Of Athens. Son, remember, when thou bad'st Our household gods farewell, thy parting pray'r; That Athens never might regret the loss Of Aristides. Righteous man! then first The righteous pow'rs denied a pray'r of thine; Who with inflicted vengeance for thy wrong Have sorely taught Athenians to lament
In thee their safety banish'd."—" Mother, cease," He quick replied; "control presumptuous thoughts; Let such uncomfortable words no more Be heard by these already plung'd in woe: It is Laconia, who her aid withholds, Cecropian tribes afflicts. But, noble dames, In this asylum sojourning awhile, Trust your own merits, and a guardian god; The sons of Athens on his own domain He will exalt by conquest, soon transport Her daughters back to liberty and peace: From him that grace continue to deserve, By resignation to his brother Jove, Who loves the patient."-As on lands adust By hot solstitial rays, when genial clouds, In season due unbosoming their stores Of kindly rain, new dress the pasture brown; Again the flowrets on the meadows spring; O'er meadows, fresh in verdure, youthful steeds, Led by the parent females, joyous bound, The heifers gambol, kids and lambkins dance, The birds in dripping bow'rs their plumes repair, And tune their choral, gratulating throats- So consolation from his blameless mouth, With looks benevolent, in soothing tones Relieves dejection. Soft composure smooths Each matron's forehead; virgins smile around; With sprightly feet the children beat the turf, Him as their father hail in shrill delight. Not so his own two daughters: infants young, A dying mother's pledge, Euphemia's charge, His side they leave not, clinging to his knees Like woodbines sweet about some stately tree: He kiss'd, he bless'd them, but control'd his tears. Now tow'rds the bay with Aschylus he turns; Cleander follows. Ariphilia mute Stands fix'd in tears; as Niobe, congeal'd By grief to marble, through its oozing pores Distill'd sad moisture, trickling down unheard. On Sipylus the nymphs, by pity call'd, The weeping rock environ'd; so the train, Who minister in Neptune's sacred dome, Enclose their priestess, whom her matron sage Leads from Cleander's oft reverted sight.
O'ER his own squadron soon Trozene's chief Hath reassum'd command; the rest embark Aboard the Delphian. Eschylus then spake: "To Salamis we hoist returning sails: Say, Aristides, shall my voice, of weight Among the tribes, solicit thy recall? Our country wants that helpful hand of thine." "No," Aristides answers, "this again Might waken faction; let the monster sleep. Themistocles directs united minds, In him confiding: not the stock reviv'd Of all Cecropia's heroes since her birth, Could like this union prop the Attic state. Brave too the son of Neocles, expert, Cool, politic; his talents will uphold
The public safety for his own renown. May he enjoy a glory so acquir'd! My secret counsels from Ægina's isle Shall not be wanting: for my country's sake, Which I forgive, him, author of my wrongs, My utmost efforts shall advance to fame."
The gulf Saronic now admits their keel. By Epidaurus coasting, they attain The cape of high Spiræum, which o'erlooks Ægina. Guided by Aurora's light, Th' illustrious exile on that isle they land; Thence veering, steer for Salamis. These words Now break from Medon; "Silent have I gaz'd On Aristides, shortly must behold
Themistocles; Athenian friend, explain
Between such men what cause produc'd their feuds." "Their diff'rent merits," Aschylus replied, "Rais'd emulation in their younger days. A soldier's part they gallantly achiev'd In the same rank at Marathon; I saw, Admir'd their valour. For distinction high In pow'r and fame, Themistocles bath us'd His num'rous virtues; Aristides walk'd In virtuous paths, alone by virtue mov'd; For him his justice hath a title gain'd Of Just. The son of Neocles, inflam'd By envy, stirr'd the people's jealous fear Against his rival to assert a law,
Where, by inscription of his name on shells, A citizen so potent, that his will
Seems only wanting to subvert the state, Is by concurrence of six thousand bands Doom'd for ten years to absence from their bounds, Without disgrace or mulct. Among the tribes Themistocles hath since obtain'd a sway Which might incur the rigour of that law; Yet by the gods his influence supreme He at this crisis gallantly employs
To save the public.-Lift thy wond'ring eyes! The whole confederated fleet of Greece, Four hundred gallies, bulwark all the round Of Salamis: one animated mass That island shows; from swarms of either sex, And ev'ry age, dales, hillocks seem to heave With undulating motion."-His discourse Clos'd with his voyage: on the furrow'd sands Of Salamis the vessels rest their keels; Where living waters from a copious spring Discharge their bubbling current. On a smooth, But gently-shelving green, pavilions rose; One from the rest sequester'd, under shade Of oaks above, was neighbour to the fane Of Telamonian Ajax, hero known At Troy the Attic phalanx then he join'd, By Athens honour'd since with rites divine.
