII- 

Then bear him to the Margin of the Field, 

His Sides fupporred in a double Shield •, 

And promife, he ftiall quickly reingage, , io6^ 

When Strength Ihall fecond his undaunted Rage. 

But he himfelf perceives his failing Breath, 

And fliudd'ring at the chilling Hand of Death, 

Reclines on Earth, and cries — I die in Peace; 

But pity me, O Sons of fertile Greece! , JLoyo 

I afk you not thefe Relics to convey 

To JrgoSj or the Seat of regal Sway, 

Regardlefs of my Body's future Doom, 

Nor anxious for the Honours of the Tomb, 

Curft are the brittle Limbs, which thus defcrt 1075 

The Soul, when moft their Strength they (hould exerts 

All I folicit farther, is the Head 

Of Mcnalippus ; for my Jav'lin fped, 

And ftretch'd, I truft, the Daftard on the Plains : 

Then hafte, Hippomedon^ if aught remains 1 80 

V. 1064. His Sides'] The Ancients were wont to carry their Gew 
nerals who fell in Battle on a Shield ; as we learn from FirgiJy 
£ook 10. 

——At ibcii multo gemitu, lacrymisquc, 
Impofitum fcuto referunt Pallanta frequences. 

Again, Book 10. 

At Laufum focii exanimum fuper arma ferebant. 

The lofmg a Shield in Combat was looked upon as the greateft 
Difgrace that could befall a Man : 

Tecum PhUippos & celerem fugam 
Senfi, relida non bene parmula, 

hy% Horace: hence the famous Saying of the 5/tfr/tf« Lady, when 
(he gave her Son a Shield ; .« Aut cum illo, aut in illo;' /*. e. * Ei- 
ther return with it, «r upon it.' Part of this Note belongs. . 

to Bernartitfi. 

Of 




BookVIH. STATIUS's THE B A ID. loi 

OfyirgiveElood', ^ndthou. Arcadian Youthj 

In PraifCfOf whom Fame e'en detrafts from Truth : 

Go, valiant Capaneus^ thy Country's Boaft, 

And now the greatcft oftW Argolic Hoft. " 

All m6v*<i : but Capai^ms arrives the firft, 1085 

Where breathing ye<^3£ lay, deform'd with Duft, 

And took him on fiis Shoulders* Down his Back 

Flows the warm Blood, and leaves a Grimfon Track. 

Such look'd Alcidesy when in Times of Yore 

Reentered Argos with the captive Boar. 1090 

Overcome with Joy and Anger, Tydeus tries 

To raife himfelf, and meets with eager Eyes 

The deathful Objedt, pleas'd as he furvey'd 

His own Condition in his Foe's pourtray'd. 

The fever'd-Head impatient he demands, 1095 

And grafps with Fervour in his trembling Hands, 



V. 1095. The fe'ver^ d Htad\ We are now come to that remarkable 
Adliori^of Tydeus which fo much offended Mr. Pope^ that, in vindi- 
cating a Pakage of Honur^ where Achilles wifhes, he coi^ld eat the 
Flefh of HeSor^ he fays, * However, this is much more tolerable 
' than a Paffagc in the Thebaid of StatiuSf where Tydeus in the very 
' Pangs of Death, is reprefented as gnawing the Head of his £- 
* Bcmy.* — ' — -But with Deference to the Memory of that great 
Man, I mufl beg leave to offer fomething in my Author's De- 
fence, which t Ihall leave the Reader to confider. 

Firft, with Refpedi to .the Fad taken abfolutely, and in itfelf, 
the Poet does not recite it as worthy of Imitation, or praife his Hero 
for the Perpetration of it; but exprelfes his Abhorrence of it, and 
informs us, that Tijiph%ne fuggefled it to Tydeus^ and that Pallas 
herfelf, his (launch Patronefs, was fb difguiied as nttefrly. to defert 
him : thefe are Circumftances that fufficiendy abfolve the Poet from 
theCenfare of making his favourite CharaAer fo monftroufly bru- 
tifh and inhuman. 

Secondly, if we confider it comparatively, we mufl obferve, that 
the Will and Intention, which only render moral Adlions culpable 
were the fame both in Achilles and Tydeus, The former Wifhes he 
could eat hit Enemy's Flefh, the latter docs it; fo that the only 

H 3 Diite- 



loi STATIUS's THEBAID, Boop^VllI, 

' yiThile he remarks the reftlefs Balls of Sight, 
^ That fought and (hun'd alternatply the Light, 
Contented now, his Wiath began tQ ceafe. 
And the fierce' Warrior had expired in Peace; i IQQ 
But the fell Fiend a Thought of Vengeance bred. 
Unworthy of himfelf, and of the Dead. 
Ilfean while, her Sire unmoy'd, Triloma canoe^ 
To crown her Hero with immortal Fame : 
But, when fhe faw his JaWs befprinkled o'er 1 105 

With fpatter'd Brains, and jting'd.with living pore^ 
Whilft his imploring Friends attempt in vaia 
To calm his Fury, and his Rage reftrain : 
Again, recoiling ftqm the loathfome View, 
The fculptqrM Target o'er her Face ihe threw \ i $IQ 
And, her AfiedioiA chang'd to fudden Ha{e^ 
Jlefign'd Omdes to the Will of Fatp : 
But, ere ftie joined the Senate of the Skies, 
J^urg'd in Jfy£bs her unhallowed Eyes. 

pifferei^ce is^ that Tydtus had a bcttef ^ppetitf , and lefs AveHioii 
to human Flefh than JfbilUs, 

LaiUy, if it is really a Fault, the Cqinmiffion of it was -owing to 
the extravagant Veneration that Siatius had for Horner^ as it it evi* 
den tly imitated from the abovementioned PafTage in the Jliad: fq 
that the oiiginal Thought vt]\\ Hill be chargeable on that great 
Author. / 

V. w}/^. Ilxfos] Is a River of Eltfitfm, which the Poet terms 
guiltjcfs, becanfe it makes guiltlefs, t\ e. purifies. It is oppofed 
to Styx, a Stream of Hell ; and called in Gren^ H^vaa^, from At;a»c, 
that is to fay. Solution becaufe Souls af.er the Solution of theur 
^rporeal Bonds defcend to thofe Fields. 






THE 



THEBAID OF STATIUS, 



BOOK THB NINTH. 



100 STATIUS's THEBAID. BookVIIL 

Then bear him to the Margin of the Field, 

His Skies fapporred in a double Shield ; 

And promife, he fliall quickly reingage, , 1065 

When Strength fhall fecond his undaunted Rage. 

But he himfeif perceives his failing Breath, 

And fhudd'ring at the chilling Hand of Death, 

Reclines on Earth, and cries — I die in Peace-, 

But pity me, O Sons of fertile Greece! , 1070 

I afk you not thefe Relics to convey 

To Argos^ or the Seat of regal Sway, 

Regardlefs of my Body's future Doom, 

Nor anxious for the Honours of the Tomb. 

Curd are the brittle Limbs, which thus defert 1075 

The Soui, when moft their Strength they* (houM exert. 

All I folicit farther, is the Head 

Of Mcnalippus ', for my Jav^in fped. 

And ftretch'd, I truft, the Daftard on the Plains : 

Then hafte, Hippomedonj if aught remains 180 

V. 1064. His Sides'] Th& Ancients were wont to carry their Gew 
nerals who fell in Battle on a Shield ; as wc learn from f^irgily 
Book 10. 

At focii multo gemitu, lacrymisquc, 
Impofitum fcuto referunt Pallanta frequentes. 

Again, Book 10. *" 

At Laufum fodi exanimum fuper arma ferebant. 

The lofing a Shield in Combat was looked upop as the greateft 
Difgrace that could befall a Man : 

Tecum Phijippos & celerem fugam 
Senfi, relida non bene parrfiula, 

(^.ys Horace: hence the famous Saying of the 5//jr/«« Lady, when 
Ihe gave her Son a Shield ; .* Aut cum illo, aut in illoj' /. e, * Ei- 
ther return with it, er upon it.' Part of this Note belongs. 

to Bernartitju 

. Of 



BookVIIL STATIUS's THEBAID. loi 

Of jirgive Eloodi ^ndthou, j^rcadian Youthj 

In PraifceOf whom Fame e'en detradls from Truth : 

Go, valiant Capaneus, thy Country's Boaft, 

And now the greateft of f^ -^r^^AV Hoft. ' 

All mov'd : but Capai^^s arrives the firft, 1085 

Where breathing ye<^3& lay, deform'd with Duft, 

And took him on liis Shoulders. Down his Back 

Flows the warm Blood, and leaves a Crimfon Track. 

Such look'd Alcidesy when in Times of Yore 

Heenter'd Argos with the captive Boar. 1090 

Overcome with Joy and Anger, Tydeus tries 

To raife himfelf, and meets with eager Eyes 

The deathful Objeft, pleas'd as he furvey'd 

His own Condition in his Foe's pourtray'd. 

The fever'd Head impatient he demands, 1095 

And grafps with Fervour in his trembling Hands, 



V. 1095. The fe'ver^d Head] We are now come to that remarkable 
A^otH^otTydeus which fo much offended Mr. PopCy that, in vindi- 
cating a PaiTage of Homer j where Achilles wifhes, he could eat the 
Flelh of HeBor^ he fays, * However, this is much more tolerable 

* than a Paflagc in the Thehaid of Statins , where Tydeus in the very 

* Pangs of Death, is reprefented as gnawing the Head of his E- 

* »einy.' -But with Deference to the Memory of that great 

Man, I mud beg leave to offer fbmething in my Aiathor's De- 
fence, which r Ihall leave the Reader to conuder. 

Firft, with Refped to the Faft taken abfolutely, and in itfelf, 
the Poet does not recite it as worthy of Imitation, or praife his Hero 
for the Perpetration of it ; but expreifes his Abhorrence of it, and 
informs us, that Tijtphine fuggelled it to Tydeus^ and that Pallas 
herfelf, his Haunch Patronefs, was fo difguited as utterly, to defert 
him : thefe are Circumftances that fufiiciently abfolve the Poet from 
the Cenfure of making his favourite Charader fo moDfht)ufly bru- 
tifh and inhuman. 

Secondly, if we confider it comparatively, we muH obferve, that 
the Will and Intention, which only render moral Adions culpable 
were the fame both in Achilles and Tydeus. The former wifhes he 
could eat hi« Enemy's Flelh, the latter docs it; fo that the only 

H 3 Diitc- 



loi STATIUS^s THEBAID- BoofLVlIJ, 

^V^ile he remarks the reftiefs Balls of Sight, 

That fought and Ihun'd alternately the Light, 

Contented now, his Wrath began tQ ceafe. 

And the fierceWarrior had expired in Peace ; i loa 

But the fell Fiend a Thought of Vengeance bred, 

Unworthy of himfelf, and of the Dead. 

I^ean while, her Sire unmov*d, Tritoma canae. 

To crown her Hero with immortal Fame : 

But, when ihe faw his Jaws befprinkled o'er 1 105 

With fpatter'd Brains, and pngy.with living Gorej 

Whilft his imploring Friends attempt jm vain 

To calm his Fury, and his Rage rcftrain : 

Again, recoiling frpm the loathfome View, 

The fculptyrM Target o'er her Face Ihe threw j i f IQ 

And, her AfFedlioja chang'd to fuddcn Hajej 

Jlefign'd Oenides to the Will of Fatp : 

But, ere (he joined the Senate of the Skies, 

]?urg'd in Jfyjfos her unhallow'4 Eyes. 

pifFerei^ce is^ that TyJeus had a bcttcf ^ppetit^, and Icfs Avcrfion 
to human Flefh than J/ifilies. 

LaHly, if it is really a Fault, the Cqmmifflon of it wa5t)wing to 
the extravagant Veneration that Siatius had for Horner^ as it u evi* 
dently imitatpd from the ' abovementioned PafTage in the ///Wr fq 
that the original Thought wfjji IHII be chargeable on that great 
Author. / 

Y. \\ ^4. Iljfosl Is a River of Elifii^m, which the Poet terms 
guiltlefs, becaufe it makes guiltlefsy i. e, purifies. It is oppofed 
to Styx J a Stream of Hell ; and called in Grec;k H\v<ra^, from Aver^u 
that is to fay. Solution becaufe Souls af.er the Solution of theUr 
i^^rporeal Bonds defcend to chofe Fields. 






THE 



THEBAID OF STATIUS, 



BOOK T8B NINTH. 



The argument. 

rH E Thebans, fpirited up by Eteoclcs, to revenge 
the Infult offered to MenalippusV Body^ renew the 
Fight with great Ardour. Polynices, almoft overcome with 
Grief for the Death d?/'Tydeus, laments very pathetically 
over him. Hippomedon oppofes the Enemy* s Onfet with 
unparalleled Fortitude. Lycus wounds him. He is affijied 
ly Alcon, and kills MopfuS, Polites, and many others of 
Note. The Fury Tifiphone dra,ws him off from attacking 
the Thebans ly a falfe Injinuation of AdraftusV ieing 
taken Prifoner. In the mean Time the Grecians are 
worftedj and the Body of Tydeus is wrejied from them : 
Hippomedpn returns to the Combat^ purfuesthe^ into the 
River J dnd* after a great Slaughter of theml is bppofed by 
the God of the Stream himfelf and being caji on Shore^ is 
^verpozvered by their Numbers^ andjlain^ notwithfianding 
Juno*j Interpofition with Jupiter in his Behalf. Parthe- 
nopseus thenfignalizes himfelfby his Feats of Archery^ and 
is prefented by Diana with a "Set of polfoned Arrows. She 
folicits AppUo in his Favour, but to no Purpofe. He is 
near being Jlain by Amphion, but the Goddefs and Dor- 
ceus refcue him. At length Dryas, at the Infligation of 
M^rsy flays him, and is killed himjelfby an inviftble Agent, 
fuppofed to be Diana herfelf. The young Arcadian jufi at 
the Point of Death gives bis laft Commands to Dorceus, 
with which fke Book concludes. 



[ I05 ] 
THE 

THEBAID OF STATIUS. 

BOOK THE. NINTH. 



TH E brutal Rage of bloodv Tydeus fires 
His Foes, and th* Ardbiir of Revenge infpircs. 
E'en his own Grecians lefs deplore his Fate, 
And blame his Fury and Excefs of Hate. • 
Mars tooy fevereft on th* etrtbattePd Meadf^ 5 

Fame reprefents difgufted at the Deed, 
What Time, avig'rous Agentin the War, 
0*er Hills of Slain he drove his rattling Gar. 
So dire a Scene the God could not furvey. 
But turi^M his Steeds, and meafurM back the Way. 19 
To punifh then the Injury fuftain'd 
By Menalippus, on his Corfe prophan*d 
The "Theban 5fouth with Wrath rekindled rife. 
From Man to Man ih* infeftious Vengeance flies, 

V. 1. Tke brutal Rage] The Poet, forefeeing as it were, that he 
ihould offend the Delicacy of the Critics by this Narrative, feema 
in this PafTage to have endeavoured to obviate the Cenfure, and af- 
jfore the Reader, that he did not propofe this AAion of his Hero as 
worthy, of Imitation, but quite the Reverie :— with a View to this, 
he reprefents Mars expreffing his Abhorrence of it in the ftrongeft 
fanner, and introduces Euocks taking Advantage of this Ad of 
Brutality, to rally the Thehans to the Charge. 

As 



io6 STATIUS'$THEBAID. BookIX. 

As if fomc Foe their Sires fhould difintomb, i^ 

And their Remains a Prey to Monfters doom. 
The Monarch fans the^ire, and thus befpeaks: 
Who now will favour, and account the Greeks 
'As Met ?-f^Behold ! with Arms fupply^d no more 
They ply their Teeth, and lap the tbeban Gore. 2a 
Say, do we not with Lybian Lions fight. 
With iuiman Art oppoiing favage Might ? 
See Tydeus^ as a Lenitive in Death, 
"Feeding on hoftile Flefh refigns his Breath. 
With Fire and Sword contented we engage ; %^ 

Their W»nt of We^pqi^ :is' fupplied by Rage. 
Refiiung Cruelty, f qll in the View 
Oijove^ this impious T^ack may they puifue. 
Yet truly they the.Propiief sEnd bemoan, 
.And curfe ;he Land for Mifchiefs not its owp. ;^0r 

In Words like thefe the.Kiiig harangu'd aloud» 
And vainly ftalk'd befoce th* obfequious Crowd. 
In all an eqqal Fury burn3, to gain 
The Spoils apd hated Corfeof 73f//^/^i (lain. 
S^hus Fowls obfcene hang o'er the liquid Way, §5 

When from afar the wafting Qales convey 

V. 3$. Thus F9nuU obfcef^'\ M/fA» has a noble Simile coi|Gaved ia 
the genuine Spirit of this Author : 

As when a Flock 
Of lav'noas Fowl, though many a League remoley 
Agdttft the Day of Battle, to a Field 
Where Annies lie iocampM, come flying, lur'd 
With Scent of living Carcafes, defign'd 
For Death the following Day, in bloody Fight. 

Pur. LoJI^ Book 10. v. 273^ 

The 



PookIX. STATIUS^s THBBAID. 107 

The Scent of Bodies that unburied lie» 

And taint the thickening Mthcr. — As they fljr. 

With flapping Puiions all the Skies refound : 

The lefler Birds retire, and quit their Ground, 40 

Fame flies from Man to Man, from Band to Bandt 

And fpreads vague Murmurs o*er the Theban Land ; 

JMore fwift than wont (be plies her fable Wings, 

When woeful Tidings to fome Wretch flie brings. 

To trembling Polynices now ihe bears 45 

The difmal News, and thunders in his £ar$. 

JHis Tears congealed, all petrified with Grief, 

He ftands, and for a Time withholds Belief. 

For his fuperior Valour, fo well known. 

Forbids him to believe the Chief overthrown : 50 

But when a frefh Report pronounc'd him dead, 

A Cloud of Grief his Eyes and Mind o'erfpread 5 

All Circulation ceafing in his Veins, 

He faints, he falls : his Arms bcftrew the Plains. 

His Tears now gufli forth at the lafl: Ffibrt, 55; 

And the bright Greaves his falling Shield fupport. 

Lonely he walks amidfl: a circling Throng, 

And fcarcely drags his fault'ring Knees along. 

And cumbrous Spear, as though he was deprefl: 

With countlefs Wounds, and pain'd above the reft. 60 

The breathlefs Hero by his Cdnu-ades fhewn. 

Who the fad Prince attend with many a Groan, 

He grovels o'er the Corfe, (while from his Eyes 

The Tears run copious) and defponding cries, 

.0 Tydeus^ Hope of all my warlike Toils, 6$ 

Prop of my Caufe, and Partner of my Spoils ! 

y. 65. O Tydcus] Thefe Reflexions oi Polynices on the Death of 
T\diut are yery jnanly and pathetic : 1 hey dip'ay a Dignity of 

' Soul, 



io8 STATIUS'i THEBAID. Book IX. 

Is this the Recompence Ifliould beftow. 

Are thefe the Thanks which to my Friend I owe. 

That in my Sight I fufFer thee to lie 

Unwept and bare beneath a foreign Sky? 70 

In Exile now far worfe than Death 1 rove, 

Depriv'd in thee of more than Brother's Love;. 

Nor feck Inow the Crown by Lot decreed. 

And fuUicdThronc to which I fhould fucceed : 

Litde I prize the Badges of Command, 75 

And Scepter, which I take not from thy Hand. 

Stand off, ye Warriors, and to me alone 

Refign the Fight : — The JFortune is my own. 

No longer now your lifeleis Arms employ. 

Nor in Purfuit of Vengeance ftilldeftrdy. 80 

What greater Proof of Malice can you give. 

Or how can 1 atone, whik I furvive. 

For my Fiend's Death ?.— O King, Oconfcioqs Night, 

Begun with Strife, but clofmg with Delight ! 

O ArgoSy deareft to the Gods above, 85 

And (hort-liv*d Wrath, the Pledge of laffing Love \ 



Soul, a Difintereftednefs of Friend (hip, and an Overflowing of Gra- 
titude, that is rarely to be found in the Breaft of the Ambitious 2 
And I doubt not, but Readers of the fame delicate Mould as the 
Speaker here feems to be, will meet with a great deal of Entertain-* 
inent in the Perufal of this mafterly Oration. 

V. jj. Stand off, ye Warriors y"] This Adion, which proves the 
great Courage of Polynices^ has been ccnfured in Achiiks^ as a Mark 
of the utmoft Rafhnefs and Fool-hardincfs ; yet it is remarkable, 
that Virgil and Milton^ as well as our Author, have imitated it from 
Homer. 

At pius ^neas dextram tendebat inermem 

Nudato capite, atque fuos clafn<:re vocabat. 

Quo ruitis ? quaeve ifta repens difcordia furgit ! 

O cohibeteiras: i»5tum ja.m foedus, et onines 

Compoiitae legeS, xnihi jus concurrere foil ; 

Me finite atque aufene metu&. JEneid, L. 12. 

? Oh ! 



BookIX* STATIUS's THEBAID. 109 

Oh ! hadft thou (while my Life was in thy Hand) 

Stretch'd me unpitied on a foreign Strand ! 

Yet more — Great Chief, thou didft adopt my Caufe, 

And, trufting Jeve and hofpitable Laws, 90 

Repair to ^bebes^ whence none would have returned 

Lefs brave. — So ftrong the Flampof Friendlhip bum'd. 

Fame hath e*cn now of Thefeus ceas*d to boaft, 

^nd Telamon^s Renown in thine is loft. 

How chang'd thy Form ! ah ! what a difPrent Air ! 

But fay, what Wounds fhall firft employ my Care ? 96 

How fhall I know the Theban Blood from thine ? 

And in thy Death what Numbers did combine ? 

Full well I ween, this envious Jove decreed ; 

And Mars with all hb Javelin help'd the Deed. . 100 

He fpake, and wafhes with his Tears away 

The Clots of Blood that on the Vifage lay ; 

And ev*ry Limb composed, thus cries anew : 

CQuld*ft thou thus far my juft Revenge purfue, 

And'l ftill breathe?— This faid, with Woe diftrefs'd. 

He points the naked Sceptre to his Breaft. 106 

His pitying Friends reftrain'd his daring Hands,. 

While the good King his Raflinefe reprimands. 

And foothes his Rage, revolving in his Mind 

The Turns of War, and what the Fates defign'd; 1 16 

Then from the much-lov'd Corfe, from which arofc 

His Love of Death, and Bittcrnefs of Woes, 

He fteals the Youth, and, whilft his Words afford 

A fweet Delufion, fheathes unfeen the Sword. 

Such o'er th' unfinifh'd Field (his Comrade dead) 1 15 

The Bull inaftive with Defpair, is led: 

V. 115. Such o'er tP unfimjh'd] T^e.Hfnt of this beaiitiTu] Simile 
was token from one in the 13th Eook of Homrh Iliad. ' 



no STATlUS's THEBAlD. Booit tX. 

Part of the Yoke on his bent Neck he wears. 

And Part the Swain, the Tears faft-ftrcaming bears. 

But fee ! tlic FlOw'r of ^11 the Tbeian Band, 

Fir'd with their Chiefs Example and Command, 12a 

Appears, whofe Prowefs Mars might not defpife. 

Nor Pallas view their Skill but With Surprize. 

Unmov'd Hippomedon the Shock withftands, • 

A Shield and Spear protended in his Hand^ ; 

As fome high Cliff, whofe bleak and rugged Brow r 25 

Overhangs the Deeps, nor fears the Surge below. 

Nor Storms above, but ftands by both unmov'd. 

Their Threats defy'd, their utmoft Fury proved. 

A AX* *>; T Iv nm 09t oftyoiri mxroy afrpof 
^laov Svfwy fixoclt TtTatviroy, Of^fl ^' a(p« tf^uf 

Ta> fjih n (py^f oTor id^oop Uf/Jpi^ ispyn 

V. 1 2 1 . ^koft Pro^jue/i Man mi^ht not Je/fi/e] This DifiinSion of 
Skill and Prowefs* cannot appear luperfluous to any one who confi- 
der«» that Valour tempered with Prudence was the charadcriHical 
Property of Pallas, and that meer brutal Courage only was attri^ 
buted to Mars, 

V. 125, Asfimehigh Cltf] f7r^i7and TiT^have two Comparifons 
upon this'Subjed. 

lUe, velut pelagi rupes immota, refiftit : 

Ut pelaei rupcs, magno vciiiente fragort. 

Quae fe^ miutis drcum latrantibus undis» 

Mole< tenet : fcopuli nequicquam et fpumea circum 

Saxafremunt, lateriqne illifa refunditur alga. 

^n. 7. V. 58fi, 

Ma cdRie alle procclle eipofto inonte» * 

Che.percoilb dai flutti al mar fpvrafte, 
Softien firme in ie ftelTo i tuoni, e 1' onte 
Del ciel irat^, c i venti, c Tondeyafte: 

The Repetition of Pdagi rupes adds greatly to the Merit of VirgiPi ^ 
Tajfo^s is too confin'd to admit of any heightening CircumHancesy 
and our Author's is fpoil'd by that unlucky Pathos at the Clcfe* 

E'CA 



BookIX. STATIUS's THEBAID. Ill 

E'cff wdrffied Neptime ihuns th' unequal War, 

And (battered Ships decline it fronv afar. 130 

Eteocks firft e/d the Godlike Man,. 

And, ere he whirled his Javelin, thus begai^ 

Say, are ye not aihamHl to war in Sight 

Of Heav'n, for one whofe Deeds difgrace the Fight. 

Is it fuch Merit, fuch Renown to ikve ij5 

A favage Monfter's Relicks for the Grave ? 

Left unlamented, uninterr*d he lie. 

And his Corfe rot beneath a foreign Sky ? 

Difmifs your Cares : nor Beafts nor Birds of Prey 

WiH drink his Gore, and bear his Flefh away \, 1401 

Nay, fhould his Corfe to Vulcanh Rage be doom'd, 

The pious Flames would kave it unconftim'd* 

He ceas'd, and flung a Javelin^ which the Brafs 

Forbade beyond the fecond Orb to pafs^ 

Then Pberes^ and the vi^rous Lycus threw, 145 

Short of its Aim the Dart of Pberes flew ^ 

While that ofvig'rousLy^i/j lightly grazed 

The nodding Helm with fculptur*d Forms imblaz'd. 

Cleft by the Point, the preflis afunder fled. 

And thro* the Cafque appeared his naked Head. 150 

Aftounded with the Stroke, he dares not fly. 

Nor on his own Defence alone rely ; 

But wherefoe'er he turns the Corfe he views. 

And ftanding or advancing 5 ft ill purfues 

That for his Objeft, nor to aim a Blow, 155 

Defifts toVatch the Motions of the Foe. \ 

Not thus, with all a Mother's Fury ftung. 

The lowing Heifer guards her firft-born Young, 

V. 157. Not thus <w2th alia Moiherh] This Defcriptioii of the 
Contcft for the Body oiT'^deus is imiutcd from that over the BoJy 

of 



112 STATIUS's THEBAID. Book ^X. 

When the gaunt Wolf her ftraw-built Fof trcfs ftornas ; 

A Circle, wheeling, with her Horns (he forms, i6o 

And dauntlefs foams, nor mindful of her Sex, 

With more than female Rage the War expedfes. 

At length the Cloud of flying Javelins o'er. 

The Weapons to their Owners they rcftore. 

Firft Sicyonian Alcon lent his Aid, 1S5 

And with him brought from Pifan Ida's Shade 

A Troop of Youths. — On thefe the Chief relies. 

And hurls a Beam againft his Enemies. 

Swift as a Shaft the Ruin wings its Way 

Acrofs the Field, nor knowing of Delay^ 1 70 

A Paflage f hro* the Shield of Mop/us broke. 

And feird Polices with a fudden Stroke. 

At Cydon and Pbalantbus then he threw. 

And EfyXy wounded through his Helmet, flew, 

Whilft in the Search of Weapons back he turn-d, 175 

Nor fearing Death, with Hopes of Conqueft bum*d : 

As quiv-ring in his Jaws the Lance he views. 

In Death's laft Anguifh the tough Wood he chews. 

While mix'd with Murmurs, gufli'd the purple Spring, 

And on the Point his Teeth all loofen'd ting. > 180 

LeonteuSy hid behind his focial Band, 

Forth from the Rank advanced his trembling Hand, 

ofPatroclus in the 17th Book of the ///W, though diverfified witit 
many additional Cii^cuniiiances : and this elegant Comparifon is pa- 
raphrafed from one in the Beginning of the above-mentioned Book* 



«-r ' .^ rr. _ ' tV \ » K «. ~ . 







And 



Boo^tX. STATlUS^s TMEBAID'. nj 

And fei^ing by the Hair, in Queft of Pfejr, 

Eflay*d to draw the Warriors Corfe away. 

HippomedoH the Daftard*s Aim defcriesj 185 

And though from ev*ry Quarter Dangers rife, 

Sheer from his Arm the guilty Hand divides 

With his keen Blade, and thus infulting chides. 

Be this thy Punifhment, vile Wretch, and know, 

•Tis Tydeus^ Tydeus gives the wrathful Blow : 19a 

Henceforth the Relics of the Dead f everc. 

And the Revenge of breathlefs Heroes fcan 

Thrice did the Tbekans bear away the Slain, 

And thrice the Grecian Phalanx did regain* * 

As in a Storm on the Sicilian Main 195 

An anxious Veffel wanders (whilft in Vain 

The Pilot ftruggles with the driving Wind) 

And meafures back the Space 0le left behind* 

Nor then, repuls'd by countlefs Enemies, 

Hippomedon had quitted his Emprize, 20c) 

Tho* their loud-thund'ring Engines interposed. 

The total Force of Thebes had with him closed. 

And covered with joined Shields their banded PowVs, 

(A Mode of Fight the Bane of lofty Tow'rs) 

But the fell Fury, mindful of her Lord, 40^ 

And Tydeu^ Rage detefted and abhorr'd, 

V. 190. Tix Tydeus, Tydeas gives tJhf twratHf/ul] , 
Pallas tc hoc vulnere, Pallas 
Immolaty 8e pasnam fcderato ex ianguitie CnmiU 
V. 19^. TJbrice tUd tbt Thebans] Statiiu in this Paflage had an 
Eye to the following Lines in the i/iW, 



205. But thefellFwfy} This Piece of Machinciy is trery well 

' Mime 
Ima- 



condtt^^edy and the Defcription of Tifipbene full of that fublime 

Vol.. n. I ^ 



114 STATIUS's THEBAID. BooKlX- 

Invades by Stealth the Centre of the Field, 

Transform^ her Perfon, and her Garb conceard. « 

Both Hofts perceived her, and thro' Horfe and Man 

The dewy Sweat of fudden Horror ran : 210 

Though her ftern Face relaxed into a Smile, 

Halys IJic (hews, to carry on the Guile. 

The Snakes defift to hifs at her Command ; 

Nor Scourge, nor Torch obfccne was in her Hand. 

Array*d in Arms, and bland in Voice and Look, 215 

Befide Hippomedon her Stand Ihe took ; 

Tfct, while her artful Tale the Warrior heard. 

He fearM her Looks, and wonder*d why he fear'd. 

To whom, dilTolv'd in Tears, the Fury faid ; 

Illuftrious Hero, vain is all thine Aid 220 

To guard the Bodies fcatter'd on the Plain, 

(But, are we anxious for th' unburied Slain ?) 

Behold, incompafs'd by a barbVous Throng, 

The great, the good Adrajius drag'd along ! 

In Preference to all the Grecian Band 225 

On thee he calls, and beckons with his Hand. 

I faw him fall (a Scene fcarce to be borne) 

The Crown from off his hoary Temples torn. 

Not far from hence he toils. — Dired thine Eyes, 

Where th^ck in Air the Clouds of Duft arifc. 230 

Pond'ring at this a while the Warrior ftands. 

And weighs his Fears, the Fury reprimands. * 

Why doft thou hefitate ? fay, do we go. 

Or yield the Dead and Living to the Foe ? 

Imagery, which conftitutes the chief Beauty of heroic Poefy : the 
GocS, Goddeffes, and other fupernatural Deities very often arc in- 
troduced in this Manner, and in particular there is one Inftance of 
it in the 13th Book of the Iliad, where Neptune in the Form of 
Cbalchas^ infpirits the two JjoKes to continue the Battle ; from whence, 
1 prefume, this was taken. 

He 



BbbK IX. S TAt I U S*s T H E B AI D. 115 

He leaves the wretched Office to his Friends, 235 

And, to relieve the King, his Progrefs bends j 

Yet oft reverts his Eyes toward the Slain, 

Prepared, whene'er recalled, toturnagain^ 

He blindly followed, where the Fury led. 

And here and there his Courfe erroneous fped, 240 

Till, calling back her Shield, fhe wing*d her Flight, 

Burft by the Snakes, her Caique admits the Light. 

The Clouds difperfing, he beholds from far 

Adrajius fafe and fearlefs in his Car. 

The Thtian^ the contefted Corfc poflefs^ 245 

And notify with Clamours their Succefs : 

Their Shouts viftorious dwell upon their Ears, 

And ftrike the Grecians* Souls with Grief and Fears. 

See TydeuSj (thus all- potent Fate decreed) 

brag'd to and fro aerofs the hoftile Mead ! 250 

TydeuSj whoni not the mightieft Chief withftood j 

But often as the Tbeians he purfu'd, 

A Paffage open to his Progrefs lay. 

Whether on Foot or Horfc he took his Way. 

No Reft their Arms or wearied Hands obtain, 25^ 

Employed to wreak their Vengeance on the Slain. 

Securely now they pierce his clay-cold Face, 

And the great Dead with Wounds unfelt difgrace. 

Pibmifcuous here the brave and timVous ftood, 

ijjfceming their Hands ennobled with his Blood, 260 

V. 257. Securely now] The unfortunate ^ir/7drineets with the fame 
ungenerous Treatment from the Gredam ; Homerh Iliad, Lib. aa • 
T. 369. 

^ *> And 



ji6 STATIUS's THEBAID. BooKlX 

And to their Wives and tender Infants (how 
The Weapons, llain*d with Carnage of the Foe, 
Thus when, with Force combined, the Lyhian Swains 
Have quafliM the ftern Difpeoplcr of the Plains, 
Thro' Dread of whom each Night the Fdds were barPd, 
And the fad Shepherds form'd a watchful Guard. %6& 
The Fields exult, with Shouts the Hinds arife ; 
They pluck his Mane, and gaze with wondering Eyes ; 
And, while his hideous Yawn and Bulk engage 
Their Notice, call to Mind his living Rage, 270 

Whether upon fome Ruftick's Wall he*« viewed. 
Or decks an ancient Daughter of the Wood. 
But fierce Hippomedon returns again. 
And, though he clearly fees, he fights in rain. 
For the rap'd Body Ifends his ufelefe Aid, 275 

And brandifhes aloft his fatal ^lade. 
Scarce he felefts fiis Comrades from his Foes, 
Whilft, unrefifted, through the War he goes. 
But now the Ground, with flipp'ry Slaughter dy'd. 
Arms, dying Warriors^ Cars without a Guide, 28a 
And his left Thigh, whofe Wound he woiild not own. 
Or which in Time of Conflift was unknown. 
Retard the Chace, and oft his trembling Knees 
Rcfufe their Aid. — Hopleus at length he fees, 

V. 263. Thus when, Sccl This Coin|>anron is a fine IlIuflratio» 
tf what the Pdet has heretotore iaid of this Hero ; and here it iliajr 
BOt be mal^a-propos to remark^ that our Author, with a truly be* 
coming Spirit, deigns very rarely to tread in the Path of his Pre- 
deceiforsy and adopt in his Works the Allufions of others. Thift 
the Reader mud have obferved, as I have always confronted him 
ividi the Original, whenever he does it. l^loi are his Imitations,, 
like thofe of Firgil from Homer, a fervile Copy : A Hint is fuffi- 
cient to him : he otily takes the Outlines of a Pidure, and fills them, 
up with mailerly Trails of his own Fancy, which give it an Air of 
Originality, and do not lefi Honour to his Gehitts than Judgment* 
' 3 The 



BookIX. STATIUS's THEBAID. 117 

The 'Squire and Comrade of th* jEtoUan Chief: ^ 285 

Who, bath'd in Sorrow, and intranc*d with Grief, 

On his great Mafter*s gen'rous Courfer fate. 

The Steed unknowing this laft Ad of Fate, 

Neighs and curvets (his graceful Neck dej)rels*d) 

And only grieves at th* Interval of Reft. ' ago 

Imbolden'd now againft th' inferior Band 

Of Infantry, iad Hopkus takes in Hand 

The Reins, aad ftrokes the Steed that will not own 

Another Lord, and bear a Load unknown. 

Then thus accofts himj-^^Why, unhappy Steed, 295 

Boft thou defert me at; my greateft Need, 

And, mindlefc of Command, refufe to bear ? 

No longer regal Trappings (halt thou wear. 

Nor pampered on yEloIia's verdant Plain, 

In the clear Cjarrent bathe thy flowing Mane. 30D 

For what remains, avenge thy Matter's Shade, 

At leaft purfue them : nor a Captive made, • 

Endure the Harden of a Foe abhorred. 

Nor after Tydeus take a foreign Lord. 

The Horfe, as fcnfible of his Difcourfe, 305 

Springs forth ^lefiftlefs as the Lightning's Force. 



.V. zg^^Wiy uifhappy Steed] There is foinething extremely pathe- 
tic in this Addrefs ; and Statius is not iingular in making his He» 
jt>es accoft their ^orfes. Hedor in the 8th Book of the Iliad, and 
AcbiUis in the 19th makes a formal Speech to theie Animals. The 
Harangue ofMezentiuj to his Courfer ^^ the loch Book of the iEneid 
is in feme Refpeds like this befo;-e as<. 



Aut hodie vidor fpolia iila cruenta 



£t caput JEnex reftrcs, Laufique dolorum 
Ultor ens mecum ; aut aperit {i nulla viam vis, 
Occumbes pariter, neque enim, fortiflime, credo 

~ ; aliena pati, et fiomi^os dignabere Teucros. V. 8^^. 

I i Tranf. 



ii8 STATIUS'8 THEBAID. BooKLlX; 

Tranfports him like a Torrent o'er the Plains, 

Nor fcorns his equal Guidance of the Reins. 

The Centaur thus from OJfa^s piny Brow 

Defcends impetuous to the Vales below, 310 

Half Man, half Beaft : wherever his'Courfe he takes. 

The Hill, the Dale, the Grove, the Foreft (hakes. 

Collefted in one Herd, the ^heban Race 

Retires^ while headlong he purfues the Chace, 314 

And mows them down, ere fcarce they feel the Wound ; 

The headlefs Trunks fall backward on the Ground. 

The vanquifh'd Warriors now in Profpect reach 

Their native Stream, and prefs to gain the Beach j 

Above his wonted Swell Ifmenos rofc, 

A certain Signal of impending Woes. 320 

Here, from the Labours of the longfome Way 

Refpiring, they indulge a Ihort Delay. 

V. 309. Tb^ Centaur^ This Comparifon is imitated from FirgH, 
^ncid 7. 

Ceu duo nabigenae cum vertice montis ab alto 
Defcendunt centauri, Omolcn, Othrynque nivalem 
Linqucntes curfu rapido : dat euntibus mgens 
Sylya locum, et magno cedi^nt virgulta fragore. 

Thofe who think Virgil had not a ftrong and fublime Imagination 
(fays the Editor of Pitt's Verfion) are deured to confider this Simile, 
all the Circnmftances of it are painted with Homeric Spirit and 
Magnificence, particularly, 

Dat euntibus ingens 
Sy)ya locom, et magno cedunt Virgulta fragore, 
To have a jull Idea of the Thing defcribed, lays BurmanTtus, we 
are to fuppcfe thefe Centaurs half Horfe and half Mail, but refem^ 
bling the Horfe in the Fore-part, and (o bearing down with their 
BreaH iall th^t flood in their Way. Statius Theb, 9, 220. imitates 

our Author in a Manner rather bold than juft. Thus far Mr. 

IVartim^ from whofe Sentence iii Matters of Talle there lies no Ap- 
peal : However, I wi(h he had fpecified in what pur Author has not 
imitated this. Comparifon juftly. 

The 



BqqkIX- STATIUS's THEBAID. 119 

The Waves, afl:oni(h*d at th' uncouth Alarms, 
Roll backj.rnl glitter with the Blaze of Arms, 
They plung'd with half the Bank into the Tide, 325 
While Clouds of Duft conceard the farther Side. 
He too leaps fearlefs from the broken Sceep, 
Accoutred as he was, and tempts the Deep, 
Tenacious of the Reins, while heapM on high. 
The hoftile Billows thick before him fly. 330 

Befide a Poplar, that o'erhangs the Flood, 
On the green Turf his Darts confpicuous flood. 
Difpirited with Fear, and fcarce alive. 
They caft away their Arms and bafely dive. 
Their Helms unlac'd, beneath the whelming Surge, 
Nor while their Breath permits, again emerge : ^^6 
While fome by fwimming hope the Shore to gain, 
But, cumbered by their Armour, hope in vain j 
The radiant Belts around their Middles thrown. 
And wetted Breafl:plates help to weigh them down, 340 
As when in Ocean the Sky-tindur'd Race 
Of Fiflies fpy fome Dolphin on the Chace, 

V. 325. They plunged wiilf half the Bank into] This Battle in tha 
River I/menos is copi.d from that of Home.- in the ziil Iliad ; and I 
doabt not, but, after an attentive Comparifon, the Reader will find 
it ^iverfifipd with equally flriking Clrcuniilauces, ana adorned with 
all that Variety of Imagery, which has been (o much admired in 
the Original. 

V. 341. 4^ lAjhen in Ocean] The Poet, juUcioufly v^ying the Sub- 
jcft of his Similes with the Element, compares Hippo nedon purfuing 
the Tbehans in the Riyer I/menosy to a Dolphin in Chace of the lef-* 
fer Fry. The Reader may fee the Materials, on which our Author 
worked, by perufmg the following L ines of Homer ; but what he 
has drawn up in a Smple unadorn'd Manner, his Cupicr has en- 
riched with all the Flowers of Language and Luxuriancy of De-^ 
fcription. 

^ivv^vlf;, 4B«/A7rX«ft0-t i^vxfii hifjLu^ tv^fum 

A««^*OTii* /^atA» yx^ Tf tcama^Uh %* iu TutCtir^y. II. 6. 21. 

I 4 V/hoie 



I20 STATIUS's T HE B AID. Book IX. 

Whofc fpouting Gills, and Storm-exciting Tail 

Upturn the Sands, fo much their Fears prevail 

That in huge Shoals they feek their watry Caves, 345, 

Mix with the Weeds, or lurk beneath the Waves ; 

Nor from the Deeps emerge, till far away 

He fwims, to make fome well«n)ann'd Ship his Prey. 

Thus the fierce Hero drives the fcatter'd Trains, 

And in Mid- Water moderates the Reins, 350 

And grafps his Arms : he (till maintains his Seat, 

And buoys his Steed up, rowing with his Feet, 

Whofe Hoof, accuftom'd only to the Land, 

Slides to and fro', and feeks the firmer Sand. 

Cbromis flew lon^ Antiphus lays dead 355 

CbromiSj and Antiphus by Hypfeus bled. 

Then o*er Aftiagns black Death impends. 

And Linits^ who, the River pais'd, afcends 

The Bank \ but Fate forbidding him to lands 

He tumbles back beneath great Hypfeus* Hand. 360 

With equal Rage the Greek and Tbeban burn, 

prom that fame Stream ne'er deftin'd to return. 

At both the River qafts a fearful View, 

While both to Crimfon change its fable Hue, 

Now mangled Skulls and Members of the Slain, 365 

X-ight Helmets which the floating Creftis fuftajn. 

Darts, Bo^ unbent, ^ind Shields of duftile Gold 

Adown thjB bellowing Current gljttVing roird. 

With wapdVing Arms the Surface is o'erfpread. 

The Bottpm with the Corfes pf thj? Dead : 370 

There Warriors ftruggling in the Pangs of Death, 

The Stream Qppos'd drives back their ifluing Breath, 

Whilfl:, borne away by the refiltlefs Flood, 

Voung Agrius fcjz'd ^ lowly Elm that fl;ood 

On 



Book IX. STATIUS's THEBAID. 121 

On the green Bank (his flidd'ring Steps to ftay) 375 

The ftern Mencsceus lops his Arms away. 

Supine he tumbles : the fhock'd Tree furvcys 

Hb Hands, ftill clenching its expanded Sprays. 

The Spear of Hypfeus haplefs Sages found ; 

The Hero finks, deformed with many a Wount^ 38a 

Whilftfor his Body Blood alone returns. 

His Brother to regain, Agmor burns. 

Ill-fated Chief ! and from the fteepy Strand 

X>eapM headlong down, and grafp'd him in his Hand: 

But with the Stream imbib'd more heavy grown, 385 

The wounded Sages finks Agenor down, 

Who from the Deeps might have emerg*d again. 

But Love detain'd him there, his Brother flain. 

Whilft rifing Cbaletus attempts a Wound, - 

By circling Eddies in the Gulph profound 390 

He finksabforb'd: TheT gathering Billows rife 

Above his Head, till all conceal'd he lies. 

No more his Hand is feen, his Sword beneath 

The Depth defcends, divided from the Sheath* 

In various Shapes, and countlefs Forms appear 595 

Ruin and Death. — A Mycalefian Spear 

V. 382. His Brother tc regain] Of all the InHances of brotherly Love 
and Friendfliipy I diink this is at ODce the mod fliong and delicate. 
It is one of that Kind of Incidents, which, whilft they take off* from 
And leflen the Horrors of War, plunge us into the Depth of Diftrefs, 
and call forth that exqui£te SenHbility, which is an Ornament to 
our Nature, arid the greateft Proof of a good and generous Hearts. 
Neither will thofe think this Adion merely poetical, who have read 
the Epitaph on the two Lytultons in MagdaUn College Chapel, Oxoni 
pne of whom flipping into the Water, his Broker jurop'd in, and' 
was drowned with him. Neither Horner^ VirgiU nor any other Au- 
fthor prefenc^ us with an Anecdote of their Warriors equally beau« 
Jiful. 

Agyrtes 



\z% STATIUS's THISBAIP. BooKlX. 

Agyrtts ftrikes : in vain he looks behind. 

The latent Owner of the Dart to find \ 

But hurried onward by the rapid Flood, 

The flying Lance drank deeply of his Blood. 400 

The Courfer next of Caledonian Strain 

(fiis Shoulders pierced) ftung with the deathful P^in, 

Rears up and reding on his Feet behind. 

With Hoofs uplifted p^w§ the yielding Wind, 

Firmed as he was againft the watry Force, 405 

The Hero pitie? his expiring Horfe, 

And, whilft deep Groans burfl: from his heaving Heart, 

Refigns the Reins, and then extrafts the JDart. 

Safer in Gait and Aim, the Chief renews 

On Foot the Conflift, and the Foe purfues. 4x0 

To Nomius firft, his Conqueft he extends, 

On Mimas and Licetas next dpfcends 

His Blade : Then Lichas of T^hijbaan Strain, 

And young Tbefpiades^ a Twin, was flajn. 

To rafli Penemus then he cries. Yet live, 415 

And thy fad Brother's helplefs F^te furvivc : 

V. 413. Of Thifbxan Strain] Though I have not tranflated the 
Epithets annexed to ffprniusi Mimas, Lycetus, and other doughty 
Heroes, as they convey no particular Idea, yet 1 could not pafs over 
that of Thijbaan, which belongs to Licbas, alter the ftrcnucus En- 
deavours of the learned Commentator Grono'vius to fettle it thus. I 
ihall tranfcribe his Conjedlures as well for the Entertainment of 
my Readers, as a Sanation to my adopting this particular Epithet 
in my Verfion. 

*' In moll of the MSS. it is Tbaheumque Lichan, Some will have 
** it to be Pbaheumque or Pkaieumque \ but the Adjeftive Tkebaus 
" for Tbebanus is new and too much a Grecifm. 1 have found at 
*• Length in one Book, Thijhaumque, and that is the true Reading. 
" In this very Bock one is killed by Partbanopeus, quern Candida 
" Tb'fjbe mi/erat* You have in the ,2d Iliad, in the Catalogue of the 
•* BarotianSf vo}^urftipuv» ts QkcPrr,, Ovid z Met. ^^r nunc Tbijhaas 
cgitat mutata columhat. 

To 



BookIX. STATIUS's THEBAID, 123 

To the dire Walls of Thebes depart alone. 

To thy fad Parents henceforth better known. 

•Tis well, ye Gods, that with her bloody Hand 

BeUona chang'd the Combat from the Land 420 

To this fame River, fince the timid Throng 

Is by their own Ifmenos drag'd along. 

Nor Tydeu^ Shade (hail wail around your Fire^ 

Debarred of what his Country's Rites require. 

But Earth refolve him to his priftine State ; 425 

While you (hall prove a far more rig'rous Fate, 

The Fiflies' Pjey. Such Taunts he deals around. 

And with harih Words embitters ev*ry Wound. 

Now at the Foe the floating Darts he throws. 

Then with his Falchion aims wide flaught*ring Blows. 

Tberon^ a Comrade of the fylvan Maid, 431 

And ruftic Gjas felt his thrilling Blade: 

Erginus^ Ikiird in naval Arts he flew, 

HerfeSj who ne*er the Rites of Tonfure knew. 

And Cretbeus^ bold Advent'rer on the Main, 435 

Who, in the Depth of Winter's dreary Reign, 

Had often pafl: Eubcsa's higheft Cliff, 

Th^ dread Capbareus^ in a flender Skiff. 

V. 418. To tlrf /ad Parents henceforth better knfywn,'\T\it?QttYi^re^ 
though fomewhat obfcurcly, hints at the following Verfes of rirgil 
and Lucan, who imiuted him. 

Daucia Laride, Thymberque fimillima proles, 

Indifcreta fuis gratufque parentibus error, 

At nunc ci Ui a dedit vobis difcrimina Pallas. jEneid lo^ 

Stant gemini fratres, fecundse gloria niatris, 
Quos eadem variis genuerunt vifcera faiis : 
, Difcrevit mors faeya vires : unumque relidlum 

Agnorunt miferi, ftblato errore, parentes. 

Fharfalia Lib. 3. 

What 



134 STATIUS's THEBAID. BooKlXv 

What cannot Fate atchieve ?— transfijf d his Breaft» 

On Waves he floats^ a Terror to the reft. 44.0 

While gay Pbarfalus o'er the liquid Plain 

Guides his high Car, to feek his fbcial Tnun^ 

A Dcric Javelin, hiffing from afar. 

Precipitates the Vaunter from his Car. 

Th* incumbering Jundure of the Chariot-Beam 445 

Immers'd the Steeds beneath the rapid Stream. 

Ye learned Nine ! who make fuch Themes your Care, 

Indulge my Thirft of Knowledge, and declare. 

What watry Toils the Grecian Prince engaged. 

And why in obvious Arms Ifmenos v^^A i , 456 

*Tis your*s to vindicate the Voice of Fame, 

And trace it to the Source from whence it came^ 

Crerueus (as preceding Bards have fung) 

]^rom fair Jfmenisy and a Satyr fprung, 

With youthful Spirits flufli'd, and vigorous Bloody 45^ 

Rcjoic'd to war in his maternal Flood. 

The Bank his Cradle, there he firft drew Breath, 

And there, the Bank his Grave, he found his Death, 

Prefuming, that the Furies here employ 

Their Arts in vjun, with more than wonted Joy, 460 

He pafles now the flattering River o*er. 

And fords alternately from Shore to Shore. 

V. 447. Te teamed Niftef] The Poet's Hopping al^ruptly ia his 
Relation, and breaking out in this folemn Addrefs. to the Mufes^ 
alarms the Reader, and greatly raifes his Attention : But as I have 
fpoken fo open and fo copioufly of the Nature and Reafon of theie 
extraordinary Invocations, I fhall take no farther Notice of them. 
See the Note on the 41ft and 935th Verfes of the 4th Book. 

453. Cren^eus'] The Motive of lj'menos\ Rage againft Hipfomedon 
w^as the fame as that of Xanthus^s aeainft Achilles: the former flew 
Crenttusy. and the latter AJieropaus^ wno were both Favourites of the 
two River Gods above-mentioned. 

If 



Book IX; STATIUS's THEBAID. wj 

If down, or crofs the Stream he cakes his Waj^ 

The Waves affift him ; nor his Prc^rels ftaj* 

When obvious to the driving Tide he goes ; 465 

But back with him th' obleqobus Current flows. 

Not with more Care the circling Deeps defend 

The Body of their Antbedanian Friend : 

Thus Triton labours to compofe the Main, 

When to his Mother's kind Embrace again 470 

PalamoB haftes, and as he moves along. 

Strikes the flow Dolphin with his founding Thong. 

Array*d in golden Panoply, he fought. 

The TbebitH Story on his Target Wrought. 

Here (while no Fears dilturb her tender Bread) 475 

Fair to the View, the Tyrian Damfel preis'd 

The Bull's white Back : no more her Fingers hold 

His beauteous Horns ; in curling Billows roU'd, 

The Iportive Sea her Feet, exultbg, laves. 

