Part 10

Now Phineus, fearful hand to hand to meet The foe, his javelin hurl'd, the point ill-aim'd On Idas glanc'd, who vainly kept aloof With neutral weapon. Phineus, stern he view'd, "With threatening frown, exclaiming;--"though no share "In this mad broil I took, now, Phineus, feel "The power of him whom thou hast forc'd a foe; "And take reciprocally wound for wound." Then from his side the weapon tore to hurl; But fast the life-stream gush'd, he instant fell. Here, by the sword of Clymenus was slain, Odites, noblest lord in Cepheus' court; Protenor fell by Hypseus; Hypseus sunk Beneath Lyncides' arm. Amid the throng Was old Emathion too, friend to the just, And fearer of the gods; though ancient years Forbade his wielding arms, what aid his words Could give, he spar'd not: curs'd the impious war, In loud upbraidings. As with trembling arms, He grasp'd the altar, Chromis' gory sword His neck divided; on the altar dropp'd The head; and there the trembling, dying tongue, Faint imprecations utter'd; 'midst the flames He breath'd his spirit forth. By Phineus' hand, Broteas and Ammon fell: the brother-twins Unconquer'd in the fight, the cæstus shower'd; Could but the cæstus make the falchion yield: But Perseus felt it not,--its point hung fixt Amidst his garments' folds. On him he turn'd, The falchion, glutted with Medusa's gore, And plung'd it in his breast. Dying, he looks Around, with eyes rolling in endless night, For Atys, and upon him drops: then pleas'd, Thus join'd in death, he seeks the shades below. Methion's son, Syenian Phorbas, now And fierce Amphimedon, in Lybia born, Rush in the fight to mingle; both fall prone, The slippery earth wide spread with smoking blood. The sword attacks them rising; in his throat Phorbas receives it, and the other's side. But Erythis, of Actor born, whd rear'd An axe tremendous, not the waving sword Of Perseus meets: a cup of massive bulk, With both his hands high-heaving, fierce he hurls Full on his foe: he vomits gory floods; Falls back, and strikes with dying head the earth. Then Polydæmon falls, sprung from the blood Of queen Semiramis; Lycetes brave, The son of Spercheus; Abaris, who dwelt On frozen Caucasus; and Helicen With unshorn tresses; Phlegias; Clitus too; Those with the rest beneath his weapon fall; And on the rising heaps of dead he stands. And fell Ampycus; Ceres' sacred priest, His temples with a snow-white fillet bound. Thou, O, Japetides! whose string to sound Such discord knew not; but whose harp still tun'd, The works of peace, in concord with thy voice; Wast bidden here to celebrate the feast: And cheer the nuptial banquet with thy song! Him, when at distance Pettalus beheld, Handling his peaceful instrument, he cry'd In mocking laughter;--"go, and end thy song, "Amid the Stygian ghosts,"--and instant plung'd Through his left temple, his too deadly sword. Sinking, his dying fingers caught the strings, And, chance-directed, gave a mournful sound. Not long the fierce Lycormas saw his fall Without revenge: a massy bar of oak From the right gate he tore, and on the bones Behind the neck, the furious blow was aim'd: Prone on the earth, like a crush'd ox he fell. Pelates of Cinypheus, strove to rend A like strong fastening from th' opposing door; The dart of Corythus his tugging hand Transfix'd, and nail'd him to the wood confin'd: Here Abas, with his spear, deep pierc'd his side: Nor dying fell he;--by the hand retain'd, Firm to the post he hung. Melaneus fell. The arms of Perseus aiding; Dorilas, The wealthiest lord in Nasamonia's land, Fell too beside him: rich was he in fields; In wide extent no lands with his could vie; Nor equal his in hoarded heaps of grain. Obliquely in his groin, the missive spear Stuck deep,--a mortal spot: his Bactrian foe His rolling eyes beheld, and dying breath In sobs convulsive flitting, and exclaim'd;-- "This spot thou pressest, now of all thy lands, "Possess,"--and turning left the lifeless corse. Avenging Perseus hurls at him the spear, Torn from the smoking wound; the point, receiv'd Full in the nostrils, pierces through the neck: Before, behind, expos'd the weapon stands.

