Ovid's metamorphoses in fifteen books Translated by the most Eminent Hands. Adorn'd with Sculptures |
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The Reign of Augustus, in which Ovid flourish'd.
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 | Ovid's metamorphoses in fifteen books |  |
The Reign of Augustus, in which Ovid flourish'd.
Thus rais'd, his glorious Off-spring Julius view'd,
Beneficently Great, and scattering Good,
Deeds, that his own surpass'd, with Joy beheld,
And his large Heart dilates to be excell'd.
What tho' this Prince refuses to receive
The Preference, which his juster Subjects give;
Fame uncontroll'd, that no Restraint obeys,
The Homage, shunn'd by modest Virtue, pays,
And proves disloyal only in his Praise.
Tho' great his Sire, him greater we proclaim:
So Atreus yields to Agamemnon's Fame;
Achilles so superior Honours won,
And Peleus must submit to Peleus' Son;
Examples yet more Noble to disclose,
So Saturn was eclipsed, when Jove to Empire rose:
Jove rules the Heav'n's; the Earth Augustus sways;
Each claims a Monarch's and a Father's Praise.
Beneficently Great, and scattering Good,
Deeds, that his own surpass'd, with Joy beheld,
And his large Heart dilates to be excell'd.
What tho' this Prince refuses to receive
The Preference, which his juster Subjects give;
Fame uncontroll'd, that no Restraint obeys,
The Homage, shunn'd by modest Virtue, pays,
And proves disloyal only in his Praise.
Tho' great his Sire, him greater we proclaim:
So Atreus yields to Agamemnon's Fame;
Achilles so superior Honours won,
And Peleus must submit to Peleus' Son;
Examples yet more Noble to disclose,
So Saturn was eclipsed, when Jove to Empire rose:
548
Each claims a Monarch's and a Father's Praise.
Celestials, who for Rome your Cares employ;
Ye Gods, who guarded the Remains of Troy;
Ye native Gods, here born and fix'd by Fate;
Quirinus, Founder of the Roman State;
O Parent Mars, from whom Quirinus sprung;
Chaste Vesta, Cæsar's houshold Gods among,
Most sacred held; domestic Phœbus, thou,
To whom with Vesta chaste alike we bow;
Great Guardian of the high Tarpeian Rock;
And all ye Powers, whom Poets may invoke;
O grant, that Day may claim our Sorrows late,
When loved Augustus shall submit to Fate,
Visit those Seats, where Gods and Heroes dwell,
And leave, in Tears, the World he rul'd so well!
Ye Gods, who guarded the Remains of Troy;
Ye native Gods, here born and fix'd by Fate;
Quirinus, Founder of the Roman State;
O Parent Mars, from whom Quirinus sprung;
Chaste Vesta, Cæsar's houshold Gods among,
Most sacred held; domestic Phœbus, thou,
To whom with Vesta chaste alike we bow;
Great Guardian of the high Tarpeian Rock;
And all ye Powers, whom Poets may invoke;
O grant, that Day may claim our Sorrows late,
When loved Augustus shall submit to Fate,
Visit those Seats, where Gods and Heroes dwell,
And leave, in Tears, the World he rul'd so well!
| Ovid's metamorphoses in fifteen books | |