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Then o'er the posts, once hung with wreathes, he throws

The ready cord, and fits the fatal noose,
For death prepares, and bounding from above,
At once the wretch concludes his life and love.

Garth.

Ver. 79. Mofchus, Idyl. 6. has nearly the fame thought. Ταυτα λέγω πασιν, κ. τ. λ. Ye fcornful nymphs and fwains, I tell This truth to you; pray mark it well: "If to your lovers kind you prove, "You'll gain the hearts of thofe you love." F. F. The fate of this fcornful beauty is fimilar to that of a youth who was killed by the ftatue of his stepmother falling upon him. See Callimachus, Epig. 11. thus tranflated by Mr. Duncombe.

A youth, who thought his father's wife
Had loft her malice with her life,
Officious with a chaplet grac'd

The ftatue on her tomb-ftone plac'd;
When, falling sudden on his head,
With the dire blow it ftruck him dead:
Be warn'd from hence, each fofter-fon,
Your stepdame's fepulchre to fhun.

IDYLLIUM XXIV.

THE YOUNG HERCULES.

THE ARGUMENT.

T: Idyllium is entirely narrative: it first of all gives an account how Hercules, when only ten months old, flew two monftrous ferpents which Juno had fent to devour him; then it relates the prophecy of Tirefias, and afterwards defcribes the education of Hercules, and enumerates his several preceptors. The conclufion of this poem is loft.

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Fondly the babes the view'd, and on each head
She plac'd her tender hands, and thus she said: 10
Sleep, gentle babes, and sweetly take your reft,
Sleep, deareft twins, with softest flumbers bleft;
Securely pass the tedious night away,

20

And rife refresh'd with the fair rifing day." She spoke, and gently rock'd the mighty fhield; Obfequious flumbers foon their eye-lids feal'd. But when at midnight funk the bright-ey'd Bear, And broad Orion's fhoulder 'gan appear, Stern Juno, urg'd by unrelenting hate, Sent two fell ferpents to Amphitryon's gate, Charg'd with fevere commiffion to destroy The young Alcides, Jove-begotten boy : Horrid and huge, with many an azure fold, Fierce through the portal's opening valves they roll'd; TRANS. II.

Then on their bellies prone, high fwoln with gore,
They glided smooth along the marble floor;
Their fiery eye-balls darted fanguine flame,
And from their jaws deftructive poison came.
Alcmena's fons, when near the ferpents preft,
Darting their forked tongues, awoke from reft; 30
All o'er the chamber fhone a fudden light,
For all is clear to Jove's difcerning fight.
When on the fhield his foes Iphiclus faw,
And their dire fangs that arm'd each horrid jaw,
Aghaft he rais'd his voice with bitter cry,
Threw off the covering, and prepar'd to fly :
But Hercules ftretch'd out his hands to clafp
The fcaly monfters in his iron grafp;
Fast in each hand the venom'd jaws he prest
Of the curft ferpents, which ev'n gods deteft.
Their circling fpires, in many a dreadful fold,
Around the flow-begotten babe they roll'd,
The babe unwean'd, yet ignorant of fear,
Who never utter'd cry, nor fhed a tear.
At length their curls they loos'd, for rack'd with
pain

They ftrove to 'fcape the deathful gripe in vain.
Alcmena firft o'erheard the mournful cries,
And to her husband thus: "Amphitryon, rife

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Which, on a glittering nail above his head,
Hung by the baldric to the cedar bed;
Then from the radiant fheath, of lotos made,
With ready hand he drew the fhining blade:
Inftant the light withdrew, and sudden gloom
Involv'd again the wide-extended room.
Amphitryon call'd his train, that flumbering lay,
And lept fecure the careless hours away.
"Rife, rife, my fervants, from your couches ftrait,
Bring lights this inftant, and unbar the gate."
He spoke the train, obedient to command,
Appear'd with each a flambeau in his hand:
Rapt with amaze, young Hercules they faw
Grafp two fell ferpents clofe beneath the jaw: 70
The mighty infant fhow'd them to his fire,
And fmil'd to fee the wreathing foakes expire;
He leapt for joy that thus his foes he flew,
And at his father's feet the fcaly monsters threw.
With tender care Alcmena fondly preft,
Half-dead with fear, Iphiclus to her breast;
While o'er his mighty fon Amphitryon spread
The lamb's foft fleece, and fought again his bed.
When thrice the cock pronounc'd the morning

