the Gyant and thrice liv'd in vain His Prize the lowing Herds Alcides drove Near Tyber's Bank to graze the shady Grove Allur'd with Hope of Plunder and intent By Force to rob by Fraud to circumvent The brutal Cacus as by Chance they stray'd Four Oxen thence and four fair Kine convey'd And lest the printed Footsteps might be seen He drag'd 'em backwards to his rocky Den. The Tracks averse a lying Notice gave And led the Searcher backward from the Cave Mean time the Herdsman Heroe shifts his place To find fresh Pasture and untrodden Grass The Beasts who miss'd their Mates fill'd all around With Bellowings and the Rocks restor'd the Sound One Heifar who had heard her Love complain Roar'd from the Cave and made the Project vain Alcides found the Fraud With Rage he shook And toss'd about his Head his knotted Oak Swift as the Winds or Scythian Arrows flight He clomb with eager haste th' Aerial height Then first we saw the Monster mend his Pace Fear in his Eyes and Paleness in his Face Confess'd the Gods approach Trembling he springs As Terror had increas'd his Feet with Wings Nor stay'd for Stairs but down the Depth he threw His Body on his Back the Door he drew The Door a Rib of living Rock with Pains His Father hew'd it out and bound with Iron Chains He broke the heavy Lincks the Mountain clos'd And Bars and Leavers to his Foe oppos'd The Wretch had hardly made his Dungeon fast The fierce Avenger came with bounding haste Survey'd the Mouth of the forbidden hold And here and there his raging Eyes he rowl'd He gnash'd his Teeth and thrice he compass'd round With winged speed the Circuit of the Ground Thrice at the Cavern's Mouth he pull'd in vain And panting thrice desisted from his Pain A pointed flinty Rock all bare and black Grew gibbous from behind the Mountains Back Owls Ravens all ill Omens of the Night Here built their Nests and hether wing'd their Flight The leaning Head hung threat'ning o're the Flood And nodded to the left The Heroe stood Adverse with planted Feet and from the right Tugg'd at the solid Stone with all his might Thus heav'd the fix'd Foundations of the Rock Gave way Heav'n echo'd at the ratling Shock Tumbling it choak'd the Flood On either side The Banks leap backward and the Streams divide The Sky shrunk upward with unusual Dread And trembling Tyber div'd beneath his Bed The Court of Cacus stands reveal'd to sight The Cavern glares with new admitted Light So the pent Vapours with a rumbling Sound Heave from below and rend the hollow Ground A sounding Flaw succeeds And from on high The Gods with Hate beheld the neather Sky The Ghosts repine at violated Night And curse th' invading Sun and sicken at the sight The graceless Monster caught in open Day Inclos'd and in Despair to fly away Howls horrible from underneath and fills His hollow Palace with unmanly Yells The Heroe stands above and from afar Plies him with Darts and Stones and distant War He from his Nostrils and huge Mouth expires Black Clouds of Smoke amidst his Father's Fires Gath'ring with each repeated Blast the Night To make uncertain Aim and erring Sight The wrathful God then plunges from above And where in thickest Waves the Sparkles drove There lights and wades thro Fumes and gropes his Way Half sing'd half stifled 'till he grasps his Prey The Monster spewing fruitless Flames he found He squeez'd his Throat he writh'd his Neck around And in a Knot his cripled Members bound Then from their Sockets tore his burning Eyes Rowld on a heap the breathless Robber lyes The Doors unbarr'd receive the rushing Day And thorough Lights disclose the ravish'd Prey The Bulls redeem'd breathe open Air agen Next by the Feet they drag him from his Den. The wond'ring Neighbourhood with glad surprize Behold his shagged Breast his Gyant Size His Mouth that flames no more and his extinguish'd Eyes From that auspicious Day with Rites Divine We worship at the Hero 's Holy Shrine Potitius first ordain'd these annual Vows As Priests were added the Pinarian House Who rais'd this Altar in the Sacred Shade Where Honours ever due for ever shall be paid For these Deserts and this high Virtue shown Ye warlike Youths your Heads with Garlands crown Fill high the Goblets with a sparkling Flood And with deep Draughts invoke our common God This said a double Wreath Evander twin'd And Poplars black and white his Temples bind Then Brims his ample Bowl With like Design The rest invoke the Gods with sprinkled Wine Mean time the Sun descended from the Skies And the bright Evening-Star began to rise And now the Priests Potitius at their Head In Skins of Beasts involv'd the long Procession led Held high the flaming Tapers in their Hands As Custom had prescrib'd their holy Bands Then with a second Course the Tables load And with full Chargers offer to the God The Salij sing and cense his Altars round With Saban Smoke their Heads with Poplar bound One Choire of old another of the young To dance and bear the Burthen of the Song The Lay records the Labours and the Praise And all th' Immortal Acts of Hercules First how the mighty Babe when swath'd in Bands The Serpents strangled with his Infant Hands Then as in Years and matchless Force he grew Th' Oechalian Walls and Trojan overthrew Besides a thousand Hazards they relate Procur'd by Juno's and Euristheus's Hate Thy Hands unconquer'd Heroe cou'd subdue The Cloud-born Centaurs and the Monster Crew Nor thy resistless Arm the Bull withstood Nor He the roaring Terror of the Wood. The triple Porter of the Stygian Seat With lolling Tongue lay fawning at thy Feet And seiz'd with Fear forgot his mangled Meat Th' Infernal Waters trembled at thy Sight Thee God no face of Danger cou'd Affright Not huge Typhoeus nor th' unnumber'd Snake Increas'd with hissing Heads in Lerna's Lake Hail Jove's undoubted Son An added Grace To Heav'n and the great Author of thy Race Receive the gratful Off'rings which we pay And smile propitious on thy solemn Day In Numbers thus they sung Above the rest The Den and Death of Cacus crown the Feast The Woods to hollow Vales convey the Sound The Vales to Hills and Hills the Notes rebound The Rites perform'd the chearful Train retire Betwixt young Pallas and his aged Sire The Trojan pass'd the City to survey And pleafing Talk beguil'd the tedious Way The Stranger cast around his curious Eyes New Objects viewing still with new Surprise With greedy Joy enquires of various Things And Acts and Monuments of Ancient Kings Then thus the Founder of the Roman Tow'rs These Woods were first the Seat of Silvan Pow'rs Of Nymphs and Fauns and salvage Men who took Their Birth from Trunks of Trees and stubborn Oak Nor Laws they knew nor Manners nor the Care Of lab'ring Oxen or the shining Share Nor Arts of Gain nor what they gain'd to spare Their Exercise the Chase
and yet Virgil pass'd a much different judgment on his own Works He valu'd most this part and his Georgics and depended upon them for his Reputation with Posterity But Censures himself in one of his Letters to Augustus for medling with Heroics the Invention of a degenerating Age. This is the Reason that the Rules of Pastoral are so little known or studied Aristotle Horace and the Essay of Poetry take no notice of it And Mr. Boileau one of the most accurate of the Moderns because he never loses the Ancients out of his Sight bestows scarce half a Page on it It is the Design therefore of the few following pages to clear this sort of Writing from vulgar Prejudices to vindicate our Author from some unjust Imputations to look into some of the Rules of this sort of Poetry and Enquire what sort of Versification is most proper for it in which point we are so much inferiour to the Ancients that this Consideration alone were enough to make some Writers think as they ought that is Meanly of their own Performances As all sorts of Poetry consist in imitation Pastoral is the imitation of a Shepherd consider'd under that Character It is requisite therefore to be a little inform'd of the Condition and Qualification of these Shepherds One of the Ancients has observ'd truly but Satyrically enough that Mankind is the Measure of every thing And thus by a gradual improvement of this mistake we come to make our own Age and Countrey the Rule and Standard of others and our selves at last the measure of them all We figure the Ancient Countrey-men like our own leading a painful Life in Poverty and Contempt without Wit or Courage or Education But Men had quite different Notions of these things for the first four Thousand Years of the World Health and Strength were then in more esteem than the refinements of Pleasure and it was accounted a great deal more Honourable to Till the Ground or keep a Flock of Sheep than to dissolve in Wantonness and effeminating Sloath. Hunting has now an Idea of Quality join'd to it and is become the most important Business in the Life of a Gentleman Antiently it was quite otherways Mr. Fleury has severely remark'd that this Extravagant Passion for Hunting is a strong Proof of our Gothic Extraction and shews an affinity of Humour with the Savage Americans The Barbarous Franks and other Germans having neither Corn nor Wine of their own growth when they pass'd the Rhine and possess'd themselves of Countreys better Cultivated left the Tillage of the Land to the Old Proprietors and afterwards did hazard their Lives as freely for their Diversion as they had done before for their necessary subsistance The English gave this Vsage the Sacred stamp of Fashion and from hence it is that most of our Terms of Hunting are French The Reader will I hope give me his Pardon for my freedom on this Subject since an ill Accident occasion'd by Hunting has kept England in pain these several Months together for one of the best and greatest Peers which she has bred for some Ages no less Illustrious for Civil Vertues and Learning than his Ancestors were for all their Victories in France But there are some Prints still left of the Ancient Esteem for Husbandry and their plain Fashion of Life in many of our Sir-Names and in the Escutcheons of the most Ancient