What if their charms exceed Aurora's tint,
No words could tell them, and no pencil paint.
Thy love, too vehement, hastens to destroy
Each blooming maid, and each celestial boy.
Now Manto comes, endued with mighty skill,
The past to explore, the future to reveal.
Through Thebes wide streets Tiresia's daughter came,
Divine Latona's mandate to proclaim:
The Theban maids to hear the order ran,
When thus Mæonia's prophetess began:
"Go Thebans! great Latona's will obey,
"And pious tribute at her altars pay:
"With rites divine, the Goddess be implored,
"Nor be her sacred offspring unadored."
Thus Manto spoke. The Theban maids obey,
And pious tribute to the Goddess pay.
The rich perfumes ascend the waving spires,
And altars blaze with consecrated fires;
The fair assembly moves with graceful air,
And leaves of laurel bind the flowing hair.
Niobe comes with all her royal race,
With charms unnumbered, and superior grace:
Her Phrygian garments of delightful hue,
Inwove with gold, refulgent to the view,
Beyond description beautiful, she moves
Like heavenly Venus, 'midst her smiles and loves.
She views around the supplicating train,
And shakes her graceful head with stern disdain,
