Classic Poem

V.

Mean while, great Jove did secretly confer
With his most trusty Messenger,
And Hermes with Commission sent,
The Parcae's Scissars to prevent,
As swift as Thought he shot thro Air,
And to the fatal Dwelling did repair.
An ancient venerable Pile it stood,
Amidst an intricate and gloomy Wood:
But one small Path led to the sacred Dominion
And that with Thorns and Brambles overgrown:
But when poor Mortals from that State retire,
Oh how each Tree, and meanest Shrub, to let them out conspire!
Hard at their Work, the Sisters all he found,
With Threads, and Bits of Threads encompass'd round.
Clotho with nimble Fingers pick'd the Wooll,
And Lachesis the tender Line did pull;
But cruel Atropos, with greedy Knife,
Still cut in two the slender Thread of Life.
With curious Eyes he long survey'd their State,
And view'd the just Oeconomy of Fate:
At last the wond'ring Envoy Silence broke,
And to th' attentive Sisters, thus he spoke.