Thence, to Seriphus with the Head he sails,
Whose Prince his Story treats as idle Tales:
Lord of a little Isle, he scorns to seem
Too credulous, but laughs at that, and him.
Yet did he not so much suspect the Truth,
As out of Pride, or Envy hate the Youth.
The Argive Prince, at his Contempt enrag'd,
To force his Faith by fatal Proof engag'd.
Friends, shut your Eyes, he cries; his Shield he takes,
And to the King expos'd Medusa's Snakes.
The Monarch felt the Pow'r he wou'd not own,
And stood convict of Folly in the Stone.
Minerva's Interview with the Muses.
Thus far Minerva was content to rove
With Perseus, Offspring of her Father Jove:
Now, hid in Clouds, Seriphos she forsook;
And to the Theban Tow'rs her Journey took.
Cythnos and Gyaros lying to the Right,
She pass'd unheeded in her eager Flight;
And choosing first on Helicon to rest,
The Virgin Muses in these Words address'd:
Me, the strange Tidings of a new-found Spring,
Ye learned Sisters, to this Mountain bring.
If all be true that Fame's wide Rumours tell,
'Twas Pegasus discover'd first your Well;
Whose piercing Hoof gave the soft Earth a Blow,
Which broke the Surface, where these Waters flow.
I saw that Horse by Miracle obtain
Life, from the Blood of dire Medusa slain;
And now, this equal Prodigy to view,
From distant Isles to fam'd Bœotia flew.
The Muse Urania said, Whatever Cause
So great a Goddess to this Mansion draws;
