he earth beheld
The pale wan image of sad Phoebus' face.
Torches were often seen 'mid heaven to glare;
And from the clouds oft gory drops were shed.
Blue Lucifer a dusky hue o'ercast;
And Luna's car was sprinkled o'er with blood.
Th' infernal owl in numerous places shriek'd,
A direful omen! In a thousand fanes
The ivory statues wept; the sacred groves
Re-echo'd all with songs and threatening sounds.
No victim seem'd appeasing; tumults vast
Approaching shew'd the entrails; and appear'd
The liver always with a wounded head.
Around the domes, and temples of the gods
Loud howl'd the midnight dogs; the silent shades
Flitted along; and tremblings shook the town.
Yet could not these forebodings of the heavens
Crush the conspiracy, or ward his fate;
And in the temple were the weapons drawn:
For, but the senate-house, no spot could please
The vile assassins for the bloody deed.
Then Cytherea smote her lovely breast
In anguish; and beneath an heavenly cloud
Sought to conceal him: such a cloud as once
From furious Menelaues Paris sav'd;
And snatch'd AEneaes from Tydides' sword.
Then thus her sire: "O daughter! hast thou power
"Th' immutable decrees of fate to change?
"To thee 'tis granted to inspect the dome
"Of the three sisters; there thou wilt behold
"Th' eternal tablets of events engrav'd
"On steel and brass, a work of mighty toil.
"Safe, they nor fear the clashing of the sky,
"Nor rage of thunder, nor of ruin aught.
"There wilt thou written find thy offspring's fate
"On ever-during adamant. Myself
"Have read it, and record it in my mind;
"And lest thou should'st be to the future blind,
"I will relate it. He for whom thou toil'st,
"O Cytherea! has his time fulfill'd;
"The sum of years which to the earth he ow'd.
"That he a deity in heaven may rise,
"And be in temples worshipp'd is thy care,
"And his successor's; who his name will take,
"And on his shoulders bear the wide world's rule;
"On him impos'd. He, of his murder'd sire
"Valiant avenger, shall in all his wars
"Our favoring influence feel. Mutina's walls,
"By him besieg'd, in conquest shall confess
"His power, and sue for peace. Pharsalia, him
"Shall feel; and, drench'd in Macedonian blood
"Again, Philippi. On Sicilia's seas
"His mighty name shall conquer. Egypt's queen,
"Falsely relying on the nuptial bond
"With Rome's triumvir, falls: all vain her