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THE ATHENAID, A POEM.
VOL. I.
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THE [...]THENAID, A POEM,
BY THE AUTHOR OF LEONIDAS.
[...]
[...]
AESCHYL. PERSAE.
VOL. I.
LONDON: PRINTED FOR T. CADELL, IN THE STRAND. MDCCLXXXVII.
ADVERTISEMENT.
[]THE ATHENAID, written by the late Richard Glover, Eſq was left by him, among other literary works, to Miſs Glover (now Mrs. Halſey) who preſents it to the Public exactly copied from her Fa⯑ther's Manuſcript, except what regards the punctuation, and introduction of now and then a connective word, inſerted by the good offices of a Friend.—The Poem was not finiſhed early enough before Mr. Glo⯑ver's deceaſe for him to reviſe it, as he intended; yet, incorrect as it may be for want of ſuch reviſal, the Editor flatters herſelf that it will be favorably received, as the genuine work of an Author, who was ever diſtinguiſhed by public approba⯑ [...]ion.—An earneſt deſire of doing honor to [] the memory of a deceaſed Parent, and alſo of gratifying the literary world with the Sequel to LEONIDAS, which the preſent Poem contains, and which together includes the moſt brilliant period of the Grecian Hiſtory, are the motives for her Publica⯑tion.
ERRATA.
- B. I. l. 390, for Alpheus, read Alphēus.
- B. I. l. 520, for Dioneces, read Dieneces.
- B. III. l. 324, for ut, read But.
- B. IV. l. 340, for ſervants, read ſervant's.
- B. VI. l. 80, after blood place a full ſtop.
- B. X. l. 72, for Erotria, read Eretria.
- B. X. l. 337, for waite, read waits.
THE ATHENAID.
BOOK the FIRST.
[]THE Perſians vanquiſh'd, Greece from bon⯑dage ſav'd,
The death of great Leonidas aveng'd
By Attic virtue—celebrate, O Muſe!
A burning ray the ſummer ſolſtice caſt,
Th' Olympiad was proclaim'd; when Xerxes pour'd
His millions through Thermopylae, new-ſtain'd
With blood. From Athens Aeſchylus divine
[2] In genius, arts, and valour, muſing deep
On his endanger'd country's future doom,
Repairs, invited by an evening ſtill,
To clear Iliſſus, Attic ſtream renown'd.
Beneath an oak, in ſolitary ſtate
Apart, itſelf a wood, the hero's limbs
On tufted moſs repoſe. He graſps the lyre;
Unfolded ſcrolls voluminous he ſpreads
Along the ground: high lays repeating thence,
Leonidas the Spartan he extols,
And ſweeps th' accordant ſtrings. To cloſing day
He bade farewel, and hail'd th' aſcending ſtars
In muſic long continued; till the ſtream
With drowſy murmur won his eye to ſleep,
But left his fancy waking. In a dream
The god of day, with full meridian blaze,
Seem'd to aſſume his function o'er the ſkies;
When, lo! the earth divided: through the cleft
A guſh of radiance dimm'd the noon-tide ſun.
[3] In ſtructure all of diamond, ſelf pois'd,
Amid redundant light a chariot hung
Triumphal. Twelve tranſparent horſes breath'd
Beams from their noſtrils, dancing beams of day
Shook from their manes. In lineaments of man,
Chang'd to immortal, there the mighty ſoul
Of Sparta's king apparent ſhone. His wounds
Shot forth a ſplendour like the cluſt'ring ſtars,
Which on Orion's cheſt and limbs proclaim
Him firſt of conſtellations. Round in cars
Of triumph too arrang'd, the ſtately forms
Of thoſe whom virtue led to ſhare his doom,
And conſecrate Thermopylae to fame.
Pines tipp'd with lightning ſeem'd their ſpears; their ſhields
Broad like Minerva's aegis: from their helms
An empyreal brightneſs ſtream'd abroad:
Ineffable felicity their eyes,
Their fronts the majeſty of gods diſplay'd.
[4]
Erect the glorious ſhape began to ſpeak
In accents louder than a burſting cloud—
Pentelicus, Hymettus ſeem'd to ſhake
Through all their quarries, and Iliſſus beat
His ſhudd'ring banks in tumult—Thou, whoſe muſe
Commands th' immortalizing trump of fame,
Go to the ſage Hellanodics, the juſt
Elēan judges of Olympian palms;
There in thy own celeſtial ſtrains rehearſe,
Before that concourſe wide, our deeds and fate.
Let our example general Greece inſpire
To face her danger; let the Spartan ſhield
Protect th' Athenians, elſe I died in vain.
The brilliant viſion, now diſperſing, leaves
The wond'ring bard. He, ſtarting, in his ken
Diſcerns no other than the real ſcene
Of ſhadows brown from cloſe embow'ring wood,
[5] Than diſtant mountains, and the ſpangled face
Of heav'n, reflected from the ſilver ſtream.
But penſive, brooding o'er his country's fate,
His ſtep he turns. Themiſtocles, who rul'd
Athenian councils, inſtant he accoſts
With large recital of his awful dream.
Obey the mandate, cries the chief: alarm
Th' Olympian concourſe: from the Delphian port
Of Cirrha ſail for Elis: on thy way
Conſult Apollo in the ſtate's behalf,
Which to that function nominates thy worth:
Of Xerxes' march intelligence obtain.
This ſaid, they parted. Aeſchylus by dawn
Commenc'd his progreſs, join'd by numbers arm'd,
Like him to Piſa's barrier deſtin'd all,
Electing him their chief. Five times the ſun
[6] Renew'd his orbit, five ſucceſſive nights
The moon enlarg'd her creſcent, ere they reach'd
Phoebean Delphi, ſeated on a rock
Abrupt, ſublime. Yet thence the curious eye
Muſt upward look to meet the ſummits blue
Of double-topp'd Parnaſſus, where the god
Oracular is worſhipp'd. Here they trac'd
Barbarian violence profane. Conſum'd
Were hamlets, temples levell'd to the duſt,
The ſtatues broken, each religious bow'r
A burning maſs of embers. Wrapt in ſmoke,
With cinders ſtrewn, ſo glows the region round
Portentous Aetna, or Veſuvius dire,
Death's flaming cauldrons; when their ſtony ribs
And min'ral bowels, liquefied by fire,
O'erwhelm the fields, by nature left unbleſs'd,
Alone unbleſs'd of all Sicania's bound,
Or lovely-fac'd Heſperia. Dubious here
Th' Athenians halt, while fierce the ſultry noon
[7] Inflames the ſky. From Delphi's open gates,
To Attic eyes no ſtranger, Timon comes,
Sage prieſt of Phoebus, magiſtrate unſoil'd,
The public hoſt of Athens, to the plain
Deſcending ſwift with followers who bear
His buckler, ſpear, and armour. On his head
Were aſhes ſprinkled: rent, his garb preſag'd
Some black diſaſter. What malignant dart
Of fortune wounds thee? Aeſchylus aloud,
While by the hand Cecropia's hoſt he preſs'd.
To him the Delphian: From deſerted roofs,
Depopulated ſtreets, I come to hail
Thee, bound by hoſpitable ties my friend,
Thee, dear to Phoebus, by Minerva grac'd,
Thy country's goddeſs. Me thou often ſaw'ſt
A parent bleſs'd in Amarantha's bloom,
Yet ripe in virtue. Her, preſenting pray'r
With votive flow'rs before Minerva's ſhrine,
[8] This very hour Barbarians have enthrall'd,
Borne in my ſight precipitate away.
O wife lamented, gather'd in thy prime
By ruthleſs Pluto! in Elyſian groves
How ſhall I meet thee, and the tidings bear
Of thy loſt child, to ſervitude a prey,
To violation doom'd? Yet more: the rage
Of theſe invaders, who have ſpoil'd our fields,
Defac'd our temples, driv'n to ſhelt'ring caves,
To pathleſs cliffs, our populace diſmay'd,
Is now aſcending to inſult the fane,
With ſacrilegious violence to ſeize
Th' accumulated off'rings by the great
And good from age to age devoted there.
He ſcarce had finiſh'd, when the earth beneath
Rock'd from her center in convulſive throes;
From pole to pole th' ethereal concave groan'd:
Night from her cavern with gigantic ſteps
[9] Beſtrode the region, lifting high as heav'n
Her broad, infernal palm, whoſe umbrage hides
The throne of light; while, glancing through the rifts
Of her black mande, overlaid with clouds,
Blue vapours trail'd their fires. The double head
Of tall Parnaſſus reeling, from the crag
Unloos'd two fragments; mountainous in bulk,
They roll to Delphi with a craſhing ſound,
Like thunder nigh whoſe burſt of ruin ſtrikes
The ſhatter'd ear with horror. Thus the bard
Unmov'd, while round him ev'ry face is pale:
Not on our heads theſe menaces are thrown
By ireful nature, and portentous heav'n;
Th' unrighteous now, th' oppreſſor of mankind,
The ſacrilegious, in this awful hour
Alone ſhould feel diſmay. My Delphian hoſt,
Who knows but thund'ring Jove's prophetic ſon
[10] Now vindicates his altar; in his name
Now calls the turbid elements to war?
What ſhrieks of terror fill thy native ſtreets!
The hills with barb'rous diſſonance of cries,
The caverns howl. Athenians, be prepar'd,
Beſt ſo when arm'd: then, Timon, caſe thy limbs;
The ſeaſon teems with prodigy. Secure
In conſcious virtue, let us calmly watch
The mighty birth. By heav'n! through yonder gate
The foes are driven; confuſion, wild deſpair,
With panic dread purſue them: friends, embrace
Th' auſpicious moment; lift your pious blades,
Ye choſen men, auxiliars to a god!
He ſpake, advancing with his holy friend
To battle. Shiv'ring at their own miſdeed,
At heav'n-inflicted puniſhment, the foes
Unnerv'd, diſtracted, unreſiſting, deem'd
The warriors two celeſtials from above,
[11] Cas'd in Vulcanian panoply, to wage
The war of gods. The whole Athenian train
In equal fervour with Barbarian blood
Diſtain their weapons. So from foreſts drear,
When barren winter binds the foodful earth,
Enrag'd by famine, trooping wolves invade
A helpleſs village; unwithſtood, they range
With greedy fangs, and dye with human gore
The ſnow-envelop'd ways. The Delphian race,
By fear ſo lately to the neighb'ring hills
And caves reſtrain'd, forſake their ſhelt'ring holds;
In cluſters ruſhing on the foes diſmay'd,
Accompliſh their defeat. Th' Athenian chief
Triumphant, red with maſſacre, admits
A Perſian youth to mercy, who his ſhield
And ſword ſurrenders. Perſian, doſt thou hope
Thy flow'ring bloom ſhall ripen to enjoy
A length of days? (ſevere his victor ſpake)
Then to my queſtions utter words ſincere.
[12] Reveal thy name, thy father's. Where encamps
The hoſt of Xerxes? Whither doth he point
His inroad next? To violate this fane
By his appointment was thy youth compell'd?
Laſt, if thou know'ſt, what impious ſavage tore
The Delphian maiden from Minerva's ſhrine?
The Perſian anſwers with a crimſon'd cheek,
With eyes in tears—Ah! little now avails
Th' illuſtrious current of Argeſtes' blood
To me a captive, leſs the name I bear
Of Artamanes. By the king's decree
That we were ſent, that I unwilling came,
Is truth ſincere. Our leader ſlain, the heaps
Of theſe disfigur'd carcaſes have made
Their laſt atonement to th' inſulted god.
The king in rich Orchomenus I left;
Who through Boeotia meditates to march
Againſt th' Athenians. He, alas! who ſeiz'd
[13] The beauteous virgin at Minerva's ſhrine,
He is my brother, eldeſt of the race,
Far hence ſecure; while captive here I mourn
His heinous outrage, and my own diſgrace.
Addreſſing Timon, here Cecropia's bard:
Preſerve this youth a hoſtage for thy child:
He ſeems deſerving; thee I know humane.
Now to Apollo's temple be my guide.
Still doſt thou droop?—O Aeſchylus, exclaims
Deſponding Timon, from the woes begun
This day in Delphi, I to Athens trace
A ſeries black with evil. Lo! the wiſe,
The righteous Ariſtides from your walls
Through jealouſy of merit is expell'd;
Themiſtocles the cauſe. Himſelf, though great,
Yet envious, and ambitious that his light
May blaze unrivall'd, of th' Athenian ſtate
Extinguiſhes the brighteſt. Sparta ſhews,
[14] At this dread criſis, how the hearts of men
By ſelfiſh eares and falſehood are deprav'd.
She to the land of Pelops ſtill confines
Her efforts, on the neighb'ring iſthmus rears
A partial bulwark, leaving half the Greeks,
Your noble ſeat, this oracle, expos'd
To devaſtation: little ſhe regards
Our god profan'd, our progeny enſlav'd;
Her chief Pauſanias, arrogant and ſtern,
O'erlooks my ſuff'rings. Feeling what I fear
For thee and others, I muſt droop, my friend.
To him the bard, in theſe ſententious ſtrains:
Not endleſs ſunſhine is the lot of man,
Nor ever blooming ſeaſons. Night ſucceeds
The day, as day the night: rude winter frowns,
Fair ſummer ſmiles. Thus variable the mind,
Not leſs than human fortune, feels the ſtrife
Of truth and error, which alternate reign
[15] The arbiters of nature. Dark the deed,
A deed of gloomy night, when envy forc'd
The beſt Athenian from his natal roof:
But light will ſoon return. Though Sparta break
Her promiſe pledg'd; though falſe Boeotia prop
A foreign throne; ſtill Athens will ſuſtain
Herſelf and Greece, will retribution pay
To Ariſtides, and her morn diſpel
The miſt of error with a glorious blaze.
No more—my duty calls me to the fane.
They move, and paſſing by Minerva's grove,
Two monuments of terror ſee. There ſtopp'd
The maſſy fragments, from Parnaſſus rent:
An act of nature, by ſome latent cauſe
Diſturb'd. Tremendous o'er Barbarian ranks
The ruins down the ſacred way had roll'd,
Leaving its ſurface horrible to ſight;
Such as might ſtartle war's remorſeleſs god,
[16] And ſhake his heart of adamant. Not long
This blood-congealing ſpectacle detains
The troop, which ſwiftly to the Pythian dome
Preſs their aſcending ſteps. The martial bard
Firſt, as enjoin'd by holy form, to ſcenes
Far diff'rent, ſweet Caſtalia's fount and grove,
Reſorts, with pure ablution to redeem
From duſt and ſlaughter his polluted limbs,
To holy eyes obſcene. Beſide the fane,
Within a flow'ring boſom of the hill,
Through veins of rock beneath embow'ring ſhade,
The rills divine repleniſh, as they flow,
A cavity of marble. O'er the brim,
In ſlender ſheets of liquid cryſtal, down
They fall harmonious. Pliſtus takes below
To his ſmooth bed their tribute. Plunging there
In deep obſcurity of wood, whoſe roof
With ridgy verdure meets the low-bent eye
From that ſtupendous cliff, his current winds
[17] Through ſhade awhile; thence iſſuing large in view,
Refreſhes grateful meads, by mountains edg'd,
Which terminate on Cirrha, Delphian port.
Beyond her walls blue Neptune ſpreads his face
Far as Achaia's wide expanſe of coaſt,
With tow'rs and cities crown'd. The marble fount
On either ſide is ſkirted thick by groves
Of ancient laurel with luxuriant arms,
In gloſſy green attir'd. There Phoebus, pride
Of Parian quarries, ſtands a form divine,
In act to draw an arrow from the caſe
Looſe hanging o'er his ſhoulder; and in look
Serene, but ſtern: his worſhippers to guard,
As if the Pythian ſerpent were in ſight,
He meditates the combat. Here diſarm'd,
His limbs from all th' impurities of Mars
Th' Athenian purges. Menial care ſupplies
A garment ſilver-white: an olive branch
His ſuppliant hand ſuſtains. He ſeeks the fane;
[18] He mounts the ſteps magnificent: the gates
On ſounding hinges turn their brazen valves.
Acroſs an area vaſt, with ſolemn ſhade
Of maſſy columns border'd, ſlow he moves
His manly frame. Procumbent at the mouth
Of that abyſs oracular, whoſe fume
Breathes wild ſenſation through the Pythian maid,
With hands outſtretch'd, he offers up this pray'r:
O vanquiſher of Python! Seed of Jove,
Whoſe eleutherian might the tyrant dreads!
Bright pow'r of day, diſpenſer of that fire
Which kindles genius in the human breaſt!
God of that light diffuſing through the ſoul
The rays of truth and knowledge! Friend to man,
His monitor prophetic! O admit
Athenians, anxious for their country's weal,
In this her day of peril to conſult
Thy wiſdom, thy protection to implore!
[19]
Her tripod high the propheteſs aſcends:
Enthuſiaſtic motion ſtrains her form,
In flaſhes rolls her eyeballs, and beſpreads
Her agitated front with floating hair.
Her weight a laurel, planted nigh, upholds,
Which ſhe embraces; her convulſive graſp
Shakes to the root the groaning trunk, the boughs,
The clatt'ring foliage. Forth ſhe burſts in foam.
Fly, wretched men, to earth's extremeſt bound!
I ſee, I ſee th' Acropolis in flames,
Your temples crumble, and your turrets nod:
I ſee the blood run ſable through your ſtreets.
All unabaſh'd, the hero firm replies:
Yet further ſpeak. Though citadel and fanes
Be doom'd to aſhes, muſt the nation fall?
If ſo, inſtruct thy ſuppliants how their fall
May prove moſt glorious in the ſight of gods
[20] And men.—The Pythian anſwers with a look
Of pity, ſoft'ning her tempeſtuous rage:
Ah! ſtill my tongue like adamant is hard.
Minerva's tow'rs muſt periſh: Jove ſevere
So wills; yet granting, at his daughter's ſuit,
Her people refuge under walls of wood.
But ſhun the myriads of terrific horſe,
Which on your fields an eaſtern Mars will range.
She ceas'd; Th' Athenian notes her anſwer down:
To one, the moſt entruſted of his train,
He gives the tablet. Back to Athens fly,
He ſaid; the ſon of Neocles alone,
By his unbounded faculties, can pierce
The hidden ſenſe of theſe myſterious ſtrains;
All which of Xerxes thou haſt heard, report:
I muſt depart to Elis.—Muſt thou go?
[21] Dejected Timon then: what ſafety here
For me remains? Barbarians will return;
My countrymen, diſhearten'd as before,
Reſort to caverns. Though the god hath ſav'd
His ſhrine, the reſt of Phocis lies a prey,
Boeotia, Locris, Doris, to the foe.
Yet what have I, O Aeſchylus! to dread?
I have no other child for ſavage force
To violate: In Amarantha loſt,
My joy, my hope are vaniſh'd; and the hand,
Which lays me breathleſs, will befriend me beſt.
Th' Athenian here: Unmanly is deſpair,
A noxious weed, whoſe growth, my Delphian hoſt,
Let courage wither. Phoebus hath denounc'd
The waſte of Athens. Hopeful I forebode,
That prouder walls and battlements will lift
Their heads for ages; and that eye of Greece
With inextinguiſhable ray ſurpaſs
[22] Its former luſtre. Quit this dang'rous place,
With us embarking: borrow help from time,
Safe counſellor to wiſdom. You, the race
Of holy Delphi, ſhould the foe return,
Again diſperſing to your caves, rely
On your protecting god. Not vers'd alone
In holy rites, in arms and council tried,
A chief like Timon fame forbids to hide
His dignity in caverns.—Timon here:
Thou ſhalt conduct me, thou my friendly ſtar!
Meantime ſelected meſſengers I ſend
The needful barks at Cirrha to prepare.
Now from the temple under Timon's roof
Admitted, vig'rous with refection due
Of reſt and food, to Cirrha they proceed
With Artamanes. Ready are the barks,
The gale propitious, calm the wat'ry plain:
[23] When, like the feather'd ſojourners, who leave
Their late abode on winter's bleak approach,
To wing their flight for climates more benign,
Theſe with extended canvas quit the port,
And, doubling round Achaia, cut the main
To ſacred Piſa. On their way the harp
Of Aeſchylus, preluding to the ſtrain
Which on his banks Alpheus was to hear,
Relieves the ſailor toiling at his oar,
Enchants the wind retentive of the ſounds
Which harmonize his breath. If round the keel
Of ſweet Arion dolphins ever play'd,
Or blithſome Nereids to the pleaſing mood
Of Orpheus danc'd, while Argo plough'd the deep;
They now had felt controulment as in bonds,
Not on their pliant, azure-gloſſy fins
Diſporting light, but rigid with amaze
At this majeſtic muſe. Yet ſounding verſe,
In ſolemn cadence to the deep-ton'd lyre,
[24] Which could the boiſt'rous mariner ſubdue,
The ear of Timon, languid by deſpair,
Rejects, attentive to his grief alone,
Which ſighs within. Society is pain,
Ev'n with his friend. A ſolitary couch
He ſeeks; recumbent, not repoſing, there
Conſumes the hours in pertinacious woe,
Which ſheds no tear. If wearied nature ſinks,
His ſleep is troubled; viſions of the night
Appal his ſpirit; ſtarting, he forſakes
A thorny pillow; ruſhes on the deck
With lamentations to the midnight moon.
Alarm'd, th' Athenian chief approaching ſeiz'd
On Timon's hand; with earneſt looks enquir'd
Why thus complaining he diſturbs the calm,
From his own pillow chacing due repoſe?
Ah! I have ſeen my daughter, he replies,
Have ſeen her twice!—Where ſeen her? all diſtreſs'd
[25] Th' Athenian queſtions.—On a rock ſhe ſtood,
A naked rock, the parent wild exclaims;
Unloos'd her zone, diſhevell'd was her hair;
The raviſher was nigh. On ſight of me,
Who no aſſiſtance from the ſhore could reach,
O father, father! I am ſham'd, deflower'd,
But here will end my ſorrows and diſgrace;
She ſaid, and plung'd precipitate. I ſaw
Her body ſwallow'd by the greedy ſurge,
Unwept, depriv'd of ſepulture, to float.
Illuſion all! the bard conſoling ſpake;
The phantom offspring of diſtemper'd ſleep.
A ſecond time, the frantic fire purſues,
Did Amarantha meet my aking ſight;
Then, like an eaſtern concubine attir'd,
Her head was blazon'd with Barbaric gems;
With golden gloſs her wanton garment wav'd:
[26] With her deſpoiler hand in hand ſhe walk'd,
Diſclaim'd her father, and her father's gods.
Oh then I wiſh'd her on the waves again,
To parch in winds, or ſate ſome vulture's beak!
The youthful captive Artamanes, rous'd,
Stands nigh in gen'rous tears. To him the bard:
Ingenuous Perſian, check thy tears, and lend
Thy hand benign: committed to his couch
Him watch and fuccour.—Hourly was perform'd
The pious office; nobleſt Delphians round
Aſſiſt in tears; while now the moonlight twice
Danc'd on the billows. On the ſecond morn
They land in Elis. Fame had gone before,
Promulgating the valour which aveng'd
The Delphian god, prophetic light to man,
Ev'n more than Jove in Ammon's Libyan ſhrine
Or Dodonaean groves. A ſhining car
Waits on the ſhore; a herald there ſalutes
[27] The warrior bard. Divine Athenian, hail!
Hail, righteous captain of a righteous band!
Theſe olive crowns to thee and them I bear;
So have the ſage Hellanodics ordain'd,
Who to their juſt tribunal through my voice
Invite thy preſence. Aeſchylus receives
The victor's chaplet, and aſcends the car.
Along Alphēus to th' Olympian liſts
He paſſes through ſpectators all array'd
In garlands too, and num'rous like the flow'rs
Embelliſhing the river's fragrant ſides,
Or like the pebbles in his murm'ring bed.
Th' approach of Aeſchylus is known. Between
Two rows of victors in their olive crowns
He o'er the ſanded area greets the thrones,
Where, grac'd with ſcepters magiſterial, ſat
Th' Elēan judges. Standing on the car,
To them, upriſing from their ſeats, he ſpake:
[28]
If to have fought for Delphi and her god
Deſerve this chaplet, what ſuperior praiſe
To him is due, who voluntary died
For Lacedaemon? But he claims no more
Than emulation from the ſons of Greece,
Like him to ſave their countries and their laws.
He hath his honours in the bleſs'd abodes;
From him I come deputed; hear in me
Leonidas. A viſion, as of gods,
To me, late ſlumb'ring on Iliſſus, roſe;
In ſemblance roſe Leonidas, begirt
With all the virtuous partners in his fate.
Before me earth divided; through the cleft
A guſhing radiance dimm'd the eye of noon.
In ſtructure all of diamond, ſelf-pois'd,
Amid redundant light, a chariot hung
Triumphal. Twelve tranſparent horſes breath'd
Beams from their noſtrils, dancing beams of day
Shook from their manes. In lineaments of man,
[29] Chang'd to immortal, with a ſhape enlarg'd,
A ſtature lengthen'd, there the mighty ſoul
Of Sparta's king apparent ſhone. His wounds
Shot forth a ſtarlike ſplendour. Round in cars
Triumphal too arrang'd, the ſtately forms
Of thoſe whom virtue led to ſhare his doom,
And conſecrate Thermopylae to fame.
To me theſe words the glorious ſhape addreſs'd:
Go to the ſage Hellanodics, the juſt
Elēan judges of Olympian palms:
In that wide concourſe celebrate my death.
Let my example gen'ral Greece inſpire
To face her danger; let the Spartan ſhield
Protect th' Athenians, elſe I died in vain.
Attention mute th' Hellanodics command:
The thick'ning crowd is huſh'd. The bard proceeds,
While inſpiration ſwells his copious breaſt,
Flames in his eye, and thunders from his voice.
[30]
Parnaſſian Phoebus he invok'd, the pow'r
Of prophecy and ſong. His aid is due
In celebration of the man who heard
The oracle from Delphi, and obey'd.
"A king deriv'd from Hercules muſt die
"For Lacedaemon." Who obedient heard?
Leonidas: he left his houſehold gods,
His wife belov'd, his offspring; at the gate
Of Greece, Thermopylae, he fought, he fell:
With him what heroes? Alpheus, Maron bled,
There Agis, there Dioneces, the ſeer,
Megiſtias, bold Diomedon, the youth
Of Dithyrambus, Theſpia's hoary chief,
Demophilus; for you they all expir'd:
Riſe, Greeks, revenge their fall! in that revenge
Your laws, your manners, and religion ſave.
You who aſpire to theſe Olympic wreaths,
The brighteſt guerdon to a Grecian brow,
Yet will you linger, till Barbaric arms
[31] Annihilate th' Olympiad? Not to die
Leonidas invites; no, Greeks, to live!
Surmounting foes enervate by the dread
His death impreſs'd, to fill your cup of life
With virtuous glory, to enjoy your hopes
In peace, in years and merit then mature
Be his companions in eternal bliſs.
Such was the ſubſtance; but in ſwelling phraſe
At large, full tide of poeſy and zeal,
Flow'd his high-ton'd, enthuſiaſtic ſong.
End of the Firſt Book.
THE ATHENAID.
BOOK the SECOND.
[32]TH' inſpiring meaſures cloſe. To arms, to arms,
Innumerable mouths concurrent ſound;
To arms, to arms, reply the pillar'd iſles
Of Jove's Olympian temple: down his banks
To diſtant Neptune glad Alphēus wafts
The glorious clamour. Through th' aſſembly vaſt
Meantime an elevated form is ſeen,
With gracious geſture, animating look,
Approaching: now before th' Elean thrones
[33] Of ſolemn judgment he majeſtic ſtands,
Known for the man by Themis plac'd in rank
Above his fellow mortals; archon once
Of Athens, now an exile: him the chief
Among the grave Hellanodics addreſs'd:
Hail, Ariſtides! On th' Olympian games
Thy preſence throws new dignity: what crown
Can they provide to equal thy deſert?
While others court the prize of ſtrength and ſkill,
Activity and valour; in the liſts
Of virtue only Ariſtides ſtrives.
With him on earth competitor is none;
Him Jove, ſole perfect judge of gods and men,
Can recompenſe alone. He ſcornful views
Ambitious heroes, who aſſume the names
Of thunder-bearers, vanquiſhers of towns,
And ravagers of kingdoms: vain attempt
In feeble man to imitate in pow'r
[34] Th' inimitable gods! On thee he caſts
An eye delighted; thee, by ev'ry tongue
Proclaim'd the juſt; thee, emulating heav'n,
Where mortals may, in goodneſs. Yet our voice
Shall, what we can, decree diſpraiſe to thoſe
Whoſe envy wrong'd that ſacred head of thine.
