and with high words each heart was fired to bear
adventures, peradventure, sans surcease.
Thus did the Minyae for their feat prepare—
to gain the glories of the Golden Fleece—
orac’ulous Argo-ship, that dared the first
through Euxine waves her vent’urous way to burst.
84
“Now in famed Ulysséa’s haven man’d,
with raptures worthy of the great design
(where his sweet liquor and his snowy sand
our Tagus blendeth with Neptunian brine),
ride the ships ready. Here my strong young band
by fear unbridled glad in labour join;
for those of Mars and Neptune,104 one and all,
the world would wander did I only call.
85
“Fast by the foreshore comes the soldiery
in various colours prankt with various art;
nor less enforced by inner force are they
to seek and see Earth’s unexplorèd part.
Round the good Navy gentle breezes play
and blithely waves each airy estandart:
They105 swear, far-gazing on the breadth of brine,
’mid stars Olympick Argo-like to shine.
86
“When all prepared according to this sort
with what of wants such lengthy way demandeth,
our souls we did prepare for Death’s disport
who before seaman’s eyne for ever standeth:
To the Most Highest, throned in Heaven’s court
which He sustains, whose glance this globe commandeth,
that He, our guard and guide, His aidance lend,
we prayed, and see our incept to its end.
87
“Thus we departed from the saintly Shrine106
built on the margent of the briny wave,
named, for all mem’ory, from the Land Divine,
where God incarnèd came the world to save.
King! I assure thee when this mind of mine
rememb’ereth how ’twas ours those shores to leave,
filled are my sprite and heart with doubts and fears,
and eyes can hardly stay their trickling tears.
88
“The City-people on that saddest day
(these for their bosom-friends, and those for kin,
and others but spectators) thronged the way
sad and down-hearted at the dreary scene:
We, winding through the virtuous array
a thousand monks and priests of rev’erend mien,
praying, in solemn pageant, to the Lord,
afoot set forth the ready barques to board.
89
“On such long dubious courses sent to steer,
us deemed the people den’izens of the tomb;
the wailing women shed the piteous tear,
and sadly sighed the men to sight our doom:
Wives, sisters, mothers (most their hearts must fear
whose love is foremost) added to the gloom
Despair; and shudder’d with a freezing fright
lest we, their loved ones, aye be lost to sight.
90
“This, following, saith: ‘O son! I ever held
coolth of my sorrows and the sweet relief
of mine already weary wayworn eld
so soon to sink in glooms of need and grief;
why leave me thus to want and woe compel’d?
Why fly my love, fond child? whose days so brief
shall set in darkness, and in briny grave
shalt feed the fishes of the greedy wave.
91
“That, with loosed locks: ‘O douce and dearest spouse,
lacking whose love Love willeth not I live;
why risk, when daring Ocean’s wrath to rouse,
thy life, my life which is not thine to give?
How canst forget our fond fair marriage-vows?
Why face the waves a homeless fugitive?
Our love, our vain content shall nought avail
thrown to the breezes as they blow the sail?’
92
“With such and sim’ilar words that spake the tongue
of love and human nature’s yearning woe,
followed our seaward path both old and young,
life’s two extremes by Time made weak and slow.
Sad Echo wailèd the near wolds among,
as though hard hills were movèd grief to show;
And tears the snowy shore suchwise bedew’d,
drops rivall’d sands in equal multitude.
93
“Of us the Company, ne’er raising eye
on wife or mother, marcht in such a state,
we feared our hearts fall faint, and fain we fly
our fixt resolves, repenting all too late:
Thus I determined straight aboard to hie,
sans ‘Fare-thee-wells’ by custom consecrate;
which, though they be dear love’s own lovely way,
redouble grief to those who go or stay.
94
“But now an agèd Sire of reverend mien,107
upon the foreshore throngèd by the crowd,
with eyne fast fixt upon our forms was seen,
and discontented thrice his brow he bow’d:
His deep-toned accents raising somewhat keen,
that we from shipboard hear him speak aloud,
with lore by long experience only grown,
thus from his time-taught breast he made his moan:—
95
“ ‘Oh craving of Command! Oh vain Desire!
of vainest van’ity man miscalleth Fame!
Oh fraud’ulent gust, so easy fanned to fire
by breath of vulgar, aping Honour’s name!
What just and dreadful judgment deals thine ire,
to seely souls who overlove thy claim!
What deaths, what direful risks, what agonies
wherewith thou guerd’onest them, thy fitting prize!
96
“ ‘Thou dour disturber of man’s sprite and life,
fount of backsliding and adultery,
sagacious waster, and consummate thief
of subjects, kingdoms, treasure, empery:
They hail thee noble, and they hail thee chief,
though digne of all indignities thou be;
they call thee Fame and Glory sovereign,
words, words, the heart of silly herd to gain!
97
“ ‘What new disaster dost thou here design?
What horror for our realm and race invent?
What unheard dangers or what deaths condign,
veiled by some name that soundeth excellent?
What bribe of gorgeous reign, and golden mine,
whose ready offer is so rarely meant?
What Fame hast promised them? what pride of story?
What palms? what triumphs? what victorious glory?
98
“ ‘But oh! race ’gendered by his sin insane,
whom disobedience of the high command,
not only chasèd from the heav’enly reign,
and doomed to distant and exilèd land;
but, eke, from other state too blest for men
where Peace with Innocence fared hand in hand,
that olden golden Age, his victims hurl’d
into an iron and an armèd world:
99
“ ‘Since by this gustful Van’ity led astray,
lighter thou makest man’s light fantasy;
since his brute fierceness and his lust of prey
bear honoured names of Strength and Valiancy;
since thou wilt price and prize, in wildest way,
despisal of man’s life, which aye should be
esteemed of mortals, nay, held doubly dear,
when He
