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THE ATHENAID, A POEM.
VOL. III.
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THE ATHENAID, A POEM,
BY THE AUTHOR OF LEONIDAS.
VOL. III.
LONDON: PRINTED FOR T. CADELL, IN THE STRAND. M.DCC.LXXXVII.
THE ATHENAID.
BOOK the TWENTY-FIRST.
[]SEV'N days were paſt, when Lamachus ap⯑pear'd
Before Mardonius. Mighty chief, he ſaid,
I haſted to Themiſtocles, and ſpoke
Thy friendly words. His anſwer firſt imply'd
No more, than cold acceptance of the terms
For Mindarus. At length two hundred, prime,
Of all his num'rous captives, he releas'd;
His miniſter, Sicinus, in the ſhip,
Which landed me, detains them near the port,
[2] Till Haliartus, and the promis'd gold
Are lodg'd on board. Themiſtocles himſelf
Was bound to Athens with his menial train,
His wife and race. We parted on the ſhore.
To me, repeating in a whiſper'd tone
Thy proffers large, he ſcornful thus reply'd:
"The ſpoils of Aſia will exceed her gifts."
Then loud thy brave defiance I pronounc'd.
He with redoubled arrogance thus brief:
"Rouſe thy new maſter; elſe the plains of Thebes
"I may attain before him." Fir'd with rage
Mardonious here: If Athens do not ſend
By Alexander's mouth ſubmiſſion low,
She ſhall become the ſpoil of Aſian flames,
Themiſtocles ſpectator of the blaze.
Be ſwift; yon Greek for Mindarus exchange;
Two hundred talents promis'd ſhall be paid;
Theſe ranſom'd warriors I appoint my guard;
Brave Mindarus their captain. Stern he ends;
[3] In open fight th' Athenian to confront
Magnanimous he burns; his heated ſoul
Yields to deluſion of that ſubtle chief,
Wiſe like the ſerpent gliding through a brake,
When his empoiſon'd jaws in ſilence ſteal
On ſome incautious woodman, who, on toil
Intent, exerts his brawny ſtrength, nor deems
A foe is nigh, nor hears him, nor perceives,
Till ſore the death-inflicting wound he feels.
A ſummons ſwift for embarkation flies
To Haliartus. With regret he leaves
Dear friends, but dearer his Acanthè's love,
More prevalent his conſtant zeal for Greece
Combine to ſooth his pain. They wing his ſpeed
To good Sicinus, who, the ranſom'd train
Diſcharging, tow'rds Euboea ſteers the keel
With Perſian treaſure fraught. The ev'ning clos'd,
When by a haſty mandate to the ſon
[4] Of Gobryas, Lamachus was call'd. The chief
In perturbation of indignant wrath
Was ſtriding o'er the carpet, which beſpread
His rich pavilion's floor. His words were theſe:
The Macedonian king is juſt arriv'd
From Athens; I have ſeen him. Doſt thou know,
That ſupercilious populace hath ſpurn'd
My condeſcenſion, menac'd ev'n a prince,
Their hoſt, for proff'ring kindneſs in my name.
Such my reward. To all th' Ionian Greeks,
The ſeed of Athens, I, when victor, left
Their democratic rule and laws unchang'd;
But I will cut all freedom by the roots
From man's ungrateful race. The wily Greek
Inſinuating fram'd this brief reply:
Perhaps the name of Xerxes may offend
Th' Athenian tribes. Might Europe once behold
[5] The ſon of Gobryas thron'd, then... Ha! proceed,
Mardonius anſwer'd. Lamachus again:
Doth not all Aegypt, doth not Libya's clime,
With Aſia vaſt, afford redundant ſway
To gratify one monarch? Firſt of men,
Why may not Thrace, with Macedonia's realm,
Theſſalia, Greece, whate'er thy mighty arm
Shall rend by conqueſt from the weſtern world,
Become thy prize? They willing might accept
A ſov'reign like Mardonius. Try their choice.
Away—Mardonius ſpake; and frowning bade
The Greek retire. Now left alone he mus'd,
Thus queſtioning his heart: Aſpiring thoughts,
Do ye awaken at the coz'ning touch
Of this vile tempter? Honour, while my ear
Deteſts th' adviſer, fortify my breaſt
Againſt th' advice—Enough—More ſwiftly drive,
[6] Dull night, thy ſooty wheels; come, active morn,
Then to the field, Mardonius. Conquer now;
Deliberate hereafter on the ſpoil.
But thou may'ſt periſh—periſh, and the gifts
Of fortune change to everlaſting fame.
A ſudden trumpet ſtrikes his ear; he ſees
Maſiſtius nigh. So breaks the polar ſtar
Through night's unrav'ling canopy of clouds
On ſome bewilder'd ſailor to correct
His erring courſe. Amidſt a warm embrace
Began Mardonius: O, in ſeaſon come,
Thou more, than half myſelf! my ſtrength decays,
My talents languiſh, ev'n my honour ſleeps,
When thou art far. Maſiſtius calm replies:
I have compos'd Pallene's late revolt
Through all the diſtrict; Potidaea's walls
Alone reſiſted; from whoſe ſmall domain
[7] O'erflow'd by tides the army I withdrew.
I come, Mardonius, not to hear a tale
Of languid talents, or of ſtrength decay'd,
Much leſs of honour ſleeping in thy breaſt,
When I am abſent. Honour on a rock
Immoveable is fix'd; its ſolid baſe
The billowy paſſions beat in vain, nor guſts
Of fortune ſhake; ſupport from none it wants,
Firm in itſelf. Some augury, or dream
Inexplicably dark, o'erclouds thy mind;
Reſume thy native manlineſs, O chief,
Whoſe loyal faith the mightieſt king entruſts
With all his pow'r and ſplendour, ſave the crown.
Prepare to paſs Thermopylae, and bring
Our labours to deciſion. Gobryas' ſon
Compares the language of his ſpotleſs friend
With his own devious thoughts, and turns aſide
In bluſhing ſilence; but, recover'd, ſends
His mandate forth to march by riſing dawn.
[8]
Not with a leſs commotion in his ſoul
From diff'rent cares Emathia's prince reſorts
To Amarantha. On her beauteous neck
In conjugal affection, yet in grief
Unutterable long he hangs. Alas!
My lord, ſhe ſaid, though early I preſag'd
Thy embaſſy abortive, hath it prov'd
Diſaſtrous? Yes, her agonizing ſpouſe
Return'd; what more diſaſtrous, than reproach
Among the old, hereditary friends
Of my forefathers! Amarantha, lend
Attention; amply ſhall my tongue relate
Events impreſs'd too deeply on my heart.
I went to Athens; Ariſtides call'd
Her various tribes; the image of a god
Was he preſiding. Innocent, at leaſt
Intentionally guiltleſs, I began;
Good will to Athens prompted ev'ry word:
[9]
Impow'r'd by Xerxes, thus Mardonius greets
You, men of Athens. Repoſſeſs your ſoil,
Enlarg'd dominion from the royal hand
Aſk and obtain; be govern'd by your laws;
The ſon of Gobryas will rebuild your fanes;
Accept the king's alliance, and be free
With added ſtrength and ſplendour. Me receive,
Illuſtrious people, offspring of the ſoil
Which you inhabit. Not a gueſt unknown
In Athens, I, your Macedonian hoſt,
Of warm, unchang'd affection to your ſtate,
Salvation bring, proſperity, and peace.
Reflect, what numbers of ſubjected Greeks,
Some ancient foes to Athens, others friends,
But now conſtrain'd, with Xerxes are ally'd.
The ſmall remainder unſubdu'd conſult
Their own defence. Are Spartans in the field?
Your produce, indefatigable race,
Your new-built manſions to a ſecond waſte
[10] Of flames, your wives, your progeny, they leave
To want and rapine. Singly can you face
Half Greece, all Aſia, leagu'd againſt your weal?
Oh! Amarantha, frowns on ev'ry brow
Indignant lowr'd around me. Preſent there
Was Aëmneſtus from Laconia's ſtate;
He, who, unaw'd by Xerxes on his throne,
Strange retribution claim'd, and ſternly choſe
Mardonius' ſelf the victim to appeaſe
Leonidas. Th' Athenians he addreſs'd:
"Invading Sardis to enlarge your ſway,
"Athenians, you are authors of a war,
"Which now extends to all of Grecian blood;
"Ill would it then become you to deſert
"The gen'ral cauſe. To ſervitude reſign'd
"By you, a double ſhame the Greeks would caſt
On Athens, known of old and often prov'd
[11] "By arms and counſel to redeem and guard
"The liberty of nations. I condemn
"Like you my tardy countrymen; will bleed
"Not leſs for you, than Sparta. Soon, I truſt,
"She will arrange her phalanx on the field;
"Elſe to your vengeance I devote my head.
"Meantime your wives and offspring ev'ry ſtate
"In love will cheriſh. Attic ears, be ſhut
"To this deceiver; his condition calls
"On him to plead for tyranny; himſelf
"Wields a deſpotic ſcepter, petty lord
"Of feeble Macedon, and Perſia's ſlave."
Severe and awful Ariſtides roſe;
His manners ſtill urbanity adorn'd:
"Ambaſſador of Sparta," he began,
"Us thou haſt charg'd as authors of the war,
"Yet doſt extol our vigour in redreſs
[12] "Of injur'd ſtates. Th' Ionians were enſlav'd,
"Our own deſcendants; Sardis we aſſail'd
"To ſet them free; nor leſs our preſent zeal
"For all of Grecian blood, by common ties
"Of language, manners, cuſtoms, rites and laws
"To us ally'd. Can Sparta doubt our faith?
"What diſingenuous, unbeſeeming thought
"In her, late witneſs of our lib'ral proof
"Of conſtancy! when ev'ry clime on earth
"Was equal to Athenians, where to chuſe
"Their habitation, true to Greece they ſtay'd
"In ſight of Athens burning to attempt
"The dang'rous fight, which Spartans would have "ſhunn'd.
"Now from the ruins of paternal tombs,
"Of altars fall'n, and violated fanes,
"Loud vengeance calls, a voice our courage hears,
"Enlarg'd to pious fury. Spartan, know,
"If yet unknowing, of the Attic race
[13] "Not one to treat with Xerxes will ſurvive;
"Our wives and offspring ſhall encumber none;
"All we require of Sparta is to march;
"That, ere th' expected foe invades our bounds,
"The Greeks united on Boeotian plains
"May give him battle—Alexander, view
"That glorious pow'r, which rolls above our heads;
"He firſt his wonted orbit ſhall forſake,
"Ere we our virtue. Never more appear
"Before the preſence of Cecropian tribes
"With embaſſies like this; nor, blind by zeal,
"Howe'er ſincere to Athens, urge again
"What is beneath her majeſty to bear.
"I ſhould be griev'd her anger ſhould diſgrace
"A prince, diſtinguiſh'd as her hoſt and friend;
"Meantime I pity thy dependent ſtate."
Loud acclamations hurried from the ſight
Of that aſſembly thy dejected ſpouſe,
In his own thoughts diſhonour'd. What a lot
[14] Is mine! If Xerxes triumph, I become
A ſlave in purple; ſhould the Greeks prevail,
Should that Euboean conqueror, the ſon
Of Neocles be ſent th' Athenian ſcourge. . . .
Hear, and take comfort, interpos'd the queen.
To thee I come for counſel, ſigh'd her lord;
I will repoſe me on thy breaſt, will hear
Thy voice, hereafter ever will obey;
Thy love, thy charms can ſooth my preſent cares,
Thy wiſdom ward the future. She proceeds:
That Greece will triumph, reſt aſſur'd; no force
Of theſe untaught Barbarians can reſiſt
Her policy and arms. Awhile, dear lord,
We muſt ſubmit to wear the galling maſk
Neceſſity impoſes. New events
Are daily ſcatter'd by the reſtleſs palm
Of Fortune; ſome will prove propitious. Wiſe,
[15] To all men gracious, Ariſtides ſerv'd
By us in ſeaſon will befriend our ſtate.
This ſaid, her ſtar-like beauty gilds his gloom,
While round them heav'n his midnight curtain drops.
By riſing dawn th' Oetaean rocks and caves
Ring with ten thouſand trumps and clarions loud.
With all his hoſt the ſon of Gobryas leaves
His empty'd camp. So ruſhes from his den
The ſtrong and thick-furr'd animal, who boaſts
Caliſto's lineage; bound in drowſy ſloth
Bleak winter he exhauſts; when tepid ſpring
His limbs releaſes from benumbing cold,
He reinſtates his vigour, and aſſerts
Among Sarmatian woods his wonted ſway.
The bands entire of Perſians and of Medes,
The reſt, ſelected from unnumber'd climes,
Compoſe the army. Forty myriads ſweep
Thy paſs, renown'd Thermopylae, to ruſh
On Grecian cities ſcatter'd in their view.
So by the deep Boryſtenes in floods
[16] Of frothy rage, by mightier Danube's wave,
Nor leſs by countleſs congregated ſtreams,
The Euxine ſwoln, through Helleſpontine ſtraits
Impels his rapid current; thence extends
Among th' Aegean iſles a turbid maze.
Three days the multitude requir'd to paſs
The rough defile. Maſiſtius in the van
His ſumptuous arms, and all-ſurpaſſing form
Diſcovers. Tiridates leads the rear
Clos'd by the troops of Macedon, whoſe king
Sat on a car beſide his radiant queen.
Amid the center, on a milk-white ſteed,
Mardonius rode in armour, plated gold
Thick ſet with gems. Before him march'd a guard
Of giant ſize, from each Barbarian tribe,
For huge dimenſion, and terrific mien,
Preferr'd. Their captain, from his ſtature nam'd
Briareus, born on Rhodope, diſplay'd
That hundred-handed Titan on his ſhield.
He ſwung around an iron-ſtudded mace,
[17] In length ten cubits; to his ſhoulders broad
The hairy ſpoils of hunted bears ſupply'd
A ſhaggy mantle; his uncover'd head
Was bald, except where nigh the brawny neck
Short buſhy locks their criſped terrors knit.
So his own mountain through ſurrounding woods
Lifts to the clouds a ſummit bare and ſmooth
In froſt, which gliſtens by no ſeaſon thaw'd.
Not ſuch is gentle Mindarus behind
In argent mail. Unceaſing, on his ſhield
Intent, Cleora newly painted there
A living beauty, but another's prize,
He views, while hopeleſs paſſion waſtes the hue
Of his fair cheek, and elegance of form.
Not leſs th' unrivall'd Amarantha's eyes
Had pierc'd the ſon of Gobryas. Inſtant ſparks
On her appearance from Nicaea firſt
Had kindled warm deſire, which abſence cool'd,
While ſhe in diſtant Macedon abode.
[18] When winter melted at the breath of ſpring,
Her ſight again amid th' aſſembling hoſt
Reviv'd the fervour of an eaſtern breaſt
By nature prone, by wanton licence us'd,
To am'rous pleaſures. Public duty ſtill
Employ'd his hours; ſtill ſmother'd was the flame,
Nor on his wiſhes had occaſion ſmil'd.
Ev'n in the abſence of Aemathia's prince
At Athens, friendſhip's unremitted care
Still in Sandaucè's chamber held the queen
Sequeſter'd, inacceſſibly immur'd.
Beſide Maſiſtius rode a youthful page
Of eaſtern lineage. He in tend'reſt years
Stol'n by perfidious traffickers in ſlaves,
By Medon purchas'd, to Meliſſa giv'n,
By her was nam'd Statirus, and retain'd
Among her holy ſervitors. This youth
On her benign protector ſhe beſtow'd.
[19] Maſiſtius priz'd her token of eſteem
Beyond himſelf, and daily bounty ſhow'r'd
On young Statirus. Near the Locrian vale
Advancing now the ſatrap thus began:
O! early train'd by ſage Meliſſa's hand,
Gift of her friendſhip, and in merit dear,
Nine months are fled, Statirus, ſince I bow'd
In docile reverence, not unlike thy own,
To her inſtruction. All her words divine
In precept or narration, from this breaſt
No time can blot. I now perceive a lake,
Which holds an iſland ſhe hath oft deſcrib'd,
Where tombs are mould'ring under cypreſs ſhades;
There ſhe hath told me, great Oïleus reſts.
O father of Meliſſa, ſhould my pow'r
To ſavage licence of invaſion leave
Thy duſt expos'd, my progreſs were but ſmall
In virtue's track; Maſiſtius would diſgrace
[20] Thy daughter's guidance—Fly, Statirus, poſt
Theſe my attendant vaſſals to protect
That ſacred turf; let each battalion paſs
Ere ye rejoin me. Uttering this, he hears
The trumpet's evening ſignal to encamp.
The ſun is low; not ent'ring yet the vale,
Mardonius halts, and ſummons to his tent
Theſſalia's chieftain, faithleſs Greek, approv'd
The Perſian's friend, with him th' unwilling prince
Of Macedon, to whom the gen'ral thus:
To march by dawn your ſquadrons both prepare:
Thou, Lariſſaean Thorax, in theſe tracts
My truſted guide, with ſwift excurſion reach
The Iſthmus; watch the Spartan motions there.
Thou, Alexander, ſweep the furtheſt bounds
Of Locris, Doris, Phocis; all their youth
In arms collect; ere thirty days elapſe,
I ſhall expect them on the plains of Thebes.
[21]
He ſaid: The king and Thorax both retire.
The morning ſhines; they execute their charge;
The hoſt proceeds. Once happy was the vale,
Where Medon's father, and his faithful ſwain,
Now to illuſtrious Haliartus chang'd,
Abode in peace. No longer is retain'd
The verdant ſmoothneſs, ridg'd by grating wheels
Of Libyan cars, uptorn by pond'rous hoofs
Of trooping ſteeds and camels. Not this day
Is feſtive, ſuch as Sparta's king enjoy'd,
When lib'ral hoſpitality receiv'd
His guardian ſtandard on the Oïlean turf.
No jocund ſwain now modulates his pipe
To notes of welcome; not a maiden decks
Her hair in flow'rs; mute Philomel, whoſe throat
Once tun'd her warble to Laconian flutes,
Amid barbarian diſſonance repines.
Now in rude march th' innumerable hoſt
Approach the fountain, whoſe tranſlucent rills
[22] In murmur lull the paſſenger's repoſe
On beds of moſs, in that refreſhing cell,
To rural peace conſtructed by the friend
Of man, Oïleus. Thither to evade
The noontide heat the ſon of Gobryas turns.
Briareus, captain of his giant guard,
Accoſts him ent'ring: Image of the king,
A liſt'ning ear to me thy ſervant lend;
Thou goeſt to Thebes; far diff'rent is the track
To Delphi. Shall that receptacle proud
Of Grecian treaſure, heap'd from earlieſt times,
Yet reſt unſpoil'd? An earthquake, not the arms
Of feeble Delphians, foil'd the firſt attempt;
Not twice Parnaſſus will diſjoint his frame.
Let me the precious enterprize reſume,
Who neither dread the mountain, nor the god.
Though not aſſenting, yet without reproof
Mardonius looks, poſtponing his reply.
[23] Hence ſoon the rumour of a new attempt
Againſt the Pythian oracle, the ſeat
Of Amarantha's birth, alarms her ſoul.
Maſſiſtius born to virtue, and refin'd
By frequent converſe with Meliſſa pure,
The queen conſults. Her inſtant he conveys
Before his friend, to deprecate an act
Of ſacrilege ſo fatal once. The cell
She enters. Like Anchiſes, when his flock
On Ida's mount was folded, at the ſight
Of Venus, breaking on his midnight hut
In all the radiance of celeſtial charms,
Mardonius ſtands, and fixes on the queen
An eye tranſported. At a ſign his friend
Withdrew, but waited nigh. To her the chief:
What fortune brings the faireſt of her ſex
To her adoring ſervant? She replies:
[24]
Falſe ſure the rumour which pervades thy camp.
A ſecond time to violate the ſhrine
Of Phoebus once provok'd, and ſorely felt,
Thou canſt not mean. The eager Perſian then:
Admit th' intent; thy interceding voice
Protects Apollo. Not on my requeſt
Avoid an impious action, firm ſhe ſpake;
Weigh thy own danger in offending heav'n,
By piety and mercy win its grace.
No, all the merit ſhall be thine, he cried;
The favour due from heav'n be all thy own.
I aſk no more than Amarantha's ſmile
For my reward; as Phoebus is thy god,
Thou art my goddeſs. Let me worſhip thus—
He ſtopp'd, and ſeiz'd her hand with am'rous lips
To ſtain thoſe lilied beauties, which ſurpaſs'd
[25] Junonian whiteneſs. Virtue from her eyes
Flaſh'd, and with crimſon indignation dy'd
Her cheeks: Retire; forget not who I am,
Stern ſhe rebuk'd him. He, accuſtom'd long
To yielding beauty in the wanton Eaſt,
That torrid clime of love, a ſtranger he
To elegance of coyneſs in the ſex,
Much more to chaſte repulſe, when ev'ry bar
But honour warm occaſion hath remov'd,
Theſe words auſterely utter'd: Am I chang'd?
No more Mardonius? Is my dazzling ſun
Of pow'r and ſplendour ſuddenly obſcur'd?
In ſtate degraded, for a peaſant's garb
Have I exchang'd my purple? Is my prime,
My form, in all th' impurities of age
By ſome malignant talisman diſguis'd,
At once grown loathſome? Who, and what I am,
Thou prodigy of coldneſs and diſdain,
Remind me. Who, and what thou art, ſhe ſaid,
[26] I will remind thee to confound thee more.
No characters of magic have the pow'r
To change a noble and ingenuous mind;
Thou haſt thyſelf degraded; thou haſt rent
The wreaths, which circle thy commanding brow,
And all their ſplendour wantonly defac'd.
Thy rank and pow'r exalted doſt thou hold
From partial heav'n to violate the laws
Of men and gods? True pattern to the world
Of Perſian virtues! Now to all thy pomp,
Thy ſteeds, thy chariots, and emblazing gems,
The gorgeous pageants of tyrannic ſtate,
I leave thee, ſon of luxury and vice.
She ſaid, and darted like a meteor ſwift
Away, whoſe aſpect red preſages woe
To ſuperſtition's herd. The Perſian's pride
Is wounded; tapers to the cell he calls;
[27] By them a tablet, unobſerv'd before,
Attracts his gloomy eye. The words were theſe:
"The Spartan king a viſitant was here,
"Who, by a tyrant's multitude o'erpow'r'd,
"Died for his country. Be accurſt the man,
"The man impure, who violates theſe walls,
"Which, by Oïleus hoſpitably rais'd,
"Receiv'd the great Leonidas a gueſt.
"Oïlean Medon this inſcription trac'd."
Another hangs beneath it in this ſtrain:
"Laconian Aëmneſtus reſted here,
"From Aſia's camp return'd. His faulchion's point
"To deities and mortals thus proclaims
"His arm to vengeance on Mardonius pledg'd,
"The king of Sparta's manes to appeaſe."
Brave was the ſon of Gobryas, like the god
Of war in battle; yet a dream, an act
[28] Of froward chance, would oft depreſs his mind.
He recollects with pain the challenge bold
From that ſevere Laconian in the tent
Of Xerxes; this to Amarantha's ſcorn
Succeeding, throws new darkneſs o'er his gloom.
Maſiſtius ent'ring haſty thus began:
What haſt thou done, Mardonius? When I led
This princeſs back, indignant ſhe complain'd
Of wrong from thee. Thy countenance is griev'd.
Confus'd, Mardonius pointed to the ſcrolls;
Maſiſtius read; he took the word again:
Now in the name of Horomazes, chief,
Art thou diſcourag'd by a Grecian vaunt,
Or by that empty oracle which claim'd
Atonement for Leonidas? Deſpiſe
Myſterious words and omens like a man.
[29] But if thou bear'ſt the conſcience of a deed
Unworthy, juſt thy ſorrow; like a man
Feel due contrition, and the fault repair.
I have meant wrong, not acted, ſaid the chief.
Greece once produc'd a Helen, who forſook
A throne and huſband; what theſe later dames
Call honour, which without an eunuch guard
Protects their charms, in Aſia is unknown.
Reſentful, gall'd at firſt, I now admire
This lofty woman, who, like Helen bright,
Rejected me a lover, who ſurpaſs
The ſon of Priam. Thou art gentler far
Than I, diſcreet Maſiſtius; ſooth by morn
With lenient words, and coſtly gifts, her ire.
Call Mindarus, together let us feaſt;
He too is gentle, I am rough and hot,
Whom thou canſt guide, Maſiſtius, thou alone.
[30]
Soon Mindarus appears in aſpect ſad;
Soon is the royal equipage produc'd,
Which Xerxes gave Mardonius to ſuſtain
His delegated ſtate. Ye ruſtic pow'rs!
Ye Dryads, Oreads of th' Oïlean ſeat!
Ye Naiads white of lucid brooks and founts!
Had you exiſtence other than in tales
Of fancy, how had your aſtoniſh'd eyes
At piles of gold enrich'd by orient gems
Been dimm'd with luſtre? Genius of the cell.
Simplicity had fram'd to rural peace!
How hadſt thou ſtarted at a Perſian board?
Fair female minſtrels charm the ſight and ear;
Effeminating meaſures on their lutes
Diſſolve the ſoul in languor, which admits
No thought but love. Their voices chance directs
To ſing of Daphnè by Apollo chas'd,
Of him inflam'd at beauties in her flight
[31] Diſclos'd, him reaching with a vain embrace
Thoſe virgin beauties, into laurel chang'd
On flowry-bank'd Orontes, Syrian ſtream.
Mardonius ſighs at diſappointed love;
Tears down the cheeks of Mindarus deſcend,
Recalling dear Cleora, not as dead
Recall'd, but living in another's arms.
Not ſo the firmneſs of Maſiſtius yields;
The ſoft, laſcivious theme his thoughts reject,
By pure affections govern'd. Yet the charm
Of harmony prevailing ſerves to raiſe
Compos'd remembrance of Meliſſa's lyre,
Which oft in ſtillneſs of a moon-light hour,
Amid her nymphs in ſymphony high-ton'd,
To moderation, equity, and faith,
To deeds heroic and humane ſhe ſtruck
[32] With force divine, reproving lawleſs will,
Intemp'rate paffions, turpitude of mind,
And ſavage manners in her ethic lay.
The banquet ends, and all depart to reſt.
End of the Twenty-firſt Book.
THE ATHENAID.
BOOK the TWENTY-SECOND.
[33]BY morn return'd Maſiſtius: Hear, he ſaid,
Th' event unpleaſing from thy paſſion ſprung.
Mardonius, thy temerity hath chac'd
From Perſia's camp the Macedonian queen;
I found her tent abandon'd; but her courſe
Conjecture cannot trace. What other ſtyle
Than of Barbarians can the Greeks afford
To us of Aſia? Lo! a youthful king,
Our beſt ally, and my diſtinguiſh'd friend,
Exerts a diſtant effort in our cauſe,
[34] Meantime the honour of his queen, by all
Ador'd, inviolate till now, our chief
Inſults, by ſtation her protector ſole,
When I am abſent. Not thyſelf alone
Thou haſt diſgrac'd, but me her guardian pledg'd
By ſacred oaths to Macedonia's lord.
Theſe words, evincing nature's pureſt gifts,
Deſerving that ſociety ſublime
With Grecian muſes, where Meliſſa pour'd
Her moral ſtrain, in perturbation plunge
The hearer; when importunate, abrupt
Appears Briareus, and renews the ſuit
To pillage Delphi. No, in wrath replied
The clouded ſon of Gobryas; bring my ſteed;
March all to Thebes. Then humble as a child,
Who to parental caſtigation owns
His fault in tears, Maſiſtius he addreſs'd:
[35]
How bleſs'd the mind by Horomazes fram'd
Like thine, ſerene Maſiſtius, to reſiſt
Unruly paſſions! never warm deſires,
Pride, or ambition, vex thy equal thoughts,
Which from their level no dejection low'rs;
Yet none ſurpaſſes thee in rank and pow'r
Among the ſatraps. Uncorrupted man!
O, in thyſelf ſuperior to thy ſtate,
Me, who ſo often ſink below my own,
Befriend in this dark moment. I foreſee,
I feel diſaſter in this harſh event.
Maſiſtius here: Reflect, thou mighty chief,
At either gate of life, the firſt and laſt,
Yet more through all their intermediate ſpace,
Viciſſitude and hazard lurk unſeen,
Supplanting wary ſteps. To mortal pow'r
Thoſe dreadful miniſters of jealous heav'n,
The elements, are hoſtile, and to low'r
The great with changing fortune oft conſpire.
[36] Her cruel ſport, Mardonius, need we tempt
With our own follies? In thy arduous poſt
Thy hand ſuſtains a balance, where the lives
Of nations, where an empire's fate is pois'd
From hour to hour againſt the common ills
Of chance and nature, which ſo often foil
The wifeſt; do not ſuper-add the weight
Of thy own paſſions to the adverſe ſcale.
I, who am ever to thy virtues juſt,
Will not be ſlow, though grieving at thy faults,
To furniſh preſent help. Farewell; I mount
My ſwifteſt courſer to o'ertake the queen,
Whoſe indignation I can beſt compoſe.
Mardonius then: Adventure is a chace
Thy virtue, no idolatreſs of fame,
Enjoys; thy prompters are the love of right,
Care for a friend, or zeal for Perſia's ſtate,
Which render hazardous attempts thy bliſs,
[37] Sublime Maſiſtius. Thou haſt weight to awe
Mardonius, who thy enterpriſing hand
Laments, but never to controul aſſumes,
Yet feels and moſt regrets his own defects,
Whene'er they cauſe thy abſence. Here they end
Diſcourſe. Of cavalry a num'rous pow'r,
Train'd by himſelf, Maſiſtius heads, and leaves
The army filing tow'rds Boeotian fields.
He bends his courſe to Delphi; he attains
Permeſſus, round the Heliconian heights
In argent mazes whiſp'ring, as he flows,
To paſſengers along the winding way,
Which ſkirts the mountain, and o'erlooks the ſtream.
Back from the ford the ſatrap's courſer ſtarts
Affrighted. Lo! to crimſon, as of blood,
In ſudden change the late cryſtalline wave,
Melodious ſolace of the ſacred nine,
Rolls horrible to view. Anon with helms,
[38] With ſpears and bucklers, grating o'er the bed
Of looſen'd ſtone, with limbs and trunks of men,
The turbid current chafes. Maſiſtius ſpurs
Through all obſtruction; in his forc'd career
The clank of armour, craſh of ſpears, and ſhouts
Of battle ſtrike his ear; the vocal rocks
Augment the animating ſound; he ſees
A flying ſoldier, by his target known
A Macedonian guard, who ſtops, and thus:
Hail! ſatrap, hail! thou timely ſent by heav'n,
Haſte and protect the Macedonian queen.
A hoſt of robbers, by the lawleſs times
Combin'd, have vanquiſh'd our inferior force;
Part of our mangled number choak that flood,
Part on the ground lie bleeding. At theſe words
Maſiſtius ruſhes with his pond'rous lance
In reſt; Emathia's beauteous queen in flight
Before purſuing ruffians he perceives
[39] On her fleet courſer. Thunderbolt of ſtrength,
He hurls to earth their leader giant-ſiz'd,
A profligate deſerter from the guard
Mardonian. Next a Phocian born, expell'd
His native reſidence for crimes, he flew;
The active ſtaff is broken in the cheſt
Of an Arcadian, branded by his ſtate
With infamy; the victor then unſheaths
His ſabre, op'ning through the ſavage rout
A paſſage wide for death. His faithful train
Surround them; irreſiſtible he ſweeps
The traitors headlong to the flood below,
Which foams like Simois, by Pelides ſwoln
With Trojan dead, and ſtruggling to diſcharge
Th' unwonted load in Neptune's briny waſte.
The conqueror diſmounts; before the queen
His gracious form preſenting, in the arms
Of his ſuſtaining friends he ſudden ſinks,
[40] Oppreſs'd by wounds unheeded, ev'n unfelt
Amid the warmth of action. Then her veil
She rends aſunder, and, lamenting, beats
Her grateful breaſt. The notes of ſorrow, loud
Through all the concourſe, diſſipate his trance.
Serene theſe words he utters: Honour's track
Is perilous, though lovely; there to walk,
Not fearing death, nor coveting his ſtroke,
Though to receive it ever well prepar'd,
Has been my choice and ſtudy. But, fair queen,
Be not diſcourag'd at my preſent ſtate,
Wounds are to me familiar, and their cures;
To Delphi lead me, or whatever place,
Thy wiſh prefers. Maſiſtius comes thy guard,
So will continue, and, ere long reſtor'd,
Hath much for thy inſtruction to impart.
While theſe to Delphi, on his march to Thebes
Advanc'd the ſon of Gobryas. Soon the ſteps
[41] Innumerous of men and courſers bruiſe
On green Cephiſſian meads the growth of May.
Copaeae's lake, perfum'd with orange groves,
Which rude unſated violence deforms,
The multitudes envelop; thence along
The ſedgy borders of Iſmenus reach
Cadmēan walls, when now the golden ſun
Sev'n times had fill'd his orbit. Thebes admits
The Perſian gen'ral, in theſe words addreſs'd
By Leontiades: Thrice welcome, lord,
We, thy allies, our counſel to diſcloſe
Have waited long. Not hazarding a fight,
Thou haſt the means to aſcertain ſucceſs.
Here ſeated tranquil, from exhauſtleſs ſtores
Diſtribute gold among the Grecian ſtates;
Corrupt the pow'rful, open faction's mouth,
Divide, nor doubt to overcome that ſtrength,
Which, link'd in union, will ſurmount the force
Of all mankind. The ardent Perſian here:
[42]
To court th' Athenians with a laviſh hand
Have I not ſtoop'd already? but, diſdain'd,
That haughty race to deſtiny I leave.
Have I not bid defiance to their boaſt,
Themiſtocles? Him, forfeiting his word,
Pledg'd to confront me on Boeotian plains,
I haſte to ſummon at his native gates.
What are the Greeks, if Athens be reduc'd?
Where are the vaunted Spartans? lock'd in fear
Behind their iſthmian wall, by heav'n in fear
Of Thorax ranging with a ſlender band
Of his Theſſalian horſe. Thou rule in Thebes,
Brave Mindarus, till I from Athens tam'd
Return with fetters for the reſt of Greece.
He ſeeks his couch, and, after ſhort repoſe,
By twilight burſts like thunder from a cloud,
Which, on Olympus hov'ring black, contains
The livid ſtore of Jove's collected wrath
[43] Againſt offending mortals. O'er a land
Deſerted, ſilent, to the empty roofs
Of Athens was the march. Mardonius climb'd
Aegaleos, thence on Salamis deſcry'd
That much-enduring people, who again
For liberty forſook their native homes
On his approach. His gen'rous pride relents;
He wiſhes ſuch a nation were a friend;
His wiſhes waken in his breaſt an awe
At ſuch a foe. Murichides was nigh,
A Helleſpontine Grecian of his train,
Nor in his favour low; to him he ſpake:
Look on that haughty, but that gallant race;
Perhaps at me, by myriads thus begirt,
Their very children lift their little hands
In menaces, and curſing liſp the names
Of Xerxes and Mardonius. Mount a bark;
Paſs with a herald to that crowded iſle;
[44] The ſenators accoſt; the people ſhun,
In pride beyond nobility; repeat
The words Aemathian Alexander us'd:
"Ye men of Athens, repoſſeſs your homes;
"Enlarg'd dominion from the royal hand
"Aſk and obtain; be govern'd by your laws;
"The ſon of Gobryas will rebuild your fanes;
"Accept the king's alliance, and be free
"With added ſtrength and ſplendour." Further ſay,
They little know what confidence is due
To him who ſends thee. Aſian Greeks, ſubdu'd
By me, retain their democratic rights.
On Salamis the Helleſpontine lands;
Before th' Athenian ſenate he diſplays
The Perſian proffer. All indignant hear
But Lycides, who thus exhorting ſpake:
From Athens twice expell'd, deſerted twice
By Lacedaemon, who her toil employs
[45] Still on her iſthmian fence, who lifts no ſhield
To guard our wives and progeny, to ſave
From deſolation our defenceleſs fields,
Or from our homes repel the hoſtile blaze,
What can we better, injur'd and betray'd,
Than liſten to Mardonius? be referr'd
His terms of friendſhip to th' aſſembling tribes.
The univerſal ſenate roſe in ſcorn
Of ſuch ſubmiſſion. By the people known,
His counſel rous'd enthuſiaſtic rage,
Nor Ariſtides can the tumult cool;
They ſtone the timid ſenator to death.
The women catch the ſpirit; fierce, as fair,
Laodice collects th' infuriate ſex.
They hand in hand a dreadful circle form
Around his manſion, and his wife and race
Doom to perdition, that his coward blood
May ne'er ſurvive in Greece. Enormous thought!
[46] Perhaps not leſs than ſuch exceſs of zeal
Exceſs of peril in that ſeaſon claim'd
To ſave a land, which foſter'd ev'ry muſe;
That eloquence, philoſophy and arts
Might ſhine in Attic purity of light
To lateſt ages: but a ſudden fleet,
In wide array extending on the ſhore,
Suſpends the deed. Before each wond'ring eye
Timothea lands, Sicinus at her ſide;
When thus the matron to th' impatient throng:
His native friends Themiſtocles ſalutes;
Euboean plenty in your preſent need
He ſends. Returning, I this crouded iſle
Will diſencumber, and to ſafety bear
Your wives and infants; open to their wants
Eudora holds her Amarynthian ſeat;
Elephenor, Tiſander to the ſhrines
Of Jove invite them, and to friendly roofs
[47] Euboea's towns. As oft Aurora ſheds
Serenity around her, when the gates
Of light firſt open to her fragrant ſtep;
Huſh'd at her feet lies Boreas, who had rent
The duſky pall of night, and Jove reſtrains
The thunder's roar, and torrents of the ſkies;
Such was Timothea's preſence, ſo the ſtorm,
By furies late excited, at her voice
Was tame. She learns the melancholy fate
Of Lycides, to her protection takes
His helpleſs orphans, and diſaſtrous wife.
Now of its plenteous ſtores while eager hands
The num'rous fleet unlade, and Attic dames
Prepare with good Timothea to embark;
Juſt Ariſtides, firſt of men, conducts
That firſt of matrons to his joyful tent,
Where ſhe began: O righteous like the gods,
Now hear my whole commiſſion, and believe
[48] Themiſtocles, my huſband, feels thy worth.
When at his ſummons on Euboea's coaſt
I landed firſt, "Thrice welcome," he exclaim'd,
"From Athens hither to a ſafe abode.
"A ſecond emigration I preſage
"To her afflicted race." From port to port
Around Euboea's populous extent
With him convey'd, I ſaw her wealthy towns
To his controul ſubordinate. Their pow'rs
He now is gath'ring; ſome achievement new
He meditates, which ſecreſy conceals
Like fate's dark roll inſcrutable to all.
From thee an early notice he requeſts,
Soon as the Greeks, united in one camp,
The ſole attention of Mardonius draw;
Th' intelligence to bring I leave behind
That faithful man, Sicinus. Virtuous dame,
Wiſe is thy huſband, Ariſtides ſpake;
From him no other than achievements high,
[49] However my conjecture they ſurpaſs,
I ſtill expect. Themiſtocles appriſe,
That I am bound for Sparta to upbraid
Pauſanias proud, and ſummon to the field
That ſelfiſh breed ſo martial, yet ſo cold
To public welfare. Let me next prefer
To thy benignity a fervent ſuit.
He ſtraight withdrew, and reappearing led
Two little damſels humble in attire.
Behold my daughters, he reſum'd; admit
Theſe to thy care; now motherleſs they want
Protection; ev'n Euphemia they have loſt;
My venerable parent have the gods
Releas'd but newly from the growing ſcene
Of trouble. Athens muſt a parent prove
To theſe hereafter, fated to receive
No portion from a father, who delights
[50] In poverty. His arms are all the wealth
Of Ariſtides. With a tender hand
She takes the children: O! of men, ſhe ſaid,
Moſt rich, whoſe wealth is virtue, in the name
Of houſehold gods this office I accept.
O Ariſtides! theſe ſhall mix with mine;
Theſe ſhall contribute to cement the work,
I long have wrought, the amity begun
Betwixt Themiſtocles and thee. In tears
Depart the infant maidens from a ſire
Of gentleſt nature, and in manners bland
Not leſs, than juſt. Meanwhile to Athens ſteers
Murichides unharm'd. The riſing dawn
Sees with her precious charge Timothea ſail.
Lo! from the city clouds of ſmoke aſcend
Voluminous, with interlacing flames,
Such as Veſuvius vomits from his gulph
Sulphureous, when unquenchable the heat
[51] Within his concave melts the ſurging ore
To floods of fire. Murichides had told
His fruitleſs embaſſy; Mardonius, wild
With ire, to inſtant conflagration doom'd
Th' abode of ſuch inexorable foes.
They, on the margin oppoſite, beheld
Their ancient reſidence a ſecond time
Deſtroy'd; nor utter'd more than juſt complaint
Of tardy Sparta. When Briareus dire
With his gigantic ſavages o'erturn'd
The recent tomb, which held the glorious ſlain
At Salamis; when ſcatter'd in the wind
They ſaw that duſt rever'd; in ſolemn rage,
Devoid of ſound illiberal, or loud,
Each his right hand with ſanctity of oaths
Pledg'd to his neighbour, and to vengeance full
His blood devoted. Ariſtides look'd,
As ſome incens'd divinity, and ſpake:
[52]
Perſiſt, ye ſons of folly; cruſh that tomb;
The laſt repoſe of yon heroic ſlain
Diſturb, therein exhibiting your doom
From mortals, and immortals. Thus your pride
By heav'n, and Grecian valour, ſhall be cruſh'd,
Your impious hoſt be ſcatter'd like that duſt
Which your barbarity profanes. Now, friends,
By your appointment I to Sparta ſail;
You under watchful diſcipline remain
Compos'd and firm; ſuch patience will ſurmount
All obſtacle, Athenians; will reſtore
In brighter glories your paternal ſeats.
This ſaid, the iſle he leaves, ſelecting none,
But Cimon for aſſociate. In the bark
Him Ariſtides placidly beſpake:
Son of Miltiades the great in arms,
Thy early youth was diſſolute; thy look
Ingenuous ſtill, and frank thy tongue, reveal'd
[53] Internal virtue; friendſhip on my part
Succeeded, thence a ſtudy to reclaim
Thy human frailties. I rejoice in hope,
Thou wilt hereafter prove an Attic ſtar,
In council wiſe, triumphant in the field,
Humane to ſtrangers, to thy country juſt,
Friend to her laws, to all her Muſes kind,
Who may record thy actions. Cimon here:
If I have virtues, they proceed from thee;
If I attain to glory, I ſhall owe
To thee my luſtre. To deſerve thy praiſe,
What have I yet accompliſh'd? I have fought
At Salamis, what more performing there
Than each Athenian? Ariſtides then:
True, all were brave; my judgment doth not reſt
On one exploit; thy modeſty o'erlooks
The ſigns of worth and talents, whence my hopes
[54] Have rank'd thee firſt of Grecians. To acquire,
To keep that ſtation, Cimon, be thy choice;
Thou haſt the means; but this impreſſion hold,
Who would excel, muſt be a moral man.
Thus they exhauſt their voyage of a day,
When at Troezenè they arrive, and find
Renown'd Cleander training for the field
His native bands. To Sparta thence they ſail.
The Ephori aſſemble, when they hear
Of Ariſtides, who an audience claims;
He comes before them, and auſterely thus:
Cecropia's race, exterminated twice,
Demand of Sparta, whether ſloth, or fear,
Or Perſian gold her buckler hath unbrac'd.
Mardonius proffer'd more than equal terms,
Not friendſhip ſingly, but enlarg'd domain
To Athens, who to eleutherian Jove,
[55] To Greece was faithful, and the lib'ral gift
Diſdain'd. Your own ambaſſador pronounc'd
Your phalanx ready; for its ſpeedy march
His head he pledg'd. Mardonius takes the field,
He lays th' Athenian territory waſte;
Where are the Spartans? Adding work to work
For their own ſep'rate ſafety at their wall,
Inglorious iſthmian wall, while half the Greeks
Become your foes, and Athens is betray'd.
Pauſanias preſent proudly thus replied:
Haſt thou not heard, the Hyacinthian rites
Employ the Spartans? ſhall the heads of Greece
Be queſtion'd, be directed when to act
By you Athenians? your inferior ſtate
May wait our leiſure. Ariſtides here:
Talk'ſt thou to me of Hyacinthian games,
While rude Barbarians riot in our fields,
[56] While Athens burns, while ſacrilege invades
Our temples, while our anceſtors we ſee
Torn from the grave? Pauſanias, thou diſgrace
To thy forefather Hercules, whoſe arm,
To friends a bulwark, was a ſcourge to foes,
What haſt thou ſaid? But, guardian to the ſon
Of that renown'd Leonidas, who fought
Beyond the iſthmus, and for Greece expir'd,
If thou retain'ſt no rev'rence for his blood,
If thou doſt ſcorn Lycurgus and his laws,
If holding liberty an empty name,
Art now in treaty with a lawleſs king,
No more of words. Athenians have their choice
To treat with Xerxes, or to diſtant climes
Expand the ſail, reſigning to their fate
Unfaithful, timid Grecians, who have loſt
All claim to ſuccour—Yet aſſume your ſwords!
My love for Greece ſolicits you in tears.
Be thou, Pauſanias, general of all;
[57] We in that noble warfare will refuſe
No hardſhip—Ev'n thy arrogant command
I like the meaneſt ſoldier will abide.
Then Aëmneſtus brief: O righteous man,
I feel thy wrongs; Laconia's ſhame I feel,
Which if delay ſtill blackens, thou ſhalt lead
Me, the due victim of Athenian wrath,
Before thoſe injur'd tribes, by me deceiv'd;
Where my own ſword ſhall ſacrifice the blood,
I pledg'd for Sparta's faith. Meantime withdraw;
I was thy gueſt in Athens, thou be mine.
Not till the day-ſpring Aëmneſtus greets
His Attic friend: Our citizens are march'd;
All night my indefatigable toil
Hath urg'd the phalanx on; the various ſtates
Within the iſthmus will obey our call;
Now ſpeed with me, o'ertake, inſpect our hoſt.
[58]
They both depart with Cimon. Sparta's camp,
Ere Phoebus couches, Ariſtides gains;
The marſhall'd pupils of Lycurgus there
He, ever true to equity, applauds,
Who their diſgraceful ſloth in council blam'd.
Subordination, ſilent order held
Each in his place; in look, as virgins, meek,
Sedate they liſten'd to their chiefs, as youth
To learning's voice in academic ſchools.
Thus in ſome fertile garden well-manur'd,
The regularity of plants and trees
Enrich'd with produce, on a ſtable root
Stands permanent, by ſkilful care diſpos'd
At firſt, and ſedulouſly wateh'd. No vaunt
Offends the ear, nor ſupercilious frown
Of confidence the eye. Th' Athenian chief
Content returns; on Salamis receiv'd,
Cecropia's bands he marſhals for the field.
[59]
The ravage ſtill of Attica detain'd
Mardonius. Thorax of Lariſſa quits
His iſthmian ſtation; rapid in his courſe
To Gobryas' ſon theſe tidings he imparts:
The iſle of Pelops muſters all her pow'rs;
The iſthmus ſwarms; forſake this rocky land
For cavalry unfit; collect thy force
To face the Grecians on Cadmēan plains.
Her ſleepy ſword at laſt has Sparta rous'd,
Replies Mardonius? On Cadmean plains
The Perſian trump ſhall ſound; Cithaeron's hill,
Aſopian banks, ſhall ſoon repeat the notes
Triumphal. Swift he ruſhes back to Thebes,
Ere Phoebus darted his ſolſtitial heat.
As ſome hot courſer, who from paſture led
Replete with food and courage, ſpurns the ground
In confidence and pride, no ſooner meets
[60] His wonted rider, than admits the rein;
Such was Mardonius, when from Theban gates
Maſiſtius thus addreſs'd him: Be inform'd,
That Macedonia's ſov'reign is arriv'd,
With his fair conſort. Her to Delphi's walls
I guarded, there deliver'd to her lord,
Who hath conducted fifty thouſand Greeks
In arms, auxiliar to thy camp. The queen,
Now at a fabric old, to Dircè built,
Cloſe by her fountain, and beſet with ſhade,
Dwells in retreat, which careful thou avoid.
But tell me, ſon of Gobryas, whither flown
Was all thy magnanimity, when flames
A ſecond time laid ſtately Athens low?
Though diſappointed, couldſt thou deem a crime
Her conſtancy, refuſing to betray
A common cauſe? Mardonius, thou doſt hope
To conquer; why a city of renown,
Which in her beauty would have grac'd our ſway,
[61] Haſt thou reduc'd to aſhes? Oh! reflect,
What fires of ſtern reſiſtance and revenge
This act hath lighted in ſuch gallant hearts.
That pow'r eternal, by the hallow'd name
Of Horomazes worſhipp'd in our clime,
Who earth and ſeas and firmament controuls,
With all therein, looks down not leſs on Greece,
Than Perſia, both his creatures. Juſt and wiſe,
Intemp'rate deeds in either he reſents.
Mardonius anſwer'd: By that pow'r I ſwear,
Thou to a Grecian almoſt art transform'd
By intercourſe with yon religious hill
Of thy admir'd Meliſſa. Do I blame?
Ah! no; too awful art thou to incur
My cenſure. O Maſiſtius, I confeſs
Thy genius purer, more ſublime, than mine;
I often err, thou never—But, dear friend,
I am dejected ever when thou chid'ſt;
[62] Yet thee, my chiding monitor, ſhould fate
Snatch from Mardonius, he would riſe no more.
I only ſeek to warn thee, not deject,
Rejoins Maſiſtius; turn to other cares;
Greece is in arms; addreſs thee to thy charge.
This ſaid, to council they in Thebes proceed.
End of the Twenty-ſecond Book.
THE ATHENAID.
BOOK the TWENTY-THIRD.
[63]THE Heliconian records now unfold,
Calliopè! harmonious thence recite
The names and numbers of the various Greeks,
Who in array on fair Boeotian plains,
With gleams of armour ſtreak the twinkling wave
Of clear Aſopus. Troezen known to fame,
Where Pittheus dwelt, whoſe blood to Athens gave
The hero Theſeus, Troezen from her walls
In circuit ſmall, from Hylycus her ſtream,
From her Scyllaean promontory high,
[64] From vine-attir'd Methenè, from the iſles,
Calauria, Neptune's ſeat, and Sphaeria dear
To Pallas, daughter of almighty Jove,
Two thouſand warriors ſends. Cleander paſs'd
The iſthmus firſt; who manly, from the bed
Of Ariphilia riſing, vow'd to deck
Her future cradle with a victor's wreath
Of laurel new. Her beauteous image grac'd
His four-fold buckler. Twice eight hundred youths
From Aeſculapian Epidaurus march'd,
From mount Cynortius, and the ſacred hill,
Titthēon, where the mother of that god
Medicinal in ſecret left her fruit
Of ſtolen enjoyment in Apollo's arms;
Where in ſerenity of ſmiles was found
The ſweet Phoebean child, while lambent flames
Play'd round his temples. Clitophon the chief,
A ſerpent green, the ſymbol of his god,
Bore on his ſilver ſhield. Four hundred left
[65] Leprēum, clear Arenè, and th' impure
Anigrian waters, where the centaur, fell
Polenor, wounded by Herculean ſhafts,
Dipp'd in the blood of Hydra, purg'd his limbs
From putrid gore, envenoming the ſtream;
Their leader Conon. Of Mycenae old,
Of Tiryns, built by fam'd Cyclopian toil,
Eight hundred ſhields Polydamas commands.
Two thouſand gallant youths, with ſtandards bleſs'd
At Hebe's altar, tutelary pow'r
Of Phlius, bold Menander led to war.
Himſelf was young; the blooming goddeſs ſhone
Bright on his buckler. Under Lycus brave
Hermionè, fair city, had enroll'd
Six hundred ſpears. The impreſs on his ſhield
Was ſtrong Alcides, dragging from the gates
Of Dis their latrant guardian triple-mouth'd
Through an abyſs in Hermionean land,
The fabled wonder of the diſtrict ſhewn.
[66] Three thouſand ſail'd from Cephallenia's iſle,
From Acarnanian, and Epirot ſhores,
With various chieftains. Of Arcadian breed
Orchomenus twelve hundred, Tegea ſent
Three thouſand. Chileus, prime in Tegea's camp,
Was ſkill'd in arms, and vaunted high the name,
The rank and proweſs of his native ſtate.
Ten thouſand helms from wealthy Corinth's walls
Blaze o'er the champaign; theſe Alcmaeon leads
With Adimantus. Neighb'ring Sicyon arm'd
Six thouſand more; amidſt whoſe ſplendid files
Automedon commanded. Lo! in air
A mighty banner! from the hollows green,
The wood-crown'd hills in Lacedaemon's rule,
Taijgetus, and Menelaian ridge,
From Crocean quarries, from Gythēum's port,
Therapnè, ſweet Amyclae on the banks
Of fam'd Eurotas, from a hundred towns,
A glitt'ring myriad of Laconians ſhew
[67] Their juſt arrangement. Aemneſtus there
Liſts his tall ſpear, and riſes o'er his ranks
In arduous plumes and ſtature. So the ſtrength
And ſtately foliage of a full-grown oak
O'erlooks the underſhades, his knotted arms
Above their tops extending. Mightier ſtill
Callicrates appears, in martial deeds
Surpaſſing ev'ry Grecian. He his fate
Foreſees not; he, capricious fortune's mark,
Muſt fall untimely, and his gen'rous blood
Unprofitably ſhed. A firmer band
Succeeds. Huge Sparta, who forever ſcorn'd
Defenſive walls and battlements, ſupplied
Five thouſand citizens cloſe-mail'd; a train
Of ſev'n bold Helots exercis'd in arms,
Attend each warrior; there Pauſanias tow'r'd.
In pride the ſon of Atreus he ſurpaſs'd
Without his virtues, a ſuperior hoſt
Commanding. Never Greece ſuch heroes ſent,
[68] Nor ſuch a pow'r in multitude to war;
For landed recent on the neighb'ring ſhore
Th' Athenian phalanx opens broad in ſight
Their eleutherian banner. They advance
Eight thouſand men at arms; an equal force
In archers, ſlingers, miſſile-weapon'd ſons
Of terror follow. Round her naval flag
Already four bold myriads from her loins
Had Attica enroll'd. What chiefs preſide!
Themiſtocles, Xanthippus in remote,
But glorious action; Ariſtides here,
Myronides and Cimon, Clinias, ſire
Of Alcibiades, the warrior bard,
Young Pericles, and more than time hath ſeen
Since or before, in arts and arms renown'd.
The ancient foe of Athens, yet averſe
Like her to Xerxes, Megara enroll'd
Six thouſand warriors. From Aegina ſail'd
[69] A thouſand. Twice ſix hundred, Phoenix-like,
Sprung from the aſhes of Plataea burnt,
With Arimneſtus march'd, th' intrepid friend
Of him, whoſe deeds Thermopylae reſounds,
Diomedon. From Theſpia, who had ſhar'd
Plataea's doom, two thouſand came unarm'd,
Unclad, a want by Attic ſtores ſupplied.
Alcimedon was chief, of kindred blood
To Dithyrambus; whom, his early bloom
For Greece devoting, on Meliſſa's hill
The Muſes ſing and weep. Between the roots
Of tall Cithaeron, and th' Aſopian floods,
The army rang'd. The Spartans on the right
One wing compos'd; the men of Tegea claim'd
The left in pref'rence to th' Athenian hoſt.
Contention roſe; Pauſanias ſat the judge,
Callicrates and Aemneſtus wiſe,
His two aſſeſſors; thick Laconian ranks
A circle form; when Chileus thus aſſerts
[70] The claim of Tegea: Spartans, from the time,
The early time, that Echemus, our king,
In ſingle combat on the liſted field
O'erthrew the invader Hyllus, and preſerv'd
Unſpoil'd the land of Pelops, we obtain'd
From all her ſons unanimous this poſt,
Whene'er united in a common cauſe
They march'd to battle. Not with you we ſtrive,
Ye men of Sparta, at your choice command
In either wing; the other we reclaim
From Athens; brave and proſp'rous we have join'd
Our banners oft with yours; our deeds you know;
To ours ſuperior what can Athens plead
Of recent date, or ancient? for what cauſe
Should we our juſt prerogative reſign?
Then Ariſtides ſpake: Collected here
Are half the Grecians to contend in arms
With Barbarous invaders, not in words
[71] Each with the other for precedence vain.
From his own volume let the tongue of time,
Not mine, proclaim my countrymen's exploits
In early ages. In his courſe he views
The varying face of nature, ſea to land,
Land turn'd to ſea, proud cities ſink in duſt,
The low exalted, men and manners change,
From fathers brave degen'rate ſons proceed,
And virtuous children from ignoble ſires.
What we are now, you, Grecians, muſt decide
At this important criſis. Judges, fix
On Marathon your thoughts, that recent ſtage
Of preſervation to the public weal,
Where fifty nations, arm'd to conquer Greece,
We unaſſiſted foil'd; more freſh, the day
Of Salamis recall. Enough of words;
No more contention for the name of rank;
The braveſt ſtand the foremoſt in the ſight
Of gods and mortals. As to you is meet,
[72] Determine, Spartans; at your will arrange
Th' Athenians; they acknowledge you the chiefs
Of this great league, for gen'ral ſafety fram'd,
Wherever plac'd, obedient they will fight.
The ſenſe of all his countrymen he breath'd,
Who for the public welfare in this hour
Their all relinquiſh, and their very pride
A victim yield to virtue. From his ſeat,
Inſpir'd by juſtice, Aemneſtus roſe:
Brave as they are, our friends of Tegea ſeem
To have forgot the Marathonian field,
The Salaminian trophies; elſe this ſtrife
Had ne'er alarm'd the congregated hoſt
Of ſtates ſo various and remote. As brief
Callicrates ſubjoins: Not leſs our friends
Of Tegea ſeem forgetful, that their claim
[73] Within the iſthmus is confin'd, the gift
Of part, not binding univerſal Greece.
Athenian moderation had before
Won ev'ry Spartan; loud they ſound the name
Of Athens, Athens, whoſe pretenſion juſt
The general confirms, reſtoring peace.
So in a chorus full the manly baſs
Directs the pow'r of harmony to float
On equal pinions, and attune the air.
Now Sparta's wide encampment on the right
Was form'd; ſedate and ſilent was the toil,
As is the concourſe of induſtrious ants,
In mute attention to their public cares.
Extending thence, ſucceſſive ſtates erect
Their ſtandards. On the left their num'rous tents
Th' Athenians pitch. In labour not unlike
The buzzing tenants of ſonorous hives,
[74] Loquacious they and lively cheer the field,
Yet regularly heed each ſignal giv'n
By ſtaid commanders. Underneath a fringe
Of wood, projecting from Cithaeron's ſide,
Aſcends the chief pavilion. Seated there
Is Ariſtides at a frugal board,
An aged menial his attendant ſole;
But from the tribes ſelected, round him watch
An hundred youths, whoſe captain is the ſon
Of fam'd Miltiades. The neighb'ring bed
Of pure Aſopus, from Cithaeron's founts,
Refreſhment inexhauſtible contain'd.
His arms th' Athenian patriot in his tent
Was now exploring, when he hears the ſtep
Of Aemneſtus ent'ring, who began:
Moſt wiſe of men and righteous, whom all Greece,
Not Athens ſingly, as her glory claims,
Grant me an hour. Laconian laws, thou know'ſt,
[75] Subordination to exceſs enjoin.
I am obedient to the man, who holds
Supreme command by office, rank, and birth,
While thee my heart confeſſes and admits
My ſole adviſer. Haughty and moroſe,
O'er uncommunicated thoughts will brood
Our dark Pauſanias; I may often want
Thy counſel; now inſtruct me. Is it meet,
We croſs th' Aſopus to aſſail the foe,
Or wait his coming? Let him come, replies
The Attic ſage; let bold invaders court
A battle, not th' invaded, who muſt watch
Occaſion's favour. Preſent in thy mind
Retain, that Greece is center'd in this hoſt,
Which if we hazard lightly were a crime,
Th' offended gods with fetters would chaſtiſe:
Our Attic flame to ſudden onſet points,
By me diſcourag'd. Aemneſtus then:
[76]
Know, that with me Callicrates unites;
Farewell; thy wiſdom ſhall direct us both.
The ſun was ſet; th' unnumber'd eyes of heav'n
Thin clouds envelop'd; duſky was the veil
Of night, not ſable; placid was the air;
The low-ton'd current of Aſopus held
No other motion than his native flow,
Alluring Ariſtides in a walk
Contemplative to pace the ſtable verge
Attir'd in moſs. The hoſtile camp he views,
Which by Maſiſtian vigilance and art
With walls of wood and turrets was ſecur'd.
For this the groves of Jupiter ſupreme
On Hypatus were ſpoil'd, Teumeſſian brows,
Meſabius, Parnes, were uncover'd all.
Square was th' incloſure, ev'ry face emblaz'd
With order'd lights. Each elevated tent
Of princely ſatraps, and, ſurmounting all,
[77] Mardonius, thine, from coronets of lamps
Shot luſtre, ſoft'ning on the diſtant edge
Of wide Plataean fields. A din confus'd
Proclaim'd Barbarians; ſilent was the camp
Of Greece. Theſe thoughts the ſpectacle excites
In Ariſtides: Slender is thy bound,
Aſopus, long to ſeparate ſuch hoſts,
Or keep thy ſilver wave from blood unſtain'd.
Lord of Olympus! didſt thou want the pow'r,
Or, boundleſs pow'r poſſeſſing, want the will
Thy own created ſyſtem to ſecure
From ſuch deſtruction? Wherefore on this plain
Is Europe thus, and adverſe Aſia met
For human carnage? Natural this ſearch,
Yet but a waſte of reaſon. Let me ſhun
Unprofitable wand'rings o'er the land
Obſcure of trackleſs myſtery; to ſee
The path of virtue open is enough.
Whate'er the cauſe of evil, he, who knows
[78] Himſelf not partner in that cauſe, attains
Enough of knowledge; all the reſt is dream
Of falſely-ſtyl'd philoſophy. My taſk
Is to deſtroy the enemies of Greece;
Be active there, my faculties, and loſe
Nor time, nor thought. Reviſiting his tent,
Sicinus call'd apart he thus inſtructs:
Return, diſcreet and faithful, to the ſon
Of Neocles; thy own obſerving eye
Will prompt thy tongue; this notice ſole I ſend.
We will not hurry to a gen'ral fight.
Bleſs in my name Timothea; bleſs her ſons,
Her daughters; nor, good man, o'erlook my own.
Six monthly periods of the ſolar courſe
Were now complete; intenſe the ſummer glow'd.
The patient Greeks for eight ſucceſſive days
Endure the inſults of Barbarian horſe
[79] Behind their lines; when eager to his friend
The Perſian gen'ral: Beſt belov'd of men,
Impart thy counſel. Lo! this vaunted race
Lurk in their trenches, and avoid the plain.
To him Maſiſtius: I have mark'd a poſt
Acceſſible and feeble in their line.
To me thy choiceſt cavalry commit,
I at the hazard of my life will gall,
Perhaps may force that quarter. Ah! my friend,
Mardonius anſwer'd, ſhall thy precious life
Be hazarded? let others take the charge,
Briareus, Midias, Tiridates brave,
Or Mindarus; a thouſand leaders bold
This hoſt affords. Maſiſtius, in the gloom
Of midnight from my pillow I diſcern'd
Thy gracious figure on a ſteed of fire;
Who bore thee up to heav'n, where ſudden folds
Of radiant vapour wrapp'd thee from my view.
[80] At once throughout th' innumerable tents
Their hue was chang'd to black; Boeotia's hills
And caves with ejulation from the camp
Rebellow'd round; the camels, horſes, mules,
Diſſolv'd in tears. Let Mithra's angry beam
Pierce this right arm, annihilate my ſtrength,
And melt my courage! I will reſt content
To purchaſe thus the ſafety of my friend.
Maſiſtius anſwer'd: Son of Gobryas, learn,
That he, who makes familiar to his mind
The certainty of death, and nobly dares
In virtue's clear purſuit, may look ſerene
On boding dreams, and auguries averſe.
No ſign, but honour, he requires; he wants
No monitor, but duty. An attempt,
My obſervation hath maturely weigh'd,
Belongs to me; to others leſs inform'd
I will not leave the danger. Quick replies
[81] Diſturb'd Mardonius, while at friendſhip's warmth
Ambition melts, and honour fills his breaſt:
O! worthier far than frail Mardonius, take
O'er all the hoſt of Xerxes chief command;
Me from temptation, him from danger guard.
Again Maſiſtius: Son of Gobryas, peace;
My ear is wounded. Ever doſt thou ſink
Below the level of thy worth with me,
With others ſoar'ſt too high. What means the word
Temptation? what this danger to the king?
O ſatrap! liſted by his grace ſo high,
Thou haſt o'erwhelm'd Maſiſtius. May the God
Of truth and juſtice ſtrengthen in thy ſoul
The light ingenuous, which ſo much reveals;
That ſenſe of duty may ſuppreſs a thought,
I dare not clothe in language. Still in mind
[82] The parting words of Artemiſia bear,
Which in its blameleſs moments oft thy tongue
Repeats with admiration. "Look," ſhe ſaid,
"Look only, where no myſtery can lurk,
"On ev'ry manly duty. Nothing dark
"O'erſhades the track of virtue; plain her path;
"But ſuperſtition, choſen for a guide,
"Miſleads the beſt and wiſeſt." Let me add,
Worſe is the guide ambition, which miſleads
To more than error, to atrocious acts.
I ſhall deſpair, Maſiſtius, if thou fall'ſt,
Rejoins Mardonius. Muſt Maſiſtius then
Conſort with women, ſhut from noble deeds,
Subjoins the virtuous Perſian? Can thy hand,
Thy friendly hand, now rivetted in mine,
Of my degree, and dignity of birth
Deprive me, or obliterate the name
[83] With all its luſtre, which my fathers left
Me to uphold? Or wouldſt thou, if impow'r'd,
Taint my firm ſpirit with an eunuch's fear,
Among their feeble train my rank confine,
My ſtrength unnerve, my fortitude debaſe?
While theſe ſubſiſt with titles, wealth and ſtate,
While, as I paſs, the crouding myriads ſhout,
Here comes Maſiſtius; what is leſs requir'd
From him, than deeds to manifeſt a ſoul,
Which merits ſuch diſtinction? We again
This day will meet, Mardonius—but as none
Of human texture can the flight foreſee
Of that inevitable dart, which ſoon,
Or late will ſtrike, I leave theſe words behind.
If, blinded ſtill by ſuperſtition's cloud,
Thou wilt believe me in this hour the mark
Of fate, retain them, as my dying words:
Ambition curb; let virtue be thy pride.
[84]
They ſeparated ſad; Mardonius ſtill
Foreboding evil to his noble friend,
He at the frailty of Mardonius griev'd.
Maſiſtius, ſoon collecting round his tent
The prime of Perſian cavalry, beſpake
Their captains thus: Your ſteeds and arms prepare;
String well your bows, your quivers ſtore with ſhafts;
With num'rous javelins each his courſer load.
I am this day your gen'ral; I rely
On your known proweſs; and I truſt, the hand
Of Horomazes will conduct you back
Victorious; but remember, that the brave
In life, or death, accompliſhing their part,
Are happy. All, rejoicing in a chief
Belov'd, his orders ſedulous fulfil.
In arms, more ſplendid than for Peleus' ſon
Th' immortal artiſt forg'd, Maſiſtius cas'd
[85] His limbs of beauteous frame, and manly grace,
To match that hero, whom Scamander ſaw
With Dardan blood imbru'd. In hue of ſnow
His horſe, of all Niſaea's breed the choice,
Capariſon'd in rubies, champs the gold,
Which rules his mouth; his animated mane
Floats o'er the bridle, form'd of golden braid.
His page was nigh, that youth of eaſtern race,
Whom for his merit pure Meliſſa gave
To this benignant ſatrap. To aſcend
His gorgeous ſeat preparing, thus the chief:
If I return a conqueror this day,
To that excelling dame who made thee mine,
Who hath enlarg'd whate'er of wiſe and great,
Of juſt and temp'rate I to nature owe,
Refin'd my manners, and my pureſt thoughts
Exalted, I my friendſhip will prolong
[86] In gratitude and rev'rence; bleſſing heav'n,
Which thus prefers Maſiſtius to extend
Benevolence to virtue. If I fall,
Reſume with her the happieſt lot my care
Can recommend, Statirus. Though no Greek,
Her pupil, ſay, in offices humane
Hath not been tardy; by her light inſpir'd,
He went more perfect to a noble grave.
End of the Twenty-third Book.
THE ATHENAID.
BOOK the TWENTY-FOURTH.
[87]WHILE thus Mafiſtius for the field prepar'd,
At ſacrifice amidſt the diff'rent chiefs
Pauſanias ſtood, the entrails to conſult
For heav'n's direction. Like a god rever'd
Among the Spartans, was an augur fam'd,
Tiſamenus. The Pythian had declar'd
Him firſt of prophets; he the rites performs;
The victim open'd he inſpects, and thus
In ſolemn tone: Hear, Grecians, and obey
The will of Jove. To paſs th' Aſopian flood
[88] Forbear. With Perſian fetters in her hand
Ill fortune ſeated on that bank I ſee,
On this the laurel'd figure of ſucceſs.
The augur ceas'd; when ſuddenly in view
Th' Aſopian current, overſwelling, foams
With eaſtern ſquadrons, wading through the fords.
Bounds in the van Maſiſtius on a ſteed,
Whoſe gliſt'ning hue the brighteſt of the four
Which drew th' irradiate axle of the morn
Might ſcarce outſhine. Erect the hero ſat,
Firm as the ſon of Danaë by Jove,
When his ſtrong pinion'd Pegaſus he wheel'd
Through Aethiopian air from death to guard
Andromeda his love. In rapid haſte
A herald greets Pauſanias: From the men
Of Megara I come. A poſt advanc'd,
The moſt obnoxious in the Grecian line
To haraſſing aſſaults, their daily toil
[89] With unabating firmneſs long has held.
Unwonted numbers of Barbarian horſe
Now ſweep the field; a reinforcement ſend,
Her ſtandard elſe will Megara withdraw.
Pauſanias then, alike to try the Greeks,
And ſave his Spartans, anſwer'd: Chiefs, you hear;
Who will be foremoſt to ſuſtain our friends?
Through fear the dang'rous ſervice is declin'd
By many. Indignation to behold
No Spartans offer'd, but the arduous taſk
Impos'd on others, held Cleander mute;
When Ariſtides: Herald, ſwift return,
Athenian aid might elſe prevent thy ſpeed.
The patriot ſpake, and left the Greeks amaz'd,
Well knowing Athens with abhorrence look'd
[90] On Megara, her envious, ranc'rous foe
Of ancient date, whom now ſhe flies to aid.
Meantime that feebleſt ſtation of the camp
Th' impetuous Aſian cavalry ſurround.
As clouds, impregnated with hail, diſcharge
Their ſtormy burden on a champaign rich
In ripen'd grain, and lay the crackling rows
Of Ceres proſtrate; under ſheets of darts,
With arrows barb'd and javelins, thus whole ranks
Of Megara, by wounds or death o'erthrown,
Gaſp on the ground. Alcathöus expires,
The blood of Niſus, Megatenſian prince
In times remote, and fabled to have held
His fate dependent on a purple hair
Amidſt his hoary locks. That vital thread
His impious daughter ſever'd, blind with love
For Minos, Cretan king, her father's foe.
Maſiſtius pierc'd him; javelins from his arm
[91] Inceſſant flew; on heaps of nameleſs dead
He laid Evenus, Lyſicles, the youth
Of Cypariſſus, and Cratander's age,
Diſtinguiſh'd each by office, wealth, or birth,
Or martial actions. Beaſts of chace and prey,
The wolf and boar, the lion and the ſtag,
Within cloſe toils impriſon'd, thus become
The hunter's mark. The ſignal of retreat
Is now uplifted by the hopeleſs chiefs;
When, as a friendly gale with ſtiff'ning wings
Repels a veſſel, driving by the force
Of boiſt'rous currents in a fatal track
To bulge on rocks, a voluntary band
Of men at arms, and bowmen, Attic all,
Reſtrain the flight of Megara. Expert
Their ſhafts they level at the Perſian ſteeds,
Not at the riders. Soon around the plain
Th' ungovern'd animals diſperſe, enrag'd
By galling wounds. Olympiodorus, chief
[92] Among the light auxiliars, on the liſts
Of Piſa juſt Hellanodics had crown'd,
The firſt of Greeks in archery. He ſtands
Like Telamonian Teucer on the mound
Of Atreus' ſon, where fate's unerring hand
Had ſtrung the bow which heap'd with Phrygian dead
Th' empurpled foſſe, while Ajax ſwung abroad
The ſev'n-fold ſhield to guard a brother's ſkill.
Still in the field Maſiſtius, who obſerv'd
The active archer, from his lofty ſeat
Againſt him whirls a javelin. Cimon near
Receives the blunted weapon on the boſs
Of his huge buckler. His vindictive bow
Olympiodorus bends; the rapid ſhaft
Full in the forehead of the gen'rous ſteed
He lodges deep. The high Niſaean blood
Boils in its channels through tormenting pain;
Erect the courſer paws in air, and hurls
[93] In writhing agitation from his back
Th' illuſtrious rider on the plain ſupine.
Againſt him ruſh th' Athenians; on his feet
They find him brandiſhing his ſabre keen,
With his firm ſhield a bulwark to his breaſt,
Like one of thoſe earth-ſprung in radiant arms,
Whom the Cadmēan dragon's fruitful jaws
Or Colchian ſerpent's teeth produc'd. Aſſail'd
On ev'ry ſide, his fortitude augments
With danger. Down to Pluto's realm he ſends
Iphicrates and Eurytus, who drank
Callirrhoe's fountain; Amynander born
On ſmooth Iliſſus, and three gallant youths
Of Marathon. His cuiraſs ſtrong withſtands
Repeated blows; unwounded, but o'ercome
By unremitted labour, on his knees,
Like ſome proud ſtructure half o'erthrown by time,
He ſinks at laſt. Brave Cimon haſtes to ſave
A foe ſo noble in his deeds, in port
[94] Beyond a mortal; when a vulgar ſword
That moment through the vizor of his helm
Transfix'd the brain, ſo exquiſitely form'd,
The ſeat of pureſt ſentiment and thought.
His frame, in ruin beauteous ſtill and great,
The fatal ſtroke laid low. An earthquake thus
Shook from his baſe that wonder of the world,
The Coloſſean deity of Rhodes.
Of danger all unheeding, by his lord
Statirus kneel'd, and o'er his boſom ſpread
His palms in anguiſh. Timely to protect
The gentle youth ingenuous Cimon came,
While thus the gaſping ſatrap breath'd his laſt:
Farewell, thou faithful—Bid Mardonius think
How brief are life's enjoyments—Virtue lives
Through all eternity—By virtue earn'd,
Praiſe too is long—Meliſſa—grant me thine.
[95]
In death, reſembling ſweeteſt ſleep, his eyes
Serenely drop their curtains, and the ſoul
Flies to th' eternal manſions of the juſt.
Within the trenches Cimon ſtraight commands
To lodge the corſe; when lo! another cloud
Of Eaſtern ſquadrons, Mindarus their chief,
Who, o'er the ſtream detach'd with numbers new,
Not finding great Maſiſtius, rous'd afreſh
The ſtorm of onſet. Dreadful was the ſhock
Of theſe, attempting to redeem, of thoſe,
Who held the body; but the Attic ſpears
Break in the cheſts of fiery ſteeds, which preſs
With violence unyielding, and the ranks
In front diſarm. The archers have diſcharg'd
Their quivers. Now had Mindarus acquir'd
Undying glory, and the Greeks reſign'd
The long-conteſted prize, when threat'ning ſhouts,
Of diff'rent Grecians, pouring from the camp,
Alarm the eaſtern chief. Cleander here
[96] With all Troezenè, Arimneſtus there,
Diomedon's bold ſucceſſor in arms,
With his Plataeans, and the Theſpian brave,
Alcimedon, aſſail the Perſian flanks.
So two hoarſe torrents oppoſite deſcend
From hills, where recent thunder-ſtorms have burſt;
In the mid-vale the daſhing waters meet
To overwhelm the peaſant's hopes and toil.
Myronides and Aeſchylus in ſight,
Each with his formidable phalanx moves;
Th' encampment whole is arming. From the fight
His mangled cavalry the Perſian calls.
In eager queſt of refuge in their lines
Beyond Aſopus, through ſurrounding foes
The courſers vault like ſwimmers, who forſake
A found'ring veſſel, and with buoyant ſtrength
Bound through the ſurge for ſafety on the beach.
Triumphant in their camp the Greeks replace
Their ſtandards; thither Cimon's gen'rous care
[97] Tranſports Maſiſtius. Eager to behold
A prize ſo noble, curious throngs on throngs
Preſs in diſorder; each his ſtation leaves;
Confuſion reigns. The gen'ral hoſt to arms
Pauſanias ſternly vigilant commands,
And next provides a chariot to diſplay,
Throughout th' extenſive lines, th' illuſtrious dead,
In magnitude and beauty late the pride
Of nature's ſtudy'd workmanſhip. His limbs
The hand of Cimon tenderly compos'd,
As would a brother to a brother's corſe.
Maſiſtius fill'd the chariot; on his knees
Statirus held, and water'd with his tears
The face majeſtic, not by death deform'd,
Pale, but with features mild, which ſtill retain'd
Attractive ſweetneſs to endear the ſight.
Firſt on the right through Lacedaemon's range
The ſpectacle is carried; ſilence there
[98] Prevails; the Spartan citizen no ſign
Of triumph ſhews, ſubordinate to law,
Which diſciplin'd his paſſions. Tow'rds the left,
Through exultation loud of other Greeks,
The awful car at length to Attic ranks
Brings their own prize, by Ariſtides met;
There ſilence too, in rev'rence of their chief,
Is univerſal. He prepares to ſpeak;
But firſt the mighty reliques he ſurveys.
He feels like Jove, contemplating the pure,
The gen'rous, brave Sarpedon, as he lay
In death's cold arms, when ſwift th' almighty ſire
Decreed that Morpheus, gentleſt of the gods,
Should waft to Lycia's realm the royal clay,
From pious friends and ſubjects to obtain
The rites of ſplendid ſepulture. Complete
Was now the ſolemn pauſe; to liſt'ning ears
Thus Ariſtides vents his godlike ſoul:
[99]
Here cloſe your triumph, Grecians, nor provoke
The jealous pow'rs who mark for choſen wrath
O'er-weening pride. Though auguring ſucceſs
From this great ſatrap's fall, revere his clay;
Such rev'rence all of mortal mold will need,
All ſoon, or late. If comelineſs and ſtrength,
If gracious manners, and a mind humane,
If worth and wiſdom could avoid the grave,
You had not ſeen this tow'r of Aſia fall.
Yet there is left attainable by man,
What may ſurvive the grave; it is the fame
Of gen'rous actions; this do you attain.
I in Pſittalia's iſle this Perſian knew
Brave Medon's prize; his captive hands we freed;
To him our hoſpitable faith we pledg'd,
Through whom Phoebean Timon was redeem'd,
With Haliartus, on Euboea's fields
To ſignalize their ſwords. On Oeta's hill
In him the daughter of Oïleus found
[100] A ſpotleſs guardian. Let his corſe and arms,
Thy acquiſition, Cimon, be reſign'd
To piety; a herald ſhall attend
Thy ſteps; remove him to his native friends.
Let Xerxes hear, let fierce Mardonius ſee,
How much Barbarians differ from the Greeks.
Minerva's tribes, approving, hear the words
Of clemency and pity. Cimon mounts
The fun'ral car; attentive and compos'd
Like Maia's ſon, commiſſion'd from the ſkies
By his eternal ſire, the warrior hears
The full inſtructions of his patron chief.
Th' Aſopian ſtream he fords to Aſia's tents,
Whence iſſue wailing multitudes, who rend
The air with ejulation, while the wheels
Before Mardonius ſtop their ſolemn roll.
He rives his mantle, and defiles with duſt
His ſplendid head. Not more the deſtin'd king
[101] Of Judah mourn'd the virtuous heir of Saul,
Mow'd down in battle by Philiſtian ſtrength
On Gilboa's heights; nor melted more in grief
O'er Abſalom's fair locks, too much endear'd
To blind parental fondneſs. From the car
Deſcending, Cimon ſpake: Lo! Perſian chief,
The juſt Athenian, Ariſtides, ſends
Theſe reliques, which he honours, to partake
Of ſepulture, as eaſtern rites ordain.
Then art thou fall'n, too confident, exclaims
Mardonius, too unmindful of my love,
And anxious warnings! Mithra, veil thy face
In clouds! In tears of blood, thou ſky, diſſolve!
Earth groan, and gen'ral nature join in woe!
The talleſt cedar of the orient groves
Lies proſtrate—Deſtiny malign! I brave
Thy further malice—Blaſted to the root
Is all my joy. Here ſorrow clos'd his lips.
[102] As frozen dead by wintry guſts he ſtood,
Devoid of motion; Mindarus was nigh,
Whoſe interpoſing prudence thus was heard:
O chief of nations numberleſs! who ſtand
Spectators round, and watch thy lighteſt look,
Confine thy anguiſh; in their ſight revere
Thyſelf; regard this meſſenger benign
From Ariſtides, and thy native ſenſe
Of obligation rouſe. Mardonius then,
As from a trance: I hear thee, and approve,
My gentle kinſman. This returning car,
With pureſt gold, and coſtly veſture pil'd,
Shall bear the copious tribute of my thanks
To Ariſtides; whom extoll'd to heav'n
By excellent Maſiſtius oft my ſoul
Hath heard, the righteous by the righteous prais'd.
Now Cimon interpos'd: That man extoll'd
Thou doſt not, Perſian, lib'ral as thou art,
[103] Mean to offend; thy preſents then with-hold.
In poverty more glorious, than in wealth
The wealthieſt, Ariſtides frowns at gold.
No coſtly veſtures decorate his frame,
Itſelf divine; the very arms he wears,
The ſole poſſeſſion of that ſpotleſs man,
All ornament reject; he only boaſts
The ſharpeſt ſword, the weightieſt ſpear and ſhield.
Ha! muſt I paſs unthankful in the ſight
Of one, Maſiſtius lov'd, the chief reply'd?
No, anſwer'd quick th' Athenian; from his croſs
Take down Leonidas. A ſtedfaſt look
Mardonius fix'd on Cimon: That requeſt,
O Greek! is big with danger to my head,
Which I will hazard, ſince the only price
Set on the precious reliques thou reſtor'ſt.
[104]
This ſaid, he orders to his tent the corſe;
There on the clay-cold boſom of his friend
Thus plaintive hangs: Fall'n pillar of my hopes,
What is Mardonius, wanting thy ſupport!
Thou arm of ſtrength, for ever are unbrac'd
Thy nerves! Enlighten'd mind, where prudence dwelt,
Heart purify'd by honour, you have left
Mardonius helpleſs; left him to himſelf,
To his own paſſions, which thy counſel tam'd!
The dang'rous paths of error I ſhall tread
Without thy guidance! Shame, defeat and death,
Frown in thy wounds ill-boding—yet thy look
Not fate itſelf of gentleneſs deprives.
By heaven a world ſhall mourn thee—Loud he calls;
Which Mindarus obeys. To him the chief:
Thou too didſt love Maſiſtius—Fly, proclaim
A gen'ral lamentation through the camp;
[105] Let all Boeotia ſound Maſiſtius loſt.
O verify'd too clearly, boding dream
Of mine, by him ſo fatally deſpis'd!
See ev'ry head diſmantled of its hair,
The ſoldiers, women, eunuchs; of his mane
See ev'ry ſteed, the mule and camel ſhorn.
O that the echo of our grief might paſs
The Helleſpont to Aſia! that her loſs
Through all her cities, through her vales, and ſtreams,
Beyond the banks of Ganges might be told!
As Mindarus departs, the Theban chief
Approaches, Leontiades, who ſpake:
If there be one, O gen'ral, can replace
Maſiſtius wiſe, that prodigy is found,
Elēan Hegeſiſtratus, of ſeers
The moſt renown'd. His penetrating mind
Can from the victim ſlain, or myſtic flight
[106] Of birds, foreſee the dark events of time;
Invet'rate foe to Sparta, ſore with wrongs,
He comes thy ſervant. Opportune he comes,
Replies Mardonius. In the rites of Greece
Ten hecatombs, before the ſun deſcends,
Shall to Maſiſtius bleed an off'ring high.
I will engage this augur at a price
Beyond his wiſhes; let his ſkill decide,
When to give battle, and avenge my friend.
Collect your Grecian artiſts; inſtant build
A cenotaph in your Dircaean grove,
Where that pure fountain trills a mournful note.
There ſhall Maſiſtius in his name ſurvive
Among the Greeks; his laſt remains, embalm'd,
Among his fathers ſhall in Suſa reſt.
The Theban goes. Statirus next appears;
Th' afflicted hero greets the weeping youth:
[107]
Ah! poor Statirus! thou haſt loſt thy lord,
I loſt my friend, her bulwark Aſia loſt.
The ſacred clay to Artamanes bear,
Left in Trachiniae chief. His pious love
(Who did not love Maſiſtius) will convey
To diſtant Seſtos his embalm'd remains,
Thence o'er the narrow Helleſpont, to reach
His native Aſia, and his father's tomb.
How did he fall, Statirus? Did he ſend
To me no counſel from his dying lips?
Theſe, in a ſigh the faithful page began,
Were his laſt accents. "Let Mardonius think
"How brief are life's enjoyments. Virtue lives
"Through all eternity. By virtue earn'd
"Praiſe too is long—Meliſſa, grant me thine".
Commend me to Meliſſa, ſtarting, ſpake
The ſon of Gobryas. From the ſhameful croſs
[108] Bid Artamanes in her preſence free
Leonidas the Spartan. Now perform
Another act of duty to thy lord;
Deſpoil my head of all its curling pride;
Slight ſacrifice to grief—but ev'ry limb,
Lopt from this body, and its mangled fleſh
Shall in the duſt be ſcatter'd, ere I quit
My chace of great revenge. Concluding here,
He ſtrides impetuous like a ſtately ram,
Lord of the flock new-ſhorn. His giant guard
Incloſe him round; th' innumerable hoſt
Attend him, all diveſted of their hair,
In howling anguiſh to an altar huge,
By haſty hands conſtructed. Deep the earth
Around is hollow'd, deep is drench'd with blood.
Ten hundred ſable victims heap the ground.
Now gen'ral ſilence reigns, as o'er the main
In winter, when Halcyonè laments
[109] Her Ceyx loſt, and Aeolus, her ſire;
By pity ſoften'd, all the air is calm,
While ſhe ſits brooding on her watry neſt.
Amidſt a cloud of frankincenſe the prieſt
Of Elis, Hegeſiſtratus, performs
The rites of divination; awful thus
At length unfolds the myſteries of time:
Hear, all ye nations; great Mardonius, hear;
Th' Aſopïan channel is the line of fate;
The hoſt, which paſſes, falls; ſucceſs will crown
Th' aſſail'd; th' aſſailant is to ſlaughter doom'd.
The multitude, diſcourag'd by the death
Of their belov'd Maſiſtius, hear in joy;
Not ſo Mardonius at revenge delay'd.
Inaction aggravates his pain; his tent
Receives him. Solitary there, like night
Within her cavern, thus he feeds his grief:
[110]
"Ambition curb; let virtue be thy pride."
So ſpake Maſiſtius, when we parted laſt
To meet no more—I feel ambition cold,
Benumb'd by ſorrow—"Let Mardonius think,
"How brief are life's enjoyments;" ſo thy fate,
Dear friend, evinces—Life itſelf is ſhort;
Its joys are ſhorter; yet the ſcanty ſpan
Adverſity can lengthen, till we loathe.
If, on the brilliant throne of Xerxes plac'd,
I held the orient and Heſperian worlds
My vaſſals, could the millions in my hoſt
Compel the adamantine gate of death
To render back my friend? O tortur'd heart!
Which burn'ſt with friendſhip, of thy gen'rous flame
Th' ineſtimable object is no more.
What then is greatneſs? What th' imperial robe,
The diadem and ſcepter? Could you fill
The void, his endleſs abſence hath produc'd
In my ſad boſom? Were ye mine how vain
[111] The acquiſition, which my grief would loathe,
And, wak'd by grief, let honour timely ſhun,
Leſt from his grave Maſiſtius ſhould ariſe
To ſhake my pillow with his nightly curſe.
Not hecatombs on hecatombs of bulls
Heap'd on his manes, not the votive hair,
Nor fun'ral moan of nations could avail
To moderate his ire; nor all the pow'r
Of empires join'd to empires guard my ſleep.
At length he ſinks in ſlumber, not compos'd,
But wanders reſtleſs through the wild of dreams.
End of the Twenty-fourth Book.
THE ATHENAID.
BOOK the TWENTY-FIFTH.
[112]ERE thus each augur in the diff'rent camps
Unmann'd the ſoldier by religious dread,
Euboea's coaſt Sicinus had regain'd.
That peopled iſland's force of ſhips and arms
Themiſtocles had muſter'd. Oreus held
The ready chief, expecting weighty news
From Ariſtides, which Sicinus ſwift
Imparts. To him Themiſtocles: My friend,
I aſk no more; the aſſembled hoſt of Greece
Hath fix'd Mardonius on th' Aſopian verge;
[113] A haſty conflict Ariſtides ſhuns;
Then ſhall the blow, I meditate, be ſtruck,
Ere thy reverted paſſage can tranſmit
To him my greetings. Stay and ſee my oars
For infamous Theſſalia daſh the waves;
Her Aleuadian race of tyrants foul,
Friends to Barbarians, traitors to the Greeks,
Shall feel my ſcourge. Her plenty I will bar
Againſt Mardonius; famine ſhall invade
His tents, and force him to unequal fight.
