So fares the sailor on the stormy main, 520 When clouds conceal Bootes' golden wain, When not a star its friendly lustre keeps, Nor trembling Cynthia glimmers on the deeps; He dreads the rocks, and shoals, and seas, and skies, While thunder roars, and lightning round him flies. Thus strove the chief, on every side distress'd; Thus still his courage with his toils increased: With his broad shield opposed, he forced his way Through thickest woods, and roused the beasts of prey Till he beheld, where from Larissa's height, 530 The shelving walls reflect a glancing light: Thither with haste the Theban hero flies; On this side Lerna's poisonous water lies, On that Prosymna's grove and temple rise: He pass'd the gates which then unguarded lay, And to the regal palace bent his way; On the cold marble, spent with toil, he lies, And waits till pleasing slumbers seal his eyes. Adrastus here his happy people sways, Bless'd with calm peace in his declining days; 540 By both his parents of descent divine, Great Jove and Phoebus graced his noble line: Heaven had not crown'd his wishes with a son, But two fair daughters heir'd his state and throne. To him Apollo (wondrous to relate! But who can pierce into the depths of fate?) Had sung--'Expect thy sons on Argos' shore, A yellow lion and a bristly boar.' This, long revolved in his paternal breast, Sat heavy on his heart, and broke his rest; 550 This, great Amphiaraus! lay hid from thee, Though skill'd in fate and dark futurity. The father's care and prophet's art were vain, For thus did the predicting god ordain. Lo, hapless Tydeus, whose ill-fated hand Had slain his brother, leaves his native land, And, seized with horror, in the shades of night, Through the thick deserts headlong urged his flight: Now by the fury of the tempest driven, He seeks a shelter from th' inclement heaven, 560 Till, led by fate, the Theban's steps he treads, And to fair Argos' open court succeeds. When thus the chiefs from different lands resort To Adrastus' realms and hospitable court, The king surveys his guests with curious eyes, And views their arms and habit with surprise. A lion's yellow skin the Theban wears, Horrid his mane, and rough with curling hairs: Such once employ'd Alcides' youthful toils, Ere yet adorn'd with Nemea's dreadful spoils. 570 A boar's stiff hide, of Calydonian breed, Oenides' manly shoulders overspread; Oblique his tusks, erect his bristles stood, Alive, the pride and terror of the wood. Struck with the sight, and fix'd in deep amaze, The king th' accomplish'd oracle surveys, Reveres Apollo's vocal caves, and owns The guiding godhead, and his future sons. O'er all his bosom secret transports reign, And a glad horror shoots through every vein: 580 To heaven he lifts his hands, erects his sight, And thus invokes the silent queen of night: