And scorn the works, that Pallas taught, of old,
To wing the shuttle, or the distaff hold.
Yet still, with anxious gloom and throbbing heart
O'er the broad main a watchful glance they dart.
Alarm'd they see th' approaching sail appear,
And think the Thracians arm'd for

vengeance hear.
They rush in armour from Myrine's walls,
And crowd the strand where seeming danger calls.
With frantic rage and terror fill'd they go,

Like bacchanals, to meet th' imagin'd foe.
Hypsipile assum'd her father's arms,

And led the van, terrific in her charms.

But none resource or energy possest;

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Fear chain'd the tongue, and palsy'd every breast.—
While these on shore some dread event attend,

The chiefs from sea their peaceful envoys send.
Ethalides the herald swift of

pace,

Blest by his father with persuasive grace,

Selected organ of their joint desire,
Bears the caduceus of his heav'nly sire.†

Strange powers to him that sire indulgent gave,
Superior rising o'er th' unconscious grave.
Wond'rous exemption from the common doom,
Of parted spirits, in the Stygian gloom,
When first he sought th' irremeable bounds,
To reach the seats that Acheron surrounds,
Oblivious death rever'd the parted shade,
That half despis'd, and half his stroke obey'd.
By stated compact, half resign'd to night,
And half releas'd, returning to the light.
But wherefore thro' the fabled legends run,
That ancient bards relate of Hermes' son.-

+ Mercury.

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With soothing speech the Lemnian queen he drew,
To grant a landing to the warlike crew.

They leave their vessel, at th' approach of night,
Nor loose their cables with returning light.
For loud and adverse howl'd the northern blast.-.
Meantime, the Lemnian dames to council haste.
Such was the purport of their queen's command;
And thro' the city croud th' observant band.-
Frequent and full they sate. Their sov'reign rose;*
And from her lips this exhortation flows:

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"Friends, let us with a bounteous hand assign, "Copious provisions, and heart-chearing wine, "Gifts, that the sea-worn mariner desires, "To bend these strangers to what need requires. "Their quick departure, where their voyage calls; "At least their stay without the city walls.

Lest here, with scrutinizing search, they know "Our tale of guilt, of weakness, and of woe.- 1050 "Dire was our act; aud they thro' ev'ry clime "May waft the story of our monstrous crime.

"Then, who can tell what hostile thoughts may breed, "Within their minds, from knowledge of the deed? "Ye hear my thoughts.-If any can reveal "Counsels more suited to the common weal; "We give them audience, with attentive ear. "For 'tis the scope of our assemblage here. She ceas'd-and to the marble throne retir'd, Seat of her sire-With eloquence inspir'd, Her nurse Polyxo rose, an aged form,

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With wrinkles charg'd, and blanch'd with many a storm.
Her limbs decrepit fail'd beneath her weight,
A faithful staff supports their trembling freight.
Two blooming virgins at her side attend,
By love and Venus never taught to bend,

Fierce in the pride of youth, and wildly fair,
In graceful ringlets wav'd their golden hair.
Time with his weary yoke her shoulders bow'd.
She scarcely rear'd her head amid the crowd.
And thus she spake.-

"Yes-as our queen commands,

"Send we donations to the stranger bands;

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"The better course. And now, my friends, decide

--

"What firm resolves your future lives shall guide."Should fierce invasion burst, from hostile Thrase, "Or other foes among the manly race,

"(For many an inroad we may justly fear,)

"Ev'n now we find a sudden force is here.

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Say, should the Gods avert the present doom; 1080 "What wars and suff'rings threat the years to come! "The seniors soon shall quit this mortal stage. "The young desponding sink to childless age. "How shall ye, then, maintain the martial strife? "Or how, ye wretches, find the means of life? "Shall the slow ox spontaneous till the soil, "Assume the yoke, and in the furrow toil? "Or when your fields the golden ears display, "Shall oxen reap, and to the barns convey? "For me-tho' fates forbear to cut my thread, 1090 "And shrink abhorrent from this hoary head, Yet, in the next revolving year, I trust,

"These limbs shall mingle with their kindred dust.
"There I shall sleep, interr'd by pious hands,
"And 'scape the perils, that await these lands.
"But much I feel, for those of greener age;
"The present crisis should their thoughts engage.

Neglect it not. Improv'd by timely skill,

"It brings you refuge frem impending ill.

"These strangers in your cause with gifts combine; "And houses grant, and settlements assign.”— 1101

She ceas'd-her sentence from th' assembly draws Tumultuous bursts, and murmurs of applause. 'Midst the confusion, with a placid mien, And graceful action, rose the youthful queen, "If such a wish pervades the general mind; "Our envoy soon the stranger band may find.” She spake and turning to th' attendant maid, That near her stood, "Iphinoë haste, (she said) "Where the tall vessel on the billow rides, "The chieftain seek, that o'er the band presides; "For this abode let him exchange the main; "And hear my voice the general wish explain. "And let his band, if peaceful minds they bear, "Our mansions enter, and partake our chear." -The assembly then dismist, her home she sought, Iphinoë hasted; as the mandate taught, And soon the Minya greets.-The band explore, What motive urg'd her to the sea-beat shore. Prompt she replied-" A princess young and fair, "Daughter of Thoas, bids me thus repair, "Eager to speak the wishes of the land,

"Thro' me she greets the leader of this band;
"And calls the train, if peaceful minds they bear,
"To seek our mansion, and partake our chear."
She ceas'd-a message in such soothing words,
With every bosom of the throng accords.
They deem'd, that Thoas, to his fathers gone,
Had left this heiress of a peaceful throne,
Child of his age.-Of all suspicion clear,
The crimes of Lemnos had not reach'd their ear.
They bid their chief obey the welcome call,
Prepar'd themselves to seek Myrine's wall.
The chief a mantle o'er his shoulders cast.
A clasp retain'd the purple texture fast.
The clasp and web Itonian Pallas gave,
Work of her hands, and worthy of the brave,

I[21

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When Argo's keel she form'd, to cleave the brine;
And shap'd her timbers with the rule and line.
Of scarlet die, more dazzling to behold,
Than orient suns, that dawn in ruddy gold,
The central red, a purple border grac'd,
Where skill divine had many a figure trac❜d.—
Bent o'er th' immortal task the Cyclops stand,
And forge the bolts, that arm the thunderer's hand.
Beneath their toil th' almighty weapon grew,

Ev'n now, it lighten'd with effulgence blue.
Imperfect yet the work of heav'nly ire,
One fork it wanted of devouring fire.

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They rais'd their hands, the glowing mass they ply'd,
And flaming sparkles flash'd on ev'ry side -
Amphion there, and Zethus, whom, of yore,
Antiope beside Asopus* bore,

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Were both pourtray'd; and Thebes without a wall,
Ere stones assembled, at the poet's† call.
The walls uprear'd by toil fraternal grow.
Huge rocky fragments from the mountain's brow
The ruder Zethus on his shoulder bears;
The nervous youth, in toiling act appears.
A double portion mild Amphion brought.
But not by force the mighty work he wrought.
His golden lyre and melting voice combine.
The rocks obedient feel the sounds divine.—
With floating tresses there was beauty's queen.
And in her hand the shield of Mars was seen.
From her left shoulder wav'd the flowing vest;
And show'd her iv'ry arm, and snowy breast..
While the bright buckler, that the Goddess held,
A faithful image of her charms repell'd.-
There were deep pastures graz'd by many a drove,
And hostile bands for the possession strove.

* A river of Greece.

+ Amphion.

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