We act in Concert with the Fates Decree: Peace is my fole Delight: who seeks it more, 295 Witness, thou confcious Pole, and starry Hall, I lay the ready Bolt aside, how rare My challeng'd Thunders roar, my Lightnings glare. 300 The Lapitha, and Calydon refign, Tho' both had long defy'd the Rage divine. 305 I execute th' impartial Will of Fate. To wave the Sins of Greece in ancient Times, Thou know'ft, how prone the Thebans are to Crimes. 310 315 v. 303. The Lapitha and Calydon] See Book the first for an Account of Diana's Enmity to the Calydonians. The Lapitha were a People of Theffaly, inhabiting that Part of the Country that lay be tween the Mountains Pindus and Othrys. For an Account of the Combat betwixt them and the Centaurs. See Ovid's Metamorphofes, Lib. 12. v. 313. No Joys incestuous hapless Pentheus knew.] Pentheus was torn in Pieces by the Priefteffes of Bacchus, for not attending the facred Rites of that Deity. With better Grace thy Sorrow then had flow'd, And broken Faith, and e'en the Friends confpire Secure, that a long Interval remains Ere we fulfill on Thebes, what Fate ordains. A new Avenger in a better Age Shall rife: firft Argos bleeds beneath our Rage. 320 325 And with fresh Youth, and new-born Graces blooms. That near the Confines of the Theban Sway The Grecian Hofts advance, and speed their Way, 340 v. 331. Thus parch'd by fultry Suns] Ariofto has a Simile that very much resembles this of cur Author. Qual fotto il più cocente ardore estivo, Orlando furiofo, Canto 23. Stan. 108, And And all, who view the Numbers of the Foe, 345 By Mars excited to the deathful Field, 350 Their Youth: for thus the Ruler of the Skies 355 The Matrons climb the Walls to view the Fight; And teach, whilft to their Sons their Sires they show, Their little Hearts with early Warmth to glow. The Senior-Princefs on a Turret stood, Veil'd from the public Eye. A fable Hood 360 v. 361. The Senior-Princess] Statius has also imitated Homer in many Places; and he feems particularly to have had an Eye to Helen's informing the old Men on the Walls of Troy, as he is there described in the Iliad, of the Character of the feveral Princes in the Grecian Camp; for in the seventh Book, Antigone, Sifter to Eteocles and Polynices appears standing on a Tower, attended by an old Officer who had been Laius's Armour-bearer; who, at her Defire, gives an Account of the Allies that came to affift the Thebans. Though fome Circumstances are altered, it is very easy to imagine he took his Plan from the Iliad. Nor will any one condemn this Conduct of his, fuch Imitations being not only very allowable, but commendable, when made with Art, and happily and fitly introduced. Lewis Crucius. Lactantius From the keen Air her tender Cheeks defends: The Squire of Laius, whilft at Thebes he reign'd, 365 Him fair Antigone with kind Demand 370 And how fierce Hæmon tow'rs above the reft, 325 A brazen Sphinx well-imag'd on his Crest. Yon Chief, whofe warlike Figure ftrikes your Eyes,. Is Dryas. From Tanagra's Hill he leads A thoufand Archers, train'd to warlike Deeds. 380 The great Orion's Offspring he: behold The Bolt and Trident, rudely form'd in Gold' Upon his Shield.-Nor do his Acts difgrace Th' untainted Honours of his godlike Race. 385 Lactantius obferves, that in this Account of the Generals who took Part with Thebes, and the Provinces they commanded, our Author has adhered pretty clofe to Homer's Catalogue, fo far as regards the Geography, and Epithets of Places.-Mr. Pope ftrengthens this Remark. See Iliad, Lib. 2. v. 386. Fatal to his Sire] The fabulous Account of this Hero is as follows.-Pelafgus, a pious Worshipper of the Gods hofpitably entertained Jupiter, Neptune, and Mercury, for which Favour they' they promised to grant him whatsoever he wished. Therefore, as he had no Iffue, he requested, that they would grant him a Son. The Gods promifed they would; and piffing on the Hide of an Ox that he Ocalea, Medeon, Nyfa ftock'd with Groves, 390 A Creft of Pine-leaves trembles on his Head: 395 With him Erythra, rich in Flocks, is feen, See, with what Clamours the Neptunian Throng, 400 he had juft facrificed to them, ordered him to dig a Hole for it in the Earth, and take it out at the End of nine Months. He did fo, and found on it the Child, whom he afterwards named Orion, from Oupov, which fignifies Urine. When Orion grew up to Man's Estate, he attempted to ravish Diana, who, imploring the Affiftance of the Earth, was delivered by a Scorpion, that ftung the Ravisher to Death. Others fay, that he was flain by the Shafts of that Goddess, as Horace. Virgineâ domitus sagittâ. v. 399. Atalanta's Birth-place] There were two Ladies of this Name; one an Arcadian Queen, the Mother of Parthenopeus, and the other (who is here meant) of Scyros. She was overcome in a Foot-Race by Hippomanes, who threw in her Way three golden Apples, which Venus had given him for that Purpose. v. 401. The Lance of Afb Pellæan] Lucan mentions this Sort of Weapon, and particularifes it, as well as our Author, by the Name of Sariffa. Primi Pelleas arcu fregere Sariffas. Whom |