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 Dare you invade a fortress of your king, Ev'n in my presence, he perhaps in sight?" They hear; they pause. Enclosed by thick'ning In multitude confiding, urg'd by lust, [guards, 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 chase 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, Begirt by Carians terrible in war, To each barbarian terrible who saw Their high exploits on Salaminian waves, Rush'd on Argestes; Melibus 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 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. Melibœus, 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 New terrour. 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 mauly 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 shows 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. With Melibus, from a stage of blood, The Carian queen approach'd, while thus the king His fervent 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 horrour, 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 teil; through Attica I rang'd, Bootia, 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 With kind Sandauce to Nicæa'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 sigh: "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 through the lawless course Of war, might light in others, less deprav'd 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 beir 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.
Sort 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
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, Though 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, though determin'd. On his hand Leander hung; the captivating mien Of Melibreus had at once allur'd The tender youth to entertain belief 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 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 Melibus 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, 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' Oilean 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 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 Melibous 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, 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 Œtæan ridge Which overlooks Thermopyle, her name Melissa; there an ancient fane is plac'd, No splendid seat oracular, enrich'd By proud donations, but a mossy pile, 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, 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; 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 Through Alexander's heart." While these con-
Apart, the keels are lanch'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 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, Thermopylæ, with sails and shrouds relax'd, Smooth glide the Carian gallies through 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. On sight of Eta, Caria'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!”- 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, 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 Nicæa 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 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 laxartes, 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.”
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 Of Lacedæmon, 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 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 Be large in proffers, in performance true; Purchase but their neutrality, thy sword Will, in despite 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 day-spring; then the camp is mov'd;
Then Amarantha, from her husband's tent 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 day-spring 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, 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.". 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. "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! 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 heartstrings; 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
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, Awhile reviving at the tepid rays
Of wintry Phœbus, glows. "For me," she sigh'd, † Of ruddy fruitage; now the loaden vine "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 farewell, 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 bealth, allur'd By Amarantha's love and tender care, 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 Artnchus 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. Emathia's prince to guard his matchless bride; In arms coinplete, 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." 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 awhile at Egæ 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 Ægæan 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 Bisaltic hills, And Rhodope, snow-vested, were condemn'd, 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 Heavn's dread call, to banquet on the flesh Of princes, captains, and of mighty men.
Now is the season, when Vertumnus leads
Pomona's glowing charms through ripen'd groves
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 shows 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 straits 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 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, Lanch'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 Palæmon, 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 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, Palamon, 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 straits, Rich Locris, wide Boeotia, lift their woods, Their hills by Ceres lov'd, and cities fam'd; Here Opus, there Tanagra; Delium shows Her proud Phoebean edifice, her port Capacious Aulis, whence a thousand barks With Agamemnon sail'd; a lengthen'd range Eubœa's rival opulence oppos'd,
Queen of that frith; superb the structures rise Of Oreus, Chalcis, and the ruins vast
Of sad Eretria, by Darius crush'd.
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