Juno at last consenting, paid homage to Bacchus. The island of Naxos, girt by the broad Aegean, Gave to Bacchus the maid whom Theseus abandoned, Compensating her loss by a better husband. 490 Out of the rock there gushed Nyctelian liquor; Babbling streams at his word clove the grassy meadows; Deep the earth drank in the nectarean juices; Streams of snowy milk burst forth from the fountains, 495 Mingled with Lesbian wine all fragrant with spices. Now is the bride to her place in the heavens conducted; Phoebus, with flowing locks, sings a stately anthem; Love, in honor of both, bears the wedding torches; 500 Jove lays down the deadly darts of his lightning, Halting his bolts of flame at the coming of Bacchus. While the gleaming stars in their boundless pasturage wander, While the sea shall gird th' imprisoned earth with its waters, 505 While the full-orb'd moon shall gather her lost refulgence, While the morning star shall herald the coming of Phoebus, While in the north the Bear shall fear the cerulean ocean, Still shall we worship the shining face of the beautiful Bacchus. FOOTNOTES: [2] Reading, _te Dacûm_. ACT III [_Enter_ Creon, _returned from the rites of necromancy_.] _Oedipus_: Although thy face displays the marks of grief, Declare whose death an angry heaven demands. 510 _Creon_: Thou bid'st me speak where fear would silence keep. _Oedipus_: If Thebes, to ruin falling, move thee not, Regard the scepter of thy kindred house. _Creon_: Thou wilt repent the knowledge which thou seek'st. _Oedipus_: A useless cure for ills is ignorance. 515 And wilt thou still obstruct the public weal? _Creon_: Where foul the cure, 'tis grievous to be cured. _Oedipus_: Thy tidings speak; or, by thy pains subdued, Thou soon shalt know what angered kings can do. _Creon_: Kings hate the words whose speech they would compel. 520 _Oedipus_: In hades shalt thou pay thy life for all, Unless thou tell the secrets of the fates. _Creon_: Nay, let me hold my peace. No smaller boon Was ever sought. _Oedipus_: More often than by speech, Have kingdoms by the boon of silence fall'n. 525 _Creon_: When silence is denied what can be given? _Oedipus_: He sins who silence holds when speech is best. _Creon_: Then hear in peace the words which I must speak. _Oedipus_: Was ever punishment for speech compelled?