Page:Ovid's Metamorphoses (Vol. 2) - tr Garth, Dryden, et. al. (1727).djvu/63

Book 9. Me you've oblig'd. Be all your Fears forborn, Th' OEtean Fires do thou, great Hero, Scorn. Who vanquish'd all things, shall subdue the Flame. That part alone of gross maternal Frame Fire shall devour; while what from me he drew Shall live immortal, and its Force subdue; That, when he's dead. I'll raise to Realms above; May all the Pow'rs the righteous Act approve. If any God dissent, and judge too great The sacred Honours of the heav'nly Seat, Ev'n he shall own his Deeds deserve the Sky, Ev'n he reluctant, shall at length comply. Th' assembled Pow'rs assent. No Frown till now Had marked with Passion vengeful Juno's Brow. Mean while what e'er was in the Pow'r of Flame Was all consum'd; his Body's nervous Frame No more was known, of human Form bereft, Th' eternal Part of Jove alone was left. As an old Serpent casts his scaly Vest, Wreaths in the Sun, in youthful Glory drest; So when Alcides mortal Mold resign'd, His better Part enlarg'd, and grew refin'd; August his Visage shone; Almighty Jove In his swift Car his honour'd Offspring drove; High o'er the hollow Clouds the Coursers fly, And lodge the Hero in the Starry Sky.

Atlas perceiv'd the Load of Heav'n's new Guest. Revenge still rancour'd in Eurestheus' Breast Against Alcides' Race. Alcmena goes To Iole, to vent maternal Woes; Here she pours forth her Grief, recounts the Spoils Her Son had bravely reap'd in glorious Toils. This