Then with a wreath of myrtle crowns his head, And foftly lays him on a flowery bed. Cupid, mean time, affum'd his form and face, Following Achates with a fhorter pace,
And brought the gifts. The queen already fate, Amidft the Trojan lords, in fhining state, High on a golden bed: her princely gueft Was next her fide, in order fate the reft. Then canisters with bread are heap'd on high; Th' attendants water for their hands fupply; And, having wash'd, with filken towels dry. Next, fifty handmaids in long order bore The cenfers, and with fumes the gods adore. Then youths, and virgins, twice as many, join To place the dishes, and to ferve the wine. The Tyrian train, admitted to the feast, Approach, and on the painted couches reft. All on the Trojan gifts with wonder gaze; But view the beauteous boy with more amaze! His rofy-colour'd cheeks, his radiant eyes,
His motions, voice, and shape, and all the gods disguise. Nor pafs unprais'd the veft and veil divine, Which wandering foliage and rich flowers entwine. But, far above the rest, the royal dame, (Already doom'd to love's difaftrous flame) With eyes infatiate, and tumultuous joy, Beholds the prefents, and admires the boy. The guileful god, about the hero long, With childrens' play, and falfe embraces, hung;
Then fought the queen: fhe took him to her arms With greedy pleasure, and devour'd his charms. Unhappy Dido little thought what guest, How dire a god she drew so near her breaft. But he, not mindlefs of his mother's prayer, Works in the pliant bosom of the fair;
And moulds her heart anew, and blots her former care.. The dead is to the living love refign'd,
And all Æneas enters in her mind.
Now, when the rage of hunger was appeas'd, The meat remov'd, and every guest was pleas'd, The golden bowls with fparkling wine are crown'd, And through the palace chearful cries refound. From gilded roofs depending lamps display Nocturnal beams, that emulate the day.
A golden bowl, that shone with gems divine, The queen commanded to be crown'd with wine, The bowl that Belus us'd, and all the Tyrian line. Then, filence through the hall proclaim'd, she spoke: O hofpitable Jove! we thus invoke,
With folemn rites, thy facred name and power! Blefs to both nations this aufpicious hour!
So may the Trojan and the Tyrian line, In lafting concord, from this day combine. Thou, Bacchus, god of joys and friendly cheer, And gracious Juno, both be present here: And you, my lords of Tyre, your vows addrefs To heaven with mine, to ratify the peace.
The goblet then she took, with nectar crown'd 1030 (Sprinkling the firft libations on the ground),
And rais'd it to her mouth with sober grace, Then, fipping, offer'd to the next in place. 'Twas Bitias, whom the call'd, a thirsty foul,
He took the challenge, and embrac'd the bowl: 1035 With pleasure fwill'd the gold, nor ceas'd to draw, Till he the bottom of the brimmer faw. The goblet goes around: Iöpas brought
His golden lyre, and fung what ancient Atlas taught. The various labours of the wandering moon, And whence proceed th' eclipfes of the fun. Th' original of men and beasts; and whence The rains arife, and fires their warmth dispense; And fix'd and erring stars dispose their influence. What shakes the folid earth, what caufe delays 1045 The fummer nights, and shortens winter days. With peals of shouts the Tyrians praise the song; Those peals are echo'd by the Trojan throng. Th' unhappy queen with talk prolong'd the night, And drank large draughts of love with vaft delight. Of Priam much enquir'd, of Hector more; Then ask'd what arms the swarthy Memnon wore; What troops he landed on the Trojan fhore. The steeds of Diomede vary'd the discourse, And fierce Achilles, with his matchlefs force. At length, as fate and her ill ftars requir'd, To hear the series of the war defir'd: Relate at large, my god-like gueft, fhe faid, The Grecian ftratagems, the town betray'd;
The fatal iffue of so long a war,
Your flight, your wanderings, and your woes, declare.
For, fince on every fea, on every coaft,
Your men have been distress'd, your navy toss'd, Seven times the fun has either tropic view'd, The winter banish'd, and the fpring renew'd.
VERSES to Mr. DRYDEN, on his Tranfla- tion of Virgil,
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