Forbear that cenſure, Ariſtides ſpake:
Though liberty may err through jealous care,
That jealous care far oft'ner ſaves a ſtate
Than injures private worth. That I forgave
My condemnation, be my witneſs, Jove!
Whom I, departing from my native ſoil,
Implor'd that Athens ne'er might feel the loſs
Of Ariſtides. To confirm that pray'r
I have employ'd my exile; not in queſt
Of ſplendid refuge in the courts of kings,
But through each city with unwearied ſteps
Have paſs'd, exhorting, ſtimulating Greece
[35] To bold defence. I gladly am foreſtall'd
Here by a noble countryman, whoſe arm
At Marathon was fam'd, whoſe Attic lays
Immortalize the brave. I now invoke,
Not with leſs fervour, though in humbler phraſe,
The patriots there triumphant e'en in death,
The manes of Leonidas, of all
Whoſe gen'rous blood new-ſpilt in freedom's cauſe,
Thermopylae beholds, to ſpread abroad
Their glorious ſpirit, and exalt your minds
Above the ſenſe of danger. Now the weal
Of gen'ral Greece a gen'ral effort claims.
March to the plain, ye Doric warriors! mount
Your decks; th' Athenians with united arms
Support, no longer in that iſthmian fence
Your truſt repoſing. Were the wall of braſs,
Were adamant the rampart, if the pow'r
Of Athens, once extinguiſh'd, leave your coaſts
[36] Defenceleſs, ſoon to Pelops' Iſle the foe,
Like death, a thouſand avenues will find.
He ceas'd: A ſecond acclamation rends
The ſky; again th' Olympian temple groans
In replication, and Alphēan banks
Reverberate the ſound. The Attic bard
Meantime, o'er-ſpent with labour of the mind
And voice loud ſtraining, to the tranquil porch
Of Jove is lightly borne; nor knows the hands,
Benevolent and pious, which ſuſtain
His languid burden; till theſe friendly words
In tones remember'd diſſipate his trance.
Doth Aeſchylus forget me? O recal
Meliſſa's brother, and Oïleus' ſon,
Whoſe Locrian hinds at one auſpicious hour
Aſſiſted thy bold mariners to hurl
Th' Oetaean ruins on Barbarian heads.
[37] See Meliboeus off'ring to thy lip
The ſtream's refreſhing moiſture.—Soon reſtor'd,
Th' Athenian thus: Illuſtrious Medon, hail!
How fares Meliſſa, how thy native land?
She reſts, I hope, on Oeta ſtill ſecure,
Returns the Locrian. When Laconia's king
Was ſlain, and I, commanded to retreat,
Charg'd with a ſolemn notice to her ſtate,
That he expir'd obedient to the laws;
My life, devoted to avenge his blood,
I ſav'd. O'erpow'ring Xerxes ſoon reduc'd
The Locrians, Dorians, ev'ry northern Greek.
In time my father's treaſure I remov'd,
Which with a hundred followers I bore
To Lacedaemon. There indiff'rence cold
I found to all except of Pelops' Iſle;
Attention ſole to build an iſthmian wall:
Pauſanias, guardian to the minor king,
[38] Son of divine Leonidas, diſdains
Our juſt complaint: The Ephori confine
To this contracted region all their care,
Save Aëmneſtus. Gen'rous oft he mourn'd;
In vain his torpid colleagues he reprov'd.
Diſguſted there, I join'd theſe ſolemn games,
Where in contention of the warlike ſpear
I prov'd a victor. Olive-bound, my head
On future fields its freedom ſhall maintain;
Elſe, with my late preſerver's fate in view,
Shall dying roll this chaplet in the duſt.
Repair with me to Athens, cries the bard.
Sage is that counſel, Ariſtides near
Subjoins: time preſſes; Aeſchylus, embark:
Aegina's hoſpitable round ſupplies
My place of reſt.—Now ſwift th' Athenian band,
With Medon's, ſeek their Delphian barks again;
While Ariſtides holds an inland courſe,
[39] Still to his country meditating good,
Of his own wrongs forgetful. As he roam'd
From ſtate to ſtate, his eloquence inſtill'd
The love of freedom, horror at her loſs,
Unchanging hatred to monarchal ſway,
With concord, valour, fortitude, and zeal
For Greece in danger. From his wonted ſeat
In heav'n, ſo Phoebus, patient and reſign'd,
An exile wander'd on the earth below;
Beneficent and helpful, there diffus'd
His light of ſcience; with ſalubrious ſkill
Imparted health, and taught the varied uſe
Of lenient roots and plants. The Delphian keels
Meantime are looſen'd from Elēan ſands,
With ſails outſtretch'd for Athens. On his couch
Still Timon lies deſpairing; near him watch
The chiefs humane: in kind officious care
The Perſian captive from his forehead wipes
The dews of anguiſh. With a ſudden ſtart
Him now the Delphian, erring, thus beſpoke:
[38] [...][39] [...][40]
Oh Alexander! thou haſt loſt, my ſon,
Thy dear betroth'd, the land of Phocis loſt
Her nobleſt virgin! Reach my arms—I ſee
The raviſher before me: though he frowns,
Begirt with ſavage multitudes, my ſword
Shall reach his barb'rous heart. Here Medon turns
To Aeſchylus: The ſight of Delphi's chief,
So nobly excellent, ſo honour'd, lov'd,
By all reſorting to conſult his god,
A ſight once grateful, pierces now my ſoul
With agony. How oft hath muſic ſooth'd
Diſtemper'd boſoms! Let thy tuneful chords,
Medicinally ſweet, apply their aid.
To him the bard: My harmony his ear
But late rejected. Meliboeus, try
The ſofter ſounds which Pan hath taught the ſwains.
A modulation by Meliſſa taught
I will eſſay, th' obedient ſwain replies.
[41]
He ſaid, and lightly touch'd his warbling flute.
Like fountains rilling, or mellifluous notes
Of birds, a ſoft and lulling flow attun'd
The ambient air. At firſt th' afflicted man
Paus'd in attention, ſoon a trickling tear
Bedew'd his beard; the remedy was chang'd
To pain, and thus he recommenc'd his moan.
Thou, Amarantha, too couldſt wake the ſoul
Of muſic, melting in thy parent's ear,
Refining joyful ſeaſons, or the hours
Of care beguiling. In a foreign clime
Hang up thy harp, ſad captive! Let thy hand
Forget her ſkill, nor charm Barbarian minds.
But hark! I hear the ruffian. Slave! he calls,
Reſume thy harp: Some choſen hymn of Greece,
Such as delighted Phoebus, chaunt to me,
Me now thy god. O Alexander, fly,
Redeem thy love. Apollo, who couldſt hurl
[42] Parnaſſian ſummits on a hoſt of foes,
Make me thy inſtrument of wrath! My nerves
Convert to pierceleſs adamant; my lance
Point with thy father's lightning! Me thy prieſt,
Sprung from an old, heroic, ſacred line,
Thou ſhouldſt avenge. But vengeance is too late;
My daughter yields: a minſtrel to her lord,
To her deflow'rer, with obſequious art
The Grecian chords ſhe proſtitutes, and ſmiles
To ſee my ſuff'rings!—During this diſtreſs,
With canvas preſs'd, the ſquadron bounds along
By Coryphaſium, by Meſſene's gulph
In Neſtor's Pylian kingdom, by the peak
Of Taenarus, projecting o'er a cave,
Night's gloomy chamber, fabled to deſcend
Low as Plutonian regions. Thrice the morn
Serenely ſmil'd, ere Malea's top their ſails
O'erſhades, Laconian promontory bleak,
The reſidence of ſtorms. Five diſtant maſts
[43] Are now deſcried; when Aeſchylus beſpake
The Locrian chief: Not friendly are thoſe decks;
Our navy, ſince Thermopylae was forc'd,
To Salamis retiring, leaves the foes
At large to range the ſea. Thy counſel give;
To ſome Laconian harbour ſhall we ſteer,
Or wait their coming? Here Oïleus' ſon:
Thou art my leader; thee propitious Mars
On land and main with equal pow'rs endues:
How can I counſel, ſtranger to the waves?
At thy commandment to retreat, or fight,
Behold me ready.—Then by Mars, replies
The warrior bard, as no reſiſtleſs force
Bears down againſt us, yet inſulting hoiſts
A threat'ning ſignal, Delphians, reſt the oar;
Provide your arms; Athenians, Locrians, arm!
This ſaid, his pinnace, launch'd in haſte, convey'd
His orders round to form th' embattled line.
[44] Six were the veſſels; Lo! a ſtately bark
In regal pendants leads th' opponent van.
As when a vernal ſun's precarious beam
Is intercepted by a ſudden cloud,
Whoſe turgid folds are overcharg'd with hail;
Some palace, broad, impenetrably roof'd,
Defies the clatt'ring, ineffectual drift,
Which harmleſs melts away—ſo flew a ſhow'r
Of miſſive arms, of arrows, javelins, darts,
With pebbles whirling from the forceful ſling,
On Grecian helms and implicated ſhields;
But innocently fell. Now ſide to ſide
The chieftains grappled, and gigantic death
To either deck outſtretch'd his purple feet.
Malignant art no engine hath devis'd
To man deſtructive like his own fell hand
In ſerried fight. But ſlaughter now began
To pauſe in wonder, while the Aſian chief,
Whoſe blazon'd armour beam'd with gold, engag'd
[45] Cecropia's hardy vet'ran foot to foot,
With falchion falchion, ſhield encount'ring ſhield.
So, in the ſeaſon when laſcivious heat
Burns in their veins, two branching-headed ſtags,
Of all the herd competitors for ſway,
Long with entangled horns perſiſt in ſtrife,
Nor yield, nor vanquiſh: ſtand in gaze the reſt,
Expecting which by conqueſt ſhall aſſume
The maſtery of all. Now Timon, rous'd
With Meliboeus, and the captive youth,
Starts from his pillow: they attain the poop,
Which inſtant boarded from an eaſtern ſhip
By hoſtile arms is held. Brave Medon quits
His former ſtation; Aeſchylus he leaves
A firm defender there: his falchion keen
Aloft he waves. As ſome tremendous ſhark,
Who with voracious jaws reſiſtleſs foams
Along the main, and finny tribes devours,
Or drives before him on the ſun-bright waves,
[46] Where late ſecure they wanton'd—Medon's might,
Prevailing thus, the ſteerage heaps with dead;
Though not in time victorious to retain
Unhappy Timon, Meliboeus good,
And Artamanes, not unwilling borne
With them away to join his friends again.
Two Delphian veſſels their auxiliar beaks
Preſent. More furious had the conteſt glow'd
In ev'ry quarter; when o'er Malean cliffs
The wind began to howl, the troubled ſky
To flaſh ſulphureous, menacing a ſtorm,
Such as Saturnia on the Dardan fleet,
Or Neptune's rage for Polyphemus blind
Daſh'd on Laërtes' much enduring ſon.
The ſquadrons ſeparate; To the ſhelt'ring lee
Of Malea ſteer the Grecians; while their foes
Expatiate o'er the roomy ſea, to ſhun
The local tumults of that ſtormy ſhore,
And hold a diſtant courſe. O'er Timon's fate
[47] Th' Athenian now finds leiſure to lament
With Medon, Medon with reſponſive grief
For Meliboeus. By return of dawn
The waters calm'd invite the vigorous oars
To recommence their progreſs. Coaſting down
Laconia's ſea-beat verge, they wear the day;
Then reſting moor in Cynoſura's port.
From Aeſchylus in ſighs theſe accents broke:
Here Aeſculapius by his pow'rful art,
Which dar'd revive departed breath in man,
Offending Pluto, thunder-pierc'd by Jove,
Lodg'd his own clay in Cynoſura's mold.
O now to immortality preferr'd,
Kind god of med'cine! wouldſt thou hear my ſuit,
Thou ſhouldſt reſtore Leonidas, to warm
Unfeeling Sparta; then thy Delphian ſire
The menac'd doom of Athens would revoke,
Nor I beſprinkle with indignant tears
[48] Laconia's ſhore. O Locrian gueſt, I call'd
Thy welcome feet to Athens: thou mayſt view
(For ſo the oracle to me denounc'd)
Her tow'rs in duſt.—Minerva's tow'rs to fall
Hath Phoebus doom'd? the Locrian chief exclaim'd;
I, who have loſt my country, yet can find
A tear for Athens: I atteſt the gods,
As in one veſſel, Aeſchylus, we ſteer
Together now, thy fortune I will ſhare;
And down her ſtream, howe'er the tempeſt roar,
With thee embark'd, will never quit thy ſide.
The tragic bard unbends his mournful brow,
Thus anſw'ring: Gen'rous Medon, I confeſs,
Approaching nearer to my ſeat of birth,
I dropp'd a tear of anguiſh; nature wept
At ſad forebodings of deſtruction there.
But know, a true Athenian ne'er deſponds:
Abandon'd by allies, condemn'd by heav'n
[49] To ſee their city burnt, that gallant race
Will yet aſſert their liberty; will ſave
Ev'n faithleſs Sparta, and thy home redeem.
This ſaid, they ſlept, till morning gives her ſign
To weigh the anchors, and unfurl the ſails.
Aurora's third appearance tips with light,
Of roſeate tincture, ſpacious walls and tow'rs
Of no ignoble city, riſing clear
From ſhading miſts to view. The poet then:
Lo! Medon, fair Troezene; rich her ſoil,
Her people gen'rous, to Cecropia's ſtate
Inviolably faithful. See that iſle
Which fronts the port; redundant in delights
Of art and nature, though of circuit ſmall,
Calauria ſhews her verdant round of wood.
Here diſembarking, with devotion pure
We muſt invoke the trident-bearing god.
[50] This iſle from Phoebus Neptune in exchange
For Delphi took. Thrice holy is the ſoil,
Deſerving rev'rence, by that pow'r belov'd,
Who ſhar'd a third of ancient Saturn's reign,
His ſon a brother to Olympian Jove.
Here ſhall we greet ſome wonder of her ſex,
The ſacerdotal maid. Troezene's laws
One of her nobleſt daughters in her bud
Eſtabliſh here preſiding, here confin'd
To prieſtly functions, till the genial god
Of marriage hence redeem her, grown mature
For care leſs rigid, and a tend'rer tie.
The heroes land, where opening to their ſight
An elevation of the ground, attir'd
In flow'r-enamell'd turf, diſplay'd the fane
Of ſtructure vaſt in marble: braſs the gates
Refulgence caſt; a periſtyle ſuſtain'd
The maſſy roof; huge columns on their heads
[51] The criſped foliage of acanthus bore,
And high o'erlook'd th' impenetrable ſhade
Which ſcreen'd the iſland round. Perennial ſprings
Supplied melodious currents through the woods,
In artificial beds of pearly conchs
Along the ſea-beat margin cull'd by nymphs,
The temple's chaſte attendants. Unreſtrain'd
Here flow'd the native waters; there confin'd
By marble fountains, win th' enchanted eye
To ſhady-ſkirted lawns, to op'ning glades,
Or canopies of verdure: all the founts
Were grac'd by guardian images of gods,
The train of Neptune.—Lo! the gate is thrown
Abroad; the prieſteſs, lovely in her ſhape
As virgin Thetis to the nuptial arms
Of Peleus led, more blooming than the flow'rs
Beneath her decent ſtep, deſcends the ſlope:
A matron ſtaid behind her ſolemn treads;
Cloſe to her ſide, in radiant arms, a youth
[52] Who like a brother of the Graces moves.
His head, uncas'd, diſcovers auburn locks
Curl'd thick, not flowing: his ſuſtaining hand
She, roſy-finger'd, to her own admits.
He ſeem'd Apollo, not with martial fires
Such as on Titan's race he darted keen,
But with th' enamour'd aſpect which he wore
When Clymene he won, or Daphne woo'd:
She Cynthia, not a huntreſs, when the chace
Of rugged boars hath fluſh'd her eager cheek,
But gently ſtooping from an argent cloud,
Illumining mount Latmus, while ſhe view'd
Her lov'd Endymion, by her magic pow'r
Entranc'd to ſlumber.—Aeſchylus approach'd,
To whom the youth: Great bard and warrior, hail!
Whoſe valiant deeds on Artemiſium's flood,
In that firſt conflict with Barbarian fleets,
I ſtrove to copy: there was all my praiſe.
Me Troezen's leader, from my poſt remote,
[53] Thou ſee'ſt: forbear to wonder, and attend.
Thy Athens now is deſolate—relax
That anxious brow—her conſtancy, her zeal
For gen'ral freedom, elevate her name
Beyond all triumphs. Her diſcerning chief,
Themiſtocles, interpreting the words
Of Pythian Phoebus, prov'd that ſhips alone,
The fleets of Athens, were the wooden walls
Of refuge. All perſuaded, fires and ſons,
With mothers, daughters, cheerfully forſook
Their native roofs. Lo! Salamis o'erflows
With your illuſtrious people; through her towns
Aegina ſwarms; to multitudes myſelf
Have been conductor; in Troezenian homes,
By cordial invitation, they reſide.
To each a daily ſtipend by a law
They find allotted, ſchools with teachers fill'd,
That not unletter'd from Troezene's walls
The ſons of learned Athens may depart,
[54] When victory to come rebuilds her tow'rs.
With thee behold me ready to embark
For Salamis again, where anchor'd lies
The whole confederated fleet. I leave
My Ariphilia, this my dear betroth'd,
To fight my country's battles; but return,
I truſt in Mars, more worthy of her love:
To her and Neptune I but now conſign'd
The moſt ennobled of Athenian dames.
Ha! ſee on yonder beach the form divine
Of Ariſtides, newly wafted o'er
From Troezen: thither, not unbid, he came
From his late virtuous progreſs, in our bounds
Through willing minds ſage counſel to diffuſe,
His own exterminated friends conſole.
Cleander finiſh'd. Soon th' arrival known
Of Ariſtides from the temple call'd
The Attic dames, from ev'ry purlieu near,
[55] Who with their children in aſſembly throng
Around him. Silent tears confeſs his loſs
To them and Athens. His benignant mold
By ſympathy had melted into grief;
If wiſdom, ever preſent in his ſoul,
Had not his long-tried conſtancy upheld
To their behoof. Environ'd by the troop
Of lovely mourners, ſtood the godlike man
Like ſome tall cedar, in a garden plac'd
Where glowing tufts of flow'rs and florid plants
Once bloom'd around; now, ſear'd by ſcorching blaſts,
In faded colours pine. In look, in phraſe
Humane he ſpake: Be comforted, and hear
My voice applaud Themiſtocles, my foe,
Whoſe counſels have preſerv'd you. But what praiſe
Is yours, O glories of the tender ſex!
Who brave the floods, without a murmur leave
Your native, dear abodes for public good!
Ye ornaments of Greece, the pride and boaſt
Of happy fathers, huſbands, brothers, ſons!
[56]
As yet unſeen, Euphemia from the reſt
Impatient ſtepp'd, his mother. At her ſight,
The beſt, the greateſt of mankind inclines
Before the authreſs of his being, low
As ſome celeſtial to the rev'rend form
Of Cybele, progenitrix of gods.
Her aged arms extending, ſhe began:
Thy moderation aggravates the crime
Of Athens. Son, remember, when thou bad'ſt
Our houſehold gods farewel, thy parting pray'r;
That Athens never might regret the loſs
Of Ariſtides. Righteous man! then firſt
The righteous pow'rs denied a pray'r of thine;
Who with inflicted vengeance for thy wrong
Have ſorely taught Athenians to lament
In thee their ſafety baniſh'd.—Mother, ceaſe,
He quick replied; controul preſumptuous thoughts;
Let ſuch uncomfortable words no more
[57] Be heard by theſe already plung'd in woe:
It is Laconia, who her aid withholds,
Cecropian tribes afflicts. But, noble dames,
In this aſylum ſojourning a while,
Truſt your own merits, and a guardian god;
The ſons of Athens on his own domain
He will exalt by conqueſt, ſoon tranſport
Her daughters back to liberty and peace:
From him that grace continue to deſerve,
By reſignation to his brother Jove,
Who loves the patient.—As on lands aduſt
By hot ſolſtitial rays, when genial clouds,
In ſeaſon due unboſoming their ſtores
Of kindly rain, new dreſs the paſture brown;
Again the flowrets on the meadows ſpring;
O'er meadows, freſh in verdure, youthful ſteeds,
Led by the parent females, joyous bound,
The heifers gambol, kids and lambkins dance,
The birds in dripping bow'rs their plumes repair,
[58] And tune their choral, gratulating throats—
So conſolation from his blameleſs mouth,
With looks benevolent, in ſoothing tones
Relieves dejection. Soft compoſure ſmooths
Each matron's forehead; virgins ſmile around;
With ſprightly feet the children beat the turf,
Him as their father hail in ſhrill delight.
Not ſo his own two daughters: infants young,
A dying mother's pledge, Euphemia's charge,
His ſide they leave not, clinging to his knees
Like woodbines ſweet about ſome ſtately tree:
He kiſs'd, he bleſs'd them, but controul'd his tears.
Now tow'rds the bay with Aeſchylus he turns;
Cleander follows. Ariphilia mute
Stands fix'd in tears; as Niobe, congeal'd
By grief to marble, through its oozing pores
Diſtill'd ſad moiſture, trickling down unheard.
On Sipylus the nymphs, by pity call'd,
[59] The weeping rock environ'd; ſo the train,
Who miniſter in Neptune's ſacred dome,
Incloſe their prieſteſs, whom her matron ſage
Leads from Cleander's oft reverted ſight.
End of the Second Book.
THE ATHENAID.
BOOK the THIRD.
[60]O'ER his own ſquadron ſoon Troezene's chief
Hath reaſſum'd command; the reſt embark
Aboard the Delphian. Aeſchylus then ſpake:
To Salamis we hoiſt returning ſails:
Say, Ariſtides, ſhall my voice, of weight
Among the tribes, ſolicit thy recal?
Our country wants that helpful hand of thine.
No, Ariſtides anſwers, this again
Might waken faction; let the monſter ſleep.
[61] Themiſtocles directs united minds,
In him confiding: not the ſtock reviv'd
Of all Cecropia's heroes ſince her birth,
Could like this union prop the Attic ſtate.
Brave too the ſon of Neocles, expert,
Cool, politic; his talents will uphold
The public ſafety for his own renown.
May he enjoy a glory ſo acquir'd!
My ſecret counſels from Aegina's iſle
Shall not be wanting: for my country's ſake,
Which I forgive, him, author of my wrongs,
My utmoſt efforts ſhall advance to fame.
The gulph Saronic now admits their keel.
By Epidaurus coaſting, they attain
The cape of high Spiraeum, which o'erlooks
Aegina. Guided by Aurora's light,
Th' illuſtrious exile on that iſle they land;
Thence veering, ſteer for Salamis. Theſe words
[62] Now break from Medon; Silent have I gaz'd
On Ariſtides, ſhortly muſt behold
Themiſtocles; Athenian friend, explain
Between ſuch men what cauſe produc'd their feuds.
Their diff'rent merits, Aeſchylus replied,
Rais'd emulation in their younger days.
A ſoldier's part they gallantly achiev'd
In the ſame rank at Marathon; I ſaw,
Admir'd their valour. For diſtinction high
In pow'r and fame, Themiſtocles hath us'd
His num'rous virtues; Ariſtides walk'd
In virtuous paths, alone by virtue mov'd;
For him his juſtice hath a title gain'd
Of JUST. The ſon of Neocles, inflam'd
By envy, ſtirr'd the people's jealous fear
Againſt his rival to aſſert a law,
Where, by inſcription of his name on ſhells,
A citizen ſo potent, that his will
[63] Seems only wanting to ſubvert the ſtate,
Is by concurrence of ſix thouſand hands
Doom'd for ten years to abſence from their bounds,
Without diſgrace or mulct. Among the tribes
Themiſtocles hath ſince obtain'd a ſway
Which might incur the rigour of that law;
Yet by the gods his influence ſupreme
He at this criſis gallantly employs
To ſave the public.—Lift thy wond'ring eyes!
The whole confederated fleet of Greece,
Four hundred gallies, bulwark all the round
Of Salamis: one animated maſs
That iſland ſhews; from ſwarms of either ſex,
And ev'ry age, dales, hillocks ſeem to heave
With undulating motion.—His diſcourſe
Clos'd with his voyage: on the furrow'd ſands
Of Salamis the veſſels reſt their keels;
Where living waters from a copious ſpring
Diſcharge their bubbling current. On a ſmooth,
[64] But gently-ſhelving green, pavilions roſe;
One from the reſt ſequeſter'd, under ſhade
Of oaks above, was neighbour to the fane
Of Telamonian Ajax, hero known
At Troy: the Attic phalanx then he join'd,
By Athens honour'd ſince with rites divine.
This tent, by enſigns of command in front
Adorn'd, Themiſtocles poſſeſs'd: alone
He now remain'd; artificer ſublime
Of great expedients, in the greateſt ſtorms
Which rock a ſtate, he, politic and firm,
In manly ſtrife with fortune when ſhe frown'd,
Whene'er ſhe ſmil'd her favour to ſecure—
He now, to feed his enterpriſing ſoul,
Succeſſes paſt enumerating ſat,
Thus in a glow of thought: While others dream'd
Of reſt and ſafety permanent in Greece,
I from the day of Marathon preſag'd
[65] The war begun, not finiſh'd; I, in time,
Exhorted Athens to conſtruct her fleet,
A deſtin'd refuge; for the ſail and oar,
The ſhrouds and rudder, I her luſty youth
Prepar'd; ere yet the Helleſpont was bridg'd,
I cur'd inteſtine feuds diſtracting Greece;
When fate remov'd Leonidas from earth,
My penetration, fathoming the depths
Of ocean, like futurity foreſaw
Laconia's ſloth; yet undiſmay'd I form'd
The mighty plan to ſave th' Athenian ſtate
By yielding Athens to Barbarian flames.
That I might plead the mandates of a god,
I won, by ſecret gifts, the Pythian maid
An oracle to render, which I fram'd;
Th' interpretation to enforce, that ſhips
Were wooden walls, Minerva's prieſt I gain'd
Among the people to imprint belief
By feign'd portents, and all religion's craft,
[66] That to the ſea their deity was fled,
Th' Acropolis deſerting. Thus at will
This reſtive, fierce democracy I ſway
For their ſalvation, and my own behoof
In pow'r and luſtre .... Interrupting here
His eagle vanity in lofty ſoar,
The warrior-poet and Oïleus' ſon
Appear. Serene and vacant he deſcends
At once to affability and eaſe;
As from his airy tow'r the lark, who ſtrikes
Heav'n's higheſt concave with his matin trill,
His pinions ſhuts, and tranquil drops to earth.
Of Ariſtides Aeſchylus he knew
The friend approv'd; him courteous he ſalutes:
Thy eloquence and arms, the gen'rous toils
Of Ariſtides too, have reach'd my ear
By late intelligence. Thus far at leaſt
You have prevail'd; this navy is enlarg'd
[67] By ſquadrons new from various Grecian ſtates.
Is not this Medon? Honour'd in thy ſire,
More in thy own deſervings, my embrace
Accept; accept the welcome of this tent.
Myronides now joins him, mighty chief!
The deſtin'd ſcourge of Thebes; Xanthippus, ſoon
At Mycale to conquer; in his hand
Young Pericles, that future ſtar of Greece;
Then Cimon, fated on the land and main
To gather palms in one triumphant day;
Subaltern warriors to the prudent ſon
Of Neocles. Saluting theſe, he ſpake:
My gallant fellow-citizens, you come
To learn the iſſue of this day's debate
In gen'ral council. Wiſely did we cede
To Spartan Eurybiades command;
The diff'rent ſquadrons to their native ports
[68] Had elſe deſerted. Irkſome, I confeſs,
This acquieſcence; but occaſion looks
Diſdainful back on him who lets her paſs;
You have embrac'd her. Yielding to the Greeks,
You fix their ſtation here, the num'rous foe
In narrow ſtreights between Pſyttalia's iſle
And Salamis to face. Can he poſſeſs,
Who ſees a treaſure ſcatter'd on the ground,
Unleſs he ſtoop? So proſtrate in your ſight
Lies Greece, that precious treaſure. Can you rule
Before you ſave? On union ſafety grows.
