Which do thou chase and bury in the waves. Farewell! my post demands me. Since their foil, I have observ'd the enemies employ'd In wild attempts to fill the strait profound Between Psyttalia and th' Athenian shore."
He gone, these thoughts Themistocles revolves: "I will adopt his counsel, safe for Greece, Nor less for me; his banishment prolong'd Will discontent the people, and repeal'd Place him commander in th' Athenian camp To rival me. Discouraging the war By land, confining to the sea our strength, I shall secure preeminence." From thought To action tura'd, Sicinus he bespake:
"Before my presence all the captives bring." As Bacchus, not devourer, in a smile Of heav'nly sweetness, proffer'd soft relief To Ariadne, when forlorn she sat, Her fate deploring on the Naxian rock; So gracious, so consoling were the looks Themistocles assum'd, in soothing phrase Accosting thus Sandauce: "Thou shalt prove, So shall thy royal house, afflicted fair! A cordial friend in me. Sicinus, haste; Equip the bark which eastern colours dress, That, ere the Moon forsake her iucid path, Thou mayst transport this princess to the king, Her infant train, and this ingenuous youth, With my best greetings. Say, the Athenian chief, Themistocles, these pledges of his truth And friendship sends; them rescued I restore, Him next will save. His Hellespontine bridge The Greeks vindictive menace to destroy, An enterprise of horrour; this my pow'r, My dictates singly can and shall impede, Till he in safety hath regain'd his throne." Sandauce answers: "O thou gen'rous Greek, To thee, to thine, may Fortune ne'er be cold. But I, partaker of imperial pomp,
In ease, in safety nurtur'd, who have deem'd My state above the sorrows which torment Inferior mortals, when my soul reflects On this new lesson by misfortune taught, Reflects how lately on a field of blood, Young as I am, I saw my husband fall, My children doom'd to sacrifice, myself To endless bondage, had not Heav'n achiev'd This marvel of compassion in a foe, I, (O forgive me!) I suspect the lot Of all, ev'n thine. O prosp'rous, godlike man, May Horomazes from thy head avert Vicissitudes like mine! may envious Fate Ne'er bring Sandauce's gratitude to proof! Thou never want the pity thou hast shown!" She ceas'd; she wept. When Artamanes spake: "Her debt Sandauce can discharge alone By grateful tears; but I can promise more. In Persian thraldom lies a beauteous Greek, Nam'd Amarantha, Delphian Timon's child; For that bright maid's redemption I am pledg'd To her afflicted sire. Thy goodness shower'd On this excelling princess, shall augment My zeal the obligation to repay By Amarantha's freedom; till that hour Of retribution to thy virtues comes, We will proclaim them; nations shall admire Themistocles, and ev'ry heart abhor Inhuman Euphrantides." Now return'd Sicinus; him they follow'd. On her breast The lovely mother hush'd her female babe;
But cold with horrour at remembrance deep Of her unmatch'd calamities that day, She feebly falter'd o'er the sandy beach; While Artamanes led in either hand The tripping boys. Themistocles remain'd In these reflections, flowing from this proof Of Fortune's changes: "Few in Athens long Sustain their greatness-but to muse on ills Before they come, both time and thought I waste; Content at present that esteem procur'd,
By this fair Persian, in her brother's court, May prove a gain." Timothea now approach'd; His hand affectionate she press'd and spake:
"How sudden thou my hospitable cares Of their endearing object hast depriv'd ! In woe how graceful is that eastern dame! How young a mother! On a widow'd bed How early cast by Fortune! Thou hast sent Sicinus with her; ever-watchful man, Some new contrivance thou dost bring to birth; Thou smil'st in silence; listen then to me. Since Aristides on this isle hath shown That face rever'd, when banish'd, his recall The men of Athens, nay the women wish. This by Aminias to th' assembled tribes, Laodice informs me, will be mov'd; In this expect Myronides the brave, Xanthippus, Cimon, Eschylus will join."- "So will thy husband," interpos'd the chief; I will forestall them, not to others leave Such merit with our people."-She rejoin'd:
"All will applaud thee. Now, my anxious lord, The second watch its measure hath consum'd; The Moon descends, the sprightly birds are still; Dead sleep hath laid the soldier on his shield; The active sailor slumbers; all forget The hardships, rage, and tumult of the day; All but thyself reposing. Shall that mind Continue ranging o'er the field of thought, In pregnancy exhaustless, till the lark Salute the day-spring with his early song? Till thou unresting, unrefresh'd, resume
The statesman's troubles, and the soldier's toils ?. Be counsell'd; oft the thunder-bearing god To Juno listens; thou my voice obey."
