TRANSLATIONS

FROM

OVID'S METAMORPHOSE S.

OVI D's

METAMORPHOSES.

T

BOOK II.

The Story of PHAETON.

HE fun's bright palace, on high columns rais'd,

With burnish'd gold and flaming jewels blaz'd; The folding gates diffus'd a filver light,

And with a milder gleam refresh'd the fight;
Of polish'd ivory was the cov'ring wrought:
The matter vied not with the sculptor's thought,
For in the portal was difplay'd on high
(The work of Vulcan) a fictitious sky;
A waving fea th' inferior earth embrac'd,
And Gods and Goddeffes the waters grac'd.
Egeon here a mighty whale bestrode ;
Triton, and Proteus (the deceiving God)

With Doris here were carv'd, and all her train,

Some loosely swimming in the figur'd main,

While fome on rocks their dropping hair divide,
And some on fishes through the waters glide:

Tho' various features did the fifters grace,

A fifter's likeness was in every

face.

On earth a diff'rent landskip courts the eyes,
Men, towns, and beafts, in diftant profpects rise,
And nymphs, and ftreams, and woods, and rural deities.
O'er all, the heav'ns refulgent image shines;
On either gate were fix engraven figns.

Here Phaeton, ftill gaining on th' afcent,
To his fufpected father's palace went,
'Till preffing forward through the bright abode,
He faw at diftance the illuftrious God:
He faw at diftance, or the dazzling light
Had flash'd too ftrongly on his aking fight.
The God fits high, exalted on a throne
Of blazing gems, with purple garments on;
The hours in order rang'd on either hand,
And days, and months, and years, and ages, ftand.
Here fpring appears with flow'ry chaplets bound;
Here fummer in her wheaten garland crown'd;
Here autumn the rich troden grapes besmear;
And hoary winter fhivers in the rear.

Phabus beheld the youth from off his throne ;
That eye, which looks on all, was fix'd on one.

He

He faw the boy's confufion in his face,

Surpris'd at all the wonders of the place;

And cries aloud, "What wants my fon? for know "My fon thou art, and I must call thee fo.

Light of the world, the trembling youth replies, "Illuftrious parent! fince you don't despise "The parent's name, fome certain token give, "That I may Clymene's proud boast believe, "Nor longer under false reproaches grieve."

The tender fire was touch'd with what he said, And flung the blaze of glories from his head, And bid the youth advance: "My fon, said he, "Come to thy father's arms! for Clymenè "Has told thee true; a parent's name I own, "And deem thee worthy to be called my fon. "As a fure proof, make fome request, and I, "Whate'er it be, with that request comply; "By Styx I fwear, whose waves are hid in night, "And roll impervious to my piercing fight."

The youth transported, afks without delay, To guide the fun's bright chariot for a day.

The God repented of the oath he took, For anguish thrice his radiant head he shook: "My fon, fays he, fome other proof require;

Rash was my promife, rafh is thy defire.

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