As forth the peals of manly ardor broke,
Their leader's soul rejoic'd; and thus he spoke.-
"Oh friends, your spirits have elated mine.
"No task I fear-no conflict I decline.
"I lead, undaunted, your advent❜rous way,
« Tho' Hell should gape our progress to delay. 910
"In perils prov'd, your bright heroic fire
"Shall warm the cold, th' inanimate inspire.
"Here have our sufferings reach'd their utmost bound;
"And danger here in the worst form we found.
"No peril like the past this train awaits,
"If Phineus truly has reveal'd the fates."
Silence ensued the lab'ring oars they ply'd.-
The vessel swiftly cut the yielding tide.-
Where the swift Rheba disembogues, they fled,
And where Coloné lifts the rocky head,
Their course beneath Melana's cliffs they keep,
Where nodding forests blacken o'er the deep.
Then pass, where Phillis mingles with the wave,
The roofs, that shelter once to Phryxus gave.
As, from Orchomenus, to Colchos' shore,
The fabled ram th' illustrious exile bore;
Here, on his way, reception fair he found;
When Dipsacus the peaceful mansion own'd,
Whose lineage from a river god was drawn,
Borne by a nymph presiding o'er the lawn.
No passions rude their gentle offspring felt;
A blameless rustic with the nymph he dwelt.
Where roll'd his father's stream thro' meadows fair,
The bow'r he trimm'd, and fed the fleecy care.-
The fane they past, rear'd by his pious hand,
The river's spacious banks, the fertile land.
While day remains, their steady course they keep,
Where Calpis rolls majestically deep.
Nor paus'd the heroes, with declining light,
The labouring oars resounded through the night. 940
In the deep furrow'd land when oxen toil,
And straining cleave the moist and heavy soil,
Their sides and necks the streams of sweat o'erflow,
Beneath the yoke askance their eyes they throw,
Their fiery breath ascends, with panting sound,
The streams are roll'd in misty volumes round,
Their hoofs deep printed in the stubborn clay,
Patient they labour thro' the live-long day;
Thus, thro' the deep, their oars the Minya drew;
While streams of sweat their ardent limbs bedew. 950
Her chearing visit still the morn delay'd,
Yet, not unbroken, lay the nightly shade.
A tender lustre, glimm'ring thro' the sky,
With doubtful dawn, perplex'd the longing eye.~
'Twas then their vessel, swiftly dash'd along,
Full on an island bore the weary throng.-
A station, dreary, desolate, and wild,
The shores of Thynias by the sailors styl'd;
Yet, desert as it was, th' o'erlabour'd band,
With joyful footsteps prest the welcome sand,
The God of day, return'd from Lycia's plain,
Appear'd from far to seek the northern train.*
His beauteous cheeks with youth immortal glow'd;
In radiant gold his curling tresses flow'd;
The graceful ringlets o'er each shoulder rov'd,
Or floated on the breeze, whene'er he mov'd.
His left hand wav'd a bow, of silver bright,
That in its motion glanc'd a dazzling light.
The quiver from his iv'ry neck depends,
And stor❜d with arrows down his back descends. 970
All nature felt the presence of the god;
That island rock'd, and trembled, where he trod.
The groaning deep in larger billows swell'd,
With awe profound the race of men beheld.
None dar'd his radiant countenance survey, Or meet those eyes, that shot refulgent day. To Pontus thro' the distant air he went.All hearts ador'd; all heads in rev'rence bent. A mute amazement long the train possest.——— Then Orpheus, late, the wond'ring chiefs addrest. 980 -"Henceforth, this isle the sacred station call "Of orient Phebus,* here reveal'd to all; "When rising dawn the midnight shadows chac'd.---"Here, let his altar on the shore be plac'd."To Phebus here perform your pious vows; "With such oblations, as the time allows."Hereafter, should his favour guard this train, "And lead us safely to Hamonia's† plain; "The thighs of goats his altars then shall find,"Best off'ring now, an unpolluted mind."
