Nor victims sink beneath the sacred stroke; } But to your Isis all my rites transfer, Let altars blaze and temples smoke for her; For her, through Egypt's fruitful clime renowned 375 Let weeping Nilus hear the timbrel sound. But if thou must reform the stubborn times, Avenging on the sons the father's crimes, And from the long records of distant age Derive incitements to renew thy rage; 380 Say, from what period then has Jove designed To date his vengeance; to what bounds confined? Begin from thence, where first Alpheus hides } His wand'ring stream, and through the briny tides } Unmixed to his Sicilian river glides.[69] } 385 Thy own Arcadians there the thunder claim, Whose impious rites disgrace thy mighty name;[70] Who raise thy temples where the chariot stood Of fierce Oenomaus, defiled with blood:[71] Where once his steeds their savage banquet found, 390 And human bones yet whiten all the ground. Say, can those honours please; and canst thou love Presumptuous Crete that boasts the tomb of Jove?[72] And shall not Tantalus's kingdoms share Thy wife and sister's tutelary care? 395 Reverse, O Jove, thy too severe decree, Nor doom to war a race derived from, thee;[73] On impious realms and barb'rous kings impose Thy plagues, and curse 'em with such sons[74] as those." Thus, in reproach and pray'r, the queen expressed 400 The rage and grief contending in her breast; Unmoved remained the ruler of the sky, And from his throne returned this stern reply: "'Twas thus I deemed thy haughty soul would bear } The dire, though just, revenge which I prepare } 405 Against a nation thy peculiar care: } No less Dione might for Thebes contend, Nor Bacchus less his native town defend; Yet these in silence see the fates fulfil Their work, and rev'rence our superior will. 410 For by the black infernal Styx I swear, (That dreadful oath which binds the thunderer) 'Tis fixed; th' irrevocable doom of Jove; No force can bend me, no persuasion move. Haste then, Cyllenius,[75] through the liquid air; 415 Go, mount the winds, and to the shades repair; Bid hell's black monarch my commands obey, And give up Laius to the realms of day, Whose ghost yet shiv'ring on Cocytus' sand, Expects its passage to the further strand: 420 Let the pale sire revisit Thebes, and bear These pleasing orders to the tyrant's ear;[76] That from his exiled brother, swelled with pride Of foreign forces, and his Argive bride, Almighty Jove commands him to detain 425