Amaz'd, the Swains his Strength reftor'd furvey,
And the late Victor trembles for his Sway.
While thus for War the Youth in fecret pines,
Argia penetrates his close Designs.
One Morn, ere yet Aurora promis'd Day,
(As in the Folds of Love entwin'd they lay)
Why feeks my Lord (fhe fondly faid) to fly?
For nought escapes an ardent Lover's Eye.
Say, why that Bofom heaves with broken Sighs,
And Sleep for ever fhuns those watchful Eyes:
What hidden Caufe extorts the filent Tear?
Think not a widow'd Bed alone I fear,
Or the mere Luft of nuptial Joys should stay
The deftin'd Course, or prompt an Hour's Delay:
Tho' fcarce twelve Suns have deck'd the Courts of Jove,
Since Hymen fmil'd upon our mutual Love.
Thy Bliss alone and Welfare I regard,
And only this thy Parting cou'd retard.
But oh! what Rafhnefs, helpless and alone
T' attempt th' Enjoyment of the Theban Crown!
Will he, whofe Pride and Tyranny you found,
Ere the firft Sun had run his annual Round,
Tamely refign the Scepter and obey,
Till the clos'd Year, reftore th' alternate Sway?
The Gods fome fudden Ruin fure prepare,
My boding Soul prefaging Fibres fcare.
Amid the dusky Silence of the Night
Imperial Juna stood confefs'd to Sight.
Say, what at Thebes can your Attention claim,
But the fair Object of a former Flame.
The fmiling Hero clafp'd her to his Breaft,
And with the Stamp of Love her Cheeks impress'd;
Prevents with Blandishments the rifing Tears,
And kindly thus difpells her jealous Fears.
Think not the Wheel of Chance will e'er remain
In this rough Track. The Clouds may break again,
And a far brighter Sun than yet hath shone,
Survey thee Partner of a double Throne.
Refign thy Cares to Heav'n, difmifs thy Fears;
At least they fuit not with thy tender Years.
From Jove's ftrict Juftice and all-feeing Eyes
The perjur'd Villain ne'er unnotic'd flies.
From hence t' Adraftus, on whofe hoary Head
A Length of Years had their Experience shed,
Speeds the young Theban; nor was Tydeus flow
T'affift, but fhar'd an equal Weight of Woe:
For the fame Flame, which gen'rous Souls disjoins,
With equal Luftre, when united fhines.
Long they debate: at length by joint Confent
Decree to found the Brother King's Intent
By Embassy, ere yet from hoftile Force
They seek Redress, the laft and wort Refource.
Fraught with th' advent'rous Tafk bold Tydeus glows, 445
Tho' long oppos'd by his diffuading Spouse:
At length the Compact, which in ev'ry State
Secures th' Ambaffador a fafe Retreat,
V. 437. Nor was Tydeus flow] Amidst the Tincture of Barbarism and Ferocity of Tydeus there is fomething very amiable in his Character not that I pretend to exculpate him for carrying his Revenge to that favage, unprecedented Height, though it was the Refult of Friendship, and founded on an honourable Bafis. He quarrels and fights with Polynices; but upon the Knowledge of his Misfortunes ftrikes an Alliance with him, and even facrifices his Life in his Service.
His Sire's Commands and Sister's Tears prevail,
O'ercome her Pray'rs, and fink the doubtful Scale. 450
Now on the woody Coaft the Warrior strays,
And foon the fam'd Lernean Lake furveys,
Where the fell Hydra was by Flames fubdu'd,
(For Blows in vain the toiling Chief renew'd)
And Nemea, where e'en now the timid Swains
Rarely, as erft, chant forth their artless Strains.
From thence in View of Corinth's Tow'rs he came,
And left the Port, which bears Palemon's Name;
Where in the midft the parting Ifthmus lies,
And fwelling Seas on either Side arife.
Then Nifus' flow'ring Sides the Hero gains,
And on the left views Ceres' favour'd Plains.
At laft the glitt'ring Profpect greets his Eyes
Of Theban Tow'rs, that shade the middle Skies.
Sublime in regal Pomp th' Ufurper fate:
A Grove of Spears defends th' impervious Gate.
