} } “ Pray not for us, the nimble Dictys cry'd ; over-board, “ His base confederates the fact approve ; Wak'd by the noise and clamours which they rais'd; By every God, that rules the sea or sky, " And } } “ And give me signs, all anxious for their prey, 6. To tack about, and steer another way. 56 Then let fome other to my post succeed, " Said I, I 'm guiltless of so foul a deed. “ What, says Ethalion, must the ship's whole crew “ Follow your humour, and depend on you? " And straight himself be seated at the prore, “ And tack'd about, and fought another shore. “ The beauteous youth now found himself betray’d, 6. And from the deck the rising waves survey'd " And seem'd to weep, and as he wept he said ; “ And do you thus my easy faith beguile? “ Thus do you bear me to my native ille? “ Will such a multitude of men employ “ Their strength against a weak defenceless boy? “ In vain did I the Godlike youth deplore, 6. The more I begg'd, they thwarted me the more. 6. And now, by all the Gods in heaven that hear “ This solemn oath, by Bacchus' self, I swear, “ The mighty miracle that did ensue, “ Although it seems beyond belief, is true. “ The vessel, fix'd and rooted in the flood, “ Unmovd by all the beating billows stood. “ In vain the mariners would plough the main “ With sails unfurld, and strike their oars in vain ; os Around their oars a twining ivy cleaves, “ And climbs the mast, and hides the cords in leaves : " The fails are cover'd with a chearful green, 66 And berries in the fruitful canvas seen. « Amidst the waves a sudden forest rears " Its verdant head, and a new spring appears. " The 4 • The god we now behold with open eyes ; “ A herd of fpotted panthers round him lies “ In glaring forms; the grapy clusters spread « On his fair brows, and dangle on his head. “ And whilft he frowns, and brandishes his spear, “ My mates, furpriz'd with madness or with fear, “ Leap'd over-board ; first perjur'd Madon found “ Rough scales and fins his stiffening fides surround : “ Ah what, cries one, has thus transform'd thy look: Straight his own month grew wider as he spoke : “ And now himself he views with like surprize. “ Still at his oar th' induftrious Libys plies ; “ But, as he plies, each busy arm shrinks in, “ And by degrees is fashion’d to a fin. - Another, as he catches at a cord, “ Misles his arms, and, tumbling over-board, “ With his broad fins and forky tail he laves “ The rising surge, and flounces in the waves, “ Thus all my crew transform’d, around the ship, " Or dive below, or on the surface leap, “ And spout the waves, and wanton in the deep. “ Full nineteen sailors did the ship convey, “ A shole of nineteen dolphins round her play. “ I only in my proper shape appear, " Speechless with wonder, and half dead with fear, « Till Bacchus kindly bid me fear no more. 66 With him I landed on the Chian shore, 66 And him shall ever gratefully adore.” “ This forging flave, says Pentheus, would prevail " O’er our just fury by a far-fetch'd tale ; } }; * Go, “ Go, let him feel the whips, the swords, the fire, THE DEATH OF PENTHEUS. But Pentheus, grown more furious than before, Resolv'd to send his messengers no more, But went himself to the distracted throng, Where high Cithæron echo'd with their song. And as the fiery war-horse paws the ground, And snorts and trembles at the trumpet's found; Transported thus he heard the frantic rout, And ray'd and madden'd at the distant shout. A spacious circuit on the hill there stood, Level and wide, and skirted round with wood; Here the rash Pentheus, with unhallow'd eyes, The howling dames and mystic orgies spies. His mother sternly view'd him where he stood, And kindled into madness as the view'd : Her leafy javelin at her son Me cast; And cries, " The boar that lays our country waste ! The boar, my sisters ! aim the fatal dart, 66 And strike the brindled monster to the heart." Pentheus astonish'd heard the dismal found, And sees the yelling matrons gathering round ; He He sees, and weeps at his approaching fate, By so distinguishing a judgment aw'd, } } THE |