180

At her approach the woods, the vales below
Smile, and reflect the radiance of her bow:
While the dark dome, struck by her glitt'ring zone,
Bursts into light, and splendours not its own. 170
Still proof against th' irradiating gleams,
And heav'nly voice, the sluggish godhead dreams,
Till with fresh light she strengthen'd every ray,
And in his eyes infus'd the golden day:
Then scarce awake, and half unclos'd his eyes,
He lifts his head.-The show'ry goddess cries:
"O Somnus, gentlest of the pow'rs above,
At Juno's suit, the sister-queen of Jove,
On Thebes thy soporific arts employ,
Who, flush'd with conquest and unruly joy,
The Grecian trench beleaguer; disobey
Thy just commands, and Night's alternate sway.
Grant her request then, snatch the time to please
That rarely comes, and wrathful Jove appease
By means of Juno's interceding aid."-
This mandate giv'n, the many-colour'd maid
Ceas'd not, but lest she give her charge in vain,
Thrice shook him, and repeats it o'er again.
Thus importun'd the pow'r of slumbers nods
Assent. The fair attendant of the gods,
Clogg'd with thick vapours, quits the dark domain,
And points her rays, grown blunt with frequent rain.
He too call'd forth his speed and active pow'rs,
With blust'ring winds disturb'd the peaceful hours,
And spreads his mantle out, contracted, bent,
And stiffen'd with the freezing element;
Then, bending through the skies his silent flight,
O'erhangs the Tyrian plains from Heav'n's mid.
His breath alone extends upon the ground, [height-
Herds, flocks, and birds, and stills the world around.
Where'er he takes his way, the billows slide 201
From off the rocks, and howling storms subside:
The clouds condense, the forests nod on high,
And falling stars desert the drowsy sky.
First sudden mists, wide-spreading o'er the field,
The presence of the deity reveal'd,

190

230

They stand in arms, and, fir'd with just disdain,
Expect the menac'd fray, and hostile train.
Lo! chilling horrour creeps through all the breast
Of their sage prophet, by the god possest,
And urges him tumultuous to disclose
The fates' designs upon his country's foes.
Whether this insight Phoebus had inspir'd,
Or Juno with prophetic fury fir'd,
Dreadful in voice and look, he springs abroad,
By Heav'n's informing spirit over-aw'd,
And foams and quakes, unable to control
The lab'ring impulse of his master'd soul.
His haggard face with heat unwonted glows,
And by quick turns his colour comes and goes:
He rolls his eyes around; his locks, that flow
Disorder'd, shake the chaplet on his brow.
At periods thus the Phrygian zealot raves,
Whom Cybele from his terrific caves,
Or shrines allures; nor though he bleeds, he knows
Hisarms are hack'd and seam'd with frequent blows.
He plies the holy pine, and whirls around
His hair: the motion deadens ev'ry wound.
The field and gory tree are seiz'd with fear,
And the scar'd lions high her chariot rear.
Now to the council-hall, and awful dome
With standards hung, the madding seer had come:
Adrastus here presides o'er the debate,
And plans the welfare of th' endanger'd state: 250
The peers of Argos stand, and form a ring
About the throne of their consulting king,
Advanc'd by the late deaths, nor do they thank
The cruel stroke, that elevates their rank.

240

225. Lo! chilling horrour] Compare this with the following passages of Virgil and Tryphiodorus.

Ventum erat ad limen, cum virgo: "Poscere fata
"Tempus, ait: Deus, ecce Deus." Cui talia fanti
Ante fores, subito non vultus, non color unus,
Non comptæ mausere coma: sed pectus anhelum,
Et rabie fera corda tument, majorque videri,
Nec mortale sonans: afflata est numine quando
Tam propiore Dei.
Æn. 6.