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90

Full many Grecian maids, for charms renown'd, While merrily they twirl the fpindle round, Till day's decline thy praifes fhall proclaim, And Grecian matrons celebrate thy fame. So great, fo noble will thy offspring prove, "The most gigantic of the gods above, [fway, "Whofe arm, endow'd with more than mortal Shall many men and many monfters flay: "Twelve labours paft, he fhall to heav'n afpire, His mortal part first purified by fire, "And fon-in-law be nam'd of that dread power "Who fent thefe deadly ferpents to devour "The flumbering child: then wolves fhall rove "the lawns,

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"And ftrike no terror in the pafturing fawns. "But, O great queen! be this thy inftant care, "On the broad nearth dry faggots to prepare,

Afpalathus, or prickly brambles, bind, #Or the tall thorn that trembles in the wind,

"And at dark midnight burn (what time they

66 came

"To flay thy fon) the ferpents in the flame. 110 "Next morn, collected by thy faithful maid, "Be all the afhes to the flood convey'd, [wind, "And blown on rough rocks by the favouring "Thence let her fly, but caft no look behind. "Next with pure fulphur purge the house, and "bring

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"The pureft water from the freshest spring;
This, mix'd with falt, and with green olive
"crown'd,
"Will cleanfe the late contaminated ground.
"Last, let a boar on Jove's high altar bleed.
"That ye in all atchievements may fucceed." 120
Thus fpoke Tirefias, bending low with age,
And to his ivory car retir'd the reverend fage,
Alcides grew beneath his mother's care,
Like fome young plant, luxuriant, fresh, and fair,
That fcreen'd from ftorms defies the baleful blast,
And for Amphitryon's valiant fon he paft.
Linus, who claim'd Apollo for his fire,
With love of letters did his youth infpire,
And ftrove his great ideas to enlarge,
A friendly tutor, faithful to his charge.
From Eurytus his fkill in fhooting came,
To fend the shaft unerring of its aim.
Eumolpus tun'd his manly voice to fing,
And call fweet music from the fpeaking ftring.
In lifted fields to wrestle with his foe,
With iron arm to deal the deathful blow,
And each atchievement where fair fame is fought,
Harpalycus, the fon of Hermes, taught;
Whole look fo grim and terrible in fight,
No man could bear the formidable fight.
But fond Amphitryon, with a father's care,
To drive the chariot taught his godlike heir,
At the fharp turn with rapid wheels to roll,
Nor break the grazing axle on the goal:
On Argive plains, for generous steeds renown'd,
Oft was the chief with race won honours crown'd;
And still unbroke his ancient chariot lay,
Though cankering time had eat the reins away.
To launch the fpear, to rush upon the foe,
Beneath the fhield to fhun the faulchion's blow,
To marfhal hofts, oppofing force to force,
To lay close ambush, and lead on the horse,
Thefe Caftor taught him, of equestrian fanie,
What time to Argos exil'd Tydeus came,
Where from Adraftus he high favour gain'd,
And o'er a kingdom, rich in vineyards, reign'd.
No chief like Caftor, till confuming time
Unnerv'd his youth, and crop'd the golden prime.
Thus Hercules, his mother's joy and pride,
Was train'd up like a warrior: by the fide
Of his great father's his rough couch was spread,
A lion's fpoils compos'd his grateful bed.
Roaft meat he lov'd at fupper to partake,
The bread he fancied was the Doric cake,
Enough to fatisfy the labouring hind;
But still at noon full sparingly he din'd.
His drefs, contriv'd for use, was neat and plain
His fkirts were fcanty, for he wore no train.

151

160

The conclufion of this Idyllium is wanting in the original.

NOTES ON IDYLLIUM XXIV.

Ver. 7. Virgil fays nearly the fame thing of the coat of mail which was taken from Demoleus, Loricam quam Demoleo detraxerat ipfe Victor apad rapidum Simoenta fub llio alto. Æn. B. 5.260.

By obferving the use this fhield is put to, we have an agreeable picture prefented to the mind: it is an emblem of the peace and tranquillity which always fucceed the tumults of war; and likewife a prognoftic of the future greatness of this mighty champion in embryo.

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Et trepida matres preffere ad pectora natos.
En. B. 7. 518.

Ver. 84. Thus Achilles fays to Calchas, Il. B. 1.
From thy inmost foul

Ver. 19. Pindar, in his first Nemean Ode, tells Speak what thou know'st, and speak without con

this fame ftory, which, as it may be a satisfaction to the curious to fee how different writers manage the fame fubject, I fhall take the liberty to give in Mr. Welt's translation.

