The Idyllia, Epigrams, and Fragments, of Theocritus, Bion, and Moschus with the Elegies of Tyrtaeus, Translated from the Greek into English Verse. To which are Added, Dissertations and Notes. By the Rev. Richard Polwhele |
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| XXIV. | IDYLLIUM the TWENTY-FOURTH. The YOUNG HERCULES. |
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 | The Idyllia, Epigrams, and Fragments, of Theocritus, Bion, and Moschus |  |
178
IDYLLIUM the TWENTY-FOURTH. The YOUNG HERCULES.
Soon as Alcmena bade her pleasing Care
Wash'd, and with Milk well fed, for Rest prepare,
Alcides, who ten Months had seen the Light,
And Iphiclus, just younger by a Night;
She gently laid them on the brazen Shield
(Which great Amphitryon in the tented Field
From Pterilas had won) on either Head
Plac'd her fair Hands, and fondly-smiling said:
‘Sleep—sleep secure, my Boys, the Night away;
‘Sweet be your easy Rest, 'till dawning Day.’
She spoke: And strait their heavy Eye-lids yield
To Slumber, as she rocks the cradling Shield.
Wash'd, and with Milk well fed, for Rest prepare,
Alcides, who ten Months had seen the Light,
And Iphiclus, just younger by a Night;
She gently laid them on the brazen Shield
(Which great Amphitryon in the tented Field
From Pterilas had won) on either Head
Plac'd her fair Hands, and fondly-smiling said:
‘Sleep—sleep secure, my Boys, the Night away;
‘Sweet be your easy Rest, 'till dawning Day.’
She spoke: And strait their heavy Eye-lids yield
To Slumber, as she rocks the cradling Shield.
But when descending Ursa mark'd the Skies,
Where the red Rays of broad Orion rise,
Amid the Shades of Midnight Juno sent
(Her vengeful Soul unknowing to relent)
Two Serpents, with Commission to destroy
The infant Hercules, Jove's vigorous Boy!
Terrific thro' the Portal's Valves they came,
Their Eye-balls shooting a pernicious Flame!
Bristled their azure Scales o'er many a Fold,
Then prone to Earth their blood-swoln Bellies roll'd!
And as along the marble Floor they flew,
Fell Poison from their Jaws the Monsters threw.
Now hissing o'er the Shield the Serpents hung,
Each brandishing in Rage his forked Tongue!
When strait (for Jove sees all) the Babes awoke,
And thro' the Room a steady Splendor broke!
As their dire Fangs caught Iphiclus's Eye,
The Child to Pity rais'd a short shrill Cry;
Quick from his little Limbs the Covering cast,
And sought to fly—with shivering Fear aghast.
But young Alcides stretch'd (nor stretch'd in vain)
His Arms, to clasp them in a deadly Chain.
With eager Hands their swelling Throats he seiz'd,
And Venom, hateful to the Immortals, squeez'd
From their black Jaws! Convuls'd, they writh'd each Spire
Around the Babe who felt the Hero's Fire!
Who, yet unwean'd, ne'er shudder'd with Alarms,
Or cried, or blubber'd, in his Nurse's Arms!
Their Curls relax'd in many a livid Stripe,
At length they yielded to an Infant's Gripe.
Where the red Rays of broad Orion rise,
Amid the Shades of Midnight Juno sent
(Her vengeful Soul unknowing to relent)
179
The infant Hercules, Jove's vigorous Boy!
Terrific thro' the Portal's Valves they came,
Their Eye-balls shooting a pernicious Flame!
Bristled their azure Scales o'er many a Fold,
Then prone to Earth their blood-swoln Bellies roll'd!
And as along the marble Floor they flew,
Fell Poison from their Jaws the Monsters threw.
Now hissing o'er the Shield the Serpents hung,
Each brandishing in Rage his forked Tongue!
When strait (for Jove sees all) the Babes awoke,
And thro' the Room a steady Splendor broke!
As their dire Fangs caught Iphiclus's Eye,
The Child to Pity rais'd a short shrill Cry;
Quick from his little Limbs the Covering cast,
And sought to fly—with shivering Fear aghast.
But young Alcides stretch'd (nor stretch'd in vain)
His Arms, to clasp them in a deadly Chain.
With eager Hands their swelling Throats he seiz'd,
And Venom, hateful to the Immortals, squeez'd
180
Around the Babe who felt the Hero's Fire!
Who, yet unwean'd, ne'er shudder'd with Alarms,
Or cried, or blubber'd, in his Nurse's Arms!
Their Curls relax'd in many a livid Stripe,
At length they yielded to an Infant's Gripe.
