To Her Grace the Dutchess of St Albans OVID's METAMORPHOSES. BOOK XV. Translated by Mr. Dryden, and Others. The Pythagorean Philosophy. By Mr. Dryden. KING is sought to guide the growing State,       } {\displaystyle \scriptstyle {\left.{\begin{matrix}\ \\\\\ \ \end{matrix}}\right\}\,}} One able to support the Publick Weight, And fill the Throne where Romulus had sate. Renown, which oft bespeaks the Publick Voice, Had recommended Numa to their Choice: A peaceful, pious Prince; who not content To know the Sabine Rites, his Study bent To cultivate his Mind; to learn the Laws Of Nature, and explore their hidden Cause. Urg'd by this Care, his Country he forsook, And to Crotona thence his Journey took. Arriv'd, he first enquir'd the Founder's Name Of this new Colony; and whence he came. Then thus a Senior of the Place replies, (Well read, and curious of Antiquities) 'Tis said, Alcides hither took his way From Spain, and drove along his conquer'd Prey; Then, leaving in the Fields his grazing Cows, He sought himself some hospitable House: Good Croton entertain'd his Godlike Guest; While he repair'd his weary Limbs with Rest. The Hero, thence departing, bless'd the Place; And here, he said, in Time's revolving Race, A rising Town shall take his Name from thee. Revolving Time fulfill'd the Prophecy: For Myscelos, the justest Man on Earth, Alemon's Son, at Argos had his Birth: Him Hercules, arm'd with his Club of Oak, O'ershadow'd in a Dream, and thus bespoke; Go, leave thy Native Soil, and make Abode, Where Æsaris rowls down his rapid Flood: He said; and Sleep forsook him, and the God. Trembling he wak'd, and rose with anxious Heart; His Country Laws forbad him to depart: What shou'd he do? 'Twas Death to go away, And the God menac'd, if he dar'd to stay. All Day he doubted, and when Night came on, Sleep, and the same forewarning Dream, begun: Once more the God stood threatning o'er his Head; With added Curses if he disobey'd. Twice warn'd, he study'd Flight; but wou'd convey, At once, his Person, and his Wealth away: Thus while he linger'd, his Design was heard; A speedy Process form'd, and Death declar'd. Witness there needed none of his Offence; Against himself the Wretch was Evidence: Condemn'd, and destitute of human Aid, To him, for whom he suffer'd, thus he pray'd. O Pow'r, who hast deserv'd in Heav'n a Throne, Not giv'n, but by thy Labours made thy own, Pity thy Suppliant, and protect his Cause, Whom thou hast made obnoxious to the Laws. A Custom was of old, and still remains, Which Life, or Death by Suffrages ordains: White Stones, and Black within an Urn are cast; The first absolve, but Fate is in the last. The Judges to the common Urn bequeath Their Votes, and drop the Sable Signs of Death; The Box receives all Black, but, pour'd from thence, The Stones came candid forth; the Hue of Innocence. Thus Alemonides his Safety won, Preserv'd from Death by Alcumena's Son: Then to his Kinsman-God his Vows he pays, And cuts with prosp'rous Gales th' Ionian Seas: He leaves Tarentum, favour'd by the Wind, And Thurine Bays, and Temises, behind; Soft Sybaris, and all the Capes that stand Along the Shore, he makes in sight of Land; Still doubling, and still coasting, till he found The Mouth of Æsaris, and promis'd Ground; Then saw, where, on the Margin of the Flood, The Tomb, that held the Bones of Croton stood: Here, by the Gods Command, he built, and wall'd The Place predicted; and Crotona call'd.