The priest, with sacrifice, and solemn rite, Thus fable sings.-But, by that breeze detain'd, All thro' that day, their ship the natives sought, As, with a band, Euphemus check'd her flight, 749 Now had they loos'd their cables from the shore. Minerva mark'd them 'mid the wat❜ry roar. 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; 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, And Tiphys shouts " Your oars with vigour ply, It ceas'd-she mounted on the billow's breast. Buoy'd o'er the rocks, the bark pursued her course, From bank to bank, with exhortations loud, 810 820 830 As, rolls the cylinder along the plain, Forward she scuds, the wat'ry menace braves, But adverse currents, soon, with eddying shocks, Closing again, the rocks rebellow near. Then, to their succour came the blue-ey'd maid; And o'er the waters, like an arrow, glanc'd; * When once a mortal birth the streights had past, 840 850 The hardy train respire, from mortal dread; 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. * Fason. |