Now fortune aids his blows, the brother pair, Clanis, and Clytius fall, by different wounds. Hurl'd by his nervous arm, the ashen spear Transfix'd the thighs of Clytius: Clanis dy'd Biting the steel that pierc'd his mouth. Now fell Mendesian Celadon; and Astreus borne By Hebrew mother, to a doubtful sire. Now dy'd Ethion, once deep skill'd to see The future fates; now by his skill deceiv'd. Thoactes, who the monarch's armor bore; And base Agyrtes, murderer of his sire. Crowds though he conquers, thickening crowds remain; For all united wage on him the war. In every quarter fight the press, conspir'd To aid a cause to worth and faith oppos'd. The sire, with useless piety,--the queen, And new-made bride, the hero's party take; And fill the hall with screams. The clang of arms, And groans of dying men their screamings drown. The houshold deities, polluted once, The fierce Bellona bathes with gore again; With double fury lighting up the war.

Now Phineus, followed by a furious throng Surrounds him single; thicker fly their darts Than wintry hail, on every side; his sight They cloud, and deafening, whiz his ears around. By crowds opprest, retreating, Perseus leans His shoulders 'gainst a massive pillar's height; And, safe behind, dares all the furious fight. Chaonian Molpeus rushes on his left; Ethemon, Nabathæan, on his right: Thus a fierce tiger, urg'd by famine, hears Combin'd the lowings of two different herds, Far distant in the vale; in doubt he stands, On this, or that to rush; and furious burns On both at once to thunder. Perseus so, To left and right inclin'd at once to bear, Plerc'd first the thigh of Molpeus,--straight he fled Unfollow'd; for Ethemon fiercely press'd. He, furious aiming at the hero's neck, With ill-directed strength, his weapon broke Against a column;--back the shiver'd point Sprung, and his throat transfix'd: slight was the wound; To doom to death unable. Perseus plung'd His mortal falchion, as the trembling wretch His helpless arms extended, in his breast. But now his valor Perseus found oppress'd By crowds unequal, and aloud exclaim'd;-- "Since thus you force me, from my very foe "More aid I'll ask;--my friends avert your eyes!" Then shew'd the Gorgon's head. "Go, elsewhere seek," Said Thescelus,--"for those such sights may move:"-- The deadly javelin poising in his hand, In act to throw, a marble form he stands, In the same posture. Near him Ampyx rear'd, Against the brave Lyncides' breast his sword; His uprais'd hand was harden'd; here, or there, To wave unable. Nileus now display'd Seven argent streams upon a shield of gold; False boasting offspring from the seven-mouth'd Nile; And cry'd;--"Lo! Perseus, whence my race deriv'd; "Down to the silent shades this solace bear "By such a hand to die." The final words Were lost; his sounding voice abrupt was stay'd; His open'd mouth still seem'd the words to form, Incapable to utter. Eryx storm'd At these, exclaiming;---"not the Gorgon's hairs "Freeze ye, but your own trembling, dastard souls: "Rush forth with me, and on the earth lay low, "The youth who battles thus with magic arms." Fierce had he rush'd, but firmly fixt his feet Held him to earth, a rigid, fasten'd stone; A statue arm'd. These well their fate deserv'd, But one, Aconteus, while in aid he fought Of Perseus, sudden stood to stone congeal'd; As star'd the Gorgon luckless in his face. Him saw Astyages, but thought he liv'd; And fierce attack'd him with a mighty sword. Shrill tinkling sounds the blow: astonish'd stands Astyages;--astonish'd seems the stone; For while he stares, he too to marble turns. Long were the tale, of each plebeïan death To tell; two hundred still unhurt remain; By Gorgon's head two hundred stiffen'd stand: When Phineus seems the strife unjust to mourn. But what to act remains? Around him crowd, The forms of numerous friends: his friends he knows, Their aid intreats, and calls on each by name: Still doubting, seizes those his grasp can reach And finds them stone! Averse he turns his eyes; Raises his conscious arms and hands oblique, And suppliant begs;--"go Perseus,--conqueror, go! "Remove that dreadful monster,--bear away "That stone-creating visage, Gorgon's head! "Whate'er it be, I pray thee bear it hence. "Nor hate, nor lust of empire, rais'd our arms "Against thee;--for my wife alone we warr'd. "Thy cause, by merit best; mine, but by time. "Bravest of men, me much it grieves I e'er, "Thy claim oppos'd: existence only give, "All else be thine." To him, as thus he begg'd, Fearing his eyes, to whom he suppliant spoke To turn;--"thou dastard, Phineus!" Perseus cry'd,-- "What I can grant, I will; and what I grant "To souls like thine a mighty boon must seem. "Dispel thy terror; rest from steel secure. "Yet must a during monument remain, "Still in the dwelling of my spouse's sire, "Conspicuous. So my bride may daily see "Her imag'd husband." Speaking thus, he held The Gorgon's head, where pallid, Phineus turn'd; So turning stiffen'd stood the neck; so turn'd Appear'd th' inverted eyes; the humid balls To stone concreted. Still the timid look, And suppliant face, and tame-petitioning arms, And guilty awe-struck look, in stone remain'd.

