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In all his state, her master with his host
In full array." His order is obey'd.

Through smooth Ismenus, and Asopus clear.
The royal host in slow procession led,
Their first encampment on a district lodge,
Platea's neighbour; that renown'd abode
Of noblest Greeks was desert. In his tent

The king by night requested audience grants
To Leontiades, that colleague base
Of Anaxander, traitor like himself

To Sparta's hero. Xerxes thus he warns :
"Now be the king reminded of the rage
Against his father, which Platea bore
At Marathon; that recently she brav'd
Himself in Eta's pass; nor Thespia fought
With less distinguish'd rancour: be inform'd,
The first is near, the other not remote;
Thy vengeance both deserve. Destroy their fields,
Consume their dwellings; thy o'erflowing camp
May spare a large detachment; I will go
Their willing guide." Masistius present spake :
"O monarch, live for ever in the hearts
Of conquer'd nations, as of subjects born;
Associate clemency with pow'r, and all
Must yield obedience: thou art master here,
Treat thy new vassals kindly."—In a frown
Argestes: "Shall the king with kindness treat
Invet'rate foes and zealous friends alike?
Shall undeserving Thespians, shall the race
Of fell Platæa, unprovok'd who stain'd,
Ou Attic fields, her spear with Persian blood,
To help detested Athens, shall they share
The clemency of Xerxes, in despite

Of this our Theban host, who faithful gives

Such wholesome counsel? Sov'reign, when I brought
Thy condescension late to Sparta's king,
Among the grim assembly in his tent
Diomedon, Demophilus, I saw,
With Dithyrambus, men preferring death
To amity with thee, commanders all
Of these malignant cities."-Xerxes here:
"Approving, Leontiades, thy words
I hear; Masistius, thee my servant loves,
Mardonius, always victor in my name;
Yet learn at last, O satrap! who dost wear
The fullest honours to partake with me,
What I inherit from Darius, hate
Inflexible, inexpiable hate

To Athens, hate to her confed'rates all.
Go, Theban, choose what nations of our host
Thou dost prefer; thyself appoint their chief."
"I choose the Caspians, Sacians; name for chief
Brave Mithridates, great Argestes' heir,"
Rejoins the traitor. These ferocious most
He best approv'd, and Mithridates chose,
Among the youth most vigorous and fol
In acts of blood. To hear Mardonius prats'd,
Argestes, dreading his return, conceiv'd
A pain, yet temper'd by a secret joy
He felt arise; who, rival of his son,
Long wish'd him distant from the guarded roof
Where Timon's daughter was confin'd.
To rest, all separate. They renew their march
By day-spring; Leontiades, to wreak
On hapless Thespia and Platea's walls
The hate implacable of Thebes; the king,
With equal rage, to spoil Minerva's reign.
Her olive groves now Attica disclos'd,
The fields where Ceres first her gifts bestow'd,
The rocks whose marble crevices the bees

Dismiss'd

With sweetness stor'd; unparallel'd in art
Rose structures, growing on the stranger's eye,
Where'er it roam'd delighted. On, like Death,
From his pale courser scatt'ring waste around,
The regal homicide of nations pass'd,
Unchaining all the furies of revenge
On this devoted country. Near the banks
Of desolate Cephissus halting sat

The king; retarding night's affrighted steeds,
The conflagration wide of crumbling tow'rs,
Of ruin'd temples, of the crackling groves,
Of villages and towns, he thence enjoy'd,
Thence on the manes of Darius call'd:

"Son of Hystaspes! if the dead can hear,
Thou didst command thy servants to remind
Thy anger daily of th' Athenian race,
Who insolently plough'd the eastern waves,
Thy shores affronted with their hostile beaks,
And burnt thy town of Sardis; at my call,
Ghost of my father! lift thy awful brow;
Rememb'ring now th' Athenians, see thy son
On their presumptuous heads retaliate flames :
Depriv'd of burial, shall their bodies leave
Pale spectres here to wail their city fall'n,
And wander through its ruins."-Closing here
His barb'rous lips, the tyrant sought his couch.
Thy summits now, Pentelicus, and thine,
Haunt of sonorous bees, Hymettus sweet!
Are ting'd with orient light. The Persian host
Renew their progress; Athens soon receives
Their floating banners and extended ranks
Smooth o'er the fosse, by mural ruins fill'd.
As from a course of ravage, in her den
Of high Citharon plung'd the monster Sphinx
Her multifarious form, preparing still
For havoc new her fangs and talons dire;
Till her enigma Laius' son resolv'd,
Whence desperation cast her headlong down
The rocky steep; so, after thy career
Of devastation, Xerxes, rest awhile
Secure in Athens, meditating there

