Page:Ovid's Metamorphoses (Vol. 2) - tr Garth, Dryden, et. al. (1727).djvu/138

Your glorious Race, and far-resounding Fame,
And Grandsire Jove, peculiar Favours claim.
All you can wish, I grant; Entreaties spare;
My Kingdom (would 'twere worth the sharing) share.
Tears stop'd his Speech: Astonish'd Peleus pleads
To know the Cause from whence his Grief proceeds.
The Prince reply'd: There's none of ye but deems
This Hawk was ever such as now it seems:
Know 'twas a Heroe once. Dædalion nam'd,
For warlike Deeds, and haughty Valour fam'd;
Like me to that bright Luminary born,
Who wakes Aurora, and brings on the Morn.
His Fierceness still remains, and Love of Blood,
Now dread of Birds, and Tyrant of the Wood.
My Make was softer, Peace my greatest Care;
But this my Brother wholly bent on War;
Late Nations fear'd, and routed Armies fled
That Force, which now the tim'rous Pigeons dread,
A Daughter he possess'd, divinely fair,
And scarcely yet had seen her Fifteenth Year;
Young Chione: A thousand Rivals strove
To win the Maid, and teach her how to love.
Phœbus, and Mercury by chance one Day
From Delphi, and Cyllene past this Way;
Together they the Virgin saw: Desire
At once warm'd both their Breasts with am'rous Fire.
Phœbus resolv'd to wait till Close of Day;
But Mercury's hot Love brook'd no Delay;
With his entrancing Rod the Maid he charms,
And unresisted revels in her Arms.
'Twas Night, and Phœbus in a Beldam's Dress,
To the late rifled Beauty got Access.
Her time compleat nine circling Moons had run;
To either God she bore a lovely Son:
To Mercury Autolycus she brought,
Who turn'd to Thefts, and Tricks his subtle Thought;

Possess'd