Reſigning now an empty name of pow'r,
Your moderation, winning grateful ſtates,
Will to your own a real ſway procure
Of long duration. Lacedaemon's pride,
Her beſt allies abandoning—a force
Of ten weak veſſels ſparing to a fleet,
Where Attic hands unfurl two hundred ſails—
Shall pay hereafter retribution full
[69] To you, Athenians, out of aſhes rais'd
From her to wreſt aſcendancy in Greece.
Not ſweeteſt muſic lulls the melting ſoul
Beyond his artful eloquence, which ſoothes
Their warm, their injur'd virtue. They reply:
To thee, not Sparta, cheerful we ſubmit,
Our leader ſole; thou judge and act for all.
Now to his frugal Attic meal they ſat;
Where Aeſchylus and Medon, each in turn
Unfolding amply his adventures, won
Attention: pleaſing information charm'd
Deluded time, till midnight prompted ſleep.
Thus, after labours paſt, the martial bard
His countrymen rejoin'd. The hoſtile ſhips,
Which gave him battle under Malea's cape,
[70] Veer'd for the ſtreights Euboean, where the fleet
Of Aſia moor'd. Subſiding on their way,
The wind grants leiſure for the Perſian chief
To view the captives. Artamanes ſteps
Before the reſt: on ſight of Caria's queen,
Great Artemiſia, who commanded there,
His cheek, with recollection of his ſire
To her ſo late perfidious, reddens warm.
She firſt to him: Argeſtes could behold
Me worſted, long reſiſting adverſe fate
On fam'd Thermopylae's diſaſtrous field;
My danger he enjoy'd: his reſcued ſon,
Whoſe growing merit wins obſervant eyes,
I ſee with gladneſs; welcome to my deck!
But who is he, diſconſolate in mien?
O rev'rend man of ſorrows, lift thy head!
From Artemiſia no diſhonour fear.
He makes no anſwer—Artamanes, ſpeak.
[71]
The youth replies: His name is Timon, chief
And prieſt in Delphi; on our inroad there,
My brother, Mithridates, ſnatch'd away
From his paternal breaſt a noble maid,
An only child. His mind is darken'd ſince
By frenzy; my compaſſion his diſtreſs
Hath ever tended, fervent now implores
Thou wouldſt commit him to my grateful care:
Myſelf am debtor to indulgent Greeks.
In ſmiles the princeſs anſwer'd: Gen'rous youth!
Couldſt thou protect him, I would truſt thy care;
But thoſe deform'd by ignominious deeds
May exerciſe in malice ſtronger pow'r
Than thou in goodneſs: for the preſent lay
Th' unhappy Delphian on a bed of reſt.
Beſide her waits Aronces, high in truſt,
A hoary ſenior, freedman of her ſire.
[72] On Meliboeus, on the queen, he fix'd
Alternate looks; then earneſt him addreſs'd:
O thou of noble frame, in lowly garb,
Speak whence thou com'ſt, thy own, thy father's name.
What region gave thee birth? Did nature print,
Or ſome diſaſter, on thy cheek that mark?
I am not curious from a ſlender cauſe.
The ſwain replied: From nature I derive
That mark; of parents, of my native ſeat,
Within this breaſt no traces now ſurvive;
In childhood ſtol'n by pirates, I was ſold
(Heav'n there was gracious) to the beſt of men:
Full thirty annual ſuns have ſince elaps'd.
He oft appris'd me, that my infant lips
In Grecian accents would repeat the names
Of Lygdamis and Dirce; ſo I ſtyl'd
My ſire and mother.—O imperial dame,
[73] Thyſelf the ſeed of Lygdamis, exclaim'd
The ancient man. If circumſtance be proof,
He is thy brother, Haliartus, ſtol'n
Within that period from thy father's tow'r
Waſh'd by the waves, that fair abode retir'd.
Halicarnaſſus mourn'd the dire event.
He is thy likeneſs. I, preferr'd to rule
Thy father's houſehold; I, whoſe faithful arms
So oft the infant Haliartus bore,
So oft with eyes delighted have perus'd
That object dear, I never can forget
That ſignal mark, coeval with his birth,
Diſtinguiſhing thy brother.—Penſive, mute,
Uncertain reſts the queen.—He ſtill proceeds:
Behold thy ſon, Leander, melts in tears!
It is the touch of nature hath unclos'd
That tender ſpring.—To him the regal dame:
[74]
Old man, thou know'ſt I honour, I conſide
In thy untainted faith. All ſtrange events,
Dreſs'd in affecting circumſtance, excite
Theſe ſoft emotions; ſuch in ev'ry breaſt
Should riſe, but not decide. Pure truth is built
Not on our paſſions; reaſon is her baſe.
Him to accept my brother, needs more proof;
But to his manly and ingenuous looks
I render homage. Let him caſe his limbs.
In Carian ſteel, and combat near my ſide;
Let deeds illuſtrate an exalted mind;
Then, whether kin or alien to my blood,
He like a brother ſhall obtain regard
From Artemiſia.—Meliboeus here:
Endear'd to heroes of Oïlean race,
I claim with none alliance; I have liv'd
With them in joy, from ignorance been rais'd
By them to knowledge, from the lowly ſtate
[75] Which heav'n's deciding providence ordain'd,
To their deſerv'd regard, my utmoſt wiſh.
To them reſtore me; I requeſt no more
From deities or mortals. Caſe my limbs
In Carian armour ſplendid as thy own,
Ne'er ſhalt thou ſee me combat near thy ſide
Againſt the Grecians. Place of birth, or blood
Of nobleſt dye in kindred, quite eſtrang'd
By time and fortune, I reject for Greece;
Greece, my kind nurſe, the guardian of my youth,
Who for my tutors did her heroes lend.
My dear affections all are center'd there,
My gratitude, my duty.—By the hand
She graſps the gallant captive, and proceeds:
Thy ſentiments are noble, they beſpeak
The care of heroes; thy releaſe my hopes
Forbid, my tend'reſt wiſhes; to conſtrain
Thy preſence here, while we aſſail thy friends,
[76] I ſcorn. Aronces, launch a nimble ſkiff;
On him attendant, reach Nicaea's walls,
For him tranſport a ſuit of arms compelete;
Nor let unhappy Timon want thy care.
Thee, Greek or Carian, brother, friend, or ſoe,
Whate'er thou prov'ſt hereafter, I will greet
Again, my heart ſo prompts me; I require
No plighted word, no token; ere we meet
Once more at leaſt, thou wilt not, I confide,
Thou canſt not harbour ſuch a thought as flight
From Artemiſia.—Meliboeus look'd
Integrity; he felt too full for words,
And ſees her thoughtful and perplex'd retire.
Aronces now on Artamanes calls;
With him, and either captive, he embarks;
Of Carian arms he lodges on the poop
A rich-emblazon'd ſuit. The pinnace light
Along the ſhore, from ev'ry foe ſecure,
[77] Skims o'er the waters with diſtended ſails,
Swift as a vig'rous ſtag who hears no cry
Of dogs or men, but o'er the champaign green
Or valley ſweeps, to glory in his ſpeed
And branching antlers. On the form and port
Of Meliboeus long Aronces fed
His eager eye, unſated with delight;
At laſt he ſpake: My lord, Nicaea's fort,
A garriſon of Xerxes, will afford
A refuge kind, till Caria's queen her ſail
Of viſitation hoiſts; the ſetting ſun
Will ſee my lord ſafe landed in the cove.
That ſplendid title thou doſt ill beſtow
On my condition, Meliboeus then.
To whom Aronces: Oh thou art my lord,
Thou art the ſon of Lygdamis! My heart,
Old as I am, experienc'd in events,
[78] Without a cauſe to ſuch exceſs of joy
Would ne'er miſlead me.—Honeſt hearts, rejoin'd
The other, oft are credulous, and lead
The mind to error; art thou ſure, my friend,
That I am no impoſtor, who hath heard
Of Lygdamis and Dyrce, and apply
Their names to falſehood?—Haliartus, no!
Exclaims Aronces; I before me ſee
My noble maſter, Lygdamis, reſtor'd;
Such as he was when thou, his child, was loſt.
Oh! lend attention—lo! the winds are ſtill,
The ſea unruffled, while my tongue begins
A tale which once with horror pierc'd my ſoul,
ut in thy hearing rapt'rous I repeat:
Halicarnaſſus gave thy father birth,
Her moſt illuſtrious citizen; with twins
Thy mother's bed was bleſs'd; thy ſiſter one,
That Artemiſia, glory of her ſex,
[79] Beſtow'd in marriage on the Carian king;
Thou art the other. Oft thy ſire abode
Within a tow'r delightful, but remote,
Waſh'd by the billows; one diſaſtrous day,
As thou waſt tripping on the ſilver ſands,
Thy nurſe attending with ſome faithful ſlaves,
A troop of pirates landed; all thy train
Defending thee were kill'd, or wounded ſunk
Diſabled on the beach; with various ſpoil,
From thoſe unguarded borders, they convey'd
Aboard their veſſels thee their richeſt prize.
Aronces paus'd.—From Timon, liſting by,
This exclamation broke: My daughter too
May be recover'd!—Artamanes here:
Myſelf, redeem'd from capture, pledge my faith
That I will ſtruggle to reſtore thy child.
[80]
Night dropp'd her duſky veil; the pinnace gain'd
Nicaea, Locrian fortreſs, ſeated nigh
Thermopylae; enſuing morn proclaims,
By ſhouts and clangour, an approaching hoſt.
That gate of Greece, by Lacedaemon's king
So well maintain'd, defenceleſs now admits
Uncheck'd Barbarian inroads: thus a mound
By art conſtructed to reſtrain the ſea,
Or ſome huge river's courſe, neglected long,
And unſuſtain'd by vigilance and care,
Affords a paſſage new to whelming floods,
Whoſe ſurface hides fertility in waſte;
Till ſome ſagacious architect oppoſe
To nature's violence a ſkill divine,
Preſcribing where th' obedient wave ſhall flow.
To his companions Artamanes ſpake,
As in their ſight, extended from a tow'r,
Thermopylae in torrents from its mouth
[81] Pours mingled nations: See Mardonius there,
The ſon of Gobryas, author of this war,
The flow'r of Aſia's captains. At the time
We firſt attack'd this paſs, with num'rous bands,
A diſtant range of Macedon and Thrace
He was detach'd to ravage and ſubdue,
Triumphant now returning. Friends, farewel!
Him I muſt follow. Timon, may the light
Of Mithra ſhine propitious on m [...] days
As I protect thy daughter, and reſtore,
If fate ſo wills, her ſpotleſs to thy arms.
Theſe words, relumining with hope, compos'd
The clouded ſoul of Timon. Swift the youth,
In vigour iſſuing through the portal, mix'd
Among his native friends: a blithſome ſteer,
At op'ning dawn deliver'd from the ſtall,
Thus o'er the flow'ry paſture bounding, joins
The well-known herd. Mardonius him receiv'd,
Foe to Argeſtes, cordial to his ſon,
[82] Mardonius all-commanding, all in frame,
In nervous limbs excelling, like that bull
Who ſtemm'd the billows with his brawny cheſt,
Who on his back of ſilver whiteneſs bore
Europa's precious weight to Cretan ſtrands,
Himſelf a god transform'd. New martial pow'rs
Are here from Haemus, from Pangaean ſnows.
A Greek in lineage, Alexander here,
Young ſov'reign o'er Barbarians, leads to war
His Macedonian troops. To Athens bound
By mutual hoſpitality, he lov'd
That gen'rous city; now, by force compell'd,
He arms againſt her. But perſuaſive love,
The charms and virtues of a Grecian fair,
Will wake remembrance of his Grecian race,
To better counſels turn his youthful mind.
That Aſia's king was now advanc'd to Thebes,
Intelligence is brought; this known, a ſteed
Of ſwifteſt pace Mardonius mounts; command
[83] To Tiridates delegates—Thy force
Extend o'er Locris, o'er the Phocian bounds,
Our conqueſts new. This giv'n in charge, he ſpeeds,
With no companion but Argeſtes' ſon,
Nor other guard than fifty horſemen light,
To greet the king. The ſecond morning ſhews
Cadmean Thebes, whoſe citadel was rais'd
By ſtones deſcending from Cithaeron's hill
Spontaneous, feign'd in fables to aſſume
A due arrangement in their mural bed
At ſweet Amphion's lute; but truth records,
That ſavage breaſts by eloquence he tam'd,
By his inſtructions humaniz'd, they felt
The harmony of laws and ſocial ties.
To him ſucceeded ſtern Agenor's ſon,
Phoenician Cadmus, he who letters brought
From Tyre to Greece; yet ignorance o'erwhelm'd
His generation; barbarous of heart,
Obtuſe of mind they grew; the ſuries there,
[84] There parricide and inceſt reign'd of old,
Impiety and horror: more debas'd,
They now for gold their liberty exchange;
They court a tyrant, whoſe Barbaric hoſt
Flames round their bulwarks, harrows up their plain,
Lays waſte their plenty, drinks Aſopus dry,
Their ſwift Iſmenus, and Dircaean ſpring.
End of the Third Book.
THE ATHENAID.
BOOK the FOURTH.
[85]THE Perſian hoſt in readineſs was held
Ere dawn; Aurora ſees the ſignal given;
Now trumpets, clarions, timbrels mix their ſounds;
Harſh diſſonance of accents, in the ſhouts
Of nations gather'd from a hundred realms,
Diſtract the ſky. The king his march renews
In all his ſtate, collected to deſcend
Precipitate on Athens; like the bird
Of Jove, who riſing to the utmoſt ſoar
Of his ſtrong pinions, on the prey beneath
[86] Directs his pond'rous fall. Five thouſand horſe,
Capariſon'd in ſtreak'd or ſpotted ſkins
Of tygers, pards, and panthers, form'd the van;
In quilted veſts of cotton, azure dyed,
With ſilver ſpangles deck'd, the tawny youth
Of Indus rode; white quivers looſely croſs'd
Their ſhoulders; not ungraceful in their hands
Were bows of gliſt'ning cane; the oſtrich lent
His ſnowy plumage to the tiſſued gold
Which bound their temples. Next a thouſand ſteeds
Of ſable hue on argent trappings bore
A thouſand Perſians, all ſelect; in gold,
Shap'd as pomegranates, roſe their ſteely points
Above the truncheons; gilded were the ſhields,
Of ſilver'd ſcales the corſelets; wrought with gems
Of price, high-plum'd tiaras danc'd in light.
In equal number, in reſembling guiſe,
A ſquadron follow'd; ſave their mail was gold,
And thick with beryls edg'd their ſilver ſhields.
[87]
In order next the Magi ſolemn trod.
Pre-eminent was Mirzes; ſnowy white
Their veſtments flow'd, majeſtically pure,
Rejecting ſplendour; hymning as they mov'd,
They ſung of Cyrus, glorious in his rule
O'er Sardis rich, and Babylon the proud;
Cambyſes victor of Aegyptian Nile,
Darius fortune-thron'd; but flatt'ry tun'd
Their ſwelling voice to magnify his ſon,
The living monarch, whoſe ſtupendous piles
Combin'd the Orient and Heſperian worlds,
Who pierc'd mount Athos, and o'erpower'd in fight
Leonidas of Sparta. Then ſucceed
Ten courſers whiter than their native ſnows
On wintry Media's fields; Nicaean breed,
In ſhape to want no trappings, none they wore
To veil their beauty; docile they by chords
Of ſilk were led, the conſecrated ſteeds
Of Horomazes. Sacred too a car,
[88] Conſtructed new of ſpoils from Grecian fanes,
In ſplendour dazzling as the noontide throne
Of cloudleſs Mithra, follow'd; link'd in reins,
In traces brilliant overlaid with gems,
Eight horſes more of that ſurpaſſing race
The precious burden drew; the drivers walk'd,
None might aſcend th' inviolable ſeat;
On either ſide five hundred nobles march'd
Uncover'd. Now th' imperial ſtandard wav'd;
Of Sanders wood the pedeſtal, inſcrib'd
With characters of magic, which the charms
Of Indian wizards wrought in orient pearl,
Vain taliſman of ſafety, was upheld
By twelve illuſtrious youths of Perſian blood.
Then came the king; in majeſty of form,
In beauty firſt of men, as firſt in pow'r,
Contemplating the glory from his throne
Diffus'd to millions round, himſelf he deem'd
Not leſs than Mithra who illumes the world.
[89] The ſons of ſatraps with inverted ſpears
His chariot wheels attend; in ſtate their ſires,
The potentates of Aſia, rode behind;
Mardonius abſent, of the gorgeous train
Argeſtes tower'd the foremoſt; following march'd
A ſquare battalion of a thouſand ſpears,
By Mithridates led, his eldeſt born;
Him the laſcivious father had depriv'd
Of Amarantha; dangerous the flames
Of vengeance darted from his youthful eye.
Th' immortal guard ſucceeded; in their van
Maſiſtius, paragon of Aſia's peers,
In beauteous figure ſecond to the king,
Among the brave pre-eminent, more good
Than brave or beauteous; to Mardonius dear,
His counſellor and friend, in Xerxes' court
Left by that gen'ral, while in Thrace remote,
To counterpoiſe Argeſtes. Tried in arms,
In manners ſoft, though fearleſs on the plain,
[90] Of tend'reſt feelings, Mindarus, to love
A deſtin'd captive, near Maſiſtius rank'd;
Ariobarzanes next, whoſe barb'rous mien
Exemplified his fierceneſs. Laſt of horſe,
With Midias, pow'rful ſatrap, at their head,
A choſen myriad clos'd the long array.
From theſe were kept three hundred paces void;
Promiſcuous nations held their diſtant march
Beyond that limit; numberleſs they roll'd,
In tumult like the fluctuating ſands,
Diſturb'd and buoyant on the whirling breath
Of hurricanes, which rend the Libyan waſtes.
To Thebes deſcending, ſoon Mardonius learn'd
That pioneers, with multitudes light-arm'd,
Detach'd before the army, bent their courſe
To Athens. On he ſpeeds, rejecting food,
Diſdaining reſt; till midnight Cynthia ſhews
A vaulted hollow in a mountain's ſide;
[91] There in his clanging arms Mardonius throws
His limbs for ſlight refreſhment; by him lies
Argeſtes' ſon; to paſture ſpringing nigh,
The troop diſmiſs'd their ſteeds, and ſlept around.
To ſuperſtition prone from early age
Was Gobryas' ſon; o'erheated now by toil,
Yet more by thirſt unſated of renown,
His ſoul partakes not with her wearied clay
In ſleep repoſe; the cavern to her view
Appears in vaſt dimenſion to enlarge,
The ſides retire, th' aſcending roof expands,
All chang'd to cryſtal, where pellucid walls
Expoſe to ſight the univerſe around.
Thus did a dream invade the mighty breaſt
Of that long matchleſs conqueror, who gave
Italia's clime a ſpoil to Punic Mars,
When on the margin of Iberus lay
The ſlumb'ring chief, and eagerly to birth
[90] [...][91] [...][92] The vaſt conception of his pregnant mind
Was ſtruggling. Now Mardonius to himſelf
Seems roving o'er the metamorphos'd cave;
Orbicular above, an op'ning broad
Admits a flood of light, and gentleſt breath
Of odorif'rous winds; amid the blaze,
Full on the center of a pavement, ſpread
Beyond whate'er portentous Aegypt ſaw
In Thebes or Memphis, Fame, preſiding there,
Gigantic ſhape, an amethyſt entire,
Sits on a throne of adamant. On ſtrength
Of pillars, each a topaz, leans the dome;
The ſilver pavement's intervening ſpace
Between the circling colonnade and wall
With pedeſtals of diamond is fill'd;
The cryſtal circuit is comparted all
In niches verg'd with rubies. From that ſcene
The gloom of night for ever to expel,
Imagination's wanton ſkill in chains
[93] Of pearl throughout the viſionary hall
Suſpends carbuncles, gems of native light,
Emitting ſplendour, ſuch as tales portray,
Where Fancy, winning ſorcereſs, deludes
Th' enchanted mind, rejecting reaſon's clue,
To wander wild through fiction's pleaſing maze.
The oriental hero in his dream
Feels wonder waking; at his preſence life
Pervades the ſtatue; Fame, ſlow-riſing, ſounds
Her trumpet loud; a hundred golden gates
Spontaneous fly abroad; the ſhapes divine,
In ev'ry age, in ev'ry climate ſprung,
Of all the worthies ſince recorded time,
Aſcend the lucid hall. Again ſhe ſounds
A meaſure ſweeter than the Dorian flute
Of Pan, or lyre of Phoebus; each aſſumes
His place allotted, there transform'd is fix'd
An adamantine ſtatue; yet unfill'd
One niche remains. To Aſia's gazing chief
[94] The goddeſs then: That vacancy for thee,
Illuſtrious ſon of Gobryas, I reſerve.
He thus exults: Bright being, doſt thou grant
To Perſia triumphs through my conqu'ring ſpear.
He ſaid: that moment through the ſever'd earth
She ſinks; the ſpacious fabric is diſſolv'd;
When he, upſtarting in the narrow cave,
Delivers quiek theſe accents: Be renown
My lot! O Fortune, unconcern'd I leave
The reſt to thee. Thus dauntleſs, ere his ſleep
Was quite diſpers'd; but waken'd ſoon he feels
Th' imperfect viſion heavy on his mind
In dubious gloom; then lightly with his foot
Moves Artamanes; up he ſprings; the troop
Prepare the ſteeds; all mount; Aurora dawns.
The ſwift forerunners of th' imperial camp
Ere long Mardonius joins, where Athens-lifts
[95] Her tow'rs in proſpect. Unexpected ſeen,
Their mighty chief with gen'ral, cordial ſhouts
They greet; their multitude, their tranſport, clear
His heart from trouble. Soon Barbarian throngs
With ſhading ſtandards through Cephiſſus wade,
Who, had his fam'd divinity been true,
His ſhallow ſtream in torrents would have ſwoln
A while, to ſave the capital of Greece,
Superb in ſtructure, long-diſputed prize
Between Minerva and the god of ſeas,
Of eloquence the parent, ſource of arts,
Fair ſeat of freedom! Open are the gaſes,
The dwellings mute, all deſolate the ſtreets,
Save that domeſtic animals forlorn,
In cries awak'ning pity, ſeem to call
Their maſters home; while ſhrieking beaks of prey,
Or birds obſcene of night with heavy wings,
The melancholy ſolitude affright.
[96]
Is this the city whoſe preſumption dar'd
Invade the lord of Aſia? ſternly ſaid
Mardonius ent'ring; whither now are fled
Th' audacious train, whoſe firebrands Sardis felt?
Where'er you lurk, Athenians, if in ſight,
Soon ſhall you view your citadel in flames;
Or, if retreated to a diſtant land,
No diſtant land of refuge ſhall you find
Againſt avenging Xerxes: yet I ſwear
By Horomazes, if thy gallant race
Have ſacrific'd their country to contend
With mightier efforts on a future day,
Them I will honour, though by honour forc'd
I muſt deſtroy. Companions, now advance;
Unnumber'd hands to overturn theſe walls
Employ; not Xerxes through a common gate
Shall enter Athens; lay the ruins ſmooth,
That this offending city may admit,
[97] In all his ſtate, her maſter with his hoſt
In full array. His order is obey'd.
Through ſmooth Iſmenus, and Aſopus clear,
The royal hoſt in ſlow proceſſion led,
Their firſt encampment on a diſtrict lodge,
Plataea's neighbour; that renown'd abode
Of nobleſt Greeks was deſert. In his tent
The king by night requeſted audience grants
To Leontiades, that colleague baſe
Of Anaxander, traitor like himſelf
To Sparta's hero. Xerxes thus he warns:
Now be the king reminded of the rage
Againſt his father, which Plataea bore
At Marathon; that recently ſhe brav'd
Himſelf in Oeta's paſs; nor Theſpia fought
With leſs diſtinguiſh'd rancour: be inform'd,
The firſt is near, the other not remote;
Thy vengeance both deſerve. Deſtroy their fields,
[98] Conſume their dwellings; thy o'erflowing camp
May ſpare a large detachment; I will go
Their willing guide. Maſiſtius preſent ſpake:
O monarch, live for ever in the hearts
Of conquer'd nations, as of ſubjects born;
Aſſociate clemency with pow'r, and all
Muſt yield obedience: thou art maſter here,
Treat thy new vaſſals kindly.—In a frown
Argeſtes: Shall the king with kindneſs treat
Invet'rate foes and zealous friends alike?
Shall undeſerving Theſpians, ſhall the race
Of fell Plataea, unprovok'd who ſtain'd,
On Attic fields, her ſpear with Perſian blood,
To help deteſted Athens, ſhall they ſhare
The clemency of Xerxes, in deſpite
Of this our Theban hoſt, who faithful gives
Such wholeſome counſel? Sov'reign, when I brought
Thy condeſcenſion late to Sparta's king,
[99] Among the grim aſſembly in his tent
Diomedon, Demophilus, I ſaw,
With Dithyrambus, men preferring death
To amity with thee, commanders all
Of theſe malignant cities.—Xerxes here:
Approving, Leontiades, thy words
I hear; Maſiſtius, thee my ſervant loves,
Mardonius, always victor in my name;
Yet learn at laſt, O ſatrap! who doſt wear
The fulleſt honours, to partake with me,
What I inherit from Darius, hate
Inflexible, inexpiable hate
To Athens, hate to her confed'rates all.
Go, Theban, chuſe what nations of our hoſt
Thou doſt prefer; thyſelf appoint their chief.
I chuſe the Caſpians, Sacians; name for chief
Brave Mithridates, great Argeſtes' heir,
[100] Rejoins the traitor. Theſe ferocious moſt
He beſt approv'd, and Mithridates choſe,
Among the youth moſt vigorous and fell
In acts of blood. To hear Mardonius prais'd,
Argeſtes, dreading his return, conceiv'd
A pain, yet temper'd by a ſecret joy
He felt ariſe; who, rival of his ſon,
Long wiſh'd him diſtant from the guarded roof
Where Timon's daughter was confin'd. Diſmiſs'd
To reſt, all ſeparate. They renew their march
By day-ſpring; Leontiades, to wreak
On hapleſs Theſpia and Plataea's walls
The hate implacable of Thebes; the king,
With equal rage, to ſpoil Minerva's reign.
Her olive groves now Attica diſclos'd,
The fields where Ceres firſt her gifts beſtow'd,
The rocks whoſe marble crevices the bees
With ſweetneſs ſtor'd; unparallel'd in art
[101] Roſe ſtructures, growing on the ſtranger's eye,
Where'er it roam'd delighted. On like Death,
From his pale courſer ſcatt'ring waſte around,
The regal homicide of nations paſs'd,
Unchaining all the furies of revenge
On this devoted country. Near the banks
Of deſolate Cephiſſus halting ſat
The king; retarding night's affrighted ſteeds,
The conflagration wide of crumbling tow'rs,
Of ruin'd temples, of the crackling groves,
Of villages and towns, he thence enjoy'd,
Thence on the manes of Darius call'd:
Son of Hyſtaſpes! if the dead can hear,
Thou didſt command thy ſervants to remind
Thy anger daily of th' Athenian race,
Who inſolently plough'd the eaſtern waves,
Thy ſhores affronted with their hoſtile beaks,
And burnt thy town of Sardis; at my call,
[100] [...][101] [...][102] Ghoſt of my father! lift thy awful brow;
Rememb'ring now th' Athenians, ſee thy ſon
On their preſumptuous heads retaliate flames:
Depriv'd of burial, ſhall their bodies leave
Pale ſpectres here to wail their city fall'n,
And wander through its ruins.—Cloſing here
His barb'rous lips, the tyrant ſought his couch.
Thy ſummits now, Pentelicus, and thine,
Haunt of ſonorous bees, Hymettus ſweet!
Are ting'd with orient light. The Perſian hoſt
Renew their progreſs; Athens ſoon receives
Their floating banners and extended ranks
Smooth o'er the foſſe, by mural ruins fill'd.
As from a courſe of ravage, in her den
Of high Cithaeron plung'd the monſter Sphinx
Her multifarious form, preparing ſtill
For havoc new her fangs and talons dire;
Till her enigma Laius' ſon reſolv'd,
Whence deſperation caſt her headlong down
[103] The rocky ſteep; ſo, after thy career
Of devaſtation, Xerxes, reſt awhile
Secure in Athens, meditating there
Freſh woes to men. Than Oedipus more wiſe,
Th' interpreter of oracles is nigh;
Soon will the ſon of Neocles expel
Thee from thy hold, by policy too deep
For thy barbarian council to explore.