Starting Alcmena first o'erheard the Cries—
‘Arise! Amphitryon! much I fear! arise!
‘Wait—wait not for your Sandals! much I fear!
‘Our younger Son poor Iphiclus I hear.
‘And see what Light o'er all the Chamber falls!
‘Tho' not yet Morn, how visible the Walls!
‘Some strange Event!’—she said—and at her Word
Amphitryon rose, and instant snatch'd his Sword
That, by a Peg suspended o'er his Head,
Adorn'd, a high-wrought Work, the Cedar-Bed;
Then drawing from its lotewood Sheath the Blade,
(While the wide Room grew dark in sudden Shade)
He call'd his Train that, hush'd in Slumbers deep,
Lay snoring out the Heaviness of Sleep.
‘Haste—haste, my Servants! Instant Flambeaux bear—
‘Hither—unbolt the Gates—and quick repair!’
Strait at his Voice the rous'd Attendants came,
Each waving in his Hand the Torch's Flame.
And when they saw the young Alcides clasp
Two fiery Serpents with his eager Grasp,
In wild Amaze they shudder'd! But the Boy
Leap'd in an Extacy of childish Joy;
And with a Laugh, his Triumph to complete,
Flung the dead Monsters at his Father's Feet.
Her Iphiclus all trembling, to her Breast
Alcmena caught, and lull'd the Babe to Rest;
O'er the young Hero while Amphitryon throws
The Lambkin's softest Fleece; then seeks Repose.
‘Arise! Amphitryon! much I fear! arise!
‘Wait—wait not for your Sandals! much I fear!
‘Our younger Son poor Iphiclus I hear.
‘And see what Light o'er all the Chamber falls!
‘Tho' not yet Morn, how visible the Walls!
‘Some strange Event!’—she said—and at her Word
Amphitryon rose, and instant snatch'd his Sword
That, by a Peg suspended o'er his Head,
Adorn'd, a high-wrought Work, the Cedar-Bed;
Then drawing from its lotewood Sheath the Blade,
(While the wide Room grew dark in sudden Shade)
He call'd his Train that, hush'd in Slumbers deep,
Lay snoring out the Heaviness of Sleep.
181
‘Hither—unbolt the Gates—and quick repair!’
Strait at his Voice the rous'd Attendants came,
Each waving in his Hand the Torch's Flame.
And when they saw the young Alcides clasp
Two fiery Serpents with his eager Grasp,
In wild Amaze they shudder'd! But the Boy
Leap'd in an Extacy of childish Joy;
And with a Laugh, his Triumph to complete,
Flung the dead Monsters at his Father's Feet.
Her Iphiclus all trembling, to her Breast
Alcmena caught, and lull'd the Babe to Rest;
O'er the young Hero while Amphitryon throws
The Lambkin's softest Fleece; then seeks Repose.
The crested Cock, as gleam'd the orient Sky,
Had thrice proclaim'd the Day-spring from on High;
When fair Alcmena call'd the hoary Seer
Who ever gains with Truth the wondering Ear;
The unusual Fortune of the Night run o'er,
And bade him say, what Heaven reserv'd in Store.
‘Nor aught (Alcmena cries) thro' Fear conceal,
‘If Woes await us, let thy Tongue reveal!
‘For vain, thy Wisdom knows, is mortal Care!
‘Each Ill that Heav'n predestines, Man must bear.’
She spoke: The Queen Tiresias thus addrest:
‘Hail Parent with a godlike Offspring blest!
‘Fear not, O thou, whom regal Splendors grace!
‘Fear not, O thou, of Perseus' royal Race!
‘By the dear Light that long hath left these Eyes—
‘No more to see the rosy Morning rise,
‘The Days shall come, when many a Maid of Greece,
‘Twirling, on rapid Wheel, the carded Fleece,
‘Whilst Matrons glory in thy Deeds of Fame,
‘Shall sing, 'till dusky Eve, Alcmena's Name.
‘But for thy Son, in various Triumphs great,
‘The Star-effulgent Heaven reserves a Seat!
‘Old Earth with Wonder shall his Glories fill—
‘Men—savage Beasts obedient to his Will!
‘Yet ere the giant Chieftain shall repose,
‘Where Jove's pure Dome in living Splendor glows,
‘Twelve Labors past, the fierce Trachinian Flame
‘Must purge from earthly Dross his mortal Frame!
‘He shall be call'd the Son-in-law of Gods—
‘Ev'n those who from their Caverns' drear Abodes
‘Arous'd the baleful Monsters of the Wild,
‘To slay with venom'd Fangs the Warrior-Child.