He hears; serene conducts her to repose. As Jove on Ida, by Saturnia charm'd, Confess'd a rapture never felt before, While lucid dew of odours from a cloud Of gold distill'd around him; from the turf Beneath his feet while hyacinths upsprung, The unctuous lotos, and the crocus gay, To grace his secret tabernacle there Of love celestial; so the Attic chief To his Timothea, in her chamber pure,
With bridal honours deck'd, perfum'd with flow'rs, Whate'er the ineads of Salamis supplied, His tender flaine in winning language breath'd: "Whoe'er had whisper'd on our nuptial day That I should view thee, in a time remote From that sweet era, with superior joy, I should have held him ignorant of love. What is the cause, Timothea, that I feel My bosom pierc'd by transport yet unknown? That eastern fair, deliver'd from distress, Appearing then the fairest of her sex, Thou dost exceed." Timothea smiling spake: "O thou artificer of sweetest wiles, Wouldst thou seduce me into vain belief, That I exceed Saudauce's youthful charms?
But wouldst thou know, my husband," (solemn
She modulates her accents) "wouldst thou know Why thou survey'st me with uncommon joy? It is the conscience of a noble deed,
Of gather'd trophies never match'd before, Creates this change. The perils of this day Were new to Athens, to thy race, and me; Thy sword hath rescued all, increas'd thy fame, Thy heart exalted; with increas'd delight, Through that bright medium of a happy mind, Thou look'st on ev'ry object-sure on me Not less than others." Artless were these words, By Nature prompted, Nature's noblest fire.
They ceas'd discourse. Her loftiness of mind, His valour, talents, policy, to love Subside. Perhaps the first of human pairs, Who in the blest Assyrian garden met, Were not more happy in their first embrace, Than fair Timothea and her conqu'ring lord! A pleasing stillness on the water sleeps ; The land is hush'd; from either host proceeds No sound, no murmur. With his precious charge Embark'd, Sicinus gently steers along; The dip of oars in unison awake
Without alarming silence; while the Moon, From her descending, horizontal car,
Shoots lambent silver on the humid blades Which leave the curling flood. On carpets soft Sandauce's babes devoid of sorrow lie, In sweet oblivious innocence compos'd To smiling slumber. But the mother's breast Admits no consolation; when they skim Psyttalia's frith, at memory severe
Of that disastrous isle, she sudden sinks A lifeless image in the watchful arms Of Artamanes, who had studied well
Her sorrows, knew each tender thought and care, Humanity his tutor. Swift he calls
Sicinus: "Friendly pilot, stay thy course; We must not leave Autarctus in his gore Behind, lest grief incurable reside
In this fair breast, perhaps eternal shade In these extinguish'd eyes." Sicinus feels A sympathizing pain, of Persian stock Himself a branch, in Attic soil matur'd; He stops the bark and lands. The Asian tents Were still erect, whence Aristides comes In steel accoutred, to salute the dawn, Then breaking. Him Sicinus humbly greets, Requests, obtains the body, which convey'd On board he careful on the deck bespreads With canvass new. Impell'd by active strokes Of oars resum'd, the bounding vessel gains Phaleron's haven. Artemisia there, Whose vigilance, augmented by defeat, Had kenn'd the bark while distant, now arrests Her further progress; but no sooner hears The sad intelligence Sicinus gives, Than swift descending where Sandauce lay, That mourning fair in friendly strains accosts: "O lift thy head, thou daughter of a king! Our sov'reign's sister, sister to the man My soul rever'd, to Hyperanthes good, The flow'r of Asia's princes! In thy woes, I sharing cordial, cordially rejoice
In thy redemption. Leave this doleful keel; Think of thy duty to approach the king; Thy other cares entrust to me."-She said; They row to shore. To Xerxes, then retir'd,
The queen conducts Sandauce and her train. The princess thus to him amaz'd began:
