[late;

And thus fome matron mild her mind exprefs'd;
(Tears in her eye, and terrors at her breast) 310
Unfortunate Alcimeda, thy fate
Now frowns malignant, though it frowns fo
Nor wills the tenor of thy life to run
Serene and peaceful, as it first begun.
On Æfen too attend unnumber'd woes;
Far, better far, a lingering life to clofe,
And bury all his forrows in the tomb,
Unconscious of calamities to come.

Oh! had both Phixus and the ram been drown'd
When Helle per.fh'd in the gulf profound: 320
But the dire monfter was with voice endu'd,
And human accents from his mouth enfu'd,
To fad Alcimeda denouncing ftrife,

And woes to cloud the evening of her life.'
Thus fpoke fome matron as the heroes went;
Around their lords the menial train lament :
Alcimeda embrac'd her fon with tears,
Each breaft was chill'd with fad prefaging fears.
Age-drooping ion heard the general moan,
Wrap'd in foft robes, and anfwer'd groan for

groan.

330 But Jafon fooths their fears, their bofom warms, And bids his fervants bring the burnish'd arms. They, with a downcaft look and lowly how, Obey their chief with filent feps and flow. The penfive queen, while tears bedew her face, Her fon ftill circles with a fond embrace. Thus to her nurfe an infant orphan fprings, And weeps unce afing as the clofely clings; Experienc'd infults make her loath to tay Beneath a stepdame's proud, oppreffive (way. Thus in her royal breaft the forrows pent Forc'd fighs and tears, and firuggled for a vent. Still in her arms fhe held her favourite fon, And comfortlefs with faultering fpeech begun : Oh had I died on that detefted day, And with my forrows figh'd my foul away, When Pelias publish'd his fevere decree, Severe and fatal to my fon and me!

341

351

• Thyself had then my aged eyelids clos'd, [pos'd;
And thofe dear hands my decent limbs com-
This boon alone I wifh'd thee to impart,
This with alone lay dormant at my heart.
But now, alas! though first of Grecian names,
Admir'd and envy'd by Theffalian dames,
1, like an handmaid, now am left behind,
Bereav'd of all tranquillity of mind.
By thee rever'd, in dignity I fhone,

560

And first and last for thee unloos'd my zone. For unrelenting hate Lucina bore, Thee, one lov'd fon, fhe gave, but gave no more. Alas! not cv'n the vifions of the night Foretold fuch fatal woes from Phrixus' flight.' Thus mourn'd Alcimeda; her handmaids hear, Sigh back her fighs, and anfwer tear with tear. Then Jafon thefe confoling words addrefs'd, To footh the rifing anguish of her breast: "Ceafe, mother, ceafe excess of grief to flow, "Oh! cease this wild extravagance of woe. "Tears cannot make one dire difafter lefs; They cherish grief, and aggravate ditrefs. 370 Wifely and juttly have the gods affign'd Unthought-of miferics to all mankind.

"Forbode not here calamities to come:
"Your female train will re-conduct you home."
He fpoke; and from the palace bent his way,
Graceful of port; fo moves the god of day
At Delos, from his odour-breathing fanes,
Or Claros fituate on Ionian plains,

Or Lycia's ample fhores, where Xanthus leads
His winding waters through irriguous meads.
Thus Jafon march'd majestic through the crowd,
And fame aufpicious rais'd her voice aloud: 390
When lo! the priestefs of Diana came,
Their guardian goddess, Iphias was her name,
Bending, with age, and kiss'd the chief's right
hand;

400

In vain the wifh'd to fpeak; the hafty band
With speedy footsteps from the dame withdrew,
And Jafon mingled with his valiant crew.
Then from the tower fenc'd town he bent his way,
And reach'd ere long the Pagafæan bay:
There join'd his comrades waiting on the coaft,
And there faluted his confederate host.
When from Tolcos, lo, the wondering train
Obferve Acatlus haftening o'er the plain,
And with him Argus, his compeer and friend;
Unknown to Pelias, to the fhip they tend.
Argus around his brawny fhoulders flung
A bull's black fpoils that to his ancles hung.
Aratus wore a mantle rich and gay,
Wrought by his fifter lovely Pelopa.

Thus rob'd, the chiefs approach'd the crowded

shore:

Illuftrious Jafon ftay'd not to explore

410

What caule fo long detain'd them, but commands fo council all the delegated bands.

On fhrouds and fail, that cover'd half the beach,
And the tall, tapering maft, in order each,
The heroes fat; then rifing o'er the rest,
His bold affociates Jafon thus addrefs'd:

Since now the itores lie ready on the strand,
And fince our chiefs and arms are all at hand,
No longer let us wafte the golden day,
But the firft fummons of the breeze obey. 420
And, fince we all with equal ardour burn
For Colchian fpoils, and hope a fafe return,
Impartial chocfe fome hero fam'd afar
To guide the vessel, and conduct the war,
Let him, your fovereign chief, with foreign foes
The terms of treaty, and of fight propofe."
He fpoke; with earnett eyes the youthful band
Mark bold Alcides for fupreme command;
On him with voice unanimous they call,
Own him their leader, and the lord of all.
In the mid circle (at the godlike man,
His broad right hand he wav'd, and thus began:
"Let none to me this arduous tafk affigu,
"For I the glory with the charge decline,

430

4

"Jafon alone shall lead this valiant band, The chief who rais'd it, let that chief com "mand."

Thus briefly spoke th' unconquerable man; Loud approbation through the circle ran: Then Jafon rofe (complacence fill'd his breast), And thus the pleas'd attentive throng addrefs'd: Friends and flociates, fince your wills decree This great, this honourable truft to me, No longer be our enterprise delay'd: 'To Phoebus first be due oblations paid;

Let then a fhort repaft our strength renew:

And, till my herdfmen to our gallant crew

442

'With beeves return, the best my ftalls contain, Strive we to launch our veffel in the main. And when close ftow'd our military, ftores, Each take his poft, and ply the nimble oars. 'To Phabus firft, Embalian Phoebus, raife, 451 'The fmoking altar; let the victims blaze. 'He promis'd, if due rites to him I pay, To point through ocean's paths our dubious He faid and inftant to the task he flew; Example fir'd his emulative crew.

[way.

They heap'd their veftments on a rock, that stood Far from the infults of the roaring flood, 458 Bot, in times paft, when win'try forms prevail'd, Th' encroaching waves its towering top affail'd. As Argus counsel'd, with strong ropes they bound, Compacting clofe, the veffel round and round; Then with four nails the turdy planks they join'd,

To brave the fury of the waves or wind

Nex deiv'd with spades a channel deep and wide, Through which the ship might launch into the tide.

470

Near to the water deeper was the way,
Where wooden cylinders tranfverfely lay;
On thefe they heav'd the vessel from the plain,
To roll her, fmoothly-gliding, to the main.
Then to the benches, tapering oars they fix'd;
A cubit's meature was the space betwixt :
This was the station for the labouring bands,
To tug with bending breafts, and out-ftretch'd
hands.

Firft Tiphys mounted on th' aërial prow
To iffue orders to the train below,
That at his word, their flrength uniting, all
Might join together, and together haul.
With eager look th' attentive heroes stand,
And wait impatient till he gave command; 48
Then all at once, with full exerted sway,
They move her from the station where the lay,
And pushing inftant, as the pilot guides,
On fruooth round rollers Pelian Argo glides;
Glibly the glides; loud fhouts the jovial band;
They haul, they pull, they push her from the

ftrand.

། ཞག་

1

490

Beneath the huge bulk groan the rollers strong;
Black (moke arifes as the moves alongs
With fwift defcent the rushes to the main:
Courcive ropes her rapid race reítrain.
Then, next, their fails they hoifted, fix'd their oars,
The maft erected, and embark'd the stores.
By lets on benches were the heroes plac'd,
And with two heroes every bench was grac'd..

Patron of Pagafæ, thine ear we claim, Guard of the city grac'd with for's name a When to confuit thine oracle I went,

It promis'd to reveal this great event,
The final iffue of our bold emprife:<

510

520

'On thee, chief author, all our hope relies. Conduct my comrades to the far-fam'd fleece, 'Then safe restore them to the realms of Greece. And here I vow, whatever chiefs return, So many bulls fhall on thine altar burn; A facrifice at Delphos is decreed, And in Ortygia fhall the victims bleed. But now thefe humble offerings which we pay, 'Gracious accept, far-darting god of day. Be thou, O father, our aufpicious guide, When hence we fail acrofs the founding tide. 'Smooth the rough billows, and let breezes bland Propitious waft us to the Colchian land.'

.

Thus pray'd he fuppliant, and prepar'd to make The facred offering of the falted cake

Alcides, fam'd for manly ftrength and sway,
And bold Anca us rofe the betves to flay
Alcides' club imprefs'd a deadly wound

On the fleer's front and fell'd him to the ground.
Thy axe. Ancæus, at one sturdy ftroke,

The fteer's fkull fractur'd, and the neck-bone broke,

Down fell the victim, floundering with the blow,
Prone on his horns, and plough'd the fand below.
The ready train that round in order stood,
Stab the fallen beeves, and fhed the life-warm
blood,

549

Then from the body ftrip the fmoking hide,
The beafts they quarter, and the joints divide;
The thighs devoted to the gods they part,
On thefe the fat, involv'd in cawls, with art
They fpread, and as the lambert flame devours,
The Grecian chief the pure libation pours.
Joy fill'd the breaft of Idmon to behold,
How from the thighs the flame relucent roll'd
In purple volumes, and propitious fmoke;
And thus the feer, infpir'd by Phoebus fpoke:

Though various perils your attempt oppofe,
And toils unnumber'd bring unnumber'd woes;
Yet fhall ye fafe return, ye fons of Greece, 553
Adorn'd with conqueft, and the golden fleece.
Me cruel fate ordains on Afia's fhore
To die, nor ne'er behold my country more.

560

And though my destiny long fix'd I knew, Yet, still refolv'd, I join'd the martial crew; Inflam'd with glory to the hoft I came, Of life regardless, emulous of fame.' Thus he; the host the fate of Idmon mourn, But joy tranfports them for their wish'd return. The fun, remitting now his fiercer ray, Pours from the west the faint remains of day: Low as he finks, the lofty rocks expand Their lengthen'd fhadows o'er the diftant land. On leafy couches now the warlike train Repofe along the beach that fkirts the main. Before the chiefs are favoury viands plac'd, And generous wines, delicious to the taste. The hours in mutual converse they employ, In feftive fongs, and undiffembled joy. Thus at the banquet fport the young and When mirth breaks in, and envy fkulks away. But not unmark'd was Jafon's pensive look; Idas beheld him, and licentious spoke:

gay,

570

What doubts, what fears, do Æfon's fon perplex? [vex? What dangers fright him, and what forrows Proclaim thy thoughts: or is thy dubious mind Difmay'd with terrors of the daftard kind? 580 Now by this flout, unconquer'd lance, I fwear, On which in war victorious wreaths I bear, Scorning from Jove's affiftance to receive Those palms, which this refiftless lance can give) No foes fhall brave, no wiles of war withstand, Though Jove frown adverfe, this impetuous hand. Such Idas is, for prowels fam'd afar, 'Arene's boaft, the thunderbolt of war."

This faid, the boafter feiz'd a goblet, fill'd With racy wine, and to the bottom fwill'd. 590 O'er his black beard and cheeks the liquor flow'd: Th' affembled hoft with indignation glow'd. Then Idmon rofe, and boldly thus reply'd:

"Vain wretch! to brand our leader and our

600

"Thus, fame reports, the Aloïdæ ftrove "Long fince to irritate the powers above "By vile afperfions, infamoufly free; "Yet they in valour far exceeded thee. Slain by the fhafts of Phoebus, down they fell, "Though high afpiring, to the depths of hell."

He faid; but Idas, with farcaftic sneer, Laughing provok'd the venerable feer: Declare, wife augur, if the gods decree, The fame perdition fhall be hurl'd on me, Which fam'd Aloëus' impious fons befel When flain by Phœbus, and condemn'd to hell. 'Meantime efcape, or manfully withstand, Vain feer, the fury of this vengeful hand.'

609

Thus Idas fpoke, impatient of controul, And rifing rage inflam'd his fiery foul; Nor had they here ceas'd fiercely to conteft, But Jafon and his friends their wrath reprefs'd. 'Twas then, the jarring heroes to compose, Th' enchanting bard, Ocagrian Orpheus rofe,

626

And thus, attuning to the trembling strings His foothing voice, of harmony he fings: "How at the firft, beneath chaotic (way, "Heaven, earth, and fea, in wild diforder lay; "Till nature parted the conflicting foes, "And beauteous order from confufion rofe. "How in yon bright ethereal fields above "The lucid ftars in conftant orbits move; How the pale queen of night, and golden fun, Through months and years their radiant journeys run: [woods, "Whence rofe the mountains, clad with waving "The crystal founts; and hoarfe. refunding floods, "With all their nymphs; from what celeftial feed Springs the vaft fpecies of the ferpent breed: "How o'er the new-created world below, 633 "On high Olympus' fummits crown'd with fnow, Ophion, and, from ocean fprung of old, "The fair Eurynome reign'd uncontroul'd: "How haughty Saturn, with fuperior (way, "Exil'd Ophion from the realms of day; "Eurynome before proud Rhea fled, "And how both funk in ocean's billowy bed. "Long time they rul'd the bleft Titanian gods, "While infant Jove poffefs'd the dark abodes "Of Dicte's cave; yet uninform'd his mind "With heavenly wisdom, and his hand confin'd. Forg'd by earth's giant fons, with livid rays "Flam'd not as yet the lightning's piercing blaze; "Nor roar'd the thunder through the realms "above,

"The ftrength and glory of almighty Jove."

639

Here the fweet bard his tuneful lyre unftrung, And ceas'd the heavenly mufic of his tongue; 650 But, with the found entranc'd, the liftening ear Still thought him finging, and fill feem'd to hear:

In filent rapture every chief remains,

And feels within his heart the thrilling ftrains.
Forthwith the bowl they crown with rofy wine,
And pay due honours to the powers divine;
Then on the flaming tongues libations pour,
And wait falubrious fleep's compofing hour.
Soon as the bright-ey'd morning's fplendid ray
On Pelion's fummit pour'd the welcome day, 660
Light fkimm'd the breezes o'er the liquid plain,
And gently fwell'd the fluctuating main;
Then Tiphys rofe, and, fummon'd by his care,
Embark the herocs, and their oars prepare.
Portentous now along the winding fhores
Hoarfe founding Pagafæan Neptune roars:
From Pelion Argo's keel loud murmurs broke,
Urgent to fail; the keel of facred oak,
Endu'd with voice, and marvellously wrought,
Itonian Pallas from Dodona brought.
Now on their deftin'd posts, arrang'd along,
In feemly order fat the princely throng;
Faft by each chief his glittering armour flames:
The midmoft ftation bold Ancæus claims,
With great Alcides (whofe enormous might
Arm'd with a maffy club provokes the fight),
Close plac'd befide him in the yielding flood
The keel deep-finking owns the demigod.
Their haulers now they loofe, and on the brine
To Neptune pour the confecrated wine:

:

670

680

Then from his native fhore fad Jafon turns
His oft-reverted eye, and filent mourns.
As in Ortygia, or the Delphic fane,
Or where Ifmenus laves Boeotia's plain,
Apollo's altar round, the youthful choir,
The dance according with the founding lyre,
The hallow'd ground with equal cadence beat,
And move in measure their alternate feet;
Together fo Theffalia's princes fweep

With well tim'd oars the filver-curling deep: 690
While, raising high the Thracian harp, prefides
Melodious Orpheus, and the movement guides.
Dafh'd by their oars, the foaming billows broke,
And lond remurmur'd to each mighty ftroke.
Swift fail'd the fhip, the fun refulgent beam'd,
And bright as flame their glittering armour
gleam'd,

While to their outstretch'd oars the heroes bow,
The parted ocean whitening foams below.
So fhines the path, along fome graffy plain,
Worn by the footsteps of the village (wain.
Th' immortal powers that Jove's proud palace

crown,

All on that memorable day look'd down, The godlike chiefs and Argo to furvey,

700

710

As through the deep they urg'd their daring way.
Then too on Felion's cloud-capt fummit stood
The nymphs that wander in that facred wood;
Wondering they view'd below the failing pine,
(Itonian Pallas fram'd the work divine)
And bold Theffalia's labouring heroes sweep
With ftretching oars the navigable deep.
Lo from the mountain's topmoft cliff defcends
The Centaur Chiron; to the fhore he bends
His hafty footsteps: on the beach he stood,
And dipp'd his fetlocks in the hoary flood.
He hail'd the heroes with his big broad hand,
And wish'd them fafe to gain their native land.
With Chiron came Chariclo to the shore;
The young Achilles in her arms fhe bore.
Peleus, his fire, with fecret pleasure smil'd,
As high in air fhe rais'd the royal child.
And now the winding bay's fafe precincts past,
Theffalian Argo plough'd the watery wafte;
On Tiphys' care the valiant chiefs rely'd,
To fteer the veffel o'er the foaming tide,
The fmooth well-modell'd rudder to command,
Obfequious to the movement of his hand.
And next inferting in the keel below
The maft tall-tapering, to the ftern and prow,
With ropes that through the rolling pulleys glide,
They rear upright, and firm on every side.
Then high in air the fwelling fails they raife,
While on their befoms buxom Zephyr plays.
With favouring gales their steady courfe they

keep

720

739

To where Tifæum frowns upon the deep.
Meanwhile fweet Orpheus, as they fail'd along,
Rais'd to Diana the melodious fong, [fides,
Who fav'd them, where her guardian power pre-
From treacherous rocks that lurk beneath the tides.
The fish in fhoals, attentive to his lay,
Purfu'd the poet o'er the watery way;
And oft emerging from their liquid fphere,
furove more diftinct his heavenly notes to hear.

740

As sheep in flocks thick-pafturing on the plain
Attend the footsteps of the shepherd-swain,
His well-known call they hear, and fully fed,
Pace flowly on, their leader at their head;
Who pipes melodious, as he moves along,
On fprightly reeds his modulated fong:
Thus charm'd with tuneful founds the scaly train
Purfu'd the flying veffel o'er the main. 750
And now the winds with favouring breezes blew,
Corn crown'd Theffalia leffen'd to the view,
The Grecian heroes pafs by Pelion's steep,
Whofe rocky fummit nodded o'er the deep.
Now Sepias' cliffs beneath the waves subside,
And fea-girt Sciathos furmounts the tide.
Next, but far diftant, was Pirefiæ feen,
(Built on Magnefia's continent ferene)
And Dolops' tomb, for this pacific fhore,
Bleft with mild evening's foften'd gales, they bore.
To him with victims was an altar crown'd, 761
While night prevail'd, and ocean roar'd around.
Two days they tarried, till propitious gales
Rofe with the third, and bellied all their fails.
Affiduous then, the well known shore they fill,
The fhore call'd Aphetæ of Argo still.
Next Meliboa, on Theffalia's fhore,
They pass, where winds and thundering tempefts

roar.

770

780

At early dawn, incumbent o'er the deep,
They view high Omole's aspiring steep.
Next by the streams of Amyrus they steer,
And where thy vales, Eurymena, appear,
And Offa and Olympus' fhady brow;
Loud from deep caverns guth the waves below.
By night befide Pellene's heights they fail,
And rough Canaftra frowing o'er the vale.
But when the morn difplay'd her orient light,
fall Athos rofe conspicuous to the fight;
Which though from Lemnos far remov'd it lay,
As far as fhips can fail till noon of day,
Yet the proud mountain's high-exalted head,
A gloom umbrageous o'er Myrina spread.
All day till eve the foft indulgent gales
l'heir fuccour lent, and fill'd the fwelling fails.
But when with eve the breezes ceas'd to blow,
The mariners to Sintian Lemnos row,
Ill-fated island! where the female train
Had all the males, the year preceding, flain.
For, deep-enamour'd with the nymphs of Thrace,
The men declin'd the conjugal embrace;
Their wives they flighted, and unwary led
War's pleasing spoils, fair captives, to their bed.
For angry Venus robb'd of love's delights
The Lemnian females, for neglected rites.
Ah miferable train! with envy curs'd,
And jealousy, of paffions far the worst!
One fatal night this unrelenting crew
Their mates and all the lovely captives flew,
And every male, left in the courfe of time
Should rife fome hero to revenge the crime. 800
Hypfipyla alone, illuftrious maid,

Spar'd her fire Thoas, who the fceptre sway'd.
With pious care, in reverence to his age,
In a capacious ark fhe plac'd the fage,
Confiding in the mercy of the wave
The monarch from the maffacre to fave,

790

810

Some faithful fifhers, to their mandate juft,
Convey'd with care the delegated truft
Safe to a neighbouring fea-furrounded shore,
Enca nam'd, fo nam'd in days of yore,
Now Sicinum; from Sicinus it takes
Its title, whom a Naiad of the lakes,
The nymph Œnœa, beautiful and fair,
Comprefs'd by thoas, to the monarch bare.
The widow'd Lemnians, though by waves fe-
cur'd,

Oft fhone in arms, to martial toils inur'd.
To feed their cattle was their daily care,
Or cleave the furrow with the crooked fhare:
Expert at thefe, Minerva's arts they fcorn'd,
Which once employ'd them, and which once
adorn'd.
820

Oft to the main, opprefs'd with dire alarms,
They look'd; for much they fear'd the Thracian

arms.

And when Theffalian Argo caught their view,
Quick from Myrina to the fhore they flew.
All clad in glittering arms they prefs'd the strand,
Impetuous; (like the Bacchanalian band,
When with raw flesh their horrid feats they
clofe):
[foes.
They deem'd the veffel ftor'd with Thracian
Hypfipyla advanc'd among the reft,
In the bright armour of her father drefs'd;
Anxious, aflonifh'd all the dames appear,
And by their filence testified their fear.
Meanwhile thalides the heroes fend;
To him their peaceful mandates they commend.
Invested with the office of the god,

830

840

They grace their herald too with Hermes' rod,
Hermes his fire; who blefs'd his favourite heir
With memory nor time, nor place impair.
In vain around him Acheron's waters roll;
They pour no dull oblivion o'er his foul.
To him the fates this privilege bestow,
By turns to wander with the fhades below:
By turns with men to view the golden day,
And feel the fun's invigorating ray.
But why expatiate on fuch themes as these?
Why tell the fame of great Æthalides?
The herald to Hypfipyla addrefs'd,
With mild benevolence, this joint request:
That now, at evening-clofe, the friendly land
Might hofpitably treat this gallant band,
Who fear'd at morn to hoift their fwelling fails,
For Borcas blew with unpr pitious gales.

850

The queen had fummon'd to the council hall The Lemnian dames, the dames obey'd her call: Who mildly, with persuasion in her look, In order rang'd, the heroines bespoke :

860

Let us, my mates, and ye my words attend, • Commodious prefents to these strangers fend; Such as their friends to mariners confign, Salubrious viands, and delicious wine: So will they peaceful on our borders stay, Nor need compel them to the town to stray. Here will they learn the ftory of our guilt, The vows we broke, the kindred blood we

These are the counsels of your faithful friend,
Prompt to advise, and fteady to defend
She who can furnifh counsel more difcreet,
Now let her offer-for this cause we meet.' 870
Thus fpoke the queen, and prefs'd her father's
throne,

A royal feat, compos'd of folid ftone.
Then rofe Polyxo, venerable dame,

Once the queen's nurse, opprefs'd with age, and lame;

A staff sustain'd her (for her limbs were weak) Tottering with age, yet vehement to speak. Near her four damfels, blooming, fresh and fair, Sat crown'd with ringlets of the whiteft hair. Full in the midst fhe ttood, then rais'd her head, Her back was bent with years, and thus the faid: 880

The queen's advice I' greatly must commend, 'Commodious prefents to our guests to fend. And what more faving counsel shall I give To thofe my friends who fhall hereafter live; Whene'er the fons of Thrace, or hoftile hofts From other kingdoms fhall infest our coasts; Which well may happen, we must all allow, As this invasion that alarms us now? But fhould fome god avert th' impending ill, 'Yet greater evils may befal, and will. 890 For when the oldeft die, as die they must, And our wife matrons be transform'a to duft, And you, now young, opprefs'd at laft with • age,

Shall unprolific tread life's irkfome stage: What wretched mortals ye, who then furvive! Who to their labour, then, the fteers fhall drive? Will oxen then their necks fpontaneous bow Beneath the yoke, and drag the ponderous • plough?

Or will they reap the harveft on the plain, And every autumn houfe the golden grain? 900 I, though preferv'd to this important day, For death from me abhorrent turns away), 'Yet, ere the fun completes his annual round, If right I judge, fhall mingle with the ground, Lodg'd in the lap of earth, at nature's call, And 'scape the ruin that involves you all. Hear then, young damfels, what my years ad vife;

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