These folemn feafts propitious Phoebus please : Thefe honours, ftill renew'd, his antient wrath appeafe. But fay, illuftrious gueft (adjoin'd the King) What name you bear, from what high race you fpring? 791 The noble Tydeus ftands confefs'd, and known Our neighbour Prince, and heir of Calydon. Relate your fortunes, while the friendly night And filent hours to various talk invite. 795 The Theban bends on earth his gloomy eyes, Confus'd, and fadly thus at length replies : Before these altars how fhall I proclaim (Oh gen'rous prince) my nation, or my name, Or thro' what veins our ancient blood has roll'd? Let the fad tale for ever reft untold! 801 Yet if propitious to a wretch unknown, You seek to share in forrows not your own; 815 820 Novit, et Arctoïs fi quis de folibus horret, Quique bibit Gangen, aut nigrum occafibus intrat Oceanum, et fi quos incerto littore Syrtes Deftituunt, ne perge queri, cafufque priorum Annumerare tibi. noftro quoque fanguine multum Erravit pietas. nec culpa nepotibus obftat. Tu modo diffimilis rebus mereare fecundis Excufare tuos. fed jam temone fupino Languet Hyperboreae glacialis portitor ursae. 825 Fundite vina focis, fervatoremque parentum Latoïden votis iterumque iterumque canamus. Phobe parens, feu te Lyciae Pataraea nivosis Exercent dumeta jugis, feu rore pudico 830 Caftaliae flavos amor eft tibi mergere crines; Seu Trojam Thymbraeus habes, ubi fama volentem Ingratis Phrygios humeris fubiiffe molares : 811 Fame, that delights around the world to stray, Scorns not to take our Argos in her way. Ev'n those who dwell where funs at diftance roll, In northern wilds, and freeze beneath the pole; And those who tread the burning Libyan lands, The faithless Syrtes and the moving fands; 815 Who view the western fea's extremeft bounds, Or drink of Ganges in their eastern grounds; All these the woes of Oedipus have known, Your fates, your furies, and your haunted town. If on the fons the parents crimes defcend, 820 What Prince from those his lineage can defend? Be this thy comfort, that 'tis thine t'efface With virtuous acts thy ancestor's difgrace, And be thyself the honour of thy race. But fee! the stars begin to fteal away, And shine more faintly at approaching day; Now pour the wine; and in your tuneful lays Once more refound the great Apollo's praise. 825 Oh father Phœbus! whether Lycia's coaft 829 And snowy mountain, thy bright presence boast; Whether to sweet Castalia thou repair, And bathe in filver dews thy yellow hair; Seu juvat Aegaeum feriens Latonius umbra 855 ; Or pleas'd to find fair Delos float no more, 850 eye, The mouldring rock that trembles from on high, Propitious hear our pray'r, O Pow'r divine! And on thy hospitable Argos shine, 856 |