To Delos back with greater haste would'st go,
And beg the goddess to release my vow:
On new designs thy fancy would'st employ,
Contrive new oaths the former to destroy.

No means have been omitted to procure
My health, but still my fev'rish fits endure.
We ask'd the oracle what cans'd my pains?
The oracle of broken vows complains!

The gods themselves on your behalf declare:
What hast thou done to merit this their care?
But so it is and I at last incline,

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110

Since that thou art their choice, to make thee mine. Already to my mother I've declar'd,

How by your cunning I have been ensnar'd.

I've done, and what I have already said,

I fear, is more than will become a maid.

115

My thoughts are now confus'd, and can indite,
No more my feeble hands, no more can write, 120
Nor need I more subscribe, but this, be true;

And (since it must be so) my dear, adieu.

Volume II.

K

THE

THREE EPISTLES

OF

AULUS SABINUS:

IN ANSWER TO AS MANY OF

O VID.

TRANSLATED BY

Mr. SALUSBURY.

ADVERTISEMENT.

AULUS SABINUS flourish'd in the reign of Augus tus, and was contemporary with Ovid. He wrote a Book of Elegies to his mistress Terisena; and left some unfinished Poems about the ancient Roman Religion and Ceremonies; and also wrote several Epistles like Ovid's, in answer to so many of that excellent Poct's, viz. Hippolytus to Phædra, Æneas to Dido, Jason to Hypsipyle, Phaon to Sapho, Ulysses to Penelope, Demophoon to Phyllis, and Paris to Enone; of all which, excepting the three last, the injury of time has deprived us.

The learned Heinsius, speaking of these three Epistles, calls them a treasure; and indeed they express so much of a true poetic genius, and maintain their character so well, that it has been thought fit in this edition to give them an English version, since in all the late and best editions of Ovid's works, these Epistles of Sabinus are found inserted.

EPISTLE I.

ULYSSES TO PENELOPE.

Argument.

ULYSSES having received Penelope's epistle, by this answer endeavours to clear her doubts, and calm her thoughts. He tells with what fortitude he had gone through the various hardships that had befallen him; and that having consulted Tiresias and Pallas, he was determined to return suddenly to Ithaca; but (to comply with the oracles) alone, and in disguise. And as he is careful to magnify his love and fears for her, and her extraordinary constancy and chastity: so he forgets not to tell her, what he saw in Elysium, whither he went to consult Tiresias.

CHANCE does at last let sad Ulysses see
The welcome lines of his Penelope;

So much thy known dear characters did please,
That my long troubles found an instant ease.
If I am slow, 'tis only to relate

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To thee my many wounds from angry fate.
Well might the Greeks indeed have thought me slow,
When by feign'd madness I delay'd to go :
Nor had I will or power to leave thy bed,
But to possess thy charms from honour fled.
You bid me come, and never stay to write;
But adverse winds detain me from your sight.

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