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Defcending now to ocean's fecret bed,
They in his gulfy deeps conceal their head.
As when along the beech, fuccinct for play,
To tofs the flying ball the nereids stray,
From hand to hand the fphere unerring flies,
Nor ever on the ground inglorious lies;
The fifters thus, with coadjutant force,
High o'er the furge impel the veffei's course :
From fecret fhelves her wave-dafh'd fides they
fbove,

Though fturdy billows strong against them frove.
On a tall fragment that o'erlook'd the flood,
His fhoulder refting on his hammer, flood
The footy god: and from her starry skies
Juno beheld the scene with stedfaft eyes.
Her hand around Minerva's neck fhe threw;
For much Saturnia trembled at the view.

1120

Long as the vernal funs protract the light, So long in Argo's caufe the nymphs unite. Propitious to their labours fprung the breeze, And the free veffel fhot across the feas. Trinacria's verdant meads they foon furvey, Where graze thy herds, illuftrious god of day. Juno's commands obey'd, the watery train, Like diving news, explore the deeps again. 1130 Coafting along, the bleating flocks they hear, And herds loud bellowing ftrike their liftening

ear.

Sol's youngest daughter, Phaëthufa, leads
The bleating flocks along the dewy meads;
Propp'd on her filver crook the maid reclin'd;
A ftouter ftaff, with brazen ringlets join'd,
I.ampetie takes; whofe herds the heroes fee
Slunk to the brook, or browsing on the lea.
Of fable hue no cattle you behold;
Milkwhite are all, and tipp'd their horns with
gold.

1140

They pais'd thefe meads by day; at day's decline
They brufh'd with pliant oars the yielding brine.
At length Aurora's all-reviving ray

Redden'd the waves, and fhow their certain way.
A fertile ifle towers o'er the Ionian tide,
Ceraunia nam'd; the land two bays divide.
Fame fays, (forgive me, mufe, while I unveil,
Reluctant too, a legendary tale),

A fickle lies conceal'd within this land,
With which rafh Saturn's mutilating hand 1150
His father caftrated: for Ceres' aid
Others affert this rural fickle made,
For Ceres once, with love of Macris fir'd,
To this fam'd ifle, her favourite feat, retir'd.
'The Titans here she taught her arms to wield,
And crop the bearded harveft of the field.
This island hence, nurfe of Phæacian fwains,
Th' expreffive name of Drepane obtains.
From mangled Uranus's blood they trace
The fource inglorious cf Phæacia's race.

1160

Trinacria left, and numerous peril past, Her heaven-protected Argo moors at last, The heroes difembark'd Alcincüs hails, And at their feftive facrifice regales. Mirth unremitted through the city runs, As though they welcom'd hone their darling fons. The godlike guests their focial part fuftain, Joyous as though they prefs'd Hæmonia's plain :

right.

1181

But ere that distant plain delights their view,
The chiefs muft buckle on their arms anew. 1170
For, lo! thofe Colchians who adventurous stray'd
Through deeps unknown, had enter'd undifmay'd
The dire Cyanean rocks, here throng the coast,
And wait th' arrival of the Grecian hoft.
The forfeit maid fhould Argo's crew refuse,
War in each fad difaftrous fhape enfues.
Arm'd and refolv'd they threaten instant fight,
And future fleets t' affert their monarch's
But king Alcinoüs interpos'd his aid,
And, ere they ruth'd to fight, their wrath allay'd.
Arete's knee the fuppliant virgin prefs'd,
And thus th' affociate band and queen addrefs'd:
O queen,' exclaim'd fhe, 'lend thy timely aid
To fave from Colchian hands a fuffering maid.
With ruffian rage to bear me hence they come,
And to my wrathful fire conduct me home.
'Thou know'ft, if one, like me, of human kind,
'How prone to err is man's unstable mind.
Deem me no flave to luft's ufurping pow'r;
'Prudence forfook me in the needful hour. 1190
Be witnefs fun, and thou, whofe every rite
Is wrapp'd, dire Hecate, in fable night,
How I reluctant left my native home,
And with rude foreigners abhorr'd to roam.
Fear wing'd my flight; and, having once tranf
grefs'd,

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To flee I judg'd my laft refource and beft.
Still have I liv'd, as with my father, chaste,

My spotlefs zone faft girded to my waist.
Oh! may my tale, fair princess, claim thy tears;
Oh! teach thy lord compaffion as he hears. 1200
On thee may all th' immortal gods bestow
Beauty and life, exempt from age and woe;
Cities, that need no bold invaders dread,
And a fair progeny to crown thy bed.'

In tears the fpoke: then to each gallant chief
Told in these plaintive strains her tale of grief:
'Low at your feet, ye warriors, fuppliant view
A princefs doom'd to wretchedness for you.
Yok'd were the bulls, and, defperate as they

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1209

'rofe, 'Crush'd by my aid were hofts of giant-foes. Yes, foon Hæmonia the rich prize will fee, 'And boast of conquefts which the owes to me. My country I, my parents, palace left, To pine through life, of all its joys bereft ; But gave to you, a base ungrateful train, To fee your country and your friends again. Spoil'd of my beauty's bloom by fate fevere, In endless exile muft I languish here. Revere your oaths; Erynnis' vengeance dread, Who heaps her curfes on the perjur'd head: Dread heaven's fure wrath, if, to my fire re

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ftor'd, My fhame or ruin wait his defperate word. No fheltering fhrine, no fortress near, I fly To you alone, on your defence rely. Yet why on you? who, merciless and mute, Have heard my eries, nor feconded my fuit; Unmov'd have feen me lift my fuppliant hand To the kind princefs of this foreign land. Elate with hope the golden fleece to gain, Colchos oppos'd you, and her king in vain :

"In me, O queen, thefe heroes fhould defery, "For the fair fufferer's fake, a firm ally;

But fearful now the battle to renew, 1231
Ye dread detachments, nor will fight with few.'
She faid; and all who heard her fuppliant"

moan,

Cheer'd her fad heart, and check'd the rifing groan.
Each gallant man his brandifh'd fpear difplay'd,
And vow'd affiftance to the fuffering maid,
Shook his drawn fword, a prelude to the fight,
Refolv'd on vengeance, and refolv'd on right.

Night now difpers'd the faint remains of day,
And all the lumbering world confefs'd its fway:
Grateful its gloom to men with toils opprefs'd;
Grateful to all but her, with fleep unblefs'd. 1242
She, hapiefs fair, her painful vigils kept;
Revolving ftill her griefs, the watch'd and wept.
As at the diftaff toils th' induftrious dame,
Whole frequent tears her orphan children claim.
All night the toils, while clinging round they
ftand,

1250

Wail their loft fire, and his return demand.
Swift down her cheek defcends the filent tear :
So hard the lot fate deftines her to bear!
Like her's Medea's copious tears defcend,
Such agonizing griefs her tortur'd bofom rend.
The royal pair retire with wonted state
From the throng'd city to their palace-gate.
On their foft couch reclin'd, at evening's clofe,
Long conference held they on Medea's woes.
Thus to Alcinöus the queen exprefs'd
The kind fuggeftions of her pitying breast:

Oh! may the Minyans, prince, thy favours
'fhare :
1259

Soon fhould my arms the Colchian focs remove, "But I revere the juft decrees of Jove. "Unfafe I deem eta to deride, "Who fways the fceptre with a monarch's pride; "Able, though diftant, if averse from peace, "To scatter difcord through the realms of Greece. "Hear my propofal then; which you, I trust, "And all who hear it, will applaud as just: 1300 "If ftill a virgin's spotlefs name the bear, "Safe to her fire's domains conduct the fair: "But if one bed the wedded pair contain, "I will not fever Hymen's filken chain. "Forbid it, Heaven! that I in wrath expofe "Her finlefs offspring to infulting foes."

He faid, and funk to reft: his fage refolves Anxious and oft the wakeful queen revolves. She rofe their princefs' footitep heard, arise Her female train, and each her wants fupplies. Go,' to her page apart Arete faid, Bid Afon's valiant fen the virgin wed. Bid him no more Alcinöus' ears affail With long entreaties, and a well-known tale. Himfelf, unafk'd, his advocate will go, "And tender these conditions to the foe: If ftill the fair a spotlefs maid remain, Soon fhall the view her father's courts again: But, if a matron's honour'd name the bear, He will not feparate the wedded pair.'

1320

She faid: her herald, eager to convey
The royal meffage, fped without delay;
To Æfon's fon he told Arete's word,
And the kind counfels of her fovereign lord.
Hard by their fhip, in gliftering arms array'd,
Deep in the port of Hyllicus embay'd,
He fpies the chiefs, his embaffy repeats,
And every gallant heart with transport beats.
They crown the goblets to the powers divine,
And drag th' accuftom'd victims to the fhrine:
Then for the penfive fair officious spread 1335
In a fequefter'd grot the bridal bed.
1270 Hither, in days of yore, fair Macris came,
Daughter of Ariftæus, honour'd name!

Oh! fhield from Colchian foes an injur'd fair. Not diftant far Hæmonia's plains extend, And near our island Argo's frontiers end. But far remote eta reigns; his name Unknown to us, or faintly known by fame. She, in whofe forrows now I bear a part, 'Hath to redress them, open'd all my heart. Let no rude Colchian bear her hence away, To her fire's vengeance a devoted prey. 'Her error this: the fiery bulls to quell, Fond and officious fhe prepar'd the fpell. Augmenting then (as oft offenders will) Her first with future errors, ill with ill, 'Far from her native home, imprefs'd with dread, 'Far from her angry fire the damfel fled.

But bound is Jason by strong ties, fays fame, To wed the wanderer, and retrieve from shame. Urge him not then, with many an added threat, His faith to violate, his oaths forget; 'Nor ftimulate eta's wrath to rife:

Their daughters parents rigorously chastise. Thus Pycteus, with parental zeal o'ercoine, 'Compell'd his child Antiope to roam.

1279

Thus Danaë, by her wrathful fire fecur'd,
Tofs'd in the troubled deep diftrefs endur'd.
Nor long fince Echetus, a wretch accurs'd,
With brazen pins his daughter's eye-balls
' pierc'd:

Pent in a dungeon's awful gloom she pin'd, Doom'd by her favage fire obdurate brass to grind.' [breast, She faid: foft pity touch'd the fovereign's Who thus his fupplicating queen addrefs'd; 1290

He taught mankind the virtues and the ufe
Of the bee's labours, and the olive's juice.
For, know, when Hermes infant Bacchus bore,
Snatch'd from the flames, to fair Euboea's fhore,
Macris embrac'd him with a mother's love,
And there, awhile, the nurs'd the feed of Jove,
And there with honey fed; till Juno's fpite 1348
Far from Euboea's ifle compell'd her flight,
At length, of this Phæacian grot poffets'd,
She with vaft opulence the natives blefs'd.

To deck with honours due the bridal bed,
Around it wide the golden fleece was fpread.
With sweetest flowers, that deck or dale or hill,
Th' affiduous nymphs their snowy bosoms fill.
The golden fleece emits so bright a ray,
They fhone all radiant as the star of day,
Infpiring love: the prize though strong defire,
Prompts them to touch, with reverence they
retire.

Thefe are the daughters of the Ægeän flood,
Thofe, Meletæum, haunt thy lofty wood.

1350

From groves, from ftreams, at Juno's call they,
To grace the nuptials of this godlike man. [ran,
The tacred grot, recorded ftill by fame,
Bears to this day Medea's honou;'d name.
For here the nymphs, their veils around them
fpread,

1360

To nuptial joys the happy lovers led :
And every chief, to guard the blifsful spot,
Clad in bright armour, flood before the grot,
Left hoftile troops, with rude tumultuous noife,
Should force an entrance, and distract their joys.
Thus station'd, they protect the hallow'd ground,
Their feftive brows with leafy chaplets crown'd.
As Orpheus ftruck his tuneful lyre, they fung,
And Hymeneals round the grotto rung.
But in Alcinous' court the fair to wed,
O'er Jafon's anxious mind difquiet fpread:
Full oft he wifh'd lolcos' coaft to gain,
And wed the virgin in his fire's domain;
Such too Medea's wifh: but fate fevere
Forc'd him to celebrate his nuptials here.
For pleasure unalloy'd we look in vain;
Pleasure to fuffering man is mix'd with pain.
Whether the Colchian foe had fcorn'd or clos'd
With the just terms Phæacia's prince propos'd,
Of this they doubted: mid' the mirthful scene
Fears, which thefe doubts fuggefted, intervene.

1370

Aurora now her orient beams difplay'd, 1381 And pierc'd the fullen night's furrounding fhade.

1389

The circling thores and new befpangled ground
Reflect her rays: the freets with noife refound.
The citizens and Colchians, who poffefs'd
The diftant coaft, awake from balmy reit.
Impatient now his purpofe to difclofe,
To plead Medea's caufe the monarch rofe.
His hand fuftain'd a fceptre's maffy gold,
Which kings deciding right were wont to hold.
Around their prince, in glittering arms array'd,
Phæacia's peers a feemly pomp difplay'd.
Eager on each adventurous chief to gaze,
A female troop beyond the city ftrays.
In feftive bands the diftant fwains unite :
(For Juno had divulg'd the nuptial rite)
One from his fold a ram felected brought,
An heifer one, to feel the yoke untaught;
Flagons of wine fome for libation bear:
The fmoke of victims blacken'd all the air. 1400
As women wont, the female train felect
Their coftly veils, with gay embroidery deck'd:
Such golden toys, fuch trinkets they provide,
As on a nuptial day adorn the bride.
'The comely chiefs their admiration won;
But more than all Eager's tuneful fon,

As lightly to the lyre's melodious found

1410

Tripp'd the brifk dancer o'er the meafur'd ground. In concert full the virgin-choir prolong The happy day with Hymeneal fong. Here a fair band, collected in a ring, Praises to thee, aufpicious Juno, fing. By thee infpir'd, difclos'd the royal dame 'The friendly terms her prince was pleas'd to name. Nor are the terms Alcinous nam'd difown'd: (For now their faithful loves hath Hymen crown'd)

True to his oath, he heard with fix'd difdain
And deem'd Meta's vengeful fury vain.

Soon as the Colchians faw their purpose cross'd,
Defeated all their schemes, their labour loft; 1420
That to the fovereign's terms they must accede,
Or quit his ports, and fail away with speed:
Dreading the monarch's wrath, fubmifs they try
To win his friendship, and commence ally.
Settling at last, long time the Colchian hoft
Dwelt with the natives on Phæacia's coaft:
Till Bacchus' hated race from Corinth fled,
Exil'd thefe Colchians, and the ifle o'erspread.
They fought the neighbouring fhores: in times

to come

1430

Their fons emigrating explor'd a home,
Where far and wide extends th' lyric coaft,
And the Ceraunian hills in clouds are loft.
But these events, which now my mufe engage,
Were late fulfill'd in fome fucceeding age.
Yet ftiil, in Phoebus fane, uninjur'd stand
The altars rais'd by fair Medea's hand:
Some to the fates are pil'd with victims due,
Some to the nymphs their annual rites renew.
Towards the parting train the royal pair
Their generous love by coftly gifts declare. 1440
Twelve fair Phracians, at the queen's command,
Condu& Medea to the fea-beat strand.

On the feventh morn with gently breathing gales

1459

Fropitious Jove expanded Argo's fails;
Argo decreed freth dangers to sustain,
Ere Greece beholds her gallant fons again.
Ambracia's bay had open'd to their view,
Befides Curetes' land the galley flew,
The clustering ifles, Echidanes, they paf'd,
And Pelops' diftant realm beheld at last.
Nine tedious nights and days the vefiel fweeps
The troubled furface of the Libyan deeps;
Till, driven by rapid tides and ftorms aftray,
She near the Syrtes' quickfands plow'd her way:
Whirl'd in whofe gulfy pools, their deftin'd grave,
Nor fails nor oars the finking galleys fave.
Burfi from its black abyfs, the boiling flood
Up-heaves its fhaggy weeds, involv'd in shelves

of mud.

With the far-fpreading fpray the fands arife;
But nought difcern they here that creeps or flies
The tide (which now retreats into the main, 1465
And now returns upon the beach again);
Far o'er the fhore, impell'd with fury, show
All Argo's flimy keel expos'd to view.

1 hey difembark, and gaze with aching eyes
On ridgy mountains loft amid the skies.
No grateful streams, no beaten paths appear,
No rural cot difcern they far or near;
A death-like filence reign'd: around dismay'd
His comrade each interrogating said:

1470

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**What dire mishaps our gallant host befall!
Thus by ftern fate's decree we perish all!
What woes await us on this defert caft,
If from the land awakes the furious blast!
For flimy feas my fight far off commands,
And whitening billows bursting o'er the fands.
And dreadfully had Argo's yawning fides, 1489
Remote from shore, receiv'd the gufhing tides,
Had not the furge which lifted her to heav'n,
Full on the pebbly beach the vessel driv'n.
But now the tide retiring quits the strand,

' And waves unfaithful skim the levell'd fand.
Our projects baffled, and hope's cheerly dawn
From our expe&ting fight thus foon withdrawn,
'Let other hands the pilot's art difplay,

And they who fear not danger freer the way. 'But our joint labours Jove decrees to foil, "Nor will our native home reward our toil.' 1500 He faid; and all renown'd for naval skill, Clofe with his words, and wait th' impending ill. From every heart the vital motion fled, O'er every face a deadly palenefs fpread.

1510

As when from ftreet to ftreet, in wild dismay,
Affrighted mortals like pale fpectres stray;
Expecting wars, or plagues, or bursting rains,
That deluge all the harvest of the plains:
Or, as when ftatues drops of blood distil,
And fancied bellowings the temples fill;
The noon-day fun eclips'd involves in night
Thaftonish'd world, and stars emit their light:
Thus on the beach they ftalk'd, a heartless clan!
Like fweating ftatues, or like fpectres wan.
His fecble arm each round his comrade caft,
Then funk into the fand to breathe his laft,
Refolv'd, as now the ftar of Helper rofe,
To share the folace of united woes.
Some here, fome there felect their clay-cold bed,
And round their fhivering limbs their garments
fpread :
1520

Refign'd to death, in midnight's fullen fhade
And at mid-day, here languishing they laid.
Remote, Medea's fair attendants moan, [groan.
Cling round their queen, and groan return for
As when a neft, furcharg'd with callow young,
Falls from the lofty cliff to which it clung,
Th' unfeather'd brood by fhrilleft cries atteft
Their far-flown mother, and their ruin'd neft :
As on the banks Pactolus' ftreams bedew,
Melodious fwans their dying notes renew;
The rivers gliding the rich vales among,
Bear on their filver ftreams the foothing fong:
Thus they, their golden locks befmear'd with

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Ruth'd from the thunderer's brain the martial In needful hour their kind affiftance gave, 1541 And cleans'd her infant-limbs in Triton's wave.

'Twas noon: o'er Libya's fands the god of day Darted the splendours of his fierceft ray. Full before Jafon stood the nymphs confefs'd, And gently from his head withdrew the veft. Sudden he starts, imprefs'd with filent dread, And from his fair protectors turns his head. They in compaffion's mild addrefs began To free from terrors vain the hopeless man: 1550 " Why griev'st thou thus? Oh! bid thy forrows cease:

We know thy coming's caufe, the Golden Fleece. We know the various toils by land you bore; 'How tofs'd on ocean, how diftrefs'd on fhore, Terreftrial powers, for acts of friendship known, We make the fhepherd's rural cares our own. We, Libya's daughters and avengers, boast Our fway extended o'er the Libyan coaft. Arife, nor fink beneath thy forrow's weight; But roufe thy fellows from their drooping state. When Amphitrite with officious speed Unreins from Neptune's car the fiery steed, Thy mother then with duteous care repay, Whose womb hath borne thee many a toilsome • day.'

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told,

1571

I go, if haply can my friends unfold. 'Conven'd, may they fome prudent fcheme devife, For in th' advice of numbers fafety lies.'

He faid: and, wading through the driven fand, Rous'd with loud voice the fad defponding band. Thus while the lion his loft mate explores, The forefis ring, earth trembles as he roars: Herdfmen and herds, o'erwhelm'd with equal fear, All mute and trembling deem deftruction near. But grateful to the hoft was Jaton's call; No fears it cherish'd, but gave hope to all. Yet with dejected looks the heroes meet. Beside the female train to each his feat He near the shore affign'd; in order due His wondrous tale relates, and cheers the penfive

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1600

When Amphitrite with officious speed
Unreins from Neptune's car the fiery steed.
Long have I fought this wonder to explain,
And still revolving I revolve in vain.
In the bold name of heroines they boast,
Daughters and guardians they of Lybia's coast.
Known to thefe nymphs are all the toils we bore
On the rough ocean and the faithless shore.
Nor ftaid they long; but, fudden from my view
Their radiant forms an ambient cloud withdrew.'
He faid on every face fat boding fears;
When, lo a portent greater far appears.
Fierce from the foamy deep, of wond'rous size,
Springs an huge horse; his mane expanded flies.
From his ftrong fides he thakes th' adherent
fpray,
1611

Then towards the coaft directs his rapid way.
Skill'd in whate'er this prodigy portends,
With pleasure Peleus thus confoles his friends:

Now by his confort's hand releas'd I fee The car of Neptune, and his horfes free. A mother's name (or I predict in vain) Argo may boaft; fhe feels a mother's pain. Her pregnant womb a troop of heroes hears, ⚫ And endless perils for their fafety fhares. 1620 • Come, let us now our boasted strength difplay, And on our fhoulders bear our ship away. Steer we through depths of fand our dangerous courfe,

Led by the steps of this portentous horfe.
His fteps reluctant prefs the dufty plain,
But rapid bear him to his kindred main;

• Thither attend his flight.' Thus fpoke the feer: His pleafing counfels gratify'd their ear.

