His naked bosom redden'd with the blow, • Sigh'd back his fighs, and groan'd to every groan; For him the Naiads and the Dryads mourn, } THE THE STORY OF PENTHEUS. } THIS fad event gave blind Tirefias fame, Through Greece establish'd in a prophet's name. Th' unhallow'd Pentheus only durft deride The cheated people, and their eyeless guide. To whom the prophet in his fury faid, Shaking the hoary honours of his head; "'Twere well, prefumptuous man, 'twere well for thee " If thou wert eyeless too, and blind, like me : "For the time comes, nay, 'tis already here, "When the young god's folemnities appear; "Which if thou doft not with just rites adorn, "Thy impious carcafe, into pieces torn, "Shall strew the woods, and hang on every thorn. "Then, then, remember what I now foretel, "And own the blind Tirefias faw too well." Still Pentheus scorns him, and derides his skill; But time did all the prophet's threats fulfil. For now through prostrate Greece young Bacchus rode, Whilst howling matrons celebrate the god, All ranks and sexes to his Orgies ran, To mingle in the pomps, and fill the train. When Pentheus thus his wicked rage express'd; "What madness, Thebans, has your foul poflefs'd? "Can hollow timbrels, can a drunken shout, "And the lewd clamours of a beastly rout, "Thus quell your courage? Can the weak alarm "Of womens yell those stubborn fouls difarm, " Whom nor the sword nor trumpet e'er could fright, " Nor the loud din and horror of a fight? "And you, our fires, who left your old abodes, "And fix'd in foreign earth your country gods; "But you, whose youth and vigour should inspire Thus did th' audacious wretch those rites profane; In vain his grandfire urg'd him to give o'er So have I seen a river gently glide, But now his fervants came besmear'd with blood, Sent by their haughty prince to feize the god; THE MARINERS TRANSFORMED TO DOLPHINS. HIM Pentheus view'd with fury in his look, And scarce withheld his hands, while thus he spoke: "Vile flave whom speedy vengeance shall pursue, "And terrify thy base feditious crew: "Thy country, and thy parentage reveal, "And, why thou join'st in these mad orgies, tell." The captive views him with undaunted eyes, And, arm'd with inward innocence, replies : "From high Meonia's rocky shores I came, "Of poor defcent, Acetes is my name: My fire was meanly born; no oxen plough'd "His fruitful fields, nor in his pastures low'd. "His whole estate within the waters lay; "With lines and hooks he caught the finny prey; "His art was all his livelihood; which he " Thus with his dying lips bequeath'd to me : "In streams, my boy, and rivers, take thy chance; " Obferv'd the turns and changes of the wind: "Once, as by chance for Delos I design'd, "My veffel, driv'n by a strong gust of wind, "Moor'd in a Chian creek: ashore I went, "And all the following night in Chios spent. "When morning rose, I fent my mates to bring " Supplies of water from a neighbouring spring, " Whilft I the motion of the winds explor'd; " Then fummon'd-in my crew, and went aboard. " Opheltes heard my fummons, and with joy "Brought to the shore a soft and lovely boy, "With more than female fsweetness in his look, "Whom straggling in the neighbouring fields he took. "With fumes of wine the little captive glows, "And nods with fleep, and staggers as he goes. " I view'd him nicely, and began to trace "Each heavenly feature, each immortal grace,, " And faw divinity in all his face. " I know not who, faid I, this god should be; "But that he is a god I plainly fee : "And thou, whoe'er thou art, excuse the force "These men have us'd, and oh befriend our course! } "Pray |