Oh hear! and aid the vengeance I require, If worthy thee, and what thou mightst inspire. My sons their old, unhappy sire despise, Spoiled of his kingdom, and deprived of eyes; Guideless I wander, unregarded mourn, 105 Whilst these exalt their sceptres o'er my urn; These sons, ye gods! who with flagitious pride Insult my darkness, and my groans deride. Art thou a father, unregarding Jove![25] And sleeps thy thunder in the realms above? 110 Thou fury, then some lasting curse entail, Which o'er their children's children shall prevail:[26] Place on their heads that crown distained with gore, Which these dire hands from my slain father tore;[27] Go! and a parent's heavy curses bear; } 115 Break all the bonds of nature, and prepare[28] } Their kindred souls to mutual hate and war. } Give them to dare, what I might wish to see Blind as I am, some glorious villainy! Soon shalt thou find, if thou but arm their hands, 120 Their ready guilt preventing[29] thy commands: Couldst thou some great, proportioned mischief frame, They'd prove the father from whose loins they came." The fury heard, while on Cocytus'[30] brink Her snakes untied, sulphureous waters drink; 125 But at the summons rolled her eyes around, And snatched the starting serpents from the ground. Not half so swiftly shoots along in air The gliding lightning, or descending star. Through crowds of airy shades she winged her flight, 130 And dark dominions of the silent night; Swift as she passed the flitting ghosts withdrew,[31] And the pale spectres trembled at her view: To th' iron gates of Tænarus[32] she flies, There spreads her dusky pinions to the skies. 135 The day beheld, and sick'ning at the sight, Veiled her fair glories in the shades of night. Affrighted Atlas, on the distant shore, Trembled, and shook the heav'ns and gods he bore.[33] Now from beneath Malea's[34] airy height 140 Aloft she sprung, and steered to Thebes her flight; With eager speed the well-known journey[35] took, Nor here regrets the hell she late forsook. A hundred snakes her gloomy visage shade, A hundred serpents guard her horrid head, 145 In her sunk eye-balls dreadful meteors glow:[36] Such rays from Phoebe's bloody circle flow, When lab'ring with strong charms, she shoots from high A fiery gleam, and reddens all the sky. Blood stained her cheeks, and from her mouth there came 150 Blue steaming poisons, and a length of flame: From ev'ry blast of her contagious breath Famine and drought proceed, and plagues, and death. A robe obscene was o'er her shoulders thrown,