Sweet voices, mix'd with inftrumental sounds,
Afcend the vaulted roof, the vaulted roof rebounds.

When like the harpies rushing through the hall
The fudden troop appears, the tables fall,
Their fmoaking load is on the pavement thrown;
Each ravisher prepares to seize his own :
The brides, invaded with a rude embrace,
Shriek out for aid, confufion fills the place.
Quick to redeem the prey their plighted lords
Advance, the palace gleams with shining fwords..

But late is all defence, and fuccour vain;
The rape is made, the ravishers remain :
Two sturdy flaves were only fent before
To bear the purchas'd prize in safety to the shore,
The troop retires, the lovers close the rear,
With forward faces not confeffing fear:

Backward they move, but scorn their pace to mend;
Then feek the stairs, and with flow haste descend.

Fierce Pafimond, their paffage to prevent,

Thrust full on Cymon's back in his defcent,
The blade return'd unbath'd, and to the handle bent.
Stout Cymon foon remounts, and cleft in two

His rival's head with one defcending blow:

And as the next in rank Ormisda stood,

He turn'd the point; the sword inur'd to blood,
Bor'd his unguarded breaft, which pour'd purple

flood.

a

With vow'd revenge the gathering crowd purfues,
The ravishers turn head, the fight renews;

}

}

The

The hall is heap'd with corps; the sprinkled gore
Befmears the walls, and floats the marble floor.
Difpers'd at length the drunken squadron flies,
The victors to their vessel bear the prize;
And hear behind loud groans, and lamentable cries.
The crew with merry shouts their anchors weigh,
Then ply their oars, and brush the buxom fea,
While troops of gather'd Rhodians crowd the key.
What should the people do when left alone ?

The governor and government are gone.
The public wealth to foreign parts convey'd;
Some troops disbanded, and the rest unpaid.
Rhodes is the fovereign of the fea no more;
Their ships unrigg'd, and spent their naval store;
They neither could defend, nor can purfue,
But grinn'd their teeth, and cast a helpless view :
In vain with darts a distant war they try,
Short, and more short, the missive weapons fly.
Mean while the ravishers their crimes enjoy,
And flying fails and sweeping oars employ :
The cliffs of Rhodes in little space are loft,
Jove's ifle they seek; nor Jove denies his coaft.
In fafety landed on the Candian shore,
With generous wines their spirits they restore:
There Cymon with his Rhodian friend refides,
Both court, and wed at once the willing brides.
A war enfues, the Cretans own their cause,
Stiff to defend their hofpitable laws :

Both parties lose by turns; and neither wins,
Till peace propounded by a truce begins.

}

}

The kindred of the flain forgive the deed,
But a short exile must for show precede:
The term expir'd, from Candia they remove;
And happy each, at home, enjoys his love.

TRAN S

TRANSLATIONS

FROM

OVID'S METAMORPHOSES.

T4