Fresh woes to men. Than Edipus more wise,
Th' interpreter of oracles is nigh;
Soon will the son of Neocles expel
Thee from thy hold, by policy too deep
For thy barbarian council to explore.

Before the Prytanæum stops the car.

Now savage bands enclose that rev'rend seat
Of judgment; there Mardonius waits. The king,
Pleas'd with his care, salutes him: "Thou hast

long

Sweat under barness in th' eternal snows
Of Macedon and Thracia, hast my name
There dress'd in ample trophies; but thy speed,
Preventing my arrival, unknown

To wings of eagles, or the feet of stags."

Mardonius answers: "Ever live the king To find his servant's zeal outstrip in speed The swiftest eagle, or the fleetest stag! Descend, thou lord of Athens! destin'd soon To universal sway."-They climb the steps; Alone Argestes follows. In the hall These words of high import Mardonius spake: "My liege, the season calls for quick resolves; By thee entrusted with supreme command, When thou art absent, to Phaleron's port, Late arsenal of Athens, all the ships

I order'd from Eubea; they below

Lie well equipp'd and shelter'd, nor remote
The whole united armament of Greece

At Salamis. With Ariabignes great,
Thy royal brother, and for merit nam'd
Thy ruling admiral, the kings of Tyre,
Of Sidon, Caria's princess, and the rest,
I held a council; they concurr'd to fight,
And by one effort terminate the war,

All but the queen, from whose ingenuous mouth
Will I, though differing, faithfully relate
Each argument, each word-' Mardonius, tell
The king.' she said, 'what peril I foresee
From this attempt; his ships defeated leave
His host endanger'd; ever bold, the Greeks
Are desp❜rate now; the want of sustenance
Will soon disperse them to their sev'ral homes;
The sea's entire dominion to the king

Will then be left; whole armies then embark'd
Through inlets free may pour on Pelops' isle,
Whose coast I newly have explor'd with care.
Mardonius, thou art eager; do not trust
In multitude; full many in the fleet

Are false, are cowards. Let our sov'reign shun
Precipitation; short delay at least

Is safe; a naval combat lost, is bane'."

"A greater bane delay," Argestes here;
Who reading artful in the royal eye
Determination for a naval fight,
His malice thus on Artemisia vents:

"My liege forgets that Caria's queen derives
Her blood from Grecian fountains; is it strange
She should confine thy formidable hand,
And so preserve her kindred?"--Stern the king:
"Though I reject her counsel to forbear
The fight, none better will that fight sustain
Than she, whose zeal, fidelity approv'd,
And valour, none can equal but the son
Of Gobryas. Go, Mardonius, see the fleet
Prepar'd by morning; let Argestes burn
The citadel and temples; I confer

On him that office."-Utt'ring this, he turn'd
Apart; forlorn Argestes hence presag'd
Decline of regal favour, cent'ring all

In Gobrya's son, who fiercely thus pursu❜d:
"Thou hear'st the king; now hear a soldier's
tone:

Of old I know thee slanderer of worth;
And I, distinguish'd by a late success,
To envious eyes no welcome guest return.

Thou canst traduce the absent, whom thy tongue
Would flatter present. Not in Susa's court,
Amid the soft security of peace,

We languish now; great Xerxes on the stage
Of glorious war, amid the din of arms,
Can hear thy coz'ning artifice no more.
Oh, that he ne'er had listen'd! Asia's lord,
When to a Tyrian trafficer demean'd,
He barter'd for his glory, By my sword,
Leonidas, preferring fame to sway
O'er proffer'd Greece, was noble! What thy part,
Who tamely proff'ring wast with scorn dismiss'd?
Go, burn the faues! Destruction is thy joy."