You'd think the Lover fwims and cuts the Waves. 480 

The Water firms our Faith, nor does the Stream 

Of Colour different from main Ocean feem. 

Now at Hippomedon he boldly aims 

His Darts, and with exulting Voice exclaims. 

No Poifons of Lernaan Ranknefs fliain 48:^ 

Our Riv'lets, nor Herculean Serpents drain. 

This violated Stream (as thou Ihalt pro\p) 

Is doubly facred to the Fow'rs above. 

V. 4rs. Hirt (while no Fears] I cannot help thinking with the £- 
ditor of Pities Firgil, that Sta/ius has indulged his Fancy too much 
in defcribifig -Shields of this Sort ; and here by the Way, that Gen- 
tleman <^erves» that our Author's Genius feems to be pamcularl/; 
fuitcd to fuch Kinds of Defcriptioiu 

Without 



Ii6 STATlUS's THf£BAlD., BooKlX. 

Without Reply the Chief againft him goes, 

Whilft in his OfFspring*s Aid the River rofe, 490 

And checked his Hand, which yet difcharg*d a Wound 

The piercing Lartce Life's warm Recefles founds 

The daring Mifchicf terrify'd the Flood, 

And Streams of Grief diftillM from either Wood j 

Each hollow Bank with deeper Murmurs rung, 49^ 

While the laft Sound, that lingered on his Tongue, 

Was Mother, Mother-— Here he ceas'd : the reft 

The whelming Surge With hideous Roar fuppreft- 

IfmeniSy compafs'd with heV Nymphs around»> 

Springs from her Cavern with a furious Bounds gcki 

Her Half dilheveird, fends her Sea-green Veft, 

And marrs with frequent Stripes her Face and Brcaft* 

Soon as above the Waves Ihe lifts her Eyes, 

Her Son Ihe calls with unavailing Cries : 

One Token of his Death is feen alone, ^6$, 

The Shield too well by his fad Parent known. 

Far off he lies, where bellowing down the Steep, 

Ifmenos difembogues into the Deep 

His Streams. Thus the dtkvxtdi Halcyon groans^ 

And her wet Dome, and floating Neft bemoans j 510 

V. 489. Without Reply] This Silence is more exprejflive of trift 
Valour, and more coniiftent with the real Charader of a Hero than 
the moft bitter and fatyrical Retort could have been. A brave Man 
is always more ready to juftify himfelf by Deeds thai* Words. Thus 
the great He^or^ when accufei of Cowardice by Sarpedon^ does not 
ftay to . make any Anfwer, but ruflies among his Enemies to givd 
the Accufer ocular Demonftration of his Courage^ and make him 
afhamed of his unjuft Imputation. 

V. 509. Thus the deferted Halcyon^rtf*^/] Statius with a Propriety 
rarely to be found (as I have already remarked in the Simile of the 
Dolphin) frequently (hifts the Subjed; of his Comparifons with the 
Element, and defcends to the very Minutiae of Similitude, A Poet 
of lels Taile and Fancy would have been content to have illuflrated 



Book IX STATIUS's THEBAID. 127 

When the rclentlefs South, and envious Flood 

Have borne away to Sea her feather'd Brood. 

Again the childlefs Matron dives, and hides 

Her weU-turn*d Limbs beneath the circling Tides ; 

Thro' many a liquid Path (he takes her Way, 515 

Which far beneath the glaiiy Surface lay. 

In vain the wretched Warrior's Corfe ihc feeks. 

And in loud Plaints her Agony befpeaks : 

The dreadful River <rft obftruds her View, 

Its Colour darkened to a fanguine Hue, 520 

Headlong on miffive Weapons now (he lights. 

And Faulchions, blunted in repeated Fights, 

Then handles Helms, difguis*d with Clefts and Gore, 

And turns the mangled Bodies o'er and o'er. 

Nor from the briny Deeps did (he retire 525 

To bitter Dorisy till the pitying Choir 

Of Nereids faw him floating on the Main, 

And fhov'd him to her longing Arms again. 

She clafps as ftill alive, and with her Hand 

Extrnds his Body on thegrafly Strand ; 5^0 

With her foft Hair his humid Vifage dries. 

And adds thefe Words, a Sequel to her Cries. 

Say, did Ifmenos of immortal Line, 

And thy great Parents this fad Lot afllgn ? 

Thus doft thou exercife fupreme Command, ^^^ 

And rule our River ? In a foreign Land 

Ac Sorrow of I/menis by that of a Swallow, a Nighdngale, or an/ 
other Bird for the Lofs of her young ; but our Author very judi- 
ciouily takes in the Circumftance of her being a Water-Nymph, 
and compares her to the Halcyon^ which always builds her Nefl on 
th^ Banks of the Sea, or large Rivers. 

3 More 



128 STATIUS's THEBAID. Book IX» 

More fafe thou'dft been, more fafe on hoftile Shores, 

And the fait Wave of Neptune ; that reftores 

Thy Body, all deform'd in cruel Fight, 

And with thy Prefence glads and fhocks my Sight. 549 

Arc thefe thy Father's Eyes, is this my Face, 

And did fuch Locks thy GrandHre's Shoulders grace ? 

Art thou that Youth, who late confpicuous flood. 

Pride of the Stream, and Glory of the Wood ? 

No more attended by my Nymphs I move . 545 

Queen of the Flood, and Goddefs of the Grove. 

Where are thofe frequent Suitors, that of late 

Were feen to prcfs around thy Mother's Gate ; 

And Nymphs contending who fhould ferve thee mod ? 

Why fhould I now inter thee on the Coaft, 550 

And not in my Embrace? O had I dy'd 

O'erwhelm'd amidft the Roarings of the Tide ! 
Does not fuch Slaughter, O thrice rigid Sire ! 
With Pity and with Shame thy Brcafl infpire ? 
What Lake, in this thy Daughter's dire Diftrefs, 55 j 
Conceals thee thus, whofe deep and dark Recefs 

T. 544. Pridi of the Stream] Cremeus was Prince of the Stream by 
lUght of ]ib Grandfather I/minos^ and of the Grove by Virtue of 
bong the Son of the Faun or Satyr. 

V. 545, No more attended] There is a wide Difference between the 
Lamenutions of Ifmenis and other Mothers for the Lofs of their 
Children. She chiefly laments^ that all her Honours mull ceafe 
with his Death. The Profpeft of this fuperfedes all other Confi* 
derations, and feems to affedl her in a more particular Manner. In 
ihorty ihe mourns in as womanifh a Manner as Eve^ when Michael 
denounces her Departure from Edeu. 

Mnft I thus leave thee Paradife ? thus leave 

Thee, native Soil, thofe happy Walks and Shades, 

Fit Haunt ofGods ? where I had Hope to fpendy 

Quiet, though fad, Wr. Par. Loft^ B. 1 1. V. 269. 

Nor 



BookIX. STATIUS^s TtiEBAia iig 

Nor thy now breathlefs Gr^ndfpn's early Fate, 

Nor our Complaints and Groans can penetrate ? 

See ftill Hippomedtm thy Godhead braves^ 

And rages, unqontroul'd j amidft thjt- Waves ! 56^^ 

Unwonted Tremours fciz'e the Bajiks and Floods 

And the ting*d Billows drink Aonian Blood, 

Tho' flow in our Defence, thy ready Aid 

Attends the Greeks. — Yet fee due Honpurs paid 

To my 890*3 \afl: Remains ; and be it known, ^65 

That foon an<Hher's Death thou ftialt bemoan. 

Thefe Words, ^ccompany'd with Tears, ftie fppkc. 

And ftains h^er gen'rous Breafl: with many a Stroke. 

The Sea-green Sifters make her Lpfs their own, 

Sigh back her Sighs, a^d eccho Groan with Grpan- 57I1 

Ifmenos then lay buried in a Cave, 

Whenci: thirfty Clouds and Gales imbibe the Wave, 

v« J 66. Soan agotber^s Death thoujhalt hemaan] Barthius treats (ysit 
Author's Want of Thought in this Place with great Humour. 7^ 
tnenis (fays be) reproaches her father as quite ignorant of the Death 
of his Son and others. But when his Orandfon's Fate approached^ 
he oppofes his Waves to Uippomedon. 

— ][n his Offspring's Aid the River rofe^ 
And cbeck'd his Hand*-**-— — 

bid Ifnums do this in a Dream, or did our truly good Authot nod 
iPver this Paffage ? — The latter I take to have been the Cafe. 

V. 570. Sigh hack her Stghs\ After this Verfe follows a Simik^ 
which is fo vtvf obfcure, and oinfifts of fuch filthy Iniggesi that I 
have ventured to <>init it by my Friends' Advice. 

V. 571. tfmepp9 then'\ From this line to the Speech Q^tfmemi td 
Jt^iter there runs one continued Chain of Sublimity and Imagery 

]^arce ip^nor to any thing I have ever read. The PiGuxd 

pf the Abode and H^ibit of . this Water-Qod is fupcrior to Vir^, 
giPs Defcription ,of the ffher; and that of the River's Refiftance to 
Hifpomedon is e^ual at leaft in Poj^t of Cii cumflances and V^ty 
to that of Xaxt^ in the 2ift Bpok of Homtr^% Iliad, againib J-. 
€hiiles. 

' Vol* 11/ K Whcflc^ 



130 S TAT I U S's T H E B A I D. Book IX. 

Whence with frefli Juice the fhow*ry Bow is fed. 

And golden Crops the Tyrian Fields o'erfpread : 

But when he heard from far the doleful Sound, 575^ 

In which the Murmurs of the Surge were drown*d. 

He lifts his Neck with ftiaggy Mofs o'ergrown. 

And Tcmplesj circled with an rcy Crown ; 

And rufliing on, a full-grown Pine overturns. 

As down the Stream he rolls his^ copious Urns. 580- 

The Woods and leffer Brooks his Progrefs eye 

With Wonder, as he leaves his Channel dry. 

His ftony Channel, and with dalhing Waves 

From either Bank the Slime invetVate laves. 

Sonorous in his Courfe, the River roars, 585 

And foaming, far o'ertops the fubjeft Shores ; 

While from his Sea-green Beard in many a Rill 

The lucid Drops upon his Breaft diftill. .• 

One Nymph alone he meets, who foon makes known 

His Grandfon's Fate, aiKl Evils foon his own, 55.0 

Prefles his Hand, and the fell Grecian ihews^ 

"Hfppomedonj fole Author of his Woes. 

Sufpended in Mid- Air the wrathful Flood 

Awhile, with all his Waves encircl'd, flood,. 

Then fhook his Horns, with verdent Sedge entwin'd ;; 

And thus he vents his Turbulence of Mind. 596 

Is this, O Ruler of. the Gods above,, 

The beft Reward my Services muft prove ? 

Wink'd I for this (thyfelf pur honoured Gueflr, 

At Deeds, which Friendfhip, and not Fear fupprcfsM) 

As when a borrowed Pair of Horns adorn'd 601 

Thy guilty Brows, or Pbtel^e was fuborn'd 

To lengthen out the Night, and (oh \ DHgrace 

To the whole Sex, and all the theban Race) 



Book IX. STATIUS'a THEBAID. 131 

Proud Semele to Juno's Rank afpir'd, 605 

And for a DowV etherial Flames required. 

Was it fo flight a Favour to defend 

Thy fofter'd Offspring, and their Youth befriend ? 

For Refuge to this Stream Tyrinibius came. 

And here, O Bacchus, tempered we thy Flame. 610 

Behold ! what Heaps of Carnage choak my Stream, 

What fluiver'd Weapons on my Surface gleam ! 

War rages thro' our Ford, the Billows breathe 

Confulion, Rout and Death ; above, beneath 

Souls wander, recent from their bloody Doom, 61$ 

And hov*ring, fpread o'er either Bank a Gloom. 

All Votaries invoke my chryftal Wave 

With holy Tellings : 'tis my Praife to lave 

In the clear Stream great Bacchus' facred Horns, 

And the foft Thyrfus that his Head adorns. . ffao 

In vain I feek the Straits. Not Strytnon^ Flood, 

Dire as it feems, is thus deform'd with Blood i 

Kor foaming Hebrus bears the Stain of Gore 

So deep, when warring Mars invades the Shore. 

Remember, that the Stream which now demands 625 

Jove^s timely Aid, dcferves it at his Hands. 

Poes Bacchus blot his Parents from his Mind, 

Or is Hydafpes more to Peace inclin'd ? 

Nor thou, whom the gay Spoils and Trophies, torn 

From brave CrenauSy haplefs Boy, adorn. 630 

Shalt pay to Inachus the votive Crown, 

Or hail with conq'ring Shouts thy native Town, 

V. 621. Not Stiymon'/ Flood] Strymon and Hebrus are two Rivers Of 
Thrace : the one famous for the Battles between th» Pygmks ^nd 
Cranes, ^d the other for thoic of M^r/. 

K « Unleft 



132 STATIUS's THEBAID. BoaKlX. 

Unlcfs the mortal Progeny of Earth 

I prove, and more than human is thy Birth- 

Ragiag he fpake, and to the ready Wave 635 

A Token of his vengeful Purpofe gave. 

Firft bleak Citbaron from his hoary Brows 

Pours many a Rill of long coUefted Snows ; 

Afopus then by Stealth his Wants fupplies 

^Yith Streams, that from his opening Springs arife* 64a 

The fcrutinizing God himfelf explores 

, Earth's hollow Entrails, and recruits his Stores 
Prom Marlhes, tools, and Lakes with Fifth o'erfpfead i 
And lifting to the Skies his dropping Head, 
Exhaufts the Clouds of Moifture, and inhales ^45 

The humid Vapours lodgM in (how'ry Galea. 
And now o*er both his Banks Ifmenos rofe. 
And all around a foamy t)eluge throws, 
HippomedoHj who fording half the Tide, 
Its greateft Depth and utmdft Rage had try*(J, 650 
Unba*th'd his Shoulders, wonders as he fees 
The Flood invading them by quick Degrees. 
Swelling on either Side, the Billows form 
A watry Bulwark : As when fon>e huge Storm 
Drains the Pleiadesy in Winter's Reign, ^5 

And dalhes black Orion on the Main. 
Thus the ^beumefian Stream the Warrior tofs^d 
On its fait Surface : on his Shield imbofs'd 
He breaks his Fury : o'er its Orb he boils 

♦With black'ning Foam, and all Refiftance fofils. ■ 666 
Though oft repuls'd, in greater Troops again 
The Surges nrfount. — The Hero toils in vain i 
For not content with his own liquid Force, 
The rapid Current gather! in' its Courfe 

Beams,. 



BookDC- STATlUS't. THEBAip. 133 

Eleaou^ SlDooes torn from she bottom, Shrj^bs that gi^ovf 

On the green Verge, and whirls them at the Foe. 66§ 

Unequal hangs the Fight : more fierce he raves^ 

As undifmay*d the Chief his Anger braves : 

For neither does he turn his Back, or yield 

To any Threats ; but bending to the Field jSjQ 

His Steps, ftiU boldly meets the rulhing Tides, 

And, with his Shield oppos'd, the Flood divides. 

His Feet upheld, ftill with the moving Ground 

He moves^ the flipp'ry Pebbles floating round. 

And ftruggles, while his Knees relaxed with Toil, 675 

Far froqfi beneath him Aides the flimy Soil. 

IJmenos fay, (th* upbraiding Warrior cries) 

From whence thefe fudden Gufts of Paflion rife ? 

Whence haft thou drawn this Strength ? fome n^Jghtier 

Friend 
Than Bacchus muft thy defpVate Caufe defend : 689 
For, till the prefent War, thy peaceful Flood 
Was never crimfon'd but with female Blood, 
When Pipes unequal at your Orgies roar, 
And maddening Matrons ftain your Rites with Gore. 
He faid : and now the PowV himfelf appears, 685 

And o'er the Waves his Head fpontaneous rears. 
A Load of Filth to his marr'd Vifage clung. 
Mute was his Rage, and filent was his Tongue. 
Now Face to Face the God and Hero ftood. 
When, rifing to the Stroke, the furious Flood 690 
Impeird a leaflefs Oak : Four Times unmev'd 
The dir« Affault and thupd'ring Shock he proved : 
At length, his Shield ftruck down, the Chief withdrew 
3y tardy Steps, the pillows thiok purfi)e» 

K 5 Sacked, 



ijB STATIUS's THEBAID. BookIX. 
The Spoil fufpended, and exulting cry'd : 
Behold theConqVor of the bloody Tide, 
And vow'd Avenger of great Tydeus dead, 

. Hifpomedoni how well his Schemes have fped ! 

Brave Capaneus beheld the glorying Chief 775 

From far, but from the Foe conceal'd his Grief, 
And as the brandifh*d Weapon he furvey'd, 

Accofts it thus : Be prefent with your Aid, 

My Arm and Sword; fo ye afllft my Strpke, 

No other Deities I will invoke. 780 

This fald, elate in Thought the Warrior glows. 

And ririhes, felf-fecure of all his Vows. 

Now thro* the Shield, which ftrong Bull- Hides infold. 

And brazen Mail, all rough with Scales of Gold, 

The trembling Javelin pafles, and arrefts 785 

The Prince, deep-buried in his generous Breafts. 

He finks, as fome high Tow'r that long hath flood 

Bcllona^s fierceft Shocks, at length lubdu'd 

With oft repeated Strokes it thunders down. 

And opens to the Foe the fencelefs Town. 790 

Then ftriding o'^r th' expiring Chief, he cries : 

The Fame of Death we grant thee : lift thine Eyes, 

And mark th' illuftrious Author of the Wound : 

Go— vaunt of this in th,e drear Stygian Sound. 

V. 787. As fome high Tciu*r'] Our Author in this Comparifon has 
fet the Theban Hero in a.ftronger light than the Grecian, -—He il- 
luftrates the falling of Hippomedon by that 6f an Oak, but compares 
Hypfeus to a Tower, which is more expreflive of the Characler of a 
valiant Leader : a Tower being the Defence of a City, as a valiant 

Commander is of his Army. This Simile, though not very long, 

is paraphrafed from the Verfe oi Homer fubjoincd. 

V. 793. And mark tV iUufirioiis\ uEneas clofes his Addrefs of Com- 
miferlition to Lau/us in much tJie i'ame boaHfui Manner. 

. Hoc 



BookIX. STATIUS's THEBAID. 13^ 

The Sword and Head-piece feiz'd, he takes again 795 

The Target, wrefted from the Grecian flain. 

And placing o'er the Corfe, fays with a Groan : 

Receive thefe hoftile Trophies *with thy own. 

And fleep fccure, that refcu'd from the Foe, 

Thy Manes (hall the Rites of Burial know. 800 

But while thy folcmn FunVals we prepare. 

Accept this Earneft of my future Care. 

Thus long the Combat hung in even Scales, 

And either Hoft alternately prevails : 

Mars aids them both, like an impartial Lord, 805 

And with commqtual Wounds the Battle goar'd. 

In Turn they mourn the Greek and Tbeban Chief, 

And from each other's Sorrows find Relief. 

Mean while, difturb'd by Vifions .of the Night, 

And Dreams, * th' Arcadian Princefs bends her Flight 

To Ladon^s gelid Spring, to wafli away 811 

Her noxious Sleep, before the deftin'd Day. 

Loofe was her Drefs, diflieveird was her Hair, 

And, as the Rites required, her Feet were bare. 

For anxious Thoughts and weighty Cares oppreft 815 

Her Mind in Sleep, and broke her nightly Reft. 

Oft Times the Spoils, which flie had facred made, 

Torn from the Shrine, or fallen fhe furvey'd: 

Oft Times Ihe fancied, that expeird the Groves, 

In Tombs and Sepulchres unknown (he roves, 820 

And that her ViAor Son's returned again. 

Yet only fees his Courier, Arms and Train. 

Hoc tamen infelix miferam folabere mortem : 

JEncx magni dextra cadis. jEn, io« Line 829. 

* Jfaiania, Moiker o£ Fart^CHop^us. 

3 Untouch'd 



140 STATIUS'sTHEBAID. Book IX^ 

Untouched the Quivers from her Shoulders fall. 

And her own Efligies that graced the HaU, 

Was heard to hifs and crackle in the Flames : 825 

But the pad Night the greateft Woes proclaims, 

*Twas this, that fiU'd her Soul with anxioos FearsJ^ 

And caird forth all a Mother's tender Cares. 

In fair Arcadians blifsful Bow'rs there flood 

A noted Oak : the Nymphs that haunt the Wood, 830 

Had vow*d it facred to their Guardian-Maid, 

And at the Rites divine due OflP*rings paid. 

Here ihe was wont her Bow and Shafts to place. 

And high difplay the Trophies of the Chace, 

The Lion*s brindled Hide its Boughs adorns, 835 

The Boar's fliarp Tufks, and Stag's wide- branching 

Horns. 
Such Honours heap this Monarch of the Grove, 
That fcarce the crowded Limbs have Room to move ; 
While the refulgent Steel deftroys the Shade,' 
Difpells the Gloom, and lightens all the Glade, 849 
As haply from the Hills Ihe took her Way, 
Tir'd with the longfome Labours of the Day, 
And in her hand a Bear's grim Vifage bore. 
Yet warm with Life, and reeking ftill with Gore, 
She fpies the Foliage ftrew'd upon the Groi^nd, 845 

And the hack'd Branches, red with many a Wound. 
At length a Nymph informs her, Bacchus rag'd, 
Againft the Greeks with all his Priefts engag'd. 
While, dreiuning, thus fhe groans, and beats her 

Breaft, 
Sleep quits her Eyes, and from the Couch of Reft, 850 
"Starting ite from a Trance, in vain fhe feeks 
The pearly Current that bedcw'd lier Cheeks. 

3 ThriC2 



BogkIX. STATIUS's THEBAID. i4t 

Thrice then (he bathes her Treffes in the Stream, i 

T'avert the Mifchiefs imaged in the Dream, 

Adds magic Sounds, impower'd to controul 855 

The Mother's Grief, and chear her anxious Soul, 

And haft*ning to the weaponM Virgin's Fane, 

What Time the Dew-drops glitter on the Plain, 

Beheads again with Joy the verdant Wood, 

And the known Oak unchanged, and free from Kood. 

Now in the hallowed Veftible ftie ftands, 861 

And thus invokes the Pow*r with lifted Hands; 

fylvan Queen, whofe more than female Arms 

1 bear, nor mindful to improve my Charms 

Like others of my Sex purfue afar SSf 

Thy hardy Steps, and dare the favage War. 

With Amazons I boaft an eqi^alName, 

Nor do the Colchian Dames outlhine my Fame. 

If to no Rites of Bacchus I refort. 

Nor mix in nightly Choirs and wanton Sport ; 9;ja 

If true to thee, I wield no wreathed Dart, 

Nor in unfeemly Aftions bear a Part, 

But though defil'd in Hymen's hateful Bed, 

Purfue the Toils, to which I firft was bred. 

And to the Chace and rural Shades inclined, 875 

For thee rcfcrve a pure, unwedded Mind. 

Nor in the dark Receffes of the Grove 

Hid I the Token of my vicious Love, 

/■ 

r. %j%. Hid Ithi Toktn efmy vicious Love] The Reader nuitf takt 
Kobce» that die Poet only calls this Love vicious, ioafmuch as it 
Was a Breach of V^w, all Virgins, who entered into Diana^^ Ser- 
vice, being obliged at ihcii laiuatioo, to make a Vow of perpetiwd 
Virginity. 

But 



142 STATIUS's THEBAID. Book IX*. 

But opening all my Guilt, without Deceit 

Produced the Boy, and placed him at thy Feet. 880 

Nor Blood degenerate fallies in his Veins ; 

His early Virtue j uftify'd my Pains : 

For, when an Infant, he could fcarcely go. 

He ftretch'd his little Hands, and lifp'd a Bow : 

Him (ah ! what om'nous Dreams my Soul difmay, 885 

And damp my ruffled Spirits?) him, I pray. 

Who trufting to thy Aid (his Mother's Right) 

In youthful Folly ruflies to the Fight, 

Reftore viftorious, or (if I demand 

Too much) uninjur'd to his native Land. 890 

Here may he toil, and bear thy Arms alone : 

But O ! remove thefe Signs of Ills unknown. 

In Bow'rs Arcadian why fhould Bacchus reign. 

And Tbehan Qods encroach on thy Domain ? .. 

Why to myfelf (but may the watchful Throng 895 

Of Dsemons render this Conftruftion wrong) 

Take I the Mifchiefs, (hadow'd in the Oak ? 

But, if the Gods intend this dreaded Stroke, 

O mild DiSlynnUy by the Mother's Throes, 

And yon fratern^^l Orb that recent glows, 90a 

V. ?96. 0/ Daemons] I think the Word Daemons in this Place a 
more proper Term than Gods, as the former, being a fabordinate 
Clafs of Deities, were fuppofed by the Antients to fuperintend thf 

Affairs of Mankind in a more particular Manner, In the leal! 

Deviation from the Original I ihall always hold it incumbent oa 
me to give my Reafons for it. 

V. 890. O miU Diftynna] If the Reader has any Curiofity to 
know the Origin^ of this Name, let him attend to wh^t LaSamius 
taqs on this Siibjed. — Briton^ a Cretan Virgin and Daughter of 
Mars was confecrated to Diana i and to avoid an Attempt made by 
Jdino^ on her Chaflity, threw herfelf into the Sea, and was taken up 
in Fiihing-Nets, which in Greek are called Dictua. Soon after this 
the Qretans were punilhed by a heavy Peftilence, that rag'd amongft 
them, and were informed, th^t they could not remof ^ it but by 

' bvil4i<)S 



fiooicIX. STATIUSVTHEBAID. 143 

Transfix me with thy Darts, and (ct me free ; 

'Tis Eafe, 'tis Mercy to a Wretch like me : 

And, if a martial Death mud end his Date» 

Let him, O let him firft bemoan my Fat6. 

Here paused the Queen, and wept; nor wept alone: 905 

For Tears defcended from the fculptur*d Stone. 

While thus flie prefs'd the facred Threftiold, bare. 

And brufh'dthe clay-cold Altars with herHairj 

Abruptly the rough Goddefs leaves her, flies 

O'er Manalos^ high-branching in the Skies, 910 

Direfts her Progrefs to the Hbeban Town 

By a bright, inner Path to all unknown 

But Deities, and from a Point on high 

O'er Earth's vaft Globe extends her boundlefs Eye. 

And now near HelicQti^ infpiring Source 915 

She halts awhile (compleated half her Courfe) 

building a Temple to the offended Goddefs, which they cfid, and 
called it Dictynna from the Fi/hing-Nets. 

V. 906. For Tears defcended from the fculptur^d Stone] The Pott 
means the marble Statue of Diana : Lucan^ fpeaking of the Prog- 
noftics, which preceded the 'civil Wars, fays. 

The Face of Grief each marble Statue wears,, 
And Parinn Gods and Heroes ftapd. ia Tears. 

V. 908. AndhruJffJ\ The Words in the Original are; 

-- — Gelida^ verrentem crinibus aras. 

In t|ie former Editions it was n/erentem^ which Bernartius has judiciouiIy> 
ake^d to *verrentem^ and fupported it by the following Quotations. 
«* Strata? paifim matres, crinibus templa verrentes, venian ir^UQi 
♦* coeleftium expofcunt. — Li'vyt Book 3. 

** Matronse circa de{km delubra difcurrunt, crinibus pail}s aras 
*« verrentes. D^. Book 26. 

«* Tunc Pfyche ubcri fletu rigans dea veftigia, hunmmque ver- 
«* rcns crinibus fuis. Apukitts^ Book 5. 

•< Matres ltal» penfa manibus abjiecerunt, par\'Os Liberos abrep- 
'< tos ad templa traxerunt, ibi xdes facras pafTo capillo fuQ qu^qne 
«« vcrrcbat.— Mamertinuh Panegyiick on Maximian, . 

^ , When 



142 STATIUS's THEBAID. Book IX*. 

But opening all my Guilt, without Deceit 

Produced the Boy, and placed him at thy Feet. 880 

Nor Blood degenerate Tallies in his Veins ; 

His early Virtue juftify'd my Pains : 

For, when an Infant, he could fcarcely go. 

He ftretch'd his little Hands, and lifp'd a Bow : 

Him (ah \ what om'nous Dreams my Soul difmay, 885 

And damp my ruffled Spirits?) him, I pray. 

Who trufting to thy Aid (his Mother's Right) 

In youthful Folly ruflies to the Fight, 

Reftore vidorious, or (if I demand 

Too much) uninjur'd to his native Land. 890 

Here may he toil, and bear thy Arms alone : 

But O ! remove thefe Signs of Ills unknown. 

In Bow'rs Arcadian why fiiould Bacchus reign. 

And Tbeban Qods encroach on thy Domain ? , 

Why to myfelf (but may the watchful Throng 895 

Of Daemons render this Conftru6tion wrong) 

Take I the Mifchiefs, (hadow'd in the Oak ? 

But, if the Gods intend this dreaded Stroke, 

O mild DiSynnay by the Mother's Throes, 

And yon fraternal Orb that recent glows, 90a 

V. %^6. 0/ Daemons] I think the Word Daemons in this Place a 
more proper Term than Gods, as the former, being a fal>ordinate 
Clafs of Deities, were fuppofed by the Antients to fuperintend thf 

Affairs of Mankind in a more particular Manner, In the leal! 

Deviation from the Original I ihall always hold it incumbent oa 
me to give my Reafons for it. 

V. 899. O miU Diftynna] If the Reader has any Curiofity to 
l^naw the Origin^ of this Name, let him attend to wh^t LaSamius 
iays on this Siibjed. — Briton^ a Cretan Virgin and Daughter of 
Mars was confecrated to Diana ; and to avoid an Attempt made by^ 
Minof on her Chaflity, threw herfelf into the Sea, and was taken up 
in Fiihing-Nets, which in Greek are called Dictua, Soon after this 
the Qretans were punilhed by a heavy Peflilence, that rag'd amongft 
them, and were informed, th^t they could not remof ^ it but by 

f bvildillg 



8ook:IX. STATIUSVTHEBAID. 143 

Transfix me with thy Darts, and fet mc free j 

'Tis Eafc, 'tis Mercy to a Wretch like me : 

And, if a martial Death mud end his Date» 

Let him, O let him firft bemoan my Fat6. 

Here paused the Queen, and wept; nor wept alone: 905 

For Tears defcended from the fculptur*d Stone. 

While thus flie prefs'd the facred Threftiold, bare. 

And brufh'd the clay-cold Altars with herHairj 

Abruptly the rough Goddefs leaves her, flies 

O'er Manalos^ high-branching in the Skies, 910 

Direfts her Progrefs to iHo^^hehan Town 

By a bright, inner Path to all unknown 

But Deities, and from a Point on high 

O'er Earth's vaft Globe extends her boundlefs Eye. 

And now near Helicon^ infpiring Source 915 

She halts awhile (compleated half her Courfe) 

building a Temple to the offended Goddefs, which they cfid, and 
called it Dictynna from the Fiihing-Nets. 

V. 906. For Tears defcended from the fculptur^d Stone] The Pott 
means the marble Statue of Diana : Lucan, fpeaking of the Prog- 
noftics, which preceded the civil Wars, fays. 

The Face of Grief each marble Statue wears,, 
And Parian Gods and Heroes ftapd in Tears. 

V. 908. AndhruJffJ\ The Words in the Original are; 

-- — Gelida^ verrentem crinibus aras. 

In the former Editions it was n/erentem^ vfhlch Bernartius has judiciouily. 
aheKd to *verrentem, and fupported it by the following Quotations. 
«* Strata? paifim matres, crinibus templa verrentes, veniam iraruQi 
<* coeleftium expofcunt. — Liiy» Book 3. 

<< Matronse circa de{km delubra difcurrunt, crinibus pail}s aras 
«« verrentes. D^. Book 26. 

** Tunc Pfyche uberi fietu rigans dese veftigia, humumque v^r- 
«* rcns crinibus fuis. Jpuhius^ Book 5. 

** Matres itals penfa manibus abjecerunt, par\'0s Liberos abrep- 
'< tos ad templa traxerunt, ibi xdes facras pafTo capillo fu9 qu^qne 
«« vcrrcbat.— Mamertinus^, Panegyrick on Maximian, , 

^ , When 



t44 STATIUSVTHfiSAlD. Book JX> 

When through a Cloud far-beaming fhe^ifccrnM 

Her Brother from th* Aonian War returnM, 

Uncouth his Vifage fhow'd, difguis*d with Grief, 

For much he mourn'd the Prophet, lucklefs Chief, '920 

More fiercely glow the Planets in Embrace, 

And paint with crimfon Streaks th* aerial Space ; 

Loud cUlh the Bows, and thro* the Skies around ' 

The Quivers eccho back the folcmn Sound. 

Apollo took the Word, and thus befpeaks : cftS 

Full well I know, my deareft Sifter feeks 

Th' Arcadian Youth, who dares beyond his Might, 

And mixes, fearlefs, in th* unequal Fight, 

His Mother fues, and would th' Immortals give 

Aflentto fave, the Warrior long fhould live, 930 

Myfelf (it Ihames me, that I could not aid) 

The Prophet with his Arms and Wreaths furvey'd, 

When urg'd by Fate, he funk to deepeft Hell, 

And looked at me for Succour, as he fclL 

Nor CQuld I keep my Car, and Earth re-join, 935 

Tho* ftern, nor worthy more of •Rites divine. 

Thou feeft my filcnt Dome, and wailing Cave : 

This fole Reward my pious Comrades have. 

No more my unavailing Help implore ; 

He^v*n wills, we give the fruitlcfs Labour o*er : 940 

His Hour draws on, the Deftinies ordain, 

Nor arc our Oracles believ'd in vain. 

Thus.all cpnfus'd, the heav'nly Maid reply*d 

In Turn: his Want of Days then be fupply'd 

With laftihg Fame, fomeRecompence beftaw^ j>4^. 

.Aad add in Glpry what in Life you owe* 

Nor .ihall he 'fcape unpunifli'd for the Deed, 

By whom Fate dooms the guiklcfs Chief to bleed. 

Our 



BowcIX. StATItrS's THEBAID- 145 

Our raging Arrows Ihall avfng«f the flawv 

And fix the quiv^ing Daftard to tfee Pkirt. 915^ 

5he ceas'd •, nor wiHing to his Lips applies 

Hcf vcrmil Checks, btrt to the Con&a ffifes. 

Now fiercer bums the Fight on either Side, 

And mutaal. Vengeance fwdis the pranrj^ Tide' 

For their loft Leader's. — Here the pehfire BaAd 95^ 

Of Hypfeus mourns, deprf v'd of his Comirtand ^ 

Iticie brave Wfptmeiorf^ ftout Warriors ^ew, 

Nor,icrcen their Bofoms from the menaced Blow. 

Fiercely they give, ferctiely take a Abound, 

Strive hard to gain, but never quit thdr Groottd. ^So 

In dofe Array they move, and to their Foei 

The Seat of Honour, not of Shame expolc. 

When fwift Latonia^ gKding thro* the Skies, 

On Dirci% Summit ftands with watchful Byes. - 7 

Beneath her Step the waving Forefts nodv ^^ 

And quaking Mountains own the prefeht God^} 

v. 953. Now preet hums thi Figit] There H g|t9| S|pMfl(d^ of 
Imagery and Expreffion in thefe, and the following. lfU(es i But at 
I am confcious, my Tranilation vnA ifotmake nty'Aiftrtlotr gdod', 
I ihsdl tranfchbe the Author'^ owti Words : and in tfai$» a3 veU ii 
in all other Places, where I pafs Encomiums, I hope the Reader 
wittabirays ondarft^d theia as ^ken of the QriginaU 

At pugna ereptis major crudefcit utrimque 

RegibttSy alternofque ciet vindidt^Foror^. 

HyptK)s miBc turmet defoktumq^e magilbo 

Agraen, at hinc gravius fremit Rippomedoiltfi asdemjp^ 

OnMl cohors. Praebent obnixi pedora ferro ; 

Idem ardor rabidis exterauni ha^riit^ craoicm^ 

Ac fudiiTe fuum : nee fe veiligia mutant. 

80Bt citrieo 4i»&Kit aciea, hoftiqne otxenta 

tMiM animas, et terga negant. ■ 

t, 9$$. Thfre/int God'i Availing myfelf of the Pttscedent, |^Hch 
Kr. P'(^ has given me, I ns^ve not (erupted to ufe the Word God 
te fioddcfs in my Verfioti. Tlie Grah apply Ote- in^Uctiminately 

Vo%»0, L for 



146 STATIUS's THEBAID. BookIX. 

As when at fruitful Niobe (he bent 

Hcr.-Shafts, and all her wclUftor'd Quiver fpent. 

The youthful Warrior in the Center ftopd. 

And gaz'd, exulting, o*er the Scene of Blood. ' 970 

A Hunting Steed tranfports him o*er the Plains, 

New to the Fight, and Guidance of the Reins \ 

A Tiger's motley Hide his Back o'erlpread. 

And beat with gilded Claws, as on he fped. 

His neck was mufculous, his Mane, confined 975' 

In twifted Ringlets mocks the fanning Wind. 

The Poitrel with his fnow- white Teeth he champ*d^ * 

And with black Spots his dappled Cheit was ilamp'c). 

The Rider top in Vcfts embroidered (hone, 

(Thefe Atalanta wrought, and thefe alone) 9S0 

A coftly Robe o'er the gay ^untc lies. 

That twice had drank the nobleft Syrian Dyes, 

Bound in a Chain, with radiant Jafpers flrung : 

The Target from his Steed's left Shoulder hung. 

His weighty Sword, girt to his tender Side, 985 

Blaz'd at each Motion with a martial Pride. 

A golden Chyb the circling Belt confined. 

The Youth 4?xults, as in the paffing Wind 

for both Qcnders. Our Poet himfelf in his fourth Book, ipoldng ' 
of Diofuif {gysy 

Nee caret umbra Deo. 
And the chafte and correft Firgil in the fecond Book of Us £neid 

Defcendo^ ac ducente Deo, ilammam inter et ho^ 

Expedior. i^— 

V. 969. The youthful fTarrscr] Siatius^..mart in the OuOUm than 
Virgilian Tafle, has given iull K^stoliis Fancy in defcribing the' 
Hoffe, Habit and Perfon of this ju^vende Adventurer, like the an- 
dent Priefts, who before a Sacriiice, tr cf:el out their Victims with 
flowers. Garlands, and fuch ukc Omsinvnts. 

He 



I 



Book IX:: S T AT I US's THE B AID. 147 

He hears the Sheath, the Quiver that depends, 989 
And the Chain's Clank, that from the Helm dcfccnds. • 
V One while he fhakes his Cafque with Gemsinchas'd, 
t . And nodding Crcft with vrarious Pluni^ge graced j • 
; But, when his Head is heated, throws for Air 
His Helm afide, ^nd leaves his Vifage bare. 
More charming then his glofly Ringlets fhme, ^gg 
His vivid Eyes, that fcatter'd Rays divine. 
And rofy Cheeks, o'er which the Down began 
But faintly to appear, and prOmife Man. 
Nor does he plume himfelf with Beauty's Praife i 
But ftrives to leflcn it by various Ways, lobo 

And knits his Brows, yet Anger cloaths his Face 
With Majefty, and heightens ev'ry Grace. 
The Tbeiansy mindful of their Children, yield 
Their Ground thro Pity, nor difpute the Field 
With the Boy- Warrior : he their Flight purfufcs iOQ$ 
With Darts, and tempts the Fray, which they refufc^ 
The Tyrian Damfels, who behold the Fight 
From high TbeumefuSy feaft their greedy Sight 
On his fair Features, feen thro* the Difguife 
Of War, and vent their Flame in fecret Sighs. loio 
Grief touched Diana^s Bofom, as fhe ey'd 
The too rafh Youth, ah ! how can I (ftie cry'd 
While copious ran the pearly Stream of Woe) 
Ward off, or e*en delay th* impending Blow ? 
Spontaneous haft thou fought then, cruel Boy, 1015 
And are the Perils of the Fight thy Joy ? 
Alas ! thy early Courage is thy Bane, 
And Glory fpurs thee to the deathful Plain. 
Scarce till of late thro* the Manalian Grove, 
Without a Guid?, fecurcly cou*d*ft thou rove \ loao 
* - La Nor 



«/^. 



146 STATIUS's THEBAID. Book IX. 

As when at fruitful Niobt (he bent 

HcffShafts, and all her welUftor'd Quiver fpent. 

The youthful Warrior in the Center ftopd. 

And gaz'd, exulting, o*er the Scene of Blood. ' ^jo 

A Hunting Steed tranfports him o*er the Plains, 

New to the Fight, and Guidance of the Reins i 

A Tiger's motley Hide his Back o'erlpread. 

And beat with gilded Claws, as on he fped. 

His neck was mufculous, his Mane, confined 975- 

In twifted Ringlets mocks the fanning Wind. 

The Poitrel with his fnow- white Teeth he champ*d, * 

And with black Spots his dappled Cheft was ilamp'c). 

The Rider top in Vefts embroidered (hone, 

(Thefe Atalanta wrought, and thefe alone) 9S0 

A coftly Robe o'er the gay ^unic lies. 

That twice had drank the nobleft Tyrian Dyes, 

Bound in a Chain, with radiant Jafpers flrung : 

The Target from his Steed's left Shoulder hung. 

His weighty Sword, girt to his tender SijJe, 985 

Blaz'd at each Motion with a martial Pride. 

A golden Cla^ the circling Belt confined. 

The Youth 4?xults, as in the paffing Wind 

for both Qcnders. Our Poet himfelf in his fourth Book, ipeak!ng 
of Diofut, fgys. 

Nee caret umbra Deo. 
And the chafte and correft Firgil in the fecond Book of Us iBneid 

Defcendo^ ac ducente Deo, ilammam injter et ho^ 

Expedior. i^— 

V. 969. The youthful Warrior} Statius^mort in the Owdian than 
Firgilianli2Aty has given iull K^s cbhis Fancy in defcribing the 
Hoffe, Habit and PeHon of this ju,venile Adventurer, like the an- 
cient Priefts, who before a Sacriiice, tr cRed out their Victims with 
flowers. Garlands, and fuch ukc Orn^rovuts, 

He 






Book IX.1 S TAT I U S's T H E B Al D. 147 

He hears the Sheath, the Quiver that depends, 989 
And the Chain's Clank, that from the Helm defccn^ 
One while he fhakes his Cafque with Gems.inchas*d, 
. And nodding Crcft with vrarjous Pluni^ge graced j 
But, when his Head is heated, throws for Air 
His Helm afide, ^nd leaves his Vifage bare. 
More charming then his glofly Ringlets fhine, qgg 
His vivid Eyes, that fcatter'd Rays divine. 
And rofy Cheeks, o'er which the Down began 
But faintly to appear, and prOmife Man. 
Nor does he plume himfelf with Beauty's Praife j 
But ftrives to leflcn it by various Ways, lobo 

And knits his Brows, yet Anger cloaths his Face 
With Majefty, and heightens ev'ry Grace. 
The Tbeiansy mindful of their Children, yield 
Their Ground thro Pity, nor difpute the^ Field 
With the Boy. Warrior : he their Flight purfues 1005 
With Darts, and tempts the Fray, which they refufc^ 
The Tyrian Damfels, who behold the Fight 
From high TbeumefuSy feaft their greedy Sight 
On his fair Features, feen thro* the Difguife 
Of War, and vent their Flame in fecret Sighs. loio 
Grief touch'd Diana^s Bofom, as fhe ey'd 
The too rafh Youth, ah ! how can I (ftie cry*d 
While copious ran the pearly Stream of Woe) 
Ward off, or e*en delay th* impending Blow ? 
Spontaneous had thou fought then, cruel Boy, X015 
And are the Perils of the Fight thy Joy ? 
Alas ! thy early Courage is thy Bane, 
And Glory fpurs thee to the deathful Plain. 
Scarce till of late thro* the Manalian Grove, 
Without a Guid?, fecurcly cou*d*ft thou rove \ loao 
• - La Nor 



«/^. 



f4» S^TATIUS's THE B AID. Book: IX^ 

Ifon was if fafe. to pierce the wood-land Shado 

And Haunts of Beafts, without thy Mothe«% Aid; 

WhoTefylyaiiArms, the Quiver, Sha^ and Bow» 

Thy Shoiildecs fcarce fufSc'd to bear litt) now* 

To our derf* Altars, weepings ibe repairs^ ia«5 

And wearies Hcav^a with unavsuKng Pray *rs ; 

Wfaiift in the ToHs of Fight thou doft rejoice. 

And liften, pleas'd, to the fhrill Clarion's YoicCb 

Go then, fccurc of an immortal Crowns 

And to thjr Mother dooni'd to die alone. i^^- 

She ceaafd; and his viftorious Fame to raife. 

And crown his Exit with diftinguifh*d Praife, 

Rufli'd thro* the Lincs^ (a dufky Yeil of Clouds 

From mortal. Eyes the bafliful Goddefs fhrowdSL) 

And ftole the faithlds Arrows that he bore, *^15 

Recruiting th* emptied Quiver with a Store 

Of oint^ Shafts : of thefe none flies in vahr. 

Nor touclles, innocent of Bioodj^ the Plain. 

She iprinkles then the V^dpAor and'hisHgrie 

With Dews ambrofial; left his wounded Corfe rol^.^ 

9i 1039. SJk^JprinJUts tbiTLtbc ITtfrriV] This. Fiflioa Is in4^t^ 
fiom Hemir^s Uiad^ Bpok; tbc6th» where w^/110/ft (Ufcha^ges, the. laoi^ 
kind Office XX) Sarpedon: ' " , 

Bin it kar* 'Hani* a^m U ^Xo^lr ainu, 
AvruLo, y. he 0fXi»V X^f^pj^ofc^ ^•K «t*f «f . 

And again in the. 19th ; 

Trd^i M.ari ^tmr, tt» .01. x^^i cflVi JJQ^ %tnp 
Virgil has alf<v,imitatcd. it ; 
Sparrit^ue falubres ^ 

Should 



BookIX. StATIUS'f THEBAI^i 14^ 

Should be abus'd^ before he yields his Bre^h y 
And, as aGixarm to break the Pangs of Death« 
Adds holy Murmurs, and myfierious Songs, 
Such as in fecret Caves the Cokbian Throngs -1 

She teaches, at the Seafon of Repofe, ^04S 

And {hews each noxious Plant and Herb that girows. 
More furious now be deals his Sh^ts aroiihd, 
To Reafon deaf: his Wrath no Limits Ipoiihdi 
But, mindlefs^f his Country, SeHv ahdTneiidSy 
The fated Darts without ReJTerve lie fends. 165^ 

The youthful Lion thus, whofe tender Age > . 

Was nurs*d with Blood, the Source of laya|ge Rage, 
By his Gictiduin Dam, when he furyqrs 
The Mane, that o'er his Neck redundant plays 
And his iharp Claws^ protended for the Fighti . 1P55. 
He Iprin^ forth, confcious ef his nac'ral R^6t 
From his loatb'd Den, and with a four Difdaia 
Of proffered Food, explores his new Dorftain. 
Say, valiant Youth, who prds'd their native Meady 
By thy Parrbqfian Bow to Death decreed ? xo^a 

V. 105 !• The youthful Lfon] This Simile is a fbohg ?r66f ct fW 
Fraitfiabefs of we rocfs tnnLgibMdni imd jndtcious Tifte. JtU 
bold with Com&Btfki nAtural without being volgar, and .copiomi 
without Prolixity : and what is .ftill adding to its Meirit, h toat & 
is an OriginaU 

V. 1050^ Say 9 valiant Tlouth] This beautiful |nteiTO»^tioQ is imi- 
^ted from tlie i6th Book cf the I!iad« 

"£»$» rim #p»rrof » T»r* ^ Sfarat iiMto]»*|a( 

Q^em telo pnmum, qu^ ])0i(f^iiitti&9 ^^pefaj^yir^^ 

£e^icis ? aut quot humi morientia QOi^zH, feiidls T 

I jball tranfcribe Mr. Pi^ A judicious Ohiervati(dis on fije |j>6yi^ 

filed. Jaflage, in Hamr, as the/ ixt e^^uaDj applicable^ «:> our Au- 

thw's,— — The Pof r in a vcrj^ moving aodfokipii Way tunis his 

t 3 , Pifcoiirjl 



150 STATlUS's f HEBAlt). fiooKlX, 

Cbor^ehus of ^anagra fpurnJd the Field 

The firft.. Between tlji.e Margin of the Shield 

And Helm, the Dart a narrow PafTage found : 

His Jaws afe crimfon*d with the gufhing Wound, 

And o*er his Face the facred Venom glows, ' 1065 

Wide-fpreading. — —At Eurytion then he throws 

A triple-pointed Shaft : the Weaponries, ' 

And deep in his left Eye-ball buried, lies. *^ 

The Dart extrafted from the Wound by Force, 

Againft the Fo^ Eurytion bends his Courfe j 1070 

But ah ! whkt cannot heav'nly Shafts ? again 

An Arrow Ipeeds, unerring, o*er the Plain, 

And double? his Diftrefs : yet ftill the Foe 

He chac'd, as far as Memory could go j 

Then fell, and Ida crufli'd, who near hjni flood : 1075 

Here, midft the Rage of War and Scene of Blood, 

In thick fhort Sobs he gafps away his Breath, 

Deypting Friends and Foes alike to Death. 

The Sons of ^^^j'next his Fary prove ; 

Cydon^ fubfervient to thVinceftuous Love .1080 

Qf his fad Sifter, and fair Argus fam'd 

For his flcek Hair. Pierc'd by a Lance well-ajn^'di 

Young Cydoff% Parts obfcene lie bare to View 5 
A Dart oblique thro* Mother's Temples flew, 

Difcourfe to Patroclus* He does not accoft his Mufe, as it is ufual 
with him to do, but enquires of the HerO himfelf who was the firft, 
and who the laft, who feU bj' his Hand f This Addrefs diftinguifhes 
and fignalizes Patroclus^ (to whom Homer ofes it inore frequently, 
than I remember on any other Occafion) as if he was fome Genias 
or divine Being, and at the fame time it is vtx^ pathetical, and ap| 
to move our Compaflion* 

V. 1083. Youn^ Cydon'j Tarts ohfcene lie hare to Vien»,'\ Our Au- 
thor makes the incefluous Cydon punifhed in that Part, with which 
he had offended. This is poetical Juftice in the ftriftcft Scnic of 
|h^ Wordf 

In 



BdoK'IX. STATIUS's THEBAID. 151 

In one the Steel, in one the Feather's fecn, 1085 

The Blood flows down from both, and ftains the Green. 
On .all alike th' impartial Darts defcend 
His peerlefs Charms gay Lamus ill defend ; 
Young jEgIus fills an untimely Grave : 
Nor could his mitred Honours Lygdus favc. 1090 

Fair Lamus mourns his Face : a Lance impales 
The Groin of Lygdus : Molus bewails 

His fnowy Brows. The firft unhappy Swain 

Euhaa own'd : on ^hijb^% rocky Plain 

The fecond dwelt : the third AmycUe bore, 1095 

Yet never, never fhall behold him more. 

Such is his Art, no Miflile flies in vaiji, 

And fuch their Force, that all they wound, arc flain. 

His Hand ne'er refts, but Shaft to Shtft fucceeds. 

And the long Hifs runs ecchoing o*er th^ Meads. 1 100 

*Twas almoft pafl: Belief, a Angle Bow, 

And one weak Hand could work fuch mighty Woe. 

Where leaft the Foe fufpeds, his Darts he fends j 

And oft, in Aft to (hoot, his Arms extends. 

Then fudden quits the Mark : when they draw nigh. 

He flies, and turning lets his Arrows fly, i io5 

To Vengeance now the Sons of Cadmuf rife, 

Wrath in their BreaftSi Amazement in their Eyes, 

And firft: Ampbion^ fprung of Race divine, 

(From Jove himfclf he^drew his natal Line) mo 

V. 1097. Such u his Art] I ibould be thoaght too tniftruflfd of ~ 
the Reader's Tafte, (hotild I point oot to him the Beauties pf thefi^ 
Lines. My Verfion, I confe/s, falls infinitely (hon pf |he Original, 
;md indeed the \ 

Solo reipicit area 

^nnot be ren4qied in our Langojigis widi a fHit4b|i^ Pjgiuiy* 

X- 4 Unknowing 



i^ft «rATIUB^« THEBAID. JlooxBC- 

Unknowing yet, wfa«t Ciarnage iiid o'cHpicaii 

The fatal Ckampain, thus 'inr^ltifig, (aid. 

How long wilt thou procfaft thjr vitpl 3>ate, 

O luckleis B<^, and gain Delays frooi Fate t 

Pocs Infolcnce and high JVrfunoption reiga HT| 

In xbat vile Breaft, becaufq thy Foes iibistm 

To tak« di' Advantage, and in Figiu eagage • 

With one fb far beneafth a Soldier's Hage -, 

^ence to tkf f^q^als, and, ieoure fi*om Hamu^ 

At Home a£t o*cr tlie Ftay with mimic Arms : t ¥idi 

^Wre longeigoy, if War be thy Delight, 

The Pomp without the Dangers of thp Fight, 

Or, if furviving Giory be thy Ainpi, 

We grant, atthy Rdqufeft, a Death of Fame. 

