Page:Ovid's Metamorphoses (Vol. 1) - tr Garth, Dryden, et. al. (1727).djvu/250

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168
Ovid's Metamorphoses.
Book 6.

Thro' which with nimble Flight the Shuttles play,
And for the Woof prepare a ready Way;
The Woof and Warp unite, press'd by the toothy Slay.
Thus both, their Mantles button'd to their Breast,
Their skilful Fingers ply with willing Haste,
And work with Pleasure; while they chear the Eye
With glowing Purple of the Tyrian Dye;
Or, justly intermixing Shades with Light,
Their Colourings insensibly unite.
As when a Show'r transpierc'd with Sunny Rays,
It's mighty Arch along the Heav'n displays;
From whence a thousand diff'rent Colours rise,
Whose fine Transition cheats the clearest Eyes;
So like the intermingled Shading seems,
And only differs in the last Extreams.
Then Threads of Gold both artfully dispose,
And, as each Part in just Proportion rose,
Some antique Fable in their Work disclose,
Pallas in Figures wrought the heav'nly Pow'rs,
And Mars's Hill among th' Athenian Tow'rs.
On lofty Thrones twice fix Celestials sate,
Jove in the Midst, and held their warm Debate;
The Subject weighty, and well-known to Fame,
From whom the City should receive its Name.
Each God by proper Features was exprest,
Jove with majestick Mein excell'd the rest.
His three-fork'd Mace the dewy Sea-God shook,
And, looking sternly, smote the ragged Rock;
When from the Stone leapt forth a sprightly Steed,
And Neptune claims the City for the Deed.
Herself she blazons with a glitt'ring Spear,
And crested Helm that veil'd her braided Hair.
With Shield, and scaly Breast-Plate, Implements of War.
Struck with her pointed Launce, the teeming Earth
Seem'd to produce a new surprizing Birth;

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