 | The Argonautics of Apollonius Rhodius, In Four Books, By Francis Fawkes: The Whole Revised, Corrected, and Completed, By His Coadjutor and Editor; Who Has Annexed A Translation of Coluthus's Greek Poem on The Rape of Helen, or The Origin of The Trojan War; With Notes |  |
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BOOK II.
THE ARGUMENT.
This Book contains the combat between Amycus and Pollux; the former of whom is slain. A battle ensues between the Argonauts and Bebrycians, in which the Argonauts come off conquerors. They sail to Salmydessus, a city of Thrace, where they consult Phineus, a soothsayer, on the success of their expedition. He promises, if they would deliver him from the Harpies, to direct them safely to Colchos. His request is granted, and he gives them instructions. The story of Paræbius, Cyrene and Aristæus. They sail through the Symplegades, and thence to the island Thynia, where they land. Apollo, who here appears to them, is rendered propitious by sacrifice. The course of the river Acheron is described. They land on the coast of the Mariandyni, and are hospitably entertained by Lycus, the king of that country. Here Idmon is killed by a wild boar, and here Tiphys dies. Ancæus is appointed pilot in his stead. They sail by the monument of Sthenelus, whose ghost is released by Proserpine, and gratified with the sight of the Argonauts. At the island of Mars they meet the sons of Phrixus, who had just before been shipwrecked. They are kindly received by the Argonauts, who take them on board. Sailing by Mount Caucasus they come in sight of the eagle that preys on the entrails of Prometheus. The end of their voyage.
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Tents o'er the beach Bebrycia's king had spread,
And stalls erected where fat oxen fed.
To genial Neptune a Bithynian dame
Bore the fierce tyrant, Amycus his name,
Proudest of men; who this hard law decreed,
That from his realm no stranger should recede,
Till first with him compell'd in fight to wield
The dreadful gauntlet in the listed field.
Unnumber'd guests his matchless prowess slew:
Stern he accosts swift Argo's valiant crew,
Curious the reason of their course to scan,
Who, whence they were; and scornful thus began:
‘Learn what 'tis meet ye knew, ye vagrant host;
‘None that e'er touches on Bebrycia's coast,
‘Is thence by law permitted to depart,
‘Till match'd with me he prove the boxer's art.
‘Choose then a chief who can the gauntlet wield,
‘And let him try the fortune of the field:
‘Should ye contemptuous scorn my fix'd decree,
‘Know, your proud hearts shall yield to fate and me.’
And stalls erected where fat oxen fed.
To genial Neptune a Bithynian dame
Bore the fierce tyrant, Amycus his name,
Proudest of men; who this hard law decreed,
That from his realm no stranger should recede,
Till first with him compell'd in fight to wield
The dreadful gauntlet in the listed field.
Unnumber'd guests his matchless prowess slew:
Stern he accosts swift Argo's valiant crew,
Curious the reason of their course to scan,
Who, whence they were; and scornful thus began:
‘Learn what 'tis meet ye knew, ye vagrant host;
‘None that e'er touches on Bebrycia's coast,
80
‘Till match'd with me he prove the boxer's art.
‘Choose then a chief who can the gauntlet wield,
‘And let him try the fortune of the field:
‘Should ye contemptuous scorn my fix'd decree,
‘Know, your proud hearts shall yield to fate and me.’
Thus spoke the chief with insolent disdain,
And rous'd resentment in the martial train;
But Pollux most his vaunting words provoke,
Who thus, a champion for his fellows, spoke:
“Threat not, whoe'er thou art, the bloody fray;
“Lo, we obsequious thy decrees obey!
“Unforc'd, this instant, to the lists I go,
“Thy rival I, thy voluntary foe.”
Stung to the heart with this severe reply,
On him he turn'd his fury-flaming eye:
As the grim lion, pierc'd by some keen wound,
Whom hunters on the mountain-top surround;
Though close hemm'd in, his glaring eye-balls glance
On him alone who threw the pointed lance.
The Greek stript off his mantle richly wrought,
Late from the Lemnian territory brought,
Which some fair nymph, who had her flame avow'd,
The pledge of hospitable love bestow'd:
His double cloak, with clasps of sable hue,
Bebrycia's ruler on the greensword threw,
And his rough sheep-hook of wild olive made,
Which lately flourish'd in the woodland shade.
Then sought the heroes for a place at hand
Commodious for the fight, and on the strand
They plac'd their friends, who saw, with wondering eyes,
The chiefs how different, both in make and size;
For like Typhœus' race the tyrant stood
Enormous, or that miscreated brood
Of mighty monsters, which parturient Earth,
Incens'd at Jove, brought forth, a hideous birth.
But Pollux shone like that mild star on high,
Whose rising ray illumes fair Evening's sky.
Down spread his cheek, ripe manhood's early sign,
And in his eye-balls beam'd the glance divine.
But like a lion, glorying in his might,
Stood Jove's puissant son, prepar'd for fight.
His arms he poiz'd, advancing in the ring,
To try if still they kept their pristine spring;
If pliant still, and vigorous as before,
Nor rigid grown with labouring at the oar.
Trial like this the haughty king disdain'd:
Aloof and silent Amycus remain'd.
Full on his foe his vengeful eyes he turn'd,
For blood he thirsted, and for conquest burn'd.
With that his squire Lycoreus, full in view,
Two pair of gauntlets in the circle threw,
Of barbarous fashion, harden'd, rough and dry'd.
Then thus the king, with insolence and pride:
‘Lo, two stout pair; the choice I leave to thee;
‘(No lot appoints them) choose, and blame not me.
‘Bind them secure, and after trial tell,
‘How greatly I in either art excel,
‘Whether to form the cestus firm and good,
‘Or stain the cheeks of mighty men with blood.’
He spoke: brave Pollux nothing deign'd to say,
But smiling chose the pair which nearest lay.
To cheer their champion, Castor, honour'd name!
And Talaüs, the son of Bias, came;
Firm round his arms the gloves of death they bind,
And animate the vigour of his mind.
Aratus, and bold Ornytus his friend,
To Amycus their kind assistance lend:
Fools! for they knew not, this one conflict o'er,
Those gauntlets never should be buckled more.
Accoutred thus each ardent hero stands,
And raises high in air his iron hands;
With clashing gauntlets fiercely now they close,
And mutual meditate death-dealing blows.
First Amycus a furious onset gave,
Like the rude insult of the battering wave,
That, heap'd on high by driving wind and tide,
Bursts thundering on some gallant vessel's side;
The wary pilot, by superior skill,
Foresees the storm, and shuns the menac'd ill.
Thus threatening Amycus on Pollux press'd,
Nor suffer'd his antagonist to rest:
But Jove's brave son observes each coming blow,
Quick leaps aside, and disappoints the foe;
And where a weak unguarded part he spies,
There all the thunder of his arms he plies.
As busy shipwrights stoutly labouring strive
Through sturdy planks the piercing spikes to drive,
From head to stern repeated blows go round,
And ceaseless hammers send a various sound;
Thus from their batter'd cheeks loud echoes sprung,
Their dash'd teeth crackled, and their jaw-bones rung:
Nor ceas'd they from the strokes that threaten'd death,
Till tir'd with toil they faintly gasp'd for breath:
Awhile they then remit the bloody fray,
And panting wipe the copious sweat away.
But adverse soon they meet, with rage they glow,
Like bulls fierce fighting for some favourite cow.
Then Amycus, collecting all his might,
Rose to the stroke, resolv'd his foe to smite,
And by one blow the dubious war conclude:
The wary prince, his ruin to elude,
Bent back his head; defeated of its aim,
The blow impetuous on his shoulder came.
Then Pollux with firm steps approaching near,
Vindictive struck his adversary's ear;
Th' interior bones his ponderous gauntlet broke;
Flat fell the chief beneath his dreadful stroke:
The Grecians shouted, with wild rapture fir'd,
And, deeply groaning, Amycus expir'd.
And rous'd resentment in the martial train;
But Pollux most his vaunting words provoke,
Who thus, a champion for his fellows, spoke:
“Threat not, whoe'er thou art, the bloody fray;
“Lo, we obsequious thy decrees obey!
“Unforc'd, this instant, to the lists I go,
“Thy rival I, thy voluntary foe.”
Stung to the heart with this severe reply,
On him he turn'd his fury-flaming eye:
As the grim lion, pierc'd by some keen wound,
Whom hunters on the mountain-top surround;
Though close hemm'd in, his glaring eye-balls glance
On him alone who threw the pointed lance.
The Greek stript off his mantle richly wrought,
Late from the Lemnian territory brought,
Which some fair nymph, who had her flame avow'd,
The pledge of hospitable love bestow'd:
81
Bebrycia's ruler on the greensword threw,
And his rough sheep-hook of wild olive made,
Which lately flourish'd in the woodland shade.
Then sought the heroes for a place at hand
Commodious for the fight, and on the strand
They plac'd their friends, who saw, with wondering eyes,
The chiefs how different, both in make and size;
For like Typhœus' race the tyrant stood
Enormous, or that miscreated brood
Of mighty monsters, which parturient Earth,
Incens'd at Jove, brought forth, a hideous birth.
But Pollux shone like that mild star on high,
Whose rising ray illumes fair Evening's sky.
Down spread his cheek, ripe manhood's early sign,
And in his eye-balls beam'd the glance divine.
But like a lion, glorying in his might,
Stood Jove's puissant son, prepar'd for fight.
His arms he poiz'd, advancing in the ring,
To try if still they kept their pristine spring;
If pliant still, and vigorous as before,
Nor rigid grown with labouring at the oar.
Trial like this the haughty king disdain'd:
Aloof and silent Amycus remain'd.
82
For blood he thirsted, and for conquest burn'd.
With that his squire Lycoreus, full in view,
Two pair of gauntlets in the circle threw,
Of barbarous fashion, harden'd, rough and dry'd.
Then thus the king, with insolence and pride:
‘Lo, two stout pair; the choice I leave to thee;
‘(No lot appoints them) choose, and blame not me.
‘Bind them secure, and after trial tell,
‘How greatly I in either art excel,
‘Whether to form the cestus firm and good,
‘Or stain the cheeks of mighty men with blood.’
He spoke: brave Pollux nothing deign'd to say,
But smiling chose the pair which nearest lay.
To cheer their champion, Castor, honour'd name!
And Talaüs, the son of Bias, came;
Firm round his arms the gloves of death they bind,
And animate the vigour of his mind.
Aratus, and bold Ornytus his friend,
To Amycus their kind assistance lend:
Fools! for they knew not, this one conflict o'er,
Those gauntlets never should be buckled more.
Accoutred thus each ardent hero stands,
And raises high in air his iron hands;
83
And mutual meditate death-dealing blows.
First Amycus a furious onset gave,
Like the rude insult of the battering wave,
That, heap'd on high by driving wind and tide,
Bursts thundering on some gallant vessel's side;
The wary pilot, by superior skill,
Foresees the storm, and shuns the menac'd ill.
Thus threatening Amycus on Pollux press'd,
Nor suffer'd his antagonist to rest:
But Jove's brave son observes each coming blow,
Quick leaps aside, and disappoints the foe;
And where a weak unguarded part he spies,
There all the thunder of his arms he plies.
As busy shipwrights stoutly labouring strive
Through sturdy planks the piercing spikes to drive,
From head to stern repeated blows go round,
And ceaseless hammers send a various sound;
Thus from their batter'd cheeks loud echoes sprung,
Their dash'd teeth crackled, and their jaw-bones rung:
Nor ceas'd they from the strokes that threaten'd death,
Till tir'd with toil they faintly gasp'd for breath:
Awhile they then remit the bloody fray,
And panting wipe the copious sweat away.
84
Like bulls fierce fighting for some favourite cow.
Then Amycus, collecting all his might,
Rose to the stroke, resolv'd his foe to smite,
And by one blow the dubious war conclude:
The wary prince, his ruin to elude,
Bent back his head; defeated of its aim,
The blow impetuous on his shoulder came.
Then Pollux with firm steps approaching near,
Vindictive struck his adversary's ear;
Th' interior bones his ponderous gauntlet broke;
Flat fell the chief beneath his dreadful stroke:
The Grecians shouted, with wild rapture fir'd,
And, deeply groaning, Amycus expir'd.
The griev'd Bebrycians saw their monarch slain,
And big with vengeance rush'd into the plain;
With season'd clubs and javelins arm'd they ran,
And aim'd their fury at the conquering man.
Their keen-edg'd swords the friends of Pollux drew,
And to the succour of their comrade flew.
First Castor slaughter'd, with victorious hand,
A hero of the bold Bebrycian band,
The griding sword at once his head divides,
And on his shoulders hang the parted sides.
Mimans, Itymoneus of giant-size,
Each by the arm of conquering Pollux dies.
On this his foot impress'd a deadly wound
Full on his side, and stretch'd him on the ground:
His right hand dash'd, with unresisted sway,
Mimans' left eye, and tore the ball away.
Orcides, Amycus's proud compeer,
Then launch'd at Talaüs his brazen spear;
Just near his flank the point he lightly felt,
That ras'd the skin beneath his broider'd belt.
Aratus, with his club of harden'd oak,
Aim'd at brave Iphitus a deadly stroke:
Vain thought! too soon, alas! it is decreed,
The hero by his brother's sword must bleed.
Then rush'd, to succour the Thessalian band,
Ancæus, with his pole-axe in his hand;
O'er his broad back a bear's dark spoils he threw,
And boldly mingled with the hostile crew.
The sons of Æacus, renown'd for might,
And Jason join'd them in the fields of fight.
As when, what time both dogs and shepherds keep
Close in warm cots, neglectful of their sheep,
Wolves, pinch'd with hunger and bleak winter's cold,
Leap o'er the fence, and terrify the fold,
With ravening eyes the crowded sheep survey,
And doubt where first to rend the trembling prey;
Thus the bold Greeks, as near their foes they drew,
Intimidate the congregated crew.
And big with vengeance rush'd into the plain;
With season'd clubs and javelins arm'd they ran,
And aim'd their fury at the conquering man.
Their keen-edg'd swords the friends of Pollux drew,
And to the succour of their comrade flew.
First Castor slaughter'd, with victorious hand,
A hero of the bold Bebrycian band,
The griding sword at once his head divides,
And on his shoulders hang the parted sides.
85
Each by the arm of conquering Pollux dies.
On this his foot impress'd a deadly wound
Full on his side, and stretch'd him on the ground:
His right hand dash'd, with unresisted sway,
Mimans' left eye, and tore the ball away.
Orcides, Amycus's proud compeer,
Then launch'd at Talaüs his brazen spear;
Just near his flank the point he lightly felt,
That ras'd the skin beneath his broider'd belt.
Aratus, with his club of harden'd oak,
Aim'd at brave Iphitus a deadly stroke:
Vain thought! too soon, alas! it is decreed,
The hero by his brother's sword must bleed.
Then rush'd, to succour the Thessalian band,
Ancæus, with his pole-axe in his hand;
O'er his broad back a bear's dark spoils he threw,
And boldly mingled with the hostile crew.
The sons of Æacus, renown'd for might,
And Jason join'd them in the fields of fight.
As when, what time both dogs and shepherds keep
Close in warm cots, neglectful of their sheep,
Wolves, pinch'd with hunger and bleak winter's cold,
Leap o'er the fence, and terrify the fold,
86
And doubt where first to rend the trembling prey;
Thus the bold Greeks, as near their foes they drew,
Intimidate the congregated crew.
As swains with smoke, of honey studious, strive
From some rock's cleft the swarming bees to drive;
Alarm'd and trembling, with a murmuring sound,
They crowd to all their waxen rooms around;
But if the fumes prevail, their wings they ply,
And rove uncertain thro' the various sky:
Dispersing thus, the wild Bebrycians fled,
And loud proclaim'd that Amycus was dead.
Ah, hapless race of men! they little knew,
That, soon, far greater evils must ensue:
Soon must they see, their monarch now no more,
Their lands a drear, depopulated shore;
Their vineyards spoil'd, and wasted all their coast
By Lycus, and the Mariandine host:
For 'twas their fate, with spear and steely brand,
Hard lot! to battle for an iron land.
The Greeks then seiz'd their herds, an easy prey,
And from the sheep-folds drove the flocks away;
The live provision to their ship they sent:
Then thus some sailor gave his boasting vent;
From some rock's cleft the swarming bees to drive;
Alarm'd and trembling, with a murmuring sound,
They crowd to all their waxen rooms around;
But if the fumes prevail, their wings they ply,
And rove uncertain thro' the various sky:
Dispersing thus, the wild Bebrycians fled,
And loud proclaim'd that Amycus was dead.
Ah, hapless race of men! they little knew,
That, soon, far greater evils must ensue:
Soon must they see, their monarch now no more,
Their lands a drear, depopulated shore;
Their vineyards spoil'd, and wasted all their coast
By Lycus, and the Mariandine host:
For 'twas their fate, with spear and steely brand,
Hard lot! to battle for an iron land.
The Greeks then seiz'd their herds, an easy prey,
And from the sheep-folds drove the flocks away;
The live provision to their ship they sent:
Then thus some sailor gave his boasting vent;
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‘What had these miscreants done, with fears dismay'd,
‘Had heaven indulg'd us with Alcides' aid?
‘No fierce contention then, I judge, had been,
‘No bloody boxing on the listed green:
‘The chief's stout club had tam'd the tyrant's pride,
‘And set his execrable laws aside.
‘But now, impell'd by swelling waves and wind,
‘We leave at land the matchless chief behind;
‘Whose loss distress to every Greek will prove.’
‘Had heaven indulg'd us with Alcides' aid?
‘No fierce contention then, I judge, had been,
‘No bloody boxing on the listed green:
‘The chief's stout club had tam'd the tyrant's pride,
‘And set his execrable laws aside.
‘But now, impell'd by swelling waves and wind,
‘We leave at land the matchless chief behind;
‘Whose loss distress to every Greek will prove.’
He said;—but all things own the will of Jove.
All night the heroes on the coast remain,
To heal the bruises of the wounded train.
First to the gods they give the honours due,
And next, a banquet for the princely crew.
Nor can night's shades the chiefs to sleep incline,
Or o'er the sacrifice, or o'er the wine;
Mirthful they sit, their brows with laurel crown'd:
To a green laurel was the cable bound.
While Orpheus strikes the lyre, the hymn they raise,
And Jove's fam'd offspring, mighty Pollux, praise:
Soft breathes the breeze, the billows cease to roar,
And festive joy exhilarates the shore.
But when the sun illum'd the hills and plains,
Dank with the dew, and rous'd the shepherd-swains,
They sent abundant flocks and herds aboard,
And from the laurel-stem unloos'd the cord;
And while the favourable winds prevail'd,
Thro' the rough-rolling Bosphorus they sail'd.
When, lo! a wave by gathering surges driv'n,
Swoln big for bursting, is up-heav'd to heav'n,
Still rises higher, and still wider spreads,
And hangs a watery mountain o'er their heads;
Like a black cloud it frowns, prepar'd to fall,
And threatens quick destruction to them all.
Yet the train'd pilot, by superior skill,
Well knows to 'scape this last impending ill:
Safe through the storm the vessel Tiphys steer'd,
And sav'd the heroes from the fate they fear'd.
All night the heroes on the coast remain,
To heal the bruises of the wounded train.
First to the gods they give the honours due,
And next, a banquet for the princely crew.
Nor can night's shades the chiefs to sleep incline,
Or o'er the sacrifice, or o'er the wine;
Mirthful they sit, their brows with laurel crown'd:
To a green laurel was the cable bound.
While Orpheus strikes the lyre, the hymn they raise,
And Jove's fam'd offspring, mighty Pollux, praise:
Soft breathes the breeze, the billows cease to roar,
And festive joy exhilarates the shore.
But when the sun illum'd the hills and plains,
Dank with the dew, and rous'd the shepherd-swains,
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And from the laurel-stem unloos'd the cord;
And while the favourable winds prevail'd,
Thro' the rough-rolling Bosphorus they sail'd.
When, lo! a wave by gathering surges driv'n,
Swoln big for bursting, is up-heav'd to heav'n,
Still rises higher, and still wider spreads,
And hangs a watery mountain o'er their heads;
Like a black cloud it frowns, prepar'd to fall,
And threatens quick destruction to them all.
Yet the train'd pilot, by superior skill,
Well knows to 'scape this last impending ill:
Safe through the storm the vessel Tiphys steer'd,
And sav'd the heroes from the fate they fear'd.
Fronting Bithynia's coast, next morn, they reach
New land, and fix their halsers on the beach.
There on the margin of the beating flood
The mournful mansions of sad Phineus stood,
Agenor's son; whom heaven ordain'd to bear
The grievous burden of unequall'd care.
For, taught by wise Apollo to descry
Unborn events of dark futurity,
Vain of his science, the presumptuous seer
Deign'd not Jove's awful secrets to revere;
But wantonly divulg'd to frail mankind
The sacred purpose of th' omniscient mind:
Hence Jove indignant gave him length of days,
But dimm'd in endless night his visual rays.
Nor would the vengeful God indulge his taste
With the sweet blessings of a pure repast,
Tho' (for they learn'd his fate) the country round
Their prophet's board with every dainty crown'd.
For, lo! descending sudden from the sky,
Round the pil'd banquet shrieking Harpies fly,
Whose beaks rapacious, and whose talons tear
Quick from his famish'd lips th' untasted fare.
Yet would some slender pittance oft remain,
Life to support, and to perpetuate pain.
Such odours still the nauseous scraps exhal'd,
That with the stench the loathing stomach fail'd.
Aloof the guests amaz'd and hungry stood,
While their sick hearts abhorr'd the putrid food.
New land, and fix their halsers on the beach.
There on the margin of the beating flood
The mournful mansions of sad Phineus stood,
Agenor's son; whom heaven ordain'd to bear
The grievous burden of unequall'd care.
For, taught by wise Apollo to descry
Unborn events of dark futurity,
Vain of his science, the presumptuous seer
Deign'd not Jove's awful secrets to revere;
89
The sacred purpose of th' omniscient mind:
Hence Jove indignant gave him length of days,
But dimm'd in endless night his visual rays.
Nor would the vengeful God indulge his taste
With the sweet blessings of a pure repast,
Tho' (for they learn'd his fate) the country round
Their prophet's board with every dainty crown'd.
For, lo! descending sudden from the sky,
Round the pil'd banquet shrieking Harpies fly,
Whose beaks rapacious, and whose talons tear
Quick from his famish'd lips th' untasted fare.
Yet would some slender pittance oft remain,
Life to support, and to perpetuate pain.
Such odours still the nauseous scraps exhal'd,
That with the stench the loathing stomach fail'd.
Aloof the guests amaz'd and hungry stood,
While their sick hearts abhorr'd the putrid food.
But now the princely crew approaching near,
The welcome sound invades the prophet's ear;
Taught by almighty Jove, that now was come
The long-wish'd period of heaven's vengeful doom;
When, by these heroes' destin'd aid restor'd,
Peace should hereafter bless his feastful board.
Then heaves he from the couch his haggard head,
(Like some pale, lifeless, visionary shade)
Propp'd on his staff his way explores, and crawls
With lingering step along the lonely walls:
Diseas'd, enfeebled, and by age unbrac'd,
Thro' every limb he trembled as he pass'd;
Shrunk was his form, with want adust and thin,
The pointed bones seem'd bursting thro' his skin:
But faint and breathless as he reach'd the gate,
Down on the threshold, tir'd with toil, he sat,
In dizzy fumes involv'd, his brain runs round,
And swims beneath his feet the solid ground;
No more their functions the frail senses keep,
But speechless sinks he in a death-like sleep.
The welcome sound invades the prophet's ear;
Taught by almighty Jove, that now was come
The long-wish'd period of heaven's vengeful doom;
When, by these heroes' destin'd aid restor'd,
Peace should hereafter bless his feastful board.
90
(Like some pale, lifeless, visionary shade)
Propp'd on his staff his way explores, and crawls
With lingering step along the lonely walls:
Diseas'd, enfeebled, and by age unbrac'd,
Thro' every limb he trembled as he pass'd;
Shrunk was his form, with want adust and thin,
The pointed bones seem'd bursting thro' his skin:
But faint and breathless as he reach'd the gate,
Down on the threshold, tir'd with toil, he sat,
In dizzy fumes involv'd, his brain runs round,
And swims beneath his feet the solid ground;
No more their functions the frail senses keep,
But speechless sinks he in a death-like sleep.
This saw the chiefs amaz'd, and gather'd round;
When from his labouring lungs a hollow sound
(His breath and utterance scarce recover'd) broke,
And thus th' enlighten'd seer prophetic spoke:
When from his labouring lungs a hollow sound
(His breath and utterance scarce recover'd) broke,
And thus th' enlighten'd seer prophetic spoke:
‘Princes of Greece, attend; if ye be they
‘Whom o'er the main Thessalia's pines convey,
‘And Jason leads to Colchos' magic land;
‘Such is your cruel tyrant's stern command.
‘Yes, ye are they; for yet my mental eye
‘Undimm'd, past, present, future can descry:
‘Thanks to thy son, Latona, who bestows
‘This grace, this only solace of my woes.
‘By Jove, to whom the suppliant's cause belongs,
‘Who hates the cruel, and avenges wrongs;
‘By Phœbus, and by Juno, from on high
‘Who marks your progress with compassion's eye,
‘Aid me, and, oh! a sufferer's pangs assuage,
‘And bid corrosive famine cease to rage:
‘Leave me not thus, unpitied and unbless'd;
‘But ere you sail, ah! pity the distress'd.
‘For not these orbs alone, depriv'd of sight,
‘Vindictive Heaven hath veil'd in doleful night;
‘But to extreme old age his cruel law
‘Dooms me th' unwasting thread of life to draw.
‘Still weightier woes from sorrow's lengthen'd chain
‘Depend, and pain is ever link'd to pain.
‘From secret haunts, aërial, unexplor'd,
‘Flights of devouring Harpies vex my board;
‘Swift, instantaneous, sudden they descend,
‘And from my mouth the tasteful morsel rend.
‘Meanwhile my troubled soul, with woe oppress'd,
‘No means of aid, no comfort can suggest.
‘For when the feast I purpose to prepare,
‘They see that purpose, and prevent my care:
‘But cloy'd, and glutted with the luscious spoil,
‘With noisome ordure parting they defile
‘Whate'er remains, if aught perchance remain,
‘That none approaching may the stench sustain,
‘Tho' his strong heart were wrapp'd in plated mail,
‘The filthy fragments such dire steams exhale.
‘Yet me fell hunger's all-subduing pain
‘Compels reluctant, loathing to remain;
‘Compels the deadly odours to endure,
‘And gorge my craving maw with food impure.
‘From these invaders (so hath Fate decreed)
‘By Boreas' offspring shall my board be freed.
‘Nor on a stranger to your house and blood,
‘O sons of Boreas, is your aid bestow'd.
‘Phineus behold, Agenor's hapless son,
‘Once for prophetic skill and riches known;
‘Who, while I sway'd the Thracian sceptre, led
‘Your portion'd sister to my spousal bed.’
‘Whom o'er the main Thessalia's pines convey,
‘And Jason leads to Colchos' magic land;
‘Such is your cruel tyrant's stern command.
‘Yes, ye are they; for yet my mental eye
‘Undimm'd, past, present, future can descry:
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‘This grace, this only solace of my woes.
‘By Jove, to whom the suppliant's cause belongs,
‘Who hates the cruel, and avenges wrongs;
‘By Phœbus, and by Juno, from on high
‘Who marks your progress with compassion's eye,
‘Aid me, and, oh! a sufferer's pangs assuage,
‘And bid corrosive famine cease to rage:
‘Leave me not thus, unpitied and unbless'd;
‘But ere you sail, ah! pity the distress'd.
‘For not these orbs alone, depriv'd of sight,
‘Vindictive Heaven hath veil'd in doleful night;
‘But to extreme old age his cruel law
‘Dooms me th' unwasting thread of life to draw.
‘Still weightier woes from sorrow's lengthen'd chain
‘Depend, and pain is ever link'd to pain.
‘From secret haunts, aërial, unexplor'd,
‘Flights of devouring Harpies vex my board;
‘Swift, instantaneous, sudden they descend,
‘And from my mouth the tasteful morsel rend.
‘Meanwhile my troubled soul, with woe oppress'd,
‘No means of aid, no comfort can suggest.
‘For when the feast I purpose to prepare,
‘They see that purpose, and prevent my care:
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‘With noisome ordure parting they defile
‘Whate'er remains, if aught perchance remain,
‘That none approaching may the stench sustain,
‘Tho' his strong heart were wrapp'd in plated mail,
‘The filthy fragments such dire steams exhale.
‘Yet me fell hunger's all-subduing pain
‘Compels reluctant, loathing to remain;
‘Compels the deadly odours to endure,
‘And gorge my craving maw with food impure.
‘From these invaders (so hath Fate decreed)
‘By Boreas' offspring shall my board be freed.
‘Nor on a stranger to your house and blood,
‘O sons of Boreas, is your aid bestow'd.
‘Phineus behold, Agenor's hapless son,
‘Once for prophetic skill and riches known;
‘Who, while I sway'd the Thracian sceptre, led
‘Your portion'd sister to my spousal bed.’
Here Phineus ceas'd, and touch'd each pitying chief:
But Boreas' sons were pierc'd with double grief;
Compassion kind was kindled in their breast:
Their tears abating, friendly Zetes press'd
His trembling hand, and thus the seer address'd:
But Boreas' sons were pierc'd with double grief;
Compassion kind was kindled in their breast:
Their tears abating, friendly Zetes press'd
His trembling hand, and thus the seer address'd:
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“O most disastrous of all human kind,
“Whence spring these evils that o'erwhelm thy mind?
“Hast thou, intrusted with the book of Fate,
“By folly merited celestial hate?
“Hence falls this indignation on thy head?
“Fain would the sons of Boreas grant thee aid;
“Fain would they execute what heaven ordains,
“But awful dread their willing hands restrains.
“To frighted mortals well thy sufferings prove
“How fierce the vengeance of the Gods above.
“Swear, or we dare not, as we wish, essay
“To drive these hateful Harpies far away:
“Swear that the succours, which our arms intend,
“Shall no superior deity offend.”
“Whence spring these evils that o'erwhelm thy mind?
“Hast thou, intrusted with the book of Fate,
“By folly merited celestial hate?
“Hence falls this indignation on thy head?
“Fain would the sons of Boreas grant thee aid;
“Fain would they execute what heaven ordains,
“But awful dread their willing hands restrains.
“To frighted mortals well thy sufferings prove
“How fierce the vengeance of the Gods above.
“Swear, or we dare not, as we wish, essay
“To drive these hateful Harpies far away:
“Swear that the succours, which our arms intend,
“Shall no superior deity offend.”
He spoke; and straight to heaven disclosing wide
His sightless eye-balls, thus the seer reply'd:
‘My son, th' injustice of thy tongue restrain,
‘Nor let such thoughts thy pious soul profane.
‘By Phœbus, heavenly augur, who inspires
‘My conscious bosom with prophetic fires;
‘By every woe fate destines me to bear,
‘And by these eyes, involv'd in night, I swear;
‘By the fell demons of the realms below,
‘(Whom ever unpropitious may I know,
‘From their resentment not in death secure,
‘If falsly their dread godheads I adjure;)
‘That, should a captive by your arms be freed,
‘No God vindictive will avenge the deed.’
His sightless eye-balls, thus the seer reply'd:
‘My son, th' injustice of thy tongue restrain,
‘Nor let such thoughts thy pious soul profane.
‘By Phœbus, heavenly augur, who inspires
‘My conscious bosom with prophetic fires;
‘By every woe fate destines me to bear,
‘And by these eyes, involv'd in night, I swear;
‘By the fell demons of the realms below,
‘(Whom ever unpropitious may I know,
94
‘If falsly their dread godheads I adjure;)
‘That, should a captive by your arms be freed,
‘No God vindictive will avenge the deed.’
Then acquiescing in the solemn pray'r,
To aid the prophet Boreas' sons prepare.
The youthful train a banquet spread; the last
Which those fell Harpies were decreed to taste.
Nigh stand the brothers, ardent to oppose
With glittering falchions their invading foes.
But scarce the first sweet morsel Phineus took,
When from the clouds with swift prevention broke,
(Swift as the lightning's glance, or stormy blast,
Whose rapid fury lays the forest waste)
Shrill-clamouring for their prey, the birds obscene;
The watchful heroes shouting rush'd between;
But they with speediest rage the cates devour'd,
And round intolerable odours pour'd;
Then o'er th' Ægean far away they flew;
The sons of Boreas arm'd with swords pursue;
Close they pursue; for Jove, that signal day,
Their strength proportion'd to the desperate fray;
The strength he gave had Jove, that day, deny'd,
In vain their pinions had the brothers plied.
For when to Phineus furious they repair,
Or quitting Phineus seek the fields of air,
The light-wing'd monsters, fleeter than the wind,
Leave the careering Zephyrs far behind.
As when swift hounds, experienc'd in the chace,
Through some wide forest, o'er the scented grass
The bounding hind, or horned goat pursue,
Near, and more near their panting prey they view;
And eager stretching, the short space to gain,
They snap, and grind their gnashing fangs in vain:
To aid the prophet Boreas' sons prepare.
The youthful train a banquet spread; the last
Which those fell Harpies were decreed to taste.
Nigh stand the brothers, ardent to oppose
With glittering falchions their invading foes.
