"They ended; and, in mist or cloud conceal'd, 2140 And words of hope, th' assembled train addrest."Now, now, my friends, has Neptune's lovely bride "Unyok'd the car, that whirls him o'er the tide. "Now is the time.-Nor can my thoughtful mind, "In those dark sayings, other parent find, "Than the fair vessel, in whose womb we past, 2150 "With safety borne, thro' many a watʼry waste. "For, toils and perils she for us endur'd. "Our lives and safety have her groans procur❜d. "Let pious shoulders, then, sustain the weight. "With nerves untir'd, of this maternal freight. "And with the burthen o'er the sands proceed, "Where the swift courser shall direct his speed. "Observe his track along this arid ground; "For sure he will not plunge in earth profound. "If hope mislead not, we shall thus explore "Some welcome harbour, some propitious shore."He ceas'd.The comment pleas'd the gen'ral throng, So has the muse recorded in her song. 2160 Their breath alone awakes poetic fire; Their words alone are suited to my lyre.— "O first of regal line, 2171 "Endow'd with virtues, and with strength divine, "Whose vast exertions could the ship sustain, "With all her loading o'er the desert plain.— "Twelve times did Phebus measure day and night; "While thus ye bare her, with unwearied might."What pangs, what miseries those heroes wrung. "The tale of sufferance mocks the pow'r of tongue. "O truly glorious was that godlike breed! "Their acts declare them of immortal seed."Thus, by the dire necessity compell'd, Their painful march the band of heroes held. 2180 2193 Here first they paus'd, with toil and heat opprest; 2200 The shafts unerring by the hero sent, In many a wound the gaping skin had rent, And drain'd the bile, and gore from every wound. Near him, those tuneful nymphs, with streaming eyes, Their servant mourn'd, with loud and piercing cries, near, 2210 -The youths drew Precipitate.-Possest with sudden fear, The bashful nymphs, dissolving from the view, In dust and earth from mortal sense withdrew.The bard of Thrace that prodigy explor'd; And thus, with prayer, the deities ador'd. "Nymphs, gentle nymphs, benevolent, as fair, "With influence high, who make these fields your care; 2220 "Whether ye join the radiant throngs above, "Or pow'rs terrestrial, here delight to rove, "Or guardian maids of lawn and meadow wide, "O'er artless shepherds, and their flocks preside, "With forms benignant glad our longing eyes; Nymphs, sacred nymphs, old Ocean's daughters rise. "Some rock disclose, where gushing springs have birth, "Some sacred fountain bubbling cool from earth, 2230 "The sweetest perfumes, that to Heav'n ascend, "To crown your rites, and glad your shrine attend." Fervent he pray'd-and unperceiv'd, tho' near, And quickly trees their taper forms uprear'd; And Hespera sustain'd a poplar's head; With branches ever bent to taste the flood. 2240 Emergent, then, from trees, a portent strange, The nymphs their forms assum'd, with sudden change. The fairest Egle, then, in gentlest words, Replied; and with their pray'r her speech accords.- 2251 Depriv'd of life the guardian of this soil; "Then, from the boughs the golden apples tore; "From weeping goddesses their treasure bore."Scarce day preceding his career began, "Ere he appear'd-this rude oppressive man."Well fitted he, to wreak the mental storm, “Vast in his strength, and dreadful in his form.— "His eyes dart fierce intolerable flame; "A lion's spoils enwrap his giant frame.— 2260 "His hand a ponderous trunk of olive bore; "Free from the workman's art, and stain'd with gore; way; 2270 "And mighty bow, from whence those arrows fled, "Too fatal shafts, that laid yon serpent dead! "His steps had trac❜d a weary length of "And, thirsty from the parching glare of day, "He search'd for water, thro' the plains around; "But none to chear his eager eyes he found. "As rageful and despairing thus he stray'd, "Or he discover'd, or some god display'd "Yon rock; near Pallas' lake it stands alone, "And with his heel he smote the solid stone."Freed by the stroke abundant waters sprung; "With eager transport, to the ground he clung, "With ample chest outspread, and nervous hands; "Incessant draughts his furious thirst demands; "The fountain from its rocky bed he drains, "Prone, like an ox, that grazes on the plains.". She ceas'd. And to the fount that glè told, Most sought, most wish'd, their joyful course they hold, 2281 Full soon discover'd; with contention loud, How was Alcides to his heart endear'd!- 2290 |