1630

This wondrous tale the tuneful nine recite, And as the mufes dictate I must write. This have I heard, and this as truth proclaim, That you, O princely peers, of deathlefs fame, By the joint efforts of united hands, [fands, Twelve days and nights through Lybia's burning High on your fhoulders rais'd the veffel's weight, All that its womb contain'd, a mighty freight. What woes o'ertook them, and what toils befell, No verfe can celebrate, no tongue can tell.

Such brave exploits proclaim'd their godlike line,
For, as their lineage, were their deeds divine. 1640
But when Tritonis' lake the chiefs attain,

They eas'd their fhoulders, and embark'd again.
Doom'd to acuter griefs they now are curs'd
With all the miferies of burning thirst;
Like dogs they run its fury to affuage,
And at a fountain's head fupprefs its rage.
Nor wander'd they in vain; but foon explor'd
The facred spot with golden apples for'd,
In Atlas' realm: the ferpent's wakeful eyes
Watch'd till but yesterday the golden prize. 1650
The fair Hefperides with kind furvey
Tended the ferpent as they tun'd their lay.
But, lo the monster by Alcides flain,
Beneath a branching pear-tree prefs'd the plain.
His tail ftill vibrates, though his ghaftly head
And fpine immenfe lie motionlets and dead,
Flies in thick fwarms his gory fides furround,
Drink his black blood, and dry the dripping
wound,

Made by the darts, whofe poifon'd tips detain
The deadly venom of the Hydra flain. 1660
As Ladon's fate the pensive maids deplore, [tore;
Their hands they wrung, their golden locks they
But, fudden as the heroes haften'd near,
They to the dust descend and disappear.
Struck with the prodigy his eyes furvey'd,
Thus to the nymphs obfervant Orpheus pray'd :

Ye goddeffes, with blooming beauty blefs'd,
Look with benevolence on men diftrefs'd.
Whether ye grace the fplendid courts of Jove,
Or on this humble earth aufpicious move; 1670
Whether to flowery paftures ye repair,
And the lov'd name of fhepherdeffes bear;
Illuftrious nymphs, from ocean fprung, arife,
Blefs with a recent view our longing eyes.
Bid from the thirsty foil a torrent burst,
'Or open fome hard rock to flake our thirft.
Should we again our tatter'd fails expand,
And greet at laft the dear Achaian land,
Grateful we then thefe favours will repay,
And choiceft offerings on your altars lay: 1685
No goddefs who frequents the court of Jove,
Shall greater honour fhare, or greater love.'
Thus Orpheus pray'd, with feeble voice and

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Hither fome lawlefs plunderer came of late, Who will reverfe the colour of your fate. Yon beaft he flew for whom we forrow now, And tore the golden apples from their bough. But yesterday the defperate giant came; From his black eye-brows flafh'd the livid flame: "A lion's fhaggy fkin, befmear'd with gore, 1701 Wide o'er his fhoulders fpread the monfter wore. On his fout staff his fearless step rely'd,

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And by his deadly dart the ferpent died. He like a sturdy traveller ftalk'd along, Seeking fome fount to cool his fiery tongue. With eager hafte he trod the dusly plain, And still for water look'd, but look'd in vain. To this tall rock, hard by Titonis' lake, Some god conducted him his thirst to flake. 1710 Struck by his heel its deep foundation shook, And from the yawning clefts a torrent broke. Prone on the ground the limpid ftreams he wills, And, groveling like a beast, his belly fills." Elated with the tale, they speed their course, To find as Agle told, the fountain's fource.

As when affembled ants with joint effay Strive in fome chink their lifted grain to lay: Or as when flies fome liquid fweet explore, They hang in clusters round the honied store: Like them the Mynians: fuch their numbers fee, And fuch their hafte to gather round the fream.

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