Why were those snares, thy looks, so tempting made!
A tongue só false, so pow'rful to persuade ! 10
No doubt but he that had so rashly sought
Our shore, with the fierce bulls unspell'd, had fought:
And fondly too th' arms bearing seed had sown,
'Till by the crop the tiller was o'erthrown.
How many frauds had then expir'd with thee!
As many killing griefs remov'd from me,
'Tis some relief, when ill returns are made,
With favours done th' ungrateful to upbraid:
This triumph will afford some little ease,
False Jason leaves me this -
When first your doubtful vessel reach'd our port, And you had entrance to my father's court;
There was I then what now your new bride's here,
My royal father might with hers compare.
With princely pomp was your arrival grac'd,
The meanest Greek on Tyrian beds we plac'd.
Then first I gaz'd my liberty away,"
And date my ruin from that fatal day;
Fate pusht me on, and with your charms combin'd,
I view'd your sparkling eyes till I was blind.
You soon perceiv'd, for who could ever hide,
A flame that by its own light is descry'd ?
But now that task's propos'd, and thou must tame
The bulls with brazen hoofs and breath of flame.
With these the fatal field thou art to plough,
From whence a sudden host of foes must grow.
Those dangers past, still to the golden prey
The baleful fiery dragon guards the way.
Thus spake the king; your knights start from the feast,
And e'en your cheeks a pale despair confest.
Where then was your ador'd Creüsa's dow'r?
And where her father Creon's boasted pow'r?
Sad went'st thou forth; my pitying eyespursue,
I sigh'd, and after sent a soft adieu!
In restless tears I spent that tedious night,
Presenting still thy dangers to my sight;
The savage bulls and more the savage host,
But th' horrid serpent did affright me most!
Thus tost with fear and love, fear swell'd the flame,
My sister early to my apartment came :
Sad and dejected she surpriz'd me there
With
eyes distilling, and dishevell'd hair;
On your behalf she sought me, nor could crave
My aid for you, so freely as I gave !
A grove there is, an awful gloomy shade, Too close for ev'n the sun himself t' invade; These woods with great Dianna's fane were grac'd, I' th' midst the goddess on high tripods plac'd. There (if that place you can remember yet, Who have forgotten me) 'twas there we met. Then, thu in soft deluding sounds you said"Take pity on our suff'rings royal maid !
"Rest, pleas'd thou hast the pow'r to kill, but "give
"Proofs of diviner might and make us live!
By our distresses, (which thy art alone "Has pow'r to succour) by th' all seeing sun,
By the chaste deity that governs here,
"And whate'er else you sacred hold or dear,
"Take pity on our youth, and bind us still
"Eternal servants to Medea's will;
"And if a stranger's form can touch your mind,
"(If such blest fate was e'er for me design'd!
"This flesh to dust dissolve, this spirit to air,
"When I think any but Medea fair.
"Be conscious Juno witness to my vow.
"And this dread goddess at whose shrine we bow." Your charming tongue stopt here, and left the rest To be by yet more powerful tears exprest.
I yield, and by my art instruct you now,
To yoke the brass-hooft bulls and make 'em plough.
Then with a daring hand you sow the field,
That for an harvest does an army yield;
Ev'n I look pale, that gave the pow'rful charms,
To see the wond'rous crop of shining arms!
Till th' earth-born brothers in fierce battle join'd,
Their sudden lives more suddenly resign'd :
The serpent next, a yet more dang'rous toil
With scaly bosom ploughs the yielding soil,
O'ershades the field with vast expanded wings,
And brandishes in air his threat'ning stings!
Where was Creüsa at this needful hour?
Where then were her fam'd charms and matchless
Medea, that Medea, that is now
Despis'd, thought poor, held guilty too by you,
'Twas she that charm'd the wakeful dragon's sight,
Gave you the fleece, and then secur'd your flight :
To merit you, what could I more have done?
My father I betray, my country shun,
And all the hazards of an exile run!
Tho', whilst I yield me thus a robber's prize, 100°
My tender mother in my absence dies,
And at her feet my breathless sister lies.
Why left I not my brother too?——— -cold fear
Arrests my hand, and I must finish here!
This hand that tore the infant in our flight,
What then it dar'd to act, dreads now to write.
To the rough seas undaunted I repair;
For after guilt what can a woman fear?
Why 'scap'd our crimes those seas? we should have dy'd;
For falsehood thou, and I for parricide.
The justling isles should there have dash'd our bones,
And hung us piecemeal on the ragged stones,
Or Scylla gorg'd us in her rav'nous den,
Wrong'd Scylla thus should use ungrateful men!
Charybdis too should in our fate have shar'd,
Nor ought of our sad wreck his whirlpoool spar'd.
Yet safe we reach your shore;. the Phrygian fleece
Is made an off'ring to the gods of Greece.
The Pelian daughters' pious bloody deed
that rashly made their fathers bleed ;
pass,
Your safety 'twas that drew me to this fraud:
The guilt that others blame you should applaud!
But 'stead of thanks, your court I am forbid !
Yourself forbade me, faithless Jason did!
With none but my two infants I depart,
And Jason's form that ne'er forsakes my heart.
At length thy rev'ling nuptial songs surprise
My wounded ear, thy nuptial torch my eyes;
The rabble shout, the clamour nearer drew,
And as it came more near, more dreadful grew: 130
My servants weep in corners, and refuse
Th' ungrateful task of such unwelcome news!
I yet forbear t'enquire, though still my breast
The dreadful apprehensions did suggest.
My youngest boy now from the window spy'd 135
The coming pomp, and jocund thus he cry'd.
"Look mother, look! see where my father rides,
"With shining reins his golden chariot guides."
At this my pale forsaken breast I tore,
Nor spar'd the face, whose beauties charm no more.
Alas! what did I spare! scarce could I spare
My honour, scarcely thee, could scarce forbear
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