Be witness, Hecate, tremendous pow'r, "And flight to save it, sole resource, 'was mine. 1600 "Such heav'nly pow'rs o'eraw'd the loose and bold, "The dearest treasure of our sex I hold."O queen rever'd, thy royal husband bend, "With generous hand, a maiden to defend. "So, may th' immortals grant thee length of days, "A numerous offspring, and unenvied praise! "So, may thy states possess renown and health, "Peace unmolested, and increasing wealth!" The virgin thus Pheacia's queen addrest; And thus essay'd to melt each leader's breast.. "O noble chiefs, your labours cost me dear, "Since all these sorrows for your sake I bear. "O think, whose aid the fiery bulls subdued, 1611 "And taught by whom, ye quell'd that earth-born brood! "Think, who restores you, to your native skies, 1620 "To glad Hamonia, with the golden prize."A wrethed outcast, for your sakes I roam, "Depriv'd of parents, friends, and native home. "For you, relinquish all, that life endears, "The mark of obloquy, the slave of fears. "I suffer, that to you I may restore "Friends, parents, homesteads, the paternal shore. "Oh, with what mingled pleasure and surprise, "Your welcome forms will glad the kindred eyes! "While Heav'n has snatch'd away my crown of fame, "On strangers cast, a burthen, and a shame.-"And shall not, then, the solemn compact bind? "Shall awful oaths be scatter'd to the wind?"Think on the furies to the suppliant giv'n, "And dread the future punishment from Heav'n. "With pity think, how dire shall be my fate, "Return'd the victim of parental hate. "What scorns, what tortures must the wretch sustain, "Whose only crime was kindness to your train! "To 'scape the doom, for me remains no path; 1640 "No tow'r, no temple guards me from his wrath."To you alone, sole tow'r of hope, I fly; "And cruel you the promis'd aid deny."No soft compunctions a reception find; "No sense of shame can touch the harden'd mind."A princess, trusting to your vows, is seen "An abject suppliant, of a foreign queen. "When first the golden fleece appear'd in sight, "Proud were your spirits; dauntless was your might. "Ye were not slow, the battle then to wage; " Nor fear'd Æetes dreadful in his rage. "But terrors now subdue the manly heart, "When of those Colchians you but find a part.”. 1650 Each valiant chief as plaintive she essay'd, He turn'd, to comfort the desponding maid; The brandish'd javelin lighten'd in her view; And each the falchion from the scabbard drew."O virgin, with their lives this faithful throng "Shall ever guard thee, from disgrace and wrong."— Amidst the troubles of the weary crew, The peaceful night diffus'd her balmy dew; Night, that her mantle spreads on every soil. And rest to mortals brings, and mortal toil. But far her blessings from that virgin's breast, And anxious sorrow robb'd her soul of rest. 1660 1670 1680 As when, by night, the widow'd mother plies Th' unceasing distaff, 'mid her children's cries, Oft for their sire they call, and oft for bread, Her grief redoubling for a husband dead. As gloomy prospects agonize her soul, Down her pale cheek the silent sorrows roll; Thus flow'd Medea's tears, like drops of rain, Thus was her heart transfix'd with amorous pain. Meantime, Alcinous and his consort fair Revolv'd the virgin's fate, with anxious care. The nightly couch together as they prest The gentle queen her husband thus addrest."O spouse belov'd, wilt thou not lend thine aid, "And from the Colchians guard this wretched maid?"That with the Minya favour we may find, "And fill our neighbours with a grateful mind. "For near is Argos to Phaacia's strand, "And near the natives of Hamonia's land. "No neighbourhood with us the Colchians claim; "Known but by rumour is their monarch's name. "A weight of sufferings has that virgin prov'd; "And much her fears my yielding soul have mov'd."Let not these strangers thy kind heart engage, "To give the mourner to her father's rage. "True she offended.-Her unfilial hand "Imparted drugs, and charms, of influence bland. "She led the bulls, exhaling fire and smoke, "With passive necks, obedient to the yoke. "But one false step must from another spring; "And error in his train will error bring."From cruel outrage of a father's hand, "She fled incautious with the stranger band.— But Jason, I am told, with solemn vows "Is bound, to make the maid his youthful spouse. "And would my love his virtuous aim controul? 1700 "Or seek, with perjury to load his soul? 1699 "Say, would thy gentle heart a maid return, "And warnings dire of rage paternal gives.- Thus she. Her husband felt the soft controul; And kind expressions spake the melting soul. 1710 "To glad my guests, and guard the virgin's charms, "Arete, I would meet the Colchian arms; "But Jove, all-seeing Jove, my spirit awes; 1720 "And much I fear, to violate his laws. "Nor hold Eetes object of disdain—. "His pow'r is great, and wide extends his reign. "Enrag'd, no monarch were a fiercer foe; "And Greece, tho' distant, might his vengeanee know. "I will not veil my purpose from thy love; "And men, I trust, the sentence will approve. "If virgin yet remains the Colchian fair; "To yield her to her father I prepare. "But, if already she is Jason's bride; "The wife I tear not, from her husband's side; 1730 He ceas'd; and sunk, to calm repose consign'd. His sayings deeply touch'd Arete's mind.Her couch she leaves; and thro' the palace goes;Attendant on the queen her women rose. The herald, at her secret call, appears, 1740 1751 1760 In words succinct, he speaks the queen's command.-- Who made th' industrious bee his fav'rite care, 1770 |