Before the Prytanaeum ſtops the car.
Now ſavage bands incloſe that rev'rend ſeat
Of judgment; there Mardonius waits. The king,
Pleas'd with his care, ſalutes him: Thou haſt long
Sweat under harneſs in th' eternal ſnows
Of Macedon and Thracia, haſt my name
There dreſs'd in ample trophies; but thy ſpeed,
Preventing my arrival, is unknown
To wings of eagles, or the feet of ſtags.
[104]
Mardonius anſwers: Ever live the king
To find his ſervants zeal outſtrip in ſpeed
The ſwifteſt eagle, or the fleeteſt ſtag!
Deſcend, thou lord of Athens! deſtin'd ſoon
To univerſal ſway.—They climb the ſteps;
Alone Argeſtes follows. In the hall
Theſe words of high import Mardonius ſpake:
My liege, the ſeaſon calls for quick reſolves;
By thee entruſted with ſupreme command,
When thou art abſent, to Phaleron's port,
Late arſenal of Athens, all the ſhips
I order'd from Euboea; they below
Lie well equipp'd and ſhelter'd, nor remote
The whole united armament of Greece
At Salamis. With Ariabignes great,
Thy royal brother, and for merit nam'd
Thy ruling admiral, the kings of Tyre,
Of Sidon, Caria's princeſs, and the reſt,
[105] I held a council; they concurr'd to fight,
And by one effort terminate the war,
All but the queen, from whoſe ingenuous mouth
Will I, though differing, faithfully relate
Each argument, each word—'Mardonius, tell
'The king,' ſhe ſaid, 'what peril I foreſee
'From this attempt; his ſhips defeated leave
'His hoſt endanger'd; ever bold, the Greeks
'Are deſp'rate now; the want of ſuſtenance
'Will ſoon diſperſe them to their ſev'ral homes;
'The ſea's entire dominion to the king
'Will then be left; whole armies then embark'd
'Through inlets free may pour on Pelops' Iſle,
'Whoſe coaſt I newly have explor'd with care.
'Mardonius, thou art eager; do not truſt
'In multitude; full many in the fleet
'Are falſe, are cowards. Let our ſov'reign ſhun
'Precipitation; ſhort delay at leaſt
'Is ſafe; a naval combat loſt, is bane.'
[106]
A greater bane delay, Argeſtes here;
Who reading artful in the royal eye
Determination for a naval fight,
His malice thus on Artemiſia vents:
My liege forgets that Caria's queen derives
Her blood from Grecian fountains; is it ſtrange
She ſhould confine thy formidable hand,
And ſo preſerve her kindred?—Stern the king:
Though I reject her counſel to forbear
The fight, none better will that fight ſuſtain
Than ſhe, whoſe zeal, fidelity approv'd,
And valour, none can equal but the ſon
Of Gobryas. Go, Mardonius, ſee the fleet
Prepar'd by morning; let Argeſtes burn
The citadel and temples; I confer
On him that office.—Utt'ring this, he turn'd
Apart; forlorn Argeſtes hence preſag'd
[107] Decline of regal favour, cent'ring all
In Gobrya's ſon, who fiercely thus purſued:
Thou hear'ſt the king; now hear a ſoldier's tone:
Of old I know thee ſlanderer of worth;
And I, diſtinguiſh'd by a late ſucceſs,
To envious eyes no welcome gueſt return.
Thou canſt traduce the abſent, whom thy tongue
Would flatter preſent. Not in Sufa's court,
Amid the ſoft ſecurity of peace,
We languiſh now; great Xerxes on the ſtage
Of glorious war, amid the din of arms,
Can hear thy coz'ning artifice no more.
Oh that he ne'er had liſten'd! Aſia's lord,
When to a Tyrian trafficker demean'd,
He barter'd for his glory. By my ſword,
Leonidas, preferring fame to ſway
O'er proffer'd Greece, was noble! What thy part,
Who tamely proff'ring waſt with ſcorn diſmiſs'd?
Go, burn the fanes! Deſtruction is thy joy.
[108]
He ſaid, departing ſwiftly; on his way
Meets Artamanes, meritorious youth,
Who, not reſembling an unworthy ſire,
Had fix'd th' eſteem of that illuſtrious man.
To him Mardonius: Brave Autarctus greet
In words like theſe—Exalted to the bed
Of bright Sandauce, ſiſter of thy king,
Now is the ſeaſon to approve thy worth.
Collect ten thouſand warriors on the ſtrand
Which faces Salamis; an iſland near,
Pſyttalia nam'd, poſſeſs; ere long the foes
Againſt her craggy border may be driven;
Let ſpoils and captives ſignalize thy zeal.
Thou, Artamanes, muſt attend him there,
Nor let me want intelligence. Farewel!
This mandate giv'n, the active chief proceeds
With ſteps impatient to Phaleron's port.
End of the Fourth Book.
THE ATHENAID.
BOOK the FIFTH.
[109]THE ſun was ſet; Autarctus and his band,
In haſte collected, through nocturnal ſhades
To ſmall Pſyttalia paſs'd a narrow frith.
As on a deſert foreſt, where at night
A branching oak ſome traveller hath climb'd
To couch ſecurely; if the trunk beſet
By famiſh'd wolves in herd, who thirſt for blood,
Pale morn diſcovers to his waking ſight,
His hair in terrour briſtles, pants his breaſt
[110] In doubt of ſafety; thus Aurora ſhew'd
The unexpected gleam of Perſian arms,
Which fill'd Pſyttalia, while the Attic ſtrand,
With numbers equal to its ſandy ſtores
Was cover'd, and Phaleron's road with maſts,
A floating foreſt, crowded like the pines,
Majeſtic daughters of the Pontic woods.
Fair Athens burn'd in ſight; embodied ſmoke
Roſe mountainous, emitting pillar'd flames,
Whoſe umber'd light the newly-dawning ſun
But half eclips'd. At intervals are heard
The hollow ſound of columns proſtrate laid,
The craſh of levell'd walls, of ſinking roofs
In maſſy ruin. Conſternation cold
Benumbs the Greek ſpectators, all aghaſt
Except th' Athenians, whoſe unſhaken minds
To this expected fate reſign'd their homes
For independence. Gigantean rang'd
From ſhip to ſhip Deſpair; ſhe drives aſhore
[111] The timid leaders, changing late reſolves
For gen'rous combat into baſe retreat.
To ſeek the ſhelter of their native ports
They clamour loud; the admiral convenes
A council; him Themiſtocles addreſs'd:
Now Eurybiades, to whoſe command
I voluntary yielded, from thy charge,
Not leſs for Athens than for gen'ral Greece,
I claim a righteous and heroic part,
The promis'd fight in theſe auſpicious ſtreights,
Which, rend'ring vain the multitude of foes,
Aſſure ſucceſs. But ſeparate this fleet,
A hundred openings may Barbarians chuſe
To Pelops' region; not on ev'ry ſpot
An iſthmian wall is plac'd. Depriv'd of all,
If to your ſuccour we Athenians loſe
All claim, ye Greeks, be valiant for yourſelves!
See Attica in flames, the temples raz'd,
[112] The tombs defac'd, the venerable duſt
Of our forefathers ſoatter'd in the wind!
Would you avoid calamities like theſe,
To ſound inſtruction lean; th' almighty gods
Wiſe counſels bleſs with proſperous events,
To its own folly wilful blindneſs leave.
Proud Adimantus, on his birth elate,
The admiral of Corinth, envying long
Cecropia's name and pow'r, aroſe and ſpake:
For public ſafety when in council meet
Men who have countries, ſilence beſt becomes
Him who hath none; ſhall ſuch preſume to vote,
Too patient Spartan, nay to dictate here,
Who cannot tell us they poſſeſs a home?
For Attica in flames, her temples raz'd,
Her tombs disfigur'd, for th' ignoble duſt
Of thy forefathers ſcatter'd in the wind,
[113] Thou low-born ſon of Neocles, muſt Greece
Her welfare hazard on a ſingle day,
Which, unſucceſsful, endleſs ruin brings?
Cleander heard, Troezene's youthful chief;
Warm was his boſom, eloquent his tongue,
Strong-nerv'd his limbs, well exercis'd in arms;
Preventing thus Themiſtocles, he ſpake:
Though blood, Corinthian, be of nobleſt dye,
Baſe-born the ſoul when folly is her ſire.
Abſurdity and malice no reply
Deſerve from thee, Athenian! thee, more wiſe,
More valiant, more diſtinguiſh'd in thyſelf,
Than all the vaunted progeny of gods.
Did you not mourn, ye deities, to ſee
A nation, you created with their ſoil,
Forſake that ancient land? or not admire
Your greateſt work, the conduct of that man,
[114] Who ſuch a race from ſuch endearing homes,
Wives, huſbands, elders, infants, maidens, youths,
In gen'rous queſt of liberty could lead?
Do you not look indignant down to hear
Such venomous reproaches on his worth,
A wrong to Greece? Her ſaviour him I call,
As yet, I truſt, his dictates will prevail.
While he declaim'd, Themiſtocles, who ſcorn'd
The inſolent Corinthian, ſat and ſcann'd
The looks of all; his penetrating fight
Could read the thoughts of men; the major part
He ſaw averſe to battle, Sparta's chief
Uncertain, cold, and ſlow. Affecting here
Deciſive looks, and ſcorn of more debate,
Thus brief he clos'd: Athenians ſtill poſſeſs
A city buoyant on two hundred keels.
Thou, admiral of Sparta, frame thy choice;
Fight, and Athenians ſhall thy arm ſuſtain;
[115] Retreat, Athenians ſhall retreat to ſhores
Which bid them welcome, to Heſperian ſhores,
For them by ancient oracles reſerv'd,
Safe from inſulting foes, from falſe allies,
And Eleutherian Jove will bleſs their flight:
So ſaid your own Leonidas, who died
For public welfare. You that glorious death
May render, Spartans, fruitleſs to yourſelves.
This ſaid, he left the council; not to fly,
But with his wonted policy compel
The Greeks to battle. At a ſecret cove
He held in conſtant readineſs a ſkiff,
In Perſian colours maſk'd; he there embark'd
The moſt entruſted of his houſehold, charg'd
With theſe inſtructions: Now return my love,
Sicinus, born a Perſian, of my houſe
Not as a ſlave long habitant, but friend,
My children's tutor, in my truſt ſupreme.
[116] To Xerxes' navy ſail; accoſt her chief
In words like theſe—Themiſtocles, who leads
Athenian ſquadrons, is the monarch's friend,
Approv'd by this intelligence; the Greeks
In conſternation ſhortly will reſolve
To ſeparate and fly; let Aſia's fleet
Her numbers round in diligence extend,
Inveſting ev'ry paſſage; then, confus'd,
This whole conſederated force of Greece
Will ſooner yield than fight, and Xerxes cloſe
At once ſo perilous a war.—He ceas'd.
Meanwhile the council waſted precious hours,
Till Eurybiades at length alarm'd
Leſt all th' Athenians ſhould retreat incens'd,
Poſtpon'd the iſſue to th' enſuing day.
Themiſtocles, retiring to his tent,
There found his wife; his ſtratagem on wings
[117] Of execution, left his mind ſerene;
Relax'd in thought, he trifled with his boy,
Young child, who playful on the mother's lap,
Soon as of Xerxes earneſt ſhe enquir'd,
With frowning graces on his brow of down,
Clench'd faſt his infant hands. The dame purſues:
O that the Greeks would emulate this child,
Clench faſt their weapons, and confront the foe!
Did we abandon our paternal homes,
Our nuptial chambers, from the cradle ſnatch
Our helpleſs babes? Did tender maidens join
Unanimous the cry, 'Embark, embark
'For Salamis and freedom!' to behold
The men debating (ſo the Attic wives
Are told) uncertain if to fight or ſerve?
Who are the cowards, rather traitors, ſay?
We will aſſail them, as the Trojan dames
Did Polymeſtor, royal thief, who broke
[118] The holieſt ties for gold.—Take comfort, love;
All ſhall be well, Themiſtocles replied.
Yes, I in thee have comfort, ſhe proceeds;
Thou canſt deviſe ſome artifice to urge
Ev'n daſtards on; Sicinus thou haſt ſent,
I aſk not whither.—In a ſmile her lord:
With thy permiſſion, then, the gods remain
My confidents: to eaſe thee, I proclaim
This boy the firſt of Greeks; he governs thee,
Thou me, I Athens; who ſhall govern Greece,
As I am ſure to circumvent the foes.
Retiring, ſeek the town; conſole the dames;
Thy huſband never was ſo high in hope.
She pleas'd, departing, ſpake: To govern thee
Requires an art which never woman knew,
Nor man; moſt artful, thou controlleſt all,
Yet call'ſt, nay often ſeem'ſt, thyſelf controll'd.
[119]
She diſtant, thus he meditates alone:
True, when I ſeem controll'd by others moſt,
Then moſt aſſur'd my enterprize ſucceeds.
O lib'ral nature! ſcience, arts acquir'd,
I little value; while thy light ſupplies
Profuſe invention, let capricious chance
With obſtacles and dangers gird me round,
I can ſurmount them all; nor peace, nor war,
Nor all the ſwift viciſſitudes of time,
E'er gave emergency a birth too ſtrong
For me to govern. On this criſis hangs
My future greatneſs; whether joy or grief
Shall cloſe the term of being, none foreknow;
My penetrating ſpirit I will truſt
Thus far prophetic; for a time, at leaſt,
I will poſſeſs authority and pow'r
To fix a name enduring like the ſun.
Thus, in his own ſtrong faculties ſecure,
To reſt he tranquil ſunk, and ſlept till dawn;
[120] Then early roſe. Advancing from the ſhore,
A manly figure he obſerves, the face
Wrapt in a mantle; as dividing clouds
Reveal th' unmuffled ſun, the mantle caſt
Aſide diſcovers the majeſtic front
Of Ariſtides, who the ſilence breaks:
Diſſenſions paſt, as puerile and vain,
Now to forget, and nobly ſtrive who beſt
Shall ſerve his country, Ariſtides warns
His ancient foe Themiſtocles. I hear
Thou giv'ſt the beſt of councils, which the Greeks
Reject, through mean ſolicitude to fly;
Weak men! throughout theſe narrow ſeas the foe
Is ſtation'd now, preventing all eſcape.
Themiſtocles, though covetous of fame,
Though envying pow'r in others, was not bred
In horrid deſerts, not with ſavage milk
Of tigers nurs'd, nor bore a ruthleſs heart.
[121]
He thus replied: With gratitude this foe
Accepts thy welcome news, thy proffer'd aid,
Thy noble challenge; in this glorious race
Be all our ſtrife each other to ſurpaſs.
Firſt know my inmoſt ſecrets; if the ſtreights
Are all inveſted with Barbarian ſhips,
The act is mine; of our intended flight
I through Sicinus have appris'd the foes;
Of his ſucceſs thee meſſenger I hail.
The exile then: Such policy denotes
Themiſtocles; I praiſe, the Greeks have cauſe
To bleſs, thy conduct; teach me now what taſk
I can achieve; to labour, to adviſe
With thee commanding, ſolely to enjoy
The ſecret pleaſure of preſerving Greece,
Is my purſuit; the glory all be thine.
Before the council ſhew that honour'd face,
Rejoins the chief; report thy tidings there.
[122] To preparation for immediate fight
Exhort; ſuch notice they would ſlight in me,
In thee all men believe.—This ſaid, they mov'd.
Them on their way Myronides approach'd,
Xanthippus, Cimon, Aeſchylus, and all
The captains, fixing reverential eyes
On Ariſtides; this the wary ſon
Of Neocles remark'd; he gains the town
Of Salamis, the council there is met;
To them th' illuſtrious exile he preſents,
At whoſe appearance all th' aſſembly riſe,
Save Adimantus; faſt by envy bound,
He ſits moroſe; illib'ral then the word,
As Ariſtides was in act to ſpeak,
Thus takes: Boeotia, Attica reduc'd,
The Dorians, Locrians, you already know;
To me this morn intelligence arriv'd,
That Theſpia, that Platea were in flames,
[123] All Phocis conquer'd; thus alone of Greece
The Iſle of Pelops unſubdued remains.
For what is loſt, ye Grecians, muſt we face
Such mightier numbers, while barbarian hate
Lurks in Pſyttalia, watching for the wrecks
Of our defeated navy? Shall we pauſe
Now at the Iſthmus with united force
To ſave a precious remnant? Landing there,
Your ſailors turn to ſoldiers, oars to ſpears;
The only bulwark you have left, defend.
Then Ariſtides: Ignominious flight
Neceſſity forbids; Aegina's ſhore
Laſt night I left; from knowledge I report.
The hoſtile navy bars at either mouth
The narrow ſtreight between Pſyttalia's Iſle
And Salamis, where lie your anchor'd ſhips.
But ſhall the Greeks be terrified? What more
Can they ſolicit of propitious heav'n,
[124] Than ſuch deluded enemies to face,
Who truſt in numbers, yet provoke the fight
Where multitude is fruitleſs?—Cloſing here,
The unaſſuming exile ſtraight retir'd.
Cleander ent'ring heard; while Corinth's chief,
Blind with malignity and pride, purſued:
Her ſtrength muſt Greece for Attica deſtroy'd
Waſte on the credit of a ſingle tongue,
From Athens baniſh'd? Swift Cleander ſpake:
Is there in Greece who doubts that righteous tongue,
Save Adimantus? To ſuſpect the truth
Of that illuſtrious exile, were to prove
Ourſelves both falſe and timid. But enough
Of altercation; from the fleet I come,
The words of Ariſtides I confirm;
Prepare to fight; no paſſage have our ſhips
But through embattled foes.—The council roſe.
[125]
In this tremendous ſeaſon, thronging round
Th' accompliſh'd ſon of Neocles, their hopes
In his unerring conduct all repoſe.
Thus on Olympus round their father Jove
The deities collected, when the war
Of earth's gigantic offspring menac'd heav'n,
In his omnipotence of arm and mind
Confiding. Eurybiades ſupreme
In title, ev'ry leader ſpeeds to act
What great Themiſtocles ſuggeſts; himſelf,
In all expedients copious, ſeeks his wife,
Whom he accoſts, encircled where ſhe ſtood
With Attic dames: Timothea, now rejoice!
The Greeks will fight; to-morrow's ſun will give
A glorious day of liberty to Greece.
Aſſemble thou the women; let the dawn
Behold you ſpread the Salaminian beach;
In your ſelected ornaments attir'd,
As when ſuperb proceſſions to the gods
[126] Your preſence graces, with your children ſtand
Encompaſs'd; cull your faireſt daughters, range
Them in the front; alluring be their dreſs,
Their beauties half diſcover'd, half conceal'd;
As when you practiſe on a lover's eye,
Through that ſoft portal to invade the heart;
So ſhall the faithful huſband from his wife
Catch fire, the father from his blooming race,
The youthful warrior from the maid he loves:
Your looks will ſharpen our vindictive ſwords.
In all the grace of poliſh'd Athens thus
His charge pronouncing, with a kind embrace
He quits her boſom, nor th' encircling dames
Without reſpectful admonition leaves
To aid his conſort. Grateful in itſelf
A taſk ſhe ſoon begins, which pleaſes more
As pleaſing him. A meadow freſh in green,
Between the ſea-beat margin and the walls,
[127] Which bore the iſland's celebrated name,
Extended large; there oft the Attic fair
In bevies met; Themiſtocles the ground
To them allotted, that communion ſoft,
Or paſtime, ſweetly cheating, might relieve
The ſad remembrance of their native homes.
Here at Timothea's ſummons they conven'd
In multitude beyond the daiſies, ſtrewn
Thick o'er the verdure from the lap of ſpring,
When moſt profuſe. The wives, the mothers here
Of preſent heroes, there in bud are ſeen
The future mothers of immortal ſons,
Of Socrates, of Plato, who to birth
Had never ſprung if Xerxes had prevail'd,
Or would have liv'd Barbarians. On a mount
Timothea plac'd, her graceful lips unclos'd:
Ye wives, ye mothers, and ye fair betroth'd,
Your huſbands, ſons, and ſuitors claim that aid
[128] You have to give, and never can ſo well.
A ſignal day of liberty to Greece
Expect to-morrow; of the glorious ſcene
Become ſpectators; in a bridal dreſs,
Ye wives, encompaſs'd with your tender babes,
Ye rev'rend matrons in your ſumptuous robes,
As when ſuperb proceſſions to the gods
Your preſence graces; but ye future brides,
Now maids, let all th' allurement of attire
Enhance your beauties to th' enamour'd eye:
So from the face he loves ſhall ev'ry youth
Catch fire, with animating paſſion look
On her, and conquer. Thus Cecropia's maids,
Who left their country rather than abide
Impure compulſion to Barbarian beds,
Or ply the foreign loom with ſervile hands,
Shall live to ſee their hymeneal morn;
Bleſs'd in heroic huſbands, ſhall tranſmit
To late poſterity the Attic name.
[129] And you, whoſe exemplary ſteps began
Our glorious emigration, you ſhall ſee
Your lords, your ſons, in triumph to your homes
Return, ye matrons—Or with them will die,
If fortune frown, Laodice aloud;
For this I hold a poniard; ere endure
A Perſian yoke, will pierce this female heart.
Enthuſiaſtic ardour ſeems to change
Their ſex; with manlike firmneſs all conſent
To meet Timothea there by early dawn
In choſen raiment, and with weapons arm'd,
As chance ſhould furniſh. Thus Timothea ſway'd,
The emulator of her huſband's art,
But ne'er beyond immaculate intent;
At her ſuggeſtion interpos'd her friend
Laodice, the conſort young and fair
Of bold Aminias, train'd by naval Mars,
From the ſame bed with Aeſchylus deriv'd.
[130]
Troezene's leader, paſſing by, admir'd
The gen'rous flame, but ſecretly rejoic'd
In Ariphilia at Calauria ſafe;
He to thy tent, Themiſtocles, was bound.
Thee to Sicinus liſt'ning, juſt return'd
From his ſucceſsful courſe, Cleander found,
Thee of thy dear Timothea firſt inform'd,
While thou didſt ſmile applauſe. The youth purſued:
From Ariſtides I deputed come;
He will adventure from Pſyttalia's iſle
This night to chace the foe, if thou concur
In help and counſel: bands of Attic youth,
Superfluous force excluded from the fleet,
With ready arms the enterprize demand;
Them, with his troop, Oïlean Medon joins.
A noble Grecian, ſage, experienc'd, brave,
Returns the chief; my anſwer is conciſe:
[131] Sicinus, fly! their pinnaces and ſkiffs
Command th' Athenian veſſels to ſupply
At Ariſtides' call; th' attempt is wiſe,
Becoming ſuch a ſoldier; thou remain
With him, to bring me tidings of ſucceſs.
Swift as a ſtone from Balearic ſlings,
Sicinus haſtens to th' Athenian fleet;
Cleander light th' important order bears
To Ariſtides, whoſe exalted voice
Collects the banding youth. So gen'rous hounds
The huntſman's call obey; with ringing peals
Their throats in tune delight Aurora's ear;
They pant impatient for the ſcented field,
Devour in thought the victims of their ſpeed,
Nor dread the rav'nous wolf, nor tuſky boar,
Nor lion, king of beaſts. The exile feels
Returning warmth, like ſome neglected ſteed
Of nobleſt temper, from his wonted haunts
[132] Who long hath languiſh'd in the lazy ſtall;
Call'd forth, he paws, he ſnuffs th' enliv'ning air,
His ſtrength he proffers in a cheerful neigh
To ſcour the vale, to mount the ſhelving hill,
Or daſh from thickets cloſe the ſprinkling dew.
He thus to Medon: Of Pſyttalia's ſhore
That eaſtern flat contains the Perſian chief,
Known by his ſtandard; with four thouſand youths
Make thy impreſſion there; the weſtern end
Our foes neglect, a high and craggy part;
But nature there through perforated rock
Hath left a paſſage, with its mouth above
Conceal'd in buſhes; this, to me well known,
I will poſſeſs; thence ruſhing, will ſurround
The unſuſpecting Perſian. Darkneſs falls;
Let all embark; at midnight ply the oar.
They hear and march; allotted ſeats they take
Aboard the ſkiffs Sicinus had prepar'd,
[133] Impatient waiting, but impatience keeps
Her peace. The ſecond watch is now elaps'd,
That baneful ſeaſon, mark'd in legends old,
When death-controlling ſorcery compell'd
Unwilling ſpirits back to mortal clay
Entomb'd, when dire Theſſalian charmers call'd
Down from her orb the pallid queen of night,
And hell's tremendous avenues unclos'd;
To Aſia's mothers now of real bane,
Who ſoon muſt wail ten thouſand ſlaughter'd ſons.
The boats in order move; full-fac'd the moon
Extends the ſhadows of a thouſand maſts
Acroſs the mirror of cerulean floods,
Which feel no ruffling wind. A weſtern courſe
With his diviſion Ariſtides ſteers,
The Locrian eaſtward; by whoſe daſhing oars
A guard is rous'd, not timely to obſtruct
His firm deſcent, yet ready on the ſtrand
To give him battle. Medon's ſpear by fate
[134] Is wielded; Locrians and Athenians ſweep
The foes before them; numbers freſh maintain
Unceaſing conflict, till on ev'ry ſide
His reinforcement Ariſtides pours,
And turns the fight to carnage: by his arm
Before a tent of ſtately ſtructure ſinks
Autarctus brave in death. The twilight breaks
On heaps of ſlaughter; not a Perſian lives
But Artamanes, from whoſe youthful brow
The beaver ſever'd by th' auſpicious ſteel
Of Medon, ſhew'd a well-remember'd face;
The Locrian ſwift embrac'd him, and began:
Deſerve my kindneſs by ſome grateful news
Of Meliboeus and the Delphian prieſt;
Not Aeſchylus in pity ſhall exceed
My care in this thy ſecond captive ſtate.
His grateful news the Perſian thus repeats:
Nicaea, fort of Locris, them contains;
[135] Though pris'ners, happy in the guardian care
Of Artemiſia. What diſaſtrous ſight!
Autarctus there lies proſtrate in his blood.
Oh, I muſt throw me at the victor's feet!
He went, by Medon introduc'd, to kneel;
Forbid by Ariſtides, he began:
My own compaſſion to ſolicit yours,
Without diſgrace might bend a ſatrap's knee;
I have a tale of ſorrow to unfold,
Might ſoften hearts leſs humaniz'd and juſt
Than yours, O gen'rous Grecians! In that tent
The widow'd wife of this late envied prince,
Young, royal matron—twenty annual ſuns
She hath not told—three infants ... At theſe words
The righteous man of Athens ſtays to hear
No more; he gains the tent, he enters, views
Sandauce, ſilent in majeſtic woe,
[136] With her three children in their eaſtern veſts
Of gems and gold; urbanity forbids
To interrupt the ſilence of her grief;
Sicinus, waiting nigh, he thus enjoins:
Thou, born a Perſian, from a ghaſtly ſtage
Of maſſacre and terrour theſe tranſport
To thy own lord, Themiſtocles; the ſpoils
Are his, not mine. Could words of comfort heal
Calamity thus ſudden and ſevere,
I would inſtruct thy tongue; but mute reſpect
Is all thy pow'r can give, or ſhe receive.
Appriſe the gen'ral that Pſyttalia's coaſt
I will maintain with Medon, from the wrecks
To ſave our friends, our enemies deſtroy.
He then withdraws; Athenians he commands
Autarctus' body to remove from ſight;
When her pavilion now Sandauce leaves,
[137] Preceded by Sicinus. On the ground
She bends her aſpect, not a tear ſhe drops
To eaſe her ſwelling heart; by eunuchs led,
Her infants follow; while a troop of ſlaves,
With folded arms acroſs their heaving breaſts,
The ſad proceſſion cloſe. To Medon here
Spake Artamanes: O humane! permit
Me to attend this princeſs, and conſole
At leaſt, companion of her woes, bewail
A royal woman from Darius ſprung.
Him not a moment now his friend detains;
At this affecting ſeaſon he defers
Enquiry more of Meliboeus, known
Safe in Nicaea; Perſia's youth departs;
The mournful train for Salamis embark.
