The Argonautics of Apollonius Rhodius (tr. Francis Fawkes)

"Inspired by thee, O Phoebus, I resound The glorious deeds of heroes long renowned, Whom Pelias urged the Golden Fleece to gain, And well-built Argo wafted over the main, Through the Cyanean rocks."

"He left one sandal rooted in the mud."

"Pelias, whose looks his latent fears expressed, Fired with a bold adventure Jason's breast; That, sunk in ocean, or on some rude shore Prostrate, he never might view his country more."

"Old bards affirm this warlike ship was made By skilful Argus, with Minerva's aid."

"Hard rocks he softened with persuasive song, And soothed the rivers as they rolled along... His lays Pieria's listening trees admire, And move in measures to his melting lyre."

"But Lynceus stands renowned for piercing sight: So keen his beam, that ancient fables tell, He saw, through earth, the wondrous depths of hell."

"Whenever he skimmed along the watery plain, With feet unbathed he swept the raging main, Scarce brushed the surface of the briny dew, And light along the liquid level flew."

"They, when on tip-toe raised, in act to fly, Like the light-pinioned vagrants of the sky, Waved their dark wings, and, wondrous to behold! Displayed each plume distinct with drops of gold; While down their backs, of bright cerulean hue, Loose in the winds their wanton tresses flew."

"Alcimeda embraced her son with tears, Each breast was chilled with sad presaging fears."

"Haste, royal mother, to your native towers, Pass with your handmaids there the peaceful hours. Forebode not here calamities to come..."

"Conduct my comrades to the far-famed Fleece, Then safe restore them to the realms of Greece."

"Though various perils your attempt oppose, And toils unnumbered bring unnumbered woes; Yet shall ye safe return, ye sons of Greece, Adorned with conquest, and the golden Fleece. Me cruel Fate ordains on Asia's shore To die, nor ever behold my country more. And though my destiny long fixed I knew, Yet, still resolved, I joined the martial crew; Inflamed with glory to the host I came, Of life regardless, emulous of fame."

"How over the new-created world below, On high Olympus' summits crowned with snow, Ophion, and, from ocean sprung of old, The fair Eurynome reigned uncontrolled: How haughty Saturn, with superior sway, Exiled Ophion from the realms of day."

"Here the sweet bard his tuneful lyre unstrung, And ceased the heavenly music of his tongue; But, with the sound entranced, the listening ear Still thought him singing, and still seemed to hear."

"Swift sailed the ship, the sun refulgent beamed, And bright as flame their glittering armour gleamed. While to their outstretched oars the heroes bow, The parted ocean whitening foams below."

"The immortal powers that Jove's proud palace crown, All on that memorable day looked down, The godlike chiefs and Argo to survey, As through the deep they urged their daring way."

"With Chiron came Chariclo to the shore; The young Achilles in her arms she bore. Peleus, his sire, with secret pleasure smiled, As high in air she raised the royal child."

"A mantle doubly lined, of purple hue, The son of Æson over his shoulders threw. This Pallas gave him, when, with wondrous art, She planned his ship, and measured every part. 'Twere safer to survey the radiant globe Of rising Phoebus, than this splendid robe. Full in the middle beamed a crimson blaze, The verge surrounding darted purple rays. In every part historic scenes were wrought; The moving figures seemed informed with thought..."

"When, lo! a Halcyon, of cerulean hue, Over the fair head of slumbering Jason flew, In airy circles, wondrous to behold, And, screaming loud, the ceasing storm foretold."

"Boughs bend with fruit, Earth from her bosom pours Herbs ever green, and voluntary flowers."

"Some bring dry wood, and some in order spread Soft leaves and herbage for a spacious bed."

"It chanced the nymphs, in neighbouring streams that dwell, Then kept a concert at the sacred well. In Dian's praise they raised the nightly song, All who to high, aerial hills belong; All who in caverns hide, or devious rove The mountain-forest, or the shady grove."

"... the nymph with joy Sprung from the deep to kiss the charming boy. Her left arm round his lovely neck she threw, And with her right hand to the bottom drew."

"As when a lion from his caverned rock, At distance hears the bleatings of the flock, To seize his prey he springs, with hunger bold, But faithful shepherds had secured the fold; Defeated of his prize, he roars amain, Rends his hoarse throat, and terrifies the swain."

"As when a bull, whom galling gadflies wound, Forsakes the meadows, and the marshy ground, The flowery food, the herd and herdsmen shuns, Now stands stock-still, and restless now he runs; Stung by the breese, he maddens with the pain, Tosses aloft his head, and roars amain."

"But adverse soon they meet, with rage they glow, Like bulls fierce fighting for some favourite cow."

"As swains with smoke, of honey studious, strive From some rock's cleft the swarming bees to drive; Alarmed and trembling, with a murmuring sound, They crowd to all their waxen rooms around; But if the fumes prevail, their wings they ply, And rove uncertain through the various sky."

"For, lo! descending sudden from the sky, Round the piled banquet shrieking harpies fly."

"Then heaves he from the couch his haggard bead, (Like some pale, lifeless, visionary shade) Propped on his staff his way explores, and crawls With lingering step along the lonely walls: Diseased, enfeebled, and by age unbraced, Through every limb he trembled as he passed; Shrunk was his form, with want adust and thin, The pointed bones seemed bursting through his skin..."

