Page:Ovid's Metamorphoses (Vol. 1) - tr Garth, Dryden, et. al. (1727).djvu/111

"Light of the World, the trembling Youth replies,
"Illustrious Parent! since you don't despise
"The Parent's Name, some certain Token give,$\scriptstyle {\left.{\begin{matrix}\ \\\\\ \ \end{matrix}}\right\}\,}$
"That I may Clymenè's proud Boast believe,
"Nor longer under false Reproaches grieve.
The tender Sire was touch'd with what he said,
And flung the Blaze of Glories from his Head,
And bid the Youth advance: "My Son, said he,
"Come to thy Father's Arms! for Clymenè
"Has told thee true; a Parent's Name I own,
"And deem thee worthy to be call'd my Son.
"As a sure Proof, make some Request, and I,
"Whate'er it be, with that Request comply;
"By Styx I swear, whose Waves are hid in Night,
"And roul impervious to my piercing Sight.
The Youth transported, asks, without Delay,
To guide the Sun's bright Chariot for a Day.
The God repented of the Oath he took,
For Anguish thrice his radiant Head he shook;
"My Son, says he, some other Proof require,
"Rash was my Promise, rash is thy Desire.
"I'd fain deny this Wish, which thou hast made,
"Or, what I can't deny, wou'd fain disswade.
"Too vast and hazardous the Task appears,
"Nor suited to thy Strength, nor to thy Years.
"Thy Lot is Mortal, but thy Wishes fly
"Beyond the Province of Mortality:
"There is not one of all the Gods that dares
"(However skill'd in other great Affairs)
"To mount the burning Axle-tree, but I;
"Not Jove himself, the Ruler of the Sky,
"That hurles the three-fork'd Thunder from above
"Dares try his Strength; yet who so strong as Jove?
"The Steeds climb up the first Ascent with Pain,
"And when the middle Firmament they gain,

"If