Vulcan would Erichthonius' Years renew,
Her future Race the Care of Venus drew,
She would Anchises' blooming Age restore;
A diff'rent Care employ'd each heav'nly Pow'r:
Thus various Int'rests did their Jars encrease,
Till Jove arose; he spoke, the Tumults cease.
Is any Rev'rence to our Presence giv'n,
Then why this Discord 'mong the Pow'rs of Heav'n?
Who can the settled Will of Fate subdue?
'Twas by the Fates that Iolaus knew
A second Youth. The Fate's determin'd Doom
Shall give Callirhoe's Race a youthful Bloom.
Arms, nor Ambition can this Pow'r obtain;
Quell your Desires; ev'n me the Fates restrain.
Could I their Will controul, no rolling Years
Had Æacus bent down with Silver Hairs;
Then Rhadamanthus still had Youth possess'd,
And Minos with eternal Bloom been bless'd.
Jove's Words the Synod mov'd; the Pow'rs give o'er,
And urge in vain unjust Complaints no more.
Since Rhadamanthus' Veins now slowly flow'd,
And Æacus, and Minos bore the Load;
Minos, who in the Flow'r of Youth, and Fame,
Made mighty Nations tremble at his Name,
Infirm with Age, the proud Miletus fears,
Vain of his Birth, and in the Strength of Years,
And now regarding all his Realms as lost,
He durst not force him from his native Coast.
But you by choice, Miletus, fled his Reign.
And thy swift Vessel plow'd th' Ægean Main;
On Asiatick Shores a Town you frame,
Which still is honour'd with the Founders Name.
Here you Cyanëe knew, the beauteous Maid,
As on her [1] Father's winding Banks she stray'd:
Caunus and Byblis hence their Lineage trace,
The double Offspring of your warm Embrace
- ↑ Mæander.
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