Families even those of the greatest Kings the Roses the Lillies the Thistle c. It is generally known that one of the principal Causes of the Deposing of Mahomet the 4th was that he would not allot part of the Day to some manual Labour according to the Law of Mahomet and Ancient Practice of his Predecessors He that reflects on this will be the less surpriz'd to find that Charlemaign Eight Hundred Years ago order'd his Children to be instructed in some Profession And Eight Hundred Years yet higher that Augustus wore no Cloaths but such as were made by the Hands of the Empress and her Daughters and Olympias did the same for Alexander the Great Nor will he wonder that the Romans in great exigency sent for their Dictator from the Plow whose whole Estate was but of Four Acres too little a spot now for the Orchard or Kitchin-Garden of a Private Gentleman It is commonly known that the Founders of three the most renown'd Monarchies in the World were Shepherds And the Subject of Husbandry has been adorn'd by the Writings and Labour of more than twenty Kings It ought not therefore to be matter of surprize to a Modern Writer that Kings the Shepherds of the People in Homer laid down their first Rudiments in tending their mute Subjects nor that the Wealth of Ulysses consisted in Flocks and Herds the Intendants over which were then in equal esteem with Officers of State in latter times And therefore Eumaeus is call'd 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in Homer not so much because Homer was a lover of a Countrey Life to which he rather seems averse but by reason of the Dignity and Greatness of his Trust and because he was the Son of a King stollen away and Sold by the Phaenician Pyrates which the Ingenious Mr. Cowley seems not to have taken notice of Nor will it seem strange that the Master of the Horse to King Latinus in the Ninth Aeneid was found in the homely Employment of cleaving Blocks when news of the first Skirmish betwixt the Trojans and Latins was brought to him Being therefore of such Quality they cannot be suppos'd so very ignorant and unpolish'd the Learning and good breeding of the World was then in the hands of such People He who was chosen by the consent of all Parties to arbitrate so delicate an affair as which was the fairest of the three Celebrated Beauties of Heaven he who had the address to debauch away Helen from her Husband her Native Country and from a Crown understood what the French call by the too soft name of Gallantry he had Accomplishments enough how ill use soever he made of them It seems therefore that Mr. F. had not duly consider'd the matter when he reflected so severely upon Virgil as if he had not observ'd the Laws of decency in his Pastorals in making Shepherds speak to things beside their Character and above their Capacity He stands amaz'd that Shepherds should thunder out as he expresses himself the formation of the World and that too according to the System of Epicurus In truth says he page 176. I cannot tell what to make of this whole piece the Sixth Past I can neither comprehend the Design of the Author nor the Connexion of the parts first come the Ideas of Philosophy and presently after those incoherent Fables c. To expose him yet more he subjoyns it is Silenus himself who makes all this absurd Discourse Virgil says indeed that he had drank too much the day before perhaps the Debauch hung in his head when he compos'd this Poem c. Thus
Approach already quake The Caspian Kingdoms and Maeotian Lake Their Seers behold the Tempest from afar And threatning Oracles denounce the War Nile hears him knocking at his sev'nfold Gates And seeks his hidden Spring and fears his Nephew's Fates Nor Hercules more Lands or Labours knew Not tho' the brazen-footed Hind he slew To Robert Harley of Bramton Castle in y e County of Hereford Esq AE 6. l. 1085. Freed Erymanthus from the foaming Boar And dip'd his Arrows in Lernaean Gore Nor Bacchus turning from his Indian War By Tygers drawn triumphant in his Car From Nisus top descending on the Plains With curling Vines around his purple Reins And doubt we yet thro' Dangers to pursue The Paths of Honour and a Crown in view But what 's the Man who from afar appears His Head with Olive crown'd his Hand a Censer bears His hoary Beard and holy Vestments bring His lost Idea back I know the Roman King He shall to peaceful Rome new Laws ordain Call'd from his mean abode a Scepter to sustain Him Tullus next in Dignity succeeds An active Prince and prone to Martial Deeds For fighting Fields his Troops he shall prepare Disus'd to Toils and Triumphs of the War By dint of Sword his Crown he shall increase And scour his Armour from the Rust of Peace Whom Ancus follows with a fawning Air But vain within and proudly popular Next view the Tarquin Kings Th' avenging Sword Of Brutus justly drawn and Rome restor'd He first renews the Rods and Axe severe And gives the Consuls Royal Robes to wear His Sons who seek the Tyrant to sustain And long for Arbitrary Lords again With Ignominy scourg'd in open sight He dooms to Death deserv'd asserting Publick Right Unhappy Man to break the Pious Laws Of Nature pleading in his Children's Cause Howe're the doubtful Fact is understood 'T is Love of Honour and his Country's good The Consul not the Father sheds the Blood Behold Torquatus the same Track pursue And next the three devoted Decij view The Drusian Line Camillus loaded home With Standards well redeem'd and foreign Foes o'recome The Pair you see in equal Armour shine Now Friends below in close Embraces join But when they leave the shady Realms of Night And cloath'd in Bodies breath your upper Light With mortal Hate each other shall pursue What Wars what Wounds what Slaughter shall ensue From Alpine Heights the Father first descends His Daughter's Husband in the Plain attends His Daughter's Husband arms his Eastern Friends Embrace again my Sons be Foes no more Nor stain your Country with her Childrens Gore And thou the first lay down thy lawless claim Thou of my Blood who bear'st the Julian Name Another comes who shall in Triumph ride And to the Capitol his Chariot guide From conquer'd Corinth rich with Grecian Spoils And yet another fam'd for Warlike Toils On Argos shall impose the Roman Laws And on the Greeks revenge the Trojan Cause Shall drag in Chains their Achillaean Race Shall vindicate his Ancestors Disgrace And Pallas for her violated Place Great Cato there for Gravity renown'd And conqu'ring Cossus goes with Lawrels crown'd Who can omit the Gracchi who declare The Scipio's Worth those Thunderbolts of War The double Bane of Carthage Who can see Without esteem for virtuous Poverty Severe Fabritius or can cease t' admire The Ploughman Consul in his Course Attire Tir'd as I am my Praise the Fabij claim And thou great Heroe greatest of thy Name Ordain'd in War to save the sinking State And by Delays to put a stop to Fate Let others better mold the running Mass Of Mettals and inform the breathing Brass And soften into Flesh a Marble Face Plead better at the Bar describe the Skies And when the Stars descend and when they rise But Rome 't is thine alone with awful sway To rule Mankind and make the World obey Disposing Peace and War thy own Majestick Way To tame the Proud the fetter'd Slave to free These are Imperial Arts and worthy thee He paus'd And while with wond'ring Eyes they view'd The passing Spirits thus his Speech renew'd See great Marcellus how untir'd in Toils He moves with Manly grace how rich with Regal Spoils He when his Country threaten'd with Alarms Requires his Courage and his Conqu'ring Arms Shall more than once the Punic Bands affright Shall kill the Gaulish King in single Fight Then to the Capitol in Triumph move And the third Spoils shall grace Feretrian Jove Aeneas here beheld of Form Divine A Godlike Youth in glitt'ring Armour shine With great Marcellus keeping equal pace But gloomy were his Eyes dejected was his Face He saw and wond'ring ask'd his airy Guide What and of whence was he who press'd the Hero's side His Son or one of his Illustrious Name How like the former and almost the same Observe the Crowds that compass him around All gaze and all admire and raise a shouting sound But hov'ring Mists around his Brows are spread And Night with sable Shades involves his Head Seek not to know the Ghost reply'd with Tears The Sorrows of thy Sons in future Years This Youth the blissful Vision of a day Shall just be shown on Earth and snatch'd away The Gods too high had rais'd the Roman State Were but their Gifts as permanent as great What groans of Men shall fill the Martian Field How fierce a Blaze his flaming Pile shall yield What Fun'ral Pomp shall floating Tiber see When rising from his Bed he views the sad Solemnity No Youth shall equal hopes of Glory give No Youth afford so great a Cause to grieve The Trojan Honour and the Roman Boast Admir'd when living and Ador'd when lost Mirror of ancient Faith in early Youth Undaunted Worth Inviolable Truth No Foe unpunish'd in the fighting Field Shall dare thee Foot to Foot with Sword and Shield Much less in Arms oppose thy matchless Force When thy sharp Spurs shall urge thy foaming Horse Ah cou'dst thou break through Fates severe Decree A new Marcellus shall arise in thee Full Canisters of fragrant Lillies bring Mix'd with the Purple Roses of the Spring Let me with Fun'ral Flow'rs his Body strow This Gift which Parents to their Children owe This unavailing Gift at least I may bestow Thus having said He led the Heroe round The confines of the blest Elysian Ground Which when Anchises to his Son had shown And fir'd his Mind to mount the promis'd Throne He tells the future Wars ordain'd by Fate The Strength and Customs of the Latian State The Prince and People And fore-arms his Care With Rules to push his Fortune or to bear Two Gates the silent House of Sleep adorn Of polish'd Iv'ry this that of transparent Horn Of various things discoursing as he pass'd Anchises hither bends his Steps at last Then through the Gate of Iv'ry he dismiss'd His valiant Offspring and Divining Guest Streight to the Ships Aeneas took his way Embarqu'd his Men and skim'd along the Sea Still Coasting till he gain'd Cajeta's Bay
