Ere long á fecret audierce hall obtain, And by large prefents was the prince betray'd. Fach grace in Naxos ifle, with art divine, She gave it Jafon; wondering you behold And with new tranfport trace th' embroider'd gold. What time with large nectareous draughts opprefs'd, 510 On the foft vefture Bacchus funk to rest, Ambrofial fragrance wide around diftill'd. Her guileful purposes the magic maid That foon as night her fable shade had spread, How fhe, the golden fleece in triumph borne, How Phrixus' treacherous fons prolong'd her stay, 530 And her to cruel foes confign'd à prey. TRANS. II. 540 551 Near that bright fane the neighbouring Brugi built, He eyes his victim, and completes his guilt. And her fair vellure blufh'd with brother's blood. Hell's blackeft fury the diré fcene furvey'd, 560 When in full profpect the bright flambeau blaz'd, Which to conduct the chiefs Medea rais'd, A fpeedy embarkation I advise: A different course with.caution let us choofe; From that far different which the foe purfues. For (fuch my fanguine hope) when morning. light You flaughter'd heaps difclofes to their fight, No words will win them to purtue us far, 593 No tongue entice them to renew the war. Sedition foon, their prince Absyrtus dead, Will, like a peft, o'er all the navy spread : Secure and free fhall we recrofs the main, Their forces fcatter'd, and their fovereign flain.' He faid; the chiefs confented, and with hafte Re-enter'd Argo, and their oars embrac'd. Hard by Electris, laft of ifles, they row, Near which, Eridanus, thy waters flow. 599 Soon as their leader's fate the Colchians knew, They vow'd deftruction to the Grecian crew; And eager to o'ertake the Mynian train, Had travers'd in their wrath the boundless main, But Juno, as her thunder awful roll'd, Prefag'd her vengeance, and their pride con troul'd. Dreading eta's ire, the vanquish'd hoft ម They teach the Mynians where their voyage lies; They faw the tall Ceraunian mountains rise. And for their friendly intercourse obtain 630 Deep, deep it lies, with ponderous earth opprefs'd, The heedlefs ftripling in his courts confin'd; 640 651 A boor's rude weapon ftretch'd him on the field. And the Ligurian ifles they plied their oars, Of Argo's voyage, what her feats explain : 660 All fecing Jove their perfidy difcern'd, To fufferings dire, but what no mortal knew, 690 And now Jove's purposes and vengeful rage near. Expect,' fays Argo,' ftorms and wint'ry feas, fpread; All, fave thefe chiefs, were ftruck with filent fide, 769 Who greatly dar'd the car of Phabus guide. The poplar's winding bark around them fpread, run, Sink in the fand, and harden by the fun. When boifterous winds the troubled waters urge, 730 Strangers to mirth, the penfive Mynians mute On their hard lot, and strengthening food refuse. Lothing the stench these putrid ftreams emit, Sickening and fpiritlefs whole days they fit; 750 To lakes that delug'd all the Celtic plain. Difaftrous fate had here their labour foil'd, And of her boafted prowess Argo fpoil'd, (For through a creek to ocean's depths convey'd, To fure deftruction had the heroes stray'd); But Juno haften'd from on high, and stood On a tall rock, and shouted o'er the flood. All heard, and all with fudden terror fhook: For loud around them bursts of thunder broke. Admonish'd thus, fubmiffive they return, And steering back their better course discern. 760 Mid' Celta and Lugurians long they stray'd, But reach'd the fea-beat fhore by Juno's aid: O'er them each day her cloudy veil fhe drew, And thus from human fight conceal'd the crew; Whofe fhip had now the broad mid channel pafs'd, And rode amid the Stachades at laft: [vain. For Jove's twin fons had pray'd, nor pray'd in Hence rear they altars, and due rites ordain To thefe kind powers, whose influential aid Not only Argo's bold adventurers sway'd; But later voyagers, by Jove's decree. Have own'd their happy influence o'er the fea. The Stochades now leffening from their view, Swift to thalia's ifle the vessel flew, With chalks, that, as they cover'd, ting'd the The heroes rubb'd their wearied bodies o'er. Here are their quoits and wond'rous armour fram'd, [fhore, Here is their port display'd, Argoüs nam'd. Reas' celebrated port they reach, 781 And faften here their balfers to the beach. (gore For thus the forceress dream'd; that blood and Had imear'd her walls, and flow'd around her floor: That all her treafur'd ftores were wrapp'd in flame, 800 Monsters, unlike the favage, bestial race, 810 830 Their vifit's caufe her troubled mind diftrefs'd; On downy feats fhe plac'd each princely guest. They round her hearth fat motionless and mute: (With plaintive fuppliants fuch manners fuit) Her folded hands her blushing face conceal; Deep in the ground he fix'd the murderous fteel; Nor dare they once, in equal forrow drown'd, Lift their dejected eyelids from the ground. 820 Circe beheld their guilt: fhe faw they fled From vengeance hanging o'er the murderer's head. The holy rites, approv'd of Jove, the pays: (Jove, thus appeas'd, his hafty vengeance stays) Thefe rites from guilty ftains the culprits clear, Who lowly fuppliant at her cell appear. To expiate their crime in order due, First to her thrine a fucking pig she drew, Whofe nipples from its birth diftended food: Its neck the ftruck, and bath'd her hands in blood. Next with libations meet and prayer she ply'd Jove, who acquits the fuppliant homicide Without her door a train of naiads stand, Adminiftring whate'er her rites demand; Within, the flames, that round the hearth arife, Wafte, as fhe prays, the kneaded facrifice: That thus the furies' vengeful wrath might cease, And Jove appeas'd, dismiss' them both in peace, Whether they came to expiate the guilt Of friends or ftrangers blood by treachery spilt. Circe arofe, her myftic rites complete, And plac'd the princes on a fplendid seat. Near them the fat and urg'd them to explain Their plan and progrefs o'er the dangerous main : Whence rofe the wish to vifit Circe's ifle, And thus beneath her roof converse a while. For still on every thought the vifion prefs'd, And its remembrance itill disturb'd her rest. Soon as the forcerefs faw Medea raife From earth thofe eyes which shot a beamy blaze, Anxious the wish'd to hear her native tongue, Conjecturing from her features whence the iprung, For all Sel's race are beauteous as their fire; Their radiant eyes emit celeftial fire. The willing maid complied with each demand, And in the language of her native land 841 849 Her flory told; each strange event deslar'd, What countries they had feen, what dangers fhar'd; Her fifter's counfels, how they fway'd her breast, How with the fons of Phrixus fhe tranfgrefs'd, How from her father fled, his threats difdain'd: But ftill untold her brother's fate remain'd. 862 His fate th' enchantrefs knew; no arts could hide The murderous deed: fhe pitied and reply'd: 869 Ah! wretch, dire mischiefs thy return await. Hope not to fhan thy father's vengeful hate; Refolv'd on right, he to the realms of Greece Will close pursue thee, nor his fury cease, Till he avenge the murder of his fon : • For deeds of blackest darkness haft thou done. But go, at once my kin and fuppliant free, Nor fear additional diftrefs from me. Thy lover hence, far hence thyfelf remove, Who fcorn'dft a father's for a vagrant's love. Here fupplicate no more: my heart disclaims Thy guilty wanderings and finifter aims.' She fpoke: the maid lamented; o'er her head Her veil fhe caft, and many a tear the shed. Her trembling hand the hero rais'd with speed, And from the cave of Circe both recede. 880 By watchful Iris taught, Saturnia knew What time from Circe's cave they both withdrew. To mark their fteps commiffion'd Iris ftaid, On whom thefe fresh injunctions Juno iaid: Hafte, Iris, now; thy pinions now expand, And bear once more Saturnia's dread command, Go, Thetis roufe from ocean's dark retreat; Her potent aid my projects will complete. Spread then towards Vuican's fhores thy speedy 'wing, 889 Where round his anvils ceafelefs hammers ring. • Bid him no more his boisterous bellows ply Till heaven-built Argo fail fecurely by. Then to the deity, whofe fovereign fway • Controuls the winds, whom raging forms obey, Hafte; and request that every rising gale Be hush'd, and filence o'er the feas prevail : She faid and Iris, pois'd on airy wings, 911 Around whose fides fierce, fiery tempests rave, And the huge crag is whiten'd by the wave. 920 Now muft they fail near Scylla's awful height, And where the rock Charbydis forms a ftreight. Thee yet an infant in my arms I prefs'd, And more than all thy fister-nymphs carefs'd. Revering me, the wife of fovereign Jove, Thou feorn'dft the tenders of his lawless love. (For him a mortal beauty now inflames, And now he revels with celestial dames), And Jove, in vengeance for his flighted bed, 'Swore not a deity fhould Thetis wed. 930 Nor could the fervour of his love abate, 'Till Themis thus difclos'd the will of fate; That from thy womb in future times fhould • Spring, Superior to his fire, an infant king. 940 950 And to thy nuptials call'd the powers divine. Myfelf, in honour to the godlike pair, Deign'd on that day the bridal torch to bear. Soon as thy fon (believe the truths you hear) Shall in Elyfium's blifsful plains appear, 'Whom kindly now the fostering naiads guard In Chiron's manfion, of thy milk debarr'd, In Hymen's filken chains the hero led, Muft fhare the honours of Medea's bed. Oh! be a mother's tenderc care difplay'd, Succour thy Peleus, and thy daughter aid, Hath he tranfgrefs'd? thy rifing wrath fubdue; For Ate's dire effects th' immortals rue. Vulcan, I ween obfequious to my will His fires will ftifle, and his bellows ftill; His boisterous wave will olus reftrain, And zephyrs only fan the curling main, Till Argo anchors in Phæacia's bay. But fhelves and ftormy feas obftru&t her way; Thefe, thefe I dread; but with my train expert, Be thine the care thefe mifchiefs to avert. 962 Safe from Charybdis' gulf the veffel guide, Safe from loud Scylla's all-abforbing tide; Scylla, the terror of Aufonia's fhore, Whom Phorcuns to infernal Hecat bore, 'Cratæis nam'd. Oh! fummon all thy pow'r, 'Left her voracious jaws my chiefs devour. Hope's cheerly dawn if haply thou difcern, Snatch from the watery grave the finking stern. "If 'tis refolv'd," replies th' affenting queen, Tempefts to curb, and oceans to ferene, "Fear not; but in my proffer'd aid confide: "This arm fhall convoy Argo o'er the tide. "The furge fubfiding shall confefs my fway, "Whilejharmless zephyrs round the canvaís play. "Now must I traverse the wide fields of air, "And to my fifter's crystal grots repair; "Request their aid, and haften to the shores, "Where anchor'd Argo unmolested moors: 982 "That each brave comrade, at the dawn of day, "With heart elate may cleave the liquid way.". 972 She fpoke; and through th' aërial regions fped, Then in the pools of ocean plung'd her head. At Thetis' call the fifter nereids came, And flock'd obedient round their oozy dame. Juno's commands she bade the fifters heed, And to th' Aufonian deep defcend with speed. Swifter than lightning, or than Phœbus' beams, The goddels darted through the yielding ftreams; Till, gliding fmooth befide the Tyrrhene strand, Her speedy footsteps prefs'd th' Ææn land. Along the winding beach the Mynians ftray, And while with quoits and darts their hours away. Here Thetis fingled from the gallant band Peleus her spouse, and prefs'd the hero's hand: Unfeen by all the hoft, his hand the prefs'd; By all, fave Peleus, whom the thus addrefs'd: 992 Loiter not here; but with returning light Unfurl your fails, nor Juno's counfels flight. 1000 'Safe through th' Erratic rocks your fhip to guide, Which frown tremendous o'er the tofling tide. 'For this the fea-green fifters join their force, 'And smooth through dangerous feas your def. 'tin'd course. 'My form, what time we urge the foaming keel, By you not unobferv'd, to none reveal; Left, as before, your folly I chastise, [rife.' 'And to more defperate heights my vengeance She faid, and vanish'd to the deeps below. The wondering chief was pierc'd with keenest For fince the dame, with indignation fir'd, Nor creeping age impair his vigorous prime. 1040 Soon as her radiant light illumin'd heav'n, And to their with were breezy zephyrs giv'n, Quitting the land, they climb with nimble feet The lofty decks, and reaffume their feat. Each to his toil returns alert and bold: They tear the griping anchor from its hold; They hoift the yard, their bracing ropes unbind, And give the flapping canvafs to the wind. Swift fails the thip: foon to th' expecting crew Anthemoeffa's ifle arofe in view. The fyrens here, from Acheloüs fprung, гобо A virgin-face, while wing'd like fowls they flew. tide, 1070 His kind protectress, as her course she bends Thick dufky clouds involve the darken'd skies, Above these rocks, here now the nereids rife, |