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THE

FIRST BOOK.

OF

STATIUS

HIS

THE BAIS

Tranflated by Mr. P O P E.

1

The Argument.

OEdipus King of Thebes having by mistake flain his Father Laius, and marry'd his Mother Jocafta, put out his own Eyes, and refign'd the Realm to his Sons, Etheocles and Polynices. Being neglected by them, he makes his Prayer to the Fury Tifiphone, to fow Debate betwixt the Brothers. They agree at laft to Reign fingly, each a rear by turns, and the firft Lot is obtain'd by Etheocles: The Murmurs of the People on this occafion are defcrib'd in an excellent Speech. Jupiter, in a Council of the Gods, declares his Refolution of punishing the Thebans, and Argives alfo, by means of a Marriage betwixt Polynices and one of the Daughters of Adraftus King of Argos. Juno oppofes, but to no effect; and Mercury is fent on a Meffage to the Shades, to the Ghoft of Laius, who is to appear to Etheocles, and provoke him to break the Agreement. Polynices in the mean time departs from Thebes by Night, is overtaken by a Storm, and arrives at Argos; where he meets with Tydeus

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Tydeus, who had fled from Calydon, having kill'd his Brother. Adraftus entertains them, having receiv'd an Oracle from Apollo that his Daughters fhou'd be marry'd to a Boar and a Lion, which he understands to be meant of these Strangers by whom the Hydes of those Beafts were worn, and who arriv'd at the time when be kept an annual Feaft in honour of that God. The Rife of this Solemnity he relates to his Guests, the Loves of Phoebus and Pfamathe, and the Story of Coræbus. He enquires, and is made acquainted with, their Defcent and Quality; The Sacrifice is renew'd, and the Book concludes with a Hymn to Apollo.

The Tranflator hopes he needs not Apologize for his Choice of this Piece, which was made almost in his Childhood. But finding the Verfion better, upon Review, than he expected from those Years, he was eafily prevail'd upon to give it fome Correction, the rather, because no Part of this Author (at least that he knows of) has been tolerably turn'd into our Language.

THE

THE

FIRST BOOK

OF

STATIUS his Thebais.

F

Raternal Rage, the guilty Thebe's Alarms,

Th' Alternate Reign destroy'd by Impious [Arms, Demand our Song; a facred Fury fires

My ravish'd Breast, and All the Muse inspires. O Goddess, fay, fhall I deduce my Rhimes

From the dire Nation in its early Times,

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