Then glowing with immortal rage,
The gold-enthroned emprefs of the gods,
Her eager thirit of vengeance to affuage,
Strait to her hated rival's curs'd abodes

Bade her vindictive serpents haste.
They through the opening valves with speed
On to the chamber's deep receffes paft,
To perpetrate their murderous deed:
And now, in knotty mazes to infold
Their deftin'd prey, on curling fpires they roll'd,
His dauntless brow, when young Alcides rear'd,
And fortheir first attempt his infant arms prepar'd.
Faft by their azure necks he held,
And grip'd in either hand his fcaly foes;
Till from their horrid carcafes expell'd,
At length the poisonous foul unwilling flows.

Ver. 27. The Greek is, ar' optarμwr de nanov της Ερχόμενος λαμπεσκε; "a pernicious flame shot from their eyes as they approached:" Pierfon, (fee his Verfimilia) reads with much more elegance and propriety Agxousvos, " looking very keenly," as the eyes of ferpents are always reprefented: Hefiod, fpeaking of dragons, ufes the fame word twice, sx xizλwv mug naujo digxopesvors. Theog. ver. 828. and in the fhield of Hercules, Ver. 145, λapTopivo dogs. He brings like wife the authorities of Homer, Æfchylus and Oppian, to fupport this reading. Virgil has,

Ardentefq; oculi fuffecti fanguine et igni, tibila lambebant linguis vibrantibus ora.

En. B. 2. 210.

troul.

Fix'd is the term to all the race of earth, And fuch the hard condition of our birth : No force can then refift, no flight can fave; All fink alike, the fearful and the brave.

Pope.

Ver. 96. The words of Theocritus are aro sigv πλατος ήρως, "the broad-breafted hero;" I am in doubt how it fhould be rendered: Creech has tranflated it, "The nobleft burden of the bending fky." In Homer's Odyffey, B. 11. Hercules is thus reprefented among the fhades below, Now I the ftrength of Hercules behold, A towering spectre of gigantic mould; A fhadowy form! for high in heaven's abodes Himself refides, a god among the gods. Pope On which Mr. Pope obferves, 'The ancients imagined, that immediately after death, there was a partition of the human compofition into three parts, the body, image, and mind, the body is buried in the earth; the image, or sidaλov, defcends into the regions of the departed; the mind, or gn, the divine part, is received into heaven; thus the body of Hercules was confumed in the flames, his image is in hell, and his foul in 'heaven.'

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Ver. 1oo. The Greek is, θνητα δε παντα πυρα Tearvios, "The Trachinian pyre will confunie his mortal part." Trachin was a city of Theffaly built by Hercules, and the place to which he fent to Dejanira for the fhirt which proved fatal to him, and was the occafion of throwing himself into the fire that confumed him; hence therefore, probably, Theocritus calls it the Trachinian pyre.

Ver. 103. Virgil has, "Nec lupus infidias pecori," &c. Both authors feem to have borrowed from Ifaiah, chap. ii. ver. 6. "The wolf fhall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard fhall lie down

Ver. 41. Thus Virgil, speaking of the ferpents with the kid." that devoured Laocoon's fons,

-Parva duorum Corpora natorum,

&c.

En. B. 2. 213.

And firf in curling fiery volumes bound
His two young fons, and wrapt them round and
round.
Pitt.

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Ver. 105. Archbishop Potter obferves, 'Sometimes the ominous thing was burnt with ligna infelicia, that is, fuch fort of wood as was in • tutelâ inferûm deorum avertentiumque, facred to the gods of hell, and those which averted evil omens, being chiefly thorns and fuch other trees as " were fit for no other ufe than to be burned.

Sometimes the prodigy, when burnt, was caft into the water, and particularly into the fea, as Theocritus has defcribed.' Chap. xvii. Ver Io7. A plant called the Rofe of Jerufalem, or our Lady's Thorn. yobnfon's Dia. The Greek is παλιέρος, paliuros," which Martyn fays, is most probably the plant which is cultivated in our gardens under the name of Chrift's Thorn, and is fuppofed to be the thorn, of which the crown was made, that was put upon our Saviour's head. Notes on Virg. Ecl. 5. Ver. 108. The Greek is didou v axredov, or the dry acherdus which is agitated by the wind:" it is uncertain what plant will anfwer to the acherdus of the ancients: Homer in the Odyssey, B. 14. ver. 1 has fenced the fylvan lodge of Eumous with acherdus, kas ilgiyewors axsday

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The wall was ftone, from neighb'ring quarries borne,

Encircled with a fence of native thorn. Pope. Ver. 111. The moft powerful of all incantations was to throw the ashes of the facrifice backward into the water. Thus Virgil," Fer cineres, Amarylli, foras; rivoq fluenti."

Tranfque caput jace; ne refpexeris.

Ecl. 8.

Ver 124. Theocritus has borrowed this from Homer, II. B. 18. Thetis, fpeaking of her fon, fays,

Τον μεν εγω βρέψασα, φυτόν ως γενῳ αλωής.

Like fome fair plant, beneath my careful hand,
He grew, he flourish'd, and he grac'd the land.

Ver. 140. Virgil fays of Dares,

Pope.

Nec quifquam ex agmine tanto
Audet adire virum, manibufq; inducere cæftus.

En. B. 5.

Ver. 144. In the chariot-race, the greatest care was to be taken to avoid running against the goal; Neftor, in the 23d book of the Iliad, very particularly cautions his fon in regard to this point; and Horace fays,

Metaque fervidis Evitata rotis.

Ver. 154. The Greek is,

Κατορ ισταλίδας εδαι», φυγας Αργεος ελθων,
οπόκα κληρον απαντα και οινοπεδον μεγα Τυδέως
Ναις, παρ Αόρατοιο λαβων ιππήλατον Αργος.

"These accomplishments Caftor, skilled in horfe
manship, taught him, when he came an exile from
Argos, at the time that Tydeus ruled over the
whole kingdom fanied for vineyards, having re-
ceived Argos from Adraftus. There is great in-
confiftency in this paffage, which nobody, that I
know of, has observed or tried to remedy: we
have no account in hiftory, that Caftor came a
fugitive to Argos, but that Tydeus did, we have
indifputable authority. See Homer's Il B. 14.
ver. 119. Diomed fays of his father, wang
ελος Αργει νασθη, κ. τ. λ.

My fire from Calydon expell'd
He paft to Argos, and in exile dwell'd;
The monarch's daughter there (fo Jove ordain'd),
He won, and ourish'd where Adraftus reign'd:
There rich in fortune's gifts his acres till'd,
Beheld his vines their liquid harvest yield,
And numerous flocks that whiten'd all the field. S
Pope.

On which Euftathius obferves; "This is a very
"artful colour: Diomed calls the flight of his
"father, for killing one of his brothers, travelling
"and drvelling at Argos, without mentioning the
"caufe or occafion of his retreat." Might I ven-
ture to offer an emendation, I would read, yes
Agyu safer, and then the conftruction might be,
"Caftor taught him thefe accomplishments at the
time that Tydeus reigned over the kingdom of
Argos, whither he had fled an exile, having re-
ceived the fovereignty from Adraftus." Thus the
paffage becomes correfpondent with Homer, with
good fenfe and hiftory; for Tydcus fled from Ca-
lydonia to Argos for manflaughter, where te
married Deipyle, the daughter of Adraftus, an
it should feem by this paffage, afterwards fucceed-
ed him in the kingdom.

Ver. 164. A coarfe bread like thofe cakes
Ode I. which the Athenians called av

IDYLLIUM XXV.

HERCULES THE LION-SLAYER.

THE ARGUMENT.

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HERCULES having occafion to wait upon Augéas king of Elis, meets with an old herdfman, by whor he is introduced to the king, who, with his fon Phyleus, had come into the country to take a of his numerous herds: afterwards Hercules and Phylcus walk together to the city; in the way, ti prince admiring the monstrous lion's fkin which Hercules wore, takes occafion to inquire where bi had it; this introduces an account how Hercules flew the Nemaan lion.

The beginning is wanting.

THE good old herdfman laid his work afide,
And thus complacent to the chief reply'd:

Whate'er you afk, O ftranger, I'll impart. Whate'er you wish, and with a cheerful heart For much I venerate the fon of May,

Who ftands rever'd in every public way z

Thofe moft he hates of all the gods on high
Who the lone traveller's request deny.

• The numerous flocks your eyes behold around,
With which the vales are ftor'd, the hills are
crown'd,

Augeas owns; o'er various walks they spread, In different meads, in different pastures fed; Some on the banks of Elifuntus ftray, Some where divine Alphëus winds his way, Some in Buprafium, where rich wines abound, And fome in this well-cultivated ground. And though exceeding many flocks are told, Each feparate flock enjoys a feparate fold. 'Here, though of oxen numerous herds are feen, Yet fprings the herbage ever fresh and green 20 In the aoift marsh of Menius: every mead, And vale irriguous, where the cattle feed, Produce fweet herbs, embalm'd in dewy tears, Whole fragrant virtue fattens well the steers. Behold that ftall beyond the winding flood, Which to the right appears by yonder wood, Where the wild olive, and perennial plane, 'Grow, fpread, and flourish, great Apollo's fate, To which the hinds, to which the fhepherds bow, And deem him greatest deity below! 30