Here on hi« Speech th' impatient Hero broke, 412^ 

And thus in Terms of eqqal Wrath befpojcc. 

Small as my Strength i^, it avails to gain 

Thb Palm^ aad <Jriv« the Tieidns from the f^Iain, 

Lives there fo much a Boy, as to decline 

The Strife with you, a foft enervate Line ? ii ^«^ 

In n^j ^d> rough and hardy, thou Ihak find 

A Sample of the whole j^j^adian Kind : 

Me no fair J^^wftefe, by her God con>prefs*d, 

^Brought &rdi to Woe, in the ftiji Hours pf Reft» 

V. 1 131, lu me. ioUt rou^iandJbardy] The l^ter Part of thi| 
9pe0ck is Very ^fBtKh like that erf Vumunus in die fiimh Book c( ^ 
yEneid* 

i; ., 1., 1 Natot ^d fltiinina pptnuiti 
peffliip«Bt fovoqot gelu duramui ^ wdi$« 
yenj|Ui)|P9|ig)lantp.uefiy f^lva^^ 
^d again j 

Vobis pi^ crocOy & fa?genti marice veftis i 
SefijdiaB jCOj^ ; juvat i^xdulgere choreis : 



Book: IX. STATIU^'t THEBAia J53 

No Spears iaverted in our Hunds we bear« 21^ 

Nor on our Heads unmaally Tucbauts mcK, 
Train'd from our Bkth, to dare the frozco Flood, 
Explore the £avagie Haunts^ and range tlie WoocL 
To cilofe the whob--*^(fbr why fhcmld J dclajT 
^Nith needleis Words the Buiineis of the Fxay ?) 1 149 
Our Mothers wield the Bow**^^your ilothful'Siiei 
Strike hollow Timbrels, and uttend the Quire^t 
Tbefe Taunts, tbo* jufl:, jin^id/an oould not Wki^ . 
But at the Speaker's Month djrefts a Spear 

Of dreadful Size Aftooiib'd SiX the GImc^ uj^ 

The Courier rear^ albft his Feet in Air, 
And, flound'ring, on one Side his Maftcr caft» 
Then fell himfelf : the dcfVicms Javelin p^' 
More fierce at this, theFoe uniheath'd his Bhde^ 
And rufh'd cumukuous : CyMbia this furvfjrVl, 4iif0 
And, anxious for his Safety^ interpos'd» 
Her Look diiguis'd, and Featunrs iindifdosM. 
^ir*d with chaite £iOve, and FriendSup'j holy Flam^ 
Befide him Dcnc^us Aood> 4Hid ihar'4 his Fame^ 
To hitn the Queen conlign'd his tender XeacSy - WSS 
And youthful Wars, the Source of all his J^cars. 
Ji his refembled Forofi^ and borrowed Vcft 
The Gfddefs thus her favoured Youth addxscfe'd,. 
No more, O Prince ! Here let thy Fury ceafe. 
Enough is giveo to Vengeance^ Fanae aad Qw^^ 1 169 
Now fparc thewMched Atalanfa^ fpare 
Thole pyardiaa-'Gods, who make thy Life their Care. 

^V* f If ^. fVrV qv^ oiafit Lm/t] ^Suums Cuna to ;h«vr OHfaa- 
yoQired hy this .Oiflinfilbn to pnveiit an^ So^cioof of hiiliamv 
pHixy, whicb FireiU }^y wo4ei- ffonn luidog mentioned .i» difFerent 
Parts of hb Vi^^m &^ {fPYf of Soys, ^i youiq; ICen with foxne 

The 



ri^4 ^ T AT I U S's T H E B A I D. Book IX- 

The Youth replies : Indulge this once thy Friend, 

And waitj^ ttll on the Ground my Spear extend 

This traring Wretch, who equal Weapons bears, 1 165 

Boafh tquj^*Rcin«^ and equil Veftments wears. 

His Rems fflail grace my Steed, his Vefts the Door 

W DianhpLcm^hy and his feathcr'd Store * 

My MoWier*s Quiver.— Weeping Cynthia hears 

Th* infultiftg Vaunt, and Tmiles amidft her Tears. 1170 

This frbnt a diftant Quarter of the Skies, 

Couch'd in th* Embrace of Aforj, fair Venus eyes, 

'Arid wh^ie fhe fues, recalling to his Mind 

Harmoniay and her Ofispring left behind. 

By timely Arts awakes the Grief, fupprcft 1175 

In the Recefies of his gloomy Breaft. 

Behold, O God of Arms, yon wanton Dame 

With Mortals mixing in the Field of Fame ! 

How boldly Ihe confines the War's Alarms, 

And fixes, ; where Ihe liib, the Strefs of Arms, 1 1 80 

Yet iSibrc— fhe rages not alike on all ; 

Gaird by her Darts, the Thebans only fall. 

The Charge and Sway of Fight to her transferred, 

'Tis thine with Darts tO pierce the timVous Herd. 

Fir*d by thefe juft Complaints, the Warrior-God 1 1 85 

Sprung from her Arms, and to the Combat ftrode; 

'V. 1 1 7 1 . Tkis from a difiani garter of the Site/} Venus h^, as 
well as in the JSneid, takes Advantage oF the amorous Fits of her 
Gailahts, to win them over to her Purpofe. And exdoiive of her 
Charms, this Speech. is very well calculated to pipcure her what 
fhe wanted. Nothing could prevail more with Mars than the; Ap« 
•prehenfion of an Encroachment uj^n' his Prerogative; and thcfe 
two lines in particular are very humorous and witty. 

The Charge and Sway of Fight to her trantferrM, 
*Ti$ thine with Darts to pierce the tim'rotfs Herd. 

His 



Book IX, S T ATI U SV T H E B A 1 D. 155 

His other Furies toiling at the Fray, 

Anger alone attends him in the Way. 

He checks the Gbddefs in her rapid Courfe, 

And from the Fight deters with menac'd Force; 1190 

The Fates to Cynthia dift'rent Wars decree ; 

The Field of Battle, is no Sphere for thee : 

Then quit it, or by Styx thou foon Ihalt know. 

Not Pallas fclf is a more dreadful Foe, 

What can fhe do? — Here threatening A&rjwithftands, 

There Fate^ a loaded Diftaft in her Hands 5 1 156 

While y^e leans from the Stars, all ftern to ricw. 

Through RevVcnce then the bafliful Pow*r withdrew; 

Now thro' the Tbeban Lines Mars darts his Eyes, 

And Dryas^ fprung from great Orion^ fpies; 1200 

Him, for his Hatred to the Sylvan Dame, 

He Angles out, and fets his Soul on Flame. 

More furious now againft the Race abhorr'd. 

He flays th* Arcadians^ and difarms their Lord. 

Cyllene's Bands, and Tegea*s hardy Swains 126$ 

In long Rows flaughter*d, prefs the fanguine Plains, - 

Th* -^gytian Chiefs, and Troops of Pheneum fly : 

Man falls on Man, and all or yield or die. 

Th* Arcadian Prince himfelf he next purfues 

With Hopes of Vengeance, though his Hands refufe 

To tofs the Lance.— He wheeling, (hifts his CoUrfe, 

And dreads the Giant-Chiefs fupcrior Force. 

Prefages .dire the laboring Chief opprefs, 

ynman his Spul, and heighten his Diftrefi. 



V. i;joo. Sprung from great Onoii] Orion was ftang to Peath by m 
Scorpion on Diana's Account. It was therefore vety jadiciotts in 
^e Po^t to make 7>fjfaf his Son, 



And 



iS6 STATIUS's THEBAIt)., Book IK. 

And now the real Bartois he dcfcry M « 2 1^ 

Sorrowing: a faith£ulfew reoKain^d befida 

His Strength recedes^ and, as the <^iver grew 

Ifioxc ligbiit ^is Want of Shafts lie qoickly knew^ 

Lds eafy nowxhe Weight of Axms be bears^ 

And to himfelf a Boy at length appears : letv 

But, when he viewed the hoftile Buckler's Fbim^ 

A fudden Tremour Ifaot through all his Faaw. 

As iRhen a Swan furveys the Bird of Jovi^ 

For Prey defcebdn^ from bis Walks above. 

She feeks fome Cavern, and with Fear depreft^ ta^g 

Claps doibiher qmv*ring Pinions to her Breait 

Thus yikexiPMrtbimfseus near difcerns 

His Foe's Gigantic &ae, his Anger turns % 

To deathful Horror : yet he ftill relies 

On Arms, and £xing on the Heav'n^his Eyes, 12^ 

Invokes his Patronefs, and aims a Blow> 

The forky Weapon fitted to the Bow. 

Now with full^(}rce he bends the ftubborn.Yew, 

The String •iii>proach'd his Bteaft, fo cbfe he drew» 

V. liz'^l As tvieft a S'wan/ur*ueys the S:r^ofjov^2 Tl^i^ Shlliluude 
U very expreffivK Of' fhe'Terror aftti CcttdeMMtioii ai Pmiktft^iruK 
Homer in ^^-^iSt •£ his Iliad kas ope fomething like it» ^wh^e lie 
compares Diana% afraid otyunoa td a Dove afi^aid of'a Ptton. 

"H ^a S* V7r' f^««€^ xo*Xiiy iiakvraro iriT^m 

▼. 1233. Now nvith full Porce] The Pofture and Attitude of the 
Shooter are painted in a ve^y lively and beautiful Manner. Dry at 
pierces his Enemy near the Articulation of the Arm and Shouloer* 
m fhacdttlmner tofts ail ii*^ Stx«3igth.-**Thi» i» % jtijft &e pr cf <m«> 
fttiea ciftiul Cot^eqaeiice jof iiich a .Wound, and I beliovoi «eveiy 
fM^e will readily allow this Paflage to he A f^aki^i^iii^ipap. 

1 An4 



EftQsa- STATIUS's THERAia i^jt 

And the far diftantHoros already jom*d^ igyg 

Drawn to an. Anih: w&eo lifter thaa the Wiod^ 
^W Jonian Javelin obArious flics^ and brake 
The founding. Sfcrieg t Us Am l^ncath die Simkc 
Is numb'd^ and guiltids of tii' mtended Wouad^ 
The Bow uafaeof^ the Shaf<df«ps en the Grouod* M4» 
At lengthy in Height: of ^^nhdng Faoi^ 
H&qpi)eithQR<»n% and Weapons^ grai{/d in^Tsm*^ 
<For thoOHgk b\$. Mail the Spear had wani^d^ iiCm 

Flight, 
Juft wherc^ thp: Shoulder and the Arm. unite) 
When lo I a fccond Lancc^ iaapeU'd with Forc^^ 1045, 
Tcapfpierc'd the Courfer's Knee, and ftop$ his. 

Courfi^ 
Then haughty Hryas (wonderful to tell !) 
Unconlcious of the Hand,, by which he fell,, 
Himfelf wa3^ fl^ua: Nor was the Weapon &uad« 
fy4i^ daring Ajuthor of £0 great a Wound li^^ 

But his fad Comrades on an ample Shield. 
Remove the youthfellferft from* the Field,, 
Who grievcji nQt.fpji himfelf but for hisStefd: 
O earljrAg^.fbr fuch a glorious Deed ! t^H4k, 

Hjbi ^b|pauteQii3 JFace ^ws wan, his Helm unty'^,. 
And on hU.tretnbling Cheeks the Graces died» 
Thrice did they raife his Head, and thrice depre(s*d, 
H^Nedcr refiUnes: upon his fiio?^Breaft\ 
iDtqra wMch. (pW rutUefs: Vcngpance of hi^ Foes*!*) 
"Shf^^guihiog^BIi^pd in purple Current$>,fiaws^ laGih 
Ttt^Ifdrceuf.npmht. g^ve his dying Hand, 
Afld^^qK^iflSi . afddrefSi'd his.laiiConMnandl 



J58 STATIUS's THEBAID. BookIX- 

Life ebbs apace : but thou with lenient Art 

Some Surface to my Mother's Grief impart : 

She in terrific Vifions of the Night, 1 2 65 

In Dreams^ or in,fome Bird's ill-omen'd Flight, 

Has fecn my Doom* — Yet ftudy fome Pretence, 

Sbme pbus Frauds to keep her in Sufpence. 

Nor break it fuddenly, nor when (he ftands. 

The Chacc juft o'er, with Weapons in her Hands'* 1270 

Bat thefc my Words repeat, when forc'd to tell : 

** O Mother, thro* my own Deferts I fell, 

•* As in Contempt of thee, I fought the Plain, 

«• Thy Fray'i's rejcded, thy Diffuafions vain : 

•* And, heedtefs of thy Counfels, ftill engaged, 1275 

" Where Glory call'd, and where the Combate rag'd, 

•* live therefore, and thy fruitlefs Grief refign'd, 

•* Refent, not pity, my too froward Mind. 

^ In vain from fam'd Lycaus^ fnow-capt Brow, 

•^TWjulookeft, anxious, on the Plain below, \i%<y 

" If chance fome Shout reechoes in the Skies, 

** And Clouds of Duft beneath our Feet arife. 

" I prcfs a foreign Strand, nor art thou nigh 

•^'ToT catch my parting Breath, and clofe my Eye. 

« Yet, honour'd Parent, for the Giver's Sake, 1285 

^f Thi$ Lock, in Lieu of the whole Body, take, 

V. 1263. Life ehbs apact] The Beginning of this opeecH^ cannot be . 
too sdich eommended for the filial Piety and Affedion it dii^ays, 
and the Simplicity of the latter Part is not difgaiHng as it comes 
£eam tlie Month of fo- young a Perfon as Parthenofausy and here I 
caonothelp obferving, that the Combate of Hippomdpn with. Ifim-^^ . 
fl^ is a fublime Piece of Machinery, and the Defciiption dT tW 
E3q>I<At5 and Death oi Parthenopaus equally tender and agefting. - 
In fiiort there is no Part of the Tbsbaid^ that has more Force of Ima- 
and a greater Exertion of the inventive Faculties of our 



it 



This 



70 



BookIX. STATIUS's THEBAID. 159 

•* This thou waft wont to deck, in my Defpight, 

** And make the tender Office thy Delight, 

^^ To this funereal Rites thou (halt affign ; 

*^ And oh remember, what I now injoin : ii§9 

** My fylvan Weapons grant to no Demands, 

" Left they grow blunt in unexperienced Hands : 

** Let my lov*d Hounds enjoy Repofe, nor own 

•' Another Lord, and feed from Hands unknown : 

" But burn thefe ufelefs Arms on yonder Plaint 129^ 

^ Or hang them up in cruel Cyn$bia*% Fane. 



85 



End of the Ninth Book. 



XHB 



THE 



THEBAID OF STATIU$t 



B O Q K THE T e N TH. 



Vol. 11. M TbI 



:'\ I /. 



THE 



THEBAID OF STATIVSt 



BOP K THi T le NTH. 



Vot. n. M Tsi 



The argument.. 

n^HIS Book opens with an Harangue of Etcoclcs to bis^ 
•^ Soldiers J in which be advifes them to attack the Gre- 
cians' Camfr by Night. The Ladies of Argos go in Pro-^ 
sefion to JunoV. TempUi-and implore the Blejfing of that 
Goddefs upon the Arms of the Allies. She fends Iris to 
SomnuSy tjo perfuade him to fet the Thebans in a deep 
Sleep. This bmg done^ Thiodamus influences the Troops 
to faVy forih^ and majfacre the Thebans in their Intrench - 
m^s. AfileSi Part f is ordered to aceompanybim fy 
AdraiOEus. Tbiy make a great Slaughter^ ani^ornin^, 
drawing near^ devote the Trophies to Apollo, and then 
retire. Hopleus and Hymzs go in quejt of the Bodies of 
Tydeus and Parthenopaeus, but are intercepted by Am- 
phion andjlain. A Party of the Enemy ruft> into Thcbes> 
and fall fWims to their own-RaJhnefs. The CUizens in 
great Confternation at this Irruption^ apply to Tirefias, 
who informs them^ that they can only befaved by the vo^ 
luntary Death of Mcnceceus, That Hero^ touched witk 
ConipaJ^on for his Country ^ firfi fiabs himfelfj and then 
leaps off the Tower Upon his Enemies. In the mean Time 
Capaneus exerts himjelf in a very extraordinary Manner^ 
and having fcaled the JVaUs of Thebes, is firuck downt 
^nd killed by Jupiter with Ligbttangfor bis Impiety. 



tr':: 



t '63 ] 

THE 

tHEfiAlD OF STATIUS. 

BOOK THE TENTH. 



SOL's Evening Wheels overhung th* Hefperian Strand, 
And dewy Night advanced at Jove'^ Command^ 
Who from Olympus with unpitying EyeS 
iThe Rage aild Slaughter of the Fight defcries \ 
Yet grieves^ fo many alien Trcxjps fhoulJ fall g 

By Fates unjuft before the Tbeban Wall; 
The Plain unfolds a Scene of Horror*— Here 
Confusedly hcaj>*d, Carsi Horfes, Arms appear^ 
Difmembei^d Heroes, Hearts that beat no more 
To Glory's Call^ and Trunks difguis'd with Gdre; id 

v; 1. SoPs E'o'mng WbaU 4\rhung\ As in every juft Hifloiy-Pfc- 
tare (t0 aft the AUafion of Mr. Pi^) there is one j>rinci]>al Fieure, 
to which all the reft refer and are fubiervieht ; fo in each Batue erf* 
the Tbebaid there is one principal Peribn^ that may properly be call* 
ed the Hero of that Day and Adion. This Condnd fveierves the 
tlnity of the Piece, and keeps the Imagination from being diftrac- 
ted and' confufed with a wud Nnmb^ of indeoendenfr Pigores, 
vyhich have no Subordination to each other. In thn Pauticolar £/»• 
tius has fbllowed the Example of Homer ^ as the Reader maft have 
obierv^. In the fevench Book Ampbiaraus is the leading Charader, 
}sk the eighth Tydmt^ in the ninth ^f]^^^Mi#ito» in the eleventh P#^« ' 
idcu} and in this, Capamus^ whofe Death and Exploits with the 
Defoiptioh of the Palace of Sleep tender this Book equal,, if not 
faperior to any of. the precfding. 

M 2 Then 



i64 STATIUS's THEBAID. BookX. 

Then the difhonour'd Hoft, their Enfigns torn. 

Withdraw their Bands, with Length of Combat worn : 

The Gates, unclosed, admit the lcffcn*d Train '^ 

With htlf the Eafe, they fejit them to the Plain* 

They grieve, yet find fome Solace to their Griefs, 15 

As four, the braveft of the Grecian Chiefs 

Were flain.— Their Legions roam without a Guide, 

Like Vefiels toft on Ocean's billowy Tide, 

Whofe Courfe un-ftcer*d the Winds and Tempcfts fway, 

And Chance condudls them o'er the watry Way. 2# 

From thi» alone the Tyrians bolder grown^ 

No Ic^n^r fear the Capture of the Town, 

But hoping Conquefl, ftudy to prevent 

The Foe's Efcape, ihould that be their Intent %^ 

The Watcb*word flic$ through all th' aflcmhled Hoft y 

The Guards, by Turns difpos'd, maint^ their Poft. 

By Lot to M^es^ and to Lycus falls 

The^Ptaft of Honour.— Now beneath the Walls 

At their Command Arms, Food and Fire they bring. 

Harangued) as follows, by the joyful King, 30 

AiTume, ^ye Vanquiftiers of Greece^ ye Rods 

To fcourge the Foes bi' Thebes and of the Gods, 

Frcfti Courage, and your ravifti'd Fame retrieve ; 

Nor at this interval of Darknefs grieve. 

Which bouhds our Ite r we'll finifti what's hog^ $g^ 

Before the fctting of IVmorrow's Sun. 

See Lernc^% Glory humbled in the Duft, 

The Chiefe, in whom Ihe moft repos'd her Truft ! 

By vengeful Heav'n her boafted ^ydtus fell ; 39 

The Scer*s black Sha^e furpriz'd the Pt)W*cs oflirtt. 

With ftern Hippomedoifs triumphal Spoils 

Jfmnos fwells^ nor midft our wai^ike Toils 

Rank 



Book X- SJATIUS's THEBAID- 165 

Rank wc th* Arc^diah*s Death. — The Premiym lies 
In our own Breaib, and Plunder is our Prize. 
No more, «ph ajt hi^ Coliort's Van, appear -45 

The fcv'n finaM Crafts, or glittcir in the Rear. 
Then fear ye CapaneuSy whoife Valour's Ragp, 
My Brother^s Youth, a/id th' Argive Monarch's Age ? 
Hafte, Warriors, hofte, ^nd while intrenched they lie, 
Surround with Flames, nor give them ^ime to fly. 50 
Within our Reach the glorious Conqueft ftands^ 
And the rich Prey Ue$ ready to our Hands^ 
The Tbebans thus he fires with promised Spoils, 
And urges to renew their profp'rous Toils. 
' They turn'd juft as they were, nor wafh'd away 55 
The Sweat isMxl Blood of the preceding Day : 
Their deareft Friends from their Embrace they fliook. 
No Paufe diey malse, aod no Enquiries brook. 
The Troops in fev'ral Parties then divide;. 
And gird the Front, the Back, ^nd either Side 60 
Of the Gr^ek Trench with Flames.— At Dq)ch of Night 
Thus rav'ning Wolyes in hideous Throngs unitp, 

V. 61, 4t Pfptb «f Nighf\ Firgil\i^& an^q;aally fi^ Simile iii his 
ninth Book, denv^d irom the fa^e AcU^aji. 

Ac veluti pkno Lvpiif iiyftiisi^iia oviIi» 

Cum fremu od Oftolesy yenm-p^rpelTus, 8c imbces* 

No£te fuper mediji: tuti fiib aaatj^btts agai ^ 

Bals(^um ^jferc^nt : ille aiper, <fe iinprobus ira^ 

^aevit in abfentes : icoll^d^ fa^^t #dendi 

£x longp r^bieSy Sc &ct3^ fahguine fauces^ , 

'Tajo has tranf^bed t^e firft Fart of diis Con^pirifon in the nine- 
teenth Canto of his Jeniialtfm | 

Qttal Itipo predfltore al* iter brttpo 
'Le chiiife mandre, infidiando, ^gS^i 
Secco^' avide faud, € nel <Hgivno 
P^ na$iroi»dte^ iUfliokito, tl'm* 

Hi And 



x66 STATIUS^s THEBAID. BookX. 

And, urg'd with Lull of long-qntaftcd Food, 
Defert their Haunts, and fcek the fleecy Broo^. 
Vacin Hope torments their Maws, as in the Gale 6^ 
They fnufF their Breath, and lift'ning at the Pale, 
C^tch their hoarfe Bleatings. StifF at length with Cold^ 
In impotence of An^er, at the Fold 
They dart their Claws, and while the Foam runs o'er* 
6nalh their (harp Teeth, and threat th' obftrufting Door. 
Meanwhile at Jrgos an aflembled Train ji 

Of fuppliant Dames proceed to Juno*% Fane ; 
There, proftrate at her Altars, they in^plorc 
l^er Aid divine, and urge her to reftorp 

V. 71. Memmobile at Argos an afemkled Traini] This proceffion qf 
|ke Grecian Matrons to the Temple of Juno^ with their Offerings, 
;ind the Ceremonies, is copied from the fixth Bobk ^of the Iliad^ 
where the 7r^'a>» Women make the faine ProceiEon^tQ Minervi^k 
Temple. 

At y «XaXvyi iuoiff'stt 'AditHl Xi»(f*« iptO'Xof* 
*|ll* a^a wi%Xo* §>^ffa @i«v« K»>^irafn9' 

Firgil has alfo introduced it aniong the Figures in the PiAure aC 
CdrthageJ ^rieid. i. v. 485. ..•-.>. 

Interea ad templum non zquas Pallad^s ibani 
Crinibus Uiades paSs, pfpliiknque ferebant' 
Suppiiciter trifles I & tunm pefitora palmis. 

He has copied it again in the eleventh Book; 

Necndn ad* temp|um fummafque ad Palladia arces 
Subvenitur magiia maitrum regina caterva^ 
Dona ferens.* • • • 

3ucceduht matres, ^ templum tkwxt yaporant| 
£t moellai alto fundunt de limine voces. 

Put I think, our Author's is more conformable to the Chriftiaa 

Syllem; the Worfhip whereoJF is grounded more on Ix>ve tbaii 

Fear, and feems direfted' rather to implore the Affiftance and Pro- 

te^ion of a benevolent Qeing, than avert the Malice a^id Anger of 

^ wrathful and mifchievous Daemon. - 

' ' '■ '■- Their 



HookX. STATIUSVTWE5AID. 167 
Their abfcDt Friends, On the cold Stones they fall, ^^ 
They preft their Faces to the Doors ^nd Wall, 
And teach their little Sons Religion's C^re. 
J^ow fets the Day, confum*d in Vows and Prayer, 
And Night fuccccds, when heap'd with watchfol Fir^, 
Their Altars blaze : the Smoke afcends in Spires, 89 
A coftly Veil too, as a Gift, they brought. 
No barren Hand the ihining Veft had wrought > 
Rich was it's Texture, and it's every Part 
Was laboured o'er with more than vulgar Art^. 
The Ground was purple, glorious to behold, 85 

With Foliage interwove, and Flow'rs of Gold. 
There Junc^s felf with Eyes caft downward ftands, 
^troth'd, not fettered yet in nuptial Bands ; 
Afliam'd to fink the Sifter in the Spoufe, 
Her rofy Cheek with graceful Blufhes glows, 90 

And, y^t a Stranger to his furtive Loye, 
She prints fweet KifTes on her youthful Javf* 
With this the facrcd Iv'ry they inveft, 
A|id weeping, thus their humble Suit addref^ 
P Queen of Heav'n, and all th* etherial Pow'rs ! 95 
Behold the Tyrian Harlot's impious Tow'rs ! 
3urft all her Gates, hurl all her Rampires down. 
And with npw Light'niiigs blaft the guilty Town. 
How can fhe aft ?— She knows the Will of F«^, 
And fears with Jove to enter in Debate 5 . 100 

Yet forrows, left the Gifts of mighty Coft, 
Their ardent Pray'rs, and Sacrifice be loft. 
While thus fhe mus'd, aufpicious Chance beftows 
A Time co aid, and grant their pious Vows. 
From her bright Throne (he fees the Portals clos'd. 
And wakeful Guards around the Trench difpos-d. \o6 
■ • M 4 -Wiaih 



i6« STATIUS'g THEBAID- Book3C. 

Wrath and Revenge her fpleenful Bofotn ftrook. 
And as flic mov^d, her Crown terrific Ihook, 
Such was her Rage, when from her ftarry Plain 
She view'd Alcmene's Son with ftcrn Difdain, 1 1^ 

And gricv*d, that Thebes ftiould bring * two Baflrard-Boyii 
To Light, the Fruits oF Jove^ adiiltVous Joys, 
She doonw tiie Tbebans then to Death, who keep. 
The mighty Watch, when lock'd in fudden Slecfp : 
In Iris now flie vefts the whole Command^ 115 

And lodges all the weighty Charge in Hand, 
Who bends her Progrefs to the World below, 
Sufpending high in Air her various Bow. 
Far on the Confines of the weftern Main, • 

Where Sibiopa bounds her wide Domain, i^iSi 

• Hfrculis gnd Beufcbus, the S^rB^cr bipiiig the Soo of 4pcmitm, 
mad Hit latter of Ssm^e. 

Vr 119. Far on the Confines] The Poets hare f&fftrt^ in thcJr At^ 
counts of the Situation of this Court of Morphius : Bomfr jphcct it 
at Lemnos, Ovid withthe Cinulffriansp a People of Seyfhia, aiijd ours 
above jEtbiopia, The Verfes imarlced are Tome that are not in «ll die 
Editions, but which I have xeikdo-ed on the Authofitjr of Grpno- 
nrius. This Defcription is preferable to that of the Temple of Mfr^i 
in the feventh Book, but rivalled by tliat of the faface <^ this 
Peity in the nth Book of l^e Mctamarfbo/es. 

•Bft prope Cimnferioi^ lopgo Spelanca receffo* 
Mons ta^v(98|^ \$^^ doiaus e^ peuetralia Somni ^ 
Quo nunquani radiis onens, mediufve, cadenJVo 
Phoebtti adire potefi. Nebulie caligine miihe 
Exhalantur huino ; dul)iir^i}e cfepuicula |ucis« 
Kon vigil alies ibi criitad cantibus oris 
Evocat ^uroram : nee voce filentia rumpunt 
i SoUiptive canesy can^buCvef^gacioranfer. 

Kan jer^^ non pecudes, non moti Humine rami;^ 
Homancve ibnmn reddnnt conyicia linguae. 
Mnta ^tties habtut, Saxo tamen exit ab imo 
. SLivus aaus Lethes ; per quem olim marmuie labeof 
Invitat lomnos crepitai^tibus pnda lapillij^. 
Am^ fores antri fiecnndi papaver^ flprenty 
\ InnumeraBqp; herbe, quaroin de la£te foporem 

' " ' ^ ■ No? 



SookX. STATIUS's THEBAIP. ^^ 

There ftands a Grove, that; cafts a Shade afar^ 

Impenetrable to the brighteft Star, 

Beneath whofe hollow Rocks a Cave defccnds 

Of Depth inuhenfe, and in the Mountain ends. 

Here all*diljpofing Nature fix'd th' Abode t2$ 

Of Scmms^ and fecur'd the drowzy God. 

Sloth, who fcarce knows an Interval from Srcp^ 

Reft motion- leis, and dark Oblivion keep 

Eternal Sentry at the gloomy Gate : 

There liftlefs Bale, and awful Sijknce fate 130 

With clofe-contraded Wings, and, ftill as Dead, 

Repel the Winds, and hu£h each Murmur's Breath: 

^o ruftling Foliage here Is heard to move, 

^o feathered Songfters warble thro* the Grove ; 

No Lightnings glare, no cralhing Thunders roar« t^ 

No foamy Waves, rebounding from the Shore. 

The neigh- bring Stream along the Valley glides» 

And rolls between the Rocks his noifelefs Tides* 

The fable Herds and Flocks from Food abftaio. 

Or only graze, recumbent on the P|ain : 140 

Npx legit, et fparg't per opacas humida terras* 
Janua, quae verfo ftridorem cardine reddat, 
l^ulla domo totd eft ; cuftos In limine nallus. 
At ptiio torus eft, ebeno fublimis in atra, 
Plumeus» unicolor, pullo velaroine te6lus : 
Quo cubat ipfe Deus, membris langaore*rcIatiB, 
Biinc circa paftim varias imitantia tormas 
Somnia vana jacent totidem, quot meflis ariftas, 

Silva g^qt frondeSf ej6<^tas littus arenas. 

• . ' * . ^ 

I Aink the Owdiap Circmnftance of its having aa Gates, wUd| 
iD^bt jnake a Noiie by the Tnrning of theit Hinges, is proper ۥ 
nougb : but our Author^s Account of the grea^ Piovocatiyes to 
Sleep is very joft, and a mat Improvement on the precedisg^ 

Nor 



l>6 STATIUS^s THEBAID. BoqkX, 

Hot ftopsi th' Infc&ion herc^ but fpreads around* 
And withers Herbs juft fpringing from the Ground^ '■ 
^ Within a thoufand Statues of the God 
^* Were graved by VulcM.^Hcre was ficcn to nod 
KPleafurc, with over-aded Joys oppreis'd^ 145 

•* And healthful Toil, ne'er phyOck'd into Hcftt 
*^ Thept Love from amorous Cares a Refpite ftole, 
^ And Baccbus fnoi^d o'er a half-6ni(h'd BowL 
^ Deep, deep within Death, his HdlfrBrother* lies, 
"** His Face was void of Terror, clos'd his Eyes." 150 
Beneath the Dew*befpangled Cavern lay 
The God bimfelf, apd doz'd his Cares away. 
The Roof was verdant ^ his own Peoples fpnpad 
A Carpet foft, and fwell'd the rifing Bed, 
His Mouth, half-ihut, breathes fopoqfic Steams, i^^ 
And his warm Vefts exh^ the vap'ry Streams. 
One Hand fuftains his Head ; the Horn drops dQWII^ 
Unheeded, from his other torpid grown. 
A thoufand various Dreams attend their Chief, 
^Truths mix'd with Falfliood, Joys alloy'd with Grief: 
The Sons of Darknefs thefe, and Night's black Hofts, 
On Earth they lie, or cleave to Beams and Foils. 
Some flender GlimmVings faintly fhine between^^ 
And ferve to make the Gloom more clearly feen. 
Here, pois'd on equal Pinions, Iris flies, 165 

And draws a thoufand Colours from the Skies. 
At her Approach the Woods, the Vales betow 
Smile, and refleft the Radiance of her Bow : 
While the dark Dome, ftruck by her glittVing Zon^, 
Burfts into Light, and Splendors not it's own. 17Q 
Still Proof againft th' irradiating Gleams, 
And heavenly Voice, the fluggifh Godhead dreams* 

Till 



$ookX, STAtlUS's THEBAlb. lyt 

Till with Mh Light flie ftrengthen'd ev'ry Ray, 

And in his Eyes iafusM the golden Day : 

Then fcarce awake, and half unclosM his Eyes, 175 

He lifts his Hegd» — ^Thc fhow'ry Goddels cries, 

O Sonmus^ g^tleft of the Pow'rs above. 

At yiww's Suit,' the Siflcr-Quecn of Jove^ 

On l^behes thy (oporiBc Arts employ. 

Who, flufliM with Conqueft and unruly Joy, i8# 

The Grecian Trench beleaguer. — Difobey 

Thy juft Commands, and Night's alternate Sway. 

Grant her Rcqucft then, fnatch the Time to pleafc 

That rarely comes, and wrathful Jove appeaie 

By means of Juno*% interceding Aid. ^5 

This Mandate giv'n, the many-colour'd Maid 
Geas'd rtotj but left fhe give her Charge in Vain, 
Thrice fhook him^ and repeats it o'er again. 
Thus importun'd the Pow'r of Slumbers nods 
Aflent. The fair Atteridantof the Gods, 199 

Clog'd with thick Vapors, quits the dark Domain, 
And points her Rays, grown blunt with frequent E^Hd 
He too caird forth his Speed, and adive Pow'rs, 
With bluft'ring Winds difturb'd the peaceful Hours, 
And fpreads his Mantle out, contracted, bent, . 195 
And ftifFen'd with the freezing Element j 

y. 184. And 'wrathful Jo<ve apfeafe] We know not, in what ^m^ 
nu$ offended Jupiter^ unlefs it was in fetting him to Sleep, in ojxkr 
that Juno might fliipwreck Hercuks in his Vovagc home from Troy^ 
as he himfelf tells that Goddefs in the 14th Book of the Iliad. 

Vii^UftJOh a/4^»>^^cK« £t; $i ot naxd fAicAO Bdfut, 
"O^O'ao' a^yat^Jufy a,yiit,ni> iit) vorrov «Vra> 

Theft 



»74 STATIUS's THEBAID. Book jj* 

And foams add quakes^ unable to controul 
The laboring Impulfe of his mafter'd SouL 
His haggard Face with Heat unwonted gjows^ 135 
And by quick Turns his Colour coiifies and goes : * 
He roUs bis Eyes around ; his Locks,- that flow 
IMfordePd, ihake the Chaplet on his Brow; 
At Periods thus the Phrygian Zealot raves^ 
Whom Cybeie from his terrific Caves^ 240 

Or Shrines allures^ nor tho' he bleeds, he knows 
Hit Arms are hack'd and feam'd with frequent Blows- 
He plies the holy Pine, and whifb Ground 
His Hair: the Motion deadens ev'ry Wounds 
The Field, and gory Tree are feizM with Fear, siy^ 
And the fcaf*d Lions high her Chariot rear. 
Now to the Gouncil-Hall, and awful Dom^ 
' With Standards hung, the madding Seer had come : . 
Mrafius here prefides o*cr the Debate, 
And plans the Welfare of th' indanger*d State : 25^ 
The Peers of Argos ftand, and form a Ring 
About the Throne of their confulting King, 
Advanced by the late Deaths, rior do they thank 
The cruel Stroke, that elevates their Rank* 
As when a Veffel has her Pilot loft 255 

In a mid-voyage, half the Ocean crofs'd. 
One, who with Skill the Prow or Side-Decks guides^ 
Succeeds, arid at the widowed Helm pretides ; 
Th* aftoni(h*d Ship then wonders as ftie goes. 
With equal Speed, and equal Steerage knows. 260 
Thus to the Greeks the fprightly Secf imparts 
Frefh Spirits, and re-fortifies their Hearts t 
Heav*n*s Mandates, and Advice of high Import 
To you, renowned ChieftainSf we repork 

ThinK 



BookX. STATIUS's THEBAID. ,73 

Lo ! chilling Horror creeps thro* all the Breaft 125 

Of their fagc Prophet, by the (Jod pofleft» 

And urges him ttrtnultuous to difclofe 

The Fates* Defigns upon his Country's Foes. 

Whether this Infight Pbabus had infpir'd. 

Or Juno with prophetic Fury fir'dj ajo 

Dreadful in Voice and Look, he fprings abroad^ 

By Heav*n*s informing Spirit ovcr-aw*d, 

▼. 225. Lol chiHtng fJorr&r] Compare this with the fidloviBg 
Pa/Tagcs of Firgil and Tryphiodtrus* 

Ventim erat ad limen, cum Virgo : " Pofccre &ta 
**Tcinpas, ait: Dcus, eccc Deus." Cui talia fand 
Ante foresy fubito non vuhas, non color unas, 
Non compts xnanfere corns : ied pedus anhelum, 
Et rahic fera corda tument, majorque videri. 
Nee mortale fonans : afllata eH n amine quando 
Tain propiore Dei* iEa. 6. 



Ti/fuoy tirl ctmo-et na,^ fcvatufATrvsn Uicctk, 

There is one Ciicumfhuice of Similitude between the Defcripuons 
^TryphiodBTuf and Statius^ that makes me think one of them Sop- 
rowed from the other ; and that is the Likenefs of the Comparifbn : 
P^as the Phrenzy of TbioJamas is compmd to that ^ oat d[ Qr- 
ieU^s Prieftsy fo the Fury df Caffandra is iUuOrated^ by that of 4 
Tbradau Ma^dfanml. But who is the Original in this Cafe cannot 
be known, till the Thne, in which Trypbiodorus floorilhed, it aftn- 
tained, which Mr« Mmi^kf his Traoflator, affures-uf is notyetddot. 

And 



»74 STATIUS's THEBAID. Book JSi 

And foams add quakes^ unable to controul 
The laboring Itnpulfe of his tnafter'd Soul; 
His haggard Face with Heat unwonted glows^ 135 
And by quick Turns his Colour cdtties and goes : * 
He roUs bis Eyes around ; his Locks,- that flow 
DifordePd, ihake theChaplet on his Brow; 
At Periods thus the Phrygian Zealot raves^ 
Whom Cybeie from his terrific Caves, 240 

Or Shrines allures^ nor tho' he bleeds, he knows 
Hit Arms are hack'd and feam'd with frequent Blows- 
He plies the holy Pine, and whirls Ground 
His Hair : the Motion deadens ev'ry Wound; 
The Field, and gory Tree are feizM with Fear, i^ 
And the fcaf*d Lions high her Chariot rear. 
Now to the Council-Hall, and awful Dom^ 
' With Standards hung, the madding Seer had come : . 
Mrafius here prefides o*cr the Debate, 
And plans the Welfare of th* indanger'd State : 250 
The Peers of jlrgos ftand, and form a Ring 
About the Throne of their confulcing King, 
Advanced by the late Deaths, rior do they thank 
The cruel Stroke, that elevates their Rank* 
As when a Veffel. has her Pilot loft 255 

In a mid-voyage, half the Ocean crofs'd. 
One, who with Skill the Prdw or Side-Decks guides^ 
Succeeds, and at the widowed Helm pretides ; 
Th* aftonifh'd Ship then wonders as fhe goes, 
W;ith equal Speed, and equal Steerage knows. 260 
Thus to the Greeks the fprightly Secf imparts 
:Frefh Spirits, and re-fortifies their Hearts t 
Heav*n*s Mandates, and Advice of high Import 
To you, renowned ChieftainSf we repork 

think 



BdoicX. STATIUS's THEBAIC/ 175 

Think not, thefe weighty Accents are my own ^ %6$» 

A God infpires them, whofe prophetic Crown^ 

Approved by your confenting Voice, I wear^ 

Nor in Defpice of him^ thefe Enfigns bear. 

Thb Night, how big with many a daring Deed,* 

By Fate for glorious Treachery's decreed : c^^a 

Lo ! Honour calls^ and Fortune afks your Hands 

To adt, and Hearts to dare, what (he comounds. 

The Tbebans deep— Then let this Night repay 

The dcathfiil Feats^ and Carnage of the Day^ 

To Arms, to Arms — this Hour fhall make Amefids 

For all, and fervc as Fiui*rals to our Friends : 

Burft we the Gates, fliould they our Wrath oppofe> 

And turn the Tide of Vengeance on our Foes. 

For by thefe Tripods, and th* untimely Fate 

Of our lace Aiigur, in the laft Debate a8p 

This, warn'd by fav'ring Omens, 1 beheld. 

What Time our Hoft, by hoftile Force repell'd, 

Forfook the Fight ^ but now the Pow'rs divine - 

Confirm, repeat, and clear the former Sigxu 

Beneath the Covert of the filent Night 285 

The Seer lumlelf &ood mani£^ to Sight, 

V. 269. This Nigit, Mno ^ wtb mMfj a} This Machine is vetf ^ 
be^dful; and indeed a Connivance to repair the Ads of the fall: 
Day J>y ' this Nieht- Adventure was very neceHary, as the Greeh 
were Very much difpiri ted by the Death of tiie fbnr Leaders, The 
Hint of it is taken from the loth Book of the Hiad, wheK DiS* 
medg and Uljjffks faHly out upon the like Errand; or from the 9th of 
tbe i£neid^ where Ni/us and' EufyaJmi make an Expedi^n ci thk 
Kind, and give Rife to a noble £pifode« And here I cannot bat 
take Notice, how amiable Adrafiu$ appears to us, who ever anxious 
for the Good of his People, keeps awake and calls a Council to 
fettle the Means of their Prefervation, in this Behaviour, we may 
difcover the Maiks of an aifediionate Father, a fiocere Friend,, a 
.patriottc ]Ein(» imd a prudent Qcocral* 

From 



176 STATIUS's THEBAIC. Boqk 5C. 

Fiom Eardicmcrg'd •» fiicb as abve he (ksaiCy 

The Colour of his Steeds was duingM aloae, 

I fpeak no Vifions of the Ni^ht profouod^ * 

Nor Prodigies in Slumber only found. 299 

Doft thou (he cry'd) permit the Greeks to lo(b 

This fair Occafion, fure they can't refufe ? 

Reftore, degenerate Chief, thefe Wreaths rcftore. 

So ill-dcferv*d, nor fo difgrac'd before. 

I taught thee not for this the Myfteries 295 

Of Heav'n, or how to read each Wing, that flies. 

But come at leaft-— on Tbeies revenge my Death, 

And with* thy Sword fupprefs their forfeit Breathy 

He faid, >nd urg'd me to the nightly War, 

With his uplifted Spear, and all his Car. 300 

Snatch then the Vengeance, which the Gods beftow; 

No more, Man closed with Man, we feek the Foe: 

Fencelefs they lie ; and we^ve full Paw*r to rage : 

But who with me will in th' Emprize engage. 

And, while the Fates permit, his Glory raife joj 

On this firm Bafe, and win eternal Praife ? 

Mark yon repeated Omens of the Night, 

Aufpicious Birds ! — FU follow them to fi^, . 

Tho' none fhould fecond me : for lo ! again 

He drives his rattling Chariot o'er the Plain. ^ 19 

T. ^o8. PUfJh^v ttem to fight] This recalU to o^ |t«nrwjitawy 
z fimikr JRsBi, which Hotmr puts into the Month pip^m^p mf 
9eiii«p9, widb lefs Proprietyt as ia him it wsit die IMulf ^^99r«- 
lightRafluieftt but in our Augur, of an honclk Qoi^imic^ in ft^ 
Deity. 

Thu4 



BfioKX; STA-TIUS's THEBAID. Vjj 

Thus with exalted Voice the Chief exclaims 

Piercing the Night's dull Ear, and all inflames ; 

As by one PowV infpir'd, with him they join, 

Refolv'd to (hare, whatever the Fates defign4 

Full thirty Warriors, at the King's Command, 31^ 

He fingles out, the Flow'r of all the Band : 

But Envy fwell'd each other Argive's Breaft, 

Eager of Aftion, Enemy to Reft ; 

Some deem their Race a Merit, and make known 

Their Grandfire's Adions, others boaft their own, 330 

Or will, that Lots be caft. — This feen, the Kbg 

Exults, buoy'd up on Hope's afpiring Wing, 

On Phoke thus the Rearer of the Steed, 

When the kind Spring renews his genVous Breed, 

With Joy views thefe ftrain up the Mountain-Steep, 325 

Thofe with their Dams contend, or dare the Deep : 

Then much he mufes, which are fit to train 

For rural Labours, or th' embattled Plain, 

Which beft would ferve the Chace, or fooneft rife 

To Palms Ekan^ and th* Olympic Prize ? 330 

Such honeft Glee the hoary Monarch fhows. 

Nor checks their Ardors, nor lefs es^ger glows* 

What Gods (he cries) fo fudden, yet fo late 

Thus interpofe to fave th' afflidted State ? 

T« J23. On Pholoe thus] Homer illaflrates the Joy, which J^nedi 
difplays On viewing the Difdpline and Valoar of hb Troopa by 
that of a Shepherd, on feeing his Flocks in good Plight, at hr 
leads them to Water. 



' Avi^p f Tretf « 



€li th Xxwf tSyos tmer'Ooif.tifot tot av7x* 

Vol. II. N Art 



iBo STATIUS's THEBAID. BookX/ 

This faid, in Wrath he drew his glitt'ring Brand, 
And pafs'd the dying Troops with rapid Hand. 
Who can recount the Slaughter ? whb can name 
The Group of vulgar Deaths, unknown to Fame ? 
His Rage no Rule, his Sword no Limits knows ; 385 
But b^jhes his Steps in Purple, as he goes : 
Limbs, Trunks and fcver'd Heads he leaves behind. 
And hears their Groans remurniur*d in the Wind. 
StretchM ona CoucH one dozM, one prefs'd the Field, 
Another, {tumbling, overIay*d his Shield : "' -* 390 
Here Goblets lie, thiere Weapons ffirew*d between,'^ 
Of War,, and foul Debauch, a motley Scene, 
S*6nic on their mafly Bucklers ftood reclin'd, 
Likelifelefs'Stkoes'i juft as they*re confined' ' *"* 
By Morpheus in the 'Sands of foft R'epofe, " ' ■ ' J55 
So various wer^lTfie Pdftures of the Foes. :' I"' ~ 

Here clad in Arms; Satumid takes her Stand, ' ' ' '; 
A Tporch held forth td guide her favoured Band ;^ - • " 
She points the Bodies out, with Fury warms 
Their genVous Breafts, and firings their nervous Arms. 
yi^/W^jw^j perceived her, but fupprefs'd -401 

The filent Joy beneath his Confcious Breaft. 
Diiird with Succefs, his Wrath 4s at a Stand ; 
Blunt grows the J^aFchibn, weary is his Hand. 
As when the Native of the Cafj^ian Wood 40^ 

(Some Tiger fierce) has gorg'd his. Maw with Food, " 
His beauteous Spots' confused with clotted Gore, 
He views the' Prey, and grieves his. Hunger^s o'eir^ 
The weary Prophet thus furveys the 51ain, 
And mourns his vanquifh'd Arm, but mourns iil vain : 
He .wilhes now a ifrelh Increafe of Knight, { 41 ^ 

A hiwidred Arms, and hundred Hands to fight, • 
" -- ' Then 



BqokX. STAtrUS's TPTEBAID, iSi 

Then tir'd of Menaces^ and wordjr Rkg/s^, ". z 

He hopes the rifing Thebans may eiigage^ . 

At Diftance ASlor^ and the Chief, who trac'd 415 

His Lineage from AlcmencC% Son, lay wafte 

The Tyrian Forces.-^'Each a Crowd fucceeds. 

And trails a bloody Path along the Meads. . 

The matted Grafs ftands high in fable Plood, 

And from the Tents dcfccnds a recking Flood, 420 

The Breath of Sleep and Death thi^k fteams around. 

And with the recent Slaughter fmoaks the Ground. 

Supinely as at firft, each Theban lies, 

Nor lifts his Head, nor opes his heavy Eyes. 

With fuch wide-hov*ring Wings the God invades, 425 

The wretched Crew, and fpreads o'er all hi? Shades. 

lalmenus^ unknowing Reft, had ftrung 

His Harp to PhosbuSy and in Concert fung 

A lofty Pd^an in the Tyrian Strain, 

Doom'd never to behold him rife again : 430 

His Neck, with Sleep's incumbent Weight deprfefs*d, 

Swerv'd to the left, and funk upon his Breaft j 

This feen, Agylkus drove his piercing Brand 

Sheer thro' his Breaft, and ftruck his better Hand 5 

Whofe tapet Fingers trembled on the Strings, 435 

ForcM by the Stroke the vital Spirit wings 

Its Way to Hell. — The Tables down he fpurns. 

And backward in the Bowls the Wine returns : 

The wid'ning Wound emits a copious Flood 

Of Bacchus^ heady Juice, and mingled Blood. 440 

At Thamyrus the furious A£lor flies. 

As in his Brother's Arms entwin'd he lies j 

Pierc'd in the Back Etheclus Tagus flew : 

JFrom oflf his Neck the Head of H^irus fjew 

N 3 By 



its STATIUS's THEBAID. BookX: 

By Danaus* Stfokt : uiiconfcioui of his Death, 445 

Without one Pang or Groan he yields his Breath. 

Ydung Palpiik^ beneath the Chariot prcfs'd 

The clay-cOld Earth, an4 Puffing from his Bnfrfft 

The naufeous Fumes, his Coqrfers terrified. 

That crop*d the flow'ry Herbage at his Side. 450 

From his got^'d Mouth the filthy Liquor flows, 

'And in bis Veins, into^icicating, glows : 

When lo t th* Inacbian Prpphet, as he fnor'd, 

Deep in his Throat infixed the fliining Sword : 

^ine from his Wound came iffuing as he died, 455 

And drown'd th* irtiperfefl: Murmur in the Tide. 

A deatliful Vifion haply then was fcnt 

In which he faw pourtray'd the dire Event ; 

^biodamus his Breaft unguarded tore : 

So dream'd the lucklefs Chief, and wak*d no more. 460^ 

The Clouds diflblve in Dew upon the Plains, 

Ahd of Night's Reign a Fourth alone remains : 

Bioiii flies before the greater Car 

Of Soly ixiA dim grows each inferior Stan 

And, Matter failing. Slaughter found an End, ■ j[6s 

When prudent AStor thus accoffs his Friend. 

V. 457. A dtathfid ViJion\ This Image is very natural, ahd imi- 
tated from the tenth Book of the lijad, yer. 496. 

■ Kaxof yap oya^ xc^X>)^if i7rtr»J 

Shakefpear^t Tragedy of Macbeth prefents us with as fine ft Pic- 
ture, where two of Duncan\ Soldiers, juft as their King Was aflaf • 
finated, arc defcribed ftarting out of their Sleep in the greateft 
Perturbation, 

There's one did laugh in his Sleep, and one cry'd Murder, 
THey wak'd cadi other, and 1 ftood and hear'd them ; 
One cry'd God blefs us, and Amen the other, 
As they had fecn tat with theft Hangman's \iiLt(^. 

TbiodamaSy 



BcokX. STATIUS'6 t'HEBAID. 183 

fbiodaii^aiy kc thi^ unkopM fbr Joy , ^ 

Find its due Bounds : hero ceafe we to deftrof. 

Scarce one, I ween, of all this num'rQqs Train 

Survives to war, and vilit ^hebts again ; 470 

tJnlefs the deepening Streams of Blood conceal 

Th' inglorious Coward from the ven^geful ^teel. 

Then moderate thy yet fuccefsful Rage : 

There waQt not Gods> who ^riU for *TMis engage, 

And even thofe who aided us before, 475 

May fly, ^nd give the Jongfome Labour p'er^ 

The Seer obeys, and lifting to the Skies 

His Hands, embru'd in recei]it Slaughter criei ; 

Phabus^ the well-earn'd Trophies of the Night, 

And Firft-fruits of the War, thy lawful Right, 4S0 

Accept from me, thy Soldier and thy Prieft, 

Tho* foul and reeking from the bloody Feaft^ 

If patient of thee, right thy Gifts I ufc^ 

Thy Spirit often in my Breaft infufe. 

Thefe Arms, and bloody Honours now fuifioe t 485 

But, when our Country glads again our £yes» 

So many Gifts (hall anfwer thy Demand, 

And Oxen bleed beneath the PontifPs Hand. 