End of the Fifth Book.
THE ATHENAID.
BOOK the SIXTH.
[138]BRIGHT pow'r, whoſe preſence wakens on the face
Of nature all her beauties, gilds the floods,
The crags and foreſts, vine-clad hills and fields,
Where Ceres, Pan, and Bacchus in thy beams
Rejoice; O Sun! thou o'er Athenian tow'rs,
The citadel and fanes in ruin huge,
Doſt riſing now illuminate a ſcene
More new, more wondrous, to thy piercing eye,
Than ever time diſclos'd. Phaleron's wave
[139] Preſents three thouſand barks in pendants rich;
Spectators, cluſt'ring like Hymettian bees,
Hang on the burden'd ſhrouds, the bending yards,
The reeling maſts; the whole Cecropian ſtrand,
Far as Elouſis, ſeat of myſtic rites,
Is throng'd with millions, male and female race
Of Aſia and of Libya, rank'd on foot,
On horſes, camels, cars. Aegaleos tall,
Half down his long declivity where ſpreads
A moſſy level, on a throne of gold
Diſplays the king environ'd by his court
In oriental pomp; the hill behind,
By warriors cover'd, like ſome trophy huge
Aſcends in varied arms and banners clad;
Below the monarch's feet th' immortal guard,
Line under line, erect their gaudy ſpears;
Th' arrangement, ſhelving downward to the beach,
Is edg'd by choſen horſe. With blazing ſteel
Of Attic arms encircled, from the deep
[140] Pſyttalia lifts her ſurface to the ſight,
Like Ariadne's heav'n-beſpangling crown,
A wreath of ſtars; beyond, in dread array,
The Grecian fleet, four hundred gallies, fill
The Salaminian ſtreights; barbarian prows
In two diviſions point to either mouth
Six hundred brazen beaks of tow'r-like ſhips,
Unwieldy bulks; the gently-ſwelling ſoil
Of Salamis, rich iſland, bounds the view.
Along her ſilver-ſanded verge array'd,
The men at arms exalt their naval ſpears
Of length terrific. All the tender ſex,
Rank'd by Timothea, from a green aſcent
Look down in beauteous order on their ſires,
Their huſbands, lovers, brothers, ſons, prepar'd
To mount the rolling deck. The younger dames
In bridal robes are clad; the matrons ſage
In ſolemn raiment, worn on ſacred days;
But white in veſture like their maiden breaſts,
[141] Where Zephyr plays, uplifting with his breath
The looſely-waving folds, a choſen line
Of Attic graces in the front is plac'd;
From each fair head the treſſes fall, entwin'd
With newly-gather'd flowrets; chaplets gay
The ſnowy hand ſuſtains; the native curls,
O'erſhading half, augment their pow'rful charms;
While Venus, temper'd by Minerva, fills
Their eyes with ardour, pointing ev'ry glance
To animate, not ſoften. From on high
Her large controlling orbs Timothea rolls,
Supaſſing all in ſtature, not unlike
In majeſty of ſhape the wife of Jove,
Preſiding o'er the empyreal fair.
Below, her conſort in reſplendent arms
Stands near an altar; there the victim bleeds,
The entrails burn; the fervent prieſt invokes
The Eleutherian pow'rs. Sicinus comes,
Sandauce follows; and in ſumptuous veſts,
[142] Like infant Caſtor and his brother fair,
Two boys; a girl like Helen, ere ſhe threw
Delicious poiſon from her fatal eyes,
But tripp'd in blameleſs childhood o'er the meads
Of ſweet Amyclae, her maternal ſeat:
Nor leſs with beauty was Sandauce grac'd
Than Helen's mother, Leda, who enthrall'd
Th' Olympian god. A ſtarting look the prieſt
Caſt on the children; eager by the hand
Themiſtocles he graſp'd, and thus aloud:
Accept this omen! At th' auſpicious ſight
Of theſe young captives, from the off'ring burſt
Unwonted light; Fate's volume is unroll'd,
Where victory is written in their blood
To Bacchus, ſtyl'd Devourer, on this iſle,
Amid ſurrounding gloom, a temple hoar
By time remains; to Bacchus I devote
Theſe ſplendid victims; while his altar ſmokes,
[143] With added force thy prow ſhall pierce the foe,
And conqueſt ſit triumphant on thy maſt.
So ſpake religious lips; the people heard,
Believing heard:—To Bacchus, Bacchus give
The ſplendid victims, hoarſe acclaim reſounds.
Myronides, Xanthippus, Cimon good,
Brave Aeſchylus, each leader is unmann'd
By horror, ſave the cool, ſagacious ſon
Of Neocles; the prophet he accoſts:
Wiſe, Euphrantides, are thy holy words!
To that propitious god theſe children bear;
Due time apply from each Barbarian ſtain
To purify their limbs; attentive watch
The ſignal rais'd for onſet; then employ
Thy pious knife to win the grace of heav'n.
The chiefs amaz'd, the prieſt applauding look'd.
A young, a beauteous mother at this doom
[144] Of her dear babes is preſent. Not her locks
She tore, nor beat in agony her breaſt,
Nor ſhriek'd in frenzy; frozen, mute, ſhe ſtands,
Like Niobe juſt changing into ſtone,
Ere yet ſad moiſture had a paſſage found
To flow, the emblem of maternal grief:
At length the rigour of her tender limbs
Diſſolving, Artamanes bears away
Her fainting burden, while th' inhuman ſeer
To ſlaughter leads her infants. Ev'ry eye
On them is turn'd. Themiſtocles, unmark'd
By others, beck'ning draws Sicinus nigh,
In ſecret thus commiſſion'd: Chuſe a band
From my entruſted menials; ſwift o'ertake,
Like an aſſiſtant join this holy man;
Not dead, but living, ſhall theſe infant heads
Avail the Grecians. When the direful grove,
Impenetrably dark'ning, black with night,
That antiquated ſeat of horrid rites,
[145] You reach, bid Euphrantides, in my name,
This impious, fruitleſs homicide forbear;
If he refuſe, his ſavage zeal reſtrain
By force.—This ſaid, his diſencumber'd thoughts
For inſtant fight prepare; with matchleſs art
To rouſe the tend'reſt paſſions of the ſoul
In aid of duty, from the altar's height,
His voice perſuaſive, audible, and ſmooth,
To battle thus his countrymen inflames:
Ye pious ſons of Athens, on that ſlope
Behold your mothers! huſbands, fathers, ſee
Your wives and race! before ſuch objects dear,
Such precious lives defending, you muſt wield
The pond'rous naval ſpear; ye gallant youths,
Look on thoſe lovely maids, your deſtin'd brides,
Who of their pride have diſarray'd the meads
To bind your temples with triumphal wreaths;
Can you do leſs than conquer in their ſight,
[146] Or conquer'd periſh? Women ne'er deſerv'd
So much from men; yet what their preſent claim?
That by your proweſs their maternal ſeat
They may reviſit; that Cecropia's gates
May yield them entrance to their own abodes,
There meritorious to reſide in peace,
Who cheerful, who magnanimous, thoſe homes
To hoſtile flames, their tender limbs reſign'd
To all the hardſhips of this crowded ſpot,
For preſervation of the Attic name,
Laws, rites, and manners. Do your women aſk
Too much, along their native ſtreets to move
With grateful chaplets for Minerva's ſhrine,
To view th' auguſt acropolis again,
And in proceſſion celebrate your deeds?
Ye men of Athens! ſhall thoſe blooming buds
Of innocence and beauty, who diſcloſe
Their ſnowy charms by chaſtity reſerv'd
For your embraces, ſhall thoſe ſpotleſs maids
[147] Abide compulſion to Barbarian beds?
Their Attic arts and talents be debas'd
In Perſian bondage? Shall Cephiſſian banks,
Callirhoë's fountain, and Iliſſus pure,
Shall ſweet Hymettus never hear again
Their graceful ſtep rebounding from the turf,
With you companions in the choral dance,
Enamour'd youths, who court their nuptial hands?
A gen'ral paean intercepts his voice;
On ringing ſhields the ſpears in cadence beat;
While notes more ſoft, but, iſſued from ſuch lips,
Far more inſpiring, to the martial ſong
Unnumber'd daughters of Cecropia join.
Such interruption pleas'd the artful chief,
Who ſaid no more. Deſcending, ſwift he caught
The favourable moment; he embark'd,
All ardent follow'd; on his deck conven'd,
Myronides, Xanthippus, Cimon bold,
Aminias, Aeſchylus, he thus exhorts:
[148]
My brave aſſociates, publiſh o'er the fleet,
That I have won the Aſian Greeks, whom force
Not choice againſt us ranges, to retain
Their weapons ſheath'd, unting'd with kindred blood.
Not leſs magnanimous, and more inflam'd,
Mardonius too aſcends the ſtately deck
Of Ariabignes; there each leader, call'd
To hear the royal mandate, he addreſs'd:
Behold your king, inclos'd by watchful ſcribes,
Unfolding volumes like the rolls of fate!
The brave, the fearful, character'd will ſtand
By name, by lineage there; his ſearching eye
Will note your actions, to diſpenſe rewards
Of wealth and rank, or puniſhment and ſhame
Irrevocably doom. But ſee a ſpoil
Beyond the pow'r of Xerxes to beſtow,
By your own proweſs ſingly to be won,
[149] Thoſe beauteous women; emblems they of Greece,
Shew what a country you are come to ſhare.
Can victory be doubtful in this cauſe?
Who can be ſlow when riches, honours, fame,
His ſov'reign's ſmile, and beauty, are the prize?
Now lift the ſignal for immediate fight.
He ſpake applauded; in his rapid ſkiff
Was wafted back to Xerxes, who enthron'd
High on Aegaleos anxious ſat to view
A ſcene which nature never yet diſplay'd,
Nor fancy feign'd. The theatre was Greece,
Mankind ſpectators; equal to that ſtage
Themiſtocles, great actor! by the pow'r
Of fiction preſent in his teeming ſoul,
Blends confidence with courage, on the Greeks
Impoſing firm belief in heav'nly aid.
I ſee, I ſee divine Eleuſis ſhoot
A ſpiry flame auſpicious tow'rds the fleet.
[150] I ſee the bleſs'd Aeacidae; the ghoſts
Of Telamon and Peleus, Ajax there,
There bright Achilles buoyant on the gale,
Stretch from Aegina their propitious hands.
I ſee a woman! It is Pallas! Hark!
She calls! How long, inſenſate men, your prows
Will you keep back, and victory ſuſpend?
He gives the ſignal. With impetuous heat
Of zeal and valour, urging ſails and oars,
Th' Athenians daſh the waters, which diſturb'd,
Combine their murmur with unnumber'd ſhouts;
The gallies ruſh along like gliding clouds,
That utter hollow thunder as they ſweep
A diſtant ridge of hills. The crowded lines
Of Xerxes' navy, in the ſtreights confus'd,
Through their own weight and multitude ill ſteer'd,
Are pierc'd by diff'rent ſquadrons, which their chiefs,
Each with his tribe, to dreadful onſet led.
[151] Th' unerring ſkill of Pallas ſeem'd to form,
Then guide their juſt arrangement. None ſurpaſs'd
The effort bold of Aeſchylus; two ſhips
Of large conſtruction, boaſt of naval Tyre,
His well-directed beak, o'erlaid with braſs,
Tranſpierces; Attic Neptune whelms his floods
O'er either found'ring bulk. Three more, by flight
Wreck'd on Pſyttalia, yield their victim crews
To Ariſtides; vigilant and dire
Againſt the ravager of Greece he ſtood,
Like that Heſperian dragon, wakeful guard
To Atlantēan fruit. Th' intrepid ſon
Of Neocles, diſdaining meaner ſpoil
Than Aſia's king-born admiral, with ſails
Outſpread to freſh'ning breezes, ſwiftly ſteer'd
By Ariabignes, craſhing as he paſs'd
The triple tire of oars; then grappling, pour'd
His fierce aſſailants on the ſplendid poop.
To this attack the gallant prince oppos'd
[152] His royal perſon; three Athenians bleed
Beneath him; but Themiſtocles he meets.
Seed of Darius, Ariabignes falls
In Xerxes' view, by that unrivall'd chief
Whoſe arm, whoſe conduct, Deſtiny that day
Obey'd, while fortune ſteady on her wheel
Look'd ſmiling down. The regal flag deſcends,
The democratic ſtandard is uprear'd,
Where that proud name of Eleutheria ſhines
In characters of ſilver. Xerxes feels
A thrilling horror, ſuch as pierc'd the ſoul
Of pale Belſhazzar, laſt on Ninus' throne,
When in the pleaſures of his feſtive board
He ſaw the hand portentous on the wall
Of Babylon's high palace write his doom,
With great Aſſyria's downfal. Caria's queen
Not long continues in a diſtant poſt,
Where blood-ſtain'd billows on her active oars
Daſh thick-adhering foam; tremendous ſight
[153] To Adimantus, who before her flies
With his diſmay'd Corinthians! She ſuſpends
Purſuit; her ſov'reign's banner to redeem
Advances; furious in her paſſage ſends
Two ſhips to periſh in the green abyſs
With all their numbers; this her ſov'reign ſees,
Exclaiming loud, my women fight like men,
The men like women. Fruitleſs yet her ſkill,
Her courage vain; Themiſtocles was there;
Cilicians, Cyprians ſhunn'd his tow'ring flag
On Ariabignes' maſt. The efforts joint
Of gallant Troezen and Aegina broke
Th' Aegyptian line, whoſe chief-commanding deck
Preſents a warrior to Cleander's eye,
A warrior bright in gold, for valour more
Conſpicuous ſtill than radiancy of arms.
Cleander him aſſails; now front to front,
Each on his grappled gunnel firm maintains
A fight ſtill dubious, when their pointed beaks
[154] Auxiliar Aeſchylus and Cimon ſtrike
Deep in the hoſtile ſhip, whoſe found'ring weight,
Swift from her grapples looſen'd by the ſhock,
Th' affrighted maſter on Pſyttalia drives
A prey to Medon. Then th' Aegyptians fly,
Phoenicians, fam'd on oriental waves,
Reſign the day. Myronides in chace,
Xanthippus, Cimon, bold Aminias gor'd
The ſhatter'd planks; the undefended decks
Ran purple. Boiſt'rous hurricanes, which ſweep
In blaſts unknown to European climes
The weſtern world remote, had nature call'd
Their furies hither, ſo with wrecks and dead
Had ſtrewn the floods, disfigur'd thus the ſtrands.
Behold Cleander from achievements high
Bears down with all Troezene's conq'ring line
On Artemiſia: yet ſhe ſtops awhile,
In pious care to ſave the floating corſe
[155] Of Ariabignes; this perform'd, retreats;
With her laſt effort whelming, as ſhe ſteer'd,
One Grecian more beneath devouring waves,
Retreats illuſtrious. So in trails of light
To night's embrace departs the golden ſun,
Still in remembrance ſhining; none believe
His rays impair'd, none doubt his riſe again
In wonted ſplendour to emblaze the ſky.
Laconian Eurybiades engag'd
Secure of conqueſt; his diviſion held
The eaſtern ſtreights, where looſe Pamphylians ſpread
A timid canvaſs, Helleſpontine Greeks,
Ionians, Dorians, and Aeolians rear'd
Unwilling ſtandards. A Phoenician crew,
Caſt on the ſtrand, approach th' imperial throne,
Accuſing theſe of treachery. By chance
A bold Ionian, active in the fight,
[156] To Xerxes true, that moment in his ken
Bears down an Attic ſhip.—Aloud the king:
Scribes, write the name of that Ionic chief,
His town, his lineage. Guards, ſurround theſe ſlaves,
Who, fugitive themſelves, traduce the brave;
Cut off their heads: the order is perform'd.
A favour'd lord, expreſſing in his look
A ſign of pity, to partake their doom
The tyrant wild commands. Argeſtes' heart
Admits a ſecret joy at Perſia's foil;
He truſts that, blind by fear, th' uncertain prince
To him his wonted favour would reſtore,
Would cruſh Mardonius, author of the war,
Beneath his royal vengeance; or that chief,
By adverſe fate oppreſs'd, his ſway reſign.
But as the winds or thunders never ſhook
Deep-rooted Aetna, nor the pregnant clouds
Diſcharg'd a flood extinguiſhing his fires,
[157] Which inexhauſted boil the ſurging maſs
Of fumy ſulphur; ſo this grim event
Shook not Mardonius, in whoſe boſom glow'd
His courage ſtill unquench'd, deſpiſing chance
With all her band of evils. In himſelf
Collected, on calamity he founds
A new, heroic ſtructure in his mind,
A plan of glory forms to conquer Greece
By his own proweſs, or by death atone
For his unproſp'rous counſels. Xerxes now,
Amid the wrecks and ſlaughter in his ſight,
Diſtracted vents his diſappointed pride:
Have I not ſever'd from the ſide of Thrace
Mount Athos? bridg'd the Helleſpont? Go, fill
Yon ſea; conſtruct a cauſeway broad and firm;
As o'er a plain my army ſhall advance
To overwhelm th' Athenians in their iſle.
[158]
He riſes; back to Athens he repairs.
Sequeſter'd, languid, him Mardonius finds,
Deliv'ring bold this ſoliderly addreſs:
Be not diſcourag'd, ſov'reign of the world!
Not oars, not ſails and timber, can decide
Thy enterprize ſublime. In ſhifting ſtrife,
By winds and billows govern'd, may contend
The ſons of traffic; on the ſolid plain
The gen'rous ſteed and ſoldier; they alone
Thy glory muſt eſtabliſh, where no ſwell
Of fickle floods, nor breath of caſual gales,
Aſſiſt the ſkilful coward, and controul,
By nature's wanton but reſiſtleſs might,
The brave man's arm. Unaided by her hand,
Not one of theſe light mariners will face
Thy regal preſence at the Iſthmian fence
To that ſmall part of yet unconquer'd Greece
The land of Pelops. Seek the Spartans there;
[159] There let the ſlain Leonidas revive
With all his warriors whom thy pow'r deſtroy'd;
A ſecond time their gen'rous blood ſhall dye
The ſword of Aſia. Sons of thoſe who tore
Th' Aſſyrian, Lydian ſcepters from their kings,
Thy Medes and Perſians, whoſe triumphant arms
From diſtant ſhores of Helleſpont have tam'd
Such martial nations, have thy trophies rais'd
In Athens, bold aggreſſor; they ſhall plant
Before thy ſight, on fam'd Eurota's ſhore,
Th' imperial ſtandard, and repair the ſhame
Of that uncertain flutt'ring naval flag,
The ſport of winds. The monarch's look betray'd
That to expoſe his perſon was the leaſt
Of his reſolves. Mardonius pierc'd his thoughts,
And thus in manly policy purſued:
If Suſa, long forlorn, at length may claim
The royal preſence; if the gracious thought
[160] Of his return inſpire my ſov'reign's breaſt
Throughout his empire to rekindle joy;
Let no diſhonour on thy Perſians fall,
Thy Medes; not they accomplices in flight
With vile Aegyptians, with Cilicians baſe,
Pamphylians, Cyprians. Let not Greece deride
A baffled effort in a gallant race
Who under Cyrus triumph'd, whom to fame
Darius led, and thou with recent wreaths,
O conqueror of Athens! haſt adorn'd.
Since they are blameleſs, though thy will decree
Thy own return, and wiſely would ſecure
Superfluous millions in their native homes,
Before chill winter in his barren arms
Conſtrain the genial earth; yet leave behind
But thirty myriads of ſelected bands
To my command, I pledge my head that Greece
Shall ſoon be Perſia's vaſſal. Xerxes pleas'd,
Concealing yet that pleaſure, artful thus:
[161]
Deliberation to thy counſel due
Shall be devoted; call the Carian queen.
She then was landed; through Cecropia's ſtreets
A ſolemn bier ſhe follow'd, where the corſe
Of Ariabignes lay. Mardonius met,
And thus addreſs'd her: Meritorious dame,
Of all the myriads whom retreat hath ſav'd,
Hail! crown'd with honour! Xerxes thro' my voice
Requires thy counſel to decide on mine.
I add no more; thy wiſdom, candour, faith
I truſt; without a murmur will ſubmit
To thy deciſion, but to thine alone.
My care ſhall tend that clay, among the dead
Perhaps the only glorious.—She departs.
He ſeeks the Magi, greeted in theſe words:
Receive this body, all which now remains
Of Ariabignes; let no dirge deplore
[162] Him as unhappy; Horomazes ſmiles
On ſuch a death; your lamentations vent
On human nature, humbled and debas'd
By cowards, traitors, who ſurviv'd this day,
Ne'er to outlive their ſhame. Ye vet'ran bands
Of Medes and Perſians, who ſurround in tears
Theſe honour'd reliques; warriors who ſubdued
The banks of Nile, where Hyperanthes fought,
And late with me through Macedon and Thrace
Swept like a whirlwind; change your grief to rage,
To confidence that, unreſiſted ſtill,
You on the plain recov'ring what by ſea
Is loſt, avenging this illuſtrious dead,
From this enthrall'd metropolis of Greece
Shall carry devaſtation, ſword, and flames
To Lacedaemon, now your only foe.
The native Medes and Perſians at his words
Are fir'd, in ſtrength, in courage, not unlike
[163] Their brave commander, who in ſcorn beheld
Th' inferior herds of nations. Now the ſun
Glows on the ocean. To his tent retires
Mardonius; ſternly in his wounded ſoul
The late diſgrace of Xerxes he revolves,
Yet ſoothes his anguiſh by enliv'ning hope
Of glory. Thus the tawny king of beaſts
Who o'er Numidian waſtes hath loſt a day
In fruitleſs chace, of wonted food depriv'd,
Growls in his den; but meditates a range,
Enlarg'd and ceaſeleſs, through unbounded woods,
To glut his empty maw. Her charge perform'd,
Before him ſudden Artemiſia ſtands.
As Cynthia ſteps unveil'd from ſable clouds
On ſome benighted traveller, who beats
A path untried, but perſevering firm
With undiminiſh'd vigour, well deſerves
Her ſucc'ring light,—the queen in cheering ſmiles
Accoſts the hero: I have ſeen the king,
[164] Have heard thy counſel, have approv'd, confirm'd.
Thy ſpirit, ſon of Gobryas, I applaud.
Thou, not diſcourag'd by our foul defeat,
From this unwieldy multitude the brave
Wouldſt ſeparate, and boldly at their head
Thy life adventure. Xerxes may aſſume
A doubtful aſpect. Counſel given by thee,
By me approv'd, Argeſtes may oppoſe
With all his malice. Only thou ſuppreſs
The fiery ſparks which animate thy blood;
In patience wait; thy dictates will prevail,
Our common vengeance too that traitor feel,
Whom I ſaw lurking near the king's retreat.
Farewel.—She leaves him happy in her voice
Of approbation, happier in her eye,
Which ſpoke for his proſperity a wiſh;
That eye, enlight'ning her majeſtic face
With added luſtre, from his grateful ſenſe
Of her tranſcendent talents thus applied
[165] To his behoof. His manly boſom feels,
Beyond a veneration of her worth,
Beyond a friendſhip to her friendſhip due,
Deſire of her ſociety in war,
Perhaps in peace. Participated thoughts
With her, united counſels, he eſteems
A gain to both. His high-aſpiring ſoul
Enjoys the thought, nor entertains a ſhade
Of jealouſy or envy at her fame.
He ruminates: Obſerving her advice,
I ſhall ſucceed. Then ſtarting—Earth and heaven!
Where is Maſiſtius? Oh ungen'rous heart!
Which on the ſcent of its ambitious chace
Forgot that beſt of counſellors and guides,
Friend of my infant, youthful, manly age!
If he be loſt!—Oh ominous the thought!
Maſiſtius loſt!—My fortune, hopes, and joys,
My virtues are no more!—He ruſhes wild
[166] Abroad; commands a gen'ral ſearch; himſelf
Down to the port precipitates his courſe.
The ſon of Gobryas and the Carian queen
Were thus remov'd. Argeſtes in that hour
Obtain'd acceſs to Xerxes. Cold with fear,
By fortune tam'd, tormented ſtill by pride,
Th' uncertain king to him their counſel told;
When thus Argeſtes, feigning wonder, ſpake:
Doſt thou appoint Mardonius king in Greece?
O liberal prince! what ſervant in thy train
Would not confront all danger to poſſeſs
An empire, which the Helleſpont alone
Will bound? Already Macedonia's lord,
Young Alexander, all the Thracian chiefs,
Like humble vaſſals to Mardonius bend.
Why ſhould the king himſelf not conquer Greece,
Now more than half reduc'd? Complete the work
[167] Appointed; choak the Salaminian floods;
O'erwhelm th' Athenians in their iſle, and reign
Thyſelf ſupreme. The monarch ſtarts, and wild
In look, commands Argeſtes to purſue
Th' impracticable toil with all the hoſt;
Then, ſtretch'd along, in vain ſolicits reſt.
End of the Sixth Book.
THE ATHENAID.
BOOK the SEVENTH.
[168]MEANTIME while Venus from her Colian dome,
Which o'er Phaleron caſt a holy ſhade,
Beheld the ſhatter'd fleet of Xerxes driv'n
To refuge there precarious; from purſuit
Recall'd, the Greeks, obſervant of their laws,
Applied their pious labour to collect
Their floating dead, and ſend with honours due
Such glorious manes to the bleſt abodes.
With artful aſſiduity remain'd
[169] Themiſtocles preſiding, ſo to court
Religion's favour. From the ſolemn toil,
Accompliſh'd now, to Salaminian ſtrands
He veers; the ſlain are landed; then his deck
Himſelf forſakes. As Neptune, when the winds,
His miniſters of anger to o'erwhelm
The pride of daring mortals, have fulfill'd
His ſtern beheſts, and ſhook the vaſt profound,
At length compoſing his afflicted reign,
Serene from ſated vengeance ſeeks the arms
Of Amphitrite, watching his return
With ſoft impatience in her placid grot
Amidſt encircling Nereids; ſo the chief
To his Timothea in triumphant pace
Advances. She that day had never left
The beach; ſurrounded by Athenian fair,
She ruſhes forward to his wiſh'd embrace.
He ſtops; defil'd by ſlaughter, robs his heart
Of ſuch delights, and elegantly thus:
[170]
O all-ſurpaſſing woman, do not dye
That lovely boſom in Barbarian gore;
The blood of Ariabignes, not my own,
Encruſts thy huſband's cuiraſs. She replies:
Since not thy own, but hoſtile crimſon ſtains
Thy manly cheſt, Timothea will partake
The honourable dye. O man divine!
Thus for the public with a public kiſs
Thee I ſalute, thee ſaviour of all Greece,
Thee ſcourge of Aſia; thus will ev'ry wife
Her huſband; ſiſters, daughters thus infold
Their brothers, ſires; their tender hands like mine,
Like mine their panting breaſts, in tranſport bear
Theſe glorious marks of victory. Behold
Thoſe damſels pure, whoſe maidenly reſerve
Forbids ſuch rapture; they in ſmiles, in tears
Of gratitude and gladneſs, on the heads
Of gallant youths triumphal garlands place.
[171]
Laodice is nigh; ſhe quits th' embrace
Of her Aminias, and accoſts the chief:
Think'ſt thou, O ſon of Neocles, the dames
Of Athens ſhrink to ſee Barbarian blood,
Who would have ſpilt their own, had fortune frown'd;
Had you, our ſlaughter'd huſbands, left your wives
No other choice than ſervitude or death?
Fair dame, united to the braveſt chief,
In ſmiles he anſwers, fortune more benign
Preſerv'd thoſe huſbands for the happieſt lot,
Society with you. In holy brine
Of Neptune's flood permit them now to lave,
That love in bridal decency may greet
Athenian wives. Ye men of Athens, vote
That ev'ry youth and ev'ry maid betroth'd
To-night be wedded. This the gen'ral voice
Confirms a law. His winning words diſpers'd
[172] Th' obedient fair; each warrior in the deep
Immers'd his limbs, while Phoebe's argent wheels
Their track purſuing through unclouded ſkies,
Diffuſe around ſerenity and light.
To his Timothea's manſion ſoon repair'd
Themiſtocles; Sicinus there he found,
Who earneſt thus addreſs'd him: Thrice I hail
My lord victorious; from thy ſervant's lips
Now hear a tale to melt the ſtonieſt hearts
Of all but Euphrantides, yet with joy
Reward compaſſion—To the ſable grove,
Where yew and cypreſs veil'd the hoary walls
Of homicidal Bacchus, ſwift I led
My choice companions; to the ſeer I told
Thy pleaſure; he indignant heard, and forc'd
The victims forward to the fane abhorr'd.