Now victor, Abantiades re-seeks His soil paternal, with his well-earn'd bride: And in his undeserving grandsire's aid, Avenging war on Proetus he declares. Proetus then all Acrisius' cities held; From each possession forc'd, his brother fled. But arms, and battled towns, like ill-possess'd, The head snake-curl'd, oblig'd at once to stoop. Yet not the youth's bold valor, amply prov'd, By all his brave atchievements; nor his toils Thee, Polydectes, mov'd; who rul'd the isle, The paltry isle, Seriphus; stubborn still, Inexorable hatred thou maintain'st: Endless against him burns thy rage unjust. Nay, from his true deserts, thou would'st detract; And swear'st Medusa's death a fiction form'd. Then Perseus;--"thus if true I speak, or no, "Experience. Close, my friends, your eyes!"--as forth, He held the Gorgon;--bloodless stood the face Of Polydectes, turn'd a marble form.

Thus far, Minerva aided side by side, Her brother golden-born; then swiftly flew, Wrapt in a cloud opaque; and distant left Seriphus. On she flies, to right she leaves Cythnos, and Gyaros; and cross the main The shortest route she hastens; speeds to Thebes, And seeks the Heliconian nymphs, whose mount Alighting feels her first: the learned nine, Thus she bespeaks;--"fame tells, a new-made spring, "Burst from a blow the swift-wing'd horse's hoof "Inflicted; lo! the cause I hither come. "That steed I saw spring from his mother's blood: "Fain would I this new prodigy behold." Urania gave reply. "O, maid divine! "What cause soe'er has with thy presence grac'd. "Our dwelling, proves to us a grateful boon. "Fame speaks not false. Our fountain surely sprung "Sole from Pegasus." Speaking thus, she leads The virgin goddess to the sacred streams: Who long the spring admir'd;--the spring produc'd From the hoof's blow:--around surveying views The groves of ancient trees, the grots, the plants Of ever-vary'd tint; and happy calls The learned nymphs, who such a spot possess'd. Then thus a sister;--"O, divinest maid! "Our choir to join most worthy, did not aims "Of loftier import tempt thy warlike soul, "Right hast thou spoke; our habitation well, "And well our arts thy highest praises claim. "Blest were our lot, if still from danger free: "But nought a villain's daring power restrains, "And terror soon our virgin minds appals. "Ev'n now the dread Pyreneus to my eyes "Stands present: to its wonted calm not yet "Restor'd my mind. With furious Thracian bands "Daulis he conquer'd, and the Phocian fields; "And held the sway unjust. Parnassus' fane "We sought; th' usurper there beheld us pass, "And feigning reverence for our power divine "Worshipp'd, and then address'd us, whom he knew. "Here, O! ye Muses, rest, nor dubious stand "But straight beneath my sheltering roof avoid "The cloudy heaven, and rain (for fast it shower'd) "Oft mighty deities have enter'd roofs "Less pompous.--By his invitation urg'd, "And by the tempest, we accede and step "Within the hall. The pelting showers now ceas'd, "Auster by Boreas vanquish'd; fled the clouds "Black lowering, and the face of heaven left clear: "Anxious we wish to go: Pyreneus fast "His dwelling closes, and rough force prepares: "Wings we assume, and from his force escape. "He, standing on the loftiest turret's top, "Like us his flight about to wing, exclaims-- "A path you lead, that path will I pursue. "Then madly from the tower's most lofty wall, "Dash'd on his face he fell, and dying strew'd "His shatter'd bones upon the blood-stain'd ground."

As spoke the muse thus, loud and strong was heard, Of fluttering pinions in the air the sound; And hailing voices from high branches came. Jove's daughter then around enquiring look'd (The sounds she hears, so like the human voice, From human voice she deems them) birds the sound Emitted: magpies were they;--magpies nine: Their doom lamenting, on the boughs they sate, Aping in voice their neighbours all around. Then to the wondering goddess, thus the muse Explain'd: "These vanquish'd in the arduous strife "Of song, to us submitting, swell the crowd "Of feather'd fliers. In Pellenian lands "Most rich was Pierus their sire; to him "Evippé of Pæonia bore the nymphs; "Nine times invoking great Lucina's aid. "Vain of their number, proud the sister-crew, "In folly journey'd through Thessalia's towns, "And through the towns of Greece; when here arriv'd "Thus to the test of power their words provoke:-- "At length desist to cheat the senseless crowd "With harmony pretended, Thespian maids! "With us contend, if faith your talents give "For such a trial. Ye in voice and skill "Surpass us not,--our numbers are the same. "If vanquish'd, yield the Medusæan fount, "And Hyantean Aganippé,--we "If conquer'd, all Emanthæa's regions cede, "Far as Pæonia's snows. The nymphs around "The contest shall decide. Deep shame we felt "Thus to contend, but deeper shame appear'd "To yield without contention to their boast. "The nymphs elected to adjudge the prize "Swear by the floods; and on the living rock "Seated, await to hear the rival songs.

