THEBAIS of STATIUS. во OK I. ARGUMENT. EDIPUS King of Thebes having by mistake flain his father Laius, and marry'd his mother Jocafta; put out his own eyes, and refign'd the realm to his fons, Eteocles and Polynices. Being neglected by them, he makes his prayer to the fury Tifiphone, to fow debate betwixt the brothers. They agree at laft to reign fingly, each a year by turns, and the first lo tis obtain'd by Eteocles. Jupiter, in a council of the Gods, declares his refolution of punishing the Thebans, and Argives also, by means of a marriage betwixt Polynices and one of the daughters of Adraftus King of Argos. Juno opposes, but to no effect; and Mercury is fent on a mellage to the fhades, to the ghost of Laius, who is to appear to Eteocles, and provoke him to break the agreement, Polynices in the mean time departs from Thebes by night, is overtaken by a ftorm, and arrives at Argos; where he meets with Tydeus, who had fled from Calydon, having kill'd his brother. Adraftus entertains them, having receiv'd an oracle from Apollo that his daughters fhould be marry'd to a Boar and a Lion, which he understands to be meant of thefe ftrangers by whom the hides of those beasts were worn, and who arriv'd at the time when he kept an annual feast in honour of that God. The rife of this folemnity he relates to his guefts, the loves of Phoebus and Pfamathe, and the ftory of Chorobus. 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 Tranflator hopes he needs not apologize for his Choice of this piece, which was made almoft in his Childhood. But finding the Verfion better than he expected, he gave it foms Correction a few years afterwards. .. P. STATII 7 THE BAIDOS FR LIBER PRIMUS. Raternas acies, alternaque regna profanis Legis Agenoreae? scrutantemque aequora Cadmum? Agricolam infandis condentem praelia fulcis Expediam, penitufque fequar quo carmine muris Jufferit Amphion Tyrios accedere montes. Unde graves irae cognata in moenia Baccho, Ionium, focio cafura Palaemone mater. 10 THE THEBA IS OF STATIUS BOOK the FIRST. " Raternal Rage the guilty Thebes alarms, FRate Th' alternate reign destroy'd by impious arms. Demand our fong; a facred fury firés My ravish'd breaft, and all the Muse inspires. And Cadmus fearching round the spacious fea? 5 10 15 Atque adeo jam nunc gemitus, et profpera Cadmi Aut defenfa prius vix pubefcentibus annis Pleïadum, Boreaeque, et hiulci fulminis expers 4 20 35 39 |