Κυρη δ' ἐκ θαλάμοιο θεήλατον εκετι μιμνίων
Ηθελεν ἐν θαλαμοισι. διαρρήξασα δ' ὀχική,
Εδραμεν

Το η μαντιπόλοιο βολης ὑπὸ νυγματικότη
Πλαζόμενη κραδίην ἱερὴν ἀνέσειετο δαφνην.
Παντη δε βρύχατο κατὰ πόλιν.

Οὐκ στο Θρηισσαν ἐνὶ δρυμοισι γυναίκα.
Νηδυμο αυλός ετυψεν ο ειμανε ο Διονύσιο,
Ητε θεω τυφθείσα παρήορον όμμα τιταίνει,
Γυμνον ἐπὶ σειασα και η κυαναμποκι κισσα.
Ης ηγε πλεοφονίος αναίξασα νοοι.
Κασσανδρη νεοφονία ἐμαίνεται Turva de naiTWI
Κοπτομένη και σέρνον, ἀναχο μαιναει φαγη
Destruction of Troy.

There is one circumstance of similitude between the descriptions of Tryphiodorus and Statius, that makes me think one of them borrowed from the other; and that is the likeness of the compar son for as the phrenzy of Thiodamas is com pared to that of one of Cybele's priests, so the fury of Cassandra is illustrated by that of a Thrcian bacchanal. But who is the original in th case cannot be known, till the time in which Try. phiodorus flourished is ascertained, which Mr. Merrick, his translator, assures us is not yet done.

As when a vessel has her pilot lost

270

280

In a mid-voyage, half the ocean cross'd, One, who with skill the prow or side-decks guides, Succeeds, and at the widow'd helm presides; Th' astonish'd ship then wonders as she goes, With equal speed, and equal steerage knows. 260 Thus to the Greeks the sprightly seer imparts Fresh spirits, and re-fortifies their hearts: "Heav'n's mandates, and advice of high import To you, renowned chieftains, we report. Think not, these weighty accents are my own; A god inspires them, whose prophetic crown Approv'd by your consenting voice, I wear, Nor in despite of him, these ensigns bear. This night, now big with many a daring deed, By fate for glorious treachery's decreed; Lo! honour calls, and fortune asks your hands To act, and hearts to dare, what she commands. The Thebans sleep-Then let this night repay The deathful feats, and carnage of the day. To arms, to arms-this hour shall make amends For all, and serve as fun'rals to our friends; Burst we the gates, should they our wrath oppose, And turn the tide of vengeance on our foes. For by these tripods, and th' untimely fate Of our late augur, in the last debate, This, warn'd by fav'ring omens, I beheld, What time our host, by hostile force repell'd, Forsook the fight; but now the pow'rs divine Confirm, repeat, and clear the former sign. Beneath the covert of the silent night, The seer himself stood manifest to sight, From earth emerg'd; such as alive he shone, The colour of his steeds was chang'd alone. I speak no visions of the night profound, Nor prodigies in slumber only found. 'Dost thou' he cry'd, permit the Greeks to lose This fair occasion, sure they can't refuse? Restore, degen'rate chief, these wreaths restore, So ill deserv'd, nor so disgrac'd before. I taught thee not for this the mysteries Of Heav'n, or how to read each wing that flies. But come at least-on Thebes revenge my death, And with thy sword suppress their forfeit breath.' He said, and urg'd me to the nightly war, With his uplifted spear, and all his car. Snatch then the vengeance which the gods bestow; No more, man clos'd with man, we seek the foe; Fenceless they lie, and we' ve full pow'r to rage: But who with me will in th'emprize engage,

290

300

269. This night, now big with many a] This machine is very beautiful; and indeed a contrivance to repair the acts of the last day by this night-adventure was very necessary, as the Greeks were very much dispirited by the death of the four leaders. The hint of it is taken from the 10th book of the Iliad, where Diomede and Ulysses sally out upon the like errand; or from the 9th of the Eneid, where Nisus and Euryalus make an expedition of this kind, and give rise to a noble episode. And here I cannot but take notice how amiable Adrastus appears to us, who, ever anxious for the good of his people, keeps awake and calls a council to settle the means of their preservation. In this behaviour we may discover the marks of an affectionate father, a sincere friend, a patriotic king, and a prudent general.