He said, departing swiftly; on his way
Meets Artamanes, meritorious youth,
Who, not resembling an unworthy sire,
Had fix'd th' esteem of that illustrious man.
To him Mardonius: "Brave Autarctus greet
In words like these-Exalted to the bed
Of bright Sandauce, sister of thy king,
Now is the season to approve thy worth.
Collect ten thousand warriors on the strand
Which faces Salamis; an island near,

Psyttalia nam'd, possess; ere long the foes
Against her craggy border may be driven;
Let spoils and captives signalize thy zeal.'
Thou, Artamanes, must attend him there,
Nor let me want intelligence. Farewell!"
This mandate giv'n, the active chief proceeds
With steps impatient to Phaleron's port.

BOOK V.

THE Sun was set; Autarctus and his band,
In haste collected, through nocturnal shades
To small Psyttalia pass'd a narrow frith.

As on a desert forest, where at night

A branching oak some traveller hath climb'd
To couch securely; if the trunk beset
By famish'd wolves in herd, who thirst for blood,
Pale morn discovers to his waking sight,
His hair in terrour bristles, pants his breast
In doubt of safety; thus Aurora show'd
The unexpected gleam of Persian arms,
Which fill'd Psyttalia, while the Attic strand,
With numbers equal to its sandy stores
Was cover'd, and Phaleron's road with masts,
A floating forest, crowded like the pines,
Majestic daughters of the Pontic woods.
Fair Athens burn'd in sight; embodied smoke
Rose mountainous, emitting pillar'd flames,
Whose umber'd light the newly-dawning Sun
But half eclips'd. At intervals are heard
The hollow sound of columns prostrate laid,
The crash of levell'd walls, of sinking roofs
In massy ruin. Consternation cold
Benumbs the Greek spectators, all aghast
Except th' Athenians, whose unshaken minds
To this expected fate resign'd their homes
For independence. Gigantean rang'd
From ship to ship Despair; she drives ashore
The timid leaders, changing late resolves
For gen'rous combat into base retreat.
To seek the shelter of their native ports
They clamour loud; the admiral convenes
A council; him Themistocles address'd:

"Now Eurybiades, to whose command
I voluntary yielded, from thy charge,
Not less for Athens than for gen'ral Greece,
I claim a righteous and heroic part,
The promis'd fight in these auspicious straits,
Which, rend'ring vain the multitude of foes,
Assure success. But separate this fleet,
A hundred openings may barbarians choose
To Pelops' region; not on ev'ry spot
An isthmian wall is plac'd. Depriv'd of all,
If to your succour we Athenians lose

All clain, ye Greeks, be valiant for yourselves!
See Attica in flames, the temples raz'd,
The tombs defac'd, the venerable dust
Of our forefathers scatter'd in the wind!
Would you avoid calamities like these,
To sound instruction lean; th' almighty gods
Wise counsels bless with prosperous events,
To its own folly wilful blindness leave."

Proud Adimantus, on his birth elate,
The admiral of Corinth, envying long
Cecropia's name and pow'r, arose and spake :

"For public safety when in council meet Men who have countries, silence best becomes Him who hath none; shall such presume to vote,

Too patient Spartan, nay to dictate here,
Who cannot tell us they possess a home?
For Attica in flames, her temples raz'd,
Her tombs disfigur'd, for th' ignoble dust
Of thy forefathers scatter'd in the wind,
Thou low-born son of Neocles, must Greece
Her welfare bazard on a single day,
Which, unsuccessful, endless ruin brings ?"

Cleander heard, Træzene's youthful chief;
Warm was his bosom, eloquent his tongue,
Strong-nerv'd his limbs, well exercis'd in arms;
Preventing thus Themistocles, he spake:

"Though blood, Corinthian, be of noblest dye, Base-born the soul when Folly is her sire. Absurdity and malice no reply

Deserve from thee, Athenian! thee, more wise,
More valiant, more distinguish'd in thyself,
Than all the vaunted progeny of gods.
Did you not mourn, ye deities, to see
A nation, you created with their soil,
Forsake that ancient land? or not admire
Your greatest work, the conduct of that man,
Who such a race from such endearing homes,
Wives, husbands, elders, infants, maidens, youths,
In gen'rous quest of liberty could lead?
Do you not look indignant down to hear
Such venomous reproaches on his worth,
A wrong to Greece? Her saviour him I call,
As yet, I trust, his dictates will prevail."

