The Thracians, fired at this inhuman scene, With darts and stones assail the frantic queen. She snarls and growls, nor in a human tone; Then bites impatient at the bounding stone; Extends her jaws, as she her voice would raise To keen invectives in her wonted phrase; But barks, and thence the yelping brute betrays. Still a sad monument the place remains, And from this monstrous change its name obtains: Where she, in long remembrance of her ills, With plaintive howlings the wide desert fills.
Greeks, Trojans, friends and foes, and gods above, Her numerous wrongs to just compassion move. Ev’n Juno’s self forgets her ancient hate, And owns she had deserved a milder fate.
Memnon, the son of Aurora, is killed by Achilles at the siege of Troy—In honour of his memory, and in compliance with the prayers of his mother, Jupiter causes birds, called Memnonides, to spring from his ashes, who divide into two parties, and contend with mutual acrimony.