40

Thy fage propofal from my foul approve; Do thou explain it to the queen of love." This faid, with fpeed the two immortals came, To the grand manfion of the Cyprian dame. Which crippled Vulcan rais'd when firft he led The Paphian goddess to his nuptial bed. The gate they pafs, and to the dome retire Where Venus oft regales the god of fire: (He to his forge had gone at early day, A floating ifle contain'd it on the bay, Here wond'rous works by fire's fierce power he wrought,

50

59

And on his anvil to perfection brought). Fronting the door, all lovely and alone, Sat Cytherea on a polish'd throne. Adown the fhoulders of the heavenly fair, In eafy ringlets flow'd her flaxen hair; And with a golden comb, in matchlefs grace, She taught each lock its most becoming place. She faw the deities approach her dome, And from her hand difmifs'd the golden comb; Then rofe refpe&tful, all with beauty grac'd, And on rich thrones the great immortals plac'd; Refum'd her feat, and with a ready hand Bound her loofe ringlets, and thus queftion'd bland: What caufe, ye vifitants from heaven, relate, Has brought fuch guests to Cytherea's gate? Ye who excel in high Olympus' sphere, Such mighty deitics, and ftrangers here?' Then thus Saturnia: "Wantonly you jest, "When preffing grief fits heavy on our breaft. "Now in the Phafis, with his warlike train, "Great Jafon moors, the golden fleece to gain : "For that fam'd chief, and for his martial hoft, "Dire fears alarm us, but for Jason most : "This potent arm, whate'er our prowess can, "Shall fnatch from mifery the gallant man, "Though far as hell he, rash adventurer! go, "To free Ixion, link'd in chains of woe; "Left Pelias proudly heaven's decrees deride, "Who on my altars facrifice deny'd. "Nay more, young Jafon claims my love and 86 grace,

70

81

"Whom late I met returning from the chase, "Returning met, as o'er the world I stray'd, "And human kind, and human works furvey'd: "Hard by Aurarus I beheld the man, "Wide o'er its banks whofe rapid currents ran; "From fnow clad hills, in torrents loud and [mong).

90

"strong, "Roar'd the iwoln ftreams the rugged rocks a"He on his back, though like a crone I ftood, "Securely brought me o'er the foaming flood; "This won my love, a love for ever true, "Nor will the haughty-minded Pelias rue "His flagrant crimes, till you propitious deign "To speed my Jafon to his Greece again." She fpoke, and Venus ftood amaz'd to find The queen of heaven to humble prayer inclin'd; Then thus familiar faid: O wife of Jove, Bafeft of beings call the queen of love, Unless her every word and work confpire To give you all the fuccour you require : All that my hand, my feeble hand, can do, • Shall unrewarded be perform'd for you.'

Then Juno thus: "Not difficult the task; "No mighty force, no ftrength of arm I ask. 100 "Bid gentle love the Colchian maid inspire, "And for my Jafon fan the rifing fire; "If kind the prove, he gains the golden fleece, "And by her fubtle aid conducts it fafe to "Greece."

Love's queen replied: Cupid, ye powers divine, Will reverence your injunctions more than mine: Your looks will awe him, though, devoid of 'fhame,

Of me the urchin makes eternal game,

Oft he provokes my fpleen, and then I vow Enrag'd, I'll break his arrows and his bow: 110 "Refrain your ire," exclaims the fneering elf, "Left you find reafon to upbraid yourself."

At this the powers with fmiles each other
view'd,

And Venus thus her woeful tale purfu'd:
Others may ridicule the pains I feel,
Nor boots it all my fufferings to reveal.
But fince ye jointly importune my aid,

Cupid fhall yield, and Venus be obey'd.' She faid; and Juno prefs'd her hand and fmil'd, Then anfwer'd thus, benevolent and mild: 120 "O grant this beon; do inftant as you fay; "Chide not the boy, and he will foon obey."

This faid, both haften'd to the realms above, And left the mafions of the queen of love: The Cyprian goddefs o'er Olympus flies, To find her fon in every dale the pries, Through heaven's gay meads the queen purfu'd

her way,

129

And found him there with Ganymede at play.
Him Jove tranflated to the bleft abodes,
And, fam'd for beauty, plac'd among the gods.
With golden dice, like boon compeers they play'd:
Love in his hollow hand fome cubes convey'd,
Refolv'd to cheat young Ganymede with those,
While on his cheeks the confcious crimson rose.
The Phrygian boy was vanquish'd to his cost,
Two dice alone remain'd, and those he loft.
Silent he fat in dull dejected state,

Enrag'd that Cupid should deride his fate :
His lofs increafing with protracted play,
He went a wretch with empty hands away, 140
Nor faw he Venus: the her Cupid took
Faft by the check, and thus upbraiding fpoke:
And can you laugh, you fly, deceitful elf?
Such tricks will bring a fcandal on yourself,
But hafte, my Cupid, my commands obey,
And a nice plaything fhall your toils repay,
What once to Jove dear Adraftæa gave,
When Jove was nourish'd in the Cretan cave,
A fweet round ball; oh! keep it for my fake,
A finer ball not Vulcan's hands can make. 150
Gold are the circles, beauteous to behold,
And all the finish'd feams are wrought in

gold;

But all fo clofe, they fcarcely can be found:

And the pale ivy winds its wreaths around. If high in air you fling this ball afar,

It fhines and glimmers like a radiant star. This prize I'll give, if you propitious prove, And lure Medea to the toils of love;

160

Fire all her foul for Jafon: hafte, away;
The favour is diminish'd by delay.'
She faid, and Cupid liftening long'd to hear,
For her sweet words are mufic to his ear.
He ceas'd his paftime, and with both his hands
Hangs on the goddefs, and the ball demands.
She kiss'd her boy, and prefs'd him to her cheek,
And fondly fm ling, thus fhe anfwer'd meek:

By thee, my fon, and by myfelf I fwear,
By all that's facred, and by all that's dear,
This ball I'll give thee, if thy fatal dart
'Thou fix unerring in Medea's heart.'

170

This faid, he gather'd all his dice with hafte, And in his mother's splendid lap he plac'd. Then fnatch'd his bow and quiver from the ground,

And to his back with golden girdle bound. From Jove's all-fertile plains he fwift withdrew, Ard through O mpus' golden p rtals flew. Thence the defcent is eály from the sky, Where the two poles ere& their heads on high, Where the tall mountains their rough cops difplay. And where the fun first gives the radiant day. Hence you behold the fertile earth below, The winding ftreams, the cliffs' aërial brow, Cities extended on the diftant plain,

181

And through the vast expanf the roaring main. On the bread Phafis, in a fedgy bay,

Stretch'd on the deck the Grecian heroes lay;

Till call'd to council rofe each godlike man,

And Jafon thus the conference began:

To you, my comrades, be my counfel known,

"Tis yours that counfel with fuccefs to crown. "One common caufe our great emprife is made; "The common caufe demands the common aid. "He who unutter'd can his counsel keep,

Stays our refailing o'er the founding deep. "I to Beta's court will speed my way, "The rest well-arm'd shall in the veffel stay; "With me fhall go, the palace to explore, "Phrixus' brave funs and two affociates more. "First will I prove the power of foft address "To gain the fleece; complacence wins fuccefs. "If in his arms he fternly fhould confide, "And fpurn our claims with infolence and pride, "Confult we whether, when fuch powers opprefs, By arms or arts to free us from diftrefs.

201

"Be force the laft alternative we take, "For foothing speeches deep impreffions make; "And oft, where force and martial prowess fail, "The milder powers of eloquence prevail. "Once king eta kind reception gave "To blamelets Phrixus, when efcap'd the wave "He fied from Ino's unrelenting hate, "And the dire altars that denounc'd his fate "Savage or focial, all alike approve "The facred rites of hofpitable Jove."

211

He faid: the Greeks his fage advice rever'd ;
No voice diffentient through the hoft was heard:
Augeas then, and Telamon attends,

And with them Phrixus' fons, his faithful friends;
Jon they follow: he thy peaceful wand,
All fapient Hermes, brandifh'd in his hand. 220
Soon from the fhip they gain the rifing ground,
Mount every steep, and o'er the marshes bound,

Till Circe's plain they reach; in many a row Here humble fhrubs and lonely willows grow; On whofe tall branches wavering o'er the fen, Sufpended hang the carcafes of men.

At Colchos fill this barbarous rite prevails:
They never burn the bodies of the males,
Nor deep in earth their decent limbs compofe,
And with fepulchral duft the dead enclofe;
230
But in raw hides they hang them high in air:
And yet, that earth may equal portions share,
Departed females to the grave they doom,
(Such are their rites) and close them in the tomb.
The chiefs advance; but friendly Juno fhrouds
Her favourite heroes in a veil of clouds,
That none, too curious, might their steps delay,
While to the regal dome they bent their way:
But when unfeen they pafs'd the vulgar crowd,
The fame kind deity diffolv'd the cloud.
Full in the court they ftand with fix'd amaze,
On the proud gates, ftrong walls and columns
gaze,

240

Which, rear'd in rows, erect their heads on high
And lift the brazen cornice to the iky.
The portal paft, young branching vines appear,
And high in air their verdant honours rear:
Beneath whofe boughs, by matchlefs Vulcan made,
Four copious fountains in four currents play'd;
The first with milk, with wine the second glow'd,
Ambrofial oil the third, the fourth with water
flow'd;

260

From brazen noftrils breathing living flame.
And near a plough of burnish'd feel was laid,
Which for the god of day great Vulcan made,
When Phoebus brought him in his friendly car,'
Sore harafs'd in the fierce Phlegrean war.
The midmolt court they reach; on either fide
Large folding doors the various rooms divide.
Two painted porticoes falute their eyes,
And high in air tranfverfe two turrets rife ;
In this, which far in ftately height excels,
Beta with his royal confort dwells:
Abfyrtus that contains, his royal heir,
Defcended from Alterode the fair,
A Scythian nymph, cre yet eta led,
Idya Ocean's daughter to his bed.
Him Phaeton the youthful Colchians call,
For he in beauty far furpafs'd them all.
The proud apartments that remain'd contain
Chalciope, Medea, and their train.
Ordain'd a priestess to the Stygian queen,
She at the palace now was feldom feen:
But artful Juno, on this fignal day,
Within the regal court decreed her stay.
Here now, from room to room, the pensive maid,
To find Chalcione her fifler, ftray'd.
Soon as the fpied them in the fpacious hall,
Aloud fhe call'd, her fifter heard her call,
And with her maidens fallied from the door;
Their growing webs were scatter'd on the floor.

270

280

Well pleas'd her fons she fees, and raptur'd stands, While high to heaven fhe rears her greeting With equal joy to her embrace they fly. [hands; Then thus Chalciope with plaintive cry:

Here though you left me, heedlefs of my cries, See! fare hath frown'd upon your bold emprise; Hath check'd your voyage o'er the diftant main, And foon reftor'd you to these arms again.

⚫ Wretch that I was, when, by your fire's command,

Ye fought in evil hour the Grecian land!
Sad was the task your dying fire enjoin'd,
Sad and diftressful to a mother's mind.
Ah! whence the wifh Orchomenos to fee,
His city vifit, and abandon me?
Yes, Athamas's fancied wealth to gain,

Ye left me forrowing, and ye fought the main.'
Rous'd by her cries, at length Aeta came,
And to the hall repair'd his royal dame.
With buly crowds the spacious hall is fill'd;
The fteer is chofen, and the victim kill'd.
Some heat the bath, fome cleave the knotty wood,
And all attentive round their monarch stood.

Capid, meantime, through liquid air ferene, Speeds to the Colchian court, bis flight unfeen; Like that large fly, which breeze the shepherds call,

That haftes to fting the heifers in the stall.
The nimble god unfeen the porch afcends,
And there his bow behind a pillar bends;
A fatal arrow from his quiver took,
And, quick advancing with infidious look,
Behind great Afon's fon, conceal'd from fight,
He fits the arrow, fatal in its flight;

310

320

Bends the tough bow with all his strength and art,
And deep he hides it in Medea's heart.
A fudden transport feiz'd the melting maid:
The god, exulting now, no longer ftaid.
The glowing shaft the virgin's heart infpires,
And in her bolom kindles amorous fires.
On Jafon beam'd the fplendour of her eyes;
Her iwoln breaft heav'd with unremitting fighs:
The frantic maid had all remembrance loft,
And the foft pain her fickening foul engrofs'd.
As fome good house-wife, who, to labour born,
Freth to her loom must rife with early morn;
Studious to gain what human wants require,
In embers heap'd preferves the feeds of fire; 330
Renew'd by thefe the brand rekindling burns,
And all the glowing heap to afhes turns:
Thus, kindling flow, love's fecret flames invade,
And torture, as they rife, the troubled maid:
Her changeful cheeks the heart-f.lt anguifh fhow,
Now pale they turn, now like the ruby glow.

The rich repaft by fenefchals prepar'd, Fresh from their baths return'd, the strangers fhar'd;

And when the rage of hunger was fupprefs'd, 339 His grandfons thus the Colchian king address'd :

Sons of my child, and Phrixus, honour'd most Of all the guests that reach'd the Colchian coaft, Say, why fo foon return'd? what lofs conftrains This fpeedy vifit to your native plains?

In vain, with terrors for your fafety fraught, "I urg'd the distance of the climes ye fought;

Then Argus, anxious for the Grecian band, By birthright eldest, rofe and anfwer'd bland: "Our fhip, O king, by nightly tempests toft, "On Mars's ifle, a dreary coaft, was loft; "We, on the wreck by furious furges driv'n, "Were fav'd at laft by kind protecting heav'n. "Nor did thofe birds then defolate the fhore, "Dire harpies that infefted it before; "For thefe brave warriors the preceding day, "Had driv'n the curft, infernal fiends away. "Sure to our prayer fome god inclin'd his ear; "For when of Parixus and your name they "hear,

360

Impell'd by oars alone, or favouring gales, 380 "In this their chief, with chofen Greeks explores "Unnumber'd feas, and towns, and wide extend"ed fhores.

And now he fues the golden fleece to gain; "But that as beft your princely will ordain"Nor hoftile comes he; as a friend he brings "Large gifts proportion'd to the fate of kings. "Inform'd the fierce Sarmatians wafte your lands, "He vows deftruction to their barbarous bands. "Their names and lineage would with to "hear, "Lend to my narrative a liftening ear,

you

390

He, in whose cause the Grecian chiefs conspire "Is valiant Jafon, Æfon is his fire, "The fom of Cretheus:, thus are we ally'd "By blood, relations on the father's fide: "The fons of Æolus were Cretheus fam'd, "And Athemas, whofejheir was Phrixus nam'd. "'Mid your brave chiefs, Augeus you furvey, "Illuftrious offspring of the god of day, "And Telamon, who high his birth can prove, His fire is acus, his grandfire Jove: The reft, that vifit your auguft abodes, "Are all the fons or grandfons of the gods." This faid, the king with indignation fwell'd, But chief enrag'd his grandfons he beheld;

400

came :

tongue :

Should for your bold atrocious crimes atone : 'My juft revenge had spar'd your feet alone, To bear you hastily to Greece again, Dreading to vifit more my juft domain, And with your perjuries the gods profane.'

He faid: bold Telamon with fury burn'd, 420 And to the king ftern answer had return'd, But Jafon check'd his warmth, and mild reply'd : "Let not eta falfely thus decide.

"Nor crowns, nor empires, come we here to "gain;

[main? "Who for fuch wealth would measure half the "But fate, and Pelias' more severe command, "Have fore'd the fuppliant on your friendly "land.

“Aid us, and Greece your praises shall record, And thank you, fovereign, with their conquer"ing fword;

"Whether the fierce Sarmatians to enthrall 430 "Or realms more barbarous for your vengeance

"call."

While Jafon thus in gentleft terms reply'd, The tyrant's breast distracting thoughts divide, Whether with vengeance on the foe to fly, Or in the field of Mars his courage try. On this refolv'd, What need (he thus begun) With tedious tales my harass'd ears to ftun? For whether from immortals ye descend, * Or match'd in might ye dare with me contend, *Soon will I prove; that proof muft thou display; Then, if victorious, bear the fleece away; 44I * Nor fhall my hand the golden prize withhold: Like your proud lord, I envy, not the bold. This nervous arm shall now fuftain the fight, ⚫ Which calls to speedy proof thy boasted might, Two bulls in Mars's field your wonder claim, Their hoofs of brafs, their noftrils breathing ⚫ flame.

450

* These oft I seize, and to the yoke constrain * To plough four acres of the ftubborn plain. No feeds I fow, but scatter o'er the land A dragon's teeth; when, lo! an armed band Of chiefs fpring up; but, foon as they appear, I flay th' embattled fquadrons with my spear. Each morn I yoke the bulls, at eve refign: • Perform this labour, and the fleece is thine. ⚫ These are the terms; on these the prize I quit: The weaker to the ftronger most submit.'

He faid; and Jafon, funk in thought profound, Sat mute, his eyes faft fix'd upon the ground; Long time he ponder'd o'er the vaft defign, 460 Nor dar'd with confidence the battle join.

TRANS. II.

"That law which forc'd me from my native "home,

"And bade me thus in fearch of dangers roam ?" Perplex'd he spoke; then thus the king in

rage:

470 Rejoin thy comrades, fince thou dar'ft engage. But if the bulls constrain thy heart to yield, Or the dread dangers of the martial field, Be mine the toil; that hence the coward slave May dread to combat with the bold and brave.' Imperious thus the haughty king replies:

And from their feats incens'd the heroes rife. To warn his brothers here, at home, to wait, Argus stopp'd short awhile; then rush'd they through the gate. 479

490

Far o'er the reft, in grace unmatch'd alone, And charms fuperior, youthful Jason shone. Him through her veil the love-distracted maid With melting eyes and glance oblique furvey'd : Her mind, as in a dream, bewilder'd ran, And trac'd the footsteps of the godlike man. Sorrowing they went to fhun the monarch's ire, With fond Chalciope her fons retire: Medea follow'd, but with cares opprefs'd; Such cares as love had rais'd within her breast. His graceful image in her nnd she bore, His gait, his manner, and the robe he wore, His pointed words: through earth's remotest bound [crown'd: No prince the deem'd with fuch perfections His tuneful voice, ftill ftill fhe feems to hear, Still the sweet accents charm her listening ear. The bulls and wrathful king excite her dread: She mourns his fate, as if already dead. From her bright eyes the shower of anguish breaks, And thus, o'erwhelm'd with woe, Medea speaks : Why fall the tears of forrow from my eyes, "Though he the first or laft of heroes dies? 501 "Perish the man!-no, fafely let him fail; "And may my prayer, kind Hecate, prevail! "Safe fail he home; but, ah! if doom'd to bleed, "Teach him, that I rejoice not in the deed."

Thus mourn'd the maid: meantime, to join their train,

The chiefs pursue their course along the plain; Then Argus thus: Though, Jason you may • blame,

511

And fpurn the counsel which I now proclaim;
Yet fure for us, with threatening dangers prefs'd,
To try fome fafe expedient must be best.
A maid there is whofe wond'rous art excels,
Long taught by Hecate, in magic fpells:
If the propitious to our wishes yield,

Thou com'ft victorious from the martial field a
But if Chalciope decline her aid,

Be mine with tendereft motives to perfuade.
Inflant I'll go, on her for fuccour call;
For lo one general ruin threatens all

Τ