And martial Clangors call 'em out to fight With hoarse Allarms the hollow Camp rebounds That imitates the Trumpets angry Sounds Then to their common Standard they repair The nimble Horsemen scour the Fields of Air. In form of Battel drawn they issue forth And ev'ry Knight is proud to prove his Worth Prest for their Country's Honour and their King 's On their sharp Beaks they whet their pointed Stings And exercise their Arms and tremble with their Wings Full in the midst the haughty Monarchs ride The trusty Guards come up and close the Side With Shouts the daring Foe to Battel is defy'd Thus in the Season of unclouded Spring To War they follow their undaunted King Crowd thro'their Gates and in the Fields of Light The shocking Squadrons meet in mortal Fight Headlong they fall from high and wounded wound And heaps of slaughter'd Souldiers bite the Ground Hard Hailstones lye not thicker on the Plain Nor shaken Oaks such Show'rs of Acorns rain With gorgeous Wings the Marks of Sov'raign sway The two contending Princes make their way Intrepid thro' the midst of danger go Their friends encourage and amaze the Foe With mighty Souls in narrow Bodies prest They challenge and encounter Breast to Breast So fix'd on Fame unknowing how to fly And obstinately bent to win or dye That long the doubtful Combat they maintain Till one prevails for one can only Reign Yet all those dreadful deeds this deadly fray A cast of scatter'd Dust will soon alay And undecided leave the Fortune of the day When both the Chiefs are sund'red from the Fight Then to the lawful King restore his Right And let the wastful Prodigal be slain That he who best deserves alone may reign With ease distinguish'd is the Regal Race One Monarch wears an honest open Face Large are his Limbs and Godlike to behold His Royal Body shines with specks of Gold And ruddy Skales for Empire he design'd Is better born and of a Nobler Kind That other looks like Nature in disgrace Gaunt are his sides and sullen is his face And like their grizly Prince appears his gloomy Race Grim ghastly rugged like a thirsty train That long have travel'd through a desart plain And spet from their dry Chaps the gather'd dust again The better Brood unlike the Bastard Crew Are mark'd with Royal streaks of shining hue Glitt'ring and ardent though in Body less From these at pointed Seasons hope to press Huge heavy Honey-Combs of Golden Juice Not only sweet but pure and fit for use T' allay the Strength and Hardness of the Wine And with old Bacchus new Metheglin join But when the Swarms are eager of their play And loath their empty Hives and idly stray Restrain the wanton Fugitives and take A timely Care to bring the Truants back The Task is easy but to clip the Wings Of their high-flying Arbitrary Kings At their Command the People swarm away Confine the Tyrant and the Slaves will stay Sweet Gardens full of Saffron Flow'rs invite The wandring Gluttons and retard their Flight Besides the God obscene who frights away With his Lath Sword the Thiefs and Birds of Prey With his own hand the Guardian of the Bees For Slips of Pines may search the Mountain Trees And with wild Thyme and Sav'ry plant the Plain 'Till his hard horny Fingers ake with Pain And deck with fruitful Trees the Fields around And with refreshing Waters drench the Ground Now did I not so near my Labours end Strike Sail and hast'ning to the Harbour tend My Song to Flow'ry Gardens might extend To teach the vegetable Arts to sing The Paestan Roses and their double Spring How Succ'ry drinks the running Streams and how Green Beds of Parsley near the River grow How Cucumers along the Surface creep With crooked Bodies and with Bellies deep The late Narcissus and the winding Trail Of Bears-foot Myrtles green and Ivy pale For where with stately Tow'rs Tarentum stands And deep Galesus soaks the yellow Sands I chanc'd an Old Corycian Swain to know Lord of few Acres and those barren too Unfit for Sheep or Vines and more unfit to sow Yet lab'ring well his little Spot of Ground Some scatt'ring Potherbs here and there he found Which cultivated with his daily Care And bruis'd with Vervain were his frugal Fare Sometimes white Lyllies did their Leaves afford With wholsom Poppy-flow'rs to mend his homely Board For late returning home he sup'd at ease And wisely deem'd the Wealth of Monarchs less The little of his own because his own did please To quit his Care he gather'd first of all In Spring the Roses Apples in the Fall And when cold Winter split the Rocks in twain And Ice the running Rivers did restrain He strip'd the Bears-foot of its leafy growth And calling Western Winds accus'd the Spring of sloath He therefore first among the Swains was found To reap the Product of his labour'd Ground And squeese the Combs with Golden Liquor Crown'd His Limes were first in Flow'rs his lofty Pines With friendly Shade secur'd his tender Vines For ev'ry Bloom his Trees in Spring afford An Autumn Apple was by tale restor'd He knew to rank his Elms in even rows For Fruit the grafted Peartree to dispose And tame to Plums the sourness of the Sloes With spreading Planes he made a cool retreat To shade good Fellows from the Summer's heat But streighten'd in my space I must forsake This Task for others afterwards to take Describe we next the Nature of the Bees bestow'd by Jove for secret Services When by the tinkling Sound of Timbrels led The King of Heav'n in Cretan Caves they fed Of all the Race of Animals alone The Bees have common Cities of their own And common Sons beneath one Law they live And with one common Stock their Traffick drive Each has a certain home a sev'ral Stall All is the States the State provides for all Mindful of coming Cold they share the Pain And hoard for Winter's use the Summer's gain Some o're the Publick Magazines preside And some are sent new Forrage to provide These drudge in Fields abroad and those at home Lay deep Foundations for the labour'd Comb With dew Narcissus Leaves and clammy Gum. To pitch the waxen Flooring some contrive Some nurse the future Nation of the Hive Sweet Honey some condense some purge the Grout The rest in Cells apart the liquid Nectar shut All with united Force combine to drive The lazy Drones from the laborious Hive With Envy stung they view each others Deeds With Diligence the fragrant Work proceeds As when the Cyclops at th' Almighty Nod New Thunder hasten for their angry God Subdu'd in Fire the Stubborn Mettal lyes One brawny Smith the puffing Bellows plyes And draws and blows reciprocating Air Others to quench the hissing Mass prepare With lifted Arms they order ev'ry Blow And chime their sounding Hammers in a Row With strokes of Anvils Aetna groans below Strongly they strike huge Flakes of Flames expire With Tongs they turn
Lordship my Opinion of Virgil that he was no Arbitrary Man Oblig'd he was to his Master for his Bounty and he repays him with good Counsel how to behave himself in his new Monarchy so as to gain the Affections of his Subjects and deserve to be call'd the Father of his Country From this Consideration it is that he chose for the ground-work of his Poem one Empire destroy'd and another rais'd from the Ruins of it This was just the Parallel Aeneas cou'd not pretend to be Priam's Heir in a Lineal Succession For Anchises the Heroe's Father was only of the second Branch of the Royal Family And Helenus a Son of Priam was yet surviving and might lawfully claim before him It may be Virgil mentions him on that Account Neither has he forgotten Atis in the Fifth of his Aeneis the Son of Polites youngest Son to Priam who was slain by Pyrrhus in the Second Book Atis then the Favourite Companion of Ascanius had a better Right than he tho' I know he was introduc'd by Virgil to do Honour to the Family from which Julius Caesar was descended by the Mothers side Aeneas had only Married Creusa Priam's Daughter and by her could have no Title while any of the Male Issue were remaining In this case the Poet gave him the next Title which is that of an Elective King The remaining Trojans chose him to lead them forth and settle them in some Foreign Country Ilioneus in his Speech to Dido calls him expresly by the Name of King Our Poet who all this while had Augustus in his Eye had no desire he should seem to succeed by any right of Inheritance deriv'd from Julius Caesar such a Title being but one degree remov'd from Conquest For what was introduc'd by force by force may be remov'd 'T was better for the People that they should give than he should take Since that Gift was indeed no more at bottom than a Trust Virgil gives us an Example of this in the Person of Mezentius He Govern'd Arbitrarily he was expell'd And came to the deserv'd End of all Tyrants Our Author shews us another sort of Kingship in the Person of Latinus He was descended from Saturn and as I remember in the Third Degree He is describ'd a just and a gracious Prince solicitous for the Welfare of his People always Consulting with his Senate to promote the common Good We find him at the head of them when he enters into the Council-Hall Speaking first but still demanding their Advice and steering by it as far as the Iniquity of the Times wou'd suffer him And this is the proper Character of a King by Inheritance who is born a Father of his Country Aeneas tho' he Married the Heiress of the Crown yet claim'd no Title to it during the Life of his father-in-Father-in-Law Pater arma Latinus habeto c. are Virgil's Words As for himself he was contented to take care of his Country Gods who were not those of Latium Wherein our Divine Author seems to relate to the after practice of the Romans which was to adopt the Gods of those they Conquer'd or receiv'd as Members of their Commonwealth Yet withal he plainly touches at the Office of the High Priesthood with which Augustus was invested And which made his Person more Sacred and inviolable than even the Tribunitial Power It was not therefore for