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Rh

Now Pallas sooths the happy fair

With everlasting love,

The ivy-circled stripling's care,

And fond delight of Jove.

Bless'd too, as ancient tales agree,

Is Ino's alter'd destiny.

Their forms where sister Nereids lave

With them at large to stray,

And sport amid the ocean wave

Her happy hours away.

Then let not vain presumptuous man

Seek with unhallow'd eye to scan

Th' irrevocable doom;

If clouds invest his final day,

Or Heaven shall gild with cheerful ray

The darkness of the tomb.

For bliss and sorrow with alternate flow,

Sway the uncertain tide of life below.

'Twas thus the fates' supreme command

Which bless'd old Laius' regal line

With power and happiness divine,

In after times decreed the blow

That plunged their hapless race in wo. [sic]

Impell'd the parricidal hand

Which struck the Theban monarch's breast,

Perfecting the decree in Pythian gloom express'd.

With sharpen'd eye's avenging speed

Erinnys view'd the murderous deed,

And soon by mutual slaughter gave

The warlike brothers to the grave.

Surviving Polynices' doom,

Thersander bade in times to come

Adrastus' house revive again,

First in each youthful sport, and in the strife of men.