Part 16

Minos, meanwhile, the Lelegeian coast Lays waste, and on Alcathoë's town his power Essays. Here Nisus rul'd, whose reverend locks Of silvery brightness, in the midst contain'd One with rich purple splendid, sacred pledge Of fortune to his kingdom. Six times seen Were Luna's horns arising fresh renew'd; Still hover'd conquest doubtful o'er the war, On wavering pinions, 'twixt opposing hosts. A regal tower its vocal walls high-rear'd, Where once Latona's son his golden lyre Rested; the music still the stones retain'd. Oft here the beauteous daughter of the king Ascended, and the latent music drew Forth to the ear, by smallest pebbles struck. Thus she in peaceful times, and here she oft When war was raging, ventur'd: hence she saw The rough encounters of the furious field. So long the tedious warfare, well she knew The leaders' names, their arms, their prancing steeds: And knew their garments, and their Cretan bows. Far beyond all Europa's son she knew, More than became her state: this Minos well Could prove; whose head in crested helmet hid, Most beauteous helm'd appear'd: whose arm, adorn'd With brazen shield refulgent, well became The brazen shield: whose hand the tough lance whirl'd, And back withdrawn, the virgin wondering prais'd Such strength and skill combin'd: to fit the dart When to the spreading bow his strength he bent, She vow'd that Phoebus in such posture stood His arrows fitting: when, his brazen casque Relinquish'd, all his features shone display'd, As purple-rob'd his snow-white steed he press'd, In painted housings gay, and curb'd his jaws White foaming,--then the lost Nisean maid, Scarcely herself, in frantic rapture spoke:-- Blest call'd the javelin, that his hands it touch'd; Blest call'd the reins he curb'd. Arduous she burns, (Could she) through hostile ranks her virgin steps To bend: arduous she burns, from loftiest towers To fling her body in the Cretan camp. The brazen portals of the city's walls Wide to the foe she'd ope: what could she not? That Minos will'd? As resting here she view'd, The white pavilion of the Gnossian king Dubious, she cry'd;--"Or should I grieve or joy, "This mournful war to witness? Grieve I must "That Minos so belov'd should be my foe. "But had the war not been, his lovely face "Had ne'er to me been known. Now war may cease "Should I become the hostage:--I retain'd, "As Minos' comrade, and the pledge of peace. "Fairest of forms! if she who brought thee forth "Resembled thee, well might an amorous god "Burn for her beauty. O! thrice blest were I, "If borne through air on lightly-waving wings, "The Cretan monarch's camp I might explore, "And there, my rank and love disclos'd, demand "What dowry he would ask to be my spouse. "My country's towers alone, he should not seek. "Perish the joys of his expected bed, "Ere I through treason gain them! Yet full oft "A moderate victor's clemency affords "Great blessings to the vanquish'd. Doubtless, he "Just warfare wages for his murder'd son. "Strong in his cause, and in his armies strong, "Which aid that cause, he must the conquest gain. "Why, if this fate my country waits, should war, "And not my love unbar to him the gates? "So may he conquer; slaughter, toil, and blood,-- "His own dear blood, avoided. How I dread, "Lest some rash hand might that lov'd bosom wound! "None but the ignorant sure, the savage spear "At him would hurl. The scheme delights my soul: "Fixt my resolve; my country as my dower "Will I deliver, finish so the war! "But what are resolutions? Watchful guards "The passes keep; of every gate, the keys "My father careful holds. Hapless! I dread "My father only; he alone withstands "My wishes; would that so the gods had doom'd, "I had no parent! But to each himself "A god may surely be; and fortune spurns "Lazy beseechers. With such love inflam'd, "Another maid had long ere now destroy'd "All barriers to her bliss; and why than I, "Should any dare more boldly? Fearless, I "Thro' swords and flames would pass, but swords and flames "Oppose me not in this: my sole desire "Compris'd in one small lock of Nisus' hair: "Than gold that prize more dear. That purple lock "Most blest would make me, and my sole desires "Encompass."--Speaking thus, the gloomy night, Imperial nurse of cares, approach'd; more bold Her daring project with the darkness grew.

