Ovid's epistles translated by several hands.

HYPERMNESTRA TO LINUS.

BY M^r. WRIGHT.

The ARGUMENT.

Danaus, King of Argos, had by several Wives Fifty Daughters, his Brother Aegiptus as ma∣ny Sons. Danaus refusing to Marry his D••ughters to his Brothers Sons, was at last compelled by an Army. In revenge, he com∣mands his Daughters each to Murder her Husband on the Wedding Night. All obeyd but Hypermnestra, who assisted her Husband Linus to escape, for which being afterwards imprisoned and put in Irons, she writes this Epistle.

To that dear Brother who alone survives lives, Of Fifty, late, whose love betray'd their Writes she that suffers in her Lords defence; Unhappy Wife whose Crime's her Innocence!

For saving him I lov'd, I'me guilty call'd: Had I been truly so, I'de been extoll'd. Let me be guilty still, since this they say Is Guilt, I glory thus to disobey. Torments nor Death shall draw me to repent: Though against me they use that Instrument From which I sav'd a Husbands dearer life, And with one Sword kill Linus in his Wife; Yet will I ne're repent for b••ing true, Or blush t'have lov'd: that let my Sisters do: Such shame, and such repentance is their due. I'm seiz'd with terror while I but relate, And shun remembrance of a Crime I hate▪ The frightful memory of that dire night En••rvates so my hand I scarce can write. How er'e I'le try. With Ceremony gay, Just at the fall of Night, and rise of Day,

The wicked Sisters were in triumph led, And I among 'em, to the Nuptial Bed. The Marriage Lights as funeral Lamps appear, And threatning Omens met us every where. Hymen they call: Hymen neglects their Cryes: Nay Iuno too from her own Argos flyes. Now come the Bridegrooms, high with wine, to find Something with us more lov'd than Wine, behind. ••ull of impatient Love, careless, and brave, ••hey seize the Bed, not seeing there a Grave. What follow'd shame forbids me to express; ••ut who so ignorant as not to guess? ••ow their tyr'd Senses they to sleep commit, •• sleep as still as Death; ah, too like it! ••••was then methought I heard their groans that dyed; ••las! 'twas more than thought! I terrified ••ay trembling, cold, and without power to move, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 that dear Bed which you had made me love.

While you in the soft Bonds of Sleep lay fast, Charm••d with the joys of love, then newly past: Fearing to disobey, I rise at last. Witness sweet heavens, how tender was the strife Betwixt the name of Daughter and a Wife. Thrice o're your breast, which did so lately joyn In such an Extasie of love to mine, I rais'd the pointed Steel to pierce that part, But ah! th'attempt strook nearer my own heart. My Soul divided thus, these words, among A thousand sighs, fell softly from my tongue. 'Dost thou not heed a Fathers awful will? 'Dost thou not fear his power? On then, and kill▪ 'How can I kill when I consider who? 'Can I think death? against a Lover too? 'What has my Sex with Blood and Arms to do? 'Fye, thou art now by Love to Shame betray'd: 'Thy Sister-Brides by this have all obey'd.

'With Shame their Courage and their Duty see: 'If not a Daughter, yet a Sister be. 'No, I will never strike: If one must dye 'Linus shall live, and my death his supply. 'What has he done, or I, what greater ill? 'For him to dye, and I, much worse, to kill? 'Were he as guilty as my Father wou'd 'Present him, why must I be stain'd with bloud? 'Poinards and Swords ill with my Sex agree: 'Soft Looks, and Sighs of Love, our weapons be. As I lamented thus, the tears apace Dropt from my pitying eyes, on thy lov'd face. While you, with kind & amorous Dreams possest, Threw carelesly your dear arm o're my breast, There thinking to repeat Joys lately known, Your hand upon my Sword was almost thrown. 'Twas time to call, nor longer I forbore, Dreading the Days approach, my Fathers more.

Wake Linus, wake, I cry'd; O quickly wake, Or sleep for ever here; Th'alarm you take, Start up: ask twenty questions in one breath: To all I answer thus—Delay is death; Fly while 'tis dark, and scape eternal night. While it was dark you made a happy flight: I stay'd to meet the terrors of the Light. With day my Father comes, the dead to view; And finds the dismal Sum one short, by you. Enrag'd to see his treachery betray'd, By his command I'me thus in Fetters laid. Is this reward due to my Love from Fate? Ah, wretched flame! Passion unfortunate! Since Iö suffer'd under Iuno's Rage, Nothing that Rival'd Goddess can asswage. Th'unhappy Mistress of the mighty Iove Chang'd to a Cow, a form un••pt for Love,

Views in her Fathers streams her heads array, Sees her own horns, and frighted, starts away. When she wou'd speak, she lows: and equal ••ears From her own self surprize her eyes and ears. In vain to loose the frightful shape she tries, For Iö follows still where Iö flies. In vain she wanders over Lands and S••as; Can she find Cure whose self is the Disease? Sadly severe the change in her appear'd, Whose Beauty Iove and lov'd, and Iuno fear'd. Grass and the Springs her food and drink supply; Her only Lodging's the unsheltring Sky. What need I urge Antiquity? my fate Is a fresh instance of the Goddess hate▪ A double stock of Tears by me are spilt Both for my Brothers death, and Sis••ers guilt. Yet, as if that were small, these Chains arrive, 'Cause I, alone, am guiltless, you alive.

But, my dear Lord, if any thought you have Or of the Love, or of the life I gave: If any memory with you does last. Or of the Pleasures, or the Dangers past, Now, Linus, now some help to her afford Who wants the Liberty she gave her Lord. If life forsake me e're I you can see, And death, before my Linus, set me free, Yet my unhappy Earth from hence remove; And give those Obsequies are due to Love. When I'me inter'd I know some tears will fall: Then let this little Epitaph be all. Here lies a Love Compleat, tho hapless wife, Who catch't the Death aim'd at her husbands life. Here I must rest my hand, tho much remains, 'Tis quite disabled with the weight of Chains.