CANACE TO MACAREUS, EPIST. XI. THE ARGUMENT. The Macareus and Canace, fon and daughter to Eolus, god of the Winds, loved each other incestuously: Canace was delivered of a fon, and committed him to her nurse, to be fecretly conveyed away. infant crying out, by that means was difcovered to Eolus, who, inraged at the wickedness of his children, commanded the babe to be expofed to wild beafts on the mountains: and withal, fent a fword to Canace, with this message, That her crimes would inftruct her how to use it. With this ford fhe flew herself: but before fhe died, she writ the following letter to her brother Macareus, who had taken fanctuary in the temple of Apollo. IF ftreaming blood my fatal letter ftain, Think in this posture thou behold'st me write : 5 O! were he prefent, that his eyes and hands Might fee, and urge, the death which he commands! Than all the raging winds more dreadful, he, Unmov'd, without a tear, my wounds would fee. Jove juftly plac'd him on a ftormy throne, 16 Are underneath his wide dominion caft: time: In death we had been one without a crime. Why did thy flames beyond a brother's move? Why lov'd I thee with more than fifter's love? For I lov'd too; and, knowing not my wound, A fecret pleasure in thy kiffes found: My cheeks no longer did their color boaft, 26 My food grew loathfome, and my ftrength I loft: Still ere I spoke, a figh would stop my tongue; Short were my flumbers, and my nights were long. 30 I knew not from my love thefe griefs did grow, eyes, 35 And guilty dumbnefs, witnefs'd my furprize. Forc'd at the laft, my fhameful pain I tell : And, oh, what follow'd we both know too well! "When half denying, more than half content, "Embraces warm'd me to a full confent, "Then with tumultuous joys my heart did beat, "And guilt, that made them anxious, made them great." 40 But now my fwelling womb heav'd up my breast, And rifing weight my finking limbs oppreft. What herbs, what plants, did not my nurfe produce, 45 To make abortion by their pow'rful juice? light: 50 Not knowing 'twas my labor, I complain 55 Which with her hand the confcious nurse fup prefs'd. To that unhappy fortune was I come, Pain urg'd my clamors, but fear kept me dumb. With inward struggling I reftrain'd my cries, And drunk the tears that trickled from my eyes. 60 Death was in fight, Lucina gave no aid; (Preft in thy arms, and whifp'ring me to live :) For both our fakes, (faidft thou) preserve thy life; Live, my dear fister, and my dearer wife. Rais'd by that name, with my laft pangs I ftrove: Such pow'r have words, when spoke by thofe we love. 70 The babe, as if he heard what thou hadft fworn, With hafty joy fprung forward to be born. What helps it to have weather'd out one ftorm? Fear of our father does another form. 80 85 High in his hall, rock'd in a chair of state, 75 They flow'd: my tongue was frozen up with fears. His little grand-child he commands away, |