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But Iris swift, who made these birds her care, From Heav'n observant cut the yielding air. She check'd the youths, with monitory words.. "O sons of Boreas cease, withhold your swords."For know, the fates prohibit mortal arm, "These huntress dogs of sov'ran Jove to harm. "Their dire approach no more shall Phineus feel; "Most solemn oaths this peaceful compact seal." She said--and swore by Styx,-a sound of fear, Tremendous oath, that all the Gods revere. "That never more, (so destinies ordain,) "Should Phineus suffer, from the harpy train." Confiding in that oath the youths return.— Hence have those isles their appellation borne, Of Strophades.-A name, that still remains, And memory of the past event maintains. Then, parting-Iris soar'd, on wings sublime, To splendid mansions, in the starry clime, The harpies fled to Crete, where Minos reign'd, And hid from mortal ken in caverns deep remain'd. The Grecian leaders pious cares engage.— Lustrations purify the darkling sage, Whose frame neglected squalid filth o'erspread. The chosen victims for the Gods they led, With care selected from Bebrycia's spoil; Then, spread the feast, more welcome after toil.In Phineus' halls the banquet they prepar'd; And with the chiefs the noble sufferer shar'd. Eager he shar'd; and these returning gleams Of ease and comfort, seem'd but blissful dreams. Now, fully satisfied with food and wine, Sleep fled the band, till morn began to shine. With anxious heart, for Boreas' sons they wait. Meanwhile, the seer unfolds the book of fate. He sate, before the hearth.-Around, the youth Bend forward; and imbibe prophetic truth;

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What various incidents their course attend
What toils await them; what propitious end.

66

Young heroes learn.-Not all 'tis giv'n to know; "But, what the Gods allow, my tongue shall show. "In Phineus, by prophetic gifts destroy'd, "Behold the doom of prescience ill employ'd. "No more this rash irrev'rent tongue reveals, "What Heav'n, for wisest purposes, conceals. "In dark uncertainty while mortals rove,

They learn reliance on the pow'rs above.

440

"When first from hence your parting course you steer, "Within a streight Cyanea's rocks appear.

"Arduous the task, thro' these your way to keep, "Unstay'd, unrooted, wand'ring in the deep. "Oft times they rush, with front to front oppos'd, "And, clashing dreadful, both in one are clos'd. 450 "O'er their broad back, roll'd high, with thund'ring sound, "The breakers swell, the shores rebellow round, "Now, mark my counsels, if the gods you fear; "Nor blindly rush, when peril is so near; "Lest youthful ardour, with presumptuous force, "On death precipitate your fatal course.— "First, let a dove the dang'rous passage try. "If, thro' the rocks, unhurt she chance to fly, "And reach the sea beyond, with prosp'rous flight, "Then, forward rush; then ply your oars with might; "With manly vigour, plough the foaming wave; 461. 66 Strength more than pray'r avails, the bark to save. "Not that I bid you slight the heav'nly pow'rs; "But, each exertion has its proper hours. "In safe untroubled times, let pray's precede; "But, perils ask some energetic deed.

"Crush'd in her midway flight, if fails the dove, "Turn, backward turn, nor tempt the pow'rs above. "Else, tho' your ship were form'd of solid steel, "From closing rocks, a dreadful death ye feel.

