Of destinies, that harrow up the mind,
And fill with terrors, feeble human kind.
The messengers of Hell, that wing the air,
And mortals fill with anguish and despair,
These were invok'd; and thrice her magic song,
And thrice her pray'rs addrest the direful throng.-
The potent charms the giant's soul subdued;
Th' enchantress, then, her victory pursued.
Her flashing eyes she fill'd with noxious ire;
His glances sunk beneath the deadly fire.

In rage she grew, her grinding teeth she gnash'd;
Infernal vapours on the foc she dash'dı

Goblins she call'd, and hateful spectres round;

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2661

And bade the forms of Hell his soul confound.-
"Oh father Jove (he cried) what gloom o'ershades,
"What torpid influence every sense invades?
"Must we not fear alone disease and wound?
"Shall distant foes, with magic art confound?"-
Tho' firm in solid brass the giant tow'rs,
He feels the weight of magic's fearful pow'rs.—
Yet, still his hands the task of warfare ply;
Still rocky fragments fill the darken'd sky.-
While massive volley, thus, and menace rude
The labouring vessel from the port exclude;
His vulnerable part, with mighty shock,
His ancle dash'd against the pointed rock;
Then, Ichor gush'd from the metallic frame,
Like boiling lead dissolv'd before the flame;
Nor long his station on that rock he fills,
Like some enormous pine, on airy hills,
Which biting axes, urg'd by rustic might,
Half-fell'd abandon, at th' approach of night;
Full soon nocturnal blasts the foliage rend,
Shake the tall stem, and on the rocks extend.
The limbs awhile the giant form sustain;

2670

Then, faint it sinks, and thundering loads the plain.

The harbour, now, receives the joyful band.-
That night they pass, upon the Cretan land.
A fane they rais'd, when early morn appear'd,
To Pallas, by the sons of Crete rever'd.—
With store of water from the spring supplied,
Again they man the bark, and plough the tide.
Eager to pass Salmonium's point around,
With bending oars they vex the salt profound.
As o'er the swell of Cretan seas they flew,
Unwonted terrors night around them threw.
Shrouded they were in blackness of the tomb;
No beamy star dispers'd the solid gloom;
The struggling glimpses of the moonlight fail'd;
And shades infernal o'er the world prevail'd.
The sailors know not, darkling as they rove,
Whether in Orcus or the deep they move;
And to the wind, and to the wave confide
The random course, they can no longer guide.
Then Jason, fill'd with anguish and dismay,
Fervent and loud invok'd the source of day;
He call'd on Phebus, to protect the train,
While copious tears distill'd like briny rain.
He vow'd oblations to the Pythian shrine,
To crown with offerings Amycle divine.
He vow'd to Delos gifts immense to bear,
For aid imparted in that hour of fear.-

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2700

Thou heardst, propitious pow'r, from realms of light.

With succour prompt, Apollo wing'd his flight.
Melantian rocks amid the waves arise;

2709

And one receives him bending from the skies.
His right hand bare aloft the golden bow;
Thence, wide in air the streaming splendours flow.
Where, thick the deep is sown with many an isle,
The clustering Sporades in prospect smile.

An islet of the groupe arises near,

Tho' small in compass, to the wishes dear.
Full opposite the small Hippuris rose;

And anchor'd here, the train respire from woes.
The rising morn was fled; with pious care,
A goodly shrine for Phebus they prepare;
And place his altar in the sacred shade,

Where stately groves religious gloom display'd. 2720
They call'd Egletes,* bounteous source of light,
With appellation new and solemn rite.