I follow'd careful, ſtill in patient hope
That he, though ſlow, would uncompell'd ſubmit
[173] To thy commanding will; we enter'd all;
Sandauce there at length her ſilence broke,
Whom from her infants none ſo fell to part.
O houſe of great Darius! where will end
Thy woes? How many of thy ſons are fall'n!
Sad Ariana, ſacrifice to love!
Thou ſleep'ſt; thy wretched ſiſter lives to ſee
Her children butcher'd—On the pavement damp
She threw her limbs, ſhe claſp'd her lovely babes;
They ſhudd'ring view Sandauce in diſtreſs;
Too young to know their danger, they bewail
Their mother, not themſelves. The captive youth,
Still ſedulous and tender, from the ſpot,
Where as in ſhackles of deſpair ſhe lay,
Eſſay'd in vain to raiſe her. Now the ſeer,
Who in my look determination ſaw,
Approach'd the loathſome idol, foul by age,
In fell preſumption utt'ring thus his wrath:
[174]
Theſe victims, Bacchus, did my voice devote
To thy neglected altar; of thy ſpoil
Themiſtocles defrauds thee; on his head
Let fall thy vengeance, not on mine, ſtern god!
This heard, the willing captives I remov'd
From that grim ſeat of terror to theſe walls
Of hoſpitality. Sicinus clos'd,
When Ariſtides enter'd. Hail, he ſaid,
Well haſt thou done, Themiſtocles! behold
Me come attendant on illuſtrious dead,
Whom on Pſyttalia caſt I bring to ſhare
The public funeral honours.—I ſalute
Thee too, the ſon of Neocles returns;
Our noble ſtrife to ſerve the public beſt
We both have well commenc'd. Prepare thee now
To give thy counſel on my new device
For better ſervice ſtill. Our climate holds
All Aſia now, her princes, wealth, and arms;
[175] I can detain her, till conſuming time
By famine, ſword and peſtilence, exhauſt
Her ſtrength, and cover Greece with Perſian graves.
Too high thy ardour mounts, replies the ſage;
Forbear to think of ſtrength'ning ſuch a pow'r
By deſperation. To the feeble brute
Neceſſity gives courage. Such a hoſt
Of men and ſteeds innum'rous on our fields,
By nature's ſtimulating wants compell'd
To fight for life, might blaſt our budding hopes.
Ah! rather ſome new ſtratagem deviſe
To ſend the Perſians back; let famine, want,
Let peſtilence purſue their tedious flight,
Depriv'd of ſuccour from their vanquiſh'd fleet,
Which do thou chace and bury in the waves.
Farewell! my poſt demands me. Since their foil,
I have obſerv'd the enemies employ'd
In wild attempts to fill the ſtreight profound
Between Pſyttalia and th' Athenian ſhore.
[176]
He gone, theſe thoughts Themiſtocles revolves:
I will adopt his counſel, ſafe for Greece,
Nor leſs for me; his baniſhment prolong'd
Will diſcontent the people, and repeal'd
Place him commander in th' Athenian camp
To rival me. Diſcouraging the war
By land, confining to the ſea our ſtrength,
I ſhall ſecure pre-eminence. From thought
To action turn'd, Sicinus he beſpake:
Before my preſence all the captives bring.
As Bacchus, not Devourer, in a ſmile
Of heav'nly ſweetneſs, proffer'd ſoft relief
To Ariadne, when forlorn ſhe ſat,
Her fate deploring on the Naxian rock;
So gracious, ſo conſoling were the looks
Themiſtocles aſſum'd, in ſoothing phraſe
Accoſting thus Sandauce: Thou ſhalt prove,
So ſhall thy royal houſe, afflicted fair!
[177] A cordial friend in me. Sicinus, haſte;
Equip the bark which eaſtern colours dreſs,
That, ere the moon forſake her lucid path,
Thou mayſt tranſport this princeſs to the king,
Her infant train, and this ingenuous youth,
With my beſt greetings. Say, the Athenian chief,
Themiſtocles, theſe pledges of his truth
And friendſhip ſends; them reſcued I reſtore,
Him next will ſave. His Helleſpontine bridge
The Greeks vindictive menace to deſtroy,
An enterprize of horror; this my pow'r,
My dictates ſingly can and ſhall impede,
Till he in ſafety hath regain'd his throne.
Sandauce anſwers: O thou gen'rous Greek,
To thee, to thine, may fortune ne'er be cold.
But I, partaker of imperial pomp,
In eaſe, in ſafety nurtur'd, who have deem'd
My ſtate above the ſorrows which torment
[178] Inferior mortals, when my ſoul reflects
On this new leſſon by misfortune taught,
Reflects how lately on a field of blood,
Young as I am, I ſaw my huſband fall,
My children doom'd to ſacrifice, myſelf
To endleſs bondage, had not heav'n achiev'd
This marvel of compaſſion in a foe,
I, (O forgive me!) I ſuſpect the lot
Of all, ev'n thine. O proſp'rous, godlike man,
May Horomazes from thy head avert
Viciſſitudes like mine! may envious fate
Ne'er bring Sandauce's gratitude to proof!
Thou never want the pity thou haſt ſhewn!
She ceas'd; ſhe wept. When Artamanes ſpake:
Her debt Sandauce can diſcharge alone
By grateful tears; but I can promiſe more.
In Perſian thraldom lies a beauteous Greek,
Nam'd Amarantha, Delphian Timon's child;
[179] For that bright maid's redemption I am pledg'd
To her afflicted ſire. Thy goodneſs ſhower'd
On this excelling princeſs, ſhall augment
My zeal the obligation to repay
By Amarantha's freedom; till that hour
Of retribution to thy virtues comes,
We will proclaim them; nations ſhall admire
Themiſtocles, and ev'ry heart abhor
Inhuman Euphrantides. Now return'd
Sicinus; him they follow'd. On her breaſt
The lovely mother huſh'd her female babe;
But cold with horror at remembrance deep
Of her unmatch'd calamities that day,
She feebly falter'd o'er the ſandy beach;
While Artamanes led in either hand
The tripping boys. Themiſtocles remain'd
In theſe reflections, flowing from this proof
Of fortune's changes: Few in Athens long
Suſtain their greatneſs—but to muſe on ills
[180] Before they come, both time and thought I waſte;
Content at preſent that eſteem procur'd,
By this fair Perſian, in her brother's court,
May prove a gain. Timothea now approach'd;
His hand affectionate ſhe preſs'd and ſpake:
How ſudden thou my hoſpitable cares
Of their endearing object haſt depriv'd!
In woe how graceful is that eaſtern dame!
How young a mother! On a widow'd bed
How early caſt by fortune! Thou haſt ſent
Sicinus with her; ever-watchful man,
Some new contrivance thou doſt bring to birth;
Thou ſmil'ſt in ſilence; liſten then to me.
Since Ariſtides on this iſle hath ſhewn
That face rever'd, when baniſh'd, his recal
The men of Athens, nay the women wiſh.
This by Aminias to th' aſſembled tribes,
Laodice informs me, will be mov'd;
[181] In this expect Myronides the brave,
Xanthippus, Cimon, Aeſchylus will join.—
So will thy huſband, interpos'd the chief;
I will foreſtall them, not to others leave
Such merit with our people.—She rejoin'd:
All will applaud thee. Now, my anxious lord,
The ſecond watch its meaſure hath conſum'd;
The moon deſcends, the ſprightly birds are ſtill;
Dead ſleep hath laid the ſoldier on his ſhield;
The active ſailor ſlumbers; all forget
The hardſhips, rage, and tumult of the day;
All but thyſelf repoſing. Shall that mind
Continue ranging o'er the field of thought,
In pregnancy exhauſtleſs, till the lark
Salute the day-ſpring with his early ſong?
Till thou unreſting, unrefreſh'd, reſume
The ſtateſman's troubles, and the ſoldier's toils?
Be counſell'd; oft the thunder-bearing god
To Juno liſtens; thou my voice obey.
[182]
He hears; ſerene conducts her to repoſe.
As Jove on Ida, by Saturnia charm'd,
Confeſs'd a rapture never felt before,
While lucid dew of odours from a cloud
Of gold diſtill'd around him; from the turf
Beneath his feet while hyacinths upſprung,
The unctuous lotos, and the crocus gay,
To grace his ſecret tabernacle there
Of love celeſtial; ſo the Attic chief
To his Timothea, in her chamber pure,
With bridal honours deck'd, perfum'd with flow'rs,
Whate'er the meads of Salamis ſupplied,
His tender flame in winning language breath'd:
Whoe'er had whiſper'd on our nuptial day
That I ſhould view thee, in a time remote
From that ſweet aera, with ſuperior joy,
I ſhould have held him ignorant of love.
What is the cauſe, Timothea, that I feel
[183] My boſom pierc'd by tranſport yet unknown?
That eaſtern fair, deliver'd from diſtreſs,
Appearing then the faireſt of her ſex,
Thou doſt exceed. Timothea ſmiling ſpake:
O thou artificer of ſweeteſt wiles,
Wouldſt thou ſeduce me into vain belief,
That I exceed Sandauce's youthful charms?
But wouldſt thou know, my huſband (ſolemn here
She modulates her accents), wouldſt thou know
Why thou ſurvey'ſt me with uncommon joy?
It is the conſcience of a noble deed,
Of gather'd trophies never match'd before,
Creates this change. The perils of this day
Were new to Athens, to thy race, and me;
Thy ſword hath reſcued all, increas'd thy fame,
Thy heart exalted; with increas'd delight,
Thro' that bright medium of a happy mind,
Thou look'ſt on ev'ry object—ſure on me
[184] Not leſs than others. Artleſs were theſe words,
By nature prompted, nature's nobleſt fire.
They ceas'd diſcourſe. Her loftineſs of mind,
His valour, talents, policy, to love
Subſide. Perhaps the firſt of human pairs,
Who in the bleſs'd Aſſyrian garden met,
Were not more happy in their firſt embrace,
Than fair Timothea and her conqu'ring lord!
A pleaſing ſtillneſs on the water ſleeps;
The land is huſh'd; from either hoſt proceeds
No ſound, no murmur. With his precious charge
Embark'd, Sicinus gently ſteers along;
The dip of oars in uniſon awake
Without alarming ſilence; while the moon,
From her deſcending, horizontal car,
Shoots lambent ſilver on the humid blades
Which cleave the curling ſlood. On carpets ſoft
[185] Sandauce's babes devoid of ſorrow lie,
In ſweet oblivious innocence compos'd
To ſmiling ſlumber. But the mother's breaſt
Admits no conſolation; when they ſkim
Pſyttalia's frith, at memory ſevere
Of that diſaſt'rous iſle, ſhe ſudden ſinks
A lifeleſs image in the watchful arms
Of Artamanes, who had ſtudied well
Her ſorrows, knew each tender thought and care,
Humanity his tutor. Swift he calls
Sicinus: Friendly pilot, ſtay thy courſe;
We muſt not leave Autarctus in his gore
Behind, leſt grief incurable reſide
In this fair breaſt, perhaps eternal ſhade
In theſe extinguiſh'd eyes. Sicinus feels
A ſympathizing pain, of Perſian ſtock
Himſelf a branch, in Attic ſoil matur'd;
He ſtops the bark and lands. The Aſian tents
Were ſtill erect, whence Ariſtides comes
[186] In ſteel accoutred, to ſalute the dawn,
Then breaking. Him Sicinus humbly greets,
Requeſts, obtains the body, which convey'd
On board he careful on the deck beſpreads
With canvaſs new. Impell'd by active ſtrokes
Of oars reſum'd, the bounding veſſel gains
Phaleron's haven. Artemiſia there,
Whoſe vigilance, augmented by defeat,
Had kenn'd the bark while diſtant, now arreſts
Her further progreſs; but no ſooner hears
The ſad intelligence Sicinus gives,
Than ſwift deſcending where Sandauce lay,
That mourning fair in friendly ſtrains accoſts:
O lift thy head, thou daughter of a king!
Our ſov'reign's ſiſter, ſiſter to the man
My ſoul rever'd, to Hyperanthes good,
The flow'r of Aſia's princes! In thy woes
I ſharing cordial, cordially rejoice
[187] In thy redemption. Leave this doleful keel;
Think of thy duty to approach the king;
Thy other cares entruſt to me.—She ſaid;
They row to ſhore. To Xerxes, then retir'd,
The queen conducts Sandauce and her train.
The princeſs thus to him amaz'd began:
A widow'd ſiſter, late a wretched ſlave,
With theſe three orphans juſt redeem'd from death,
Sandauce greets her brother; but her tongue
Would be diſloyal to obtrude her tale,
Her tedious tale of ſorrows on his ear.
The preſervation of her king demands
His firſt attention; that attention grant
To him who comes deputed by a Greek,
Thy friend, my guardian, ſaviour of thoſe babes;
Oh liſten! thy ſalvation from his lips
Receive. Faſt bound by terror was the mouth
Of Xerxes.—Then Sicinus: He who ranks
[188] Among the Greeks ſuperior in command,
In talents, prudence, policy, and arms,
Themiſtocles, theſe pledges of his truth
And friendſhip ſends; them reſcued he reſtores;
Thee next will ſave. Thy Helleſpontine bridge
The Greeks vindictive menace to deſtroy;
An enterprize of horror, which his pow'r,
His dictates ſingly can and will impede,
Till thou in ſafety haſt regain'd thy throne.
All from his preſence ſtraight the king commands,
Save Artemiſia; her in broken tones
Addreſſes: Queen of Caria, ſingly wiſe
Among my council, pity, not upbraid
Thy maſter, ſuff'ring by his raſh neglect
Of thy ſage voice unutterable pangs.
He paus'd in torture. Prudent, ſhe replied:
Without a cauſe the lord of nations droops;
[189] Mardonius well hath counſel'd thy retreat,
Who undertakes to finiſh, what his ſword
Hath well begun thro' Macedon and Thrace,
This mighty war. Thy ſervant may ſucceed;
In whoſe behalf? His maſter's: Thou wilt reap
His fruits of glory; if Mardonius fail,
He the diſgrace. Thy march commence by dawn;
Appoint the fleet's departure ſwift this night,
To guard with force collected and repair'd
The Helleſpontine bridge; with grace accept
The proffer'd ſervice of th' Athenian chief;
Load his returning meſſenger with gifts
Of royal price, and, O my gracious lord!
Fraternal kindneſs on Sandauce ſhow'r.
Her gallant lord hath periſh'd in thy cauſe,
Herſelf been menac'd by a barb'rous prieſt
To ſee her children ſacrific'd; a doom
Themiſtocles withſtood, and ſet them free.
[190]
As when a timid child perceives a cloud
Obſcure the ſky, and hears the thunder's peal,
He weeps, he trembles, but the cloud diſpers'd,
The clamour ceaſing, and the ſun reſtor'd,
His wonted ſport reſumes, forgetting fear;
So chang'd the monarch. Artemiſia, go,
He ſaid; the ſatraps inſtantly convene;
Th' Athenian meſſenger, Argeſtes' ſon,
Again before us with Sandauce call;
Ne'er will I deviate from thy counſels more.
Firſt to Sicinus ent'ring he began:
Say to thy ſender, I accept well pleas'd
His ſervice paſs'd and proffers; thou return;
To him ten golden talents thou ſhalt bear.
Thee from the depths of ſorrow ſhall the king,
Sandauce, raiſe; demand a preſent boon;
Thou canſt not aſk what Xerxes will refuſe.
[191]
By gratitude ſurmounting grief inſpir'd,
Mov'd to retaliate kindneſs in the ſhape
Herſelf had prov'd, the gen'rous ſuppliant thus:
In Perſian thraldom is a Grecian maid
Of Delphian lineage, Amarantha nam'd;
Her I demand of Xerxes, that my hand
A captive daughter to a tender ſire
May render back; from bondage free his head,
Now in Nicaea, and thus far my debt
Of gratitude diſcharge. In tranſport here,
Admiring ſuch perfection of the heart,
Spake Artamanes: Ever live the king!
There is a captive whom the princeſs nam'd—
Fly thou in ſearch of this requeſted ſlave,
Son of Argeſtes, interrupts the king;
Let none withold her from Sandauce's pow'r.
The female train before the cumb'rous hoſt
[192] Shall move by dawn for Theſſaly, there join
The reſt of Aſia's dames behind us left
On our late march; the guard, ten thouſand horſe,
Thou, Artamanes, ſhalt command.—He ſaid;
They all retir'd. A penſive grief o'ercaſts
Sandauce, moving with her children ſlow,
By ſlaves attended, to the vacant tent
Autarctus late poſſeſs'd. Argeſtes' ſon
Obſerves her anguiſh, penetrates her thoughts,
In guarded words then proffers this relief:
O faireſt princeſs, whoſe external form
But half diſplays thy excellence of mind,
Wilt thou forgive thy ſervant, if he feels
With thee a preſent ſorrow, which the heart
Fobids the tongue to name? Sandauce, truſt
My pious ſervice, and thoſe thoughts compoſe.
She, weeping, looks aſſent; he ſpeeds away,
But meets the body of Autarctus borne
[193] By Artemiſia's ſoldiers. She at firſt,
With care conceal'd, had order'd from the bark
His precious reliques; theſe the noble youth
With equal care delivers to that ſkill,
Which with Sabaean gums, and ſcented growths
Of bleſs'd Arabia, purifies the clay
Depriv'd of life, and Time's conſuming breath
Repels. A regal car he next provides,
In full apparel of funereal pomp.
End of the Seventh Book.
THE ATHENAID.
BOOK the EIGHTH.
[194]THE ſatraps now and leaders, at the call
Of Artemiſia, were collected round
Their monarch. Seated on his throne, he ſpake:
Ye princes, ſatraps, heed our fix'd decree.
Our native Aſia wants her king; by morn
To Suſa we return, but leave behind
In Greece Mardonius, and a choſen hoſt
Of thirty myriads. With command ſupreme,
With our imperial equipage and ſtate,
[195] Him we inveſt; to him ſubmiſſion pay
As to our preſence. Artemiſia, bear
Our ſov'reign pleaſure to the naval chiefs,
That all abandon, e'er the dawn return,
Phaleron's port, and hoiſt their ſails to guard
The Helleſpont. But thou, entruſted queen,
Thy own tried ſquadron to Spercheos bring;
Whence thou muſt waft to Epheſus a charge
Of high import, the children of thy king.
He ceas'd. A ſtranger, cas'd in ſteel, approach'd,
In look ferocious, limbs and ſhape robuſt,
Of ſtature huge; the ſatraps look'd amaz'd,
As were th' immortals, when, th' Olympian ſteep
Aſcending, grim Briareus firſt produc'd
His mountain-bulk, and ſpread his hundred hands,
Auxiliary to Jove. The warrior ſtood,
Unbending, far as nature would permit,
His rugged brow; when, crouching to the king,
[196] O Xerxes, live for ever, he began:
I am Euboean Demonax, the prince
Of Oreus late, who earth and water ſent,
Acknowledging thy empire; from my throne
By curs'd Themiſtocles expell'd, I join'd
Thy ſhelt'ring fleet; at Salamis I fought.
An aid of troops and treaſure can replace
Me thy true vaſſal, who will ſoon reduce
The granary of Athens to thy ſway,
Euboea, fertile, populous, and rich.
The monarch thus: Mardonius, thou haſt heard;
Begin to uſe thy plenitude of pow'r;
Reject or favour at thy will this pray'r.
Mardonius then: My ſov'reign liege, the truth
Flows from his lips; twelve thouſand of thy hoſt,
With Mindarus commanding, and of gold
A hundred talents, would be well beſtow'd
[197] On this important Greek. The king aſſents;
He riſes; all diſperſe. Mardonius now
Accoſts the queen, deſcending to the port:
Alas! how uncontrollable the will
Of Xerxes! muſt thou leave me? Since the day
Of Salamis, my beſt belov'd of friends,
Maſiſtius, whether by the waves devour'd,
Or ſlain, or captive, to my ſearch is loſt.
Foe to inaction, though compos'd and wiſe,
Of courage prone to perilous attempts,
He would embark; permitted by the king,
Againſt my warm remonſtrance would partake
The naval conflict. Drooping, while I doubt
His preſervation, muſt I further loſe
Thy fellowſhip, auſpicious, generous queen!
Yet ſtop, a moment liſten. On the march
To Athens firſt, repoſing in a cave,
I had a dream, perhaps a viſion ſaw,
[198] To me preſaging glory—but ſucceſs
Was wrap'd in clouded myſtery. My heart
Teems with ill-boding thoughts, yet ſhall not faint;
At leaſt impart thy wiſhes ere thou ſail'ſt,
Thy laſt inſtructions! Fortunate thy voice,
Benign to me; repeat one parting ſtrain!
If I ſucceſsful to thy preſence bring
The palms of conqueſt, ſay, accompliſh'd queen,
Thou wilt accept them with a gracious hand;
If unſucceſsful I the forfeit pay
Of this frail being, as becomes the brave,
Say, thou wilt praiſe Mardonius. Sage and grave
She anſwers: Firſt, deſpair not to regain
The good Maſiſtius; at the worſt endure,
That common lot, the death of deareſt friends,
With patience; long thy courage I have prais'd,
Now moderate the flame againſt a foe
Not leſs diſcreet, than diſciplin'd and bold;
Nor let the gloom of ſuperſtition awe
[199] Thy noble ardour. On the ſharpeſt ſword,
The ſtrongeſt arm, on prudence, martial ſkill,
Not dreams and viſions, looks the goddeſs Fame.
If Artemiſia's wiſhes can avail,
Be ſure to proſper, proſp'ring here to ſoar
Above the flight of Cyrus.—She departs.
Behind her, like the ſinking globe of day,
She leaves a trail of radiance on his ſoul;
But, to protect him from returning ſhade,
Her light ſhould ne'er forſake him, never ſet.
O'er gen'rous cares not thus Argeſtes broods;
Within his tent he meditates conceal'd;
By ſtruggling pride tormented, thus he ſtrives
To ſooth her pangs: I ſee my pow'r eclips'd;
Mardonius governs. Pow'r, thou fleeting gleam,
Thee I poſſeſs no longer; why regret,
When Amarantha's beauty can exchange
Thy thorns for lilies? To my own domain
[200] I will tranſport her; Sipylus hath flow'rs
To drop perfumes in Amarantha's walk;
Pactolus, Hermus, my ſubjected ſtreams,
Shall furniſh gold; her gems ſhall India ſend
To deck that form, and I in pleaſure's folds
Forget ambition, ſtranger to the peace
Which honour yields. Libidinous in thought,
The ſtateſman thus would cheat his baffled pride;
Accurs'd of men! who borrow'd from one vice
His med'cine for another (both deform
His ravag'd boſom in alternate ſtrife)
Flagitious parent! rivalling in love
His eldeſt born! prepoſt'rous paſſion, big
With horror! while the youngeſt, lov'd by all,
By Xerxes favour'd, to Mardonius dear,
He held in deteſtation for his worth,
Nor knew the comfort of a virtuous child.
With diff'rent thoughts that ſleepleſs youth employ'd
The night, ſerenely happy in the charge
[201] Humanity impos'd. Before the dawn
His band is arm'd, Sandauce in her car,
Among innumerable fair the chief
In ſtate and woe. Tears trickle at the ſight
Of great Autarctus in his fun'ral pomp
Down ev'ry cheek; a ſolemn ſadneſs reigns;
So oft Aurora, ſable-ſuited, leads
A train of clouds, diſſolving as they paſs
In ſilent ſhow'rs. Through Attica's waſte fields,
Through half Boeotia, ere his ev'ning clos'd,
The ſecond ſun conducts them to the gates
Of antient Thebes. They enter; they aſcend
The citadel; they find commanding there,
New from the ruins of unpeopled towns,
Fierce Mithridates. With a kind embrace,
To him the gentle Artamanes thus:
Hail! brother: twice a captive ſince we laſt
At Delphi parted, I would gladly know
[202] Thy fortune. Tell me, where that beauteous maid,
Whom thou didſt carry from the Delphian walls?
The grim Barbarian ſpoiler, quick reply'd:
Curs'd be her name, her beauty, which could melt
A heart like mine! Accurs'd my father's luſt,
Which ſeiz'd my captive! Guarded by a troop
Of jealous eunuchs, and attendants arm'd,
Her in this citadel he ſtill detains.
If I refign her, may Plataea's tow'rs,
May Theſpia's hoſtile walls by me o'erthrown,
A ſecond time to brave me riſe from duſt.
Oh! unbecoming ſtrife, the brother cry'd,
Which ſtartles nature! Thanks to Heav'n, the king
Hath now decided Amarantha's fate;
Her to his royal ſiſter he hath giv'n,
A promis'd boon. Sandauce, by the foe
Reſtor'd to freedom, will requite that grace,
By rend'ring up this damſel to her ſire,
[203] Himſelf a pris'ner in Nicaea's fort,
Then both releaſe from bondage. Further know,
In Thebes to morrow Xerxes will appear
On his retreat to Suſa. I conduct
This train of eaſtern dames. By riſing dawn
To her protection will the princeſs take
The Delphian maiden, then proceed. Theſe words
Sting Mithridates; an atrocious deed
He meditates, but artful thus conceals:
Not to my father, to the king I yield.
This ſaid, they parted. Mithridates held
The town; his brother's ſquadrons lay encamp'd
Without the walls. The citadel contain'd
A fane of Juno, there Sandauce reſts.
To Oedipus devoted was a dome,
Which Artamanes enter'd, while his heart
Ran cold and ſhudder'd at a brother fell,
And treach'rous ſire, competitors in love;
[204] Abominable ſtrife! His eyes he caſt
O'er all the ſtructure, lighted by the gleams
Of tapers blue attending; he ſurveys,
Inſculptur'd round, the horrors which befel
The houſe of Laius; there th' ill-fated ſon
His father ſlays; inceſtuous there aſcends
His mother's chamber; daughters he begets,
His ſiſters, ſons his brothers; blameleſs he,
A man of virtues by deſpair oppreſs'd,
Rends forth his eyeballs, on the pavement daſh'd.
There ſev'n dire captains, leagu'd by horrid oaths
Which ſtartled Heav'n, are figur'd; down to Hell
Amphiarāus on his martial car,
Through earth's dividing entrails, there deſcends;
Here Capaneus, blaſpheming Jove, expires
Amid vindictive lightnings; mangled there,
Eteocles and Polynices fall,
Each other's victim to fraternal hate.
Full of theſe hideous images the youth
[205] Reclines diſturb'd, unviſited by ſleep,
Till awful midnight; broken ſlumber, adds
To his diſquiet. In a thrilling dream
The eyeleſs ghoſt of Oedipus aſcends;
The vacant ſockets, where the orbs of ſight
Once beam'd, are bleeding freſh; a Stygian pall
Infolds the wither'd, pale, ſepulchral form;
The arms are ſtretch'd abroad: Forever Thebes
Muſt thou to horror be the guilty ſtage!
It ſaid, and vaniſh'd. By the phantom wak'd,
Or by a ſudden claſh of mingling ſwords,
With ſkrieks and tumult, Artamanes roſe,
Unſheath'd his ſabre, grip'd his target faſt,
And iſſued ſwift. Before his ſtartled eyes
A beauteous woman, of majeſtic form,
In garb diſorder'd, and with ringlets fall'n,
Suſtains aloft a poinard newly drawn
From Mithridates' heart, who, ſinking, breathes
His laſt beneath her feet. So Phoebe pierc'd
[206] Orion; ſo the groaning earth receiv'd
His giant bulk, which inſolently dar'd
Attempt that child immaculate of Jove
With violence of love. Now ſpake the fair:
If to defend her chaſtity and fame
Becomes a woman, ſelf approv'd at leaſt
I ſtand, great Timon's daughter, from a line
Heroic ſprung, in holy Delphi born;
If to have ſlain a ruffian be a crime
Among the Perſians, give me inſtant death,
Such as becomes my dignity and ſex.
Her words, her looks, impreſs'd on ev'ry heart
Amaze, and tam'd the ſavages combin'd
With Mithridates in his impious act.
