"I'd fain deny this wish which thou haft made,
"Or, what I can't deny, would fain diffuade.
"Too vaft and hazardous the task appears,
"Nor fuited to thy ftrength, 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 hurls the three-fork'd thunder from above, Dares try his ftrength; yet who fo ftrong as Jove? "The steeds climb up the firft afcent with pain; "And when the middle firmament they gain, "If downwards from the heavens my head I bow, "And fee the earth and ocean hang below, "Ev'n I am feiz'd with horror and affright, "And my own heart misgives me at the fight. "A mighty downfal steeps the ev'ning stage, "And steddy reins must curb the horses' rage.

Tethys herself has fear'd to see me driv'n

"Down headlong from the precipice of heav'n.
"Befides, confider what impetuous force
"Turns ftars and planets in a diff'rent course:
"I steer against their motions ; nor am I
"Borne back by all the current of the sky.

"But

"But how could you refift the orbs that roll
"In adverse whirls, and ftem the rapid pole?
"But you perhaps may hope for pleafing woods,
"And ftately doines, and cities fill'd with Gods;
"While through a thousand fnares your progrefs lies,
"Where forms of starry monsters stock the skies:
"For, fhould you hit the doubtful way aright,
"The Bull with stooping horns stands opposite;
"Next him the bright Hamonian Bow is ftrung;
"And next, the Lion's grinning visage hung:
"The Scorpion's claws here clafp a wide extent,
"And here the Crab's in leffer clafps are bent.
"Nor would you find it easy to compofe

"The mettled fteeds, when from their noftrils flows
"The fcorching fire, that in their entrails glows.
"Ev'n I their head-ftrong fury scarce restrain,
"When they grow warm and reftiff to the rein.
"Let not my fon a fatal gift require,

"But, O! in time, recal your rafh defire;
"You ask a gift that may your parent tell,
"Let these my fears your parentage reveal;
"And learn a father from a father's care;
"Look on my face; or if my heart lay bare,
"Could you but look, you'd read the father there.
"Choose out a gift from feas, or earth, or skies,
"For open to your wish all nature lies,

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❝ Only

"Only decline this one unequal task,

"For 'tis a mischief, not a gift, you ask ;

"You afk a real mischief, Phaeton:

"Nay hang not thus about my neck, my fon:
"I grant your wish, and Styx has heard my voice,
"Choose what you will, but make a wifer choice."

Thus did the God th’unwary youth advise;

But he ftill longs to travel through the fkies.
When the fond father (for in vain he pleads)

At length to the Vulcanian chariot leads.
A golden axle did the work uphold,

Gold was the beam, the wheels were orb'd with gold.
The spokes in rows of filver pleas'd the fight,
The feat with parti-colour'd gems was bright;
Apollo fhin'd amid the glare of light.

The youth with secret joy the work surveys;
When now the morn disclos'd her purple räys ;
The stars were fled; for Lucifer had chas'd
The ftars away, and fled himself at laft.

Soon as the father faw the rofy morn,

And the moon fhining with a blunter horn,
He bid the nimble Hours without delay
Bring forth the fteeds; the nimble Hours obey:
From their full racks the gen'rous steeds retire,
Dropping ambrofial foams, and snorting fire.

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Still

Still anxious for his fon, the God of day,

To make him proof against the burning ray,
His temples with celeftial ointment wet,
Of fov'reign virtue to repel the heat;
Then fix'd the beamy circle on his head,
And fetch'd a deep fore-boding figh, and faid,

fon:

"Take this at least, this last advice, my "Keep a stiff rein, and move but gently on: "The courfers of themselves will run too fast, "Your art must be to moderate their hafte. "Drive 'em not on directly through the skies, "But where the Zodiac's winding circle lies, "Along the midmoft Zone; but fally forth "Nor to the diftant fouth, nor ftormy north. "The horfes' hoofs a beaten tract will fhow, "But neither mount too high, nor fink too low, "That no new fires or heav'n or earth infeft;

Keep the mid-way, the middle way is best. "Nor, where in radiant folds the Serpent twines, "Direct your course, nor where the Altar fhines. "Shun both extremes; the reft let fortune guide, "And better for thee than thyfelf provide ! "See, while I fpeak, the shades disperse away, "Aurora gives the promise of a day; "I'm call'd, nor can I make a longer stay.

I 2

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"Snatch

"Snatch up the reins; or ftill th' attempt forfake,
"And not my chariot, but my counsel take,
"While yet fecurely on the earth you ftand;
"Nor touch the horses with too rafh a hand.
"Let me alone to light the world, while you
"Enjoy those beams which you may safely view.
He spoke in vain; the youth with active heat
And sprightly vigour vaults into the feat ;

And joys to hold the reins, and fondly gives
Thofe thanks his father with remorfe receives.

Mean while the restless horses neigh'd aloud,
Breathing out fire, and pawing where they stood.
Tethys, not knowing what had paft, gave way,
And all the waste of heav'n before 'em lay.
They fpring together out, and swiftly bear
The flying youth through clouds and yielding air;
With wingy speed outftrip the eastern wind,
And leave the breezes of the morn behind.
The youth was light, nor could he fill the feat,
Or poife the chariot with its wonted weight:
But as at fea th' unballafs'd veffel rides,
Caft to and fro, the sports of winds and tides;
So in the bounding chariot tofs'd on high,
The youth is hurry'd headlong through the sky.
Soon as the fteeds perceive it, they forfake
Their ftated courfe, and leave the beaten track,

The