Apply'd with vigour, soon will open ways.
Sev'n hundred natives can Geræstus arm,
Who will not fight to rivet on their necks
A galling yoke more fast. The whole defence,
Our oligarchal tyrants have to boast,

Are poor barbarians, scarce three hundred strong,
Sav'd from the wrecks of those advent'rous ships,
Which round Euboea's rude Capharean cape
Had been detach'd thy navy to surround
In Artemisium's conflict." Now apart
Themistocles to Hyacinthus spake,
While in his care he lodg'd a casket seal'd,
Which held the talent promis'd to his sire:
"This for thy father; tell him, I require
The stipulated bands' immediate march;
I wish to see them under thy command.
Thou know'st Diana's celebrated fane
At Amarynthus; if thou canst, young friend,
Be there before me." Pleas'd, the youth departs.
As in excursion from their waxen homes
A hive's industrious populace obey

The tinkling sound, which summons all to swarm;
So, when the trumpet's well-known voice proclaims
To arms, the Styrians, round the banner'd staff,
Which Lampon rais'd, are gather'd. There enjoin'd
To reassemble at a stated hour,

Their clinking armour in their homes they cleanse;
They whet their spears and falchions to chastise
Geræstian rapine. Ere the morning breaks,
Four hundred join Themistocles. He bends
To Amarynthus, seat of Dian pure,
His rapid course. Her edifice sublime,
Which overtops her consecrated bow'r,
The second noon discovers. Just arriv'd,
Carystian helmets round the temple shine,
By Hyacinthus and Nicanor led,

Joint captains. Staid Nicanor was the friend
Return'd from Oreus, who the tidings brought
Of poor Cleora's fate. Th' Athenian hails
The young commander: "Gladly do I find
Thy speed surpassing mine; but swift explain,
Who is the priestess in this pure abode?"

[towns

"Then Hyacinthus: "She, Eudora nam'd, For sanctity of manners, rank, and birth, Through this well-peopled island is renown'd; Authority her hand-maid. Her rich fane With sumptuous off'rings shines; the wealthiest Her intercession at the thrones of Heav'n Obsequious court, and dread her brow severe. Of elevated stature, awful port, She from Briareus, worshipp'd in our walls, Proud origin derives. She twangs the bow, The javelin lances through the tusky boar, Chas'd o'er the temple's wide domain of wood; Tall nymphs attend her, while the eyes abash'd Of her own vassals shun her stately step. Ah! couldst thou win her favour !".

replies

"Haste,"

The ready chief, "to great Eudora say,
Themistocles of Athens humbly sues
To kiss the border of her hallow'd stole."
He calls; the martial harness from his limbs
Attentive slaves unclasp; ablution pure
From limpid streams effaces ev'ry stain
Of his laborious march; a chlamys flows
Loose from his shoulders. Casting from his brow
The plumed casque, uncover'd he ascends
The massy steps of that stupendous fane.
In admiration of the glories there,
Through cedar valves, on argent hinges pois'd,

and suns,

He passes, where his own distinguish'd form
No ornament excels. In gold the shapes
Of wreaths and garlands, crescents, stars,
Hung round the columns; on the pavement broad,
Engraven tripods, vases, statues, busts
Of burnish'd brass and silver were dispos'd,
In graceful order. Pictures, where the lips
Seem speaking, limbs to act, and looks express
The various passions, which in varying hues
Exalt the human aspect, or degrade,
Enrich the walls. Orion writhes his bulk,
Transfix'd by arrows from th' insulted queen
Of chastity. Devour'd by rav'nous hounds,
His own, Actæon's metamorphos'd head
Reclines in blood his newly-branching horns.
Unbid by Eneus to th' Etolian feast,
There on her vengeful Calydonian boar
Looks Phoebe down, while red her crescent darts
A flame of anger through disparting clouds.
Compell'd to lave her violated limbs,
Disrob'd Calisto on the fountain's brink
There weeps in vain her virgin vow profan'd.
Here deeds of mercy smile. Appeas'd, the queen
Folds in the mantle of a silver mist
Pale Iphigenia, from the holy knife
At Aulis wafts, and substitutes the doe
A full-atoning victim. Here she quits
Her Tauric dome, unhospitably stain'd
With blood of strangers. O'er th' entrusted keel
Of sad Orestes, who her image bears,

To chase the Furies from his haunted couch,
A guardian bland she hovers. Through its length
Magnificent the midmost isle conveys

