FOURTH P YTHIAN Ode .
Æetes ruled the barbarous land.
Then first the Cyprian queen, whose hand
Points the resistless arrow, from above
Her mystic Iynx brought, the maddening Bird of Love,
Fast in his quadri-radiate circlet bound,
Charm of mankind: and incantations strange
Æson's sage son she taught, and spells profound;
Spells, that Medea's filial faith might change,
And for fair Greece her feverish heart
Seduce from that wild beach to part.
Toucht by Persuasion's gentle goad,
All her sire's arts and toils she showed:
Soft oils and antidotes she gave
Her Jason's beauteous form to save;
Till all prepared to Hymen's sweet control
Their mutual loves they pledged and mingled soul with soul.
But when Æetes full in sight
His adamantine plough produced,
His furious bulls, whose nostrils bright
Flames of consuming fire diffused,
Battering the ground with brazen tread;
These single-handed to their yokes he led;
And steadfast drove his furrowed line
Straight thro the smoking glebe, severing in twain
An acre's breadth Earth's sturdy spine.
" Let him that ruled your vessel o'er the main
Do me this deed, " the vaunting chieftain cries,
" And be the immortal Felt his prize,
His the rich fleece, that glows with flakes of gold. "
Off, at that challenge roused, his saffron vest
Flung Jason, and in Love's assurance bold
Closed on the task: charmed by his bride's behest
Singed not his frame the raging fire,
Forward he drags the team and tire;
Their necks in close constraint he joins,
Stirs with sharp goad their struggling loins,
And with stout arm and manly grace
Works out with ease the appointed space.
In speechless pang, yet muttering at the sight,
Aghast Æetes stood and marvelled at his might.
Forth to their gallant chief the heroic throng
Stretcht their glad hands, crowned him with chaplets green.
And gratulations poured from every tongue.
Now to the secret haunt, where hung unseen
The glittering skin by Phrixus spread,
Sol's wondrous son the strangers led;
Nor weened that mortal enterprise
Could from that toil triumphant rise.
Deep in a dark defile it lay:
A ravening dragon watcht the way,
In bulk like some huge galley, thick and long,
With iron compact, and workt by fifty rowmen strong.
Æetes ruled the barbarous land.
Then first the Cyprian queen, whose hand
Points the resistless arrow, from above
Her mystic Iynx brought, the maddening Bird of Love,
Fast in his quadri-radiate circlet bound,
Charm of mankind: and incantations strange
Æson's sage son she taught, and spells profound;
Spells, that Medea's filial faith might change,
And for fair Greece her feverish heart
Seduce from that wild beach to part.
Toucht by Persuasion's gentle goad,
All her sire's arts and toils she showed:
Soft oils and antidotes she gave
Her Jason's beauteous form to save;
Till all prepared to Hymen's sweet control
Their mutual loves they pledged and mingled soul with soul.
But when Æetes full in sight
His adamantine plough produced,
His furious bulls, whose nostrils bright
Flames of consuming fire diffused,
Battering the ground with brazen tread;
These single-handed to their yokes he led;
And steadfast drove his furrowed line
Straight thro the smoking glebe, severing in twain
An acre's breadth Earth's sturdy spine.
" Let him that ruled your vessel o'er the main
Do me this deed, " the vaunting chieftain cries,
" And be the immortal Felt his prize,
His the rich fleece, that glows with flakes of gold. "
Off, at that challenge roused, his saffron vest
Flung Jason, and in Love's assurance bold
Closed on the task: charmed by his bride's behest
Singed not his frame the raging fire,
Forward he drags the team and tire;
Their necks in close constraint he joins,
Stirs with sharp goad their struggling loins,
And with stout arm and manly grace
Works out with ease the appointed space.
In speechless pang, yet muttering at the sight,
Aghast Æetes stood and marvelled at his might.
Forth to their gallant chief the heroic throng
Stretcht their glad hands, crowned him with chaplets green.
And gratulations poured from every tongue.
Now to the secret haunt, where hung unseen
The glittering skin by Phrixus spread,
Sol's wondrous son the strangers led;
Nor weened that mortal enterprise
Could from that toil triumphant rise.
Deep in a dark defile it lay:
A ravening dragon watcht the way,
In bulk like some huge galley, thick and long,
With iron compact, and workt by fifty rowmen strong.