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"Ah wretched, if ye slight my friendly zeal, "Or doubt the truths, my warring lips reveal! "No―did the Gods pursue with tenfold hate "This head accurst-I speak the doom of fate."Take then the dove, precursor of your way; "Nor think, to thwart the Gods, with mortal sway. "Events must follow, as the fates ordain."But, thro' the rocks a passage should ye gain; "Bithynian shores upon the right hand keep; "Avoid the land; and navigate the deep; "Until you pass, where Rheba's* torrent roars, "And circle in your course the gloomy shores. "Where Thynia's island shall salute your eyes, "The station safe to shelter vessels lies. "As onward thence the voyage ye pursue, "Full opposite a coast appears in view, "Not far remote from Thynia's sea-girt strand; "The Mariandyni cultivate that land. "There, down to Tartarus a passage tends, "And Acheron's projecting shore ascends,. "Where gulphy Acheron the hill divides, "Thro' deep ravines it rushes to the tides. "Thence, to the Paphlagonian seats ye steer, "With gentle swell, where clust'ring hills appear, "In distant ages Pelops rul'd that coast; "And still a kindred stock the people boast. "Turn'd to the wint'ry site, and northern Bear, "A promontory's steepy cliffs appear. "Carambis, by the native tribes 'tis nam'd; "For ever buffeted by blasts untam'd; "So far it runs, projecting thro' the deeps, "So high in air its stormy head it keeps. "This having compass'd, a long shore extends, "Where prominent the bank of Halys bends;

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* For some account of the places and rivers here mentioned, see the notes in vol. 2.

"With roar tremendous roll'd along the plain,
"He disembogues his waters in the main;
"And near, a minor torrent, Iris* roars,
"In foaming eddies whitening to the shores.-
"As, pressing onward, ye pursue your way,
"A stretching headland forms an ample bay.
"There, an extent of soil Thermodon laves,
"And hastes to mingle with the placid waves.
"Beneath Themiscyreum's jutting head,
"The shelter'd waves their glassy mirror spread.
"In order next the plain of Doias lies;
"Three Amazonian towns adjacent rise.-
"The forges, then, that steely works prepare,
"At distance seen diffuse a ruddy glare.
"The Chalybes, a much enduring kind,
"Turn the rough soil, the stubborn ore to find.
"Where Genetaan cliffs o'erhang the main,
"And hospitable Jove unfolds his fane,
"The Tibareni hold the pastures fair,
"Rich in the numbers of their fleecy care.
"A woody region skirts the mountain side,
"And at its foot the Mossynaci bide.

"This region having past, your sails and oars
"Shall bear you to an isle, with craggy shores,

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By all deserted, save a countless swarm, “Of ravʼnous birds, ill-omen'd and deform. "Be it your earliest care, with urgent toil, "From these foul guests to purify the soil. "There, rais'd of stone by Amazonian hands, "To Mars, the homicide, a temple stands, "On warfare bound Otrera, valiant dame, "With bold Antiopé uprear'd the frame. "There, from an unexpected source of aid,"The deep,-shall hope and safety be display'd.

* See notes in the second volume.

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"But, whither have I stray'd?—th' admonish'd breast
"Feels the past anguish, and conceals the rest.— 540
"Borne onward thence, the continent ye gain.
"The Philyrean race possess the plain.

"The seats beyond them the Macrones hold.
"Next the Bechiri come, in numbers bold.
"Th' adjacent regions the Sapires claim.
"Near them Bizeres dwell, a kindred name.
"Last come the Colchians, fam'd for warlike deed.
"Still hold your ship, and thro' the deep proceed;
"The deep recesses of the gulph explore;
"The bounds remote of the Cytaan * shore;
"The Amarantine hills, and Circe's plain,
"Where Phasis rolls in whirlpools to the main.
"As mounting thence against the stream ye tend,
"Full in your view the Colchian towers ascend.
"There shall the grove of Mars it's gloom unfold;
"Where a tall beech sustains the fleece of gold.-
"A monstrous dragon, object of affright,

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"For ever holds that treasure in his sight. "Slumber alike, in light and darkness flies, "Nor tames his vigilance, nor seals his eyes." -He ceas'd.-Amazement fill'd the list'ning throng, With terror mix’d.—Sad was the pause and long.A thousand anxious cares their chief surround; For dire the perils, that in prospect frown'd.

Thus he-"O prophet, well hast thou pourtray'd "The dreadful obstacles, before us laid.

"Well hast thou taught, what trial to prepare, "Thro' those fell rocks ere we the passage dare. "But, if (all dangers past) the fates ordain, "That homeward I should lead this gallant train. 570

*Cytean-Colcbian.

† Phasis, a river of Colchis.