"A widow'd sister, late a wretched slave, With these three orphans just redeem'd from death, Sandauce greets her brother; but her tongue Would be disloyal to obtrude her tale, Her tedious tale of sorrows on his ear. The preservation of her king demands His first attention; that attention grant To him who comes deputed by a Greek, Thy friend, my guardian, saviour of those babes; Oh, listen! thy salvation from his lips Receive." Fast bound by terrour was the mouth Of Xerxes.-Then Sicinus: "He who ranks Among the Greeks superior in command, In talents, prudence, policy, and arms, Themistocles, these pledges of his truth
And friendship sends; them rescued he restores; Thee next will save. Thy Hellespontine bridge The Greeks vindictive menace to destroy; An enterprise of horrour, which his pow'r, His dictates singly can and will impede, Till thou in safety hast regain'd thy throne."
All from his presence straight the king commands, Save Artemisia; her in broken tones Addresses: "Queen of Caria, singly wise Among my council, pity, not upbraid Thy master, suffring by his rash neglect Of thy sage voice unutterable pangs."
He paus'd in torture. Prudent, she replied: "Without a cause the lord of nations droops; Mardonius well hath counsell'd thy retreat, Who undertakes to finish, what his sword Hath well begun through Macedon and Thrace, This mighty war. Thy servant may succeed; In whose behalf? His master's: thou wilt reap His fruits of glory; if Mardonius fail,
He the disgrace. Thy march commence by dawn; Appoint the fleet's departure swift this night, To guard with force collected and repair'd The Hellespontine bridge; with grace accept The proffer'd service of th' Athenian chief; Load his returning messenger with gifts Of royal price, and, O my gracious lord! Fraternal kindness on Sandauce show'r. Her gallant lord hath perish'd in thy cause, Herself been menac'd by a barb'rous priest To see her children sacrific'd; a doom Themistocles withstood, and set them free."
As when a timid child perceives a cloud Obscure the sky, and hears the thunder's peal, He weeps, he trembles, but the cloud dispers'd, The clamour ceasing, and the Sun restor❜d, His wonted sport resumes, forgetting fear; So chang'd the monarch. "Artemisia, go," He said; "the satraps instantly convene; Th' Athenian messenger, Argestes' son, Again before us with Sandauce call; Ne'er will I deviate from thy counsels more." First to Sicinus ent'ring he began:
Of Delphian lineage, Amarantha nam'd; Her I demand of Xerxes, that my hand A captive daughter to a tender sire
May reuder back; from bondage free his head, Now in Nicæn, and thus far my debt
Of gratitude discharge." In transport here, Admiring such perfection of the heart, Spake Artamanes: "Ever live the king! There is a captive whom the princess nam'd-” Fly thou in search of this requested slave, Son of Argestes," interrupts the king; "Let none withhold her from Sandauce's pow'r. The female train before the cumb'rous host Shall move by dawn for Thessaly, their join The rest of Asia's dames behind us left
On our late march; the guard, ten thousand horse, Thou, Artamanes, shalt command."-He said; They all retir'd. A pensive grief o'ercasts
Sandauce, moving with her children slow, By slaves attended, to the vacant tent Autarctus late possess'd. Argestes' son Observes her anguish, penetrates her thoughts, In guarded words then proffers this relief:
"O fairest princess, whose external form But half displays thy excellence of mind, Wilt thou forgive thy servant, if he feels With thee a present sorrow, which the heart Forbids the tongue to name? Sandauce, trust My pious service, and those thoughts compose." She, weeping, looks assent; he speeds away, But meets the body of Autarctus borne By Artemisia's soldiers. She at first, With care conceal'd, had order'd from the bark His precious relics; these the noble youth With equal care delivers to that skill, Which with Sabæan gums, and scented growths Of bless'd Arabia, purifies the clay Depriv'd of life, and Time's consuming breath Repels. A regal car he next provides, In full apparel of funereal pomp.
