And a tiara, silver-tissued, placed

Upon her fragrant head: so walking forth She paced the palace, with elastic step Treading the floor: of present ills alike Forgetful, and of greater yet behind.

MEDEA IN HER CHARIOT.

THIS

drug she cull'd, and wrapp'd it in the zone That round her heavenly bosom swathed its folds. Forth at the outer gate she pass'd, and climb'd The rapid car. Two damsels with the maid Ascended, sitting one on either side.

She caught the reins, and shook the pliant scourge
In her right hand, and through the city rode.
The other damsels of her train behind
Held fast the car, swift-running, as it roll'd
Along the broad-paved way, and gather'd up,
High as the snowy knee, their fluttering robes.
As near Parthenius' limpid streams, or near
Amnesus' river-baths, Diana stands
High on her golden car, by fleet-hoof'd stags
Transported o'er the mountain-tops, and breathes,
With near approach, the many-fragrant smoke
Of hecatombs with her, a band of nymphs,
Foot-followers, haste; that haunt th' Amnesian
spring,

:

Or dwell 'midst groves, or fountain-bubbling rocks;

And far and near the beasts of lawn and wood Crouch tremblingly with murmur'd blandishings; So rush'd they through the city; while the crowd Fell back, and shunn'd the royal virgin's look.

CONFERENCE OF MEDEA AND JASON

IN THE TEMPLE OF HECATE.

No other theme employ'd Medea's mind,
Though singing; nor could all her sportive maids,
Whatever carol they alternate sang,

Long please her: she, still absent, in the song
Broke off abrupt. Nor on the damsels round
Look'd she with stedfast eyes; but turn'd them still
To the far paths, and ever lean'd her cheek,
Inclining forward; and a shock was felt
Quick at her heart, if ere she listening caught
A foot-fall's echo, or the passing wind.

But soon he came; and, to the longing maid Appear'd, high-bounding: as the Syrian star, Emerged from Ocean, rises, beautiful

And glorious to behold; yet to the flocks

Sends forth wide-wasting plagues. Thus Jason

came:

Thus beautiful in aspect; but his sight

Raised agonized emotion, and her heart

Sank; her eyes darken'd; and the reddening blood

Rush'd to her cheek; nor could her faltering knees

Advance, nor yet recede; and, under her,
Her feet seem'd rooted to the earth. Anon
The damsels left them, and retired apart.

Thus, opposite each other, mute they stood:
As oaks, or fir-trees tall, nigh-growing, lift,
Upon the mountains, their firm-rooted stems
In quietness, when not a breath of air
Is stirring in the leaves; anon, with gusts
Of rushing wind are shaken to and fro

With deep tumultuous murmur; so the breath
Of love would stir within them, and their tongues
Flow with no stinted utterance. Jason felt
The virgin tremble with her heaven-sent grief,
And, soft in blandishment, address'd her thus:
"Why dost thou fear me, maiden, thus alone?
For I am not like men, who boast themselves
Vain-gloriously, nor was I ever such,

When dwelling in the land that gave me birth.
Then fear me not too greatly, gentle maid!
But now interrogate, or speak thyself

Whate'er thou list; and, since we meet with minds

Of friendly greeting, in this hallow'd place,