My fon, fays he, fome other proof require; "Rash was my promise, rafh is thy desire. "I'd fain deny this wish which thou hast made, "Or, what I can't deny, would fain diffwade. "Too vast and hazardous the task appears, "Nor fuited to thy ftrength, nor to thy years. Thy lot is mortal, but thy wishes fly

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"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 hurles the three-fork'd thunder from above,
Dares try his strength; yet who so strong as Jove?
"The steeds climb up the firft afcent with pain:
"And when the middle firmament they gain,
"If downward 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 mifgives me at the fight.
"A mighty downfal steeps the ev'ning stage,
«And fteddy reins must curb the horses' rage.

Tethys her felf has fear'd to fee me driv'n
"Down headlong from the precipice of heav'n,
"Befides, confider what impetuous force
"Turns ftars and planets in a different course:
" I steer against their motions; nor am I
"Born back by all the current of the sky.
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But

"But how could You refift the orbs that roul

"In adverfe whirls, and ftem the rapid pole?

But you perhaps may hope for pleafing woods,

"And ftately domes, and cities fill'd with Gods;
"While through a thousand fnares your progrefs lies,
"Where forms of starry Monsters ftack the skies;
"For, fhould you hit the doubtful way aright,

The Bull with stooping horns ftands oppofite; "Next him the bright Hamonian Bow is ftrung; "And next, the Lion's grinning vifage 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 cafie to compofe

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

"But, O! in time, recall 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 dook, you'd read the Father there.

Chufe out a gift from feas, or earth, or skies,

"For open to your wish all nature lies,

Only decline this one unequal task,

"For 'tis a Mischief, not a Gift, you ask ;

"You

"You ask a real Mischief, Phaeton:

Nay hang not thus about my neck, my Son: “I grant your wifh, and Styx has heard my voice, Chufe what you will, but make a wifer choice.

Thus did the God th' unwary youth advise;
But he ftill longs to travel through the skies.
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 fecret joy the work furveys;
When now the morn difclos'd her purple rays;
The ftars were fled; for Lucifer had chase'd
The stars away, and fled himself at laft.
Soon as the Father faw the rofy morn,
And the moon shining 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 fnorting fire.
Still anxious for his Son, the God of day,
To make him proof against the burning ray,
His temples with celestial ointment wet,
Of fov'raign virtue to repel the heat;

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}

Then

Then fix'd the beamy circle on his head,
And fetch'd a deep foreboding figh, and faid,

"Take this at least, this laft advice, my Son:

Keep a stiff rein, and move but gently on: "The courfers of themselves will run too fast, "Your art must be to moderate their haste. "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 south, nor formy north. "The horses' hoofs a beaten track will fhow, "But neither mount too high, nor fink too low, "That no new fires or heaven or earth infest;

Keep the mid way, the middle way is best. "Nor, where in radiant folds the Serpent twines, "Direct your courfe, nor where the Altar fhines. "Shun both extremes; the reft let Fortune guide, "And better for thee than thy felf provide! "See, while I fpeak, the fhades disperse away, "Aurora gives the promise of a day ; "I'm call'd, nor can I make a longer stay. "Snatch up the reins; or ftill th' attempt for fake, "And not my Chariot, but my Counsel take, "While yet fecurely on the earth you stand;

Nor touch the horses with too rafh a hand.

"Let Me alone to light the world, while you

Enjoy those beams which you may fafely view.

}

He

He spoke in vain; the youth with active heat
And fprightly 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 horfes neigh'd aloud,
Breathing out fire, and pawing where they stood.
Tethys, not knowing what had past, gave way,
And all the waste of heaven before 'em lay.
They fpring together out, and fwiftly bear
The flying youth through clouds and yielding air;
With wingy fpeed outstrip the eastern wind,
And leave the breezes of the morn behind.
The Youth was light, nor could he fill the seat,
Or poife the chariot with its wonted weight:
But as at fea th' unballafs'd veffel rides,
Cat to and fro, the sport 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 steeds perceive it, they for fake
Their ftated courfe, and leave the beaten track.
The Youth was in a maze, nor did he know
Which way to turn the reins, or where to go;
Nor wou'd the horses, had he known, obey.
Then the Seven Stars first felt Apollo's ray,
And wifh'd to dip in the forbidden fea.
The folded Serpent next the frozen pole,
Stiff and benum'd before, began to roll,

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