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.