THE satraps now, and leaders, at the call Of Artemisia, were collected round
Their monarch. Seated or his throne, he spake: "Ye princes, satraps, heed our fix'd decree.
Our native Asia wants her king; by morn
To Susa we return, but leave behind, In Greece, Mardonius, and a chosen host
Of thirty myriads. With command supreme, With our imperial equipage and state, Him we invest; to him submission pay As to our presence. Artemisia, bear Our sov❜reign pleasure to the naval chiefs, That all abandon, ere the dawn return, Phaleron's port, and hoist their sails to guard The Hellespont. But thou, entrusted queen, Thy own tried squadron to Spercheos bring; Whence thou must waft to Ephesus a charge Of high import, the children of thy king."
He ceas'd. A stranger, cas'd in steel, approach, In look ferocious, limbs and shape robust, of stature huge; the satraps look'd amaz'd, As were th' immortals, when, th' Olympian steep Ascending, grim Briareus first produc'd
Unbending, far as nature would permit, His rugged brow; when, crouching to the king, "O Xerxes, live for ever," he began: "I am Eubœan Demonax, the prince Of Oreus late, who earth and water sent, Acknowledging thy empire; from my throne By curs'd Themistocles expell'd, I join'd Thy shelt'ring fleet; at Salamis I fought. An aid of troops and treasure can replace Me thy true vassal, who will soon reduce The granary of Athens to thy sway, Euboea, fertile, populous, and rich."
The monarch thus: "Mardonius, thou hast heard;
Begin to use thy plenitude of power; Reject or favour at thy will this pray't."
Mardonius then: "My sov'reign liege, the truth Flows from his lips; twelve thousand of thy host With Mindarus commanding, and of gold A hundred talents, would be well bestow'd On this important Greek." The king assents; He rises; all disperse. Mardonius now Accosts the queen, descending to the port: "Alas! how uncontrollable the will
Of Xerxes! must thou leave me? Since the day Of Salamis, my best belov'd of friends, Masistius, whether by the waves devour'd, Or slain, or captive, to my search is lost. Foe to inaction, though compos'd and wise, Of courage prone to perilous attempts, He would embark; permitted by the king, Against my warm remonstrance would partake The naval conflict. Drooping, while I doubt His preservation, must I further lose Thy fellowship, auspicious, generous queen! Yet stop, a moment listen. On the march To Athens first, reposing in a cave, I had a dream, perhaps a vision saw, To me presaging glory-but success Was wrapp'd in clouded mystery. My heart Teems with ill-boding thoughts, yet shall not faint; At least impart thy wishes ere thou sail'st, Thy last instructions! Fortunate thy voice, Benign to me; repeat one parting strain! If I successful to thy presence bring
The palms of conquest, say, accomplish'd queen, Thou wilt accept them with a gracious hand; If unsuccessful I the forfeit pay
Of this frail being, as becomes the brave,
Say, thou wilt praise Mardonius." Sage and grave She answers: 66 First, despair not to regain
The good Masistius; at the worst endure That common lot, the death of dearest friends, With patience; long thy courage I have prais`d,
Now moderate the flame against a foe
Not less discreet than disciplin'd and bold;
Nor let the gloom of superstition awe Thy noble ardour. On the sharpest sword, The strongest arm, on prudence, martial skill, Not dreams and visions, looks the goddess Fame. If Artemisia's wishes can avail,
Be sure to prosper, prosp'ring here to soar Above the flight of Cyrus."-She departs. Behind her, like the sinking globe of day, She leaves a trail of radiance on his soul; But, to protect him from returning shade, Her light should ne'er forsake him, never set. O'er gen'rous cares not thus Argestes broods;
