Andromeda

[p. 76] What Constellations rise with Pisces

Next shines Andromeda; she leaves the Sea,And on the Right joins Pisces twelfth Degree.Bright she appears, and gay with sparkling Fires,As when young Perseus first felt warm desires.Unhappy Maid! expos'd to rage Divine,A faultless Victim for her Mother's Sin:When Seas let loose o'reflow'd the fruitful Plain,And Earth now fear'd its ruin from the Main;Nought could appease, but to the injur'd FloodThe Maid resign'd, to quench its rage with Blood.This was her Bridal, in her Robes of State;But not provided for so sad a Fate,Glorious she lookt, and like the setting Sun,Greater, tho not so fierce, her Beauty shone.No joyful Torch its ominous Flames did spread,No Vows were heard to crown her fruitful Bed;But Groans and Tears, e're Death pronounc'd her doomThe Maid was born alive to her own Tomb.

[p. 77] Hence fly my Muse, and on the naked ShoreLeave the poor Maid, and dare to look no more;'Twill melt thy Song to turn again to view,The weeping Parents bid their last adieu;To see her fetter'd, and expos'd to pain,Design'd by Nature for another Chain:To see her hang on Rocks, and by her sideGrim Death appear, and point to the swoln Tide.Yet turn, and view how she her Shape retains,How fair she looks, and glorious in her Chains:With what becoming fear her flowing VestForsakes her Limbs, and leaves her naked Breast:What hidden Beauties are expos'd to sight,Like Lightning glare, but must be lost in night.

By her the Halcyons mourn'd, and round the Coast,That so much Beauty should in vain be lost,The Nymphs repin'd; and Nereis from the DeepBewail'd her Fate, and did consent to weep:The gentle Breeze that fann'd her golden Locks,Turn'd into Sighs, and murmur'd to the Rocks:All Nature seem'd concern'd, despairing GriefWas general, but too weak to yield relief.

Then Perseus, glorious with the Gorgon's Spoil,By Love directed to a nobler Toil,Kind Fortune brought; and at the wondrous sightHe checkt his Horse, and stopt his airy flight;His Hand scarce held his Spoil, Medusa's EyesHe bore, but now grew stiff at this surprise;The Chains that held her, and the burth'ned StoneHe happy call'd, and envy'd joys unknown.Amaz'd a while he hung, her Form survey'd,Then heard the Story from the weeping Maid;Streight in his Breast high generous thoughts were bred,To spoil the Ocean to adorn his Bed:And should a thousand frightful Gorgons rise,He would oppose them for so vast a Prize:

[p. 78] Fixt on these Thoughts he leaves the mournful Shore,Her Parents chears, and bids them weep no more,For Aid was come: And their Consent desir'dWas granted soon, and nobler warmth inspir'd.Back he returns: Now teeming Seas did roar,Waves fled the Monster, and o'reflow'd the Shore;High rais'd his Head, he spouts the Floods around,All Nereus ecchoes, and the Shores resound:Wide gapes his Mouth, and as on a vast RockDasht on each Tooth the foaming Billows broke:His winding Tail o're half the Main was spread,The Ocean groan'd, Rocks fear'd, and Mountains fled:

Unhappy Maid! though such an Aid was near,What was thy Mind, and how surpris'd with fear?How pale thy Look? and how thy Spirit fledIn a deep sigh, and hover'd round thy Head?How bloodless all thy Limbs, when from deep CavesThe Monster rush'd, and bore the foaming WavesAnd Fate along? and all design'd for theeA Prey how little, for so vast a Sea!But Perseus, nimble Aid descends, and hidesThe Gorgon's Fauchion in his scaly Sides;He twists upon the Wound, then strives to rearHis head, and shoots up forward thro the Air:Perseus retires, and still deludes his Foe,Hangs in the Sky, and aims a surer Blow:He presses on, and casts his Jaws around,Bites at the Air, but bites without a Wound:Then tosses Seas to Heaven, spouts purple FloodsAt his high Foe, and drowns him in the Clouds.

[p. 79] The Maid beheld this Fight, and, grateful grown,Fear'd for his danger, but forgot her own;Doubtful which way the various Fate inclin'd,In Body less suspended than in Mind:Her doubt not long; for now Success did proveThe great advantage, and the force of Love;The Monster groan'd, and from his Wounds there flow'dA mighty Stream, and stain'd the Seas with Blood.Down deep he sinks, but soon he floats again,And his vast Carcass covers all the Main;Breathless he lay, yet then his shape did fright;Tho dead, he was too dreadful for her sight.Now big with Conquest, from the cleansing FloodBright Perseus rose, and more August he stood;Then to the Rocks with eager haste he flies,Unbinds the Virgin, and enjoys the Prize.

And hence Andromeda now shines a Star,The Cause, and the Reward of such a War,As freed the Ocean, and restor'd the MainTo Neptune's sway, and fixt him in his Reign.And he that sees her rising Beams, shall drawThe Sword of Justice, and shall smite by Law;Dungeons shall be, and Whips and Racks his care,Steel'd against Pity, and averse to spare.At his stern feet shall wretched Wives complain,And weeping Mothers tell their grief in vain:Though late at night to kiss a parting Son,And draw his flying Soul into his own;A Father sues, in unrelenting EarsHis Prayers are lost, nor shall he yield to Tears.

Or lean pale Hangmen shall her Beams create,Those solemn Murderers and Slaves to Fate:Who on the Curses of the pitying CrowdIgnobly thrive; and live on shedding Blood.But he that sees her chain'd to Rocks, shall findA meaner Fortune, though as fierce a Mind;A Goaler he shall be, secure for painsPoor Slaves, and be a ³¹partner of their Chains.