i 



3' 



The eel, swift-gliding thro* the wat'ry plain, 

 Devours the fry, and smaller finny trai, 

 And smelts, and gudgeons, seek the shore in vain, 

 In bulk with years while other fishes rise, 

 Why gudgeons, loach, and smelts are small in size, 

 And still the old continue dwarfs, relate 

 The rise, ye Muses, of the minim state. 

 Where, with a tardy current, near the sea, 

 The Po in slow meanders takes its way, 

 A band of children on the borders stood, 

 Engag'd in play, and in the silver flood 

 Threw stones, which, sliding on the wat'ry plain, 

 Now seem to sink and now emerge again. 

 Beneath the stream the sisters of the sea 

 Then listening sat to Clio's tales, whom she 

 Amused with amours of absent Ephire. 

 When ^Egle first the dashing pebbles heard, 

 She at the surface of the stream appear'd, 

 Enjoin'd the boys to leave the river's side, 

 And added threats -, they bold her threats defy'd, 

 And casting impious stones, in scorn they cry ; 

 f Lo, thus to your complainings, we reply !" 

 ^Egle affrighted soon return'd again, 

 And filling with her shrieks the wat'ry plain; 

 " Ye gods shall this audacious crew," she cries, 

 " Who me with taunting words and stones defies, 

 Escape unhurt? shall youth their crime excuse? 

 No age unpunish'd must the gods abuse! 

 Call then a monster from the neighb'ring main, 

 To wreak our vengeance on the impious train." 

 She said, and Ocean to the sisters gave 

 A dreadful form, which rose above the wave. 

 The boys beheld and trembled at the sight, 

 And try'd to fly, but fear arrests their flight; 

 Breathless they fell, their limbs the monster tore, 

 And in the river cast 'em from the shore} 



Then 



