With kind complacence treat the godlike crew,

Meet not in arms, but pay them honours due!" 1260

Scarce had the down the monarch's cheeks o'erspread;

1270

No children yet had bless'd the nuptial bed. Clita, his lovely queen, the young, the fair, Renown'd for beauty, and her golden hair, Sprung from Percosian Merops, still remains A stranger to Lucina's cruel pains. Late from her father's court the king convey'd, With ample dower enrich'd, the blameless maid; Yet he neglects the genial bed, and feasts, All fears far banishing, with foreign guests. Oft he inquires of Pelias' stern command, And why the heroes left their native land. As oft they ask'd what cities neighbouring lay, And in Propontis which the safest bay. But scanty knowledge could the king bestow, Tho' it behov'd them much these truths to know. When morning rose, the Dindymean steep Some mount, to view the navigable deep, And all its winding bays; the road they came They honour'd with illustrious Jason's name. 1280 The chiefs, who chose aboard the ship to stay, Remov'd her from the moorings where she lay. Mean while the sons of Earth, a numerous train, From their bleak mountains rush into the plain, Besiege the pervious bay, and strive to block Its mouth with massy fragments from the rock; Intending there Thessalia's pine to keep Hemm'd up, like some huge monster of the deep. But Hercules remain'd; his bow he drew, And heaps of giants with his arrows slew. The rest enrag'd, rough, rocky fragments tore, Hurl'd high in air, and thunder'd from the shore. (This labour still for Hercules remain'd, By Juno, Jove's imperial queen, ordain'd) And fiercely now the glowing battle burn'd, When lo! the chiefs from Dindymus return'd, Attack'd the desperate giants in the rear, And dealt destruction with the dart and spear; Till Earth's fierce sons, defil'd with wounds and gore,

1290

Dropp'd dead; their bodies cover'd half the 1300

shore.

As near the sea's broad brink, with sturdy strokes,
Assiduous woodmen fell aspiring oaks;
Then draw them in due order from the flood,
And thus well drench'd they cleave with ease the
wood:

1310

Thus at the entrance of the hoary bay,
The frequent corse of many a giant lay;
Some, tumbled headlong, made the sea their grave,
While their legs rose above the briny wave;
Some o'er the sands their horrid visage show,
Their feet deep-rooted in the mud below.
Thus their huge trunks afford abundant fare
To Neptune's fishes, and the birds of air.
Soon as concluded was the bloody fray,
And favouring breezes call'd the chiefs away,
They loos'd; o'er swelling ocean southern gales
Breath'd all day long, and fill'd their bellying

sails.

Night rose, the favouring gales no longer last,
The ship drives backward with the stormy blast.
Again they harbour on the friendly coast,
Where late the Dolians entertain'd the host; 1320
And round the rock the steady cable bind,
The rock ev'n now to sacred fame consign'd.

In sun-scorch'd bushes thus the bickering blaze
Flames forth, and crackling on the branches preys.
Dire was the conflict; on the fatal plain
Their prince, alas! was number'd with the slain,
His queen and bridal bed beheld he ne'er again.
For Jason spy'd the prince advancing near,
And thro' his bosom plung'd the furious spear;
The ribs it broke, and circumscrib'd his date,
Wing'd with th' inevitable will of fate.
Fate, like a wall, devoted man surrounds,
And fast confines him in its circling bounds.
Himself he deem'd, in that disorder'd fight,
Vainly he deem'd! protected by the night:
The favouring night, alas! produc'd his bane,
And chiefs unnumber'd with their prince were
slain.

For Hercules, with his all-conquering bow,
Dispatch'd Telecles to the shades below,
And Megabrontes: by Acastus' hand
Pale Sphodris lay extended on the strand.
Peleus to Pluto's dark dominions gave
Zelys the hardy, and Gephyrus brave.
Bold Telamon, well-skill'd the lance to wield,
Left Basileus expiring on the field.
Next Idas vanquish'd Promeus by his side;
By warlike Clytius Hyacinthus died.
Fair Leda's sons, in bloody combat skill'd,
Fierce Megalossacus and Phlogius kill'd.
And Meleager added two to these,
Itymoneus and valiant Artaces.

1340

1350

These all were chiefs in fighting fields ap1360

prov'd,

Deplor'd as heroes, and as brothers lov'd.
The rest for safety on their flight rely;
(As trembling doves before the falcon fly)
Then to the city-gates tumultuous press,
And raise the piercing cry of deep distress;
The city mourn'd: they deem'd, return'd from far,
That hostile Macrians had renew'd the war.
But when the rosy morn began to wake,
All found their irretrievable mistake.
Heart-rending grief oppress'd the Grecian
train,
1370

To see the hospitable monarch slain,
A clay-cold corse, extended on the shore,
Deform'd with dust, and all besmear'd with gore.
The Greeks and Dolians, sunk in deep despair,
Mourn three long days, and rend their graceful
⚫hair.

1381

A tomb they rear upon the rising ground,
And clad in brazen arms thrice march around;"
Then for the monarch, on Limonia's plain,
Of rites observant, funeral-games ordain.
There stands the tomb, adorn'd with honours due,
Which distant ages will with sorrow view.
When the sad news at Clita's ear arriv'd,
Not long the queen the monarch's fate surviv'd;
But woe augmenting, round her neck she tied
The noose dishonest, and unseemly died.
Her mournful dirge the weeping Dryads sung,
While Dindymus with lamentations rung;

The friendly Mysians on their peaceful coast
Receive with hospitality the host;
Abundant stores they send, with hearts benign,
Fat sheep, and strong exhilarating wine.
Some bring dry wood, and some in order spread 1530
Soft leaves and herbage for a spacious bed;
Some from the flint elicit living fire;

1550

Some mix the wines that generous deeds inspire: The feast they crown, and rites to Phoebus pay, Ecbasian Phoebus, at the close of day. But Hercules the genial feast declin'd, And sought the wood, a fitting oar to find. Nor long he sought, before a fir he found; Few leaves adorn'd it, and few branches crown'd; Yet as the poplar's stem aspires on high, 1540 This fir, so stout and tall, attracts his eye. On the green grass his bow he laid aside, His arrowy quiver, and the lion's hide. First with his club the solid soil he shook, Then in both arms, assur'd, the fir-tree took; Firm on his feet he stood, with bended knee; His big broad shoulder lean'd against the tree; Then heav'd it up, deep-rooted in the ground, Clogg'd with the soil's impediments around. As when, beneath Orion's wintry reign, The sudden tempest rushes from the main, Some tall ship's mast it tears, and every stay, And all the cordage, all the sails away: Thus he the trunk; then took, in haste to go, The bide, the club, his arrows and his bow. Meanwhile, preparing for his friend's return A ready supper, with his brazen urn Alone rov'd Hylas o'er the fields, to bring The purest water from the sacred spring. For to such tasks Alcides train'd his squire, Whom first he took an infant from his sire Theodamas; but him with sword severe He stew, who churlish had refus'd a steer. For when Theodamas, oppress'd with care, Turn'd the fresh furrow with his shining share, He disobey'd, ab wretch! the chief's command, Who claim'd the labouring ox that till'd the land. But know, Alcides sought for cause to bring War on Dryopia's kingdom and the king, For barbarous acts, and rights neglected long. 1570 But rove not, Muse, digressive from the song. Soon faithful Hylas to the fountain came, Which Mysian shepherds crystal Pegæ name; It chanc'd the nymphs, in neighbouring streams that dwell,

Then kept a concert at the sacred well.

In Dian's praise they rais'd the nightly song,
All who to high, aerial hills belong;
All who in caverns hide, or devious rove
The mountain-forest, or the shady grove.

1560

When from her spring, unsullied with a stain, 1580
Rose Ephydatia, to attend the train,
The form of Hylas rush'd upon her sight,
In every grace of blushing beauty bright:
For the full Moon a beamy lustre shed,
And heighten'd all the honours of his head.
Fir'd with love's sudden flame, by Venus rais'd,
The frantic Naiad languish'd as she gaz'd:
And soon as, stooping to receive the tide,
He to the stream his brazen urn apply'd,
In gush'd the foaming waves; the nymph with
joy

1590

Sprung from the deep to kiss the charming boy. Her left arm round his lovely neck she threw, And with her right hand to the bottom drew.

First Polyphemus heard, as wandering nigh
This fatal fount, the youth's distressful cry,
(In search of Hercules he rov'd the wood)
And hied with hasty footsteps to the flood.
As when a lion from his cavern'd rock,
At distance hears the bleatings of the flock,
To seize his prey he springs, with hunger bold, 1600
But faithful shepherds had secur'd the fold;
Defeated of his prize, he roars amain,
Rends his hoarse throat, and terrifies the swain:
Thus Polyphemus call'd with voice profound,
And vainly anxious rov'd the forest round.
At length retreating, be the path explor'd
Thro' which he came, and drew his trusty sword,
Lest savage beasts should seize him for their prey,
Or nightly robbers intercept his way.
1609
And as he brandish'd the bright burnish'd blade,
He met Alcides in the gloomy shade,
Unknown at first, but as he nearer drew,
His friend returning to the ship he knew.
Though his breath faulters, and his spirits fail,
He thus reveals the melancholy tale:
"Hard is my lot, and much averse my will,
To be the first sad messenger of ill;
Young Hylas went to fetch fresh water late,
Not yet return'd; I tremble for his fate:
By robbers seiz'd or beasts, 'tis hard to guess;
I heard his cry, the signal of distress:"
Thus he: the sweat from great Alcides flow'd,
And the black blood thro' all his body glow'd:
Enrag'd, the fir-tree on the ground he threw,
And, where his feet or frenzy hurried, flew.

1621

1631

1640

As when a bull, whom galling gadflies wound, Forsakes the meadows, and the marshy ground, The flowery food, the herd and herdsmen shuns, Now stands stock-still, and restless now he runs; Stung by the breese, he maddens with the pain, Tosses aloft his head, and roars amain: Thus ran the raging chief with matchiess force, Then sudden stopp'd he, wearied with the course. Anxious in vain, he rov'd the forest round, The distant hills and vales his voice rebound. Now o'er the lofty mountains rose in view The morning star, and mildest breezes blew: That instant Tiphys bade the heroes sail, Ascend the vessel, and enjoy the gale. The ready crew obey the pilot's word, Their anchor weigh, and haul the cords aboard; Then give the stretching canvas to the wind, And leave the Posidean rocks behind. When from the rosy orient, beaming bright, Aurora tipp'd the foot-worn paths with light; And o'er moist meads the littering dew-drops shin'd, They miss'd those friends their folly left behind. Then rose contention keen, and pungent grief, For thus abandoning their bravest chief. In silence Jason sat, and long suppress'd, Though griev'd, the labouring anguish of his breast. Brave Telamon, with anger kindling, spoke: "Mute is thy tongue, and unconcern'd thy look: To leave unconquer'd Hercules behind Was a base project, and by thee design'd; Lest, when to Greece we steer the sailing pine, His brighter glories should out-dazzle thine. But words avail not-I renounce the band, Whose selfish wiles this stratagem have plann'd:" Thus spoke acides, inflam'd with ire, His eye-balls sparkling like the burning fire; On Tiphys then, by rage impell'd, he flew: And once more Mysia had receiv'd the crew;

1650

1660

Again the heroes the same course had sail'd,
Though roaring winds and raging waves prevail'd,
Had not bold Boreas' sons the chief address'd,
And, nobly daring, his rough rage repress'd.
(Ill-fated youths! for that heroic deed,
Doom'd by the hands of Hercules to bleed.

For when returning home their course they sped, 1670

From funeral games perform'd for Pelias dead,
In sea-girt Tenos he the brothers slew,

And o'er their graves in heapy hillocks threw
The crumbling mouid; then with two columns
crown'd,

Erected high the death-devoted ground;

1680

And one still moves, how marvellous the tale!
With every motion of the northern gale-
But these are facts reserv'd for future years),
Lo! sudden, Glaucus to their sight appears,
Prophet of Nereus, rising from the main,
Most skill'd of all his fate-foretelling train.
High o'er the waves he rear'd his shaggy head,
With his strong hand the rudder seiz'd, and said:
"Why strive ye thus, tho' Jove's high will with-
stands,

To bear Alcides to the Colchian lands?
He must at Argos, so the fates ordain,
And so Eurystheus has decreed, sustain
Twelve mighty labours, thence be rais'd above,
To high Olympus, and the court of Jove.

Cease for Amphytrion's son, your murmurs cease,
And lull the sorrows of your souls to peace. 1691
In Mysia, where meandering Chius strays,
Must Polyphemus a proud city raise:
Then, mid' the Calybes, a desperate clan,
Expires on Scythian plains the gallant man.
But strange is Hylas' fate: his youthful charms
Entic'd a nymph, who clasp'd him in her arms.
Now the blest pair the bands of Hymen bind;
In search of him the chiefs are left behind."

1701

This said, be plung'd into the gulf profound, The purple ocean foam'd in eddies round. The god, descending with resistless sway, Impell'd the hollow vessel on her way. The chiefs rejoic'd this prodigy to view, And instant Telamon to Jason flew In friendly sort, and in his right he took The prince's hand, and thus embracing spoke: "Illustrious chief, let not thine anger rise At aught I said impetuous and unwise. Grief for my friend has made me indiscreet, 1710 And utter words for Jason's ear unmeet; Those to the winds wide-scattering let us give, And, as before, in friendly concord live."

Then Jason thus; "Thy censures wound my
mind,

Which say, I left the bravest Greek behind.
Yet though thy words reproachful guilt suggest,
Rage dwells not long in Jason's generous breast;
Since not for flocks or, riches we contend,
But a bold hero, and a faithful friend.
And thou, I trust, if reason calls, wilt be
As firm and warm an advocate for me."

1720

He spoke; and now, the hateful contest o'er, The chiefs resum'd the seats they held before. But for those heroes whom they left behind, By Jove's decree are various cares design'd. Nam'd from its stream, the boast of future days, Must one on Mysian plains a city raise: One (great Alcides) other toils must share, And learn Euristheus' stern commands to bear.

Long time he threaten'd, for his Hylas lost, 1730
Instant destruction to the Mysian coast,
Unless the Mysians to his arms restor❜d,
Alive or dead, the partner of his board.
Of all their bands the choicest youths they chose,
And them as pledges of their faith propose;
Then swore they all, their search should never end,
Till baply they had found the hero's friend.
Still to this day the fond Cianians seek
(All who at Trachin dwell) the lovely Greek.
For beauteous youths, to Trachin's walls convey'd,
Were there as pledges to Alcides paid.

1741

Meanwhile all day and night brisk breezes blew,
Fleet o'er the foaming flood the vessel flew ;
But when the dawn gave promise of the day,
The winds expiring gently died away.

A land projecting o'er the bay below
The chiefs discover'd, and to this they row;
This peaceful port awhile the Minyans chose,
And, as they reach'd it, grateful morning rose.

BOOK II.

ARGUMENT.

This book contains the combat between Amycus and Pollux; the former of whom is slain. A battle eusues between the Argonauts and Bebrycians, in which the Argonauts come off conquerors. They sail to Salmydessus, a city of Thrace, where they consult Phincus, a soothsayer, on the success of their expedition. He promises, if they would deliver him from the harpies, to direct them safely to Colchos. His request is granted, and he gives them instructions. The story of Paræbius, Cyrene, and Aristæus. They sail through the Symplegades, and thence to the island Thynia, where they land. Apollo, who here appears to them, is rendered propitious by sacrifice. The course of the river Acheron is described. They land on the coast of the Mariandyni, and are hospitably entertained by Lycus, the king of that country. Here Idmon is killed by a wild boar, and here Tiphys dies. Ancæus is appointed pilot in his stead. They sail by the monument of Sthenelus, whose ghost is released by Pruserpine, and gratified with the sight of the Argonauts. At the island of Mars they meet the sons of Phrixus, who had just before been shipwrecked. They are kindly received by the Argonauts, who take them on board. Sailing by Mount Caucasus they come in sight of the eagle that preys on the entrails of Prometheus. The end of their voyage.

TENTS o'er the beach Bebrycia's king had spread,
And stalls erected where fat oxen fed.
To genial Neptune a Bithynian dame
Bore the fierce tyrant, Amycus his name,
Proudest of men; who this hard law decreed,
That from his realm no stranger should recede,
Till first with him compell'd in fight to wield
The dreadful gauntlet in the listed field.
Unnumber'd guests his matchless prowess slew:
Stern he accosts swift Argo's valiant crew,
Curious the reason of their course to scan,
Who, whence they were; and scornful thus began:

10

Thus spoke the chief with insolent disdain,

And rous'd resentment in the martial train;
But Pollux most his vaunting words provoke,
Who thus, a champion for his fellows, spoke:
"Threat not, whoe'er thou art, the bloody fray;
Lo, we obsequious thy decrees obey!
Unfore'd, this instant to the lists I go,
Thy rival I, thy voluntary foe."

30

Stung to the heart with this severe reply,
On him be turn'd his fury-flaming eye:
As the grim lion, pierc'd by some keen wound,
Whom hunters on the mountain-top surround;
Though close hemm'd in, his glaring eye-balls glance
On him alone who threw the pointed lance.
The Greek stript off his mantle richly wrought,
Late from the Lemnian territory brought,
Which some fair nymph, who had her flame avow'd,
The pledge of hospitable love bestow'd:
His double cloak, with clasps of sable hue,
Bebrycia's ruler on the greensward threw,
And his rough sheep-hook of wild olive made,
Which lately flourish'd in the woodland shade.
Then sought the heroes for a place at hand
Commodious for the fight, and on the strand
They plac'd their friends, who saw, with wondering
eyes,

40

The chiefs how different, both in make and size;
For like Typhoeus' race the tyrant stood
Enormous, or that miscreated brood

Of mighty monsters, which parturient Earth,
Incens'd at Jove, brought forth, a hideous birth. 50
But Pollux shone like that mild star on high,
Whose rising ray illumes fair evening's sky.
Down spread his cheek, ripe manhood's early sign,
And in his eye-balls beam'd the glance divine.
But like a lion, glorying in his might
Stood Jove's puissant son, prepar'd for fight.
His arms he pois'd, advancing in the ring,
To try if still they kept their pristine spring;
If pliant still, and vigorous as before,
Nor rigid grown with labouring at the oar.
Trial like this the haughty king disdain'd:
Aloof and silent Amycus remain'd.
Full on his foe his vengeful eyes he turn'd,
For blood he thirsted, and for conquest burn'd.
With that his squire Lycoreus, full in view,
Two pair of gauntlets in the circle threw,

60

71

Of barbarous fashion, harden'd, rough, and dry'd.
Then thus the king, with insolence and pride:
"Lo, two stout pair; the choice I leave to thee;
(No lot appoints them) choose, and blame not me.
Bind them secure, and after trial tell,
How greatly I in either art excel,
Whether to form the cestus firm and good,
Or stain the checks of mighty men with blood."
He spoke: brave Pollux nothing deign'd to say,
But smiling chose the pair which nearest lay.
To cheer their champion, Castor, honour'd name!
And Talaus, the son of Bias, came;

Firm round his arms the gloves of death they bind,
And animate the vigour of his mind.

80

| Aratus, and bold Ornytus his friend,
To Amycus their kind assistance lend:
Fools! for they knew not, this one conflict o'er,
Those gauntlets never should be buckled more.
Accoutred thus each ardent hero stands,
And raises high in air his iron hands;
With clashing gauntlets fiercely now they close,
And mutual meditate death-dealing blows.
First Amycus a furious onset gave,
Like the rude insult of the battering wave,
That, heap'd on high by driving wind and tide,
Bursts thundering on some gallant vessel's side;
The wary pilot, by superior skill,
Foresees the storm, and shuns the menac'd ill.
Thus threatening Amycus on Pollux press'd,
Nor suffer'd his antogonist to rest:

90

110

Till tir'd with toil they faintly gasp'd for breath:
Awhile they then remit the bloody fray,
And panting wipe the copious sweat away.
But adverse soon they meet, with rage they glow,
Like bulls fierce fighting for some favourite cow.
Then Amycus, coliecting all his might,
Rose to the stroke, resolv'd his foe to smite,
And by one blow the dubious war conclude:
The wary prince, his ruin to elude,
Bent back his head; defeated of its aim,
The blow impetuous on his shoulder caine.
Then Pollux with firm steps approaching near,
Vindictive struck his adversary's ear;
Th' interior bones his ponderous gauntlet broke;
Flat fell the chief beneath his dreadful stroke:
The Grecians shouted, with wild rapture fir'd,
And, deeply groaning, Amycus expir'd.

120

The griev'd Bebrycians saw their monarch slain, And big with vengeance rush'd into the plain; With season'd clubs and javelins arm'd they ran, And aim'd their fury at the conquering man. Their keen-edg'd swords the friends of Pollux drew, And to the succour of their comrade flew. 130 First Castor slaughter'd, with victorious hand, A hero of the bold Bebrycian band; The griding sword at once his head divides, And on his shoulders hang the parted sides. Mimans, Itymoneus of giant-size, Each by the arm of conquering Pollux dies. On this his foot impress'd a deadly wound Full on his side, and stretch'd him on the ground: His right hand dash'd, with unresisted sway, Mimans' left eye, and tore the ball away. Orcides, Amycus's proud compeer, Then lanch'd at Talaus his brazen spear; Just near his flank the point he lightly felt, That ras'd the skin beneath his broider'd belt. Aratus, with his club of harden'd oak, Aim'd at brave Iphitus a deadly stroke: Vain thought! too soon, alas! it is decreed, The hero by his brother's sword must bleed,

140