And, while the fates permit, his glory raise
On this firm base, and win eternal praise?
Mark yon repeated omens of the night,
Auspicious birds! I'll follow them to fight,
Tho' none should second me; for lo! again
He drives his rattling chariot o'er the plain." 310
Thus with exalted voice the chief exclaims,
Piercing the night's dull ear, and all indames;
As by one pow'r inspir'd, with him they join,
Resolv'd to share whate'er the fates design.
Full thirty warriors, at the king's command,
He singles out, the flow'r of all the band;
But envy swell'd each other Argive's breast,
Eager of action, enemy to rest;

Some deem their race a merit, and make known
Their grandsires' actions, others boast their own, 320
Or will, that lots be cast.-This seen, the king
Exults, buoy'd up on hope's aspiring wing.
On Pholoë thus the rearer of the steed,
When the kind spring renews his gen'rous breed,
With joy views these strain up the mountain-steep,
Those with their dams contend, or dare the deep;
Then much he muses, which are fit to train
For rural labours, or th' embattled plain,
Which best would serve the chase, or soonest rise
330
To palms Elean, and th' Olympic prize?
Such honest glee the hoary monarch shows,
Nor checks their ardours, nor less eager glows.
"What gods," he cries, "so sudden, yet so late
Thus interpose to save th' afflicted state?
Are these the seeds of courage, that withstood
Distress so long, the ebb of gen'rous blood?
Illustrious youths, I praise you, and enjoy
Sedition, rais'd thro' ardour to destroy;
But, as we meditate a fraudful blow,
Our motions must be private, lest they know. 340
A noisy crowd ill suits with dark designs,
Restrain your rage, till Sol returning shines,
Then we'll all sally out, to war releas'd."
Sooth'd by these words, their youthful fury ceas'd:
As when stern olus rolls the huge stone
Before his cave, and from his airy throne
Confines the winds, all eager to engage,
And pour upon the deeps their blust'ring rage.

The seer Agylleus to the task assign'd,

Stretch'd on a couch one doz'd, one press'd the field,

390

And Actor. This was skill'd to sway the mind 350
With bland persuasion; that, Alcides' son,
Boasts equal strength, and equal trophies won.
Beneath each chief ten warriors take their way;
Which might alone the Theban host affray
In open fight. The seer himself lays down
The ensigns of his God, the laurel-crown,
And fillet, that confines his flowing hair,
Commended to the aged monarch's care:
In Polynices' mail his breast he cas'd,
And on his head the proffer'd helmet lac'd,
Stern Capaneus a sword to Actor gave,
For he himself, immoderately brave,
Disdains Heav'n's guidance, and the night's alarms.
With Nomius then Agylleus changes arms;
For little would avail the archer now,
The shafts Herculean, and unerring bow. [tents,
Thus, sheath'd in radiant arms, they quit their
And, headlong, from the steepy battlements
Leap down, lest, should they thro' the portals take
Their way, the brazen hinge the Thebans wake. 370
Stretch'd on the ground, they view the ready prey;
As slain already, motionless they lay.
"Where'er you list, my brave companions, go,
And hew a passage thro' the sleeping foe,"
(With voice distinct, the priest exhorting cry'd)
"Nor spare the blessing which the gods provide.
You see the foe expos'd upon the plain;
Did these (I speak with anger and disdain)
Did these coop up our warriors in their wall,
Blind to their int'rest, deaf to glory's call?" 380
This said, in wrath he drew his glitt'ring brand,
And pass'd the dying troops with rapid hand.
Who can recount the slaughter? who can name
The group of vulgar deaths, unknown to fame?
His rage no rule, his sword no limits knows,
But bathes his steps in purple, as he goes;
Limbs, trunks, and sever'd heads he leaves behind,
And hears their groans remurmur'd in the wind.

arms.