He gives command; the ſignal is uprear'd
For embarkation. All Euboea pours
Her ſons aboard, and loads the groaning decks.
From his Cleora Hyacinthus parts,
Brave Haliartus from his new-eſpous'd
Acanthè. Lo! each female ſeeks the beach,
Spectatreſs eager of th' alluring man,
Whoſe artful eye could ſummon ev'ry grace
[114] To faſcinate both ſexes, and his wiles
Arm with enchantment. Beauteous and auguſt
Like Cybelè, prime goddeſs, turret-crown'd,
Source of th' ethereal race, his conſort lifts
Above the reſt her countenance ſublime.
By her own offspring, and the pledges dear
Of Ariſtides, which her hand receiv'd
At Salamis, and cheriſh'd like her own,
She ſtands encircled, her embarking lord
Accoſting thus: Unfavourable winds,
Or fortune's frown I fear not. All the gods
Of earth and ocean, who delighted view
The virtuous brave, contending for their laws
With lawleſs tyrants, will combine to bleſs
Themiſtocles and Ariſtides link'd
In harmony of counſels. See, dear lord,
His and thy children interweave their hands;
Thy ſure ſucceſs I augur from their ſmiles.
[115]
I from Timothea's, gallantly replies
The parting chief. This union is thy work;
Thine be the praiſe from thankful Greece preſerv'd.
He ſaid, and lightly to his veſſel paſs'd;
While ev'ry ſail was op'ning to the wind.
Euboea, where ſhe fronts the Malian ſhore,
Beneath a promontory's quiet lee
Protects the fleet benighted. Here the ſon
Of Neocles aboard his galley calls
His pupil Hyacinthus, whom he thus
Inſtructs: Young hero, ſince Cleora's love
Could not detain thee from the liſts of fame,
Fame thou ſhalt win. Theſſalia's neareſt bounds
I from Spercheos in Trachiniae's bay
Mean to invade. Nicanor and thyſelf
With your Caryſtian force, Nearchus brave
With his Chalcidians, muſt a diſtant courſe
[116] To Potidaea take, whoſe valiant race
The winter ſiege of great Maſiſtius foil'd.
Forewarn'd by due intelligence from me,
They will augment your numbers. Through the mouth
Of fam'd Enipeus Potidaean zeal
Will guide your helms to rich Lariſſa's walls,
Theſſalia's helpleſs capital, whoſe youth
Attend Mardonius. Land, and burn th' abode
Of Aleuadian Thorax, who conducts
The foe through Greece. O'er all the region ſpread;
Where'er thou ſeeſt an Aleuadian roof,
The reſidence of traitors hurl to earth;
The flocks and herds from ev'ry paſture ſweep,
From ev'ry ſtore th' accumulated grain,
Support of Aſia's myriads. O! recall
Thy late achievements on the bloody fields
Of Chalcis, and of Oreus. They, who brav'd
Thy native coaſt, of Demonax the friends,
[117] Now in their own Theſſalia lie thy ſpoil;
On their wide ruins build thee trophies new.
Commiſſion'd thus, the animated youth
With each Caryſtian, each Chalcidic prow,
By morning ſails. Three days the Attic chief,
Skreen'd in a harbour nigh Cenaeum's point,
Reſts on his anchors. So, by thickets hid
In fell Hyrcania, nurſe of rav'nous broods,
The tiger lurks, and meditates unſeen
A ſudden ſally on his heedleſs prey.
The fourth gay dawn with freſh'ning breezes curls
The Malian waters. In Barbaric flags
The wily chief apparelling his maſts
Fallacious, ere the horizontal ſun
Couch'd on the ocean, fills with hoſtile prows
The wide Sperchean mouth. Along the vales
[118] Innumerable carriages diſplay
The plenty huge for Aſia's camp amaſs'd.
Th' encircling mountains all their echoes blend
In one continu'd ſound with bleating flocks,
With bellowing herds, and diſſonant uproar
Of their conductors; whom Theſſalia ſent,
Whom all the extent of Thracia, and the realm
Of Amarantha's lord. Th' affrighted hinds
Deſert their charge. Trachiniae's neighb'ring gates
With fugitives are throng'd. Lo! Cleon plants
His bold Eretrian banners on the ſtrand;
The Styrians form; Eudemus bounds aſhore,
Geraeſtians follow; then auxiliars new,
The ſubjects late of Demonax; the troops
Of Locrian Medon, Delphian Timon land,
Themiſtocles the laſt; whoſe choſen guard
Of fifty Attic, fifty Spartan youths,
Still ſedulous and faithful cloſe the rear.
[119]
They reach'd in order'd march Trachinian walls,
Whoſe gates unclos'd. Majeſtical advanc'd
A form rever'd by univerſal Greece,
Prais'd by each tongue, by ev'ry eye admir'd,
The Oïlean prieſteſs of th' immortal Nine,
The goddeſs-like Meliſſa. Medon ſwift,
With Haliartus, met her ſacred ſtep.
Her name divulg'd from ev'ry ſtation call'd
The gazing chiefs, Themiſtocles the firſt;
Whom, by her brother pointed out to view,
She thus addreſs'd: Themiſtocles, give ear,
And thou, O Medon, whom, a ſtranger long
To my deſiring eyes, they ſee reſtor'd.
Well may you wonder, that a hoſtile fort
Meliſſa's hand delivers to your pow'r.
There is a Perſian worthy to be rank'd
Among the firſt of Grecians. Juſt, humane,
Thy captive, Medon, amply hath diſcharg'd
His price of ranſom. Nine revolving moons
[120] Beheld Maſiſtius guardian of my hill
In purity of rev'rence to my fane,
My perſon, my dependents. I forſook
At Amarantha's ſuit my old abode;
A virtuous princeſs from a ſickly couch
My care hath rais'd, Sandaucè, in thoſe walls
Long reſident with me. Two days are paſt
Since Artamanes, governing theſe tracts,
Heard of a navy on Theſſalia's coaſt,
And with his force, though ſlender, took the field
To guard Lariſſa. Your deſcent unmans
The few remaining Perſians in the fort;
All with Saudaucè and her children flew
To my protection; mercy to obtain
Became my charge; her terrors will diſperſe,
Soon as ſhe knows, Themiſtocles is nigh.
The army halts. Trachiniae's gates admit
Cecropia's hero, Medon, and the ſon
[121] Of Lygdamis. Sandaucè they approach,
Sandaucè late in convaleſcent charms
Freſh, as a May-blown roſe, by pallid fear
Now languid, as a lily beat with rain,
Till ſhe diſcovers with tranſported looks
Her Salaminian guardian; then the warmth
Of gratitude, redoubling all her bloom,
Before him throws her proſtrate. To him ran
The recollecting children, who embrace
Their benefactor's knees. She thus unfolds
Her lips, whoſe tuneful exclamation charms:
O, my protector—Interpoſing ſwift,
His ready hand uplifts her from the ground.
Do not diſgrace me, thou excelling fair,
He ſaid; to leave ſuch beauty thus depreſs'd
Would derogate from manhood. She replies:
[122]
Forbear to think my preſent captive lot
Hath humbled thus Sandaucè. No, the weight
Of obligation paſt, my reſcu'd babes
In Salamis, myſelf from horror ſav'd,
Have bent my thankful knee. No fears debaſe
My boſom now; Themiſtocles I ſee,
In him a known preſerver. Melting by,
Meliſſa, Medon, Haliartus, ſhed
The tend'reſt dews of ſympathy. In look
Compaſſionate, but calm, the chief rejoins:
Suggeſt thy wiſhes, princeſs, and command
My full compliance. She theſe accents ſighs:
Ye gen'rous men, what pity is not due
To eaſtern women! Prize, ye Grecian dames,
Your envy'd ſtate. When your intrepid lords
In arms contend with danger on the plain,
You in domeſtic peace are left behind
[123] Among your letter'd progeny, to form
Their ductile minds, and exerciſe your ſkill
In arts of elegance and uſe. Alas!
Our wretched race, in ignorance and ſloth
By Aſia nurtur'd, like a captive train,
In wheeling dungeons with our infants clos'd,
Muſt wait th' event of ſome tremendous hour,
Which, unpropitious, leaves us on the field
A ſpoil of war. What myriads of my ſex
From Greece to diſtant Helleſpont beſtrew
The ways, and whiten with their bleaching bones
The Thracian wilds! Spercheos views the tomb
Of Ariana, hapleſs ſiſter, laid
In foreign mold! My portion of diſtreſs
You know, benignant guardians, who aſſwag'd
My ſuff'rings. Then to quit the direſul ſcene,
Reviſiting my native ſoil, to reſt
Among my children, and inſtruct their youth,
As kind Meliſſa hath inſtructed mine,
[124] Were ſure no wiſh immoderate or vague.
But Artamanes—Bluſhing, trembling, here
She paus'd. Meliſſa takes the word: Sweet friend,
Let vice, not virtue bluſh. Cecropian chief,
Her ſoft attention well that youth deſerves,
She all his conſtancy and care. Their hands
Are pledg'd; th' aſſent of Aſia's king alone
Is wanting, which Mardonius hath aſſur'd
To Artamanes, flow'r of Aſia's peers.
Him, with unequal force, to battle march'd
Againſt thy ranks, which never have been foil'd,
She knows, and trembles. Artfully replies
Themiſtocles: Sandaucè may prevent
This danger. Let her meſſenger convey
A kind injunction, that the noble youth,
Whoſe merit I have treaſur'd in my breaſt,
May ſheath his fruitleſs weapons, and, return'd
To her, aboard my well-appointed keel
With her embarking, ſeek their native ſoil.
[125]
The princeſs hears, and joyfully provides
A meſſenger of truſt. Aſſembling now
His captains, thus Themiſtocles ordains:
Friends of Euboea, ſoon as Phoebus dawns
Your progreſs bend to Lariſſaean tow'rs;
Your chief is Cleon. Hyacinthus join;
To your united force the foe muſt yield.
Save Artamanes; bring him captive back,
But not with leſs humanity than care.
Accompliſh'd Medon, Haliartus, vers'd
In Oeta's neighb'ring wilds, your Locrians plant
Among the paſſes; once ſecur'd, they leave
Us at our leiſure to contrive and act.
Thee, honour'd ſeer of Delphi, at my ſide
In this Trachinian ſtation I retain.
By op'ning day each leader on his charge
Proceeds. Themiſtocles inſpects the vale,
[126] Conſtrains the peaſants from unnumber'd cars
Aboard his fleet to lade the golden grain.
Before Thermopylae the Locrian files
Appear. From Oeta's topmaſt peak, behold,
O'er Medon's head a vulture wings his flight,
Whom to a croſs beſide the public way
Th' Oïlean hero's curious eye purſues.
Oh! ſtay thy rav'nous beak, in anguiſh loud
Cries Haliartus. Shudder while thou hear'ſt,
Son of Oïleus; on that hideous pile
The bones of great Leonidas are hung.
Then Medon's cool, delib'rate mind was ſhook
By agitation to his nature ſtrange.
His ſpear and buckler to the ground he hurl'd;
Before th' illuſtrious ruins on his knee
He ſunk, and thus in agony exclaim'd:
[127]
Should this flagitious profanation paſs
Unpuniſh'd ſtill, th' exiſtence of the gods
Were but a dream. O, long-enduring Jove!
Thy own Herculean offspring canſt thou ſee
Defac'd by vultures, and the parching wind,
Yet wield reſiſtleſs thunder—But thy ways
Are awfully myſterious; to arraign
Thy heavieſt doom is blaſphemy. Thy will
For me reſerv'd the merit to redeem
Theſe precious reliques; penitent I own
My raſhneſs; thankful I accept the taſk.
O mighty ſpirit! who didſt late inform
With ev'ry virtue that disfigur'd frame,
With ev'ry kind affection prov'd by me,
The laſt diſtinguiſh'd object of thy care,
When it forbad me to partake thy fate,
The life, thy friendſhip ſav'd, I here devote
To vindicate thy manes. Not the wrongs
[128] Of gen'ral Greece, not Locris giv'n to flames,
Not the ſubverſion of my father's houſe,
E'er with ſuch keen reſentment ſtung my heart,
As this indignity to thee. He ſaid,
And, with the aid of Haliartus, free'd
The ſacred bones; Leonteus, and the prime
Of Locris, frame with ſubſtituted ſhields
Th' extemporeanous bier. Again the chief:
Leonteus, Haliartus, reſt behind;
Achieve th' important ſervice, which the ſon
Of Neocles enjoins. The pious charge
Be mine of rend'ring to Meliſſa's care
Theſe honour'd reliques. Now in meaſur'd pace
The warlike bearers tread; their manly breaſts
Not long withhold the tribute of their ſighs
Ingenuous; tears accompany their ſteps.
His ſiſter in Trachiniae Medon ſoon
Approaches; glad ſhe hears him, and replies.
[129]
Hail! brother, hail! thou choſen by the gods
From longer ſhame to reſcue theſe remains,
Which once contain'd whate'er is good and great
Among the ſons of men. Majeſtic ſhade!
By unrelenting laws of Dis forbid
To enter, where thy anceſtors reſide;
Who, ſeed of Jove, to their Elyſian joys
Expect thee, moſt illuſtrious of the race.
Amidſt thy wand'rings on the banks of Styx,
Doſt thou recall Meliſſa's dirge of praiſe
O'er thee, preparing by a glorious death
To ſave thy country? O! unbury'd ſtill,
Did not Meliſſa promiſe to thy duſt
Peace in her temple? An atrocious king
Hath barr'd awhile th' accompliſhment; thy friend,
Thy ſoldier, now will ratify my word.
Soon to Lycurgus ſhall thy ſpirit paſs,
To Orpheus, Homer, and th' Aſcraean ſage,
Who ſhall contend to praiſe thee in their bow'rs
[130] Of amaranth and myrtle, ever young
Like thy renown. In Oeta's fane theſe bones,
Dear to the Muſes, ſhall repoſe, till Greece,
Amid her future triumphs, hath decreed
A tomb and temple to her ſaviour's fame.
This high oblation of pathetic praiſe,
Paid by her holy friend, Sandaucè notes
Attentive; ſeldom from Meliſſa's eye
Was ſhe remote. Her eunuchs ſhe deputes
To bring a coffer large of od'rous wood
Inlaid with pearl, repoſitory due
To ſuch divine remains. In time appears
Th' Athenian gen'ral to applaud the deed,
While thus the mighty manes he invokes:
Hear, thou preſerver of thy country, hear!
Lo! in his palms of Salamis the ſon
Of Neocles ſalutes thee. From a hand,
[131] Which hath already half aveng'd thy death,
Accept of decent rites. Thy virtue ſav'd
A nation; they hereafter ſhall complete
Thy fun'ral honours, and ſurround thy tomb
With trophies equal to thy deathleſs name.
He ceas'd. Her mantle on the ſolemn ſcene
Night from her car in duſky folds outſpread.
Three mornings paſs. Anon Sperchēan banks
Re-echo ſhouts of triumph, while the vales
Are clad in arms. Lo! Cleon is return'd,
Uplifting bloodleſs enſigns of ſucceſs,
And thus accoſts Themiſtocles: Thy prize,
This Perſian lord receive; our haſty march
O'ertook his rear. From Lariſſaean tow'rs,
A recent conqueſt, Hyacinthus, join'd
By Potidaeans, and Olynthian ſpears,
Was then in ſight. The herald I detach'd
[132] With fair Sandaucè's meſſage, and thy terms
Of peace and ſafety; Artamanes found
Reſiſtance vain, and yielded. From the van
Now ſtepp'd the Perſian graceful, and beſpake
Themiſtocles: Accept a ſecond time
Thy captive, gen'rous Grecian; nor impute
To want of proweſs, or to fond exceſs
Of acquieſcence to Sandaucè's will,
My unreſerv'd ſurrender. To have ſtain'd
By fruitleſs conteſt thy triumphant wreaths
With blood, and ſpurn'd the bounty of thy hand,
Had prov'd ingratitude in me. Theſe words
Cecropia's chief return'd: Receive my hand,
Thy pledge of freedom here not leſs ſecure,
Than heretofore at Salamis, thy pledge
Of bliſs yet more endearing. Soon my keel
Shall place thee happy on thy native coaſt,
Thee and thy princeſs; that in future days
[133] You may at leaſt of all the Aſian breed
Report my kindneſs, and forget my ſword.
Amidſt his words a ſoft complaining trill
Of Philomela interrupts their ſound.
The youthful ſatrap then: That penſive bird,
Sandaucè's warbling ſummoner, is wont
In evening ſhade on Ariana's tomb
To ſit and ſing; my princeſs there devotes
In melancholy ſolitude this hour
To meditation, which diſſolves in tears.
Then greet her, ſaid th' Athenian; thy return
Will ſooth her tender breaſt. My promiſe add,
That on the firſt fair whiſper of the winds,
She ſhall reviſit her maternal ſoil.
This ſaid, they parted. At her ſiſter's grave
The ſatrap join'd his princeſs. He began:
[134]
I have obey'd thy ſummons. No diſgrace
Was my ſurrender to the conqu'ring ſword,
Which Perſia long hath felt. Thy ſervant comes
No more a captive, but to thee by choice;
Themiſtocles all bounteous and humane,
As heretofore, I find. Forbear to check
That riſing birth of ſmiles; in perfect light
Thoſe half-illuminated eyes attire;
Enough the tribute of their tears hath lav'd
Theſe precious tombs. Prepare thee to embark;
Themiſtocles hath promis'd thou ſhalt leave
A land, whoſe ſoaring genius hath depreſs'd
The languid plumes of Aſia. Lift thy head
In pleaſing hope to claſp thy mother's knees,
To change thy weeds of mourning, and receive
A royal brother's gift, this faithful hand.
Nigh Ariana's clay Autarctus ſlept.
Divine Sandaucè on her huſband's tomb,
[135] With marble pomp conſtructed by the care
Of Artamanes, fix'd a penſive look
In ſilence. Sudden from the cluſter'd ſhrubs,
O'erhanging round it, tuneful all and blithe
A flight of feather'd warblers, which abound
Through each Theſſalian vale, in carrol ſweet
Perch on the awful monument. The ſun
Streaks with a parting, but unſully'd ray
Their lively change of plumage, and each rill
Is ſoften'd by their melody. Accept,
Accept this omen, Artamanes cries;
Autarctus favours, Horomazes ſmiles,
Whoſe choir of ſongſters not unprompted ſeem
Our nuptial hymn preluding. She replies:
I want no omen to confirm thy truth.
Duſt of my ſiſter, of my lord, farewell;
Secure in Grecian piety remain.
Still in his offspring will Sandaucè love
[134]
I have obey'd thy ſummons. No diſgrace
Was my ſurrender to the conqu'ring ſword,
Which Perſia long hath felt. Thy ſervant comes
No more a captive, but to thee by choice;
Themiſtocles all bounteous and humane,
As heretofore, I find. Forbear to check
That riſing birth of ſmiles; in perfect light
Thoſe half-illuminated eyes attire;
Enough the tribute of their tears hath lav'd
Theſe precious tombs. Prepare thee to embark;
Themiſtocles hath promis'd thou ſhalt leave
A land, whoſe ſoaring genius hath depreſs'd
The languid plumes of Aſia. Lift thy head
In pleaſing hope to claſp thy mother's knees,
To change thy weeds of mourning, and receive
A royal brother's gift, this faithful hand.
Nigh Ariana's clay Autarctus ſlept.
Divine Sandaucè on her huſband's tomb,
[135] With marble pomp conſtructed by the care
Of Artamanes, fix'd a penſive look
In ſilence. Sudden from the cluſter'd ſhrubs,
O'erhanging round it, tuneful all and blithe
A flight of feather'd warblers, which abound
Through each Theſſalian vale, in carrol ſweet
Perch on the awful monument. The ſun
Streaks with a parting, but unſully'd ray
Their lively change of plumage, and each rill
Is ſoften'd by their melody. Accept,
Accept this omen, Artamanes cries;
Autarctus favours, Horomazes ſmiles,
Whoſe choir of ſongſters not unprompted ſeem
Our nuptial hymn preluding. She replies:
I want no omen to confirm thy truth.
Duſt of my ſiſter, of my lord, farewell;
Secure in Grecian piety remain.
Still in his offspring will Sandaucè love
[136] That huſband, thou, my Artamanes, ſtill
Revere that friend. She ſaid, and dropp'd her hand,
Preſs'd by the youth. With purity their guide,
They o'er the mead Sperchēan ſlowly ſeek
Trachinian portals. Phoebe on their heads
Lets fall a ſpotleſs canopy of light.
End of the Twenty-fifth Book.
THE ATHENAID.
BOOK the TWENTY-SIXTH.
[137]FROM her Tithonian couch Aurora mounts
The ſky. In rev'rence now of Sparta's name,
Yet more of dead Leonidas, three days
To preparation for his burial rites
Themiſtocles decrees. To curious ſearch
Innumerable herds and flocks ſupply
Selected victims. Of their hairy pines
To frame the ſtately pyre the hills are ſhorn.
Amid this labour Hyacinthus, rich
In Aleuadian ſpoil, his colleague brave
[138] Nicanor, all the Potidaean bands,
Th' Olynthians, and Nearchus, who conducts
The youth of Chalcis, reinforce the camp
With their victorious ranks. Th' appointed day
Was then arriv'd. A broad conſtructed pyre
Tow'rs in the center of Trachiniae's plain;
The diff'rent ſtandards of the Grecian hoſt
Are planted round. The Attic chief convenes
The fifty Spartans of his guard, and thus:
Themiſtocles, diſtinguiſh'd by your ſtate,
By your aſſiduous courage long ſuſtain'd,
Will now repay theſe benefits. Your king,
Leonidas, the brighteſt ſtar of Greece,
No more ſhall wander in the gloom of Styx;
But that laſt paſſage to immortal ſeats
Through me obtain. Greek inſtitutes require
The neareſt kindred on the fun'ral ſtage
The dead to lay, the victims to diſpoſe,
[139] To pour libations, and the ſacred duſt
Inurn. Alone of theſe aſſembled Greeks
Are you the hero's countrymen; alone
Your hands the pious office ſhall diſcharge.
Th' obedient Spartans from Trachiniae's gates
Produce to view the venerable bones
Herculean. Lifted up the ſtructure high
Of pines and cedars, on the ſurface large
All, which of great Leonidas remains,
By ſedulous devotion is compos'd.
The various captains follow, ſome in gaze
Of wonder, others weeping. Laſt appears
Meliſſa, trailing her pontific pall
(Calliopè in ſemblance) with her troop
Of ſnowy-veſted nymphs from Oeta's hill,
With all her vaſſals, decently arrang'd
By Mycon's care. Two hecatombs are ſlain,
Of ſheep five hundred, and libations pour'd
[140] Of richeſt wine. A Spartan now applies
The ruddy firebrand. In his prieſtly robe
Phoebean Timon ſupplicates a breeze
From Aeolus to raiſe the creeping flame.
Thrice round the crackling heaps the ſilent hoſt,
With ſhields revers'd, and ſpears inclining low,
Their ſolemn movement wind. The ſhrinking pyre
Now glows in embers; freſh libations damp
The heat. A vaſe of ſilver high-emboſs'd,
By Hyacinthus from Lariſſa brought,
Spoil of th' abode which treach'rous Thorax held,
Receives the ſacred aſhes, and is plac'd
Before Meliſſa. So the godlike ſon
Of Neocles directs. An awful ſign
From her commands attention; thus ſhe ſpake:
Thou art not dead, Leonidas; thy mind
In ev'ry Grecian lives. Thy mortal part,
Transform'd to aſhes, ſhall on Oeta's hill
[141] Among the celebrating Muſes dwell
In glory; while through animated Greece
Thy virtue's inextinguiſhable fires
Propitious beam, and, like the flames of Jove,
Intimidate her foes. Not wine, nor oil,
Nor blood of hecatombs, profuſely ſpilt,
Can to thy manes pay the tribute due;
The maſſacre of nations, all the ſpoil
Of humbled Aſia, Deſtiny hath mark'd
For conſecration of thy future tomb.
Two miniſters my ſoul prophetic ſees,
Themiſtocles and Ariſtides ſtand
Preſiding o'er the ſacrifice. The earth,
The ſea, ſhall witneſs to the mighty rites.
Ceaſe to regret the tranſitory doom
Of thy remains inſulted, no diſgrace
To thee, but Xerxes. Paſs, exalted ſhade,
The bounds of Dis, nor longer wail thy term
Of wand'ring now elaps'd; all meaſur'd time
[142] Is nothing to eternity. Aſſume
Among the bleſs'd thy everlaſting ſeat.
Th' indignity, thy earthly frame endur'd,
Perhaps the gods permitted in their love
To ſill the meaſure of celeſtial wrath
Againſt thy country's foes; then reſt in peace,
Thou twice illuſtrious victim to her weal.
As, when Minerva in th' Olympian hall
Amid the ſynod of celeſtials pour'd
Her eloquence and wiſdom, ev'ry god
In ſilence heard, and Jove himſelf approv'd;
Around Meliſſa thus were ſeen the chieſs
In admiration bound; o'er all ſupreme
Themiſtocles applauded. Mycon laſt,
With her injunction charg'd, to Oeta's ſhrine
Was now tranſporting in their poliſh'd urn
The treaſur'd aſhes, when along the plain
A ſudden, new appearance ſtrikes the ſight,
[143] A fun'ral car, attended by a troop
Of olive-bearing mourners. They approach
Meliſſa; ſuppliant in her view expoſe
Embalm'd Maſiſtius. Sent from Aſia's camp,
A paſſage theſe had recently obtain'd
From good Leonteus, by his brother plac'd
Thermopylae's ſure guard. Meliſſa knew
The page Statirus, foremoſt of the train,
Who at her feet in agony began:
Thy late protector, cold in death's embrace,
Survey, thou holy paragon; his fall
Aſopus ſaw. Before the hero climb'd
His fatal ſteed, to me this charge he gave.
"If I return a conqueror this day,
"To that excelling dame who made thee mine,
"Who hath enlarg'd whate'er of wiſe and great,
"Of juſt and temp'rate I to nature owe,
[144] "Refin'd my manners, and my pureſt thoughts
"Exalted, I my friendſhip will prolong
"In gratitude and rev'rence; bleſſing heav'n,
"Which thus prefers Maſiſtius to extend
"Benevolence to virtue. If I fall,
"Reſume with her the happieſt lot my care
"Can recommend, Statirus. Though no Greek,
"Her pupil, ſay, in offices humane
"Hath not been tardy; by her light inſpir'd,
"He went more perfect to a noble grave."
Caſt from his wounded courſer, he, o'erpow'r'd
By numbers, died. The body was reſtor'd
By Ariſtides, of unrivall'd fame
Among the juſt and gen'rous. O'er the dead
Mardonius rent his veſture, and his hair,
Then thus ordain'd: "This precious clay embalm'd
"To Artamanes bear, whoſe pious zeal
"A friend's remains to Seſtus will convey,
[145] "Thence o'er the narrow Helleſpont to reach
"His native Aſia, and his father's tomb."
I then repeated what my virtuous lord,
Expiring, utter'd: "Let Mardonius think
"How brief are life's enjoyments. Virtue lives
"Through all eternity. By virtue earn'd
"Praiſe too is long—Meliſſa, grant me thine".
"Commend me to Meliſſa, ſtarting, ſpake
"The ſon of Gobryas. From the ſhameful croſs
"Bid Artamanes in her preſence free
"Leonidas the Spartan." All my charge
Is now accompliſh'd faithfully to all.
Not far was Artamanes. From the train
Of Perſians ſtrode a giant ſtern in look,
Who thus addreſs'd the ſatrap: Prince, behold
Briareus; hither by Mardonius ſent,
[146] Guard of this noble body, I appear
A witneſs too of thy diſgrace; I ſee
Theſe Greeks thy victors. Is th' Athenian chief
Among the band? Themiſtocles advanc'd;
To whom Briareus: Art thou he, who dar'd
My lord to battle on the plains of Thebes?
Where have thy fears confin'd thee till this hour
That I reproach thee with thy promiſe pledg'd?
But this inglorious enterprize on herds,
On flocks, and helpleſs peaſants, was more ſafe,
Than to abide Mardonius in the field.
I now return. What tidings ſhall I bear
From thee, great conqueror of beeves and ſheep?
Say, I am ſafe, Themiſtocles replies
In calm deriſion, and the fun'ral rites,
Thus at my leiſure, to Laconia's king
Perform, while your Mardonius ſleeps in Thebes.
The ſpirit of Leonidas, in me
[147] Reviving, ſhall from Oeta's diſtant top
Shake your pavilions on Aſopian banks.
Yet, in return for his recover'd bones,
I, undiſputed maſter of the main,
Will waft Maſiſtius to a Perſian grave.
Thou mayſt depart in ſafety, as thou cam'ſt.
The ſavage hears, and ſullenly retreats;
While pious Medon thus accoſts the dead:
Thou ſon of honour, to thy promiſe juſt,
Meliſſa's brother venerates the clay
Of her avow'd protector. Let my care
Preſerve theſe reliques where no greedy worm,
Nor hand profane, may violate thy form;
Till friendly gales tranſport thee to repoſe
Among thy fathers. Through Trachinian gates
He leads the ſable chariot, thence conveys
Th' illuſtrious burden to Meliſſa's roof;
[148] Statirus aids. The prieſteſs, there apart,
Beſpake her brother thus: My tend'reſt tears,
From public notice painfully conceal'd,
Shall in thy preſence have a lib'ral flow.
Thou gav'ſt me this protector; honour, truth,
Humanity, and wiſdom like thy own,
Were his appendage. Virtue is the ſame
In ſtrangers, kindred, enemies and friends.
