THE ARGUMENT. JU UPITER angered at the Delays of the Grecian Army, fends Mercury to Mars to command him to forward the War. The Temple of that Deity is defcribed. Then follows Adraftus's Speech over the Sepulchre of Archemorus. Mars, by Means of Terror, incites the Grecians to resume their March to Thebes. Bacchus intercedes for his native City with Jupiter, who pacifies him with Promifes of a Refpite. The Theban Troops and Auxiliaries are drawn out to Battle. Phorbas gives an Account of the Commanders of them to Antigone, who afcends one of the Towers for that Purpose. Eteocles barrangues his Army. The Greeks are terrified with several Omens in their Route to Thebes. Jocasta with her two Daughters ventures into the Enemies Camp, in Order to bring about a Reconciliation between the two Brothers, which she bad effected, had not the Greeks killed two Tigers belonging to Bacchus. Hoftilities commencing, Several of Note are flain on both Sides. Amphiaraus, after a great Slaughter of the Enemy, is fwallowed up by an Earthquake, with an Account of which Prodigy the Book ends. I 5 NDIGNANT now, th' etherial King furvey'd v. I. Indignant now] Statius has here manifefted his Belief of one fupreme almighty Being, whom he introduces with a Dignity and Superiority fuiting his Character and Nature. There is a Noblenefs in this Defcription, that would not have difgraced Virgil himfelf; and the ftupendous Effects of the Nod are finely imagined. But after all, he feems more defirous of making this Deity formidable than amiable. He is juft, but his Juftice is not tempered with Mercy. We find him the Author of all the Blood shed between the two Nations; he liftens to the Imprecations of Oedipus and thinking Mars too dilatory, fends Mercury to him a second Time to rouse him to Battle by Dint of Threats. LS On 1 On Clouds and Dews celeftial feeds her Beams, And fhuns old Ocean's interdicted Streams: And, whether Mars, upon his Spear reclin❜d, 15 20 25 O Mars! is this a Sample of thy Rage? 30 Are still his Joy, and give his Soul Delight, Let him, averfe to Covenant and Truce, 35 With Fire and Sword the guiltlefs Town reduce To Ruins, flaughter in the Act of Pray'r, Exhauft the World, and lay Creation bare. But now perverse, and heedless of his Sire, 40 And urge the Grecian Warriors to the Fray; Elfe (not to treat him worfe) I change his Kind, And break the favage Nature of his Mind: His Sword and Courfers else he must restore; And all befides fhall as Spectators stand. 45 50 He said: the swift-wing'd Herald fallies forth, 55 v. 57. With Horror now] Lewis Crucius in his Life of this Au- thor, tranfcribes this Description of Mars's Temple and Palace, as a very fine one: fine however as it is, that in Dryden's Palamon and Arcite is not inferior, as the Reader will perceive from a Compa- Beneath the low'ring Brow, and on a Bent The Temple stood of Mars armipotent: The Frame of burnish'd Steel, that caft a Glare From far, and feem'd to thaw the freezing Air. A ftrait long Entry to the Temple led, Blind with high Walls and Horror over Head: Thence issu’d such a Blast, and hollow Roar, As threaten'd from the Hinge to heave the Door: In through that Door a northern Light there fhone; T'was all it had, for Windows there were none. The Gate was Adamant, eternal Frame ! Which hew'd by Mars himself, from Indian Quarries came, The Labour of a God; and all along Tough Iron-Plates were clench'd to make it ftrong. A Tun about was ev'ry Pillar there: A polish'd Mirror fhone not half so clear. There faw I, how the fecret Felon wrought, Beneath the fronting Height of Emus ftood There the red Anger dar'd the pallid Fear; Till Sense was loft in Sound, and Silence fled the Place. The Gore, congeal'd, was clotted in his Hair: With Eyes half clos'd and gaping Mouth he lay, And grim, as when he breath'd his fullen Soul away. And gloomy Discontent and fell Debate. And arm'd Complaint on Theft, and Cries of Blood. Ships burnt in Fight, or forc'd on rocky Shores, And the Cook caught within the raging Fire he made. 60 } The |