They gave that craggy island's small extent
A name, expressive of the glad event,
Propitious Anaphe,† reveal'd to sight,
With chearing radiance, by the God of light.
Such vows were paid, as poverty could find;
For scanty means the liberal heart confin'd;
Where, neither lowing herds, nor flocks were found,
Nor vines nor olives clad the sterile ground.
But, when the maids, that from Phaacia came,

2730

Beheld the warriors, by the torches' flame,

Along the margin of the rocky bay,

Unmix'd libations from the fountain pay;

Loud bursts of laughter, from the heedless breast,
Their foolish scorn of indigence exprest;
And much they turn'd to transitory sport,
A scene, so different from Phaacia's court;
For, there the blood of countless victims stream'd,
And altars there with wine and incense steam'd.
With taunts their levity the youths assail'd;
While secret pleasure at their mirth prevail'd.
Nor end they thus; the maidens quick replied;
And
gay contention rose, from side to side.

*Egletes, an epithet or appellation of Apollo. + From a Greek verb, that signifies to show.

2740

From their glad warfare, in alternate strain,
Still does that isle the war of wit retain.
Agletes bright, in Anaphe rever'd,
By mirthful sallies, are thy rites endear’d.—

Their placid mirror the calm waves expand;
The heroes loose their halsers, from the land.-
Mindful of visions, in the night survey'd,
His vows to Maia's son Euphemus paid.
What Heav'n design'd, as yet untaught to know,
But thus his words described the mystic show.

2750

"That sod, methought, the pledge of heav'nly
aid,

"Giv'n to my hand, upon my breast I laid.
"There, the small mass, with milky currents fed,
"Extending, warm with life a female spread,
"A beauteous maid.—I gaz'd upon her face;
"And fondly strain'd her, in a dear embrace;
"For sov'ran beauty fill'd me with desire,
"And shot from every pore resistless fire.-
"My passion sated, calmer thoughts succeed;
"And keen remorse pursues th' incautious deed.-
"I mourn'd, with horror, that I had possest
"My child, that infant, nurtur'd at my breast.-
"But she, to chear me, with soft soothing grace;
"No daughter I, but born of Triton's race.-
"I come from Lybia, my paternal land,
"Nurse of thy progeny, a gracious band,
"Oh youth belov'd.-My father bade me share
"A portion in the deep, with Nereids fair,
"Near Anaphè, surrounded by the main.—
"That mansion for thy children I retain.
"Soon shall I bid the dimpling waves display
"The surface fair, to drink the solar ray."-

Euphemus thus recall'd to Jason's thought
The forms of wonder, that his vision wrought.-

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The chief revolv'd the prophecies divine, In times preceding, giv'n from Phebus' shrine; And thus replies." No doubt the gods intend, "That fame immortal shall adorn my friend. 2780 "Their pow'r shall bid the pledge that Triton gave, "Become an isle, when trusted to the wave. "Thy children's children shall possess that land; "Since Triton gave possession to thine hand; "Triton, for he, of all th' immortal train "Bestow'd this portion of the Libyan plain."

2790

His answer with Euphemus' thought accords.
He hastes completion, of th' auspicious words.
The hallow'd sod into the deep he threw,
And, where it plung'd, Callisté rose to view,
An isle, where nature wore her happiest face,
The sacred nurse, Euphemus, of thy race.-
That race, in after ages, Lemnos held;
By Tuscan inroad from those seats expell'd,
The wandering exiles reach'd Laconia's soil;
Where generous Sparta own'd their thriving toil.
The gallant Theras, from Autesion sprung,
From Sparta led th' adventurous, and the young.
At sweet Callisté they their wand'rings clos'd.
And, fix'd content, their leader's name impos'd. 2800
But, these events succeeding time display'd;
When swift Euphemus was an airy shade.-
From thence th' adventurers urg'd their rapid way;
Till fair Ægina claim'd a short delay.

Tho' bent on speed, they seek the friendly shores;
And eager thirst the cooling fount explores.
Then, rose an harmless strife, among the train;
Who first with water should the vessel gain;
While double cause of prompt dispatch they find,
In pressing want, and in th' impetuous wind.-
And hence, deriv'd, as ancient story runs,
A custom lives, among Thessalia's sons;

2811