Descending to the shore, we climb'd the bark again;

Each press'd his former bench, and lash'd with oar the

main ;

Huge Pelion's mountain swift receded from our view,

And o'er vast Ocean's green expanse the foam whitechafing flew.

INTERVIEW OF EETES WITH THE ARGONAUTS.

AETES with his daughters climb'd their chariot all of gold;

Whirl'd by the steeds, it track'd the plain, and tow'rds the river roll'd;

Upon whose reedy banks were sacrifices made;

And, moor'd beneath those banks, was gliding Argo laid. Æetes look'd abroad; the heroes, in his sight,

Sate, like immortal Gods, in armour glistening bright; But noble Jason chief, of all he look'd upon,

By Juno graced with bloom, and height, and gallant bearing shone.

Now, to each other near, exchanging looks they start;
The Argonauts and king feel terror chill their heart.
Æetes on his car sate, dreadful to behold,

Effulgent as the sun, in robes of blazing gold;

The crown upon his head was ray'd with spikes of flame, From his poised sceptre's point a lightning splendour

came :

And both his daughters fair were seated at his side;

With them he pompous rode in the glory of his pride.

Approaching to the ship, he scowls with fearful eyes,
And threatening stern with thundering voice, and yell of

66

fury cries:

Speak, who ye are; or what the strong compelling

cause,

That to the Colchian walls your ship adventurous draws? Then fear ye not my power? nor this my people fear? Train'd with the foe to close, nor awed by Mars his brandish'd spear?"

He said, no word was breathed, till Jason silence broke ; For Juno courage sent; and, fierce exclaiming, spoke: "No pirates we, nor come to spoil another's land;

In deeds of outrage bold, like many a plundering band:
But Pelias, Neptune's son, imposed the task on me,
That with the golden fleece I should Iolchos see.
Nor are my comrades loved of mean inglorious name;
All, not unversed in war, from Gods and heroes came:
But we (far better thus) as guests thy kindness claim.”
He said; Æetes' soul was tost, as by a storm ;

He roll'd his dreadful eyes o'er each heroic form;
And, darkly plotting, mused within his thoughtful breast;
Till, pausing long, he thus the Minyan chiefs address'd:
"If ye to closing fight the warlike Colchians dare,
And, as ye hope, destroy, ye shall the booty bear';

But, should your scanty band from this my phalanx fly,
Your ship in fragments torn, ye all shall surely die.
But better were it far, that ye my voice obey,

And choose your noblest chief, most form'd for kingly sway;

Let him achieve the toils that shall by me be told,

And bear the prize away; be his the fleece of gold."

He said; and shouting cheer'd his steeds, and back the chariot roll'd.

Grief seized the Minyans then; for Hercules they sigh'd;
Nor hoped alone to quell the Colchians' warlike pride.
And, oh Musæus! now, my strain shall swiftly tell
What fate of sufferings hard the Minyan race befell;
And all the deeds they wrought: how Argus trod the shore;
(Chalciope, the fair, the youth to Phryxus bore;
When, on the golden ram, to Colchos Phryxus came;
Her sire, Æetes, forced the slow-consenting dame ;)
Fleet from the palace ran, the tidings dread to bring;'
The guilty plots of death from that destroyer king:
And how Medea burn'd, a luckless-wedded maid,
When Jason's stripling charms her doating eyes survey'd:
Thus Juno's counsels will'd; and Venus fired her heart,
And through her vitals pierced a fury's fatal dart:
And how he yoked the bulls, whose breathings fiery
glow'd,

And with the dragons' teeth the furrow'd acres sow'd:

And how the Sparti's living crop, self-slain, the hero slew, And, victor in the magic strife, his splendid glory grew:

How softly stole from home the luckless-wedded maid, Through darkness of the night, in linen robe array'd; By Fate to Argo led, and urged by soft desire, Nor yet regarding aught her father's furious ire.

Round Jason's folded limbs with twining clasp she press❜d, And bathed his cheeks in tears, and kiss'd his brows and

breast;

No blush restrain'd her love; enchanted with the flame;

She cast her virgin flower away, and modest nuptial shame.