THE FIRST BOOK OF STATIUS HIS THE BAIS. Tranflated in the Year MDCC III. ARGUMENT. EDIPUS King of Thebes having by mistake flain his father Laius, and married his mother Jocafla, put out his own eyes, and refigned the realm to his fons, Eteocles and Polynices. Being neglected by them, he makes his prayer to the fury Tifiphone, to fow debate betwixt the brothers. They agree at laft to reign fingly, each a year by turns; and the first lot is obtained by Eteocles. Jupiter, in a council of the gods, declares his refolution of punishing the Thebans, and Argives alfo, by means of a marriage betwixt Polynices and one of the daughters of Adraftus King of Argos. Juno oppofes, but to no effect; and Mercury is fent on a meffage to the fhades, to the ghost of Laius, who is to appear to Eteocles, and provoke him to break the agreement. Polynices in the mean time departs from Thebes by night, is overtaken by a ftorm, and arrives at Argos; where he meets with Tydeus, who had fled from Calydon, having killed his brother. A draftus draftus entertains them, having received an oracle from Apollo, that his daughters fhould be married to a boar and a lion, which he understands to be meant of thefe ftrangers by whom the hides of those beasts were worn, and who arrived at the time when he kept an annual feast in honour of that god. The rife of this folemnity he relates to his guests, the loves of Phoebus and Plamathe, and the story of Chorcebus. He inquires, and is made acquainted with their defcent and quality: The facrifice is renewed, and the book concludes with a hymn to Apollo. The tranflator hopes he needs not apologize for his choice of this piece, which was made almoft in bis childhood. But finding the version better than he expected, he gave it fome correction a few years afterwards. THE F THE THEBAIS OF STATIUS. BOOK THE FIRST. RATERNAL rage, the guilty Thebes alarms, Th' alternate reign deftroy'd by impious arms, Demand our fongs; a facred fury fires My ravish'd breaft, and all the Muse inspires. F P. STATII THEBAIDOS. LIBRE PRIMUS. 5 10 RATERNAS acies, alternaque regna profanis Decertata odiis, fontefque evolvere Thebas, Pierius menti calor incidit. Unde jubetis Ire, Dea? gentifne canam primordia diræ ? Sidonios raptus, et inexorabile pactum Legis Agenorea? fcrutantemque æquora Cadmum? Longa retro feries, trepidum fi Martis operti Agricolam infandis condentem prælia fulcis Expediam, penitufque fequar quo carmine muris Jufferit Amphion Tyrios accedere montes: ΙΟ Or 15 Or fhall I Juno's hate to Thebes refound, blood; 20 Twice taught the Rhine beneath his laws to roll, In youthful arms t' affert the cause of Jove. 30 Unde graves iræ cognata in monia Baccho; 20 Præteriiffe finam: limes mihi carminis efto And And thou, great heir of all thy father's fame, 34 40 What tho' the ftars contract their heav'nly space, 45 The time will come, when a diviner flame Shall warm my breast to fing of Cæfar's fame: Mean while permit, that my preluding Mufe In Theban wars an humbler theme may chufe: : 50 Æternum fibi Roma cupit: licet arctior omnes Of 1 |