Page:Ovid's Metamorphoses (Vol. 1) - tr Garth, Dryden, et. al. (1727).djvu/292

Provided that the Triple Goddess join
A strong Confed'rate in my bold Design.
Thus was her Enterprize resolv'd; but still
Three tedious Nights are wanting to fulfil
The circling Crescents of th'encreasing Moon;
Then, in the Height of her Nocturnal Noon,
Medea steals from Court; her Ankles bare,
Her Garments closely girt, but loose her Hair;
Thus sally'd, like a solitary Sprite,
She traverses the Terrors of the Night.
Men, Beasts, and Birds in soft Repose lay charm'd,
No boistrous Wind the Mountain-Woods alarm'd;
Nor did those Walks of Love, the Myrtle Trees,
Of am'rous Zephir hear the whisp'ring Breeze;
All Elements chain'd in unactive Rest,
No Sense but what the twinkling Stars exprest;
To them (that only wak'd) she rears her Arms,
And thus commences her mysterious Charms.
She turn'd her thrice about, as oft she threw
On her pale Tresses the Nocturnal Dew;
Then yelling thrice a most enormous Sound,
Her bare Knee bended on the flinty Ground,
O Night (said she) thou Confident and Guide
Of Secrets, such as Darkness ought to hide;
Ye Stars and Moon, that, when the Sun retires,
Support his Empire with succeeding Fires;
And thou, great Hecate, Friend to my Design;
Songs, mutt'ring Spells, your magick Forces join;
And thou, O Earth, the Magazine that yields;
The Midnight Sorcerer Drugs; Skies, Mountains, Fields;
Ye wat'ry Pow'rs of Fountain, Stream, and Lake;$\scriptstyle {\left.{\begin{matrix}\ \\\\\ \ \end{matrix}}\right\}\,}$
Ye Sylvan Gods, and Gods of Night, awake,
And gen'rously your Parts in my Adventure take.
Oft by your Aid swift Currents I have led
Thro' wandring Banks, back to their Fountain Head;

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