But scarce the first sweet morsel Phineus took,
When from the clouds with swift prevention broke,
(Swift as the lightning's glance, or stormy blast,
Whose rapid fury lays the forest waste)
Shrill-clamouring for their prey, the birds obscene;
The watchful heroes shouting rush'd between;
But they with speediest rage the cates devour'd,
And round intolerable odours pour'd;
Then o'er th' Ægean far away they flew;
The sons of Boreas arm'd with swords pursue;
Close they pursue; for Jove, that signal day,
Their strength proportion'd to the desperate fray;
The strength he gave had Jove, that day, deny'd,
In vain their pinions had the brothers plied.
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Or quitting Phineus seek the fields of air,
The light-wing'd monsters, fleeter than the wind,
Leave the careering Zephyrs far behind.
As when swift hounds, experienc'd in the chace,
Through some wide forest, o'er the scented grass
The bounding hind, or horned goat pursue,
Near, and more near their panting prey they view;
And eager stretching, the short space to gain,
They snap, and grind their gnashing fangs in vain:
Thus ever near, the rapid chiefs pursu'd,
The Harpies thus their grasping hands elude.
But now far off in the Sicilian main,
By the wing'd brothers, sons of Boreas, slain,
The Harpy-race, tho' every God withstood,
Had stain'd the Plotian isles with sacred blood;
Their sore distress had Iris not survey'd,
And darting from the skies the heroes staid:
‘O sons of Boreas, the dread laws above
‘Permit you not to wound the dogs of Jove:
‘And, lo! my oath I pledge, that never more
‘Shall these fell dogs approach the Thracian shore.’
The Harpies thus their grasping hands elude.
But now far off in the Sicilian main,
By the wing'd brothers, sons of Boreas, slain,
The Harpy-race, tho' every God withstood,
Had stain'd the Plotian isles with sacred blood;
Their sore distress had Iris not survey'd,
And darting from the skies the heroes staid:
‘O sons of Boreas, the dread laws above
‘Permit you not to wound the dogs of Jove:
‘And, lo! my oath I pledge, that never more
‘Shall these fell dogs approach the Thracian shore.’
This said, adjuring the tremendous floods,
Most fear'd, most honour'd by immortal Gods;
By the slow-dripping urn of Styx she swore;
The prophet's peaceful mansions on the shore
For ever from those spoilers should be free;
Such was the fatal sisters' fix'd decree.
The Goddess swore, the brothers straight obey,
And back to Argo wing their airy way:
The Strophades from thence derive their name,
The Plotian islands styl'd by ancient fame.
Disparting then, to different regions flew
The maid celestial and the monster-crew.
Those to the grots retir'd, the dark retreat
Of Dicte's caverns in Minoian Crete;
While the gay Goddess of the watery bow
Soar'd on fleet pinions to Olympus' brow.
Most fear'd, most honour'd by immortal Gods;
96
The prophet's peaceful mansions on the shore
For ever from those spoilers should be free;
Such was the fatal sisters' fix'd decree.
The Goddess swore, the brothers straight obey,
And back to Argo wing their airy way:
The Strophades from thence derive their name,
The Plotian islands styl'd by ancient fame.
Disparting then, to different regions flew
The maid celestial and the monster-crew.
Those to the grots retir'd, the dark retreat
Of Dicte's caverns in Minoian Crete;
While the gay Goddess of the watery bow
Soar'd on fleet pinions to Olympus' brow.
Mean-while the princes, with unwearied pains,
Wash from their seer the Harpies' filthy stains:
Next from the spoils, which on Bebrycia's shore
From vanquish'd Amycus brave Pollux bore,
The fleecy victims they select with care;
And sooth the Gods with sacrifice and pray'r.
Then in the palace each heroic guest
Partakes the pleasures of the sumptuous feast:
With them sat Phineus, and refresh'd his soul
With savoury viands, and the cheering bowl:
While yet he feasts, insatiate still he seems,
And shares a bliss beyond the bliss of dreams.
Wash from their seer the Harpies' filthy stains:
Next from the spoils, which on Bebrycia's shore
From vanquish'd Amycus brave Pollux bore,
The fleecy victims they select with care;
And sooth the Gods with sacrifice and pray'r.
Then in the palace each heroic guest
Partakes the pleasures of the sumptuous feast:
With them sat Phineus, and refresh'd his soul
With savoury viands, and the cheering bowl:
97
And shares a bliss beyond the bliss of dreams.
Tho' now the rage of hunger was repress'd,
And generous wine had open'd every breast;
Yet still the chiefs prolong the banquet late,
And for the feather'd sons of Boreas wait.
Plac'd in the midst, before the cheerful fire,
Thus of their voyage spoke the sacred sire:
And generous wine had open'd every breast;
Yet still the chiefs prolong the banquet late,
And for the feather'd sons of Boreas wait.
Plac'd in the midst, before the cheerful fire,
Thus of their voyage spoke the sacred sire:
‘Hear what the Gods permit me to relate;
‘For 'tis profane to publish all your fate.
‘Unnumber'd woes I felt, and feel them still,
‘For erst divulging Jove's almighty will:
‘To man he gives Fate's dark events to scan
‘In part, but always leaves dependent man.
‘When hence your destin'd voyage ye pursue,
‘Two rocks will rise, tremendous to the view,
‘Just in the entrance of the watery waste,
‘Which never mortal yet in safety past:
‘Not firmly fix'd; for oft with hideous shock
‘Adverse they meet, and rock encounters rock:
‘The boiling billows dash their airy brow,
‘Loud thundering round the ragged shore below.
‘Safe if ye hope to pass, my counsel hear,
‘Be rul'd by prudence, and the Gods revere;
‘Nor on your unexperienc'd youth depend,
‘The want of caution brings you to your end.
‘First from your ship a nimble dove let fly,
‘And on the sure prognostic bird rely;
‘Safe thro' the rocks if she pursue her way,
‘No longer ye the destin'd course delay;
‘Steer for the strait, and let the rowers sweep
‘With stretching oars the close-contracted deep:
‘For not in prayers alone your safety stands;
‘But nervous vigour, and the strength of hands.
‘Ply then your oars, and strain at every stroke;
‘But first with prayer the Deities invoke.
‘The dove's sad fate should you desponding view,
‘Crush'd by the closing fragments as she flew,
‘Steer back, left you against those rocks be driv'n,
‘Steer back; 'tis safest to submit to Heav'n.
‘'Twere death thro' them to force the foaming keel,
‘Tho' heaven-built Argo were compos'd of steel.
‘O friends, be warn'd by me, nor rashly dare
‘To venture farther than my words declare;
‘Me though ye deem the righteous Gods pursue
‘With direful vengeance, threefold more than due;
‘Tempt not without the dove this dangerous strait,
‘For man must suffer what's ordain'd by Fate.
‘But if with active oars ye safely gain,
‘Through these tremendous rocks, the distant main;
‘Close to Bithynia let your vessel run,
‘And on the left the dangerous shallows shun;
‘Till Rhebas, rapid-rolling stream, ye reach,
‘The gloomy shore, and Thynia's sheltering beach.
‘Thence o'er the billows fronting Thynia's strand,
‘Soon will ye gain the Mariandine land.
‘Here lies the path to Pluto's dreary caves,
‘Here Acherusia frowns above the waves,
‘Whose skirts the gulfy Acheron divides,
‘And from deep whirlpools disembogues his tides.
‘Thence, not far distant, with the western gale,
‘Near Paphlagonia's towering heights ye sail,
‘The hardy sons of which inclement coast
‘Enetean Pelops for their founder boast.
‘For 'tis profane to publish all your fate.
‘Unnumber'd woes I felt, and feel them still,
‘For erst divulging Jove's almighty will:
‘To man he gives Fate's dark events to scan
‘In part, but always leaves dependent man.
‘When hence your destin'd voyage ye pursue,
‘Two rocks will rise, tremendous to the view,
‘Just in the entrance of the watery waste,
‘Which never mortal yet in safety past:
‘Not firmly fix'd; for oft with hideous shock
‘Adverse they meet, and rock encounters rock:
‘The boiling billows dash their airy brow,
‘Loud thundering round the ragged shore below.
‘Safe if ye hope to pass, my counsel hear,
‘Be rul'd by prudence, and the Gods revere;
98
‘The want of caution brings you to your end.
‘First from your ship a nimble dove let fly,
‘And on the sure prognostic bird rely;
‘Safe thro' the rocks if she pursue her way,
‘No longer ye the destin'd course delay;
‘Steer for the strait, and let the rowers sweep
‘With stretching oars the close-contracted deep:
‘For not in prayers alone your safety stands;
‘But nervous vigour, and the strength of hands.
‘Ply then your oars, and strain at every stroke;
‘But first with prayer the Deities invoke.
‘The dove's sad fate should you desponding view,
‘Crush'd by the closing fragments as she flew,
‘Steer back, left you against those rocks be driv'n,
‘Steer back; 'tis safest to submit to Heav'n.
‘'Twere death thro' them to force the foaming keel,
‘Tho' heaven-built Argo were compos'd of steel.
‘O friends, be warn'd by me, nor rashly dare
‘To venture farther than my words declare;
‘Me though ye deem the righteous Gods pursue
‘With direful vengeance, threefold more than due;
‘Tempt not without the dove this dangerous strait,
‘For man must suffer what's ordain'd by Fate.
99
‘Through these tremendous rocks, the distant main;
‘Close to Bithynia let your vessel run,
‘And on the left the dangerous shallows shun;
‘Till Rhebas, rapid-rolling stream, ye reach,
‘The gloomy shore, and Thynia's sheltering beach.
‘Thence o'er the billows fronting Thynia's strand,
‘Soon will ye gain the Mariandine land.
‘Here lies the path to Pluto's dreary caves,
‘Here Acherusia frowns above the waves,
‘Whose skirts the gulfy Acheron divides,
‘And from deep whirlpools disembogues his tides.
‘Thence, not far distant, with the western gale,
‘Near Paphlagonia's towering heights ye sail,
‘The hardy sons of which inclement coast
‘Enetean Pelops for their founder boast.
‘Full to the north a promontory fam'd
‘Lifts the high head in air, Carambis nam'd;
‘The northern winds below its summit sweep,
‘So loftily it rises o'er the deep.
‘This point once doubled, a new coast expands
‘Its ample plains, and on the limit stands
‘A cape far-jutting, from whose rocky shores
‘The rapid Halys in old ocean roars.
‘Near him clear Iris draws his humbler train,
‘In silver torrents foaming to the main.
‘Beyond projects an headland tall and steep,
‘And forms a peaceful harbour in the deep.
‘Here o'er extensive fields Thermodon pours,
‘Near Themiscyria's heights, his watery stores.
‘Next lie the spacious Dœan plains, and near
‘Three cities of the Amazons appear:
‘And next the Chalybes, inur'd to toil,
‘Work at the forge, and turn the stubborn soil.
‘Near these the wealthy Tiberenians till,
‘Sacred to Jove, the Genetæan hill.
‘The Mossynœcians, next, the country round
‘Possess, with mountains and with forests crown'd.
‘In towers they live of solid timber fram'd,
‘Mossynes call'd, and thence the nation nam'd.
‘When these are past, an island bleak and bare
‘Lies full in view, there guide your ship with care,
‘And thence with care those noxious birds expel,
‘Which on the desert shore unnumber'd dwell.
‘Here form'd of solid stone, and seen from far,
‘Stands the rough temple of the God of war.
‘Two Amazonian queens, renown'd for arms,
‘Had rais'd the fane, when stunn'd with war's alarms.
‘Steer to this island through the stormy main,
‘And, all that mariners can wish, ye gain.
‘But why should I each circumstance disclose,
‘And make again the powers of heaven my foes?
‘Beyond that isle, but on the fronting shores,
‘The Philyreans feed their fleecy stores:
‘The brave Macronians till the neighbouring coast;
‘Next these the numerous Bechirian host:
‘Near them Sapirians and Byzerians dwell,
‘And next the Colchians, who in arms excel.
‘But ye, your steady course in Argo keep,
‘Shun the false shores, and plough secure the deep,
‘Till that rich coast ye reach, where Phasis leads
‘From Amarantine hills o'er Colchian meads
‘His liquid stores, and through fam'd Circe's plain;
‘Then rolls his widening current to the main.
‘To this fam'd stream pursue your watery way,
‘Soon will your eyes Æeta's towers survey,
‘And Mars's grove, where, wondrous to behold!
‘Hangs on a spreading oak the fleecy gold.
‘A hideous dragon of enormous size
‘Turns all around his circumspective eyes:
‘O'er the bright spoil the strictest watch he keeps;
‘He never slumbers, and he never sleeps.’
‘Lifts the high head in air, Carambis nam'd;
‘The northern winds below its summit sweep,
‘So loftily it rises o'er the deep.
‘This point once doubled, a new coast expands
‘Its ample plains, and on the limit stands
‘A cape far-jutting, from whose rocky shores
‘The rapid Halys in old ocean roars.
100
‘In silver torrents foaming to the main.
‘Beyond projects an headland tall and steep,
‘And forms a peaceful harbour in the deep.
‘Here o'er extensive fields Thermodon pours,
‘Near Themiscyria's heights, his watery stores.
‘Next lie the spacious Dœan plains, and near
‘Three cities of the Amazons appear:
‘And next the Chalybes, inur'd to toil,
‘Work at the forge, and turn the stubborn soil.
‘Near these the wealthy Tiberenians till,
‘Sacred to Jove, the Genetæan hill.
‘The Mossynœcians, next, the country round
‘Possess, with mountains and with forests crown'd.
‘In towers they live of solid timber fram'd,
‘Mossynes call'd, and thence the nation nam'd.
‘When these are past, an island bleak and bare
‘Lies full in view, there guide your ship with care,
‘And thence with care those noxious birds expel,
‘Which on the desert shore unnumber'd dwell.
‘Here form'd of solid stone, and seen from far,
‘Stands the rough temple of the God of war.
‘Two Amazonian queens, renown'd for arms,
‘Had rais'd the fane, when stunn'd with war's alarms.
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‘And, all that mariners can wish, ye gain.
‘But why should I each circumstance disclose,
‘And make again the powers of heaven my foes?
‘Beyond that isle, but on the fronting shores,
‘The Philyreans feed their fleecy stores:
‘The brave Macronians till the neighbouring coast;
‘Next these the numerous Bechirian host:
‘Near them Sapirians and Byzerians dwell,
‘And next the Colchians, who in arms excel.
‘But ye, your steady course in Argo keep,
‘Shun the false shores, and plough secure the deep,
‘Till that rich coast ye reach, where Phasis leads
‘From Amarantine hills o'er Colchian meads
‘His liquid stores, and through fam'd Circe's plain;
‘Then rolls his widening current to the main.
‘To this fam'd stream pursue your watery way,
‘Soon will your eyes Æeta's towers survey,
‘And Mars's grove, where, wondrous to behold!
‘Hangs on a spreading oak the fleecy gold.
‘A hideous dragon of enormous size
‘Turns all around his circumspective eyes:
‘O'er the bright spoil the strictest watch he keeps;
‘He never slumbers, and he never sleeps.’
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He spoke, and terror curdled all their blood;
Deep fix'd in silence long the warriors stood.
At length thus Jason, though possess'd with fear:
“Tell us, O tell us, venerable seer,
“Th' event of all our toils; the sign explain
“How safely we may pass into the main
“Thro' those dire rocks: and, O! indulgent, say,
“Shall we once more our native land survey?
“Unskill'd am I, unskill'd our martial train;
“How shall I act, how measure back the main?
“For far as ever flying sails were furl'd
“Lies Colchos, on the limits of the world.”
Deep fix'd in silence long the warriors stood.
At length thus Jason, though possess'd with fear:
“Tell us, O tell us, venerable seer,
“Th' event of all our toils; the sign explain
“How safely we may pass into the main
“Thro' those dire rocks: and, O! indulgent, say,
“Shall we once more our native land survey?
“Unskill'd am I, unskill'd our martial train;
“How shall I act, how measure back the main?
“For far as ever flying sails were furl'd
“Lies Colchos, on the limits of the world.”
Thus Jason spoke; and thus the prophet old:
‘Those dangerous rocks once pass'd, my son, be bold.
‘Some God from Æa shall thro' seas untry'd,
‘Skirted by others coasts, your vessel guide,
‘But you, to Æa sailing, on your crew confide.
‘But, friends, to Venus be due honours paid;
‘Still in remembrance keep her secret aid.
‘On all your toils she kindly will bestow
‘A glorious end—expect no more to know.’
‘Those dangerous rocks once pass'd, my son, be bold.
‘Some God from Æa shall thro' seas untry'd,
‘Skirted by others coasts, your vessel guide,
‘But you, to Æa sailing, on your crew confide.
‘But, friends, to Venus be due honours paid;
‘Still in remembrance keep her secret aid.
‘On all your toils she kindly will bestow
‘A glorious end—expect no more to know.’
Scarce had he spoke, when speeding back repair
The sons of Boreas through the fields of air,
At the seer's door with nimble feet they light;
Up rose the chiefs rejoicing at the sight.
