Chapter 17

Darken'd with trees thick-growing, rose a wood; From earliest ages there the biting axe Had never sounded; in the plain it rear'd Facing the sloping fields. The youths arriv'd; Some spread the knotted toils; some loose the hounds; Some strive the foot-prints of the boar to trace, Their danger anxious seeking. Low beneath A hollow vale extended, where the floods Fresh showery torrents gather'd, lazy laid. The flexile willow, and the waving reed; The fenny bulrush, osier, and the cane Diminutive, the stagnant depth conceal'd. Arous'd from hence, the boar impetuous rush'd Amidst his host of foes; so lightenings dart When clouds concussive clash. His rapid force Levels the grove, the crackling trees resound Where'er he pushes: loud the joyful youth Exclaim, each grasping with a nervous hand His weapon brandish'd, while its broad head shakes. Forward he darts, the dogs he scatters wide, And each opposing power; his strokes oblique Their baying drives to distance. Echion's arm Hurl'd the first dart, but hurl'd the dart in vain; Lightly a maple's trunk the weapon graz'd. The next, but over-urg'd the force that sent, Had pierc'd the rough back of the wish'd-for prey; Jason's the steel,--it whizz'd beyond him far. Then Mopsus pray'd,--"O Phoebus! if thy rites "I e'er perform'd, if still I thee adore, "Grant my sure weapon what I wish to touch." The god consented, what he could he gave,-- The boar was struck, but struck without a wound: Diana from the flying weapon snatch'd The steely head, and pointless fell the wood. More chafes the beast, like lightening fierce he burns, Fire from his eyeballs flashes, from his chest Clouds of hot smoke through his wide nostrils roll. Forc'd from the close-drawn string as flies a stone, Hurl'd at embattl'd walls, or hostile towers With foes thick crowded: so the deadly beast Rush'd on the heroes with unerring shock. Eupalamus and Pelagon, who stood The right wing guarding, on the earth he threw: Their fellows snatch'd them from impending fate. Not so Onesimus, of Hippocoön The offspring, 'scap'd the death-inflicting blow; Torn through the ham, just as for flight he turn'd; His slacken'd nerves could bear his weight no more. Then Nestor too, long e'er the Trojan times, Perchance had perish'd, but beside him stood A tree, whose branches nimbly he attain'd; A mighty effort, aided by his spear: Safe in his seat, he view'd the foe he fled, Beneath him. Fiercely threatening death below, He whets his tushes on a stumpy oak, And bold in sharpen'd arms, ranches the thigh, With crooked fangs, of Othrys' mighty son. Now the twin-brothers, ere in heaven display'd Bright constellations, both fair dazzling shone, Mounted on steeds, whose lily'd hue surpass'd Th' unsully'd snow; both shook their brandish'd spears, The trembling motion sounded high in air; Deep both had pierc'd, but 'mid the darkening trees, Their bristly foe sought refuge, where nor steed, Nor dart could reach him. Telamon pursues; Ardent, and heedless of his steps, a root Checks his quick feet, and prone the hero falls. While Peleus aids his brother chief to rise, The beauteous Atalanta to the string Fits the swift dart, and from the bended bow Speeds it; the arrow, fixt beneath his ear, Razes the monster's skin, and drops of blood His bristly neck ensanguine. Joys the maid To see the blow;--but Meleager far In joy surpass'd her. He the first beheld The trickling blood; he to his comrades first The wound display'd, exclaiming,--"Yon fair nymph "The honors so deserv'dly won shall bear."-- The warriors blush with shame, and each exhorts His fellow; shouts their souls more valiant swell; In heaps confus'd their numerous javelins fly; Clashing in crowds, each javelin fails to wound. Lo! now Ancæus furious, to his fate Blind rushing, rears his double axe, and cries,-- "Behold, O youths! how much a manly arm "Outstrikes a female's, to my prowess yield "The palm of conquest. Let Latona's maid "With all her power protect him, yet my force, "Spite of Diana, shall the monster slay."-- Proud his big-boasting tongue thus speaks, then grasps His two-edg'd weapon firmly in his hands, And rais'd on tiptoe meditates the blow. The watchful beast prevents him, through his groin, To death sure passage, drives his double tusks: Ancæus drops; his bowels gushing fall, Roll on the earth, and soak the ground in gore. Ixion's son, Pirithous, on the foe Rush'd, in his nervous hand a powerful spear Brandishing; Theseus loudly to his friend Exclaim'd,--"O, dearer far than is myself,-- "Half of my soul, at distance wait; the brave "At distance may engage; valor too rash "Destroy'd Ancæus."--As he spoke he hurl'd His massive cornel spear; its brazen head Well pois'd, its sender's anxious wish appear'd Fair to accomplish, when a leafy arm Branch'd from a beech, oppos'd it in its flight. Next Æson's son, his javelin threw, but chance Glanc'd from its mark the weapon, and transpierc'd An undeserving hound; the dart was drove Through all his belly, and deep fixt in earth. But different fortune on the arms awaits Of Meleager, javelins two he sent; Deep in the ground the foremost pierc'd, the next Firm in the monster's back quivering stood fixt. Nor stays he, whilst he raging furious whirl'd In giddy circles round, and pour'd his foam, Mad with the new-felt torture, close at hand The hero plies his work, provokes his foe To fiercer ire, and in his furious breast Buries the glittering spear. A second shout Loudly proclaims his thronging comrades' joy; Each to the victor crowding, hand in hand Congratulating grasps him; each amaz'd Views the dire savage, as his mighty bulk O'erspreads a space of land. Scarce think they yet Their safety sure, him touching; each his spear Extends, and dips it in the flowing gore. His foot upon the head destructive fixt, The conquering youth thus speaks:--"Nonacria fair! "Receive the spoil my fortune well might claim: "Fresh glory shall I gain, with thee to share "The honors of the day."--Then gives the spoils;-- The chine with horrid bristles rising stiff, And head, fierce threatening still with mighty tusks. She takes the welcome gift, for much she joys From him to take it. Envy seiz'd the rest, And sullen murmurs through the comrades ran: Above the rest, were Thestius' sons,--their arms Out-stretching, clamor'd thus with a mighty noise;-- "Let not thy beauteous form thy mind deceive, "When from thy eyes the donor of the spoil, "Besotted with thy love, shall far be mov'd. "Woman! restore the prize, nor hope to hold "Our intercepted claims."--Speaking they rob Her of the gift, him of the right to give. Nor passive stood the warlike youth, his teeth He gnash'd with swelling rage, as fierce he cry'd;-- "Learn, ye base robbers of another's rights, "What difference threats and valiant actions shew.--" Then in Plexippus' unsuspecting breast He plung'd his impious sword: nor suffer'd long Toxeus to doubt, who hesitating stood, Now vengeance brooding for his brother's fate, Now dreading for himself a like swift blow; Again he warms the weapon, reeking still Hot from Plexippus' bosom, in his blood.

To every temple of the favoring gods Althæa bore donations for her son, Victorious: When the breathless bodies came Of both her brethren, loud the sounding blows Of grief were heard, and all the city rung With lamentable cries: her golden robes Were straight to sable chang'd. But when the hand Which struck the blow was known, her every tear Was dry'd, and vengeance only fill'd her soul. A log there lay when Thestius' daughter groan'd In child-bed pangs; which on the greedy flames The triple sisters flung; and while their thumbs Twirl'd round the fatal thread, this was their song;-- "O newly born! to thee and to this bough "Like date of life we give."--Then ceas'd their words, And from her presence vanish'd: sudden snatch'd The mother from the fire the burning brand, And quench'd it instant in unsparing streams. Long in most secret darkness had she hid This fatal wood; and, thus preserv'd, her son Had safely years mature attain'd; but now Forth she produc'd it from its close recess. Fragments of torches on the hearth she heap'd, And blew the sparklings into deadly flames; And thrice she rais'd her hands the branch to heave On the fierce fire; and thrice her hands withdrew. Sister and mother in one bosom fought, To adverse acts impelling. Oft her face, Dread of her meditated crime, bleach'd pale; Oft to her eyes her furious rage supply'd A fiery redness; now her countenance glow'd With threatenings cruel; now her softening looks To pity seemed to melt; and when fierce ire Had fill'd her soul, and parch'd up every tear, Fresh tears would gush. Thus rocks a vessel, driven By winds and adverse currents, both their force At once obeys, and can to neither yield. Thus waver'd Thestius' daughter, dubious thus Affection sway'd her; now her rage is calm, Now her calm'd rage with fourfold fury burns. At length the sister's o'er the parent's tie The prevalence obtains; impiously good, With blood her own, she soothes the brethren's shades. Now, when the fires destructive fiercely glar'd, She cry'd:--"Here, funeral pile, my bowels burn!--" And as the fatal wood her direful hand Held forth, the hapless mother, at the pyre Sepulchral, stood, exclaiming;--"Furies three! "Avenging sisters! hither turn your eyes; "Behold the furious sacred rites I pay: "For retribution I commit this crime. "By death their death must be aveng'd; his fault "By mine be punish'd; on their funeral biers "His must be laid; one sinning house must fall, "In woes accumulated. Blest shall still "OEneus enjoy his proud victorious son, "And Thestius childless mourn? Better that both "Should weep in concert. Dear fraternal ghosts, "Recent from upper air, my work behold! "Take to th' infernal realms my offering bought "So dear! the hapless pledge my womb produc'd.