‘Then with the Fawn the harmless Wolf shall dwell,
‘And range, in social Sports, the embowering Dell!
‘But, mighty Princess, bid thy Slaves prepare
‘Such Copse or Low-wood as the Forests bear,
‘The rough Aspalathus, or, lit with Ease,
‘The dry Acherdus tremulous in the Breeze,
‘Or Brambles creeping o'er the steril Soil;
‘And burn yon' Serpents in the kindled Pile—
‘What Time, the sleeping Infants to devour
‘They hiss'd along these Rooms—the midnight Hour.
‘Then let a faithful Maid, at Dawn of Day,
‘The extinguish'd Ashes to the Flood convey;
‘Quick o'er her Head, if favoring Breezes blow,
‘To the rude Rocks her scatter'd Burthen throw;
‘And instantly return, nor look behind
‘On the dire Magic of the Waves and Wind.
‘Next, let pure Sulphur to the Rooms restore
‘Salubrious Air; and sprinkle on the Floor
‘Clear Water from the living Fountain brought,
‘With Olives crown'd—with Salt as duly fraught:
‘And last, on Jove the victim Boar bestow,
‘So shall ye triumph o'er the crouching Foe!’
Thus spoke Tiresias, as the God inspir'd,
And to his ivory Car, low-bent with Age, retir'd.
Had thrice proclaim'd the Day-spring from on High;
When fair Alcmena call'd the hoary Seer
Who ever gains with Truth the wondering Ear;
The unusual Fortune of the Night run o'er,
And bade him say, what Heaven reserv'd in Store.
182
‘If Woes await us, let thy Tongue reveal!
‘For vain, thy Wisdom knows, is mortal Care!
‘Each Ill that Heav'n predestines, Man must bear.’
She spoke: The Queen Tiresias thus addrest:
‘Hail Parent with a godlike Offspring blest!
‘Fear not, O thou, whom regal Splendors grace!
‘Fear not, O thou, of Perseus' royal Race!
‘By the dear Light that long hath left these Eyes—
‘No more to see the rosy Morning rise,
‘The Days shall come, when many a Maid of Greece,
‘Twirling, on rapid Wheel, the carded Fleece,
‘Whilst Matrons glory in thy Deeds of Fame,
‘Shall sing, 'till dusky Eve, Alcmena's Name.
‘But for thy Son, in various Triumphs great,
‘The Star-effulgent Heaven reserves a Seat!
‘Old Earth with Wonder shall his Glories fill—
‘Men—savage Beasts obedient to his Will!
‘Yet ere the giant Chieftain shall repose,
‘Where Jove's pure Dome in living Splendor glows,
‘Twelve Labors past, the fierce Trachinian Flame
‘Must purge from earthly Dross his mortal Frame!
183
‘Ev'n those who from their Caverns' drear Abodes
‘Arous'd the baleful Monsters of the Wild,
‘To slay with venom'd Fangs the Warrior-Child.
‘Then with the Fawn the harmless Wolf shall dwell,
‘And range, in social Sports, the embowering Dell!
‘But, mighty Princess, bid thy Slaves prepare
‘Such Copse or Low-wood as the Forests bear,
‘The rough Aspalathus, or, lit with Ease,
‘The dry Acherdus tremulous in the Breeze,
‘Or Brambles creeping o'er the steril Soil;
‘And burn yon' Serpents in the kindled Pile—
‘What Time, the sleeping Infants to devour
‘They hiss'd along these Rooms—the midnight Hour.
‘Then let a faithful Maid, at Dawn of Day,
‘The extinguish'd Ashes to the Flood convey;
‘Quick o'er her Head, if favoring Breezes blow,
‘To the rude Rocks her scatter'd Burthen throw;
‘And instantly return, nor look behind
‘On the dire Magic of the Waves and Wind.
‘Next, let pure Sulphur to the Rooms restore
‘Salubrious Air; and sprinkle on the Floor
184
‘With Olives crown'd—with Salt as duly fraught:
‘And last, on Jove the victim Boar bestow,
‘So shall ye triumph o'er the crouching Foe!’
Thus spoke Tiresias, as the God inspir'd,
And to his ivory Car, low-bent with Age, retir'd.
As the young Plant amidst the Garden grows,
Beneath his Mother's Care Alcides rose:
And tho' such Honor, as a Child, he won,
Still was he call'd Amphitryon's godlike Son.
His letter'd Lore Apollo's Offspring taught,
Old Linus, wrinkled by laborious Thought!
But Eurytus (whose thousand Acres shone
By long hereditary Right his own)
Bade him the Praises of the Bowman claim,
And fix'd the feather'd Shaft's unerring Aim;
While sweet Eumolpus form'd his Voice to Song,
And shap'd his Hands the Box-tree Lyre along!