Now primal slumbers rul'd o'er weary breasts, Tir'd with their toil diurnal. Silent, she Her father's chamber enters, and (O, dire!) The daughter from her parent's head divides The fateful lock! Her wicked prize possess'd, Forth from the gate she issues; and the spoil, So cursed, with her bears; as through the hosts, (Such boldness gave the deed,) she seeks the king, Whom thus, astonish'd and aghast, she hails:-- "To wicked deeds love sways; behold me here, "Scylla, from royal Nisus sprung; to thee "My household gods and country I betray: "Thee, sole reward I seek. Pledge of my faith, "This purple lock receive, and with this lock "Receive my parent's head."--Then in her hand The impious gift presented. Minos spurn'd The parricidal present; deeply shock'd A deed so base to witness, and exclaim'd;-- "May all the gods, from every part of earth "Thee banish, scandal of our age! may land "And sea alike reject thee; such a soul "So monstrous! ne'er with me shall touch the shores "Of Crete, my land, and cradle of high Jove." He said, and on his captive foes impos'd Most just his equal laws; his men bade loose Their cables from the beach, and with their oars His vessels bright with brass, urge on the deep.

Launch'd on the main, when Scylla sees the fleet, Nor from its leader gain'd the hop'd reward, Her wicked deed had sought, tir'd of her prayers, In desperate rage she storms; wild throws her hair; Stretches her hands, exclaiming;--"Where! O, where! "Fly'st thou, the author of thy fortune left? "O, priz'd above my country! 'bove my sire! "O cruel, whither fly'st thou, whose success "At once my merit, and my fault displays? "Will not the gifted conquest move thy soul? "Will not my love thee move? Will not the thought "That all my hopes centre in thee alone? "By thee deserted, whither shall I fly? "Back to my natal town? Ruin'd it lies; "Or if still standing, fast the gates are barr'd "Against my treason. To my father's arms, "Whom I betray'd? Each citizen me hates "Deserv'dly; neighbours my example dread. "Banish'd, an exile from each spot of earth,-- "Crete only open lies. Thence dost thou drive "Me also? Ingrate! dost thou fly me so? "Europa never bore thee, but some Syrt' "Inhospitable; or some tigress fell "Bred in Armenia; or Charybdis vext "With tempests: Jove was ne'er thy sire, nor feign'd "A bull's resemblance to delude her, false "That fable of thy origin. A bull, "Real and savage thee begot, whose love "No heifer mov'd. O father Nisus! now "Exact thy vengeance. Joy, O town! betray'd "By my transgression; for the woes I feel "Most merited I grant; guilty I die: "Yet should the deadly blow be given by one "My impious fault has injur'd; not by thee, "Victor through crimes thou with avenging hate "Now persecutest. This flagitious deed "Against my country, and against my sire, "Was all for thee. Th' adultress who beguil'd "In wooden cavity the furious bull; "Whose womb an ill-assorted birth produc'd; "Well for a spouse befits thee. Do my words "Reach to thine ears, or no? Do the brisk winds, "Thou ingrate! waft my bootless plainings on, "And waft thy vessels? Wondrous now no more, "Pasiphaë, to thy embrace a bull "Preferr'd; for more unpitying is thy soul. "Joyful, ah! hapless me,--away thou fly'st; "Thy cleaving oars dash on the sounding waves: "Me, and my country far from thee recede. "O wretch! forgetful of my favoring aid, "Thou striv'st in vain to fly me. 'Gainst thy wish "Thee will I follow; on thy crooked ship "Hanging, embracing, dragg'd through drenching seas.' Scarce ending, in the waves she furious leaped, Vigorous by love, and gain'd the flying fleet; And clasp'd, unwelcome guest, the Gnossian poop. Here soon her father spy'd her (in the air He wing'd his way, now cloth'd with yellow plumes A falcon) and down darted; with his beak So curv'd, to wound her as she clung. In dread Her grasp she loos'd, and as she seem'd to fall, The light air bore her from the waves below: Plum'd she became, and form'd a feather'd bird, Ciris they call'd her from the ravish'd lock.

To Jove now Minos all his vows performs, An hecatomb of bulls; as from the fleet He lands on Gnossus' shores: his royal hall With all his spoils, on high uphung, adorn'd.

Meantime th' opprobrium of his bed increas'd: The two-formed monster in a novel birth, At length the mother's beastly crime proclaim'd. Minos, the shameful witness from his couch, Far to remove determines; in a dome Intricate winding, he resolves to lodge, From every eye conceal'd, the birth. Intrusts The work to Dædalus, in cunning arts Most fam'd, to build. He all the various marks, Confuses, puzzles; bent on either side, The various paths confound the searching eye. So in the fields the soft Mæander plays, Here refluent, flowing there with dubious course; Meeting himself, his wandering stream he sees: And urges now to whence he first arose; Now to the open outlet of the main. Thus Dædalus the numerous paths perplex'd With puzzlings intricate, so much entwin'd, Himself could scarce the outer threshold gain. Here was the double monster, man and bull Inclos'd; till by the third allotted tribe, The ninth year, vanquish'd; with Athenian blood Twice gorg'd before. Then was the secret gate, So often sought in vain, found by the aid A virgin lent to trace the winding clue. Instant for Dias, Theseus loos'd his sails, With Minos' ravish'd daughter: on that shore Cruel! he left her. The deserted nymph Wildly lamenting, Bacchus soon embrac'd, And gave her needful aid; her fame to fix Immortal in the skies, her sparkling crown, Mov'd from her forehead, 'mid the stars he plac'd: Through the thin air it flies, and as it mounts To blazing stars, the glittering jewels change. Still as a crown it shines, its station 'midst Where stout Alcides Ophiuchus grasps.