"Ah! whither am I swept? Brothers forgive "The parent. Lo! my faltering hands refuse "To second my intents. Well he deserves "To perish; yet by other hands than mine. "Unpunish'd shall he 'scape then? Victor live, "Proud of his high success, and rule the realm "Of Calydon, while ye are prostrate thrown "A trivial heap of ashes, and cold shades? "Patience no more will bear. Perish the wretch! "Perish his father's hopes! perish the realm! "And all the country perish! Where? O, where? "Is then the mother's soul, the pious prayers "A parent should prefer? Where the strong pains "Which twice five moons I bore? O, that the flames "First kindled, had thy infant limbs consum'd! "Would I had not then snatch'd thee from thy fate! "Thy gift of life is mine; now that thou dy'st "Thy own demerits ask: take the reward "Thy deeds deserve: yield up thy twice-given life, "First in thy birth, then by the brand I sav'd; "Or lay me with my brethren in their tomb. "I wish, yet what I would my hands refuse. "What will my soul determine? Now mine eyes "The mangled corses of my brethren fill: "Now filial fondness, and a mother's name "Distract my soul. O, wretched, wretched me! "Brothers you gain the conquest, yet you gain "Dearly for me; but on your shades I'll wait, "Blest in what gives you once to me again." She said; with face averse and trembling hand, The fateful brand amid the fires was dropt. The brand a groan deep utter'd, or a groan To utter seem'd: the flames half backward caught At length their prey, which gradually consum'd.

Witless of this sad deed, and absent far, Fierce Meleager, with the self-same fire Burn'd inward; all his vitals felt the flame Scorching conceal'd: th' excruciating pangs Magnanimous he bore. Yet deep he mourn'd By such a slothful bloodless fate to fall; And happy call'd Ancæus in his wounds. With deep-drawn groans he calls his aged sire, His brother, sisters, and the nymph belov'd, Who shar'd his nuptial couch; with final breath, His mother too perchance. Now glows the fire, And now the pains increase; now both are faint; Now both together die. The soul flies forth, And gently dissipates in empty air.

Low now lies lofty Calydon,--the youths, And aged seniors weep; the vulgar crowd And nobles mourn alike; the matrons rend Their garments, beat their breasts, and tear their hair. Stretch'd on the earth the wretched sire defiles His hoary locks, and aged face with dust, Cursing his lengthen'd years: the conscious hand Which caus'd the direful end, the mother's fate Accomplish'd; through her vitals pierc'd the steel.

Had heaven on me an hundred tongues bestow'd, With sounding voice, and such capacious wit As all might fill; and all the Muses' power, Still should I fail the grieving sisters' woe Justly to paint. Heedless of beauteous forms They beat their bosoms livid; while the corse Remains, they clasp and cherish in their arms The senseless mass; the corse they kiss, and kiss The couch on which it rests: to ashes burn'd, Careful collected in the urn, they hug Those ashes to their breasts; and prostrate thrown His tomb they cover; on the graven stone Embrace his name; and on the letters pour Their tears in torrents. Dian' satiate now The house of OEneus levell'd with the dust, Rais'd them by wings in air, which sudden shot From each their bodies. Gorgé sole, and she The spouse of valiant Hercules, unchang'd Were left. Long pinions for their arms were seen; Their mouths to horny bills were turn'd; through air Thus alter'd, ample range the goddess gives.

Theseus meantime, the toil confederate done, Homeward to Pallas' towers his journey bent; But Acheloüs, swol'n by showery floods, Delay'd his progress. "Fam'd Cecropia's chief,"-- He cry'd,--"here shelter, enter 'neath my roof, "Nor through the furious torrents trust thy steps. "Whole forests oft they root, and whirl along "Vast rocks with thundering sound. High stalls I've seen, "Near to the banks erected, swept away: "Nor aught avail'd the lusty bull's strong limbs, "Nor aught the courser's speed: the torrents oft "Of melted snows, which from the mountains rush, "Whelm the strong youths beneath the whirling pool. "To rest is safer, till their wonted banks "Again the streams confine; the lessen'd waves "Within their channels pent."--Theseus complies, And answers:--"Acheloüs, we approve "Thy prudent counsel, and thy cave will use," The grot they enter; hollow pumice, mixt With rugged tophus, form'd it; tender moss The moist floor cover'd; fretwork on the roof The purple murex and the scallop white Alternate form'd. Now Phoebus' steeds had run Two thirds their race, when Theseus on his couch Reclin'd, the comrades of his toil close by; Pirithous here, Troezenian Lelex there, Whose temples now some silvery hairs display'd. With these were such as Acheloüs, joy'd At such a noble guest, the honor deem'd Worthy to share. The barefoot Naiäd nymphs Heap'd on the board the banquet: food remov'd, They brought the wine, in cups with jewels deck'd.

The mighty hero then, the distant main Surveying, asks:--"What land is that I see?--" And shews the spot,--"tell me what name denotes "That isle? and yet methinks not one it seems." The river-god replies:--"What we behold "A single isle is not, but five; the eye "Is mock'd by distance. That Diana's wrath "May less your wonder move, these once were nymphs. "Ten bullocks had they sacrific'd, and call'd "Each rural god to taste the sacred feast, "And join the festal chorus, me alone, "Forgetful, they invited not. Sore vext, "I swell'd with rage, and as my anger rose, "My flood increas'd; till at my greatest height, "Woods I divorc'd from woods; from meadows tore "The neighbouring meadows; and the Naiäds roll'd, "Now well-remembering what my godhead claim'd, "Down with their habitations to the main. "My waves then, with the ocean's waters join'd, "The land divided, and those isles you view, "Echinades, amid the sea were form'd.

"More distant may your vision reach;--behold "An isle beyond them to my soul most dear; "By sailors nam'd Perimelé. I snatch'd "Her virgin-treasure from the much-lov'd maid. "Hippodamas her sire in fury rav'd; "And, from a precipice, the pregnant nymph "Plung'd in the deep. My waves receiv'd the load; "And whilst I bore her floating, thus I said;-- "O, trident-bearer, thou whom lot decreed "Lord, next to heaven, o'er all the wandering waves, "Where all the sacred rivers end their course; "To which all rivers tend, O, Neptune, aid! "Propitious, hear my prayer! Much have I wrong'd "The nymph I now support: if lenient he, "And equitable, sure Hippodamas, "Her sire, had pity granted, and myself "Had pardon'd. Gracious Neptune, grant thy help "To her a parent's fury from the earth "Wide banishes. O, I beseech thee! grant "A place to her, paternal rage would drown: "Or to a place transform her, where my waves "May clasp her still. The ocean-god consents, "And all his waters shake as nods his head. "Still floats th' affrighted nymph; and as she swims, "I feel her heart with trepid motion beat: "While pressing fond her bosom, all her form "Rigidly firm becomes, and round her chest "Rough earth heaps high; and, whilst I wondring speak, "A new-form'd land her floating limbs enclasps: "Her shape transform'd, a solid isle becomes."