Page:Ovid's Metamorphoses (Vol. 1) - tr Garth, Dryden, et. al. (1727).djvu/221

Book 5. The Crowds encreasing, and his Friends distress'd, Himself by warring Multitudes oppress'd; Since thus unequally you fight, 'tis time, He cry'd, to punish your presumptuous Crime; Beware, my Friends; his Friends were soon prepar'd, Their Sight averting, high the Head he rear'd, And Gorgon on his Foes severely star'd. Vain Shift! says Thescelus, with Aspect bold, Thee, and thy Bugbear Monster I behold With Scorn; he lifts his Arm, but e're he threw The Dart, the Heroe to a Statue grew. In the same Posture still the Marble stands, And holds the Warrior's Weapons in it's Hands. Amphyx, whom yet this Wonder can't alarm, Heaves at Lyncides' Breast his impious Arm; But, while thus daringly he presses on, His Weapon, and his Arm are turn'd to Stone. Next Nileus, he who vainly said he ow'd His Origin to Nile's prolifick Flood; Who on his Shield seven silver Rivers bore, His Birth to witness by the Arms he wore; Full of his sev'n-fold Father, thus express'd His Boast of Perseus, and his Pride confess'd: See whence we sprung; Let this thy Comfort be In thy sure Death, that thou didst die by me. While yet he spoke, the dying Accents hung In Sounds imperfect on his Marble Tongue; Tho' chang'd to Stone, his Lips he seem'd to stretch, And thro' th' insensate Rock wou'd force a Speech. This Eryx saw, but seeing wou'd not own; The Mischief by your selves, he cries, is done, 'Tis your cold Courage turns your Hearts to Stone. Come, follow me; fall on the stripling Boy, Kill him, and you his magick Arms destroy. Then rushing on, his Arm to strike he rear'd, And marbled o'er, his varied Frame appear'd. These