"Though Death, though Hell, in confequence attend, "Thou shalt with me the genial bed afcend." He faid, and fudden fnatch'd her beauteous hand; Now to afcend the bed they both prepare, Her sparkling necklace, first, he laid aside; The Queen of Love the youth thus difarray'd,. And mortal he, was like th' immortals blefs'd, Not confcious of the goddess he poffefs'd. But when the fwains their flocks and herds had fed, And from the flowery field returning, led Their fheep to fold, and oxen to the shed; Then Then gently rifing from his fide and bed, And now, her fair-crown'd head aloft fhe rears, Then thus, aloud, the calls: "Anchifes, wake; "Thy fond repofe and lethargy forfake: "Look on the nymph who late from Phrygia came, "Behold me well---fay, if I feem the fame." At her first call, the chains of fleep were broke, And, ftarting from his bed, Anchifes woke : But when he Venus view'd without disguife, Her shining neck beheld, and radiant eyes; Aw'd and abafh'd, he turn'd his head afide, Attempting with his robe his face to hide. Confus'd with wonder, and with fear oppress'd, In winged words, he thus the Queen addrefs'd: "When firft, O Goddefs, I thy form beheld, "Whose charms fo far humanity excell'd; "To thy celeftial power my vows I paid, "And with humility implor'd thy aid : "But thou, for fecret caufe to me unknown, "Didft thy divine immortal ftate difown. "But now, I beg thee by the filial love "Due to thy father, Egis-bearing Jove, "Compaffion on my human ftate to fhow ; "Nor let me lead a life infirm below; "Defend me from the woes which mortals wait, "Nor let me fhare of men the common fate : "Since never man with length of days was bleft, "Who in delights of love a deity poffefs'd." To him, Jove's beauteous daughter thus replied: "From my conjunction with a mortal man.” In bowls of gold he ruddy nectar pours, And Jove regales in his unbended hours. Long did the King, his fire, his abfence mourn, } Charging Charging withal fwift Hermes to relate "(Tithon us too was of the Trojan line, } "That length of days might be with ftrength supplied; "And to her lover's endless life, engage "An endlefs youth, incapable of age. "But hear what fate befell this heavenly fair, "Is by Aurora with delight carefs'd; 66 Beyond the verge of earth, and ocean's utmoft tides. "The "The goddess cold in her embraces grew, "His arms declin'd, and from his bed withdrew; "Yet ftill a kind of nurfing care the show'd, "And food ambrofial, and rich cloaths bestow'd: "But when of age he felt the fad extreme, "And every nerve was fhrunk, and limb was lame, "Lock'd in a room her useless spouse the left, “Of youth, of vigour, and of voice bereft. "On terms like thefe, I never can defire "Thou should'ft to immortality afpire. "Could't thou indeed, as now thou art, remain, 'Thy ftrength, thy beauty, and thy youth retain, "Could't thou for ever thus my husband prove, "I might live happy in thy endless love; "Nor fhould I e'er have caufe to dread the day, "Now, know, I alfo muft my portion fhare, 46 Muft now no more that power fuperior boast, "Nor tax with weaknefs the celeftial hoft; "Since I invfelf this dear amends have made, 46 And am at last by my own arts betray'd. "Erring |