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The morn renew'd the labours of the swain, To lead his flocks abroad, or till the plain.The Minya from that laurel freed in haste, The ropes, that held their tossing vessel fast, Embark'd on board a portion of their prey, Then thro' the Bosporus pursued their way.— In dreadful whirlpools the vex'd deep was curl'd; And waves on waves like some tall mountain hurl'd, Roll'd furious onward, meeting with the skyApproaching death glar'd full on ev'ry eye. While o'er the ship suspended tow'rs the wave, And ev'ry moment threats a wat❜ry grave;— Yet, bursting harmless shall it's rage subside, If skilful pilotage the vessel guide.

240 Such skill could Tiphys boast-his friends he bears, í Thro' dangers safe, tho' not exempt from fears.With the succeeding morn they gain the land, And moor their ship, on the Bithynian strand.

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The wretched Phineus dwelt upon that shore, Who pangs beyond the lot of mortals bore. From Phebus' bounty all his suff'rings flow'd; The power of augury the god bestow'd. Regardless he, of vengeance from above, To men reveal'd the secret will of Jove. Th' offended pow'r inflicts a dreadful doom, Endless decrepitude in chearless gloom. No relish left of health or young delightNo comfort beaming thro' the Stygian night.No viands gratify his famish'd taste, Tho' daily care supplied the rich repast. The natives round his far-fam'd prescience led, And plenteous off'rings on his board they spread, But rushing from the clouds the harpy brood Snatch from his hands and mouth th' untasted food, With crooked talons, and with rav'ning jaws,

Their inroads knew nor interval, nor pause.

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Unwearied plunderers.-Sometimes, nought remain'd, And, sometimes, scarce what loathsome life sustain'd, Reserv'd for torture.-Such a stench imbu'd

Whate'er they touch'd, that none might taste the food,
Spar'd by their ravage, or in haunts remain

Stain'd by the visits of that odious train;
Save him by dire necessity confin'd

To bear th' annoyance of their hateful kind.

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The wretched sufferer* heard th' approaching crowd, With trampling steps, and mingled voices loud. And well could read in oracles of Jove,

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Those strangers came, his famine to remove.Rais'd from his couch, a lifeless thing, a shade, Scarce with his staff the fantome frame he stay'd. As dark, with tottering limbs, he sought the doors, His trembling hand the guiding wall explores. Feeble, and old, scarce differing from the dead, An hideous squalor o'er his body spread. When to the portal of his house he came, His knees unnerv'd refus'd to bear his frame. Distemper'd vision mocks his darkling eyes; And wheeling earth in giddy circle flies. Speechless he sinks, absorb'd in trance profound, Th' astonish'd Greeks the wretched man surround. Regaining breath, the seer prophetic spoke; Scarce from his breast the feeble accents broke."Hear, flower of Greeks, if ye, indeed, are they, "Who doom'd by Pelias plough the wat'ry way. 290 "Whom Argo wafts, a gallant band enroll'd, "And Jason leads, to win the fleece of gold.— "Hail noble strangers, welcome to this heart!— "Hail glad event, long promis'd by my art! "Son of Latona, † thanks to thee be paid; "O king of prophets I have felt thine aid,

"My sole support in anguish to this hour.— "By hospitable Jove, tremendous pow'r,

*

"To him that slights the suppliant's hallow'd claim, "By Phebus; and by matron Juno's name;

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"The guardian pow'rs, that guide you thro' the main, "Oh let not sorrow supplicate in vain!

"Despise me not-but, ere ye plough the wave,
"A wretch from pangs unutterable save.
""Tis not, that furies trample on my head;
"That darkling thus I am to pleasure dead;
"That slow decrepit age has made my life
"A ling'ring death, with nature still at strife.
"Curses on curses, plagues on plagues, I bear;
"The harpies from my mouth the viands tear.
"No prudence aid or comfort can supply,
"They stoop impetuous rushing thro' the sky.

