The priest, with sacrifice, and solemn rite,
Averts the furies, of his baneful light.

Thus fable sings.-But, by that breeze detain'd,
The chiefs reluctant on the coast remain'd.

All thro' that day, their ship the natives sought,
And gifts immense of amity they brought,
The work of Phineus, who, with grateful mind,
To friendly feelings all the race inclin❜d.
Along the limit of the sea-girt strand,
To twice six deities, with pious hand,
The Greeks an altar rear; th' oblations lay;
Then seise their oars, to plough the watʼry way.
Nor did the train neglect the turtle-dove,
The harbinger of safety from above.

As, with a band, Euphemus check'd her flight,
She flutter'd round his hand on pinions light.

749

Now had they loos'd their cables from the

shore.

Minerva mark'd them 'mid the wat❜ry roar.
Her course, with eager haste, the goddess bends;
And soon a bright and flitting cloud ascends.
Tho' light as gossamer it seem'd to shine,
That airy fleece supports the freight divine.
Her flight she guided to the Pontic plain,
With thoughts propitious to th' advent❜rous train.
As when an exile, distant far from home-

750

(Thus hapless men are often doom'd to roam.)- 760 In wishes, to the natal spot will fly:

And land and seas are spread to fancy's eye;

A moment passes o'er the march of

years;

And space contracts, and distance disappears;
Now here, now there, the swift ideas roll,
And travel, with a bound, from pole to pole;
Swift flew the goddess; and from air descends,
Where Thynis' shores the Euxine billows rends.

770

780

The mouth of that dire streight* the heroes found. Tremendous rocks the winding passage bound. It's course beneath an adverse current held, With foamy whirlpools; and the ship repell'd.Tho' bold th' attempt, surpassing human force, The hardy band pursue their desp❜rate course. Now, closing with a crash, and thund'ring sound, The rushing rocks the startled ear astound, Continuous, deaf'ning. The surrounding shore, With dismal peal, reverberates the roar.――――――― Then, forward to the prow Euphemus sprung, While fluttering from his hand the turtle hung. On Tiphys' skill their throbbing hearts relied. Each to his oar his utmost strength applied; In station apt, that vigour join'd with art, Between the rocks should bid the vessel dart. -For the last time,† the rocks their jaws expand, As circling round them sail'd th' advent'rous band. -Euphemus loos'd the bird of pinions light. With heads uprais'd the sailors mark her flight, And wait th' event, with mingled hope and dread, As thro' the pass on airy plumes she sped, Then, furious rushing thro' the dark profound,. The rocks together crash'd, with horrid sound. Dash'd in a thick and gloomy cloud, the spray, To Heav'n ascending, blurs the face of day. Thro' the vex'd air the dismal tempest raves, Beneath the pointed rocks, the groaning caves With hollow bellowings gorge the waves within, Then, back return them with appalling din. High o'er the boiling deep the foam is hurl'd, In eddies caught, the giddy bark is whirl'd.

*Between the Symplegades.

790

800

+ Because they were destined to become fixed afterwards.

Safe, thro' the closing rocks, the turtle springs,
But, shorn of plumage from her tail and wings.
The mariners rejoice, with eager cry,

And Tiphys shouts " Your oars with vigour ply,
"Again, a pass the parting rocks expand."
But, as they row'd, what terror seis'd the band!
When, backward currents, with returning roar,
Far, far within the rocks the vessel bore;
Who can express the measure of their dread!-
Then certain death seem'd hovering o'er each head.
On either hand the dreary deep appear'd;
It's mountain head a sudden billow rear'd,
And, rolling on, with gloomy terror swell'd,
Against the ship the wat'ry mass impell'd.
With heads inclin'd, the sailors downward bent,
As death approach'd them, in its dire descent.
But Tiphys, at the helm, with watchful skill,
And dext'rous hand, anticipates that ill.-
The rower's energy the ship deprest ;-

It ceas'd-she mounted on the billow's breast.
Beneath the keel the billow spent its force;

Buoy'd o'er the rocks, the bark pursued her course,
Behind, the wave impell'd her on her way,
Ensuring safety, as it caus'd dismay.