This faid, his pious Pray -r the Chieftain ends. 

And frqm the Fray recalls his pious Friends. 49^ 

From Calydon and M^enalus there came 

Two mighty Warriors not unknown to Fame, 

Hopleus and Dymasy by their Kings approved. 

Their Faith rewarded, and their Prdchce lov'd : 

Their Leaders loft, they loath the Light of Life, 495 

Th* Aetolian fkft promotes the glorious Strife. 

5ay, deareli BymaSj does no Care remain, 

J?o fmall Compaffion for thy Sovereign flain, 

N 4 Whofe 



lll4 STATIUS't THEBAID. BookX^ 

Whofe Corfc perhaps the famifh'd Fowls of Air, 

Or Tbeban Dogs with Rage relentlefs tear ? 500 

What then is left to grace his Country's Urn ? 

See, his fierce Mother waits for your Return X 

But Hill the Ghoft of "tydius^ void of Reft, 

Stalks in my View, and rages in my Breaft. 

Tho* lefs exposed to Pbcsbus he appears, 505 

His Limbs well^harden'd j and confirm'd with Years. 

Ifet in the Search Til range the Champain o'er. 

And force my Way to Thebes. — He faid no more. 

For Bymas cut him (hort and thus reply'd 

By the Chiefs wandring Shade, my greateft Guide, 510 

And yon bright Stars, that gild the Skies, I fwear, 

.That this fame Heat and Energy I (hare. 

Long have I fought a Partner in the Deed \ 

Now, back'd by thy Afliftance, I'll precede. 

This faid, he leads the Way,- and to the Skies 515 

Lifting his Hands, in Height of Anguilh cries ;j 

Q Cynthia^ Queen of the myfterious Night, 

If truly Fame reports it thy Delight 

To wear a triple Forni, and often change 

Thy Virgin-Afpeft in the fylvan Range, 520 

Look down from Heav'n, and to thefe Eyes reftore 

1 hy Comrade's Corfe (thy Comrade now no more :) 

He, faireft far of all th* Arcadian Boys, 

Excites our Vengeance, and ovir Search employs. 

The Goddefs heard, and bright'ning ev'ry Ray, 525 

Points her fharp Horn to where the Body lay : « 

Then Thebes fhincs forth, CitharorCs Hills arife 

In Profp^a fair, and fteal into the Skies. 

l*hus when at Depth of Night avenging Jove 

|lolls his hoarfe Thunders thro* the Realms above, 53a 

The 



BookX. STATIUS's THEBAIP. 1I5 

The Clouds divide, the Stars fcrcnely glow. 

And fudden Splendors gild the World below. 

Brave Hopleus catch'd the Rays, whofe piercing Light 

Prefents the Corfe of ^ydeus to his Sight. 

Both Bodies found, they raife a gladfome Cry, . 535 

(The Sign agreed) and to the Weight apply 

Their Shoulders; pleas'd, as if preferv'd from Death, 

Each Corfe was re-infpir'd with vital Breath. 

Nor durft they give full Vent to Tears or Words ; 

Th* unfriendly Dawn no Lcifure-time affords. 540 

With Grief the paler Darknefs they furvey. 

As thro' the filcnt Shades they bend their Way. 

To pious Heroes Fate Succefs denies, 

And Fortune rarely crowns the bold Emprize, 

The Burden now grows lighter in their Hand, 545 

As the whole Camp in Profped they command. 

When from behind black Clouds of Duft arife. 

And fudden Sounds run ccchoing thro* the Skies. 

Anipbion^ eager at the King's Command, 

Conduds a Troop of Horfe, to fcour the Land, 550 

y. 549. Am^hion, eager at the King's Command] The Manner of 
the Difcovery is fimilar to that of the Adventurers in the Ninth 
Book of the iEneid, and the Queftion put to them by the Enemy 
much the fame. 

Interea praemifli equites ex urbe Latina, 

Csetera dum legio campis inflruda moratur, 

Ibant, et Tumo regi refponfa ferebant, 

Terc ntum, fcu'ati onmes, Volfcente magiflro. 

Jamque propinquabant caftris, murofque fubibant. 

Cum procul hos Ixvo fledentes limite cernunt : 

Et galea Euryalam fubludri nodiis in umbra 

Prodidit immemorem, radiifque adverfa refuliit. 

Haud temere eft vifum. Conclamat ab Agmine Volfccns, 

State, viri: quae caufa vise? quiveeftis in armis? 

C^ove tenetis iter? — Verfe 367, 

And 



m STAtIUS'8 THEBAia Book 3?^ 

And watch the Foe. — While far before his Train, 

He fpurs his Coorfer thro' the tracklefs plain. 

He caech^d a trianfient Glance (for yet the Light 

Had but in Part difpell'd the Shades of Night) 

Of fome faint Objeft, that at Diftance ftrays, 555 

He looks again, and doubts if he furveys. 

The Fraud detcfted.— Stand, whoe'er you arc, 

(Jmpbiony cries) and whencf? you come, declare. 

Confefs'd at length, the wretched Pair appear^ 

The wretched Pair ru(h on with Speed, and ft^r 560 

Not for themfelves. He Ihakcs hi$ Javelin now, 

And feefns to meditate a deathful Blow ; 

Yet high in Air the miffile Weapon call. 

Which wilful err*d, the Objeft far o'erpaft : 

Before the Face of Dymas fixM it lay, gSj^ 

(Who ftarted firft) and check'd him in the Way, 

But valiant Mfjtus his Javelin tofs'd 

With Care, nor will'd the fair Occafion loft. 

Through Hapkus' Back the well-aimM Dart he flun^ 

Ahd grazed the Corfe, that on his Shoulders hung. 

He falls, not mindlcfs of his Lord in Death, 571 

J^ut in the painful Grafp expires his Breath : 

Too happy, had he reached the Stygian Coaft 

Juft then, unknowing, that the Corle was loft. 

This fcap'd not Dymas : as he turned behind, 575 

He fees the Troops, in his Deftrudtion join'd, 

T* 561. Ht Jhakes his Jaivilin nrw'\ This Circamftance is bor- 
rowed from the tenth Book of Hemer'^ Iliad, v. 372. 



Ai|4Tip«y ^ vfilf VfMp ll'jotf htzhi MUixn 



Uncertain 



3ookX. STATIUS's THEBAID. S87 

Uncertain or to tempt th* approaching Foes 

With foothing Blandifhments, or ply with Blows. 

Wrath fpurs to Combat, Fortune bids him try 

The Force of Pray'r: on none he can rclyw 580 

Too wrotht to fue, before his Feet he plac'd 

The wretched Corfe, with Wounds unfelt difgrac^dj 

And toiling to the left a weighty Hide, 

(Which graced his Back, and hung with martial Pride, 

A Tiger's Spoils) protends his naked Blade, 585 

And guards the Hero's Body, undifmay'd ; 

Prepared for ev'ry Dart, that comes, he turns: 

And with the Thirft of Death or Conqueft burns. 

As the gaunt Liohefs, whofe cruel Dta 

Is thick befet with clam'rous Hounds and Men, 590 

V. 581. Too nuroth to fue ^ before his Feet he plac^d\ Nothing can 
exceed the Valour and Magnanimity of this Hero.— —He would 
not furrender up the Body of his Friend, and knew that it wat im* 
poffible to prcferve it by carrying it on his Back, as it muA necef* 
iarily tie up his Hands from making any Defence : He therefore 
places it on the Gronnd before his Enemies, as the Prize for which 

they were to fight. His various Movements and Sitiiation on 

this Occafion are well illuftrated by the fubfeqacnt Companion^ 
fvhich is imitated from Homer. 



' n? T*? Ti Xjcji' tMp< otai riktcffiJt* 



I2T poi TI rnvh ay cm avyayrfiayrcai U iJXn 

TLuf it r ivto'KVfioif mutu lAxiTai, , offct xahowTMf* IL B. I7. 133. ^ 

^rio/o in his Orlando Furiofo has tnnflated our Author's Compa- 
rifon almoft literally, with the fingle Difference of fubilituting a 
She Bear inflead of a Lionefs. 

Com' Orfa, che 1' alpefbe cacciatore 

Nella pietrofa tana aflalito abbia : ' 

Sta fopra i fij^lt con incerto core, 

£ fi-eme in luoni di pieta, e di rabbia, 

Ira la invita, e natural furore 

A fpiegas Tugna, e infanguinar la iabbia ; 

Amor la intenerifce, e la ritira 

A riguardar i figli in meso all' ira« 

Stands 



^88 STATIUS^s THEfiAltJ. Book 3C; 

Stands o-cr her Whelps, creft, and fends around, : J 

Pcrplcxt with Doubt?, a mournful, angrySound. . ' 

With Eafe fhc might difpcrfe the fable Train, 

And knap the Weapons with her Teeth in twain. 

But nat'ral Love o'crcomes the Luft oi Fight : 59^ 

She foams with Rage, yet keeps her Whelps in Sight.^ 

The Falchion now lops off his weaker Hand, 

Tho* great Ampbion check'd the furious Band^ 

And by his Hair the Youth is drag*d along, 

By Fate refign'd to an infulting Throng. 600 

Then, nor till then, in fuppliant Guife he bow*d 

His Sword, and thus addrefs'd the ruthlefs Crowd. 

More gently treat the tender Boy, I pray. 

By that bleft Cradle, where young Bacchus lay. 

By lucklefs Ino\ Flight, and female Fears, 605 

And your PaUmon'% almoft equal Years. 

Jf one among you taftes domcftic Joys, 

If any here paternal Care employs. 

Heap o'er his poor Remains a little Sand, 

And to his Pyre apply one kindled Brand, 610 

V. 609. Heap o'er his pocr Rem€iini\ So Horace^ iLib. I. Ode 28« 

At tu, nauta, vagae ne parce malignus arenae 
O ill bus et capiti .inhumato 
^ Particulam dare. » ■ ■ * 

Jt was fufficient for all the Rites of Burial, that Duft (hould be 
thrice thrown on an unburied Body. This Kind of Sepulture is by 
^intilian' called Collatitia fepultu^a. It was an Aft of Religion 16 
indifpenfible, that no Ferlon could be excufed, and even the Pon- 
tifices, who were forbidden to approach or look on a dead Body, 
were obliged to perform this Duty, as Scrvius tells us in his Notes 
on the 6th Book of HrgiPs jEueid, Thus, among the Je-ws^ the 
High Priefl was forbidden to approach his Fatlier or Mother's, 
and yet he was injoined to inter any titad Body, which he found in 
the Road* Francis's Horace » 

3 • His 



BodkX. STATIUS's THEBAID. 189 

His Looks, behold ! his Looks this Boon implore, 

Firft let the Monftcrs lap my fpatter'd Gore: 

Me, me refign to the fell Birds of Prey ; 

*Twas I, who trained, and forc'd him to the Fray. 

If <iich is thy Defire {Ampbion cricsy ■ 61 j[ 

To deck his Corfe with funVal Obfcquies, 

What, to redeem their Lofs, the Greeks prepare. 

Their Schemes, their Counfels, and Refolves declare. 

As a Reward, the Light of Life enjoy. 

And, as thou wilt> intomb th' unhappy Boy. 620 

Th' Arcadian^ full of Horror, fcorn'd a Part 

So bafe, plung'd all the Poniard in his Heart, 

And cry'd—Did nought, fave this, remain to clofe 

My Country's Fate, that I fliould tell her Fo?s 

I|cr fix'd Intents ? — we buy no fun'ral Pyre 615 

On Terms like thcfe, nor would the Prince require. 

He fpake, and on his youthful Leader laid. 

His Breaft, wide-open'd by the trenchant Blade, 

And faid in dying Accents — Thou fhalt have 

My lifelcls Corfei a temporary Grave. 630 

Thus did the Warrior of jEtolian Race, 

And brave Arcadian^ in the wifh'd Embrace 

Of their lov'd Kings, expire their vital Breath, 

Ruih on Deftruftion, and enjoy their Death. 

Embalm'd in Verfe, illuftrious Shades, you live, 635 

And fhare alike the Praife my Mufe can give. 

The' rank'd at Diftance in th' Aonian Qiiire, 

She boafts not loftier Marc's tuntful Lyre ; 

Perchance too NifuSy and his Friend may deign 

To ftile you Comrades in th' Elyfian Plain. 640 

V. 639. Perchance teo Nifus and his Frhnd^ This is a very ino4cft. 
Ciiarailer of one of the moft beautiful Epiibdes I know. Neither 



196 STATIUS's THEBAID. ftdd it Jd* 

But fierce Ampbion to the regal Court 

A Herald fends, commiflion'd to report 

His Feats of Triumph, the Device cxplaiii, 

And/4-eader back each captive Corfe again. ^ 

He flies himfelf to brave the leaguer'd Foes^ 6^^ 

And each AfTociate's fever'd Vifage fhows. 

Meantinie the Grecians from the Walls difcem 

TbicdamaSj and hail his fafe Return i 

Nor could they check the Gufli of Joy, and hide - 

The Smiles of fecret Tranfport, , when tbcy Ipy'd' 6§gi 

The naked Swords^ diftain'd with Blood.-r-Again i 

A louder Clamor runs thro' all the Train^ 

Whilft, leaning o'er the Ramparts, they iook<k)i«rii / 

For the returning Troops, each for bis ovftii 

Thus 'when a callow Brood of Birds defcfy 6ig§i 

Their Dam long-abfent, as flie cleaves the Sky, 

They long to meet her, and put fordi their Hcadt : > > 

Far from the Neftj whilft anxioufly flie dreads 

Left, ere fhe reach the Tree, they fall,^^then clingi :. 

To the warm Neft, and flaps her loving Wirigs^ 6^0. 

can I think it ib much iiiferiof to that of Nifits wiASmyidmsi VAttkii 
Author feem? to do himielf. In Firgil we admire ^Fii^s^ip £ar t^ i 
Living, but in Statius a generous Gratitude to the Dead; which^ 
however, is given up to die Service of die PuWic. TheReplyj: 
which Dymas niake9 to Amphiouy who tempted) hjm, to h«U^ JM^t 
Countrymen, with the Pronufe of I^ife and the Body of his Friend,; 
is equal to any thing I have ever read in the fcntimcntal Way. 

V. 655. Thus wJ^stt a calUnA/ Bropd] There .is an agrceaUe.^inqiii^' 
city in this Comparifoa, which may difguft many, who do not ob- 
fcrve, that the Poet, accommodating himfelf to the Occafion, means 
only to describe the Impaiieiice of the Tbebam to fee cheir Friejadj;' 
V(ho had accompanied the Expedition, and the Maoner and hxp^ 
tude, in which they poftei themfclves for Obfcrvation. He mulf 
have a very depraved fafte »m: Poetry, who would have this Image 
fttppfcSed. 



BUokX STATIUS's rUBBAlt). igi 

But, whilft they clafp their Frieads ia their Embrace, 

And count the Slaughter of the Theian Race, 

For abfent Hopku^ fomc Cpncern they fhow. 

And oft complain, that Dymas i$ too flow. 

Behold! the Leader of the Syrian Band, 66 §, 

Amphion conies, a Falchion in his Hand. 

Damp'd was his Joy for the two Warriors flain. 

When he beheld, what Carnage heap'd the Plain, 

The Strength, and Bulwark of the Tbebans loft. 

And in one Ruin firetch'd a mighty Hoft. 670 

His vital Frame a fudden Tremour fhook. 

Such as attends the Wretch,, by Thunder iiruclc : 

Fix'd as a Stone, and motionlefs he ftood. 

And loft at once his Voice, his Sight, a^d Blood. 

The Courfer turns him, ere he burfts in Sighs : 67JJ. 

The Duft rolk backward, as the Cohort Hies. 

With lengthened Strides the Syrians fought the Gate, 

When the brave Grecians^ heartened and elate 

With their nodurnal Triumph, to the Meads 

Spring, fuU of Hopes, and urge their foaxniog Steeds ^ 

O'er Arms, and Blood and Bodies of the Slain, 6io 

Excite the Duf);, and thunder thro' tl^ Plain, 

Their heavy Hoofs the Limbs of Heroes tore, 

And t^ ftain'd Axle-trees are dog'd with Gore. 

ike Ekventk Book; of tlie Iliad, with the fame Heat pf Iznagjnationu 

Pif^* t^pf doAy CK^yMK MlT« T^«f K^ 'jAvait^fy 
XTffiCarrif Anveii ti *^ enrm^^au^* 9UfA»u a a^ut. 

Sweet 



192 STAtlUS's THEBAID. Book X 

Sweet is the Vengeance, pleafant is the Way, 685 

As if all Thebes in Duff low-humbled lay. 

And trampled with their Feet. — To thefe began 

Great Capaneus. — No longer on the Plan 

Of timid Caution, urge we the dark Fight, 

But let our Deeds be witnefs'd by the Light. 690 

Py me no other Omens are explored. 

Than my viftorious Hand, and naked Sword. 

He faid ; Adraftus and his Son infpire 

The Troops with Courage, and add Fire to Fire: 

The Augur then more fad and flow fucceeds. 6^^ 

And now that Day had clos'd their martial Deeds^ 

The City enter'd •, (while the wordy Chief 

Recounts their Lofs, and tells the Tale of Grief) 

But Megareus the black Battalion ey'd 

Rifingon Sight, and from the Watch-Tow'r cry*d. 700 

Shut, Sentry, fliut the Gates, the Foe is near.— * 

There is a Seafon, when Excefs of Fear 

Augments our Vigour.-— At the Word they rofc. 

And all the Gates, fave one, were feen to clofe: 

For whilft flow Echion at th' Ogygian toils, fo$ 

The Spartan Youth, inflamM with Luft of Spoils, 

Rufli boldly in, and in the Threfliold fall. 

Their Blood thick dafli'd againft the hoftile Wall r - 

v.'688. No knger ^n the Plan] With what a beautiful Abitiptnefs 
does Capaneus break in upon us, and what a pleafingly-terrible' 
Effed has his Speech upon our Minds ! Some may admire the de- 
liberate Valour of JBneas ; but give me the Impetuoftty of Achilles 
and Capaneus: The former indeed is of the greateft Service to the 
State, but the latter makes the fin eft Figure in Poefy. There is an 
Eclat of Sentiment in this blunt and foldier-like Speech, that 
forces and commands our Attention: Every Word -is animated 
with an enthufiaftic Courage, and worthy to be delivered by a gal- 
lant Officer. 

Brave 



fioojcX/ iSTAtitJs's T'tlEBAtt). 193 

BraVe PanopeUs from high Taygetus camc^ 

To rough Eurotas Otbalus laid claim i J to 

And thou, Alcidamas^ whom Fame reports 

A recent Vidor in Nttmean Sports^ 

Whofe Wrifts firft Tyndar^s Son with Gauntlets boundir 

And with the feafon*d Cinfture girt thee round, 

With dying Eyes behold'ft thy Patron's Star, 715 

That fetSj and gives thee to the Rage of War. 

Th^ Oebalian Grove^ the Margin of the Stream^ 

From fair Lacnena ftil'd, the Poet's Thcme^ 

And Haunt of the falfe Swart^ thy Death fhall mourn^ 

And jD/^»'s Nymphs the dokfial Notes return. 720 

Thy Mother too, who martial Precepts gave^ 

And whofe fage Lctfons form'd thee wife and brave, 

Shall think, thou learnd'ft too much; — Thus in the Gate 

Mars rages on, and afts the Will of Fate; 

At length, their Shoulders to the Mafs opposed, 72 j^ 

Great Alimenide^^ and Acron closed 

The Valves of Iron-r-kept the Foes at Bay, 

BarfM the ftrong Portals^ and exclude the Fray. 

Thus two ftout Bullocks, groaning as they bow 

Their Necks, thro' Fields long-fallow from the Plough* 

V. 729. Thus two ftoui Bulhcki\ The Image here gitren of trte 
two Warriors is as lively as it is exad. Their Toil, Vigour, Neai- 
tiefs to each other, and the Difficulties they encounter with, per* 
fedly anfwer to each Circumflance in the Comparifon, which is 
tbridged from Homer's Iliadi 

TlpviJuioTo-tv Mi^dico'i 'oro^l^f dvaxfizitt i^^aiu 
Tctf fjjf Tfi ^vyay ol«v iv^oof dfd>fU tf^yct, 
lifiitu kccTa uMjx' T£fJiy%t h Ti riX^'oy d^ti^fi;. 

Book 13, Line 703; 

Vol.. IL O Their 



194 STATIUS's THEBAID. Book X. 

Their Lofs alas ! was equal to their Gain : 731 

For they exclude their Friends, while they retain 

Their Enemies, coopM up within the Walls. ~ 

Firft Ortnenus of Grecian Lineage falls. 

In fuppliant Pofture whilft Amynpbor flood, 735 

And with extended Hands for Mercy fu'd. 

His parted Vifage fell upon the Ground, 

Th"^ unfinifh'd Accents ceas'd beneath the Wound, 

And his gay Chain, the Work of artful Hands, 

Clinks, Duft-dilhonour'd on the hoftile Sands. 740 

Meantime the Trench is broke, the Out-works fall. 

And leave a Paflage open to the Wall, ^ 

Near which in Lines was ranged the num'rous Band 

Of Infantry. — The Courfcrs trembling ftand. 

Nor, though impatient, dare the Trench o'erleap, 745 

The Prcfpect was fo dark^ the Gulph fo deep. 

Juft on the Margin eagerly they neigh. 

Then fuddenly ftart back with wild Affray. 

Thefe ftrive to force the Gates, thofe pluck away 

The Pales, that in the Ground deep-faften'd lay j 75a 

The Iron-Bars fome labour to remove, 

Whilft others from their founding Places fhove 

Huge Stones. — Part fee with Joy the Brands, they flung, 

Stuck to the Spires, or on the Turrets hung •, 

Part fearch the Bafis, and apply the Pow'r 755 

Of the dark Shell, to fap each hollow TowV. 

V. 744. The Courfirs trembling Jiand'\ Tliefe Lines are imitated 
from the Twelfth Book of the Iliaxi, Line 50. 

X(:^M i^iraoTif. aTTO yap ^n^iacrtro rdipclty* 
'P*j'»i/i7. — . 

Bus 



BookX. STATIUS's THEBAID. 195 

But the Befieg*d (for this Refource alone 
Remained) the Summit of the Bulwarks crown ; 
And Stakes, well-feafon'd in the Flames, vaft Beams, 
Well-polifli'd Darts, that (hed inceflant Gleams, 760 
And heated Bullets from the Ramparts throw. 
And rob the Walls of Stones, to gaul the Foe; 
The weapon'd Windows hifling Javelins, pour, 
. And thick around defcends the fteely Show*n 
As when on Malea^ or Ceraunid's Hill 765 

The Cloud-wrapt Tempefts, motionlefs and ftill, 
CoUeft new Forces, and augment their Rage, 
Then fudden Combat with old Ocean wage. 
Thus the beleagVing Greeks ,without the Wall 
Of Thebes y o'erpowr'd with hoftile Numbers fall. 770 
Their Breads and Faces obvious to the Fray, 
The thickning Tempeft drives them not away : 
Mindlefs of Death, ftrait to the Walls they turn 
Their Looks, and their own Darts alone difcern. 
His Scythe-hung CaK round Thebes while Antheus 

drove, 
A Tytian Lance arrefts him from above : 77^' 

Numb'd with the Stroke, his Hand difmifs*d the 

Rein ; 
He tumbles backward, fattened to the Wain 
By his bright Greaves. — O wond'rous Fate of War ! 
His Arms are trailed by the fwift-roUing far* 75^ 

Beneath the fmoaking Wheels two Ruts appear. 
The third imprinted by the hanging Spear : 
His graceful Head depending on the Strand, 
HU bloody Trefles purple all the Sand. 

O 2 Meantime 



196 STATItJS's THEfiAfa ^6okX. 

Meantime the Trumpet kindles fierce AlaratH 785 
Thro' the fad City, and excites to Arms, 
Thundering at ev'ry Door it's baleful Call. 
Their Pofts aflign'd by Lot, before them alt 
The Standard-Eearer carries in his Hand 
Th* imperial Enfign of the Tyrian Band. 790 

Dire was the Face of Things, with fuch a Scene 
Not Mars himfelf would have delighted been. 
Flight, circumfus*d in Gloom, nor rurd by Thought, 
Fear, Sorrow, and Defpair, to Fury wrought. 
The madding Town with doubtful Horrors rend, 795 
And in one Subjeft various Paflions blend. 
'You'd fwear, the War was there. — The TbwVs refound 
With frequent Steps j the Streets are fiird around : 
With Fancy's Eye they view the Fire and Sword, 
And wear the Fetters of an Argive Lordi 800 

Preventing Fear abforb'd the Time to come : 
They fill with Shrieks each Hbufe and holy Dome ; 
Th' ungrateful Altars are befieg'd with Tears, 
.And the fame Terror rules all Ranks and Years. 



V. 785. Meantime the Trumpet'] After this melancholy Defcrip- 
tion of the Fate of Antbeus^ how are we ftartlcd at the fuddcn Sound 
of the Clarion ! There is aa equality abrupt Tranlition fitnn the 
Pathetic to the Terrible, in the Ninth Book of FirgiPt iEneid, 
where our Concern for the diflrefs'd Mother of Euryalus is inter- 
rupted by 

At tuba terribilem fonitum procul aere canoro 
Increpuit. 



The 



^■:-S 



ri" 



Book X. STATIUS's TH&BAID, 197 

The old Men jw^ay for Death : the Youth by Turns iag 
Grows |>ale with Fright, or with Refetvtment burns: 
The trembling Courts the female Shrieks rcboujod. 
Their Infant-Spns^ iftoniH^^d at the Souncl, 
Nor knowing, whence the Streams of Sorrow flow. 
Condole, and mel^ in fyinpatbeQc Wop. Si^ 

Love calls the Prunes together^ — At this Hour, 
The Senfe of Shame gives Place to Fortune's FowV. 
They arni.the Men, witl^ Courage fire each Breaft, 
jSchpemes of Revenge wkh ready Wit fuggdt. 
And, rulhing ^ith jhem, lay before their Eyes 815 
Their Homes, aad Bal^s^ the Pledge of Quptial Ties.. 
Thus whea fome Shq>herd-Swam eflaysto drive 
The Bees thick clufter'd from their cavjarn'd Hive, 
In fable Clouds they dfe, afiert their Right, 
And, buzzing, urge eaph Other to the jfight ; 829 

V, 805. 7%/ M Mefil The Deferiptooft of tiie d^ereoC ESc^s 
l^is Conflemation had upon the dilFerent Stages of Life, is exe- 
jcuted with a^ amazing Spirit and Propriety ; «very CircuoilllilDce 
4s Nature, aad Nature withoat Di%aiiJ^. . . 

V. 817. nuj 'wben\ This Siq^le feems to have been taken fros^ 
one in the Twelfth Book of the :Aneid, whtdft,' according va 
Monf. Catrouj is imitated fpm 4p<>Qomus RMim^s^ Argoaauticf, 
Lib, I. Vcrfe 130. 
^» 

A» ^ rot Tiifiu^.fiiiy ^o\^ft; u in aifjtSha 

VirgtP^ is 

Inclufas ut cum latebrofo in pumice Pallor 
Veftigavit apes, famoque implevit amaro ; 
Jllae intus trepid^ lerum per cerea calba 
' Diicurrunt, magnifque acuunc ftridoribus iras» 
Volvitur ater odor tedlis ; turn murmure csfeco 
jnttts faxa ibaont : vacuas it fumos ad auras. 

.03 At 



198 STAtlUS's THEBAID; BookX, 

At length, dcfcrtcd by their blunted Stings, 

They clafp thc*honey*d Sweets with weary Wings, 

And^ prefling to them, take a laft Farewell 

Of their long-labourM Combs, and captive CcU. 

The Vulgar too each other's Schemes oppofe 825 

Kindled by them, the Flame of Difcord glows. 

With open Voice thefe wifli the Crown reftor'd;, 

And claim great Polynices for their Lord. 

All RevVence loft. — No longer let him roam 

(One cries) remote from his paternal Home, 830 

J8ut hail his Houfehold-Gods, his Sire again. 

And take Pdflcffion of his annual Reign. 

Say, why fhould I with frequent Blood aton^ . ' 

For the Kuig's Crimes, and Perj'ry not my own ? 

Late, much too late (another Chief replies) . 835 

Comes that Advice, when the wrong'd Foe relies 

On fpeedy Conqueft. — A more abjcft Crew 

'With Pray'rs and Tears to hgeTirefias fue. 

And, as fome Solace, urge hini to difclofc 

The. future Times, or fraught with Blifs or Woes. 840 

But he the mighty Secret ftiU fupprefs'd 

Within the dark Recefles of his Breaft, 

And thus,— Why did your King my Counfrl flight. 

When I forbade him the perfidious Fight r 

Yet thee, ill-fated Tibel^es ! fliould I pafs o'er, 845 

And lofe th' Occafion, which returns no more, 

I cannot hear thy Fall, nor view the Light 

Of Grecian Fires with thefe dim Orbs of Sight, 

Then yield we. Piety. — O Damfel, place 

A Pile of Altars to th- immortal Race. S50 

This done, the Nymph infpeds with curious Eyes, 

JVnd tells her Sire, that ruddy Tops arife 

From 



BookX. STATIUS's THEBAID. 199 

From the divided Flames, but at the Height 

The middle Fire emits a clearer Light ; 

Then Ihe informs him doubtful, that the Blaze 855 

DefcribM a Snake, roird up in circling Maze, 

And varying, almoft loft its bloody Hue, 

And paints all to his intellectual Viewr. 

By her Inftrudions uught, the pious Sire 

"With Joy embraced the Wreath-encircled Fire, 860 

And catches on his glowing Face, and Brows, 

The Vapours, that the Will of Fate difclofe. 

His fordid Locks, now ftiff with Horror, ftand. 

And lift above his Head the trembling Band : 

You'd think, his Eyes unclos'd, his Cheeks refume 

Their long-loft Colour, and exhaufted Bloom. 866 

At length he gave a Loofe to Rage, and cried. 

Ye guilty Jh'ebans^ hear what Fates betide 

Your City, the Refult of Sacrifice : 

Its Safety may be bought, tho* high the Price. S70 

The * Snake of Mars^ as his due Rite, demands 

A human Viftim from the Theian Bands ; 

I5 all he, whoe'er amidft our numVous Trains 

The laft of the fell Dragon's Race remains : 

Thrice happy, who can thus adorn his Death, 875 

And for fo great a Meed refign his Breath ! 

Near the fell Altars of the boding Chief 

SdACreon ftood, and fed his Soul on Grief: 

Yet then he only wept his common Fate, 

And the near Ruin of th' Aonian State, 88a 

When fudden as the .vengeful Shaft arrefts 

Some haplefs Wretch, deep finking in his Breafts, 

♦ The Dragon whofe Teeth were fown by Cadmus, 

O 4 Pale 



SCO STATIUS's THE?AII>- BookX^ 

Pale Horror fix'd him, when he hcv'd the Call, 

Which fummons brave Meiueceus to his FaU. 

A clammy Sweat crept cold o'er ev'ry Part, 885 

Fear froze his Veins/ and thrill'd thro' all hi$ Heart. 

Thus the frinacrian Coaft fuftains the Tide 

Afar rebounding from the lyHan Side. 

Whilft for the ViAim the feern Prophet cries, 

poll of th' ipfpirin^ God, in fuppliant Guile 899 

Around his Knees the tecider Father clung, 

And ftrov^ in vain to curb his boding Tongue, 

$wift F]*q!je then makes the facred Anfwer known, 

And the dread Qraicle flies rpund the Town. 

Now, C&V, fay, -who this young Warrior fir'd, 895 

And in his Breaft Contempt of Death infpir'd ! 

(For ne'er, in Abfence of the Pow'rs diving, 

Could Mortal harbour fuch a brave Defign) 

purfue the mighty Theme : to thee alone 

The ftoried Deeds of early Times ire known, 90a 

Jovf^ fay'rite Goddefs prefs'd the Throne, from whence 

The Gods rare Virtue's coftly Gifts difpenfc 

Midft Earth's beft Sons 2 — Whether Almighty Jove 

Confign'd it to th^m from well-founded Love, 

Or, mindful of their Merits, fhe might chufe 905 

Jn ample Breafts the glorious Sparks t' infufc ; 

jShe fprung, aU gladfome, from the Realms of Day ? ' 

With Def rence meet the brighteft Stars giv^ Way, 



y, 895. NonUf Clio, fay^ The Grandeur of this Machinery nwift 
Relight every one, who has the Jeaft Tindure of Taftc ; and, iu- 
de.ed this whole Story is very afFcaing. The patriotic Heroifm of 
Metueceus in particular, is finely contrafted by the tender Aftedion^ 
^nd fath(?rly Love of Cnon* 



An4 



PookX. STATIUjS's THEBAID. loi 

And Signs, which for their Feats and genuine Worth 
Herfclf had fix'd in Ji^av'n.— She lights on Eairth, 910 
Jicr Face not far remote from Air^-^appears 
In Mmbo's Form, and look$ of equal Years^ 
That her Refponfes might due Credit gain. 
She quits awhile the B^ges of her Reign ; 
No more of Terror in her Eyes is feen ; 915 

Smooth is her Prow, and kfs fevere her "Mikn : 
The Sword and Arms of Death are thrown ^fide. 
And by tht^^ Jugur'% Staff their Place fgpply'd. . 
Jier loofciy-flowing Garments fweep the Ground, 
And her rough laurell'd Hair with Fillets boynd. 920 
Yet her ftern Vifage, and the Steps ihe trpd 
With lonjgfome Strides reve^ the latent God, 
Thus fmil'd the Indian Queen when (he dcfcry'd 
Alcides^ ftript of his terrific Hide, 
Shine in embroidered Veils, and Robes of Coft, 921 
On his broad Ba(:k, and brawny Shoulders loft, 
When. PW/^j* Arts with ill Succefs he try'd. 
And broke the Timbrel, which in yain he ply'd. 
Nor thee, MtnesceuSy does the Goddefs find 
Unworthy of the Honours flie defign'd : - 930 

Before the Theban TowVs ihe fees thee ftand. 
With early Worth preventing her Command. 
Soon as th' enormous Portals wide unclofe. 
How didft thou quafti the Pride of Jrgive Foes I 

V. 923. Thus fmlVd the liyd^zxi ^een\ The Fortitude cf Hercules 
was not equal to his Amoroufnefs. He fell in Love with Otr.fhale^ 
Queen oi Lydiay and in Order to win her AfFe6lions by his Obfc- 

?uioufners, condefcended to change the Lion's Hide for a Suit of 
urple, and the Club for a DilUfF. 

Thu* 



£02 STAT I U S^s T H E B AI D. Book X. 

Thus H^mon rages too : but tho' you (hine 935 

Brothers in all, the greater Praife is thine. 

The breathiefs Carcaffes are heap*d around : ' 

Sure flies each Dart, each Weapon bears a Wound. 

Nor yet was Virtue prefent. — Ne'er he ftands. 

Unbent his Mind, unexercis'd his Hands : 94^ 

His Arms no Leifure know, the Sphinx pourtray'id 

Upon his Helm feems mad : the Blood furvey'd, 

Th* enlivened Effigy Iprings forth to View, 

And the dull Copper wears a brighter Hue : 

When now the Goddefs check'd his furious Hand, 945 

And thus accofts him, as he lifts the Brand. 

O noble Youth, whofe Claim of Lineage Mars 

With Joy accepts, rcfign thefe, humble Wars j 

This Palm is not thy Due.— The Stars invite 

Thy Soul away, and promife more Delights 950 

My Sire now rages in the joyful Fane : 

This Senfe the Flames and Fibres afct?rtain, 

V. 941. The sphinx pourtray^d] Though fome Readers may think 
this liiia,i;e too bold, it is evident Tajfo did not, from his Imitation 

of it. Gitruf, Lib. Caii,. 9. St. 25. 

Porta il Soldan fu'l elmo orrlJo e grande 
Serpe, chc fi diiunga, e'! collo fnoda 
Su le zampe s' miilza, e V ali fpande, 
E piega in arco la forcuta coda. 
Par che tre lingue vibri, e che fuor mande 
Livida fpuma, e chc 1* fuo fifchio s' oda. 
Ed or, ch' aide la pugna anch' ei s' iniiamma 
Nel moto, e fumo veria infieme, e fiamma. 

V. 449. The Stars invite] Thefe Verfes are imitated by the laft 
quoted Author, in the Second Book of hi^ jferu/a/em, where Sofhro* 
»ia lays to Oiindc^ 

Lieto afpira aliai nperna fede : 

Mira il ciel, com' e belio, e inira'il fole, 

Ch' a ie par, chc n' iuviti, e i\i confoie. Stan. 36. 

This 



BookX. STATIUSV the B aid. 203 

This Phcsbus urges : thee all Thebes demands. 
To fave the Reft of her devoted Bands. 
Fame fings the facred Anfwer, and our Youth 955 
With Shouts of Triumph hail the Voice of Truth. 
Embrace the glorious Offer then, nor wafte 
The Time away, but to Fruition hafte. 
Left Hamon ftart before thee.— Thus fhe fpake. 
And fanned the Sparks of Virtue ftill awake ; 960 

Then, clearing all his Doubts with lenient Art, • 
She winds herfelf, unfeen,. into his Heart. 
Swift as affaird by Jove's unerring Aim, 
The blafted Cyprefs takes th' etherial Flame, 
From Top to Stern with bright Contagion fpread j ^6$ 
The Youth (fo well her forceful Influence fped) 
Feeds the new Ardours, kindled in his Breaft, 
And longs for Deafh, each meaner Thought fuppreft^ 
But when he *gan at Leifure to furvey 
Her Gait and Habit, as (he turns. away, 970 

And mingling with the Clouds, eludes his Eyes, 
In Height of Admiration, thus he cries. 
Willing, O Goddefs, we obey thy Call, 
Kor meet with paflive Sloth the deftip'd Fall: 
— And while from Fight, obfequious, he withdrew, ^ 
Agreiis of Tylos near the Trenches flew. 97^ 

At length, fupported by his menial Train, 
He goes : the Vulgar hail him o'er the Plain 
• With Names of Patriot, Champion, God, infpirq 
An honeft Pride, and fet his Soul on Fire. 980 

And now to Thebes his hafty Courfe he bends, 
. Well-pleas/d to have efcap'd his wretched Friends, 
When Cnon met him, and would fain accoft, 
Put his Breath fail'd, his Utterance was loft. 

X Awhile 



ao4 STATIUS'iTHEBAID, B<wk X- 

Awhile both fifcnt and dcjcftcd ftand, ^8^ 

At length his Sire began with kmd Demand, 

Saf, prithee, what new Stroke of Fortune calk 

My Son from Fight, when Grace furronnds our Wails ? 

What worfc than cruel War doft thou prepare. 

Why do thy Eyes with Hagc xmwonted glarp, oro 

Why o'er thy Cheeks fuch favage Palenefe reigns, 

And ill thy Face a Father's Look fqftains ? 

Heard'ft thou the fbrg'd Rcfponfes ? — It appears 

Too well, — My Son, by our unequal Years, 

I pray thee, and thy wretched Mother's Breads, 995 

Truft not, O truft not, what the Seer fuggcfts. 

Thirfc*ft thou, the Powers, that haunt yon ft^rry Height, 

Vouchfafc to ftcd down intelleftual Light 

On fuch a Dotard, whofe perpetual Gloom, 995 

And Age approach \h\ inceftuous Monarch's Poom? 

Yet more — the King may deal with fecrct Fraud, 

And for fpme End fpread thefe Reports abroad, 

For well I ween, he views with jealgus Eye 

Thy firft-rate Valour, and Nobility, 

Perchance thcfe pompous Words, which we fiippofe 

Pivine, from his too fertile Brain arofe* 1906 

Give not thy heated Mind the Reins of Sway, 

Allow feme Jnteryal, fomc Ihort Delay : 

T. 987. Sof^ prithee'] One (eldoin xneets w;th afincr Piece of difloafiie 
ami pathetic Eloquence^ than this Oration of Creon» Tl^e Circiim* 
fiances of Diftrefs fhew a judicious Choice in the Poet, and are cxr 
prefTed in a very happy Manner. The Queflion Cre^n puts tQ his 
Son» in Heard*ft thou^ &c. and the preventing his Confufion by an? 
fwering it himfelf, is a ftriking Inllance of the Poet's Tafle in the 
Ufe of Figures. The Odium he afterwards throws on Ete^cks^ and 
the ridiculous Light he fets Tirefias in, to give Weight to his Der 
iortation, is very artful. 

3 Jmpetuopi 



j&ookX. STATItJS's thebaic. 405 

Impetuous Hade mifguidcs us oft.— O grant 
This laft, this modeft Boon-, 'tis all I want* 10 to 
So be thy Temples filver'd o'er with Age; 
So may a Father's Cares thy Thoughts engage^ 
Arid caufe the Fears, thy rafh Defigns infpire ; 
Ne'er then, O ne'er forfake thy wretched Sire. 
Why fhoold the Pledges of another's Love, tetg 

And alien' Parents thy Compaffion move ? 
If aught of Shame remains, firft tend thy own : 
This is true Piety, and true Renown. 
The other's a meer Shade, a tranfient Breath 
Of Fame, and Titles lolt in gloomy Death. loao 

Nor think, I check thee thro' Excefs of Fear : 
Go, mix in Combat — tofs the pointed Sjpear, 
And dare the thickcft Horrors of the Plain : 
Where Chance is equal, I will ne'er reftrain. 
O let me cleanfe with Tears the Stain of Blood, 1025 
And with my Hairs dry up the furging Flood : 
Thus thou mayll fight, o'ercome and triumph ftiil i 
This is thy Country's Choice, thy Father's Will. 
Thus; in Embrace his troubled Son he holds. 
And round his Neck his Arms encircling folds ; 1 2 jo 
But neither cou'd the copious Stream of Grief, 
Nor Words unbend the Heav'n-devotcd Chief. 
Yet more, the Gods fuggefting, he relieves 
His Father^s Fears, and with this Tale deceives. 
O belt of Parents ! let not idle Fear 103^5 

Difturb thy Blifs : no Phrenzy of the Seer, 
No Phantoms of the Dead, nor Signs itomjove 
Solicit me to quit this Light above. . 
Still may Tire/ins to his Friends impart 
The God's Refponfe, and try each prieftly Art : 1040 

Nor 



io6 STATIUS's TH E B aid. Book: 3<: 

Nor fhould I lay afide my fix*d Defign, 
Tho* Pbabus warn me from his open Shrine. 
But my dearBrocher*s fad Mifchance recalls 
My willing Steps to thefe ill-omen'd Walls •, 
Picrc'd by an Argive Spear, my Hamon lies 1045 

Between both Hofts, and foon the Grecians' Prize : 
-^So thick the Foe furrounds, that fcarce I truft^ 
This Arm can reach him midft th* infanguin'd Duft. 
But why do I delay ?-»— Go, raife again 
His drooping Spirits, and command the Train 1050 
'^o bear him off with Care. — I hade to find 
Eetion^ Ikiird, o'er all the healing Kind, 
To clofe up Wounds, to (launch the Flux of Bloody 
And flop the Flight of Life's low-ebbing Flood. 
His Speech broke off, away the Hero fped; 1055 

A fudden Gloom his Father*s Mind o'erfprcad ; 
His Love's divided, ill his Tears agree. 
Yet he believes, impelled by Deftiny. 
Meantime fierce Capaneus purfues the Train, 
Whom Tyrian Portals vomit on the Plain, 10^0 

And fwells with frequent Deaths the guilty Field : 
Horfe, Foot and Charioteers before him yield ; 
And, their pierc'd Drivers thrown, th' unbridled Steeds 
Crufh out their Souls, and thunder o'er the Meads. 

V. 1059. Meaniimi fierce Capaneus] With what dreadful Pomp 
is Cafaneus ufhered in here ! in what bold Colours has the Poet 
<lrawn his Impetuofity and Irrefiftibility, and what a grand Idea 
does he give us of his Hero, when he tells us, that by ms valorous 
Feats he kept the Greeh in fuch a perpetual Round of Attention, 
that they^h^d not Time to refledl upon the Lofs of their four Com- 
manders, or if they did, that they thought Capaneus was e^ual to 
all of them together* and that his Body was animated by their 
Souls/ 

^ He 



BboitX. STATItJS's THEBAID. 207 

He reeks in Blood, the lofty Tow'rs aflails 1065 

With Stones, and wherefo*er he turns, prevail*?; 
One while he plied his Sling, and dealt around 
From fwift-hurrd Bullets a new Kind of Wound, 
Then, launching forth a Dart, his. Arm he fwung 
Aloft* No Weapon idle fell, he ftung, 1070 

' N©r, innocent of Blood, returned again. 
But levell'd fome proud Warrior on the Plain. 
Their Place by him fupplied, the Grecian Hoflr 
No longer deem their mighticft Leaders loflr, 
OenideSj Jtalanta's youthful Son, 1075 

Amphiaraus^ and ftern Hippomedon : 
In him they meet, infpire an equal Flame, 
And animate by Turns his vital Frame. 
Nor Age, nor Rank, nor Form his Pity moves. 
The proud and meek aRke his Fury proves. 1080 

Not one durft with him try the Chance of War, 
Or (land in Arms opposed. — They dread from far 
His tempered Armour, his tremendous Crdft, 
, And glitt'ring Helm, with various Forms impreft. 
Meanwhile Mencecetis on the Walls was feen, 1085 

Divine his Afpeft, more auguft his Mfen : 
His Cafque afide the pious Hero threw. 
And ftood. awhile, confefs'd to public View ; 
From thence he caft an Eye of Pity down 
On either Hoft, that fought before the Town, 105Q 
And, Silence and a Truce from War injoin'd. 
Thus fpoke the Purpofe of his gen'rous Mind, 
Ye Pow'rs of War, and thou, whofc partial Love 
Grants me this Honour, PbcebtiSj Son ofjove^ 
O give to TbeLes the Joys fo dearly fought, XO95 

Tliofe mighty Joys, by my own Lite-blood bought •. 

Return 



fto8 STATtUS^s TKfEfiAia BogtL %, 

Return the War, on Lema*s captive Coaft, 

Da(h the foul Remnants of her vanquiih'd Hoft; 

And let «^ld Inacbus with adverfe Waves 

Shun his f^'d Offspring, now diihonour'd Slaves. 

But let the Tbeians by my Death obtain i lOl 

Their Fanes, Lands, Houfes, Children, Wives again' 

If aught of Merit my Submiflion claim. 

If, undifmay*d, I hear*d the Prophet name 

Myfelf the Vidim, nor with Fear withdrew, tiO$ 

Aflenting, ere my Country deem'd it true. 

To Tbebesy I pray, in lieu of me be kind^ 

And teach my credulous Sire to^be rcfign*d. 

He faid, and pointing to his virtuous Breaft 

The glitt'ring Blade, attempts to fct at Reft 1 1 rd 

Th' indignant Soul, that frets and loaths to (Uy, 

Inaprifon'd in its Tenement of Clay: 

He luftrates with his Blood the Walls and Tow'n^ 

And throws hinifelf amidft the banded Pow'rs, 

And, grafpbg ftill the Sabre in his Hands, mS 

Eflays to fall on the ftern Grecian Bands. 

But Pipty and Virtue bear away. 

And gently on the Ground his Body lay -, 

While the free Spirit ftands before the Throne 

Of Jove^ and challenges the well-earn'd Crown. H2» 

V. nip. IFhile the free Spirit] This Paflage recalls to my Mind 
fome fine Lines of Lucatt^ in which he defcribes the Refidence of 
Pompey\s Soul, after it was feparated from the Bcdy. 

At non in Pharia manes jacocrc favilla r 
Nee cinis exiguus tantam compefcuit umbram^r 
Profiluit builo, femiuilaque membr^ relinquens, 
Degenercmque rogum, fequitur convexa Tonantis, 
Qua niger ailriferis conneditur axibus A^r, 
Quodque patet terras inter Lunaeque meatus 
Semidei maizes habitant: quoa ignea virtus 

Iftnocttos^ 



BookX. STATIUS's THJ^BAID* 209 

Now to the Walls of Thebes with joyful Care 

The Hero*s Corfe, with Eafe obtained, they bear. 

The Greeks with decent Reverence furvey 

The folemn Pomp, and willingly give way : 

On youthful Shoulders bjrne, amidft a Train 1125^ 

Of either Sex, who break into a Lane, 

He pafTes on, to Rank celeftial rais'd. 

And more than Cadmus or Amphion prais*d. 

Thefe o'er his lifelefs Limbs gay Garlands fling ; 

Thofe fingle Flow'rs, the Prodixce of the Spring, 1130 

And in his Anceftor's Time-honour*d Tomb 

t)epofe the Body, odVous with Perfume. • • 

Thq Rites of Praifc performed, they ftrait renewed 

The Combat.— Here, his Wrath at Length fubdu'd. 

In Groans the- mournful Creon feeks Relief, 11 35 

And the fad Mother weeps away her Grief. 

For cruel Thebes by me then waft thou bred. 

And have I nourifh*d thy devoted Head, 

Like fome vile Dame ? — What Mifchiefs have I done. 

And to what Gods thus odious am I grown ? 11 40 



Innocuos vita patientcs aethcris imi 

Fecit, tc xternos animam collegit in orbes : 

Non illuc auro pofiti, nee thure fepulti 

Perveniant j illic poftquam fe lumine vero 

Implevit fteilafque vagas roiratur, et ailra 

Fixa polis, viiiit quanta fub node jacerec 

NoHra dies, rifitque fui ludibria tranci. Pbarf. Lib. p. 

V. 1 1 32. OJ'rous] I cannot but think adoratum a typographical 
Error, and would therefore fubflitute odoratum in its dead, which 
thofe, wh J are acquainted with the funeral Rites of the Ancients 
will, I doubt not, approve of, it being the Cuftom to perfume the 
Bodies of the De^ before Burial. I hope the Reader will pardon ' 
this Conjecture, if he does not coincide with me. 

Vol. II. P No 



210 STATlUS's THEBAID. Book Xv 

No interdiftcd Pleafurcs did I prove. 

Nor wart thou. Offspring of inccftupus LovCi 

Jocajia^s Sons command the deathful Plain, 

Fate gives tjie Scepter, and fhe fees them reign. 

Let us for this ill-6men'd War atone, 1 1^^ 

That they may mount by Turns the fullyM Throne. 

(This pleafes thee, O Cloud-compelling Jove) 

Why cenfure I or Men or Gods above ? 

•Tis thou, Menosceus^ who has caus'd my Fall ; 

On thcc it refts, the guilty Source of all. n^ 

From whence this Love of Death, that feiz*dl my Mind, 

And holy Rage ? how different in their Kind 

Frbin their fad Mother thefe my Children prove. 

Fruits of my Throes, and Pledges of my Love ! 

Full well alas ! the fatal Caufe I read * J5S 

In the feU Snake, and War-producing Mead : 

Hence headftrong Valour, impotent of Reft, 

UfurpM my Sliare in Guidance of thy Breaft, 

And, unconftrain'd, nay 'gainft the Will of Fate,. 

Thou wing'ft thy Way to Pluto\ gloomy State. ii6m 

Much of the Greeks and Capaneus I hear'd ; 

Yet this, this Hand alone was to be fear'd„ 

And Weapon, which imprudently I gave : 

Yet why ?-~lt was fit Prefent for the Brave. 

See, the wide Wound ablorbs the Length of Sword, 

peep as the ficrceft Arrive could have gorM. , 1 1,66- 

More had fhe faid,. unknowing Check or Bound,^ 

And fadden'd with her Wailings all around 5^ 

But her confoling Cojnrades lionieward led 

Th* unwilling Dame, and plac'd ber on the Bedr j 170 

There,, her torn Chcelis fuffus'd with Blood, fhe lay 

Deaf to Advice, and ficjiVjing at the Day ; 

And, 



BookX- STATIUS's, TH'EBAID. 211 

And, her Voice gone, and all conFusM her Mindt 

Still kept her languid Eyes on Earth declined* 

The Scythian Tigrcfs thus beneath fomc Cave iij$ 

For her ftol-n Whelps is often feen to rave^ 

And, couching at the vafty Mouth alone. 

Scents the frefh Trace, and licks the tepid StonCi 

Her Hunger, Wrath, and native Rage fubfide, 

In Grief confum*d- — Securely by her Side, 11 80 

With paflive Impotency fhe furveys . 

The Flocks and Herds on verdant Pafture graze^ 

For where are thofe, for whom flie now (houlcj feed 

Her Dugs,' and range, in queft of Prey, the Mead* 

Thus far have Arms and Death adorn'd our Lays, 1 185, 

And War*s grim Horrors been a Theme of Praife : 

Now be the Song to Cuparitus transferred. 

No more I grovel with the vulgar Herd, 

V. 1175. ^^ Scythian Tigrifi thus] The Grief of Minauus'f 
Mother for the Lofs of her Son, is aptly enough pourtray'd by this 
Simile of the Tigrefs j the Hint of it may have poflibly been taken 
from the following Comparifon in the Eighteenth Book of H0mer^% 
Iliad. 

£iS7&$si> elcufci. /xa^« yu^ ^fifAu^ X^^^ atptT, Vctfs jtS. 

