Ode III.
He wishes safety to that Ship whith carried Virgil to Athens, afterwards, blames mens rash adventurousness.
So may most pow'rful VENUS Star,
With splendid Twins which smiling are,
Winds Soveraign thee protect by th' way,
(All bound but mild Japiga)
That VIRGIL now, dear Ship, thy Charge,
With safest foot thou maist enlarge
On Athens Shore; O gentle roul,
And keep that half part of my Soul.
That Man was stout, wore brazen Breast,
Thrice plated round who first addrest
With floating Plank large Seas t'invade;
Nor seem'd oth' Africk Wind blustring afraid,
Conjoyn'd with North in blustering fight;
Sad Hyades nor South could fright:
None greater Arbiter although
For Storms or Calms doth th' Adrian know.
Him what Death daunts? Who views each where
(Unmov'd) those wandring Monsters there?
Swell'd billow-mounts, those blackest fam'd
Ceraunian Rocks, for splitting blam'd.
In vain wise God hath sever'd Land
From Seas (unsociable Band)
If yet presumptuous Barks dare pry
Through deeps unknown should rather lye.
Men stoutly hold, all Pains t'endure,
Rush through forbidden Waves secure.
PROMETHEUS stole that sacred Flame,
And strait 'mongst Men dispers'd the same,
Which pilfer'd from th' Æthereal Tower,
New Plagues, Diseases round (like Shower)
O're-throng'd the World; swift grows that late
But slow necessity of Fate:
Stout DÆDALUS with Plumes did try
Void Air (unmanly parts) would fly.
Hell-Gates themselves were broke by Toil,
Of HERCULES, Nought makes recoil;
Nought seems so strange Man dares not do:
Our rashness strikes at Heaven too;
Nor will let Jove, so impious bold,
His anger'd Thunder-bolts withhold.
