SCENE II

_Enter Chorus of Corinthian women, singing the marriage song of Jason and Creusa._

_Chorus._ Be present at the royal marriage feast, Ye gods who sway the scepter of the deep, And ye who hold dominion in the heavens; With the glad people come, ye smiling gods! 65 First to the scepter-bearing thunderers The white-backed bull shall stoop his lofty head; The snowy heifer, knowing not the yoke, Is due to fair Lucina; and to her Who stays the bloody hand of Mars, and gives 70 To warring nations peace, who in her horn Holds plenty, sacrifice a victim wild. Thou who at lawful bridals dost preside, Scattering darkness with thy happy hands, Come hither with slow step, dizzy with wine, 75 Binding thy temples with a rosy crown. Thou star that bringest in the day and night, Slow-rising on the lover, ardently For thy clear shining maids and matrons long. In comeliness the virgin bride excels 80 The Athenian women, and the strong-limbed maids Of Sparta's unwalled town, who on the top Of high Taÿgetus try youthful sports; Or those who in the clear Aonian stream, Or in Alpheus' sacred waters bathe. 85 The child of the wild thunder, he who tames And fits the yoke to tigers, is less fair Than the Ausonian prince. The glorious god Who moves the tripod, Dian's brother mild; The skillful boxer Pollux; Castor, too, 90 Must yield the palm to Jason. O ye gods Who dwell in heaven, ever may the bride Surpass all women, he excel all men! Before her beauty in the women's choir The beauty of the other maids grows dim; 95 So with the sunrise pales the light of stars, So when the moon with brightness not her own Fills out her crescent horns, the Pleiads fade. Her cheeks blush like white cloth 'neath Tyrian dyes, Or as the shepherd sees the light of stars 100 Grow rosy with the dawn. O happy one, Accustomed once to clasp unwillingly A wife unloved and reckless, snatched away From that dread Colchian marriage, take thy bride, The Æolian virgin--'tis her father's will. 105 Bright offspring of the thyrsus-bearing god, The time has come to light the torch of pine; With fingers dripping wine put out the fires, Sound the gay music of the marriage song, Let the crowd pass their jests; 'tis only she 110 Who flies her home to wed a stranger guest, Need steal away into the silent dark.