From bank to bank, with exhortations loud,
To ply their oars, Euphemus urg'd the crowd.
The crew, with shouts, and eager toil, replied;
And vigorous efforts cut the foamy tide.-
Far, as a youthful crew, with lab'ring oars,
Speed, at a stroke, the vessel from the shores,
That distance twice their bark the Minya send;
Their oars, conflicting with the billows, bend,
With arms robust, as archers bend the bow,
To wing the feather'd mischief on the foe.-
Then, following close, the wave abrupt and steep
Breaks o'er the deck, and mingles with the deep.

810

820

830

As, rolls the cylinder along the plain,
The ship was drifted o'er the saucy main.

Forward she scuds, the wat'ry menace braves,
And to the deep pursues the refluent waves.

But adverse currents, soon, with eddying shocks,
Detain her, midway 'twixt the fatal rocks,
Fast rooted in that dark abyss of fear,

Closing again, the rocks rebellow near.

Then, to their succour came the blue-ey'd maid;
The rocks, with force divine, her left-hand stay'd;
Supported by her right the bark advanc'd,

And o'er the waters, like an arrow, glanc'd;
Yet, as her stern receiv'd the parting stroke,
The sculptur'd ornaments the conflict broke.
Triumphant o'er the waves the vessel rode:
The Goddess sought the starry-pav'd abode.
Fast rooted in the deep the rocks remain❜d,
For ever fix'd, by destiny ordain'd,

*

When once a mortal birth the streights had past,
No more to wander in the briny vast.-

840

850

The hardy train respire, from mortal dread;
Joyful they see the clear horizon spread.
Around their hearts a lively transport play'd;
They seem'd deliver'd from the Stygian shade.
With thoughts elate, they view'd the ocean round,
A glorious vast expanse, without a bound.
Then, Tiphys spake.-" Undaunted we proceed;
"If in the past we may the future read.-
"The Gods assure the safety of this band.
"I hail the guidance of Minerva's hand.-
"When Argus labour'd at the vessel's frame,
"O'er it the Goddess breath'd instinctive flame.
"And hence the ship inviolate shall sail,
"O'er every danger hence the crew prevail.―

860

870

*Minerva,

"Escap'd these rocks, press on, where Pelias sends. "No peril, Jason, like the past impends. "This band successful toils and struggles wait; "If Phineus truly could interpret fate.

He ceas'd-and urging thro' the wat❜ry roar The rapid vessel, past Bithynia's shore.

880

The chief replied, with soft and soothing words."How ill this language with my grief accords! "No gentle voice my feelings can deceive: "Th' irreparable fault no chance retrieve. "That tyrant's mandate why did I obey, "And lead these heroes thro' this desp❜rate way? "No-death, in direst form I should have borne, "Ere I complied, and limb from limb been torn. "For them, I sink, o'erwhelm'd in deep despair, "I feel th' intolerable weight of care.

"By sea, the billows roll untimely fate.

"By land, on shores unknown what terrors wait. "There beasts of prey, there savage men abound; 879 "And force and fraud, with mingled fears, confound. "These thoughts, by day, with anguish fill my breast; "These thoughts, by night, deprive my couch of rest; "Since first my cause convok'd this suff'ring train."To thee full easy is th' intrepid strain; "Not hard the task a confidence to show; "When care for self is all the care we know." "Myself I heed not-but, for him—for thee"For all the heroes, that around I see"For all I tremble, lest my cares should fail, "In safety home to guide the flying sail."

900

His thoughts were diff'rent; but, with prudent art,

He prob❜d the firmness of each gallant heart.
The heroes answer'd, with a loud acclaim;
And words expressive of a generous flame.-

* Fason.