MELEAGER

Pray mother how was that? I have herd you say Somewhat about my birth mi aculous, But never yet knew the true circumstance. Else noble valour, he would have been first To have purchased honour in this haughty quest. Thus lies the terror that but once to day Awed all the boldest hearts of Calidon Wallowing and weltering in his native blood, Transfixed by us, but bravely seconded, By noble Jason, Theseus, Peleus, Telamon, Nestor, the Tyndarides, And our bold uncles, all our bore-spears stained And gory hands laved in his reeking blood, To whom belongs this brave victorious spoil? Is that your general suffrage? Princes we thank you, it's mine given me free. Which fair Atlanta we bestow on thee. Murmur you Lords at Meleagers bounty, We first bestowed it as our own by gift, Yea, and by right, but now we render it To bright Atlanta, as her own by endue As she that from the Boar the first blood drew. By the immortal Gods, That gave us this days honour, the same hand By which the Calidonian terror fell, Shall him that frowns or murmurs launch to hell. Then rescue for Atlanta, This day shall all for thee, that art divine, Monsters more savage then Diana's wine. We have done too much already, mpious fury, How boundless is thy power: uncircumscribed By thought or reason, th'art all violence, Thy end repentance, sorrow and distaste: How will Althea take her brother's death From her sons hand, but rash deeds executed May be lamented, never be recalled Shall the survivers be atoned? First then, we'll royally inter our uncles, And spend some tears upon their funeral rites, That done we'll in our Palace feast these Princes, With bright Atlanta, whom we'll make our Queen. Our Uncles once bestow'de into the earth, Our mournings shall expire in Bridal mirth. To bright Atlanta this loud music sowned, Her health shall with our loftiest strains be crowned. O, o. I burn, I burn. Courage Tellamon? I have a heart dares threat or challenge hell, A brow front heaven; a hand to challenge both: But this my pain's beyond all humane sufferance, Or mortal patience. Well now, I am at ease and peace within, Whither's my torture fled? that with such suddenness Hath freed me from disturbance, were we ill? Come fit again to banquet, music sound, Till this to Deyaneira's health go round. Again, Again. still, still, there is and Aetna in my bosom The flames of Stix, and fires of Acheron Are from the black Chimerian shades removed, And fixed here, here; o for Evenus flood, Or some cool stream, to shoot his currents through My flaming body, make thy channel here Thou mighty flood that streamest through Calidon And quench me, all you springs of Thessaly Remove your heads, and fix them in my veins To cool me, o! Worse then my torment, That I must die thus, thus, that the Boar had slain me, Happy Anceus and Adonis blessed, You died with fame, and honour crowns your rest; My flame increases still, o father Oeneus And you Althea, whom I would call mother But that my genius prompts me th'art unkind, And yet farewell, Atlanta beauteous maid, I cannot speak my thoughts for torture, death, Anguish and pains, all that Promethean fire Was stolen from heaven, the Thief left in my bosom. The Sun hath cast his element on me, And in my enthralls hath he fixed his Sphere, His pointed beams he hath darted through my heart, And I am still on flame. Pray keep it well: for if not with my mother, With whom dare Meleager trust his life? But sister Deianeira, now to you. Two worthy Champions must this day contend, And try their emin nce in Arms for you, Great Achelous, and strong Hercules. Clamours from a far, Tell us these Champions are a dressed for war. When begins your proud and hostile enmity? Behold the prize proposed, the victor's meed, Champions your spirits inkindle at her eyes. The cause of this convention (Lords of Greece ) Needs no expression; and yet briefly thus: Oeneus our father, the Aetolians King, Of all his fruits and plenty, gave endue rights To all the Gods and Goddesses, Jove, Ceres, Bacchus, and Pallas; but among the rest, Diana he neglects: for which enraged, She hath sent (to plague us) a huge savage Boar, Of and unmeasured height and magnitude. What better can describe his shape and terror Then all the piteous clamours shrild through Greece? Of his depopulations, spoils, and preys? His flaming eyes they sparkle blood and fire, His bristles pointed Like a range of pikes Ranked on his back: his foam snows where he feeds His tusks are Like the Indian Oliphants. Out of his jaws (as if Jove's lightning flew) He scorches all the branches in his way, Plows up the fields, treads flat the fields of grain. In vain the Shepherd or his dog secures Their harmless fowlds. In vain the furious Bull Strives to defend the herd over which he Lords. The Colonies into the Cities fly, And till immured, they think themselves not safe. To chase this beast we have met on Oetam mount, Attended by the noblest spirits of Greece. Virgineam in puero, puerilem in virgin vultum As bold as fair; but soft, whose bugle's that Which calls us to the chase? And nis yours? That Meleagers shall. Thou hast purchased honour and renown enough, O stain not all the general youth of Greece, By thy too forward spirit. Come not near Yond rude bloodthirsty savage, lest he prey On thee, as on Anceus, and the rest, Let me between thee and all dangers stand. Fight, but fight safe beneath our puissant hand. And ere that monster on Atlanta pray, This point of steel shall through his heart make way. Will Hercules stay here in Calidon, To solemnize the nuptials of our sister? I Meleager, rich Aetolians heir, Whose large Dominions stretch to Oetam Mount, And to the bounds of fertile Thessaly Will grace thy Bridals with the greatest pomp Greece can afford, nor is't my meanest honour To be the brother to great Hercules. Princes, shrill your Bugles free. And all Atlanta's danger fallen on me. Thou beauteous Nonacris, Arcadia's pride, How hath thy valour with thy fortune joined, To make thee stain the general fortitude Of all the Princes we derive from Greece, Thy lances point hath on yond armed monster, Made the first wound, and the first crimson drop Fell from his side, thy aim and arm extracted, Thy fame shall never die in Calidon. For fair Atlanta, and your Honours, Lords We banquet you this day: and to begin Our festivals we'll crown this Jovial health Unto our brother, Theban Hercules And Deyaneira, will you pledge it Lords? Now'gins my fire waste, and my natural heat To change to Ice, and my scortch't blood to freeze. Farewell, since his black ensign death displays, I die, cut off thus in my best of days. Time and my bashful love Admits no courtship, Lady rank with us. Il'e be this day your guardian, and a shield Between you and all danger. And a brother's love Comfort thee where thou goest: If not with Hercules Whom dare we trust thy safety. The flames of hell, and Pluto's fightlesse fires, Are through my entrails and my veins dispierst, o!