Soon she the Ship attains, unwelcome Guest;
And, as with close Embrace its Sides she prest,
A Hawk from upper Air came pouring down:
('Twas Nisus cleft the Sky with Wings new grown.)
At Scylla's Head his horny Bill he aims;
She, fearful of the Blow, the Ship disclaims,
Quitting her Hold: And yet she fell not far,
But wondring, finds her self sustain'd in Air.
Chang'd to a Lark, she mottled Pinions shook,
And, from the ravish'd Lock, the Name of Ciris took.
The Labyrinth.
Now Minos, landed on the Cretan Shore,
Performs his Vows to Jove's protecting Pow'r;
A hundred Bullocks, of the largest Breed,
With Flowrets crown'd, before his Altar bleed:
While Trophies of the Vanquish'd, brought from far
Adorn the Palace with the Spoils of War.
Mean while the Monster of a Human-Beast,
His Family's Reproach, and Stain, increas'd.
His double Kind the Rumour swiftly spread,
And evidenc'd the Mother's beastly Deed.
When Minos, willing to conceal the Shame
That sprung from the Reports of tatling Fame,
Resolves a dark Inclosure to provide,
And, far from Sight, the two-form'd Creature hide.
Great Dædalus of Athens was the Man
That made the Draught, and form'd the wondrous Plan;
Where Rooms within themselves encircled lye,
With various Windings, to deceive the Eye.
As soft Mæander's wanton Current plays,
When thro' the Phrygian Fields it loosely strays;
Backward, and forward rouls the dimpl'd Tide,
Seeming, at once, two different Ways to glide:
