Page:Rape of Prosperine - Claudian (1854).djvu/41

 Which of Heir's daughters bade her torch inflame, Her goad excite thee to this deed of shame: That thus thou darest from thy depths to rise, And with Tartarean car profane the skies? Seek Lethe's nymphs, unlovely though they be: The dismal Furies are fit brides for thee. Great Jove's peculiar realm forbear to haunt: "With thine own night contented, hence! avaunt! Vex not our world with bold intrusive tread, Nor mix the living with the buried dead!"
 * As on they press, nor to her menace yield,

She smites the coursers with her Gorgon shield: Strives with its hissing snakes to bar the way; Displays their crests outstretched in dread array; While, poised its blow to deal, her beaming lance O'er the dark chariot sheds a fitful glance. And soon had it been hurl'd; but Jove from heaven His lightning sign of peace restored hath given, And of permitted wedlock: witness bright Bear the glad flames, and sanctify the rite; And the deep thunder, as it rolls among The parted clouds, intones its bridal song.
 * Then too, compelled the rescue to forsake,

Dian her bow restrain'd, and mourning spake.