Fable X. The Young Prince

THE sun having left the vast arch of heaven lA peace, had finished his course, and plunged his fiery deeds in the Hefperian waves; the border of the horizon was yet of a purplifh red, and enflamed by the burning rays he had diffused in his paiTage; the scorching Dog-star parched the earth; all the plants languished for thirfl:; the. faded flowers hung down their drooping heads, and their feeble (lalks no longer could support them; the very zephyrs withheld their comfortable breezes; the air, which the animals breathed, resembled luke-warm water; night, which with its (hades diffuses a refreshing cool, could not temper the devouring heat which the day had caused; (he could pour on spiritless and fainting men, neither the dew ihe distils, when Hefper (hines at the tail of the other stars, nor that crop of poppies which afford the charms of sleep to all weary nature; the Sun alone in Thetis' lap enjoyed profound repose; but, afterwards, when he was obliged to remount his chariot, drawn by the Hours, and preceded by Aurora, ftrcwing his way with roses, he perceived all Olympus over-

K cad ^th clouds; he saw the remains of a tempest which had terrified poor mortals all the night; the clouds were still infected with the stench of the fulphureous vapours, which had lighted the streaming fiafhes, and made the threatning thunder roar; the mutinous wmds haying broke their chains, and forced their deep dungeons, still bellowed in the spacious plains of air; adown the mountains to the vales beneath, the swelling torrents tumbled; he, whde radiant eye dieers all nature, bdheld, on all sides, as he it^ie, the remains of a cruel fiorm; but (which moved him more) he bdidd a young fisadling of the Muses, who to him was very d^u-, from whom the storm had Aolen deep away, when jost beguii to spread his fable witig^ over his heavy eye-lids: ht was u^ the point of driving badt his horses, and of retarding day, in order to restore repose to the favourite youth who had lost it. I will, said he, that he deep; Iweet deep ftiall cool his blood, allay hi) bile, shall give him health and strength to imitate Alddes' arduous toils, and (hall inspire him with an I don't know what of teikier softness, which pebbly might be his only want: if he but sleep, and smile, and mitigate his fanguitie constitution, if he love the social joys, and if he take delight in loving men, and being of them beloved, then all the graces of the mind and body will come in crouds our darling to adorn.

YOUNG BACCHUS

FAUN.