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The Works of the Right Honourable Sir Chas. Hanbury Williams

... From the Originals in the Possession of His Grandson The Right Hon. The Earl of Essex and Others: With Notes by Horace Walpole ... In Three Volumes, with Portraits

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ORPHEUS AND HECATE,
  
  
  
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248

ORPHEUS AND HECATE,

An Ode; INSCRIBED TO THE PATRONESS OF THE ITALIAN OPERA LADY BINGLEY.

Tantum Odiis, Iræque dabat------
------illa Sorores
Nocte vocat genitas------
Met. lib. 4.

WHEN Orpheus, as old poets tell,
Carry'd his music down to hell,
He fill'd the shades with joys;
Alecto, and Tisiphone,
Megæra, with Brown Hecate,
Transported heard his voice.

249

And whilst he led the song divine,
The spectres all in chorus join;
Such was grim Pluto's will!
Tantalus quaff'd a flowing bowl,
Sisyphus ceas'd his stone to roll,
Ixion's wheel stood still.
His person, melody, and lyre
Set the infernal queen on fire,
Who courted him to stay:
But Pluto, to prevent all strife,
Order'd the Poet, with his wife,
Back to the realms of day.
Joyful they speed for upper air;
When, to divide the happy pair,
Hecat' contriv'd a spell:
Now, now, she cry'd, in rapt'rous tone,
His harmony is all my own!
I'll make a heav'n in hell!

250

For me, and my Tartarean crew,
Endless the wanton song renew!
O ever touch the lyre!
But still the bard, in heav'nly lays,
Would sing his king's and maker's praise,
And kindle martial fire.
Enrag'd the triple-headed dame
Howl'd; in a trice the furies came,
Threat'ning a dreadful fate:
'Till Phœbus, with the tuneful Nine,
And lovely Graces all combine
To shield him from their hate.
Thus sav'd from death, he shares the love
Of men below, and blest above,

251

The virtuous, brave, and wise:
Whilst every chaste, and pious mind,
To vice averse, to good inclin'd;
Must Hecat's name despise.