1610

Drench'd with the beating rain, and dashing waves,
And tost at random, as the whirlwind raves,
The sons of Phryxus see the billows rise;
And near perdition glares before their eyes.
The mast gives way; the sail, to fragments torn,
Flies scatter'd, on the shrieking tempest borne.
Th' infuriate wave, with sway resistless darts,
And strikes the bark-the bark asunder parts.
Then, sudden, by divine suggestion taught,
A mighty beam, the sons of Phryxus caught,
As brac'd with spikes the wreck lay floating round.-
Here clung the brothers; and their safety found.
The winds and billows, from impending death,
Waft to that isle their poor remains of breath.
Now burst the clouds, in deluges of rain,
Both on that isle, and the surrounding main.
O'er isle, and continent the torrents fly,
Regions, that opposite Aretias lie
O'er isle and continent, whatever place-
The Mossynaci hold, injurious race.
Now the strong impulse of the billows bore
That timber, with the brothers to the shore.
They landed in the deepest gloom of night;
The rainy torrents fled the dawning light.
To meet the strangers, as the Minya ran,
In plaintive accents Argus thus began.— '
"By Jove all-seeing, hear the suppliant's pray'r,
"Whatever race of mortal men ye are.

1620

1630

"The howling tempests, that the billows sweep "Have dash'd our bark, in fragments o'er the deep. "Where sunk in sorrows, and with want opprest, "We late embark'd.-Oh let the generous breast "With pity hear the suff'ring brothers' cry; "And humblest raiment to their want supply. "Equal in birth and woes, an hapless train. "We reap our sad inheritance of pain.

1640

"In us, your brethren, your companions know; "Since born of women, all are born to woe. "To hospitable Jove are suppliants dear, "His chosen care,-in us, the God revere."Mercy to man regard to Heav'n may prove, "And pitying tears are off'rings worthy Jove. "For Jove maintains the hospitable tie, "And o'er the stranger casts a guardian eye.” Him Jason questions, with a prudent aim, For Phineus' sayings his attention claim, And near completion seem." Whate'er the mind "Benevolent performs, expect to find.1650 "What country, say, was erst your dwelling place? "Say, what distresses o'er the billows chase? "What names, ye bear, with verity disclose, "And whence the lineage of your father's flows." Perplex'd with misery, Argus thus replied."From land to land the fame has travell'd wide, "How Phryxus, sprung, from Eolus, of yore, "Exchang'd his native land for Ea's shore, "To you well known.-The ram, with golden fleece, "Convey'd th' illustrious fugitive from Greece. "Still to be seen the trophy'd fleece remains. "A branching oak the precious freight sustains. "When, past the perils of the deep, he gain'd "The distant regions, where Eetes reign'd;. "The ram, that bore him safely o'er the tide, "At once the prophet and the victim died, "Victim to Jove, the guardian of his flight."Eetes then, with hospitable rite,

"Within his stately walls receiv'd the guest,

1660

"Close to himself by bonds of marriage prest, 1670

"Chalciope his daughter fair bestow'd,

"And gave the maid unask'd and unendow'd,*

*Unendowed. For, by the custom of those times,

"(Nor pow'r nor wealth the naked stranger brought.) "The bond of love, the pledge of friendly thought.“Their children we-our sire, by years opprest, "Within Eetes' palace sunk to rest. "We sail'd, obedient to his last desire, "To seek the wealth of Athamas, his sire, "Stor❜d in Orchomenus.-But, would ye hear "The names, that I and these my brethren bear, "Your aid, with Argus, Cytisorus claims, "Melas, and Phrontis.-All ill-fated names."

