Page:Homer's Battle of the Frogs and Mice - Parnell (1717).djvu/31

 how they are now lost in yonder Mists which roll about the Cave of Oblivion! This shews, it is not for themselves that they are to be known; the World will consider them only as managing a Part of thy Endowments, and so know them by thy Name while they live, that their own shall be lost for ever. But see how my Cave still swarms! how every Age produces Men, upon whom the Preservation of thy Memory devolves. My Darling, the Fates have decreed it! Thou art, and shall be eternal: Come, my Serpents, applaud him with your Hisses, that is all which now can be done; in modern Times my Sons shall invent louder Instruments, and artificial Imitations, Noises which drown the Voice of Merit, shall furnish a Consort to delight them." Here she arose to clasp him in her Arms, a strange Noise was heard, the Critick started at it, and his Vision forsook him.

It was with some Confusion, that he lay musing a while upon what he had seen; but reflecting, that the Goddess had giv'n him no Answer concerning his Success in Ægypt, he strengthen'd his Heart in his ancient Self-Love and Enmity to others, and took all for an idle Dream born of the Fumes of Indigestion, or produc'd by the dizzy Motion of his Voyage. In this Opinion, he told it at his Departure to the Priest, who admiring the extraordinary Relation, registred it in Hieroglyphicks at Canopus.