Page:Ovid's Metamorphoses (Vol. 2) - tr Garth, Dryden, et. al. (1727).djvu/283

Book 15. Varying the Sexes in alternate Years, In one begets, and in another bears. The thin Camelion fed with Air, receives The Colour of the Thing to which he cleaves. India when conquer'd, on the conqu'ring God For planted Vines the sharp-ey'd Lynx bestow'd, Whose Urine, shed before it touches Earth, Congeals in Air, and gives to Gems their Birth. So Coral soft, and white in Ocean's Bed, Comes harden'd up in Air, and glows with Red. All changing Species should my Song recite; Before I ceas'd, wou'd change the Day to Night. Nations, and Empires flourish, and decay, By turns command, and in their turns obey; Time softens hardy People, Time again Hardens to War a soft, unwarlike Train. Thus Troy for ten long Years her Foes withstood, And daily bleeding bore th' Expence of Blood: Now for thick Streets it shows an empty Space, Or only fill'd with Tombs of her own perish'd Race, Her self becomes the Sepulcher of what she was. Mycenè, Sparta, Thebes of mighty Fame, Are vanish'd out of Substance into Name. And Dardan Rome that just begins to rise, On Tiber's Banks, in time shall mate the Skies: Widening her Bounds, and working on her way; Ev'n now she meditates Imperial Sway: Yet this is Change, but she by changing thrives, Like Moons new-born, and in her Cradle strives To fill her Infant-Horns; an Hour shall come, When the round World shall be contain'd in Rome. For thus old Saws foretel, and Helenus Anchises' drooping Son enliven'd thus; When Ilium now was in a sinking State; And he was doubtful of his future Fate: O