Page:Virgil's Pastorals, Georgics and Aeneis - Dryden (1709) - volume 1.pdf/100

 the meanest Attributes of the Divinity, pass for convincing Arguments that she could not possibly be a Goddess.

Les Déesses toûjours fieres & méprisantes Ne rassureroiént point les Bergeres tremblantes Par d'obligeans discours, des souris gracieux; Mais tu l'as veu; cette Auguste Personne Qui vient de paroistre en ces lieux Prend soin de rassurer au moment qu'elle étonne. Sa bonté descendant sans peine jusqu'à nous.

In short, she has too many Divine Perfections to be a Deity, and therefore she is a Mortal [which was the thing to be prov'd.] ''It is directly contrary to the practice of all ancient Poets, as well as to the Rules of Decency and Religion, to make such odious Preferences. I am much surpriz'd therefore that he should use such an argument as this''.

Cloris, as-tu veu des Déesses Avoir un air si facile & si doux?

Was not Aurora, and Venus, and Luna, and I know not how many more of the Heathen Deities too easie of access to Tithonus, to Anchises, and to Endimion? Is there any thing more Sparkish and better humour'd than Venus her accosting her Son in the Desarts of Lybia? or than the behaviour of Pallas to Diomedes, one of the most perfect and admirable Pieces of all