While he declaim'd, Themistocles, who scorn'd
The insolent Corinthian, sat and scann'd
The looks of all; his penetrating sight
Could read the thoughts of men; the major part
He saw averse to battle, Sparta's chief
Uncertain, cold, and slow. Affecting here
Decisive looks, and scorn of more debate,
Thus brief he clos'd: "Athenians still possess
A city buoyant on two hundred keels.
Thou, admiral of Sparta, frame thy choice;
Fight, and Athenians shall thy arm sustain ;
Retreat, Athenians shall retreat to shores
Which bid them welcome, to Hesperian shores,
For them by ancient oracles reserv'd,
Safe from insulting foes, from false allies,
And Eleutherian Jove will bless their flight:
So said your own Leonidas, who died
For public welfare. You that glorious death
May render, Spartans, fruitless to yourselves."
This said, he left the council; not to fly,
But with his wonted policy compel
The Greeks to battle. At a secret cove
He held in constant readiness a skiff,

In Persian colours mask'd; he there embark'd/
The most entrusted of his household, charg'd
With these instructions: "Now return my love,
Sicinus, born a Persian, of my house
Not as a slave long habitant, but friend,
My children's tutor, in my trust supreme,
To Xerxes' navy sail; accost her chief

In words like these-Themistocles, who leads
Athenian squadrons, is the monarch's friend,
Approv'd by this intelligence; the Greeks
In consternation shortly will resolve
To separate and fly; let Asia's fleet
Her numbers round in diligence extend,
Investing ev'ry passage; then, confus'd,
This whole confederated force of Greece
Will sooner yield thau fight, and Xerxes close
At once so perilous a war'."-He ceas'd.

Meanwhile the council wasted precious hours,

Till Eurybiades, at length alarm'd
Lest all th' Athenians should retreat incens'd,
Postpon'd the issue to th' ensuing day.

Themistocles, retiring to his tent,

There found his wife; his stratagem on wings
Of execution, left his mind serene;
Relax'd in thought, he trifled with his boy,
Young child, who playful on the mother's lap,
Soon as of Xerxes earnest she inquir'd,
With frowning graces on his brow of down,
Clench'd fast his infant hands. The dame pursues:

"O that the Greeks would emulate this child, Clench fast their weapons, and confront the foe! Did we abandon our paternal homes,

·

Our nuptial chambers, from the cradle snatch
Our helpless babes? Did tender maidens join
Unanimous the cry, Embark, embark
For Salamis and freedom!' to behold
The men debating (so the Attic wives
Are told) uncertain if to fight or serve?
Who are the cowards, rather traitors, say?
We will assail them, as the Trojan dames
Did Polymestor, royal thief, who broke
The holiest ties for gold."-" Take comfort, love;
All shall be well," Themistocles replied.

"Yes, I in thee have comfort," she proceeds; "Thou canst devise some artifice to urge Ev'n dastards on; Sicinus thou hast sent, I ask not whither."-In a smile her lord: "With thy permission, then, the gods remain My confidents: to ease thee, I proclaim This boy the first of Greeks; he governs thee, Thou me, I Athens; who shall govern Greece, As I am sure to circumvent the foes. Retiring, seek the town; console the dames; Thy husband never was so high in hope."

She pleas'd, departing, spake: "To govern thee
Requires an art which never woman knew,
Nor man; most artful, thou controllest all,
Yet call'st, nay often seem'st, thyself controll'd."
She distant, thus he meditates alone:
"True, when I seem controll'd by others most,
Then most assur'd my enterprise succeeds.
O lib'ral Nature! science, arts acquir'd,
I little value; while thy light supplies
Profuse invention, let capricious chance
With obstacles and dangers gird me round,
I can surmount them all; nor peace, nor war,
Nor all the swift vicissitudes of time,
E'er gave emergency a birth too strong
For me to govern. On this crisis hangs
My future greatness; whether joy or grief
Shall close the term of being, none foreknow;
My penetrating spirit I will trust
Thus far prophetic; for a time, at least,
I will possess authority and pow'r
To fix a name enduring like the Sun."

