Page:Ovid's Metamorphoses (Vol. 2) - tr Garth, Dryden, et. al. (1727).djvu/78

If, therefore, thou a Creature shalt produce,
Of so great Charges, and so little Use,
(Bear Witness, Heav'n, with what Reluctancy)
Her hapless Innocence I doom to die.
He said, and Tears the common Grief display,
Of him who bad, and her who must obey.
Yet Teletheusa still persists, to find
Fit Arguments to move a Father's Mind;
T' extend his Wishes to a larger Scope,
And in one Vessel not confine his Hope.
Lygdus continues hard: Her Time drew near,
And she her heavy Load could scarcely bear;
When slumbring, in the latter Shades of Night,
Before th' Approaches of returning Light,
She saw, or thought she saw, before her Bed,
A glorious Train, and Isis at their Head:
Her moony Horns were on her Forehead plac'd,
And yellow Shelves her shining Temples grac'd:
A Mitre, for a Crown, she wore on high;
The Dog, and dappl'd Bull were waiting by;
Osyris, sought along the Banks of Nile;
The silent God; the sacred Crocodile;
And, last, a long Procession moving on,
With Timbrels, that assist the lab'ring Moon.
Her Slumbers seem'd dispell'd, and, broad awake,
She heard a Voice, that thus distinctly spake.
My Votary, thy Babe from Death defend,
Nor fear to save whate'er the Gods will send.
Delude with Art thy Husband's dire Decree:$\scriptstyle {\left.{\begin{matrix}\ \\\\\ \ \end{matrix}}\right\}\,}$
When Danger calls, repose thy Trust on me:
And know thou hast not serv'd a thankless Deity.
This Promise made, with Night the Goddess fled;
With Joy the Woman wakes, and leaves her Bed;
Devoutly lifts her spotless Hands on high,
And prays the Pow'rs their Gift to ratifie.

Now