His mind, by labour unsubdued,
Rivals the roaring lion's might,
Or like the fox in crafty mood,
That stays the whirling eagle's flight. 80
'Tis just the foe's imperious will
By force to conquer or to foil by skill. 81
For not to him Orion's fame
Had been assign'd by partial fate. 84
Though mean to view, with ponderous weight
Fell from his arm the massive spear.
Erst to Antæus' mansion came
From Thebes to fertile Libya's land,
Of stature short, but dauntless soul,
He that should struggle to control 90
The bloody monster's fierce career,
Who could delight with savage hand
The fane of Neptune to adorn
With scalps from hapless strangers torn,
Alcmena's son—who took his flight 95
Up to Olympus' sacred height,
Exploring earth, and through the hoary wave
To mariners a tranquil passage gave. 98
Now by the ægis-bearing god
In bliss he holds his fair abode 100
With Hebe his celestial bride,
Honour'd and graced by love divine,
King of the domes with gold that shine,
And to heaven's queen in filial bonds allied.
To him above th' Electran gates 105
The new-constructed altars rise;
On him the genial banquet waits,
With all the pomp of sacrifice.
His shrine we citizens surround
With the eight lifeless bodies crown'd, 110
Who by the sword there slaughter'd lie,
Alcides hapless progeny,
Whom Megara, great Creon's daughter, bore. 109
