Bell's Edition

And then with foaring wings and body light

745

Thro' the vast world's extent would take his flight,

By artful bonds let me fecure his stay,

And make his univerfal pow'r obey.

Whilst I my art would thus improve, And fondly thought to fhackle Love, Two neighbours that were standing by, Tormented both with jealousy,

750

Told me it was in vain to try:

When one began his tale, as thus;

'Perhaps you've heard of Dædalus,

755

"When Minos would have made him stay

"How thro' the clouds he found his way. "He was a workman wife and good;

Building was what he understood. "Like to the house where we act plays "He made a turning winding maze, "Fitting to harbour acts of fin,

"And put a whore and baftard in.

760

"I've done your work; and now my trust is,

765

"Good Sir! that you will do me justice,
"'Tis true I hither fled for murther;
"Let my misfortunes go no further:
"Some end all punishments should have.
"Birth to the wretch my country gave';
"Let it afford me now a grave.
"Difmifs my fon; at least, if rather

You'd keep the boy, difmifs his father."

This he might fay, and more, or fo;
But Minos would not let him go.
At this he was enrag'd, and cry'd,
"It is in danger wit is try'd:
"Minos poffeffes earth and sea,
"The fky and air are left for me.

775

"Pardon my fond attempt, great Jove!

"If I approach your feats above:

780

"It is neceffity that draws

"A new-invented rule for Nature's laws." Thus he began. Full many a feather

With twine of thread he stitch'd together:

(Abundance more than are enough

785

To make your wife and mine a muff.)

Thus he frames wings, and nothing lacks

To fix the whole but melted wax:

That was the work of the young boy,
Pleas'd at the fancy of the toy,
Not gueffing ere he was much older

He should have one upon each fhoulder.
To whom his father; "Here is the fhip
"By which we must from Minos flip.
"Child, follow me just as I fly on,

"And keep your eye fix'd on Orion:
"I'll be your guide; and never fear,
"Conducted by a father's care.
"The Virgin and Bootes fhun;

"Take heed left you approach the Sun;

790

795

800

"His flaming influence will be felt,

"And the diffufive wax will melt, ins "The fea by rifing fogs discover;

"O'er that be sure you never hover:

"It would be difficult to drag
"Your wetted pinions fhould they flag.
"Between them both the sky is fair,
"No winds or hurricanes are there,
"But you may fan the fleeting air.

"Thus speaking he with whipcord strings

"Faftens and then extends the wings;
"And when th' youth is completely dreft,"
"Juft as the eagle from her neft,

"By gentle flights her eaglet tries

"To dare the fun and mount the fkies,
"The father fo his boy prepares,
"Not without kifs and falling tears.
"In a large plain a rifing height..
"Gives fome affiftance to their flight.
"With a quick fpring and flutt'ring noise
They in the fky their bodies poife.
"Back on his fon the father looks,
Praising his swift and even strokes.
"Now dreadless with bold art fupply'd
"He does on airy billows ride,
"And foar with an ambitious pride.
"Mortals who by the limpid flood
"With patient angle long have stood,
Volume I.

"On the smooth water's fhining face

"See the amazing creatures pass,

830

"Look up aftonish'd whilft the reed:

"Drops from the hand, whose fenfe is dead.

'Roll'd by the wind's impetuous hafte

"They Samos now and Naxos paft, "Paros and Delos, bleft abode! And parent of the Clarian god. "Lebinthus on their right-hand lies, And fweet Calydne's groves arife,

835

"And fam'd Aftypalaa's fens

"Breed fhoals of fish in owzy dens:...

840

"When the unwary boy, whofe growing years

"Ne'er knew the worth of cautious fears,

"Mounts an ethereal hill, whence he might fpy

"The lofty regions of a brighter fky:

"Far from his father's call and aid

845

"His wings in glitt'ring fire difplay'd,

"Whofe ambient heat their plume involves,

"And all their liquid bands diffolves.

"He fees his loofen'd pinions drop;

"On naked arms lies all his hope.

850

"From the vaft concave precipice he finds

"A fwift deftruction finking with the winds.

"Beneath him lies a gaping deep,

"Whose womb is equally as steep.

"Then, "Father! father!" he'd have cry'd; 855

"Tempefts the trembling founds divide,

"With dismal fear contracts his breath,:: 11" "And the rough wave completes his death..

860

My fon! my fon!" long might the father cry // "There is no track to feek him in the sky. "By floating wings his body found "Is cover'd with the neighb'ring ground. "His art, tho' not successful, has its fame, "And the Icarian feas preferve his name." If men from Minos could escape,

865

And into birds transform their fhape,

And there was nothing that could hold them,

Provided feathers might be fold them,

The thought from madness furely fprings

To fix a god that is born with wings.

870

Quoth th' other man, "Sir, if you'll tarry

"I'll tell you a tale of my boy Harry

Would make a man afraid to marry.

"This boy does bfo from paper white "In miniature produce a kite..

"With tender hands the wood he bends