This tent, by ensigns of command in front Adorn'd, Themistocles possess'd: alone He now remain'd; artificer sublime Of great expedients, in the greatest storms Which rock a state, he, politic and firm, In manly strife with Fortune when she frown'd, Whene'er she smil'd her favour to secure- He now, to feed his enterprising soul, Successes past enumerating sat,
Thus in a glow of thought: "While others dream'd Of rest and safety permanent in Greece, I from the day of Marathon presag'd The war begun, not finish'd; I, in time, Exhorted Athens to construct her fleet, A destin'd refuge; for the sail and oar,
The shrouds and rudder, I her lusty youth Prepar'd; ere yet the Hellespont was bridg'd, I cur'd intestine feuds distracting Greece; When Fate remov'd Leonidas from Earth, My penetration, fathoming the depths Of ocean, like futurity foresaw Laconia's sloth; yet undismay'd I form'd The mighty plan to save th' Athenian state, By yielding Athens to barbarian flames. That I might plead the mandates of a god, I won, by secret gifts, the Pythian maid An oracle to render, which I fram'd; Th' interpretation to enforce, that ships Were wooden walls, Minerva's priest I gain'd Among the people to imprint belief
By feign'd portents, and all religion's craft, That to the sea their deity was fled, Th' Acropolis deserting. Thus at will This restive, fierce democracy I sway For their salvation, and my own behoof In pow'r and lustre”- -Interrupting here
His eagle vanity in lofty soar, The warrior-poet and Oïleus' son Appear. Serene and vacant he descends At once to affability and ease;
As from his airy tow'r the lark, who strikes Heav'n's highest concave with his matin trill, His pinions shuts, and tranquil drops to Earth. Of Aristides, Eschylus he knew
The friend approv'd; him courteous he salutes: "Thy eloquence and arms, the gen❜rous toils Of Aristides too, have reach'd my ear By late intelligence. Thus far at least You have prevail'd; this navy is enlarg'd By squadrons new from various Grecian states. Is not this Medon? Honour'd in thy sire, More in thy own deservings, my embrace Accept; accept the welcome of this tent."
Myronides now joins him, mighty chief!
The destin'd scourge of Thebes; Xanthippus, soon At Mycale to conquer; in his hand Young Pericles, that future star of Greece; Then Cimon, fated on the land and main To gather palms in one triumphant day; Subaltern warriors to the prudent son Of Neocles. Saluting these, he spake : "My gallant fellow-citizens, you come To learn the issue of this day's debate In gen'ral council. Wisely did we cede To Spartan Eurybiades command; The diff'rent squadrons to their native ports Had else deserted. Irksome, I confess, This acquiescence; but occasion looks Disdainful back on him who lets her pass; You have embrac'd her. Yielding to the Greeks, *. You fix their station here, the num'rous foe In narrow straits between Psyttalia's isle And Salamis to face. Can he possess, Who sees a treasure scatter'd on the ground, Unless he stoop? So prostrate in your sight Lies Greece, that precious treasure. Can you rule Before you save? On union safety grows. Resigning now an empty name of pow'r, Your moderation, winning grateful states, Will to your own a real sway procure Of long duration. Lacedæmon's pride, Her best allies abandoning-a force Of ten weak vessels sparing to a fleet, Where Attic hands unfurl two hundred sailsShall pay hereafter retribution full
To you, Athenians, out of ashes rais'd From her to wrest ascendancy in Greece." Not sweetest music lulls the melting soul Beyond his artful eloquence, which soothes Their warm, their injur'd virtue. They reply: "To thee, not Sparta, cheerful we submit, Our leader sole; thou judge and act for all." Now to his frugal Attic meal they sat; Where Eschylus and Medea, each in turn Unfolding amply his adventures, won Attention: pleasing information charm'd Deluded time, till midnight prompted sleep.