This is natural enough, but the Images contained in 

— r--h- Tepidl lambit veftigia faxi. 

■ ■ ■ ■' ■■ Eant praetcr fecura armenta, gregefqae 
Aut quos ingenti premat expedata rapina. 

Are perhaps equal to any thing in the Homeric AUufion. 

V. 1185. Thus far ba've Armi\ The Poet raifes the Charadler of 
bis Hero very much by this Invocation. One Mnfe fuffic'd beforee 
but he now fummons all the iVirVi/, by which the Grandeur of th'e ' 
Subjedt is very much enhanced, and the Difficulty of Unging hi$ 
great Exploits very ftrjuglf imaged. 

P2 Bur, 



2ja STATIUS'g THEBAID. BooklX- 

But, catching Fury from th' Aonian Grove, 
Uncircumfcrib'd, thro' Realms of -Sther rove. 1190 
With me, ye Mufes, prove the high Ev?nt — 
Whether from deepeft Night this Rage was fent. 
Or the dire Furies, rang*d beneath hi^ Sign, 
ImpeU'd him to confront the Pow'rs divine. 
Or Rafhnefs urg'd him on, or £uft of Fame, ' ^95 
Which woos by perilous Feats a deathlefs Name, 
Or Preludes of Succefs, Heay*n fent to draw 
The guilty Wretch, to break calm Caution's Law ; . 
He loaths all earthly Joys 5 the Rage of Fight 
Palls on his Soulj» and Slaughter Ihocks his Sight : . 
And, all his Quiver fpent, he lifts on high 1201 

His weary Arm, and points it to the Sky, 
He rolls his wrathful Eyes round, metes the Height 
Of the tall Rampires, and th* unnumber'd Flight 
Of Steps, an J ftrait of two compafted Trees, 1.205 
A Ladder forms, to fcale the Walls with Eafc. 
Nowi dreadful from afar, he bares to View 
A clefted Oak, that lightened as he flew : 
His burnifh'd Arms too ruddy Splendors yield. 
And the Flame kindles on his blazing Shield. 12 10 

Virtue direfts me by this Path (he cry'd) 
To 'Thebes f by which the (lipp'ry Tow'r is dyM 
With brave Menceteus^ Blood.— Then let me try. 
If facred Rites avail, or Phoebus lie. ^ 
He faid, and, mounting up the captive Wall 12 15 
By Steps alternate, menaces its Fall. 
Such in Mid Air the fierce Alcid^ fliow'd. 
When Earth's bold Sons with vain Ambition glow'd, 
Ere Pelion (hideous Height) was hurl'd above, ^ 
Or OJfa caft a Shade on trembling Jove 1220 

Th* aftonifhM 



BookX. STAT|US*s THEBAID. 213 

Th* aftonifli'd Thebans then, on th* utmoft Verge 

Of fated Ruin, the fharp Conteft urge. 

Nor lefs, than if Bellona^ Torch in Hand, 

Was bent to fire their Town, and wafte their Land, 

Huge Beams and Stones from ev*ry (garter fling. 

And ply with Hafte the Balearic Sling : it 26 

(For now no Hope, no Dawn of Safety lies 

In Darts, and random Shafts, that wing the Skies) 

Vaft Engines too, in Paffion*s giddy Whirl, 

And mafly Fragments at the Foe they hurl. . 1230 

Thjp Weapons,, that from ev*ry Part are thrown, 

Deter him nor, nor fetch the Warrior down : 

Hanging in empty Air, his Steps he guides, v 

Secure of Danger, and with longfome Strides, 

As on plain Ground, maintains an equal Pace, 1235 

Tho* Death on all Sides flares him in the Face. 

Thus fome deep River, thund'ring in it's Courfe, 

Turns on an aged Bridge its watry Force : 

And, as the loofen'd Stones and Beams give Way, 

Doubles its Rage, and ftrives to wafh away 124^ 

The Mafe inert, nor ceafes, till it fees ^ 

Th* obftrufting Pile difpers'd, and flows with Eafe. 

Soon as he reach'd the Turret's long-fought Height 

(Tho* leflen'd, yet confpicuous to the Sight) 

And fcar'd the Thebans with his bulky Shade, 1245 

He caft a downward Look, and vaunting faid : 

v» 1237* Thus fome sleep River] T know nothing that can give us 
a more terrible Idea of Capaneus aflfaulting the Thehan Fortifica- 
tions, than this Comparifon cf a River's beating with Violence 
againfl a Bridge: There is great Majefty of Style, and Variety of 
Images in it, and the Simile itfelf contains fuch ^n exad Point of 
Likcnefs, as cannot fail of plcafing every Reader of Taftc. 

P 3 Arc 



ai4 STATIUS's THEBAID. Book X. 

Are thefe the Bulwarks then, is this the Wall, 
That crft obeyed Ampbiojfs tuneful Call ? 
Are thefe the fabled Theme, and ftoried Boail 
Of Thebes ? (hall thefe oppofe our conq*ring Hoft ? 1 250 
What Honour, tho' beneath our frequent Stroke 
Thefe Lyre-conftru6led Tow*rs fliould yield N— he fpoke. 
And with his Hands and Feet fad-hurling down 
The Coins and Beams compacted, lays the Town 
part open. — Then the Bridge-form'd Works divide, 

^ And the Stone Joifts from off the Ridges Aide. 1256 
The Fortrefs broken down, again he takes 
Advantage of the Ruin, which he makes. 
And, gathering rocky Fragments, as they fall, 
Deftroys the Town with its own fliiver'd Wall. 1260 
Meantime round Jove*^ bright Throne the Pow'rs divine 
For Thebes and Greece in fierce Contention join : 
To both alike' impartial, he deferies 
Their animated Wrath with carelefs Eyes. 
Reftraitfd by Juno^ Bacchus inly groans •, 1265 

Then, glancing at hi) Sire, he thus bemoans : 
O Jove^ J«rhere is that cruel Hand, ^hich aims 
The forked Bolt, and launches livid Flames, 

^My Cradle once ? — Sol for thofe Manfions fighs. 
Which erft he gave to Cadmus^ as a Prize. 1270 

His equal Love fad Hercules extends 
To both, and doubts, whilft yet his Bow he bends 5^ 

▼. ij6t. Miantime rouml ]civt^j hright Throne] Statius gives the 
Qr€iki the fame auxiliary Deities as Homer does. In this Particalar 
}ct has ihewn great JudgineDt, but ilill greater, in not imitating 
the ridiculous Battle of the Gods> which charadleriies the Twenty,- 
jfirftBook of the Iliad, * 

V. 12:69. 7|/y Cra4le once] The Poet alludes to the fufpofed No- 
^0A| that ^ccbus was taken out of^ufhgr^s Thigh. 

His 



BookX. STATIUS's THEBAID. 215 

His Mother's * Birth-place Perfeus much- laments. 
And Venus for Harmonia'% People vents 
Her Grief in Tears : fufpicious of her Spoufe, 1275 
She ftands aloof, and, wroth for broken Vows, 
^n fecret A&rj regards.— The martial Dame 
On Tyrian Gods, audacious, calls the Blame : 
A furious Silence tortures Juno^s Br^aft, 
Yet nought avails to break th' Almighty's JReft; 1280 
Nay e'en the Strife had ceas'd, when in the Skies 
The Voice of Capaneus was heard. — He cries — 
On Part oi Thebes then no Immortals Hand i 
Where are the Natives of the guilty Land, 
Bacchus and Hercules? — It gives me Shame 1285 

To challenge any of inferiour Name. 
Come, Jove^ (for who*s more worthy to engage ?) 
Thy Harlot's threatened Afhes daim thy Rage : 
Come, gather all thy Lightning to the Blow, 
And plunge me flaming to the Shades below : 1290* 
Abler perchance the timid Sea to fcare 
With empty Sound, and unavailing Glare, 

Or wreak thy Spite onCadmus* bridal Bed.^ 

The Gods deep groan'd, yet nought in Rev'fence faid. 
Th* Eternal, fmiling at his Raftinefs, fhakes . 1295 
The Honours of his Head, and thus befpeaks. 
Survives then mortal Pride dire Phlegra's Fight, 
And wilt thou too my flumbring Wrath excite ? 
This hear'd, the Pow'rs eternal prompt his Hand 
Long-lingVing, and his vengeful Darts demand : 1 300 

V. 1288. Thy Harlot's threatened AJht5\ Semele^ who was burnt by 
Lightnitig. Her Afhes were preferved ia an Urn, and held in great 
\cnex;ation hy the Tbehans, 

,P4 Nor* 



2i6 STATIUS's THEBAID. BookX. 

Nor now the Partner of imperial State, 
Saturnia^ durft refift the Will of Fate. 
His regal Dome in Empyreal Heav'n 
Spontaneous thunders, ere a Sign was giv'n. 
The Show*rs colled:, the claihing Clouds are join'd 
In Conflift fierce, without one Blaft of Wind : 1306 
You*d think, lapetus had broke his Chain, 
Or fell Typhosus was released again, 
fnarime^ and j^tna rear'd on high. 
Th* Immortals blulh to fear, but when they fpy 13 10 
In mid-way Air an Earth-bprn' Warrior ftand 
Opposed to Jovey and the mad Fight demand ; 
Th* unwonted Scene in Silence they admire. 
And doubt, if he'll empl&y th' etherial Fire. 
Now/gan the Pole juft o'er th* Ogygian Tow*r 1315 
To thunder. Prelude of Almighty PowV, 
And Heav'n was ravifti'd from each mortal Eye : 
. Yet ftill he grafps the Spires, he can't defcry ; 
And, oft as Gleams flione thro* the breaking Cloud, 
This Fla/h comes opportune (he cries aloud) 1320 
To wrap proud Thebes in Fire : at my Demand 
'Twas fent to wake anew my fmould'ring Brand. 
Wjiile thus he fpake, the Lord of all above 
Bar'd his right Arm, and all his Thunder drove : 
Difpers'd in ambient Air, his Plumes upflew, 1325 
And his Shield falls, difcolour'd to the View; 
And now his manly Members all lie bare : 
Both Hofts, aftounded at the dazling Glare, 
Recede, left, rufhing with his whelming Weight, 
And flaming Limbs, he haften on their Fate. 1330 

His Helmet, Hair and Torch now hifs within. 
And from the Touch quick fhrinks his fhuddVing Skin ; 
' He 



BookX. STATIUS's THEBAID. 217 

He fhoves his Mail away, aniaz*d to feel 

Beneath his Breaft the Cinders of the Steel, 

And places full againft the hated Wall 1335 

His fmoking Bofom, left, half-burnt, he fall. 

At length, his earthly Part refolv'd away. 

The Spirit quits it's Prifon-Houfe of Clay ; 

And, had his hardy Corfe confum*d more flow. 

He might have well deferv'd a fecond Blow. 1340 

V. 1340. Hi mizht hwve nvell defer*v*d\ I cannot conclude my 
Notes on this Book, without taking fome Notice of tl^e Exploits 
of CapaneuSf which make in my Opinion the fineft Part not only of 
this Book, but of the whole Work. There is great Strength of 
Imagination and an animated Turn of Expreffion in it, which muft 
engage every one, who admires the Flights of an irregular and ec- 
centric Genius. The Violence and Impetuofity of Capaneus is 
finely contrafted by the calm Conlcioufnefs of Superiority in , y«- 
fiter ; but it may be obferved, that as our Poet has elevated the 
Chara£ler of his Hero up to the Gods, fo he has put that of the 
Gods upon /a Level with Men : Witnefs that Hemiftich. 

Th' Immortals blufh to fear. 

This, however, is not the Fault of Statius in particular, but of 
;ill the Authors, who have introduced Machinery in their Poems. 



End of the Tenth Book. 



THE 



THEBAID OF STATIUS. 



BOOK THE ELEVENTH. 



The argument. 



O^H E Greeks being dijheartened by the Death of Ca- 
pancus, the Thebans make a great Slaughter of them. 
Tifiphone ferfuades her Sifter Megsera to ajjift her in for- 
warding the Duel between the two Brothers, Jupiter calls 
a Council of the Godsy and advifes them to retire from the 
Sight of the Combate. Tifiphone ^^^j in queft of Polyni- 
ces, and by her Machinations prevails on him to challenge 
his Rival. He informs Adraftus of his Intention^ whoje 
Attempts to deter him from it are fruftrated by the Fury, 
Eteocles returns thanks to Jupiter /7r his ViSory by a Sa- 
eriftcCy which is attended with frjeral inaufpicious Omens. 
JEpyiu^ bears the Challenge to the King. His Courtiers 
diffuade him from accepting it^ but Creon infolently infifts on 
it. Jocafta ufes her Intereft with him to hinder the Con- 
grifs. Antigone addreffes Polynices to the fame Vurpofe^ 
snd would have gained her Pointy had not the Fury inter- 
pofed. They engage. Adraftus endeavouring in vain to part 
tbem^ retreats to Argos. Piety defcends from Heaven to 
the fame EffeSfy but is repulfed by Tifiphone. Polynices 
overcomes Eteocles; but attempting to ftrip him of his 
Arms receives a mortal Wound. They both empire. Oedi- 
pus laments over their Bodies^ and endeavours to kill him- 
felfy as does Jocaii'dj who is prevented by Kmcnc. Creon 
ufurps the Crowny and prohibits the Burial of the dead 
Bodies. He then threatens to banifh Oedipus, who loads 
him with a Folley of Imprecations: Antigone intercedes 
and procures his Pardon. The Remains of the confederate 
Army decamp by Nighty and fly to AdraftusV Dominions. 



[ 221 1 

t 

THE 

THEBAID OF STATIUS. 

BOOK THE ELEVENTH. 



WHEN dying Capaneus had now fuppreft 
The daring Fury of his impious Breaft, 
And the vindictive Bolt, well-pleas*d to prove 
Its PowV obfequious to the Will of Jove^ 
Spent on the Walls the Remnant of its Force, 5 

And to the blafted Earth purfu*d its Courfe ; 
The Thunderer withholds his vengeful Hand, 
Recalls the Day, and fpares the guilty Land j - 

Among all the Books of the Thebaid there is none in which the 
Poet has condu6led that Part whith concerns the Marvellous with 
greater Art and Addrefs. The Intrigue of the Furies to -procure 
a Duel' between the two Rivals has fomething in it pleaiingly terri- 
ble. Add to this the Spirit and Propriety of the feveral Spteechesy 
a^nong which thofe of Eteochs^ Poly nicest Antigone and Oedipus are 
Mailer- Pieces in their Kind, and' inimitably beautiful. Bur, bating 
thefe Perfe^ionsy which charafterize it in particular, the Subjedi and 
Matter of it in general is too interefting not to require a double 
Degree of Attention in perufing it. We fee in the Con'clufion of 
it poetical Juftice adminiilered with gresU Impartiality and Pro- 
priety ; and the grand End of the Poem anfwered, which was the 
Ihowing >the ill Effedls of Ambition, exemplified in the Death of 
the two Brothers, We are only therefore to look upon the twelfth 
Book as an ornamental Supplement, as the Poem might have 
ended here without violating the Laws of (he Epofaia^ 

3 While 



222 STATIUS^s THEBAID, BookXI. 

While from their Thrones fublimc the Gods arife^ 
And hail with Shouts the Monarch of the Skicsi lo 
As when from Phlegra conq'ring he returned, 
And crufh'd Enceladus his Anger mourned. 
But Capaneusy confign'd to deathlefs Fame 
For A6b^ which Jove chaftiz'd, but durft not blame. 
Retains the Frowns which Death could not efface, 15 
"Whilft his huge Arms a (hattcr*d Tow*r embrace. 
As Tityus^ Monller of enormous Size, 
Stretched o'er nine Acres near Avernus lies j 
Whofe Giant-Limbs if chance the Birds furvey. 
They ftart, and trembling quit th* immortal Prey, 2c 
While ftill his fruitful Fibres fpring again. 
Swell, and renew the bold Offender's Pain. 
Thus groan*d the Plain beneath th* oppreflive Load, 
And with bright Flames of livid Sulphur glow*d. 
Now paus*d the Battle -, and the chofen Train ^ 25 
Of weeping Suppliants quit each hallow'd Fane. 
Here all their Vows, here all their Sorrows ceaie. 
And each fond Mother's Pray 'r is hufH'd in Peace. 

V. II. Phlegra] PhUgra^zs St Qity of MaceJoma^ where the 
Giants f6iight (he Gods. It is fituated under Mount Pindus. 

V. 17. Js Tityas] Lucretius has beautifully explained, the Fabl& 
of Titpts according to its allegorical Senfe. 

, Nee Tityon volucres ineunt Acheronte jacentem ; 
NeCy quod Tub magno fcruteturpe^re, quidquam 
Perpetuaai setatem poterunt repei-ire prc^tlo, 
Quamlibet immani projedu corporis exftet. 
Qui non Tola novem dii|>eriis jugera membris, 
OEtineaty fed qdi terrai toti^s orbem : 
Non tamen sternum potent perferre dolorem. 
Nee praebere dbum proprio de corpore fcmper , 
Sed Tityos hie eft nobis, in amore jacentem 
Quom volucres lacerant, atque exclk anxius Angor ; 
Aut alia quavis fcindunt Cuppediae cune. 

3 Mean 



BookXL STATIUS^s THEBAID. 225 

Meanwhile the Greeks in broken Squadrons yield. 
And to their Viftor-Foes refign the Field. 30 

They fear not human Threats, or hoftileDarts, 
But angry Jove unmans their drooping Hearts, 
His Thunder-Storms ftill dwell upon their Ears, 
And fancy'd Lightnings cleave the ftarry Spheres. 
He feems himfelf to prefs the flying Band, 35 

And launch his Bolts with unremitting Hand. 
the Tbeban Monarch, eager to improvre 
The fair Occafion proffered him. by Jove^ 
Pricks onward to the Rout, and o'er the Mead 
With goring Spurs impells his foaming Steed. 40 

Thus when the royal Savage gorg'd with Food, 
Retires, th* inferior Natives of the Wood, 
Bears, Wolves, and fpotted Lynxes hafte away. 
To fcize the fcanty Relics of his Prey. 



▼.35. His Thunder-Storms^ Any Noife or Sighfthat makes » 
deep Impreffion on us, affeds our Organs of Senfation, as it wer« 
by a Kind of Eccho,. long after the Objedl is removed. It is thiu^ 
we ktMam affefted after the Angel's Relation. 

The Angel ended, and in Adam^% Ear 

So charming left his Voice, that he awhile 

Thought him flill fpeaking. Par^ Loft^ B. 8. L. b. 

It is thus we mufl account for the feenung Inconfi|lency in the fbI-« 
lowing Verfes oi Homer. 

"Htoi or' f( Wf^/ov TO T^A^Vxo a^pncin^ 

Av^6>», cv^iyFuf T itovxvf ofAcc^Ov r a>&^*iin-a>y. ^B. 10 

or as Ariftade anfwers a Criticlfm of fome Cenfurets of H^mer on 
this Place^^ who afked, how it was that Agamtmnon^ (hut up in his 
Tent in the Nisht, could fee the Trtjan Qzsx^ at one View, and 
the Fleet at another, as the Poet reprefents it ? To ^i xotra, (A*Tec<po^a9 
tiffircti (fays he) that is, tis only, a metaphorical Manner of Speech;: 
To caft 9fn4i*s £je, means but to reflect upon, or to revolve in one's 
Mind^ and that employed Agamemnon's ThoMzhls in his Tent, 
which i^ad been the chief ObjeQ of his Sight the Day before. 



Eutyr 



224 STATIUS's T«BBAID. Book XL 

Eurymedon fucceeds, who Weapons bore ac 

Of Form uncouth, and ruftic Armour wore ; 

Pan waJJ his boafted Sire : like him he courts 

A modeft Fame, and (hines in rural Sports, 

Next came Alatreus^ flufh'd with early Fire, 

And matching, while a Boy, his youthful Sire. . 50 

Thrice happy both„ but far more envy'd he. 

Whom Fate adornM with fuch a Progeny. 

Their Years unequal, equal their Renown, 

By both with equal Strength the Dart was thrown. 

Where the deep Trench in Length extended lay, 55 

Compared Troops (land wedg*d in firm Array. 

Alas ! how fickle is the God of Fight f • . 

How vain, oppos'd to Heav'n, is human Might ! 

1 he Greeks^ who late the Walls oi Cadmus fcal'd. 

In Turn behold with Grief their Tents aflaird. 60 

As driving Clouds before a Whirlwind fly, 

And break and fcatter thro' the ruffled Sky j 

V, 61. j^s driving Clotu/j] As Tome Critics have objeded againll 
heaping Comparifons one upon another, to prevent any Prejud ces 
which the unwary Reader may frm, we fhall lay before him Mr. 
Poj,e*s Defence of the following Verfes of Homer. 

OvTt ^a^cicani; xvyux ro^ov ^o»» fffort X'^t^^*> 

Ovn '7:op'^ TOffcroi; yg ttot* j^^ofA^ atvO/xcfoio, 

Out* av-^^ rcca vyt vori Spverif t/tfi^ofioicriy 

In this Cafe (fays he) the principal Image is n-,o:e flrongly im- 
prefled on the Mind by a Multiplication of Similie's, the natural 
Ti odu«5l of an Imagination labouring to cxprefs fomething vaii : 
bu^t finding no fingle Idea fufficient to anfwer its Conceptions, it 
endeavours, by reaoubling the Comparifons, to fupply this Dc- 
fed. The diifcreut Sounds of Waters, Winds and Flames, being 
as it wtre united in on?. We have feveral Inftances of this Sort 
even in To caHigated and reftrvcd a Writer as Hrgi/^ wha has 

joined 



BboKXL STATltrs^s THfiBAID. 225 

As angry Billows lave the rocky Strand, 

And now difclofe, and now o'erwjielm the S^nd j 

Or when on Ceres fouthern Gufts dcfcend, 65 

Before the Blaft the nodding Harvefts bend : 

Thus fall the Rough Tyrinthian Youths beneath 

The Scythe of Death, who like Alcides^ flieath 

.Their Limbs in favage Trophies. From on high 

Their Patron views their haplefs Deftiny, 70 

And pities, as he marks their fliaggy Spoils, 

Memorials of his own illuftfious Toils, 

Enipeus^ urg'd by fome unfriendly Pow*r^ 

O'erlook'd the Conflict from a Grecian Tow*r j 

Of either Army none was more renown*d 75 

The Warrior-Trumpet in the Field to found : 

joined together the Images of this Paira^e in the fourth Getrpcg 
Ittid applied them, beautifully foftened by a Kind of Parody* to 
the Buzzing of a Bee-hive. 

Frigidus ut (juOndam fylvis immurmul-at Auftsri 

Ut mare folhcitam flndet refluentibas undis, 

Aefluat ut claufis rapidus fbmacibas ignis. v, 26 1 4 

Taffb has not only imitated this particular PaiTage of Horner^, but 
likewife added to it. Canto 9. $ianzti 22« 

Rapido ii chc torbida procella 
Da' cavemofi monti efce piu tarda : 
Fiume, ch* arbori infieme^ c cafe fvella 1 
Folgore, che le torri abbatta, & arda : 
Terremoto, che'l mondo empia d'orrbre, 
Son picciole fembianze al fuo furote. 

V. 76. The Warrior-Trumpet] Statius has been blamed by fomd 
ingenious Philologifts for confounding the Manners of the Times 
he wrote of, with thofe of the Times he lived in, by introducing 
a Trumpeter upon the Stage. They quote Euftatbiui and Didy 
mus, to prove that the Ufe of that Inftrument was not known during 
the Theban War. But with Deference to their fuperior Abilities^ 
iwe muft beg Leave to obferve, that the Teftimony of the Poet is 
much more valid than that of the abovementioned Authors, as he 

Vol. II. CL ^i^«^ 



22& STATIUSs THEBAID. BookXI, 

But while, aa Advocate for Speedy Flighc^ 

He ibumlcd a Rctrcac jDrom ^vivcrie Fight, 

HmlM bjr ibcne envious Foe^ a whizzing Spear 

Transfix'dhisHaod, aodnail'ditcohisEar: So. 

Nor ceasM die Clarion, when the Hand of Dcadi 

Impost a Truce, and Fate fopprds'd his Breadi, 

But, to th' Amazement of the M'ning Throngs^ . 

Th' unvar/d footfaing Strain a while probngsL 

Meandme the Fiend, emboldened by Succeis, S^ 

And pleas'd to view the Grediui Hofb' Dkfards, 

Thinks nothing done, till fir'd with mutual Rage,, 

The Rival^Kings in impious F^ht engage. 

And left, unaided, her i\ ttempts fhould fail,. 

Wlien Force combined might eafily prevail, ^ 

Megara Partner of her Toils (he m^es. 

And fummons to the Charge her kindred Snakes. 

Pbr this a Paffagc with her Siygim Blade 

In a lone Valley for her Voice fhe niadcV 

And muttert Wohis, that (hook Che Depth of Hell, 95. 

And roxjs'd the Fury from her gloomy Cell : 

lived nearer thofe Tjitife, and Confe^Uetttly liaH a- better Opporto^ 
iSty of makii% Refcarchcs and Enquiries. Firgiihas likewil'e in- 
troduced it as ufed in the Tr^tm War^ wliick was not long aftes 
that of TMejf and the iacred. Writers make n^ention of 'ihera very 
frequently in their Hiftory of Ages at leaft as early as this. 

V. 81. Ncr ceas'd the Clanon] The -ffint of this l>cauriful Cir^ 
cumftance fcems taken- from tfae-Defcriptioa'Of QrfbeusH Death ia 
the fourth Book of the Oeergks^ 

Tliin quoque hiartnorea caput a ccrvice rcrulfum^ 
Gurgite cum miedio portans Oeagrius Hebrus 
Volveret, Eurydicen vox ipfa et liigida lingua, 
Ahiniferaxa'Eurydkeny animiifugiente, Vocabat; - 

7hci|i. 



BookXL STATIUS's THEB.AII5. 2^15^ 

Then a loud-hifling homed Snake Ihe fear^, - 

Confpicuotts midft the nl»tded Tuft of Hairs < 

Earth groans <iiipsiting ^ac the dreadfuiSound, * 

0/y»»/«j trembles, and the Deeps rebound ; 10© 

While, wak*d to fudden Wrath, th* etherial Sire 

Demands his Bolts, and jjtbreats the World with Fire* 

Her Comrade ajt the diftant Summons ihook. 

As ne^^r her. Parentf« Side her Stand flie took :^ 

While Capaneus harangues th* aflcmbled Ghofts, ipf 

Aii4 loud Applaufes rendche Stygian Cob&s. 

Swift from the i>alefui Regions of the dead 

Th' afcending Monfter bar'd her horrid W^ad. 

The Shades rejoice : the circling Clouds give Way, 

And Hell exylts with unexpcifted Day. «i6 

IJer Sifter flpwto meet her, fwift as Wind \ 

And thus unf(^s the Purpofeof her Mind. 

Thus far our Father'^ harfli Commands i*\rc borne. 

Alone on Earth, eypos'd to Mor.ttflsf' Scorn, 

While you, ^exempt from War and hoftile Rage, t^^ 

The pliant Gho&s with gentle Sway affuage : 

Nor are my Hopes deceived, i>r Lij^bour^ vain ; 

Witnefs thi^ erimfon Stream, and reeking Plain : 

To me dread Fluio owes the ftum'rous Shades, 

That fwarm in SiyXy and the Letba4m Glades. 1^20' 

V. 97. Tbtn.fi] The Cenriltfls iia« Horns like a ^l^m's, and a vwy 
imall Body. It was ^probably ifroip this Percription Miiton pojc ^ 
Hint of the following Verfes. 

But on they roH'd in Heaps, and up the Trees 

Clim!>ing, fat thJi$;W <Jia0 the ihaky Locks 

Thatcurrd Megara: far. Uft$ B. lo. V. 55,8. . 

V. 113. nu5\ One cannot fufficlently admire the Firfe, Spirit, 
and Propriety of this Oration, and with what Art the Character of 
the Fury Xifiphon$ is fupported. 

0^2 Thefe 



a28 STATiUSV THEBAID. B6*kXI. 

Thefc arc my Triumphs,* this the dire Succefr 
Acquired by Toils, and purchased with Diftrels, 
Let Mars command the Fates of either Hoft ; 
*Tis not of vulgar, Deaths alone I boaft : 
Ye faw (for fure his Figure mfuft command 125 

Your Notice, as he ftalk'd along the Strand) 
A martial Chief, whofe Terror-breathing Face 
And Hands black Streams of lukewarm Gore difgrace^ 
InfpirM by me, on human Flelh he fed» 
And with his Teeth dcfac'd the Vidkor's Head. i jo 
Ye heard (for Nature felt the Thunder-Shock^ 
That might have riv*d an Adamantine Rock) 
When Jove in all his Terrors fate array'd^ 
And fummon*d all the Godhead to his Aid, 
To wreak his Vengeance on a Son of Earth, 1 35 

I fmird, for fuch a Scene provok'd my Mirth. 
But now (for ever unreferv*d and free 
I truft the Secrets of my Soul to thee) 
My Hands refufe the blunted Torch to rear, 
And the tir'd Serpents loath this upper Air. 140 

But thou, whofe Rage as yet entire remains, 
Whofe fnaky Tire its wonted Health retains ^ 
Thy Forces join, and all my Labours fhare, 
Fon Schenies like thefe demand our utmoft Care. 
Faint as I feem, from Toil I Ihall not breathe, 145 

Till the two Brother-Kings their Swords unflieath. 
On this I (land refolv'd, tho' Nature plead, 
, And ftart recoilingat th* accurfed Deed. 
Oreat is the Tafk, then let us fteel our Hearts 
• With Rage, and aft with Vigour each our Parts. 1 50. 

Whence 



BookXI. STATIUS's THEBAID. 229^ 

Whence thefc Delays ? for once forget to fpare. 
And choofe the Standards you prefer to bean 
They both are tutor*d ready to our Hands, 
And fir'd by Difcord, wait but our Commands. 
Yet will, I fear, Anfigon§ prevail, 15^ 

And with her artful Condud turn the Scale, 
Or Oedipus^ whofe importuning Pray'r 
Experience tells us oft has urg'd to fparc. 
Oft -is he feen from Converfe to retire, 
. In fecret weep, and aft again the Sire. iSo 

For this my bold Excurfion I poftpone 
To Tbehsj defpairing to fucceed alone. 
Then let the banilh*d Prince your Cares engage. 
Left Length of Time overcome his kfs'ning Rage. 
But moft beware, left mild Adrajius fway 165 

His youthful Mind, and interrupt the Fray. 
Their Parts affign*d, the Sifter-Furies fped 
Each difPrent Ways, as their Engagements led. 
As when two Winds from adverfe iQuarters try 
With equal Lungs their Titles to the Sky, 1 70 

Beneath the Blaft the Waves and Woods refound. 
And one mifhapen Wafte deforms the Ground. 

V. 152. And choofe the Standards] The Meaning of this is, choofe 
♦whfether you will infpirit Eteocks or Polynices to the Combat. 

V. 169. Js ivbetfl The Winds perhaps have been the Subjeft of 
more Comparifons than any one Thing in Nature. Horner^ f^irgily 
and the greatpfl .Geniufes of ancient and modern Times abound ^n 
^em, out of which the following ^omes neareft our Author's, 

Adverfi rupto ceu quondam turbine venti 

Confiigunt, Zephyru^ue Notufque & iastus £ois 

Eurus tqui's, ilridunt fylvae ; faevitque tridenti 

Spumeus, atque imo Nereus ,ciet xquora fundo. JEp, B. Zm 

0^3 • The 



230 STATIUffs THEBAID. Book XI. 

The mourning Hinds their various Lois deplore. 
Yet thank that Lot which kept them lafe on Shoce. 
When Jove^ enthroned in open Air, funrcy*d, 175 
The Day polluted with a double Shade, 
While murky Spots obfcur'd the lowering Skies 
Arid Pbasbta : — fternly to the Gods he cries : 
We faw the Furies impious Combate wage. 
And brook'd, while Moderation check'd their Rage : 
Though one to Fight unequal durft afpire, 18 r 

And fell the Vidim of celeflial Ire. 
But Deeds approach, as yet on Earth unknown. 
For which the Tears of Ages can't atone. 
O turn your Eyes, nor let the Gods furvef 185 

The fatal Horrors oi this guilty Day. 
Sufficient was the Specimen, I ween, 
\Vhen SoU difgufted at the Rites obicene 
Of impious Tantalus;^ recalled his Light; 
And now again ye mourn a fudden Night. 190 

Great as the Crime appears at Mercy's Pray'r 
' The Tenants both of Heav*n and Earth I fparc, 
%Mt Heav'n forbid, AJiraa^% chafter Eye, 
Qr the fair Twins fuch hellifh Afts defcry. 
The Thund*rer fpoke, and as he turn'd away, 195 
A fudden Gloom overwhelmed th' inverted Day. 
Mean while the Virgin Daughter of the Night 
Seeks PolynUes thro' fchc Ranks of Fight. 

V. 19(5. And as le turn' d, &c.] THis Fldion ai Jupiter'' s twmmg 
away his E/es is bbrrowed froih the Following Lines in the i6th 
Book oi Homer. 

The God, his Eyes averting from the Piain^ 
Laments his Son, predeftih'd to beflain, 
VtLX from the Lycian Shprcj^ his native Reign. 

Pf/^'s Iliad. 

3 Beneath 



\ 



IBookXI. STATIUS's THEBAID. aji 

Beneath the Gate the muling Chief fhe found. 

For various Omens did his Soul confound. • ioo 

Yet unrefolv'd to tempt his doubtful Fate, 

And in a Duel end the ftern Debate. 

He faw, as roaming in the Gloom of Night 

Along the Trench he ponder'd dn the Fight, 

Argia\ Image penfi/e ^n4 forlorn, ao^ 

Her Torches broken, and her Trefles torn: 

(For J^ve^% ^11- gracious Wi|l had thus decreed 

To warn him of the near-apprpaching Deed) 

In vain jhe Warrior importuned to tell 

The Motive of her Flight, and What befell : 210 

Nought to the tender Quettion fhe repilies, • 

But from his Sight, the Tears faft-falling, flies. 

Yet well, too well he guefs'd the fatal Caufe, 

That his fair Confort from Mycenae draws, 

Pifcerns the dire Prediftion of his Death, 2 15 

And trembles, to refign his vital Breath. 

But when theGoddefs thrice her Scourge had plyM, 

And fmote the Mail that glitter'd on his Side \ 

He raves, he burns with Fury not his own. 

Nor feeks fo much to mount the Tbeban Throne, 220 

As q*«- his flaughter*d Brother to expire. 

At length he thus accofts his aged Sire. 

Too late, O beft of Fathers, Tve decreed 

' Jn fingle Fight to conquer or to bleed. 



V. 223. Toolate\ This Speech oi Polynices is not without its par* 
ticular Graces. There is an Air of Majefty and Greatnei's that 
dignifies the whole ; and the beautiful Confufion and Irrcgiirarity 
that it difplays is excellently adapted to the Circumftances of the 
Speaker. In the Beginning of it he blames himielf for not poe- 
venting the vaU EfFufion of Blood by a fingle Combat with his 
grother Etiocles. He then artfully founds 4drafius concerning his 

0^4 % AffeOion 



23^ STATIUS's THE B AID. Boob: XL 

When only I of all my Peers furvivc, 225 

For nought but Mifery condemned to live, 

O had I thus determined, ere the Plain 

Yet whiten'd with the Bones of Thoufands flain. 

Rather than fee the Flow'r of Argos fall. 

And royal Blood begrime the guilty Wall. 230 

Say, was it juft, I fhould afcend the Throne, 

Thro* whicb fo many widow'd Cities moan ? 

Yet fince too late the Wreaths of Praife I claim. 

Revenge fhaU prompt, and ^ the ^art of Fame. 

Say, cap one Spark of fity warm thy Breaft 235 

for him who robb'd thy ajitiept Limbs of Reft, 

For him, .by whofe unhappy Concfijdl led, 

And in whofe Caufe fo many Chiefs have bled^ 

This well thou l^now^ft, tho* willing to conceal 

My (hamelefs Adtioiis thro* paternal Zeal. 240 

D had I dy'd, ere to thcfe Walls I fled 5 

But wreak thy Vengeance on my guilty Head. 

To fingle Combat I my Brother dare. 

'Tis thus refolv'd. For Fight I now prepare. 

Nor thou difluade : for by almighty Jove 245 

Thy Pray'rs and Tears muft inefFeftual prove. 

Should e*en my Parents, half diflblv'd in Tears, 

Or Sifters rufh between our clafhing Spears, 

And fondly ft rive to check my furious Courfe, 

They ftrive in vain : for vain are Art and Force. 25Q 

Say, (hall I drink the little that remains 

Of Grecian Blood, and wafte it on the Plains ? 



AfFeiftion, with a View to the Requeft he afterwards makes. In 
fhort, our Author has approved himfelf no lefs fkijful ifi moving 
the Paffions than in defcribing the more turaultupus Scenes of War, 
and Devaflation. 



I faw 



BookXI. $TATIUS's THEBAID. 233 

I faw, unmov'd, th* unclofing Earth give Way, 

And fnatch the Prophet from the Realms of Day. 

I faw the Blood of gen'rous Tydeus fpilt, 255 

A more th^n equal Partner of his Guilt. 

In vaia th* Arcadian Queen and Tegea raves. 

While this her Son, and that her Monarch craves.^ 

Why fell I not, like bold H:pp§medonj 

Surcharged with martial Wreaths and Trophies won. 

Why durft I not like Capaneus^ engage, 261 

And mingle mortal with immortal Rage ? 

What coward Terrors check my trembling Hand ? 

Avaunc. 1 give the Juftice ye demand. 

Here let the childlefs Matron, hoary Sire, 265 

And youthful Widow, flufh'd with am'rous Fire, 

With all, whofe Joys I crop'd before the Time, 

Convene, and curfe me for the fatal Crime. 

Here let them ftand Speftators of the Fray, 

And for my Foe with Hands uplifted pray. 270 

And now, my Spoufe, and all that's dear, adieu 5 

Nor thou, O King, beyond the Grave purfue 

Thy Vengeance ; nor to us alone impute 

The Guiltj'which HeavV partakes ; but grant my Suit» 

And refcucfrom my conqVing Brother's'Ire 275 

My laft Remains.— This only I require. 

D may thy Daughter happier Nuptials prove. 

And blefs a Chief more worthy of her Love. 

He paus'd ; and manly Tears their Cheeks overflow : 

Thus, when returning Spring diflblves the Snow, 280 



V. 279. lie paused] Ariofto has imitated this Simile in the 36th 
Cftnto of his Orlando furiofo. Stanza 40. 

Come a meridional tiepidi venti, 

% 



t36 STATlUS'sTHEBAID. Book XL 

The ViAim then, uninjur'd by the Wound, 

Witli bloody Foam dittainM the facrcd Ground, 

At the bright Altar aim'd a furious Stroke, 

And thro* th' oppofing Crowd impetuous broke. 330 

Forth from the Fane the pale Attendants fpring. 

And the fage Augur fcarce conibles the King. 

At length he iflues Orders to renew 

The Rites, and .fcreens his Fears from pul;)lic View. 

Thus Hercules^ when firft he felt the Pains 335 

Of the flow Poifon raging in his Veins, 

Patient awhile his Part at th' Altar bore : 

Tb^n, as his Anguifli grew at ev*ry Pore, 

Gave Vent to Groans that pierc'd the pitying Skies, 

And wildly left th* unfinilh*d Sacrifice. ^ 340 

Whilft anxious Cares perplex his tortur'd Mind, 

Young JEpytus (his Portefs Charge aflign*d 

To Subftitutes lefs fwift of Foot) drew near. 

And, panting, thus falutes the royal Ear. 

O wave thefc Rites, ye folemnize in vain 5 345 

Nor let fuch Cares withhold you from the Plain. 



V. 335. Thus Hercules] I believe moft of my Readers are ac- 
quainted with the Hiilory of this Affair : and therefcM'P fhall make 
xo Apolc^ for referring thofe who iare not to Semca, Who Kas 
written a riay on this Subject, «ntitted Hercules Oet^eus, 

T. 345. O wa'ue thife Riies,] From the Beginning of this Speech 
to the Clofe of the Book there is a conftant ^ucceflion of all the 
Graces of Poetry. The pleafing and terrible, thp fablime and the 
pathetic are here worked up to Perfection, and ihewn in their pro- 
per Colours. They not only force the Reader's Attention, but 
Adoiiration. The Diflrefs is here wound up to its highefl Pitch, 
and the Chaiadters of Eteochs^ Pofynues, Antigone and Oedifus admi- 
rably fupported. The Reader will I hope excufe this and other 
Sallies of Enthufiafm, as it is but natural for a Tranflator to have 
fome Predilection for his Author, which may fomecimes tranfport 

a young 



BobkXI. STATlUS'a THEBAIC' 237 

When Groves of hoftilc Spears befet our Gates, 

Our Fate depends on Aftion, not Debates. 

Thy Foe, O Monarch, thunders at the Walls ; 

And thee to Combat, thee alone he calls. 350 

His Comrades turn away, and while he fpeaks, ' 

Sighs heave each Breaft, and Tears bedew their Cheeks. 

His Army vent their Murmurs to the Skies ; 

At length in Agony of Grief he cries, 

Say, why was guiltlefs Capaneus deftroy^, 355 

Here rather be thy Bolts, O Jove, emplby'd ? 

In the King's Breaft now Fear and Anger wage 

A ihort-liv'd War, but foon are loft in Rage. 

Thus when the Vidor-BuU hears from afar 

His exird Rival haft'ning to the War, ^Sm 

He ftalks, exulting in coUedted Might, 

Foams with Excefs of Rage, and hopes the Fight : 

His Heels the Sand, his goring Horhs provoke 

The paflive Air with many a well-aim'd Stroke 5 



•a yonng Critic, too far. It is hoped however that Men of Tafte 
will acknowledge that Statius in this Book deferves an high Degree 
of Praife and Admiration. 

V. 359. Thus nvbefty &c.] The Reader may compare this with the 
following Simile £rom TaJJb, 

Non altramente il Tauro, ove 1* irriti 
Gelo(b amor con ftimuli pungenti, 
Horribilmente mugge, e co' muggiti 
Gli fpirti in fe rifveglia, e 1* ire ardenti, 
£'1 como aguzza ai tronchi, e par^ ch* inviti 
Con vani cojpi alia battaglia i vent!. 
Sparge co'l pie V arena, e'l fuo rivale 
Da lange sfida a guerra a^ra, e roortale. 

Qierui. G. 7. St. 5 J. 



While 



t36 STATlUS'sTHEBAID. Book XI. 

The ViAim then, uninjur'd by the Wound, 

Witli bloody Foam dittainM the facrcd Ground, 

At the bright Altar aim'd a furious Stroke, 

And thro* th' oppofing Crowd impetuous broke. 330 

Forth from the Fane the pale Attendants fpring. 

And the fage Augur fcarce conibles the King. 

At length he iffues Orders to renew 

The Rites, and .fcreens his Fears from pul^lic View. 

Thus Hercules^ when firft he felt the Pains 33 j; 

Of the flow Poifon raging in his Veins, 

Patient awhile his Part at th* Altar bore : 

Then, as his Anguifli grew at ev*ry Pore, 

Gave Vent to Groans that pierced the pitying Skies, 

And wildly left th* unfiniftiM Sacrifice. ^ 340 

Whilft anxious Cares perplex his tortur'd Mind, 

Young JEpytus (his Portefs Charge aflign*d 

To Subftitutes Icfs fwift of Foot) drew near. 

And, panting, thus falutes the royal Ear. 

O wave thefc Rites, ye folemnize in vain 5 345 

Nor let fuch Cares withhold you from the Plain. 



V. 335. Thus Hercules] I believe moft of my Readers are ac- 
quainted with the Hiftory of this Affair : and t^erefcq-p fiiall make 
xo Apology for referring thofe who iare not to Semca, who Kas 
written a Piay on this Su§e^, «ntitted Hercules Oetaus. 

T. 345. O fwatH theft Rites,] From the Beginning of this Speech 
to the Clofe of the Book there is a conftant ^ucceflion of all the 
Graces of Poetry. The pleafing and terrible, the fabjime and the 
pathetic arc here worked up to Perfection, and ihewn in their pro- 
per Colours. They not only force the ' Reader's Attention, but 
Adoiiration. The Diflrefs is here wound up to its higheft Pitch, 
and the Chaiadters of Eteocies, Poiynues, Antigone and Oedipus admi- 
rably fupported. The Reader will I hope excufe this and other 
Sallies of Enthufiafm, as it is but natural for a Tranflator to have 
fome Predilection for his Author, which may fomecimes tranfport 

ia young 



BodkXI. STATIUS's THEBAID.' o,jj 

When Groves of holtile Spears bcfct our Gate?, 

Our Fare depends on Aaion, v//i Debater. 

Thy Foe, O Monarch, thundtr$ a: th-r WaJJt ^ 

And tbec to Qjo^'cr.hrc.^ tht^ abne h^ call?. 'j '-^^ 

His Corp.radcs nni ^way, and whil'r he f)>tal:t, 

Si^ bcsTe e£ch Breaft, ^-^ Tear; 5>td-!nr/ th-r:r LW/if/A. 

His An3y vrr: thr.r N5'-'r.:?ri w the Skl-rt j 

At krgri ir .-.r:/r.y c: Gntf hi* c*irs, 

Sav, "viiT ■• ir ruLikfi CcZ'S?s^:i: dt^^r/v'-fL ^ r r 

Ifcir rg-yr bt iby S:.hi- O /V.^ er.^i*>;-^^ ' 

In ibt £^'£"t Brei^ ii'^ r^a:r ^rA A'/jr*r ^'fc^;*: 

A fbcr:-iT^"i '•^•'i-'r bx ro*: tr^ >>r. j^.. Vmc^j:. 

Thus w^KS. lilt V^fi^r-Bi - ri*an f*vx ifa^ 

Foaos ^rai. Zanii :r r:?^ ax»c iiypR r:« f j^tr : 
HEs Hc£^ nc Ssmr- nr Htr-m^ Hvrnt pr^Kikt 
The paSr; ir i^-ni: laai'; ^ v^I^airsrc Vk-^-yc^ ^ 



▼- 355- Fiar -nsixKi. ir. ^ Tiii Ktafirtr jai* VJMt^fi^ivt tiic •*ifc tijr 

fln-Thi iiggitc m^^ ^ i£ c -isf *^ 
Cac -xan. ^soi. £.'^ fyra-r^iv v^*t. 



•VTa* 



J4a STATlUS's TJHEBAID. Book XT. 

Devoted as the Firft-fruits of the War, 

To Mars^ 2i SacriBce the Gods abhor. 

And fhall our King (O Scandal to the Name) 

Delay when challenged to aflert his Claim ? 

Or does Tirejias bid another go, 41 - 

And bafcly frame new Oracles of Woe i 

* For why fhould Hamon any longer live, 

* And his more gen'rous Brother ftill furvive ? 
Let him defend thy Right to kingly Pow'r 

While thou may'ft fit Speftator from the TowV. 420 

Why doft thou murm'ring vent thy Threats in vain. 

And look for Vengeance from this menial Train ? 

Not thefe alone, but they who gave thee Breathy 

And e'en thy Sifters wifli thy fpeedy Death. 

Thy threatening Brother labours at the Gate ; 425 

Nor canft thou here much longer fhun thy Fate 

So long defer v*d. — Thus fpoke th' impaflion'd Sire 5 

The King replies, inflamed with equal Ire. 

Think not, O Traytor, by this weak Pretence 

To veil thy Hopes, and triumph o'er our Senfe : 430 

No Grief could move thee for Menaceus^ Death 

But rather Joy, he thus, refign'd his Breath. 

Fearing, thy impious Thoughts fhould be defcry'd. 

Thou feek'ft in Tears the fwelling Joy to hide, . 

Thro* vain Prefumption, that if I ftiould fall, 435 

Thou, as next Heir, muft fway the regal Hall. 



V. 413. And fljall our King\ 

Et jam tu, fi (jua tibi v's, 
Si patrii quid Martis habes> ilium afpice contra^ 
Qui vocat. ■ ■ ■ ■* 



Ye; 



Book XI. STAlTltJS's THEBAID. ^41 

Ye thope not^ Fortune, adverfe as flie feems. 

Will fccond thee in thefe ambitious Schemes j 

E'en now thy wretched Life is in my; Hahds, 

But firft my Armsi my Arms, ye faithful Bailds. 449 

While we*re in Fight, thou, Creon^ may*fl: affuage 

Thy Groans, and take Advantage of our Rage^ 

Yet fhould the Fortune of the Day be mine 

Immediate Deathj vile Mifcreant, (hall be thine. 

Thus fpoke the Monarch, and his fhining Swordj 444 

Drawn fdrth in Anger to the Sheath reftof*d. 

^hus, when excited by a random Wound, 

The Snake on Spires e'refted, cleaves the Ground, 

And, fraught with Ire, from his whole Body draws 

A Length of Poifon to his thirflry Jaws, j^^q 

If chance his Foe, unheeded, turns afide. 

His high-V^round Wrath is quickly pacified j 

He drinks the Venom, which he wrought in vdn^' 

And his difterided Neck fubfid^s agairi; 

But when the fad Jocajia had received 45^ 

The dire Account, 'too haftily believ'd. 

Unmindful of her Sex, and ev*ry Care, 

She bar'd her bloody Breaft, and rent her Hair, 

V. 458. She bar* d her hloffdy Sreafi] The Speech oijocafia opens 
with great Tenclernefs> and is preluded by Adions expreffive of 
the higheft Mifery. The Circumftance in particular of fhowing 
that Breaft to h6r Son, which had fiipported kirn iii his Infancy, 
is (to ufe the Words of Mr. Pop) extremely moving^ It is a 
lilent Kind of Oratory, and prepares the Heart to liften by prc- 
jpoffcffing the Eye in Favour of the Speaker. Pridm and Hecuba 
are repirefented in much the fame Condition, when endeavouring^ 
to diffuade their Son Hedor from a fingle Combat with"^ Achilles^ 
though I muft obferve^ in praife of our Author, that there is more 
Paffion in Jocafta\ Speech, and the Contrail of Terror and Pity 
coniiderably more heightened. 

Vol. II. R As 



^4* STATIUS'18 THEBAID. BooklXL 

As when 4g^^ climb'd the Mountain's Brow^ 
To bring the promised Head (her impious Vow) 46a 
Such rufli'd the Queen, diftrad^d in her Mipd, 
And left her Daughters, and her Slaves behind. 
Defpair her Nerves with unknown Vigour ftrung. 
And Violence of Sorrow made her young. 
Meanwhile the Chief his graceful Helmet took, 465 
And in his Hand two pointed Javelins fhook. 
When in his Mother rufhes. At the Sight 
He and his Train giicw pale with wild Affright 
He renders back in hafte a proffered Dart, 
While thus flie ftrives to work upon his Heart. 470 
Say, whence this Rage, and why fo foon again 
The warring Furies quit their nether Reign ? 
Was it fo flight two adverfe Hofts to lead. 
And fight by Proxy on th* enfanguin'd Mead ? 
That nothing but a Duel can appeafe 475 

Your mutual Wrath, nor lefs than Murder pleafc. 
Where will the Viftor have Recourfe for Reft, 
Say, will he court it on this flighted. Breaft ? 
Thrice happy Spoufc in this thy gloomy State \ 
O had thefe Eyes but fliar'd an equal Fate ! 4^9 

And muft I fee ? — Ah ! whither doft thou turn 
Thofe Eyes that with revengeful Fury burn ? 
What mean thefe Symptoms of a tortur'd Breaft, 
Harfli-grinding Teeth, and Murmurs half fupprcft ? 
Hop'ft thou to fee thy Mother overcome, 485 

Firft thou muft try thefe odious Arms at home, 
ril ftop thee in the Threfliold of the Gate, 
And, while I can, oppofe the fell Debate. 
Firft thou flaalt pierce, in Fullnefs of thy Rage,. 
Thefe Breafts, that fed thee in thy tender Age : 490 

While 



Book XL STATIUS's THEBAID. . 243 

While hurried on by thee, the furious Horfc 

Spurns my hoar Head, and tramples on my Corfe* 

Why doft thou thus repel me with thy Shield, 

Forbear and to my juft Intreaties yield* 

No Honors to the Furies have I paid, 49^ 

Nor againft thee invoked infernal Aid. 

*Tis not ftern Oidipus, thy vengeful Sirc^ 

Thy Blifs, thy Welfare only I defirc. 

I dfk thee but to halt awhile, and weigh 

The Guilt and Dangers of th' intended Fi^ay* gwir 

What tho* thy Brother fummons thee to fight, 

Prefuming on imaginary Might ? 

No Friend is near his Fury to reftraiii : 

Thee all intrcat, thee all intreat in vain. 

Him to the Fight Adraftus may perfuade, 505 

Or fliould he check, fcarce hopes to be obey'd* 

Wilt thou then leave us here abfbrb'd in Woe, 

To vent thy Anger on a Brother Foe ? 