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Next are the ftalls of fwains, whofe labours bring 'Abundant riches to the wealthy king;

'Four times each year the fertile foil they plough, And gather thrice the harvests which they fow ; 'The lab'ring hinds, whofe hands the vineyards

' drefs,

Whofe feet the grapes in purple autumn press,
Know well the aft domain Augćas owns,
Rich fields, whofe lap the golden ear imbrowns,
Or faded gardens, far as yonder hills,
'Whofe brows are water'd by refplendent rills;
This fpacious tract we tend with daily care,
As fits thofe fwains who rural labours fhare.
But fay (and all my fervice you shall claim),
Say for what caufe you here a stranger came :
Would you the king or his attendants fee?
'I can conduct you; only trust to me.
For fuch your form, and fuch your manly grace,
'You feem deriv'd from no ignoble race:
Sure thus the gods, that boast celeftial birth,
Appear majestic to the fons of earth.'
He fpoke and thus Jove's valiant fon reply'd:
My wandering steps let fome kind thepherd
' guide

To king Augéas, whom these realms obey;
To fee Augeas am I come this way.
But if fair juftice the good monarch draws
'To Elis, to adminifter the laws,

50

* Conduct me to fome honourable fwain,
Who here prefides among his rural train,
That I to him my purpose may disclose,
And follow what his prudence fhall propose: 60
'For heaven's eternal wisdom has decreed,
That man of man should ever ftand in need.'
Thus he the good old herdfman thus reply'd;
Sere fome immortal being is your guide:
For lo! your bufinefs is already done;
Last night the king, defcendant of the fun,
With royal Phyleus, from the town withdrew,
His flocks unnumber'd, and his herds to view.

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By wife attention they augment their store. 7
But let me quick, for time is on the wing,
In yonder tent conduct you to the king.'

This faid, he walk'd before his royal gueft,
Much wondering, much revolving in his breaft,
When at his back the lion's fpoils he saw,
And in his hand the club infufing awe.
He wish'd to ask the hero whence he fprung?
The rifing query dy'd upon his tongue :
He fear'd the freedom might be deem'd a fault :
'Tis difficult to know another's thought. 80

The watchful dogs, as near the ftalls they went, Perceiv'd their coming by their tread and fcent, With open mouths from every part they run, And bay'd inceffant great Amphitryon's fon; But round the fwain they wagg'd their tales and play'd,

89

And gently whining secret joy betray'd.
Loofe on the ground the flones that ready lay
Eager he fnatch'd, he drives them far away;
With his rough voice he terrified them all,
Though pleas'd to find them guardians of his stall.
Ye gods! (the good old herdfman thus began)
What ufeful animals are dogs to man?
'Had Heav'n but fent intelligence to know
On whom to rage, the friendly or the foc,
No creature then could challenge honour more,
But now too furious, and too fierce they roar.'
He fpoke; the growling maftiffs ceas'd to bay,
And ftole obfequious to their ftalls away.
The fun now weftward drove his radiant feeds,
And evening mild the noontide heat fucceeds;
His orb declining from the paftures calls
Sheep to their folds, and oxen to their stalls.
Herd following herd, it joy'd the chief to fee
Unnumber'd cattle winding o'er the lea.
Like watery clouds arifing thick in heaven,
By the rough fouth or Thracian Boreas driven;
So faft the fhadowy vapours mount on high,
They cover all the region of the sky;
Still more and more the gathering tempeft brings,
And weightier burdens on its weary wings. 110
Thus thickening march the cattle o'er the plain,
More than the roads or meadows can contain;
The luy herds inceffant bellowing keep,
The ftalls are fill'd with fteers, the folds with

sheep.

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Though numerous flaves ftand round of every kind,
All have their feveral offices affign'd.

Some tie the cow's hind legs, to make her ftand
Still, and obedient to the milker's hand:
Some give to tender calves the fwelling teat,
Their fides diftend with milky beverage sweet.
Some form fat cheeses with the housewife's art,
Some drive the heifers from the bulls apart. 122
Augéas vifited the stalls around,

To fee what ftores in herds and flocks abound;
With curious eye he mov'd majestic on,
Join'd by Alcides and his royal fon.
Here Hercules, of great and fleady foul,
Whom mean amazement never could controul,
Admir'd fuch droves in myriads to behold,
Such fpreading flocks that never could be told,

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