He won my friendſhip—might in earlier days
Have kindled paſſion—O! ſince fate decreed
Thee from Aſopus never to return;
If by Meliſſa's precepts thou inſpir'd
Didſt go more perfect to a noble grave,
I bleſs the hours; and memory ſhall hold
Each moment dear, when, liſt'ning to my voice,
Thou ſat'ſt delighted in the moral ſtrain.
Leonidas and thou may paſs the floods
Of Styx together; in your happy groves
Think of Meliſſa. Welcom'd were ye both
[149] By her on earth; her tongue ſhall never ceaſe,
Her lyre be never wanting to reſound
Thee, pride of Aſia, him, the firſt of Greeks,
In blended eulogy of grateful ſong.
She o'er the dead through half the ſolemn night
A copious web of eloquence unwinds,
Explaining how Maſiſtius had conſum'd
Nine lunar cycles in aſſiduous zeal
To guard her fane, her vaſſals to befriend;
How they ador'd his preſence; how he won
Her from the temple to Sandaucè's cure
At Amarantha's ſuit; within his tent
How clemency and juſtice ſtill abode
To awe Barbarians; how, departing ſad,
His laſt farewell at Oeta's ſhrine he gave
In words like theſe: "Unrivall'd dame, we march
"Againſt thy country—Thou ſhould'ſt wiſh our fall.
[150] "If we prevail, be confident in me
"Thy ſafeguard ſtill—But heav'n, perhaps, ordains
That thou ſhalt never want Maſiſtius more.
She pauſes. Now her mental pow'rs ſublime,
Collected all, this invocation frame.
O eleutherian ſire! this virtuous light,
By thee extinguiſh'd, proves thy care of Greece.
Who of the tribes Barbarian now ſurvives
To draw thy favour? Gratitude requires
This pure libation of my tears to lave
Him once my guardian; but a guardian new,
Thy gift in Medon, elevates at laſt
My gratitude to thee. Serene ſhe clos'd,
Embrac'd her brother, and retir'd to reſt.
From Oeta's heights freſh roſe the morning breeze.
A well-apparell'd galley lay unmoor'd
[151] In readineſs to ſail. Sandaucè drops
A parting tear on kind Meliſſa's breaſt,
By whom diſmiſs'd, Statirus on the corſe
Of great Maſiſtius waits. The Grecian chiefs
[...]ead Artamanes to the friendly deck,
In olive wreaths, pacific ſign, attir'd,
Whence he the fervour of his boſom pours:
O may this gale with gentleneſs of breath
Replace me joyous in my ſeat of birth,
As I ſincere on Horomazes call
To ſend the dove of peace, whoſe placid wing
The oriental and Heſperian world
May feel, compoſing enmity and thirſt
Of mutual havoc! that my grateful roof
May then admit Themiſtocles, and all
Thoſe noble Grecians, who ſuſtain'd my head,
Their captive thrice. But ah! what founts of blood
Will fate ſtill open to o'erflow the earth!
[152] Yet may your homes inviolate remain,
Imparting long the fulneſs of thoſe joys,
Which by your bounty I ſhall ſoon poſſeſs!
He ceas'd. The ſtruggle of Sandauce's heart
Suppreſs'd her voice. And now the naval pipe
Collects the rowers. At the ſignal ſhrill
They cleave with equal ſtrokes the Malian floods.
Meantime a veſſel, underneath the lee
Of Locris coaſting, plies the rapid oar
In ſight. She veers, and, lodging in her ſails
The wind tranſverſe, acroſs the haven ſkims;
Till on Sperchēan ſands ſhe reſts her keel.
Themiſtocles was muſing on the turns
Of human fortune, and the jealous eye
Of ſtern republics, vigilantly bent
Againſt ſucceſsful greatneſs; yet ſerene,
Prepar'd for ev'ry poſſible reverſe
[153] In his own fortune, he the preſent thought,
Of Perſians chang'd from foes to friends, enjoy'd.
When lo! Sicinus landed. Swift his lord
In words like theſe the faithful man approach'd.
From Ariſtides hail! Aſopus flows,
Still undiſturb'd by war, between the hoſts
Inactive. Each the other to aſſail
Inflexibly their augurs have forbid.
The camp, which Ceres ſhall the beſt ſupply,
Will gain the palm. Mardonius then muſt fight
To our advantage both of time and place,
Themiſtocles replies, and ſudden calls
The diff'rent leaders round him. Thus he ſpake:
Euboeans, Delphians, Locrians, you, the chiefs
Of Potidaea and Olynthus, hear.
The ritual honours to a hero due,
Whom none e'er equall'd, incomplete are left;
[154] Them ſhall the new Aurora ſee reſum'd.
At leiſure now three days to ſolemn games
I dedicate. Amid his num'rous tents
Mardonius on Aſopus ſhall be told,
While he ſits trembling o'er the hoſtile flood,
Of Grecian warriors on the Malian ſands
Diſporting. You in gymnic liſts ſhall wing
The flying ſpear, and hurl the maſſy diſk,
Brace on the caeſtus, and impel the car
To celebrate Leonidas in ſight
Of Oeta, witneſs to his glorious fate.
But fifty veſſels deep with laden ſtores
I firſt detach, that gen'ral Greece may ſhare
In our ſuperfluous plenty. Want ſhall waſte
Mardonian numbers, while profuſion flows
Round Ariſtides. To protect, my friends,
Th' important freight, three thouſand warlike ſpears
Muſt be embark'd. You, leaders, now decide,
[155] Who ſhall with me Thermopylae maintain,
Who join the Grecian camp. Firſt Medon roſe:
From thy ſucceſsful banner to depart
Believe my feet reluctant. From his croſs
When I deliver'd Lacedaemon's king,
My life, a boon his friendſhip once beſtow'd,
I then devoted in the face of heav'n
To vindicate his manes. What my joy,
If I ſurvive, if periſh, what my praiſe
To imitate his virtue? Greece demands
In his behalf a ſacrifice like this
From me, who, dying, only ſhall diſcharge
The debt I owe him; where ſo well diſcharge,
As at Aſopus in the gen'ral ſhock
Of Greece and Aſia? But the hundred ſpears,
Which have ſo long accompany'd my ſteps
Through all their wand'rings, are the only force
[154] [...][155] [...][156] My wants require. The reſt of Locrian arms
Shall with Leonteus thy controul obey.
Pois'd on his ſhield, and cas'd in Carian ſteel,
Whence iſſued luſtre like Phoebean rays,
Thus Haliartus: Me, in peaſant-weeds,
Leonidas reſpected. Though my heart
Then by unſhaken gratitude was bound,
My humble ſtate could only feel, not act.
A ſoldier now, my efforts I muſt join
With godlike Medon's, to avenge the wrongs
Of Sparta's king. But firſt the ſoldier's ſkill,
My recent acquiſition, let my arm
Forever loſe, if once my heart forget
The gen'rous chief, whoſe ſervice try'd my arm,
Who made Acanthè mine. My preſent zeal
His manly juſtice will forbear to chide.
The prieſt of Delphi next: Athenian friend,
I have a daughter on Cadmēan plains,
[157] My Amarantha. From no other care,
Than to be nearer that excelling child,
Would I forſake this memorable ſpot,
Where died the firſt of Spartans, and a chief
Like thee triumphant celebrates that death.
Then Cleon proffer'd his Eretrian band,
Eight hundred breathing vengeance on a foe,
Who laid their tow'rs in aſhes. Lampon next
Preſents his Styrians. Brave Nearchus joins
Twelve hundred youths of Chalcis. Tideus laſt
Of Potidaea twice three hundred ſhields.
Enough, your number is complete, the ſon
Of Neocles reminds them. Swift embark;
The gale invites. Sicinus is your guide.
He ſaid, and, moving tow'rds the beach, obſerves
The embarkation. Each progreſſive keel
His eye purſues. O'erſwelling now in thought,
[158] His own deſervings, glory and ſucceſs,
Ruſh on his ſoul like torrents, which diſturb
A limpid fount. Of purity depriv'd,
The rill no more in muſic ſteals along,
But harſh and turbid through its channel foams.
What ſea, what coaſt, what region have I paſs'd
Without erecting trophies, cries the chief
In exultation to Sicinus ſtaid?
Have I not ſpar'd the vanquiſh'd to reſound
My clemency? Ev'n Perſians are my friends.
Theſe are my warriors. Proſp'rous be your ſails,
Ye Greeks, enroll'd by me, by me inur'd
To arms and conqueſt. Under Fortune's wing
Speed, and aſſiſt my ancient rival's arm
To cruſh th' invader. Diſtant I uphold
The Grecian armies; diſtant I will ſnatch
My ſhare of laurels on the plains of Thebes.
Then come, ſoft peace, of indolence the nurſe,
[159] Not to the ſon of Neocles. On gold
Let rigour look contemptuous; I, return'd
To deſert Athens, I, enrich'd with ſpoils
Of potentates, and kings, will raiſe her head
From duſt. Superb her ſtructures ſhall proclaim
No leſs a marvel, than the matchleſs bird
The glory of Arabia, when, conſum'd
In burning frankincenſe and myrrh, he ſhews
His preſence new, and, op'ning to the ſun
Regenerated gloſs of plumage, tow'rs,
Himſelf a ſpecies. So ſhall Athens riſe
Bright from her aſhes, miſtreſs ſole of Greece.
From long Piraean walls her winged pow'r
Shall awe the Orient, and Heſperian worlds.
Me ſhall th' Olympic feſtival admit
Its ſpectacle moſt ſplendid. . . . Ah! ſuppreſs
Immod'rate thoughts, Sicinus interrupts,
Thou citizen of Athens! Who aſpires,
Reſides not there ſecure. Forbear to ſting
[160] Her ever-wakeful jealouſy, nor tempt
The woes of exile. For exceſs of worth
Was Ariſtides baniſh'd. Be not driv'n
To early trial of thy Perſian friends.
O! thou tranſcendent, thou ſtupendous man,
From thy Timothea moderation learn,
Which, like the ſtealing touch of gentle time
O'er canvaſs, pencil'd by excelling art,
Smooths glaring colours, and imparts a grace
To mightieſt heroes. Thus their dazzling blaze
Of glory ſoft'ning, ſoftens envy's eye.
End of the Twenty-ſixth Book.
THE ATHENAID.
BOOK the TWENTY-SEVENTH.
[161]MEANTIME Briareus to the plains of Thebes
Precipitates his courſe. Arriv'd, he greets
Mardonius. Rumour had already told,
What, now confirm'd, o'erwhelms the troubled chief,
Confounded like the firſt anointed king
O'er Iſrael's tribes, when Philiſtēan din
Of armies pierc'd his borders, and deſpair
Seduc'd his languid ſpirit to conſult
The ſorcereſs of Endor. Call, he ſaid,
Elēan Hegeſiſtratus—Be ſwift.
[...]
[161] [...]
[162]
The ſummon'd augur comes. To him the ſon
Of Gobryas: Foe to Sparta, heed my words;
Themiſtocles poſſeſſes on our backs
Th' Oetaean paſſes. Famine, like a beaſt,
Noos'd and ſubſervient to that fraudful man,
Who ſhuns the promis'd conteſt in the field,
He can turn looſe againſt us. In our front
See Ariſtides. Fatal is delay.
Fam'd are the oracles of Greece—Alas!
My oracle, Maſiſtius, is no more.
To thee, who hateſt all the Spartan breed,
I truſt my ſecret purpoſe. Be my guide
To ſome near temple, or myſterious cave,
Whence voices ſupernatural unfold
The deſtinies of men. The augur here:
The neareſt, but moſt awful, is a cave
Oracular, Lebadia's ancient boaſt,
Where Jupiter Trophonius is ador'd,
[163] Not far beyond Copaeae's neighb'ring lake,
Which thou muſt paſs. With coſtly preſents freight,
Such as magnificence like thine requires,
Thy loaded bark; command my ſervice all.
Mardonius iſſues orders to provide
The bark and preſents. Summoning his chiefs,
To them he ſpake: My abſence from the camp
Important functions claim; three days of rule
To Mindarus I cede. Till my return
Let not a ſquadron paſs th' Aſopian ſtream.
This ſaid, with Hegeſiſtratus he mounts
A rapid car. Twelve giants of his guard,
Detach'd before, await him on the banks
Of clear Copaeae. Silver Phoebè ſpreads
A light, repoſing on the quiet lake,
Save where the ſnowy rival of her hue,
The gliding ſwan, behind him leaves a trail
[164] In luminous vibration. Lo! an iſle
Swells on the ſurface. Marble ſtructures there
New gloſs of beauty borrow from the moon
To deck the ſhore. Now ſilence gently yields
To meaſur'd ſtrokes of oars. The orange groves,
In rich profuſion round the fertile verge,
Impart to fanning breezes freſh perfumes
Exhauſtleſs, viſiting the ſenſe with ſweets,
Which ſoften ev'n Briareus; but the ſon
Of Gobryas, heavy with devouring care,
Uncharm'd, unheeding ſits. At length began
Th' Elēan augur, in a learned flow
Of ancient lore, to Aſia's penſive chief
[...]ſtorically thus: Illuſtrious lord,
Whoſe nod controuls ſuch multitudes in arms
From lands remote and near, the ſtory learn
Of ſage Trophonius, whoſe prophetic cell
Thou wouldſt deſcend. An architect divine,
He for the Delphians rais'd their Pythian fane.
[165] His recompenſe imploring from the god,
This gracious anſwer from the god he drew:
"When thrice my chariot hath its circle run,
"The prime reward, a mortal can obtain,
"Trophonius, ſhall be thine." Apollo thrice
His circle ran; behold Trophonius dead.
With prophecy his ſpirit was endu'd,
But where abiding in concealment long
The deſtinies envelop'd. Lo! a dearth
Afflicts Boeotia. Meſſengers addreſs
The Delphian pow'r for ſuccour. He enjoins
Their care throughout Lebadian tracts to ſeek
Oracular Trophonius. Long they roam
In fruitleſs ſearch; at laſt a honey'd ſwarm
Before them flies; they follow, and attain
A cave. Their leader enters, when a voice,
Revealing there the deity, ſuggeſts
Cure to their wants, and knowledge of his will
How to be worſhipp'd in ſucceeding times.
[166] To him the name of Jupiter is giv'n.
He to the fatal ſiſters hath acceſs;
Sees Clotho's awful diſtaff; ſees the thread
Of human life by Lacheſis thence drawn;
Sees Atropos divide, with direful ſhears,
The ſlender line. But rueful is the mode
Of conſultation, though from peril free,
Within his dreary cell. In thy behalf
Thou mayſt a faithful ſubſtitute appoint.
By Horomazes, no, exclaims the chief!
It is the cauſe of empire, from his poſt
Compels the Perſian leader; none but he
Shall with your god confer. Tranſactions paſt
To Hegeſiſtratus he now details,
His heart unfolding, nor conceals th' event
In Aſia's camp, when Aemneſtus bold,
The Spartan legate, prompted, as by heav'n,
Him ſingled out the victim to atone
[167] The death of Sparta's king. Their changing courſe
Of navigation now ſuſpends their words.
Againſt the influx of Cephiſſus, down
Lebadian vales in limpid flow convey'd,
The rowers now are lab'ring. O'er their heads
Hudge alders weave their canopies, and ſhed
Diſparted moonlight through the lattic'd boughs;
Where Zephyr plays, and whiſp'ring motion breathes
Among the pliant leaves. Now roſeate tincts
Begin to ſtreak the orient verge of heav'n,
Foretok'ning day. The ſon of Gobryas lands,
Where in ſoft murmur down a channell'd ſlope
The ſtream Hercyna, from Trophonian groves,
Freſh bubbling meets Cephiſſus. He aſcends
With all his train. Th' incloſure, which begirds
The holy purlieus, through a portal, hung
With double valves on obeliſks of ſtone,
Acceſs afforded to the ſteps of none
[168] But ſuppliants. Hegeſiſtratus accoſts
One in pontific veſture ſtation'd there:
Prieſt of Boeotia's oracle moſt fam'd,
Diſmiſs all fear. Thy country's guardian hail,
This mighty prince, Mardonius. He preſerves
Inviolate her fanes; her willing ſpears
All range beneath his ſtandards. To confer
With your Trophonius, lo! he comes with gifts,
Surpaſſing all your treaſur'd wealth can boaſt.
His hours are precious, nor admit delay;
Accept his ſumptuous off'rings, and commence
The ceremonials due. At firſt aghaſt
The holy man ſurvey'd the giant guard.
Soon admiration follow'd at thy form,
Mardonius. Low in ſtature, if compar'd
With thoſe unſhapen ſavages, ſublime
Thou trod'ſt in majeſty of mien, and grace
Of juſt proportion. Laſt the gems and gold,
[169] Bright vaſes, tripods, images and crowns,
The preſents borne by thoſe gigantic hands,
With faſcinating luſtre fix'd the prieſt
To gaze unſated on the copious ſtore.
Paſs through, but unaccompany'd, he ſaid,
Illuſtrious Perſian. Be th' accepted gifts
Depoſited within theſe holy gates.
He leads the ſatrap to a graſſy mount,
Diſtinct with ſcatter'd plantains. Each extends
O'er the ſmooth green his mantle brown of ſhade.
Of marble white an edifice rotund,
In all th' attractive elegance of art,
Looks from the ſummit, and invites the feet
Of wond'ring ſtrangers to aſcend. The prince,
By his conductor, is inſtructed thus:
Obſerve yon dome. Thou firſt muſt enter there
Alone, there fervent in devotion bow
[170] Before two ſtatues; one of Genius good,
Of Fortune fair the other. At the word
Mardonius enters. Chance directs his eye
To that expreſſive form of Genius good,
Whoſe gracious lineaments, ſedately ſweet,
Recall Maſiſtius to the gloomy chief.
O melancholy! who can give thee praiſe?
Not ſure the gentle; them thy weight o'erwhelms.
But thou art wholeſome to intemp'rate minds,
In vain by wiſdom caution'd. In the pool
Of black adverſity let them be ſteep'd,
Then pride, and luſt, and fury thou doſt tame.
So now Mardonius, by thy pow'r a enthrall'd,
Sighs in theſe words humility of grief.
If heav'n, relenting, will to me aſſign
A Genius good, he bears no other name
Than of Maſiſtius. Oh! thou ſpirit bleſs'd,
[171] (For ſure thy virtue dwells with endleſs peace)
Canſt thou, her ſeat relinquiſhing awhile,
Unſeen, or viſible, protect thy friend
In this momentous criſis of his fate;
Or wilt thou, if permitted? Ah! no more
Think of Mardonius fierce, ambitious, proud,
But as corrected by thy precepts mild;
Who would forego his warmeſt hopes of fame,
Of pow'r and ſplendour, gladly to expire,
If ſo the myriads truſted to his charge
He might preſerve, nor leave whole nations fall'n,
A prey to vultures on theſe hoſtile plains.
Come, and be witneſs to the tears which flow,
Sure tokens of ſincerity in me,
Not us'd to weep; who, humbled at thy loſs,
Melt like a maiden, of her love bereav'd
By unrelenting death. My demon kind,
Do thou deſcend, and Fortune will purſue
Spontaneous and auſpicious on her wheel
[172] A track unchang'd. Here turning, he adores
Her flatt'ring figure, and forſakes the dome.
Along Hercyna's bank they now proceed,
To where the river parts. One channel holds
A ſluggiſh, creeping water, under vaults
Of ebon ſhade, and ſoporific yew,
The growth of ages on the level line
Of either joyleſs verge. The ſatrap here,
Nam'd and preſented by his former guide,
A ſecond prieſt receives, conductor new
Through night-reſembling ſhadows, which obſcure
The ſleepy ſtream, unmoving to the ſight,
Or moving mute. A fountain they approach,
One of Hercyna's ſources. From the pores
Of ſpongy rock an artificial vaſe
Of jetty marble in its round collects
The ſlow-diſtilling moiſture. Hence the prieſt
[173] A brimming chalice to Mardonius bears,
Whom in theſe words he ſolemnly accoſts:
This fount is nam'd of Lethè. Who conſults
Our ſubterranean deity, muſt quaff
Oblivion here of all preceding thoughts,
Senſations, and affections. Reach the draught;
If ſuch oblivious ſweets this cup contains,
I gladly graſp it, cries the chief, and drinks.
Aſcending thence, a mazy walk they tread,
Where all the ſeaſon's florid children ſhew
Their gorgeous rayment, and their odours breathe
Unſpent; while muſical in murmur flows
Faſt down a ſteep declivity of bed
Hercyna, winding in a channel new,
Apparent often to the glancing eye
Through apertures, which pierce the loaden boughs
[174] Of golden fruit Heſperian, and th' attire
Of myrtles green, o'erſhadowing the banks.
In alabaſter's variegated hues,
To bound the pleaſing avenue, a fane
Its ſymmetry diſcover'd on a plat,
Thick-ſet with roſes, which a circling ſkreen
Of that fair aſh, where cluſter'd berries glow,
From ruffling guſts defended. Thither ſpeeds
Mardonius, there deliver'd to a third
Religious miniſter ſupreme. Two youths,
In ſnow-like veſture, and of lib'ral mien,
Sons of Lebadian citizens, attend,
Entit'led Mercuries. The ſeer addreſs'd
The Perſian warrior: In this manſion pure
Mnemoſynè is worſhipp'd; ſo in Greece
The pow'r of memory is ſtyl'd. Advance,
Invoke her aid propitious to retain
Whate'er by ſounds, or viſions, in his cave
[175] The prophet god reveals. The chief comply'd;
The hallow'd image he approach'd, and ſpake:
Thou art indeed a goddeſs, I revere.
Now to Mardonius, if ſome dream or ſign
Prognoſticate ſucceſs, and thou imprint
The admonitions of unerring heav'n
In his retentive mind; this arm, this ſword
Shall win thy further favour to record
His name and glory on the rolls of time.
This ſaid, with lighter ſteps he quits the fane.
The Mercuries conduct him to a bath,
Fed from Hercyna's fairer, ſecond ſource,
In ſhade ſequeſter'd cloſe. While there his limbs
Are diſarray'd of armour, to aſſume
A civil garment, ſoon as ſpotleſs ſtreams
Have purify'd his frame; the prieſt, who ſtands
Without, in ecſtacy of joy remarks
[176] The rich Mardonian off'rings on their way,
By ſervitors tranſported to enlarge
The holy treaſure. Inſtant he prepares
For ſacrifice. A ſable ram is ſlain.
Freſh from ablution, lo! Mardonius comes
In linen veſture, fine and white, as down
Of Paphian doves. A ſaſh of tincture bright,
Which rivall'd Flora's brilliancy of dye,
Engirds his loins; majeſtical his brows
A wreath ſuſtain; Lebadian ſandals eaſe
His ſteps. Exchanging thus his martial guiſe,
Like ſome immortal, of a gentler mold
Than Mars, he moves. So Phoebus, when he ſets,
Lav'd by the nymphs of Tethys in their grot
Of coral after his diurnal toil,
Repairs his ſplendours, and his roſy track
Of morn reſumes. With partial eyes the prieſt
Explores the victim's entrails, and reports
[177] Each ſign auſpicious with a willing tongue;
Then to Mardonius: Thee, Boeotia's friend,
Magnificently pious to her gods,
Thee I pronounce a votary approv'd
By this Boeotian deity. Now ſeek
In confidence the cavern. But the rites
Demand, that firſt an image thou approach,
Which none, but thoſe in purity of garb,
None, but accepted ſuppliants of the god,
Can lawfully behold. Above the bath
A rock was hollow'd to an ample ſpace;
Thence iſſued bubbling waters. See, he ſaid,
The main Hercynian fount, whoſe face reflects
Yon Daedalēan workmanſhip, the form
Trophonius bears. Adore that rev'rend beard,
The twiſted ſerpents round that awful ſtaff,
Thoſe looks, which pierce the myſteries of fate.
Next through a winding cavity and vaſt
He guides the prince along a moſſy vault,
[178] Rough with protuberant and tortuous roots
Of ancient woods, which, clothing all above,
In depth ſhoot downward equal to their height;
Suſpended lamps, with livid glympſe and faint,
Direct their darkling paſſage. Now they reach
The further mouth uncloſing in a dale
Abrupt; there ſhadow, never-fleeting, reſts.
Rude-featur'd crags, o'erhanging, thence expel
The blaze of noon. Beneath a frowning clift
A native arch, of altitude which tempts
The ſoaring eagle to conſtruct his neſt,
Expands before an excavation deep,
Unbowelling the hill. On either ſide
This gate of nature, hoary ſons of time,
Enlarg'd by ages to protentous growth,
Impenetrable yews augment the gloom.
In height two cubits, on the rocky floor
A parapet was rais'd of marble white,
[179] In circular dimenſion; this upholds
The weight of poliſh'd obeliſks, by zones
Of braſs connected, ornamental fence.
A wicket opens to th' advancing prince;
Steps moveable th' attentive prieſt ſupplies;
By whom inſtructed, to the awful chaſm
Below, profound but narrow, where the god
His inſpiration breathes, th' intrepid ſon
Of Gobryas firm deſcends. His nether limbs
Up to the loins he plunges. Downward drawn,
As by a whirlpool of ſome rapid flood,
At once the body is from ſight conceal'd.
Entranc'd he lies in ſubterranean gloom,
Leſs dark than ſuperſtition. She, who caus'd
His bold adventure, with her wonted fumes
Of perturbation from his torpid ſtate
Awakes him; rather in a dream ſuggeſts
That he is waking. On a naked bank
He ſeems to ſtand; before him ſleeps a pool,
[180] Edg'd round by deſert mountains, in their height
Obſcuring heav'n. Without impulſive oars,
Without a ſail, ſpontaneous flies a bark
Above the ſtagnant ſurface, which, untouch'd,
Maintains its ſilence. On the margin reſts
The ſkiff, preſenting to the hero's view
An aged fire, of penetrating ken,
His weight inclining on an ebon ſtaff,
With ſerpents wreath'd, who, beck'ning, thus began:
If, feed of Gobryas, thou wouldſt know thy fate,
Embark with me; Trophonius I am call'd.
Th' undaunted chief obeys. In flight more ſwift
Than eagles, ſwifteſt of the feather'd kind,
Th' unmoving water's central ſpot they gain.
At once its boſom opens; down they ſink
In depth to equal that immane deſcent
Of Hercules to Pluto, yet perform,
[181] As in a moment, their portentous way.
Around, above, the liquid maſs retires,
In concave huge ſuſpended, nor bedews
Their limbs, or garments. Two ſtupendous valves
Of adamant o'er half the bottom ſpread;
Them with his myſtic rod the prophet ſmites.
Self-lifted, they a ſpacious grot expoſe,
Whoſe pointed ſpar is tipt with dancing light,
Beyond Phoebean clear. The Perſian looks;
Intelligent he looks. Words, names and things,
Recurring, gather on his anxious mind;
When he, who ſeems Trophonius: Down this cave
None, but the gods oracular, may paſs.
Here dwell the fatal Siſters; at their toil
The Deſtinies thou ſee'ſt. The thread new-drawn
Is thine, Mardonius. Inſtantly a voice,
Which ſhakes the grot, and all the concave round,
Sounds Aemneſtus. Swift the direful ſhears
The line diſſever, and Mardonius, whirl'd
[182] Back from Trophonian gloom, is found ſupine
Within the marble parapet, which fenc'd
The cavern's mouth. The watchful prieſt conducts
The agitated ſatrap, mute and ſad,
Back to Mnemoſynè's abode. His eyes
Are ſternly fix'd. Now, prince, the ſeer began,
Divulge, whatever thou haſt heard and ſeen
Before this goddeſs. Prieſt, he ſaid, ſuſpend
Thy function now importunate. Remove.
The ſeer withdrawn, the Perſian thus alone:
Then be it ſo. To luxury and pow'r,
Magnificence and pleaſure, I muſt bid
Farewell. Leonidas let Greece extol,
Me too ſhall Perſia. Goddeſs, to thy charge
A name, ſo dearly purchas'd, I conſign.
This ſaid, in haſte his armour he reſumes.
Not as Leonidas compos'd, yet brave
[183] Amid the gloom of trouble, he prefers
Death to diſhonour. O'er the holy ground
He penſive treads, a parallel to Saul,
Return'd from Endor's necromantic cell
In ſadneſs, ſtill magnanimouſly firm
Ne'er to ſurvive his dignity, but face
Predicted ruin, and, in battle ſlain,
Preſerve his fame. Mardonius finds the gates;
His friends rejoins; glides down Cephiſſian floods;
Copaeae's lake repaſſes; and is lodg'd
In his own tent by midnight. Sullen there
He ſits; diſturb'd, he ſhuns repoſe; acceſs
Forbids to all: but Lamachus intrudes,
Nefarious counſellor, in fell device
Surpaſſing felleſt tyrants. Now hath night
Upcall'd her clouds, black ſignal for the winds
To burſt their dungeons; cataracts of rain
Mix with blue fires; th' ethereal concave groans;
[184] Stern looks Mardonius on the daring Greek,
Who, in his wiles confiding, thus began:
Supreme o'er nations numberleſs in arms,
Sole hope of Aſia, thy return I greet
With joy. Thy abſence hath employ'd my ſoul
To meditate the means, the certain means
For thee to proſper. Lo! the active ſon
Of Neocles, who keeps th' Oetaean paſs,
Lo! Ariſtides in the camp of Greece,
Remain thy only obſtacles. Her pow'r,
Of them depriv'd, would moulder and diſperſe,
Devoid of counſel, with an edgleſs ſword.
Uncommon danger ſtimulates the wiſe
To ſearch for ſafety through uncommon paths,
Much more, when pow'r, when empire and renown,
Hang on a criſis. If a ſerpent's guile
Behind the pillows of ſuch foes might lurk;
If darting thence, his unſuſpected ſting
[185] Might pierce their boſoms; if the ambient air
Could by myſterious alchymy be chang'd
To viewleſs poiſon, and their cups infect
With death; ſuch help would policy diſdain?
Haſt thou not hardy and devoted ſlaves?
Try their fidelity and zeal. No life
Can be ſecure againſt a daring hand.
Two Grecian deaths confirm thee lord of Greece.
He ceas'd, expecting praiſe; but honour burns
Fierce in the ſatrap's elevated ſoul:
Dar'ſt thou ſuggeſt ſuch baſeneſs to the ſon
Of Gobryas? furious he exalts his voice;
Guards, ſeize and ſtrangle this pernicious wolf.
