Page:Virgil's Pastorals, Georgics and Aeneis - Dryden (1709) - volume 1.pdf/379

Geor. IV. Where swift Enipeus in his Bed appears, And Tiber his Majestick Forehead rears. Whence Anio flows, and Hypanis, profound, Breaks through th' opposing Rocks with raging Sound. Where Po first issues from his dark abodes, And, awful in his Cradle, rules the Floods. Two Golden Horns on his large Front he wears, And his grim Face a Bull's Resemblance bears. With rapid Course he seeks the sacred Main, And fattens, as he runs, the fruitful Plain. Now to the Court arriv'd, th' admiring Son Beholds the vaulted Roofs of Pory Stone; Now to his Mother Goddess tells his Grief, Which she with Pity hears, and promises Relief. Th' officious Nymphs, attending in a Ring, With Waters drawn from their perpetual Spring, From earthly dregs his Body purifie, And rub his Temples, with fine Towels, dry: Then load the Tables with a lib'ral Feast, And honour with full Bowls their friendly Guest. The sacred Altars are involv'd in Smoak, And the bright Quire their kindred Gods invoke. Two Bowls the Mother fills with Lydian Wine; Then thus, Let these be pour'd, with Rites divine, To the great Authors of our wat'ry Line. To Father Ocean, this; and this, she said, Be to the Nymphs his sacred Sisters paid, Who rule the wat'ry Plains, and hold the woodland Shade.