Page:Virgil's Pastorals, Georgics and Aeneis - Dryden (1709) - volume 1.pdf/382

180 A Station safe for Ships, when Tempests roar, A silent Harbour, and a cover'd Shoar. Secure within resides the various God, And draws a Rock upon his dark Abode. Hether with silent Steps, secure from Sight, The Goddess guides her Son, and turns him from the Light: Her self, involv'd in Clouds, precipitates her Flight. Twas Noon; the sultry Dog-star from the Sky Scorch'd Indian Swains, the rivell'd Grass was dry; The Sun with flaming Arrows pierc'd the Flood, And, darting to the bottom, bak'd the Mud: When weary Proteus, from the briny Waves, Retir'd for Shelter to his wonted Caves: His finny Flocks about their Shepherd play, And rowling round him, spirt the bitter Sea. Unweildily they wallow first in Ooze, Then in the shady Covert seek Repose. Himself their Herdsman, on the middle Mount, Takes of his muster'd Flocks a just Account. So, seated on a Rock, a Shepherd's Groom Surveys his Ev'ning Flocks returning Home: When lowing Calves, and bleating Lambs, from far, Provoke the prouling Wolf to nightly War. Th' Occasion offers, and the Youth complies: For scarce the weary God had clos'd his Eyes; When rushing on, with shouts, he binds in Chains The drowzy Prophet, and his Limbs constrains.