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ODE III.

So may bright Venus glitter o'er the Deep,
And the fair Twins with double Lustre shine.
Whilst all the Winds within their Caverns sleep,
But only those which favour thy Design;
If thou, dear Ship! from Storms and Wracks defend,
And, as I wish and pray, betimes restore
Virgil, my better Half, my nearest Friend,
And land him safe on Athens longing Shore.
Hard was his Heart, inclos'd in Folds of Brass,
Who in a feeble Bark first boldly try'd
The Watry Path and Region of the Seas,
And adverse Winds and swelling Waves defy'd.

5

No raging Storms could shock his mighty Soul,
Nor craggy Rocks by forked Lightning split,
Though Northern Blasts along the Ocean howl,
To which the Adriatick Waves submit.
Death in no Form could ever move his Fear,
Who calmly with attentive Mind and Eyes
The Horrors of the Deep unmov'd could bear,
And view the Monsters of the low Abyss.
The Earth by Jove was parted from the Main,
Who gave each Element its proper place:
But haughty Man obstructs what Gods ordain,
Since impious Ships the sacred Bounds o'erpass.
No Pow'rs the Pride of Mortals can controul,
Prone to new Crimes, by strong Presumption driv'n;
With sacrilegious Hands Prometheus stole
Cœlestial Fire, and bore it down from Heav'n.
That fatal Present brought on Mortal Race
An Army of Diseases: Death began
With Vigour then to mend his halting Pace,
And found a more compendious Way to Man.
With Human Wings, not form'd by Nature's Aid,
Whose noblest Works vain Art would oft excel,
Wise Dædalus the starry Realms survey'd,
Whilst great Alcides forc'd the Gates of Hell.
Nothing's so high, but what Mankind will dare,
Push to excess of Ill, and Crimes unknown:
Scarce will our Pride the Gods themselves forbear,
Or suffer Jove to lay his Thunder down.