Thus, after labours past, the martial bard His countrymen rejoin'd. The hostile ships, Which gave him battle under Malea's cape, Veer'd for the straits Eubœan, where the fleet Of Asia moor'd. Subsiding on their way, The wind grants leisure for the Persian chief To view the captives. Artamanes steps Before the rest: on sight of Caria's queen, Great Artemisia, who commanded there, His cheek, with recollection of his sire To her so late perfidious, reddens warm.
She first to him: "Argestes could behold Me worsted, long resisting adverse fate On fam'd Thermopyla's disastrous field; My danger he enjoy'd: his rescued son, Whose growing merit wins observant eyes, I see with gladness; welcome to my deck! But who is he, disconsolate in mien? O rev'rend man of sorrows, lift thy head! From Artemisia no dishonour fear. He makes no answer-Artamanes, speak."
The youth replies: "His name is Timon, chief And priest in Delphi; on our inroad there, My brother, Mithridates, snatch'd away From his paternal breast a noble maid, An only child. His mind is darken'd since By frenzy; my compassion his distress Hath ever tended, fervent now implores Thou wouldst commit him to my grateful care: Myself am debtor to indulgént Greeks."
In smiles the princess answer'd: "Gen'rous youth! Couldst thou protect him, I would trust thy care; But those deform'd by ignominious deeds May exercise in malice stronger pow'r Than thou in goodness: for the present lay Th' unhappy Delphian on a bed of rest." Beside her waits Aronces, high in trust,
A hoary senior, freedman of her sire. On Melibus, on the queen, he fix'd Alternate looks; then earnest him address'd: "O thou of noble frame, in lowly garb, Speak whence thou com'st, thy own, thy father's
What region gave thee birth? Did Nature print, Or some disaster, on thy cheek that mark? I am not curious from a slender cause." The swain replied: "From Nature I derive That mark; of parents, of my native seat, Within this breast no traces now survive; In childhood stol'n-by pirates, I was sold (Heav'n there was gracious) to the best of men: Full thirty annual suns have since elaps'd. He oft appris'd me, that my infant lips In Grecian accents would repeat the names Of Lygdamis and Dirce; so I styl'd My sire and mother."-" O imperial dame, Thyself the seed of Lygdamis," exclaim'd The ancient man, "if circumstance be proof,
He is thy brother, Haliartus, stol'n Within that period from thy father's tow'r Wash'd by the waves, that fair abode retir'd. Halicarnassus mourn'd the dire event. He is thy likeness. I, preferr❜d to rule Thy father's household; I, whose faithful arms So oft the infant Haliartus bore,
So oft with eyes delighted have perus'd That object dear, I never can forget That signal mark, coeval with his birth, Distinguishing thy brother."-Pensive, mute, Uncertain rests the queen. He still proceeds: "Behold thy son, Leander, melts in tears! It is the touch of Nature hath unclos'd That tender spring."--To him the regal dame : "Old man, thou know'st I honour, I confide In thy untainted faith. All strange events, Dress'd in affecting circumstance, excite These soft emotions; such in ev'ry breast Should rise, but not decide. Pure truth is built Not on our passions; reason is her base. Him to accept my brother, needs more proof; But to his manly and ingenuous looks I render homage. Let him case his limbs In Carian steel, and combat near my side; Let deeds illustrate an exalted mind; Then, whether kin or alien to my blood, He like a brother shall obtain regard From Artemisia."-Melibreus here:
"Endear'd to heroes of Oilean race, I claim with none alliance; I have liv'd With them in joy, from ignorance been rais'd By them to knowledge, from the lowly state Which Heav'n's deciding providence ordain'd, To their deserv'd regard, my utmost wish. To them restore me; I request no more From deities or mortals. Case my limbs In Carian armour splendid as thy own, Ne'er shalt thou see me combat near thy side Against the Grecians. Place of birth, or blood Of noblest dye in kindred, quite estrang'd By time and fortune, I reject for Greece; Greece, my kiud nurse, the guardian of my youth, Who for my tutors did her heroes lend. My dear affections all are center'd there, My gratitude, my duty."-By the hand She grasps the gallant captive, and proceeds: "Thy sentiments are noble, they bespeak The care of heroes; thy release my hopes Forbid, my tend 'rest wishes; to constrain Thy presence here, while we assail thy friends, I scorn. Aronces, lanch a nimble skiff; On him attendant, reach Nicæa's walls, For him transport a suit of arms complete; Nor let unhappy Timon want thy care. Thee, Greek or Carian, brother, friend, or foe, Whate'er thou prov'st hereafter, I will greet Again, my heart so prompts me; I require No plighted word, no token; ere we meet Once more at least, thou wilt not, I confide, Thou canst not harbour such a thought as flight From Artemisia."- Melibons look'd Integrity; he felt too full for words, And sees her thoughtful and perplex'd retire. Aronces now on Artamanes calls; With him, and either captive, he embarks; Of Carian arms he lodges on the poop A rich-emblazon'd suit. The pinnace light Along the shore, from ev'ry foe secure, Skims o'er the waters with distended sails,
Swift as a vig'rous stag who hears no cry Of dogs or men, but o'er the champaign green Or valley sweeps, to glory in his speed And branching antlers. On the form and port Of Melibus long Aronces fed
His eager eye, unsated with delight;
At last he spake: "My lord, Nicæa's fort, A garrison of Xerxes, will afford
A refuge kind, till Caria's queen her sail Of visitation hoists; the setting Sun Will see my lord safe landed in the cove." "That splendid title thou dost ill bestow On my condition," Melibaus then.
To whom Aronces: "Oh, thou art my lord, Thou art the son of Lygdamis! My heart, Old as I am, experienc'd in events, Without a cause to such excess of joy
Would ne'er mislead me."-" Honest hearts," re- The other, "oft are credulous, and lead
The mind to errour; art thou sure, my friend, That I am no impostor, who hath heard Of Lygdamis and Dyrce, and apply
Their names to falsehood?"-" Haliartus, no!" Exclaims Aronces; "I before me see
My noble master, Lygdamis, restor❜d; Such as he was when thou, his child, was lost. Oh! lend attention-lo! the winds are still, The sca unruffled, while my tongue begins A tale which once with horrour pierc'd my soul, But in thy hearing rapt'rous I repeat:
"Halicarnassus gave thy father birth, Her most illustrious citizen; with twins Thy mother's bed was bless'd; thy sister one, That Artemisia, glory of her sex, Bestow'd in marriage on the Carian king; Thou art the other. Oft thy sire abode Within a tow'r delightful, but remote, Wash'd by the billows; one disastrous day, As thou wast tripping on the silver sands, Thy nurse attending with some faithful slaves, A troop of pirates landed; all thy train Defending thee were kill'd, or wounded sunk Disabled on the beach; with various spoil, From those unguarded borders, they convey'd Aboard their vessels thee their richest prize."
Aronces paus'd.-From Timon, listing by, This exclamation broke: "My daughter too May be recover'd !"-Artamanes here:
"Myself, redeem'd from capture, pledge my faith That I will struggle to restore thy child."