His mountain-bulk, and spread his hundred hands, Within his tent he meditates conceal'd; Auxiliary to Jove. The warrior stood,
By struggling pride tormented, thus he strives
To soothe her pangs: "I see my pow'r eclips'd; Mardonius governs. Pow'r, thou fleeting gleam, Thee I possess no longer; why regret, When Amarantha's beauty can exchange Thy thorns for lilies? To my own domain I will transport her; Sipylus hath flow'rs To drop perfumes in Amarantha's walk; Pactolus, Hermus, my subjected streams, Shall furnish gold; her gems shall India send To deck that form, and I in pleasure's folds Forget ambition, stranger to the peace Which honour yields." Libidinous in thought, The statesman thus would cheat his baffled pride; Accurs'd of men! who borrow'd from one vice His med'cine for another (both deform His ravag'd bosom in alternate strife) Flagitious parent! rivalling in love
His eldest born! prepost'rous passion, big With horrour! while the youngest, lov'd by all, By Xerxes favour'd, to Mardonius dear, He held in detestation for his worth, Nor knew the comfort of a virtuous child. With diff'rent thoughts that sleepless youth em- The night, serenely happy in the charge Humanity impos'd. Before the dawn His band is arm'd, Sandauce in her car, Among innumerable fair the chief
In state and woe. Tears trickle at the sight Of great Autarctus in his fun'ral pomp Down ev'ry cheek; a solemn sadness reigns; So oft Aurora, sable-suited, leads
A train of clouds, dissolving as they pass In silent show'rs. Through Attica's waste fields, Through half Bootia, ere his ev'ning clos'd, The second sun conducts them to the gates Of ancient Thebes. They enter; they ascend The citadel; they find commanding there, New from the ruins of unpeopled towns, Fierce Mithridates. With a kind embrace, To him the gentle Artamanes thus:
"Hail! brother: twice a captive since we last At Delphi parted, I would gladly know
Thy fortune. Tell me, where that beauteous maid, Whom thou didst carry from the Delphian walls?" The grim barbarian spoiler, quick reply'd : "Curs'd be her name, her beauty, which could melt A heart like mine! Accurs'd my father's lust, Which seiz'd my captive! Guarded by a troop Of jealous eunuchs, and attendants arm'd, Her in this citadel he still detains.
If I resign her, may Platea's tow'rs, May Thespia's hostile walls, by me o'erthrown, A second time to brave me rise from dust."
"Oh! unbecoming strife," the brother cry'd, "Which startles Nature! Thanks to Heav'n, the king Hath now decided Amarantha's fate;
Her to his royal sister he hath giv'n,
A promis'd boon. Sandauce, by the foe Restor❜d to freedom, will requite that grace, By rend'ring up this damsel to her sire, Himself a pris'ner in Nicxa's fort,
Then both release from bondage. Further know, In Thebes to morrow Xerxes will appear
On his retreat to Susa. I conduct
This train of eastern dames. By rising dawn To her protection will the princess take The Delphian maiden, then proceed." These words Sting Mithridates; an atrocious deed
He meditates, but artful thus conceals:
This said, they parted. Mithridates held The town; his brother's squadrons lay encamp'd Without the walls. The citadel contain'd A fane of Juno, there Sandauce rests. To Edipus devoted was a dome, Which Artamanes enter'd, while his heart Ran cold, and shudder'd at a brother fell, And treach'rous sire, competitors in love; Abominable strife! His eyes he cast O'er all the structure, lighted by the gleams Of tapers blue attending; he surveys, Insculptur'd round, the horrours which befel The house of Laius; there th' ill-fated son His father slays; incestuous there ascends His mother's chamber; daughters, he begets, His sisters, sons his brothers; blameless he, A man of virtues by despair oppress'd, Rends forth his eyeballs, on the pavement dash'd, There sev'n dire captains, leagu'd by horrid oaths Which startled Heav'n, are figur'd; down to Hell Amphiaraus on his martial car,