400

Thiodamas perceiv'd her, but suppress'd The silent joy beneath his conscious breast. Dull'd with success, his wrath is at a stand; Blunt grows the falchion, weary is his hand. As when the native of the Caspian wood (Some tiger fierce) has gorg'd his maw with food, His beauteous spots confus'd with clotted gore, He views the prey, and grieves his hunger's oer, The weary prophet thus surveys the slain, [vain; And mourns his vanquish'd arm, but mourns in 411 He wishes now a fresh increase of might, A hundred arms, and hundred hands to fight, Then tir'd of menaces, and wordy rage, He hopes the rising Thebans may engage. At distance Actor, and the chief who trac'd His lineage from Alcmena's son, lay waste The Tyrian forces.-Each a crowd succeeds, And trails a bloody path along the meads. The matted grass stands high in sable blood, And from the tents descends a reeking flood. 420 The breath of sleep and death thick steams around, And with the recent slaughter smokes the ground, Supinely as at first, each Theban lies, Nor lifts his head, nor opes his heavy eyes. With such wide-hov'ring wings the god invades The wretched crew, and spreads o'er all his shades. Jalmenus, unknowing rest, had strung His harp to Phoebus, and in concert sung A lofty pæan in the Tyrian strain, Doom'd never to behold him rise again: His neck, with sleep's incumbent weight depress'd, Swerv'd to the left, and sunk upon his breast; This seen, Agylleus drove his piercing brand Sheer thro' his breast, and struck his better hand; Whose taper fingers trembled on the strings. Forc'd by the stroke the vital spirit wings Its way to Hell.-The tables down he spurns, 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 Actor flies, As in his brother's arms entwin'd he lies; Pierc'd in the back Etheclus Tagus slew; From off his neck the head of Hebrus flew By Danaus' stroke; unconscious of his death, Without one pang or groan he yields his breath. Young Palpetus beneath the chariot press'd The clay cold earth, and puffing from his breast The nauseous fumes, his coursers terrified, That cropp'd the flow'ry herbage at his side. 450 From his gorg'd mouth the filthy liquor flows, And in his veins, intoxicating, glows; When lo! th' Iuachian prophet, as he snor'd, Deep in his throat infix'd the shining sword: Wine from his wound came issuing as he died, And drown'd th' imperfect murmur in the tide.

430

r

A deathful vision haply then was sent

In which he saw pourtray'd the dire event;
Thiodamas his breast unguarded tore;

So dream'd the luckless chief, and wak'd no more.
The clouds dissolve in dew upon the plains,
461
And of night's reign a fourth aloue remains:
Bootes flies before the greater car

Of Sol, and dim grows each inferior star;
21 And, matter failing, slaughter found an end,
When prudent Actor thus accosts his friend.
"Thiodamas, let this unhop'd-for joy
Find its due bounds; here cease we to destroy.
Scarce one, I ween, of all this num'rous train
Survives to war, and visit Thebes again;
Unless the deep'ning streams of blood conceal
Th' inglorious coward from the vengeful steel.
Then moderate thy yet successful rage:

518

470

480

490

There want not gods, who will for Thebes engage, And even those who aided us before, May fly, and give the longsome labour o'er." The seer obeys, and lifting to the skies His hands, embru'd in recent slaughter, cries: "Phoebus, the well-earn'd trophies of the night, And first fruits of the war, thy lawful right, Accept from me, thy soldier and thy priest, Though foul and reeking from the bloody feast. If patient of thee, right thy gifts I use, Thy spirit often in my breast infuse. These arms, and bloody honours now suffice: But, when our country glads again our eyes, So many gifts shall answer thy demand, And oxen bleed beneath the pontiff's hand.” This said, his pious pray'r the chieftain ends, And from the fray recals his pious friends. From Calydon and Mænalus there came Two mighty warriors not unknown to fame, Hopleus and Dymas, by their kings approv'd, Their faith rewarded, and their presence lov'd: Their leaders lost, they loath the light of life, Th' Ætolian first promotes the glorious strife. Say, dearest Dymas, does no care remain, No small compassion for thy sov'reign slain, Whose corse perhaps the famish'd fowls of air, Or Theban dogs with rage relentless tear? What then is left to grace his country's urn? See, bis fierce mother waits for your return! But still the ghost of Tydeus, void of rest, Stalks in my view, and rages in my breast. Though less expos'd to Phoebus he appears, His limbs well-harden'd, and confirm'd with years;

