As first around him her white arms she threw,
His mother clasp'd him still.-The briny dew
Moisten'd his cheek-for like a girl she weeps,
When to her old indulgent nurse she creeps
Neglected, helpless, full of infant fear
Aw'd by a cruel step-dame's brow severe.
Victim of tyranny, she drags on life
The mark of stern reproach and endless strife,
Despairing, with a weight of woes opprest,
Scarce her heart flutters in her little breast.
Tears and short sobbings burst to her relief,
A solace scarce indulg'd by timid grief,
Round that sole friend her little arms are spread,
That aged bosom hides her little head.
Thus, with affection fill'd, and soft alarms,
Around her son the mother throws her arms.
And, oh what piteous sounds her griefs impart,
Close as she strains him, to her throbbing heart!
"Ah wretched, had I sought the shades below, "When Pelias' tongue announc'd the doom of woe! "Then, had my soul escap'd this deadly wound, "Then, had my cares a long oblivion found. "My spirit from those arms had sought the skies. "Those darling hands had clos'd my swimming eyes. "Funereal rites thy precious love had paid, "And filial duty sooth'd my parted shade; "Sole tribute I could claim from him I lov'd, "Where hourly acts thy gratitude had prov'd; "Sole testimony that remain'd thine own, "All other proofs already have been shown. "I feel them here a sad delight impart.
They live-they throb-they flutter at my heart.My hope, my pride, by thee thy mother claims "Rev'rence and wonder from the Grecian dames. "Now like a menial in my palace left,
"Weak, and despis'd, of my protector reft,
"I brood o'er blessings that no more are mine, "And waste in tears my weary life's decline.
My hopes, my joys, were plac'd in thee alone, "Since nuptial Juno loos'd my virgin zone, "And first and last for thee the goddess came, "Sov'ran of pangs, that give the mother's name. "In one completely blest, I ne'er repin'd,
"That Heav'n to one a mother's cares confin'd.
'My ev'ry wish you claim'd entire and whole,
"And left no void within a mother's soul.
"O fatal change of unsuspected dread,
"Not ev❜n in dreams foreshown!-when Phryxus fled,
"Could prescience, from his passage o'er the wave,
"Trace the wild pangs, that bid the mother rave,"
-Meantime, her female train in cadence mourn,
Sigh, as she sighs, and tear for tear return.
Her son with words of soft condoling pow'r,
Calm'd the distraction of the parting hour,
"Ah why this heart with sad forebodings thrill?
"Can tears and cries avert the destin'd ill?
"Grief thus indulg'd but aggravates the woe,
"Inevitable doom of man below.
"Dark, doubtful ills besiege our wretched kind.
"Shrink not from suff'rings by the Gods assign'd-
"Upward to Pallas look for aid divine.
"Recall those oracles, from Phebus' shrine,
"Fair and propitious.-View the gallant train,
"That wait to join my wand'rings o'er the main.
"Let these thy heart with confidence inspire.
"Hence with the virgins of thy train retire,
"Conceal thy grief at home.-Forbear to glide,
"A bird ill-omen'd, as we seek the tide.-
"The menial band shall farewel duties pay,
"And speed the vessel on her watʼry way.”
-He ceas'd, and rushing from the door in haste,
With grace majestic to the harbour past,
Thus, from his fane, where fragrant vapours play
In curling clouds, descends the God of day.
Delos he seeks, or Claros, lov'd retreat,
Or hallow'd Delphi, his prophetic seat;
Or views delighted Lycian Xanthus roll'd
Thro' spacious meadows, and o'er sands of gold. 510
Such Jason past along.-Th' admiring crowd,
Pursued his steps with acclamations loud.
An aged priestess from Diana's shrine,
Guardian of cities, meets the youth divine,
Iphias rever'd; with pious lips she prest
The hero's hand, and accents had addrest
Of solemn import, but the hurried throng
Rush'd like a flood, and swept the youth along.