When Zetes trembling, and with toils oppress'd,
While thick short sobs incessant heav'd his chest,
Tells how they drove the Harpies far away,
How Iris screen'd them, and forbad to slay,
And pledg'd her solemn oath: while they retreat
To the huge caves of mountain-cover'd Crete.
These joyful tidings cheer'd the hearts of all,
But most the prophet's, in the feastful hall;
Whom Jason thus: “Sure from his heavenly state
“Some God look'd down, and wail'd thy woeful fate,
“And fore-decreed from far our bands to send,
“That Boreas' sons might their assistance lend.
“Should the same God restore thy long-lost sight,
“My gladden'd soul would feel as great delight,
“As ev'n my native country could bestow.”
The sons of Boreas through the fields of air,
103
Up rose the chiefs rejoicing at the sight.
When Zetes trembling, and with toils oppress'd,
While thick short sobs incessant heav'd his chest,
Tells how they drove the Harpies far away,
How Iris screen'd them, and forbad to slay,
And pledg'd her solemn oath: while they retreat
To the huge caves of mountain-cover'd Crete.
These joyful tidings cheer'd the hearts of all,
But most the prophet's, in the feastful hall;
Whom Jason thus: “Sure from his heavenly state
“Some God look'd down, and wail'd thy woeful fate,
“And fore-decreed from far our bands to send,
“That Boreas' sons might their assistance lend.
“Should the same God restore thy long-lost sight,
“My gladden'd soul would feel as great delight,
“As ev'n my native country could bestow.”
Then thus sage Phineus with dejected brow:
‘My eyes, alas! shall ne'er behold the day;
‘Shrunk are these balls, and quench'd the visual ray:
‘Heaven round me soon death's gloomy shade shall spread,
‘And every honour will await me dead.’
‘My eyes, alas! shall ne'er behold the day;
‘Shrunk are these balls, and quench'd the visual ray:
‘Heaven round me soon death's gloomy shade shall spread,
‘And every honour will await me dead.’
With converse thus the fleeting hours they cheer'd,
When rosy morning beaming bright appear'd.
The neighbouring peasants round, with early day,
Flock to the seer, their due regards to pay;
This daily custom love and reverence taught,
And some provision for the sage they brought.
All came to learn by his prophetic lore;
He to the rich divin'd, and to the poor:
For numerous votaries he reliev'd from dread,
Who dearly lov'd him, and who daily fed.
With these his steady friend Paræbius came,
Who saw with joy these gallant sons of fame.
To him prophetic Phineus had foretold,
That a young band of Grecians, brave and bold,
Should, in their voyage to the Colchian shore,
In Thynia's bay their well-built vessel moor,
And from these coasts, those ravenous birds of prey,
The Harpies drive, though sent by Jove, away.
The seer well pleas'd dismiss'd his friendly train,
But bade Paræbius with the Greeks remain,
And fetch him instant from his numerous stock
A sheep, the best and fairest of the flock.
The willing swain obey'd the seer's request,
And Phineus thus the mariners address'd:
‘We are not all unciviliz'd and rude,
‘My friends, nor guilty of ingratitude.
‘That shepherd to my mansion came of late,
‘To learn from me the colour of his fate;
‘For the more labours and fatigues he bore,
‘Pale, pining want oppress'd him still the more;
‘New woes succeeded to the woes that past,
‘And every day was darker than the last:
‘And yet no crime had poor Paræbius wrought,
‘Alas! he suffered for his father's fault:
‘Who, when alone, and on the mountain's brow,
‘With cruel axe he laid the forest low,
‘Deaf to a doleful Hamadryad's pray'r,
‘The nymph neglected, and refus'd to spare,
‘Though oft she urg'd this lamentable plea;
“Pity, ah! pity my coeval tree,
“Where I so many blissful ages dwelt!”
‘But his hard heart no soft compassion felt;
‘The tree he fell'd; and for this foul disgrace
‘The nymph ordain'd him woes, and all his race.
‘To me Paræbius came oppress'd with fear,
‘The cause I found, and counsell'd him to rear
‘An altar to the goddess of the shore,
‘And pardon for his father's crimes implore.
‘Thus was the guilt aton'd; e'er since the man
‘Pays all regards that grateful mortal can;
‘For ever at my side he loves to stay,
‘And always goes unwillingly away.’
Thus Phineus spoke, when from his fleecy stock
His friend brought two, the fairest of the flock.
Then Jason rose, and, urg'd by Phineus blind,
Rose the bold offspring of the northern wind;
Their sacred offerings on the flames they lay,
Invoking Phœbus at the dawn of day.
The choicest viands with assiduous care
The younger heroes for their friends prepare.
Thus feasted, some their vessel's cordage press'd,
Some in the prophet's mansion sunk to rest.
Etesian breezes with the morning blow,
Which, sent by Jove, o'er every region flow.
When rosy morning beaming bright appear'd.
104
Flock to the seer, their due regards to pay;
This daily custom love and reverence taught,
And some provision for the sage they brought.
All came to learn by his prophetic lore;
He to the rich divin'd, and to the poor:
For numerous votaries he reliev'd from dread,
Who dearly lov'd him, and who daily fed.
With these his steady friend Paræbius came,
Who saw with joy these gallant sons of fame.
To him prophetic Phineus had foretold,
That a young band of Grecians, brave and bold,
Should, in their voyage to the Colchian shore,
In Thynia's bay their well-built vessel moor,
And from these coasts, those ravenous birds of prey,
The Harpies drive, though sent by Jove, away.
The seer well pleas'd dismiss'd his friendly train,
But bade Paræbius with the Greeks remain,
And fetch him instant from his numerous stock
A sheep, the best and fairest of the flock.
The willing swain obey'd the seer's request,
And Phineus thus the mariners address'd:
‘We are not all unciviliz'd and rude,
‘My friends, nor guilty of ingratitude.
105
‘To learn from me the colour of his fate;
‘For the more labours and fatigues he bore,
‘Pale, pining want oppress'd him still the more;
‘New woes succeeded to the woes that past,
‘And every day was darker than the last:
‘And yet no crime had poor Paræbius wrought,
‘Alas! he suffered for his father's fault:
‘Who, when alone, and on the mountain's brow,
‘With cruel axe he laid the forest low,
‘Deaf to a doleful Hamadryad's pray'r,
‘The nymph neglected, and refus'd to spare,
‘Though oft she urg'd this lamentable plea;
“Pity, ah! pity my coeval tree,
“Where I so many blissful ages dwelt!”
‘But his hard heart no soft compassion felt;
‘The tree he fell'd; and for this foul disgrace
‘The nymph ordain'd him woes, and all his race.
‘To me Paræbius came oppress'd with fear,
‘The cause I found, and counsell'd him to rear
‘An altar to the goddess of the shore,
‘And pardon for his father's crimes implore.
‘Thus was the guilt aton'd; e'er since the man
‘Pays all regards that grateful mortal can;
106
‘And always goes unwillingly away.’
Thus Phineus spoke, when from his fleecy stock
His friend brought two, the fairest of the flock.
Then Jason rose, and, urg'd by Phineus blind,
Rose the bold offspring of the northern wind;
Their sacred offerings on the flames they lay,
Invoking Phœbus at the dawn of day.
The choicest viands with assiduous care
The younger heroes for their friends prepare.
Thus feasted, some their vessel's cordage press'd,
Some in the prophet's mansion sunk to rest.
Etesian breezes with the morning blow,
Which, sent by Jove, o'er every region flow.
The nymph Cyrene, in old times, 'tis said,
Her flocks beside Thessalian Peneus fed,
Pleas'd with the honours of her virgin-name,
Till day's bright God seduc'd the rural dame.
Far from Hæmonia he convey'd the fair,
Brought to the nymphs, and trusted to their care,
The mountain-nymphs that in parch'd Libya keep
Their airy mansions on Myrtosia's steep.
Cyrene there, along the winding shore,
Thee, Aristæus, to Apollo bore;
To whom rich swains, who in Thessalia live,
The names of Agreus, and of Nomius give.
With length of days the God her love repaid,
And fix'd her huntress of the woodland shade;
But the young boy to Chiron's care he gave,
To reap instruction in his learned cave.
To him, when blooming in the prime of life,
The Muses gave Autonoë to wife;
And taught their favourite pupil to excel
In arts of healing, and divining well.
To him they gave their numerous flocks to feed,
Which Phthia's Athamantine pastures breed;
And those that stray on Othrys' lofty brow,
Or where Apidanus' fam'd waters flow.
But when fierce Syrius scorch'd the Cyclades,
The realms of Minos, in th' Ægean seas,
Nought could the burning malady allay;
The islanders implor'd the God of day,
Who sent young Aristæus to their aid,
By whom the fatal pestilence was staid.
At his sire's call he left fair Phthia's land,
Attended by a bold Arcadian band,
Who from Lycaon their extraction boast,
And sail'd to Ceos with his numerous host.
He there an altar rais'd to showery Jove,
And made oblation on the heights above
To the red star that desolates the land,
And to heaven's king; at whose supreme command
Th' Etesian-winds, while forty days they blow,
Refresh with balmy gales the soil below.
Ev'n now the Cean priests pay rites divine
Before the burning star begins to shine.
Thus fame reports; and by these winds detain'd,
With Phineus still the Argonauts remain'd.
The grateful Thynians daily, while they staid,
To their lov'd seer abundant stores convey'd.
Yet, ere they leave this hospitable land,
To the twelve Gods erect they on the strand
An altar, and with sacrifice and pray'r
Appease the powers of heaven, and to their ship repair,
Eager their long-neglected oars to prove;
Yet not unmindful of the timorous dove:
Which safely fasten'd by a slender band
Euphemus carry'd trembling in his hand.
Quick from the stay they lopp'd the doubled cord:
Minerva saw the heroes haste aboard:
On a thin cloud she lighted from above,
(The cloud upheld the mighty seed of Jove)
And sped her voyage to the Euxine main,
For much she lov'd the delegated train.
So when some shepherd quits his native home,
(As men adventurous much delight to roam)
No roads too distant, or too long appear,
In thought he sees, and thinks his mansion near;
O'er sea, o'er land with keen enquiring eyes
He views all ways, and in idea flies:
Thus to the Thynian shore, from heaven above,
Swift flew the daughter of imperial Jove.
Her flocks beside Thessalian Peneus fed,
Pleas'd with the honours of her virgin-name,
Till day's bright God seduc'd the rural dame.
Far from Hæmonia he convey'd the fair,
Brought to the nymphs, and trusted to their care,
The mountain-nymphs that in parch'd Libya keep
Their airy mansions on Myrtosia's steep.
Cyrene there, along the winding shore,
Thee, Aristæus, to Apollo bore;
107
The names of Agreus, and of Nomius give.
With length of days the God her love repaid,
And fix'd her huntress of the woodland shade;
But the young boy to Chiron's care he gave,
To reap instruction in his learned cave.
To him, when blooming in the prime of life,
The Muses gave Autonoë to wife;
And taught their favourite pupil to excel
In arts of healing, and divining well.
To him they gave their numerous flocks to feed,
Which Phthia's Athamantine pastures breed;
And those that stray on Othrys' lofty brow,
Or where Apidanus' fam'd waters flow.
But when fierce Syrius scorch'd the Cyclades,
The realms of Minos, in th' Ægean seas,
Nought could the burning malady allay;
The islanders implor'd the God of day,
Who sent young Aristæus to their aid,
By whom the fatal pestilence was staid.
At his sire's call he left fair Phthia's land,
Attended by a bold Arcadian band,
Who from Lycaon their extraction boast,
And sail'd to Ceos with his numerous host.
108
And made oblation on the heights above
To the red star that desolates the land,
And to heaven's king; at whose supreme command
Th' Etesian-winds, while forty days they blow,
Refresh with balmy gales the soil below.
Ev'n now the Cean priests pay rites divine
Before the burning star begins to shine.
Thus fame reports; and by these winds detain'd,
With Phineus still the Argonauts remain'd.
The grateful Thynians daily, while they staid,
To their lov'd seer abundant stores convey'd.
Yet, ere they leave this hospitable land,
To the twelve Gods erect they on the strand
An altar, and with sacrifice and pray'r
Appease the powers of heaven, and to their ship repair,
Eager their long-neglected oars to prove;
Yet not unmindful of the timorous dove:
Which safely fasten'd by a slender band
Euphemus carry'd trembling in his hand.
Quick from the stay they lopp'd the doubled cord:
Minerva saw the heroes haste aboard:
On a thin cloud she lighted from above,
(The cloud upheld the mighty seed of Jove)
109
For much she lov'd the delegated train.
So when some shepherd quits his native home,
(As men adventurous much delight to roam)
No roads too distant, or too long appear,
In thought he sees, and thinks his mansion near;
O'er sea, o'er land with keen enquiring eyes
He views all ways, and in idea flies:
Thus to the Thynian shore, from heaven above,
Swift flew the daughter of imperial Jove.
When now the heroes through the vast profound
Reach the dire straits with rocks encompass'd round,
Though boiling gulphs the sailing pine detain'd,
Still on their way the labouring Grecians gain'd,
When the loud-justling rocks increas'd their fears:
The shores resounding thunder'd in their ears.
High on the prow Euphemus took his stand,
And held the dove that trembled in his hand.
The rest with Tiphys on their strength rely'd,
To shun the rocks, and stem the roaring tide.
Soon, one sharp angle past, the joyful train
Saw the cleft crags wide opening to the main.
Euphemus loos'd the dove, the heroes stood
Erect to see her skim the foaming flood.
She through the rocks a ready passage found;
The dire rocks met, and gave a dreadful sound.
The salt-sea spray in clouds began to rise;
Old ocean thunder'd; the cerulean skies
Rebellow'd loudly with the fearful din;
The caves below remurmur'd from within.
O'er wave-worn cliffs, the coast's high margin o'er
Boil'd the light foam, and whiten'd all the shore.
Round whirl'd the ship; the rocks with rapid sway
Lopp'd from the dove her steering tail away;
Yet still securely through the straits she flew:
Loud joy inspir'd the circumspective crew.
But Tiphys urg'd the chiefs their oars to ply,
For the rocks yawn'd, tremendous to the eye.
Then terror seiz'd them, when with sudden shock
The refluent billows forc'd them on the rock;
With chilling fears was every nerve unstrung,
While o'er their heads impending ruin hung.
Before, behind they saw the spacious deep,
When instant, lo! a billow, vast and steep,
Still rises higher, and still wider spreads,
And hangs a watery mountain o'er their heads.
The heroes stoop'd, expecting by its fall
That mighty billow would o'erwhelm them all;
But Tiphys' art reliev'd the labouring oars:
On Argo's keel the impetuous torrent pours,
Which rais'd the ship above the rocks so high,
She seem'd sublimely sailing in the sky.
Euphemus hastening urg'd the valiant crew
Their course with all their vigour to pursue.
Shouting they plied their oars, but plied in vain;
For the rough billows beat them back again.
And as the heroes unremitting row,
Their labouring oars were bent into a bow.
Swift down the mountainous billows Argo glides,
Like a huge cylinder along the tides,
Entangled with thick, craggy rocks around,
Her seams all bursting, and her planks unbound.
In that nice moment the Tritonian maid
To sacred Argo lent the timely aid.
Her left-hand heav'd her from the craggy steep,
Her right dismiss'd her gently to the deep:
Then like an arrow from th' elastic yew,
Swift o'er the foaming waves the vessel flew.
Yet had the clashing rocks with adverse sway
Torn the tall prow's embellishments away.
When thus the Greeks had safely reach'd the main,
To heaven Minerva wing'd her flight again.
The parted rocks at once concurrent stood,
Fix'd on one firm foundation in the flood:
This had been long determined by the fates,
If mortal ever past those dangerous straits.
Now freed from fears, the Greeks with eager eyes
View the broad ocean and serener skies:
Their anxious doubts for Argo they dispel,
And deem her rescued from the jaws of hell.
Then Tiphys thus: ‘Sure to this ship we owe
‘That fearless safety we experience now.
‘For tho' wise Argus with ingenious art
‘Form'd the fair ship compact in every part,
‘Vigour divine propitious Pallas gave,
‘And power assign'd her o'er the wind and wave.
‘All now is safe: fear not thy haughty lord,
‘But mark, illustrious chief, the prophet's word,
“The rocks escap'd, no future fears remain,
“Your toils are easy, and your voyage plain.”
Reach the dire straits with rocks encompass'd round,
Though boiling gulphs the sailing pine detain'd,
Still on their way the labouring Grecians gain'd,
When the loud-justling rocks increas'd their fears:
The shores resounding thunder'd in their ears.
High on the prow Euphemus took his stand,
And held the dove that trembled in his hand.
The rest with Tiphys on their strength rely'd,
To shun the rocks, and stem the roaring tide.
Soon, one sharp angle past, the joyful train
Saw the cleft crags wide opening to the main.
