Chap. IV.
TRANSLATION.
65
"Aurora now, fair daughter of the dawn,
"Sprinkled with rosy light the dewy lawn,
"When Jove conven'd the senate of the skies,
"Where high Olympus' cloudy tops arise.
"The fire of Gods his awful silence broke,
"The heavens attentive, trembled as he spoke.
"Sprinkled with rosy light the dewy lawn,
"When Jove conven'd the senate of the skies,
"Where high Olympus' cloudy tops arise.
"The fire of Gods his awful silence broke,
"The heavens attentive, trembled as he spoke.
"Celestial states, immortal gods! give ear;
"Hear our decree, and reverence what ye hear;
"The fix'd decree, which not all heaven can move;
"Thou, fate! fulfil it; and, ye powers! approve!
"What God but enters yon forbidden field,
"Who yields assistance, or but wills to yield,
"Back to the skies with shame he shall be driven,
"Gash'd with dishonest wounds, the scorn of Heaven;
"Or far, oh far, from steep Olympus thrown,
"Low in the dark Tartarean gulph shall groan;
"With burning chains fix'd to the brazen floors,
"And lock'd by hell's inexorable doors;
"As deep beneath th' infernal centre hurl'd,
"As from that centre to th' ethereal world.
"Let him who tempts me dread those dire abodes;
"And know th' Almighty is the God of Gods.
"Hear our decree, and reverence what ye hear;
"The fix'd decree, which not all heaven can move;
"Thou, fate! fulfil it; and, ye powers! approve!
"What God but enters yon forbidden field,
"Who yields assistance, or but wills to yield,
"Back to the skies with shame he shall be driven,
"Gash'd with dishonest wounds, the scorn of Heaven;
"Or far, oh far, from steep Olympus thrown,
"Low in the dark Tartarean gulph shall groan;
"With burning chains fix'd to the brazen floors,
"And lock'd by hell's inexorable doors;
"As deep beneath th' infernal centre hurl'd,
"As from that centre to th' ethereal world.
"Let him who tempts me dread those dire abodes;
"And know th' Almighty is the God of Gods.