Time but to wonder at his ſudden fate
The ready guards afford him, and the wretch
Fit retribution for his crimes receives.
[186]
This act of eaſtern equity expels
The ſatrap's gloom. Now, Grecian gods, he cries,
Smile on my juſtice. From th' aſſaſſin's point
I guard your heroes. By yourſelves I ſwear,
My preſervation, or ſucceſs, aſſur'd
By ſuch unmanly turpitude I ſpurn.
His mind is cheer'd. A tender warmth ſucceeds,
Predominant in am'rous, eaſtern hearts,
A balm to grief, and victor mild of rage.
The midnight hour was paſt, a ſeaſon dear
To ſoftly-tripping Venus. Through a range
Of watchful eunuchs in apartments gay
He ſeeks the female quarter of his tent,
Which, like a palace of extent ſuperb,
Spreads on the field magnificence. Soft lutes,
By ſnowy fingers touch'd, ſweet-warbled ſong
From ruby lips, which harmonize the air
[187] Impregnated with rich Panchaean ſcents,
Salute him ent'ring. Gentle hands unclaſp
His martial harneſs, in a tepid bath
Lave and perfume his much-enduring limbs.
A couch is ſtrewn with roſes; he reclines
In thinly-woven Taffeta. So long
In pond'rous armour cas'd, he ſcarcely feels
The light and looſe attire. Around him ſmile
Circaſſian Graces, and the blooming flow'rs
Of beauty cull'd from ev'ry clime to charm.
Lo! in tranſcending ornament of dreſs
A fair-one all-ſurpaſſing greets the chief;
But pale her lip, and wild her brilliant eye:
Nam'd from Bethulia, where I drew my breath,
I, by a father's indigence betray'd,
Became thy ſlave; yet noble my deſcent
From Judith ever-fam'd, whoſe beauty ſav'd
Her native place. Indignant I withſtood
[188] Thy paſſion. Gentle ſtill a maſter's right
Thou didſt forbear, and my reluctant charms
Leave unprophan'd by force. Repuls'd, thy love
Grew cold. Too late contemplating thy worth,
I felt a growing flame, but ne'er again
Could win thy favour. In the Haram's round
Diſconſolate, neglected, I have walk'd;
Have ſeen my gay companions to thy arms
Preferr'd, profeſſing paſſion far unlike
To mine, Mardonius. Now deſpair ſuggeſts
To give thee proof of undiſſembled truth,
Which no neglect hath cool'd. To thy ſucceſs,
Thy glory, my virginity is vow'd.
In this bright raiment, with collected pow'rs
Of beauty, I at Ariſtides' feet
Will throw me proſtrate. To th' alluring face
Of my progenitrix a victim fell
Th' Aſſyrian captain, Holofernes proud;
[189] So ſhall thy foe of Athens fall by mine.
The meritorious and heroic deed
Soon will eraſe the tranſitory ſtain.
O! if ſucceſsful, let Bethulia hope
For thy reviving love. Mardonius ſtarts
In dubious trouble. Whether to chaſtiſe
So fierce a ſpirit, or its zeal admire,
He heſitates. Compaſſion for the ſex
At length prevails, ſuggeſting this reply:
Fell magnanimity! enormous proof
Of ſuch intemp'rate paſſion! I forgive
While I reject thy proffer'd crime, although
The deed might fix my glory and ſucceſs;
And in return for thy prepos'trous love
Will ſafe replace thee in thy native ſeat
With gifts to raiſe from indigence thy houſe.
But never, never from this hour will view
[190] Thy face again, Bethulia. Eunuchs, hear;
Remove, conceal this woman from my ſight.
No, thou inhuman, thus Bethulia wild:
This ſhall remove for ever from thy ſight
A woman ſcorn'd, and terminate her pains.
She ſaid, and ſtruck a poniard through her heart.
With ſhrieks the Haram ſounds; th' afflicted fair,
The eunuchs ſhudder; when the ſatrap thus:
Is this another black portent of ill,
Stern Horomazes? or is this my crime?
No, thou art juſt. My conſcious ſpirit feels
Thy approbation of Mardonius now.
But from his breaſt the dire event expels
All ſoft and am'rous cares. His vaſt command,
[191] His long inaction, and the dread of ſhame
Recur. He quits the chamber; to his own
Repairing, ſummons Mindarus, and firm
In aſpect ſpeaks: The morning ſoon will dawn.
Draw down our ſlingers, archers, and the ſkill'd
In flying darts to line th' Aſopian brink;
Thence gall the Grecians, whoſe diurnal wants
That flood relieves. Then Mindarus: O chief,
This inſtant ſure intelligence is brought,
That from the iſthmus, to ſupply their camp,
A convoy, rich in plenty, is deſcry'd
Advancing tow'rds Cithaeron's neighb'ring paſs.
Mardonius quick: No moment ſhall be loſt.
Bid Tiridates with five thouſand horſe
Poſſeſs that paſs, and, pouring on the plain,
Secure the precious ſtore. This ſaid, he ſeeks
A ſhort repoſe, and Mindarus withdraws.
[192]
In arms anon to paragon the morn,
The morn new-riſing, whoſe vermillion hand
Draws from the bright'ning front of heav'n ſerene
The humid curtains of tempeſtuous night,
Mardonius mounts his courſer. On his bank
The godlike figure ſoon Aſopus views.
End of the Twenty-ſeventh Book.
THE ATHENAID.
BOOK the TWENTY-EIGHTH.
[193]WHILE lamentation for Maſiſtius dead
Depreſs'd the Perſians, undiſturb'd the Greeks
To all their camp refreſhment had deriv'd
From clear Aſopus. To th' accuſtom'd edge
Of his abounding flood they now reſort.
Stones, darts and arrows from unnumber'd ranks,
Along the margin oppoſite diſpos'd
By Mindarus, forbid acceſs. Repulſe
Diſbands the Greeks. Exulting, he forgets
Cleora; active valour in his breaſt
[194] Extinguiſhes the embers, cheriſh'd long
By ſelf-tormenting memory, and warmth
Of fruitleſs paſſion. Preſent too his chief,
His friend and kinſman, from a fiery ſteed
Mardonius rules and ſtimulates the fight,
Like Boreas, riding on a ſtormy cloud,
Whence iſſue darts of light'ning, mix'd with hail
In rattling ſhow'rs. The enemies diſpers'd,
Embolden Mindarus to ford the ſtream.
In guidance ſwift of cavalry expert,
With unreſiſted ſquadrons he careers
Along the field. Inviolate the flood
He guards; each hoſtile quarter he inſults.
Now Gobryas' ſon, unfetter'd from the bonds
Of ſuperſtitious terrors, joyful ſees
In Mindarus a new Maſiſtius riſe;
Nor leſs the tidings Tiridates ſends,
Who in Cithaeron's paſſes hath deſpoil'd
[195] The ſlaughter'd foes, inſpire the gen'ral's thoughts,
Which teem with arduous enterpriſe. The camp
He empties all; beneath whoſe forming hoſt
The meadow ſounds. The native Perſians face
Laconia's ſtation, Greek allies oppoſe
Th' Athenian. All the force of Thebes array'd
Envenom'd Leontiades commands.
Greece in her lines ſits tranquil; either hoſt
Expects the other. By their augurs ſtill
Reſtrain'd, they ſhun the interdicted ford.
But of the river's plenteous ſtream depriv'd
By Mindarus, the Grecians fear a dearth
Of that all-cheering element. A rill
Flows from a diſtant ſpring, Gargaphia nam'd,
Their ſole reſource. Nor dread of other wants
Afflicts them leſs; their convoy is o'erpow'r'd
By Tiridates. Anxious all exhauſt
A night diſturb'd; the braveſt grieve the moſt,
[196] Leſt through ſevere neceſſity they quit
Inglorious their poſition. Morning ſhines;
When frequent ſignals from th' external guards,
Near and remote, ſucceſſive riſe. To arms
All ruſh. Along the ſpacious public way
From Megara, obſcuring duſt aſcends.
The ſound of trampling hoofs, and laden wheels,
With ſhouts of multitude, is heard. Behold,
Forth from the cloud, a meſſenger of joy,
Sicinus breaks, of bold auxiliar bands
Forerunner ſwift, and unexpected aid
In copious ſtores, at Megara's wide port
New-landed from Thermopylae. The camp
Admits, and hails in rapturous acclaim
Euboean ſtandards, Potidaea's ranks,
The laurell'd prieſt and hero, Timon ſage,
Th' ennobled heir of Lygdamis, and thee,
Meliſſa's brother, great Oïleus' ſon,
Friend of Leonidas, thee dear to all,
[197] O brave, and gen'rous Medon! From their tents
The chiefs aſſemble, when Sicinus ſpake:
Pauſanius, gen'ral of united Greece,
Accept theſe ample ſuccours from the hand
Of provident Themiſtocles: Poſſeſs'd
Of Oeta's paſſes, he the Perſian hoſt
Now with impenetrable toils beſets
Like beaſts of prey, entangled by the ſkill
Of ſome experienc'd hunter. Thou receive,
Juſt Ariſtides, from Timothea's love,
A ſuit of armour new, in Chalcis fram'd,
Without luxuriant ornament, or gold.
The ſhield, an emblem of thy ſoul, diſplays
Truth, equity and wiſdom, hand in hand.
This for her children, and thy own, conſign'd,
To her Euboean roof and pious care,
She bids thee lift and conquer. Thou reſtore
The little exiles in their native homes
[198] To dwell in peace. Her gift, ſhe adds, derives
Its only value from the wearer's worth.
In ſmiles, like Saturn at the tribute pure
Of fruits and flow'rs in ſingleneſs of heart
Paid by religion of the golden age,
Timothea's gift the righteous man receives,
Not righteous more than practic'd to endure
Heroic labours, ſoon by matchleſs deeds
To juſtify the giver. He began:
Confederated warriors, who withſtand
A tyrant's pow'r, unanimous confeſs
Your debt to great Themiſtocles, the lord
Of all-admir'd Timothea. He and I
Evince the fruits of concord. Ancient foes,
Through her united, cheerful we ſuſtain
Our public charge. From gen'ral union Greece
Expects her ſafety. Him ſucceſs hath crown'd
[199] In arms and counſel; whether on the main
His naval flag he ſpread, or ſhook the land
With his triumphant ſtep. O, hero-born
Pauſanias! glowing with Herculean blood,
Now under thee let Ariſtides hope
To ſhare ſucceſs, nor tarniſh with diſgrace
His armour new. Behold, yon river gleams
With hoſtile arms. Thoſe ſtandards on the left,
Well-known to Attic eyes, are proudly borne
By native Medes and Perſians. Treach'rous Thebes
Lifts her Cadmēan banner on the right.
A ſecond time Mardonius forms his hoſt
To proffer battle. He, perhaps, may ford
Aſopus, which Tiſamenus, the learn'd
In divination, hath forbid our ſteps
To paſs. Thy former numbers ſwift arrange.
New from a march let theſe auxiliars guard
The camp. To him Pauſanias thus apart:
[200]
Athenian, hear: Your citizens are vers'd
In this Barbarian warfare, yet unknown
To us. Let Spartans and Athenians change
Their ſtation. You, an adverſary try'd
At Marathon, and foil'd, will beſt oppoſe.
To vanquiſh Grecians we accuſtom'd long
Will yon Boeotians and Theſſalians face.
Such is my will. Conciſe the Attic ſage:
Thou haſt commanded what my willing thoughts
Themſelves devis'd, but waited firſt to hear.
Well canſt thou fight, Pauſanias. I will ſtrive
To imitate thy deeds and thy renown,
On whoſe increaſe our liberty and laws
Depend. This ſaid, they part. Behind the rear
Soon from the left th' Athenians, from the right
The Spartans file. Their ſtations they exchange,
Not by Mardonius unperceiv'd. He moves
His Medes and Perſians to the poſt of Thebes,
[201] Whence ſtill the Spartan phalanx they confront,
The Thebans ſtill th' Athenian. This obſerv'd,
Pauſanias ſwift to Ariſtides ſends
Strict charge his old poſition to reſume.
Now indignation high through all the tribes
Of Athens rages. Noble pride, and ſenſe
Of juſt deſert, in exclamation fierce
Break from th' exalted populace, who claim
Their ſoil for parent. Gods! from wing to wing
Muſt we like ſervile mercenary bands,
Like Helots, ſlaves to Lacedaemon born,
Be hurry'd thus obſequious to controul
From an imperious Spartan? Tegea firſt
Conteſted our prerogative. The pride
Of Sparta next removes us from the poſt,
Aſſign'd by public judgment; we comply.
Muſt we at her contemptuous nod reſume
The ſtation we forſook? Defending Greece,
[202] Ourſelves meanwhile deſerted and betray'd,
Twice have we loſt our city. What is left
Of our abandon'd reſidence, but duſt?
Let Greece defend herſelf. Let us remove
For the laſt time our ſtandards, hoiſt our ſails,
Our floating empire fix on diſtant ſhores,
Our houſehold gods, our progeny, and name,
On ſome new ſoil eſtabliſh, ſure to find
None ſo ingrate as this. The Athenians thus
Swell with ingenuous ire, as ocean boils,
Diſturb'd by Eurus, and the rude career
Of Boreas, threat'ning furious to ſurmount
All circumſcription. But as oft a cloud,
Diſtilling gentle moiſture as it glides,
Diſſolves the rigour of their boiſt'rous wings,
Till o'er the main ſerenity returns;
So from the mouth of Ariſtides fall
Compoſing words. Inſenſibly he ſooths
Their juſtly-irritated minds, and calms
[203] Their juſt reſentment. Righteouſneſs and truth,
How prevalent your efforts, when apply'd
By placid wiſdom! In theſe ſtrains he ſpake:
Ye men of Athens, at Laconia's call
To meet the flow'r of Aſia's hoſt in fight
Do ye repine? A ſtation, which implies
Pre-eminence of Attic worth, a taſk
Of all moſt glorious, which the martial race
Of Sparta ſhuns, and you ſhould covet moſt,
Ye Marathonian victors? In the fight
Of Greece, who trembles at a Median garb,
You are preferr'd for valour. Arms the ſame,
The ſame embroider'd veſtment on their limbs
Effeminate, the ſame unmanly ſouls,
Debas'd by vices and monarchal rule,
The Medes retain, as when their vanquiſh'd ranks
Fled heretofore. With weapons often try'd,
[204] With confidence by victories increas'd,
Not now for liberty and Greece alone
You march to battle; but to keep unſpoil'd
Your trophies won already, and the name,
Which Marathon and Salamis have rais'd,
Preſerve unſtain'd; that men may ever ſay,
Not through your leaders, not by fortune there
You triumph'd, but by fortitude innate,
And lib'ral vigour of Athenian blood.
He ſaid and march'd. All follow mute through love
Of Ariſtides, inexpreſſive love,
Which melts each boſom. Solemn they proceed,
Though lion-like in courage, at his call
Meek and obedient, as the fleecy breed
To wonted notes of Pan's conducting pipe.
Arriv'd, diſbanded, in their ſep'rate tents
Cecropia's tribes exhauſt a tedious night,
[205] Unviſited by ſleep. The morning breaks;
Inſtead of joy to gratulate her light
The tone of ſadneſs from dejected hearts,
Combining ſighs and groans in murmur deep,
Alarms the leader. Ariſtides, ſhew
Thy countenance amongſt us, haſty ſpake
The warrior-poet ent'ring: All thy camp
Enthuſiaſtic ſorrow hath o'erwhelm'd,
And ev'ry heart unbrac'd. By earlieſt dawn
Each left his reſtleſs couch. Their firſt diſcourſe
Was calm, and fill'd with narratives diſtinct
Of thy accompliſhments, and worth. At length
A ſoldier thus in agitation ſpake:
"Yet, O moſt excellent of Gods! O Jove!
"This is the man, we baniſh'd! In thy ſight
"The moſt excelling man, whoſe ſole offence
"Was all-tranſcending merit, from his home
"Our impious votes expell'd, by envy's ſpight
"Seduc'd. We drove him fugitive through Greece;
[206] "Where ſtill he held ungrateful Athens dear,
"For whoſe redemption from her ſloth he rous'd
"All Greece to arms." The ſoldier clos'd in floods
Of anguiſh. Inſtant through the concourſe ran
Contagious grief; as if the fiend Deſpair,
From his black chariot, wheeling o'er their heads
In clouds of darkneſs, dropp'd his pois'nous dews
Of melancholy down to chill the blood,
Unnerve the limbs, and fortitude diſſolve.
Speed, Ariſtides. By th' immortal pow'rs!
The feebleſt troop of Perſians in this hour
Might overcome the tame, deſponding force
Of thy dear country, miſtreſs long confeſs'd
Of eloquence and arts, of virtue now
Through thy unerring guidance. Here the ſage:
With-hold thy praiſe, good Aeſchylus—Be ſwift,
Arrange my fellow citizens in arms
Beneath each enſign of the ſev'ral tribes.
[207] I will appear a comforter, a friend,
Their public ſervant. Aeſchylus withdraws.
Soon Ariſtides, in his armour new,
Timothea's gift, advances from his tent.
Should from his throne th' Omnipotent deſcend
In viſitation of the human race,
While dreading his diſpleaſure; as to earth
All heads would bend in reverential awe,
Contrite and conſcious of their own miſdeeds;
So look th' Athenians, though in all the pomp
Of Mars array'd, and terrible to half
The world in battle. Down their corſlets bright
Tears trickle, tears of penitence and ſhame,
To ſee their injur'd patriot chief aſſume
In goodneſs heav'n's whole ſemblance, as he moves
Obſervant by, and through the weeping ranks
From man to man his lib'ral hand extends,
Conſoling. No reſentment he could ſhew,
[208] Who none had felt. Aſcending now on high,
He thus addreſs'd the penitential throng.
Rate not too high my merit, nor too low
Your own depreciate. Error is the lot
Of man; but lovely in the eye of heav'n
Is ſenſe of error. Better will you fight,
As better men from theſe auſpicious tears,
Which evidence your worth, and pleaſe the gods.
With ſtrength and valour, equity of mind
Uniting doubles fortitude. Your wives,
Your progeny and parents, laws and rites,
Were ne'er ſo well ſecur'd. The warlike bard
Roſe next: Requeſted by the ſev'ral tribes,
In their behalf I promiſe to thy rule
All acquieſcence. Bid them fight, retreat,
Maintain, or yield a ſtation; bid them face
Innumerable foes, ſurmount a foſs
Deep as the ſea, or bulwarks high as rocks;
[209] Subordination, vigilance, contempt
Of toil and death, thy dictates ſhall command.
Th' Oïlean hero, Timon, and the ſeed
Of Lygdamis, are preſent, who encamp'd
Among th' Athenians. They admire the chief,
Nor leſs the people. While the term of morn
Was paſſing thus, a ſummons to his tent
Calls Ariſtides. Aemneſtus there
Salutes him: Attic friend, a new event
In Sparta's quarter is to thee unknown;
From me accept th' intelligence. The ſun
Was newly ris'n, when o'er th' Aſopian flood
An Eaſtern herald paſs'd. Bèhind him tow'r'd
A giant-ſiz'd Barbarian. He approach'd
Our camp; before Pauſanias brought, he ſpake:
"I am Briareus, of Mardonian guards
"Commander. Through my delegated mouth
[210] "Thus ſaith the ſon of Gobryas: I have heard
"Among the Greeks your proweſs vaunted high,
"Ye men of Sparta, that in martial ranks
"You either kill, or periſh; but I find,
"Fame is a liar. I expected long,
"You would defy me on the field of war.
"Have I not ſeen you ſhift from wing to wing,
"The taſk impoſing on th' Athenians twice
"To face the Medes and Perſians; while yourſelves
"Sought with our ſervants to contend in arms,
"Ye brave in name alone! Since you decline
"To challenge us, we, prime of eaſtern blood,
"With equal numbers challenge you to prove,
"That you poſſeſs, what rumour hath proclaim'd,
"The boldeſt hearts in Greece. Acknowledge elſe
"Your boaſted valour bury'd in the grave
"With your Leonidas, o'erthrown and ſlain."
Pauſanias gave no anſwer, not through fear,
But humour torpid and moroſe, which wrapp'd
[211] In clouds of ſcorn his brow. Conſulting none,
With ſilent pride the giant he diſmiſs'd.
The challenger, in triumph turning back,
Repaſs'd the river. Aemneſtus paus'd;
A ſecond meſſenger appear'd. Behold,
In blooming vigour, fluſh'd by rapid haſte,
Young Menalippus, from the rev'rend ſeer
Megiſtias ſprung. Athenian chief, he ſaid,
Bring down thy active, miſſile-weapon'd troops;
On their immediate help Pauſanias calls.
A cloud of hoſtile cavalry inveſts
Laconia's quarter. Javelins, arrows, darts,
In ſheets diſcharg'd, have choak'd our laſt reſource,
Gargaphia's fountain, and our heavy bands
Perplex and harraſs. Ariſtides hears,
And iſſues ſwift his orders, while the youth
Continues thus: Thou knew'ſt of old my ſire,
Who at Thermopylae expir'd. The juſt
Conſort together. Ariſtides thus:
[212]
Ingenuous youth, for Greece thy father bled
A ſpotleſs victim, but for ever lives
Companion with Leonidas in fame.
By heav'n protected, thou ſhalt live to ſee
Their death aton'd; the period is not far.
Come on; my force is ready. Medon arms
With Haliartus, once the ſhepherd-ſwain
In Oeta's paſs to Menalippus known,
Whom both embrace with gratulation kind.
All march, but reach not Sparta's diſtant wing,
Before the Perſians, ſated with ſucceſs,
Fil'd back to join Mardonius. Secret he
Was communing with Mirzes, moſt renown'd
Among the Magi. Thus the ſatrap clos'd:
Through each occurrence undiſguis'd, O ſage!
My circumſtantial narrative hath run,
From where I enter'd firſt Trophonian ground,
[213] Till my deſcent and viſion in the cave.
Speak frankly, Mirzes—nor believe thy words,
Whatever black preſages they contain,
Subjoin'd to all Trophonius hath foretold,
Can change my firm reſolves, or blunt my ſword.
Solicitude for Perſia to exceſs
Miſled thee, ſatrap, to that graven god,
Rejoins the Magus, where, if ought beſides
The craft of Grecian, mercenary prieſts,
It was the demon Arimanius rul'd.
He long hath prompted that Elēan ſeer,
Who blunts thy ſword by divination falſe.
What thou doſt viſion call was empty dream;
Imagination heated, and diſturb'd,
A texture wild and various, intermix'd
With ill-match'd images of things, which laſt
Oppreſs'd thy mind. Thy own diſtemper fram'd
Th' unreal grot, where Deſtinies of air
[214] In apparition cut thy vital thread;
Their act was thine, the oracle thy own,
All vague creation of thy erring ſleep.
Briareus enters. At his tidings glad,
Which oſtentation ſounded, thus exults
Mardonius: Sayſt thou, Lacedaemon's chief
Was mute, when my defiance ſhook his ear?
Hence to the winds, ye auguries and ſigns!
Ye dreams and myſteries of Greece, avaunt!
Thou, Horomazes, not in marble fanes,
Nor woods oracular, and caves, doſt dwell.
It is the pow'r of evil there miſguides
Inſenſate mortals, and misguided me.
O, Artemiſia! now ſhall Gobryas' ſon
Look only, where no myſtery can lurk,
On ev'ry manly duty. Nothing dark
The tracks of honour ſhades. To chiefs ſelect,
Greek and Barbarian ſummon'd, he reveals
[215] His fix'd reſolves in council. They diſperſe
To execute his will. Among the reſt
Young Alexander, Macedonia's lord,
Speeds to his quarters in the ſolemn bow'r
Of Dircè. There Mardonius had decreed
A cenotaph of marble, newly-rais'd
To his deplor'd Maſiſtius. There the queen
Of Macedon, Phoebean Timon's child,
Bright Amarantha, like an ev'ning bird,
Whoſe trill delights a melancholy grove,
Oft with harmonious ſkill in Delphian ſtrains,
Th' ingenuous practice of her maiden days,
Sung of her father, and Maſiſtius good,
That friend, that known protector. She her lute
Was now in cadence with Dircaean rills
Attuning. Vocal melody ſhe breath'd,
Which at another ſeaſon might have won
Her lord from ſadneſs. Sighing, he her ſong
Thus interrupts: Ah! conſort dear, as fair,
[216] I come from Perſia's council; where the ſon
Of Gobryas, urg'd by fear of ſudden want
Through his wide hoſt, nor animated leſs
By Spartan ſilence at the challenge proud
His herald bore, determines to reject
The augur's warnings. O'er the ſtream he means
To lead th' embattled nations, and ſurpriſe
Ere dawn, at leaſt aſſail the camp of Greece
In ev'ry ſtation. If ſhe quits her lines,
Then will his num'rous cavalry ſurround
Her heavy phalanx on the level ſpace.
O that my anceſtor had never left
His Grecian home in Argos, nor acquir'd
Emathia's crown! I never then compell'd,
Had borne reluctant arms againſt a race
By friendſhip link'd, affinity, and blood,
With me and mine. What horror! cries the queen,
While fear ſurmiſes, that my huſband's ſword
May blindly cut my father's vital thread.
[217] But not alone ſuch parricide to ſhun
Should wake thy efforts. Alexander, no;
Thou muſt do more. Our mutual words recall,
When thou to Athens by Mardonius ſent
Didſt from thy fruitleſs ambaſſy rejoin
Me in Trachiniae; whence the Barb'rous chief
Renew'd his march to lay Cecropian domes
In freſh deſtruction. "What a lot is mine,
"Thou ſaidſt? If Xerxes triumph, I become
"A ſlave in purple. Should the Greeks prevail,
"Should that Euboean conqueror, the ſon
"Of Neocles be ſent th' Athenian ſcourge . . . .
I interrupted thus: "Awhile, dear lord,
"We muſt ſubmit to wear the galling maſk,
"Neceſſity impoſes. New events
"Are daily ſcatter'd by the reſtleſs palm
"Of fortune. Some will prove propitious. Wiſe,
[218] "To all benignant, Ariſtides ſerv'd
"By us in ſeaſon will befriend our ſtate."
Behold that ſeaſon come; let Grecian blood,
Which warms thy veins, inſpire thy prudent tongue
This night th' Athenian hero to appriſe
Of all theſe tidings. Thus ſecure the Greeks
Againſt ſurpriſal; timely thus oblige
The firſt of men, and magnify thy name
In Greece for ages. Here the youthful king:
Though by oppreſſive Xerxes forc'd to war,
Shall I abuſe the confidence repos'd
By great Mardonius, qualify'd to win
Regard at firſt, which intercourſe augments?
I will do all by honour's rules allow'd,
Will act a neutral part, withdraw my troops,
Ev'n at the hazard of my crown and life,
If ſuch my queen's injunction. Ah! forbear
[219] To frown; what means this fluſhing of thy cheek?
Muſt I betray Mardonius to his foes?
She ſpake abrupt; he ſtarted at her look:
If forc'd obedience to a tyrant binds,
If more, than I, Mardonius holds thy heart,
Who has thy deareſt confidence abus'd,
Thou wilt diſcredit my accuſing tongue.
Could from this empty monument the ſhade
Of juſt Maſiſtius riſe, his awful voice
Would verify a ſtory, till this hour
From thee conceal'd. My virgin hand in blood
Of one Barbarian miſcreant once I ſtain'd;
Not to pollute my hymeneal ſtate,
Nor lay Mardonius gaſping at my feet
Like Mithridates in the ſtreets of Thebes,
This hateful camp for Delphi I forſook,
Fled from a lawleſs and preſumptuous flame,
Inſulting me, thy queen, who boaſt deſcent
[220] From holy Timon. While for his behoof
Collecting Greeks againſt their country's cauſe,
Thyſelf was abſent, and Mardonius left
My only guardian; ſcorning every tie,
His daring importunity of love
Aſſail'd thy conſort's ear. What hope, what truſt
In ſuch Barbarians? All their faith expir'd
With good Maſiſtius. Should the Greeks be foil'd,
How long will Macedon thy realm, how long
Will Amarantha be ſecurely held
Againſt a ſatrap, whoſe ungovern'd will
May covet both? Of this, O prince, be ſure,
Her part of ſhame will Amarantha bear
But brief ſhall be its date. The poniard ſtill,
Which once preſerv'd my honour, I poſſeſs
To cut my period of diſhonour ſhort.
The prince impatient, yet attentive, heard
Her words; when thus the meaſure of his wrath
From his full boſom rapidly o'erflow'd.
[221]
O impious breach of hoſpitable ties!
O violation baſe of rights and laws,
Exacting ſwift revenge from heav'n and man,
From me the firſt! Unparallel'd in form,
O like the ſiſter of thy Delphian god
Immaculate! Did ſacrilegious hands
This pure abode of chaſtity aſſail
With profanation? Leſs a friend to Greece,
Than foe to falſe Mardonius, now I go.
He ſaid, and order'd forth his ſwifteſt ſteed.
By moon-light, twinkling on a ſhaded track,
He urg'd his ſecret way beyond the ſprings
Aſopian; whence an outlet ſhort and cloſe
Through mount Cithaeron to th' adjacent line
Of Ariſtides led. Meantime the ſound
Of ſteps advancing Amarantha heard;
She heard, and ſaw Mardonius. He his pace
Stopp'd ſhort, inclining with obeiſance low
[222] His ſtately frame. Through terror and amaze
To earth ſhe rigid grew, of pow'r to fly
Depriv'd. He diſtant ſpake: Imperial dame,
That he offended once, Mardonius makes
A penitent confeſſion. O! that fault
To no innate diſcourteſy impute,
But Eaſtern manners, not as Grecian pure;
The ignorance which err'd, by thee is chang'd
To veneration. From my preſence here,
Which ne'er before intruded on this ſeat
Of thy retirement, do not too ſevere
A new offence interpret; reſt aſſur'd,
A ſolemn cauſe impels. He ſilent waits,
Nor moves; till, gliding ſilently away,
Like Dian fair and chaſte, but leſs ſevere,
The queen withdrew, and tow'rds a gallant chief,
Perhaps by her devices near his fall,
Thus far relented; for the private wrong
The frank atonement rais'd a generous ſigh;
[223] Againſt the public enemy of Greece,
Unquenchable ſhe burn'd. Now left alone,
Before the cenotaph he kneel'd and ſpake:
To-morrow, O! to-morrow let my helm
Blaze in thy beams auſpicious, ſpirit bright,
Whoſe name adorns this honorary tomb!
