OEDIPUS King of Thebes, having by mistake slain his father Laïus, and married his mother Jocasta, 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 Tisiphone, to fow debate betwixt the brothers. They agree at laft to reign fingly each a year by turns, and the firft 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 Shades, to the ghoft of Laïus, 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. Adraftus 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 these strangers, by whom the hides of those beafts 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 Pfamathe, and the itory of Chorcebus. He enquires, 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 apologise for his choice of this piece, which was made almoft in his Childhood. But, finding the Verfion better than he expected, he gave it fome Correction a few years after wards. THE FIRST BOOK ST F OF ATI U S HIS THE BAIS. RATERNAL rage, the guilty Thebes alarms, Demand our fong; a facred fury fires My ravish'd breast, and all the Muse inspires. And Cadmus fearching round the spacious fea? F RATERNAS acies, alternaque regna profanis Legis Agenoreae ? fcrutantemque aequora Cadinum ? 10 Or how from joining ftones the city fprung, 15 20 And fix, O Mufe! the barrier of thy fong Expediam, penitufque fequar quo carmine muris Atque adeo jam nunc gemitus, et prospera Cadmi 25 Or 20 Or long before, with early valour, strove In youthful arms t' affert the cause of Jove. 30 And Thou, great Heir of all thy father's fame, O blefs thy Rome with an eternal reign, Nor let defiring worlds entreat in vain. What though the stars contract their heavenly space, 35 40 O'er the wide earth, and o'er the watery main; Refign Et conjurato dejectos vertice Dacos: Aut defenfa prius vix pubefcentibus annis 35 |