Through Earth's dividing entrails, there descends; Here Capaneus, blaspheming Jove, expires Amid vindictive lightnings; mangled there, Eteocles and Polynices fall,
Each other's victim to fraternal hate. Full of these hideous images the youth Reclines disturb'd, unvisited by sleep, Till awful midnight; broken slumber adds To his disquiet. In a thrilling dream The eyeless ghost of Edipus ascends; The vacant sockets, where the orbs of sight Once beam'd, are bleeding fresh; a Stygian pall Infolds the wither'd, pale, sepulchral form; The arms are stretch'd abroad: "For ever Thebes Must thou to horrour be the guilty stage!" It said, and vanish'd. By the phantom wak'd, Or by a sudden clash of mingling swords, With shrieks and tumult, Artamanes rose, Unsheath'd his sabre, grip'd his target fast, And issued swift. Before his startled eyes A beauteous woman, of majestic form, In garb disorder'd, and with ringlets fall'n, Sustains aloft a poniard newly drawn From Mithridates' heart, who, sinking, breathes His last beneath her feet. So Phoebe pierc'd Orion; so the groaning Earth receiv'd His giant bulk, which insolently dar'd Attempt that child immaculate of Jove With violence of love. Now spake the fair: "If to defend her chastity and fame Becomes a woman, self approv'd at least I stand, great Timon's daughter, from a line Heroic sprung, in holy Delphi born; If to have slain a ruffian be a crime Among the Persians, give me instant death, Such as becomes my dignity and sex."
Her words, her looks, impress'd on ev'ry heart Amaze, and tam'd the savages combin'd With Mithridates in his impious act. So when, majestic on the choral scene, Her tragic pomp Melpomene displays, In awe profound she hushes rudest minds, While terrour humbles tyrants. Gather'd round Were numbers now; a thousand torches blaz'd; Sandauce last, environ'd by her guard, Approach'd alarm'd. A wounded eunuch stepp'd Before the princess; "I will clothe in truth My voice," he said. "Argestes to my care Entrusted Amarantha; from that lord,
THE ATHENAID.
Solicitations, threat'nings, gifts she spurn'd, While I admir'd: sure virtue hath a ray To strike the meanest eye. To night his son Assail'd our dwelling; with my fellow slaves, All butcher'd, I defended long my charge, By Mithridates from the mansion forc'd ; Her chastity the noble maid hath sav’d, Her poniard stretch'd the ravisher in blood." To Artamanes, weeping o'er the corse, Sandauce then: "To thy consoling words I oft have listen'd, listen thou to mine: Forgive the maid; illustrious is her deed For every maid to imitate. With me,
Come Amarantha; thou art mine; not long Shalt so continue; at Nicæa's fort
I will restore thee to a joyful sire,
Her fortune promis'd. In Sandauce's train A husband follow'd on his fun'ral bier; Her fleeting hue a sickly paleness taints, Which Artamanes with a sad'ning eye Observes, portent of malady. Now rose The eighth sad morn, revealing to their sight Nicæa's neighb'ring gate. Sandauce then To Artamanes: "Take this virtuous maid; To her my promise, to her father thine Fulfill; conduct her. Amarantha dear, From thee I part, rejoicing in thy joy; Amid thy comforts in a sire's embrace, Or bliss more tender with a destin'd spouse, Autarchus near the tomb Forget not me.
Of Ariana by these widow'd hands Deposited"-
-She stops; the weaken'd pow'rs
And both to freedom." Morning breaks; the cars, Of heath relax, nor furnish sound to grief:
The troops attend; the royal dame renews
Her progress; seated at her footstool weeps, In speechless gratitude, the Delphian fair.