Meantime long exile, and the land of Crete Detesting; burning with a patriot's wish His native soil to visit, Dædalus, By sea escape prevented, thus exclaim'd;-- "Let earth and ocean both my flight obstruct, "Still open lies the air; through air we'll go. "Minos controlling all, controls not air."-- He speaks, and bends to unknown arts his skill, Improving Nature's gift. Quills fixt in rows He places; small at first in length and size, Gradual enlarg'd, as if a hill's steep side Growing, produc'd them: So time past the pipe, Of rustic origin, by small degrees Increasing reeds compos'd. Firm fixt with thread Their middle part he binds, and close with wax Cements their bottom. All complete he bends The composition in a gentle curve, Resembling real wings. Young Icarus Alone was present; ignorant that the work Would his destruction cause; with playful tricks He fingers now the feathers, now his hands Soften the yellow wax. His sportive wiles His father's wond'rous essay oft delay.

Now was the last completing stroke impos'd Upon his undertaking: First the sire On artificial wings his body pois'd, And in the beaten air suspended hung: Then his young offspring, Icarus, he taught.-- "This I my son advise, a middle course, "To keep be cautious; low if thou should'st skim, "Heavy with ocean's spray thy wings would droop: "If high, the sun would scorch them. Steer thy course "'Twixt each extreme. Nor would I wish thine eyes "To view Boötes, or the northern bear; "Nor yet Orion's naked sword. My track "Cautious pursue."--With anxious care he gives Rules thus for flight; and to his shoulders fits The new-form'd pinions. Tears his ancient cheeks Bedew'd, as thus his admonitions flow'd: And his paternal hands as thus employ'd, Beneath the office trembled. Warm salutes He gave the boy, nor knew he gave the last; Then on his feathers borne, explores the way, Timid for him who follows. So the bird, Tempts from her lofty nest her new-fledg'd brood, In the thin air. He bids him close pursue, Tries in each shape to teach the fatal skill; Shakes his own pinions, bending back to view His son's. The angler as with quivering reed, He drew his prey to land; the shepherd-swain, As o'er his staff he lean'd; the ploughman-clown, Their flight astonish'd saw, and deem'd them gods, That so at will could cleave the liquid sky.

Now Samos, Juno's favor'd isle they pass'd, Delos, and Paros, all to left;--to right Labyrithos lay, and rich in honey'd sweets Calymné: when the heedless boy o'erjoy'd In his bold flight, the precepts of his guide Contemning, soar'd to heaven a loftier range. The neighbouring sun's fierce heat the fragrant wax Which bound, his pinions, soften'd. Soon the wax Dissolves; and now his naked arms he waves; But destitute of power his course to steer, No air his arms can gather; loud he calls His father's name, as in the azure deep He drops,--the deep which still his name retains.

The hapless parent, not a parent now, Loud calls on Icarus;--"Where art thou, son? "Where shall I seek thee, Icarus?"--He said, And spy'd his feathers floating on the waves: Then curs'd his hapless art, as in the earth, He deep intomb'd him; all the land around Bears from the youth intomb'd its present name.

The whirring partridge, from a branchy holm Beheld him, as beneath the turf he plac'd His son's lamented body, and with joy Flutter'd his feathers; while his chirping song Proclaim'd his gladness: then the only bird Known of his kind, in elder days unseen; But lately cloth'd with feathers, through the crime Flagitious, Dædalus, of thee! To thee, Thy sister, witless how his fate was doom'd, Her son committed for instructing art, When twice six annual suns the youth had seen; His docile mind best fitted then to learn. He well th' indented bones remark'd, which form The fish's spiny back, and in like mode, Sharp steel indenting, first the saw produc'd For public service. Two steel arms he join'd Fixt to one orb above; each widely stretch'd, One steady rests, the other circling turns. Him Dædalus with envy viewing, forc'd Headlong, from sacred Pallas' lofty tower, His death feign'd accidental: but the maid Divine, to all ingenious minds a friend, Receiv'd him in his fall; chang'd to a bird, On pinions bore him through the middle air. His vigorous powers in force remain the same, But change their seat; rapid he flies, and quick He races on the ground; his name remains Unalter'd: still the cautious bird declines To trust his weight aloft, nor forms his nest On lofty boughs, or summits of high trees: Nigh to the earth he skims; beneath the hedge His shelly brood deposits; of his fall Still mindful, towering heights he always shuns.

Now Dædalus, with lengthen'd flight fatigu'd, Sicilia's realm receiv'd; whose king humane, Great Cocalus, mov'd with his suppliant pray'r, Arm'd to assist him. Now by Theseus freed, Athens no more the mournful tribute paid. With garlands every temple gay they hang, Invoke the warlike maid, the mighty Jove, And every deity: their altars all With promis'd blood they honor; with rich gifts, And fragrant incense. Now had wandering fame Through all the Grecian towns, spread the renown Of Theseus: and the rich Achaïa's tribes His aid implor'd, when mighty perils press'd. Ev'n Calydon, though Meleager brave Possessing, sought his help with suppliant words. The cause, a furious boar by Dian' sent, Avenging instrument of slighted power.

OEneus, from plenteous harvests' full success Rejoicing, primal fruits to Ceres gave; To Bacchus pour'd libations of his wine; To yellow-hair'd Minerva offer'd oil: The rites invidious, from the rural gods Commencing, all the bright celestials shar'd. Latona's daughter only, in her fane, Nor flames nor offerings on her altar saw. Rage fires ev'n heavenly breasts.--"Not unreveng'd,"-- She cry'd,--shall this be suffer'd; honor'd not! "Not unappeas'd by vengeance will I rest."-- Then through th' OEneian fields the maid, despis'd, Sends the fierce boar to ravage. Such his size, The bulls that in Epirus' pastures graze More huge appear not: in Sicilia's meads Far less are seen. Red are his sparkling eyes, Fire mixt with blood; high rears his fearful neck, Thick clustering spears the threatening bristles seem: Hoarse as he grunts, down his wide shoulders spreads The boiling foam: his tusks the tusks outvie Of India's hugest beast: the lightening's blast, Driven from his mouth, burns all the verdant leaves. Now o'er the corn, but yet in budding ears, He tramples, immature he reaps the crop; The loud-lamenting tiller's hopes destroy'd: The harvest intercepting in the shoot. In vain the barns, the granaries in vain, Their promis'd loads expect. Prostrate alike Are thrown the fruitful clusters of the vine, With shooting tendrils; and the olive's fruit With branches ever-blooming. On the flocks He rages: these not shepherds, not their dogs Could save; nor could the furious bull his herd. Wide fled the people; safety none durst hope Save in their cities' walls; till thirst of fame Fir'd Meleager, with his chosen band Of valiant youths. And first were seen the twins Of Tyndarus, for wond'rous skill renown'd, This at the cæstus, that to curb the steed: Jason, whose art the primal ship design'd: Theseus, in happy concord with his friend Pirithous, join'd: Thestius' two valiant sons: Lynceus, Aphareus' offspring: Idas swift: Leucippus fierce: Acastus unexcell'd To dart the javelin: Cæneus, now no more Cloth'd in a female figure: Phoenix, sprung From old Amyntor: Actor's equal sons: Hippothoös: Dryas: and from Elis' town Dispatch'd, came Phileus. Nor was absent there, Brave Telamon, nor great Achilles' sire: Nor stout Eurytion; with Pheretus' son: Nor Hyantean Iölaüs brave: Echion in speed unconquer'd: Nestor then In primal youth: Lelex, Narycian born: Panopeus: Hyleus: Hippasus the fierce: Nor those whom Hippocoön sent in aid, From old Amyclæ: nor Ulysses' sire: Ancæus of Parrhasia: Mopsus sage: Amphiareus, then by his false spouse's guile Betray'd not. With them Atalanta came, The grace and glory of Arcadia's woods. A shining buckle from the ground confin'd Her garment's border: simply bound, her hair One knot confin'd: her ivory quiver, slung O'er her left shoulder, sounded as she stepp'd: Her hand sustain'd a bow: and thus array'd Appear'd her form. Her lineaments disclos'd, What scarce might feminine in boys appear; Or hardly boyish in a virgin's face. The chief of Calydon the maid beheld,-- Beheld, and lov'd: while heaven his love oppos'd. The secret flames inhaling deep, he cry'd,-- "O, blessed youth! if youth to gain thy hand "Worthy were deem'd!"--Nor bashful shame, nor time Would more allow; a mightier deed now claim'd Their utmost efforts for the furious war.