Nor did a Virgin's tender Fears withhold 

The fair Antigone •, but nobly bold $16 

She rufli'd amidft the Crowd, refolv'd to gain 

The Wall, whofe Height commands the fubjcft Plains; 

Old ASior follows with unequal Pace, 

Enfeebled, ere he reach'd the deftin'd Place. 

Hei*Br6ther flic difcern*d not, as afar 515 

She faw him glitter in the Ppmp of War, 

But when flie heard him infolently loud 

Difcharge his Darts^ and thunder in the Crowd, 

She fcream^^ and as about to quit the Walls, 

On Poh/mces thus aloud fti€ calls. 539 

AwMle ihy Arms, and horrid Creft refign. 

And to yon TowV thy roving Eyes confine. 

R 2 Know'ft 



^44. STATIUS'fi THEBAID. BookXL 

Know'ft thou thy Foes ? and doft thou thus demand 

Our lawful Share of the fupreme Command ? 

Whatever may be the Merits of the Caufc, 525 

Such Condud cannot meet with our Applaufe. 

By all the Gods oiArgos (for our own 

Dilhonour'd and of no Repute are grown) 

By thy fair Spoufe, and all thy Soul holds dear, 

O calm thy Paffion and a Sifter hear. 530 

Of either Hoft behold a numerous Train, 

Permit not thefe to fuc, and fue m vain. 

This, only this I claim as the Reward 

Of my fufpefted Love, and firm Regard. 

Unbind the martial Terrors of thy Brow, ' ^^s 

Difmifs each Frown, and giv? me yet to know. 

That, what with honeft Freedom I impart. 

Has wrought a juft Impreffion on thy Heart. 

Fame fays, thy Mother*s fuppliant Groans have won 

Eteocles, Tier more obfequious Son j 540 

But I return repuls'd, w1k> Day and Night 

Have wept thy Exile, and bemoanM thy Flight. ' 

By me thy haughty Father was appeased. 

E'en the ftern Oedipus^ fo rarely pleas'd. 

Thy Brother ftands acquitted of the Crime, 545 

What though-he reign*d beyond th* allotted Tim^ 

And broke his Faith ; yet he repents at laft. 

And wifely fhuns the Cenfure of the paft, 

V. 527. For our oy:n] This is a veiy bitter Remonllrance of his 
Difregard to his native Town, by bringing a foreign Arm/ to b^ 
fiegc it. 
*" V. 534. Of my fufpeBed Love] Jntigone is reported to have con- 
fined her Aifedion to her younger Brother PolymaSf ami even to 
have admitted him to her Embraces. , La^antiiu. 

Stilled 



Book XL STATIUS's THEBAID. 245 

Still'd by thefe Words, his Rage began to ceafe. 
And his tumultuous Soul was hu(h*d to Peace : ggO 
His Grafp relaxed, he gently turns the Reins, 
And fadly filent for a while remains. 
Thick-iffuing Groans his blunted Anger (how. 
And Tears, by Nature only taught to flow. 
But while he hefitates as in a Trance, ge^ 

AftiamM alike to linger or advance. 
The Gates broke down, his Mother thruft afide. 
Freed by the Fury, thus his Rival cried. 
Brother, at length I come, yet much repine. 
The Glory of the Challenge muft be thine. 560 . 

Yet truft me, *twas my Mother who delay'd 
The wi{h*d-for Combat, and withheld my Blade. 
Soon ihall this headlefs State, our native Land, 
Be fubjeft to the Conqueror's Command. 
Nor was the Prince more mild in his Replies, g6g 

Now, Tyrant, doft thou know thy Faith ? (he cries) ** ' 
Thou adteft now at length a Brother's Part; 
But come, and prove the Fury of my Dart. 
Such Covenants alone to choofe remain, 
Thefe are the Laws, that ntijft fecure our Reign. 570 
This Anfwer, ftern to view, the Chief returned; 
For his proud Heart with fecret Envy burn'd. 
As he defcry'd his Brother's numerous Train, 
That fwarm'd around him, and half hid the Plain, 
The purple Trappings, that his Steed adorn, 575 

And ftudded Helm, by Monarchs only borne. ' 
Though he himfelf no common Armour bore. 
Nor on his Back a vulgar Tunic wore : 
T'h* Enibroidery his fkilful Confort (taught 
JEach Art that Lvdian Damfels praftife) wrought. §80 

R 3 And 



2^6 STATIUS's THEJ^AID. Book XI, 

And now they fally to the fiufty Plain, 

The Furies follow, mingling in the Train. 

Like trufty Squires, befidc the Steeds they ftand^ 

Adjuft their Trappings with officious Hand, 

And, while they feem attentive to the Reins, 58^ 

With intermingled Snakes augment their Manes, 

Two Brothers meet in Fight, alike in Face, 

Sprung from one Womb, tho* n6t from one Embrace. 

Now ceafe the Signals of the War around. 

Nor the hoarfe Horns, nor (hriller Trunipets found 5^ 

When Plufo thunder'd from his gloomy Seat, 

The confcious Earth thrice fhook beneath their Fecu 

Mars lafh'd his Steeds, and all the Powers of War 

Retire from Sqenes they cannot but abhor. 

Bellona quenqh'd in Hafte her flaming Brand, 595 

And laureird Valour quits the guilty I^and. 

The Sifter Furies blulh at their own Deeds ; 

While to the Walls the wretched Vulgar fpeeds^ 

A juft Averfion mixt with Pity fliow. 

And rain their Sorrows on the Crowd below. 60Q 

Here hoary Sires, a venerable Throng, 

pomplain to Heav'n and cry, f weVc liv'd too long-,* 

V. 581. And now fbey faUy to the] It h imppflible but the wholf 
Attention of the Readerniuft be aw^tnedat this Crifis, Nothing 
could be better contrived to prepoflefs him with a jaft Deteftadoii 
of this impious and unnatural Combat than the Fidtion that pre-^ 
ludes it. The Images have fbniething in them wonderfully gran4 
and magnificent. We hewr Pluto thundering, feel the Earth mak- 
ing under us, and fee Mars, Pallas and toe fubaltern Deities of 
War retiring with the utmoll Precipitation from fo horrid a Sp^- 
tacle. j^ven the Furies themielves, who were acceifary to., tht 
Duel, when it is upon the Point of being fought, are reprefentci 
as /hocked, abafhed and afloni(hed. The Circumftance o/the Mo-' 
thers driving atvay their Children has not more of Art than Nature 
in its Inveiitltm 
••• 3 Thcr^ 



Book XI. STATIUS's THEBAID. 247 

There fadder Matrons their bare Breafts di(play» 

And kindly drive their eager Sons away. 

Aftonifh'd at the Deed^ infernal "Jove 6o§ 

Opens each Paifage to the Realms above. 

The Phantoms, freed on ev'ry Mountain's Brow 

Recline, Speftators of their Country's Woe j 

Around a Mift of Stygian Gloom they caft. 

Glad that their greatefl Crimes are now furpaiL 6id 

Soon as Adraftus was informed by Fame, 

The wrathful Combatants, unaw*d by Shame, 

Had iflued forth to clofe the bloody Scene, 

He urg'd his Steeds, and kindly rulh'd between. 

Much was he reverenced for Rank and Age, Si^ 

But what could thefe avail to calm their Rage ? 

When Nature's Ties experienced no Regard, 

Yet thus he ftrives their Conflidt to retard. 

Shall then the Greek and Tyrian Armies too 

Your Crime, as yet unmatched, unafted, view ? Siq 

Can there be Powers above, and Laws divine ? 

But come, your Wrath at my Requeft refign. 

I afk thee. Monarch ! tho* we ad as Foes, 

Yet know, our Strife from our Relation rofe. 

Of thee a Son's Obedience I demand \ 62$ ' 

Yet if he thus defire fupreme Command, 

I lay afidc the Garb of fovVeign Sway, 

jirgos an4 J^ema (hall your Laws obey. 

He fpal^e : their ftubborn Purpofe they retain. 

Nor his fag€ Counfels more their Will reftrain, 6^& 

Than the Sea liftens to the Sailor's Cry, 

When the Surge bellows, and the Storm runs high. 

When he perceiv'd his mild Intreaties vain, 

And the (wq Knights encountering on the Plain, 

R 4 While 



448 STATIUS's. THEBAID. BookXI, 

While each, impatient, anxious firfi: to wound, 635 

Inferts his Dart, and whirls the Sling around, 

|ic lalh'd Arion (who, his Silence broke. 

The ftern Decrees of Fate, portentous, fpoke) 

Yields all the Reins, and flying Iwift as Wind, 

His Camp, his Son, and Army leaves behind. , 64Q 

Not paler look'd the Ruler of the Ghofts, 

;When he CQmpar'd his own Tartarian Coafts 

V. 638. The ftern Decrees] The Impropriety of this Fidion is no^ 
fo flagrant as feme may apprehend it, and cur Author has the 
Sanftion of Fable and Hiftory to juftify his ufing it. Livy tdl us 
of two Qxfitn, who forewarned the City of Rome in thefc Words, 
Jloma cave tibi : and P'liny obferyes, that thefe Animals were re- 
Sinarkable for* Vaticination. Eft freque'ns in prodigiis prifcorum, 
bovem effe locutuni. HomMr introduces the Horfes of Achilles pro- 
phefying their Mafter's Death : and if he has done it without 
Cenlure from* the Critics, why may not Statitis be allowed the fame 
Liberty after him ? 

V, 641. Not paler look'd] The following Verfe? of Homer witl^ 
Mr. Pope's Note on them will clear up the My ftery of this Similf 
$f there be any; . . . . ^.v »< 

T^»p^5a ^i'wavTla ^i^ccran, Hxurot; ^' ijx/xope TiffcJ?* 

'Zsvq ^' t>^»X y^st'ov st/pv i-v uibift xj 9i(^i}<viah* 
XaToi y «Tt ivfn 'jrccvTMv x) fAXKfoq 6^y/A7r^. 

flomer's fliad. B. IJ* 

Some have thought the Platonic Philofophers drew from l^ence the 
islbtion of their Triad (which the Chriftian Platonifts iince imagin'd 
to be an obfcure Hint of the faci-ed Trinity.) The Trias of PUifo 
is iVell known, to auVo o> va-; ^ij/^twpy^, »» tw taa-f/Ai "i^v^ii, lii his 
Gorgias he tells us, roy ''Ofc»?;iy (autorem fc. fuifTe) ri^ rut' ^niiMfyt' 
' lK*y Tp»a5»x»ic vTTcracrew?. Sce Proclus in Plat. Thtol, Lib. i. C. C. 
Lucian, Philopatr. Ariftoides dt c<t\Oj L. 1. c. I. fpeakihg of tb6 
Ternarian Number from Pythagoras,^ ha.s thefe Words, Ta r^ha vMa, 
xal.ro rp)i wavrtj. lej w^o? ra? a^tar/i^? ruy ^£Uf ^fufjfft^ac Tw «g»Of*« Tor- 
krtf* Ka^dvi^yccf (pag'if ««* ot JJv^ayofnoi no vav jeat r» fr»y¥a, n-oK Tpi^ 
iffly ti'fitrTcct, TiMvrri yd^ x»» ftlror xat a§;^w rlv agi$^o» i^n toi t« ara»Iof 
"•' • •--•..■* ... . .- ravT^ 



BookXI. STATIUS'6 THEBAID. 249 

With the more blifsful Scenes of Heaven above. 

By favoring Lot aflign*d to happier Jove. 

Nor Fortune was indulgent to the Fray, 645 

But by a blamelefs Error of the Way 

She kfept their rulhing Courfers long apart. 

And kindly turn'd afide each guiltlefs Dart. 

At length the Chiefs, impatient for the Fight, 

With Spurs and loofen'd Reins their Steeds excite, 650 

While direful Omens from the Gods above 

Both Armies to renew the Battle move. 

Through either Camp a bufy Murmur rolls. 

And glorious Difcord fires their inmoft Souls, 

Oft Paflion urges them to rufli between, 6^^ 

And intercept with Arms the bloody Scene, 

But Piety, who view'd with equal Scorn 

The Gods, and thofe of mortal Mothers born. 

Sat in a diftant Part of Heav'n, alone. 

Nor habited, as fhe was whilom known. 66p 

A gloomy difcontented Look ihe wore. 

The' Snow-white Fillet from her Treffes tore. 

And like a Mother or a Sifter Ihow'd 

Her tender Heart in Tears, that freely flow'd. 

The guilty Fates and Saturnh Son fhe blam*d, 665 

And with a Voice that picrc'd the Skies, exclaimed, 

rotZrot ^i Toi' Tij,- Tf tfltoor. From which Paflage Trapexuntius endea- 
voured very ferioufly to prove that Arijiotle had a perfea Knoir- 
ledge of the Trinity. Duport (who furni(hed me with this Note, 
and who feems to be fenfible of the Folly of Trapexuntius) never- 
thel^fs in his Gncmologia Homerica has placed oppofite to this Verfe 
that of St. Joh: : I'here are three, who give Teftimony in Hea- 
ven, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghoft* I think this the 
ftronge(t Inftance 1 ever met with of the Manner of thinking of 
^uch Men, whofe too much Learning has made them mad. 

? She 



it5o STATIUS'« THEBAID. Bo&kX^ 

Sic fooB would quit the ftany Realms oSj&v0^ 
And feek a Manfion in the Stygian Grove. 
Wky was I form'd, O Author of my Birth, 
To fway the Sons of Hear'n, and Sons of Earth ? 6yo 
Sufpcnded arc my Honours, loft my Fame, 
And Piety is nothing but a Name. 
O Madne&, fatal Madnefs of Mankmd, 
And Am, by rafli Prometheus iU defign'dt 
Far better had the World continued void, ^75 

And the whole Species been at once deftroy'd. 
Try we however their Fury to teftrain. 
Some Praifc istlue, ibould we but try in vain. 
She fpoke, and watching for a favVingTime, 
With fwift Defccnt forfook tV aerial Clime. $Sq 

Sad as flic feem'd, a fnowy Trail of Light 
Purfu'd her Steps, and marked her rapid Flight. 
Scarce had ftie landed, when j their Wrath fiq>preftt 
Tht Low of Peace prevails in ev'ry Breaft. 
Adown their Checks the Tears in Silence fteal $§^ 
And the two Foes a tranfient Horror fecL 
Fidkitious Arms, and Male- Attire flic wears. 
And thus aloud her high Bchefts declares. 
Hither, whoe'er fraternal Friertdfliip knows. 
If yet we may reftrain thefe Brother Foes. 690 

Then (for I ween Heav'n pitied) from each Hand 
The Weapons fell, and fixt the Couriers ftand. 
E*en Fortune feem*d to fpin a fliort Delay, 
And rufc between to clofe the dreadful Fray ; 
fiut ftcrn Eritiftfs pierc'd the thin Difguife, 655 

And fwift as Lightning to the Goddcfs flies. 
What UTg*d thee, who to Peace art more inclin'd. 
To mingle in the Wars of Human-kind ? 

Retire 



JBookXI. STATIUS's THEBAID, »5i 

Retire, advis*d, and give the Vengeance Way ; 
Our's is the Field, and Fortune of the Day. 700 

"Why wcrt thow wanting, wheji a juft Pretence 
Was oflfer*d thee to war in their Defence ? 
When Bacckus bath'd his Arms in kindred Blood, 
And Mars's Serpent drank the guilty Flood •, 
When the Spbins^ fell, and Cadmus fow'd the Piain; 705 
When JLaius by his Son was raftily flain, 
pr, guided by our Torch, jfocajia prels'd 

The Bed of IncefL Thus the Fiend addreft 

The baftiful Pow'r, purfu'd her as flic fled 

With Snakes, and wav'd her Torch around her Head. 

The Goddcfs draws the Veil before her Eyes, 711 

And for Redrefs to Jove all-potent flies. 

Soon as fhe left the Heroes, by Degrees 

Their Ire returns, and nought but Arms can pleafe* 

The perjured Monarch firfl: his Javelin flings ; yi^ 

Full on the middle Orb the Weapon rings. 

Nor pierced the Gold, but bounding from the Shield 

Exhaufts its blunted Fury on the Field. 

The Prince advances next, in A6t to^throw. 

But firfl: befpeaks the PowVs that rule below 720 

Ye Gods, of whom with more than hop'd Succefs 

The Son of Lotus whilom afk'd Redrefs, 

V. 712. And for ReJre/s] Barthitis with more than ufual Pro. 
priety obferves, that our Author like the great Homer has nodded 
over this PafTage. How (fays he) is it probable, that Piety fhoald 
have Recourfe to Jupiter for Redrefs, on whom with all the other 
Deities ihe had thrown out the moft bitter Invedtives, and threaten-* 
ed, as he informs us, 

She foon would quit the ftarry Realms of 7«w, 
And feek a Manfion in the Stygian Grove, 

To 



iS^ STATIUS'6 THEBAID. Book Xt. 

To this lefs impious PrayV your Ears incline. 

And realize the Mifchief I defign. 

Nor think, my Rival flain, I wifh to live, 725 

This guilty Spear (hall Abfolution give. 

Give me but Breath to tell him that I reign. 

And by furviving, double all his Pain. 

The rapid Spear, with forceful Vigour caft. 

Between the Rider's Thigh and Courfcr paft. ^jq 

A double Death the vengeful Markfman meant. 

But the wife Chief his Knee alertly bent ;• 

Nor, innocent of Blood, the Lance defcerids. 

But the Ihort Ribs with glancing Fury rends. 

The Steed wheels round, impatient of the Reins, 7^jj 

And draws a bloody Circle on the Plains* 

The Prince, prefuming it his Rival's Wound, 

(He too believes it) with a furious Bound 

Springs forward, ,and advancing o*er the Mead, 

Pours all his Fury on the woundedf Steed. ^aq 

Reins mixMwith Reins, and Hand iolock-d in Hand, 

At once the falling Courfers prefs the Strand. 

As Ships, entangled by the Wind, contend. 

Their Oars exchange, their mingled Rudders rend^ 

V. 727. Give me hut Breath'] I am inclined to believe this wa$ 
one of thofe Pafraj>es, that induced Mr. Pope to remark on oar 
Author's Heroe?, that an Air of Impetuofity runs through them 
alJ: the fame horrid and favage Courage appears in Capaneus. 
^ydeusy Hippomedoriy &c. They have a Parity of Charadlcr which 

makes them feem Brothers of one Family Lucan puts a Wiflj 

IB Ct/^far*s Mouth, which is not very diffimilar. 



-Mihi funere nullo 



Eft opus, O Superis lacerum retincte cadaver 

Fludibus in m«diis; defmt mihi bulla, flogufqu^ 

Dum mctuar femper, terraque txi^^€i,QT ab omni. Ph. L. 5. 

Andj 



BookXL STATIUS's THEBAID. 253 

And, while they ftruggle in the gloomy Storm 745 

1 b break the Knot, a ftrider Union form ; 

Then, all the Pilot*s Art in vain applied. 

Together in a Depth of Sea fubfide. 

Such wis the Scene of Conflift. Art they fcorn. 

By mutual Anger on each other borne. 750 

The Sparks, that iffue from each other's Eyes, 

Kindle their Ire, and bid their Fury rife : 

Entwin'd in one their Hands and Swords were fecn. 

So clofe, no Interval was left between. 

But mutual Murmurs, as in Hern Ernbrace 755 

They mix, fupply the Horn, and Trumpet's Place. 

As when, with Anger ftung and jealous Rage, 

Two Boars, the Terror of the Wood, engage. 

They gnafti their Iv*ry Tulks, their Briftles rife. 

And Lightening flafhes from their glaring Eyes : . 760 

While the pale Hunter from fome Mountain's Height 

Stills the flirill-baying Hounds and views the Fight. 

Thus fought the Chiefs ; nor tho' they yet had found 

Their Strength exhaufted by a mortal Wound, 

Yet flow'd the Blood, the Mifchief was begun, . 765 

Nor aught, the Fiends could wifh, remained undone* . 

They grieve, the Wrath of Man can yet do more. 

And praife the ftridt Obfervance of their Lore. 

V. 757. JsAJithen] The Poet has here given us an Image of tha 
t^o Combatants with great Precifion and Exadlnefs. If he ha4 
Compared them to a Boar and a Lion fighting, he had not taken 
in the Circumftance of Relation between the two Heroes, which 
conflitutes the EiTence of the Comparifon. The Hunter and his 
li^ogs very properly correfpond with the Soldiery, who were Spec- 
tators of the Duel. In Ihort (as Mr. Pope obferves of a Simile iu 
Homer) there is no Circumftance of their prefent Condition that 
is not to be found in the Comparifon, and no Particular in th^ . 
Comparifon that does not refemble the A^ion of (he Heroes. 



454 STATIUS's THfiBAlO. BookXL 

Each aims a deadly Blow, and thirfts for Blood, 
Nor fees his own, that forms a purple Flood, 770 

Full on his Foe, th' impetuous Exile flics. 
Exhorts his Hand, and ev*ry Nenre applies : 
Much he prefumes upon his righteous Caufe, 
And jufter Anger, then his Falchion draws. 
And in his Brother's Groin the^ecl inferts, 775 

Where his ill-guarding Mail the Cinfture girts. 
The King, alarm*d as he began to feel 
The cold Invalion of the griding Steel, 
Retires beneath his Target. He purfucs. 
As the wide Wound, and iffuing Gore he views, 78a 
And with a Voice that fhook the Fields around, 
Infults him thus, as ftill he quits his Ground : 
Brother, why this Retreat ? — O tranfient Sleep 
And Vigils, which th* ambitious ever keep ! 
Behold thcfe Limbs, by Want and Exile ftecFd ; 785 
And feam to bear the Hard(hips of the Field : 
Nor truft the Fortune, that beftows a Throne, 
And raflily call, what fhe but lends, thy own. 
The King as yet his viul Breath retain'd. 
And ebbing ilill tmt Stream of L^e remained. 790 

Spontaneoufly fupine he prefs'd the Ground, 
And meditates in Death a fraudful Wound. 
His Brother, hoping now the Day his own. 
Extends his Hands to Heav*n, and in a Tone 
That ftiook Gtharofij ecchoing thro* the Skies, 7^5 
Thus o'er his proftrate Foe, infulting, cries, 
'Tis welL-The Gods have heard,— He pants for Breath 
And his Eyes darken with the Shades of Deaths 
Let fomc one bring the Crown, and Robe of State, 
While yet he fees, and ftrugglc* with his Fate- Z(» 

He 



Book XL STATIUS's THEBAID. 255 

He paused, infpir'd by fome unfriendly Pow*r, 

To ftrip his Rival in his dying Hour, 

As if his iU-earn'd Spoils, in Triumph borne. 

Would raife his Glory, and the Fanes adorn. 

The Monarch, who, tho* feigning to expire 805 

Survived to execute his vengeful Ire, 

When hp perceived the Poflurc of his Foe 

(His Bofom obvious to a mortal Blow) 

Unfeen hi$ Falchion raifes, and fupplies 

With Rage the Strength, that ebbing Life denies, 81O 

Then in bis unftifpeding Brother's Heart 

With joyful Anger Iheathes the fteely Part 

The Prince rejoins. Then art thou yet alive. 

And does thy Thirft of Vengesmce ftiU furvivc ? 

Bafe Wretch ! thy Perfidy can never gain ti5 

A blifsful Manfion in th' Eljfim Plain. 

Hence to the Shades, there PU renew my Claim 

Before the Cretcm^ who is faid by Fame 

To (hake the Gnoffian Urn, and Woes prepare 

For perjur'd Kings, and all who falfcly fwear. 8ao 

This faid, he funk beneath the de^hful Blow, 

And with the Weight of Arms overwhelmed his Foe. 

Go, cruel Shades, the Pains of Hell exhauft, 

Mourn all ye Fiends, the Palm of Guilt is loft. 

l^knceforward learn the Sons of Earth to fpare, $25 

Nor pupifti Deeds, which ill with thefe compare. 

Deed^s, that are yet unmatched in any Clime, 

Nor known in all the fpacious Walks of Time. 

Let dark Oblivion veil the guilty Fight, 

And Kings alone th' emrmous Crime xedte. 83a 

When 



2S6 STATIUS'fc THEBAIC. Bo6k Xt 

When Oedipus had heard, the Brothers fell 

By mutual Wounds, his fubterraneous Cell 

He quits in Hafte, and drags to Scenes of Strife 

His wretched Load of unillumin'd Life. 

InvetVate Filth and clotted Gore difpread> 83£j 

The filver Honours of his aged Head. 

Dire to the View his hollow Cheeks arife^ 

And frightful yawn the Ruins of his Eyes. 

His Right-Hand on the Staflf was fecn to refl:^ 

His left the Shoulder of his Daughter preft. 84* 

Such here on Earth would hoary Charon feem^ 

Should he forfake awhile the Stygian Stream ; 

The Stars would blufh to view his hideous Mein> 

And Pbosbus ficken at his Form obfcene* 

Nor he himfelf would long avail to bear 84^ 

TheChange of Climate, and a foreign Air, 

While in his Abfence fwells the living Freight^ 

And Ages on the Banks his Coming wait^ 

Soon as they reach'd the Field, aloud he cries^ 

O thou, on whom alone my Age relies, 856 

Direft me to my Sons, and let me fhare 

The fun*ral Honours, which their Friends prepare* 

V. 831. JThen Oedipus} Of all the Pidures, which the Pcndi 
*of Poetry ever prefented to the Eye of the Mind, none abounds ia 
more mailerly Strokes and Touches than this before us. Oedifui 
appears here in all the Pomp of Wretchednefs (if> I may ufe that 
Exprefllon} and can only be equalled by Sbakeffear^s King Lear. 

V. 845. Nor he] Our Author has taken the Hint of this Hjrpo* 
thefis from 0'viiP& Metamorphofis* 

Eft via declivis, per quam TyrinthiUs lierbs 
Reftantem, contraque diem, radioique micantea 
Obliquantem oculos, nexis adamante catenis 
Cerberon attraxit. ■ Lib» 8thi 



Book XI. STATIUSX THEB AID, 257 

The Virgin, ignorant of his Command, 

lieplies in Groans, and lingers on the Strand ; ' 

"While Chariots, Arms, and Wiarriors heap the Way^ 

Their Feet entangle, and their Progrefs flay. 85^ 

Scarce can his aged Legs the Sire fuftain, i - 

And his Conduftrcfs labours oft in vain. 

Soon as her Shrieks proclaimed the fatal Place, vs, ' - *, 

He mix*d his Limbs with theirs in cold Embrace. Z6q 

Speechlefs he lies, and murmurs o*er each Wound^ .. 

Nor for a while his Words a Paffage found. 

But while their Mouths beneath their Helmls he feeks,' 

His Sighs give Way, and all the Father fpeaks. . 

Does then Aflfcftion bear again its Part 865- 

In decent Grief, and can this ftubborn Heart,. 

By Wrongs inured, and by Diftreffes fteel'd, , 

To conq*ring Nature's late Impreflions yield. 

Elfc why thefe Tears, that long had ceas'd to flow,' 

And Groans, that more than vulgar Sorrow ftiow ? 870 

Accept then, what, as Sons, you rightly claim, • - , 

(For well.your Aftions juftify the Name) 

Fain would i fpeak, but know not which demands 

The Preference by Birth :/— then fay whofe Hands 

I grafp. — How (hall I give your Shades their Due, 875 

And with what Pomp your Obfequies purfue ? . 

O that my Eyes could be reftor*d again, . .. • 

And the loft Power of renewing Pain ! 

To Heav'n alas too juft my Caufe appeai:*d, . 

And too fuccefsfully my Pray'rs were heard. 8.8q 

What God was near me (when by Paffion fway*d» 

My Vows to P/«/(?, and the Fiends Lpaid) 

And faithfully conveyed the Curfe to Fate/? . , 

Charge not on me, my Sons, the dire Debate,. 

Vot. II. S - • ^.BuJ 



2s^ STATIUS's THEBAID. SookXL 

But on tny Parents^ Throne, infernal Foes, . 885 

And ki^r^d Eytss^ fole Authors of your Woes* 

M; guildefs Guide, and: piuu loth to fpare, 

I Gall,to vouch the iacred Truth I fwear. 

Thus wbrtluly may I re%i my Breath, 

Nor Lmm flnm the in the Realms c^ Death. S^^ 

Alii! niiat Bonds, what Wounds are thefe I ftd ! 

O lo^yoUf Handsy no longer gra/p the Steel; 

No longer kt thefe hi^e Folds be feen ; 

Aflfd^ itowr at feaft admit your Sire between. 

Thus wsi^d the wretchol King^ and fick of Life S^s- 

r« ftcret fought die Inftrument of Strife : 

But fhe, fu^icious of his; rafil Defigns^ 

Concealed it, whilft in K^fgt ha thus rbjoin^. 

Ye vengeful Furies I can no Swords be found ? 

Was id!> Ae Weapon buried in the Wound ? 910 

His Comrbde^ raifinghim^ her Grief fuppredv 

And much) it^cM^d, that Pi^ touch'd his Breaft. 

Meanwhile, impatkiitt of die vital Light^; 

And,- dttading to funrtve the threatened F^t, 

The QMdh theSwoid of hapkft Laius fought^ 905 

f A £iMl<Sp€iU with future Mifchiefs fraught.) 

And, miich complaining of the Powers abovft 

Her furious Sop^ and her inceftuous; Love^ 

Attempts to pierce her &eaft. Her faultering Hand , 

Long ftruggl^ to infik the weighty Brand, 9.10 

Ab^iehgth with Toil her aged Veins (he tore. 

And pM|^4 the Bed of Guilt with ilTuing Gore. 

The fair Ifmne to her Refcue flew. 

Her fnowy Arms around her Mother threw. 

To dry the Wound her ev'ry Care applied, 915 

4!lld ftnt her Treifes, forrowmgatherSide, 

Such 



BookXL STATIUS's THEBAIP^ 559. 

Such crft in Marathoii% impervious Wood 

Erigone befide her Father ftood. 

When, haft'ning to difchargc her pious Vows, 

She loosed the Knot, and cuU'd the ftrongeft Boi^s : 

But Fortune, who with Joy oiaKgn furvey'd ' 9a x 

The Hopes of either Rival fruftrate made. 

Transfers the Sceptre thence with envious Hand, 

And gives to Cuon the fupreme Command, 

Alas ! how wretched was the Term of Fight I qzjL 

Another rules, while they difpute their Right, 

Him all invite with one approving Voice, 

And (lain Menteceus juftiHes their Choice; 

At length He mounts the long-contefted Throac 

Of ^hebes^ to Kings of late fo fatal grown. ^^jj 

O flattering Empire, and deluding Love 

Of Pow'r ! fliall fuch Eacamples fruitlefs prove ? 

See, how he frowns upon his menial Train« 

And. waves the bloody Enfign of his ReigQ ! 

What more ? ihould Fortune all her Store exbiuil: : 

Behold the Fattier in the Monarch loft ! ' g^6 

He whiloni mourn'd his Son's untimely Death | 

Now glories, that he thus refign*d his Breath, 

Scarce had he reign'd, the Tyrant of a Day, 

When, as a Sample of his future Sway, 540 

V. 9^. Such trft /;7 Marathon'j] Erigone was the ]D40£ht;er of 
Icarus ; and being diredbed by her Dog to the Place where ^ 
Father was ilain, through £xce& of Grief hang heffdf aoKm « 
Jiei^hbowing Tree: but the Branch breaking down with her 
Wetght, ihe was faid to feek Wronger Boughs. At kngth fhe M- 
compliihed her Purpofe^ and for her Piety was tranuated into 
Heaven* and became the Confteilation, we call Firgo. 

V. 4)'^^. Scarce had be reign' d\ Seneca in his Thyeftes, ftys ; Ut 
nemo doceat fraudis, fcelerumque viam, Regnum docebit^ A Truth 
which the Hiilory of every Age and Co«ntry will evince to ns. 

S a Uiy^f 



26b STATIUS^s THEBAID. BookXI^ 

The laft funereal Honours he denies 
To the flain Greeks^ expos'd to foreign Skies ; 
And, ever mindful of^an Infult paft, 
Forbids their wand'ring Shades to reft at laft. 
Then meeting, as he pafs*d th* Ogygian Gate, 945 

The Son of Laius^ Objeft of his Hate, 
At firft his Age and Title he rever'd, 
And for awhile his eyelefs Rival fearM : 
But foon the King return's : and inly ftungy 
He cries with all the Virulence of Tongue. 950 

Avaunt, fell Omen to the Viftors, hence. 
Nor longer by Delays my Wrath incenfe ; , 
Hence with thy Furies, while thy Safety calls ; 
And let thy Ab'fence purify our Walls. 
Thy Wifties granted, and thy Children flain, g^g 

What Hopes, or impious Vows can now remain ? 
^ At this Reproach, as fome terrific Sight, 
His meager Clieeks ftood trembling with Affright. 
Old Age awhile recedes : his Hand refigns 
The Staff", nor on his Guide he now reclines : . 960 
But, trufting to his Rage, with equal Pride, 
And Bitternefs of Words he thus replied. 
What tho* the Slain no more thy Thoughts engage, 
And thou haft Leifure here to vent thy Rage< 

Mfiyav oX^o/ jKoIa^rg'J'a* » hixirxt (fays Pindar J Or in other Words, 
Good Fortune is lefs tolerable than bad. That we are the more 
liable to fall into Vices, when we have the Means of gratifying 
them, is indifputably true : how little then ought thofe to repine, 
whom Providence has placed in a lowly Situation of Life fecurc 
from many Temptations, to which the great and the rich are ex- 
pofed : or ought we not rather to look upon it as the moft diftin-- 
guifking Mark of Farvour, which could poffibly be conferred upon 

Yet 



BookXI. STATIUS's THEBAID. z6i 

Yet know, the Crown, which late adorned my Head, 

Affords thee no Pretence to wrong the Dead, 966 

And trample on the Ruins of thofe Kings, 

From whofe Misfortunes thy fliort Glory fprings. 

Go on, and merit thus the regal Sway. 

But why this Caution, and this long Delay ? 970 

Give Tyranny at once the Length of Reins^ 

And boldly aft, whatever thy Will ordains, 

Would*fl: thou with Exile punifti an Offence, 

Know, Exile argues too much Diffidence 

Of thy own Pow*r, then check thy Rage no more, 975 

But aufpicate thy Reign with human Gore. 

Expeft not, I (hall deprecate the Stroke, . 

And on my Knees thy Clemency invoke. 

Jl-ong fince in me the Source of Fear is dry \ 989 

And Death with all its Horrors I defy. 

Is Banifliment decreed ? the World I left. 

Of all its Joys fpontaneoufly bereft; 

And, long impatient of the Scenes of Light, 

Forc'd from their Orbs the bleeding Balls of Sight. 

What equal Punifhment canft thou prepare ? 985 

I fly my Country, and its tainted Air. 

It moves me not, in what fo diftant Clime 

I pafs the wretched Remnant of my Time. : 

No I^and, I ween, will to my Pray'rs deny 

The little Spot, that I fliall occupy. 990 

Yet Thebes mod pleafes, as it gave me Birth, 

And lodges all my Soul holds dear on Earth. 

Th* Aonian Sceptre long may'ft thou poflefs. 

And rule the Thebans with the fame Succefs, 

As Cadmus^ I, and Latus rul'd before : ^^S 

Nor Fortune's Sunfhine beam upon thee more. 

S3 May 



i6£ STATIUS's THEBAID. Book XL 

May Sods and Loves like mine thy Woes enhance. 
Nor Virtue guard thee from the Strokes of Chance. 
Much ma/ft thdu love the Life, thou'rt doom'd tQ 

k>re. 
And fue for Pardon, which thy Foes refufc. lOOQ 

&]ffice thefe Curies to deform thy Reign. 

Then lead me* Daughter, from his curft Elomain: 

But why (hould'ft thou partake paternal Woei 

Our potent: Monarch wiU a Guide bcftow. 

Tlfe Frincels, fearing tx> be left l;)ehind, |00^ 

Hevcrs'd his PfBy'i^, and cries» on Earth retdifi'd ; 

j$y this thy Kingdomt and the (acred GhoA 

Of hnyc Menieceus^ our Support and fiop^ 

. T^ 997. 3% ^fiul Pervprft ChildxcD ere not reckoned (le i 
£vli of Life by our Poet onl;^ : King tear^ inflaming Natnit 1 
Jiis Daughter G0ffrr/i/| ftya» ' ' * .. - • *. 

— '- «— ^Ifili^iniiiltMni. 

(Create l^r Chiia of Spleen, that it ipa^ live^ 

And be a thwart, dimaluM torment to her ; 

Lee it flamp Wrinkles on Ikef Brow of Ypodi, 

Widi cadent T^ajs fret Channels in her CheekS| 

Turn all her MoAer's Pains and Benefits 

To Lioghter and Contempt ; that (he inay feel, 

Jiow (harper than a Serpent's Tooth it is. 

To have a thanklefs Child. ' Aft |. Scene ||, 

y. 1007. By this IfCinz^om] Oedipus having exafperated Creon ty 
fiis fpirited, thpKgh intolent Heply) the Princefs 4n$ig9ng tabes 
ppon her to calm his Anger: her Oration is therefore framtd 
With an' oppofib Air to ^1 which has been hitherto faid, iedatQ 
4Ui4 inofFcniive. She begins with an Apology for her Fxdier's 
Difrcipeft, tells lum, that the greateft Favour he could confer^ 
jwoold l^ to fentence him to Death, fets her good Wilhes in Op- 

ryfition to his Impreciitions, reminds him of liis Enemy's fonoer 
ank and Pi^ty, biitprefent Inability to injure bim, ijind four 
diadet with evincing the ill Policy of banifhing him. In ^ort this 
Specimen fuiices to {how Amigone^s good Sen&, and tlie .Power of 
fmz\t Oratory in mollifying the almoil implacable Hairal of Cri^ ^ 
^yJwFather. - 

porgivy 



JBpokXI. STATIUS's THEBAia 263 

Forgive, if, heated in his own Defence, 

His Anfwers founds like Pride and Idbieace. 10 fp 

From long GprnpUints arofe diis haug^ Sdlf ^ 

Nor thee alone he glories to rcvflc : 

But e*en the Gods, and I, who ne'er oflfend^ 

Oft prove the Rancour, which he caiuuA ant odt 

To quit this hated Life is all his Afm> ۥ15 

And fatal Liberty his only Clum ; 

For this he fpends in Obloquies his Bitath, 

And hopes by Scandal to procure his Desdu 

But nuy t^e Powers of HeaVn diceft fJiy Sw«y, 

And with frefli Gifts diftinguifli ev^ry Day. lot^. 

Such Impotence refent not, but deQ)ile; 

And keep my Father's Fate before thine Eyes, 

In Gold and Regal Purple once be ftofx^ 

And, girt with Arms, fuWimely ftll'd the Throne^ 

From whence h^ gave to all imparpal Law«, 1095 

With P^fience heard, with JufHce closed the G«uje. 

Alas ! Qf alt his once-unnumbered Trains 

A fmgle Guide, and Comrade now remains^ 

Can h? thy Weal oppqfe ? and wik thou r^ 

Againft an Enemy, difarm*d by A^i xotOr 

Mufi: he retire, becau^ he loudly groans^ 

And graces thy Ears with inauf|»cioi|s Moans 9 

T. 1023. I/f GM, Uc] BartUus pWerve$ tluit ddt PilAge U '% 
Contradi^on of wl^t die Pc^t fays Ta th^ 4rft S^k* Ym^ ^u 

Yet then no Gates of I/ry did tti^)d 

ThePalacp, &c, 
Kotwidiftanding thb» { cQuld ha?e djrfeadod tlits Ojrerfight witb 
|bme feemiflgly ingenious Conjeduces, after die Sxample q£ tb>ic 
Commentators, who never fail iheir Author at a inbch; hutm I 
We no IntendoB of introducing the Thebaid upon the Pnhlic^ as 
Itperfed Poem, I fhall molt willinel^ fufa^cnbe to Emflnut hisi^i- 
I)i0|i| tiM d^ePafla^ before us is mghljr excepdonablc. 

. Refign 



264 StATIUS\THEBAlD. BookXL 

Refign thy Fears : at Diftance from the Court 
Hence |hall he mourn, nor interrupt thy Sport. 
1*11 break his Spirit, urge him to retreat ^^35 

And clofe confine him to his gloomy Seat. 
But Ihould he wander, exiPd and diftreft. 
What City would adn>it hhn as a Guei^ ? 
Would*ft thou, to polilb'd Jrgos he fliould gq. 
Crawl to A^cefUf in the Garb of Woe, 1040 

'And, crouching m their vanquifli*d Monarch's Gate, 
The R9ut and Slaughter of our Hoft relate i 
Why (hould he thus expofe the Nation's Crimes, 
And open all the Sorrows of the Times ? 
Conceal,- yhtte'er we fuffer ; at thy Hand 1045 

No mighty Favours, Cnon, we demand. 
Pity his Sorrows, * and revere his Age, 
J>Jor wrong the Dead in FuUnefs of thy'Ra^e ; 
The flaughter'd Theiansmzy enjoy at leaft 
Funereal Rites.-7-The prbftrate Princefs oeas'd : 1 050 
Her Sire withdraws hfr, and with Threats difdains 
The Grant of Life, which fcarcely Ihe obtains. . 
Xhe Lion thus, who grpen in Years, had fway'cj 
The Forefts round, by ev'ry Beaft obey'd. 
Beneath fome arching Rock in Peace extends 1055 

His liftlefs Bulk; and tho' no iStrength defends 
His Age from Infults, yet fecure he lies •, - • 
His venerable Form Accefs denies : 



T. 1053. ne Lioft thus] This Comparifon is as juft as Language 
^an make it. I -cannof find, that Statiuj is indebted for it to any 
of his poetical Predeceffors. The Non adeunda SeneSius is a Beauty 
of Diffion I could not preferve in my Tranllation, nor indeed 
ivill the EngUfi Idiom admit of it. 



Put 



BookXI. STATIUS's THEBAID. 265 

But if a kindred Voice pervade his Ears, 

Reflefting on himfelf, his Limbs he rears, 1060 

And wifliing much his Youth reftor'd again. 

With Envy hears the Monarchs of the Plain. 

At length Compaffion touched the Tyrant's Breaft ; 

Yet he but grants a Part of her Requeft, 

And cries, — Not dillant from his native Coafts, 1065 

Of whofe Delights fo much he vainly boafts. 

Shall he be banifli'd, fo he ceafe to roam. 

And leave inviolate each holy Dome. 

Let him poffefs his own Citbaeron^s Brow, 

The Wood contiguous, and the Fields below, 107a 

O'er which the Shades of Heroes, flain in Fight, 

Are feen to flit, and Ihun the loathfome Light. 

This faid, his Courfeth* Ufurper homeward bent, 

Nor'durft the Crowd withhold their feign'd AfTent. 

Meanwhile the routed Greeks by Stealth retire, 1075 

And leave their Camp exposed to hoftile Fire. 

To none their Enfigns, andstheir Chiefs remain ; 

But filent, and difpers'd they quit the Plain : 

And to a glorious Death, and martial Fame 

Prefer a fafe Return, and living Shame. 1080 

Night favours their Defign, Alfiftance yields. 

And in a Cloud the flying Warriors fhields. 



End of the Eleventh Book. 



T « P 



THEBAID OF STATIUS, 



POOI^ THE TWEJ^FTH, 



The a R G U M E N T, 

^J^HE Thebans, aft& fome 'Doubts concerning tht 
^ Reality of the Enemy's Flighty repair to the Field of 
Battle^ and bury their Bead. Creon difcbarges his Sorfs 
Obfequies with great Solemnity^ and laments over him in 
a very pathetic Manner : he then forbids his SubjeSs to 
hum the Greeks, In the mean tijfte the Wives of the fix 
Captains fiain in the Siege march in Procejfion to Thefeus, 
King of Athens, to folicit his jiffijiance in procuring the 
dead Bodies. Argia leaves tbem^ goes to Thebes, accom- 
panied only by Menaetes, and burns the Body of Polymct^ 
€n EteoclesV Pile. She there meets with Antigone, who 
afijis'iber. ^hey are taken^ and brought before CreoD, 
who 'Jfentences them both to Death. By the Interpofitton 
ef Pallas the Argive Ladies meet with a favourable Re 
ceptionfrom Thefeus, who fends a Herald to Creon, and 
orders him to procure funeral Rites for the Greeks, or 
declare War againft him. Upon the Tyranfs qbjlipate Re- 
fufal the A-thenians march to Thebes, which upon the 
Death of Creon furrenders to Thefeus, and entertains 
him in a hofpitable Manner. The PrinceJ/es, having ob- 
tained the Bodies^ difcharge their funeral Rites in a very 
fumptuous Manner^ a particular Defeription of which the 
Poet wavesy and concludes the Work with an Addrefst9 
his Poem. 



[269 1 



THE 



THEBAID OF STATIUS- 



BOOK THE TWELFTH. 



Jrr^ WAS now the Time, that on the Vault fercne 
X Of Heav*n a fmaller Groupe of Stars was fecn. 
And Pbiebe glimmered with diminifh'd Horn ; 
When fair Aurora^ Harbinger of Morn, 
Difpels afar the trembling Shades of Night, 5 

And re-falutes the World with orient Light. 
Now thro' the defart Town the I'bebans ftray. 
And mourn the tardy Progrefs of the Day, 
Tho*, fincc the Conflift with their ^r^V^ Foes, 
Now firft they tafte the Sweets of foft Repofe : 10 

The Propriety of adding this lafl Book depends entirely on the 
Kind of Poem, which the Critics determine this to be. , If they 
fettle it to be an Heroic or Hiftorical Poem only, they grant of 
Confequence the Necefiity of adding it in order to render the 
Poem compleat : but if it is an Epic Poem, it ihould have ended 
at the Death of the two Brothers, according tcf the Ariftotelian and 
Bojfwvian Syftem. But after all I cannot fee any great Impropriety 
in luperadding to the grand Cataftrophe, if the Excrefcence grows 
naturally out of the Subjed, and is equally well executed with the 
. former, as I think no one will deny of this before us. I (hall conclude 
this Note with obferving, that Virgil is the only Writer, who has 
ilridly adher'd to this Form. 

■ Nor. 



270 STATttJS's TtiMAity, fedofcjtff* 

Nor yet the Fears of hodile Vengeance ceafc: 
Sleep hovers round the Bed of fickly PeiCe ; 

Nor refts. ^They fcarcely dare to quit the Gate^ 

And pafs the Trdinch : the Memory of their Fate^ 

And Horrors of the late-cmbatterd Plain 1 4 

Deep in their timid Breafts i&fix'd remain. 

As Mariners long abfent, when they land 

Perceive a feeming Motion in the Strand ; 

Thus at each Noife, the Troopsi recoilingi h^ 

Andliftcn, fearful erf a new Affaiilt. ' * 4o 

As, when the Serpent (bales f6me T owV^ poileft 

By Doves Idalian \ as their Fears fuggeft. 

The whitc-plumM Parents drftre ibeir Offsprifig kome^ 

Then with their Gkws defend th' aerid Doim^ 

And call their little Rftge forth to the Fray.. a$ 

Strait tho' the fcaly Menfter hi^ iiway : 

The Danger paft, they dread ix) leave chdr A^oodi 

And fally forth in queft of Wanted Food ; 

A^ length with cautioUB Fear they wii^ their Flighty 

And oft look back from Heav'n's impervious Height. 

They leek their flaughter^i Comrades on die CMft, 31 

(The Woodtefs Relicft bf the mangled Hoft) 

And wander o*er the blood-impurpled Mead, 

Whett GHef and Sorrow (Guides lihjpleiarnig) 1(^« 

Some but the Bodies of their Friertd^ ^efcfy, 35 

While near another's Linibis and Vifiige lie V 

Otheh BeiBoan thfc Chariots, Or acdoft, 

(All that remains) t|ie Steeds whofe Lbrds ^are loft, 

V. 22, By Doves IJaltan\ The Elcprfeffldft iA tluft Onrinal is 
Jdaliit Felucresi which, as Idalus Was a Mourn cdrfetrtrted to ^#- 
nusj ;and the Dove was the F^i^iite of that iSbdMs^ dutmot be 
fappofed to mean any 6ther Species c^ Birds, biftitisvery^xtra- 
ordmary} Staiius (hoiud reprefent t}iem fo very bold. 

Part 



BookXII. STAiritjys THEBAlt). ifV 

Part kift the gaping Wounds of Heroes flain. 
And of their t6o gi*eat Fottitude complam. 4^ 

Kgeftcd now thfe Scene of Slaughter lies : 
Part bd^r huge Spears ere^ed in their Eyes i 
Here fevered from their Arms are Hands difplay^d, 
Tcnaoous ftill of the difcoloiir'd Blade ; 
In fomerio Traces of thieirDeith appear, 4^ 

Their Comrades rulhi ziA flied thfe ready Te4r* 
Around the fhapelels Trunks Debates arif^ 
The Queftion, •who (fiouM folve their Obfeqbfct; 
Oft (Fortune fJ)ortiiig with their Woe) thejr pour 
O'er hoftilc Chiefs a tributary Show'r ; 5f 

Nor can the Friend his flu'u^hter'd Friend miptote. 
Or know the. "TbadH frohi the Grecian Gortf. 
. But thofe, wKofe Family entitle remain*. 
From Sorrow free, expatiate o*cr t!he Plains;^ 
Infpcft the Tents orice fiU'd With At^iHe Battdi; ^ 
And fire them in Revenge with flimlrig Bi'ahds : 
While others feek the Place, whtf e f^disui lies 
And the farhM Seer was favifh'd from their Eyd : 
Or fearch, if ftHl dn Jove's blafphemirtg Fde 
Th' etherial Lightnings unextirtgui(h*d' glow, ^^ 
,Now Phcehus fet 6K their Uhfiliilh'd- Grief, 
And Vcfper rofe : yet hcedlfefi df Relief, 

V. 53. But thfe]. We £nd the Trojans djyer^hug themielres In n 
£milar Manner after tKe fuppofi'd Retreat of tb6 Gtician J^xmf. 

Ei^ omnis longo foivit fe Tetieria lu^ : 
PaHdiiiitat ports, JQvat ire, et Ddrica caftra, 
Defertofqae videre locos, Littufque reliflom 
Hk Dolopofll manttt, Jiic (aBvue tendebat Achil}es ; 
Claffibas hie loeus; hie acie« ceitare (blebant 

Firg. <£n« h* ?ff 

The 






%^^i STATIUSy THE RAID. Book; Xlf. 

The lengthened Strain, unwearied^ they purfue. 

And fcafting on the Scene, their Fears renew : 

There, difregarding the departed Light, 65 

In Crowds they lie, and forrowing out the Night, 

Alternate groan : (while far away retire 

The Savage-Monfters, fcar'd with Noifc and Fire.) 

Nor did their Eyes with conftant Weeping clofe. 

The Stars in vain perfuading to repofe. . 70 

Now Pbojphor thrice an orient Luftrc fhed 

0*er Heav'n^ and gleam'd on the pale-vifag*d Dead* 

When the thin'd Groves, and widowed Mountains 

mourn 
Their leafy Pride on rolling Waggons borne. 
Citb^erony wont to grace funereal Piles, 75 

. And fair Tbeumefus yield their verdant Spoils : 
Proftrate on Earth the Foreft^s Glory lies. 
While thick around the flaming Pyres arife. 
'i^iie ^iihan Shades with joyful Eyes furvey'd 
This^^laft kind Office to their Relidtspaid: 80 

But the {adArgheSy hovVing round, bemoan 
The hoftile Fires, and Honours not their own. 
No regal Exequies, and Pomp adOrn 
TL he Tyrant-King, negleded and forlorn ; 
Nor his fierce Brother for a Grecian held, 85 

And from his Country exil'd and expeird ; - 
But Tbebes and Creon for his Son prepare 
"More than Plebeian Rites, their common Carei 

V. 70. The Stars'] The Original is, nee dulcibufr aftris vida, 
coierunt Lumina, which ] have tranflated thus from the Authority 

■ ■ ■ ^ * n — Suadentquc cadentia Sidera fomnos. 
t 3 A coftly 



BoojcXn. STATlUB^s THB&Aia 473 

A ciiily ftile of choiccft Wpod tbey rsife^ 

High as his Worth, and fpreading as his PrfmSb I ' 90 

Oh this thkf heap chertrdphicd Spoils of MarSj 

Arms,: bittcr'd Bucklers, and unwicidy Cars* , 

The Chicfj as Conqueror, on thefe is laid. 

With Filfett graced, and Wreaths that never fade* 

Alcides thus Mount O^/^ prefs'd of yore, 9^ 

By Heav'n fdrbad on Eatrth to linger more. 

To crown tlie whole, the captive Greeks were flain^ 

And hurried in' their Yduth co Plttto^% Reign« 

V. 95. Jitiiti il9ui\ As this Fu'aend is very elegantly defcribM hf 
Se^ecit^ I ihaU fl|9^e no Apology ibr tranfoibing it here* . 

Ut omnis Otten mce^ compuit manus* 
Hinc fagus umbras perdity 4: toto jacet 
Succiik trunco ; ilexk hinc pinain f«r6x 
A&iU mmantein, et nube de media vocat ; . 
RUtura cautes movit) et {ylvsaa trahit 
Secum minorem. Chabms qttoiidiiiii loqoait . 
&tat irafU iiRe qaercas, tt Phosbum vetatjj 
Ultraque totos porrigit ramos nemus* ' . 

