The Debate of the Gods



9:538 When Themis thus with prescient voice had spoke,
9:539 Among the Gods a various murmur broke;
9:540 Dissention rose in each immortal breast,
9:541 That one should grant, what was deny'd the rest.
9:542 Aurora for her aged spouse complains,
9:543 And Ceres grieves for Jason's freezing veins;
9:544 Vulcan would Erichthonius' years renew,
9:545 Her future race the care of Venus drew,
9:546 She would Anchises' blooming age restore;
9:547 A diff'rent care employ'd each heav'nly Pow'r:
9:548 Thus various int'rests did their jars encrease,
9:549 'Till Jove arose; he spoke, their tumults cease.

9:550 Is any rev'rence to our presence giv'n,
9:551 Then why this discord 'mong the Pow'rs of Heav'n?
9:552 Who can the settled will of Fate subdue?
9:553 'Twas by the Fates that Iolaus knew
9:554 A second youth. The Fates' determin'd doom
9:555 Shall give Callirhoe's race a youthful bloom.
9:556 Arms, nor ambition can this pow'r obtain;
9:557 Quell your desires; ev'n me the Fates restrain.
9:558 Could I their will controul, no rolling years
9:559 Had Aeacus bent down with silver hairs;
9:560 Then Rhadamanthus still had youth possess'd,
9:561 And Minos with eternal bloom been bless'd.
9:562 Jove's words the synod mov'd; the Pow'rs give o'er,
9:563 And urge in vain unjust complaint no more.
9:564 Since Rhadamanthus' veins now slowly flow'd,
9:565 And Aeacus, and Minos bore the load;
9:566 Minos, who in the flow'r of youth, and fame,
9:567 Made mighty nations tremble at his name,
9:568 Infirm with age, the proud Miletus fears,
9:569 Vain of his birth, and in the strength of years,
9:570 And now regarding all his realms as lost,
9:571 He durst not force him from his native coast.
9:572 But you by choice, Miletus, fled his reign,
9:573 And thy swift vessel plow'd th' Aegean main;
9:574 On Asiatick shores a town you frame,
9:575 Which still is honour'd with the founder's name.
9:576 Here you Cyanee knew, the beauteous maid,
9:577 As on her father's winding banks she stray'd:
9:578 Caunus and Byblis hence their lineage trace,
9:579 The double offspring of your warm embrace.