ng wine.

Now the strong fires spread wide o'er every part,
Crackling, and seizing his regardless limbs,
Who them despis'd. The gods beheld with fear
The earth's avenger. Jove, who saw their care
With joyous countenance, thus the powers address'd:
"This fear, O deities! makes glad my heart;
"And lively pleasure swells in all my breast,
"That sire and sovereign o'er such grateful minds
"I hold my sway; since to my offspring too
"Your favoring care extends. No less, 'tis true,
"His deeds stupendous claim. Still I'm oblig'd.
"But from your anxious breasts banish vain fear;
"Despise those flames of OEte; he who all
"O'ercame, shall conquer even the flames you see:
"Nor shall the power of Vulcan ought consume,
"Save his maternal part: what he deriv'd
"From me, is ever-during; safe from death;
"And never vanquish'd by the force of fire.
"That we'll receive, his earthly race compleat,
"Amidst the heavenly host; and all I trust
"My actions gladly will approve. Should one
"Haply, with grief see Hercules a god,
"And grudge the high reward; ev'n he shall grant
"His great deserts demand it; and allow
"Unwilling approbation." All assent;
Not even his royal spouse's forehead wore,
A frown at ought he said; his final words
Irk'd her at length, to be so plainly mark'd.
Vulcan meantime each corruptible part
Bore off in flames, nor could Alcides' form
Remaining, now be known; nought he retain'd
Of what his mother gave; Jove's share alone.
A serpent revels thus in glittering scales,
His age and former skin thrown off at once.
So when Tirynthius from his mortal limbs
Departed, in his better part he shone,
Increas'd in stature; and majestic grace
Augustly deck'd his venerable brow.
Veil'd in a hollow cloud, and borne along
By four swift steeds, in a high car, the sire
Him plac'd in glory 'mid the radiant stars.
Atlas perceiv'd his load increas'd. Nor yet
Eurystheus 'bated in his rancorous hate,
But cruel exercis'd his savage rage,
Against the offspring of the sire abhorr'd.

But now Alcmena, worn with constant cares,
In Argolis, to Ioele confides
Her aged plaints, to her the labors tells
Her son atchiev'd, o'er all the wide world known;
And her own griefs beside. Alcides' words
Caus'd Hyllus to his couch to take, and take
Ioele, cordial to his inmost heart:
And now with generous fruit, the nymph was large.
Alcme