“If haply ye desire, with anxious mind,
"To learn, (what mariners would seek to find);
"What outlets of this lake, as yet untried,

66

May lead embarrass'd barks to reach the tide; "All this with truth unerring I can speak.

"Ordain'd by Neptune guardian of each creek,
"Harbour, and station of the Libyan main,
"O'er all the coast, a wide extent, I reign.-
"From distant climes ye come; yet haply fame
"Has made your ears familiar with my name,
"Eurypylus; this monster-teeming earth,
"Subject of fable, is my place of birth."

Euphemus answer'd; with expressions bland,
The pledge* receiving with a grateful hand.-
"Where Apis lies, and where the seas of Crete,
"If such thy knowledge, noble chief, repeat.-
"No vain enquirers we, from shore to shore,
"That, idly curious, distant realms explore.
"But dire necessity controuls our course;

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"These realms we visit through the whirlwind's force. "Long tempest-tost, our labouring vessel found 249E "This continent, on earth's remotest bound. "And long, with force combin'd, and weary toil,

"We bore the ponderous vessel, o'er the soil. "To shun the terrors, that the Syrtes wake, "And float her safely, in this ample lake. "In pity, then, to strangers led astray, "To Pelops' land reveal the nearest way." The Libyan answers, as Euphemus ends, And, while he speaks, his levell'd arm extends. 2500 Remote the sea, in prospect wide, he shows, Near a deep outlet from the lake that lows.

"This passage to the main a vessel bears,

"Where, in the blackness, central depth appears.

* The sod.

"White, on each side, the sandy banks arise, "And shallow there pellucid water lies. "The dangerous banks a narrow strait unfold; "Most needful 'tis the middle course to hold. "Yon sea, which scarce the dazzled sight explores, "Leads you, past Crete, to Pelopeian shores, 2510 "When steering from the lake the right ye keep, "And now the bark is wafted to the deep; "With steady hand your vessel, then restrain; "Pursue the shore; nor rashly seek the main; "Till boldly swelling, as your course you shape, « The land throws forward a projecting cape."Then, spread your canvas, onward plough the

way,

"Your youthful vigour let no toil dismay."

He spake benevolent. The bark they fill;
And thro' the lake exert the rower's skill.-
With cries of joy proceed th' exulting band.-
Meanwhile, the tripod shone in Triton's hand.
Full soon he vanish'd with the sacred prize,
Beneath the lake conceal'd from mortal eyes.
Inly rejoic'd th' heroic band, to find
Their late instructor of celestial kind.
Then, Jason bids for sacrifice prepare
The first and fairest of the fleecy care,
So lately won; and pious vows to raise;
To call protection on their future ways.

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The chosen victim at the prow was slain; And pray'rs accompanied from all the train."Oh thou divine, that here, to mortals shown, "Thy form reveal'd, thy title yet unknown, "Whoe'er thou art, assign'd these bounds to keep, "Or Triton, wonder of the vasty deep, "Phorcys, or Nereus, ruler of the wave, "Offspring of nymphs, that in the billows lave:

"Indulgent hear.Thy favour may we boast. "Propitious guide us, to the native coast.".

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Thus pray' y'd the chief, the victim as he slew, And bleeding warm amid the billows threw.Then, Triton, awful from the depths arose.His genuine form in majesty he shows.As when some youth, in active vigour bold, The fiery courser by the mane will hold; And nimbly wheel him round, with active force, Thro' the large space, where rival chariots course; The steed pursues his leader's rapid pace; 2549 His graceful neck curv'd high with haughty grace; With champing teeth he makes the curb resound; And white as snow the foam is dash'd around; With mighty hand thus Triton grasp'd the keel, And bade the ship resistless impulse feel. His form above such majesty and grace Combin'd, as prov'd him of celestial race, Fair to the middle; but the parts below A fishy form, with strange discordance show; A tail enormous lengthens out his spine; With forky fins he ploughs the foamy brine; Turn'd in a shining curve, such shape they wear, As when fair Luna's crescent horns appear.On to the sea the vessel he impell'd.— And more secure the forward course she held. That service render'd from their sight he fled; And plunging sought old ocean's cavern'd bed.The portent fill'd the heroes with surprise. From all the deck the shouts of wonder rise. There, Argo's name the harbour yet retains; Still of that ship some monument remains; For altars yet are seen, with grateful hand, To Neptune rais'd, and Triton by the band.There, for a day, their voyage they delay'd. The morrow's sun their spreading sails survey'd;

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And swiftly gliding, as the zephyr swept,
A desert land upon their right they kept.
When the next morn renew'd her rosy light,
Projecting far a headland rose in sight;
Retir'd behind a deep indented bay,

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A safe recess, beneath it's shelter lay.—
Now Zephyr ceas'd; and southern blasts prevail'd.
With joyful shouts, the favouring breeze they
hail'd.-

Then, Phebus sunk, and Hesper rais'd his head,
To summon labour to his homely bed,

Sweet star of love, that brings, with solace fair,
Rest and oblivion of the peasant's care.—
As night's still empire lull'd the falling wind,
They furl'd their canvas; and the mast inclin'd.
Incumbent, then, the polish'd oars they ply'd,
And smote, with vigorous arms, the foamy tide.-
All night, all day they combated the wave;
Nor rest from toil the night succeeding gave.
From far the rocks of Carpathus appear.-
Thence, onward to the shores of Crete they steer.
For, chief of islands, Crete attracts their course.
But, there oppos'd they meet portentous force.

High on a cliff the brazen Talus stands;
With brandish'd rocks he interdicts the lands:
No stranger may th' unfriendly port explore;
No vessel moor along the guarded shore.-
Son of that brazen race, in elder time,
Deriv'd from trees, robust for every crime,

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Him, sole remaining branch, the thunderer grac'd,
And him with demi-gods his favour plac'd,
Ordain'd to guard his lov'd Europa's charms,
And keep her favourite isle from rude alarms.-
For annual thrice he compass'd all around,
With brazen feet, the precincts of that ground.

His giant frame he rear'd, untaught to feel
The trenchant brass, or sharply pointed steel,
Save, where a vein, that from his head extends,
Pursues the chine, then in his ancle ends.-
Red, thro' this duct, where vital currents bound,
The magic form was pervious to the wound.
The skin alone confined the purple tide,
And slightest barriers life from death divide.-
The form terrific aw'd th' adventurous band;
Tho' present wants some friendly port demand,
They push, from those inhospitable shores;

2610

And urge the labouring bark, with bending oars. 2620
Now, far from Crete their course they had pursued;
Tho' thirst and anguish every soul subdued;

But fair Medea thus the crowd addrest,
And comfort chear'd each agitated breast.-

"Hear, warriors-brazen tho' this monster
tow'r,

"Let not a visage with despondence low'r.
"If mortal he the breath of Heav'n inhale,
"Beneath my hand his boasted strength shall fail.
"Your vessel station; and avoid the shock,
"Secure in distance, from the vollied rock.
"There, patient wait, until, with art profound,
"I lay this monster prostrate on the ground."-
They row'd obedient past the range of harms,
The direful vollies, from those brazen arms;
And waited, to behold Medea's skill,
The promis'd wonders of her art fulfil.

Before her face the Colchian fair extends
Her purple robe, and thus the deck ascends.

The son of Æson by the hand she drew,

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From bank to bank, where sate the gallant crew.

With sweetest witchery she chaunted strain,
Of soothing melody, and lull'd the train

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