"By every woe fate destines me to bear, And by these eyes, involved in night, I swear."

"As when swift hounds, experienced in the chase, Through some wide forest, over the scented grass The bounding hind, or horned goat pursue, Near, and more near their panting prey they view; And eager stretching, the short space to gain, They snap, and grind their gnashing fangs in vain."

"When hence your destined voyage ye pursue, Two rocks will rise, tremendous to the view, Just in the entrance of the watery waste, Which never mortal yet in safety passed: Not firmly fixed; for oft with hideous shock Adverse they meet, and rock encounters rock: The boiling billows dash their airy brow, Loud thundering round the ragged shore below."

"Safe if ye hope to pass, my counsel hear, Be ruled by prudence, and the Gods revere; Nor on your unexperienced youth depend, The want of caution brings you to your end. thumb|First from your ship a nimble dove let fly, And on the sure prognostic bird rely...First from your ship a nimble dove let fly, And on the sure prognostic bird rely; Safe through the rocks if she pursue her way, No longer ye the destined course delay; Steer for the strait, and let the rowers sweep With stretching oars the close-contracted deep: For not in prayers alone your safety stands; But nervous vigour, and the strength of hands. Ply then your oars, and strain at every stroke; But first with prayer the Deities invoke. The dove's sad fate should you desponding view, Crushed by the closing fragments as she flew, Steer back, lest you against those rocks be driven, Steer back; 'tis fafest to submit to Heaven. 'Twere death through them to force the foaming keel, Though heaven-built Argo were composed of steel."

"A hideous dragon of enormous size Turns all around his circumspective eyes: Over the bright spoil the strictest watch he keeps; He never slumbers, and he never sleeps."

"For far as ever flying sails were furled Lies Colchos, on the limits of the world."

"For the more labours and fatigues he bore, Pale, pining want oppressed him still the more; New woes succeeded to the woes that past, And every day was darker than the last: And yet no crime had poor Paraebius wrought, Alas! he suffered for his father's fault: Who, when alone, and on the mountain's brow, With cruel axe he laid the forest low, Deaf to a doleful Hamadryad's prayer, The nymph neglected, and refused to spare, Though oft she urged this lamentable plea; "Pity, ah! pity my coeval tree, Where I so many blissful ages dwelt!" But his hard heart no soft compassion felt; The tree he felled; and for this foul disgrace The nymph ordained him woes, and all his race."

"The Etesian winds, while forty days they blow, Refresh with balmy gales the soil below."

"The salt-sea spray in clouds began to rise; Old ocean thundered; the cerulean skies Rebellowed loudly with the fearful din; The caves below remurmured from within."

"Then terror seized them, when with sudden shock The refluent billows forced them on the rock; With chilling fears was every nerve unstrung, While over their heads impending ruin hung. Before, behind, they saw the spacious deep, When instant, lo! a billow, vast and steep, Still rises higher, and still wider spreads, And hangs a watery mountain over their heads. The heroes stooped, expecting by its fall That mighty billow would overwhelm them all..."

"On Argo's keel the impetuous torrent pours, Which raised the ship above the rocks so high, She seemed sublimely sailing in the sky."

"Then like an arrow from the elastic yew, Swift over the foaming waves the vessel flew."

"No peace by day, no sleep at night I take, Since these brave chiefs assembled for my sake. With cold indifference mayest thou look down, For no man's safety anxious but thy own; But I, the least solicitous for mine, Feel for this friend's, that comrade's, and for thine. Much shall I feel for all this martial band, Unless they safe regain their native land."

"His golden locks, that flowed with grace divine, Hung clustering like the branches of the vine; In his left hand, his bow unbent he bore, His quiver pendant on his back he wore: The conscious island trembled as he trod, And the big rolling waves confessed the God. Nor dared the heroes, seized with dire dismay, The splendors of his countenance survey, But on the ground their downward eyes they cast."

"How once beneath Parnassus' rocky brow He lanched an arrow from his deadly bow, And the fell serpent slew; though young and fair And beardless yet, but graced with golden hair: O prove propitious, thou whose radiant head Is decked with curls uncliped..."

"The fate of others he had oft foreshown, But failed, unhappy! to prevent his own."

"Here, in a covert near the reedy flood, A fell wild boar lay deep immersed in mud. With horrid tusks so dreadful he appeared, The fountain-nymphs the savage monster feared: No living wight in miry marsh or moor Ever saw so fierce, so horrible a boar."

"Thy groves, Cytorus, ever green appear."

"From thence they pass where Tibarenians till, Sacred to Jove, the Genetaean hill. Here, when the teeming wives are brought to bed, Their groaning husbands hang the drooping head; Equal attendance with their wives they claim; The same their diet, and their baths the same."

"Next by the sacred hill their oars impel Firm Argo, where the Mossyncecians dwell. In towers they live, of solid timber framed, Mossynes called, and thence the nation named: Of manners strange; for they with care conceal Those deeds which others openly reveal; And actions, that in secret should be done, Perform in public and before the sun: For, like the monsters of the bristly drove, In public they perform the feats of love. Exalted in his tower that mates the sky, The monarch here dispenses law from high: But if his judgment err, this rigid state Condemns their chief, and starving is his fate."

"They who to prostrate suppliants lend an ear, The laws of hospitable Jove revere. All-present he hath listened to our prayer, And sinking saved us with a parent's care."