1680

1690

He ceas'd-this meeting charm'd the gen'ral breast. All, with affection, round the strangers prest. And gaz'd upon them, with admiring eyes; In language apt, while Jason thus replies. "Much pitied youths, ye find, amid this band, "Nor soul averse, nor unperforming hand. "In double right our aid must be supplied, "Brothers in sufferings, and in blood allied. "Third in descent, from Athamas ye spring, "And I my parentage from Cretheus bring. "At equal distance, from a common sire, "Thro' them, we catch the sparks of vital fire. "I seek the region, where Eetes sways, "With these, my friends-but this for future days"Now-take such raiment as your plight demands. "And thank the Gods, that sent you to our hands.” He ceas'd, and garments from the vessel gave, To clothe their members, shivering from the wave. With hasty step the shrine of Mars they sought; 1700 And consecrated flocks for off'ring brought.Around his altar croud an eager train; Of stones unhewn, it stood without the fane. Within, by barbarous worship long rever'd, A shapeless symbol of the God appear'd.

the dowry was not given by the wife, but paid by the husband.

Deep fix'd a black and massy column stands,
Addrest with vows, by Amazonian bands.
Nor sheep, nor oxen, to the fane they drive,
Nor common entrails to the flames they give;
But stall-fed horses, that ferocious race
In morsels cut, and on their altars place.

1710

The rites perform'd, the banquet held its place, And all the train the calls of hunger chace. When Jason thus." Th' all-seeing eye of Jove, "The deeds of mortals ponder from above. "The good and just are his peculiar care; "And never should the virtuous man despair; "He snatch'd your father from a step-dame's wrath, "And strew'd with boundless wealth his favor'd path. "And you, his progeny belov'd, he keeps "Unharm'd by tempests, and the raging deeps. "On your desires behold our vessel wait.→ "Embark with freedom, and pursue your fate, "To Colchos steer, or mansions of your line "In Pthian seats, Orchomenus divine. "Our ship is hallow'd: for Minerva's hand "The timber hew'd, and fashion'd for our band. "The sacred oaks from Pelion's summit came;

And, taught by Pallas, Argus join'd the frame. "Your vessel yielded to the waves and wind, "But greater dangers yet remain behind,

1720

1730

"The narrow streight, where floating rocks are found, "That clash incessant, with tremendous sound."Alike with you we seek the Grecian plain;

But aid us first the golden fleece to gain;

"And guide our course.-Oblations shall be paid, "With solemn rites to soothe your father's shade. "The vengeance then of angry Jove may cease; "And leave the sons of Eolus in peace."

He paus'd; and terror ceas'd the hearer's mind, Who knew Eetes form'd of sternest kind.

1741

To bear away from him the fleece of gold,
Appear'd a task, that might appal the bold.
Solicitous to shun that rash emprize,

In terms dissuasive Argus thus replies.

"O friends, whene'er th' emergence shall require, "Our feeble aid shall second your desire.

"But Colchos!-how the thought with terror chills! "Such savage cruelty Eetes fills!

"He boasts his lineage from the god of day; 1750 "And countless are the tribes that own his sway. "In dreadful voice, in strength and warlike pride, "He dares to vie with Mars, the homicide."The guardian monster let your eyes behold, "And then aspire, to win the fleece of gold! "A serpent vast, exempt from death and sleep, "Produc'd by earth on the Caucasian steep. “Where black the Typhaonian* rocks arise, "And thunderstruck enormous Typhon lies."His impious hands were rais'd, with madding ire; "And on his head descends th' eternal fire. 1761 "Warm, smoaking from the wound the gore distils. "To Nyssa's plains he fled, and rising hills. "There, chain'd in iron sleep, no more to wake, "He rolls;

---

and o'er him spreads the vast Serbonian lake." -He ceas'd-and paleness on each visage dwelt; For all the terrors of that conflict felt.—

But Peleus thus his hardy speech addrest.

"O friend, expel despondence from thy breast.
"Nor strength we want, nor skill in war's alarms,
"With fierce Eetes to contend in arms.-

66

1771

What, tho' from Gods he draws his vaunted line; "We too can boast an origin divine.

"Let him the fleece concede; or haply, vain "His heav'nly lineage, and his subject train."

* See notes in the second volume.