When thus the Calydonian Stream reply'd,
With twining reeds his careless treffes tied :
"Ungrateful is the tale; for who can bear,
"When conquer'd, to rehearse the fhameful war?
“Yet I 'll the melancholy story trace ;
"So great a Conqueror foftens the difgrace ;
"Nor was it still so mean the prize to yield,
"As great and glorious to difpute the field.

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Perhaps you 've heard of Deïanira's name, "For all the country spoke her beauty's fame.. "Long was the nymph by numerous fuitors woo'd, "Each with addrefs his envy'd hopes purfued : "I join'd the loving band; to gain the fair, “Reveal❜d my paffion to her father's ear. “Their vain pretenfions all the reft refign; "Alcides only ftrove to equal mine: “He boasts his birth from Jove, recounts his fpoils, "His ftep-dame's hate fubdued, and finish'd toils.

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"Can mortals then (faid I), with gods compare? "Behold a god; mine is the watery care: "Through your wide realms I take my mazy way, “Branch into streams, and o'er the region ftray: "No foreign gucft your daughter's charms adores, 25 "But one who rifes in your native fhores. "Let not his punishment your pity move; “Is Juno's hate an argument for fove?

"Though you your life from fair Alcmena drew,
"Jove's a feign'd father, or by fraud a true.
"Choose then; confefs thy mother's honour loft,
Or thy defcent from Jove no longer boast.”

While thus I fpoke, he look'd with ftern disdain, Nor could the fallies of his wrath restrain,

Which thus broke forth: "This arm decides our right: 35 "Vanquish in words: be mine the prize in fight !" "Bold he rush'd on. My honour to maintain,

"I fling my verdant garments on the plain,

My arms ftretch forth, my pliant limbs prepare, "And with bent hands expect the furious war. "O'er my fleek skin now gather'd dust he throws, "And yellow fand his mighty muscles ftrows. "Oft' he my neck and nimble legs affails, "He feems to grafp me, but as often fails : "Each part he now invades with eager hand; "Safe in my bulk, immoveable I stand.

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"So when loud ftorms break high, and foam and roar

"The firm foundation lafting tempefts braves, "Defies the warring winds, and driving waves.

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"Awhile we breathe, then forward rufh amain,

"Renew the combat, and our ground maintain; "Foot ftrove with foot, I prone extend my breast, "Hands war with hands, and forehead forehead prefs'd. »

"Thus have I feen two furious bulls engage,

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"Inflam'd with equal love, and equal rage;

"Each claims the fairest heifer of the grove,

"And conqueft only can decide their love :
"The trembling herds furvey the fight from far,
"Till victory decides th' important war.

"Three times in vain he ftrove my joints to wreft;
"To force my hold, and throw me from his breaft;

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"The

"The fourth he broke my gripe, that clafp'd him round, "Then with new force he stretch'd me on the ground; "Close to my back the mighty burden clung, "As if a mountain o'er my limbs were flung.

"Believe my tale; nor do I, boastful, aim -"By feign'd narration to extol my fame. "No fooner from his grasp I freedom get,

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"Unlock my arms, that flow'd with trickling fweat, 70 “But quick he seiz'd me, and renew'd the strife, As my exhaufted bofom pants for life:

"My neck he gripes, my knee to earth he strains ; "I fall, and bite the fand with fhame and pains, "O'er-match'd in ftrength, to wiles and arts I take, 75 “And slip his hold, in form of fpeckled fuake; "Who, when I wreath'd in fpires my body round, Or fhew'd my forky-tongue with hiffing found, Smiles at my threats. Such foes my cradle knew, He cries; dire fnakes

my

infant-hand o'erthrew ; S

"A dragon's form might other conquefts gain, "To war with me you take that shape in vain. "Art thou proportion'd to the Hydra's length, "Who by his wounds receiv'd augmented strength? "He rais'd a hundred hiffing heads in air; "When one I lopp'd, up-sprung a dreadful pair. "By his wounds fertile, and with flaughter ftrong,

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Singly I quell'd him, and stretch'd dead along. "What canft thou do, a form precarious, prone, "To rouze my rage with terrors not thy own?" "He faid; and round my neck his hands he caft, And with his straining fingers wrung me faft:

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My throat he tortur'd, close as pincers clafp, "In vain I ftrove to loose the forceful grafp.

"Thus vanquish❜d too, a third form still remains, 95 "Chang'd to a bull, my lowing fills the plains. "Straight on the left his nervous arms were thrown Upon my brindled neck, and tugg'd it down; "Then deep he ftruck my horn into the fand, "And fell'd my bulk along the dusty land. Nor yet his fury cool'd; 'twixt rage "From my maim'd front he tore the stubborn horn; "This, heap'd with flowers and fruits, the Naiads bear, "Sacred to plenty, and the bounteous year."

and fcorn,

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He fpoke; when lo! a beauteous nymph appears, 105 'Girt like Diana's train, with flowing hairs; The horn fhe brings, in which all autumn 's ftor'd, And ruddy apples for the fecond board.

Now morn begins to dawn, the fun's bright fire
Gilds the high mountains, and the youths retire ;
Nor ftay'd they, till the troubled stream fubfides,
And in its bounds with peaceful current glides.
But Acheleüs in his oozy bed

Deep hides his brow deform'd, and ruftic head:
No real wound the victor's triumph fhow'd,
But his loft honours griev'd the watery god;
Yet ev'n that lofs the willow's leaves o'erfpread,
And verdant reeds, in garlands, bind his head.

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THE

THE DEATH OF NESSUS,

ΤΗ

THE CENTAUR.

HIS virgin too, thy love, O Neffus, found,
To her alone you owe the fatal wound.
As the ftrong fon of Jove his bride conveys,
Where his paternal lands their bulwarks raise;
Where from her slopy urn Evenus pours
Her rapid current, fwell'd by wintery showers,
*He came,
The frequent eddies whirl'd the tide,
And the deep rolling waves all pass deny'd.
As for himself, he stood unmov'd by fears,
For now his bridal charge employ'd his cares.
The ftrong-limb'd Neffus thus officious cry'd
(For he the fhallows of the ftream had try’d),
Swim thou, Alcides, all thy ftrength prepare;
On yonder bank I'll lodge thy nuptial care.

Th' Aonian chief to Neffus trufts his wife,
All pale, and trembling for her hero's life :
Cloath'd as he ftood in the fierce lion's hide,
The laden quiver o'er his shoulder ty'd
(For cross the stream his bow and club were caft) :
Swift he plung'd in; these billows fhall be pass'd.

He faid, nor faught where fmoother waters glide, But ftem'd the rapid dangers of the tide.

The bank he reach'd: again the bow he bears; "When, hark! his bride's known voice alarms his ears.

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Neffus