The weight of Aſia's mighty weal, the weight
Of fifty myriads on thy friend augments
From hour to hour. Yet purg'd of gloomy thoughts,
Clear of ambition, ſave to win the palm
Of victory for Xerxes, I approach
Thy ſuppliant. Thou an interceſſor pure
For me, deceiv'd by Grecian ſeers and gods,
Before the throne of Horomazes ſtand,
That he may bleſs my ſtandards, if alone
To guard ſo many worſhippers, and ſpread
By their ſucceſs his celebrated name
Through each Heſperian clime. Now grant a ſign,
[224] Maſiſtius, ere thy faithful friend depart,
Fix'd, as he is, to vanquiſh, or to fall.
He ceas'd. Quick rapture dims his cheated eyes.
He ſees in thought a canopy of light,
Deſcending o'er the tomb. In joy he ſpeeds
To preparation for the deſtin'd march.
End of the Twenty-eighth Book.
THE ATHENAID.
BOOK the TWENTY-NINTH.
[225]AMONG the Greeks their firſt nocturnal watch
Was near its period. From Laconia's wing
Return'd, th' Athenian leader thus beſpake
Sicinus: Worthy of my truſt, give ear.
Within ſix hours the army will decamp
To chuſe a friendlier ſtation; ſo the chiefs
In gen'ral council, as Gargaphia choak'd
Withholds her wonted ſuccour, have reſolv'd.
At Juno's fane, yet undeſpoil'd, though near
Plataea's ruins, ev'ry band is charg'd
[226] To reaſſemble. . . . Suddenly appears
A centinel, who ſpeaks: A ſtranger, near
The trenches waits, thee; us in peaceful words
Saluting, he importunate requires
Thy inſtant preſence. Ariſtides haſtes;
To whom the ſtranger: Bulwark of this camp,
Hear, credit, weigh, the tidings which I bear.
Mardonius, preſs'd by fear of threat'ning want,
At night's fourth watch the fatal ſtream will paſs,
Inflexibly determin'd, though forbid
By each diviner, to aſſail your hoſt
With all his numbers. I againſt ſurpriſe
Am come to warn you; thee alone I truſt,
My name revealing. I, O man divine!
I, who thus hazard both my realm, and life,
Am Alexander, Macedonian friend
Of Athens. Kindly on a future day
Remember me. He ſaid, and ſpurr'd his ſteed
Back through the op'ning of Cithaeron's hill.
[227]
By Ariſtides inſtantly detach'd,
Sicinus calls each leader to attend
Pauſanias. Attica's great captain joins
The council full. His tidings he relates,
Concluding thus with exhortation ſage:
We deſtitute of water had reſolv'd
To change our ſtation. Now without a pauſe
We muſt anticipate th' appointed hour
For this retreat, nor ling'ring tempt the force
Of ſquadrons ſwift to intercept our march.
All move your ſtandards. Let Mardonius bring
A hoſt diſcourag'd by their augur's voice;
Who are forbid to paſs the fatal ſtream,
But are compell'd by famine and deſpair
To inauſpicious battle. We to heav'n
Obedient, heav'n's aſſiſtance ſhall obtain.
A ſituation, ſafeguard to our flanks
Againſt ſuperior and ſurrounding horſe,
[228] In ſight of burnt Plataea, of her fanes
Defac'd, and violated gods, I know;
There will aſſure you conqueſt. All aſſent.
At once the diff'rent Grecians, who compoſe
The center, lift their enſigns. O'er the plain
Firſt ſwiftly tow'rds Plataean Juno's dome
Speeds Adimantus. In array more ſlow
The reſt advance. Cleander guards the rear;
Brave youth, whom chance malicious will bereave
Of half the laurels to his temples due.
Th' Athenians arm delib'rate; in whoſe train
Illuſtrious Medon ranks a faithful troop,
His hundred Locrians. Haliartus there,
There Timon's few, but gen'rous Delphians ſtand,
By Ariſtides all enjoin'd to watch
Laconia's hoſt. That ſternly-tutor'd race,
To paſſion cold, he knew in action ſlow,
[229] In conſultation torpid. Anxious long
He waits, and fears the eyelids of the morn,
Too ſoon uncloſing, may too much reveal.
Sicinus, haſt'ning to Laconia's camp,
Finds all confus'd, ſubordination loſt
In altercation, wond'rous in that breed
Of diſcipline and manners, nor leſs ſtrange,
Than if the laws of nature in the ſky
Diſſolv'd, ſhould turn the moon and planets looſe
From their accuſtom'd orbits, to obey
The ſun no longer. When his firſt command
Pauſanias iſſu'd for the march, nor thought
Of diſobedience to diſturb his pride;
One leader, Amompharetus, whoſe band
Of Pitanè rever'd him, as the firſt
Among the brave, refuſal ſtern oppos'd,
Proteſting firm, he never would retreat
Before Barbarians. Aemneſtus ſwift,
[230] Callicrates and others, long approv'd
In arms, entreat the Spartan to ſubmit,
Nor diſconcert the ſalutary plan
Of gen'ral council. Sullen he replies:
Not of that council, I will ne'er diſgrace
The Spartan name. But all the Greeks withdrawn
Expect our junction at Saturnia's dome,
Callicrates and Aemneſtus plead.
Would'ſt thou expoſe thy countrymen to face
Unaided yonder multitude of Medes,
Untry'd by us in combat? Yes, rejoins
The pertinacious man, ere yield to flight.
His troop applauded. Now contention harſh
Reſounded high, exhauſting precious hours,
The Spartan march retarding; when arriv'd
Sicinus witneſs to the wild debate.
At length Pauſanias knit his haughty brow
[231] At Amompharetus, and ſpake: Weak man,
Thou art inſane. The chaſtiſement thy due,
Our time allows not. Inſtant march, or ſtay
Behind and periſh. In his two-fold graſp
The reſtive Spartan lifting from the ground
A pond'rous ſtone, before the gen'ral's feet
Plac'd it, and thus: Againſt diſhoneſt flight
From ſtrangers vile, I reſt my ſuffrage there,
Nor will forſake it. To Sicinus turn'd
Pauſanias: Tell th' Athenians what thou ſee'ſt.
I by Cithaeron's ſide to Juno's fane
Am haſt'ning; charge their phalanx to proceed.
Sicinus back to Ariſtides flies.
His ready phalanx from the lines he draws,
Wing'd with his horſe and bowmen; yet his courſe
Suſpends at Sparta's camp. There ſullen, fix'd
Like ſome old oak's deep-rooted, knotted trunk,
[232] Which hath endur'd the tempeſt-breathing months
Of thrice a hundred winters, yet remains
Unſhaken, there amidſt his ſilent troop
Sat Amompharetus. To him the ſage:
Unwiſe, though brave, tranſgreſſing all the laws
Of diſcipline, though Spartan born and train'd;
Ariſe, o'ertake thy gen'ral and rejoin.
Thy country's mercy by ſome rare exploit
Win to forgive thy capital default,
Exceſs of courage. Where Pauſanias, arm'd
With pow'r unlimited in war, where all
The Spartan captains in perſuaſion fail'd,
Requir'd not leſs than Jove himſelf, or Jove
In Ariſtides to prevail. Uproſe
The warrior, late inflexible; yet ſlow,
In ſtricteſt regularity of march,
Led his well-order'd files. Correcting thus
[233] The erring Spartan, Ariſtides ſwept
Acroſs the plain to fill the gen'ral hoſt.
Not yet the twilight, harbinger of morn,
Had overcome the ſtars. The Perſian ſcouts,
Who rang'd abroad, obſerving that no ſound
Was heard, no watch-word through the Grecian lines,
Adventur'd nigh, and found an empty ſpace.
Swift they appris'd Mardonius, who had form'd
His whole array. Encircled by his chiefs
Greek and Barbarian, firſt he gave command,
That ev'ry hand provide a blazing torch
To magnify his terrors, and with light
Facilitate purſuit; then gladſome thus
Addreſs'd his friends of Theſſaly and Thebes:
Now Lariſſaean Thorax, and the reſt
Of Aleuadian race; now Theban lords,
[234] Judge of the Spartans juſtly. Vaunted high
For unexampled proweſs, them you ſaw
Firſt change their place, impoſing on the ſons
Of Athens twice the formidable taſk
To face my choſen Perſians; next they gave
To my defiance no reply, and laſt
Are fled before me. Can your augurs ſhew
A better omen, than a foe diſmay'd?
But, kind allies, to you my friendly care
Shall now be prov'd. Theſe thunderbolts of war,
As you eſteem them, will Mardonius chuſe
For his opponents. Level your attack
Entire againſt th' Athenians. None I dread;
Yet by the ſun leſs terrible to me
Is that Pauſanias, head of Sparta's race,
Than Ariſtides. Him Maſiſtius lov'd;
If you o'erthrow, preſerve him; in the name
Of your own gods I charge you. Mithra, ſhine
On me no longer, if in grateful warmth
[235] Confeſſing ev'ry benefit receiv'd,
I do not claſp that guardian of my friend!
Now, Perſians, mount your bold Niſaean ſteeds,
Alert your targets graſp, your lances poiſe;
The word is Cyrus. Royal ſpirit! look
On me, deriv'd from thy illuſtrious blood,
Yet not in me illuſtrious, if this day
My hand, or courage faint. Look down on theſe,
Sons of thy matchleſs veterans. The fire,
Which at thy breath o'erſpread the vanquiſh'd Eaſt,
Light in their offs'pring; that the loud report
Of their achievements on Aſopian banks,
Far as the floods of Ganges may proclaim
The weſtern world a vaſſal to thy throne.
He ſaid, and ſpurr'd his courſer. Through the ford
He daſhes, follow'd by th' impetuous ſpeed
Of tall equeſtrian bands in armour ſcal'd
With gold, on trappings of embroider'd gloſs
[236] Superbly ſeated. Perſians next and Medes
Advance, an infantry ſelect, whoſe mail
Bright-gilt, or ſilver'd o'er, augments the light
Of ſparkling brands, innumerably wav'd
By nations, plunging through the turbid flood
In tumult rude, emblazing, as they paſs,
The ſkies, the waters, and with direſt howl
Diſtracting both. Like ſavage wolves they ruſh,
As with ferocious fangs to rend the Greeks,
To gnaw their fleſh, and ſatiate in their blood
The greedy thirſt of maſſacre. In chief
Here Mindarus commands, by Midias join'd
And Tiridates, powerleſs all to curb,
Much more to marſhal ſuch Barbarian throngs,
Which, like a tumbling tide on level ſtrands,
When new the moon impels it, ſoon o'erwhelm'd
Th' Aſopian mead; or like the mightier ſurge,
When ireful Neptune ſtrikes the ocean's bed
Profound. Upheav'd, the bottom lifts and rolls
[237] A ridge of liquid mountains o'er th' abodes
Of ſome offending nation; while the heav'ns
With coruſcation red his brother Jove
Inflames, and rocks with thunder's roar the poles.
Th' auxiliar Greeks compact and ſilent march
In ſtrength five myriads. In arrangement juſt
The foot by Leontiades, the wings
Of horſe by Thorax and Emathia's king
Were led. Now, long before th' unwieldy maſs
Of his diſorder'd multitude advanc'd,
Mardonius, ruſhing through the vacant lines
Of Lacedaemon, tow'rds Cithaeron bent
His ſwift career. Faint rays began to ſtreak
The third clear morning of that fruitful month,
The laſt in ſummer's train. Immortal day!
Which all the Muſes conſecrate to fame.
O thou! exalted o'er the laurell'd train,
High as the ſweet Calliopè is thron'd
[238] Above her ſiſters on the tuneful mount,
O father, hear! Great Homer, let one ray
From thy celeſtial light an humble ſon
Of thine illuminate; leſt freedom mourn
Her choſen race diſhonour'd in theſe ſtrains.
Thou too, my eldeſt brother, who enjoy'ſt
The paradiſe thy genius hath portray'd,
Propitious ſmile. Lend vigour to a Muſe,
Who in her love of freedom equals thine,
But to ſuſtain her labours from thy ſtore
Muſt borrow language, ſentiment and verſe.
Cithaeron's ridge, from where Aſopus roſe,
Stretch'd to Plataea, with a ſouthern fence
Confining one broad level, which the floods
From their Heſperian head in eaſtward flow
Meandring parted. O'er the mountain's foot
His courſe Pauſanias deſtin'd, where the ſoil
Abrupt and ſtony might the dread career
[239] Of Perſia's cavalry impede. His ranks,
Accompany'd by Tegea's faithful breed,
Had meaſur'd now ten furlongs of their march
Half o'er the plain to reach the friendly ground;
Then halted near an Eleuſinian dome
Of Ceres; thence they mov'd, but timely firſt
Were join'd by Amompharetus. At length
The choſen track was gain'd. Pauſanias caſt
His eyes below firſt northward, and ſurvey'd
Between the river and his empty camp
A blaze involving all the plain. The yell
Of mouths Barbarian, of unnumber'd feet
Th' impetuous tread, which cruſh'd the groaning turf,
The neigh of horſes, and their echoing hoofs,
Th' inſulting claſh of ſhields and ſabres, ſhook
The theatre of mountains; hollow-voic'd,
Their cavities rebellow'd, and enlarg'd
The hideous ſound. His eyes the orient dawn
[240] Attracted next. Saturnia's roof he view'd,
But diſtant ſtill, around whoſe ſacred walls
The firſt-departed Grecians ſtood in arms
Beneath wide-floating banners, wiſh'd more nigh.
There was the Genius of Plataea ſeen
By fancy's ken, a hov'ring mourner ſeen,
O'er his renown'd, but deſolated ſeat,
One maſs of ruins mountainous. He mark'd
Th' Athenians traverſing the meads below
In full battalia. Reſolute, ſedate,
Without one ſhield in diſarray, they mov'd
To join the gen'ral hoſt. Beyond the ſtream
In proſpect roſe the battlements of Thebes;
Whoſe ſons perfidious, but in battle firm,
With phalanges of other hoſtile Greeks
Spread on the bank, and menace to ſurmount
The ſhallow current for ſome dire attempt.
To Aemneſtus, marching by his ſide,
Pauſanias turns; the army he commands
[241] To halt; while, maſt'ring all unmanly fear,
His haughty phlegm ſerenely thus fulfils
A leader's function: Spartan, we in vain
Precipitate our junction with allies
At Juno's diſtant fane; the hour is paſt;
The Pitanēan mutineer the cauſe.
Seeſt thou yon Perſian ſquadrons? They precede
The whole Barbarian multitude. The ſtorm
Is gath'ring nigh; we ſep'rate muſt abide
The heavy weight of this unequal ſhock,
Unleſs th' Athenians, ſtill in ſight, impart
A preſent aid. A herald ſwift he ſends
To Ariſtides, with this weighty charge:
"All Greece is now in danger, and the blood
"Of Hercules in me. Athenian help
"Is wanted here, their miſſile-weapon'd force."
Laſt he addreſs'd Tiſamenus: Provide
The ſacrifice for battle—Warriors, form.
[242]
Slain is the victim; but th' inſpecting ſeer
Reveals no ſign propitious. Now full nigh
The foremoſt Perſian horſe diſcharge around
Their javelins, darts, and arrows. Sparta's chief
In calm reſpect of inauſpicious heav'n
Directs each ſoldier at his foot to reſt
The paſſive ſhield, ſubmiſſive to endure
Th' aſſault, and watch a ſignal from the gods.
A ſecond time unfavorable prove
The victim's entrails. Unremitted ſhow'rs
Of pointed arms diſtribute wounds and death.
Oh! diſcipline of Sparta! Patient ſtands
The wounded ſoldier, ſees a comrade fall,
Yet waits permiſſion from his chief to ſhield
His own, or brother's head. Among the reſt
Callicrates is pierc'd; a mortal ſtroke
His throat receives. Him celebrate, O muſe!
Him in hiſtoric rolls deliver'd down
[243] To admiration of remoteſt climes
Through lateſt ages. Theſe expiring words
Beyond Olympian chaplets him exalt,
Beyond his palms in battle: Not to die
For Greece, but dying, ere my ſword is drawn,
Without one action worthy of my name,
I grieve. He ſaid, and fainting on the breaſt
Of Aemneſtus, breath'd in ſpouting blood
His laſt, departing thy attendant meet,
Leonidas, in regions of the bleſs'd.
A ſecond victim bleeds; the gath'ring foes
To multitude are grown; the ſhow'rs of death
Increaſe; then melted into flowing grief
Pauſanian pride. He, tow'rds the fane remote
Of Juno lifting his afflicted eyes,
Thus ſuppliant ſpake: O Goddeſs! let my hopes
Be not defeated, whether to obtain
A victory ſo glorious, or expire
Without diſhonour to Herculean blood.
[244]
Amidſt the pray'r Tegēan Chileus, free
From ſtern controul of Lacedaemon's laws,
No longer waits inactive; but his band
Leads forth, and firmly checks th' inſulting foe.
The ſacrifice is proſp'rous, and the word
For gen'ral onſet by Pauſanias giv'n.
Then, as a lion, from his native range
Confin'd a captive long, if once his chain
He breaks, with mane erect and eyes of fire
Aſſerts his freedom, ruſhing in his ſtrength
Reſiſtleſs forth; ſo Sparta's phalanx turns
A face tremendous on recoiling ſwarms
Of ſquadron'd Perſians, who to Ceres' fane
Are driv'n. But there Mardonius, like the god
Of thunders ranging o'er th' ethereal vault
Thick clouds on clouds impregnated with ſtorms,
His choſen troops embattles. Bows and darts
Rejecting, gallantly to combat cloſe
They urge undaunted efforts, and to death
[245] Their ground maintain, in courage, or in might
Not to the Greeks inferior, but in arms,
In diſcipline and conduct. Parties ſmall,
Or ſingle warriors, here with vigour wield
The battle-ax and ſabre; others ruſh
Among the ſpears, to wrench away, or break
By ſtrength of hands, the weapons of their foes.
But fierceſt was the conteſt, where ſublime
The ſon of Gobryas from a ſnow-white ſteed
Shot terror. There ſelected warriors charg'd,
A thouſand vet'rans, by their fathers train'd,
Who ſhar'd renown with Cyrus. On the right,
Cloſe to his gen'ral's ſide, Briareus graſp'd
A ſtudded mace, Pangaeus on the left,
Nam'd from a Thracian hill. The briſtly front
Of Sparta's phalanx, with intrepid looks
Mardonius fac'd, and thunder'd out theſe words:
[246]
Come, twice-defy'd Pauſanias, if thou hear'ſt;
Thy Spartan proweſs on Mardonius try.
Pauſanias heard; but ſhunn'd retorting words,
In ſaturnine diſdain laconic thus
His men addreſſing: Yours the ſoldier's part,
The gen'rals mine; advance not, but receive
Theſe looſe Barbarians on your ſteady points.
Not one of Perſia's breed, though early train'd,
So ſtrong a javelin as Mardonius lanc'd,
Or in its aim ſo true. Three brothers grac'd
The foremoſt line of Sparta, natives all
Of ſweet Amyclae, all in age and arms
Mature, their ſplendid lineage from the ſtock
Of Tyndarus deriving. Them on earth
Three javelins, whirl'd ſucceſſive, laid ſupine,
An effort of Mardonius. Three in rank
Behind partake the ſame reſiſtleſs doom,
[247] Three bold companions in the hardy chace
Of boars on green Taÿgetus. Supply'd
With weapons new, the phalanx ſtill to gore
He perſeveres unweary'd, not unlike
Some irritated porcupine, of ſize
Portentous, darting his envenom'd quills
Through each aſſailant. In Laconia's front
So many warriors and their weapons fall'n,
Leave in her triple tire of pointed ſteel
A void for ſwift impreſſion of her foes.
In ruſh Briareus and Pangaeus huge,
Whoſe maces ſend freſh numbers to the ſhades.
The op'ning widens. On his vaulting ſteed
Mardonius follows, like enſanguin'd Mars
By his auxiliars grim, diſmay and rage,
Preceded. Rivalling the lightning's beams,
The hero's ſabre bright and rapid wheels
Aloft in air. A comet thus inflames
The cheek of night; pale mortals view in dread
[248] Th' unwonted luſtre, tranſient tho' it be,
Among the lights of heav'n. Pauſanias rous'd,
Advancing, at Briareus points his lance.
Meantime ſix Spartans of the younger claſs
Aſſail Mardonius. One his bridle graſp'd;
The Perſian ſabre at the ſhoulder cloſe
Lopp'd off th' audacious arm. Another ſtoop'd
To ſeize the chieftain's foot, and drag him down;
Pois'd on his ſtirrup, he in ſunder ſmote
The Spartan's waiſt. Another yet approach'd,
Who at a blow was cloven to the chin.
Two more the gen'rous horſe, uprearing, daſh'd
Maim'd and diſabled to the ground; the laſt
His teeth disfigur'd, and his weight oppreſs'd.
As ſome tall-maſted ſhip, on ev'ry ſide
Aſſail'd by pinnaces and ſkiffs whoſe ſtrength
Is number, drives her well-directed prow
Through all their feeble cluſters; while her chief
Elate contemplates from her lofty deck
[249] The hoſtile keels upturn'd, and floating dead,
Where'er ſhe ſteers victorious: ſo the ſteed
Niſaean tramples on Laconian ſlain,
Triumphant ſo Mardonius from his ſeat
Looks down. But fate amidſt his triumph ſhews
Briareus yielding to a forceful blow
Of ſtern Pauſanias, and Pangaeus pierc'd
By Amompharetus. Their giant bulks,
Thrown proſtrate, craſh three long-protended rows
Of Spartan ſpears. Wide-branching thus huge oaks,
By age decay'd, or twiſted from the roots
By rending whirlwinds, in their pond'rous fall
Lay deſolate the under ſhrubs, and trees
Of young, unſtable growth. More awful ſtill,
Another object ſtrikes the ſatrap's eye;
With nodding plumes, and formidable ſtride,
Lo! Aemneſtus. Aſia's gen'ral feels
Emotions now, which trouble, not degrade
[250] His gen'rous ſpirit. Not, as Priam's ſon
On ſight of dire Achilles, thoughts of flight
Poſſeſs Mardonius, but to wait the foe,
And if to die, with honour die, if live
Enjoy a life of fame. His giant guard
Around him cloſe; one levels at the caſque
Of Aemneſtus; but the weighty mace
Slides o'er the Spartan's ſlanting ſhield, and ſpends
Its rage in duſt. The ſtooping giant leaves
His flank unguarded, and admits a ſtroke,
Which penetrates the entrails. Down he ſinks,
Another tow'r of Aſia's battle ſtrewn
In hideous ruin. Soon a ſecond bleeds,
A third, a fourth. The fifth in poſture ſtands
To cruſh the victor with a blow well-aim'd;
Him Menalippus at the brawny pit
Of his uplifted arm tranſpiercing deep
Diſables. Aemneſtus ſtruggles long
To grapple with his victim, and invokes
[251] Leonidas aloud. The active ſon
Of Gobryas plants throughout the Spartan ſhield
A wood of Javelins. His Niſaean horſe,
Careering, vaulting, with his fangs and hoofs
Protects his lord. The guards, who ſtill furviv'd,
With faithful zeal their whole united ſtrength
Exert unwearied for a lib'ral chief.
Some paces backward Aemneſtus forc'd,
Impels his heel againſt a loos'ning ſtone,
Broad, craggy, ſcarce inferior to the weight
Diſcharg'd by Hector on the maſſy bars
Of Agamemnon's camp. The Spartan quick
From his left arm removes the heavy ſhield,
With javelins thick transfix'd. From earth he lifts
The caſual weapon, and with caution marks
The fatal time and diſtance. O'er the heads
Of thy ſurrounding guard the fragment hurl'd
Deſcends, Mardonius, on thy manly cheſt,
And lays thee o'er thy courſer's back ſupine
[252] Without ſenſation. O, illuſtrious man,
Whoſe dazzling virtues through thy frailties beam'd!
Magnanimous, heroic, gen'rous, pure
In friendſhip, warm in gratitude! This doom
At once diſſolves all interval of pain
To mind, or body. Not a moment more
Haſt thou, ingenuous ſatrap, to repine,
Or grieve. Go, hero, thy Maſiſtius greet,
Where no ambition agitates the breaſt,
No gloomy veil of ſuperſtition blinds,
No friend can die, no battle can be loſt!
This fall, to Greece deciſive as to heav'n
Enceladus o'erthrown, when, thunder-pierc'd,
He under Aetna's torrid maſs was chain'd,
Diſcomfits Aſia's hopes. In freſh array
Meantime the phalanx, by Pauſanias form'd,
Proceeds entire. Facility of ſkill
Directs their weapons; pace by pace they move
[253] True to the cadence of accuſtom'd notes
From gentle flutes, which trill the Doric lays
Of Alcman and Terpander. Slow they gain
The ground, which Perſia quits, till Chileus bold
With his Tegaeans gores the hoſtile flanks;
Confuſion then, and gen'ral rout prevail.
The fugitives proclaim Mardonius ſlain;
The whole Barbarian multitude diſperſe
In blind diſmay; cool Mindarus in vain
Attempts to check their flight; all ſeek the camp;
And now the Spartan flutes, combin'd with ſhouts
Of loud Tegaeans ſtimulate his ſpeed
Acroſs the ford. His trenches he regains,
And there to Midias, Tiridates brave,
And choſen ſatraps, gath'ring at his call,
Thus ſpake: The flow'r of Aſia in the duſt
Reclines his glories. Feel your loſs like me,
Not overcome by ſorrow, or ſurpriſe
[254] At changes natural to man, the ſport
Of his own paſſions, and uncertain chance.
Viciſſitudes of fortune I have prov'd,
One day been foil'd, a conqueror the next.
In arduous actions though experienc'd minds
Have much to fear, not leſs of hope remains
To animate the brave. Amid this ſtorm
The throne of Cyrus, your exalted ſires,
Your own nobility, recall; deſerve
The rank, you hold; occaſion now preſents
For ſuch a trial. To uphold my king,
My country's name, and piouſly revenge
My kindred blood new-ſpilt, my ſword, my arm,
My life, I deſtine. Multitude is left,
Surpaſſing twenty myriads; ev'n deſpair
Befriends us; famine threat'ning, and the dread
Of mercileſs reſentment in our foes,
May force theſe rally'd numbers to obtain
From their own ſwords relief. Behold your camp,
[255] Strong-fenc'd and bulwark'd by Maſiſtian care,
A preſent refuge. See th' auxiliar Greeks
Entire, advancing on th' inferior bands
Of Athens. Still may Xerxes o'er the Weſt
Extend his empire, and regret no part
Of this diſaſter, but Mardonius ſlain.
Aſſume your poſts, for ſtern defence provide.
End of the Twenty-ninth Book.
THE ATHENAID.
BOOK the THIRTIETH.
[256]O God of light and wiſdom! thee the Muſe
Once more addreſſes. Thou didſt late behold
The Salaminian brine with Aſian blood
Diſcolour'd. Climbing now the ſteep aſcent
To thy meridian, for a ſtage of war
More horrible and vaſt, thy beaming eye
Prepare. Thou over wide Plataea's field,
Chang'd to a crimſon lake, ſhall drive thy car,
Nor ſee a pauſe to havoc, till the Weſt
In his dark chamb rs ſhuts thy radiant face.
[257]
Now had the herald, to Cecropia's chief
Sent by Pauſanias, in his name requir'd
Immediate aid. No doubt ſuſpends the haſte
Of Ariſtides; who arrays his ranks
With cordial purpoſe to ſuſtain that ſtrength
Of Greece, Laconia's phalanx. Lo! in ſight
New clouds of battle hov'ring. He diſcerns
Th' array of Leontiades, with wings
Of Macedonic, and Theſſalian horſe;
Then calls Sicinus: Friend, he ſaid, obſerve;
Robuſt and bold, to perfidy inur'd,
Not leſs than arms, yon Thebans croſs our march.
I truſt the juſtice of our cauſe will foil
Them, thrice our number; but events like this
Are not in man's diſpoſal. If I fall,
Not raſhly, good Sicinus, reſt aſſur'd,
Themiſtocles ſurvives. The gate of Greece
He guards, Euboea and Theſſalia holds,
Thoſe granaries of plenty. Eaſtern ſhores
[258] With all his force, perhaps victorious now,
Xanthippus will relinquiſh, and maintain
The ſea auxiliar to thy prudent lord;
Thus all be well, though Ariſtides bleeds:
This to Themiſtocles report. But go,
Fly to Cleander; him and all the Greeks
Rouſe from the fane of Juno to the field;
Both Spartans and Athenians want their aid.
Thy tribe, undaunted Cimon, place behind
Olympiodorus; if his active bands
Repel Theſſalia's horſe, avoid purſuit;
Wheel on the flank of Thebes. Here Delphi's prieſt:
Behold Emathia's ſtandards front thy right;
With Haliartus, and Oileus' ſon,
Let me be ſtation'd there. I truſt, the ſpouſe
Of Amarantha, at her father's ſight,
Will ſheath a ſword unvoluntary drawn,
Nor ties of hoſpitality and blood
[259] Profane to ſerve Barbarians. I accept
The gen'rous offer, ſage and gallant ſeer,
Spake Ariſtides. In that wing thy friend,
The learn'd and manly Aeſehylus preſides.
But, to thy god appealing, I enjoin
Thy rev'rend head to cover in retreat
Its unpolluted hairs, ſhould fire of youth,
Or yet more ſtrong neceſſity, impel
Thy ſon to battle. Here th' enraptur'd prieſt:
The inſpiration of my god I feel;
A glorious day to Athens I preſage,
I ſee her laurels freſh. Apollo joins
His ſiſter Pallas to preſerve a race,
Which all the Muſes love. His awful power
Will chain the monſter parricide, and rouſe
The Grecian worth in Alexander's heart.
