Oh thou who freest me from my doubtful state, Long lost and wildered in the maze of fate! Be present still, oh goddess! in our aid; 590 Proceed, and firm[104] those omens thou hast made. We to thy name our annual rites will pay, And on thy altars sacrifices lay; The sable flock shall fall beneath the stroke, And fill thy temples with a grateful smoke. 595 Hail, faithful Tripos! hail, ye dark abodes Of awful Phoebus: I confess the gods!" Thus, seized with sacred fear, the monarch prayed; Then to his inner court the guests conveyed; Where yet thin fumes from dying sparks arise, } 600 And dust yet white upon each altar lies, } The relics of a former sacrifice. } The king once more the solemn rites requires, And bids renew the feasts, and wake the fires.[105] His train obey, while all the courts around 605 With noisy care and various tumult sound. Embroidered purple clothes the golden beds; This slave the floor, and that the table spreads; A third dispels the darkness of the night, And fills depending lamps with beams of light. 610 Here loaves in canisters are piled on high, And there in flames the slaughtered victims fry.[106] Sublime in regal state Adrastus shone, Stretched on rich carpets on his iv'ry throne; A lofty couch receives each princely guest; 615 Around, at awful distance, wait the rest. And now the king, his royal feast to grace, Acestis calls, the guardian[107] of his race, Who first their youth in arts of virtue trained, And their ripe years in modest grace maintained; 620 Then softly whispered in her faithful ear, And bade his daughters at the rites appear. When from the close apartments of the night, The royal nymphs approach divinely bright; Such was Diana's, such Minerva's face; 625 Nor shine their beauties with superior grace, But that in these a milder charm endears, And less of terror in their looks appears. As on the heroes first they cast their eyes, O'er their fair cheeks the glowing blushes rise, 630 Their downcast looks a decent shame confessed, Then on their father's rev'rend features rest. The banquet done, the monarch gives the sign To fill the goblet high with sparkling wine, Which Danaus used in sacred rites of old, 635 With sculpture graced, and rough with rising gold. Here to the clouds victorious Perseus flies, } Medusa seems to move her languid eyes, } And, ev'n in gold, turns paler as she dies.[108] } There from the chace Jove's tow'ring eagle bears, 640 On golden wings, the Phrygian to the stars:[109]