Behold him here, for whom, fo many Days, Impervious Clouds conceal'd thy fullen Rays; For whom, as Man no longer claim'd thy Care, Such Numbers fell by Peftilential Air!
But if th' abandon'd Race of Human-kind
From Gods above no more Compaffion find;
If fuch Inclemency in Heav'n can dwell;
Yet why must un-offending Argos feel
The Vengeance due to this unlucky Steel?
On me, on me, let all thy Fury fall,
Nor err from me, fince I deferve it all:
Unless our Defart Cities please thy Sight,
And Fun'ral Flames reflect a grateful Light.
Discharge thy Shafts, this ready Bofom rend,
And to the Shades a Ghost Triumphant fend;
But for my Country let my Fate attone,
Be mine the Vengeance, as the Crime my own.
Merit distress'd impartial Heav'n relieves;
Unwelcome Life relenting Phebus gives;
For not the vengeful Pow'r,that glow'd withRage,
With fuch amazing Virtue durft engage.
The Clouds difpers'd, Apollo's Wrath expir'd,
And from the wondring God th' unwilling Youth
Thence we these Altars in his Temple raise,
And offer Annual Honours, Feafts, and Praise;
These folemn Feasts propitious Phœbus please,
These Honours, ftill renew'd, his antient Wrath [appease.
But fay, Illuftrious Guest (adjoin'd the King)
[fpring? What Name you bear, from what high Race you The noble Tydeus ftands confefs'd, and known Our Neighbour Prince, and Heir of Calydon : Relate your Fortunes, while the friendly Night And filent Hours to various Talk invite.
The Theban bends on Earth his gloomy Eyes, Confus'd, and fadly thus at length replies: Before these Altars how fhall I proclaim
(Oh gen'rous Prince) my Nation or my name, Or thro' what Veins our ancient Blood has roll'd? Let the fad Tale for ever reft untold!
Yet if propitious to a Wretch unknown,
You seek to share in Sorrows not your own;
Know then, from Cadmus I derive my Race,
Jocafta's Son, and Thebes my Native Place.
To whom the King, (who felt his gen'rous Breast
Touch'd with Concern for his unhappy Guest)
Replies-Ah why forbears the Son to Name
His wretched Father, known too well by Fame?
Fame, that delights around the World to ftray,
Scorns not to take our Argos in her Way.
Ev'n those who dwell where Suns at distance roll,
In Northern Wilds, and freeze beneath the Pole;
And those who tread the burning Lybian Lands,
The faithlefs Syrtes and the moving Sands;
Who view the Western Sea's extreamest Bounds,
Or drink of Ganges in their Eastern Grounds ;
All these the Woes of Oedipus have known,
Your Fates; your Furies, and your haunted Town.
If on the Sons the Parents Crimes defcend,
What Prince from those his Lineage can defend?
Be this thy Comfort, that 'tis thine t'efface
With Virtuous Acts thy Ancestors Disgrace,
And be thy felf the Honour of thy Race.
But fee! the Stars begin to steal away,
And shine more faintly at approaching Day;
Now pour the Wine; and in your tuneful Lays,
Once more refound the Great Apollo's Praife.
Oh Father Phebus! whether Lycia's Coast And fnowy Mountains thy bright Presence boast; Whether
Whether to sweet Caftalia thou repair,
And bath in filver Dews thy yellow Hair;
Or pleas'd to find fair Delos float no more,
Delight in Cynthus and the Shady Shore ;
Or chufe thy Seat in Ilion's proud Abodes,
The fhining Structures rais'd by lab'ring Gods!
By thee the Bow and mortal Shafts are born,
Eternal Charms thy blooming Youth adorn:
Skill'd in the Laws of Secret Fate above,
And the dark Counfels of Almighty Jove,
Thou doft the Seeds of future War foreknow,
The Change of Scepters, and impending Woe;
When direful Meteors fpread thro' glowing Air
Long Trails of Light,and shake their blazing Hair.
Thy Rage the Phrygian felt, who durst aspire
T'excel the Mufick of thy Heav'nly Lyre;
Thy Shafts aveng'd lewd Tityus' guilty Flame,
Th' Immortal Victim of thy Mother's Fame;
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