Heniochus or the Driver
The Charioteer: drivers, racers, and the hands that hold the reins.
[p. 57] But when the Ram first shews thrice five Degrees,The Driver rears his Chariot from the Seas;And climbs that Steep, whence blustering Boreas bringsHis North-East Blasts, and shakes their freezing Wings.He keeps his old Concern, and thence bestowsThose various Arts which here on Earth he chose:To drive the ¹³Chariot, to direct the Course,And hang with forward Lashes on the Horse;Now press directly, now wheel nimbly round,Out-strip the Wind, nor raise the dusty Ground;Or cross athwart, and force the rest to yield,Disperse the Crowd, and clear the gapeing Field:And tho' outstript, yet scorn to stoop to Fear,But, drive on Hope, and leave behind Despair.Or midst the Race from ¹⁴Horse to Horse to leap,Sport o're their Backs, and fix the dangerous step:Or singly mounted break the Foaming Jaws,Throw well the Dart, and force a just applause.
[p. 58] Hence influenc't at his Birth ¹⁵Salmoneus stroveTo vye with Lightning, and to Rival Jove;His Brazen Bridge, and Chariots fiercely hurl'dMust roar like Thunder, and must shake the World.Vain the attempt: But yet his Pride was high,And now he thought he had brought down the Sky:Proudly he rode, but winged Bolts pursue,And his feign'd Thunder's noise provok'd the True;He felt, and by his sad Example shew'd'Twas Fate for Man, to be esteem'd a God.
The fam'd Bellerophon first view'd the LightWhen this appear'd, and took his Aery Flight:O're Seas and Land he fled, and first beganThrough pathless Skies, a way unknown to Man.
The notes
¹³ Manilius is very accurate in describing the particular Niceties observ'd in the Roman racing: Those are not now observ'd amongst us, and therefore we must be content with such Expressions as our Language will afford. (Creech’s note, 1697)
¹⁴ An Exercise much us'd amongst the Romans; the Horse-man rode one Horse, and led another, and in the midst of the Race would throw himself on the led Horse, and so back again as often as he was required; or else would stand upon the Horses back, and in that posture ride the Course. (Creech’s note, 1697)
¹⁵ Salmoneus built a Bridge of Brass, and driving Chariots over it fancy'd he Thundred: This he did to procure himself divine Honours, but was kill'd by a Thunder-bolt for his impious attempt. (Creech’s note, 1697)
¹⁶ The Poets fancy'd Bellerophon rode upon the flying Horse Pegasus. (Creech’s note, 1697)
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The text is Thomas Creech's 1697 verse translation, checked word by word between three scans of the same type (the 1697 printing, the 1700 printing and a third copy). The long s is printed as s; every other spelling is Creech's. Pages are cited as the 1697 printing numbers them. The portrait is William Marshall’s engraving of Lilly from the front of the 1659 printing (Wellcome Library, public domain).