nothing that the most Judicious of all Poets made that Office vacant by the Death of Panthus in the Second Book of the Aeneis for his Heroe ro succeed in it and consequently for Augustus to enjoy I know not that any of the Commentatours have taken notice of that passage If they have not I am sure they ought And if they have I am not indebted to them for the Observation The words of Virgil are very plain Sacra suosque tibi commendat Troja Penates As for Augustus or his Uncle Julius claiming by descent from Aeneas that Title is already out of doors Aeneas succeeded not but was Elected Troy was fore-doom'd to fall for ever Postquam res Asiae Priamique evertere Regnum Immeritum visum superis Aeneis the 3 d line the 1st Augustus 't is true had once resolv'd to re-build that City and there to make the Seat of Empire But Horace writes an Ode on purpose to deter him from that Thought declaring the place to be accurs'd and that the Gods would as often destroy it as it shou'd be rais'd Hereupon the Emperour laid aside a Project so ungrateful to the Roman People But by this my Lord we may conclude that he had still his Pedigree in his Head and had an Itch of being thought a Divine King if his Poets had not given him better Counsel I will pass by many less material Objections for want of room to Answer them What follows next is of great Importance if the Criticks can make out their Charge for 't is levell'd at the Manners which our Poet gives his Heroe and which are the same which were eminently seen in his Augustus Those Manners were Piety to the Gods and a dutiful Affection to his Father Love to his Relations Care of his People Courage and Conduct in the Wars Gratitude to those who had oblig'd him and Justice in general to Mankind Piety as your Lordship sees takes place of all as the chief part of his Character And the word in Latin is more full than it can possibly be exprest in any Modern Language for there it comprehends not only Devotion to the Gods but Filial Love and tender Affection to Relations of all sorts As instances of this the Deities of Troy and his own Penates are made the Companions of his Flight They appear to him in his Voyage and advise him and at last he re-places them in Italy their Native Country For his Father he takes him on his Back He leads his little Son his Wife follows him but losing his Footsteps through Fear or Ignorance he goes back into the midst of his Enemies to find her and leaves not his pursute 'till her Ghost appears to forbid his farther search I will say nothing of his Duty to his Father while he liv'd his Sorrow for his Death of the Games instituted in Honour of his Memory or seeking him by his Command even after Death in the Elysian Fields I will not mention his Tenderness for his Son which every where is visible Of his raising a Tomb for Polydorus the Obsequies for Misenus his pious remembrance of Deiphobus The Funerals of his Nurse His Grief for Pallas and his Revenge taken on his Murtherer whom otherwise by his Natural Compassion he had forgiven And then the Poem had been left imperfect For we could have had no certain prospect of his Happiness while the last Obstacle to it was unremov'd Of the other parts which compose his Character as a King or as a General I need say nothing The whole Aeneis is one continued Instance of some one or other of them And where I
you feed She said and to the neighb'ring Forest flew Our Courage fails us and our Fears renew Hopeless to win by War to Pray'rs we fall And on th' offended Harpies humbly call And whether Gods or Birds obscene they were Our Vows for Pardon and for Peace prefer But old Anchises off'ring Sacrifice And lifting up to Heav'n his Hands and Eyes Ador'd the greater Gods Avert said he These Omens render vain this Prophecy And from th' impending Curse a Pious People free Thus having said he bids us put to Sea We loose from Shore our Haulsers and obey And soon with swelling Sails pursue the wat'ry Way Amidst our course Zacynthian Woods appear And next by rocky Neritos we steer We fly from Ithaca's detested Shore And curse the Land which dire Ulysses bore At length Leucates cloudy top appears And Phoebus Temple which the Sailor fears Resolv'd to breath a while from Labour past Our crooked Anchors from the Prow we cast And joyful to the little City haste Here safe beyond our Hopes our Vows we pay To Jove the Guide and Patron of our way The Customs of our Country we pursue And Trojan Games on Actian Shores renew Our Youth their naked Limbs besmear with Oyl And exercise the Wrastlers noble Toil. Pleas'd to have sail'd so long before the Wind And left so many Grecian Towns behind The Sun had now fulfill'd his Annual Course And Boreas on the Seas display'd his Force I fix'd upon the Temples lofty Door The brazen Shield which vanquish'd Abas bore The Verse beneath my Name and Action speaks These Arms Aeneas took from Conqu'ring Greeks Then I command to weigh the Seamen ply Their sweeping Oars the smokeing Billows fly The sight of high Phaeacia soon we lost And skim'd along Epirus rocky Coast Then to Chaonia's Port our Course we bend And landed to Buthrotus heights ascend Here wond'rous things were loudly blaz'd by Fame How Helenus reviv'd the Trojan Name And raign'd in Greece That Priam's captive Son Succeeded Pyrrhus in his Bed and Throne And fair Andromache restor'd by Fate Once more was happy in a Trojan Mate I leave my Gallies riding in the Port And long to see the new Dardanian Court. By chance the mournful Queen before the Gate Then solemniz'd her former Husbands Fate To The Hon ble D r Io n Mountague Master of Trinity College in Cambridge AE 3. l 415. Green Altars rais'd of Turf with Gifts she Crown'd And sacred Priests in order stand around And thrice the Name of hapless Hector sound The Grove it self resembles Ida's Wood And Simois seem'd the well dissembl'd Flood But when at nearer distance she beheld My shining Armour and my Trojan Shield Astonish'd at the sight the vital Heat Forsakes her Limbs her Veins no longer beat She faints she falls and scarce recov'ring strength Thus with a falt'ring Tongue she speaks at length Are you alive O Goddess born she said Or if a Ghost then where is Hector's Shade At this she cast a loud and frightful Cry With broken words I made this brief Reply All of me that remains appears in sight I live if living be to loath the Light No Phantome but I drag a wretched life My Fate resembling that of Hector's Wife What have you suffer'd since you lost your Lord By what strange blessing are you now restor'd Still are you Hector's or is Hector fled And his Remembrance lost in Pyrrhus Bed With Eyes dejected in a lowly tone After a modest pause she thus begun Oh only happy Maid of Priam's Race Whom Death deliver'd from the Foes embrace Commanded on Achilles Tomb to die Not forc'd like us to hard Captivity Or in a haughty Master's Arms to lie In Grecian Ships unhappy we were born Endur'd the Victor's Lust sustain'd the Scorn Thus I submitted to the lawless pride Of Pyrrhus more a Handmaid than a Bride Cloy'd with Possession He forsook my Bed And Helen's lovely Daughter sought to wed Then me to Trojan Helenus resign'd And his two Slaves in equal Marriage join'd Till young Orestes pierc'd with deep despair And longing to redeem the promis'd Fair Before Apollo's Altar slew the Ravisher By Pyrrhus death the Kingdom we regain'd At least one half with Helenus remain'd Our part from Chaon He Chaonia calls And names from Pergamus his rising Walls But you what Fates have landed on our Coast What Gods have sent you or what Storms have tost Does young Ascanius life and health enjoy Sav'd from the Ruins of unhappy Troy O tell me how his Mothers loss he bears What hopes are promis'd from his blooming years How much of Hector in his Face appears She spoke and mix'd her Speech with mournful Cries And fruitless Tears came trickling from her Eyes At length her Lord descends upon the Plain In pomp attended with a num'rous Train Receives his Friends and to the City leads And Tears of Joy amidst his Welcome sheds Proceeding on another Troy I see Or in less compass Troy's Epitome A Riv'let by the name of Xanthus ran And I embrace the Scaean Gate again My Friends in Portico's were entertain'd And Feasts and Pleasures through the City reign'd The Tables fill'd the spacious Hall around And Golden Bowls with sparkling Wine were crown'd Two days we pass'd in mirth till friendly Gales Blown from the South supply'd our swelling Sails Then to the Royal Seer I thus began O thou who know'st beyond the reach of Man The Laws of Heav'n and what the Stars decree Whom Phoebus taught unerring Prophecy From his own Tripod and his holy Tree Skill'd in the wing'd Inhabitants of Air What Auspices their notes and flights declare O say for all Religious Rites portend A happy Voyage and a prosp'rous End And ev'ry Pow'r and Omen of the Sky Direct my Course for destin'd Italy But only dire Celaeno from the Gods A dismal Famine fatally fore-bodes O say what Dangers I am first to shun What Toils to vanquish and what Course to run The Prophet first with Sacrifice adores The greater Gods their Pardon then implores Unbinds the Fillet from his holy Head To Phoebus next my trembling Steps he led Full of religious Doubts and awful dread Then with his God possess'd before the Shrine These words proceeded from his Mouth Divine O Goddess-born for Heav'n's appointed Will With greater Auspices of good than ill Fore-shows thy Voyage and thy Course directs Thy Fates conspire and Jove himself protects Of many things some few I shall explain Teach thee to shun the dangers of the Main And how at length the promis'd Shore to gain The rest the Fates from Helenus conceal And Juno's angry Pow'r forbids to tell First then that happy Shore that seems so nigh Will far from your deluded Wishes fly Long tracts of Seas divide your hopes from Italy For you must cruise along Sicilian Shoars And stem the Currents with your struggling Oars Then round th' Italian Coast your Navy steer And after this to Circe's Island veer And last before your new Foundations rise Must
