That driv'n by Storms, and pouring o'er the Plain, Swept Herds, and Hinds, and Houfes to the Main. Thro' the brown Horrors of the Night he fled, Nor knows, amaz'd, what doubtful Path to tread, His Brother's Image to his Mind appears, Inflames his Heart with Rage, and wings his Feet [with Fears.

So fares a Sailor on the ftormy Main,

When Clouds conceal Bootes' golden Wain,
When not a Star its friendly Luftre keeps,
Nor trembling Cynthia glimmers on the Deeps;
He dreads the Rocks, and Shoals, and Seas, and
[Skies,
While Thunder roars, and Lightning round him

MeM

[flies.

Thus ftrove the Chief on ev'ry fide diftrefs'd, Thus ftill his Courage, with his Toils, encreas'd; With his broad Shield oppos'd, he forc'd his way Thro' thickest Woods, and rouz'd the Beasts of

[Prey.

Till he beheld, where from Lariffa's Height
The shelving Walls reflect a glancing Light;
Thither with 'hafte the Theban Hero flies;
On this fide Lerna's pois'nous Water lies,
On that, Profymna's Grove and Temple rife:
He pass'd the Gates which then unguarded lay,
And to the Regal Palace bent his way;

On the cold Marble spent with Toil he lies,
And waits 'till pleafing Slumbers feal his Eyes.

Adraftus here his happy People sways, Bleft with calm Peace in his declining Days, By both his Parents of Defcent divine,

Great Jove and Phœbus grac'd his noble Line Heav'n had not crown'd his Wishes with a Son, But two fair Daughters heir'd his State and Throne. To him Apollo (wondrous to relate!

But who can pierce into the Depths of Fate?)

Had fung" Expect thy Sons on Argos' Shore, "A Yellow Lyon and a bristly Boar,

This, long revolv'd in his Paternal Breast,

Sate heavy on his Heart, and broke his Reft; This, great Amphiaraus, lay hid from thee, Tho' skill'd in Fate and dark Futurity.yol The Father's Care and Prophet's Art were vain, For thus did the Predicting God ordain.

Lo hapless Tydeus, whofe ill-fated Hand Had flain his Brother, leaves his Native Land, And feiz'd with Horror,'midst the Shades of Night, Thro' the thick Defarts headlong urg'd his Flight; Now by the Fury of the Tempest driv❜n, He feeks a Shelter from th' inclement Heav'n, Till led by Fate, the Theban's Steps he treads, And to fair Argos open Court fucceeds.

When

When thus the Chiefs from diff'rent Lands re

[fort

T'Adraftus' Realms and Hofpitable Court,
The King furveys his Guests with curious Eyes,
And views their Arms and Habit with Surprize.
A Lyon's yellow Skin the Theban wears,
Horrid his Mane, and rough with curling Hairs;
Such once employ'd Alcides' youthful Toils,
E're yet adorn'd with Nemea's dreadful Spoils.
A Boar's ftiff Hyde, of Calydonian Breed,
Oenides' manly Shoulders overfpread,
Oblique his Tusks, erect his Briftles (tood,
Alive, the Pride and Terror of the Wood.

Struck with the Sight, and fix'd in deep Amaze, The King th'accomplish'd Oracle furveys, Reveres Apollo's vocal Caves, and owns The guiding Godhead, and his future Sons.

O'er all his Bofom facred Transports reign, And a glad Horror fhoots through ev'ry Vein: To Heav'n he lifts his Hands, erects his Sight, And thus invokes the filent Queen of Night.

[Reign

Goddefs of Shades, beneath whofe gloomy
Yon fpangled Arch glows with the starry Train,
Who doft the Cares of Heav'n and Earth allay,
Till Nature quicken'd by th'Infpiring Ray,
Wakes to new Vigor with the rifing Day.
Oh thou who freeft me from my doubtful State,
Long loft and wilder'd in the Maze of Fate!
Be present still, oh Goddess! in our Aid;
Proceed, and firm those Omens thou haft made!
We to thy Name our Annual Rites will pay,
And on thy Altars Sacrifices lay;

The Sable Flock fhall fall beneath the Stroke,
And fill thy Temples with a grateful Smoke: