But, with the found entranc'd, th' attentive ear
Thought him ftill finging, ftill ftood fix'd to hear.
In filent rapture every chief remains,

And feels within his heart the thrilling ftrains.
Forthwith the bowl they crown with rofy wine,
And pay due honours to the power divine.
The pure libations on the fire they pour,
While rifing flames the myftie tongues devour.
Now fable night afcends her starry throne,
And Argo's chiefs her drowsy influence own.
But when the bright-cy'd morning rear'd her
head,

And look'd o'er Pelion's fummits ting'd with red;
Light skimm'd the breezes o'er the watery plain,
And gently fwell'd the fluctuating main.
Then Tiphys rofe, and, fummon'd by his care,
Embark'd the heroes, and their oars prepare.
Portentous now along the winding fhores
Hoarfe-founding Pagafaan Neptune roars.
Impatient Argo the glad fignal took,
While from her vocal keel loud murmurs broke;
Her keel of facred oak divinely wrought
Itonian Pallas from Didona brought.

On their allotted pofts now rang'd along
In feemly order fate the princely throng:
Faft by each chief his glittering armour flames;
The midmoft ftation bold Ancæus claims,
With great Alcides, whofe enormous might
Arm'd with a maffy club provokes the fight,
Now plac'd befide him: in the yielding flood
The keel deep-finking feels the demi-god.

Their haufers now they loofe, and on the brine To Neptune pour the confecrated wine. Then from his native fhores fad Jafon turns His oft-reverted eye, and filent mourns. As in Ortygia, or the Delphic fane, Or where Ifmenus laves Baotia's plain, Apollo's altars round, the youthful choir, The dance according with the founding lyre, The hallow'd ground with equal cadence beat, And move in measure their harmonious feet: Together fo Theffalia's princes fweep With well-tim'd oars the filver-curling deep. While, raifing high the Thracian harp, prefides Melodious Orpheus and the movement guides. On either fide the dafhing furges broke, And fierce remurmur'd to each mighty ftroke; Thick flash'd the brazen arms with freaming light, While the fwift bark purfues her rapid flight, And ever as the fca-green tide the cleaves, Foams the long tract behind, and whitens all the

waves:

So fhines the path, acrofs fome verdant plain
Trac'd by the footsteps of the village fwain.

Jove on that day from his celeftial throne,
And all th' immortal powers of heaven look'd
The godlike chiefs and Argo to furvey [down,
As through the deep they urg'd their daring way.
Then too on Pelion's cloud-top'd fummit ftood
The nymphs, and fauns, and fifters of the wood,
With wonder viewing the tall pine below,
That fhaded once the mountain's flaggy brow,
Now fram'd by Pallas o'er the founding fea
Theffalia's mighty heroes to convey.

But, lo from Pelion's higheft clift defcends,
And downward to the fea his footsteps bends
The Centaur Chiron; on the beach he stood
And dipp'd his fetlocks in the hoary flood.

Then waving his broad hand, the bark he hales,
And speeds with profperous vows the parting fail
With him advanc'd his confort to the shore;
The young Achilles in her arms fhe bore:
Then, railing high in air the pleafing load,
To his fond fire the fmiling infant show'd.

THE STORY OF PHINEUS.

THE following day Bithynia's coaft they reach,
And fix their haufers to the fheltering beach.
There on the margin of the beating flood
The mournful mansions of fad Phineus stood,
Agenor's fon; whom heaven ordain'd to bear
The grievous burden of unequal'd care.
For taught by wife Apollo to defcry
Th' unborn events of dark futurity,
Vain of his fcience, the prefumptuous feer
Deign'd not Jove's awful fecrets to revere;
But wantonly divulg'd to frail mankind
The facred purpofe of th' omnifcient mind.
Hence Jove indignant gave him length of day,
But quench'd in endless fhade his visual rays.
Nor would the vengeful god permit him taste
The cheerful bleflings of the genial feaft;
Though the large tribute of the nations round
Their prophet's board with wealth and plenty
crown'd.

For, lo! defcending fudden from the sky,
Round the pil'd banquet fhrieking harpies flie,
Who with rapacious claws inceffant tear
Forth from his famifh'd lips th' untafted fare.
Yet would fome flender pittance oft remain,
What might fuffice to keep up life and pain.
But then fuch odours the foul scraps exhal'd,
That with the ftench the lothing stomach fail'd,
Aloof the hungry guests and wondering flood,
While their fick hearts abhorr'd the putrid food.

But now the princely crew approaching near, The welcome found invades the prophet's ear. Taught by th' infpiring god that now was com The long-wifh'd period of heaven's vengefal doom,

That by these heroes deftin'd aid restor❜d,
Peace fhould thenceforward blefs his feaftful board.
Then heaves he from the couch his haggard head,
Like fome pale, lifelefs, vifionary fhade,
And leaning on his ftaff with faultering steps,
Along the walls his way exploring creeps.
Difeas'd, enfeebled, and by age unbrac'd,
Trembled his tottering limbs as forth he pafs'd.
Shrunk was his form, aduft with want and care,
And burfting through his hide the pointed bones

appear.

But faint and breathlefs as he reach'd the gate,
Down on the threshold over-toil'd he fate.
In dizzy fumes involv'd, his brain runs round,
And swims beneath his feet the folid ground.
No more their functions the frail fenfes keep,
And fpeechlefs finks the feer in death-like fleep.

This faw the chiefs amaz'd, and gather'd round; When from his labouring lungs a hollow found, With breath and utterance fcarce recover'd broke, And thus th' enlighten'd feer prophetic spoke :

"Princes of Greece, attend; if ye be they Whom o'er the main Theffalia's pines convey, And Jafon leads to Colchos' magic land, Such is your cruel tyrant's ftern command.

Meanwhile the princes in the cleansing wave With purifying rites the fenior lave. Next from the spoil, which on Bybricia's shore From vanquish'd Amycus ftern Pollux tore, A victim they felect with pious care; And footh the gods with facrifice and prayer. Then in the palace each heroic guest Partakes the pleasures of the sumptuous feaft. With them fat Phineus, and refresh'd his foul With favory viands and the cheering bowl. Unfatiated he feeds, and bates in ftreams Of ecstasy beyond the blifs of dreams.

THE HYMN OF CLEANTHES O UNDER various facred names ador'd! Divinity fupreme! all potent lord! Author of nature! whose unbounded sway And legislative power all things obey! Majestic Jove! all hail! To thee belong The fuppliant prayer, and tributary song : To thee from all thy mortal offspring due ; From thee we came, from thee our being drew; Whatever lives and moves, great Sire! is thine, Embodied portions of the foul divine. 'Therefore to thee will I attune my string, And of thy wondrous power for ever fing. The wheeling orbs, the wandering fires above, That round this earthly sphere inceffant move, Through all this boundless world admit thy fway, And roll spontaneous where thou point'ft the way. Such is the awe impreft on nature round

When through the void thy dreadful thunders found,

Thofe flaming agents of thy matchless power:
Aftonish'd worlds hear, tremble, and adore.

Cleanthes, the author of this hymn, was a floick philofopher, a difciple of Zeno. He wrote many pieces, none of which are come down to us, but this and a few fragments, which are printed by H. Stephens, in a collection of pbilifophical poems. This hymn was tranflated at the request of a very learned and ingenious friend of mine, who was pleafed to find fuch juft fentiments of the Deity in a beatben, and fo much poetry in a philofopher.

