Part 5

Yet not this thy promise of old, thy dearly remembered Voice, not these the delights thou bad'st thy poor one inherit; 140 Nay, but wedlock happy, but envied joy hymeneal; All now melted in air, with a light wind emptily fleeting.

Let not a woman trust, since that first treason, a lover's Desperate oath, none hope true lover's promise is earnest. They, while fondly to win their amorous humour essayeth, 145 Fear no covetous oath, all false free promises heed not; They if once lewd pleasure attain unruly possession, Lo they fear not promise, of oath or perjury reck not.

Yet indeed, yet I, when floods of death were around thee, Set thee on high, did rather a brother choose to defend not, 150 Ere I, in hate's last hour, false heart, fail'd thee to deliver.

Now, for a goodly reward, to the beasts they give me, the flying Fowls; no handful of earth shall bury me, pass'd to the shadows.

What grim lioness yeaned thee, aneath what rock's desolation? What wild sea did bear, what billows foamy regorged thee? 155 Seething sand, or Scylla the snare, or lonely Charybdis? If for a life's dear joy comes back such only requital?

Hadst not a will with spousal an honour'd wife to receive me? Awed thee a father stern, cross age's churlish avising? Yet to your household thou, your kindred palaces olden, 160 Might'st have led me, to wait, joy-filled, a retainer upon thee, Now in waters clear thy feet like ivory laving, Clothing now thy bed with crimson's gorgeous apparel.

Yet to the brutish winds why moan I longer unheeded, Crazy with an ill wrong? They senseless, voiceless, inhuman 165 Utter'd cry they hear not, in answers hollow reply not. He rides far already, the mid sea's boundary cleaving, Strays no mortal along these weeds stretched lonely about me. Thus to my utmost need chance, spitefuller injury dealing, Grudges an ear, where yet might lamentation have entry. 170

Jove, almighty, supreme, O would that never in early Time on Gnossian earth great Cecrops' navies had harbour'd, Ne'er to that unquell'd bull with a ransom of horror atoning, Moor'd on Crete his cable a shipman's wily dishonour. Never in youth's fair shape such ruthless stratagem hiding 175 He, that vile one, a guest found with us a safe habitation.

Whither flee then afar? what hope, poor lost one, upholds thee? Mountains Idomenean? alas, broad surges of ocean Part us, a rough rude space of flowing water, asunder. Trust in a father's help? how trust, whom darkly deserting, 180 Him I turned to alone, my brother's bloody defier? Nay, but a loyal lover, a hand pledg'd surely, shall ease me. Surely; for o'er wide water his oars move flexibly fleeting.

Also a desert lies this region, a tenantless island, Nowhere open way, seas splash in circle around me, 185 Nowhere flight, no glimmer of hope; all mournfully silent, Loneliness all, all points me to death, death only remaining.

Yet these luminous orbs shall sink not feebly to darkness, Yet from grief-worn limbs shall feeling wholly depart not, Till to the gods I cry, the betrayed, for justice on evil, 190 Sue for life's last mercy the great federation of heaven.

Then, O sworn to requite man's evil wrathfully, Powers Gracious, on whose grim brows, with viper tresses inorbed, Looks red-breathing forth your bosom's feverous anger;

Now, yea now come surely, to these loud miseries harken, 195 All I cry, the afflicted, of inmost marrow arising, Desolate, hot with pain, with blinding fury bewilder'd.

Yet, for of heart they spring, grief's children truly begotten, Verily, Gods, these moans you will not idly to perish. But with counsel of evil as he forsook me deceiving, 200 Death to his house, to his heart, bring also counsel of evil.

When from an anguish'd heart these words stream'd sorrowful upwards, Words which on iron deeds did sue for deadly requital, Bow'd with a nod of assent almighty the ruler of heaven. With that dreadful motion aneath earth's hollow, the ruffled 205 Ocean shook, and stormy the stars 'gan tremble in ether. Thereto his heart thick-sown with blindness cloudily dark'ning, Thought not of all those words, Theseus, from memory fallen, Words which his heedful soul had kept immovable ever. Nor to his eager sire fair token of happy returning 210 Rais'd, when his eyes safe-sighted Erectheus' populous haven. Once, so stories tell, when Pallas' city behind him Leaving, Theseus' fleet to the winds given hopefully parted, Clasping then his son spake Aegeus, straitly commanding.

