Thus long in mutual Bliss they lay embrac'd,
And their first Love continu'd to the last:
One Sun-fhine was their Life; no Cloud between;
Nor ever was a kinder Couple seen.

And so may all our Lives like theirs be led ; Heav'n send the Maids young Husbands, fresh in May Widows wed as often as they can,

[Bed: And ever for the better change their Man. And some devouring Plague pursue their Lives, Who will not well be govern’d by their Wives,

The Fourteenth Book concludes with the Death

and Deification of Romulus: The Fifteenth begins with the Election of Numa to the Crown of Rome. On this Occasion, Ovid, following the Opinion of fome Authors, makes Numa the Scholar of Pythagoras; and to have begun his Acquaintance with that Philosopher at Crotona, a Town in Italy; from thence he makes a Digression to the Moral and Natural Philosophy of Pythagoras : On both which our Author enlarges ; and which are the most learned and beautiful Parts of the whole Metamorphofes.

:

King is sought to guide the growing State,

(Weight, One able to support the Publick And fill the Throne where Romu

lus had fate. Renown, which oft bespeaks the Publick Voice, Had recommended Numa to their Choice: A peaceful, pious Prince; who not content To know the Sabine Rites, his Study bent To cultivate his Mind: To learn the Laws Of Nature, and explore their hidden Cause. Urg'd by this Care, his Country he forfook, And to Crotona thence his Journey took. Arriyd, he first enquir’d the Founder's Name Of this new Colony; and whence he came. Then thus a Senior of the Place replies, (Well read, and curious of Antiquities) 'Tis faid; Alcides hither took his way From Spain, and drove along his conquer'd Prey; Then, leaving in the Fields his grazing Cows, He fought himself some hospitable House;

t.

a

Good Croton entertain'd his Godlike Guest; • While he repair'd his weary Limbs with Rest. The Hero, thence departing, bless’d the Place; And here, he said, in Time's revolving Race, A rising Town shall take his Name from thee; Revolving Time fulfill'd the Prophecy: For Myfcelos, the justest Man on Earth, Alemon's Son, at Argos had his Birth: Him Hercules, arm'd with his Club of Oak, O’ershadow'd in a Dream, and thus bespoke; Go, leave thy Native Soil, and make Abode Where Æfaris rowls down his rapid Flood: He said ; and Sleep forsook him, and the God. Trembling he wak’d, and rofe with anxious Heart; His Country Laws forbad him to depart: What shou'd he do? 'Twas Death to go away, And the God menac'd if he dar'd to stay: All Day he doubted, and when Night came on, Sleep, and the same forewarning Dream, begun: Once more the God stood threatning o'er his Head; With added Curses if he disobey'd.

[convey, Twice warn'd, he study'd Flight; but wou'd At once, his Person and his Wealth away:

Thus while he linger'd, his Design was heard;
A speedy Process form’d, and Death declar'd.
Witness there needed none of his Offence,
Against himself the Wretch was Evidence :
Condemn’d, and destitute of human Aid,
To him, for whom he suffer'd, thus he pray’d.

O Pow'r who hast deferv'd in Heav'n a Throne
Not giv’n, but by thy Labours made thy own,
Pity thy Suppliant, and protect his Cause,
Whom thou hast made obnoxious to the Laws.

A Custom was of old, and still remains; Which Life or Death by Suffrages ordains; White Stones and Black within an Urn are cast, The first absolve, but Fate is in the last. The Judges to the common Urn bequeath Their Votes, and drop the Sable Signs of Death; TheBox receives all Black,but, pour’d from thence, The Stones came candid forth: The Hue of InnoThus Alemonides his Safety won,

[cence. Preserv'd from Death by Alcumena's Son: Then to his Kinsman-God his Vows he pays, And cuts with prosp?rous Gales th’Ionian Seas :