"I pine-I languish, for a toy so fair.-
"This instant, grant it, to my ardent pray'r."--
But Venus slily parries the demand,

With artful words, and with caresses bland.-
She strok'd his cheeks, she kist him, and she prest;
And, gently smiling, thus her speech addrest.
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"Thy dearest head be witness, and my own,
"Here, no deceit by Venus shall be shown.-
"The gift is thine-it shall not be delay'd.
"But first thy shafts must touch the royal maid.”
She spake. The wily urchin, in a trice,

Collected from the ground his scatter'd dice.—
He counted, one by one, the shining hoard;
And all in Venus' radiant bosom stor❜d.—
His quiver, leaning 'gainst a tree reclin'd,
He seis'd; and in the golden belt confin'd.
He snatch'd his bow; he trac'd the realms above,
Ethereal, all-productive plains of Jove.-
Then, thro' the portals of Olympus tends,
Where sloping the celestial path descends.
There, the two poles of the celestial sphere,
To meet the heav'ns, their lofty summits rear.
The highest points of earth, where first upborne
The blushing sun unfolds the rays of morn.
The foodful earth appear'd, within his ken,
And cities, fair abodes of polish'd men;
With verdant banks, where sacred rivers flow;
And cloud-capt mountains lift th' aerial brow,
In prospect wide, the vast of ocean lies,
And seems to mingle with surrounding skies.
The ship was moor'd beside the rushy bank;
The crew the benches fill'd, in many a rank;
Tall spiry reeds, that in the marshes grew,
Their ambush'd numbers hid from hostile view.
Each, in his place, in silent order sate;
While Jason thus commenc'd the deep debate.

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Hear, gallant friends, what present thoughts sug

gest;

"And then decide, as suits th' occasion best.

"Our common dangers common counsels need.
"From free discussion safety must proceed.
"That man, whose thoughts a guilty silence veils,
“Of glory and of Greece defrauds our sails.—
"In arms your station at the ship retain;
"While I the palace of Æetes gain.—
"The sons of Phryxus shall with me along.
"And two beside, selected from the throng.-

་

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mean, to try the pow'r of peaceful words."If chance the king that fleece of gold accords, ""Tis well.-If trusting to his strength of hand, "He treat with insolence a stranger band; "We then the worst of our condition know; "And thoughts matured our future course may show; "Whether we shall depend on open force,

"Or find in stratagem some safe resource.

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Injurious 'twere, to seise the prize in arms, "Ere soft persuasion has applied her charms. "With soothing words persuasion can prevail, "While brutal force and rageful menace fail."When blameless Phryxus fled his step-damé's* ire, "And murderous rites of a misguided sire,t "His mild demeanour rising pity bred, "And stern Eetes spar'd his gentle head. "The laws of hospitable Jove, confest "In every clime, pervade the rudest breast."

The band assented, with a loud acclaim; Nor one the counsel could in secret blame. The hero's steps the sons of Phryxus guide, With Telamon Augeas guards his side.

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He bears the staff of Hermes* in his hand,
And thro' the reeds and waters hastes to land.
They reach'd an eminence amid the plains.
From Circe fam'd the place a name retains.
Osiers, in ranks, and vines o'erspread the ground;
Where carcasses are hung with chains around.
For, still the Colchians with abhorrence view
Sepulchral rites, that other tribes pursue.
Nor to the flames the lifeless man they give,
Nor bid the womb of parent earth receive.
No monumental mounds their hands compose.
Crude hides of bulls the manly kind enclose;
While, to the elemental air consign'd,
From trees they welter to the parching wind,
Without their walls.-But different rites await
Their females, when they feel the stroke of fate.-
The corse is yielded to the parent clay.-
Such various customs o'er that nation sway.
Propitious to their journey, Juno shrouds

The Colchian city, in a veil of clouds.

That safely they might reach the monarch's seat;
Nor insult from the swarming rabble meet.
Soon as the heroes past the spacious plain,

The city walls, and royal dome to gain;
The Goddess, then, dispell'd the mist in air;
Wondering they stood before the palace fair.-
It's ample gates their admiration call,

And stately columns rank'd along the wall.
On brazen chapiters projecting plac'd,
The roof above a marble cornice grac❜d.
The threshold, then, they pass, in mute amaze.
There, her broad leaves the paly vine displays.
Beneath the shade, four springs perennial flow'd;
Where Vulcan's hand had wond'rous skill bestow'd.

The sign of peaceful intentions.

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One milk dispens'd; and one the grape's red blood;
One fragrant oil; and one the crystal flood.-
Hence, when the Pleiades forsake the skies,
With boiling heat the gushing waters rise.
When the fair stars returning radiance show,
With icy coldness from the rock they flow.-
Such wonders in the Colchian palace shine,
Eternal monuments of art divine.

And wond'rous bulls from Vulcan's labour came,
With brazen hoof, and mouths disgorging flame.
For these a plough he form'd, of structure rare,
And temper'd adamant compos'd the share;
A grateful offering to the God,* whose car,
Receiv'd him faint from the Phlegraan war.

Amid the court, the stately palace rose.—
Compacted valves each spacious entrance close.
In ample range the sumptuous chambers stand.
A portico projects, on either hand.
Oblique a lofty building clos'd each wing.
Here, with his spouse, abode the Colchian king,
Within the turret, that in height excell❜d.
Th' inferior tow'r his son Abyrtus held.
Him, earliest object of the monarch's care,
Caucasean nymph, Asterodea bare.

Ere yet the bands of nuptial faith were tied,
That mark'd Idya,t for his virgin bride.
This youngest offspring of the hoary wave,
To parent ocean matron Tethys gave.

The graceful youth shone so supremely bright,
The Colchians nam'd him, from the source of light,
Fair Phaeton.-The chambers that remain'd
Th' attendant virgins of the queen obtain❜d.-
Chalciopé-Medea there abode,

Offspring by marriage on the king bestow'd.

* Phebus.

+ The queen of Eetes.

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That morning, to salute her sister bent,
The fair Medea from her chamber went.
For Juno's care confin'd the nymph at home,
Unusual chance, within the splendid dome.—
Priestess of Hecate, within the shrine
Day after day she past, in rites divine. -
Soon as she view'd the strangers, in surprise,
Mingled with fear, she utter'd piercing cries;
Full soon the piercing cries her sister hears.
Full soon they reach th' attendant virgins' ears.
They cast their webs and distaffs to the ground,
And all, with hurried wonder, crouded round.
With them Chalciope beheld her sons.—
Thro' all her veins a thrilling pleasure runs.
With eager joy, her arms aloft she holds,
Each grateful youth his parent then enfolds,
With fond caresses, to his gentle breast;
While plaintive sounds the matron's cares exprest.
"In vain, regardless of a mother's pain,

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"Ye left me here-to tempt the dangerous main, 360 "Fate has repell'd you.-What unstay'd desire?— "What cruel mandate of a dying sire,

"Oh wretched me! would leave me to deplore,

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My darlings ravish'd to some distant shore? "O Phryxus, how thy last commands impart "Eternal anguish, to my bursting heart!"Why seek Orchomenus? why plough the deep, "To reach the seats, that fancied treasures keep? "What place is that?-ah, whither would you go?"Can sons delight to see their mother's woe?".

Rous'd by her plaints, Idya, royal dame,
And last Eetes, from the palace came.-
The startling ear a mingled clamour thrill'd;
And various noises had th' inclosure fill'd.-
Some of the train surround the mighty steer.
Some cleave with sharpen'd brass the billets sere.

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