To some blest prince, the prince decreed by Heaven.”


Abash’d, the suitor train his voice attends;

Till from his throne Amphinomus ascends,

Who o’er Dulichium stretch’d his spacious reign,

A land of plenty, bless’d with every grain:

Chief of the numbers who the queen address’d,

And though displeasing, yet displeasing least.

Soft were his words; his actions wisdom sway’d;

Graceful awhile he paused, then mildly said:


“O friends, forbear! and be the thought withstood:

’Tis horrible to shed imperial blood!

Consult we first the all-seeing powers above,

And the sure oracles of righteous Jove.

If they assent, e’en by this hand he dies;

If they forbid, I war not with the skies.”


He said: the rival train his voice approved,

And rising instant to the palace moved.

Arrived, with wild tumultuous noise they sate,

Recumbent on the shining thrones of state.


Then Medon, conscious of their dire debates,

The murderous counsel to the queen relates.

Touch’d at the dreadful story, she descends:

Her hasty steps a damsel train attends.

Full where the dome its shining valves expands,

Sudden before the rival powers she stands;

And, veiling, decent, with a modest shade

Her cheek, indignant to Antinous said:


“O void of faith! of all bad men the worst!

Renown’d for wisdom, by the abuse accursed!

Mistaking fame proclaims thy generous mind:

Thy deeds denote thee of the basest kind.

Wretch! to destroy a prince that friendship gives,

While in his guest his murderer he receives;

Nor dread superior Jove, to whom belong

The cause of suppliants, and revenge of wrong.

Hast thou forgot, ungrateful as thou art,

Who saved thy father with a friendly part?

Lawless he ravaged with his martial powers

The Taphian pirates on Thesprotia’s shores;

Enraged, his life, his treasures they demand;

Ulysses saved him from the avenger’s hand.

And would’st thou evil for his good repay?

His bed dishonour, and his house betray?