Thus, in his own strong faculties secure,
To rest he tranquil sunk, and slept till dawn;
Then early rose. Advancing from the shore,
A manly figure he observes, the face
Wrapt in a mantle; as dividing clouds
Reveal th' unmuffled Sun, the mantle cast
Aside discovers the majestic front
Of Aristides, who the silence breaks:

"Dissensions past, as puerile and vain,
Now to forget, and nobly strive who best
Shall serve his country, Aristides warns
His ancient foe Themistocles. I hear
Thou giv'st the best of councils, which the Greeks

Reject, through mean solicitude to fly;
Weak men! throughout these narrow seas the foe
Is station'd now, preventing all escape."

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Themistocles, though covetous of fame,
Though envying pow'r in others, was not bred
In horrid deserts, not with savage milk
Of tigers nurs'd, nor bore a ruthless heart.
He thus replied: With gratitude this foe
Accepts thy welcome news, thy proffer'd aid,
Thy noble challenge; in this glorious race
Be all our strife each other to surpass.
First know my inmost secrets; if the straits
Are all invested with barbarian ships,
The act is mine; of our intended flight
I through Sicinus have appris'd the foes;
Of his success thee messenger I hail."

The exile then: "Such policy denotes
Themistocles; I praise, the Greeks have cause
To bless, thy conduct; teach me now what task
I can achieve; to labour, to advise
With thee commanding, solely to enjoy
The secret pleasure of preserving Greece,
Is my pursuit; the glory all be thine."

"Before the council show that honour'd face," Rejoins the chief; "report thy tidings there. To preparation for immediate fight Exhort; such notice they would slight in me, In thee all men believe."-This said, they mov'd. Them on their way Myronides approach'd, Xanthippus, Cimon, Eschylus, and all The captains, fixing reverential eyes On Aristides; this the wary son Of Neocles remark'd; he gains the town Of Salamis, the council there is met; To them th' illustrious exile he presents, At whose appearance all th' assembly rise, Save Adimantus; fast by envy bound, He sits morose; illib'ral then the word, As Aristides was in act to speak, Thus takes: "Boeotia, Attica reduc'd, The Dorians, Locriaus, you already know; To me this morn intelligence arriv'd, That Thespia, that Platæa were in flames, All Phocis conquer'd; thus alone of Greece The isle of Pelops unsubdu'd remains. For what is lost, ye Grecians, must we face Such mightier numbers, while barbarian hate Lurks in Psyttalia, watching for the wrecks Of our defeated navy? Shall we pause Now at the isthmus with united force To save a precious remnant? Landing there, Your sailors turn to soldiers, oars to spears; The only bulwark you have left, defend."

Then Aristides: " Ignominious flight Necessity forbids; Egina's shore Last night I left; from knowledge I report. The hostile navy bars at either mouth The narrow strait between Psyttalia's isle And Salamis, where lie your anchor'd ships. But shall the Greeks be terrified? What more Can they solicit of propitious Heav'n, Than such deluded enemies to face, Who trust in numbers, yet provoke the fight Where multitude is fruitless?"-Closing here, The unassuming exile straight retir❜d. Cleander, ent'ring heard; while Corinth's chief, Blind with malignity and pride, pursued: "Her strength must Greece for Attica destroy'd Waste on the credit of a single tongue, From Athens banish'd?" Swift Cleander spake :

"Is there in Greece who doubts that righteous

tongue,

But enough

Save Adimantus? To suspect the truth
Of that illustrious exile, were to prove
Ourselves both false and timid.
Of altercation; from the fleet I come,
The words of Aristides I confirm;
Prepare to fight; no passage have our ships
But through embattled foes.”—The council rose.
In this tremendous season thronging round
Th' accomplish'd son of Neocles, their hopes
In his unerring conduct all repose.