Euphemus loos'd the dove, the heroes stood
Erect to see her skim the foaming flood.
110
The dire rocks met, and gave a dreadful sound.
The salt-sea spray in clouds began to rise;
Old ocean thunder'd; the cerulean skies
Rebellow'd loudly with the fearful din;
The caves below remurmur'd from within.
O'er wave-worn cliffs, the coast's high margin o'er
Boil'd the light foam, and whiten'd all the shore.
Round whirl'd the ship; the rocks with rapid sway
Lopp'd from the dove her steering tail away;
Yet still securely through the straits she flew:
Loud joy inspir'd the circumspective crew.
But Tiphys urg'd the chiefs their oars to ply,
For the rocks yawn'd, tremendous to the eye.
Then terror seiz'd them, when with sudden shock
The refluent billows forc'd them on the rock;
With chilling fears was every nerve unstrung,
While o'er their heads impending ruin hung.
Before, behind they saw the spacious deep,
When instant, lo! a billow, vast and steep,
Still rises higher, and still wider spreads,
And hangs a watery mountain o'er their heads.
The heroes stoop'd, expecting by its fall
That mighty billow would o'erwhelm them all;
111
On Argo's keel the impetuous torrent pours,
Which rais'd the ship above the rocks so high,
She seem'd sublimely sailing in the sky.
Euphemus hastening urg'd the valiant crew
Their course with all their vigour to pursue.
Shouting they plied their oars, but plied in vain;
For the rough billows beat them back again.
And as the heroes unremitting row,
Their labouring oars were bent into a bow.
Swift down the mountainous billows Argo glides,
Like a huge cylinder along the tides,
Entangled with thick, craggy rocks around,
Her seams all bursting, and her planks unbound.
In that nice moment the Tritonian maid
To sacred Argo lent the timely aid.
Her left-hand heav'd her from the craggy steep,
Her right dismiss'd her gently to the deep:
Then like an arrow from th' elastic yew,
Swift o'er the foaming waves the vessel flew.
Yet had the clashing rocks with adverse sway
Torn the tall prow's embellishments away.
When thus the Greeks had safely reach'd the main,
To heaven Minerva wing'd her flight again.
112
Fix'd on one firm foundation in the flood:
This had been long determined by the fates,
If mortal ever past those dangerous straits.
Now freed from fears, the Greeks with eager eyes
View the broad ocean and serener skies:
Their anxious doubts for Argo they dispel,
And deem her rescued from the jaws of hell.
Then Tiphys thus: ‘Sure to this ship we owe
‘That fearless safety we experience now.
‘For tho' wise Argus with ingenious art
‘Form'd the fair ship compact in every part,
‘Vigour divine propitious Pallas gave,
‘And power assign'd her o'er the wind and wave.
‘All now is safe: fear not thy haughty lord,
‘But mark, illustrious chief, the prophet's word,
“The rocks escap'd, no future fears remain,
“Your toils are easy, and your voyage plain.”
Thus he; and steering through the spacious sea,
Near fair Bithynia plough'd the liquid way.
Then Jason mild the pilot thus address'd:
“Why, Tiphys, this to me with grief oppress'd?
“Yes, I have err'd—my faults afflict my soul:
“When Pelias gave command without controul,
“'Twas mine to've shunn'd this wild-projected plot,
“Though instant death had been my certain lot.
“Now fears and cares my tortur'd bosom rend;
“I dread those ills that from the deep impend,
“I dread the savage coast, and every place
“Where dwells the bloody, or the barbarous race.
“No peace by day, no sleep at night I take,
“Since these brave chiefs assembled for my sake.
“With cold indifference may'st thou look down,
“For no man's safety anxious but thy own;
“But I, the least solicitous for mine,
“Feel for this friend's, that comrade's, and for thine.
“Much shall I feel for all this martial band,
“Unless they safe regain their native land.”
Thus spoke the prince, his gallant host to try;
With animating sounds they rend the sky.
The loud acclaim was grateful to his ears,
And thus he boldly hails his brave compeers:
Near fair Bithynia plough'd the liquid way.
Then Jason mild the pilot thus address'd:
“Why, Tiphys, this to me with grief oppress'd?
“Yes, I have err'd—my faults afflict my soul:
“When Pelias gave command without controul,
113
“Though instant death had been my certain lot.
“Now fears and cares my tortur'd bosom rend;
“I dread those ills that from the deep impend,
“I dread the savage coast, and every place
“Where dwells the bloody, or the barbarous race.
“No peace by day, no sleep at night I take,
“Since these brave chiefs assembled for my sake.
“With cold indifference may'st thou look down,
“For no man's safety anxious but thy own;
“But I, the least solicitous for mine,
“Feel for this friend's, that comrade's, and for thine.
“Much shall I feel for all this martial band,
“Unless they safe regain their native land.”
Thus spoke the prince, his gallant host to try;
With animating sounds they rend the sky.
The loud acclaim was grateful to his ears,
And thus he boldly hails his brave compeers:
“Your valour, friends, encourages my soul:
“And since no fears your gallant hearts controul,
“Boldly will I each coward-thought repel,
“Though doom'd to enter the abyss of hell.
“For these rocks past, no dangers can dismay,
“If we the counsel of the seer obey.”
“And since no fears your gallant hearts controul,
“Boldly will I each coward-thought repel,
“Though doom'd to enter the abyss of hell.
“For these rocks past, no dangers can dismay,
“If we the counsel of the seer obey.”
114
The Greeks applauding what their leader spoke,
Ply their stout oars and bend to every stroke;
And first by Rhebas, rapid stream, they fly,
And where Colona's rocks invade the sky,
And where the black-brow'd promontory low'rs,
And where lov'd Phillis his broad current pours.
There Dipsacus receiv'd, in days of yore,
Young Phryxus landing on his friendly shore,
When, exil'd from Orchomenos, he swam
On the broad shoulders of the gold-fleec'd ram.
For to that stream a nymph of rural race
Bore Dipsacus, who, fearful of disgrace,
Dwelt with his mother, and along the mead
Chose, near his father's stream, his fleecy flocks to feed.
The chiefs soon pass'd his celebrated fane,
The river Calpis, and th' extended plain;
And all the night, along the tranquil tide,
And all the day their oars incessant ply'd.
As when laborious steers, inur'd to toil,
With the bright plow-share turn the stubborn soil;
Sweat from their sides distils in foamy smoke;
Their eyes obliquely roll beneath the yoke;
Their scorching breath heaves quick with panting sound,
While all day long they tread the weary ground:
So toil'd the Greeks; nor yet the morning-light
Had pass'd the doubtful confines of the night,
But, faintly glimmering on this earthly ball,
Produc'd what mortals morning-twilight call.
To Thynia's neighbouring isle their course they bore,
And safely landed on the desert shore,
When bright Apollo shew his radiant face,
From Lycia hastening to the Scythian race.
His golden locks, that flow'd with grace divine,
Hung clustering like the branches of the vine:
In his left hand, his bow unbent he bore,
His quiver pendent at his back he wore:
The conscious island trembled as he trod,
And the big rolling waves confess'd the God.
Nor dar'd the heroes, seiz'd with dire dismay,
The splendors of his countenance survey,
But on the ground their downward eyes they cast:
Meanwhile Apollo o'er the watery waste,
And through thin ether on his journey flew.
Then thus spoke Orpheus to the martial crew:
“Let us, my honour'd chiefs, with joint acclaim
“This island sacred to bright Phœbus name,
“Who early here to all this host appear'd;
“Here let an altar on the shore be rear'd,
“And paid the rites divine: and if he deign
“That safe we reach our native land again,
“Young horned goats shall on his altars bleed,
“And the choice thighs to Phœbus be decreed.
“Now, comrades, due libations let us pay:
“Be gracious, O be gracious, God of day!”
Ply their stout oars and bend to every stroke;
And first by Rhebas, rapid stream, they fly,
And where Colona's rocks invade the sky,
And where the black-brow'd promontory low'rs,
And where lov'd Phillis his broad current pours.
There Dipsacus receiv'd, in days of yore,
Young Phryxus landing on his friendly shore,
When, exil'd from Orchomenos, he swam
On the broad shoulders of the gold-fleec'd ram.
For to that stream a nymph of rural race
Bore Dipsacus, who, fearful of disgrace,
Dwelt with his mother, and along the mead
Chose, near his father's stream, his fleecy flocks to feed.
The chiefs soon pass'd his celebrated fane,
The river Calpis, and th' extended plain;
And all the night, along the tranquil tide,
And all the day their oars incessant ply'd.
As when laborious steers, inur'd to toil,
With the bright plow-share turn the stubborn soil;
Sweat from their sides distils in foamy smoke;
Their eyes obliquely roll beneath the yoke;
Their scorching breath heaves quick with panting sound,
While all day long they tread the weary ground:
115
Had pass'd the doubtful confines of the night,
But, faintly glimmering on this earthly ball,
Produc'd what mortals morning-twilight call.
To Thynia's neighbouring isle their course they bore,
And safely landed on the desert shore,
When bright Apollo shew his radiant face,
From Lycia hastening to the Scythian race.
His golden locks, that flow'd with grace divine,
Hung clustering like the branches of the vine:
In his left hand, his bow unbent he bore,
His quiver pendent at his back he wore:
The conscious island trembled as he trod,
And the big rolling waves confess'd the God.
Nor dar'd the heroes, seiz'd with dire dismay,
The splendors of his countenance survey,
But on the ground their downward eyes they cast:
Meanwhile Apollo o'er the watery waste,
And through thin ether on his journey flew.
Then thus spoke Orpheus to the martial crew:
“Let us, my honour'd chiefs, with joint acclaim
“This island sacred to bright Phœbus name,
“Who early here to all this host appear'd;
“Here let an altar on the shore be rear'd,
116
“That safe we reach our native land again,
“Young horned goats shall on his altars bleed,
“And the choice thighs to Phœbus be decreed.
“Now, comrades, due libations let us pay:
“Be gracious, O be gracious, God of day!”
Thus he: and some the stony altar raise,
And some explore the forest's devious maze;
Haply within its lone retreats to find
A kid wild wandering, or a bounding hind:
Latona's son soon led them to the prey;
Then on the altar, blazing bright, they lay
The choicest parts involv'd in sacred smoke,
And fair Apollo, early God, invoke.
Around the flame in sprightly dance they spring,
And Iö Pæan, Iö Pæan sing.
Then on the Thracian harp Oeager's son
In soothing strains his tuneful tale begun:
And some explore the forest's devious maze;
Haply within its lone retreats to find
A kid wild wandering, or a bounding hind:
Latona's son soon led them to the prey;
Then on the altar, blazing bright, they lay
The choicest parts involv'd in sacred smoke,
And fair Apollo, early God, invoke.
Around the flame in sprightly dance they spring,
And Iö Pæan, Iö Pæan sing.
Then on the Thracian harp Oeager's son
In soothing strains his tuneful tale begun:
How once beneath Parnassus' rocky brow
He lanch'd an arrow from his deadly bow,
And the fell serpent slew; though young and fair
And beardless yet, but grac'd with golden hair:
(O prove propitious, thou whose radiant head
Is deck'd with curls unclip'd, that never shed,
Worthy thyself! Latona only knows
With nicest art those ringlets to dispose)
Corycian nymphs their joys in rapture show'd,
And Iö, Iö Pæan call'd aloud:
Encomium grateful to the God of day.
Thus having prais'd him in the solemn lay,
They swear devoutly, due libations made,
To league for ever, and lend mutual aid;
Then touch the hallow'd altar with their hands
Concordant; and ev'n now a temple stands
Sacred to Concord, by the Grecians rais'd,
When here that mighty Deity they prais'd.
He lanch'd an arrow from his deadly bow,
And the fell serpent slew; though young and fair
And beardless yet, but grac'd with golden hair:
(O prove propitious, thou whose radiant head
Is deck'd with curls unclip'd, that never shed,
117
With nicest art those ringlets to dispose)
Corycian nymphs their joys in rapture show'd,
And Iö, Iö Pæan call'd aloud:
Encomium grateful to the God of day.
Thus having prais'd him in the solemn lay,
They swear devoutly, due libations made,
To league for ever, and lend mutual aid;
Then touch the hallow'd altar with their hands
Concordant; and ev'n now a temple stands
Sacred to Concord, by the Grecians rais'd,
When here that mighty Deity they prais'd.
Now the third morn began on earth to smile,
When with fresh gales they left the lofty isle.
The foaming Sangar at a distance seen,
The Mariandine meads for ever green,
And Lycus' winding waters they forsake
All on the right, and Anthemoisia's lake.
So fast before the wind the vessel went,
Crack'd was the cordage, and the canvass rent:
But the gale ceasing with the dawning day,
Joyful they reach the Acherusian bay,
Begirt with rocks so towering tall and steep,
They frown tremendous on Bithynia's deep;
And yet so firmly founded in the main,
The raging billows round them roar in vain:
Above, upon the promontory's brow,
Umbrageous planes in beauteous order grow.
Thence, downward, thro' a deep and dreary dell,
Descends the path-way to the cave of hell,
With woods and shaggy rocks obscure; from whence
Exhaling vapours, chilly, damp and dense,
Scatter hoar frost along the whitening way,
Which melts before the sun's meridian ray.
On these rough cliffs, which many a storm molests,
The pleasing power of silence never rests.
From hollow caverns through the leafy boughs,
Above, the whistling wind for ever blows;
And while mad billows lash the sounding shores,
Below, the raging main for ever roars.
There, bursting from the promontory's sides,
Sad Acheron along the valley glides;
Deep-hollow'd beds his turbid streams convey,
As eastward to the main he winds his way.
This sable flood, in ancient story fam'd,
The Megarensians Soönautes nam'd
In after ages, when their course they bore
By ocean to the Mariandine shore:
For when the deep in deathful billows heav'd,
This peaceful port their shatter'd ships receiv'd.
To this the labouring Grecians bent their way,
Row'd round the cape, and anchor'd in the bay.
When Lycus and his Mariandine host,
Lycus, the mighty monarch of the coast,
Knew these brave Greeks who Amycus had slain,
They welcom'd Jason and his conquering train:
But most on Pollux fix'd their wondering eyes,
And view'd him as a hero from the skies:
For long the fierce Bebrycians' rude alarms
Had rouz'd the Mariandyni to arms.
That day, the Grecian band with one consent
To the king's hospitable palace went:
Cheerful they there on choicest dainties din'd,
And there with converse sweet regal'd the mind.
Then Jason to the king recounts the name,
And race of all these chosen sons of fame,
Who lent their aid at Pelias' dire command;
Their strange adventures on the Lemnian land;
What griefs, what woes at Cyzicus they bore;
And how they landed on the Mysian shore,
Where Hercules, distress'd his friend to find,
They left at land, unwillingly, behind.
What Glaucus spoke prophetic from the main,
How with his subjects Amycus was slain,
The prince relates: what Phineus poor and old,
Worn out with sufferings to the chiefs foretold;
How thro' Cyanean rocks they safely steer'd,
And in what isle the God of day appear'd.
The king rejoic'd his guests so well had sped,
But griev'd that Hercules was left, and said:
When with fresh gales they left the lofty isle.
The foaming Sangar at a distance seen,
The Mariandine meads for ever green,
And Lycus' winding waters they forsake
All on the right, and Anthemoisia's lake.
So fast before the wind the vessel went,
Crack'd was the cordage, and the canvass rent:
But the gale ceasing with the dawning day,
Joyful they reach the Acherusian bay,
Begirt with rocks so towering tall and steep,
They frown tremendous on Bithynia's deep;
118
The raging billows round them roar in vain:
Above, upon the promontory's brow,
Umbrageous planes in beauteous order grow.
Thence, downward, thro' a deep and dreary dell,
Descends the path-way to the cave of hell,
With woods and shaggy rocks obscure; from whence
Exhaling vapours, chilly, damp and dense,
Scatter hoar frost along the whitening way,
Which melts before the sun's meridian ray.
On these rough cliffs, which many a storm molests,
The pleasing power of silence never rests.
From hollow caverns through the leafy boughs,
Above, the whistling wind for ever blows;
And while mad billows lash the sounding shores,
Below, the raging main for ever roars.
There, bursting from the promontory's sides,
Sad Acheron along the valley glides;
Deep-hollow'd beds his turbid streams convey,
As eastward to the main he winds his way.
This sable flood, in ancient story fam'd,
The Megarensians Soönautes nam'd
In after ages, when their course they bore
By ocean to the Mariandine shore:
119
This peaceful port their shatter'd ships receiv'd.
To this the labouring Grecians bent their way,
Row'd round the cape, and anchor'd in the bay.
When Lycus and his Mariandine host,
Lycus, the mighty monarch of the coast,
Knew these brave Greeks who Amycus had slain,
They welcom'd Jason and his conquering train:
But most on Pollux fix'd their wondering eyes,
And view'd him as a hero from the skies:
For long the fierce Bebrycians' rude alarms
Had rouz'd the Mariandyni to arms.