Thus paramount to all, by all obey'd,
Ruling that reafon which through all convey'd
Informs this general mafs, though reign'ft adoré
Supreme, unbounded, univerfal lord."
For nor in earth, nor earth-encircling floods,
Nor yon ethereal pole, the feat of gods,
Is aught perform'd without thy aid divine;
Strength, wisdom, virtue, mighty Jove, are thine
Vice is the act of man, by paffion toft,
And in the shoreless fea of folly loft.
But thou, what vice diforders, canft compofe;
And profit by the malice of thy foes;
So blending good with evil, fair with foul,
As hence to model one harmonious whole;
One univerfal law of truth and right;
But wretched mortals fhun the heavenly light;
And, though to blefs directing ftill their choice,
Hear not, or heed not, reafon's facred voice,
That common guide ordain'd to point the road
That leads obedient man to folid good.
Thence quitting virtue's lovely paths they rove,
As various objects various passions move.
Some through oppofing crowds and threatning
Seek power'sbright throne,and fame's triumphaic,
Some, bent on wealth, pursue with endless pain
Oppreffive, fordid, and difhoneft gain:
While others, to foft indolence refign'd,
Drown in corporeal fweets th' immortal mind.
But, O great Father, thunder-ruling god!
Who in thick darkness mak'ft thy dread abode
Thou, from whose bounty all good gifts defceré,
Do thou from ignorance mankind defend!
The clouds of vice and folly, O controul;
And shed the beams of wisdom on the foul!
Those radiant beams, by whofe all piercing flame
Thy juftice rules this univerfal frame.
That, honour'd with a portion of thy light,
We may effay thy goodness to requite
With honorary fongs and grateful lays,
And hymn thy glorious works with ceafeless praife,
The proper talk of man; and fure to fing
Of nature's laws, and nature's mighty king,
Is blefs fupreme. Let gods with mortals join
The subject may transport a breast divine.

thou know'st,

In fickness youth is impotent as age.
Be govern'd; for this arm should I withdraw,
Thou fall'ft, while my old feet unshaken
ftand.

Oryp. But if thou fall'ft, through age thou fall'st, not fickness:

Old age is weak, though prompt and willing ever

* Ocypus, the fan of Podalirius and Aftafia, was emiment for bis ftrength and beauty, a great lover of bunting, and all gymnaftice exercifes. This young man, baving been accustomed to infult and deride whomsoever be far grievously afflicted with the gout, telling them at the fame time that their pains were nothing, brought upon himself the indignation of the goddess who prefides over that diftemper, and was at laft, by the violence of the difeafe, driven to a recantation. Lucian bad compofed an entire drama upon this fubject; but as only the beginning of this piece remains, I bave tranflated it, and, with very little alteration in either, have made it a part of his other drabafe fubject is the triumph of the gout over phyfic.

Nur. Leave arguing; and tell me by what chance This pain hath got poffeffion of thy toe.

Ocyp. As in the course I exercis'd, awry

My ancle turn'd, and thence the pain enfued, Nur. Why, as the fellow faid, who careless fat Clipping his grifly beard, then run again. Ocyp. Or wrestling might I not the hurt receive, When lock'd together were our grappling limbs?

Nur. A trufty champion by my troth thou art,
If all thy fury light upon thyself.

But this is a mere circle of evasions,
And I myself the like discourse have held
In former times and try'd to varnish o'er,
Ev'n to my dearest friends, th' unpleafing

truth;

But now when every fwelling member speaks. And burning colours torture thy who lebody

Enter PHYSICIAN.

Phy. O! where is Ocypus, illuftrious youth?
For lame, I hear, are his victorious feet.
And therefore to aslist him am I come.
But fee! where careless on the couch diffus'd,
Supine he lies!-Heaven grant thee health,
my fon,

And to thy feet reflore their wonted ftrength.
Declare to me, O Ocypus, the cause ·

Of thy complaint: perhaps my powerful art
May for thy anguifh find fome quick relief.
Ocyp. Intolerable pain my foot confumes.
Phy. Whence came it? how? what accident?
explain.

Ocyp. Or in the ftraining race, or haply while
My gymnick exercises I perform'd,

Phy.

Ocyp.

Nur.

Some hurt from my companions I receiv'd. Then where's the fore and angry inflam

mation?

And why no fomentation on the part? The woollen bandage I abhor.

Alas! How baneful is the pride of handsome looks Phy. What therefore must be done? fhall I lay

open

Thy tumid foot? But, Ocypus, be fure
If once I feize upon it, I fhall drain,
At many bleeding wounds, thy arteries.
Ocyp. Put all thy new devices now in practice,

So from this horrid pain my foot be freed.
Phy. Then lo! my fteely inftrument I draw,
This crooked, fharp, blood-thirsting inftru-

ment.

Ocyp. Hey! ho!

Nur.

Phyfician,what doft thou intend? Would't thou with fharp incifions vex him more? [danger? And, without knowing why, his foot enHe hath abus'd thee with an idle tale. For neither in the ftraining race, nor while His gymnic exercises he perform'd, From his companions did he hurt receive. Then liften to my tale. Healthful he came, And all unwounded home; and greedily The evening feaft devour'd, and drain'd the bowl;

Then falling on the couch fecurely flept. But at midnight awaking, loud he roar'd, As fmitten by fome god: fear feiz'd us all. And, Oh! he cried, whence came this dire

mifchance?