maze the Matrons wildly stare Then Pyrgo reverenc'd for her hoary Hair Pyrgo the Nurse of Priam's num'rous Race No Beroe this tho she belies her Face What Terrours from her frowning Front arise Behold a Goddess in her ardent Eyes What Rays around her heav'nly Face are seen Mark her Majestick Voice and more than mortal Meen Beroe but now I left whom pin'd with pain Her Age and Anguish from these Rites detain She said the Matrons seiz'd with new Amaze Rowl their malignant Eyes and on the Navy gaze They fear and hope and neither part obey They hope the fated Land but fear the fatal Way The Goddess having done her Task below Mounts up on equal Wings and bends her painted Bow Struck with the sight and feiz'd with Rage Divine The Matrons prosecute their mad Design They shriek aloud they snatch with Impious Hands The food of Altars Firs and flaming Brands Green Leaves and Saplings mingled in their haste And smoaking Torches on the Ships they cast The Flame unstop'd at first more Fury gains And Vulcan rides at large with loosen'd Reins Triumphant to the painted Sterns he soars And seizes in his way the Banks and crackling Oars Eumelus was the first the News to bear While yet they crowd the Rural Theatre Then what they hear is witness'd by their Eyes A storm of Sparkles and of Flames arise Ascanius took th' Alarm while yet he led His early Warriors on his prancing Steed And spurring on his Equals soon o'repass'd Nor cou'd his frighted Friends reclaim his haste Soon as the Royal Youth appear'd in view He sent his Voice before him as he flew What Madness moves you Matrons to destroy The last Remainders of unhappy Troy Not hostile Fleets but your own hopes you burn And on your Friends your fatal Fury turn Behold your own Ascanius while he said He drew his glitt'ring Helmet from his Head In which the Youths to sportful Arms he led By this Aeneas and his Train appear And now the Women seiz'd with Shame and Fear Dispers'd to Woods and Caverns take their Flight Abhor their Actions and avoid the Light Their Friends acknowledge and their Error find And shake the Goddess from their alter'd Mind Not so the raging Fires their Fury cease But lurking in the Seams with seeming Peace Work on their way amid the smouldring Tow Sure in Destruction but in Motion slow The silent Plague thro' the green Timber eats And vomits out a tardy Flame by fits Down to the Keels and upward to the Sails The Fire descends or mounts but still prevails Nor Buckets pour'd nor strength of Human Hand Can the victorious Element withstand The Pious Heroe rends his Robe and throws To Heav'n his Hands and with his Hands his Vows O Jove he cry'd if Pray'rs can yet have place If thou abhorr'st not all the Dardan Race If any spark of Pity still remain If Gods are Gods and not invok'd in vain Yet spare the Relicks of the Trojan Train Yet from the Flames our burning Vessels free Or let thy Fury fall alone on me At this devoted Head thy Thunder throw And send the willing Sacrifice below Scarce had he said when Southern Storms arise From Pole to Pole the forky Lightning flies Loud ratling shakes the Mountains and the Plain Heav'n bellies downward and descends in Rain Whole Sheets of Water from the Clouds are sent Which hissing thro' the Planks the Flames prevent And stop the fiery Pest Four Ships alone Burn to the wast and for the Fleet attone But doubtful thoughts the Hero's Heart divide If he should still in Sicily reside Forgetful of his Fates or tempt the Main In hope the promis'd Italy to gain Then Nautes old and wise to whom alone The Will of Heav'n by Pallas was fore-shown Vers'd in Portents experienc'd and inspir'd To tell Events and what the Fates requir'd Thus while he stood to neither part inclin'd With chearful Words reliev'd his lab'ring Mind O Goddess-born resign'd in ev'ry state With Patience bear with Prudence push your Fate By suff'ring well our Fortune we subdue Fly when she frowns and when she calls pursue Your Friend Acestes is of Trojan Kind To him disclose the Secrets of your Mind Trust in his Hands your old and useless Train Too num'rous for the Ships which yet remain The feeble old indulgent of their Ease The Dames who dread the Dangers of the Seas With all the dastard Crew who dare not stand The shock of Battel with your Foes by Land Here you may build a common Town for all And from Acestes name Acesta call The Reasons with his Friend's Experience join'd Encourag'd much but more disturb'd his Mind 'T was dead of Night when to his slumb'ring Eyes His Father's Shade descended from the Skies And thus he spoke O more than vital Breath Lov'd while I liv'd and dear ev'n after Death O Son in various Toils and Troubles tost The King of Heav'n employs my careful Ghost On his Commands the God who sav'd from Fire Your flaming Fleet and heard your just desire The Wholsom Counsel of your Friend receive And here the Coward Train and Women leave The chosen Youth and those who nobly dare Transport to tempt the Dangers of the War The stern Italians will their Courage try Rough are their Manners and their Minds are high But first to Pluto's Palace you shall go And seek my Shade among the blest below For not with impious Ghosts my Soul remains Nor suffers with the Damn'd perpetual Pains But breaths the living Air of soft Elysian Plains The chast Sybilla shall your steps convey And Blood of offer'd Victims free the way There shall you know what Realms the Gods assign And learn the Fates and Fortunes of your Line But now farewel I vanish with the Night And feel the blast of Heav'ns approaching Light He said and mix'd with Shades and took his airy flight Whether so fast the filial Duty cry'd And why ah why the wish'd Embrace deny'd He said and rose as holy Zeal inspires He rakes hot Embers and renews the Fires His Country Gods and Vesta then adores With Cakes and Incense and their Aid implores Next for his Friends and Royal Host he sent Reveal'd his Vision and the Gods intent With his own Purpose All without delay The Will of Jove and his Desires obey They list with Women each degenerate Name Who dares not hazard Life for future Fame These they cashier the brave remaining few Oars Banks and Cables half consum'd renew The Prince designs a City with the Plough The Lots their sev'ral Tenements allow This part is nam'd from Ilium that from Troy And the new King ascends the Throme with Joy A chosen Senate from the People draws Appoints the Judges and ordains the Laws Then on the top of Eryx they begin To raise a Temple to the Paphian Queen Anchises last is honour'd as a God A Priest is added annual Gifts bestow'd And Groves are planted round his blest Abode Nine days they pass in
the Princess Anne of Denmark AE 10. l. 1. Thus Jupiter in few unfolds the Charge But lovely Venus thus replies at large O Pow'r immense Eternal Energy For to what else Protection can we fly Seest thou the proud Rutulians how they dare In Fields unpunish'd and insult my Care How lofty Turnus vaunts amidst his Train In shining Arms triumphant on the Plain Ev'n in their Lines and Trenches they contend And scarce their Walls the Trojan Troops defend The Town is fill'd with Slaughter and o'refloats With a red Deluge their increasing Moats Aeneas ignorant and far from thence Has left a Camp expos'd without Defence This endless outrage shall they still sustain Shall Troy renew'd be forc'd and fir'd again A second Siege my banish'd Issue fears And a new Diomede in Arms appears One more audacious Mortal will be found And I thy Daughter wait another Wound Yet if with Fates averse without thy Leave The Latian Lands my Progeny receive Bear they the Pains of violated Law And thy Protection from their Aid withdraw But if the Gods their sure Success foretel If those of Heav'n consent with those of Hell To promise Italy who dare debate The Pow'r of Jove or fix another Fate What shou'd I tell of Tempests on the Main Of Eolus usurping Neptune's Reign Of Iris sent with Bachanalian Heat T' inspire the Matrons and destroy the Fleet. Now Juno to the Stygian Sky descends Sollicites Hell for Aid and arms the Fiends That new Example wanted yet above An Act that well became the Wife of Jove Alecto rais'd by her with Rage inflames The peaceful Bosoms of the Latian Dames Imperial Sway no more exalts my Mind Such hopes I had indeed while Heav'n was kind Now let my happier Foes possess my place Whom Jove prefers before the Trojan Race And conquer they whom you with Conquest grace Since you can spare from all your wide Command No spot of Earth no hospitable Land Which may my wand'ring Fugitives receive Since haughty Juno will not give you leave Then Father if I still may use that Name By ruin'd Troy yet smoking from the Flame I beg you let Ascanius by my Care Be freed from Danger and dismiss'd the War Inglorious let him live without a Crown The Father may be cast on Coasts unknown Strugling with Fate but let me save the Son Mine is Cythera mine the Cyprian Tow'rs In those Recesses and those sacred Bow'rs Obscurely let him rest his Right resign To promis'd Empire and his Julian Line Then Carthage may th' Ausonian Towns destroy Nor fear the Race of a rejected Boy What profits it my Son to scape the Fire Arm'd with his Gods and loaded with his Sire To pass the Perils of the Seas and Wind Evade the Greeks and leave the War behind To reach th' Italian Shores If after all Our second Pergamus is doom'd to fall Much better had he curb'd his high Desires And hover'd o're his ill extinguish'd Fires To Simois Banks the Fugitives restore And give them back to War and all the Woes before Deep indignation swell'd Saturnia's Heart And must I own she said my secret Smart What with more decence were in silence kept And but for this unjust Reproach had slept Did God or Man your Fav'rite Son advise With War unhop'd the Latians to surprise By Fate you boast and by the Gods Decree He left his Native Land for Italy Confess the Truth by mad Cassandra more Than Heav'n inspir'd he sought a foreign Shore Did I perswade to trust his second Troy To the raw Conduct of a beardless Boy With Walls