Night dropp'd her dusky veil; the pinnace gain'd Nicæa, Locrian fortress, seated nigh Thermopyla; ensuing morn proclaims, By shouts and clangour, an approaching host. That gate of Greece, by Lacedæmon's king So well maintain'd, defenceless now admits Uncheck'd barbarian inroads: thus a mound By art constructed to restrain the sea, Or some huge river's course, neglected long, And unsustain'd by vigilance and care, Affords a passage new to whelming floods, Whose surface hides fertility in waste; Till some sagacious architect oppose To Nature's violence a skill divine, Prescribing where th' obedient wave shall flow. To his companions Artamanes spake, As in their sight, extended from a tow'r, Thermopyla in torrents from its mouth Pours mingled nations: "See Mardonius there, The son of Gobryas, author of this war,
THE ATHENAID.
The flow'r of Asia's captains. At the time We first attack'd this pass, with nunn'rous bands, A distant range of Macedon and Thrace He was detach'd to ravage and subdue, Triumphant now returning. Friends, farewell! Him I must follow. Timon, may the light Of Mithra shine propitious on my days As I protect thy daughter, and restore, If Fate so wills, her spotless to thy arms."
These words, relumining with hope, compos'd The clouded soul of Timon. Swift the youth, In vigour issuing through the portal, mix'd Among his native friends: a blithsome steer, At op'ning dawn deliver'd from the stall, Thus o'er the flow'ry pasture bounding, joins The well-known herd. Mardonius him receiv'd, Foe to Argestes, cordial to his son, Mardonius all-commanding, all in frame, In nervous limbs excelling, like that bull Who stemm'd the billows with his brawny chest, Who on his back of silver whiteness bore Europa's precious weight to Cretan strands, Himself a god transform'd. New martial pow'rs Are here from Hæmus, from Pangæan snows. A Greek in lineage, Alexander here,
Young sov'reign o'er barbarians, leads to war His Macedonian troops. To Athens bound By mutual hospitality, he lov'd
That gen'rous city; now, by force compell'd, But persuasive love, He arms against her. The charms and virtues of a Grecian fair, Will wake remembrance of his Grecian race, To better counsels turn his youthful mind.
That Asia's king was now advanc'd to Thebes, Intelligence is brought; this known, a steed Of swiftest pace Mardonius mounts; command To Tiridates delegates-" Thy force Extend o'er Locris, o'er the Phocian bounds, Our conquests new." This giv'n in charge, he speeds, With no companion but Argestes' son, Nor other guard than fifty horsemen light, To greet the king. The second morning shows Cadmean Thebes, whose citadel was rais'd By stones descending from Citharon's hill Spontaneous, feign'd in fables to assume A due arrangement in their mural bed At sweet Amphion's lute; but truth records, That savage breasts by eloquence he tam'd, By his instructions humaniz'd, they felt The harmony of laws and social ties. To him succeeded stern Agenor's son, Phoenician Cadmus, he who letters brought From Tyre to Greece; yet ignorance o'erwhelm'd His generation; barbarous of heart, Obtuse of mind they grew; the furies there, There parricide and incest reign'd of old, Impiety and horrour: more debas'd, They now for gold their liberty exchange; They court a tyrant, whose barbaric host Flames round their bulwarks, harrows up their plain, Lays waste their plenty, drinks Asopus dry, Their swift Ismenus, and Dircæan spring.