Gemit ilia multo volnere impreflb minsx, 
Frangitqiie coneos^ reiilit excuflUs Chalybs^ 
Valniifque ierrum patitur, et truncum fugit« 
Commota tantam eft ; tunc cadens lenta xttotk 
Duxit ntiiiamy protiom radios Ipcus 

Admifit omnes ■> 

Aggeritur omnis fylvaj et alcems trabcs 
In aftra toUunt Herculi anguftum rogum. ^ 
Ut preffit Oeten, ac fab ocuUs rogam^ 
Luttravit,- omnes fregit impofitus trabes, 

Arcumque pofcit : ■ . ■ 

Turn rigida (ecam fpoUa Nemxi mali 
Arfura pofqt^ latuit in (polia rogus. 

Here. Oft. Aa* J* Sceil. t* 

V. 97. TJbi eapti<ve Grttii] Shocking as this A&, of Cruelty may 
appear to fomo Chriftian R^ers> it was aiidtoriz«d by the mili- 
Ury Cofioms, and religioas Laws of thofe Titties^ as may be feen 
from Homer and f^rrgii, who have both made their Heroes guilty 
of it in difcharging the Burial-Rites of PatrQckt aad Palias. 

V O L, II. . t ■ «;<rti/>«i 



274 STATIUS's THEBAID. BooklXII. 

Then wcU-rcin'd Steeds, the Strength of War arc 
thrown . ,, 

Befide their Lord : The Sire heaves many a QrolA, loo 

, When Vulcan on the high-he^d Vidtims preys j. 
Then thus he cries, deep mufingon chcJWaze. * 
O thou defign*d to fhare with me t;he Throng, ; , 

^ And after me to gpvern Thebes alone, 
Hadft thou not, prodigal of vital Breath) .. . 105 
To fave the Realm, preferred a glorious Deaph.: , ^ 
The Sweets of Erfxpire, and imperial Sute ... 
Are all embittered by thy early Fate. 
What tho* thy Prefence grace the Courts oi Joviy . 
And mortal Virtue fliine in Heav'n above : no 

To thee, my Deity, fliall Vows be paid. 
And Tears a conftant Tribute to thy Shade. 
Let STi&^^^j high Temples raife, and Altars heap^i 
Give me alone the Privilege to weep. .... ./^ 

And now alas ! what Rites fhall I decree, ■ * 115 

What Honours worthy of myfelf and thee ? 

O that the Gods, to deck thy fculptur*d Buft^ 

Would lay the Pride of Argos in the Duft ! 

rd crown the Pile, and yield my forfeit Breath 

With all th^ Honours, gain'd me by thy Death. 120 



'jricvpecq o l^tavx^tfai Hwovi 



Ketl /xsy rut iv.QxKhi Wfi ovo $npor9fd.^o'a^' 

Xot>Mu ^vi'iooi*' ■ ■ ■ Iliad. Lib. 23. 173. 

Addit equos et tela, quibus fpoli»verat ho^em. 

Vinxerat et poft terga manus, quos mittcret umbris 

InferiaSy caeio fparfuros fanguine Hammam ; 

Jndutofque jubet truncos hoj^libiis anni$ 

Ipfos ferre duces, inimicaque noniina figi. ^n. 1 1 , V. 80. 

Has 



BooicXII.STATIUS's THEBAID. %y^ 

Has the fame Day, and the-ftmc impious Fight 
ConfignM with thee to Shades of endlcfs Night 

The Brother-Kings ? then, Oedipus^ we bear 

An equal Part in Sorrow and Delpair : 

Yet how refembling are the Shades we moan, 125 

Witnefs, O Jcje ; to thee their Worth is known. 

Accept, fweet Youth, the Firft-fruits of my Reigh, 

Nor thefe bright Enfigns of Command difdain ; 

Which e*en Ambition's felf might blufli to wear. 

When purchased with the Price of Blood fo dear. 130 

May j^vo\3id Eteocles thy Pomp furvey. 

And ficken at his alienated Sway. 

This faid, his Crown and Scepter he refigns. 

And with redoubled Fury thus rejoins : 

Cenfure, who will ; *tis my Command that none 135 

Shall mbc their Burial-Rites with thine, my Son. 

O could I lengthen out their Senfe of Pain, 

And drive from Erekus the Grecians flain ! 

Yet Birds and Beafts ihall on their Leader prey. 

And to the public Eye his Heart difplay. 1401 

But Sol refolves them to their priftine State, 

And Earth conceals from my revengeful Hate. 

This Edi£t I repeat, that none offend 

Through Ignorance, or Ignorance pretend. 



V. 137. O couIJ] In this Addrefs of Creon to his Son wc may ob- 
fcrvc a' Mixture of Tendernefs and Ferocity, which is very conMent 
with and agreeable to his Chara^er : and while t^e are difpleafed 
with the implacable Enemy, we ihould not withhold the Praife 
due to the loving and afFedlionate Parent. I think, this Behaviour 
is a fuHicreht Confutation of EteocUs^s Calumny in the preceding 
Book. , , 

No Grief could move thee for Mfnmeus^ Death, 
But rather joy, he thus refign'd his Breath, 

T2 '" What 



276 STATlUS's THEBAID. Book XII 

What Wretch but rears a Tomb, of wills to rear. 
And makes the Relics of a Foe his Care ; • 146 

His Carcafe fliall the Grecian^ s Place fupply : 
Atteft, my Son, and ye that rule the Sky. 
He fpoke •, nor willing fought the regal Cpurt. 
Meanwhile, aflembled at the firft Report 150 

Of Creon\ Rage, the Dames of Argive Strain, 
Who wept their Fathers, and their Hufbands flain, 
Attir*d as Mourners^ or a captive Band, 
\n fad Proceflion move along the Strand, 
All gaih*d with Wounds : diflieverd was their Hair, 155 
The fame their Habit, and their Breads wer6 bare : 
From their torn Cheeks a crimfoft Current fioWs ; 
And their foft Arms were fwoln with cruel Blows y 
Ar^iay fenior of the fable Train, 
Whofe fault'ring Steps two grieving Maids fuftain, 160 
Majeftically fad and flow precedes, ^ 

And afks the Way, unknowing, were ftie leads. 
• The Palace loath'd, her Sire no more at Heart, 
And all neglefted, but her better .Part ; - . 
She dwells lipon the Valour of her Spoufc, 165 

And Love, tenacious of the Marriage- Vows : 
And Tbeiesj, the Ruin of her Country's Hoft, 
Prefers to Argos^ and th* Inaehian Coaft. 
To her the Confort of th' jEtolian Chief 
Succeeds, and eqfuais in the Pomp of Grief 170' 

.Her Sifter-Qu,i5?!n : with her a mingled Throng 
From CafydoH mA Lima march along. 
More wretched, as Ihe heard th* unworthy Fate 
Of Menalippusy and herSpoufc's Hate. }/ 

y^t fhe forgives, and, while (he difapprovei 175 

The flagrant Siri, the pleaflng Sinner loves. 

Next 



Book XII. STATIUS's THEBAID. 277 

Next came Hippomedon^% dejijfted Queerit 

Of Mantiers loft, tho* favage was her Mieg. 

Then Eriphyk'i who prcfumes in vain 

By ponnpous Rites to wafli away her Stain. 18a 

Viana'^ childlefs Comrade clos'd the Rear, 

The hir ALenaHan Nymphs beneath her Care ; 

With her Evadne pregnant : one exclaims 

Againft her daring Son's ambitious Aims : 

But, mindful of her Spoufe, and Parent Mars^ 185 

The other, ftern in Tears, upbraids the Stars. 

Chafte H^caU from the Lycean Grove 

Beheld, and heav*d a Sigh ; while as they rove 

Along the double Shore, Leucothea fpies. 

And from her Ifthmian Tomb loud-wailing cries. 19Q 

Ceres^ her private Woes in theirs forgot. 

Held forth the myftic Torch, and wept their Lot. 

E'en Juno^ Partner of aerial Swayi 

Condu&s them through a fafe, tho' fecret Way, 

Left Ihould their People meet, th* Emprize be crols'd. 

And all it's promis'd Fame and Glory loft. i^6 

Nor various Iris lefs employ'd her Care 

To guard the Dead from putrefying Air : 

O'er ev'ry tainted Limb with Skill fhe pours 

Ambrofial Dews, and myftic Juices Ihow'rs 5 209 

Left, they decay before the Flames confume. 

And their fad Friends confign them to the Tomb. 

V. 1 j7. Nor ^various Iris] This Fidion is borrowed from Homer , 
who introduces netis performing the fame kind Office to the Body 
of Patroclus } though I think th^AUegory is nOt fo juft and natural 
in the Imiution. 

V Iliad. L, 19. V. 3». 
T J But 



278 STATIUS's THEBAID. Book XII^ 

But OrnilhuSy difabled in the Fray, 
And by his Troops deferted, takes his Way 
Thro' thick Rcccffes, that exclude the Light, 205 

Of Sofj a recent Wound impedes his Flight : 
' Pale were his Cheeks with Lofs of Blood and Fear, 
His Steps fupported by a broken Spear. 
Soon as he hears th* unwonted Tumult rife. 
And views the female Cohorts with Surprize ; 2 to 

Enquiries none he makes about their Woes, 
Nor a(k the Reafons, which themfelves difclofe. 
But took the Word, and firft his Silence broke. 
The Stream of Grief defcending, as he fpoke : 
Say, Wretches, whither hafte ye ? what you afe, 215 . 
Atid why this fun'ral Pageant you prepare ? ; > - 
When Day and Night commiffion'd Soldiers ftand 
To guard the Shades by Creon*s harfia Command j 
When inacceffible to all remain. 
But Birds and Beafts, the Bodies of the Slain, 220 

Unwept ;ind uninterr'd. —Will he relent 
His ftubborn Soul by your Intreaties bent ? 
Believe me, fooner might your PrayVs affuage 
Th' Egyptian Tyrant's Altars, and the Rage 
Of D/^wz^i^'s half- famifliM Steeds : or move ^25 

S/V///^« Gods, the Progeny of 7(?w. 



V. 224. n* Egyptian Tyrant^ s'\ Bufiris King of IRgypt was wont 
to facrlfice Strangers to his Gods j but being overcome by Hercules 
underwent die fame Fat6. 

Diomede King of Thrace^ fed his Horfes with human Flefli, and 
was ilain by the above-mentioned £[ero. 

V. 226. Sicilian G(idi\ La£tantius gives us the following Account 
of thefe Deities. 

The Nymph ^tna having confented to the Embraces of Jupiter 
was purlued by "Junoy and imploring the Afliftance of the Earth 
was received into her Boicm, and bore two Twins, who for their 

Virtue, 



Book XIL STATIUS's THEBAID, 279 

If well I know the Man, perchance he'll dare 
To fei^e your Perfons in the Aft of Pray V, 
And flaughter each not o'er her Hulband's Corfe, 
But diftanc far, unknowing of Remorfe. 230. 

Retreat. ye then, while7etfecure you may, 
And when you reach again Mfcena^ pay 
A Cenotapbj the utmoft that remains. 
While thus the breathlefs Heroes prefs the Plains. 
Or will ye ftay t' implore the palling Aid 235 

Of Tbefeusj who with Enfigns high diiplay'd . 
* Rjeturns in Triumph from ^berm&don's Shore, 
Clogg'd with the Dead, and red with female Gore ? 
Arms mtift compel him to commence the Man, 
And form his Morals on a jufter Plan. 240' 

He faid : their Tears with Horror (land congeal'd. 
And Grief and Paflion to Amazement yield ; 
From ev'ry Face at once the Colour flies, . 
And all their Ardor for th* Adventure dies. 
Thus, when the Tiger*s Howl (terrific Sound) 245* 
Has reach'd the Herd in fome capacious Ground, 
Thro* the whole Field a fudden Terror reigns ; 
And all, forgetful of the grafly Plains, . . 

yirtaes were admitted into the Society of the Gods, and had di- 
vine Honours paid them, but they were only appeafed with human 
Blood. 

V. 233. jf CenotafJ!?] This was a Kind of Mock-Funera], and is 
i^ns defcribed by Firgil in the 3d Book of his jEneid', 

Ante urbem in luco falfi Simoentis ad undam 
Libabat cinerL Andromache, manefque yocabat 
H^doreum ad tumulum, viridi quem crfpite inancm 
'£t geminasy caufam lacrymis, facraveirat aras. 
For a farther Account of jthis Cereniony fee Xenephon^s Kv^ov Ata^ 
ib«a-K> Lib. 6y and Tacitus^ s Annals, Lib. i . tc ii. and Suetonius in 
Ae Life of Claudius, - • 

T 4 Stand ' 



ftSo STATIUS^s THEBAID. BookXM, 

Stand mute with Expedation, who fhall pleaTc^ 

And firft the Foe's rapacious Maw appeafe. 250 

Forthwith a Sene3 of Debates arofe. 

And various Schemes in Order they propofc ; 

Some will, to I'i^ies that Inftant they repair. 

And tempt the King by Blandiihment and Fray'r \ 

For Aid on The/em others would rely ; 255 

3ut all difiiaiflt nought enterpriz'd, tofly« 

Not thus Jrgia with the reft defpairs j 

With mor0 thah.femalc Fortitude Ihc bears 

The News difiUefive, and, her Sex refign'd, 

Attempts^ Doed.of the moft daring Kind. . 2(0. 

She glows with. Hope of dangerous AppUufe^ 

Won by the Breach of Crcm*s injpious L^ws, 

And courts, what the moft hardy Tbracian Daq^ 

Tho* fenced with Virgin-Cohorts, would difclaim. 

She meditates, by what fallacious Cheat, ^6g 

TJnnptic'd by the reft, fhe may retreat, 

Rafli and regardlcfs of her Life thro' Grief, 

And urg'd by Love of her nluch^injur'd Chief, . 

Or gain bis dear Remains, or elfe provoke 

The Tyrant to inflift a deadly Stroke.. . 27Q 

Jn ev'ry Aft and Charaftcr appear'd 

Htv Spoufe confeft j one while a Gueft reyer'dj. 

Now at the Altars of the PowVs above. 

And ,now the fweet Artificer of Love, 

Then (heath'd in Arms, and quitting her £inbrace» 

With ling'rin|[ Eyes, and Anguilh in his Face, 276 

Yet moft that iniag'd Form recurs to Sight, 

Which, bare and naked from the Scene of Fight, 

Demands the File— difturb'd with Cares like thefc, 

§he fickcns, and fincc nought her Griefs can^afe, . 280 



Boo&m STATIUS's^THEBAID. 281 

Flics to grim Death : for yet untaftcd Reft; 

. (The chafteft Ardour in a female Breaft) 
Then, turning to her Jrgive Comrades, cries: 
Do you, in favour of our juft Emprize, 
Solicit 7'befeusj crowtfd with hoftiie Spoils, 285 

And may Succcls attend your pious Toils, 
But fuffer me, frsm whom alone arofc 
Thefe grievous Ills and yet unequaPd Woes, 
To penetrate the Tbehan Court, and prove 
The menac'd Thunder of this earthly Jove. 2^ 

Nor at our Entrance fhall we find the Town 
Inhofpitable, or ourfelves unknown ; 
My Hufband's Sire and Sifters will defend 
His wretched Widow and her Caufe befriend. 
Only retreat not ; to thefe hoftilc Walls 295 

My own Dcfire, an happy Omen, calls. 
She ceas'd : ind as a Parmer of the Way, 
Mencstes took (beneath whofe gentle Sway 
Her youthful Age received an early Store 
Of mental Charms, refign'd to Virtue's Lore) 300 
And, though a Stranger to the Road, purfu*d 
The Steps of Or;^//«j, diftinffly viewed. ^ 
But, when impetuous as the driving Wind, 
She'd left the Partners of her Wpe behind. 

.5hall I, O much lov'd Source of Grief, (fhe cries) 3^5 
While foul in Duft thy flighted Carcafe lies, 
£3q)e£t an Anfwer from th' Albenian King, 
And wait for Aid, which he may never bring ? > 
Or hcfitate for Sanftion from above, 
To execute the Dictates of my I^ove ? 31c 

While thy Remfahfisdecreafe by this Delay, 
Why do I yi^ld not to the Birds of Prey 
... • , ' 3 Thelc 



tSo STATIUS^s THEBAID. BookXII, 

Stand mute with Expedat'ion, wha ihall pleafe^ 
And firft the Foe's rapacious Maw appeafc. 250 

Forthwith a Series of Debates arofc. 
And various Schemes in Order they propofe : 
Some will, to T'heies that Inftant they repair. 
And tempt the iCing by Blandifhment and PrayV j 
For Aid on Tbefeus others would rely ; 255 

]But all diidain* nought enterpriz'd, tofly^ 
Not thus Jrgia with the reft dcfpaks j 
With rnor0 that). female Forti;tude £he bears 
The News difiUafive, and, her Sex rcfign'd, 
Attempts A Deed, of <he moft daring Kind. , 2te. 

She glows with. Hope of dangerous AppUuft^ 
Won by the Breach of Crsm'% in^pious L^ws, " 
And courts, : whisit the moft hardy Tbracian Daa^^ 
Tho* fenced with Virgin-Cohorts, would difclaim. 
She meditates, by what fallacious Cheat, ^65 

TJnnptic'd by the reft, Ihe. may retreat, 
Rafli and rcgardlefs of her Life thro' Grief, 
And urg'd by Love of her niuchrinjur'd Chief, . 
Or gain his dear Remains, or elfe provoke 
The Tyrant to inflift a deadly Stroke. zjq 

Jn ev*ry Aft and Charaftcr appear'd 
Jier Spoufe confeft •, one while a Gueft rever'dj^. 
Now at the /iJtars of the PowVs above, 
And jiow the fweet Artificer of Love, 
Then (heath'd in Arms, and quitting her Embrace^ 
With lingVmg Eyes, and Angui(h in his Face<» 276 
Yet moil that imag'd Form recurs to Sight, 
Which, bare and naked from the Scene of Fight, 
Demands the Pile— difturb-d with Cares like thcfej 
§he fickcns, and ffnce nought her Griefs can eafe, 280 

Flic? 



Boo&XiL SXATIUS's^THEBAID. 281 

Flics to grim Death: for yet untaftcd Reft,' 

. (The chafteft Ardour in a female Breaft) 
Then, turning to her Jrgive Comrades, cries: 
Do you, in favour of our juft Emprize, 
Solicit 7'befeusj crowned with hoftiie Spoils, 28$ 

And may Succcls attend your pious Toils, 
But fuffer me, frsm whom alone arofc 
Thefe grievous Ills and yet unequaPd Woes, 
To penetrate the Tbeban Court, and prove 
The menac'd Thunder of this earthly y^x;^. 2^ 

Nor at our Entrance fhall we find the Town 
Inhofpitable, or ourfelves unknown ; 
My Hufband's Sire and Sifters will defend . 
His wretched Widow and her Caufe befriend. 
Only retreat not ; to thefe hoftilc Walls 295 

My own Dcfire, an happy Omen, calls. 
She ceas'd : ind as a Partner of the Way, 
Mencstes took (beneath whofe gentle Sway 
Her youthful Age received an early Store 
Of mental Charms, refign'd to Virtue's Lore) 300 
And, though a Stranger to the Road, purfu*d 
The Steps of Or;|f;/«j, diftinfiHy viewed- j 
Biit, when impetuous as the driving Wind, • ' ' 
Sh^'d left the Partners of her Wjt>e behind. 

.5hall I, O much lov*d Source of Grief, (fhe cries) 3^5 
While foul in Duft thy flighted Carcafe lies, 
ExpeiS); an Anfwer from th' Albenian King, 
And wait for Aid, which he may never bring ? > 
Or hcfitate for Sanftion from above, 
To execute the Dlfikates of my L.6ve ? ^ 31c 

While thy Rem^nfisdecreafe by this Delay, 
Why do I yi^ld riot to the Birds of Prey 
.;. • . ' 3 Thelc 



282 STATIUS'^ THEBAIC.- Book XII, 

Thcfc viler Limbs ? and now alas ! if aught 
QfSenfcfurvivcs, or Soul-engcndred Thought, ' 
To Stygian Gods perchance thou doft. complain, 3 1 5 
And ponder,, what can thiis.'thy Wife detain. 
Whether intomb'd, or bare beneath the Skie? 
Thy Corfe remains, on me tVOnjiflion lies. 
Ko more then Death and Creon fball withftand : 
Nor Love and Omitus in vain comn>and. 3^0 

This faid, (he fcours the Megar^ian Plain 
With rapid Pace, and iceks the fm^ll Domain 
Of Creon \ each fhe meets, in Hafte replies 
To her Demands, and turns afide his Eyes, 

Affrighted at her Garb. Thus on Ihe goes^ 325 

Of Afped ftern> confiding in her Wges ; 

Alike intrepid in her Heart and Ear ^ 

And, far from fearing, ihe infpires with Fear. 

In Pbrygia thus when Dindymus rebounds 

With Shrieks nodurnal, and with doleful Sounds, 330 

The frantic Leader of the Matrons fli^s 

To where the Waves of Simois arife \ 

Whofe facred Blade the Goddefs did beftow. 

What Time with Wreaths fhe grac'd her awful Bro^^ ' 

Hyperion now in weftern Deeps had hiirl'd ' 335 

His flaming Car, and fought the nether World s 

▼. 329. In Fbrygia thus 'when Dindymus] Dyndimus or Dindpma 
were two Mountains near Ida in Phrygian confccraied to' CyhtU^ 
and famous for the Solemnization of her {acred Rites, as we l^^am 
fiom FirgiL 

O verc Phrygiae, neque enim Phrygcs ! ite per alta 
Dindyma» ubi alTueus biforem dat tibia tantum. 
Tympana vos buxafque vocant Berecyi^tU;^ matris 
Ideas, ■ : JSn* 9. Vcrft 6i'j. 

- When 



BookXIL STATIUS^s THEBAID. 283 

When imperceptibly the tedious Day, 

Bcguird, by Toils of Sorrow, ftcals away. 

Secure o'er darkfome Meads, and Rocks, 'twixt Beams^ 

That totter to their Fall, thro' fwelling Streams, 340 

And Groves, that ne'er admit the piercing Rays 

OiPhcebus^ baffling his Meridian Blaze, 

And Dykes, and Furrows of th* indented Field, 

From her incurious Eyes by Night concealed. 

Thro' the green Couch of Monfters, and the Den, 345 

Poflefs'd by Beafts, and unexplor'd by Men, 

Direft and unoppos'd (he fpeeds her Flight : 

No Toils fatigue her, and no Perils fright. 

Meruetes follows flow. Shame ftings his Mind, 

And wild Amazement to be left behind. 350 

Where for Inftruftion did (he not apply, 
Whilft her chafte Bofom heav'd with many a Sigh ? 
Oft the Path loft, a devious Way Ihe took. 
When, her chief Solace, the bright Flames forfook 
Her erring Feet, or the cold Shades of Night, 355 
Back'd by the Wind, expeU'd the guiding Light ? 
But when the Mount of Pentheus they defcend, 
And, ^ weary, to the Vale their Footfteps bend ; 
Menaies^ nearly fpent, the Nymph addreft. 
While frequent Pantings heav'd his aged Breaft. ^69 
Not far (if Hope of the near finifn'd Way 
Flatters me not) the Champain I furvey. 
Where the fell Scene of Blood and Carnage lies. 
And, intermix'd with Clouds, the Domes arife. 
A noifome Stench pervades the fteaming Air, 365 

And rav'nous Birds in Flocks obfcene repair. 
This is the fatal Plain, the Seat of Wars 
. Nor is the Town of Cadmus diftant fan 

3 ^^^ 



a84 STATIUS^s THEBAID. Book XIL 

Sec, how the Field projcds the lengthening Shade 

Of Walls, upon its Surface wide difplay*d, : 37a 

Whik dying Vulcan faintly (bines between 

From the Watch.Tow'r^.aif^d fwells the folentn Scene \ 

The Night wa$ late naore ftill,: the Scaw alone . . 

. Caft a faint Luftre round her ebon ThrOllo. 

' So (pake Afew^^i ; and the trembling ^air 375 

With Hands extended thus addreft her PrayV : 
Q^bebes^ once fought with tncjre than vulgar ToiU 
Tnough hoftile now, again a /rierKily Soilf. . 
Should Creon deign to render back entire 
My Lord*s Remains, to feed the f unVal Fire : 3S0 

View, with what Pomp, what Followers at her Call, 
The Wife efPoIynices feeks thy Wall ! 
Full modeft is my Suit, nor, Ijard the Ta(k 
To gratify : my Spbufe is all I aflc ;• 
My Spoufclong outlawed, and expos'd to Want, 385 
(His Throne ufurp'd) to my Entreaties grant. 
Nor linger thou in Pluto's griefly Dome, 
If aught of Form fubfift, and Phantoms roam ^ 

V. 365. Seip hoinf tht Field] This Defcription is fcarce inferiot 
to any in the whole Work. It is as beautiful a Night-Piece as 
can be found in Poetry. The Shade of the Walls projeAing into 
the Field before the City, the light on the Watch-Towers break- 
ing dut by Fits here and there, and the Stillnefs of the Night fre- 
fcnt a fine Picture to the Imagination. The Colouring is io ftrong, - 
that one may almoii fancy feting the difconfolate frincefs waking 
under the Walls, and ddi Derating how to ad. 

V. 388. If au^bt of Formfuh/ifi] Mr. Popi% Note on the foliow- 
ing Verfes of ^#»itfr 

will throw a good Deal of Light on this Matter. 

This 



Book Xll. S TAT I U S's t H E B A I D. 285 

But if thy Favours I dcferve, precede, 

And to thy>afthly Part thy Confort lead. 390 

She faid : and haft'ning to 4 neighboring Cof> 

Some fimple Swiih*s fecufe, tho** flender L6t» 

Repairs her Torch cxtinguifh*d by the Wind^ 

And rufli^s forwards, f urii'uknt of Mind. 

Such was the Search, that penlive Ceres made, . 395 

(Her Child conveyed to the Tartarean Shade) 

This Paflage will be clearly underftood, by expTaihiiig' the No- 
tion which the Andetits entertained of the Souls of the dfSpSauip 
according to the farecited iritAe Dividon, or Mind, Image and 
Body. They imagined, that the Soul was not only iejparated fiom 
the Body at -th« Hour of Death, bur that there was a ^tker Se- 
dation of the (p^nv, or Undcrilanding from its £i^<>r» ^ Vehicle; 
io tiiat the Ei^'M^ov^ or Image of the Body, being ia Hell, the ^^ 
oj: Underftanding inlght be in Hekreti : and that this » a twe 
Explanation is evident from a P^age in the Odyfiey. B. ii. 
V. '600. 

Ei^ft/Xop. airi^ ^l put* d^avAr tto-t ^nxeri 

By this it appeart that jyfl;»rr was of Opinion that Henuhs vrsLs m 
Heaven, wluie his £s^fe>(v>, or Image was in Hell : (o thai n^htfa 
this fecond Separation is made,, the Image or Vehicle begprnes a 
meer thoughtiefs Form. 

We have this whole Dodrine Tery difiSnAiy dvlivfr'd by.FIa^ 
tar,ch in thefe Words : *' Man is a compound Subj^fl : b|it not ^f 
'■*f two Parts, as is Commonly believed, oecaufe the Uncfcrtandinff 
<( is generally accounted a Part of the Soui; wiMrek iMifl^ h 
«< as far exceeds the Soul, as the Soul is diviner thm tha Bodf ^ 
<* Now the Soul, when compounded with the UnSierlfanding, 
<* makes Reafoil, aod when compounded with tfaC lloAyyiPUMt : 
«< whereof the one is the Source or Principle of Pleaiiiff'Or^^, 
" the other of Vice or Virtue. Man therefore properly <fies two 
" Deaths; the firljk Death makes him two of three, and the fecond 
" makes him one of two." • . . 

i*/*/«r^i(' of the Face in the Moon. 

See /fiwB/r'allkd,. Vol a* JiiULatf, 

With 



286 STAT I U S's T H E B AI Dc Bp^k XIL 

With Lamp in Hand, whofe well-reflefted Light 
Varied each Side, with Rays alternate bright. 
She traced the Chariot-Ruts, diftinAly viewed. 
And Step by Step the Ravifhcr purfu*d. 4©o 

Th* imprifon*d Giant ccchoes back again 
Her frantic Shrieks, and lightens all the Plain 
With burfting Fire from the Vukanian Hall % 
And Rivers, Forefts, Hills, and Vallics call 
,Perfephone: the Court of Z)/V alone 405 

Is filent midft the univerfal Groan. 
Her Friend reminds jier oft of Green's Ire, 
And warns to hide the interdicted Fire. 
Thus (he, who reignM o*er many a Grecian Town, 
With ev*ry Virtue, that adorns a Crown, 410 

In War redoubted, and in Peace bclov'd. 
Admired fdr Beauty, and for Worth approved, 
Amidft the dreary Horrors of the Night, 
Without a fecial Guide, her Foes in Sight, 
Undaunted ftrays thro* Meadows covcr'd o'er 415 

With deathful Arms, and. flippery with Gore, 
While injur'd Ghofts flit round her, and demand 
Their Limbs disjoined, and fcatter'd on the Strand- 
Oft as the lifelefs Bodies are explor'd 
With curious Inqueft, on the Spear or Sword 420 

She treads unheeding, all her Thoughts employed 
Her Lord's miftaken Relics to avoid 
Now leaning o'er the Carcaffes, fhe drains 
Her Eyes, and of the Want of Light complains ; 



V. 424. Jftd tfthe Want of Light complains\ LaSIantmSy contrary 
to the general Priadice of Commentatorsy convi^s Statius of a Slip 
of hi» Memory in reprefenting Argia without a Torch, and pre- 

fently 



BookXII. STATIUS's THEBAID. 287 

When Juno^ who, to fave her choferi Race^ 415 

Had ftolen from the Thunderer's Embrace, 

And, taking all Advantag|p of .the Time, 

Shot down to Athens frprii :tb' .3?nal Clime, 

To move the Mind oi Palhh. and prepare :,. .: 

The Cify to receive each fiippHant pair; . 436 

Behold th' Inachian^xvactk^ as in vain .;.J 

She toird erroneous on the fpactous Plain, \_ ; ^ 

And grieving at the Sight, awhile refign/d / 

To Pity's gentle Lore h^r tender Mind :• ' ^ / . 

And, ftoppingnear the\Sifter..of the Sun.. . 455 

Her Chariot, thus in Accents, mild begun. 

At Cynthia^% Hands if Juno claim Regard, 

Her Merit with a due Rcturri reward. / 

For Night prolonged, to crown a vicious Flame, 

And other Infults, I forbear to name, 440 

iently after hinting that (he had one ; condemning luiii from las 
own Words, , ' :' 

-AliamqucAd buff a fcrebat 



Antigone miferandafaccm -:— Verfe 549, . 

How (fays he) could Antigbne be faid to bear another Toixih, ««- 
\t{%Argia had one befoje^ .B«Jt this is a mero critical CaviL^ 
Argta might have a Torch . at the Time the Poet nientions, thougk 
not before. It may then be aflced, why the Poet di<J not tell his 
of it? To this L anfwer, that it was neodlefs.h^; fhoi^ld in- 
form us of it, unlefs he could do it without feeming deiirouj of 
it^ and going out of his Sut^e^l on Purpofe. 

V. 439. For Night prolonged] Jufiterf having lain with Alcmaia 
in the Form of her Hufband Ampbitrypn^ thinking, the Space of 
one Night infufficient for his Pleafures, ordered the Moon to m^ke 
it as long as three, which (we find from this Speech of Juno) fh^ 
complied with. ■ — La^antius. 

Ovidd\{o takes Notice of it in Dijanira'% Epiftlc to Hercules^ 

At non yic velit, cui Nox (fi creditur) una 
Non tanti, ut taatus conciperere, fuit, . 

Grant 



•2«8 ^TAtlUS's tHEfiAia feooKXll 

Grant my Requeft, and by Compliance (hun 

The Wrath incurred for Crimes already done. 

See, circumfUs*d in Night Jrgia ftrays, 

A Dame as worthy of our Aid as Praife ! 

In vain fhe tpils around di* enfanguin'd Field, 445 

Until thy ftronger Rays Affiftance yield. 

Exert thy Horns, and, nearer in thy Courfc, 

Shine down on Earth with more than wonted Force ; 

While Sleep, who guides thy Chariot thro* the Skies, 

Defcends to clofc each watchftil Tbehiffs Eyes* 450 

Sciarce had fhe fpoke, when from a burfting Cloud 

The Goddefs held her Orb forth midfl: a Crowd 

Of lefler Stars, and gilds the dewy Plains : 

The dazling Luftre Juno fcarce fuftains. 

The Prihcfefs viewing now, recalls to Thought 455 

The purple Robe, her (kilful Hands had wrought, 

Al<iio* the Texture was cfFac'd with Gore, 

Nor the bright Hue fo vivid as before j 

And while fhe calls on Heaven in plaintive Strains, 

And fears, that this fmall Gift alone remains 460 

To grace his Obfequies, and future Bu^, 

She fees his Body trampled in the DulL 

Forthwith her Speech, her Sight, her Motion fiifs. 

And Grief fufpends the Torrent in her Eyes. 

v» 465. FortJkvitb her S^ich] Mr. Dry den in hb Poete on the 
Death of CharUs the Second YieA folne fine Lines, that very nearly 
fefemble our Author's. 

Thus long my Grief has kept me dumb : ' 
Sure there's a Lethargy In mighty Woe, 

Tears ftand congeal'd, and cannot flow ; 
And the fad Soul retires into her inmoU Room : 
Tearff, for a Stroke foreAsen, afibrdsRe&eff 
^ut unpronded for a iuddt n Blow, 
Like Niobe^ we Marble grow ^ 
And petriiPy with Grief. 

• Then 



BboKXtt StATltfS^s TttEfiAli). 2^^ 

Then grov'ling o'er the Slain, with warm Embrace 
She clalp'd his Limbs, and kifs'd his clay-cold P*ace j 46^ 
And from his ftiffning Hair, and coftly Veft 
The clotted Gore With Care alTiduous prefsM* 
Her Voice returning, on her Spoufe fhe roU'd 
Her Eyes, and cry'd : — Art thou, whom I behold 4J/^o 
AdraJlUs" Heir, and Leader of the Fight, 
In bold Aflertion of a Monarch's Right ? 
And do I thus array'd thy Triumphs meet ? 
See, fee Argia feeks a fafe Retreat 
At Thebes. — O lead her then within the Walh 4j^5 
To thy paternal Roof, aiid regal Halls ; 
And feize th' Occafion, which Ihe gives, to prove 
Thy grateful Senfc 6f her experienced Love* 
Alas 1 what do I afk ? — a flender Spot 
Of native Earth is all my Confort's Lqt. 48^ 

For what this Quarrel then, and impious Fray ? 
Forbid it Heav'ns, his Brother e'er Ihould fway* 
Weeps not Jocafta^ tedder-hearted Dame ? 
Where is Jntigone^ fo known t6 Fame ? 
Fate wills then, thou Ihouldft lie for me aloft^, 48^ 
To torture me, in cruel Fight o'erthrown. 
In vain I fald ; ah ! whither doft thou fly 
For Crowns, and Scepters, which the Gods, deny? 
Let Argive Honours bound thy I'alh Defire, 
Nor thus beyond what Fortune grants afpire. 49* 

Yet why do I complain ? — I gave the Sword, 
And my fad Sire in thy Behalf implor'd, 
To find thee thus. — Yet will I not repine i 
Refign to your Decrees, O Pow'rs divine ! 
His Relics by your Aid obtained repay 49^ 

The Toils and anxious Sorrows of the Way. 
Vol. IL U Alas! 



290 STATIUS's THEBAID. BookXII. 

Alas ! with what a Gape defcends the Wound ; 

Was this his Brother ? on what Spot of Ground 

Lies the fell Murd'rer ? — could I know the Way, 

rd rob the Beads, and Vultures of their Prey, 500 

But he perhaps enjoys a decent Pyre j 

And Ihalt thou mourn the Want of ritual Fire ? 

Ah ! no. — With equal Honours fhalt thou burn. 

And Tears rain copious o'er the golden Urn, 

To Kings deny'd : thy Tomb for e'er Ihall prove 505 

The pleafing Duty of my widow'd Love : 

And young ^hejfandsr to thy Bed fucceed, 

A Witnefs to the Woes, on which I feed. 

Behold Antigone with trembling Hand 

Bears for the furtive Rites another Brand, 510 

Shares all the Woe, and heaves the diftant Groan 

Scarce could Ihe gain an Egrefs from the Town : 

For Creon ever wary, to retard 

The Breach of his Command, increased the Guard : 

So that more oft revolves the watching-Hour, 515 

And thicker burns the Fire on ev*r:y TowV. 

Her Brother therefore, and the Gods fhe prays. 

To fpeed her Flight, and pardon her Delays ji 

And, frantic, rufhes from the lllent Walls, 

While drowfy Morpheus on the Sentry faHs. 526 

With fuch a Bound along the Meadow fprings 

The Virgiri-Lionefs, when Anger wings 

V. 507. An J young ThefTander^ This is an Alluj&on to the fa- 
mous Speech of Dido in the fourth Book ef HrgtTs ^n#id» 

Saltern A qua iBihi de te fuibepta ftitfiet 

Ante fugam foboles ; £ quis inihi parvulis aula ' 

Luderet iEnc^, <^ui te taiitpm'ore rcferret. 

fiaxthius 

. ' ■ Hfcr 



Book XII. S T A T I U S's ' T H E B A I D. 291 

Her rapid Progrefs, or when Hc^es of Prey 

Allure her from her Ihady Den away. 

Nor a long time -elaps'd, before (he gain*4 5x5 

The Place. by Polynices" Blood diftain'd. 

Mencetes meets her traverfing the Plains, 

And his dear Pupil's deep*fetch*d Groans reftrains. 

But, when the growing Noife had reachM the Ear 

Of the fad Virgin all eredt thro* Fear ; 53Q 

And by the Torches Light, and friendly Rays 

Of Cyntbiay more diftinSly (he furvcys 

Arg%d% bloody Face, dilhevePd Hair, 

And feblc Veft, (he thus befpeaks the Fair : 

Say, daring Wretch, what Chief o'erthrown in Fight 

Thou feck'ft, iencroaching on my proper Right ? 535 

To this (he nought replies, but o'er her Spoufc, 

And her own Face a fable Veil (he throws, > 

For Fear at firft her ev*ry Thought po(£eft. 

And Grief awhile forfook her tender Breaft. 540 

This Length of Silence but the more increased 

The Eiame's Surmife, nor her Enquiries ceas'd : 

Her Comrade then (he pre(Ics, while they gaze. 

With Horror fixt, and filent with Amaze : 

At length the Princefs thus her Silence broke, 545 

And, clafping in her Arms the Body, fpokc'. 

If, in the Search of fome Relation (lain. 

Thou roamell, darkling, thro* the bloody Plain, 

And feareft angry Creon^s ftern Decree, 

My i^cret. Porpofe I reveal to thee. ' 550 

If thou art wretched (as thy Tears avow) 

Why join we not our Hands, ind make a Vow 

Of Amity ? Adraftus' Daughter I, 

Hopeful by Stealth, and mutual Secrecy, 

O 2 My 



292 STATIUS's THEBAID. BookXIL 

My Polynices* poor Remains to burn, 555 

And clofc his Aflies in a precious Urn : 

But who art thou? Aftonifli'd with Surprize, 

The Tbeban Damfel, trembling, thus replies. 

Me then (O Ignorance of human Race !) 

Me doft thou fear, and hold in thy Embrace 560 

My Brother's Limbs, unwilling to difclofe ? 

To thee, the tender Partner of my Woes, 

The friendly Talk with Blufties I refign. 

And own my luke-warm Love cxcell'd by thine 

Thus Ihe. — When, grov'ling with diforder'd Charms 

Around the Prince, they fold him in their Arms;. 566 

Their falling Tears, and Hair together blend, 

(While eagerly to kifs him they contend) 

And with mix'd Groans their Lips by Turns employ 

On his dear Face and Neck, and ihare the Joy. 570 

A Brother one, and one a Hufband plains ; 

And l^hebes and Argos in alternate Strains 

They fing: but moH jirgia calls to Mind 

Their numerous Griefs, hard Lot and Fates unkind. 

By this our common Rite of fecret Woe, 575 

Yon focial Manes, and the Stars that glow 



V. 575. By this our common Rite\ Our Author, to put a finifliing 
Stroke to the Charadters of Argia and Antigone^ prefents us witk 
an Interview between them, in wl^ch their Difpoiitions and Man« 
ners are conveyed to us through the Channel of Difcburfe/ From 
a Comparifon of the Conduct of thefe Ladies we may infer, that 
Love tranfcends natural Affection in a ^try eminent Degree. Argia^ 
fearing left her Siiler ihould not perfevere in ailifting at the funeral 
Rites of her Hufband through Dread of Creonh Difplcafure, tells 
her of his fincere Regard and £fteem, and prompts her to exert 

herfelf, without feeming to do it. The Art of the Poet is 

very vifible on this Oceafion. 

In 



Book XII. STATIUS^s THEBAID. 293 

In Heaven, confcious of the Truth, I fwear, 
That never, when he breath'd our jirgive Air, , 
His dear, though abfent, Sifter fcap'd his Thought : 

. Her only he defir'd, her only fought. 580 

Whilfl: his lov'd Mother, and his native Clime, 
His Crown detained beyond th* allotted Time 
Without one Tear or Sigh were left behind. 
And I, aleflerCare, with Eafe refign'd* 
But thou perhaps from fome huge Turret's Height 
Haft feen him toiling thro' the Ranks of Fight, 586 

' While, as with martial Air he flrode along. 
With Eyes reverted from amidft the Throng, 
He wavM his Sword, and bow'd his triple Creft:, 
An Honour paid to thofe, he lov'd the beft, 59a 

While we at Diftahce pin'd. — What God could fire. 
The furious Pair to fuch Exceft of Ire ? 
Could not your Prayers move his ftubborn Breaft ? 
And was a Sifter's Suit in vain addrefs'd ? 
Now had the Dame the woeful Faft difclos'd, 5^^ 

But thus their faithful Comrade interpos'd : 
Come on and firft your Enterprize purfue : 
The Stars, retiring, wear a paler Hue, 
And Morn advances. — ^^Whcn the Work is" fped. 
Then pour your boundlefs Sorrows o'er the Dead. 600 
Not far remote, Ifmenos roU'd his Flood, 
Still foul with Slaughter, and diftain'd with Blood. 

V. 59J. N01V had the Dame] Tnif ieems an indire»ik Stroke on 
female Loquacity. The two Princeffe^s, forgetful of the Objeifl 
of their Enterprize, fall into a long Converfation, which in all P: j- 
bability might have lalled till Day-light, had not their good Friend 
Menates admonilhed them of their Duty. 

U 3 Hither 



294 STATIUS's THEBAID. Book XII. 

Hither the feeble Pair by mutual Aid 

The Warrior's lacerated Corps conveyed, 

The little Strength he has, Men(^tes lends, 605 

And to fupport the Load, his Arm extends, . ' 

Thus Phaeton^ from Vulcan\ Fury fav'd. 

In P^'s warm Stream his pious Sifters lav'd. 

To Trees transformed, and forrowing for his Dqom, 

Ere fcarce his fmoaking Body fiU'd the Tomb. ^10 

Soon as They cleansM their Brother in the Ford, 

And to their proper Form his Limbs reftor*d. 

They print the parting Kifs on either Cheek, > * 

And Fire, to clofe the Rites, affiduous feek : 

But ev'ry Spark extinft, and Flame o'ercon^e 615 

By vap'ry Damps, defponding long they roam. 

PrefervM by Chance, or Providence, there flood. 

Not diftant far, a high-heap*d Pile of Wood : 

Whether fome Fiend the Fires difcordant fpar'd. 

Or Nature for new Prodigies prepared, 620 

Is yet unfaid, the Caufe remains unknown : 

^teocles upon the Top was thrown. 

Here they perceive a flender Gleam of Light 

From fable Oaks, and joyful at the Sight, 

In Hafte implore the unknown Shade, who claims 625 

The Strufture, to divide the grateful Flames 

With Polynices^ cor difdain to burn 

Qn the fame Pyre, and fhare one common Urn. 

Again behold the Brothers ! — When the Fire 

Pervades their Limbs in many a curling Spire, 630 

y. 607. ^hus Phaeion\ The Story of Phactcns Fall frOm Heaven 
\% too well known to tie enlarged upon in a Note. See Ovid*^ 
Metamorphofesy ^ib. 2. Fable i. 

V. 629. ^gat'n beheld the Brothers/"] This Fiction is very properly 
inftrted^ and if it is not the Poet's Invention, does great Ho- 
nour 



Book XIL STATlUS's THEBAID, 295 

The vail Pile trembles, and th' Intruder's Corfe 

Is driven from the Pile with fudden Force -, 

The Flames, dividing at the Points, afcend. 

And at each other adverfe Rays extend. 

Thus, when the Ruler of th' infernal State 6^$ 

(Pale-vifag^d Dis) commits to ftern Debate 

The Sifter-Fiends, their Brands, held forth to Fight, 

Now clafh, then part, and fhed a tranfient Light. 

The very Beams disjoin before their Eyes : 

With Hell -bred Terrors fmit, each Virgin cries : 640 

Through our Default then do the Flames engage. 

And have our Hands renewed fraternal Rage ? 

For who however cruel in the Fray, 

Would drive an injur'd Tbeban^s Shade away? 

But our Eteocle^ ? The Shield I know, 645 

And half-burnt Girdle of the Brother Foe. 
Mark, how the Fire recedes, then joins again ! 
Deep fixt as erft their Enmities remain. 
Fruitlefs the War ! In vain afrelh they join 
In fight : O Tyrant, -for the Palm- is thine : 650 

Whence then this ufelefs Rage, this martial Heat, 
When he ufurps the Crown, and regal Seat ?, 
Refign your Threats ; and thou, the younger, bend. 
Nor more for alienated Sway contend. 

nour to his Judgment. Such Traits of the Marvellous have a 
fine EfFed in Poetry. Lucan Las imitated it in his Account of the 
Prodigies that ulhered in the civil War between C^t/ar and Pom- 
pey, Pharjalia Lib. i. 

" — — Veftali raptus ab ara 

Ignis, et oftendens confeftas fl^mma Latinas , 
Scinditur in partes, geminoque cacumine furgit, 
Thebanos imitata rogos. 

U 4 At 



396 STATIUS's THEBAID. BookXII. 

At our joint Suit O clofe the direful Scene ; 655 

Or, to prevent your Rage, we ru(h between. 

Scarce had (he fpoke, when with a rumbling Sound 

The Field and lofty Houfes (hook around : 

The Pile yawn'd wider, and his Slumbers broke. 

From Dreams of Woe the ftarting Soldier woke, 660 

And, running o'^r the Plain, >yith naked Sword 

F^ch fecret Pafs and Avenue explored, 

Menostes only dreads tV advancing Band ; 

Wfiile th?y before the Pyre, undaunted, (land, 

Avow the Breach q{ Cr eon's harfh Decree, 665 

And lift the Shout of Triymph^ a$ they fee 

Their Brother's Body to the Flames a Prey, 

And cv'ry mould'ring Limb confum*d away. 

If flight difturbs the Tenour of their Mind, 

^Tis but the Fear, that Creon (hould be kind. 670 

T^cy both difpute, whofe Labours merit moft 

Qf Glory and the Grime alternate boaft^ 

I brought the Corfe, and J the Scrufture fir*d| 

M? Love (they cry) me Piety infpir'd. 

The cruel Puni(hment^hus each demands, 675 

And thro* the Chains, delighted^ thrufts her Hands. 

No more that Caution to offend remains, 

J^or mutual Reverence their Stile reftrains ; 

JJoth angry feem, fuch jarring Clamors rife 

pn either Side, and rend the vaulted Skies. 0^q 

y. 66^, If aught\ The Magnanimity of thefe two Heroines ia 
cqu^l td any thing recorded "of the Fair Sex both ^xi Fable an4 
pjiflory. Pne cannot but cry out with Tajfo^ 

P Spettacglo grande, ove a tenzone 
Sono ^more, e magnanima Virtute ! 
Ove la nwrte al vincitor fi pone 
In premioy e'l xnal del vinto e la 6alute ! 



BookXII. STATIUS's THEBAID. 297 

The Guards, who feiz'd them, are difpatch*d to Court, 

Before the King the Matter to report. 

But Pallas ufhers in the female Band 

To the Cecropian Town, at the Command 

Of Juno^ crowns their Sorrows with Applaufe, 685 

And intercfts the People in their Caufe. 

^heir Hands with Boughs, their Foreheads fhe fupglies 

With Wreaths, and teaches them in humble Guife 

To veil their Face, the fuppliant Knee to bend. 

And empty UrnS to public View extend, 6^0 

Of ev'ry Age a Crolyd of Gazers roams. 

Some feek the Streets, and others mount their Domes : 

From whence this Swarm of wretched Dames (they 

cry) 
Why flows the Tear, and heaves the broken Sigh ? 
In Concert, ere they learn the Caufe, they groan. 6g^ 
The Goddefs, mixt with either Train, makes known 
The Objeft of their Suit, their native Land, 
And whom they mourn, and anfwers each Demand. 
On all OccafiOns they themfelves difclofe 
The Source and Origin of all their Woes, 700 

And, murm'ring out th' inhuman Tyrant's Law, 
In Throngs around a vulgar Audience draw. 
Thus from their Nefts the Thracian Birds complain 
Jn broken Notes, and many a twitt'ring Strain, 

y. 703. 7hus from their Ncjis\ Tereus, King of Tkraccy having 
married Pro^«^, the Daughter oi PanMon Xing q{ Jthens, and ra- 
vifhed her Siller Philomela^ cut out her Tongue, and (hut her up 
in a Prifon, where fhe wrote the Story in Needle- Work, and fent 
it to her Sifter. Progne was transformed to a Swallow, and Philo- 

jftela to a Nightingale. We had a Simile drawn from this Bird 

in the 8th Book. 1 do not like the Repetition ; but think it much 
ipore tolerable thap one in the fi.'teentli Book of the //yW, which 
\s copied verbatim from one in the fixth : I mean tliat of a Horfe 

fct 



298 STATIUS^s THEBAID. BbOK Xir. 

To Strangers when th* inccftuous Rape they fing» '705 

And wail th' Injufticc, of the luftful K-ing, 

There ftood as in the Centre of the Town 

An Altar, facred to the PooV alone ; 

Here gentle Clemency has fix*d her Seat : 

And none but Wretches hallow the Retreat. 71 1 

A Train of Votaries fhe never wants : 

And all Requefts and Suits, impartial, grants, 

Who'er implore, a fpeedy Audience gain ; 

And open Night and Day her Gates remain :. 

That Mifcry might ever find Acccfs 715 

And by Complaints alone obtain Redrcfs. 

Nor coftly are her Rites : no Blood (he claims 

From flaughtcr*d Vidlims, nor odorous Flames ^ 

Her Altars fweat with Tears; and Wreaths of Woe, 

Her Suitors, tearing from their Hair, beftow, 720 

Or Garments in her Fane arc left behind, 

Wl>en Fort6ne (hifts the Scene, to her refign*d. 

A Grove furrounds it, where in fliadowy Rows 

The Laurel Tree and fuppliant Olive grows. 

No well-wrought Effigy her Likjencfs bears, 725 

Her imag'd Forn> no Iculptur'd Metal wears : 

fe: at Liberty and ranging the Paftures: whereas our Author has 
variei his LJ»nguage and the Circumftances of tke Comparifon. 

V. 709. Mere geutle Clemency'] Chaucer^ who in his Palamon and 
jiniie has taken gicat Liberties with our Author, and almoft tran- 
fcribcd fomc PaiTages (as will be feen in the Seqnel) mentions the 
Argive Ladies entring thi^ Temple. 

Here in this Temple of rhe Goddcflc Clemence^ 
We have been waiting all this fburt«night : &?. 

There is a raft Lnxuriance of Fancy, as well as Propriety A'iplayed 
m this Defcription. The Building, Sacrifices, 'and Votaries are 
iach as arc hiyhly con fiite^t with the Nature of the Thing, and 
wharader of diis- Gcddcfb. .... 

In 



Book XII. ^STATIUS's THE BAID. 299 

In human Breafts refides the Pow*r divine, , 

A conftant Levee trembling at her Shrine. 

The Place, deform'd with Horrors not its own. 

To none but Objeds of Diftrefs is known. 730 

Fame fays, the Sons of great Alcides rear'd 

The Fane, in Honour of the PowV rever'd 

(A Temple to their Father firft decreed) 

But Fame d^miniihes the glorious Deed. 

