THE

FIRST BOOK

OF

STATIUS

HIS

THEBA I S.

Tranflated in the Year 1703.

Edipus King of Thebes having by mistake flain his father Laius, and marry'd his mother Jocasta, put out his own eyes, and refign'd the realm to his fons, Etheocles 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 Etheocles. 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 meflage to the fhades, to the ghoft of Laius, who is to appear to Ethencles, 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 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 ftrangers 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 guefts, the loves of Phoebus and Pfamathe, and the story of Chorabus. 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. But finding the Verfion better than he expected, he gave it fome Correction a few years after

wards.

THE

FIRST BOOK

OF

STATIUS his THE BAIS.

F

Raternal Rage, the guilty Thebes alarms,

Th' alternate reign deftroy'd by impious arms,
Demand our fong; a facred fury fires

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

And Cadmus fearching round the spacious sea?

FRA

RATERNAS acies, alternaque regna profanis
Decertata odiis, fontefque evolvere Thebas,
Pierius menti calor incidit. Unde jubetis
Ire Dea? gentifne canam primordia dira?
Sidonios raptus, & inexorabile pa&tum

Legis Agenorea? fcrutantemque æquora Cadmum?

5

How

How with the ferpent's teeth he fow'd the foil,
And reap'd an Iron harvest of his toil?
Or how from joining ftones the city fprung,
While to his harp divine Amphion fung?
Or fhall I Juno's hate to Thebes refound,
Whofe fatal rage th' unhappy Monarch found;
The fire against the son his arrows drew,
O'er the wide fields the furious mother flew,
And while her arms her fecond hope contain,
Sprung from the rocks and plung'd into the main.
But wave whate'er to Cadmus may belong,
And fix, O Mufe! the barrier of thy song
At Oedipus from his difafters trace
The long confufions of his guilty race.
Nor yet attempt to ftretch thy bolder wing,
And mighty Cæfar's conqu'ring eagles fing;

Longa retro feries, trepidum fi Martis operti.
Agricolam infandis condentem prælia fulcis
Expediam, penitufque fequar quo carmine muris
Jufferit Amphion Tyrios accedere montes.
Unde graves ira cognata in mania Baccho,
Quod fæva Junonis opus, cui fumpferit arcum
Infelix Athamas, cur non expaverit ingens
Ionium, focio cafura Palamone mater.
Atque adeo jam nunc gemitus, & profpera Cadmi
Præteriiffe finam: limes mihi carminis efto
Ocdipode confufa domus: quando Itala nondum
Signa, nec Arctoos aufim fperare triumphos,