Thus on Olympus round their father Jove
The deities collected, when the war

Of Earth's gigantic offspring menac'd Heav'n,
In his omnipotence of arm and mind
Confiding. Eurybiades, supreme

In title, ev'ry leader speeds to act
What great Themistocles suggests; himself,
In all expedients copious, seeks his wife,
Whom he accosts, encircled where she stood
With Attic dames: "Timothea, now rejoice!
The Greeks will fight; to morrow's Sun will give
A glorious day of liberty to Greece.
Assemble thou the women; let the dawn
Behold you spread the Salaminian beach;
In your selected ornaments attir'd,

As when superb processions to the gods
Your presence graces; with your children stand
Encompass'd; cull your fairest daughters, range
Them in the front; alluring be their dress,
Their beauties half discover'd, half conceal'd;
As when you practise on a lover's eye,
Through that soft portal to invade the heart;
So shall the faithful husband from his wife
Catch fire, the father from his blooming race,
The youthful warrior from the maid he loves:
Your looks will sharpen our vindictive swords."
In all the grace of polish'd Athens thus
His charge pronouncing, with a kind embrace
He quits her bosom, nor th' encircling dames
Without respectful admonition leaves
To aid his consort. Grateful in itself
A task she soon begins, which pleases more
As pleasing him. A meadow fresh in green,
Between the sea-beat margin and the walls,
Which bore the island's celebrated name,
Extended large; there oft the Attic fair
In bevies met; Themistocles the ground
To them allotted, that communion soft,
Or pastime, sweetly cheating, might relieve
The sad remembrance of their native homes..
Here at Timothea's summons they conven'd
In multitude beyond the daisies, strewn
Thick o'er the verdure from the lap of Spring,
When most profuse. The wives, the mothers here
Of present heroes, there in bud are seen
The future mothers of immortal sons,
Of Socrates, of Plato, who to birth
Had never sprung if Xerxes had prevail'd,
Or would have liv'd barbarians. On a mount
Timothea plac'd, her graceful lips unclos'd:

"Ye wives, ye mothers, and ye fair betroth'd,
Your husbands, sons, and suitors claim that aid
You have to give, and never can so well.
A signal day of liberty to Greece
Expect to morrow; of the glorious scene
Become spectators; in a bridal dress,
Ye wives, encompass'd with your tender babes,
Ye rev'rend matrons in your sumptuous robes,

As when superb processions to the gods
Your presence graces; but ye future brides,
Now maids, let all th' allurement of attire
Enhance your beauties to th' enamour'd eye:
So from the face he loves shall ev'ry youth
Catch fire, with animating passion look
On her, and conquer. Thus Cecropia's maids,
Who left their country rather than abide
Impure compulsion to barbarian beds,
Or ply the foreign loom with servile hands,
Shall live to see their hymeneal morn;
Bless'd in heroic husbands, shall transmit
To late posterity the Attic name.
And you, whose exemplary steps began
Our glorious emigration, you shall see
Your lords, your sons, in triumph to your homes
Return, ye matrons”- "Or with them will die,
If fortune frown," Laodice aloud;
"For this I hold a poniard; ere endure

A Persian yoke, will pierce this female heart."
Enthusiastic ardour seems to change
Their sex; with manlike firmness all consent
To meet Timothea there by early dawn
In chosen raiment, and with weapons arm'd,

As chance should furnish. Thus Timothea sway'd,
The emulator of her husband's art,
But ne'er beyond immaculate intent;
At her suggestion interpos'd her friend
Laodice, the consort young and fair
Of bold Aminias, train'd by naval Mars,
From the same bed with Eschylus deriv'd.
Træzene's leader, passing by, admir'd
The gen'rous flame, but secretly rejoic'd
In Ariphilia at Calauria safe;

He to thy tent, Themistocles, was bound.
Thee to Sicinus list'ning, just return'd
From his successful course, Cleander found,
Thee of thy dear Timothea first inform'd,
While thou didst smile applause.

pursued:

"From Aristides I deputed come;
He will adventure from Psyttalia's isle
This night to chase the foe, if thou concur
In help and counsel: bands of Attic youth,
Superfluous force excluded from the fleet,
With ready arms the enterprise demand;
Them, with his troop, Oïlean Medon joins."