The terminating sight, where deep and wide
A luminous recess, half-circling, shows
Pilasters chisell'd, and a sumptuous freeze.
An elevated pavement, yet below

The sight, whose level skims a surface broad
Of marble green, sustains the goddess form
In Parian whiteness, emblem of her state,
In height five cubits. Purity severe
O'ershades her beauty. Elegantly group'd
Without confusion, Dryads, Oreads round,
With nymphs of lakes and fountains fill the space.
Lo! not unlike the deity she serves,
Eudora stands before her, and accosts
Th' advancing hero thus: "I trust, thy soul
Some great, some righteous enterprise conceives,
Else nothing less might justify the din
Of arms around me, and these banners proud
Fix'd in my presence on religious ground
Inviolably sacred. I would know,
Themistocles, thy purpose." He one knee
Obsequious bends; his lips approach the hem
Of her pontific robe, nor she forbids.

He then replied: "I should not have besought
Thy condescension, priestess, had my soul
Less than a righteous enterprise conceiv'd,
Deserving sanction from thy holy, pure,
All-influencing wisdom; to thy feet

I bring my standard, and my sword devote
Spontaneous to thy service. While I cast
My wond'ring eyes on this enrich'd abode,
On thee, its chief embellishment, and know
That impious neighbours in Geræstus rule,
Foul pillagers and miscreants, horrour thrills
Thy soldier's bosom; from a town oppress'd,
Them to extirpate his vindictive arm
Themistocles exalts." Eudora look'd
Applauding: " Go, and prosper," she rejoin'd

Stir ev'ry sense. The dreadful tumult ends;
The headless trunk of Demonax in gore
He views in transport. Instantly his couch
Shoots forth in laurels, vaulting o'er his head;
The walls are hung with trophies. Juno comes,
No longer marble, but the queen of Heav'n,
Clad in resplendency divine. She leads
Cleora, now to perfect bloom restor❜d,
Who, beck'ning, opens to th' enraptur'd eye
Of Hyacinthus, doating on the charm,
Her breast of snow; whence pure ambrosial milk
Allures an infant from an amber cloud,

Who stoops, and round her neck maternal clings.
He to embrace them striving, wak'd, and lost
Th' endearing picture of illusive air,
But wak'd compos'd. His mantle he assum'd,
To Juno's statue trod, and thus unlock'd
His pious breast: "O goddess! though thy smile,
Which I acknowledge for the hours of bliss
I once possess'd, a brief, exhausted term,
Could not protect me from malignant Fate,
Lo

prostrate fall'n before thee, I complain
No more. My soul shall struggle with despair;
Nor shall the Furies drag me to the grave.
Thou punishment dost threaten to the crime,
Which hath defac'd my happiness on Earth;
Themistocles, my patron, is thy boon,
Who will fulfil thy menace. I believe,
There is a place hereafter to admit
Such purity as hers, whose blissful hand
Thou didst bestow-I lost-I know my days
With all their evils of duration short;

I am not conscious of a black misdeed,
Which should exclude me from the seat of rest,
And therefore wait in pious hope, that soon
Shall Hyacinthus find his wife and child,
With them to dwell for ever." He concludes,
Regains the chamber, and Aurora shines.

BOOK. XIII.

WHEN Hyacinthus first his couch forsook,
Themistocles in care had follow'd close,
But secretly had noted well the pray'r
To Juno sent, and part approving, part
Condemning, heard. Accoutr'd now in mail,
The young Carystian, to his list'ning friend,
Relates the wonders of his recent dream.

Th' Athenian, while most cordial in the care
Of Hyacinthus, whom his woes endear'd,
Still weigh'd his use. This answer he devis'd
To ease the grief he pitied, and preserve
The worth essential to his own designs.

"What thou hast told, Carystian, fires my breast;
It was a signal, by Saturnia held
To animate thy rage, and prompt thy arm
To action. She requires not, goddess wise,
Humiliation, scorns the sluggish mind,
Whose thoughts are creeping to Elysian rest.
They hush no throbs of anguish, while it rends
The mangled heartstrings, no not more than stanch
A bleeding wound, or quench a fever's flame.
We earn Elysium, and our evils here
Surmount, alike by action. Manly toil
Repels despair. Endurance of a storm,.
Which rocks the vessel; marches long and swift;
A river pass'd, while enemies in front

By whirls of javelins chase the rapid ford;

A rampart scal'd; the forcing of a camp,
Are cures of sorrow. In her vision clear
So did Heav'n's empress intimate this morn.
Me too she visited in sleep; her voice
My waking thoughts confirm'd; Cleora lives;
Else why the goddess thus: Arise, O son
Of Neocles, of this afflicted youth
Be thou sure guide to rescue his espous'd;
The profanation of my rites chastise?""