In the rude conflict from each other torn
The priestess and the youth were diverse borne.
Stunn'd by the shock, unaided by the train,
Feebly she sunk, half-leaning o'er the plain.
Now, Jason passing to the shore had trac'd
The crouded streets with lofty structures grac'd:
His comrades there, attendant on the strand,
In order rang'd beside their vessel stand.
A deep attention thro' their ranks prevail'd;
He paus'd he stood-and shouts his presence hail'd.
-But distant now Acastus they descry'd
The city leaving, Argus at his side.
As to the shore, with eager steps they prest,
Wonder and joy pervaded every breast;
And all applaud, while scorning Pelias' wrath,
Advent❜rous virtue guides their glorious path,
Descending to his feet, of sable hue,
A bull's large hide the valiant Argus threw,
O'er his broad shoulders.-His companion wears
A splendid mantle.—In the web appears,
(The gift, the labour of a sister's hand,)
How well her art the shuttle could command.
-From questions multiplied the chief* forbòre,
And bade them† join th' assembly on the shore.
On the furl'd sails, and masts, that lay around,
Commodious seats the throng'd assembly found.
With courteous act, his gentle words confest,
The public care, that reign'd within his breast.
"All preparations for the wat'ry way,
"That ships require, or sailors can delay,
"Are now complete, a single pause prevails,
"Till winds propitious fill the swelling sails.
"One course, my friends, and common toils we know.
May guardian Gods a joint return bestow!
"-Elect a chief, this object to secure;
"And be the choice from selfish motives pure.
"Let him, who boasts superior worth preside,
"And peace or war with steady councils guide."
He ceas'd-instinctive all, without debate,
Gaz'd on the centre, where Alcides sate,
As with one tongue, unanimous the band
Invest that hero, with supreme command.
In vain-for from his seat the godlike man
His right hand wav'd, and to the crowd began.
"Let none adorn me, with a leader's name,
"I will not trench upon another's fame—
"Glorious it is to lead such gallant throngs.
I see to whom that honour'd task belongs.
"The palm another has deserv'd to bear;
"I will not wear it, nor shall rivals wear.
"The man, whose summons calls us to the main,
"Is justly chief of this advent'rous train.”
Thus he, with innate nobleness of mind,
And gen'rous pride, the proffer'd rank declin❜d,
Peals of applause th' assenting crowd bestows.
Again, with heart elate bold Jason rose.—
In graceful act, as he the crowd addrest,
Joy flush'd his cheek, and brighten'd on his crest.
"O may my conduct justify the choice,
"That gives this honour'd trust, by public voice.
"My first command-no more delay—prepare.
Let pious rites of sacrifice and pray'r
"The God of day propitiate.—Then provide
"A plenteous banquet, near the vessel's side.
"The care on me devolves, to find the beast,
"Worthy to bleed for sacrifice, and feast.
"But while my servants, that the stalls attend,
"Selected from the herds the fairest send;
"Launch we the ship; embark the warlike stores,
"And mark by lot the stations at our oars.
"Then raise an altar near the foamy tides,
"To him, that o'er th' embarking train presides. 590
"Who yields to mariners his timely aid,
"To whom the vows on winding shores are paid.
"Safe on her course, our vessel he shall send,
"Guide with his counsels, and from storms defend.
"And won by pray'rs to happy issue bring
"Our dang❜rous conflict with the Colchian king.”
He spake, and to th' appointed labour flew,
And all th' example of their chief pursue.
They rose, and cast their garments in a heap,
On a broad rock unmoisten'd by the deep,
Save when the tempests, that in winter rave,
O'er the dark summits dash'd the briny wave.
As Argus bids, with force conjoin'd they urge
The groaning vessel, to the swelling surge,
Well twisted ropes around her side they past,
Where pins of iron held the timbers fast,
*Phebus Embasius, so called from a Greek word,
that signifies to embark.
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