Son, mine only delight, than life more lovely to gaze on, 215 Son, whom needs it faints me to launch full-tided on hazards, Whom my winter of years hath laid so lately before me:

Since my fate unkindly, thy own fierce valour unheeding, Needs must wrest thee away, ere yet these dimly-lit eye-balls Feed to the full on thee, thy worshipt body beholding; 220

Neither in exultation of heart I send thee a-warring; Nor to the fight shalt bear fair fortune's happier earnest; Rather, first in cries mine heart shall lighten her anguish, When greylocks I sully with earth, with sprinkle of ashes;

Next to the swaying mast shall a sail hang duskily swinging; 225 So this grief, mine own, this burning sorrow within me, Want not a sign, dark shrouds of Iberia, sombre as iron.

Then, if haply the queen, lone ranger on haunted Itonus, Pleas'd to defend our people, Erectheus' safe habitations, Frown not, allow thine hand that bull all redly to slaughter, 230

Look that warily then deep-laid in steady remembrance, These our words grow greenly, nor age move on to deface them;

Soon as on home's fair hills thine eyes shall signal a welcome, See that on each straight yard down droop their funeral housings, Whitely the tight-strung cordage a sparkling canvas aloft swing, 235

Which to behold straightway with joy shall cheer me, with inward Joy, when a prosperous hour shall bring to thee happy returning.

So for a while that charge did Theseus faithfully cherish. Last, it melted away, as a cloud which riven in ether Breaks to the blast, high peak and spire snow-silvery leaving. 240 But from a rock's wall'd eyrie the father wistfully gazing, Father whose eyes, care-dimm'd, wore hourly for ever a-weeping, Scarcely the wind-puff'd sail from afar 'gan darken upon him, Down the precipitous heights headlong his body he hurried, Deeming Theseus surely by hateful destiny taken. 245 So to a dim death-palace, alert from victory, Theseus Came, what bitter sorrow to Minos' daughter his evil Perjury gave, himself with an even sorrow atoning. She, as his onward keel still moved, still mournfully follow'd; Passion-stricken, her heart a tumultuous image of ocean. 250

Also upon that couch, flush'd youthfully, breathless Iacchus Roam'd with a Satyr-band, with Nisa-begot Sileni; Seeking thee, Ariadna, aflame thy beauty to ravish. Wildly behind they rushed and wildly before to the folly, Euhoe rav'd, Euhoe with fanatic heads gyrated; 255 Some in womanish hands shook rods cone-wreathed above them, Some from a mangled steer toss'd flesh yet gorily streaming; Some girt round them in orbs, snakes gordian, intertwining; Some with caskets deep did blazon mystical emblems, Emblems muffled darkly, nor heard of spirit unholy. 260 Part with a slender palm taborines beat merrily jangling; Now with a cymbal slim would a sharp shrill tinkle awaken; Often a trumpeter horn blew murmurous, hoarsely resounding. Rose on pipes barbaric a jarring music of horror.

Such, wrought rarely, the shapes this quilt did richly apparel, 265 Where to the couch close-clasped it hung thick veils of adorning. So to the full heart-sated of all their curious eying, Thessaly's youth gave place to the Gods high-throned in heaven. As, when dawn is awake, light Zephyrus even-breathing Brushes a sleeping sea, which slant-wise curved in edges 270 Breaks, while mounts Aurora the sun's high journey to welcome; They, first smitten faintly by his most airy caressing, Move slow on, light surges a plashing silvery laughter; Soon with a waxing wind they crowd them apace, thick-fleeting, Swim in a rose-red glow and far off sparkle in Ocean; 275 So thro' column'd porch and chambers sumptuous hieing, Thither or hither away, that company stream'd, home-wending.

First from Pelion height, when they were duly departed, Chiron came, in his hand green gifts of flowery forest. All that on earth's leas blooms, what blossoms Thessaly nursing 280 Breeds on mountainous heights, what near each showery river Swells to the warm west-wind, in gales of foison alighting; These did his own hands bear in girlonds twined of all hues, That to the perfume sweet for joy laugh'd gaily the palace. Follow'd straight Penios, awhile his bowery Tempe, 285 Tempe, shrined around in shadowy woods o'erhanging, Left to the bare-limb'd maids Magnesian, airily ranging. No scant carrier he; tall root-torn beeches his heavy Burden, bays stemm'd stately, in heights exalted ascending. Thereto the nodding plane, and that lithe sister of youthful 290 Phaethon flame-enwrapt, and cypress in air upspringing: These in breadths inwoven he heap'd close-twin'd to the palace, Whereto the porch wox green, with soft leaves canopied over.

Him did follow anear, deep heart and wily, Prometheus, Scarr'd and wearing yet dim traces of early dishonour, 295 All which of old his body to flint fast-welded in iron, Bore and dearly abied, on slippery crags suspended. Last with his awful spouse, with children goodly, the sovran Father approach'd; thou, Phoebus, alone, his warder in heaven, Left, with that dear sister, on Idrus ranger eternal. 300 Peleus sister alike and brother in high misprision Held, nor lifted a torch when Thetis wedded at even. So when on ivory thrones they rested, snowily gleaming, Many a feast high-pil'd did load each table about them; Whiles to a tremor of age their gray infirmity rocking, 305 Busy began that chant which speaketh surely the Parcae.

Round them a folding robe their weak limbs aguish hiding, Fell bright-white to the feet, with a purple border of issue. Wreaths sat on each hoar crown, whose snows flush'd rosy beneath them; Still each hand fulfilled its pious labour eternal. 310 Singly the left upbore in wool soft-hooded a distaff, Whereto the right large threads down drawing deftly, with upturn'd Fingers shap'd them anew; then thumbs earth-pointed in even Balance twisted a spindle on orb'd wheels smoothly rotating. So clear'd softly between and tooth-nipt even it ever 315 Onward moved; still clung on wan lips, sodden as ashes, Shreds all woolly from out that soft smooth surface arisen. Lastly before their feet lay fells, white, fleecy, refulgent, Warily guarded they in baskets woven of osier. They, as on each light tuft their voice smote louder approaching, 320 Pour'd grave inspiration, a prophet chant to the future, Chant which an after-time shall tax of vanity never.

O in valorous acts thy wondrous glory renewing, Rich Aemathia's arm, great sire of a goodlier issue, Hark on a joyous day what prophet-story the sisters 325 Open surely to thee; and you, what followeth after, Guide to a long-drawn thread and run with destiny, spindles.

Soon shall approach, and bear the delight long-wish'd for of husbands, Hesper, a bride shall approach in starlight happy presented, Softly to sway thy soul in love's completion abiding, 330 Soon in a trance with thee of slumber dreamy to mingle, Making smooth round arms thy clasp'd throat sinewy pillow. Trail ye a long-drawn thread and run with destiny, spindles.

Never hath house closed yet o'er loves so blissful uniting, Never love so well his children in harmony knitten, 335 So as Thetis agrees, as Peleus bendeth according. Trail ye a long-drawn thread and run with destiny, spindles.

You shall a son see born that knows not terror, Achilles, One whose back no foe, whose front each knoweth in onset; Often a conqueror, he, where feet course swiftly together, 340 Steps of a fire-fleet doe shall leave in his hurry behind him. Trail ye a long-drawn thread and run with destiny, spindles.

Him to resist in war, no champion hero ariseth, Then on Phrygian earth when carnage Trojan is utter'd; Then when a long sad strife shall Troy's crown'd city beleaguer, 345 Waste her a third false heir from Pelops wary descending. Trail ye a long-drawn thread and run with destiny, spindles.

His unmatchable acts, his deeds of glorious honour, Oft shall mothers speak o'er sons untimely departed; While from crowns earth-bow'd fall loosen'd silvery tresses, 350 Beat on shrivell'd breasts weak palms their dusky defacing. Trail ye a long-drawn thread and run with destiny, spindles.

As some labourer ears close-cluster'd lustily lopping, Under a flaming sun, mows fields ripe-yellow in harvest, _So, in fury of heart, shall death's stern reaper, Achilles_, Charge Troy's children afield and fell them grimly with iron. 355 Trail ye a long-drawn thread and run with destiny, spindles.

Deeds of such high glory Scamander's river avoucheth, Hurried in eddies afar thro' boisterous Hellespontus; Then when a slaughter'd heap his pathway watery choking, Brimmeth a warm red tide and blood with water allieth. 360 Trail ye a long-drawn thread and run with destiny, spindles.

Voucher of him last riseth a prey untimely devoted E'en to the tomb, which mounded in heaps, high, spherical, earthen, Grants to the snow-white limbs, to the stricken maiden a welcome. Trail ye a long-drawn thread and run with destiny, spindles. 365

Scarcely the war-worn Greeks shall win such favour of heaven, Neptune's bonds of stone from Dardan city to loosen, Dankly that high-heav'd grave shall gory Polyxena crimson. She as a lamb falls smitten a twin-edg'd falchion under, Boweth on earth weak knees, her limbs down flingeth unheeding. 370 Trail ye a long-drawn thread and run with destiny, spindles.

Up then, fair paramours, in fond love happily mingle. Now in blessed treaty the bridegroom welcome a goddess; Now give a bride long-veil'd to her husband's passionate yearning. Trail ye a long-drawn thread and run with destiny, spindles. 375

Her when duly the nurse with day-light early revisits, Necklace of yester-night--she shall not clasp it about her. Trail ye a long-drawn thread and run with destiny, spindles.

Nor shall a mother fond, o'er brawls unlovely dishearten'd, Lay her alone, or cease the delight of children awaiting. 380 Trail ye a long-drawn thread and run with destiny, spindles.

In such prelude old, such good-night ditty to Peleus, Sang their deep divination, ineffable, holy, the Parcae. Such as in ages past, upon houses godly descending, Houses of heroes came, in mortal company present, 385 Gods high-throned in heaven, while yet was worship in honour.

Often a sovran Jove, in his own bright temple appearing, Yearly, whene'er his day did rites ceremonial usher, Gazed on an hundred slain, on strong bulls heavily falling. Often on high Parnassus a roving Liber in hurried 390 Frenzy the Thyiads drave, their locks blown loosely, before him. While all Delphi's city in eager jealousy trooping, Blithely receiv'd their god on fuming festival altars. Mavors often amidst encounter mortal of armies, Streaming Triton's queen, or maid Ramnusian awful, 395 Stood in body before them, a fainting host to deliver.

Only when heinous sin earth's wholesome purity blasted, When from covetous hearts fled justice sadly retreating, Then did a brother his hands dye deep in blood of a brother, Lightly the son forgat his parents' piteous ashes. 400 Lightly the son's young grave his father pray'd for, an unwed Maiden, a step-dame fair in freer luxury clasping. Then did mother unholy to son that knew not abase her, Shamefully, fear'd not unholy the blessed dead to dishonour. Human, inhuman alike, in wayward infamy blending, 405 Turned far from us away that righteous counsel of heaven. Therefore proudly the Gods such sinful company view not, Bear not day-light clear upon immortality breathing.

LXV.

Though, outworn with sorrow, with hours of torturous anguish, Ortalus, I no more tarry the Muses among; Though from a fancy deprest fair blooms of poesy budding Rise not at all; such grief rocks me, uneasily stirr'd:

Coldly but even now mine own dear brother in ebbing 5 Lethe his ice-wan feet laveth, a shadowy ghost. He whom Troy's deep bosom, a shore Rhoetean above him, Rudely denies these eyes, heavily crushes in earth.

Ah! no more to address thee, or hear thy kindly replying, Brother! O e'en than life round me delightfuller yet, 10 Ne'er to behold thee again! Still love shall fail not alone in Fancy to muse death's dark elegy, closely to weep. Closely as under boughs of dimmest shadow the pensive Daulian ever moans Itys in agony slain.

Yet mid such desolation a verse I tender of ancient 15 Battiades, new-drest, Ortalus, wholly for you. Lest to the roving winds these words all idly deliver'd, Seem too soon from a frail memory fallen away.

E'en as a furtive gift, sent, some love-apple, a-wooing, Leaps from breast of a coy maiden, a canopy pure; 20 There forgotten alas, mid vestments silky reposing,-- Soon as a mother's step starts her, it hurleth adown: Straight to the ground, dash'd forth ungently, the gift shoots headlong; She in tell-tale cheeks glows a disorderly shame.

LXVI.

He whose glance scann'd clearly the lights uncounted of ether, Found when arises a star, sinks in his haven again, How yon eclipsed sun glares luminous obscuration, How in seasons due vanishes orb upon orb; How 'neath Latmian heights fair Trivia stealthily banish'd 5 Falls, from her upward path lured by a lover awhile; That same sage, that Conon, a lock of great Berenice Saw me, in heavenly-bright deification afar Lustrous, a gleaming glory; to gods full many devoted, Whiles she her arms in prayer lifted, as ivory smooth; 10 In that glorious hour when, flush'd with a new hymeneal, Hotly the King to deface outer Assyria sped, Bearing ensigns sweet of that soft struggle a night brings, When from a virgin's arms spoils he had happily won.

Stands it an edict true that brides hate Venus? or ever 15 Falsely the parents' joy dashes a showery tear, When to the nuptial door they come in rainy beteeming? Now to the Gods I swear, tears be hypocrisy then. So mine own queen taught me in all her weary lamentings, Whiles her bridegroom bold set to the battle a face. 20 What? for an husband lost thou weptst not gloomily lying? Rather a brother dear, forced for a while to depart? This, when love's sharp grief was gnawing inly to waste thee! Ah poor wife! whose soul steep'd in unhappiness all, Fell from reason away, nor abode thy senses! A nobler 25 Spirit had I erewhile known thee, a fiery child.

Pass'd that deed forgotten, a royal wooer had earn'd thee? Deed that braver none ventureth ever again? Yet what sorrow to lose thy lord, what murmur of anguish! Jove, how rain'd those tears brush'd from a passionate eye! 30 Who is this could wean thee, a God so mighty, to falter? May not a lover live from the beloved afar? Then for a spouse so goodly, before each spirit of heaven, Me thou vowd'st, with slain oxen, a vast hecatomb, Home if again he alighted. Awhile and Asia crouching 35 Humbly to Egypt's realm added a boundary new; I, in starry return to the ranks dedicated of heaven, Debt of an ancient vow sum in a bounty to-day.

Full of sorrow was I, fair queen, thy brows to abandon, Full of sorrow; in oath answer, adorable head. 40 Evil on him that oath who sweareth falsely soever! Yet in a strife with steel who can a victory claim? Steel could a mountain abase, no loftier any thro' heaven's Cupola Thia's child lifteth his axle above, Then, when a new-born sea rose Mede-uplifted; in Athos' 45 Centre his ocean-fleet floated a barbarous host. What shall a weak tress do, when powers so mighty resist not? Jove! may Chalybes all perish, a people accurst, Perish who earth's hid veins first labour'd dimly to quarry, Clench'd in a molten mass iron, a ruffian heart! 50

Scarcely the sister-locks were parted dolefully weeping, Straight that brother of young Memnon, in Africa born, Came, and shook thro' heaven his pennons oary, before me, Winged, a queen's proud steed, Locrian Arsinoe. So flew with me aloft thro' darkening shadow of heaven, 55 There to a god's pure breast laid me, to Venus's arms. Him Zephyritis' self had sent to the task, her servant, She from realms of Greece borne to Canopus of yore. There, that at heav'n's high porch, not one sole crown, Ariadne's, Golden above those brows Ismaros' youth did adore, 60 Starry should hang, set alone; but luminous I might glisten, Vow'd to the Gods, bright spoil won from an aureat head; While to the skies I clomb still ocean-dewy, the Goddess Placed me amid star-spheres primal, a glory to be.

Close to the Virgin bright, to the Lion sulkily gleaming, 65 Nigh Callisto, a cold child Lycaonian, I Wheel obliquely to set, and guide yon tardy Bootes Where scarce late his car dewy descends to the sea. Yet tho' nightly the Gods' immortal steps be above me, Tho' to the white waves dawn gives me, to Tethys, again; 70 (Maid of Ramnus, a grace I here implore thee, if any Word should offend; so much cannot a terror alarm, I should veil aught true; not tho' with clamorous uproar Rend me the stars; I speak verities hidden at heart): Lightly for all I reck, so more I sorrow to part me 75 Sadly from her I serve, part me forever away. With her, a virgin as yet, I quaff'd no sumptuous essence; With her, a bride, I drain'd many a prodigal oil.