Whole days with him she passes in delights, And wastes in luxury long winter nights, Forgetful of her fame and royal trust, Dissolv'd in ease, abandon'd to her lust.
The goddess widely spreads the loud report, And flies at length to King Hyarba's court.
When first possess'd with this unwelcome news Whom did he not of men and gods accuse?
This prince, from ravish'd Garamantis born, A hundred temples did with spoils adorn, In Ammon's honor, his celestial sire;A hundred altars fed with wakeful fire;
And, thro' his vast dominions, priests ordain'd, Whose watchful care these holy rites maintain'd.
The gates and columns were with garlands crown'd, And blood of victim beasts enrich'd the ground.
He, when he heard a fugitive could move The Tyrian princess, who disdain'd his love, His breast with fury burn'd, his eyes with fire, Mad with despair, impatient with desire;Then on the sacred altars pouring wine, He thus with pray'rs implor'd his sire divine:
"Great Jove! propitious to the Moorish race, Who feast on painted beds, with off'rings grace Thy temples, and adore thy pow'r divine With blood of victims, and with sparkling wine, Seest thou not this? or do we fear in vain Thy boasted thunder, and thy thoughtless reign?
Do thy broad hands the forky lightnings lance?
Thine are the bolts, or the blind work of chance?
A wand'ring woman builds, within our state, A little town, bought at an easy rate;She pays me homage, and my grants allow A narrow space of Libyan lands to plow;Yet, scorning me, by passion blindly led, Admits a banish'd Trojan to her bed!
And now this other Paris, with his train Of conquer'd cowards, must in Afric reign!
(Whom, what they are, their looks and garb confess, Their locks with oil perfum'd, their Lydian dress.)He takes the spoil, enjoys the princely dame;And I, rejected I, adore an empty name."
His vows, in haughty terms, he thus preferr'd, And held his altar's horns.The mighty Thund'rer heard;Then cast his eyes on Carthage, where he found The lustful pair in lawless pleasure drown'd, Lost in their loves, insensible of shame, And both forgetful of their better fame.