So when, majeſtic on the choral ſcene,
Her tragic pomp Melpomene diſplays,
In awe profound ſhe huſhes rudeſt minds,
[207] While terror humbles tyrants. Gather'd round
Were numbers now; a thouſand torches blaz'd;
Sandauce laſt, environ'd by her guard,
Approach'd alarm'd. A wounded eunuch ſtepp'd
Before the princeſs; I will cloath in truth
My voice, he ſaid. Argeſtes to my care
Entruſted Amarantha; from that lord,
Solicitations, threat'nings, gifts ſhe ſpurn'd,
While I admir'd: Sure virtue hath a ray
To ſtrike the meaneſt eye. To-night his ſon
Aſſail'd our dwelling; with my fellow ſlaves,
All butcher'd, I defended long my charge,
By Mithridates from the manſion forc'd;
Her chaſtity the noble maid hath ſav'd,
Her poniard ſtretch'd the raviſher in blood.
To Artamanes, weeping o'er the corſe,
Sandauce then: To thy conſoling words
I oft have liſten'd, liſten thou to mine;
[208] Forgive the maid; illuſtrious is her deed
For every maid to imitate. With me,
Come Amarantha; thou art mine; not long
Shalt ſo continue; at Nicaea's fort
I will reſtore thee to a joyful ſire,
And both to freedom. Morning breaks; the cars,
The troops attend; the royal dame renews
Her progreſs; ſeated at her footſtool weeps,
In ſpeechleſs gratitude, the Delphian fair.
By public duty Artamanes rous'd,
Not long remains. This laſt farewell he ſighs:
Oh! early fall'n! Oh! cut from proudeſt hopes!
Thee, Horomazes, may a brother's tears
For him propitiate! he hath none to ſhed.
Theſe ſilent ruins to our father ſhew,
Thou faithful eunuch. May he feel like me!
[209]
His ſteed he mounts, and rapidly o'ertakes
The ſquadrons, op'ning on Cadmean plains.
Now Amarantha lifts her grateful head,
Intent to ſpeak; but, heavy on the front
Of her protectreſs, heavier in her breaſt
Sat grief, each ſenſe devouring, and her frame
Enfeebling; which, too delicately wrought,
Endures not ev'n remembrance of diſtreſs
So new, ſo ſtrange in her exalted ſtate,
To youth untry'd by evils. She forgets
Her late benignant act, till chance directs
Her eye to Amarantha; when her heart,
Sooth'd by the conſcience of a gen'rous deed,
Her faded cheeks relumines with a ſmile.
Then ſpake the prudent virgin: Perſian queen,
(Sure ſuch thou art) what marvellous event
Gave thee a knowledge of my ſire, his place
[210] Of reſidence, and my diſaſtrous fate?
Senſe of thy goodneſs, from my breaſt would chace
The memory of troubles, if alas!
I did not ſee thy countenance o'ercaſt.
If thou repent thee, of thy favour deem
Me undeſerving, ſend me to abide
The puniſhment ordain'd by Perſian laws;
But if thy ſorrows are thy own, unmix'd
With my misfortunes, let aſſiduous zeal,
Let tendereſt ſervice of my grateful hand
Strive to relieve the burdens which oppreſs
My benefactreſs. In the captive's hand
Sandauce drops her own; in ſighs replies:
O! by thy aſpect of ſuperior mold
To all I e'er beheld of regal race,
Reſembling me in fortune, lend an ear;
My ſoul conceives a melancholy wiſh
That thou ſhouldſt hear my ſtory, I to thine
[211] Alternate liſten. Mournful converſe ſoon
Between theſe faireſt in their native climes
Began, continued; ſev'n diurnal rounds
The ſun perform'd, till intercourſe of grief,
Communicated ſighs, unite their minds
In tender friendſhip. Diff'rent yet their lots;
On Amarantha's cheek the bloom revives;
A joyful ſire, perhaps a dear betroth'd,
Her fortune promis'd. In Sandauce's train
A huſband follow'd on his fun'ral bier;
Her fleeting hue a ſickly paleneſs taints,
Which Artamanes with a ſad'ning eye
Obſerves, portent of malady. Now roſe
The eighth ſad morn, revealing to their ſight
Nicaea's neighb'ring gate. Sandauce then
To Artamanes: Take this virtuous maid;
To her my promiſe, to her father thine
Fulfill; conduct her. Amarantha dear,
From thee I part, rejoicing in thy joy;
[212] Amid thy comforts in a ſire's embrace,
Or bliſs more tender with a deſtin'd ſpouſe,
Forget not me. Autarchus near the tomb
Of Ariana by theſe widow'd hands
Depoſited—She ſtops; the weaken'd pow'rs
Of health relax, nor furniſh ſound to grief:
Mute too is Delphi's maid. The Perſian youth,
To leave a moment in her ſick'ning ſtate
The princeſs, feels a ſtruggle, but reſolves
In rapid haſte her mandate to obey.
Nicaea's gate he enters; Timon ſoon
He finds: receive thy daughter, ſwift he ſpake;
Receive thy freedom from the bounteous hand
Of Xerxes' ſiſter; but a ſhort farewell
My urgent cares allow; to ſet thee free
At thy own time I haſten to enjoin
The chief commander here. He ſaid, and turn'd
Precipitate away, unheard, unmark'd
[213] By Timon, who no other voice nor form
Than Amarantha's heeds. In Carian ſteel
Now Meliboeus from the gymnic ſchool,
Where he was daily exercis'd in arms,
Approach'd; to him in tranſport Timon ſpake:
Behold my daughter!—Inſtant from the port
Appears Aronces, who proclaims the news
Of Artemiſia landed. She had left
Phaleron; ſtation'd in the Malian bay,
She waits the king's arrival, not remote
Now with his army; all advance to meet
The Carian queen; when ſudden clouds of duſt
The ſky envelop; loud the hollow ſound
Of trampling hoofs is heard. The portal paſs'd
By Artamanes fac'd the ſouthern ſun;
An entrance eaſtward rudely is poſſeſs'd
By Caſpian horſemen, in the hairy ſkins
Of goats all horrid; round their brawny loins
[214] From ſhaggy belts keen cimeters depend;
Well-furniſh'd quivers rattle on their backs.
Now fifty grim-fac'd ſavages diſmount
To ſeize on Amarantha. Then his arm
New-train'd to battle Meliboeus proves;
With native ſtrength, agility and fire,
He ſprings, confronts the Caſpians; from the firſt
He lops the ruffian hand; by diff'rent wounds
Five more lie proſtrate. As a veſſel new,
Compact and ſtrong, impetuous from the dock
In her firſt launch divides the troubled waves,
On either ſide recoiling, till the weight
Of reuniting waters ſtops her courſe,
And beats her lofty ribs; ſo valour drives
The warrior on, till rallying numbers join'd,
Arreſt his progreſs; fearleſs yet he ſtands
A while defenſive. Timon from the dead
Lifts two forſaken cimeters; both hands
His indignation arms; he ſends to hell
[215] Three miſcreants gaſping at his daughter's feet.
With aiding Thefeus, ſo Pirithous heap'd
With centaurs ſlain the Lapithaean hall,
When in flagitious tumult they deform'd
The nuptial banquet, and his fair eſpous'd
With violation menac'd. But the eye
Of Amarantha mark'd th' unequal fight;
Her poniard drawn, the only ſuccour left,
She holds intrepid, reſolute on death,
No ſecond thraldom; when th' auſpicious ſight
Of Caria's queen revives her fainting hopes.
Stern Artemiſia, rapid on the call
Of vigilant Aronces, now approach'd
In awful tone the Caſpians: Sheath your blades,
Ye fierce in look, not courage, or this arm
(Her falchion here ſhe waves) ſhall hide theſe ſtreets
With your vile carrion. Deſpicable herd
Of rebels, led by what preſumptuous fiend
[216] Dare you invade a fortreſs of your king,
Ev'n in my preſence, he perhaps in ſight?
They hear; they pauſe. Inclos'd by thick'ning guards,
In multitude confiding, urg'd by luſt,
Which lends a courage new, Argeſtes fell,
Inciting loud his ruffians to perſiſt,
Strikes her indignant eye. What wrath, what hopes
Of juſt, of long-ſought vengeance ſwell her breaſt!
As when the mother of a lion brood,
From wonted chace returning, ſees a wolf,
Or treach'rous tiger ſtealing towards her den,
Who in her abſence would ſecurely prey
On her defenceleſs whelps, her eyeballs roll
In fire, ſhe ruſhes on th' inſidious foe
With fangs reſiſtleſs; he contends in vain,
His cheſt ſhe rends aſunder, and his heart
Devours unſated; ſo incens'd the queen,
[217] Begirt by Carians terrible in war,
To each Barbarian terrible who ſaw
Their high exploits on Salaminian waves,
Ruſh'd on Argeſtes; Meliboeus brave
March'd by her ſide a ſecond, whom the god
Of arms might rank among his foremoſt ſons.
The Caſpians ſhrunk; by deſperation bold,
The ſatrap ſpurr'd his courſer on the queen,
And whirl'd a javelin ſhiv'ring on her ſhield;
She on the forehead ſmote the reſtiff horſe,
Who, rearing, hurl'd his rider to the ground,
Then points her dreadful weapon tow'rds the breaſt
Of her deteſted foe, intent to pierce
The trait'rous heart. This invocation firſt
She ſolemn utters: Manes of the brave!
Whom he devoted on the Malian fields
Unpitied victims of his hate to me,
To you, my ſubjects, this malignant head
I immolate. Hence ſatrap, once the chief
[218] In pow'r and ſtate, in vice and falſehood chief,
Seek Rhadamanthus; tell him, while he frowns
On his tribunal, Themis to my hand
Her ſword reſign'd to cut thy treaſon ſhort.
Her vengeance levels now the mortal blow,
When dignity reſtrains her. Riſe, ſhe ſaid,
Thou criminal, unworthy by this arm
To die; preſerve him, Carians, to abide
The ignominous lot, by juſtice doom'd
To common villains. Meliboeus, change
Thy name; I claſp thee Haliartus now,
My brother, prov'd by gallant deeds; at leaſt
No evidence but virtue I require
For nobler union than congenial birth,
By friendſhip's ſacred ties to call thee mine.
She ſcarce had finiſh'd, when a ſecond troop
Of horſemen through the ſouthern portal ſpread
[219] New terror. In their front a ſplendid chief,
Who wears a regal circle; round he caſts
A ſearching eye, impatient ſoon beholds
Bright Amarantha, where ſhe ſtands beſet
By Caſpians, ſtrangers to their leader's fate,
Perſiſting ſtill in pertinacious ſtrife
Againſt Aronces, and her manly ſire;
Then ſwift as ſulph'rous ether, when its flame
Divides a knotted oak or cleaves a tow'r,
Flies on the ruffians: Do ye lift, he cries,
Your hands profane againſt the deſtin'd queen
Of Macedon? a carnage wide he ſpreads
Beneath his trampling ſteed and pond'rous blade.
Diſmounting victor, he unclaſps his helm,
Her dear betroth'd to Amarantha ſhews
In Alexander, Macedonia's king.
Ne'er yet ſo comely, ſo endearing look'd
A lover; reſcu'd from Barbarian ſpoil
She meets his arms, while Timon weeps in joy.
[220]
With Meliboeus, from a ſtage of blood,
The Carian queen approach'd, while thus the king
His ſervent ſoul was opening: Oh! my love,
My Amarantha! my affianc'd love!
I feel, but cannot paint, my ſorrows paſt,
My preſent joys. The day, the appointed day
To ſolemnize our nuptial rites was nigh,
I left my kingdom, flew to Delphi's walls;
Thou waſt not there. What horror, when I heard
Thou waſt a captive! by what barb'rous hand
None could inform me; thence from march to march
I track'd the Perſians; tidings of thy fate
No tongue could tell; through Attica I rang'd,
Boeotia, Phocis, Doris; Locris ſtill
Was left to ſearch. Diſconſolate I join'd
The royal camp laſt ev'ning; there I heard
Of Mithridates by thy virtue ſlain;
At Thebes, of curs'd Argeſtes, who had held
Thee pris'ner there; of thy departure thence
[221] With kind Sandauce to Nicaea's fort;
But further told, that baſe Argeſtes led
The Caſpian horſe forerunners of the hoſt,
Alarm'd, my troop I gather'd, I purſu'd,
Am come to ſave thee, nor one hour withhold
The full protection of my nuptial hand.
Th' illuſtrious virgin anſwer'd in a figh:
O Alexander, I am thine, thou mine
By ſacred vows; yet thou a foe to Greece!
Then Artemiſia: Noble maid, I praiſe
That zeal for Greece, thy country; but forbear
At this momentous criſis to combine
Thy preſervation with a public care;
Thou need'ſt protection both of rank and pow'r.
Few can reſiſt the luſtre of thy form,
Which, left unguarded thro' the lawleſs courſe
Of war, might light, in others leſs deprav'd
[222] Than foul Argeſtes and his barb'rous ſon,
New flames to burſt in violence again.
She ceaſes; Timon ratifies her words.
A mother's office now the queen performs
In preparation for connubial rites;
Nor old Aronces, nor th' acknowledg'd heir
Of Lygdamis are ſlow. With human blood
Impure, the ſtreets are cleans'd, the ſlain remov'd;
Flow'rs pluck'd for chaplets, nuptial torches burn,
The altars ſmoke with odours, ſterneſt hearts
Grow mild, Bellona's furies ſleep forgot,
Her fifes and clarions ſoften to delight
The ear of Hymen; joy concludes the day.
End of the Eighth Book.
THE ATHENAID.
BOOK the NINTH.
[223]SOFT roſe the morn, and ſtill; the azure flood
In gentle volumes, undiſturb'd with tides,
But heav'd by zephyrs, glaz'd the pebbled ſhore;
When Caria's princeſs, viſiting the beach
With Haliartus, and her ſon belov'd,
Her boſom thus diſclos'd: O brother! friend
In danger tried, not yet are Aſia's woes
Complete; to Greece new trophies I forbode.
Oh! ſoon tranſported o'er theſe hoſtile waves,
May Artemiſia reſt her wearied head
[224] At length in peace, and thou, ſo late redeem'd,
With her partake the bleſſing! Ah! thy looks
Reject the proffer—yet ſome rev'rence bear
To Artemiſia, ſome fraternal love.
How ſhall I plead? will haughty Greece admit
Thee to her honours, thee in humbleſt ſtate,
Tho' meriting the higheſt, known ſo long?
Halicarnaſſus, an illuſtrious town,
Among her nobleſt citizens will rank
The ſon avow'd of Lygdamis. O caſt
A kindred eye on this my orphan boy!
Who muſt become his guardian, who ſupply
My care, ſhould fate precipitate my doom?
Tears down the beard of Haliartus flow'd,
Afflicted, tho' determin'd. On his hand
Leander hung; the captivating mien
Of Meliboeus had at once allur'd
The tender youth to entertain belief
[225] In old Aronces, when he firſt proclaim'd
The ſwain true ſon of Lygdamis. Theſe words
From Haliartus broke: Thy birth, thy name,
Thy virtues, queen, I rev'rence; of thy blood
Acknowledg'd, more ennobled in thy praiſe,
I feel my elevation; but thy ear
Approving lend. Three ſuns are now elaps'd
Since gen'rous Medon, by a faithful mouth,
Convey'd his promiſe to redeem my head,
Exchang'd for ſplendid captives, by his arm
In fight acquir'd; I hourly watch to hail
His peaceful maſt, perhaps yon diſtant keel
Contains his perſon. To forſake this friend,
Whoſe kindneſs bleſs'd my former humble ſtate,
Friend of my childhood, youth, and ripen'd years,
Would be an act, O thou of pureſt fame,
To plunge thy brother in the loweſt depth
Of human baſeneſs, baſeneſs of the mind,
Thy long-loſt brother, found too ſoon a ſtain
[226] To Lygdamis and thee. Concluding here,
He eyes the veſſel bounding to the port,
With branches green of olive on her head,
Her poop, and maſt; the Carian ſailors hail
The fair, pacific ſignal. On the beach
The warrior leaps, when Haliartus cries,
I ſee my patron! with expanded arms
Flies to embrace him. Medon ſtops, and ſpeaks:
In ſplendid mail is Meliboeus cas'd?
Are theſe not Perſian ſtandards flying round?
Art thou enroll'd an enemy to Greece?
No, interpos'd the queen, behold him free,
To thee, to Greece unchang'd, in arms my gift;
He is my brother, brother to the queen
Of Caria. Medon here: Immortal pow'rs!
Do I ſurvey the wonder of her ſex,
That heroine of Aſia, who alone,
[227] While now the fate of empire balanc'd hangs,
Contributes virtue to the Perſian ſcale?
My friend to ſuch a ſiſter I reſign.
Ah! never, never, Haliartus cried,
Shalt thou reſign me; nor th' Oïlean houſe
Will I forſake; in that belov'd abode
I was too happy for aſpiring thoughts.
Firſt to redeem thy Locris I devote
Theſe arms; will periſh there before thy foes,
If ſuch my fate, if victor in thy ranks,
Hang in thy manſion my repoſing ſhield,
There make my home. Yet often will I court
Thy welcome, princeſs, on the Carian ſhore
To worſhip ſtill thy virtue, on thy ſon
Still pour the bleſſings of parental love.
The Carian queen ſubjoins: I muſt approve,
To ſuch clear honour yield; bring Timon, call
[228] The king; Time preſſes, we muſt all depart;
A ſacred Delphian too from bondage freed
Thou ſhalt receive, O Medon. Swift the chief
To diſembark his captives gave command;
Five was their number; one beyond the reſt
In ſtature tower'd, his armour was unſpoil'd,
Though rich in burniſh'd gold, emboſs'd with gems
Of ſtarry light; his dignity and form
The victors rev'renc'd. Medon to the queen:
Theſe Ariſtides, at my efforts pleas'd,
Gave to my choice from numbers; an exchange
For Meliboeus and the Delphian prieſt
Theſe I deſign'd; my friends thy bounty frees;
Take theſe unranſom'd from a grateful hand.
O lib'ral man! the Carian princeſs here:
Thou doſt produce Maſiſtius; virtuous lord!
How will Mardonius in thy ſight rejoice,
[229] How lift his hopes! To her Maſiſtius bow'd,
To Medon ſpake: O Grecian! if a thought
To die thy debtor could debaſe my ſoul,
I ſhould deſerve till death all human woes.
Demand, obtain; to Aſia I am dear,
Lov'd by Mardonius, honour'd by the king,
I cannot aſk what either would refuſe
To him who gave me liberty and life.
Thou canſt, rejoins the chief, obtain a grace
To me of precious worth, to Xerxes none;
Nor golden ſtores nor gems attract my eye;
I have a ſiſter, dearer than the mines
Of Ind, or wealth of Suſa, who reſides
A prieſteſs pure, on that Oetaean ridge
Which overlooks Thermopylae, her name
Meliſſa; there an ancient fane is plac'd,
No ſplendid ſeat oracular, enrich'd
By proud donations, but a moſſy pile,
[230] Where ev'ry Grecian hath from age to age
Ador'd the muſes. Lift thy hand to ſwear,
Thou wilt implore of Xerxes a decree,
Irrevocable like a Median law,
Forbidding all to climb that holy crag.
To him Maſiſtius: Not the Delian iſle,
By Perſians held inviolate of old,
Shall boaſt of ſafety like Meliſſa's hill;
For my performance, lo! I lift my hand
To Horomazes. Thou, return'd, ſalute
Athenian Ariſtides in my name;
From me, his captive in that direful hour
Of carnage round Pſyttalia's bloody ſtrand,
Say, that my thankful tongue will never ceaſe
Extolling his beneficence and thine.
To him far more than liberty and life
I owe; in bondage precious were the hours,
With him the hours of converſe, who enlarg'd,
[231] Illum'd my heart and mind; his captive freed,
I go a wiſer, and a better man.
Now with his conſort Macedonia's king,
And Timon were in ſight; a ſad'ning look
Fair Amarantha mute on Timon fix'd,
On her the father: We muſt part, he ſaid;
Alas! too many of thy father's days
Captivity hath waſted, ſorrow more
Deploring thee, my child, while other Greeks,
Erecting brilliant trophies, have obtain'd
Eternal praiſe. Thee, Amarantha, found,
Thee wedded, happy in thy choice and mine,
I quit, my tarniſh'd honours to retrieve.
She then: In him a huſband I avow
Felicity unſtain'd; in him ally
To Perſia's tyrant I am left unbleſs'd.
Malignant fortune ſtill purſues thy child;
[232] Before me holds a conſort and a ſire
In adverſe ranks contending. He rejoins:
I know thee, daughter, like the manlieſt Greek
The wrongs of Greece reſenting, but thy heart
Keep in ſubjection to a tender ſpouſe
Of conſtancy approv'd, whoſe houſe with mine,
From eldeſt times, by mutual tokens paſs'd
In ſacred hoſpitality is link'd.
Thy pow'r of beauty never for thyſelf
Employ, be all compliance; uſe that charm,
As kind occaſion whiſpers, in behalf
Of Greece alone; by counſel ſweetly breath'd,
Diffuſe remembrance of his Grecian blood
Thro' Alexander's heart. While theſe converſe
Apart, the keels are launch'd; now all embark;
Aboard his veſſel Medon leads the ſon
Of Lygdamis with Timon; on her own
Imperial deck th' attentive queen diſpos'd
[233] The Macedonian with his beauteous bride,
And Perſians freed by Medon, chief of theſe
Maſiſtius merits her peculiar care;
Confin'd, Argeſtes trembles at his doom
From Xerxes' ire. Along thy rocky verge,
Thermopylae, with ſails and ſhrouds relax'd,
Smooth glide the Carian gallies thro' a calm,
Which o'er the Malian ſurface ſleeps unmov'd,
Unleſs by meaſur'd ſtrokes of ſounding oars,
Or foam-beſilver'd prows. A royal guard,
Preceding Xerxes, through that dreaded paſs
Were then advancing, not in order'd pomp,
As on his march to Athens; now behind
The regal chariot panic fear impell'd
On its encumber'd wheels diſorder'd throngs,
As if Leonidas had ris'n and ſhook
The ſnaky ſhield of Gorgon, or his ſword,
Stain'd with Pſyttalian havoc, o'er their heads
The living arm of Ariſtides wav'd.
[234] On ſight of Oeta Carian's queen relates
To her illuſtrious paſſengers the deeds
Which ſignaliz'd that rock, nor leaves untold
The fate of Teribazus, nor the wound
Of Ariana, victims both to love.
Now, where Spercheos from his ſpumy jaws
A tribute large delivers to the bay,
They land; Mardonius, paſſing tow'rds a tent
Magnificent, erected for the king,
Arriv'd but newly, on his way perceives
Maſiſtius; tranſport locks his tongue; he flies,
Hangs on his friend, unutterable joy
His tears alone diſcover. More compos'd,
Though not leſs cordial, with a cloſe embrace,
Firſt ſpake the late redeem'd: Receive thy friend,
Whom wreck'd and captive on Pſyttalia's iſle,
An Attic leader, Ariſtides nam'd,
Reſtores unſpoil'd, unranſom'd, undiſgrac'd!
[235]
Mardonius quick: Thy unexpected ſight,
By an Athenian all unſought reſtor'd,
Preſages all the good my warmeſt hopes
Could e'er ſuggeſt; the omen I enjoy;
For this ſhall Athens, to my friendſhip won,
Poſſeſs her laws, her freedom, with increaſe
Of rich dominion. Artemiſia then:
Behold, the king of Macedon, his wife
In Amarantha. Wond'ring at her form,
Exclaims the Perſian hero; of one crime
I now acquit Argeſtes and his ſon;
What ice of virtue could reſiſt that face!
Again the queen: For other crimes my ſhip
Detains Argeſtes; him before the king
To charge, immediate audience we demand.
Mardonius guides them to the royal tent.
With half his chiefs the monarch anxious ſat,
[236] His ſwift departure by the break of dawn
Arranging. Amarantha, in her ſhape
A deity, among them ſudden ſpreads
A blaze of beauty, like the ſun at noon
In dazzling ſtate amidſt an ether blue
Of torrid climates: admiration loud
Wounds her offended ear. She thus began:
What you admire, ye Perſians, O that Heav'n
Had ne'er conferr'd! the cauſe of woe to me,
Of guilt in others; then a maiden hand
Had ne'er been dipp'd in ſlaughter, nor theſe eyes
Survey'd the pavement of Nicaea ſtrewn
With ſubjects made rebellious by my fate,
Thy ſubjects, monarch. With a Caſpian troop
Argeſtes forc'd thy caſtle me to ſeize,
Th' affianc'd bride of Macedonia's king,
Me, to Sandauce giv'n a royal boon,
Me, then in freedom by the gracious will
[237] Of thy imperial ſiſter. Help, unhop'd
From Artemiſia, from my huſband came;
Me they preſerv'd, Argeſtes pris'ner bring
To undergo thy juſtice. Caria's queen
With Macedon's indignant prince confirm
This accuſation. On his own retreat
Secure to Suſa Xerxes all intent,
Turns to Mardonius: thou be judge, he ſaid;
Take to thyſelf the forfeits of this crime.
The king commands his ſervant ſhall be judge,
Mardonius anſwer'd; chief among my foes
Hath been Argeſtes, therefore muſt not die
By my decree. Let Cyra, fort remote
On Iaxartes hide his baniſh'd head;
That care to Artemiſia I commit;
His ſatrapy, his treaſure and domain
To Artamanes his remaining ſon,
Thy meritorious vaſſal, I ordain.
[238]
This judgment paſs'd, a murmur nigh the tent,
Denouncing an ambaſſador, is heard;
Ambaſſador of Sparta. Soon appears
The manly frame of Aemneſtus bold,
Surpaſſing all his countrymen in arms,
An Ephorus in office, function high;
Whoſe jealous vigilance impriſon'd kings
Unjuſt, or impious, or aſſuming pow'r
Unwarranted by laws. No train attends;
He aſks for Xerxes, when Mardonius ſtern:
Before the future ſov'reign of the world,
With princes round him, ſingle doſt thou bring
An embaſſy from Sparta? Spartans hold
One man with one ſufficient in diſcourſe,
Cry'd Aemneſtus. Xerxes interpos'd:
Reveal thy errand, ſtranger: He reply'd.
Admoniſh'd by an oracle, the ſtate
[239] Of Lacedaemon, and the race divine
There dwelling, ſprung from Hercules, demand
Of thee atonement for a ſlaughter'd king,
Leonidas, whom multitude oppreſs'd,
While he defended Greece; whate'er thou giv'ſt
I will accept. The monarch to his cheek
A ſhew of laughter calls; awhile is mute;
Then, breaking ſilence, to Mardonius points.
They ſhall receive th' atonement they deſerve
From him: Thou hear'ſt, Mardonius. Then, with looks
Of ſcorn and menace: Yes, the Spartan ſaid,
Thee I accept my victim to appeaſe
Leonidas; diſdainful then his foot
He turns away, nor fears th' unnumber'd guard.
Meantime the royal progeny is brought
To Artemiſia; urgent time requires,
Their Father's fears the embarkation preſs
[240] For Epheſus that night. Them down the beach
Mardonius follows, and the Carian queen
In ſecret thus addreſſes: Didſt thou mark
That Spartan's threat'ning words and haughty mien?
An oracle ſuggeſted this demand,
Strange and myſterious. On the martial field
Him I can ſingle from Laconian ranks,
Audacious challenger! but ſomething more
Behind the veil of deſtiny may lurk
Unſeen by me. Mardonius, ſhe replied;
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. Think no more
Of this, an object like that paſſing cloud
Before the moon, who ſhortly will unfold
Her wonted brightneſs. Prudent thy deſign
To gain th' Athenians; to that noble race
[241] Be large in proffers, in performance true;
Purchaſe but their neutrality, thy ſword
Will, in deſpight of oracles, reduce
The reſt of Greece. This utter'd, ſhe embarks.
He ſeeks his tent, and finds Maſiſtius there,
Whoſe honour, mindful of a promiſe pledg'd,
Requeſts protection for Meliſſa's fane.
Him in his arms the ſon of Gobrias claſp'd,
Thus fervent anſw'ring: Xerxes will renew
His rapid march to-morrow; pow'r ſupreme
He leaves with me, which inſtant ſhall be urg'd
To render firm the promiſe of my friend.
Now lend thy counſel on the copious roll
Of Aſia's hoſt; aſſiſt me to ſelect
The thirty myriads giv'n to my command.
