Time favours too. Till Agis be return'd, We cannot act. Indulge thy eager search. Here will I wait, a centinel unmov’d, To watch thy coming. In exploring haste Th' impatient Thespian penetrates the cave. He finds it bounded by a steep ascent Of rugged steps; where down the hollow rock A modulation clear, distinct, and slow In movement solemn from a lyric string, Dissolves the stagnant air to sweet accord With these sonorous lays. Celestial maids ! While, from our cliffs contemplating the war, We celebrate our heroes, O impart Orphean magic to the pious strain!.. That from the mountain we may call the groves, Swift motion through these marble fragments breathe To overleap the high Etæan ridge, And crush the fell invaders of our peace. ::

The animated heró upward springs Light, as a kindled vapour, which, confin'd In subterranean cavities, at length Pervading, rives the surface to enlarge The long-imprison'd flame. Ascending soon, He sees, he stands abash'd, then rev'rend kneels.

An aged temple with insculptur'd forms Of Jove's harmonious daughters, and a train Of nine bright virgins, round their priestess rang'd, Who stood in awful majesty, receive ... , His unexpected feet. The song is hush?d. The measur'd movement on the lyric chord

In faint vibration dies. The priestess sage,
Whose elevated port and aspect rose
To more than mortal dignity, her lyre
Consigning graceful to attendant hands,
Looks with reproof. The loose, uncover'd hair
Shades his inclining forehead, while a flush
Of modest crimson dyes his youthful cheek.
Her pensive visage softens to a smile
On worth so blooming, which she thus accosts.

I should reprove thee, inadvertent youth,
Who through the sole access by nature left
To this pure mansion, with intruding steps
Dost interrupt our lays. But rise. Thy sword
Perhaps embellish'd that triumphant scene,
Which wak'd these harps to celebrating notes.
What is the impress on thy warlike shield?

A golden eagle on my shield I bear,
Still bending low, he answers. She pursues.

Art thou possessor of that glorious orb,
By me distinguish'd in the late defeat ..
Of Asia, driven before thee? Speak thy name.
Who is thy sire? Where lies thy native seat?
Com'st thou for glory to this fatal spot,
Or from barbarian violence to guard ..
A parent's age, a spouse, and tender babes,
Who call thee father? Humbly he again.

Lam of Thespia, Dithyrambus nam’d, The son of Harmatides. Snatch'd by fate, . He to his brother, and my second sire, ... Demophilus, consign'd me. Thespia's sons .

By him are led. : His dictates I obey,
Him to resemble strive. No infant voice
Calls me a father. To the nuptial vow
I am a stranger, and among the Greeks
The least entitled to thy partial praise.

None more entitled, interpos’d the dame.
Deserving hero, thy demeanour speaks,
It justifies the fame, so widely spread,
Of Harmatides' heir. O grace and pride
Of that fair city, which the Muses love,
Thee an acceptant visitant I hail
In this their ancient temple. Thou shalt view
Their sacred haunts. Descending from the dome,
She thus pursues. First know, my youthful hours
Were exercis'd in knowledge. Homer's muse.
To daily meditation won my soul,
With my young spirit mix'd undying sparks
Of her own rapture. By a father sage
Conducted, cities, manners, men I saw,
Their institutes and customs. I return'd.
The voice of Locris call’d me to sustain
The holy function here. Now throw thy sight
Across that meadow, whose enliven'd blades
Wave in the breeze, and glisten in the sun .
Behind the hoary fane. My bleating train
Are nourish'd there, a spot of plenty spar'd
From this surrounding wilderness. Remark
That fluid mirror, edg’d by shrubs and flow'rs,
Shrubs of my culture, flow'rs by Iris dress’d.,
Nor pass that smiling concave in the hill,

Whose pointed crags are softend to the sight
By figs and grapes. She pauses; while around
His eye, delighted, roves, in more delight
Soon to the spot returning, where she stood
A deity in semblance, o'er the place
Presiding awful, as Minerva wise,
August like Juno, like Diana pure,
But not more pure than fair.

FROM THE EPISODE OF TERIBAZUS AND ARIANA.

BOOK VIII.

AMID the van of Persia was a youth,
Nam’d Teribazus, not for golden stores,
Not for wide pastures, travers'd o'er by herds,
By fleece-abounding sheep, or gen’rous steeds,
Nor yet for pow'r, nor splendid honours fam’d.
Rich was his mind in ev'ry art divine;
Through ev'ry path of science had he walk’d,
The votary of wisdom. In the years,
When tender down invests the ruddy cheek,
He with the Magi turn’d the hallow'd page
Of Zoroastres. Then his tow'ring thoughts
High on the plumes of contemplation soar’d.
He from the lofty Babylonian fane
With learn'd Chaldæans trac'd the heav'nly sphere,
There number'd o'er the vivid fires, which gleam
On night's bespangled bosom. Nor unheard
Were Indian sages from sequester'd bow'rs,

While on the banks of Ganges they disclos'd The pow'rs of nature, whether in the woods, The fruitful glebe, or flow'r, the healing plant, The limpid waters, or the ambient air, Or in the purer element of fire. The realm of old Sesostris next he view'd, Mysterious Egypt with her hidden rites Of Isis and Osiris. Last he sought * Th’ Ionian Greeks, from Athens sprung, nor pass'd Miletus by, which once in rapture heard The tongue of Thales, nor Priene's walls, Where wisdom dwelt with Bias, nor the seat Of Pittacus, rever'd on Lesbian shores.

Th' enlighten'd youth to Susa now return’d, Place of his birth. His merit soon was dear To Hyperanthes. It was now the time, That discontent and murmur on the banks Of Nile were loud and threat’ning. Chembes there The only faithful stood, a potent lord, Whom Xerxes held by promis'd nuptial ties With his own blood. To this Egyptian prince Bright Ariana was the destin'd spouse, From the same bed with Hyperanthes born. Among her guards was Teribazus nam'd By that fond brother, tender of her weal.

Th’Egyptian boundaries they gain. They hear Of insurrection, of the Pharian tribes In arms, and Chembes in the tumult slain. They pitch their tents, at midnight are assail'd, Surpris'd, their leaders massacred, the slaves