Here by his Subjects fear'd, not lov'd, he reigns,
And ill-got Pow'r by Tyranny maintains.
He blames his Brother's Flight and long Delay,
And wonders, he fo late demands the Sway:
Nor wants the Tyrant e'er a specious Plea
To veil his Guilt, and mafk his Villainy.
Amid the thronging Guards young Tydeus ftands,
(A peaceful Olive decks his waving Hands
v. 462. Ceres' favour'd Plains] Thefe are the Plains known to the Antients by the Name of Eleufinian from Eleufis, a neighbouring City. They were remarkably fertile, in Return for which Bleffing the Inhabitants built a Temple to Ceres, their fuppofed Benefactress.
And thus began (his Name and Meffage known) 475
Rough as he was in Speech, and ever prone
To Wrath, nor cautious to offend the Ear,
Diminish'd ought the Truth, howe'er fevere.
Say, Tyrant, (had it been your firm Design
'At the due Time your Empire to resign)
Why Heralds did not from your Court appear
T' inform your Brother of his ruling Year?
T'was then your Duty calmly to fit down,
Till the next Year replac'd you on the Throne.
But he, convinc'd how well you love to reign,
Deigns thus to afk, what bafely you detain.
Phabus hath now his annual Progress made,
And cloath'd the Mountains with returning Shade,
Since Polynices abject and alone
Hath ftray'd in Exile drear thro' Realms unknown. 490 Tis your's in Turn th' alternate Lot to share,
And bear the wintry Wind and open Air.
Refign it then, while guiltlefs fhines the Crown,
Nor lay too late the bright Temptation down.
Your Pow'r in Thebes you've long enough difplay'd, 495
In Robes of Tyrian Die, and Gold array'd.
Now teach your Subjects; those who merit Sway,
Shou'd first convince the World, they can obey.
He paus❜d and now the Tyrant's Looks reveal'd
The boiling Wrath, he had in vain conceal'd.
Thus with erected Pride, the crested Snake
By Stones provok'd, fhoots thro' the thorny Brake.
v. 501. Thus with erected Pride] The Courage and Intrepidity of Tydeus are admirably well illuftrated in this Simile, which is taken from Homer.
Ως δε δράκων ἐπὶ χειῆ ὀρίσερθ· ἄνδρα μίνησι
His Scales reflect the Sun's attracted Ray:
With rolling Spires he marks the furrow'd Way,
And thro' his agitated Body draws
The liquid Venom to his thirsty Jaws.
Had not my Brother's Love of Strife been known
(He cries) it wou'd appear from thee alone.
In whom is ftamp'd the Image of his Mind,
Alike of Manners rude, and favage Kind.
Tho' now thou talk'st, as if th' affailing Foe
Had min'd our Walls, and laid our Bulwarks low.
Yet fhou'dft thou thus among a Scythian Throng
Indulge thy Luft of prate, and lawless Tongue,
Thy trampled Limbs and Corfe wou'd scarce atone 515
For the bare Crimes thy fland'rous Mouth has done.
Avaunt; no more provoke my Rage and know,
Thy facred Office scarce can stay the Blow:
But first this Answer to th' Argolic Lord;
That fince his Rashness has unfheath'd the Sword, 520 And thus attack'd me with unkingly Pride,
Bellona fhall alone our Rights decide,
Nor my contentious Brother rule the Land,
Which Chance and Birthright gave me to command,
Βιβρωκώς, κακὰ φάρμακ', ἔδυ δέ τε μιν κόλθε αἶνος,
Σμερδαλέον δε δέδορκεν ὁλιοσόμενΘ- περὶ χειῆ.
Virgil has alfo imitated it in his Æneid.
Qualis ubi in lucem coluber mala gramina paftus,
Frigida fub terra tumidum quem bruma tegebat,
Nunc pofitis novus exuviis, nitidusque juventâ,
Lubrica convolvit fublato pectore terga
Arduas ad folem, et linguis micat ore trifulcis.
Agamemnon mentions this tated by his Son Diomede.
Behaviour of Tydeus as worthy to be imi-
See Iliad, B. 4. 370.
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