Hyllus
813cont2
Let her be gone ; and may some prosperous
815
Waft her far off, that these abhorring eyes
815
May never see her more ! What boots the name
815
Of raothei', when no longer she i:)erforms
815
A moihor's duty ? Let lier go in peace,
815
And for her kindness to my father soon
815
May she enjoy the blessing she bestowed !
815
True was the oracle divine,
Long since delivered from Dodona's shrine,
Which said, Alcides' woes should last
Till twelve revolving years were past;
Then should his labours end in sw^eet repose
Behold, my friends, 'tis come to pass,
'Tis all fultilled ; for who, alas !
In peaceful death, or toil or slavery knows ?
If deep within his tortured veins
The centaur's cruel poison reigns.
That from the Hydra's baleful breath
Destructive flowed, replete with death,
On him another sun shall never rise ;
The venom runs through every part.
And, lo ! to Nessus' direful art
Alcides falls a helpless sacrifice.
Poor Deianira long deplored
Her waning charms, and ever faithless lord ;
At length by evil counsel swayed
Her passion's dictates she obeyed,
Resolved Alcides' doubtful truth to prove ;
But now, alas ! laments his fate
In ceaseless woe, and finds too late
A dying husband, and a foreign love.
. Another death must soon succeed,
Another victim soon shall bleed,
Fatal, Alcides, was the dart
That pierced the rival monarch's heart,
And brought lole from her native land ;
From Yenus did our sorrows flow.
The secret spring of all our woe,
For nought was done but by her dread command.
Or I'm deceived, or I did hear loud shrieks
820
Within the palace ; 'twas the voice of one
820
In anguish ; doubtless some calamity
820
Hath fallen upon us now. What can it be 1
820
But see, yon matnon, with contracted brow
820
And unaccustomed sadness, comes to tell
820
