all must perish; all within the bounds
"By Nereus circled with his roaring waves.
"I swear by Styx, by those infernal streams,
"Through shades slow creeping. All I could I've try'd.
"But lest to parts unsound the taint should spread,
"What baffles cure, the knife must lop away.
"Our demi-gods we have,--we have our nymphs,
"Our rustic deities,--our satyrs,--fawns,
"And mountain sylvans--whose deserts we grant
"Celestial honors claim not,--yet on earth,
"By us assign'd, they safely sure should rest.
"But, oh! ye sacred powers,--but oh! how safe
"Are these, when fierce Lycaoen plots for me!
"Me! whom the thunders and yourselves obey?"

Loud murmurs fill the skies--swift vengeance all
With eager voice demand. When impious hands
With Caesar's blood th' immortal fame of Rome,
Rag'd to extinguish--all the world aghast,
With horror shook, and trembled through its frame.
Nor was thy subjects' loyalty to thee
More sweet, Augustus, than was theirs to Jove.
His hand and voice, to still their noise he rais'd:
Their clamors loud were hush'd, all silence kept;
When thus the thunderer ends his angry tale:
"Dismiss your care, his punishment is o'er;
"But hear his crimes, and hear his well-earn'd fate.
"Of human vice the fame had reach'd mine ear,
"With hop'd exaggeration; gliding down,
"From proud Olympus' brow, I veil'd the god,
"And rov'd the world in human form around.
"'Twere long to tell what turpitude I saw
"On every side, for rumor far fell short,
"Of what I witness'd. Through the dusky woods
"Of Maenalus I pass'd, where savage lurk
"Fierce monsters; o'er the cold Lycean hill,
"With pine-trees waving; and Cyllene's height.
"Thence to th' Arcadian monarch's roof I came,
"As dusky twilight drew on sable night.
"Gave signs a god approach'd. The people crowd
"In adoration: but Lycaoen turns
"Their reverence and piety to scorn.
"Then said,--not hard the task to ascertain,
"If god or mortal, by unerring test:
"And plots to slay me when oppress'd with sleep.
"Such proof his soul well suited. Impious more,
"An hostage from Molossus sent he slew;
"His palpitating members part he boil'd,
"And o'er the glowing embers roasted part:
"These on the board he serves. My vengeful flames
"Consume his roof;--for his deserts, o'erwhelm
"His household gods. Lycaoen trembling fled
"And gain'd the silent country; loud he howl'd,
"An