Page:The Works of Alexander Pope (1717).djvu/367
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STATIUS his THEBAIS.
331
He pass'd the gates which then unguarded lay,
And to the regal palace bent his way;
On the cold marble spent with toil he lies,
And waits till pleasing slumbers seal his eyes.
Adrastus here his happy people sways,
Bless'd with calm peace in his declining days,
By both his parents of descent divine,
Great Jove and Phœbus grac'd his noble line;
Heav'n had not crown'd his wishes with a son,
But two fair daughters heir'd his state and throne.
To him Apollo (wondrous to relate!
But who can pierce into the depths of fate?)
Had sung—"Expect thy sons on Argos' shore,
"A yellow lion and a bristly boar.
This, long revolv'd in his paternal breast,
Sate heavy on his heart, and broke his rest;
This, great Amphiaraus, lay hid from thee,
Tho' skill'd in fate and dark futurity.
The father's care and prophet's art were vain,
For thus did the predicting God ordain.
And to the regal palace bent his way;
On the cold marble spent with toil he lies,
And waits till pleasing slumbers seal his eyes.
Adrastus here his happy people sways,
Bless'd with calm peace in his declining days,
By both his parents of descent divine,
Great Jove and Phœbus grac'd his noble line;
Heav'n had not crown'd his wishes with a son,
But two fair daughters heir'd his state and throne.
To him Apollo (wondrous to relate!
But who can pierce into the depths of fate?)
Had sung—"Expect thy sons on Argos' shore,
"A yellow lion and a bristly boar.
This, long revolv'd in his paternal breast,
Sate heavy on his heart, and broke his rest;
This, great Amphiaraus, lay hid from thee,
Tho' skill'd in fate and dark futurity.
The father's care and prophet's art were vain,
For thus did the predicting God ordain.
Lo