O

ARGUMENT.

EDIPUS King of Thebes having by mistake flain his father Laius, and marry'd his mother Jocafta; put out his own eyes, and refign'd 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 last to reign fingly, each a year by turns, and the first lot is obtain❜d by Eteocles. Jupiter, in a council of the Gods, declares his refolution of punishing the Thebans, and Argives also, by means of a marriage betwixt Polynices and one of the daughters of Adraftus King of Argos. Juno opposes, but to no effect; and Mercury is fent on a meffage to the fhades, to the ghoft 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 storm, and arrives at Argos; where he meets with Tydeus, who had fled from Calydon, having kill'd his brother. Adraftus entertains them, having receiv'd an oracle from Apollo that his daughters fhould be marry'd to a Boar and a Lion, which he understands to be meant of these strangers by whom the hides of thofe beafts were worn, and who arriv'd 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 ftory of Chorobus. He enquires, and is made acquainted with their defcent and quality: The facrifice is renew'd, 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 his Childhood. Butfinding the Verfion better than be expected, he gave it fome Correction a few years afterwards.

P. STATII

THE BAIDOS

LIBER PRIMUS.

F

Raternas acies, alternaque regna profanis

Decertata odiis, fontefque evolvere Thebas, Pierius menti calor incidit. Unde jubetis, Ire Deae? gentifne canam primordia dirae? Sidonios raptus, et inexorabile pactum

Legis Agenoreae? fcrutantemque aequora Cadmum ?

Longa retro feries, trepidum fi Martis operti
Agricolam infandis condentem praelia fulcis

Expediam, penitufque fequar quo carmine muris
Jufferit Amphion Tyrios accedere montes.

10

THE

FIRST BOOK

OF

STATIUS

HIS

THEBA IS.

Raternal Rage the guilty Thebes alarms,

FR Th' alternate reign destroy'd by impious arms,

Demand our fong; a facred fury fires

My ravish'd breast, and all the Muse inspires.
O Goddess, fay, fhall I deduce my rhimes
From the dire nation in its early times,
Europa's rape, Agenor's ftern decree,

5

And Cadmus searching round the fpacious fea?
Hów with the ferpent's teeth he fow'd the foil, 10
And reap'd an Iron harvest of his toil?

Or how from joining ftones the city sprung,
While to his harp divine Amphion fung?

Unde

cognata in moenia Baccho,

graves irae cognata

Quod faevae Junonis opus: cui fumpferit arcum Infelix Athamas, cur non expaverit ingens Ionium, focio cafura Palaemone mater.

Atque adeo jam nunc gemitus, et profperà Cadmi Praeteriiffe finam: limes mihi carminis efto

20

Oedipodae confufa domus : quando Itala nondum
Signa, nec Arctoos aufim fperare triumphos,
Bifque jugo Rhenum, bis adactum legibus Iftrum,
Et conjurato dejectos vertice Dacos:

Aut defenfa prius vix pubefcentibus annis
Bella Jovis. Tuque o Latiae decus addite famae,
Quem nova maturi fubeuntem exorsa parentis
Aeternum fibi Roma cupit: licet arctior omnes
Limes agat stellas, et te plaga lucida coeli
Pleïadum, Boreaeque, et hiulci fulminis expers 35

15

Or fhall I Juno's hate to Thebes refound,
Whose fatal rage th' unhappy Monarch found?
The fire against the son his arfows drew,
O'er the wide fields the furious mother flew,
And while her arms a fecond hope contain,
Sprung from the rocks and plung'd into the main.
But wave whate'er to Cadmus may belong,
And fix, O Muse! the barrier of thy song,
At Oedipus from his disasters trace
The long confufions of his guilty race :
Nor yet attempt to ftretch thy bolder wing,
And mighty Cæfar's conqu'ring eagles fing
How twice he tam'd proud Ifter's rapid flood, 25
While Dacian mountains ftream'd with barb’rous
blood;

Twice taught the Rhine beneath his laws to roll,
And stretch'd his empire to the frozen Pole,
Or long before, with early valour strove,

In youthful arms t'affert the cause of Jove.
And Thou, great Heir of all thy father's fame,
Encrease of glory to the Latian name!

30

Oh bless thy Rome with an eternal reign,
Nor let defiring worlds entreat in vain.
What tho' the stars contract their heav'nly space,

34

And croud their shining ranks to yield thee place;