Nor Tiber, of his promised empire vain. The ground, deep cleft, admits the dazzling ray, And startles Pluto with the flash of day. The seas shrink in, and to the sight disclose Wide, naked plains, where once their billows rose; Their rocks are all discovered, and increase The number of the scattered Cyclades. The fish in shoals about the bottom creep, Nor longer dares the crooked dolphin leap; Gasping for breath, the unshapen phocæ die, _310 And on the boiling wave extended lie. Nereus, and Doris with her virgin train, Seek out the last recesses of the main; Beneath unfathomable depths they faint, And secret in their gloomy regions pant, Stern Neptune thrice above the waves upheld His face, and thrice was by the flames repelled. The Earth at length, on every side embraced With scalding seas, that floated round her waist, When now she felt the springs and rivers come, _320 And crowd within the hollow of her womb. Uplifted to the heavens her blasted head, And clapped her hands upon her brows, and said; (But first, impatient of the sultry heat, Sunk deeper down, and sought a cooler seat:) 'If you, great king of gods, my death approve, And I deserve it, let me die by Jove; If I must perish by the force of fire, Let me transfixed with thunderbolts expire. See, whilst I speak, my breath the vapours choke, _330 (For now her face lay wrapt in clouds of smoke,) See my singed hair, behold my faded eye And withered face, where heaps of cinders lie! And does the plough for this my body tear? This the reward for all the fruits I bear, Tortured with rakes, and harassed all the year? That herbs for cattle daily I renew, And food for man, and frankincense for you? But grant me guilty; what has Neptune done? Why are his waters boiling in the sun? _340 The wavy empire, which by lot was given, Why does it waste, and further shrink from heaven? If I nor lie your pity can provoke, See your own heavens, the heavens begin to smoke! Should once the sparkles catch those bright abodes, Destruction seizes on the heavens and gods; Atlas becomes unequal to his freight, And almost faints beneath the glowing weight. If heaven, and earth, and sea together burn, All must again into their chaos turn. _350 Apply some speedy cure, prevent our fate, And succour nature, e'er it be too late.' She ceased; for, choked with vapours round her spread, Down to the deepest shades she sunk her head. Jove called to witness every power above, And even the god whose son the chariot drove, That what he acts he is compelled to do, Or universal ruin must ensue. Straight he ascends the high ethereal throne, From whence he used to dart his thunder down, _360 From whence his showers and storms he used to pour, But now could meet with neither storm nor shower. Then aiming at the youth, with lifted hand, Full at his head he hurled the forky brand,