That day, the Grecian band with one consent
To the king's hospitable palace went:
Cheerful they there on choicest dainties din'd,
And there with converse sweet regal'd the mind.
Then Jason to the king recounts the name,
And race of all these chosen sons of fame,
Who lent their aid at Pelias' dire command;
Their strange adventures on the Lemnian land;
What griefs, what woes at Cyzicus they bore;
And how they landed on the Mysian shore,
Where Hercules, distress'd his friend to find,
They left at land, unwillingly, behind.
120
How with his subjects Amycus was slain,
The prince relates: what Phineus poor and old,
Worn out with sufferings to the chiefs foretold;
How thro' Cyanean rocks they safely steer'd,
And in what isle the God of day appear'd.
The king rejoic'd his guests so well had sped,
But griev'd that Hercules was left, and said:
‘Think how, my friends, this hero's aid deny'd,
‘Rashly ye tempt a length of seas untry'd.
‘Full well I knew that valiant son of fame,
‘When here on foot thro' Lydia's coast he came
‘(For here my hospitable father dwelt)
‘To fetch Hippolita's embroider'd belt.
‘The hero found me then a beardless swain,
‘Mourning my brother by the Mysians slain;
‘(The nation dearly lov'd the blooming chief,
‘And still lament in elegies of grief)
‘Then at the funeral games he prov'd his might,
‘And vanquish'd Titias in the gauntlet-fight;
‘Tho' young and stout, and eager for the fray,
‘From his bruis'd jaws he dash'd the teeth away.
‘The Mysian country, and the Phrygian plains
‘The conqueror added to my sire's domains;
‘And the rude nations that Bithynia till,
‘To foaming Rhebas and Colona's hill;
‘And Paphlagonia to its utmost bounds,
‘Which sable Billis with his waves surrounds.
‘But now proud Amycus, and all his host,
‘Since Hercules has left the neighbouring coast,
‘Have spoil'd my realms, and spread their hostile bands
‘Wide as where Hipias' streams enrich the lands.
‘At length their lawless insolence they rue,
‘And by your hands have suffer'd vengeance due.
‘And sure some God afforded his relief
‘When Pollux slew that proud Bebrycian chief.
‘I for this deed my due regard will show;
‘'Tis what the meanest to the mighty owe.
‘My son, your comrade, shall at my command
‘Attend o'er distant seas your gallant band:
‘O'er distant seas, with Dascylus your guide,
‘You still with faithful friends shall be supply'd,
‘Far as Thermodon rolls his foaming tide.
‘Meanwhile on yon bold cape that mates the skies
‘To Leda's sons a sacred fane shall rise,
‘Admir'd by all that cross the boundless main,
‘For all shall venerate the sacred fane:
‘To them will I, as to the powers divine,
‘Some fruitful acres near the town assign.’
‘Rashly ye tempt a length of seas untry'd.
‘Full well I knew that valiant son of fame,
‘When here on foot thro' Lydia's coast he came
‘(For here my hospitable father dwelt)
‘To fetch Hippolita's embroider'd belt.
‘The hero found me then a beardless swain,
‘Mourning my brother by the Mysians slain;
‘(The nation dearly lov'd the blooming chief,
‘And still lament in elegies of grief)
‘Then at the funeral games he prov'd his might,
‘And vanquish'd Titias in the gauntlet-fight;
‘Tho' young and stout, and eager for the fray,
‘From his bruis'd jaws he dash'd the teeth away.
‘The Mysian country, and the Phrygian plains
‘The conqueror added to my sire's domains;
121
‘To foaming Rhebas and Colona's hill;
‘And Paphlagonia to its utmost bounds,
‘Which sable Billis with his waves surrounds.
‘But now proud Amycus, and all his host,
‘Since Hercules has left the neighbouring coast,
‘Have spoil'd my realms, and spread their hostile bands
‘Wide as where Hipias' streams enrich the lands.
‘At length their lawless insolence they rue,
‘And by your hands have suffer'd vengeance due.
‘And sure some God afforded his relief
‘When Pollux slew that proud Bebrycian chief.
‘I for this deed my due regard will show;
‘'Tis what the meanest to the mighty owe.
‘My son, your comrade, shall at my command
‘Attend o'er distant seas your gallant band:
‘O'er distant seas, with Dascylus your guide,
‘You still with faithful friends shall be supply'd,
‘Far as Thermodon rolls his foaming tide.
‘Meanwhile on yon bold cape that mates the skies
‘To Leda's sons a sacred fane shall rise,
‘Admir'd by all that cross the boundless main,
‘For all shall venerate the sacred fane:
122
‘Some fruitful acres near the town assign.’
Conversing thus, the genial feast they share,
And to the ship at early day repair:
With his brave son the friendly Lycus went,
Who store of viands to the ship had sent.
And to the ship at early day repair:
With his brave son the friendly Lycus went,
Who store of viands to the ship had sent.
'Twas here the cruel destinies decreed
That Idmon, fam'd for augury, should bleed:
The fate of others he had oft foreshown,
But fail'd, unhappy! to prevent his own.
Here, in a covert near the reedy flood,
A fell wild boar lay deep immers'd in mud.
With horrid tusks so dreadful he appear'd,
The fountain-nymphs the savage monster fear'd:
No living wight in miry marsh or moor
E'er saw so fierce, so horrible a boar.
On the lake's verge as luckless Idmon stood,
From his close covert, in the reedy mud,
Up sprung the furious beast with might and main,
Tore the chief's thigh, and snapp'd the bone in twain;
He groans, he falls, and on the bank he lies,
His griev'd companions answer to his cries;
When Peleus instantly approaching near,
Lanch'd at the boar his unavailing spear:
But Idas aim'd his pointed dart so well,
Low in the marsh the dying monster fell.
The chiefs with Idmon to the ship retir'd,
Who deeply groaning in their arms expir'd.
Immers'd in grief, they now neglect to sail;
For three whole days their comrade they bewail;
But on the fourth, with pensive sorrow, paid
The last sad honours due to Idmon's shade.
The king, the people join'd the mournful crew,
And, loud-lamenting, numerous victims slew:
They dug the grave, and on the greensword raise
A tomb on which posterity will gaze:
For near the tomb a tall wild olive grows,
Beneath the cape, and beautifully blows.
Me would the Nine commission to unfold
This truth, which Phœbus had long since foretold,
This, this is he, the tutelary lord,
Henceforth to be by mighty states ador'd:
For here Bæotians and Megarians join'd,
Near the wild olive wavering in the wind,
To build a city; though due honours they
To Agamestor, not to Idmon, pay.
That Idmon, fam'd for augury, should bleed:
The fate of others he had oft foreshown,
But fail'd, unhappy! to prevent his own.
Here, in a covert near the reedy flood,
A fell wild boar lay deep immers'd in mud.
With horrid tusks so dreadful he appear'd,
The fountain-nymphs the savage monster fear'd:
No living wight in miry marsh or moor
E'er saw so fierce, so horrible a boar.
On the lake's verge as luckless Idmon stood,
From his close covert, in the reedy mud,
Up sprung the furious beast with might and main,
Tore the chief's thigh, and snapp'd the bone in twain;
He groans, he falls, and on the bank he lies,
His griev'd companions answer to his cries;
When Peleus instantly approaching near,
Lanch'd at the boar his unavailing spear:
123
Low in the marsh the dying monster fell.
The chiefs with Idmon to the ship retir'd,
Who deeply groaning in their arms expir'd.
Immers'd in grief, they now neglect to sail;
For three whole days their comrade they bewail;
But on the fourth, with pensive sorrow, paid
The last sad honours due to Idmon's shade.
The king, the people join'd the mournful crew,
And, loud-lamenting, numerous victims slew:
They dug the grave, and on the greensword raise
A tomb on which posterity will gaze:
For near the tomb a tall wild olive grows,
Beneath the cape, and beautifully blows.
Me would the Nine commission to unfold
This truth, which Phœbus had long since foretold,
This, this is he, the tutelary lord,
Henceforth to be by mighty states ador'd:
For here Bæotians and Megarians join'd,
Near the wild olive wavering in the wind,
To build a city; though due honours they
To Agamestor, not to Idmon, pay.
Who fell beside? for, lo! the chiefs intend
Another tomb for some lamented friend.
Ev'n now two mournful monuments appear:
Tiphys, Fame says, was stretch'd upon the bier.
Him cruel fate ordain'd no more to roam;
He died far distant from his native home.
For while to Idmon funeral rites they pay,
Untimely sickness snatch'd the chief away.
Then heart-felt sadness seiz'd the pensive train,
Who, prostrate on the margin of the main,
Forgetful of their necessary food,
Mourn'd in sad silence to the roaring flood.
For they, now skilful Tiphys is no more,
Despair'd returning to their native shore;
And here had staid, with bitter grief oppress'd,
Had not Saturnia in Ancæus' breast
Breath'd courage: him Astypalæa bore,
Near winding Imbrasus on Samos' shore,
To ocean's God; a chief expert to guide
The flying vessel o'er the foaming tide.
Then thus to Peleus, Neptune's valiant son,
By heaven inspir'd, in cheering terms begun:
‘Ill suits the brave in foreign climes to stay,
‘And waste, O Peleus, precious time away.
‘I left not Samos less for sailing skill'd
‘Than fierce contention in the fighting field.
‘For Argo cherish not one abject fear,
‘Since many skill'd, besides myself, are here.
‘And he, to whom the steerage we ordain,
‘Will safely guide the vessel o'er the main.
‘'Tis thine to stimulate the fainting crew
‘With ready oars their voyage to pursue.’
He spoke, and transport touch'd the Phthian's breast,
Instant he rose, and thus the host address'd:
Another tomb for some lamented friend.
124
Tiphys, Fame says, was stretch'd upon the bier.
Him cruel fate ordain'd no more to roam;
He died far distant from his native home.
For while to Idmon funeral rites they pay,
Untimely sickness snatch'd the chief away.
Then heart-felt sadness seiz'd the pensive train,
Who, prostrate on the margin of the main,
Forgetful of their necessary food,
Mourn'd in sad silence to the roaring flood.
For they, now skilful Tiphys is no more,
Despair'd returning to their native shore;
And here had staid, with bitter grief oppress'd,
Had not Saturnia in Ancæus' breast
Breath'd courage: him Astypalæa bore,
Near winding Imbrasus on Samos' shore,
To ocean's God; a chief expert to guide
The flying vessel o'er the foaming tide.
Then thus to Peleus, Neptune's valiant son,
By heaven inspir'd, in cheering terms begun:
‘Ill suits the brave in foreign climes to stay,
‘And waste, O Peleus, precious time away.
‘I left not Samos less for sailing skill'd
‘Than fierce contention in the fighting field.
125
‘Since many skill'd, besides myself, are here.
‘And he, to whom the steerage we ordain,
‘Will safely guide the vessel o'er the main.
‘'Tis thine to stimulate the fainting crew
‘With ready oars their voyage to pursue.’
He spoke, and transport touch'd the Phthian's breast,
Instant he rose, and thus the host address'd:
“Why are we here by fruitless grief detain'd?
“Two friends are dead, and this the fates ordain'd;
“Yet many pilots in this host remain,
“To steer firm Argo o'er the watery plain.
“To sorrows unavailing bid adieu!
“Let us, bold peers, our destin'd course pursue.”
He said, and Jason anxious thus reply'd;
‘Where are those pilots, say, our course to guide?
‘For those whom late we boasted as the best
‘And ablest chiefs, are most with grief oppress'd.
‘I therefore deem a like sad fate attends
‘On us, as on our late departed friends,
‘If neither in Æeta's ports we moor,
‘Nor thro' those rocks regain our native shore,
‘But here inactive and inglorious stay,
‘Years following years, and linger life away.’
He spoke; Ancæus seiz'd the steerage, driv'n
By power instinctive from the queen of heav'n.
Erginus next the glorious charge desir'd;
Euphemus, Nauplius to the helm aspir'd.
But these the congregated chiefs declin'd,
And bold Ancæus to the post assign'd.
“Two friends are dead, and this the fates ordain'd;
“Yet many pilots in this host remain,
“To steer firm Argo o'er the watery plain.
“To sorrows unavailing bid adieu!
“Let us, bold peers, our destin'd course pursue.”
He said, and Jason anxious thus reply'd;
‘Where are those pilots, say, our course to guide?
‘For those whom late we boasted as the best
‘And ablest chiefs, are most with grief oppress'd.
‘I therefore deem a like sad fate attends
‘On us, as on our late departed friends,
‘If neither in Æeta's ports we moor,
‘Nor thro' those rocks regain our native shore,
‘But here inactive and inglorious stay,
‘Years following years, and linger life away.’
126
By power instinctive from the queen of heav'n.
Erginus next the glorious charge desir'd;
Euphemus, Nauplius to the helm aspir'd.
But these the congregated chiefs declin'd,
And bold Ancæus to the post assign'd.
With the twelfth rising morn the heroes sail;
Favonius breath'd a favourable gale;
And soon they leave sad Acheron behind,
Then give the swelling canvass to the wind:
On the smooth sea the ship serenely rides,
And light along the liquid level glides.
Ere long with stretching sails the coast they gain,
Where broad Callichorus augments the main.
To Thebes returning from his Indian fights,
Here Bacchus solemniz'd mysterious rites,
The dance before the sacred cave ordain'd,
And here full many a doleful night remain'd.
This name the country to the river gave,
Callichorus; and Aulion to the cave.
Favonius breath'd a favourable gale;
And soon they leave sad Acheron behind,
Then give the swelling canvass to the wind:
On the smooth sea the ship serenely rides,
And light along the liquid level glides.
Ere long with stretching sails the coast they gain,
Where broad Callichorus augments the main.
To Thebes returning from his Indian fights,
Here Bacchus solemniz'd mysterious rites,
The dance before the sacred cave ordain'd,
And here full many a doleful night remain'd.
This name the country to the river gave,
Callichorus; and Aulion to the cave.
Still as their course the daring Greeks pursue,
The monument of Sthenelus they view.
With honours grac'd, obtain'd in realms afar,
Returning from the Amazonian war,
On the bleak shore (Alcides at his side)
Pierc'd by a fatal dart the hero died.
Slow sail'd they on, for, eager to survey
His kindred warriours on the watery way,
At his request, from her infernal coast
Pluto's grim queen releas'd the pensive ghost.
The pensive ghost beheld with eager ken
From the tall monument the ship and men.
As arm'd for war the martial phantom seem'd;
Four crests high-towering on his helmet beam'd,
With purple rays intolerably bright;
Then soon it sunk beneath the shades of night.
In mute amazement stood the Grecian host;
But Mopsus counsel'd to appease the ghost
With offerings due; the chiefs approach the strand,
And round the tomb of Sthenelus they stand.
They pour libations, and the victims slay,
And on the fire the destin'd offerings lay.
Apart, to guardian Phœbus next they raise
An altar meet, and bid the victims blaze.
Here Orpheus plac'd his lyre for music fam'd;
Apollo's altar hence was Lyra nam'd.
The monument of Sthenelus they view.
With honours grac'd, obtain'd in realms afar,
Returning from the Amazonian war,
127
Pierc'd by a fatal dart the hero died.
Slow sail'd they on, for, eager to survey
His kindred warriours on the watery way,
At his request, from her infernal coast
Pluto's grim queen releas'd the pensive ghost.
The pensive ghost beheld with eager ken
From the tall monument the ship and men.
As arm'd for war the martial phantom seem'd;
Four crests high-towering on his helmet beam'd,
With purple rays intolerably bright;
Then soon it sunk beneath the shades of night.
In mute amazement stood the Grecian host;
But Mopsus counsel'd to appease the ghost
With offerings due; the chiefs approach the strand,
And round the tomb of Sthenelus they stand.
They pour libations, and the victims slay,
And on the fire the destin'd offerings lay.
Apart, to guardian Phœbus next they raise
An altar meet, and bid the victims blaze.
Here Orpheus plac'd his lyre for music fam'd;
Apollo's altar hence was Lyra nam'd.
And now, invited by the favouring gales,
They climb the ship and spread their swelling sails;
Swift o'er the deep the winged vessel flies,
Swift as the rapid hawk that cleaves the skies,
And lightly thro' the liquid ether springs,
Nor moves, self-poiz'd, his wide-expanded wings.
Thence by Parthenius sail'd the social train,
The gentlest stream that mingles with the main.
Fatigued with traversing the mazy grove,
Here, ere she re-ascends the courts of Jove,
The chaste Diana, huntress of the wood,
Bathes her fair limbs, and gambols in the flood.
Then during night by Sesamus they sail,
And Erythinus rising o'er the vale;
By Cromna and Crobrialus, and where
Thy groves, Cytorus, ever green appear.
Thence with the rising sun they stoutly row
Near where Carambis lifts his rocky brow.
All day, all night with unremitted oar
They coast along Ægialus's shore.
Then to the Syrian clime the heroes sped,
Where Jove, by hasty promises misled,
Sinope plac'd, and, all she wish'd to claim,
Gave her the honours of a virgin's name.
For, know, the God, by Love's strong power oppress'd,
Promis'd to grant whate'er she might request:
And this request th' insidious damsel made,
That her virginity might never fade.
Hence Phœbus foil'd could no one wish obtain;
Hence winding Alys wooed the maid in vain.
No mortal force such virtue could o'ercome,
Defeat Jove's promise, and impair her bloom.
Here dwelt Deïmachus's offspring fam'd,
Deileon, Autolycus and Phloglus nam'd,
What time they ceas'd with Hercules to roam,
And at Sinope found a settled home.
They, when they saw the bold Thessalian band,
Met them on shore and welcom'd them to land;
And, loathing longer in these climes to stay,
Join'd the brave crew, and with them sail'd away.
Bless'd with the zephyr's breeze that briskly blew,
Near Halys' stream and Isis' sail'd the crew;
Near Syria's coast, and, ere night's shades abound,
Near th' Amazonian cape, for many a bay renown'd.
Where Hercules surpriz'd, in days of yore,
Bold Menalippe wandering on the shore:
A belt Hippolyta her sister paid,
And for this ransom he restor'd the maid.
Here in Thermodon's bay firm Argo moor'd;
For lash'd with tempests the vex'd ocean roar'd.
No river like the fam'd Thermodon leads
Such numerous currents o'er the fertile meads:
A hundred streams to him their waters owe;
Yet from one source, one only source they flow.
On Amazonian hills, that reach the skies,
The great Thermodon first begins to rise;
Hence soon emerging many a course he takes,
Sinks but to mount, and various channels makes.
The different streams from different founts distil,
In soft meanders wandering down the hill;
Some public notice and fair titles claim,
Some flow obscurely, and without a name;
But confluent soon, along the winding plain,
He rolls his waves, and foams o'er half the main.
They climb the ship and spread their swelling sails;
128
Swift as the rapid hawk that cleaves the skies,
And lightly thro' the liquid ether springs,
Nor moves, self-poiz'd, his wide-expanded wings.
Thence by Parthenius sail'd the social train,
The gentlest stream that mingles with the main.
Fatigued with traversing the mazy grove,
Here, ere she re-ascends the courts of Jove,
The chaste Diana, huntress of the wood,
Bathes her fair limbs, and gambols in the flood.
Then during night by Sesamus they sail,
And Erythinus rising o'er the vale;
By Cromna and Crobrialus, and where
Thy groves, Cytorus, ever green appear.
Thence with the rising sun they stoutly row
Near where Carambis lifts his rocky brow.
All day, all night with unremitted oar
They coast along Ægialus's shore.
Then to the Syrian clime the heroes sped,
Where Jove, by hasty promises misled,
Sinope plac'd, and, all she wish'd to claim,
Gave her the honours of a virgin's name.
For, know, the God, by Love's strong power oppress'd,
Promis'd to grant whate'er she might request:
129
That her virginity might never fade.
Hence Phœbus foil'd could no one wish obtain;
Hence winding Alys wooed the maid in vain.
No mortal force such virtue could o'ercome,
Defeat Jove's promise, and impair her bloom.
Here dwelt Deïmachus's offspring fam'd,
Deileon, Autolycus and Phloglus nam'd,
What time they ceas'd with Hercules to roam,
And at Sinope found a settled home.
They, when they saw the bold Thessalian band,
Met them on shore and welcom'd them to land;
And, loathing longer in these climes to stay,
Join'd the brave crew, and with them sail'd away.
Bless'd with the zephyr's breeze that briskly blew,
Near Halys' stream and Isis' sail'd the crew;
Near Syria's coast, and, ere night's shades abound,
Near th' Amazonian cape, for many a bay renown'd.
Where Hercules surpriz'd, in days of yore,
Bold Menalippe wandering on the shore:
A belt Hippolyta her sister paid,
And for this ransom he restor'd the maid.
Here in Thermodon's bay firm Argo moor'd;
For lash'd with tempests the vex'd ocean roar'd.
130
Such numerous currents o'er the fertile meads:
A hundred streams to him their waters owe;
Yet from one source, one only source they flow.
On Amazonian hills, that reach the skies,
The great Thermodon first begins to rise;
Hence soon emerging many a course he takes,
Sinks but to mount, and various channels makes.
The different streams from different founts distil,
In soft meanders wandering down the hill;
Some public notice and fair titles claim,
Some flow obscurely, and without a name;
But confluent soon, along the winding plain,
He rolls his waves, and foams o'er half the main.
Had the Greeks landed on this hostile coast,
War would have soon pursu'd the gallant host:
(For the fierce Amazons regard not right,
Strife is their sport, and battles their delight:
From Mars and Harmony these warlike maids
Sprung where Acmonius spreads its bowery shades)
But favour'd with the soft Favonian wind,
The heroes left the crooked shore behind,
Where the bold Amazons, perceiv'd from far,
Stood sheath'd in arms, prepar'd for speedy war.
Not in one city dwelt this martial band,
But in three parties scatter'd o'er the land:
The first tribe at Themiscyra remain'd,
O'er this Hippolyta, their empress, reign'd;
There dwelt the fair Lycastian dames apart,
Here the Chadesians, skill'd to lance the dart.
Th' ensuing day the delegated band
Approach'd with oars the rough Chalybian land;
Whose sons ne'er yoke their oxen to the plough,
Nor healing plants, nor fruits delicious know:
Nor aught delight they in th' irriguous mead,
Retir'd and still, their fleecy flocks to feed;
But they dig iron from the mountain's side,
And by this ore are nature's wants supply'd.
Devoid of toil ne'er beam'd Aurora's ray,
And dust and smoke obscur'd the dismal day.
War would have soon pursu'd the gallant host:
(For the fierce Amazons regard not right,
Strife is their sport, and battles their delight:
From Mars and Harmony these warlike maids
Sprung where Acmonius spreads its bowery shades)
But favour'd with the soft Favonian wind,
The heroes left the crooked shore behind,
Where the bold Amazons, perceiv'd from far,
Stood sheath'd in arms, prepar'd for speedy war.
131
But in three parties scatter'd o'er the land:
The first tribe at Themiscyra remain'd,
O'er this Hippolyta, their empress, reign'd;
There dwelt the fair Lycastian dames apart,
Here the Chadesians, skill'd to lance the dart.
Th' ensuing day the delegated band
Approach'd with oars the rough Chalybian land;
Whose sons ne'er yoke their oxen to the plough,
Nor healing plants, nor fruits delicious know:
Nor aught delight they in th' irriguous mead,
Retir'd and still, their fleecy flocks to feed;
But they dig iron from the mountain's side,
And by this ore are nature's wants supply'd.
Devoid of toil ne'er beam'd Aurora's ray,
And dust and smoke obscur'd the dismal day.
From thence they pass where Tibarenians till,
Sacred to Jove, the Genetæan hill.
Here, when the teeming wives are brought to bed,
Their groaning husbands hang the drooping head;
Equal attendance with their wives they claim;
The same their diet, and their baths the same.
Sacred to Jove, the Genetæan hill.
Here, when the teeming wives are brought to bed,
Their groaning husbands hang the drooping head;
Equal attendance with their wives they claim;
The same their diet, and their baths the same.
Next by the sacred hill their oars impel
Firm Argo, where the Mossynœcians dwell.
In towers they live, of solid timber fram'd,
Mossynes call'd, and thence the nation nam'd:
Of manners strange; for they with care conceal
Those deeds which others openly reveal;
And actions, that in secret should be done,
Perform in public and before the sun:
For, like the monsters of the bristly drove,
In public they perform the feats of love.
Exalted in his tower that mates the sky,
The monarch here dispenses law from high:
But if his judgment err, this rigid state
Condemns their chief, and starving is his fate.
These nations past, with unremitting oar
They reach, Aretias, thy sea-girt shore.
Then sunk the breezes with the closing day,
When down the sky descending they survey
A winged monster of enormous might,
Which toward the ship precipitates her flight.
Her wings she shook, and from her pinions flung
A dart-like quill, which on Oïleus hung;
Down his left shoulder swift it fell: no more,
Faint and enfeebled, could he hold his oar.
In silence long the Grecian heroes gaze,
And view the feathery javelin with amaze.
But Erybotes, soon approaching near,
Extracted from the chief the winged spear;
Then from his side his pendent belt unbound,
And wrapp'd that bandage o'er the gaping wound.
When, lo! a second bird appear'd in view,
But ready Clytius first had bent his yew;
By his keen shaft the feather'd monster slain
Fast by the ship fell headlong in the main.
Then thus Amphidamas: ‘My friends, ye know,
‘And these obscene voracious fiends foreshow
‘Aretias near: then list to what I say,
‘Fruitless are shafts to drive these pests away;
‘But, would you here a fit reception find,
‘Recall th' advice of Phineus to your mind.
‘For when Alcides to Arcadia went
‘Well arm'd with arrows, on his toils intent,
‘From the Stymphalian lake he fail'd to fright
‘These ravenous Harpies (I beheld the sight)
‘But when he rung a cymbal with his spear;
‘The clanging cymbal fill'd the birds with fear:
‘In wild confusion far away they fly,
‘And with shrill clamours pierce the distant sky.
‘'Tis ours to practise this expulsive art;
‘But hear ye first the counsel I impart:
‘Let half our crew, in glittering armour dress'd,
‘Nod, as by turns they row, the high-plum'd crest;
‘The rest bright spears and swords and shields provide,
‘And meet dispose them round the vessel's side.
‘Then all at once your voices raise on high,
‘And with loud pealing shouts assail the sky;
‘The deafening clamours, the protended spears,
‘And nodding crests will fill the birds with fears.
‘And when Aretias' barren isle ye gain,
‘Ring your broad bucklers, and all shout amain.’
He spoke, the chiefs approv'd the wise design;
High on their heads the brazen helmets shine,
Whose purple crests wav'd dreadful in the wind;
To these alternate were stout oars assign'd;
The rest with care their vessel's side conceal'd
With glittering spears, and many a shining shield.
As when industrious builders cover o'er
With tiles the walls their hands had rais'd before;
In chequer'd squares they decorate the roof,
And make it fair to view, and tempest-proof:
Thus they with shields, dispos'd in order due,
Shelter'd their vessel, and adorn'd it too.
As when embattled hosts their foes assail,
Tumultuous shouts, and martial sounds prevail;
So from the ship loud clamours pierc'd the sky;
No more the Greeks their feather'd foes descry:
Rattling their bucklers, near the land they drew,
And far away the winged furies flew.
So when great Jove on close-throng'd cities pours
From hyperborean clouds his haily show'rs;
Within, the dwellers sit in peace profound,
Nor heed the rattling storms that rage around;
In vain the hail descends, the tempests roar,
Their roofs from harm were well secur'd before:
Thus on their shields the furies shot their quills,
Then clamouring vanish'd to far distant hills.
Firm Argo, where the Mossynœcians dwell.
132
Mossynes call'd, and thence the nation nam'd:
Of manners strange; for they with care conceal
Those deeds which others openly reveal;
And actions, that in secret should be done,
Perform in public and before the sun:
For, like the monsters of the bristly drove,
In public they perform the feats of love.
Exalted in his tower that mates the sky,
The monarch here dispenses law from high:
But if his judgment err, this rigid state
Condemns their chief, and starving is his fate.
These nations past, with unremitting oar
They reach, Aretias, thy sea-girt shore.
Then sunk the breezes with the closing day,
When down the sky descending they survey
A winged monster of enormous might,
Which toward the ship precipitates her flight.
Her wings she shook, and from her pinions flung
A dart-like quill, which on Oïleus hung;
Down his left shoulder swift it fell: no more,
Faint and enfeebled, could he hold his oar.
In silence long the Grecian heroes gaze,
And view the feathery javelin with amaze.
133
Extracted from the chief the winged spear;
Then from his side his pendent belt unbound,
And wrapp'd that bandage o'er the gaping wound.
When, lo! a second bird appear'd in view,
But ready Clytius first had bent his yew;
By his keen shaft the feather'd monster slain
Fast by the ship fell headlong in the main.
Then thus Amphidamas: ‘My friends, ye know,
‘And these obscene voracious fiends foreshow
‘Aretias near: then list to what I say,
‘Fruitless are shafts to drive these pests away;
‘But, would you here a fit reception find,
‘Recall th' advice of Phineus to your mind.
‘For when Alcides to Arcadia went
‘Well arm'd with arrows, on his toils intent,
‘From the Stymphalian lake he fail'd to fright
‘These ravenous Harpies (I beheld the sight)
‘But when he rung a cymbal with his spear;
‘The clanging cymbal fill'd the birds with fear:
‘In wild confusion far away they fly,
‘And with shrill clamours pierce the distant sky.
‘'Tis ours to practise this expulsive art;
‘But hear ye first the counsel I impart:
134
‘Nod, as by turns they row, the high-plum'd crest;
‘The rest bright spears and swords and shields provide,
‘And meet dispose them round the vessel's side.
‘Then all at once your voices raise on high,
‘And with loud pealing shouts assail the sky;
‘The deafening clamours, the protended spears,
‘And nodding crests will fill the birds with fears.
‘And when Aretias' barren isle ye gain,
‘Ring your broad bucklers, and all shout amain.’
He spoke, the chiefs approv'd the wise design;
High on their heads the brazen helmets shine,
Whose purple crests wav'd dreadful in the wind;
To these alternate were stout oars assign'd;
The rest with care their vessel's side conceal'd
With glittering spears, and many a shining shield.
As when industrious builders cover o'er
With tiles the walls their hands had rais'd before;
In chequer'd squares they decorate the roof,
And make it fair to view, and tempest-proof:
Thus they with shields, dispos'd in order due,
Shelter'd their vessel, and adorn'd it too.
As when embattled hosts their foes assail,
Tumultuous shouts, and martial sounds prevail;
135
No more the Greeks their feather'd foes descry:
Rattling their bucklers, near the land they drew,
And far away the winged furies flew.
So when great Jove on close-throng'd cities pours
From hyperborean clouds his haily show'rs;
Within, the dwellers sit in peace profound,
Nor heed the rattling storms that rage around;
In vain the hail descends, the tempests roar,
Their roofs from harm were well secur'd before:
Thus on their shields the furies shot their quills,
Then clamouring vanish'd to far distant hills.
Say, Muse, why Phineus counsel'd here to land,
On Mars's isle, this delegated band?
And what advantage could the Grecians gain
From all the toils and perils of the main?
On Mars's isle, this delegated band?
And what advantage could the Grecians gain
From all the toils and perils of the main?
To fam'd Orchomenos, with favouring gale,
From Æa's walls the sons of Phrixus sail,
Their grandsire's vast inheritance to share,
Who dying left this voyage to their care.
Near Mars's island on this signal day
The sons of Phrixus plough'd the liquid way.
But Jove ordain'd that Boreas' blasts should blow,
While moist Arcturus soak'd the vales below.
First on the mountains, rising by degrees,
All day rough Boreas shook the trembling trees;
Then, night approaching, he with hideous sound
Roll'd the big wave, and heav'd the vast profound.
No stars appear translucent thro' the clouds,
But gloomy darkness every object shrouds.
The sons of Phrixus, tost by whelming waves,
With horror shudder'd at the watery graves;
For the fierce blast, impell'd with might and main,
Tore all their canvass, split the ship in twain
And dash'd to pieces; but by heaven's kind aid
On a large fragment of the wreck convey'd,
The winds and waves the trembling brothers bore
Aghast, and half expiring to the shore.
Instant in floods descended copious rain,
Drench'd the whole island, and increas'd the main;
(These shores, the neighbouring coast, and sacred hill
The rude, the barbarous Mossynœcians till)
Borne on a broken plank, the forceful blast
The sons of Phrixus on this island cast,
Who met the Grecians with the rising sun;
Ceas'd was the rain, and Argus thus begun:
‘Adjur'd by Jove, whose circumspective ken
‘Surveys the conduct and the cares of men,
‘Whate'er your name or race, our tale attend,
‘And to the wretched your assistance lend.
‘The raging storms that Neptune's empire sweep,
‘Have wreck'd our luckless vessel in the deep;
‘To you we pray, if pity touch your heart,
‘Some scanty raiment for our wants impart;
‘The sons of misery for mercy call;
‘To one low level sorrow sinks us all.
‘They who to prostrate suppliants lend an ear,
‘The laws of hospitable Jove revere.
‘All-present he hath listen'd to our pray'r,
‘And sinking sav'd us with a parent's care.’
From Æa's walls the sons of Phrixus sail,
Their grandsire's vast inheritance to share,
Who dying left this voyage to their care.
Near Mars's island on this signal day
The sons of Phrixus plough'd the liquid way.
But Jove ordain'd that Boreas' blasts should blow,
While moist Arcturus soak'd the vales below.
136
All day rough Boreas shook the trembling trees;
Then, night approaching, he with hideous sound
Roll'd the big wave, and heav'd the vast profound.
No stars appear translucent thro' the clouds,
But gloomy darkness every object shrouds.
The sons of Phrixus, tost by whelming waves,
With horror shudder'd at the watery graves;
For the fierce blast, impell'd with might and main,
Tore all their canvass, split the ship in twain
And dash'd to pieces; but by heaven's kind aid
On a large fragment of the wreck convey'd,
The winds and waves the trembling brothers bore
Aghast, and half expiring to the shore.
Instant in floods descended copious rain,
Drench'd the whole island, and increas'd the main;
(These shores, the neighbouring coast, and sacred hill
The rude, the barbarous Mossynœcians till)
Borne on a broken plank, the forceful blast
The sons of Phrixus on this island cast,
Who met the Grecians with the rising sun;
Ceas'd was the rain, and Argus thus begun:
‘Adjur'd by Jove, whose circumspective ken
‘Surveys the conduct and the cares of men,
137
‘And to the wretched your assistance lend.
‘The raging storms that Neptune's empire sweep,
‘Have wreck'd our luckless vessel in the deep;
‘To you we pray, if pity touch your heart,
‘Some scanty raiment for our wants impart;
‘The sons of misery for mercy call;
‘To one low level sorrow sinks us all.
‘They who to prostrate suppliants lend an ear,
‘The laws of hospitable Jove revere.
‘All-present he hath listen'd to our pray'r,
‘And sinking sav'd us with a parent's care.’
Then Æson's son (fulfilling Phineus' plan)
Thus question'd mild the miserable man;
“But first, of truth observant, frankly tell,
“In what far region of the world ye dwell;
“What business call'd you from your native coast,
“What race ye sprung from, and what names ye boast.”
Thus question'd mild the miserable man;
“But first, of truth observant, frankly tell,
“In what far region of the world ye dwell;
“What business call'd you from your native coast,
“What race ye sprung from, and what names ye boast.”
Then Argus thus: ‘Ye, sure, have heard the fame
‘Of Phrixus, who from Greece to Æa came.
‘To great Æeta's citadel he swam
‘Supported on the shoulders of the ram,
‘Whose fleece now high-suspended ye behold,
‘By Hermes metamorphos'd into gold.
‘On the tall oak's high top it hangs in view,
‘The ram to Jove, propitious, Phrixus slew.
‘The generous king receiv'd him as his guest,
‘And with undower'd Chalciope he bless'd.
‘From these we sprung; but Phrixus breathes no more,
‘His bones lie buried on the Colchian shore.
‘We now to fam'd Orchomenos repair,
‘The wide domains of Athamas to share;
‘Such were the last injunctions of our sire:
‘Our business this—if ye our names require,
‘This Cytisorus, that will Phrontis claim,
‘He surnam'd Melas, Argus is my name.’
‘Of Phrixus, who from Greece to Æa came.
‘To great Æeta's citadel he swam
‘Supported on the shoulders of the ram,
‘Whose fleece now high-suspended ye behold,
‘By Hermes metamorphos'd into gold.
138
‘The ram to Jove, propitious, Phrixus slew.
‘The generous king receiv'd him as his guest,
‘And with undower'd Chalciope he bless'd.
‘From these we sprung; but Phrixus breathes no more,
‘His bones lie buried on the Colchian shore.
‘We now to fam'd Orchomenos repair,
‘The wide domains of Athamas to share;
‘Such were the last injunctions of our sire:
‘Our business this—if ye our names require,
‘This Cytisorus, that will Phrontis claim,
‘He surnam'd Melas, Argus is my name.’
He spoke: the Argonauts with still amaze,
And secret transport on the strangers gaze.
Then Jason mark'd the much-enduring man,
And thus with mild benevolence began:
“Friends as ye are, and near relations too,
“To us for succour not in vain ye sue.
“Cretheus and Athamas their sire the same;
“And Cretheus was my honour'd grandsire's name:
“With these companions join'd, I sail from Greece
“To Colchos, famous for the golden fleece—
“Some distant day, at ease may we relate
“These strange events, and all our various fate.
“Now shall warm robes to clothe your limbs be giv'n,
“We meet conducted by the hand of heav'n.”
And secret transport on the strangers gaze.
Then Jason mark'd the much-enduring man,
And thus with mild benevolence began:
“Friends as ye are, and near relations too,
“To us for succour not in vain ye sue.
“Cretheus and Athamas their sire the same;
“And Cretheus was my honour'd grandsire's name:
“With these companions join'd, I sail from Greece
“To Colchos, famous for the golden fleece—
“Some distant day, at ease may we relate
“These strange events, and all our various fate.
139
“We meet conducted by the hand of heav'n.”
He said, and from the ship rich vestments sent;
Then to the sacred fane of Mars they went.
From fleecy flocks they drain'd the life-warm blood,
And all devoutly round the altar stood;
This, of small stones compos'd, was plac'd before
The lofty temple's double-folding door:
(Within the fane a stone of sable hue
Stood where the Amazons their victims slew;
Who held it lawless, when they sojourn'd here,
To slay the sheep, or sacrifice the steer;
Instead of these the full-fed, pamper'd steed
Was doom'd, a victim at this fane, to bleed.)
These rites dispatch'd, and hunger's rage repress'd,
Thus Æson's son the listening host address'd:
Then to the sacred fane of Mars they went.
From fleecy flocks they drain'd the life-warm blood,
And all devoutly round the altar stood;
This, of small stones compos'd, was plac'd before
The lofty temple's double-folding door:
(Within the fane a stone of sable hue
Stood where the Amazons their victims slew;
Who held it lawless, when they sojourn'd here,
To slay the sheep, or sacrifice the steer;
Instead of these the full-fed, pamper'd steed
Was doom'd, a victim at this fane, to bleed.)
These rites dispatch'd, and hunger's rage repress'd,
Thus Æson's son the listening host address'd:
“Impartial Jove the race of man regards;
“The bad he punishes, the just rewards:
“As from a bloody stepdame's rage of yore
“He sav'd your sire, and blest with ample store,
“So he preserv'd you from the whelming deep,
“And in this vessel will securely keep;
“Whether for Æa in our ship ye sail,
“Or to far Phthia court the favouring gale.
“For this fam'd ship of Pelion's pines was made;
“And form'd by Argus, with Minerva's aid;
“But storms had lash'd her, ere, with hideous shock,
“She reach'd those straits, where rock encounters rock.
“Then lend your aid to gain the golden fleece,
“And be our guides to bring it back to Greece.
“Jove seems incens'd, and we this voyage take,
“To sooth his anger, and for Phrixus' sake.”
“The bad he punishes, the just rewards:
“As from a bloody stepdame's rage of yore
“He sav'd your sire, and blest with ample store,
“So he preserv'd you from the whelming deep,
“And in this vessel will securely keep;
“Whether for Æa in our ship ye sail,
“Or to far Phthia court the favouring gale.
140
“And form'd by Argus, with Minerva's aid;
“But storms had lash'd her, ere, with hideous shock,
“She reach'd those straits, where rock encounters rock.
“Then lend your aid to gain the golden fleece,
“And be our guides to bring it back to Greece.
“Jove seems incens'd, and we this voyage take,
“To sooth his anger, and for Phrixus' sake.”
Ardent he spoke; but they despair'd to find,
Æeta of so tractable a mind,
To yield the fleece: then Argus thus replies,
Alarm'd and troubled at their bold emprise;
‘Whate'er our powers can grant, or wishes gain,
‘The sons of Greece shall never ask in vain.
‘But proud Æeta, cruel and severe,
‘I loath the tyrant, and his power I fear;
‘The Sun his sire, so fame relates, he boasts;
‘Unnumber'd subjects guard his ample coasts;
‘For mighty strength he stands renown'd afar,
‘And voice terrific as the God of war.
‘The golden prize a monstrous dragon keeps;
‘Hard task to seize it, for he never sleeps.
‘Earth on rough Caucasus a being gave
‘To this fierce beast near Typhaonia's cave,
‘Where huge Typhœus, as old stories prove,
‘Was struck by lightning from almighty Jove,
‘When fierce in arms against heaven's king he stood;
‘From his head issu'd warm corrupted blood;
‘To Nysa's hills, to Nysa's plains he flies,
‘And now beneath Serbonian marshes lies.
Æeta of so tractable a mind,
To yield the fleece: then Argus thus replies,
Alarm'd and troubled at their bold emprise;
‘Whate'er our powers can grant, or wishes gain,
‘The sons of Greece shall never ask in vain.
‘But proud Æeta, cruel and severe,
‘I loath the tyrant, and his power I fear;
‘The Sun his sire, so fame relates, he boasts;
‘Unnumber'd subjects guard his ample coasts;
‘For mighty strength he stands renown'd afar,
‘And voice terrific as the God of war.
‘The golden prize a monstrous dragon keeps;
‘Hard task to seize it, for he never sleeps.
‘Earth on rough Caucasus a being gave
‘To this fierce beast near Typhaonia's cave,
141
‘Was struck by lightning from almighty Jove,
‘When fierce in arms against heaven's king he stood;
‘From his head issu'd warm corrupted blood;
‘To Nysa's hills, to Nysa's plains he flies,
‘And now beneath Serbonian marshes lies.
He said; distress'd so sad a tale to hear,
On every countenance sat pallid fear;
When Peleus thus with confidence reply'd,
And gave that courage which their fears deny'd:
On every countenance sat pallid fear;
When Peleus thus with confidence reply'd,
And gave that courage which their fears deny'd:
“Despair not, friend; for we disdain to yield,
“Nor dread to meet Æeta in the field.
“We too are skill'd in war, and draw our line
“From godlike chiefs, and origin divine.
“Incens'd should he the fleecy gold detain,
“He'll ask, I trust, the Colchians' aid in vain.”
“Nor dread to meet Æeta in the field.
“We too are skill'd in war, and draw our line
“From godlike chiefs, and origin divine.
“Incens'd should he the fleecy gold detain,
“He'll ask, I trust, the Colchians' aid in vain.”
Conversing thus the chiefs their thoughts express'd,
And sated with repast reclin'd to rest.
With rising morn the gently-breathing gales
Play'd round the pine, and fill'd the swelling sails;
The swelling sails expanded by the wind
Soon left Aretias' barren shore behind;
And swiftly skimming o'er the watery vast,
The Philyræan isle at eve they past;
Where Saturn first fair Philyra survey'd,
When on Olympus he the Titans sway'd,
(Nurs'd by the fierce Curetes, yet a child,
Young Jove was hid in Cretan caverns wild)
Unknown to Rhea he the maid compress'd;
But soon to Rhea was the crime confess'd;
Detected Saturn left his bed with speed,
And sprung all-vigorous as a mane-crown'd steed.
Swift fled fair Philyra, abash'd with shame,
And to the hills of Thessaly she came:
Fam'd Chiron sprung from this embrace so odd,
Ambiguous, half a horse, and half a God.
From thence they sail by long Macronian strands,
And where Bechira's ample coast expands;
Shores where Byzerians wander far and wide,
And fierce Sapirians, stigmatiz'd for pride;
And favour'd by the soft impelling wind,
Leave numerous coasts and lands unnam'd behind:
And, sailing swiftly o'er the waves, survey,
Far on the Pontic main, an opening bay;
Then, Caucasus, thy hills were seen on high,
That rear their rocky summits in the sky;
Fix'd to these rocks Prometheus still remains,
For ever bound in adamantine chains:
On the rude cliffs a ravenous eagle breeds,
That on the wretch's entrails ever feeds.
The Grecians saw him, ere th' approach of night,
Soar high in air, loud hissing in his flight:
Around the ship he flew in airy rings,
The sails all shivering as he shook his wings:
Not as a light aerial bird he soars,
But moves his pinions like well-polish'd oars.
The ravenous bird now rushing from the skies,
Sudden, they heard Prometheus' piercing cries:
The heavens re-echoed to the doleful sound,
While the fell eagle gnaw'd the recent wound.
Till gorg'd with flesh the bird of Jove they spy'd
Again descending from the mountain's side.
And sated with repast reclin'd to rest.
With rising morn the gently-breathing gales
Play'd round the pine, and fill'd the swelling sails;
The swelling sails expanded by the wind
Soon left Aretias' barren shore behind;
And swiftly skimming o'er the watery vast,
The Philyræan isle at eve they past;
142
When on Olympus he the Titans sway'd,
(Nurs'd by the fierce Curetes, yet a child,
Young Jove was hid in Cretan caverns wild)
Unknown to Rhea he the maid compress'd;
But soon to Rhea was the crime confess'd;
Detected Saturn left his bed with speed,
And sprung all-vigorous as a mane-crown'd steed.
Swift fled fair Philyra, abash'd with shame,
And to the hills of Thessaly she came:
Fam'd Chiron sprung from this embrace so odd,
Ambiguous, half a horse, and half a God.
From thence they sail by long Macronian strands,
And where Bechira's ample coast expands;
Shores where Byzerians wander far and wide,
And fierce Sapirians, stigmatiz'd for pride;
And favour'd by the soft impelling wind,
Leave numerous coasts and lands unnam'd behind:
And, sailing swiftly o'er the waves, survey,
Far on the Pontic main, an opening bay;
Then, Caucasus, thy hills were seen on high,
That rear their rocky summits in the sky;
Fix'd to these rocks Prometheus still remains,
For ever bound in adamantine chains:
143
That on the wretch's entrails ever feeds.
The Grecians saw him, ere th' approach of night,
Soar high in air, loud hissing in his flight:
Around the ship he flew in airy rings,
The sails all shivering as he shook his wings:
Not as a light aerial bird he soars,
But moves his pinions like well-polish'd oars.
The ravenous bird now rushing from the skies,
Sudden, they heard Prometheus' piercing cries:
The heavens re-echoed to the doleful sound,
While the fell eagle gnaw'd the recent wound.
Till gorg'd with flesh the bird of Jove they spy'd
Again descending from the mountain's side.
Night now approaching, near the land they drew,
And Argus well his native country knew;
For, Phasis, thy wide-spreading flood they gain,
And the last limits of the Pontic main.
At length arriv'd, so many dangers past,
They furl the mainsail, and they lower the mast:
Their bending oars the mighty stream divide;
The stream receives them on his foaming tide.
All on the left, in ancient rolls renown'd,
Rise Æa's walls with glittering turrets crown'd;
And on the right the field, not distant far,
And grove, both sacred to the God of war;
Where on an oak the fleece, suspended high,
A dragon guards with ever-watchful eye.
Then Jason hastes, impatient to consign
To the pure stream the unpolluted wine,
And from a golden vase fulfils the rite divine,
Sacred to earth, to Gods that guard the coasts,
And ancient heroes' long-departed ghosts:
For their protection he preferr'd his pray'r,
To keep the ship with tutelary care.
Then thus Ancæus: ‘Numerous perils past,
‘Colchos and Phasis we behold at last;
‘Behoves you now your sage advice to lend,
‘Whether to treat Æeta as a friend,
‘With speech accordant, and compliance bland,
‘Or in rough terms the golden prize demand.’
And Argus well his native country knew;
For, Phasis, thy wide-spreading flood they gain,
And the last limits of the Pontic main.
At length arriv'd, so many dangers past,
They furl the mainsail, and they lower the mast:
Their bending oars the mighty stream divide;
The stream receives them on his foaming tide.
All on the left, in ancient rolls renown'd,
Rise Æa's walls with glittering turrets crown'd;
144
And grove, both sacred to the God of war;
Where on an oak the fleece, suspended high,
A dragon guards with ever-watchful eye.
Then Jason hastes, impatient to consign
To the pure stream the unpolluted wine,
And from a golden vase fulfils the rite divine,
Sacred to earth, to Gods that guard the coasts,
And ancient heroes' long-departed ghosts:
For their protection he preferr'd his pray'r,
To keep the ship with tutelary care.
Then thus Ancæus: ‘Numerous perils past,
‘Colchos and Phasis we behold at last;
‘Behoves you now your sage advice to lend,
‘Whether to treat Æeta as a friend,
‘With speech accordant, and compliance bland,
‘Or in rough terms the golden prize demand.’
Thus he; but Jason urg'd, at Argus' call,
High up the sedgy stream the ship to haul;
Which, undisturb'd, might there at anchor ride
In the calm bosom of the peaceful tide:
There sought the chiefs the blessings of repose,
And slept secure till grateful morning rose.
High up the sedgy stream the ship to haul;
Which, undisturb'd, might there at anchor ride
In the calm bosom of the peaceful tide:
There sought the chiefs the blessings of repose,
And slept secure till grateful morning rose.
END OF THE SECOND BOOK.
| The Argonautics of Apollonius Rhodius, In Four Books, By Francis Fawkes: The Whole Revised, Corrected, and Completed, By His Coadjutor and Editor; Who Has Annexed A Translation of Coluthus's Greek Poem on The Rape of Helen, or The Origin of The Trojan War; With Notes | |