402
VIRGIL's
Æn. III.
Where proud Peloris opes a wider way, 525
Tack to the Larboard, and stand off to Sea:
Veer Star-board Sea and Land. Th' Italian Shore,
And fair Sicilia's Coast were one, before
An Earthquake caus'd the Flaw, the roaring Tides 529
The Passage broke, that Land from Land divides:
And where the Lands retir'd, the rushing Ocean rides.
Distinguish'd by the Streights, on either hand,
Now rising Cities in long order stand;
And fruitful Fields: (So much can Time invade
The mouldring Work, that beauteous Nature made.)
Far on the right, her Dogs foul Scylla hides: 536
Charibdis roaring on the left presides;
And in her greedy Whirl-pool sucks the Tides:
Then Spouts them from below; with Fury driv'n,
The Waves mount up, and wash the face of Heav'n.
But Scylla from her Den, with open Jaws, 540
The sinking Vessel in her Eddy draws;
Then dashes on the Rocks: A Human Face,
And Virgin Bosom, hides her Tails disgrace.
Her Parts obscene below the Waves descend, 545
With Dogs inclos'd; and in a Dolphin end.
Tis safer, then, to bear aloof to Sea,
And coast Pachynus, though with more delay;
Than once to view mishapen Scylia near,
And the loud yell of wat'ry Wolves to hear. 550
Besides, if Faith to Helenus be due,
And if Prophetick Phœbus tell me true,
Tack to the Larboard, and stand off to Sea:
Veer Star-board Sea and Land. Th' Italian Shore,
And fair Sicilia's Coast were one, before
An Earthquake caus'd the Flaw, the roaring Tides 529
The Passage broke, that Land from Land divides:
And where the Lands retir'd, the rushing Ocean rides.
Distinguish'd by the Streights, on either hand,
Now rising Cities in long order stand;
And fruitful Fields: (So much can Time invade
The mouldring Work, that beauteous Nature made.)
Far on the right, her Dogs foul Scylla hides: 536
Charibdis roaring on the left presides;
And in her greedy Whirl-pool sucks the Tides:
Then Spouts them from below; with Fury driv'n,
The Waves mount up, and wash the face of Heav'n.
But Scylla from her Den, with open Jaws, 540
The sinking Vessel in her Eddy draws;
Then dashes on the Rocks: A Human Face,
And Virgin Bosom, hides her Tails disgrace.
Her Parts obscene below the Waves descend, 545
With Dogs inclos'd; and in a Dolphin end.
Tis safer, then, to bear aloof to Sea,
And coast Pachynus, though with more delay;
Than once to view mishapen Scylia near,
And the loud yell of wat'ry Wolves to hear. 550
Besides, if Faith to Helenus be due,
And if Prophetick Phœbus tell me true,