unfinish'd which himself forsakes And thro' the Waves a wand'ring Voyage makes When have I urg'd him meanly to demand The Tuscan Aid and arm a quiet Land Did I or Iris give this mad Advice Or made the Fool himself the fatal Choice You think it hard the Latians shou'd destroy With Swords your Trojans and with Fires your Troy Hard and unjust indeed for Men to draw Their Native Air nor take a foreign Law That Turnus is permitted still to live To whom his Birth a God and Goddess give But yet 't is just and lawful for your Line To drive their Fields and Force with Fraud to join Realms not your own among your Clans divide And from the Bridegroom tear the promis'd Bride Petition while you publick Arms prepare Pretend a Peace and yet provoke a War 'T was giv'n to you your darling Son to shrowd To draw the Dastard from the fighting Crowd And for a Man obtend an empty Cloud From flaming Fleets you turn'd the Fire away And chang'd the Ships to Daughters of the Sea But 't is my Crime the Queen of Heav'n offends If she presume to save her suff'ring Friends Your Son not knowing what his Foes decree You say is absent Absent let him be Yours is Cythera yours the Cyprian Tow'rs The soft Recesses and the Sacred Bow'rs Why do you then these needless Arms prepare And thus provoke a People prone to War Did I with Fire the Trojan Town deface Or hinder from return your exil'd Race Was I the Cause of Mischief or the Man Whose lawless Lust the bloody War began Think on whose Faith th' Adult'rous Youth rely'd Who promis'd who procur'd the Spartan Bride When all th' united States of Greece combin'd To purge the World of the perfidious Kind Then was your time to fear the Trojan Fate Your Quarrels and Complaints are now too late Thus Juno Murmurs rise with mix'd Applause Just as they favour or dislike the Cause So Winds when yet unfledg'd in Woods they lie In whispers first their tender Voices try Then issue on the Main with bellowing rage And Storms to trembling Mariners presage Then thus to both reply'd th' Imperial God Who shakes Heav'ns Axels with his awful Nod. When he begins the silent Senate stand With Rev'rence list'ning to the dread Command The Clouds dispel the Winds their Breath restrain And the hush'd Waves lie flatted on the Main Coelestials Your attentive Ears incline Since said the God the Trojans must not join In wish'd Alliance with the Latian Line Since endless jarrings and immortal Hate Tend but to discompose our happy State The War henceforward be resign'd to Fate Each to his proper Fortune stand or fall Equal and unconcern'd I look on all Rutulians Trojans are the same to me And both shall draw the Lots their Fates decree Let these assault if Fortune be their Friend And if she favours those let those defend The Fates will find their way The Thund'rer said And shook the sacred Honours of his Head Attesting Styx th' Inviolable Flood And the black Regions of his Brother God Trembled the Poles of Heav'n and Earth confess'd the Nod. This end the Sessions had The Senate rise And to his Palace wait their Sov'raign thro' the Skies Mean time intent upon their Siege the Foes Within their Walls the Trojan Hoast inclose They wound they kill they watch at ev'ry Gate Renew the Fires and urge their
bore Was plac'd the Lance Auruncan Actor wore Which with such Force he brandish'd in his Hand The tough Ash trembled like an Osyer Wand Then cry'd O pond'rous Spoil of Actor slain And never yet by Turnus toss'd in vain Fail not this Day thy wonted Force But go Sent by this Hand to pierce the Trojan Foe Give me to tear his Corslet from his Breast And from that Eunuch Head to rend the Crest Drag'd in the Dust his frizled Hair to soil Hot from the vexing Ir'n and smear'd with fragrant Oyl Thus while he raves from his wide Nostrils flies A fiery Steam and Sparkles from his Eyes So fares the Bull in his lov'd Female's sight Proudly he bellows and preludes the fight He tries his goring Horns against a Tree And meditates his absent Enemy He pushes at the Winds he digs the Strand With his black Hoofs and spurns the yellow Sand. Nor less the Trojan in his Lemnian Arms To future Fight his Manly Courage warms He whets his Fury and with Joy prepares To terminate at once the ling'ring Wars To chear his Cheifs and tender Son relates What Heav'n had promis'd and expounds the Fates Then to the Latian King he sends to cease The Rage of Arms and ratifies the Peace The Morn ensuing from the Mountain's height Had scarcely spread the Skies with rosie Light Th' Etherial Coursers bounding from the Sea From out their flaming Nostrils breath'd the Day When now the Trojan and Rutulian Guard In friendly Labour join'd the List prepar'd Beneath the Walls they measure out the Space Then sacred Altars rear on sods of Grass Where with Religious Rites their common Gods they place In purest white the Priests their Heads attire And living Waters bear and holy Fire And o're their Linnen Hoods and shaded Hair Long twisted Wreaths of sacred Vervain wear In Order issuing from the Town appears The Latin Legion arm'd with pointed Spears And from the Fields advancing on a Line The Trojan and the Tuscan Forces join Their various Arms afford a pleasing Sight A peaceful Train they seem in Peace prepar'd for Fight Betwixt the Ranks the proud Commanders ride Glitt'ring with Gold and Vests in Purple dy'd Here Mnestheus Author of the Memmian Line And there Messapus born of Seed Divine The Sign is giv'n and round the listed Space Each Man in order fills his proper Place Reclining on their ample Shields they stand And fix their pointed Lances in the Sand. Now studious of the sight a num'rous Throng Of either Sex promiscuous old and young Swarm from the Town By those who rest behind The Gates and Walls and Houses tops are lin'd Mean time the Queen of Heav'n beheld the sight With Eyes unpleas'd from Mount Albano's height Since call'd Albano by succeeding Fame But then an empty Hill without a Name She thence survey'd the Field the Trojan Pow'rs The Latian Squadrons and Laurentine Tow'rs Then thus the Goddess of the Skies bespake With Sighs and Tears the Goddess of the Lake King Turnus Sister once a lovely Maid E're to the Lust of lawless Jove betray'd Compress'd by Force but by the grateful God Now made the Nais of the neighb'ring Flood O Nymph the Pride of living Lakes said she O most renown'd and most belov'd by me Long hast thou known nor need I to record The wanton sallies of my wand'ring Lord Of ev'ry Latian fair whom Jove mis-led To mount by Stealth my violated Bed To thee alone I grudg'd not his Embrace But gave a part of Heav'n and an unenvy'd Place To y e Hon ble Brigadier Edward Fitzpatrick Now learn from me thy near approaching Grief Nor think my Wishes want to thy Relief While fortune favour'd nor Heav'n's King deny'd To lend my Succour to the Latian side I sav'd thy Brother and the sinking State But now he struggles with unequal Fate And goes with Gods averse o'rematch'd in Might To meet inevitable Death in Fight Nor must I break the Truce nor can sustain the sight Thou if thou dar'st thy present Aid supply It well becomes a Sister's Care to try At this the lovely Nymph with Grief oppress'd Thrice tore her Hair and beat her comely Breast To whom Saturnia thus thy Tears are late Haste snatch him if he can be snatch'd from Fate New Tumults kindle violate the Truce Who knows what changeful Fortune may produce 'T is not a Crime t' attempt what I decree Or if it were discharge the Crime on me She said and sailing on the winged Wind Left the sad Nymph suspended in her Mind And now in Pomp the peaceful Kings appear Four Steeds the Chariot of Latinus bear Twelve golden Beams around his Temples play To mark his Lineage from the God of Day Two snowy Coursers Turnus's Chariot yoke And in his Hand two Massy Spears he shook Then issu'd from the Camp in Arms Divine Aeneas Author of the Roman Line And by his side Ascanius took his Place The second Hope of Rome's Immortal Race Adorn'd in white a rev'rend Priest appears And Off'rings to the flaming Altars bears A Porket and a Lamb that never suffer'd Shears Then to the rising Sun he turns his Eyes And strews the Beasts design'd for Sacrifice With Salt and Meal With like officious Care He marks their Foreheads and he clips their Hair Betwixt their Horns the Purple Wine he sheds With the same gen'rous Juice the Flame he feeds Aeneas then unsheath'd his shining Sword And thus with pious Pray'rs the Gods ador'd All-seeing Sun and thou Ausonian Soil For which I have sustain'd so long a Toil Thou King of Heav'n and thou the Queen of Air Propitious now and reconcil'd by Pray'r Thou God of War whose unresisted Sway The Labours and Events of Arms obey Ye living Fountains and ye running Floods All Pow'rs of Ocean all Etherial Gods Hear and bear Record if I fall in Field Or Recreant in the Fight to Turnus yield My Trojans shall encrease Evander's Town Ascanius shall renounce th' Ausonian Crown All Claims all Questions of Debate shall cease Nor he nor they with Force infringe the Peace But if my juster Arms prevail in Fight As sure they shall if I divine aright My Trojans shall not o're th' Italians Reign Both equal both unconquer'd shall remain Join'd in their Laws their Lands and their Abodes I ask but Altars for my weary Gods The Care of those Religious Rites be mine The Crown to King Latinus I resign His be the Sov'raign Sway. Nor will I share His Pow'r in Peace or his Command in War For me my Friends another Town shall frame And bless the rising Tow'rs with fair Lavinia's Name Thus he Then with erected Eyes and Hands The Latian King before his Altar stands By the same Heav'n said he and Earth and Main And all the Pow'rs that all the three contain By Hell below and by that upper God Whose Thunder signs the Peace who seals it with his Nod So let Latona's double Offspring hear And double fronted Janus what I swear I touch the