To scour the vale, to mount the shelving hill,
Or dash from thickets close the sprinkling dew,
He thus to Medon: "Of Psyttalia's shore
That eastern flat contains the Persian chief,
Known by his standard; with four thousand youths
Make thy impression there; the western end
Our foes neglect, a high and craggy part;
But Nature there through perforated rock
Hath left a passage, with its mouth above
Conceal'd in bushes; this, to me well known,
I will possess; thence rushing, will surround
The unsuspecting Persian. Darkness falls;
Let all embark; at midnight ply the oar."
They hear and march; allotted seats they take
Aboard the skiff's Sicinus had prepar'd,
Impatient waiting, but impatience keeps
Her peace.

The second watch is now elaps'd,
That baneful season, mark'd in legends old,
When death-controlling sorcery compell'd
Unwilling spirits back to mortal clay

Entomb'd, when dire Thessalian charmers call'd
Down from her orb the pallid queen of night,
And Hell's tremendous avenues unclos'd;
To Asia's mothers now of real bane,

Who soon must wail ten thousand slaughter'd sons.
The boats in order move; full-fac'd the Moon
Extends the shadows of a thousand masts
Across the mirror of cerulean floods,
Which feel no ruffling wind. A western course
With his division Aristides steers,

The Locrian eastward; by whose dashing oars
A guard is rous'd, not tinely to obstruct
His firm descent, yet ready on the strand
To give him battle. Medon's spear by fate
Is wielded; Locrians and Athenians sweep
The foes before them; numbers fresh maintain
Unceasing conflict, till on ev'ry side
His reinforcement Aristides pours,

The youth And turns the fight to carnage: by his arm
Before a tent of stately structure sinks
Autarctus brave in death. The twilight breaks
On heaps of slaughter; not a Persian lives
But Artamanes, from whose youthful brow
The beaver sever'd by th' auspicious steel
Of Medon, show'd a well-remember'd face;
The Locrian swift embrac'd him, and began:
"Deserve my kindness by some grateful news
Of Melibœus and the Delphian priest;
Not Eschylus in pity shall exceed
My care in this thy second captive state."
His grateful news the Persian thus repeats:
"Nicæa, fort of Locris, them contains;
Though pris'ners, happy in the guardian care
Of Artemisia. What disastrous sight!
Autarctus there lies prostrate in his blood.
Oh, I must throw me at the victor's feet!"
He went, by Medon introduc'd to kneel;
Forbid by Aristides, he began:

"A noble Grecian, sage, experienc'd, brave,"
Returns the chief; "my answer is concise:
Sicinus, fly! their pinnaces and skiffs
Command th' Athenian vessels to supply
At Aristides' call; th' attempt is wise,
Becoming such a soldier; thou remain
With him, to bring me tidings of success."
Swift as a stone from Balearic slings,
Sicinus hastens to th' Athenian fleet;
Cleander light th' important order bears
To Aristides, whose exalted voice

Collects the banding youth. So gen'rous hounds
The huntsman's call obey; with ringing peals
Their throats in tune delight Aurora's ear;
They pant impatient for the scented field,
Devour in thought the victims of their speed,
Nor dread the rav'nous wolf, nor tusky boar,
Nor lion, king of beasts. The exile feels
Returning warmth, like some neglected steed
Of noblest temper, from his wonted haunts.
Who long hath languish'd in the lazy stall;
Call'd forth, he paws, he snuffs th' enliv'ning air,
His strength he proffers in a cheerful neigh
VOL XVIL

"My own compassion to solicit yours, Without disgrace might bend a satrap's knee; I have a tale of sorrow to unfold,

Might soften hearts less humaniz'd and just
Than yours, O gen'rous Grecians! In that tent
The widow'd wife of this late envied prince,
Young, royal matron-twenty annual Suns
She hath not told-three infants."-At these words
The righteous man of Athens stays to hear
No more; he gains the tent, he enters, views
Sandauce, silent in majestic woe,

With her three children in their eastern vests

H

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