"Oh say, what blow thy secret counsel aims, "Against the wretch, who thy protection claims."I know thy purpose; cruel and unjust, "To love injurious, faithless to thy trust."Think of the splendours, I have left for thee. "Think of the dangers, whence I set thee free. 530 "Oh think, what vows, what promises were made, "In hours of peril, when I lent my aid."Oh fatal promises!-of shame bereft, "Thro' them, ingrate, my natal soil I left. “Thro' them, with frantic hand, I cast away "Imperial pomp, beneath my parent's sway. "The dearest pledges have I left, to weep "With plaintive halcyon, while I roam the deep. 540 "And why?-Alas, this dreadful price I give, "That thou may'st triumph; nay, that thou may'st live. "In fatal labours hence hast thou prevail'd; "And hence, ungrateful, did that earth-born band, "To female honesty an endless shame.— 550 "What bond with thee a modest maid should send?"Am I thy bride-thy sister-or thy friend?— "A time there was, the flatterer would bestow "Each tender name, that may from passion flow. "Afflicting change! I feel thy love decline "With cold neglect, the wanton's name is mine. "On different terms, I left my regal home. "On different terms, with thee I deign'd to roam. "Yet-be it so-th' eternal lot is cast. "The dire irrevocable doom is past.— 560 "Alone and friendless in thy train I go, 570 "Past in the moment, when I thought we lov'd, "Vow'd by the tongue, and by the heart approv'd. "Is this too great a boon-my worthless breath? "Then-draw thy sword, and end my woes in death. "Strike here-transfix this heart-'tis meet I prove, "From thee, the punishment of foolish love. 66 Say-should that king, to whom, on deep debate, "Inhuman, thou wilt trust a wretch's fate, "Sad office, to pronounce my fatal doom, "Should he consign me, to my brother's pow'r; Say, with what glory should I then appear? "Or how sustain my father's brow severe? "My frantic love what punishments await? "In what dire form, must I encounter fate? "Yet, hope not thou thy feelings to controul, "To lull to rest the self-accusing soul."For thee no breezes shall propitious blow; "Nor glad return thy guilty sails shall know. Hope not a blessing from the pow'rs above, "Not even from her th' imperial wife of Jove, "Nor aid, nor joy, from Juno be supplied, "Friend of thy labours, motive of thy pride. Avenging furies shall my grief attend; 66 "And late remorse thy perjur'd bosom rend; 580 590 600 "And may that precious prize, the fleece of gold, "Fade, like a vision, from thy vacant hold.— "Driv'n from thy native soil, to shame and woe, "Medea's anguish thou shalt learn to know."Thou, who shalt cause this doating heart to bleed, "Learn thou, what demons haunt the faithless deed; "In what deep character the Gods record "Each violated oath, and impious word.” She ceas'd, at once, with grief and rage opprest; And horrors roll'd tumultuous in her breast. And now she thought, with mad vindictive aims, To hurl the brand, and wrap the ship in flames. The son of Eson trembles, at her rage; And soothing words her stormy grief assuage.- 610 "My fairest, my espous'd, thy terrors cease; "To that afflicted bosom whisper peace."Think not so meanly of thy lover's heart, "Where no deceit or treachery has part."Deem not so lightly of these heav'nly charms.Think-could I thas resign thee, from my "Those terms, so justly hateful in thy sight, "Were proffer'd, to suspend the dangerous fight. "For fierce and numerous is the hostile band, "Assembled round, thy beauties to demand. "With vengeful fury young Absyrtus leads arms? 620 "The crouding natives from the shores and meads. "They think to bear thee, a defenceless prey, "And yield thee captive, to thy father's sway. "What hopes, from combat with that hostile train? "Their numbers render skill and valour vain. "What doom is thine, in battle should we fall, "Expos'd to vengeance, a deserted thrall?"Hence, 'tis the pow'r of artifice we try."Counsel may give, what prowess would deny. "This treaty shall confound the mighty host; "And all their schemes of vengeance shall be lost. "The natives, that around, by myriads, arm, "No more shall strike our bosoms with alarm. "But, home dispersing, cease their aid to lend, "While ev❜n Absyrtus shall appear our friend. "Abandon'd thus the Colchians shall remain. "Nor fear I, then, to meet th' embattled train; "Should they presume, to thwart my homeward way; "Or think, by force to bear thee, for their prey." Soothing he spake; and her suspicions heal'd.— 641 Her fatal thoughts Medea thus reveal'd. — "Bethink thee, Jason, what the time demands. "Guilt is no stranger to these dangerous hands. "Such dire connexion links unhallow'd aims, "Crime builds on crime, and shame engenders shames.. "Since Heav'n in errors plung'd my wand'ring mind, "From guilt to guilt my desperate path I find. "Meet not the Colchian bands, in open field. "My arts their leader to thy pow'r shall yield. 650 "But thou, with splendid gifts, the way prepare, “That draws th' incautious victim to my snare. by me, in conference apart, "If won "The heralds lend assistance to my art; A veil, that grac'd that beauteous Lemnian* queen, * Hypsipile. 660 Where sounding ocean beats on Dia's shore, That gift, at parting, ere he plough'd the wave, With toys and gems, her love to Jason gave. 670 A work more form'd the senses to delight, In converse with the heralds, had the maid 680 Well were they school'd, with soothing speech to gain Pernicious love, thou scourge of human kind, * Bacchus. 690 |