THE Persian host in readiness was held Ere dawn; Aurora sees the signal given; Now trumpets, clarions, timbrels mix their sounds; Harsh dissonance of accents, in the shouts
Of nations gather'd from a hundred realms, Distract the sky. The king his march renews. In all his state, collected to descend Precipitate on Athens; like the bird
Of Jove, who, rising to the utmost soar Of his strong pinions, on the prey beneath Directs his pond'rous fall. Five thousand horse, Caparison'd in streak'd or spotted skins Of tigers, pards, and panthers, form'd the van; In quilted vests of cotton, azure dyed, With silver spangles deck'd, the tawny youth Of Indus rode; white quivers loosely cross'd Their shoulders; not ungraceful in their hands Were bows of glist'ning cane; the ostrich lent His snowy plumage to the tissued gold Which bound their temples. Next a thousand steeds Of sable hue on argent trappings bore A thousand Persians, all select; in gold, Shap'd as pomegranates, rose their steely points Above the truncheons; gilded were the shields, Of silver'd scales the corselets; wrought with gems Of price, high-plum'd tiaras danc'd in light. In equal number, in resembling guise, A squadron follow'd; save, their mail was gold, And thick with beryls edg'd their silver shields. In order next the Magi solemn trod. Pre-eminent was Mirzes; snowy white Their vestments flow'd, majestically pure, Rejecting splendour; hymning as they mov'd, They sung of Cyrus, glorious in his rule O'er Sardis rich, and Babylon the proud; Cambyses, victor of Egyptian Nile; Darius, fortune-thron'd; but flatt'ry tun'd Their swelling voice to magnify his son, The living monarch, whose stupendous piles Combin'd the Orient and Hesperian worlds, Who pierc'd mount Athos, and o'erpower'd in fight Leonidas of Sparta. Then succeed
Ten coursers whiter than their native suows On wintry Media's fields; Nicæan breed, In shape to want no trappings, none they wore To veil their beauty; docile they by chords Of silk were led, the consecrated steeds Of Horomazes. Sacred too à car, Constructed new of spoils from Grecian fanes, In splendour dazzling as the noontide throne Of cloudless Mithra, follow'd; link'd in reins, In traces brilliant overlaid with gems, Eight horses more of that surpassing race The precious burden drew; the drivers walk'd, None might ascend th' inviolable seat; On either side five hundred nobles march'd Uncover'd. Now th' imperial standard wav'd; Of sanders wood the pedestal, inscrib'd With characters of magic, which the charms Of Indian wizards wrought in orient pearl, Vain talisman of safety, was upheld By twelve illustrious youths of Persian blood. Then came the king; in majesty of form, In beauty first of men, as first in pow'r, Contemplating the glory from his throne Diffus'd to millions round, himself he deem'd Not less than Mithra who illumes the world. The sons of satraps with inverted spears
His chariot wheels attend; in state their sires,
The potentates of Asia, rode behind; Mardonius absent, of the gorgeous train Argestes tower'd the foremost; following march'd A square battalion of a thousand spears, By Mithridates led, his eldest born;
Him the lascivious father had depriv'd Of Amarantha; dangerous the flames Of vengeance darted from his youthful eye. Th' immortal guard succeeded; in their van Masistius, paragon of Asia's peers, In beauteous figure second to the king, Among the brave pre-eminent, more good Than brave or beauteous; to Mardonius dear, His counsellor and friend, in Xerxes' court Left by that gen'ral, while in Thrace remote, To counterpoise Argestes. Tried in arms, In manners soft, though fearless on the plain, Of tend'rest feelings, Mindarus, to love A destin'd captive, near Masistius rank'd; Ariobarzanes next, whose barb'rous mien Exemplified his fierceness. Last of horse, With Midias, pow'rful satrap, at their head, A chosen myriad clos'd the long array. From these were kept three hundred paces void; Promiscuous uations held their distant march Beyond that limit; numberless they roll'd, In tumult like the fluctuating sands, Disturb'd and buoyant on the whirling breath Of hurricanes, which rend the Libyan wastes.
