THE

FIRST BOOK

OF

STATIUS

HIS

THEBAIS.

Translated 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 resign'd the realm to his fons, Etheocles and Polynices. Bcing neglected by them, he makes his prayer to the fury Tifiphone, to sow 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 Adrastus King of Argos. Juno oppofes, but to no effect; and Mercury is sent on a meslage to the shades, to the ghost of Laius, who is to appear to Etheocles, 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. Adrastus entertains them, having receiv'd an oracle from Apollo that his daughters should be marry'd 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 arriv'd at the time when he kept an annual feast in honour of that God. The rise of this folemnity he relates to his guests, the loves of Phœbus and Psamathe, 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 Translator hopes he needs not apologize for his Choice of this piece, which was made almost in his Childhood. But finding the Version better than he expected, he gave it fome Correction a few years afterwards.

THE

FIRST BOOK

OF

STATIUS his THEBAIS.

F

Raternal Rage, the guilty Thebes alarms,
Th' alternate reign destroy'd by impious arms,

Demand our fong; a facred fury fires
My ravifh'd breast, and all the Muse inspires.
O Goddess, say, shall I deduce my rhimes
From the dire nation in its early times,

5

Europa's rape, Agenor's stern decree,

And Cadmus searching round the spacious sea?

FRATERNAS acies, alternaque regna profanis
Decertata odiis, fontesque evolvere Thebas,

Pierius menti calor incidit. Unde jubetis
Ire Dea? gentisne canam primordia diræ?
Sidonios raptus, & inexorabile pactum

Legis Agenorea? fcrutantemque æquora Cadmum?

How

A

How with the ferpent's teeth he sow'd the foil,
And reap'd an Iron harvest of his toil?
Or how from joining stones the city sprung,
While to his harp divine Amphion fung?
Or shall I Juno's hate to Thebes refound,
Whose 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 second 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 fong
At Oedipus from his disasters trace

The long confusions of his guilty race.
Nor yet attempt to stretch thy bolder wing,

And mighty Cafar's conqu'ring eagles fing;

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15

20

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

10

15

20

How