500

457. A deathful vision] This image is very natural, and imitated from the tenth book of the Iliad, ver. 496.

- Κακὸν γὰρ ὄναρ κεφαλήφιν ἐπέςη Την νυκτ', Οιγέιδα, παί, διὰ μῆτιν Αθήνης.

520

Yet in the search I'll range the champain o'er,
And force my way to Thebes."-He said no more,
For Dymas cut him short and thus reply'd: 509
"By the chief's wand'ring shade, my greatest guide,
And yon bright stars, that gild the skies, I swear,
That this same heat and energy I share.
Long have I sought a partner in the deed;
Now, back'd by thy assistance, I'll precede."
This said, he leads the way, and to the skies
Lifting his hands, in height of anguish cries,
"O Cynthia, queen of the mysterious night,
If truly Fame reports it thy delight
To wear a triple form, and often change
Thy virgin-aspect in the sylvan range,
Look down from Heav'n, and to these eyes restore
Thy comrade's corse (thy comrade now no more):
He, fairest far of all th' Arcadian boys,
Excites our vengeance, and our search employs."
The goddess heard, and bright'ning ev'ry ray,
Points her sharp horn to where the body lay:
Then Thebes shines forth, Citharon's hills arise
In prospect fair, and steal into the skies.
Thus when at depth of night avenging Jove
Rolls his hoarse thunders through the realms above,
The clouds divide, the stars serenely glow, 531
And sudden splendours gild the world below.
Brave Hopleus catch'd the rays, whose piercing light
Presents the corse of Tydeus to his sight.
Both bodies found, they raise a gladsome cry,
(The sign agreed) and to the weight apply
Their shoulders; pleas'd, as if preserv'd from death,
Each corse was re-inspir'd with vital breath.
Nor durst they give full vent to tears or words;
Th' unfriendly dawn no leisure-time affords. 540
With grief the paler darkness they survey,
As through the silent shades they bend their way.
To pious heroes Fate success denies,
And Fortune rarely crowns the bold emprize.
The burden now grows lighter in their hand,
As the whole camp in prospect they command,
When from behind black clouds of dust arise,
And sudden sounds run echoing through the skies.
Amphion, eager at the king's command,
Conducts a troop of horse, to scour the land, 550
And watch the foe. While far before his train,
He spurs his courser through the trackless plain,
He catch'd a transient glance (for yet the light
Had but in part dispell'd the shades of night)
Of some faint object, that at distance strays,
He looks again, and doubts if he surveys.
The fraud detected,-" Stand, whoe'er you are,"
(Amphion cries) "and whence you come, declare."
Confess'd at length, the wretched pair appear,
The wretched pair ruti on with speed, and fear 560

549. Amphion, eager at the king's command] The manner of the discovery is similar to that of the adventurers in the ninth book of the Eneid, and the question put to them by the enemy much

the same.

Interea præmissi equites ex urbe Latina,
Cætera dum legio campis instructa moratur,
Ibant, et Turno regi responsa ferebant,
Tercentám, scutati omnes, Volscente magistro.
Jamque propinquabant castris, murosque subibant,
Cum procul hos lævo flectentes limite cernunt:
Et galea Euryalum sublustri noctis in umbra
Prodidit immemorem, radiisque adversa refulsit.