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may not 'scape them, present as my thought, "Sudden they come, with dire annoyance fraught; "Of food and social intercourse bereave; "Such poisonous scents the parting furies leave; "Men loathe the reliques of their tasted food, "And shun the place polluted by that brood."An heart of adamant could scarce endure; "Yet I must bear these ills, without a cure. 'By famine driv'n, tho horror chills my breast, "To feed on noxious fragments of their feast. "But late relenting Jove beholds my grief, "Divine predictions promise sure relief.

3to

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"The sons of Boreas, sprung from kindred race, "Are doom'd by heav'n th' infernal brood to chace. "If I, indeed, am Phineus, known to fame,

"For mighty riches, and an augur's name, "Our lineage if Agenor has supplied,

"Or if in Thrace their sister was my bride.”

* Jupiter Xenius.

E

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Agenor's offspring here his voice supprest.— Painful emotions fill'd each hero's breast. Chief Boreas' sons in pity's gracious mood, Dry'd up the bursting tears and near him stood. Seizing the hand of that most wretched man, In soothing accents Zetes thus began."Ah wretched, past the lot of human woes! "Why do the Gods these direful pangs impose? "What impious action, or what sound profane, "Hath drawn this vengeance from the heav'nly train? "Supremely gifted with prophetic skill,

"Say, hast thou contraven❜d th' eternal will? "Relief from us thou shalt not vainly ask,

"If Heav'n, indeed, hath call'd us to the task. "Nor difficult is it, for man, to read

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"When Heav'n, in wrath, would scourge th' ungodly deed,

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"Much as we pity thy distressful state, "We rush not blindly on immortal hate. "Much as we wish the harpy brood to chace, "We wage not war, with the celestial race. "Swear to us, then, we shall not anger Jove. "Or draw down vengeance, from the pow'rs above."Full on his front the sage expanded wide His eyeballs 'reft of day, and thus replied."No more, my son.-Thy pious fear resign.— "Thou, Phebus, donor of my skill divine, "Be witness!-and my present wretched state, "And these dark eyes for ever clos'd by fate! "Be witness for me all ye pow'rs below!

"And may my shade nor peace nor respite know!If false this oath, that you offend not Jove, "You draw no vengeance from the pow'rs above."

The generous youths upon his oath rely;

The hard achievement they resolve to try.

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Meantime, the juniors of the band, with haste,
To chear the prophet furnish the repast,
A parting spoil to gorge the harpy train.-
The sons of Boreas* nigh the board remain,
With falchions to repel th' accursed brood;
And scarcely had the prophet touch'd the food,
-They rushing sudden from the darken'd air,
Swift as the whirlwind's blast, or lightning's glare,
With sounding pinions, and with fearful cry,
Stoop from the clouds, and on the viands fly.-
The gallant youths, undaunted at the view,
With threat'ning shouts upon the monsters flew.
With keen dispatch the shrieking monsters fed,
Consum'd the viands, and o'er ocean fled.
As, vanishing from sight, aloft they rose,
Diffus'd around th' infectious odour flows.
The youths pursued them with incessant flight,
For Jove infus'd unconquerable might.
And close behind their falchions they display'd,
But vain the chace had Jove withheld his aid.
For, when they sought the prophet, or withdrew,
More swift than Zephyr's blast the harpies flew.
As when with eager speed sagacious hounds
The wooded valley trace, or forest bounds,
And see the mountain goats, or branching deer
Fly full in view, upon the wings of fear,
Stretch'd at full speed they follow close behind;
They think to seise the prey; they champ the wind;-
The plumy brethren thus pursued the chace,
With hands outstretch'd to grasp that hateful race;
And now, and now they aim'd a mortal blow;
In heaven's despite they had subdued the foe;
On the Plotaan isles, their swords had freed
Abhorrent earth, of that detested breed.--

* Calais and Zetes.

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