faw twelve gigantic figures resembling women; they were all employed about a loom; and, as they wove, they fung the following dreadful Song; which, when they had finished, they tore the web into twelve pieces, and (each taking her portion) galloped fix to the North, and as many to the South, THE FATAL SISTERS. AN OD E. OW the ftorm begins to lowr, Note.---The Valkyriur were female divinities, fervants of Odin (or Woden) in the Gothic mythology. Their name fignifies Chufers of the slain. They were mounted on fwift horfes, with drawn fwords in their hands, and in the throng of battle selected fuch as were deftined to flaughter, and conducted them to Valkalla, the hall of Odin, or paradife of the Brave; where they attended the banquet, and ferved the departed heroes with horns of mead and ale, Iron fleet of arrowy fhower* Hurtles in the darken'd air + Glitt❜ring lances are the loom, See the griefly texture grow, Shafts for shuttles dipt in gore, * How quick they wheel'd; and flying, behind them shot Sharp fleet of arrowy shower--- Milton's Paradife Regain'd. + The noife of battle hurtled in the air. Shakespeare's Julius Cæfar. Mista, black, terrific Maid, Join, the wayward work to aid: Ere the ruddy Sun be fet, Pikes must shiver, javelins fing, (Weave the crimson web of war) Let us go, and let us fly, Where our Friends the conflict share, Where they triumph, where they die. As the paths of Fate we tread, Wading through th' enfanguin'd field: Gondula and Geira spread O'er the youthful king your shield. We the reins to flaughter give, They, whom once the defart beach Pent within its bleak domain, Soon their ample fway shall stretch O'er the plenty of the plain. Low the dauntlefs Earl is laid, Gor'd with many a gaping wound; Fate demands a nobler head; Soon a king fhall bite the ground. Long his lofs fhall Eirin weep, Horror covers all the heath, Hail the task, and hail the hands! |