By public duty Artamanes rous'd,
Not long remains. This last farewell he sighs: "Oh! early fall'n! Oh! cut from proudest hopes! Thee, Horomazes, may a brother's tears For him propitiate! he hath none to shed. These silent ruins to our father show, Thou faithful eunuch. May he feel like me!" His steed he mounts, and rapidly o'ertakes The squadrons, op'ning on Cadmean plains. Now Amarantha lifts her grateful head, Intent to speak; but, heavy on the front Of her protectress, heavier in her breast Sat grief, each sense devouring, and her frame Enfeebling; which, too delicately wrought, Endures not ev'n remembrance of distress So new, so strange in her exalted state, To youth untry'd by evils. She forgets Her late benignant act, till chance directs Her eye to Amarantha; when her heart, Sooth'd by the conscience of a gen'rous deed, Her faded cheeks relumines with a smile. Then spake the prudent virgin: “Persian queen, (Sure such thou art) what marvellous event Gave thee a knowledge of my sire, his place Of residence, and my disastrous fate? Sense of thy goodness, from my breast would chase The memory of troubles, if, alas!
I did not see thy countenance o'ercast. If thou repent thee, of thy favour deem Me undeserving, send me to abide The punishment ordain'd by Persian laws; But if thy sorrows are thy own, unmix'd With my misfortunes, let assiduous zeal, Let tenderest service of my grateful hand, Strive to relieve the burdens which oppress My benefactress." In the captive's hand Sandauce drops her own; in sighs replies: "O! by thy aspect of superior mould To all I e'er beheld of regal race, Resembling me in fortune, lend an ear; My soul conceives a melancholy wish That thou shouldst hear my story, I to thine Alternate listen." Mournful converse soon Between these fairest in their native climes Began, continued; sev'n diurnal rounds The Sun perform'd, till intercourse of grief, Communicated sighs, unite their minds In tender friendship. Diff'rent yet their lots; On Amarantha's cheek the bloom revives; A joyful sire, perhaps a dear betroth'd,
Mute too is Delphi's maid. The Persian youth,
To leave a moment in her sick'ning state
The princess, feels a struggle, but resolves In rapid haste her mandate to obey.
Nica's gate he enters; Timon soon
He finds: "Receive thy daughter," swift he spake; "Receive thy freedom from the bounteous hand Of Xerxes' sister; but a short farewell My urgent cares allow; to set thee free At thy own time I hasten to enjoin
The chief commander here." He said, and turn'd Precipitate away, unheard, unmark’d
By Timon, who no other voice nor form Than Amarantha's heeds. In Carin steel Now Melibus from the gymnic school, Where he was daily exercis'd in arms, Approach'd; to him in transport Timon spake: "Behold my daughter!"-Instant from the port Appears Aronces, who proclaims the news She had left Of Artemisia landed. Phaleron; station'd in the Malian bay, She waits the king's arrival, not remote Now with his army; all advance to meet The Carian queen; when sudden clouds of dust The sky envelop; loud the hollow sound Of trampling hoofs is heard. The portal pass'd By Artamanes fac'd the southern Sun; An entrance eastward rudely is possess'd By Caspian horsemen, in the hairy skins Of goats all horrid; round their brawny loins From shaggy belts keen cimeters depend; Well-furnish'd quivers rattle on their backs. Now fifty grim-fac'd savages dismount To seize on Amarantha. Then his arm New-train'd to battle Melibus proves ; With native strength, agility, and fire, He springs, confronts the Caspians; from the first He lops the ruffian hand; by diff'rent wounds Five more lie prostrate. As a vessel new, Compact, and strong, impetuous from the dock In her first lanch divides the troubled waves, On either side recoiling, till the weight Of reuniting waters stops her course, And beats her lofty ribs; so valour drives The warrior on, till rallying numbers join'd, Arrest his progress; fearless yet he stands Awhile defensive. Timon from the dead Lifts two forsaken cimeters; both hands His indignation arms; he sends to Hell Three miscreants gasping at his daughter's feet. With aiding Theseus, so Pirithous heap'd With centaurs slain the Lapithæan hall, When in flagitious tumult they deform'd
« PreviousContinue » |