In a cauldron's feething flood
That thy mangled limbs were caft,
Thence by each voracious God
On the board in meffes plac'd.
But fhall I the bleft abuse?

With fuch tales to ftain her fong
Far, far be it from my Muse!
Vengeance waits th' unhallow'd tongue.

ANTIS TROPHE IV.

Sure, if e'er to man befel

Honour from the powers divine,
Who on high Olympus dwell,

Tantalus, the lot was thine.

But, alas! his mortal fenfe
All too feeble to digeft
The delights of blifs immense,
Sicken'd at the heavenly feaft,
Whence, his folly to chastise,

O'er his head with pride elate,
Jove, great father of the skies,
Hung a rock's enormous weight.

E PODE IV.

Now vainly labouring with inceffant pains
Th' impending rock's expected fall to fhun,
The fourth diftrefsful inftance he remains
Of wretched man by impious pride undone;
Who to his mortal guests convey'd

Th' incorruptible food of Gods,
On which in their divine abodes

Himself erst feasting was immortal made.

6

STRO

STROPHE V.

Vain is he, who hopes to cheat
The all-feeing eyes of Heaven:
From Olympus' blissful feat,

For his father's theft, was driven
Pelops, to refide once more

With frail man's fwift-paffing race, Where (for now youth's blowing flower Deck'd with opening pride his face; And with manly beauty sprung

On each cheek the downy shade) Ever burning for the young,

Hymen's fires his heart invade.

ANTIS TROPHE V.

Anxious then th' Elean bride

From her royal fire to gain,

Near the billow-beaten fide

Of the foam-befilver'd main,
Darkling and alone he stood,
Invocating oft the name
Of the Trident-bearing god

Strait the Trident-bearer came:

"If the sweet delights of love,

"Which from Beauty's Queen defcend,

"Can thy yielding bofom move,

Mighty God, my cause befriend.

EPODE

E PODE V.

"With strong prevention let thy hand control
"The brazen lance of Pifa's furious king;
"And to the honours of th' Elean goal
"Me with unrival'd speed in triumph bring.
"Transfix'd by his unerring fpear,

Already thirteen youths have dy'd, "Yet he perfifts with cruel pride, Hippodamîa's nuptials to defer.

STROPHE VI.

"In the paths of dangerous fame Trembling cowards never tread:

66

"Yet fince all of mortal frame

"Must be number'd with the dead, "Who in dark inglorious shade "Would his useless life confume, And, with deedlefs years decay'd, "Sink unhonour'd to the tomb ? "I that shameful lot difdain;

"I this doubtful lift will prove;
May my vows from thee obtain
"Conqueft, and the prize of love!"

ANTIS TROPHE VI.
Thus he pray'd, and mov'd the God;
Who, his bold attempt to grace,
On the favour'd youth bestow'd
Steeds unwearied in the race;
VOL. LVII.

L

Steeds,

Now in the folemn fervice of the dead,

Rank'd with immortal Gods, great Pelops fhares; While to his altar, on the watery bed

Of Alpheus rais'd, from every clime repairs
The wondering ftranger, to behold
The glories of th' Olympick plain;
Where, the refplendent wreath to gain,
Contend the swift, the active, and the bold.

STROPHE VII.

Happy he, whofe glorious brow
Pifa's honour'd chaplets crown 1
Calm his ftream of life fhall flow,
Shelter'd by his high renown.
That alone is blifs fupreme,
Which, unknowing to decay,
Still with ever-fhining beam
Gladdens each fucceeding day.
Then for happy Hiero weave

Garlands of Æolian ftrains;
Him these honours to receive
The Olympick law ordains.

ANTIS TROPHE VII.
No more worthy of her lay

Can the Muse a mortal find;
Greater in imperial fway,

Richer in a virtuous mind;
Heaven, O king, with tender care
Waits thy wishes to fulfil.
Then ere long will I prepare,
Plac'd on Chronium's funny hill,
Thee in sweeter verse to praise,
Following thy victorious steeds;
If to profper all thy ways

Still thy Guardian God proceeds.

Fate hath in various ftations rank'd mankind:

In royal power the long gradations end. By that horizon prudently confin'd,

Let not thy hopes to farther views.extend. Long may'st thou wear the regal crown!

And may thy Bard his wish receive,

With thee, and fuch as thee to live,
Around his native Greece for wisdom known!