threatenings cruel; now her softening looks
To pity seemed to melt; and when fierce ire
Had fill'd her soul, and parch'd up every tear,
Fresh tears would gush. Thus rocks a vessel, driven
By winds and adverse currents, both their force
At once obeys, and can to neither yield.
Thus waver'd Thestius' daughter, dubious thus
Affection sway'd her; now her rage is calm,
Now her calm'd rage with fourfold fury burns.
At length the sister's o'er the parent's tie
The prevalence obtains; impiously good,
With blood her own, she soothes the brethren's shades.
Now, when the fires destructive fiercely glar'd,
She cry'd:--"Here, funeral pile, my bowels burn!--"
And as the fatal wood her direful hand
Held forth, the hapless mother, at the pyre
Sepulchral, stood, exclaiming;--"Furies three!
"Avenging sisters! hither turn your eyes;
"Behold the furious sacred rites I pay:
"For retribution I commit this crime.
"By death their death must be aveng'd; his fault
"By mine be punish'd; on their funeral biers
"His must be laid; one sinning house must fall,
"In woes accumulated. Blest shall still
"OEneus enjoy his proud victorious son,
"And Thestius childless mourn? Better that both
"Should weep in concert. Dear fraternal ghosts,
"Recent from upper air, my work behold!
"Take to th' infernal realms my offering bought
"So dear! the hapless pledge my womb produc'd.

"Ah! whither am I swept? Brothers forgive
"The parent. Lo! my faltering hands refuse
"To second my intents. Well he deserves
"To perish; yet by other hands than mine.
"Unpunish'd shall he 'scape then? Victor live,
"Proud of his high success, and rule the realm
"Of Calydon, while ye are prostrate thrown
"A trivial heap of ashes, and cold shades?
"Patience no more will bear. Perish the wretch!
"Perish his father's hopes! perish the realm!
"And all the country perish! Where? O, where?
"Is then the mother's soul, the pious prayers
"A parent should prefer? Where the strong pains
"Which twice five moons I bore? O, that the flames
"First kindled, had thy infant limbs consum'd!
"Would I had not then snatch'd thee from thy fate!
"Thy gift of life is mine; now that thou dy'st
"Thy own demerits ask: take the reward
"Thy deeds deserve: yield up thy twice-given life,
"First in thy birth, then by the brand I sav'd;
"Or lay me with my brethren in their tomb.
"I wish, yet what I would my