NEW-YONK

THE

HEBAID OF STATIUS.

BOOK THE E SEVENTH.

THE ARGUMENT.

J

UPITER angered at the Delays of the Grecian Army, fends Mercury to Mars to command him to forward the War. The Temple of that Deity is defcribed. Then follows Adraftus's Speech over the Sepulchre of Archemorus. Mars, by Means of Terror, incites the Grecians to refume their March to Thebes. Bacchus intercedes for his native City with Jupiter, who pacifies him with Promises of a Refpite. The Theban Troops and Auxiliaries are drawn out to Battle. Phorbas gives an Account of the Commanders of them to Antigone, who afcends one of the Towers for that Purpofe. Eteocles barangues his Army. The Greeks are terrified with feveral Omens in their Route to Thebes. Jocasta with her two Daughters ventures into the Enemies Camp, in order to bring about a Reconciliation between the two Brothers, which she had effected, had not the Greeks killed two Tigers belonging to Bacchus. Hoftilities commencing, feveral of Note are flain on both Sides. Amphiaraus, after a great Slaughter of the Enemy, is fwallowed up by an Earthquake, with an Account of which Prodigy the Book ends.

THE

THEBAID OF STATIUS.

BOOK THE SEVEN T H.

NDIGNANT now, th' etherial King survey'd

INDI

The Theban War by fun'ral Games delay'd,
And shook his Head: beneath the moving God.
From Pole to Pole the starry Regions nod,
And Atlas, with unwonted Weight oppreft,
To the great Author of the Shock addrest
His juft Complaint. -To Maia's winged Son
In awful Tone th' Almighty thus begun.

Cyllenius, mount the Winds and speed thy Flight
With swift Descent from Heav'ns imperial Height. 10
To where in Air the Thracian Domes arife,

And fair Calyfto binds the northern Skies,

v. 1. Indignant now] Statius has here manifested his Belief of one fupreme Almighty Being, whom he introduces with a Dignity and Superiority fuiting his Character and Nature. There is a Noblenefs in this Defcription, that would not have difgraced Virgil himfelf; and the ftupendous Effects of the Nod are finely imagined. But after all, he feems more defirous of making this Deity formidable than amiable. He is juft, but his Juftice is not tempered with Mercy. We find him the Author of all the Blood fhed between the two Nations; he liftens to the Imprecations of Oedipus, and thinking Mars too dilatory, fends Mercury to him a fecond Time to route him to Battle by Dint of Threats.

VOL. II,

B

On

On Clouds and Dews celeftial feeds her Beams,
And fhuns old Ocean's interdicted Streams:
And, whether Mars, upon his Spear reclin'd,
Refpires from Toil, or wroth with human Kind,
Pursues the War near Hebrus' freezing Flood,
And wantons in a Sea of kindred Blood,

To him our Wrath in our own Terms exprefs,
Nor, cautious of offending, aught fupprefs:
Long fince he was enjoin'd by my Commands
Το range in Arms the Greek and Theban Bands,
And kindle Difcord on th' Inachian Shore,
And where the thund'ring Waves of Malea roar.
See! fun'ral Rites th' Argolic Youth detain
Juft on the Confines of their own Domain.
They act like Conquerors, fuch Shouts arise
At Intervals between the Sacrifice.
O Mars! is this a Sample of thy Rage?
See! in far other Contests they engage:
Oebalian Gantlets clafh, and with a Bound
The rifing Quoits aloft in Air refound.
But, if the cruel Horrors of the Fight
Are still his Joy, and give his Soul Delight,

Let him, averfe to Covenant and Truce,

With Fire and Sword the guiltless Town reduce
To Ruins, flaughter in the A&t of Pray'r,
Exhauft the World, and lay Creation bare.
But now perverfe, and heedlefs of his Sire,
He quits the Strife, and moderates his Ire.
Yet let him fpeedily our Will obey,

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And urge the Grecian Warriors to the Fray;

Elfe (not to treat him worse) I change his Kind,
And break the favage Nature of his Mind: