Humane he spoke, and Jafon thus rejoin'd; 520 "Much I admire the purpofe of thy mind. "Go, friend, to thy Chalciope repair, "Sue her with foft entreaty and with pray'r: "But, ah! vain hopes our vacant minds muft fill, "Who truft for conqueft to a woman's fkill." He faid; and foon they join'd their fotial train, Rejoic'd to meet their princely peers again. Then Jafon thus began his mournful tale: "With proud Zeta foft entreaties fail; "Our purpos'd end unable to attain,

530

"Vain are my words, and your inquiries vain. "Two monftrous bulls the tyrant bid me tame; "Their hoofs of brafs, their noftrils breathing "flame;

"These must my prowess to the yoke conftrain,
"To plough four acres of the ftubborn plain;
"My feed a dragon's teeth, to sow the land;
"When lo! up fprings a formidable band
"Of bright-arm'd giants; foon as they appear,
"Poiz'd by this arm, my well-directed spear
"Muft pierce the foe intrepid I accede 5407
"To the hard terms, nor future dangers heed."

He faid they deem'd it all a defperate deed;
Silent they flood, with fad dejected look
Each gaz'd on other, till bold Peleus fpoke:

Time calls for our refolves; our fafety ftands
No more in counsel, but in ftrength of hands.
If, Jafon, eager of the honour, thou
Wilt yoke these fiery monsters to the plough,
Hate to the charge; but if thy foul relent,
Sunk in fad bodings of the dire event,
Nor dar'it thou go; then go not, nor look round,
If haply here fome fitter man be found:
Myfelf will go, and risk my dearest breath;
No greater evil can befal than death.'

550

He spoke and Telamon with rage infpir'd
Starts up, and Idas with like fury fir'd;
Next the twin race of Tyndarus arise;
Laft Eneus' fon, who with the bravest vies;
Though o'er his cheeks fcarce fpreads the callow
down,

His heart beats high for honour and renown. 560
And while the reft in mute attention ftand,
Argus befpeaks the emulative band:

"Though hard the task, O chiefs, I still portend
ES My parent will affift, and prove a friend.
"Still in your fhip a while with patience wait;
"For rafhnefs will accelerate your fate.
"Know, at Æeta's court a maiden dwells,
"Deep fkill'd by Hecate in magic fpells: [fteep,
"All plants fhe knows that grow on mountains
"On vales, on meads, or in the boundless deep:
"By these the quells the fire's relentlefs force, 571
Stops the mad torrent in its headlong course,
"Retards the planets as they roll on high,
"And draws the moon reluctant from the fky.
"As from the palace o'er the plain we came
"'We mention'd oft my mother's honour'd name;
"If the perchance her fifter could perfuade,

:

And fix our intereft in the magic maid. Back, if you bid, my ready fteps I bend; "Fortune may smile, and fair fuccefs attend." He faid; when, lo! this fignal of their love, Was kindly given them by the powers above; For, by the falcon chas'd, a trembling dove,

With fafety crown'd, like her aufpicious dove. Entreat we now for Citherea's aid,

And let th' advice of Argus be obey'd.'
Thus he; the chiefs approv'd, remembering
well

What Phineus deign'd prophetic to foretel:
Idas alone with indignation burn'd,

And with loud voice thus infolent return'd:
Gods! what a crew hath Argo wafted o'er 600
Women, not heroes throng the hoftile fhore.
Women, who ftill to Venus' altars fly,
Nor dare but only on her aid rely.

No warlike deeds your dattard fouls inflame:
To you is Mars an unregarded name.
As doves or falcons but direct your flight,
You flinch at danger, and you dread the fight.
Go; and all manly martial toils forbear,
'Sue to weak women, and deceive the fair.'

Furious he spoke ; a general murmur ran 610 Through the whole train; yet none oppos'd the

man;

Indignant then he fat. Of dauntless breast Thus fon's fon the listening train address'd: This inftant Argus to the town I send, "For thus the general fuffrages intend: "Meanwhile approach we nearer to the land, "And fix, in fight, our halfers to the ftrand: "I fuits us longer thus to lie conceal'd; "We neither fhun, nor dread the fighting field."

He faid, and Argus went without delay, 620 And to the city backward fped his way; At Jafon's call they ply the labouring oar, And land their beds and couches on the shore.

630

Meantime the king a council call'd, and fat, (So were they wont) without the palace-gate. Affembled there, unceafing toils they plann'd, And wiles deftructive to the Grecian band. Thus he ordain'd, that when the bulls had flain And stretch'd this dauntlefs hero on the plain, Himself would lay the lofty forest low, And for the funeral pile prepare the bough: Their boafted fhip fhould be confum'd with fire, And every traitor in the flames expire. No hofpitable rites had Phrixus fhar'd, Though much he wish'd and merited regard, Had not Jove haften'd Hermes from above To win his favour and bespeak his love. Were these invaders of his native foil To thrive unpunifh'd by rapacious spoil, Soon would they make his lowing herds a pref, And drive the fhepherds and their flocks away. But Phrixus' fons, who join'd the lawless crew, He vow'd with double vengeance to pursue: 643 Bafe plunderers! come to fpoil him of his crown, So had the fun, his fapient fire, foreshown:

Who warn'd him to fufpect his faithlefs race,
And dread from them deftruction and difgrace.
Therefore difmifs'd he, by his fire's command,
The youths far diftant, ev'n to Grecian land.
His daughters gave him no perplexing care, 650
Nor young Abfyrtus, his adopted heir;
But from Chalciope's detefted race
He look'd for injuries, and fear'd difgrace.
Thus ftern denouncing, as with rage he fwells,
Death on each daring fubject that rebels,

His guards he charg'd, and threaten'd vengeance due,

If either scap'd, the vessel or the crew.

660

670

Swift to the palace Argus now repairs, And to his pitying mother pours his pray'rs, That the might importune Medea's aid: Nor had the queen her fon's request delay'd, But boding fears her willing mind restrain, Left all her fond entreaties fhould be vain ; And should the project be difclos'd to view, Her father's ire the magic maid must rue. As on her couch reclin'd the virgin lay, Soft flumbers chas'd her anxious cares away; But frantic dreams, which love-fick maids infeft, Prefent falfe terrors, and disturb her rest. Her hero feem'd the task to undertake, But not for honour or the fleece's fake; For her alone he risk'd the glorious ftrife, To gain her love, and win her for his wife. She then in dreams her utmoft fuccour lends, And with the bulls herself in fight contends. Her parents fhe, in fancied rage, averr'd Falfe and regardless of their promis'd word, Who Jafon doom'd the brazen bulls to foil, But made her not a partner of the toil. Then warm difputes and fierce contentions reign Between Meta and the Grecian train: On her decifion both the parties wait, And deem what fhe determines to be fate. In spite of parents, the fond maid exprefs'd Her choice in favour of her godlike guest. Rage wrung their fouls, and grief, and dire dismay, Till the loud clamour chas'd her fleep away, Trembling the starts; pale fears confus'd her look;

679

Her foul reviv'd, and thus the virgin fpoke: 689 'Alas! what fruitful dreams alarm my breast 'For these fam'd chiefs, but moft the royal 'gueft?

I fear, fome mighty mischief will enfue 'From this bold leader and his gallant crew. 'Yes, let him wed far off fome Grecian dame; Be mine my parents' houfe, my virgin's fame. If from my headftrong purpose I refrain,

701

My fifter's counfel might relieve my pain : 'Oh! for her fons would fhe my aid implore, My griefs would ceafe, my forrows be no more!' She faid, and rofe, nor longer deign'd to wait, But paft the threshold of her fifter's gate, Barefoot, undreft; long time fhe there remain'd, (For modeft fears her paffing ftep restrain'd); Then back retreats; new courage foon acquires; Again advances, and again retires: Paffions fo various fway'd the virgin's breaft, That when fierce love impell'd her, fear reprefs'd:

Thrice fhe effay'd, and thrice retreating fled;
Then on the pillow funk her drooping head:
As fome young damfel, whon her friend had
join'd
710

In marriage to the darling of her mind,
Conceal'd in fecret, mourns her blooming mate
Snatch'd from her arms by fome untimely fate,
Ere yet kind heaven indulg'd them to employ
The golden moments in connubial joy:
In filence fhe, though ftung with torturing grief,
Seeks on the widow'd bed the wifh'd relief;
Looks eager round, then sheds the trembling tear,
Screen'd from the female eye, and tongue fevere.
Thus mourn'd Medea, not unfeen; Her pain
Was mark'd by one, the youngest of her train;
Who told Chalciope Medea's grief:
And the fad tale exceeded her belief:
Her fons confulting, the with them effay'd
To footh the forrows of the love-fick maid.
Inftant the rofe, and trembling with difmay
Came to the chamber where her fifter lay;
Torn were her cheeks, the tears her grief con~
fefs;

And thus Chalciope the maid addrefs'd:

7220

730

Say, why thofe tears that thus incessant fall? What mighty ills your feeble mind appal; Say, does fome heaven-fent woe your grief infpire?

'Or in your bofom dwells Eeta's ire,

My fons and I the caufe? Oh! far from home 'On the worlds utmost limits may I roam, Nor fee my parents, nor my native fhore. Nor hear the hated name of Colchos more.' She faid: Medea's cheeks the crimson ftain'd; She ftrove to fpeak, but fhame her words reftrain'd.

Now on her lips the ready accents hung, 740 Now ftifled in her breaft: her faultering tongue Long time the purpose of her foul with-held, Artful at length fhe fpoke, by love impell'd:

"Dire fears, Chalciope, my foul dismay, [flay, "Left with these guests my fire thy children "My frightful dreams fuch horrid fcenes prefent; "May fome kind deity thefe woes prevent! "Left for thy fons the tears eternal flow :" Thus fpoke the maid, inquifitive in woe, If haply for her children's fate afraid, Chalciope might firft folicit aid. Mix'd grief and terror all the mother shook, At last, impaffion'd, thus fhe trembling spoke :

750

'Tis for their fakes I now before thee ftand; 'Lend me, O lend thy falutary hand! 'But fwear by earth and heaven what I unfold Refts in thy bofom, never to be told: By the great gods, and all that's dear I call, 'Swear thou wilt never fee my children fall, Left I too perish, and in fell defpight 760 'Rife a dread fury from the fhades of night.' Earneft the spoke, and tears inceffant shed, Then on her fifter's breaft reclin'd her head, And mix'd their mutual fighs; groan answer'd groan,

And the wide palace echo'd to their moan. Medea thus in mournful terms replies: "Alas! what fuccour can my thoughts devife,

(If aught my power can do, or words perfuade) "To give thee counsel, and to lend my aid." Thus fpoke the maid; and thus Chalciope; "Perhaps, in favour of my fons and me,

781

Thy mind, to fave the hero, might impart Some fecret counsel, fome mysterious art. From Jafon Argus comes, imploring aid; They reft their safety on the magic maid.' Thus the; with joy exults the virgin's heart, And rifing blushes rofy charms impart; But foon o'ercaft with grief fhe thus reply'd: "To ferve thee, fifter, be no art untry'd. "Ne'er may I fee with pleasurable eyes "In yon bright orient cheerful morning rife, "If aught on earth be half so dear to me 66 As is the welfare of thy fons and thee. "As brethren, they my fond regard engage, "By blood related, and the fame our age.

Fear mix'd with shame now feiz'd the lonely maid, 800

Who dare, her fire reluctant, lend her aid.

Now rifing shades a folemn fcene display O'er the wide earth, and o'er th' ethereal way; All night the failor marks the Northern Team, And golden circlet of Orion's beam: A deep repofe the weary watchman shares, And the faint wanderer fleeps away his cares; Ev'n the fond maid, while yet all breathless lies Her child of love, in flumber feals her eyes: No found of village-dog, no noise invades The death-like filence of the midnight shades; Alone Medea wakes: to love a prey, Reftlefs the rolls, and groans the night away: For lovely Jafon cares on cares fucceed, Left vanquish'd by the bulls her hero bleed; In fad review dire fcenes of horrors rife, Quick beats her heart, from thought to thought

the flies:

810

And from her eyes defcends a pearly flood.
Now raving with refiftlefs flames the glows,
Now fick with love fhe melts with fofter woes :
The tyrant god, of every thought poffefs'd,

Now the refolves the magic to betray To tame the bulls-now yield him up a prey. Again the drugs difdaining to fupply, 830 She lothes the light, and meditates to die: Anon, repelling with a brave difdain The coward thought, fh: nourishes the pain. Then pausing this: "Ah wretched me! the cries, "Where'er I turn what varied forrows rife! "Toft in a giddy whirl of strong defire, "I glow, I burn, yet bless the pleasing fire: "Oh! had this fpirit from its prifon fled, "By Dian fent to wander with the dead, "Ere the proud Grecians view'd the Colchian "fkies,

840

"Ere Jafon, lovely Jafon, met these eyes! "Hell gave the fhining mischief to our coaft, "Medea faw him, and Medea's loft"But why these forrows? if the powers on high "His death decree,-die, wretched Jafon, die! "Shall I elude my fire? my art betray? "Ah me! what words fhall purge the guilt away! "But could I yield-O whither muft I run "To find the chief-whom virtue bids me fhun? "Shall I, all loft to fhame, to Jafon fly? "And yet I muft—if Jafon bleeds I die! "Honour farewell! adieu for ever fhame: "Hail black disgrace! and branded be my fame! "Live, Jafon, live! enjoy the vital air! "Live through my aid! and fly where winds can "bear.

850

"But when he flies, cords, poifons lend your

"pow'rs:

"That day Medea treads th' infernal fhores! "Yet what reproach will after death be caft? "The maids of Colchos will my honour blast"I hear them cry-the falfe Medea's dead, 869 "Through guilty paffion for a stranger's bed; "Medea, careless of her virgin fame, "Preferr'd a ftranger to a father's name! "O may I rather yield this vital breath, "Than bear that bafe difhonour worse than "death!"

Thus wail'd the fair, and seiz'd, with horrid joy, Drugs foes to life, and potent to destroy; A magazine of death! again fhe pours From her fwoln eye-lids tears in fhining show'rs. With grief infatiate, comfortless she stands, 870 And opes the cafket, but with trembling hands. A fudden fear her labouring foul invades, Struck with the horrors of th' infernal fhades: She ftands deep-mufing with a faded brow, Abforb'd in thought, a monument of woe! While all the comforts that on life attend, The cheerful converfe, and the faithful friend, By thought deep-imag'd in her bofom play, Endearing life, and charm despair away. Enlivening funs with fweeter light arise, And every object brightens to her eyes. Then from her hand the baneful drugs fhe throws, Confents to live, recover'd from her woes; Refolv'd the magic virtue to betray, She waits the dawn, and calls the lazy day: Time feems to ftand, or backward drive his wheels;

880

890

At length the morn difplays her rofy light,
And the whole town Rands pic'd to her fight.
Back to the fhip (his brothers left behind
To mark the motions of Medea's mind)
Argus return'd; meanwhile her golden hair,
That flow'd diffufive in the wanton air,
The virgin binds; then wipes the tears away,
And from her eyes bids living lightning play;
On every limb refreshing unguents pours,
Unguents that breathe of heaven, in copious
fhow'rs.

Her robe the next affumes, bright clafps of gold
Clofe to the leffening waift the robe infold: 899
Down from her fwelling loins the reft unbound
Floats in rich waves redundant o'er the ground:
Then takes her veil, and stately treads the room
With graceful eafe, regardless of her doom.

910

Thus forward moves the fairest of her kind, Blind to the future, to the prefent blind. Twelve maids, attendants on her virgin bow'r, Alike unconscious of the bridal hour, Join to the car her mules; dire rites to pay, To Hecate's fair fane fhe bends her way. A juice the bears, whofe magic virtue tames (Through fell Perfephone) the rage of flames; For one whole day it gives the hero might, To ftand fecure of harms in mortal fight; It mocks the fword; the fword without a wound Leaps as from marble fhiver'd to the ground. This plant, which rough Caucafean mountains bore,

921

Sprung from the venom of Prometheus' gore,
(While on the wretch the favage eagle ftorm'd)
In colour like Corycian crocus form'd:
On two tall ftems up fprings the flowery shoot,
A cubit high; like red raw flesh its root.
From this root's juice, as black as that diftill'd
From mountain beeches, the fair maid had fill'd
A Cafpian conch; but first, as beft befeems,
Array'd in black seven times in living streams
She bath'd; and call'd feven times on Brimo's
name;

At midnight hour, the ghost-compelling dame.
She pluck'd the root, earth murmur'd from below,
And fad Prometheus groan'd with agonizing

woe.

This root the Colchian maid felecting plac'd 930
In the rich zone that bound her slender waist:
Then iffuing mounts the car, but not alone,
On either fide two lovely damfels fhone:
Her hand with kill th' embroider'd rein con-

trouls,

940

Back fly the streets as swift the chariot rolls.
Along the wheel-worn road they speed their way,
The domes retreat, the finking towers decay:
Bare to the knee fuccinct a damfel-train
Close throng behind them, haftening to the plain.
As when her limbs divine Diana laves
In fair Parthenius, or th' Amnesian waves,
Sublime in royal state the bounding roes
Whirl her bright car along the mountain brows:
Swift to fome facred feast the goddess moves,
The nymphs attend that haunt the shady groves;
Th' Amnefian fount, or filver-streaming rills,
Nymphs of the vales, or Oreads of the hills:

Alas! fhould Jafon with his Greeks appear, "Where fhould we y? I fear, alas, I fear ! "No more the Colchian youths, and virgin train, "Haunt the cool fhade, or tread in dance the "plain.

959

"But fince alone-with sports beguile your hours, "Collect fweet herbs, and pluck the fairest "flow'rs:

"If due attention to my words ye pay, "With richest spoils ye fhall return to-day. "For Argus and Chalciope require, "(But facred keep this fecret from my fire) "That for large prefents, for my fuccour paid, "To this rafh stranger I should lend my aid. "I pafs'd my word, and foon without his train "The Grecian will attend me at the fane : "In equal portions we the fpoil will fhare- 970 "For him a dofe more fatal I prepare"But when he comes, ye nymphs, retire apart." She fpoke; the nymphs approv'd the virgin's art. When Argus heard the maid with early day To Hecate's fair fane would speed her way, He beckon'd Jafon from his bold compeers Apart, and Mopfus moft renown'd of feers; For prefcient Mopfus every omen knew Of birds that parting or approaching flew. No mortal ever of the firft-born race Difplay'd like Jason fuch superior grace, Whether from demigods he trac'd his line, Or Jove himself immortal and divine, As grac'd by Juno, Jove's imperial queen, With foft addrefs, and dignity of mien. His comrades gaz'd with wonder as he went; Mopfus forefaw, and hail'd the bleft event. Hard by the path, and near the temple, stands A poplar tall, that wide its arms expands; Here frequent rooks their airy paftime take, 990 And on the boughs their fpray-form'd mansions

make:

980

One fhook its pinions (louder than the rest),
And croaking, thus Saturnia's mind exprefs'd :
Vain feer! whofe divinations fail to tell
'Those plain events which children know fo well;

That niaids will not, with comrades in the train, 'Tell the foft love-tale to their favour'd swain.

999

Falfe prophet, hence! for thee nor love inspires, 'Nor Venus gratifies with foft defires." Then Mopfus laugh'd, as fcoffing thus fhe spoke, To hear the bird her, dark predictions croak; And thus: "Hence, Jafon, to the fane and find "The maiden to thy warmeft wishes kind; "Venus approves, and fortune will enfue, "If what prophetic Phineus faid prove true. "Myfelf and Argus here will wait apart, "Go and unfold the fecrets of thy heart; Be every mode of soft perfuafion try'd." He counsel'd wifely, and the chief comply'd.

And one dear object all her foul employ'd:
Her train's gay fports no pleasure can restore,
Vain was the dance, and mufic charm'd no more;
She hates each object, every face offends,
In every wish her foul to Jafon fends;
With sharpen'd eyes the diftant lawn explores,
To find the hero whom her foul adores;
At every whisper of the paning air,

1020

She ftarts, the turns, and hopes her Jafon there:
Again the fondly looks, nor looks in vain,
He comes, her Jafon fhines along the plain.
As when, emerging from the watery way,
Refulgent Sirius lifts his golden ray,
He fhines terrific, for his burning breath,
Taints the red air with fevers, plagues, and death;
Such to the nymph approaching Jason shows,
Bright author of unutterable woes;
Before her eyes a fwimming darkness spread,
Her flush'd cheeks glow'd, her very heart was
dead:
1C29

No more her knees their wonted office knew,
Fix'd, without motion, as to earth they grew.
Her train recedes-the meeting lovers gaze
In filent wonder, and in ftill amaze.
As two fair cedars on the mountain's brow,
Pride of the groves, with roots adjoining grow;
Erect and motionlefs the ftately trees

Short time remain, while fleeps each fanning breeze,

Till from th' Æolian caves a biaft unbound
Bend their proud tops, and bids their boughs re-
found:
1030

Thus gazing they; till by the breath of love,
Strongly at laft infpir'd, they speak, they move;
With fmiles the love-fick virgin he furvey'd,
And fondly thus address'd the blooming maid:
Difmifs, my fair, my love, thy virgin fear;
'Tis Jalon speaks, no enemy is here!
Dread not in me a haughty heart to find,
In Greece I bore no proud inhuman mind.
Whom wouldst thou fly? ftay, lovely virgin,
flay!

E

*

Speak every thought! far hence be fears away! Speak and be truth in every accent found! 1050 ⚫ Scorn to deceive! we tread on hallow'd ground. By the ftern power who guards this facred place, By the fam'd authors of thy royal race;

Fair Ariadne, forung from Minos' bed,
Sav'd valiant T feus, and with Thefeut fcd.
Forfook her father, and her native plain, 1070
And stemm'd the tumults of the furging main;
Yet the ftern fire relented, and forgave
The maid, whofe only crime it was to fave;
Ev'n the juft gods forgave; and now on high
A ftar fhe fhines, and beautifies the sky:
What bleflings then fhall righteous heaven de

cree

For all our heroes fav'd, and fav'd by thee?
Heaven gave thee not to kill, fo foft an air;
And cruelty fure never look'd so fair!"

He ceas'd, but left fo charming on her ear 1080 His voice, that liftening ftill fhe feem'd to hear; Her eyes to earth fhe bends with modeft grace, And heaven in fmiles is open'd on her face. A look fhe fleals; but rofy blushes fpread O'er her fair cheek, and the the hangs her head. A thousand words at once to fpeak fhe tries; In vain-but fpeaks a thoufand with her eyes; Trembling the fhining cafket fhe expands, Then gives the magic virtue to his hands; And had the power been granted to convey 1990 Her heart-had given her very heart away. For Jafon beam'd in beauty's charms fo bright, The maid admiring, languifh'd with delight. Thus, when the rising fun appears in view, On the fair rofe diffolves the radiant dew. Now on the ground both caft their bashful eyes, Both view each other now with mild furprise. The rofy fmiles now dimpling on their cheeks, The fair at length in faultering accents speaks: "Obfervant thou to my advice attend, "And here what fuccour I propose to lend. "Soon as my fire eta fhall bestow "The dragon's teeth in Mars's field to fow, "The following night in equal fhares divide; "Bathe well thy limbs in fome perennial tide; "Then all retir'd, thyfelf in black array, "Dig the round fofs, and there a victim flay, "A female lamb; the carcafe place entire "Above the fofs, then light the facred pyre, "And Perfeus daughter, Hecate, appeafe 1110 "With honey, fweeteft labour of the bees; "This done, retreat, nor while the relics burn, "Let howling dogs provoke thee to return. "Nor human footsteps; left thou render vain "The charm, and with dishonour join thy train. "Next morn, the whole enchantment to fulfil, "This magic unguent on thy limbs distil: "Then thou with cafe wilt ftrong and graceful

" move,

1100

"Not like a mortal, but the gods above. "Forget not with this unguent to befmear 1120 "Thy fword, thy buckler, and tremendous fpear: "No giant's faulchions then can harm thy frame, "Nor the fell rage of bulls expiring flame. "One day, nor longer, wilt thou keep the field; Nor thou to perils, nor to labour yield. "But mark my words; when thou with ceafelefs " toil, [foil; "Haft yok'd the bulls and plough'd the ftubborn "And feeft up-fpringing on the teeth-fown land "Of giant foes a formidable band,