Pleas'd with the Luxury, the furious Beast,
Unstop'd, continues still his bloody Feast:
While yet upon a sturdy Bull he flew,
Chang'd by the Nymph, a Marble Block he grew.
No longer dreadful now the Wolf appears,
Bury'd in Stone, and vanish'd like their Fears.
Yet still the Fates unhappy Peleus vex'd;
To the Magnesian Shore he wanders next.
Acastus there, who rul'd the peaceful Clime,
Grants his Request, and expiates his Crime.
The Story of Ceyx and Alcyone.
By Mr. Dryden.
These Prodigies affect the pious Prince,
But more perplex'd with those that happen'd since,
He purposes to seek the Clarian God,
Avoiding Delphi, his more fam'd Abode,
Since Phlegyan Robbers made unsafe the Road.
Yet could he not from her he lov'd so well,
The fatal Voyage, he resolv'd, conceal;
But when she saw her Lord prepar'd to part,
A deadly Cold ran shiv'ring to her Heart;
Her faded Cheeks are chang'd to boxen Hue,
And in her Eyes the Tears are ever new.
She thrice essay'd to speak; her Accents hung,
And falt'ring dy'd unfinish'd on her Tongue,
Or vanish'd into Sighs: With long delay
Her Voice returned, and found the wonted Way.
Tell me, my Lord, she said, what Fault unknown
Thy once belov'd Alcyone has done?
Whither, ah whither, is thy Kindness gone!
Can Ceyx then sustain to leave his Wife,
And unconcern'd forsake the Sweets of Life?