He spake they rais'd an altar's hasty pile, With rolling stones, collected thro' that isle. The timid fawns and mountain goats they chace, Nurst in the woodlands, of that savage place. The hunter's toil Latona's offspring crown'd.The votive thighs the double cawls surround. O'er these upon the casual altar laid, They pray to Phebus, and invoke his aid."O source illustrious, of each orient ray, "Benignant giver of the gladsome day!" In active measures, round the sacred blaze, The choir they lead, and Io Paans raise. Eagrus 'hallow'd son, amid the throng, Tunes to the Thracian lyre melodious song. "By Phebus' shafts how monster Python fell; " Where steep Parnassus' rocky summits swell. "Ere his smooth cheeks the youthful down display'd, "While yet unshorn the golden tresses stray'd.
* Phebus Eous. † Another name for Thessaly. + Orpheus.
"Oh pardon-sure, thy bright and precious hairFlows still unshorn; nor hand profane may dare, "To touch the sacred honours of the head. "Thy beauteous parent only, as they spread"Daughter of Caus-may, with hands divine, "Approach the locks, where streaming glories shine."Thy daughters, Plistus, oft, amid the fight, "Corycian nymphs, awak'd his infant might. "Then IoIo, echoed o'er the plain,
"And still Apollo's hymns th' enliv'ning sound retain.'
Such was that hymn.- Now ceas'd the choral strain
With due libations, then, the puissant train,
By solemn oath, their mutual aid combin'd;
One cause, one strength, and one according mind.
-The sacred things they touch'd, with pious hands;
And still preserv'd the reverend custom stands.
And long, in witness of their union vow'd,
Succeeding times the fane of Concord show'd,
Rais'd by the chiefs to the benignant pow'r,
Whose influence govern'd, in that solemn hour.
The third fair morn display'd her roseat smile;
And vigorous zephyr's bore them from that isle. 1030
Then, opposite Sangarius they descried,
On verdant plains where Mariandyni bide.
There, Lycus to the sea his current leads;
And there her stagnant lake Anthemois spreads.
These full in view, with swelling sails they past.
All night continuous howl'd the savage blast.
The straining timbers with the whirlwind groan'd,
And thro' the shrouds the stormy dæmons moan'd.
As dawn approach'd, the storm was lull'd to sleep.
Gladly they gain'd that Acherusian steep.
Towering the cliffs precipitous arise;
And safe below the tranquil harbour lies,
Forward it looks, to the Bithynian wave;
The rocks beneath the dashing billows lave.
With growth redundant, on its misty head,
Enormous planes their dusky foliage spread.
From thence, a dark and hollow glen descends,
Indented deep, and to the mainland tends.
The dismal cave of Orcus there is found,
That black o'erhanging rocks and woods surround.
With chilling influence, deadly vapours rise
Unceasing from its mouth, and blot the skies.
A cold ungenial air prevails around,
And hoary frosts o'erspread the sterile ground;
Scarce, when the shafts of noontide glare are felt,
Their icy chains with transient mildness melt.
No silence that tremendous region knows
Friendly to thought, or soft and sweet repose.
But, toiling ever peals the briny vast,
And howls the forest bending to the blast.
The mouths of Acheron incessant roar,
Where, from the steep, he bellows to the shore.
It's eastern bound, as, raging in his course,
He tears the gulphy rock with headlong force.
But after times a diff'rent name bestow'd,
The Soönautes,* to the deep he flow'd.
Their sails Nisaan Megarensians bore,
Where Mariandyni held the distant shore.
A shelter from the tempest here they found,
And hence, the stream that appellation crown'd. 1080
Now, past the promontory full in view,
O'er the calm wave the Greeks their way pursue.
Then Lycus mark'd them, ruler of that land,
The Mariandyni mark'd the gallant band.
And well 'twas known, o'er that exulting plain,
What hands the tyrant Amycus had slain.
* This name denotes the preserver of sailors.
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