Some torturing demon feizes on my foot. Thus on his couch up-fitting all night long His foot in fad folemnity he mean'd.

But when the cock's fhrill founding trump

proclaims

The dawning day, lamenting forth he comes, And on my fhoulder leans his feverish hand, While his difabled footsteps I upheld, All that he told thee is a forg'd device To veil the fecret of his dire difeafe, Which now in every limb begins to rack him, Nor yet is able to extort the truth. Ocyp. Old age is ever arm'd with mighty words; Vaunting in fpeech, but impotent in action. He, who when fick his nurfing friends deceives,

Like the ftarv'd wretch that hungry maftic chews,

But cheats himself, and fofters his disease. Phy. Thou cheateít all; now that, now faying this,

Confefling pain, but not explaining what. Ocyp. And how fhall I explain it ? I indeed

Know that I fuffer pain; and that is all. Phy. When pain, without apparent caufe, invades The fwelling foot, a man may please himself In hunting after this and that folution, But can't mistake the nature of his evil. And now hear this, howe'er unpleafing truth, At length, with vengeance due, 'tis come upon thee.

Ocyp. It? what? alas! what terrible disease,

That needs fuch preface to its horrid name? Nur. The gout, O wretched Ocypus, whofe pangs

And gnawing tortures thou didst once deride. Ocyp. But what, Okilful artist, what fay'fl thou? Phy. Farewell, to ferve thee I neglect myself.

Maftic is a great firengthener of the flomach, and confequently promotes appetite; which to a man dying of banger is fo far from being a relief, that it rather inereafes bis complaint: this I take to be the meaning of this paljuge.

Ocyp. What accident or business calls thee hence
Phy. Into a cureless evil thou art fall'n.
Ocyp. Muft I then, ever lame, tormented ever,
Drag on a life of everlasting woe?
Phy. Fear not thou shalt not be for ever lame
Ocyp. What worse have I to fear?
Ply.
On either
Her galling fetters will the goddefs bind.
Ocyp. Alas! in t'other fympathifing foot
Methinks I feel a new unufual pain.
Or am I motionless? Or wherefore dread)
[rijing up.

To place thefe once fo nimble feet on earth
Seiz'd like a child with vain and sudden feat
Now by the gods, th' immortal gods, I beg
If aught thy art fuggeft of aid or comfort,
Thy friendly help impart, and heal my pain,
Or furely I fhall die:" within I feel
The fecret venom, and the thrilling arrow
That pierces through my feet, and tears
finews.

Phy. Not to amuse thee with unmeaning words,
Like fome of those who call themselves p

Of juftice fixes on the bold offender:
A dreadful, undifcover'd, fecret ill,
Whofe burden human nature scarce can beat
Ocyp. Alas! oh! oh! what inward fmart is this,
That penetrates my foot? oh! on thy arm
Support me, ere 1 fall, and lead me on
As the young fatyrs reeling Bacchus lead.
[falls on the couch
Phy. There leave him on the couch; refreshing
fleep

His much-exhaufted fpirits will recruit.
[Exeunt Nurse and Phyjčice,
Ocyrus folus.

Ocyp. O horrid name! detefted by the gods!
Gout, rueful gout! of fad Cocytus born'
Whom in the mirky caves of Tartarus
The fiend Megara in her womb conceiv'd,
And nourish'd at her breaft: Alecto too
With her fell milk the wayward infant fed.
But oh! what god brought thy difaftroas

power

To taint this light, and harass human-kind'
If punishment condign pursue the dead,
For crimes committed in their days of nature.
What need was there in Pluto's dreary reales
With ftreams forbidden Tantalus to vex?
To whirl Ixion on the giddy wheel?
And weary Sifyphus with fruitless toil?
It fure had been fufficient punishment
Had each offender the fharp pains endur'd
That tear this meagre miferable carcafe:
While through th' obftructed pores the frug-

ling vapour

And bitter diftillation force their way. Ev's through the bowels runs the icalding

plague,