Theſe animated accents fire the line.
Within the meaſure of an arrow's flight
[258] [...][259] [...][260] Each army now rank'd oppoſite. A thought
Of piety and prudence from his place
Mov'd Ariſtides. Single he advanc'd
Between the hoſts; offenſive arms he left
Behind him; ev'n his plumed helm reſign'd
Gave to his placid looks their lib'ral flow.
Before him hung his ample ſhield alone,
Timothea's gift, whoſe ſculptur'd face diſplay'd
Truth, equity, and wiſdom hand in hand,
As in his breaſt. Exalting high in tone
His gracious voice, he thus adjur'd his foes:
Ye men deriv'd from Cadmus, who in Greece
Eſtabliſh'd letters, fruitful mother ſince
Of arts and knowledge, to Barbarian ſpoil
This hour expos'd; ye ſons of Locris, hear,
Theſſalians, Phocians, Dorians, all compell'd
By ſavage force to arm againſt your friends,
Of language, rites and manners with your own
[261] Congenial: Ariſtides, in the name
Of all the Grecian deities, invokes
Your own ſenſations to diſarm your hands
Of impious weapons, which retard the help
We bear to thoſe now ſtruggling in defence
Of Grecian freedom, ſepulchres and fanes.
He ſaid; was heard like Enoch, like the man
Who walk'd with God, when eminently wiſe,
Among th' obſcene, the violent, and falſe,
Of juſtice and religion, truth and peace
He ſpake exploded, and from menac'd death
To God withdrew. The fell Boeotians rend
The ſky with threat'ning clamour, and their ſpears
Shake in defiance; while the word to charge
Perfidious Leontiades conveys.
Retreating backward, Ariſtides cloaths
His face in terror. So Meſſiah chang'd
His countenance ſerene, when full of wrath
[262] Bent on Satanic enemies, who ſhook
Heav'n's peaceful champaign with rebellious arms,
He graſp'd ten thouſand thunders, and infix'd
Plagues in their ſouls; while darts of piercing fire
Through their immortal ſubſtances, by ſin
Suſceptible of pain, his glaring wheels
Shot forth pernicious. Ariſtides leads
His phalanx on. Now Greeks to Greeks oppoſe
Their ſteely ſtructures of tremendous war.
With equal ſpears and ſhields their torrent fronts
They claſh together; like the juſtling rocks,
Symplegades Cyanean, at the mouth
Of Thracia's foaming Boſphorus, were feign'd,
Infrangible opponents, to ſuſtain
A mutual ſhock which tempeſted the frith,
Dividing Europe from the Orient world.
Meanwhile Phoebean Timon's glowing zeal,
Replete with patriot and religious warmth,
[263] Thus in the wing which Aeſchylus had form'd,
Beſpake the encircling chieftains: O'er the ſpace
Between Aſopus, and the main array
Of Thebes, I ſee the Macedonian horſe
But half advanc'd: Their tardy pace denotes
Reluctance. Lo! I meditate an act
To prove my zeal for univerſal Greece,
Her violated altars, and the tombs
Robb'd of their precious duſt. My ſlender band,
So long companions in adventures high
With your choice Locrians, Haliartus, join
To Medon's banner. Aeſchylus, obſerve
My progreſs; if my piety ſucceeds,
Thou, as a ſoldier, take advantage full.
So ſaying, o'er the plain in ſolemn pace
His rev'rend form he moves, by ſnowy bands
Pontifical around his plumed helm
Diſtinguiſh'd. Thus from Salem's holy gate
[264] Melchiſedek, the prieſt of him Moſt High,
Went forth to meet, and benedictions pour
On Terah's ſon in Shaveh's royal vale.
The Macedonian ſquadrons at the ſight
Fall back in rev'rence; their diſmounting prince
So wills. The father and the ſon embrace.
Oh! Amarantha's huſband! joyful ſighs
The parent. Oh! my Amarantha's ſire!
In equal joy the huſband. Timon then:
A Greek in blood, to Delphi's prieſt ally'd,
The god of Delphi's bleſſing now ſecure;
Abandon theſe Barbarians to the fate,
Which in the name of Phoebus I denounce
For his inſulted temple, and the rape
Of Amarantha from Minerva's ſhrine.
Yet to unſheath an unſuſpected ſword
[265] Againſt them, neither I, nor heav'n require,
Leſs thy own honour; but repaſs the ſtream,
Amid this blind uproar unnotic'd ſeek
Thermopylae again; and reach thy realm.
O'er all that clime Themiſtocles prevails,
My friend; his preſent amity obtain,
Cecropia's future love, nor hazard more
Thy fame and welfare. Ariſtides knows
My truth, replies the monarch; now to thee
Obedience prompt a ſecond proof ſhall yield.
Aſcend a ſteed; to Amarantha's arms
I will conduct thee firſt; th' auſpicious flight
Of both, a father ſhall aſſiſt and bleſs.
They ſpeed away, in extaſy the ſire
To claſp his darling child in Dirce's grove.
This paſs'd in Medon's eye, who watchful ſtood
With Haliartus, and a troop advanc'd,
[266] In care for Timon. When apparent now
The Macedonian ſquadrons quit the field
Of ſtrife, the heavy-cuiraſs'd of his wing
With ſerry'd ſhields by Aeſchylus is led,
In evolution wheeling on the flanks
Of that ſtrong maſs'd battalia, which compos'd
The hoſtile center. Firſt in phalanx ſtood
Unwilling Locrians. Medon lifts his voice,
And to each eye abaſh'd his awful ſhape,
Like ſome reproving deity, preſents;
They hear, they ſee Oïleus in his ſon,
As ris'n a mourning witneſs of their ſhame
From his ſepulchral bed. The banners drop
Before him; down their ſpears and bucklers fall;
They break, diſperſe, and fly with children's fear,
When by authority's firm look ſurpris'd
In ſome attempt forbidden, or unmeet.
Boeotian files are next. With ſudden wheel
They form a front, and dauntleſs wait the aſſault.
[267]
Still in the van robuſt and martial Thebes
Unbroken ſtems th' agility and ſkill
Of her opponent Athens. Long unſpent
The tide of well-conducted battle flows
Without deciſion ſtrong. At length by fate
Is Leontiades impell'd to meet
Cecropia's chief, where Thebes began to feel
His mighty preſſure. Whether juſtice ſtrung
His nerves with force beyond a guilty hand,
Or of his manly limbs the vigour match'd
His fortitude of mind; his falchion clove
Down to the neck that faithleſs Greek, of Greece
The moſt malignant foe. The treacherous deed,
Which laid fair Theſpia, with Plataean tow'rs
In duſt, he thus aton'd. A bolt from heav'n
Thus rives an oak, whoſe top divided hangs
On either ſide obliquely from the trunk.
Murichides the Helleſpontin bleeds,
Too zealous friend of Aſia, in whoſe cauſe
[268] This day he arm'd. By great Mardonius charg'd
Late meſſenger of friendſhip, he in peace
On Salaminian ſhores had touch'd the hand,
Which now amid the tumult pierc'd his heart,
Not willingly, if known. Then Lynceus fell,
From Oedipēan Polynices ſprung,
The laſt remains of that ill-fated houſe.
Mironides and Clinias near the ſide
Of Ariſtides fought, his ſtrong ſupport.
Yet undiſmay'd and firm three hundred chiefs,
Or ſons of proudeſt families in Thebes,
Diſpute the victory till death. Meantime
Olympiodorus from the left had gall'd
Theſſalia's ſquadrons, like a ſleety ſtorm
Checking their ſpeed. Athenian horſe, though few,
Mix'd with their bowmen, well maintain'd their ground.
His own true-levell'd ſhaft transfix'd the throat
Of Lariſſean Thorax; who in duſt
Buries at length his Aleuadian pride.
[269]
Rememb'ring all his charge bold Cimon rears
His mighty ſpear. Impetuous through a band
Of yielding Phocians he on Theban ranks
Falls like a rapid falcon, when his weight
Precipitates to ſtrike the helpleſs prey.
Him ſlaughter follows; ſlaughter from the right
On Aeſchylus attends, and mightier waits
On Ariſtides. Juſtice in his breaſt
Awhile was blind to mercy undeſerv'd,
Ev'n unimplor'd, by perſevering foes
Invet'rate. Now on this empurpled ſtage
Of vengeance due to perfidy and crimes,
Twice their own number had the Athenians heap'd
Of maſſacred Boeotians; but as heav'n,
Not to deſtruction puniſhing, reſtrains
Its anger juſt, and oft the harden'd ſpares,
That time may ſoften, or that ſuff'rings paſt,
Not meaſur'd full, may turn the dread of more
To reformation; Ariſtides thus
[270] Relenting bade retreat be ſounded loud,
Then, by th' obedient hoſt ſurrounded, ſpake
Serene: Enough of Grecian blood is ſpilt,
Ye men of Athens; low in duſt are laid
The heads of thoſe who plann'd the fall of Greece.
The populace obtuſe, reſembling you,
Enlighten'd people, as the ſluggiſh beaſt
A gen'rous courſer, let your pity ſave
In gratitude to Jove, creating yours
Unlike Boeotia's breed—Now form again.
Thus equity and mercy he combin'd,
Like that archangel, authoris'd by heav'n
Chief o'er celeſtial armies, when the fall'n
From purity and faith in Eden's bow'rs
Not to perdition nor deſpair he left
Abandon'd. Ariſtides ſtill proceeds:
New victories invite you; Sparta long
Hath wanted ſuccour; Men of Athens, march.
[271] Lo! Menalippus greets in rapid haſte
This more than hero. I am come, he ſaid,
To bring thee tidings of Mardonius ſlain
In open fight. Pauſanias ſtill demands
Thy inſtant preſence. In purſuit he reach'd
The ſtream. "Not now that paſſage is forbid,"
Tiſamenus exclaim'd. The gen'ral paſs'd
In vain to force the well-defended camp;
Repuls'd in ev'ry part he dubious ſtands
With diſappointment fore; on Attic ſkill
To mount entrenchments and a rampart ſtorm
Laconians and Tegaeans both depend
To crown the day. Th' Athenian heard, and cool
In four diviſions ſeparates the hoſt.
Four thouſand warriors, light and heavy-arm'd,
Each part compoſe; whoſe enſigns o'er the flood
In order juſt are carry'd. He attains
Th' adjacent field, and joins Pauſanias there;
Whoſe ravell'd brow, and countenance of gloom
[272] Preſent a lion's grimneſs, who, ſome fold,
Or ſtall attempting, thence by vollied ſtones
Of trooping ſhepherds, and of herdſmen, chas'd,
Hath ſullenly retreated, though oppreſs'd
By famine dire. To Ariſtides ſpake
With haughtineſs redoubled Sparta's chief:
Didſt thou forget, Athenian, who commands
The Grecian armies? Thou haſt loiter'd long
Since my two mandates. With majeſtic warmth
The righteous man: Pauſanias, now receive
From Ariſtides language new, but juſt.
Thine is the pride of ſatraps, not the light
Ingenuous vanity of Greeks, from ſenſe
Of freedom, ſenſe of cultivated minds,
Above the reſt of mortals. No; a black,
Barbaric humour feſters at thy heart,
Portending uſurpation. Know, proud man,
Thou haſt been weigh'd, and long deficient found
[273] By Ariſtides, thy ſuperior far,
Then moſt ſuperior, when for public good
Compliant moſt. Thou ſoon, O! Spartan born,
Yet in thy country's decency untaught,
Will like a Perſian caſt a loathing eye
On freedom, on Lycurgus and his laws,
Which gall a mind deſpotic. I preſage
Thee dangerous, Pauſanias. Where the ſeeds
Of dark ambition I ſuſpect, my eye
Becomes a jealous centinel; beware,
Nor force my active vigilance to proof
Now or in future, when united Greece,
No more defenſive, may retaliate war,
Succeſsful war, which prompts aſpiring thoughts.
Reſt now a ſafe ſpectator. From defeat
Of real warriors, of our fellow Greeks,
Not Perſians lightly arm'd in looſe array,
The loiterers of Athens ſhall with eaſe
Surmount that fence impregnable to thee.
[274]
To wait an anſwer he diſdain'd, but march'd;
While arrogance in ſecret gnaſh'd the teeth
Of this dark-minded Spartan, doom'd to prove
The boding words of Ariſtides true.
The ſun, no longer vertical, began
His ſlant Heſperian progreſs. At the head
Of his own hoſt Cecropia's chief began.
Enthuſiaſtic flame, without whoſe aid
The ſoldier, patriot, and the bard is faint,
At this great criſis thus inſpires the man
Of human race the moſt correct in mind:
Ye ſhades of all, who tyrants have expell'd,
Ye, who repoſe at Marathon entomb'd,
Ye glorious victims, who exalt the name
Of Salamis, and Manes of the brave
Leonidas, ariſe! Our banners fan
With your Elyſian breath! Thou god ſupreme,
[275] Jove elutherian, ſend thy child belov'd,
With her Gorgonian aegis, to defend
A people ſtruggling not for ſpoil, or pow'r,
Not to extend dominion, but maintain
The right of nature, thy peculiar gift
To dignify mankind. I lift this prayer,
My citizens, in rev'rence, not in doubt
Of your ſucceſs. Ye vanquiſhers of Greeks,
Beneath your ſpears yon ſervile herd will fall,
As corn before the ſickle. With a look
Of circumſpection he remark'd a ſwell
Of ground not fifty paces from the camp;
Olympiodorus and his bowmen there
He poſted firſt. Now, Aeſchylus, he ſaid,
Conſtruct of ſolid ſhields a brazen roof;
In contact cloſe to yonder fence of wood
Form like the tortoiſe in his maſſy ſhell.
The archers, each like Phoebus ſkill'd, remove
With ſhow'rs of death the thick defendants ſoon
[276] Clear from the rampart, which in height ſurpaſs'd
Two cubits. Aeſchylus not ſlow performs
His taſk. A rank of ſixty warriors plac'd
Erect, with cov'ring bucklers o'er their heads,
A brazen platform to the wall unites.
The next in order ſtoop behind; the laſt
Kneel firm on earth. O'er implicated ſhields
A ſtable paſſage thus when Cimon ſees,
He mounts, and fearleſs eyes the Aſian camp.
Between the rampart's baſis and the foe
An empty ſpace obſerving, on the ground
His ſpear he fixes, and amidſt a ſtorm
Of clatt'ring javelins, arrows, darts and ſtones,
Swings down. So, ſhooting from the ſulph'rous lap
Of ſome dark-veſted cloud, a globe of fire
Through winds and rain precipitates a blaze
Terrific down the raven pall of night.
His whole diviſion follows; with his band
Myronides, and Aeſchylus, releas'd
[277] From his firſt care. Succeſſively they range.
The very fence, by Perſian toil uprais'd,
Now from the Perſian multitude ſecures
Th' Athenian near. No obſtacle remains
To Ariſtides, who compleats his plan.
Olympiodorus and his active train
With axes keen, and cleaving ſpades approach;
Hewn down, uptorn in that ſurmounted part,
The fall'n defences, and the levell'd ground,
Soon leave an op'ning wide. His ſtrong reſerve,
Eight thouſand light, two thouſand heavy-arm'd,
With Haliartus, and Oileus' ſon,
Cecropia's chief leads forward to ſuſtain
His firſt bold warriors. Chileus enters next
With his Tegaeans, Aemneſtus brave,
Pauſanias, Amompharetus, the youth
Of Menalippus, all the Spartan hoſt.
Seven Grecian myriads through the breach invade
A ground, with ſwarms of tents and men oppreſs'd.
[278] Dire thus th' irruption of Germanic ſeas
Through ſtrong Batavian mounds; th' inflated brine
Stupendous piles of long-reſiſting weight
Bears down, and, baffling ſtrength and art combin'd,
Foams o'er a country in its ſeat profound
Below the ſurface of th' endang'ring main;
A country, where frugality and toil
No ſpot leave waſte, no meadow, but in herds
Redundant; where the num'rous dwellings ſhew
Simplicity but plenty, now immers'd
With all their throng'd inhabitants beneath
Th' unſparing deluge. Ariſtides ſwift,
As if by gen'ral choice the chief ſupreme,
Commandment iſſues, that to either ſide
The hoſt extend, that, ſkirted by the fence,
With wheeling flanks in front the line aſſume
A creſcent's figure. Thus the fiſher ſkill'd
With his capacious ſeines, ſlow-dragg'd and preſs'd
[279] Cloſe on each bank, a river's whole expanſe
With all his natives gloſſy-finn'd involves.
Yet Mindarus, with Mede and Perſian ranks,
A large remainder from the morning fight,
Reſiſts, which ſoon are ſlaughter'd; he retreats
Among the tents, whoſe multitude impedes
The Grecians. Ariſtides ſtraight commands,
That from the heavy line's diſjointed length
A hundred bands expatiate in the chace
Of foes benumb'd by fear, who neither fight,
Nor fly, of means depriv'd. The carnage grows
In every quarter. Fountains ſeem unclos'd,
Whence rivulets of blood o'erflow the ground.
O'er ſatraps, potentates, and princes fall'n,
Strode Ariſtides firſt of men, of heav'n
The imitator in his civil deeds,
Now ſome faint ſemblance, far as mortal may
Of that Almighty victor on the field
[280] Ethereal, when o'er helms, and helmed heads
Of proſtrate ſeraphim, and powers o'erthrown,
He rode. Still Mindarus, by courage wing'd,
From nation flies to nation, ſtill perſiſts
Exhorting; though in hopeleſs thought he ſees
Great Hyperanthes from the ſhades aſcend,
And ſeems to hear the godlike phantom ſigh
In mournful words like theſe: Ah! fruitleſs toil!
As once was mine, to reſcue from deſpair
The panic fears of Aſia! Dead in mind,
Her hoſt already ſoon dead clay muſt lie,
Like me on Oeta's rock. Yet Midias brave,
With Tiridates rous'd, their efforts join.
Againſt them warlike Medon, and the ſeed
Of Lygdamis, chance brings. They ſide by ſide,
As heretofore Thermopylae beheld
Young Dithyrambus and Diomedon,
Had all the day their unreſiſted wedge
Of Locrian ſhields and Delphian led to deeds,
[281] Accumulating trophies. Midias falls
By Haliartus. From the ſlain his lance
Recov'ring, tow'rds his patron dear he turns;
Him conqu'ror too of Tiridates views
In joy; joy ſoon to ſorrow chang'd! Fate guides
A caſual weapon from a diſtant hand;
Such as at Ramoth from the Syrian bow,
Drawn at a venture, ſmote between the joints
Of harneſs ſtrong the Iſraelitiſh king,
Who from the fight bade wheel his chariot, ſtain'd
With his own crimſon. Ponderous and broad
The hoſtile lance inflicts a mortal wound
In Medon's gen'rous boſom. Not a ſigh
He breathes, in look ſtill placid and ſedate,
While death's cold moiſture ſtagnates on his limbs,
By all their pow'rs forſaken. Bear, he ſaid
To Haliartus, bear me from the camp,
Nor yet extract the weapon; life, I feel,
Would follow ſwift, and Medon hath a charge
[282] Yet to deliver. Some pathetic Muſe,
In tend'reſt meaſures give theſe numbers flow!
Let thine, who plaintive on the pontic verge
In ſervitude Sarmatian, through her page
Of ſorrows weeps thy baniſhment from Rome;
Or thine, Euripides, whoſe moral ſtrains
Melt ſympathy in tears at human woes,
Thy vary'd tragic themes, or both unite
Your inſpiration to deſcribe a heart,
Where gratitude o'er all affections dear
Predominantly ſway'd; the faithful heart
Of Haliartus at this ſudden ſtroke
Of direful chance. To death is Medon ſnatch'd,
From glory ſnatch'd amid victorious friends.
The Carian's boſom inſtant feels combin'd
Achilles' anguiſh at Patroclus dead,
The pang of Priam at the fall of Troy,
Ev'n woman's grief, Andromache's diſtreſs
For her ſlain Hector, and his mother's pain
[283] To ſee his mangled and diſhonour'd corſe.
Great Artemiſia's name, th' illuſtrious blood
From Lygdamis deriv'd, his own exploits
Of recent fame, are all eras'd from thought
In Haliartus now; who ſinks again
To Meliboeus. On the wounded chief,
As on his lord, his patron, ſtill he looks
With all th' affection of a menial, bred
In the ſame home, and cheriſh'd in that home
With lib'ral kindneſs to his humbler ſtate.
He claſps the fainting hero, on the ſhields
Of weeping friends depoſits, and conveys
Swift through a portal, from its hinges forc'd.
Three hours remain'd to Phoebus in his courſe.
Cloſe by the entrenchment, under beachen ſhade
Of ancient growth, a fountain burſts in rills
Tranſparent; thither on the down of moſs
Was Medon borne and laid. Unlooſe, he ſaid,
[284] My helm, and fill from that refreſhing ſtream.
Obey'd, he drank a part; then pouring down
The remnant, ſpake: By this libation clear
Be teſtified my thanks to all the gods,
That I have liv'd to ſee my country ſav'd
On this victorious day. My fate requires
No lamentation, Haliartus dear,
Oh! more, than kindred, dear. Commend me firſt
To Ariſtides; Medon's parting breath
Him victor hails. To Delphi's virtuous prieſt,
To my Leonteus, to the glorious ſon
Of Neocles, my ſalutation bear,
To kind Cleander, my Troezenian hoſt,
To Hyacinthus of Euboea's race,
The flower of all her chieftains: They have prov'd
In me ſome zeal their iſland to redeem.
Tranſport my aſhes to Meliſſa's care,
Them near the reliques of Laconia's king
Repoſe; be mine the neighbour of his urn.
[285]
Here with an utmoſt effort of his voice,
With arms extended, and Elyſian look:
Leonidas, the life thy friendſhip ſav'd,
An off'ring to thy manes, now I cloſe
Mature in age, to glory not unknown,
Above the wiſh, as deſtitute of hope
To find a fairer time, or better cauſe,
Than ſends me now a meſſenger to greet
Thee with glad tidings of this land preſerv'd.
With his own hand the javelin from his breaſt
He draws ſerene; life iſſues through the wound.
New ſhouts, new trumpets, waken from a trance
Of grief the ſon of Lygdamis. He ſees
Cleander; who th' Aſopian banks had paſs'd,
Call'd by Sicinus from Saturnia's dome.
Lo! Epidaurian Clitophon, the ranks
[286] Of Phlius with Menander, Sicyon's chief
Automedon, the Hermionean ſpears
With Lycus follow, Cephallene's ſons,
The Acarnanian, all th' Epirot bands,
Leprēan Conon, with Mycenae's youth
Polydamas, by Arimneſtus led
The brave Plataeans, with his Theſpian files
Alcimedon, Nearcus with his force
Of Chalcis, Potidaean Tydeus next,
Eretrian Cleon, Lampon, and the troop
Of little Styra, Corinth's banners laſt,
By Adimantus and Alcmaeon rang'd.
Too late you come for glory, them beſpake
The Carian ſad: Lo! half the foes deſtroy'd
By Ariſtides, fugitives the reſt;
Lo! there the only loſs, which Greece ſuſtains.
To him Cleander, with devout regret
O'er Medon, honour'd paranymph and gueſt,
[287] His head inclining: Not too late we come
For ſacrifice of Perſians to the ghoſt
Of this dead hero. Ah! what floods of tears
Will fall in Troezen—But let grief prevail
Hereafter. Son of Lygdamis, renounce
Deſpondency; Acanthè ſtill ſurvives
To fire thy breaſt as Ariphilia mine;
I hear her prompting my vindictive arm.
From thy experience of this glorious day
Lead thy Troezenian hoſt, where beſt to point
His ſtrenuous efforts. Let thy guiding zeal
For me, long curſing my inactive poſt,
Yet find one track to fame. Theſe gallant words
Of cordial frankneſs from dejection lift
The Carian brave, not leſs than Phoebus cheer'd
The languid ſon of Priam on the bank
Of Xanthus; when a ſtony maſs, of weight
To ſtay a keel on Helleſpontine ſands,
By Ajax hurl'd, benumb'd the Trojan's frame.
[288]
Thus Haliartus: Through that open gate,
New forc'd, the ſhorteſt, ſafeſt paſſage lies;
But, to acquire ſome luſtre, I can ſhew
Another track for proweſs yet to ſhine.
He leads, all follow, ſave Corinthian bands
With Adimantus, haſt'ning through the gate,
Soon as to him th' intelligence is brought;
Who ent'ring, ſees a carnage which confounds
A timid ſpirit. By Alcmaeon urg'd,
Cloſe by the fence he marches; none he meets
But fly before him. Adimantus lifts
His ſpear, and ſatiates cowardice with blood
Of unreſiſting men. By cheap ſucceſs
Betray'd, a diſtant quarter he attains,
Where Mindarus confronts him. From his ſteed
Th' unyielding ſatrap whirls a rapid lance,
Which nails the baſe Corinthian to the ground.
Alcmaeon next is wounded; more had bled,
[289] But Ariſtides o'er that part, devoid
Of tents, his dreadful creſcent in array
Is forming new. The Perſian ſtarts; he flies
To one laſt angle of the ſpacious camp,
Sole ſpot unforc'd. Half circled now in front,
The Attic, Spartan, and Tegaean ranks,
In motion ſlow, yet moving on, augment
Progreſſively their terrors, like a range
Of clouds, which thicken on the brow of night,
A final wreck portending to a fleet,
Already ſhatter'd by the morning ſtorm.
Round Mindarus the remnant of his hoſt
Collected ſtill is numerous. Them he ſees
Oft look behind, a ſight that ill accords
With warriors; but, as now in columns deep
Its glitt'ring horns that direful creſcent ſhews
Within the limits of a javelin's caſt,
All turn intent on flight at large; they break
[290] Their own incloſure down, whoſe late defence
Is preſent bane, and intercepts eſcape.
Lo! Haliartus; all whoſe grief is chang'd
To fire, heroic flame. Three myriads freſh
He pours; that crouded angle he inveſts,
Preventing flight. Cleander looks around
Like ſome tornado menacing a bark,
Which ſoon unſeam'd and parted ſinks ingulph'd;
He finds a breach and with him enters death.
The long-enduring ſatrap, whoſe mild ſoul
Calamity hath worn, reſembles now
The poor deſponding ſailor, who is left
Laſt of the found'ring veſſel on a plank
Alone. No coaſt appears; the greedy ſwell
He ſees around, expecting ev'ry wave
Will terminate his being, and forgoes
All hope of ſuccour. His afflicted ſoul
Thus with an effort equal to his rank
[291] The prince explores: What, Mindarus, remains
For thee deſerted! In another's home
Cleora dwells, Maſiſtius is no more;
Slain is Mardonius, Aſia's glory fall'n;
Thou haſt too long been fugitive this day;
Like Teribazus cloſe a term of woe;
Like him in death be honour'd. He diſmounts,
He graſps a ſpear. Such dignity of ſhame
To Ilian Hector, from his flight recall'd,
Great Homer's Muſe imparted. While the prince
Is meditating thus, a man ſublime
Tow'rs from th' Athenians, who ſuſpend their march;
Unlike the ſon of Peleus in his ire
Implacable, he repreſents a god
In aſpect, god of mercy, not of arms.
Know, chieftain, he began, to me the Greeks
One Perſian life have granted; it is thine.
[292] In this day's trial I have noted well
Thy conſtancy and manhood; I, who prize
The gems of virtue, in whatever clime,
O Perſian! whether in a friend or foe
Their never-changing luſtre they diſplay;
I, Ariſtides, my protecting arm
Extend. Time preſſes; yield thee, ere too late;
Captivity no burden ſhalt thou find,
Till ſafe, without a ranſom, thou regain
Thy native ſeat. The Perſian melts like ſnow
In all its rigour at the noon-tide ſun.
This unforeſeen, humane demeanour calms
His mind, and huſhes ev'ry deſp'rate thought.
He thus replies: On all my actions paſt
Hath fortune frown'd; perhaps a captive ſtate
With Ariſtides, whom Maſiſtius lov'd,
Mardonius prais'd, and all mankind reveres,
Forebodes a change of fortune to my gain!
[293] Thy condeſcending wiſdom, O ſupreme
In juſtice, knowledge, and benignant deeds,
May lift a man of ſorrows from deſpair!
He yields. Th' Athenian leads him through the preſs
Secure; himſelf a ſpectacle avoids,
Which others covet. Lo! on ev'ry ſide
Keen ſwords of maſſacre are wav'd. To maids
Deflow'r'd, diſhonour'd wives, and gods prophan'd,
To Athens, Theſpia, and Plataea burnt,
The Greeks compleat their ſacrifice. The ſun,
Wont on thoſe fields of gliſt'ning green to ſmile,
And trace Aſopus through his cryſtal maze,
Now ſetting, glances over lakes of blood;
While fate with Perſian carnage chafes the ſtream
No longer ſmooth and limpid, but o'erſwoln,
And foaming purple, with encreaſing heaps
[294] Of carcaſes and arms. Night drops her ſhade
On thirty myriads ſlaughter'd. Thus thy death,
Leonidas of Sparta, was aveng'd,
Greece thus by Attic virtue was preſerv'd.
FINIS.
Appendix A ERRATA.
[]- B. XXIII. l. 49, for Cephallenia, read Cephalenia.
- B. XXVII. l. 167, dele a.
- B. XXVII. l. 310, for protentous, read portentous.
- B. XXVIII. l. 80, dele the comma after conſign'd.
- B. XXIX. l. 13, dele the comma after waits.
- B. XXIX. l. 335, dele the comma after Lacedaemon's.
- B. XXIX. l. 512, dele and.
- B. XXX. l. 46, for unvoluntary, read involuntary.
- B. XXX. l. 91, for wiſe, read good.
- B. XXX. l. 112, for like, read as.
- Citation Suggestion for this Object
- TextGrid Repository (2020). TEI. 4814 The Athenaid a poem by the author of Leonidas pt 3. University of Oxford Text Archive. . https://hdl.handle.net/21.T11991/0000-001A-5CAF-9