our Lays And in our Mother Tongue resound his Praise Thin Cakes in Chargers and a Guilty Goat Dragg'd by the Horns be to his Altars brought Whose offer'd Entrails shall his Crime reproach And drip their Fatness from the Hazle Broach To dress thy Vines new labour is requir'd Nor must the painful Husbandman be tir'd For thrice at least in Compass of the Year Thy Vineyard must employ the sturdy Steer To turn the Glebe besides thy daily pain To break the Clods and make the Surface plain T' unload the Branches or the Leaves to thin That suck the Vital Moisture of the Vine Thus in a Circle runs the Peasant's Pain And the Year rowls within it self again Ev'n in the lowest Months when Storms have shed From Vines the hairy Honours of their Head Not then the drudging Hind his Labour ends But to the coming Year his Care extends Ev'n then the naked Vine he persecutes His Pruning Knife at once Reforms and Cuts Be first to dig the Ground be first to burn The Branches lopt and first the Props return Into thy House that bore the burden'd Vines But last to reap the Vintage of thy Wines Twice in the Year luxuriant Leaves o'reshade The incumber'd Vine rough Brambles twice invade Hard Labour both commend the large excess Of spacious Vineyards cultivate the less Besides in Woods the Shrubs of prickly Thorn Sallows and Reeds on Banks of Rivers born Remain to cut for Vineyards useful found To stay thy Vines and fence thy fruitful Ground Nor when thy tender Trees at length are bound When peaceful Vines from Pruning Hooks are free When Husbands have survey'd the last degree And utmost Files of Plants and order'd ev'ry Tree Ev'n when they sing at ease in full Content Insulting o're the Toils they underwent Yet still they find a future Task remain To turn the Soil and break the Clods again And after all their Joys are unsincere While falling Rains on ripening Grapes they fear Quite opposite to these are Olives found No dressing they require and dread no wound Nor Rakes nor Harrows need but fix'd below Rejoyce in open Air and unconcerndly grow The Soil it self due Nourishment supplies Plough but the Furrows and the Fruits arise Content with small Endeavours 'till they spring Soft Peace they figure and sweet Plenty bring Then Olives plant and Hymns to Pallas sing Thus Apple Trees whose Trunks are strong to bear Their spreading Boughs exert themselves in Air Want no supply but stand secure alone Not trusting foreign Forces but their own 'Till with the ruddy freight the bending Branches groan Thus Trees of Nature and each common Bush Uncultivated thrive and with red Berries blush Vile Shrubs are shorn for Browze the tow'ring hight Of unctuous Trees are Torches for the Night And shall we doubt indulging easie Sloath To sow to set and to reform their growth To leave the lofty Plants the lowly kind Are for the Shepherd or the Sheep design'd Ev'n humble Broom and Osiers have their use And Shade for Sleep and Food for Flocks produce Hedges for Corn and Honey for the Bees Besides the pleasing Prospect of the Trees How goodly looks Cytorus ever green With Boxen Groves with what delight are seen Narycian Woods of Pitch whose gloomy shade Seems for retreat of thoughtful Muses made But much more pleasing are those Fields to see That need not Ploughs nor Human Industry Ev'n cold Caucasean Rocks with Trees are spread And wear green Forests on their hilly Head Tho' bending from the blast of Eastern Storms Tho' shent their Leaves and shatter'd are their Arms Yet Heav'n their various Plants for use designs For Houses Cedars and for Shipping Pines Cypress provides for Spokes and Wheels of Wains And all for Keels of Ships that scour the watry Plains Willows in Twigs are fruitful Elms in Leaves The War from stubborn Myrtle Shafts receives From Cornels Jav'lins and the tougher Yeugh Receives the bending Figure of a Bow Nor Box nor Limes without their use are made Smooth-grain'd and proper for the Turner's Trade Which curious Hands may kerve and Steel with Ease invade Light Alder stems the Po's impetuous Tide And Bees in hollow Oaks their Hony hide Now ballance with these Gifts the fumy Joys Of Wine attended with eternal Noise Wine urg'd to lawless Lust the Centaurs Train Thro' Wine they quarrell'd and thro' Wine were slain Oh happy if he knew his happy State The Swain who free from Business and Debate Receives his easy Food from Nature's Hand And just Returns of cultivated Land No Palace with a lofty Gate he wants T' admit the Tydes of early Visitants With eager Eyes devouring as they pass The breathing Figures of Corinthian Brass No Statues threaten from high Pedestals No Persian Arras hides his homely Walls With Antick Vests which thro' their shady fold Betray the Streaks of ill dissembl'd Gold He boasts no Wool whose native white is dy'd With Purple Poyson of Assyrian Pride No costly Drugs of Araby defile With foreign Scents the Sweetness of his Oyl But easie Quiet a secure Retreat A harmless Life that knows not how to cheat With homebred Plenty the rich Owner bless And rural Pleasures crown his Happiness Unvex'd with Quarrels undisturb'd with Noise The Country King his peaceful Realm enjoys Cool Grots and living Lakes the Flow'ry Pride Of Meads and Streams that thro' the Valley glide And shady Groves that easie Sleep invite And after toilsome Days a sweet repose at Night Wild Beasts of Nature in his Woods abound And Youth of Labour patient plow the Ground Inur'd to Hardship and to homely Fare Nor venerable Age is wanting there In great Examples to the Youthful Train Nor are the Gods ador'd with Rites prophane From hence Astrea took her Flight and here the Prints of her departing Steps appear Ye sacred Muses with whose Beauty fir'd My Soul is ravish'd and my Brain inspir'd Whose Priest I am whose holy Fillets wear Wou'd you your Virgil's first Petition hear Give me the Ways of wandring Stars to know The Depths of Heav'n above and Earth below Teach me the various Labours of the Moon And whence proceed th' Eclipses of the Sun Why flowing Tides prevail upon the Main And in what dark Recess they shrink again What shakes the solid Earth what Cause delays The Summer Nights and shortens Winter Days But if my heavy Blood restrain the Flight Of my free Soul aspiring to the Height Of Nature and unclouded Fields of Light My next Desire is void of Care and Strife To lead a soft secure inglorious Life A Country Cottage near a Crystal Flood A winding Vally and a lofty Wood. Some God conduct me to the sacred Shades Where Bacchanals are sung by Spartan Maids Or lift me high to Hemus hilly Crown Or in the Plains of Tempe lay me down Or lead me to some solitary Place And cover my Retreat from Human Race Happy the Man who studying Nature's Laws Thro' known Effects can trace the secret Cause His Mind possessing
in a quiet state Fearless of Fortune and resign'd to Fate And happy too is he who decks the Bow'rs Of Sylvans and adores the Rural Pow'rs Whose Mind unmov'd the Bribes of Courts can see Their glitt'ring Baits and Purple Slavery Nor hopes the People's Praise nor fears their Frown Nor when contending Kindred tear the Crown Will set up one or pull another down Without Concern he hears but hears from far Of Tumults and Descents and distant War Nor with a Superstitious Fear is aw'd For what befals at home or what abroad Nor envies he the Rich their heapy Store Nor with a helpless Hand condoles the Poor He feeds on Fruits which of their own accord The willing Ground and laden Trees afford From his lov'd Home no Lucre him can draw The Senates mad Decrees he never saw Nor heard at bawling Bars corrupted Law Some to the Seas and some to Camps resort And some with Impudence invade the Court. In foreign Countries others seek Renown With Wars and Taxes others waste their own And Houses burn and houshold Gods deface To drink in Bowls which glitt'ring Gems enchase To loll on Couches rich with Cytron Steds And lay their guilty Limbs in Tyrian Beds This Wretch in Earth intombs his Golden Ore Hov'ring and brooding on his bury'd Store Some Patriot Fools to pop'lar Praise aspire By Publick Speeches which worse Fools admire While from both Benches with redoubl'd Sounds Th' Applause of Lords and Commoners abounds Some through Ambition or thro' Thirst of Gold Have slain their Brothers or their Country sold And leaving their sweet Homes in Exile run To Lands that lye beneath another Sun The Peasant innocent of all these Ills With crooked Ploughs the fertile Fallows tills And the round Year with daily Labour fills From hence the Country Markets are supply'd Enough remains for houshold Charge beside His Wife and tender Children to sustain And gratefully to feed his dumb deserving Train Nor cease his Labours till the Yellow Field A full return of bearded Harvest yield A Crop so plenteous as the Land to load O'recome the crowded Barns and lodge on Ricks abroad Thus ev'ry sev'ral Season is employ'd Some spent in Toyl and some in Ease enjoy'd The yeaning Ewes prevent the springing Year The laded Boughs their Fruits in Autumn bear 'T is then the Vine her liquid Harvest yields Bak'd in the Sun-shine of ascending Fields The Winter comes and then the falling Mast For greedy Swine provides a full repast Then Olives ground in Mills their fatness boast And Winter Fruits are mellow'd by the Frost His Cares are eas'd with Intervals of bliss His little Children climbing for a Kiss Welcome their Father's late return at Night His faithful Bed is crown'd with chast delight His Kine with swelling Udders ready stand And lowing for the Pail invite the Milker's hand His wanton Kids with budding Horns prepar'd Fight harmless Battels in his homely Yard Himself in Rustick Pomp on Holy-days To Rural Pow'rs a just Oblation pays And on the Green his careless Limbs displays The Hearth is in the midst the Herdsmen round The chearful Fire provoke his health in Goblets crown'd He calls on Bacchus and propounds the Prize The Groom his Fellow Groom at Buts defies And bends his Bow and levels with his Eyes Or stript for Wrestling smears his Limbs with Oyl And watches with a trip his Foe to foil Such was the life the frugal Sabines led So Remus and his Brother God were bred From whom th' austere Etrurian Virtue rose And this rude life our homely Fathers chose Old Rome from such