Meridian waver’d, and declined the fray:

Thus onward Horus roll’d triumphantly!

The god, though angry with this vain pretence,

Forgave Meridian the unjust offence,—

On this condition—that he’d[207] ne’er again

Dispute his passage through the vaulted main.

Meridian thankfully received the boon,

And thus renounced all title to the throne.

VII.

Just as Meridian felt so dire dismay’d,