They ſat till dayſpring; then the camp is mov'd;
Then Amarantha, from her huſband's tent
[242] Aſcends a car, and traverſes the vale,
By fluent cryſtal of Spercheos lav'd,
To join Sandauce. On her way ſhe meets
Artuchus, guardian of the Perſian fair;
The ſatrap gazes, courteſy entranc'd
Forgets awhile her function. Thus, at length,
He greets the queen: Fair ſtranger, who doſt riſe
A ſecond dayſpring to th' aſtoniſh'd eye,
Accept my ſervice; whither tends thy courſe?
Whom doſt thou ſeek? and gracious tell thy name.
In roſy bluſhes, like Aurora ſtill,
She graceful thus: Of Macedonia's king
I am th' eſpous'd; my patroneſs I ſeek,
Sandauce, iſſue of th' imperial houſe.
Artuchus anſwer'd: Yeſternoon beheld
Her languid ſteps approach this vale of woe.
Thou, beauteous princeſs, to Sandauce known,
[243] Thou muſt have heard of Ariana's fate;
Sandauce now is mourning at her tomb,
A grave preparing for Autarctus ſlain.
Mayſt thou ſuſpend deſpair! Not diſtant flows
The fount of ſorrow, ſo we ſtyl'd the place,
Frequented oft by Ariana's grief;
There oft her head diſconſolate ſhe hung
To feed inceſſant anguiſh, ne'er diſclos'd
Unleſs in ſighing whiſpers to the ſtream;
Her laſt abode is there. The myrtles ſhed
Their odours round, the virgin roſes bloom;
I there have caus'd a monument to riſe,
That paſſing ſtrangers may her name revere,
And weep her fortune; from her early grave
May learn, how Heav'n is jealous of its boons,
Not long to flouriſh, where they moſt excel.
A marble manſion new erected nigh
Her faithful ſlaves inhabit; who attune
To thrilling lutes a daily fun'ral ſong.
[244] He leads, he ſtops. On gently-moving air
Sweet meaſures glide; this melancholy dirge,
To melting chords, by ſorrow touch'd, is heard.
Cropp'd is the roſe of beauty in her bud,
Bright virtue's pureſt manſion is defac'd;
Like Mithra's beams her ſilken treſſes ſhone
In luſtre gentle as a vernal morn;
Her eye reveal'd the beauties of her mind;
The ſlave, the captive, in her light rejoic'd.
Lament, ye daughters of Choaſpes, wail,
Ye Ciſſian maids, your paragon is loſt!
Once like the freſh-blown lily in the vale,
In Suſa fair, in radiancy of bloom
Like ſummer glowing, till conſuming love
Deform'd her graces; then her hue ſhe chang'd
To lilies pining in decay, but kept
The ſmile of kindneſs on her waſted cheek.
[245]
Lament, ye daughters of Choaſpes, wail,
Ye Ciſſian maids, your paragon is loſt!
O ray of wiſdom, eye of virtue, form'd
To ſpread ſuperior light, the dazzling brand
Of love malign obſcur'd thy eagle ſight;
Thy vital flames are vaniſh'd, ours remain,
As lamps to endleſs mourning in thy tomb,
Till we rejoin thee in a land of bliſs.
Lament, ye daughters of Choaſpes, wail,
Ye Ciſſian maids, your paragon is loſt!
The ſong concludes. Sandauce from a bank
Of turf upriſes, reſting on her ſlaves;
A pallid viſage, and a fainting ſtep,
She brings before the ſepulchre and ſpake:
O Ariana! liſten from thy tomb,
To me in woe thy ſiſter, as in blood!
[246] By diff'rent fortunes both were doom'd to waſte
An early bloom in ſorrow; O admit
Autarctus firſt a neighbour to thy clay,
Me next, who feel my vital thread unwind.
O Heav'n! my humble ſpirit would ſubmit
To thy afflicting hand—but ev'ry fount
Of health is dry'd; my frame enfeebled ſinks
Beneath its trial. When the inhuman prieſt
Condemn'd my children to his cruel knife,
The freezing ſheers of fate that moment cut
My heart-ſtrings; never have they heal'd again;
Decay'd and wither'd in the flower of life,
My ſtrength deſerts my patience: tender friends
Provide another grave.—For whom? burſts forth
Emathia's queen, and threw her claſping arms
Around the princeſs; whoſe diſcolour'd hue
In warm affection fluſhes at the ſight
Of Amarantha, as a languid roſe,
Shrunk by the rigour of nocturnal froſts,
[247] A while reviving at the tepid rays
Of wintry Phoebus, glows. For me, ſhe ſigh'd,
For me, that bed of endleſs reſt is made.
Com'ſt thou, neglectful of thy nuptial bliſs,
To poor Sandauce's burial! ſoon the hour,
When of the ſun theſe ſickly eyes muſt take
Their laſt farewel, may call thy friendly hand
To cloſe their curtains in eternal night!
Theſe words the Grecian fair, in ſorrow try'd,
In conſtancy unſhaken, ſwift return'd:
Thou ſhalt not die, avoid this mournful ſpot,
Thou haſt accompliſh'd all thy duty here;
Let other duties, wak'ning in thy breaſt,
Strive with deſpair; tranſported in my arms,
To Alexander's capital reſort.
Thou ſhalt not die; returning health, allur'd
By Amarantha's love and tender care,
[248] Again ſhall bleſs her patroneſs, renew
Her youth in bloom, in vigour, ne'er to leave
Her infants doubly orphans. At their name
The princeſs faints, too ſenſitive a plant,
Which on the lighteſt touch contracts the leaves,
And ſeems to wither in the fold of death.
Her lovely weight Artuchus to his tent
Conveys; a litter gentle, as it moves,
Receives her ſoon; her children by her ſide,
In Macedonian chariots are diſpos'd,
Her female ſlaves and eunuchs. Now appears
Emathia's prince to guard his matchleſs bride;
In arms complete, reſembling Mars, he rules
The fiery courſer. Artamanes ſwift
This royal mandate to Artuchus bears:
The king, O ſatrap, hath begun his march;
Delay not thine with all thy precious charge.
[249]
To Artamanes then, the Grecian queen:
Let me requeſt thee in Sandauce's name
To viſit yonder fount, of ſorrow call'd,
There ſee th' unfiniſh'd obſequies perform'd,
To great Autarctus due. Her languid head
With me a while at Aegae will repoſe,
My conſort's royal ſeat; and, gentle youth,
If juſtice whiſper to thy feeling heart,
That well I ſav'd my innocence and fame,
Thou wilt be welcome to the Aegaean hall.
This ſaid, ſhe mounts her chariot; not unpleas'd,
He to accompliſh her command proceeds.
Artuchus now conducts the female train,
Unhappy victims of ambition! Theſe,
A prey to famine, to congealing blaſts
From cold Olympus, from Biſaltio hills,
And Rhodope, ſnow-veſted, were condemn'd,
[250] With that innumerable hoſt in flight
Unform'd, unfurniſh'd, ſcatter'd, to partake
Of miſeries ſurpaſſing nature's help.
On earth's unwholſome lap their tender limbs
To couch, to feed on graſs, on bitter leaves,
On noiſome bark of trees, and ſwell the ſcene
Between Spercheos and the diſtant ſhores
Of Helleſpontine Seſtos: real ſcene
Of death, beyond the maſſacre denounc'd
By that ſtern angel in the prophet's dream,
When were aſſembled ev'ry fowl of prey
From all the regions of the peopled air,
At Heav'ns dread call, to banquet on the fleſh
Of princes, captains, and of mighty men.
End of the Eighth Book.
THE ATHENAID.
BOOK the TENTH.
[251]NOW is the ſeaſon, when Vertumnus leads
Pomona's glowing charms through ripen'd groves
Of ruddy fruitage; now the loaden vine
Invites the gath'ring hand, which treaſures joy
For hoary winter in his turn to ſmile.
An eaſtern courſe before autumnal gales
To Epheſus the Carian gallies bend;
While Medon coaſts by Locris, and deplores
Her ſtate of thraldom. Thrice Aurora ſhews
[252] Her placid face; devourer of mankind,
The ſea, curls lightly in fallacious calms;
To Medon then the wary maſter thus:
My chief, the dang'rous equinox is near
Whoſe ſtormy breath each prudent ſailor ſhuns,
Secure in harbour; turbulent theſe ſtreights
Between Euboea and the Locrian ſhore;
Fate lurks in eddies, threatens from the rocks;
The continent is hoſtile; we muſt ſtretch
Acroſs the paſſage to Euboea's iſle,
There wait in ſafety till the ſeaſon rude
Its wonted violence hath ſpent. The chief
Replies: An iſland, Atalanté nam'd,
Poſſeſs'd by Locrians, riſes in thy view;
There firſt thy ſhelter ſeek; perhaps the foe
Hath left that fragment of my native ſtate
Yet undeſtroy'd. Th' obedient rudder guides,
The oars impel the well directed keel
[253] Safe through an inlet op'ning to a cove
Fenc'd round by riſing land. At once the ſight,
Caught by a lucid aperture of rock,
Strays up the iſland; whence a living ſtream,
Profuſe and ſwift beneath a native arch,
Repels encumb'ring ſands. A ſlender ſkiff,
Launch'd from the ſhip, pervades the ſounding vault;
With his companions Medon bounds aſhore,
Addreſſing Timon: Delphian gueſt, theſe ſteps,
Rude hewn, attain the ſummit of this rock;
Thence o'er the iſland may our wary ken,
By ſome ſure ſign, diſcover if we tread
A friendly ſoil, or hoſtile. They aſcend.
The topmoſt peak was chiſell'd to diſplay
Marine Palaemon, coloſſean form,
In art not ſpecious. Melicertes once,
Him Ino, flying from th' infuriate ſword
Of Athamas her huſband, down a cliff,
Diſtracted mother, with herſelf immers'd
[254] In ocean's ſalt-abyſs. Their mortal ſtate
Neptunian pity to immortal chang'd;
From Ino ſhe became Leucothea, chief
Among the nymphs of Tethys; he that god
Benign, preſiding o'er the tranquil port,
Palaemon, yielding refuge to the toils
Of mariners ſea-worn. One mighty palm
Lean'd on a rudder, high the other held
A globe of light, far ſhooting through the dark,
In rays auſpicious to nocturnal keels
Which plough the vex'd Euripus. Fair below,
Her cap of verdure Atalanté ſpreads,
Small as a region, as a paſture large,
In gentle hollows vary'd, gentle ſwells,
All interſected by unnumber'd tufts
Of trees fruit-laden. Bord'ring on the ſtreights,
Rich Locris, wide Boeotia, lift their woods,
Their hills by Ceres lov'd, and cities fam'd;
Here Opus, there Tanagra; Delium ſhews
[255] Her proud Phoebean edifice, her port
Capacious Aulis, whence a thouſand barks
With Agamemnon ſail'd; a lengthen'd range
Euboea's rival opulence oppos'd,
Queen of that frith; ſuperb the ſtructures riſe
Of Oreus, Chalcis, and the ruins vaſt
Of ſad Erotria, by Darius cruſh'd.
The Locrian chief ſalutes the figur'd god:
Still doſt thou ſtand, Palaemon, to proclaim
Oïlean hoſpitality of old,
Which carv'd thee here conſpicuous, to befriend
The ſailor night-perplex'd? Thou only ſign
Left of Oïlean greatneſs! wrapp'd in woe
Is that diſtinguiſh'd houſe! Barbarians fill
Her inmoſt chambers! O propitious god!
If yet ſome remnant of the Locrian ſtate
Thou doſt protect on Atalanté's ſhore,
Before I leave her ſhall thy image ſmoke
With fatteſt victims! Timon quick ſubjoins:
[256]
I ſee no hoſtile traces; numerous hinds
Along the meadows tend their flocks and herds;
Let us, deſcending, and the creſted helm,
The ſpear, and ſhield, committing to our train,
In peaceful guiſe ſalute a peaceful land.
They hear, approving; lightly back they ſpeed;
Diſarm'd, they follow an inviting path,
Which cuts a ſhelving green. In ſportive laugh,
Before the threſhold of a dwelling nigh,
Appear young children; quickning then his pace,
O Haliartus, Medon cries, I ſee
My brother's offspring! They their uncle knew,
Around him flock'd, announcing his approach
In ſcreams of joy: Their ſire, Leonteus, came.
As Leda's mortal ſon in Pluto's vale
Receiv'd his brother Pollux, who, from Jove
Deriv'd, immortal, left the realms of day,
[257] And half his own divinity reſign'd,
His dear-lov'd Caſtor to redeem from death;
So ruſh'd Leonteus into Medon's arms,
Thus utt'ring loud his tranſport: Doſt thou come
To me and theſe a ſaviour! When that cloud
Of dire invaſion overcaſt our land,
For ſev'n defenceleſs infants what remain'd?
What for a tender mother? Inſtant flight
Preſerv'd us; ſtill we unmoleſted breathe
In Atalanté; others like ourſelves
Reſorted hither; barren winter ſoon
Will blaſt the ſcanty produce of this iſle,
Pale famine waſte our numbers; or, by want
Compell'd, this precious remnant of thy friends,
Theſe riſing pillars of th' Oïlean houſe
Muſt yield to Xerxes—but the gods have ſent
In thee a guardian. Summon all our friends,
Elated Medon anſwers; ev'ry want
Shall be ſupply'd, their valour in return
[258] Is all I claim. Meantime, like watchful bees
To guard th' invaded hive, from ev'ry part
The Iſlanders aſſemble; but the name
Of Medon, once divulg'd, ſuppreſſes fear,
And wond'ring gladneſs to his preſence brings
Their numbers. He, rememb'ring ſuch a ſcene
Late in Calauria, where afflicted throngs
Around his righteous friend of Athens preſs'd;
Now in that tender circumſtance himſelf
Among his Locrians, conſcious too of means
To mitigate their ſuff'rings, melts in tears
Of joy. O countrymen belov'd! he cries,
I now applaud my forecaſt, which ſecur'd
The whole Oïlean treaſures; ſafe they lie
At Lacedaemon, whence expect relief
In full abundance on your wants to flow.
Amid his country's ruins Medon ſtill
May bleſs the gods; by your auſpicious aid,
Beyond my hopes diſcover'd, I may bring
[259] No feeble ſtandard to the Grecian camp,
When Athens, now triumphant o'er the waves,
With her deep phalanx in the field completes
The overthrow of Aſia, and reſtores
Dejected Locris. So to Iſrael's ſons,
Their little ones and wives, by deathful thirſt
Amid the parching wilderneſs oppreſs'd,
Their legiſlator, with his lifted rod,
Conſoling ſpake, who, Heav'n intruſted, knew
One ſtroke would open watry veins of rock,
And preſervation from a flinty bed
Draw copious down. Leonteus lead the way,
Reſum'd his brother: vers'd in arms, my youth,
My prime, are ſtrangers to the nuptial tie;
Yet, in thy bliſs delighting, I would greet
A ſiſter, auth'reſs of this blooming troop.
With all the cluſt'ring children at his ſide
He paſs'd the threſhold, and their mother hail'd.
[260]
Now o'er their heads the equinoctial guſts
Begin to chace the clouds; by tempeſts torn,
The hoarſe Euripus ſends a diſtant ſound.
Twelve days are ſpent in ſweet domeſtic joy;
Serenity returns. The maſter warns;
Departing Medon reaſcends the bark,
Whoſe rudder ſtems the celebrated frith,
Where twice ſev'n times the ſun and ſtars behold
Reciprocating floods. Three days are paſs'd
When Sunium, Attic promontory, ſhades
The reſting ſail; Belbina thence they ſeek
By morn's new glance, and reach at dewy eve.
Athenian too Belbina yields a port
To night-o'ertaken ſailors in their courſe
Between Cecropia and Troezene's walls.
A ſquadron there is moor'd; Cleander there,
Now ev'ry public duty well diſcharg'd
Diſmiſs'd him glorious to his native roof,
Was diſembark'd. Contemplating in thought
[261] His Ariphilia, for the day's return
He languiſh'd; ev'ry Nereid he invok'd
To ſpeed his keel. Him Medon, landing, greets;
To whom Cleander: On Calauria firſt
We interchang'd embraces; now accept
A ſalutation doubly warm, O chief!
By Ariſtides pris'd, his ſecond bold
In high exploits, which ſignalize an iſle
Obſcure before, Pſyttalia; be my gueſt
This night at leaſt: He ſaid; they paſs'd aboard
With Haliartus and the Delphian ſeer.
A gen'rous meal concluded, Medon ſpake:
Troezenian chief, now give the mind repaſt;
I have been abſent long; when firſt the flight
Of Aſia's hoſt and ſhatter'd fleet was known,
From Salamis I hoiſted ſail. To hear
Of Ariſtides and the laurell'd ſon
Of Neocles, to hear of all the brave,
[262] Whoſe high achievements conſecrate that day,
From thy narration would delight my ſoul.
Cleander then began: To council call'd
By Eurybiades, the leading Greeks
A while debated, if their fleet combin'd
Should ſail to break the Helleſpontine bridge?
This he oppos'd; I readily had join'd
Th' Athenian people, eager by themſelves
Without auxiliar Grecians, to purſue
The arrogant invader; but the tribes,
In form aſſembled, with diſſuaſive words,
Themiſtocles thus cool'd. I oft have ſeen,
Have oftner heard, that vanquiſh'd men, conſtrain'd
By deſperation, have their loſs repair'd
In fight renew'd. Repelling ſuch a cloud
Of enemies from Greece, contented reſt;
The pow'r of gods and heroes, not our own,
Achiev'd the deed; purſue not thoſe who fly.
[263] Reſort to Athens; in their old abodes
Replace your women, ſuch obſequious wives,
Such daughters; reinſtate your native walls,
Rebuild your ruin'd manſions; ſow your fields,
Prevent a dearth; by early ſpring unfurl
Your active ſails, then ſhake the eaſtern ſhores.
He laſt propos'd, that exiles be recall'd.
Loud acclamations roſe; the honour'd name
Of Ariſtides thunder'd on the beach.
O wiſe Athenians! Medon cordial here:
O happy man, whoſe happineſs is plac'd
In virtuous actions! happieſt now a ſcope
Is giv'n unbounded to thy hand and heart!
Proceed Cleander. He his tale renews:
Th' Athenians launch their gallies, all embark
With Ariſtides, choſen to that charge.
[264] I ſet my ready canvaſs to perform
The laſt kind office, from Calauria's iſle
And Troezen's walls to waft their wives and race,
Left in our truſt. Meantime the diff'rent chiefs
Meet on the iſthmus, ſummon'd to decide
Who beſt had ſerv'd the public, who might claim
The higheſt honours. Every leader names
Himſelf the firſt, but all concurrent own
Themiſtocles the ſecond. Envy ſtill
Prevails; without deciſion they diſperſe,
Each to his home. Themiſtocles incens'd,
In eager queſt of honours juſtly due,
Withheld unjuſtly, not to Athens bends
His haſt'ning ſtep, but Sparta ... Medon here:
Not ſo would Ariſtides—but forgive
My interrupting voice. The youth purſues:
In Athens him I join'd, a people found,
Whom fortune never by her frown depreſs'd,
[265] Nor ſatisfied with favour. Active all,
Laborious, cheerful, they perſiſt in toil,
To heave the hills of ruin from their ſtreets,
Without repining at their preſent loſs,
Intent on future greatneſs, to be rais'd
On perſevering fortitude: The word
Of Ariſtides guides. Amidſt a ſcene
Of deſolation, decency provides
The fun'ral pomp for thoſe illuſtrious ſlain
At Salamis; th' inſculptur'd tomb I ſaw
Preparing; they already have ordain'd
A diſtant day to ſolemnize the rites;
The mouth of Ariſtides they decree
To celebrate the valiant, who have died
For Athens. While Themiſtocles accepts
A foreign praiſe in Sparta, olive crowns,
A car ſelected from the public ſtore,
A guard, three hundred citizens high-rank'd,
Him through their tracts are choſen to attend,
[266] Exceſs of rev'rence, by that rigid ſtate
Ne'er ſhewn before. To ſmall Troezene's walls
To-morrow I return with leſs renown,
With leſs deſert, perhaps to purer bliſs.
My Ariphilia calls her ſoldier home
To give her nuptial hand. My welcome gueſt
You I invite; the ſeaſon rude of Mars
Is clos'd; new combats will the ſpring ſupply;
Th' autumnal remnant, winter hov'ring near,
Let us poſſeſs in peace. Then Timon ſpake:
Young chief, I praiſe thee; be a huſband ſoon,
Be ſoon a parent; thou wilt bear thy ſhield
With conſtancy redoubled. If defence
Of our forefathers, ſleeping in their tombs,
So oft unſheaths our ſwords, more ſtrongly ſure
Th' endearing, living objects of our love
Muſt animate the gen'rous, good, and brave.
[267]
I am unworthy of that praiſe, in ſmiles
Subjoins the Locrian; but thou know'ſt, my friend,
I have a brother, of a copious ſtream
The ſource, he, call'd to battle, ſhall maintain
Oïlean fame. Cleander, I am bound
To Lacedaemon; treaſure there I left,
Which, well exchang'd for nature's foodful gifts,
I would tranſport to Atalanté's ſhore,
Seat of that brother; who, Leonteus nam'd,
With brave companions there in refuge lies,
A future aid to Greece. A liſt'ning ear
Cleander yields, while Medon's lips unwind
The varied ſeries of events befall'n
Himſelf and Timon, Amarantha fair,
The Carian queen, and Meliboeus chang'd
To Haliartus. By th' immortal gods
We will not ſep'rate, fervent cries the youth;
My Ariphilia, who is wiſe and good,
Will entertain ſociety like yours,
[268] As Aethiopia, in Maeonian ſong,
Receives to pure and hoſpitable roofs
Her viſitants from heav'n. Let youth adviſe,
Not inexperienc'd, but o'er land and ſea
To early action train'd; retaining all
Your narrative heart-piercing, I perceive
Your wants, and feel impatience to befriend;
My lighteſt keel to Salamis ſhall bear
Thy orders, Timon, for the Delphian barks,
There left behind you, in Troezene's port
To join you ſtraight. His counſel they accept.
The moon is riſing, Salamis not far;
The will of Timon to his Delphian train
Is ſwiftly borne. The ſquadron next proceeds,
Paſſing Troezene by, whoſe gen'rous chief
Accompanies to ſhore his Locrian gueſt
At Cynoſura. Spartan is this port,
He ſaid; with fifty followers ſpeed thy way;
[269] Commit no treaſure to the faithleſs winds;
By land return to find thy ready barks,
Well-fill'd from Troezen's ſtores. They part; he ſails
To joyful welcome on his native ſhores.
When now, unveiling ſlowly, as ſhe rolls,
Her brother's light the moon reflected full,
Auſpicious period for connubial rites,
From Lacedaemon haſt'ning, Medon gains
Troezene's ramparts; him Cleander choſe
His paranymph to lead the bridal ſteps
Of Ariphilia. To Calauria's verge
He paſs'd; beneath a nuptial chaplet gay
He wore his criſped hair; of pureſt white
A tunic wrapp'd his ſinewy cheſt and loins,
A glowing mantle, new in Tyrian dye,
Fell down his ſhoulders. Up the ſhelving lawn
The high Neptunian ſtructure he attains,
Where with her parents Ariphilia waits
[270] Attir'd in roſes like her hue, herſelf
As Flora fair, or Venus at her birth,
When from the ocean with unrifl'd charms
The virgin goddeſs ſprung. Yet, far unlike
A maid ſequeſter'd from the public eye,
She, early train'd in dignity and ſtate,
In ſanctity of manners to attract
A nation's rev'rence, to th' advancing chief
In ſweet compoſure unreluctant yields
Her bridal hand, who down the vaulted iſle,
Where echo joins the hymeneal ſong,
Conducts the fair; before the coſtly ſhrine,
Perfum'd with incenſe, and with garlands deck'd,
Preſents her charms, and thus in manly pray'r:
My patron god, from Salamis I come,
One of thy naval ſons, erecting there
Thy recent trophies; let me hence convey
With thy concurrent ſmile this precious prize,
[271] Thy ſacerdotal virgin. I return
To thee a pious votary, to her
A conſtant lover; on thy ſervants pour
Thy nuptial bleſſing. Yet, earth-ſhaking god,
Not bound in ſloth thy warrior ſhall repoſe,
Nor languiſhing obſcure in ſweeteſt bliſs
Deſert thy glory. Soon as wintry ſtorms
Thy nod controls, and vernal breezes court
The unfurling canvaſs, my unweary'd helm
Shall cleave thy floods, till each Barbarian coaſt
Acknowledge thy ſupremacy, and bow
To Grecian Neptune. Credulous the train,
Surrounding, in religious rapture ſee
The coloſſean image of their god
Smile on their hero, meriting the ſmiles
Of deities and mortals. Fortune adds
Her caſual favour; on Cleander's maſt
To perch, a pair of turtle doves ſhe ſends
From Neptune's temple. To his veſſel crown'd
[272] With Hymen's wreaths, beſtrewn with herbs and flow'rs,
Exhaling fragrance, down the ſlope he guides
His Ariphilia, prieſteſs now no more.
So Hermes, guardian of the Graces, leads
Their chief, Aglaia, o'er th' Olympian hall,
Warn'd by the muſes, in preluding ſtrains,
The dance on heav'n's bright pavement to begin,
And charm the feſtive gods. The flood repaſs'd,
They, as Troezenian inſtitutes require,
The fane of young Hippolytus approach,
That victim pure to chaſtity, who left
Old Theſeus childleſs. From the youthful heads
Of both their hair is ſever'd, on his ſhrine
Their maiden off'ring laid. They next aſcend
An awful ſtructure, ſacred to the Fates,
There grateful own that goodneſs which decreed
Their happy union. To the Graces laſt
Their vows are paid, divinities benign,
Whom Ariphilia fervent thus invokes:
[273]
O goddeſſes, who all its ſweetneſs ſhed
On human life! whate'er is beauteous here,
Illuſtrious, happy, to your favour owes
Its whole endearment; wanting you, our deeds
Are cold and joyleſs. In my huſband's eye
Preſerve me lovely, not in form alone,
But that ſupreme of graces in my ſex,
Complacency of love. She pray'd; her look
Reveal'd, that heav'n would ratify her pray'r.
Now in her father's dwelling they remain
Till duſky ev'ning. On a bridal car,
Conſtructed rich, the paranymph then ſeats
The blooming fair; one ſide Cleander fills,
The other Medon, ſhe between them rides,
By torches clear preceded. Lively ſounds
The ceremonial muſic; ſoon they reach
The bridegroom's manſion; there a feaſt receives
Unnumber'd friends; the nuptial dance and ſong
[274] Are now concluded. To her fragrant couch
A joyful mother lights the bluſhing bride;
Cleander follows; in the chamber ſhut,
He leaves the gueſts exulting to revive
Their ſong to Hymen, and renew the dance.
Three days ſucceeding were to gymnic feats
Devoted; Medon's warlike ſpear obtains
A ſecond chaplet; Haliartus won
The wreſtler's prize; to hurl the maſſy diſk
None match'd the ſkill of Timon, ſtill robuſt,
Tho' rev'rend threads of ſilver had begun
To ſtreak his locks of ſable. Southern gales
Now call on Medon's laden fleet to ſail,
Ere winter frowns. With Timon at his ſide,
And Haliartus, in this gentle phraſe
His noble hoſt and hoſteſs fair he greets:
May ev'ry joy kind wiſhes can deviſe,
Or language utter, hoſpitable pair,
[275] Be yours for ever! may a num'rous race
In virtue grow by your parental care!—
With ſev'n dear pledges of connubial love
I left a brother, watching my return
In Atalanté, ſmall, exhauſted iſle,
Which needs my inſtant ſuccour. Gen'rous friend,
To thee I truſt my treaſure, thou diſcharge
The claim of Troezen for th' abundant ſtores
Which load our veſſels; for a time farewell,
The vernal ſun will ſee our love renew'd,
And ſwords combin'd againſt Mardonius bold.
He ſaid: the lovely Ariphilia weeps;
Cleander ſighs, but ſpeeds his parting gueſts.
End of the Tenth Book.
- Zitationsvorschlag für dieses Objekt
- TextGrid Repository (2020). TEI. 4812 The Athenaid a poem by the author of Leonidas pt 1. University of Oxford Text Archive. . https://hdl.handle.net/21.T11991/0000-001A-59CE-9