To Thebes descending, soon Mardonius learn'd That pioneers, with multitudes light-arm'd, Detach'd before the army, bent their course To Athens. On he speeds, rejecting food, Disdaining rest, till midnight Cynthia shows A vaulted hollow in a mountain's side; There in his clanging arms Mardonius throws. His limbs for slight refreshment; by him lies Argestes' son; to pasture springing nigh, The troop dismiss'd their steeds, and slept around. To superstition prone from early age Was Gobryas' son; o'erheated now by toil, Yet more by thirst unsated of renown, His soul partakes not with her wearied clay In sleep repose; the cavern to her view Appears in vast dimension to enlarge, The sides retire, th' ascending roof expands, All chang d to crystal, where pellucid walls Expose to sight the universe around. Thus did a dream invade the mighty breast Of that long matchless conqueror, who gave Italia's clime a spoil to Punic Mars, When on the margin of Iberus lay The slumb'ring chief, and eagerly to birth The vast conception of his pregnant mind Was struggling. Now Mardonius to himself Seems roving o'er the metamorphos'd cave; Orbicular above, an op'ning broad Admits a flood of light, and gentlest breath Of odorif'rous winds; amid the blaze, Full on the centre of a pavement, spread Beyond whate'er portentous Egypt saw
In Thebes or Memphis, Fame, presiding there, Gigantic shape, an amethyst entire, Sits on a throne of adamant. On strength Of pillars, each a topaz, leans the dome; The silver pavement's intervening space Between the circling colonnade and wall With pedestals of diamond is fill'd; The crystal circuit is comparted all In niches verg'd with rubies. From that scene The gloom of night for ever to expel, Imagination's wanton skill in chains Of pearl throughout the visionary hall Suspends carbuncles, gems of native light, Emitting splendour, such as tales portray,
Where Fancy, winning sorceress, deludes Th' enchanted mind, rejecting reason's clue, To wander wild through fiction's pleasing maze. The oriental hero in his dream
Feels wonder waking; at his presence life Pervades the statue; Fame, slow-rising, sounds Her trumpet loud; a hundred golden gates Spontaneous fly abroad; the shapes divine, In ev'ry age, in ev'ry climate sprung, Of all the worthies since recorded time, Ascend the lucid hall. Again she sounds A measure sweeter than the Dorian flute Of Pan, or lyre of Phoebus; each assumes His place allotted, there transform'd is fix'd An adamantine statue; yet unfill'd One niche remains. To Asia's gazing chief The goddess then: "That vacancy for thee, Illustrious son of Gobryas, I reserve.”
He thus exults: "Bright being, dost thou grant To Persia triumphs through my conqu'ring spear?” He said: that moment through the sever'd Earth She sinks; the spacious fabric is dissolv'd; When he, upstarting in the narrow cave, Delivers quick these accents: "Be renown My lot! O Fortune, unconcern'd I leave The rest to thee." Thus dauntless, ere his sleep Was quite dispers'd; but waken'd soon he feels Th' imperfect vision heavy on his mind In dubious gloom; then lightly with his foot Moves Artamanes; up he springs; the troop Prepare the steeds; all mount; Aurora dawns.
The swift forerunners of th' imperial camp Ere long Mardonius joins, where Athens lifts Her tow'rs in prospect. Unexpected seen, Their mighty chief with gen'ral, cordial shouts They greet; their multitude, their transport, clear His heart from trouble. Soon barbarian throngs With shading standards through Cephissus wade, Who, had his fam'd divinity been true,
His shallow stream in torrents would have swoln Awhile, to save the capital of Greece, Superb in structure, long-disputed prize Between Minerva and the god of seas, Of eloquence the parent, source of arts, Fair seat of freedom! Open are the gates, The dwellings mute, all desolate the streets, Save that domestic animals forlorn,
In cries awak'uing pity, seem to call
Their masters home; while shrieking beaks of
Or birds obscene of night with heavy wings, The melancholy solitude affright.
"Is this the city whose presumption dar'd Invade the lord of Asia?" sternly said Mardonius ent'ring; "whither now are fled Th' audacious train, whose firebrands Sardis felt? Where'er you lurk, Athenians, if in sight, Soon shall you view your citadel in flames; Or, if retreated to a distant land, No distant land of refuge shall you find Against avenging Xerxes: yet I swear By Horomazes, if thy gallant race Have sacrific'd their country to contend With mightier efforts on a future day, Them I will honour, though by honour forc'd I must destroy. Companions, now advance; Unnumber'd hands to overturn these walls Employ; not Xerxes through a common gate Shall enter Athens; lay the ruins smooth, That this offending city may adınit,
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