Page:Ovid's Metamorphoses (Vol. 1) - tr Garth, Dryden, et. al. (1727).djvu/167

Book 3. "I viewed him nicely, and began to trace "Each heav'nly Feature, each immortal Grace, "And saw Divinity in all his Face. "I know not who, said I, this God should be; "But that he is a God I plainly see: "And thou, who-e'er thou art, excuse the Force "These Men have us'd; and oh befriend our Course! "Pray not for us, the nimble Dictys cry'd, "Dictys, that could the Main top-Mast bestride, "And down the Ropes with active Vigour slide. "To the same Purpose old Epopeus spoke, "Who over-look'd the Oars, and tim'd the Stroke; "The same the Pilot, and the same the rest; "Such impious Avarice their Souls possest. "Nay, Heav'n forbid that I should bear away "Within my Vessel so divine a Prey, "Said I; and stood to hinder their Intent: "When Lycabas, a Wretch for Murder sent "From Tuscany, to suffer Banishment, "With his clench'd Fist had struck me over-board, "Had not my Hands in falling grasp'd a Cord. "His base Confederates the Fact approve; "When Bacchus, (for 'twas he) begun to move, "Wak'd by the Noise and Clamours which they rais'd; "And shook his drowsie Limbs and round him gaz'd: "What means this Noise? he cries; am I betray'd? "Ah! whither, whither must I be convey'd? "Fear not, said Proreus, Child, but tell us where "You wish to land, and trust our friendly Care. "To Naxos then direct your Course, said he; "Naxos a hospitable Port shall be "To each of you, a joyful Home to me. "By ev'ry God, that rules the Sea or Sky, "The perjur'd Villains promise to comply, "And bid me hasten to unmoor the Ship. "With eager Joy I launch into the Deep; "And,