Lest from his glistening mouth a grain of gold Might stick about the barb: and now, more bold, With cords I drew him on the beach-and swore That I'd set foot in fishing boat no more;
But here, since gold would purchase every thing,
I'd live at home, at leisure, like a king.'
I straight awoke: But what am I to do?
Tell me I fear my oath-and tell me true.
FRI. Fear not: 'Tis all a phantom of the brain;
Vain is thy fish of gold-thy oath is vain.
To realize thy hopes, be thine to take
The finny fry, not sleeping, but awake.
Go then-for fish more solid try the stream,
Nor die, for hunger, in a golden dream.
IDYLLIUM XXII.
Castor and Pollux.
PART I.
LEDA's and Jove's great sons my verse inspire→→→
The sons of Jove, their ægis-bearing sire!
Castor; and Pollux dreadful in the lists,
The cestus braced with thongs around his wrists!
My frequent song shall hymn your manly grace,
Ye twins, the glory of the Spartan race!
Powers, who protect us from the foe, and shield
Our scared steeds trampling on the carnaged field!
Powers, that o'erlook the struggling ship, and save
When stars arise malignant o'er the wave!
Behold the loosen'd tempests swell the tide,
Lash the high helm, and bulge each bursting side,
And pour into the poop the mountain surge;
While the rent vessel reels upon the verge
Of fate-its torn sails hanging in the blast,
And wildly dash'd around each shatter'd mast!
Clouds big with hail the midnight heavens deform,
And the broad ocean thunders to the storm!
But ye, though now the closing waves pursue,
Quick rescue from the chasm the dying crew !
Lo! the clouds break! their scatter'd fragments
fly,
[die ;
Whilst the drear winds in whispering murmurs
And each mild star that marks the tranquil night
Gilds the reposing wave with friendly light.
O both the friends of man, to whom belong
The gauntlet and the horse, the lyre and song!
Whose prowess first shall dignify my lays?
"Tis Pollux first I sing: yet both shall meet my
praise.
Midst shores that threaten'd, as in act to close Their adverse rocks, and Pontus drear with snows, When Argo pass'd (her freight the sons of Gods), And safely reach'd Bebrycia's wild abodes; Straight down the vessel's sides the chiefs descend, And o'er the shelter'd beach their footsteps bend; Place on the kindling fires the vase; and spread All on a shaded spot their leafy bed.
The royal brothers, eager to explore The silvan scenes, far wander'd from the shore; O'er a fair mountain's woodland summits stray'd, The varied beauties of its brow survey'd; And, tracing the recesses of the mount, Found, deep retired, a cool perennial fount: Brimful beneath a craggy rock it gleam'd; Whilst, at the bottom of the woodland beam'd
Full many a scatter'd pebble to the light,
As crystal or as polish'd silver bright.
Beside this spot, the plane tree quivering play'd,
And pensive poplars waved a paler shade;
While many a fir in living verdure grew,
And the deep cypress darken'd on the view:
And there each flower that marks the balmy close
Of spring, the little bee's ambrosia, blows!
Hard by (his couch the rock) a chieftain frown'd,
His ears fresh reeking from the gauntlet's wound.
Dire was his giant form! and amply sphered
The broad projection of his breast appear'd!
Like some Colossus wrought too firm to feel,
His back all sinewy seem'd of solid steel!
On his strong brawny arms his muscles stood,
Like rocks, that, rounded by the torrent flood,
Through the clear wave their shelving ridges show
One smooth and polish'd prominence below.
Rough round his loins a lion's spoils were flung; Suspended by the paws the trophy hung. Victorious Pollux view'd, uncheck'd by dread, The savage chief, and thus complacent saidPOL. Health, friend, whoe'er you are-Say, who the race
That fate hath settled in so bless'd a place? AMY. How health-when I see men I never saw?
POL. Fear not you see no fugitives from law. AMY. Fear not?-believe me, I have lived too long,
To learn that lesson from a stranger's tongue. POL. How captious! rude as clowns that break the clod!
AMY. I'm as thou seest! thy shore I never trod!
POL. Come, and you'll find a welcome!
AMY.
Welcome-no—
I ne'er accept a welcome, nor bestow.
POL. Strange! may I taste that rivulet? AMY. Tell me, first, Whether thy burning lips are parch'd by thirst? POL. What is your price? Here's silver— In the fight
AMY. To prove, man close opposed to man, thy might; With steady eye, with gauntlet arm alert, By artifice or force thy powers exert. POL. But whom am I to fight?
AMY. Behold him here,
Who ne'er in combat knew unmanly fear. POL. Say, what's the prize for which we urge the fray?
[obey. AMY. The vanquish'd must the victor's will POL. 'Tis thus the sanguine-crested birds [wage. AMY. Or birds or lions-such the war I This said, his hollow conch the giant blew; And, starting at the signal, rush'd to view (Their long hair flowing) his Bebrycian troop: A spreading plane o'erarch'd the sturdy group; While mighty Castor hasten'd to invite The chosen chiefs, spectators of the fight.
Soon as the combatants with bull hide bands Had fix'd the massive gauntlets to their hands, And round their shoulders braced the leathern thong,
They breathed defiance mid the circling throng. Now the dread trial of their art begun,
Each striving to elude the glancing sun!
Pollux! with thee thy rival vainly vies!
The rays shot full on Amycus's eyes.
Enraged hé quick advanced upon his foe,
And aim'd, with hands high-raised, a deadly blow!
But wary Pollux the mid fury broke,
And rung upon his cheeks a stunning stroke.
Still more incensed the giant's bosom boil'd,
As thus his vengeance on himself recoil'd;
And bending downward for a surer aim—
His brave Bebrycians raised the loud acclaim.
Nor less the shouting Greeks their champion
cheer'd;
For fill'd with fond anxiety, they fear'dFear'd-that the' enormous chief might onward rush,
And with a Tityus' weight the hero crush.
But he, still firm-still dexterous to engage,
Curb'd, with repeated strokes, his rival's rage.
Drunk with the blows the son of Neptune stood,
Streams gushing from his mouth of purple blood.'
Instant, the warrior worthies, as they saw
The shatter'd remnant of his broken jaw,
His gash'd cheeks swoln, his socket-sunken eyes,
Fill'd with triumphant shouts the rending skies.
The prince, yet eager in the fight, provokes
His rival combatant, with feintful strokes ;
His less evasive steps now staggering plies;
Then, seizing on the moments of surprise,
Full on his brow betwixt his eyebrows dash'd,
And to the bone the rended forehead mash'd:
Supine to earth, amidst the dread affray,
He fell, and on the reeking plane leaves lay.
But soon he rear'd his stature from the ground; And both vindictive dealt the mutual wound.
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