'Tis juftcr to believe, the Pow'rs above, 735 

Of whofe Protection, and parental Love 

Fair Jthens ihar*d a more than equal Part, 

The Pile eredcd, not a Mortal's Art ; 

That Mercy might, by rulhing in between 

Offended. Juftice, and th' Offender fcreen 740 

The guilty Wretch: for this the Strufture rofe, 

A common Refuge in the greateft Woes. 
No human Blood th* unfpptted Pavements ftains 5 
But threatening Vengeance with her clanking Ghams, 
And Inftruments of Anger, howls aloof, 745 

Nor Fortune frowns beneath this hallow'd Roo£ 
Through all the Globe is this Afylum known. 
Here Kings deposed, and Chiefs in War overthrown. 
And thofe, whofe Error was their only Crime, 
Convene, repairing from each diftant Clime. 750 

This hofpitable Goddefs foon overcame 
The Rage of Oedipus^ whofe vengeful Flame 

V. 752. The Rage ^Oedipus] Oedipus ^ being expelled 7X^/f/, 
by the Command of Creon^ fled to Colonosy where there was a 
Temple confecrated to the Furies, but was taken thence by the 
Athenians^ and very hofpitably entertained^ Jrijfopbanes wrote a 
T^ftLffidy on this Sobjeft. l^a^antm^ 

• The 



300 STATIUS's THEBAID. BaoK XH. 

The Furies kindled ; and Orefies freed 

From (;he fell Horrors of the murd'rous Deed.' 

Hither thp pcnfivc Dames of Lerna cotne, 755 

Cooduded by a Crowd : before che Dome 

A Train of Pilgrims ftood, but all give Way. 

Soon as moreipleafing Thoughts their Cares allay. 

They (bout aloud.— Thus when a well-rangM Hoft 

Of feathered Cranes furvey the Pbarian Coaft, 760 

They ftretch their Necks, and clapping as they fly^ 

Their Wings expanded, (hade a Length of Sky : 

Such is their Joy to fcapc the Winter's Reign, 

And fhare in Nile the Summer- Heats ag^n. ■ 

Now Tbefeus^ graced with Conqueft and Renown 76^1 

From Scythian Battels, feeks th* Athenian Town. 

A Pair rf fnow-white Steeds his Chariot draws. 

His Chariot wreath'd with Laurels, while th* Applaufe 

Of (houting Thoufands, and pacific Sound 

Of breathing Clarions wafts his Praife around 770 

To fwcll the Pomp, before the Chief are borne 

The Spells and Trophies from the vanquifh'd torn ; 

The Car, the Pageant charged with many a Creft, 

The borrowing Steed, with Trappings gayly dreft. 

The Pole-Axe, wont to lay the Foreft low, j'f^ 

And thin M^otiSy the well-polilh'd Bow, 

The Qiiiver light, the Girdle ftudded o*^er 

With Gems, and Shield deform 'd with fenrvale Gore* 

But they, intrepid ftill, their Sex difclofe. 

And in no vulgar Groans exprefs their Woes^ 78© 

r. 759. A ivdUrang d Hojf^ The Cranes in their Flight (as here 
fron» a colder to a warmer Climate) ufaally kept in the Foim of 
«Mic- of thcfc three Greek Letters c^ A or Y, unlefs the Violence of 
the Wittd, cr any ether Accident broke their Order. 

3 To 



BooitXIl- STAtmS's THEBAIt). jdi 

To fue for Life unworthily difdain. 

And feck the niaKial Virgin's holy Fatie. 

The reigning Paflion now is to behold 

The Viftors, glittVing with Barbaric Gold : 

But mod Hippolyte their Notice drew, 785 

No longer frowning, but ferene to view, 

And reconciled to Nuptial-Rites. — ^Theygazfc 

Afkance, with Looks expreflive of Amaze, 

And mutter out their Wonder, that flie broke 

Her Country's Laws, and patient of the Yoke, 750 

With artful Braidings trick'd her auburn Hair, 

And veird her Sun-burnt Bofom, whilom bare j 

That, pleas'd, (he hiixes in the gaudy Show^ 

And brooks th' Embraces of an AiiU Foe. 

By flow Degrees the Suppliants quit the Fane, 795 

And, ftanding full in Profped of the Train, 



V. 785. Hippolyte] Bernartius gives himfelf mucli trouble about 
the Name of this Lady of The/eusj and endeavours td prove from a 
Paffage in Pau/anias^ that it was not Hippolyte, but Antiope. But as 
what he advances is very dry and tedious, ai^.d as the Subjed itfelf 
is not interefting (a Poet not being tied down to hiiloricai Preci- 
fion) I (hall take no fat ther Notice of it, as the Reader may ie« k 
at large in the Variorum Edition by Veenhufen* 

V, 795. Byflonv Degreej] So Chaucer. 

This Duke, 6f whom I make mcncioune. 
When he was come almoil to the Town 
In all his well and his mofl Pride, 
He was ware, as he caft his Eye afide. 
Where that there kneled in the high Wcy 
A Companis of Ladies, twey and twey : 
Each after other clad in Clothes blacke^ 
But fuch a crie and fuch a Woe they rofke. 
That in this World nys Creature living 
That ever heard fuch a waimcHtrng : 
And of this Crie they would never flenten. 
Till they the Reines of his bridel^ heAten* 



Admire 



3P2 STATIUS's THEBAIP, JJopkXH. 

Admire the Triumph^ tnd recall to Mind, . . 
Their Hufbands, to the Fpwls of Air refiga'd. 
The Courfers halting, from his Chariot's Height 
The Monarch lean'd, and, muling at the Sig^t, Sop 
Inquires the Caufe.— To fails Demand rcpl^ 
The Wife of CapamuSy and boldly cried. . 
O valiant Tbefeusy of whofe future Praife, . 
And Glory, Fortune on our Ruins lays 

V. 803. O valiant Thefeas] It mil not 1 apprehend, be an qnj- 
pleafing Talk to the Reader to coiiipare this &peeek with the feft 
quoted Author's on the fame Sobjed. 

The oldefi Ladie of them all fpaice^ 
Whan (he had founed widi. a deadlie chere. 
That it was rath for to fee and here : 
She faid» Lord to whom Fortane hath yene 
Vidtory, and a Conqueror to live ; 
Nought greveth us your Glory and Honour* 
But we l^fpeke you of Mercy and Socour. 
And have Mercy on our Wo and Diftrefle, 
Some drop of Pity through the.Gentilneire ■ 
Upon us wretched Wymen let thou fall. 
For certeS) Lord, there nys none of us all 
That ihcne hath been a Dutchefle or a Quene, 
Nor be we Caytifs, as it is well ifene : 
Thanked be Fortune, and her fiEdfe Whele 
That none E^ate affureth for to be well* 
Now certes, Lord> to abyde your Prefence, 
Here in this Temple of the GoddeiTe Clemence, 
We have be waidng all this fourtenight : 
Helpe us. Lord, iith it lieth in thy Might. 
I Wretch, that wepe and waile dius 
Whilom Wife to King Cafaneusy 
That ftarfc at TMes, curfed be the Day, 
And all we that ben in this Array, 
And maken all this Lamentation 
We loflen all our Huibondes at that Town » 
While that the Siegs thereabout laie ; 
And yet the old CnM (wcl awaie) 
That Lord is nowe p£ Ththes Cite, 
Fulfilled of Yrc, and of Iniquite, 

... He 



Book XII. STATIUSy THEB AID, 303 

The Bafis,' deem us not a guilty Train S05 

For Crimes far exil'd, or of foreign Strain : 
Since all of us attained the Rank before 
Of Royalty, arid rul'd th' 'Inachian Shore, 
The Wives of Kings, who met *an early Grave ' 
Jn Tbeian Wars, unfortunately brave. . 810 

Tho' griev'jd, ' we cannot of their Deaths coniplain. 
For this the Laws and Chance of Arms ordain.' 
Nor were they Centaurs, or of monftrous Birth', . 
The Sport bf Nature,, arid tTie Dregs of Earth,^ ^ y. 
To wave their Race, and glorious Anceftry, "'\ ' 815 
Suffice it, noble Thefius^ " that with thee' ^ 

They bore a manly Form, a thinking Mirid^*' ' 

And all the Properties of human Kind : / . 
" Yet Creoiij futhlefs as the King of Hell, ' * 
And, as th' infernal Boatfman, ftern an4,felti ' 820 
To breathlefs Carcafles extends his Ire, V' '," ' " 
Nor grants the laft ftd Horioufsof the Fyre •;;., / 
Beneath the doubtful Axle, of the. Sky, . * ^ 
And Erebus^ utiburied ftill they Ke. 
Alas! ONatOre, how art thou debasM! 825 

Through our Defaults irifqlted and difgric'^d. 



He for Difpute, and for Kis Tuanny 
To done the Deed Bodies Villanie, 
Of all our iiOrds, which tliat bendiwe 
Hath all the Bodies on an Heape idrawc ; 
And will not fu&r them by none AiTent 
Neith^ to be buried, ne to be brent 
But maketh Hounds to til Ke^l in Difpite.' 
And with that Word without more Reipitc 
They fallen grofsly^ and oien^itjcoafly. 
Have on us wretched Wymen wme Mercic 
And let our Sorowe finkc in'.'tbinc Hert. 



\Vi 



nercr 



300 STATIUS's THEBAID. Book Xn. 

The Furies kindled ; and Oreftes freed 

From (;he fell Horrors of the murdVous Decd.' 

Hither thp pcnfive Dames of Lerna cotne, - 755 

Cooduded by a Crowd : before the Dome 

A Train of Pilgrims ftood, but all give Way. 

Soon as more.pleafing Thoughts their Cares allay. 

They (bout aloud.— Thus when a wcll-rangM Hoft 

Of feathered Cranes furvey the Pbarian Coaft, 760 

They ftretch their Necks, and clapping as they fly^ 

Their Wings expanded, (hade a Length of Sky : 

Such is their Joy to fcapc the Winter*s Reign,; 

And fhare in Nile the Summer- Heats ag^iin. * 

Now TbefeuSy graced with Conqueft and Renown y^y 

From Scythian Battel^ feeks th* Athenian Town. 

A Pair of Ihow-white Steeds his Chariot draws. 

His Chariot wreath'd with Laurels, while th' Applaufe 

Of (houting Thoufands, and pacific Sound 

Of breathing Clarions wafts his Praifc around 770 

To fwell the Pomp, before the Chief are borne 

The Spoils and Trophies from the vanquifh'd torn ; 

The Car, the Pageant charg'd with many a Creft, 

The forrowing Steed, with Trappings gayly dreft. 

The Pole- Axe, wont to lay the Foreft low, j'f^ 

And thin M^otiSy the well-polilh'd Bow, 

The Qiiiver light, the Girdle ftudded o*^er 

With Gems and Shield deform 'd with fenrvale Gore* 

But they, intrepid ftill, their Sex difclofe, 

And in no vulgar Groans exprefs their Woes^ 78© 

r. 759. A ivf It-rang* d Hojf} The Cranes in their Flight (as here 
fron» a colder to a warmer Climate) ufaally kept in the Form of 
«M^e of thefe three Greek Letters ^^ A or Y, unlefs the Violence of 
the Wiftd, cr any ether Accident broke their Order. 

3 To 



BooitXIl- STAtlUS's THEBAIt). jdi 

To fue for Life unworthily difdain, 

And feek the maKial Virgin's holy Fatie. 

The reigning Paflion now is to behold 

The Viftors, glittVing with Barbaric Gold : 

But mod Hippolyte their Notice drew, 785 

No longer frowning, but ferene to view, 

And reconcil'd to Nuptial-Rites. — ^Theygazfc 

Afkance, with Looks exprefllve of Amaze, 

And mutter out their Wonder, that ihe broke 

Her Country's Laws, and patient of the Yoke, 750 

With artful Braidings trick'd her auburn Hair, 

And veird her Sun-burnt Bofom, whilom bare j 

That, pleas'd, (he mixes in the gaudy Show^ 

And brooks th' Embraces of an Aiiu Foe. 

By flow Degrees the Suppliants quit the Fane, 795 

And, ftanding full in Profped of the Train, 



V. 785, Hippolyte] Bernartius gives himfelf much trouble about 
the Name of this Lady of Tbe/eusy and endeavours t^ prove from a 
Paffage in Paufanias^ that it was not Hippolyte, but Antiope. But as 
what he advances is vtry dry and tedious, aiid as the Subjed itfelf 
is not interefting (a Poet not being tied down to hitloricai Preci- 
fion) I (hall take no fai ther Notice of it, as the Reader may ie« k 
at large in the Variorum Edition by Veenhufen* 

v, 795, By flo'vu Degreej] So Chaucer. 

This Duke, 6f whom I make mcncioune. 
When he was come almoft to the Town 
In all his well and his moft Pride, 
He was ware, as he caft his Eye afide. 
Where that there kneled in the high Wcy 
A Companis of Ladies, twey and twey : 
Each after other clad in Clotheis blacke^ 
But fuch a crie and fuch a Woe they rofkcy 
That in this World nys Creature living 
That ever heard fuch a waimcHting : 
And of this Crie they would never ftcnten. 
Till they the Reines of his bridel^ heAten. 

Admire 



3P2 STATIUS's THEBAIP, JJopKXn. 

Admire the Triumph^ tnd recall to Mind, . . 
Their Hufbands, to the Fowls of Air rcfiga'd. 
The Courfers halting, from his Chariot's He^ht 
The Monarch lean'd, and, mufing at the ^g^t, &oo 
Inquires the Caufe.— To fails Demand replied 
The Wjfe of CapaneuSy and boldly cried. 
O valiant Tbefeus^ of whofe future Praife, . 
And Glory, Fortune on our Ruins lays 

V. 803. O valiant Tlieieas] It will not 1 apprehend, be an qn- 
p]ea£ng Talk to the Reader to oompare this Speedi with the hA 
quoted Author's on the fame Subjed. 

The oldeft Ladie of them all fpake. 
Whan (he had founed with a deadlie cheir. 
That it was rath for to fee and here : 
She £ud» Lord to whom Fortane hath yene 
Vidtory, and a Conqneror to live ; 
Nought greveth us your Glory and Honour, 
But we l^ipeke you of Mercy and Socour. 
And have Mercy on our Wo and Diftrefle, 
Some drop of Pity through the Gen tUneiTe . 
Upon us ^retched Wymen let thou fall. 
For cartes, Lord, there nys none of us all 
That ihcne hath been a Dutchefle or a Quene, 
Nor be we Caytifs, as it is well ifene : 
Thanked be Fortune, and her falfe Whele 
That none E^ate aflurcth for to be well. 
Now certes. Lord, to abyde your Prefence, 
Here in this Temple of the GoddeiTe Clemcncc, 
We have be waidng all this fourtenight : 
Helpe us. Lord, iith it lieth in thy Might. 
I Wretch, that wepe and waile thus 
Whilom Wife to King Capaneus^ 
That ftarfc at Tbehesy curfed be the Day, 
And all we that ben in this Array, 
And maken all this Lamentation 
We Men all our Huibondes at tktt Town, 
While that the Siege thereabout kie ; 
And yet the old Cr/M (wtl awaie) 
That Lord is nowe of ^Mes Cite, ; 

Fulfilled of Yrc, and of Iniquite, ,'. 

. . :. He 



Book XII. STATIUSy THEB AID.; 303 

The Bafis,' deem us not a guilty Train. "^5 

For Crimes far. exird, or of foreign Strain : 1 

Since all of us attained the Rank "before 

Of Royalty, arid rul'd th' Incchian Shore, 

The Wives of Kings, who met an early Grave ' 

Jn Tbelfan Wars, unfortunately brave. . 810 

Tho' griev'd, * we cannot of their Deaths coniplain. 

For this the Laws and Chance of Arms ordain. 

Nor were they Centaurs, or of monftrous Birth, . 

The Sport of Nature, arid tTie Dregs of Earth. * ^ 

To wave their Race, and glorious Anceftry, * * 815 

Suffice it, noble Thefeus^ that' with thee' ' ' \ 

They bore a manly Form, a thinking Mirid,*' 

And all the Properties of human Kind : / . 

Yet Creon, ruthlefs as the King of Hell, 

And, as th' infernal Boatfman, ftern an4,feH^ ' 820 

To breathlefs Carcafles extends his Ire, V' " ; 

Nor grants the laft ftd Honours of the Fyre :;;..' 

Beneath the doubtful Axle, of the. Sky, ' * 

And Erebus^ utiburied ftill they Ke. 

Alas! ONatOre, how art thou debasM! 825 

Through our Defaults irifqlted and difgrac'^d. 



He for Difpute, and for his Tixanny 
To donie the Deed Bodies Villanie, 
Of all our (jOrds, which that benflawe 
Hath all the Bodies on an Heape idrawe ; 
And will not fu&r them by none Aifent 
Neither to be buried, ne to be brent 
But maketh Hounds to e^t Kem in Difbite. 
And with that Word without more Refpitc 
They fallen grofsly^ and crien jpiteoafiy. 
Have on us wretched Wymen fome Mercic 
And let our Sorowe ilnke ia.'tbine Hert. 



\Vi 



iiere 



^04 STATlUS's THieBAID. BoofcJtrf. 

Where now is Athens ? where the Gods above ^ 
Why fleeps the Thunder-bolt of partial Jove ? 
Meanwhile the fev*nth bright Harbinger of Day 
Turns far from Thebes her orient Steeds away. $30 

The Surs, that gild yon fpangled Sphere with Light, 
Avert their Rays, and ficken at the Sight. 
The very Birds, and Monfters of the Wood 
Abhor th* ill-fcented Field, and noifome Food, 
From the corrupted Blood fuch Steams arife, 835 

Taint the frefh Gale, and poifon half the Skies. 
Nought fave the putrid Gore to burn remains. 
And naked Bones, that whiten all the Plains. 
Hafte, venerable Sons of Cecrops^ haile 
To lay the Realms of haughty Creon wafte : 840 

Such Vengeance well becomes you— hafte before 
He pours his Fury on the Thracian Shore^ 
Before each Nation fhares an equal Fate, 
And Millions rot beneath his impious Hate. S44 

For fay, what Lengths will bound hi$ lawlefs Rage, 
If Thoughts of Vengeance yet his Breaft engage ? 
*ris true, they fought, and variquifli'd prefs'd the 

Plains, 
Yet why (hould he purfue their cold Remains ? 
Not thus thy Wrath, as Fame reports the Deed, 
Bafe Sinis to his Brother Brutes decreed j 850 

V. 850. Ba/e Sinis] Sinisy Cercyou and Scyron were notorious 
Robbers, whom this Hero killed, of the former Paufamas in his 
Corinthiacs gives the following Account, " In the Ijlhnns there is 
*• a Place, wnere Binis^ the Rdbber, bending the Branches of feveral 
«* Pine^ to the Ground, bouAd the W/etches that he overcame to 
** them in fuch a Manner, that when the Trees unbent. themfelves,. 
** they toic their Bodies to KeCj^s. He was puniihed in the fame 
«* Way by The/eus.*' 

Pmpertitti 



But, as thy Valour greats thy Pity gave 
Him and his ill-deferving Peers a Graven 
Thy Piefty, I ween, the Foe admires, > 
And Tanais ftiines bright with frequent Fires. 
No wonder then^ the Pow'rs of Battle blefs 9$$, 

Thy dreaded Arms with more tharl hop'd Succefs, 
Yet Oh what Wreaths thy Forehead (hould adorni 
More glorious, than the Palm of Conqueft borne; 
' Wouldfl: thou but gracd the Dead with Obfeq[uies, 
And eafe the Realms of D/V, the Earthy and Skies. 86o 
MCrete^ and thy own Mardthoflian Plain 
Thou freed'ftj nor the fage Matron wept in vain, 
t) grant our Suit: fo thro* th' enfanguin*d Field 
May Pallas guide thee^ and from Danger fhicld 5 
Nor Hercules with envious Hate purfue 865 

Thy equal Feats : but may thy Mother view 
An endiefs Round of Triumphs, nor the State 
Of Athens prove at any Time our Fate 3 
She faid and ceas'dj with Hands upheld the reft 
Eccho her Shrieks, and fecond her Requeft. SjrO 

Propertius alludes to this Faft. Book 3d. 

Arborcafque cruces Sinis et non hofpita Grajis 
Saxa/ tl curvatas in fua fata trabes. 

8ce Plutarch likewife in the Life QlThifeiU. Birnatttui. 

V4 854. -«^W Tanais] Tanais ^nva 2^ famous Rivcf in the Country 
of the Amaxons. 

V. 861. i/*Cretej and kc] He killed the Mflrtf/^fl»/tf« Bull, and 
Minotaur of Crete. 

V. 869. ^he/aid and ceai'd [Let us fee what Chaucer fays* 
This gentil Duke downe ftoxh hisHorfe ftert, 
With Hert piteous, when he herd hem fpcke. 
ttim thought that his Hert wOulde brckc. 
Whan he faw hem fo piteous and fo mate 
That whilofti were of fo grete Eftate : 
'Vol. U. X And 



306 STATIUS's THEBAID. BookXII. 

At this the Stream of Grief begins to flow. 

And his wet Cheeks with rifing Blufhes glow* 

But foon his Tears are dried in' vengeful Flames ; 

Andy fir'd with juft Refeotment» he exclaims. 

What Fury thus deforms the moral Plan 875 

Of KingS) and in the Monfter finks the Man ? 

Thank Heav'n, my Virtue is not left behind. 

Nor with my Climate have I chang'd my Mind. 

Whence this new Phrenzy, Creon ? haft thou thought 

^^y Spirits broken with the Toils I wrought ? 880 

I come, I come, unwearied as before : 

And my Spear thirfts for thy devoted Gore. 

Then quick, my faithful Pbegeus^ turn thy Steed, 

And bear to Creon this my Will decreed, 

* TbebeSy or the Grecian Carcaffes fhali burn :* 885 

Go, and prevent our Hopes with thy Return^ 

This faid, forgetful of his recent Toils, 

He chears his Troops to fight with promised Spoils, 

And heals thciir Strength impaired. — Thus when again 

The Viftor-BuU recovers his Domain 890 



And in his Armes he hern all up hent. 
And hem-conforted in full good £ntent : 
And iwore his Oche, as he was true Knight 
He woldc don fo ferforthly his Might 
Upon the Tyrant Creon hem to wreake. 
That all the People of G;^f^ ihuldc fpeakc 
How Creon was ofThe/eus yferved ; 
As he that hath his Deth full well deferyed* 

V. 889. Thus lAjben again] There is a great Deal of what the 
French cd\\ Nai*vete ^vivace in this Comparifon, and it may be ob-^ 
ferved to the Honour of our Author, that he never fails in this 
A rticle through the whole Work. • 



• iervatur ad imuiDy 



Qualis ab inccrpto procefltjrat, ct fibi conflati 

And 



Book XII. STATiUS's THEBAID. 307^ 

And Herd, if haply the rebellowing Grove 

Betrays a fecond Rival to his Love, 

Tho* from bis Head and Neck the bloody Show'raf 

Diftill, he recoHcfts his fcatter'd Pow'rs, 

And, evVy Groan fupprcfs*d, and Wound conccard, 

Expatiates o*er the Mead, untaught to yield. 896 

Tritonia Ihakes the Terrors of her Breaft ; 

And llrait the Snakes, that form Mfdufi^^Crc&y 

With hoftile Hiffings all at once arife. 

And at the Walls of Cadmus dart their Eyes. poo 

Nor had th* Jtbenian Hoft prepared to go. 

When Dirce trembled at the Trump of Woe. 

Now to the War not only thofe, who fhar'd 

The Laurels rcap'd on Caucafus^ repaired 

With unextinguifh'd Heat, but ev'ry Plain 905 

To Combat fends a rude, unmar(hall*d Train : 

Beneath the Standards of their Chief convene 

The Hindsi who cultivate the Paftures green 

OiBrauroHy and the Pyreaan $trand, 

Dreadful tho* firm to Seamen, when they land. 910 

From Marathon^ inur'd to martial Toils, 

Though yet unnoticed for its Perfian Spoils, 

A Band arrives, with thefe a Cohort fpeeds 

From fair M6Un^\ ever-verdant Meads. 

Then from Icarius" hofpitable Dom^ 915 

To Gods a Feafting-Houfc, the Warriors roam. 

From Parnesy with a purple Harvcft crown'd 

EgakoSy for its fertile Groves renown'd, 

v. 9I2» Though yit unnoticed] The jithenians gained a great ViC- ' 
tory here over the Perfian Army QommaadeB by Date*- aad 
J(ap hemes f whQfe Hiilory every one is well Acquainted with. 

X a And 



3o8 STATIUS's THEBAID. BcokXIL 

And Lycabejfos, not unknown to Fame 

For Oli/cs.-^ Next the ftcrn Ikus came, 920 

The rough Hymettian^ and the Swains who wreathe 

The Tbyrfus in Acbame\ Vaks beneath. 

Sumumj by eaftcrn Prows afar perceived. 

Is left, from whence the Crelan Ship deceived 

The Sire with fable Sails, as o*er the Steep 925 

He bent, in Aft to fall, and name the Deep. 

Thefe SalamiSy and thofe Eleujis fends, 

O'er whofe rich Furrows Ceres wide extends 

The Scene of Plenty : on they bend their Way, 

Their Plows fufpended for the dreadful Fray. 930 

Now march the Troops, whom, hardy, fierce and bold, 

Callirhoe^s nine meandring Streams infold. 

And fair IlyJfoSj who concealed with Care 

The Thracian Ravifher, and JtHc Fair. 

The Citadel religns its Guards for Fight, 935 

Where Neptune and Minerva vy'd in Might, 



V. 925. With fahle Sails'] The Lot falling upon TX^/Jsi to go t«F 
Creti according to the Compad with Minos, he went on board a 
Ship, whofe Sails and Tackle were black, and received this Com- 
mand from his Father JEgius^ that if he efcaped the Dangers, he 
Ihould change his black Sails into white ones^ but the Hero for- 
getting this Injundlion, his Father feeing the black Sails imagined 
that his Son was dead, and caft himfelf headlong from the Pro- 
montory of Sunium into the Sea, which was afterwards called the . 
JEgean from his Name and Deftiny. 

V. 9331 IVho conceaV d ^xjttb Can] Boreas raviihed Orytbioy the 
Daughter of King Eredheus^ by whom he had the two Twins, 
Zetus and Calais, LaSfantius, 

V. 936. Where Neptune and Minerva] The Poet means the 
Acropolis, where the above-mentioned Deities made a Tryal of 
their Power. The former, by ftriking the Earth, caufed a Horie 
to fprjng fiom it, which is the Token of War: but the latter 
produced an Olive-Tree, the Enfign of Peace, 

Till 



BookXIL STATIUS's THEBAID. 309 

Till from thd doubtful Cliff an Olive fprung. 

And th' ebbing Seas with lengthening Shade o'erhung. 

Nor had the Scythian Queen withheld her Aid ; * 

She joined the Hoft with Enligns high-difplay'd. 940 

But Tbefeus^ mindful of her growing Pains, 

And fwelling Womb, her youthful Heat reftrains. 

And warns her, fafe at home from War's Alarms, 

To deck the Nuptial Bed with votive Arms. 

Soon as the Chief furvcys their martial Rage, 945 

While prone to fight, and ardent to engage, 

They greet their Offspring with a Ihort Embrace, 

Thus from his Car he fpeaks O genVous Race ! 

With me felefted to defend the Laws 

Of Nations, and aflert the common CaUfe, 950 

Exert your Pow'rs, and to the Combat rile 

With Courage equal to the vaft Emprize. , 

With us is Nature, ever faithful Guide, 

The. Gods, inclining to the jufter Side, 

And, to our View difclos*d, th' Elyjian Band ^^5 

In Approbation of our Condwdt ftand : 

The Snake-hair'd Fiends the Sons of Cadmus head 

And to the Wind their floating Banners fpread. 

¥•944. 7# deci] It was a Cuftom of the Ancients after a Vic- 
tory, or when they had refigned their military Employmexits, to . 

hang up their Arms, and confecrate them. Horace alludes to 

this Ceremony. Lib. 3. Ode 26. 

Vixi puellis nuper idoneus, 
£t militavi non Ane gloria : 
Nunc arma, defun<5lumque bello 
Barbiton hie paries habebit : 
Lsevam marinse qui Veneris latus 
Cuilodit : hie, hie ponite lucida 
Funalia, et vedles, et arcus 
Oppofitis foribus minaces. 

X 3 On 



310 STATIUS's THEBAID. Book XII. 

On then, my Friends, to conquer or to die. 

And on the Jufticc of your Caufe rely. ^60 

The Monarch fpoke, and hurPd a founding Lance, 

J^relude to fight, and Signal to advance. 

As when the cloudy Son of Saium forms 

The Winter^s Reign, and vexes with his Storms 

The northern Pole, the Face of Heav'n's o'ercaft, ^6^ 

And all Jeolia (hakes beneath the Blafl, 

^Nh\\t. Boreas, fcorninghis inadtivd Eafe, 

Acquires frcfh Strength, and whittles o'er the Seas : 

Then groan the Waves and Hills, the Lightnings 

Ihine, 
The Thunders roar, the Clouds in Conflift join. 970 
Thus with repeated Strokes the Plains refound. 
And Wheels and Hoofs indent the fmoaking Ground. 
Troop follows Troop : beneath their Fpet arife 
Black C louds of Duft, and intercept the Skies, 
Yet thro' the thickening Gloom by Fits is feen 375 
The tranfient Light of Ar^fis, that gleams between. 
Their Javelins glare with intermingled Rays, 
And ftrike each other with refleded Blaze. 
Now thro' the Shades of Night they feek the^r Foes : 
Meanwhile a Conteft emulous arofe, 980 

Who firft could reach the Town, and in the Wall ' 
Infix his Dart. Confpicuous o'er them all, 

▼. 96 1 . jind hurPd a founding Lance] The Poet has here (ai it 

fometimes happens with the moft accurate Writers) confounded 

the Cuftoms of other Countries with thofe of his own, in repre^ 

fenting Thefius giving the Signal of War by darting a Javelin into 

hev frontiers of his Erfemy's Country, which Ceremony was pe- 

uliar to the Romans only, and performed by the'r Feciales or He- 

aids at Arm?, as we learn from Z/iy, Book !• 

Neptune'^ 



BootXII. STATIUS's THEBAID. 311 

Neptim^s great Ofi^ring ftalks along the Field 

With hat^ty Strides, and waves his ample Shield, 

The fculptiii^d Surface of whofe Bols difplays 985 

Crr/^'s hundred Towns, the firft Eflay <^ Praife. 

Himfelf is there pomtray'd, as ralhly brave 

Withia the horrid Windings c^ the Cave, 

He twifts the Monfter's Neck, and to his Hands, 

And brawny Arms iqpplics the ftrait^ning Bands, 990 

Or from his threat'mng Horns withdraws away 

His Face, and fliuns with Art th' unequal Fray. 

Fear feiz'd the Tbeban Hoft, as they furvey'd 

The Warrior's Image on the Targe pouroray'd ; 

Such was th' Engraver's Skill, they fc«n'd to view 995 

A double Tbefeus^ wet with gory Dew. , 

The Hero at the Sight recalls to Mind 

His ancient Deeds, lus Friends of noble Kind, 

The late-fear*d ThrdhoW, and the Gnoflian Fair, 

Purfuing the loft Clue with bufy Care. 1000 



T. 989. The Monfter^s Neck] TTic Kfinotaor was half Maif, half 
Bead, and kept in the Labyrinth made by Dttdaim^ where he <)e- 
voQred year'y ieven of the noblefl Athenian Youths, till the third 
Year The/eus flew him, and efcaped by the Help of Jriadme. 

y. 99 c. Thty Jeem*d to ntie^v] TaJJi feems to have imitated thk 
Fidion in the Uft Canto of his Jerujalem delii'ered, where he tells 
Ds, that RimaUo^s Motions were fo Aidden and rapid, that every 
time he brandiihed his Sword, his Enemies thought he brandifhed 
three* 

Qoal trc lingue vibrar fembra il Serpcntc, 
Che lapreftnza d' ana il perfuade; 
Tal credea loi la ibigottita gente 
Con la rapida man girar tre ipade 
U occhio al moto delafo il falfo crede. 
E* 1 tcrrorc a que* monftri accrel'ce fede. 



X 4 Mean- 



3^ STATIUS's THPBAIP. PqokXH, 

Meantime the Pamcs, for fpccdy Death defign'd 

Py Crfonh Law, their Hs^nds faft-bound behind, 

Are from the loathfqmc Prjfop-Jioufe conyey'd 

Beneath a double Guard. 3oth undifmay'd. 

Triumphant would ref^q their yit^ Breach, 10Q5 

3mile at the Pagger drawn, and rufti 00 Peath, 

And dying dif^ppoint the Tyrapt's Ajnt^ ; 

When to the Court th' Athenian I^egi^tc came, 

An Olive's peaceful Branch indeed he bears. 

But War in high infulting Tone declares j joip 

An4 mindful of his Lord's fupremg Qommand, 

Informs the Tbeban King, that near at hand 

fjis NJaftjer*? Troops are ftation'd, and but wait 

His Anfwer, to. iconimence the ftern Debate. 

The Tyrant, floating jn a Sea of Care, ipi^ 

Now doubts to perfevere in Wratji, or fpare, 

At length with an affum'd, embittered Smile 

Corjfirm'd he thus /eplie§ in haughty Style* 

Since then no Samples of our Ire fuffice 

To make a ra(h, and doating Pieopje wjfe, ig20 

Let Self- Experience. — See the Foe agaip 

Infuks our Walls. We*)l meet them On the Plain, 

Let }:he.m prepare fo fhare their I^jFeighbgur's Fate % 

Repent they may, but they repent too late. 

This is our Law^, and or) thefe Terms we take 1025 

f he Field.— r- While thus in angry Mood he fpake, 

V. |QOi. Meantime the Dameis'\ There is ft grw( Similitude be- 
tween this Book and the 2d cf Tafo'^ Jervfalem. The Magnani- 
mity of Qlindo and Sopbronia refcmbles th^t of Antigone and Argia* 
^he former are delivered from Puniftiment by the Mediation of 
^lorindaj and the latter by the Interpofition of the Athei\ian Am- 
baflador. Nor is the haughty Deportment of Pbegeus unlike that 
'^/Jrgant^. ' ' 

3 A^|oh4 



BqokXIL STATIUS's THEBAID. 313 

A Cloud of Duft, afqending in his Sight 

Obfcures the Day, and hides the Mountains Height. 

rmpaffion'd as he was, he warns his Bands 

To arqi, and Armour for hinifelf demands. jpjo 

Sudden he fees (an Omen of his Fall) 

The Furies feated in the niiddle Hall, 

M^naceus weeping his devoted Sire, 

And the glad Arrives flaming on the Pyre* 

How fatal to the "Th^ians was the Day, 1035 

When Pe^ce, by Blood obtain'd, was chac*d away ? 

Their Weapons, fcarce hung up, they now refume, 

Hack'd Shields, unable to prevent their Doom, 

Helms of their Crefts bereft in Days of Yore, 

And Javelins yet diftain'd with clotted Gore : 104Q 

Non^ is diftinguifh*d on th' cmbattel'd Mead 

For his neat Quiver, Sword, and well-rein'd Steed. 

No longer in the Trenches they confide : 

The City- Walls gape wide on every Side, 

No Gates, nor Bulwarks guard the guilty Town, 1045 

By Capaneus difmantled, and overthrown. 

Nor now the heartlefs Youth, before they (juit 

Their Wives and Children, in Embraces knit 

y. 1027. A Cloud of Dufty afcendiv^g in the ^ighf\ Occailoned b/ 
^he March of the Athenian Army. 

y. 1031. Siudden he fees'] To make this Fiction tolerable, we 
muft not take the Words of the Original in a literal Senfe, but 
fuppofe, that Creony oppreffed with Cares and Anxiety, fell afteep, 
and faw thefe Images in a Dream ; as Richard the third in Shake- 
fpear the Night before the Battle of Bof'worth faw the Ghofls of 
thofe he had murthered, and was by them threatened with his ap- 
proaching Death. 

1047. Before they quit] The farewell Kifs was fo much infifte4 
on by the Ancients at parting from, or leelng one another again 
^fter a long Abfence, that Suetonius informs us, Nero was cenfured, 
ai)d looked l?p<^Q <^8 an ^ncourteous brute (or tl^e Omiiiion of it. 

^Quod 



3i6 STATIUSs THEBAID. Book XII. 

Before him Carnage, Rout, Difordcr fly. 

His Harbingers, and all or kill or cjie. 1090 

But Thefeus fcOrns to ftain with vulgar Gore 

His Sword. The flying Herd he paflcs o'er. 

To weaker Hands fuch eafy Conquefts yields. 

And fcours, in queft of nobler Game, the Fields. 

Thus Dogs and Wolves inVade the ready Prey, 1095 

While the more genVous Lion ftalks away. 

Yet Tbamirus and bold Olenius too, 

Prcfuming to contend in Arms, he flew ; 

This,' as he lifts a Stone, in Aft to throw. 

That, as he fits his Arrow to his Bow, i loci 

Then fell three Sons of Alceus Side by Side, 

Whilft in their 'Strength' united they confide. 

Pierc'd by three Spears : firft, wounded in his Breaft, 

Rafli Pbilm fought the Shades of endlefs Rell, 

Next^ the L^ce piercing thro* the Shoulder- Joint, 

Japix dies, laft Helops bit the Point. , i fo6 

Now H^emon in his Car he fought : his Blade, 

Wav*d round,- in Air a dazling Circle made : 

But he retires.— — The Spear with whizzing Sound 

Two Chiefs transfixed with one continued Wound, 

And aim*d a third, but th* Axle-tree withftood, iii i 

And lodg'd the Dart, deep^buried in the Wood. 

But Creon only tbro*^ the Ranks of Fight 

He feeks, ^nd challenges to prove his Might: 

The Tyrant in the Van, tho' far apart, 1 1 1 5 

He foon efples, whilft ufing ev'ry Art, 

To dare th' Attack he reincites his Band, 

And makes the laft Effort: him, by Command 

Y. 1 1 18. Hinty hy Command] Oar Author feems to have taken this 
Circanaftance from FirgW^ iEneid, Wb. iz. Verfe 758. 

Die 



BboKXlI. STATlUS^s TH£fiAlt). ji/ 

Of Thefeus^ his retiring Troops rcfign 

To his own Valour, and the Pow*rs divine. 1 12O 

The King recalls them, but, when he defcry'd 

Himfelf alike abhorfM by either Side, 

Bold with Dcfpair, his utmoft Rage collefts. 

And thus to Tbefeus his Difcdbtfc direfts. 

Think not, thou comeft here a War to wage 1 1 25 

With Amazons, or wreak thy female Rage 

On female Foes. — Thou meet'ft with manly Arms, 

Chiefs old in War, and nursM amidlt Alarms \ 

Beneath whofe Might Hippomedon vtzs flain. 

And Capaneus^ and I'ydeus prefs'd the Plain. 1133 

What Phrenzy prompts thee thus to tempt thy Fate ? 

See, in whofe Caufe thou kindleft the Debate ! 

He fpoke, and at the Foe a Javelin flings. 

Faint on the Surface of the Shield it rings. 

But ^hefeusy fmiling at the feeble Blow 11 35 

Shakes his enormous Lance, in KSt to throw. 

But, ere he lets th* impatient Weapon fly. 

In thundering Accents makes this fl;ern Reply. 



Ille iimul fugiens, Rutulos fimul increpat omnes. 
Nomine quexnque vcx:ans ; notumque eiRagitat eniein. 
iEneas mortem contra praefenfque minatur 
Exitium, fi quifquam adeat^ tcrretque trementea 
Excifurum urbem minitans:— 

V. 1 1 25. Think not,] Numanus in the ptk Book of the iEneid 

infults the Trojans in almoll the fame Strain. 

Quis Deus Italiam, quae vos dementia adegit ? 
Non hie Atridse : nee fandi ii^lor UlyiTes : 

Creon however, in the Heat of his Paflion, tranfgrefles. thei Bloods 
of Truth, and very ungratefully forgets his Deliverer, in attri* 
bitting the Death of Qapancus to a mortal Hand. 

Ye 



3i8 STATIUS's THEBAID. BookXIL 

Yc Grecian Shades, to whom Aegides fends 

This Sacrifice, prepare the vengeful Fiends » 1 140 

For his Reception, and unbar the Domes 

Of Tartarus: He comes, the Tyrant comes. 

He faid, with Force difmifs'd, the quiv'jing Dart 

Pervades the Skies, and lights, where near his Heart 

The flender Chains, well-wrought of dudile Gold, 

The Cuirafs, arm'd with many a Plate infold. 11 46 

The Blood fpins upward from a thoufand Holes : 

He links, and, doubting where to fix them, rolls 

His Eyes around. — The Vidor Hands befide 

To fpoil his Arms, and thus infulting cry'd. 1 150 

Now wilt thou rev'rence Juftice, nor difdaln 

To grant Interment to the Grecians flain ? 

Go, meet the Vengeance, thy Demerits claim, 

3ecure howe'^r of the laft fun'ral Flame. 



V. 1 151. iWpw wib tbou reverend Jt^ce] It mtcf fce wortk while 
to compare the Condud of Tbefius with that of AchilUs on a fimi* 
lar Occafxon. The former, we fee, when Crtftn was juft dyiAg, 
only opbraids him of his Cruelty in a gentle Manner, and whh 

freat Humanity promifes him, he fhall not want the funeral- , 
Lites, which he denied to others. WhilA the latter, as it were to 
fharpcn and embitter the Agonies of Death, with the utmoft Fe- 
rocity threatens HeAor, that no Motives ihall ever prevail with 
him to fulFer his flody to be buried.— Here Homer has outraged 
Nature, and not represented his Hero, as a Man, but a Monfter. 
And yet Mr. Pope^ in the Preface to his Vcrlion, after having 
praifea his Author's Talent for drawing Charadlers, and his Leffons 
oi M«raHty, reraaiks of Statiush Heroes, that an Air ^ Impe- 
tuofity rnns throngh them all ; the &ne horrid a^d favage Cou- 
rage appears in his Capaneus^ Tydeus and Hippomedon, They have 
a Parity of CharaAer (fay|i he) which makes them feem Brothers 

of one Family. This Obfervation may infficc to (hew the 

Reader, to what Lengths a Predilcdlion for his Author will carry 
jiTnuiilaior. 



Wi* 



BookXII. STATIUS^s THEBAID. 319 

With pious Tumult now both Hofts embrace, 1155 
Join Hand in Hand, and mingle Face with Face. 
Peace and a League the Sons of Thebes requeft i 
And, hailing Thefeus by the Name of Gueft, 
Court him to march his Army to the Town, 
And ufe the royal Manfion as his own. 1 160 

The Chief aflents. The Theban Dames rejoice. 
And greet his Entrance with applauding Voice. 
Thus did the Banks of Ganges once refound 
The Viftor's Praife,with Wreaths of Vine-leaves crown'd. 
Now from the Summit of the fronting Hill, 1 165 

Whofe fhady Groves o'erhang the facred Rill 
Of Vircej the Pelafgian Dances defcend. 
And with (hrill Shouts the vaulted -Either rend- 
Thus, when the frantic Choir of Matrons join 
With hideous Yell the jolly God of Wine, 1 1 70 

They rage and foam, as if they had decreed 
To do, or late had done fome flagrant Deed* 
Far other Tears guQi forth, the Tears of Joy, 
And various Objefts their Purfuit employ. 
To Tbe/eus thefe, to Creon thofe repair, 1 1 yg 

Whilft others make the Dead their earlieft Care. 
Scarce could I dignify their Woes in Verfe, 
And all the Pomp in equal Strains rehearfe^ 
Should gentle Phcebus fortify my Lungs, 
And give Locution from a hundred Tongues. 1 1S9 

V. 1179. Should gentle Phoebus] Our Author has imitated this 
from Homer y Book 2d, Verfe 488. 

Nor 16 he fmgular in his Imitation. 

Noa 



320 STATIUS^s THEBAID. BdoitXif; 

To fing, with what a Bound and placid Smile 

Evadne leapM upon the fun'ral Pile, 

And, folding in her Arms her Hufband's Corfe^ 

Explored the Traces of the Lightning's Force-, 

How his fair Spoufe with Kifles (lamps the Face 1 185 

Of cruel Tydeus, clafp'd in her Embrace ^ 

Or to her Sifter with faft ftreaming Eyefs 

Jrgia tells the former Night's Empri2e ; 

With what loud Shrieks th' Arcadidtt Queerl demands 

Her Son, bewail'd by all his fubjeft Bands, 1 190 

Her Son, whofe Beauty fled not with his Breath 5 

Her Son, efteem'd in Life, and wept in Death* 

For fuch a miglity Talk the new Supplies 

Of fome infpiring God would fcarce fuffice* 

Non, mihi ii linguae cen^tum iint, oraqae centum/ 
Fcrrea vox, omnes fcelerum comprendere formas. 
Omnia poenarum percurrere nomina pofTum. 

Firg, iEn. L- 61 

Taffo has alfo borrowed the Thought^ Jerufohn delivered it. Can. 9. 
Sun. 92. 

Non io, (c cento bocche^ e lingue cento 
Avefliy e ferrea leiia, e ferrea voce, 
Nairar potrei quel numero, che fpento 
Ne' primi aflalti ha quel Jrappcl feruce* 

1182. Evadne leaped upon the funeral Pile] This Heroine thrcA<f 
berielf upon the Pile of her Hufband Capaneusy and was burnt with 
bim. There are equal Inftances of Aftedlion amongft the eaflern 
Nations of our Time^ and Montaigne acquaints us, that it is a 
Cullom in fome Parts oi InMa» whenever their Prince dies, to burn 
bis moil beloved Concubine on the fame Pile with him. 

V. 1191. Her Son] This Repetition of the Hero's Name three 
times leaves a great Imprcffion of him on the Mind of the Reader* 
and is fo very ^autiful, that I thought myfelf obliged to preferve 
it in tl|Le TranHation. Homer has one equally delicate. 

Kipfof ^ av Svjxudiy iytf T^tK mstq uca^f 

Yet 



BookXII. STATIUS's THEBAID. 321 

Yet more— My Ship, long toft upon the Seas, 1195 

Reqvires a Port, and Interval of Eafe. 

O Thebaid^ dear Objeft of my Toil, 

For twelve long Years purfu'd by Midnight Oil f 

Wilt thou furvive thy Author, and be read, ^ 

His Lamp of Life extinft, his Spirit fled ? 1200 

For thee already Fame has pav'd the Way 

To future Praife, and cherifhes thy Lay. 

Tafte ftamps thee current, marks thee for her own. 

And makes thy few Deferts, and Beauties known 

To generous Gf/2?r, whilft the ftudious Youth 1205 

From thy chafte Page imbibes the moral Truth 

WitliFidion tempered. Claim thy proper Bays, 

Nor emulate the greater ^neid^s Praife ; 

At awful Diftance follow, and adore 

Its facred Footfteps : thus, the Tempeft o'er, 12 id 

Through Envy's Cloud diftinguifh'd, thou (halt fliine. 

And after me enjoy a Name divine. 

1 197. 6 Thebaid] The Poet in this Addrefs very artfully takes 
his Leave of the Reader, and at the fame time fings his owa Pa- 
negyric, which he has done in a decent modeft Manner, and paid 
a genteel Compliment to the Author of the Mneid. In this Selfc 
Notice he has the Authority of Pindar ^ Lucretius ^ Ovid and Lucan^ 
^ho have all given him Precedents. 



FINIS, 



PROPOSALS for Publiihing by Subfcription, a Tranflation, 
from the Greek into Englifh Blank Verfe, of the Ta a c b d i k s of 
£URIPID£S ; with Notes Critical and Explanatory, 

By EDWARD HARWOOD, D.D. 

CONDITIONS. 

I. This Work will form Two Volumes in Quarto; and ihall be 
printed in an elegant and corred Manner. The Rrfi Volume will 
br ready rcr the Pr.fs next Autumn. 

II. i'he Price to Subfcribers will be Two Guineas ; One Guinea to 
be paid on the Delivery of the iirft Volume, the other on the I3^i- 
rery of the fecond, in fheets. ^ 

III. The firft Volume fliall be put to the Prefs when Four Hundred 
Copies are fubfcribed for. If this Number be not obtained, as the 
Publication of this Work mud be attended with great Expence, 
the Undertaking will be abandoned. Dr. Harwood therefore 
requeils thofe wno are difpofed to h3nour this Work with their 
Patronage, that they will give in their Names as early as poffible. 

SUBSCRIPTIONS will be taken in by the Au t h o r, at 
his Houfe in Great Ruflel- Street, Bloomfbury; by T. Becket, and 
T. Cadell, in the Strand; T.Davies, Ruffel-Street, Covent- 
Garden; J. Robson, New Bond- Street; T.Payne, Mews-Gate; 
G. Robinson, Pater-nofter Row ; Fletcher and Prince, Ox- 
ford ; and Me r r i l y^d Wo o d y £ r, Cambridge. 

Prefixed to this Translation, will be fcveral DISSERT ATIONS, 
in which the following Subje^s will be difcuiTed. 

I. Of the Greek Tragedy. 

II. Of the Grecian Stage. 

III. Of the Rife, Progrefs, Perfedlion, and Declenfion of Dramatic 
Compofition among the Greeks. 

IV. Of the three Greek Tragedians, iEfchylus, Sophocles, and 
Euripides. 

V. Of the Iambic, and its Angularly happy Adaptation to Dramatic 
Narrative. 

VI. Of the Chorus.. 

VII. Of the Strophe, Antiftrophe, and Epode, 

VIII. That the Greek Tragedies were Operas, with mufical Accom- 
* paniments. 

IX. The Life of Euripides, and a Comparifon inftituted between 
him and Sophocles. 

X. Of the Editions, Commentators, and Tranflators of Euripides. 

EURI- 



PROPOSALS for Publiihing by Subfcriptioi^ a Tranflation, 
from the Greek into Englifh Blank Verfe, of the Ta agbdiks of 
EURIPIDES ; with Notes Critical and Explanatory, 

By EDWARD HARWOOD, D.D. 

CONDITIONS. 

I. This Work will form Two Volumes in Quarto; and fliall be 
printed in an elegant and corre^ Manner. The firfl Volume will 
br ready icr the Pnfs next Autumn. 

II. 'i he Price to Subfcribers will be Two Guineas ; One Guinea to 
be paid on the Delivery of the iirft Volume, the other on the D^^ 
very of the fecond, in fheets. 

III. The firft Volume fliall be put to the Prefs when Four Hundred 
Copies are fubfcribed for. If this Number be not obtained, as the 
Publication of this Work mud be attended with great Expence, 
the Undertaking will be abandoned. Dr. Harwood therefore 
requeils thofe who are difpofed to hjnour this Work with their 
Patronage, that they will give in their Names as early as poflible. 

SUBSCRIPTIONS will be taken in by the Au t h o r, at 
his Houfe in Great Ruflel- Street, Bloomfbury; by T. Becket, and 
T. Cadell, in the Strand; T.Davies, Ruffel-Street, Covent- 
Garden; J. Robson, New Bond- Street ; T.Payne, Mews-Gate; 
G. Robinson, Pater-nofter Row ; Fletcher and Prince, Ox- 
ford ; and MsRRiLi^^d Woody er, Cambridge. 

Prefixed to this Tr a n s l a t i o n , will be fcveral DISSERTATIONS, 
in which the following Subje^s will be difcuiTed. 

I. Of the Greek Tragedy. 

II. Of the Grecian Stage. 

III. Of the Rife, Progrefs, Perfedlion, and Declenfion of Dramatic 
Compofition among the Greeks. 

IV. Of the three Greek Tragedians, iEfchylus, Sophocles, and 
Euripides. 

V. Of the Iambic, and its fingularly happy Adaptation to Dramatic 
Narrative. 

VI. Of the Chorus.. 

VII. Of the Strophe, Antijftrophe, and Epode, 

VIII. That the Greek Tragedies were Operas, with mufical Accom- 
paniments. 

IX. The Life of Euripides, and a Comparifon inftituted between 
him and Sophocles. 

X. Of the Editions, Commentators, and Tranflators of Euripides. 

EURI- 



Euripides hath long been aniverfally eftremed the moft 
elegant and pathetic of the Greek Tragedians. He was the Difciple 
and Friend of Socrates, who vifited the Theatre when his Plays 
were reprefented, and aiHiled him, it is faid, in the Compofition of 
th(un. The pure Morality every wheie interfpcrfed in thci'e Dramas 
is certainly worthy of that divine Philofopher. Nineteen of the 
Tragedies of Euripides have descended to our Time, in a more perfeft 
and corrcd State tnan the Writings of his Contemporaries ; but they 
have never been tranflated into our Language. Ettripidi?s, for many 
Years, hath been my favourite Author; About ten Years ago, at my 
Icifure Hours, I amufed myfelf with tranflating fome of the beft of 
his Compufitions, and writing Notes on them. I have now finiihed 
aVpilon of nine of the Tragedies, and illuflrated them with Notes. 
TBr Remainder will be executed, if thefe Propofals meet with 
Encouragement. 

December 20th 1773, 
Great Ruffcl-StrectBloomfbury, EDWARD HARWOOD. 

London. 



^^ 



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El 



THE NEW YORK PUBLIC UBRARY 
SBFBRENGB DEPARTMBNT 



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