The fiction wraps in credulous delight
The young Carystian's confidence, who feels
Circaan magic from his patron's eye,
His tongue, and gesture. He, quick-sighted, turns
To swift advantage his delusion thus:

"Come, let me try thy vigour; I am bound
To neighb'ring Styra; fly before thy friend;
Among that gen'rous people, who, their all,
Two gallies sent to Salamis, proclaim
Themistocles approaches." Like a dart,
Lanch'd from the sinews of a Parthian's arm,
Without reply th' inspir'd Carystian flew,
Cas'd as he was in steel. Meantime the chief
Salutes his Attic and Laconian bands;
His captivating presence both enjoy,
Which else no eye most piercing might discern,
Not ev'n the hundred never-sleeping lights,
Which on the margin of her parent flood
Incessant watch'd the progeny transform'd
Of Inachus, the Argive watry god;

[smil'd

Where undistinguish'd in the grazing herd
His daughter wept, nor he that daughter knew
A speechless suppliant. Recommenc'd, the march
Exhausts the day. Beneath a holy roof,
Which rose to Ceres, they their shelter'd limbs
To rest and food resign. There gently swell'd
Th' encircling ground, whence fair the morning
On little Styra, who, no queen superb
Of wide dominion, like a rural nymph
In decency of garb, and native locks,
Her humble circuit not unlovely shows.
She from Athenian boundaries of old
Her first inhabitants deriv'd, and pours
Her sons now forth Themistocles to greet,
Their eldest parent's hero. Lampon bold
Accosts him: " Me the weak, but willing hand
Of Styra late enabled to enrol

My name with thine, unconquerable son
Of Neocles. Though feeble is her sword,
Her sinews boast of Attic vigour still.

Oh! that her means were equal to her love,
A lib'ral welcome thou and these should find;
But you Geræstian oligarchy, foe
To equity and freedom, from our meads
Have newly swept our plenty." Ardent here,
Themistocles: "By Heav'n, my Styrian host,
Not thrice shall day illuminate your skies,
Ere double measure shall these petty lords
Repay to Styra. I am come to crush
Their usurpation, in Geræstus fix
Her ancient laws, and rouse her martial race
Against the Persian, and the Persian's friends.
Array thy force. To morrow's early Sun
Shall see us march, and ere his second noon
The bird of Athens shall her talons lift
Against the walls of these presumptuous thieves."
"They have no walls," Eudemus takes the word,
A righteous, brave Geræstian, exil'd late,
By hospitable Styra late receiv'd.
"A forest thick surrounds them, which affords
One scanty passage; but the axe and bill,

"Of this attentive piety, O chief,

Whom glory crowns, thou never shalt repent!"
Dismiss'd, he rested; under twilight grey
Renew'd his course. Meridian Phoebus view'd
Compact battalions from their shields and helms
Shoot flames of terrour on Geræstian woods.
A guard was station'd, where the narrow path
Gave entrance; thither Hyacinthus led
A chosen troop, and fierce in accent spake :

"Train'd to an oar, vile remnants of a wreck,
Drop, ye barbarian vagabonds, those arms
From your ignoble, mercenary hands;
Th' invincible Themistocles requires

Elect Endemus archon; of the wealth,
Those wretches gather'd, part to public use,
To suff'rers part distribute. I demand
But this requital; you have felt the woes
Of tyranny; obtaining from my hand
Redress, that hand enable to preserve
The liberty of others; Greece demands
From you that succour, which this happy day
She hath by me imparted." He withdraws
From acclamations and assenting hearts
To give Eudemus counsel. Night is spent.
He swiftly back to Amarynthus flies;
Each tyrant follows; from his dungeon drawn,

A low Pamphylian rower. In contempt
From his inverted spear a pond'rous blow
The youth discharg'd, removing all suspense.
Prone fell the ruffian, like the victim beast,
Stunn'd by a brawny sacrificer's blow,
Before an altar's fire. His troop disperse.
The Styrians active, by the prudent son
Of Neocles instructed, beat the wood,
Wielding the bill and axe in wary dread
Of ambush. No resistance checks the march;
The speeding legion penetrates the shades;
Thence, rushing dreadful on Geræstus, spreads
A blaze of steel. So fiery sparks, conceal'd
Long in some ancient mansion's girding beam,
There gath'ring force unseen, a passage break
For conflagration to devour a town.

Eudemus joins Themistocles, and thus:
"Behold, our miscreant oligarchy rest
On supplication, now their sole defence;
The injur'd people follow; hear the cry
Of imprecation. Sev'n flagitious men,
By rapine, lust, and homicide deform'd,
Those olive boughs profaning by their touch,
Come to pollute thy presence." They approach,
To whom th' Athenian, stern in visage, spake:
"Ye little tyrants, who in crimes aspire
To emulate the greatest, do ye come
To render up your persons? else expect
That populace to seize you, and a pile
Of stones to crush your execrable heads."

He turns away. The fife and trumpet sound; The sev'n surrender mute; Eudemus glad Secures them, giv'n to Styra's band in charge.

Reviv'd Geræstus to her public place, Which heretofore the people wont to fill In free assembly, as her guardian god Receives the Attic hero. All the way He passes, curses on the tyrants heap'd He list ning hears, from children for their sires, From wives for husbands, mothers for their sons, The various victims of unlawful pow'r. Dishonour'd damsels, early robb'd of fame, An orphan train, of heritage despoil'd, Indignant husbands, of their wives depriv'd, Their joint upbraidings sound. "By all the gods," Th' Athenian bitterly sarcastic spake, "Black spirits, your fertility in vice Deserves my wonder; in this narrow spot You are distinguish'd in the sight of Heav'n By multifarious crimes above the king, Who hath all Asia for his ample range. Be not offended, my Geræstian friends; Ere I restore your franchise, I will try If chains and dungeons can allay these flames Of unexampled wickedness. Thou hear'st, Eudemus. Now, Geræstians, you are free.

He dreads; in horrour, conscious of his guilt,
He shrinks at day like Cerberus, when dragg'd
By Hercules from Hell. Th' accepted chief,
His captives ranging in Eudora's sight,
Unfolds their dire variety of crimes,
Left to her sentence; awful she decides:

"He, who oppresses, who enslaves mankind, Himself should feel enthralment, shame, and stripes. Let these to some fell traficker in slaves

Be sold, transported in remotest climes
To witness Greek severity on vice;

So by my voice should Xerxes be condemn'd;
So shall the monster Demonax. The means
I find, Themistocles, in thee." Elate
To hear this great, authoritative dame,
The chief replies: "Thy mandate is my law,
Thy equity is mine." Her stately brow
Unbending, she concisely questions thus:

"How shall Eudora's favour mark thy worth?” "Thy blessing grant," he answers, well appris'd, That asking little best attains to all.

"I may do more," she said; "thy ripen'd thoughts Impart hereafter; my extent of aid

Diana must determine. Now farewell."

He press'd no further, tow'rds Carystus turn'd His march, and reach'd her portals, while the Sun Wanted three hours to finish his career.

There was a temple to Briareus built,
The son of Titan. In th' enormous shrine
His image vast to thirty cubits rose

In darkest marble. Terrour, thick with curls
O'erlaid the forehead, thick th' engraven beard
The spacious chest o'ershadow'd; fifty shields,
As many maces of refulgent brass

The hundred hands upheld. Broad steps around
The pedestal ascended, that before

Th' outstretch'd Titanian feet religious fear
Accumulated off'rings might dispose,
So to propitiate the tremendous god.

In single state before this image stood
Nicomachus, the archon, to receive
His son triumphant with Cecropia's chief.
They now had pass'd th' expanded gates, and slow
Approach'd the shrine in military pomp
Along th' extensive aisle. The walls and dome
Replied to fifes and trumpets, to the clink
Of manacles and fetters, piercing sound,
Which told the wearer's guilt. Till now unmark'd,
A figure, grim and ghastly, from the crowd
Darts, and a poniard plunging in the breast
Of old Nicomachus, himself ascends
The pedestal, and lifting his red steel
On high, between the god's gigantic feet
Intrepid takes his station. Terrour dims
Each gazing eye; th' illusive medium swells
His size; in fancy'd magnitude he tow'rs