"Then one, impatient who should first commence, "Or we, or they, arises;--sings the war "Of gods and giants; to the rebels gives "False praises; and the high celestials' power "Much under-rating, tells how Typhon, rais'd. "From earth's most deep recesses, struck with fear "All heaven: each god betook him straight to flight "Far distant, till th' Egyptian land receiv'd "Each weary'd foot, where Nile's dissever'd stream "Pours in seven mouths. How earth-born Typhon here, "They tell, pursu'd them; and each god, conceal'd "In feign'd resemblance, cheated there his power. "Jove, (so she sung) a leading ram became; "(Whence still the Lybians form their Ammon horn'd) "The crow Apollo hid: a goat the son "Of Semelé became: Diana skulk'd "In shape a cat: a snow-white cow conceal'd "The form of Juno: Venus seem'd a fish: "And 'neath an Ibis Hermes safely crouch'd.

"Thus far she mov'd her vocal lips; thus far "Her lyre her voice attended: then they call "For our Aönian song. But that to hear, "Perchance your leisure suits not; pressing deeds "Unlike our songs must more your time demand." Pallas replies;--"be hesitation far, "And all your song from first commence relate." So saying, in the forest's pleasing shade She rested; while the Muse proceeding, spoke.

"To one the sole contending task we give, "Calliopé;--she rises, neatly bound, "Her flowing tresses with an ivy wreath. "With dexterous thumb the trembling strings she tries, "Then to their quivering sounds this song subjoins. "Ceres at first with crooked plough upturn'd "The glebe; she first mild fruits and milder corn "Gave to the earth; and rules to tend them gave: "All gifts from her proceed. To her the song "I raise. Would that my best exerted power, "A song to suit thy least deserts could form, "O, goddess! worthy of our loftiest praise.