Each varying Feint the Argive Wrestlers show
In strong Contorsions with the gallant Foe,
On listed Plains the Gauntlet to direct,
And wield its iron Vengeance with Effect;
How those who act the Boxer's vigorous Part
Find meet Occasions to display their Art;
All this from fierce Harpalycus he knew—
Whom, tho' yet distant, no Man dar'd to view;
While, storming for the Carnage of the Fight,
On his dark Brow hung Death and pale Affright.
Beneath his Mother's Care Alcides rose:
And tho' such Honor, as a Child, he won,
Still was he call'd Amphitryon's godlike Son.
His letter'd Lore Apollo's Offspring taught,
Old Linus, wrinkled by laborious Thought!
But Eurytus (whose thousand Acres shone
By long hereditary Right his own)
Bade him the Praises of the Bowman claim,
And fix'd the feather'd Shaft's unerring Aim;
While sweet Eumolpus form'd his Voice to Song,
And shap'd his Hands the Box-tree Lyre along!
Each varying Feint the Argive Wrestlers show
In strong Contorsions with the gallant Foe,
185
And wield its iron Vengeance with Effect;
How those who act the Boxer's vigorous Part
Find meet Occasions to display their Art;
All this from fierce Harpalycus he knew—
Whom, tho' yet distant, no Man dar'd to view;
While, storming for the Carnage of the Fight,
On his dark Brow hung Death and pale Affright.
Oft too Amphitryon taught the blooming Boy
With Fondness that bespoke a Father's Joy,
In the high Car his generous Steeds to train;
To guide their Swiftness with unerring Rein;
Turn short the Wheels impetuous as they roll;
Nor dash the glowing Axle on the Goal!
From Argive Plains, in Youth's more vigorous Day,
Full many a Prize the Sire had borne away.
And still unbroken stood his Car sublime,
Tho' the worn Reins had felt the Worm of Time.
But how to launch with all a Warrior's Art,
With all a Warrior's Force the deathful Dart;
To shun, beneath his Shield's protective Shade,
The furious Impulse of the flashing Blade;
To marshall Armies dreadful in Array,
Lead the fierce Horse, and well-tim'd Ambush lay;
Such Castor taught—what Time, in Tydeus' Reign,
He fled, an Exile, over Argos' Plain.
The Argive Sceptre from Adrastus came,
Who bade the Vineyard Vales hail Tydeus' Name.
No Warrior's equal Prowess could engage
The valiant Castor, ere unstrung by Age.
With Fondness that bespoke a Father's Joy,
In the high Car his generous Steeds to train;
To guide their Swiftness with unerring Rein;
Turn short the Wheels impetuous as they roll;
Nor dash the glowing Axle on the Goal!
From Argive Plains, in Youth's more vigorous Day,
Full many a Prize the Sire had borne away.
And still unbroken stood his Car sublime,
Tho' the worn Reins had felt the Worm of Time.
But how to launch with all a Warrior's Art,
With all a Warrior's Force the deathful Dart;
186
The furious Impulse of the flashing Blade;
To marshall Armies dreadful in Array,
Lead the fierce Horse, and well-tim'd Ambush lay;
Such Castor taught—what Time, in Tydeus' Reign,
He fled, an Exile, over Argos' Plain.
The Argive Sceptre from Adrastus came,
Who bade the Vineyard Vales hail Tydeus' Name.
No Warrior's equal Prowess could engage
The valiant Castor, ere unstrung by Age.
Thus taught the Paths of Glory to pursue,
Beneath his Mother's Eye the Hero grew.
Fast by his Father's Bed, a Lion's Hide
Form'd his lov'd Couch, in all its shaggy Pride.
His Evening Viands, large as Hinds partake,
Where savory Ven'son and the Doric Cake:
But sparing were his noonday Meals!—Array'd
In no rich Vest, whose floating Folds display'd
The Needle's Art—in plain unprincely Robe
'Twas his to range the inhospitable Globe.
Beneath his Mother's Eye the Hero grew.
Fast by his Father's Bed, a Lion's Hide
Form'd his lov'd Couch, in all its shaggy Pride.
His Evening Viands, large as Hinds partake,
Where savory Ven'son and the Doric Cake:
But sparing were his noonday Meals!—Array'd
In no rich Vest, whose floating Folds display'd
The Needle's Art—in plain unprincely Robe
'Twas his to range the inhospitable Globe.
| The Idyllia, Epigrams, and Fragments, of Theocritus, Bion, and Moschus | |