a Race deriv'd her birth The Seat of Empire and the conquer'd Earth Which now on sev'n high Hills triumphant reigns And in that compass all the World contains E're Saturn's Rebel Son usurp'd the Skies When Beasts were only slain for Sacrifice While peaceful Crete enjoy'd her ancient Lord E're sounding Hammers forg'd th' inhumane Sword To William Walsh of Abberley in Worcester-shire Esq Geo 2. l. 760. E're hollow Drums were beat before the Breath Of brazen Trumpets rung the Peals of Death The good old God his Hunger did asswage With Roots and Herbs and gave the Golden Age. But over labour'd with so long a Course T is time to set at ease the smoaking Horse The Third Book of the Georgics The Argument This Book begins with an Invocation of some Rural Deities and a Compliment to Augustus After which Virgil directs himself to Mecaenas and enters on his Subject He lays down Rules for the Breeding and Management of Horses Oxen Sheep Goats and Dogs And interweaves several pleasant Descriptions of a Chariot-Race of the Battel of the Bulls of the Force of Love and of the Scythian Winter In the latter part of the Book he relates the Diseases incident to Cattel and ends with the Description of a fatal Murrain that formerly rag'd among the Alps. THY Fields propitious Pales I reherse And sing thy Pastures in no vulgar Verse Amphrysian Shepherd the Lycaean Woods Arcadia's flow'ry Plains and pleasing Floods 5 All other Themes that careless Minds invite Are worn with use unworthy me to write Busiri's Altars and the dire Decrees Of hard Euristheus ev'ry Reader sees Hylas the Boy Latona's erring Isle And Pelop's Iv'ry Shoulder and his Toil For fair Hippodamé with all the rest Of Grecian Tales by Poets are exprest New ways I must attempt my groveling Name To raise aloft and wing my flight to Fame I first of Romans shall in Triumph come From conquer'd Greece and bring her Trophies home With Foreign Spoils adorn my native place And with Idume's Palms my Mantua grace Of Parian Stone a Temple will I raise Where the slow Mincius through the Vally strays To the most Noble and Illustrious Prince Charles Duke of Richmond and Lenox Earl of Marsh and Darnley Baron of Siterington Knight of the most noble Order of the Garter Geo 3 l 1 Where cooling Streams invite the Flocks to drink And Reeds defend the winding Waters Brink Full in the midst shall mighty Caesar stand Hold the chief Honours and the Dome command Then I conspicuous in my Tyrian Gown Submitting to his Godhead my Renown A hundred Coursers from the Goal will drive The rival Chariots in the Race shall strive All Greece shall flock from far my Games to see The Whorlbat and the rapid Race shall be Reserv'd for Caesar and ordain'd by me My self with Olive crown'd the Gifts will bear Ev'n now methinks the publick shouts I hear The passing Pageants and the Pomps appear I to the Temple will conduct the Crew The Sacrifice and Sacrificers view From thence return attended with my Train Where the proud Theatres disclose the Scene Which interwoven Britains seem to raise And shew the Triumph which their Shame displays High o're the Gate in Elephant and Gold The Crowd shall Caesar's Indian War behold The Nile shall flow beneath and on the side His shatter'd Ships on Brazen Pillars ride Next him Niphates with inverted Urn And dropping Sedge
the running Flood Supply'd their Thirst the Trees supply'd their Food Then Saturn came who fled the Pow'r of Jove Robb'd of his Realms and banish'd from above To the Hon ble Robert Bruce Second son to Robert late Earle of Ailesbury The Men dispers'd on Hills to Towns he brought And Laws ordain'd and Civil Customs taught And Latium call'd the Land where safe he lay From his Unduteous Son and his Usurping Sway. With his mild Empire Peace and Plenty came And hence the Golden Times deriv'd their name A more degenerate and discolour'd Age Succeeded this with Avarice and Rage Th' Ausonians then and bold Sicanians came And Saturn's Empire often chang'd the name Then Kings Gygantick Tybris and the rest With Arbitrary Sway the Land oppress'd For Tybers flood was Albula before Till from the Tyrants Fate his name it bore I last arriv'd driv'n from my native home By Fortune's Pow'r and Fate 's resistless Doom Long toss'd on Seas I sought this happy Land Warn'd by my Mother Nymph and call'd by Heav'ns Command Thus walking on he spoke and shew'd the Gate Since call'd Carmental by the Roman State Where stood an Altar Sacred to the Name Of old Carmenta the Prophetick Dame Who to her Son foretold th' Aenean Race Sublime in Fame and Rome's Imperial Place Then shews the Forest which in after times Fierce Romulus for perpetrated Crimes A Sacred Refuge made with this the Shrine Where Pan below the Rock had Rites Divine Then tells of Argus death his murder'd Guest Whose Grave and Tomb his Innocence attest Thence to the steep Tarpeian Rock he leads Now Roof'd with Gold then thatch'd with homely Reeds A Reverent fear such Superstition reigns Among the rude ev'n then possess'd the Swains Some God they knew what God they cou'd not tell Did there amidst the sacred horrour dwell Th' Arcadians thought him Jove and said they saw The mighty Thund'rer with Majestick awe Who shook his Shield and dealt his Bolts around And scatter'd Tempests on the teeming Ground Then saw two heaps of Ruins once they stood Two stately Towns on either side the Flood Saturnia's and Janicula's Remains And either place the Founder's Name retains Discoursing thus together they resort Where poor Evander kept his Country Court They view'd the ground of Rome's litigious Hall Once Oxen low'd where now the Lawyers bawl Then stooping through the Narrow Gate they press'd When thus the King bespoke his Trojan Guest Mean as it is this Palace and this Door Receiv'd Alcides then a Conquerour Dare to be poor accept our homely Food Which feasted him and emulate a God Then underneath a lowly Roof he led The weary Prince and laid him on a Bed The stuffing Leaves which Hides of Bears o'respread Now Night had shed her silver Dews around And with her sable Wings embrac'd the Ground When Love's fair Goddess anxious for her Son New Tumults rising and new Wars begun Couch'd with her Husband in his Golden Bed With these alluring Words invokes his aid And that her pleasing Speech his Mind may move Inspires each accent with the Charms of Love While Cruel Fate conspir'd with Grecian Pow'rs To level with the Ground the Trojan Tow'rs I ask'd not Aid th' unhappy to restore Nor did the Succour of thy Skill implore Nor urg'd the Labours of my Lord in vain A sinking Empire longer to sustain Tho' much I ow'd to Priam's House and more The Dangers of Aeneas did deplore But now by Jove's Command and Fates Decree His Race is doom'd to reign in Italy With humble Suit I beg thy needful Art O still propitious Pow'r that rules my Heart A Mother kneels a suppliant for her Son By Thetis and Aurora thou wert won To forge impenetrable Shields and grace With fated Arms a less illustrious Race Behold what haughty Nations are combin'd Against the Relicks of the Phrygian Kind With Fire and Sword my People to destroy And conquer Venus twice in conqu'ring Troy She said and strait her Arms of snowy hue About her unresolving Husband threw Her soft Embraces soon infuse Desire His Bones and Marrow sudden Warmth inspire And all the Godhead feels the wonted Fire Not half so swift the ratling Thunder flies Or forky Lightnings flash along the Skies The Goddess proud of her successful Wiles And conscious of her Form in secret Smiles Then thus the Pow'r obnoxious to her Charms Panting and half dissolving in her Arms Why seek you Reasons for a Cause so just Or your own Beauties or my Love distrust Long since had you requir'd my helpful Hand Th' Artificer and Art you might command To labour Arms for Troy Nor Jove nor Fate Confin'd their Empire to so short a Date And if you now desire new Wars to wage My Skill I promise and my Pains engage Whatever melting Metals can conspire Or breathing Bellows or the forming Fire Is freely yours Your anxious Fears remove And think no Task is difficult to Love Trembling he spoke and eager of her Charms He snatch'd the willing Goddess to his Arms 'Till in her Lap infus'd he lay possess'd Of full Desire and sunk to pleasing Rest Now when the Night her middle race had rode And his first Slumber had refresh'd the God The time when early Housewifes leave the Bed And living Embers on the Hearth they spred Supply the Lamp and call the Maids to rise With yawning Mouths and with half open'd Eyes They ply the Distaff by the winking Light And to their daily Labour add the Night Thus frugally they earn their Childrens Bread And uncorrupted keep the Nuptial Bed Not less concern'd nor at a later Hour Rose from his downy Couch the forging Pow'r Sacred to Vulcan's Name an Isle there lay Betwixt Sicilia's Coasts and Lipare Rais'd high on smoaking Rocks and deep below In hollow Caves the Fires of Aetna glow The Cyclops here their heavy Hammers deal Loud Strokes and hissings of tormented Steel Are heard around The boyling Waters roar And smoaky Flames thro' fuming Tunnels soar Hether the Father of the Fire by Night Through the brown Air precipitates his Flight To Christopher Rich of Grays Inn Esq AE 8. l 560 On their Eternal Anvils here he found The Brethren beating and the Blows go round A load of pointless Thunder now there lies Before their Hands to ripen for the Skies These Darts for angry Jove they dayly cast Consum'd on Mortals with prodigious waste Three Rays of writhen Rain of Fire three more Of winged Southern Winds and cloudy Store As many parts the dreadful Mixture frame And Fears are added and avenging Flame Inferior Ministers for Mars repair His broken Axeltrees and blunted War And send him forth agen with furbish'd Arms To wake the lazy War with Trumpets loud Alarms The rest refresh the scaly Snakes that fold The Shield of Pallas and renew their Gold Full on the Crest the Gorgon's Head they place With Eyes that rowl in Death and with distorted Face My Sons said Vulcan set your Tasks aside Your Strength and