"The vast Sicilian isle, with pressure huge "Thrown o'er them, deep the limbs gigantic weighs "Of huge Typhoeus, who the heavenly throne "Had dar'd to hope for: struggling oft he tries, "His efforts, daily bent to lift his load: "But hard Pelorus on his right hand lies, "Ausonia facing; while Pachyné rests "Heavy to left: wide o'er his giant thighs "Spreads Lilyboeum: Etna presses down "His head; beneath whose crater, laid supine, "From his hot mouth he ashes sends, and flames. "Thus with his body labouring to remove "The ponderous load of earth;--whole towns o'erwhelm; "And lofty hills o'erturn; trembles the ground; "And Hell's dread monarch fears a chasm should gape: "And through the opening wide his realm display: "The trembling ghosts with light un'custom'd scar'd. "The shock to meet expecting, starts the king "Quick from his cloudy throne; and in his car "Borne by his sable steeds, with care surveys "Sicilia's deep foundations; wide around "Exploring all; then with his toils content, "No ruin'd part detected, flings aside "Each apprehension. Strolling now at ease, "Him Venus from the Erycinian hill "Espy'd; and to her feather'd son, who lay "Clasp'd in her arms, exclaim'd;--O, Cupid! son! "My sole assistant! sole defence and aid! "Seize now that weapon which o'er all has sway, "That piercing dart,--and deep within the breast "Of the dark god whose lot was given to rule "The nether regions of the triple realm, "Bury it. All the gods thy might confess; "Ev'n Jove himself. The ocean powers allow "Thy rule, and he whom Ocean's powers obey. "Why then should Tartarus alone evade "Thy thrall? Why not my empire and thine own "With that complete? Of all the world's extent "A third is stak'd. Nay more, our utmost power, "Heaven our own seat contemns;--thy potent sway, "And mine alike impair'd. Behold'st thou not "Minerva, with the quiver-bearing maid "Deserting me? Thus will the blooming child "Of Ceres, if we grant it, still remain "Inviolate a virgin;--thither tend "Her anxious hopes. But thou, if dear thou hold'st "Our mutual realm, the virgin goddess link "In union with her uncle.--Venus spoke: "His quiver he unlooses; from the heap "Of darts, by her directed, one selects, "Than which none bore a keener point; than which, "None flew more certain,--trusty to the string. "Bends to his knee the yielding horn, then sends "Through Pluto's heart the bearded arrow sure. "Not far from Enna's walls, a lake expands "Profound in watery stores, Pergusa nam'd: "Not ev'n Caïsters' murmuring stream e'er heard "The songster-swans more frequent. Woods o'ertop "The waters, rising round on every side; "And veil from Phoebus' rays the surface cool. "A shade the branches form; the moist earth round, "Produces purple flowers: perpetual spring "Here reigns. While straying sportive in this grove "Here Proserpine the violet cropp'd, and here "The lily fair; with childish ardor warm'd "Her bosom filling, and her basket high: "Proud to surpass her comrades all around "In skilful culling, she herself was seen; "Was chosen, and by Dis was snatch'd away. "Love urg'd him to the deed. Th' affrighted maid, "Loud on her mother, and her comrades call'd; "But chief her mother, with lamenting shrieks. "Then as her robe she rent, the well-cull'd flowers "Slipp'd through the loosen'd folds: e'en this (so great "Her girlish innocence) her tears increas'd. "Swiftly the robber speeds his car along "Urging his steeds' exertions each by name; "'Bove their high manes and necks the rusty reins "Rattling, as o'er the wide Palician lake, "Where the cleft earth with sulphur boils, he whirls: "And where the Bacchiads, from the double sea "Of Corinth wandering, rais'd their lofty walls; "'Twixt two unequal havens. Midst, the stream, "Pisæan Arethusa, and the lake "Of Cyané are seen, close round embrac'd "By narrowing horns. This Cyané was once, "Of all Sicilia's nymphs, the fairest deem'd; "Who gave the lake her name. She to the waist "Uprais'd, amidst the waters stood, and knew "The god, and,--here thy speed must stay,--exclaim'd; "Nor e'er of Ceres hope the son-in-law "'Gainst her consent to be: beseechings bland, "Not rugged rape, thy purpos'd hope might gain. "If lofty things with low I durst compare, "Anapis lov'd me; but the nuptial couch, "I press'd, entreated,--not as thus in dread. "She said;--her arms extended wide, and stopp'd "His course. The angry son of Saturn flames "Swelling with rage; exhorts his furious steeds; "Throws with a forceful arm, and buries deep "His regal sceptre in the lowest gulph: "Wide gapes the stricken earth; an opening gives "To hell, and headlong down, the car descends.

Now equal Cyané the goddess mourns, "So forc'd; and her own sacred stream despis'd; "A cureless wound her silent breast contains; "And all in tears she wastes: lost in those waves, "Where lately sovereign goddess she had rul'd. "Soft grow her limbs, and flexile seem her bones; "Her nails their hardness lose. The tenderest parts. "Melt into water long before the rest: "Her tresses green; her fingers, legs, and feet. "Quickly this change the smaller limbs perceive, "To cooling rills transform'd. Next after these, "Her back, her shoulders, breasts, and sides dissolve, "And vanish all in streams. A limpid flood "Now fills the veins that once in purple flow'd; "Nought of the nymph to fill the grasp remains.

"Meantime the trembling mother through the earth, "And o'er the main, the goddess vainly sought. "Aurora rising, with her locks of gold; "Nor Hesper sinking, saw her labors cease. "With either hand at Etna's flaming mouth, "A torch she lighted, restless these she bore "In dewy darkness. Then renew'd again "Her labor, till fair day made blunt the stars; "From Sol's first rising till his evening fall. "Weary'd at length, and parch'd with thirst,--no stream "Her lips to moisten nigh, by chance she spy'd "A straw-thatch'd cot, and knock'd the humble door. "An ancient dame thence stepp'd,--the goddess saw, "And brought her, (who for water simply crav'd) "A pleasing draught where roasted grain had boil'd. "Swallowing the gift presented, rudely came "A brazen-fronted boy, and facing stood: "Then laughing mock'd to see her greedy drink. "Angry grew Ceres, all the offer'd draught, "Yet unconsum'd, she drench'd him as he jeer'd, "With barley mixt with liquid: straight his face "The spots imbib'd; and what but now as arms "He bore, as legs he carries; to his limbs "Thus chang'd, a tail is added; shrunk in size, "Small is his power to harm; shorter he seems "Than the small lizard. Swift away he fled "(As, wondering, weeping, try'd the dame to clasp "His changing form) and gain'd a sheltering hole. "Well suits his star-like skin the name he bears.