Page:Ovid's Metamorphoses (Vol. 1) - tr Garth, Dryden, et. al. (1727).djvu/225

Book 5. Our Shades are happy with so bright a Guest, You, Queen, are welcome, and we Muses blest. What Fame has publish'd of our Spring is true, Thanks for our Spring to Pegasus are due. Then, with becoming Courtesy, she led The curious Stranger to their Fountain's Head; Who long survey'd, with Wonder, and Delight, Their sacred Water, charming to the Sight; Their ancient Groves, dark Grottos, shady Bow'rs, And smiling Plains adorn'd with various Flow'rs. O happy Muses! she with Rapture cry'd, Who, safe from Cares, on this fair Hill reside; Blest in your Seat, and free your selves to please With Joys of Study, and with glorious Ease.

Then one replies: O Goddess, sit to guide Our humble Works, and in our Choir preside, Who sure wou'd wisely to these Fields repair, To taste our Pleasures, and our Labours share, Were not your Virtue, and superior Mind To higher Arts, and nobler Deeds inclin'd; Justly you praise our Works, and pleasing Seat, Which all might envy in this soft Retreat, Were we secur'd from Dangers, and from Harms; But Maids are frighten'd with the least Alarms, And none are safe in this licentious Time; Still fierce Pyreneus, and his daring Crime With lashing Horror strikes my feeble Sight, Nor is my Mind recover'd from the Fright. With Thracian Arms this bold Usurper gain'd Daulis, and Phocis, where he proudly reign'd: It happen'd once, as thro' his Lands we went, For the bright Temple of Parnassus bent, He