Among her holy servitors. This youth
On her benign protector she bestow'd.
Masistius priz'd her token of esteem
Beyond himself, and daily bounty show'r'd
On young Statirus. Near the Locrian vale
Advancing now the satrap thus began:

"O! early train'd by sage Melissa's hand,
Gift of her friendship, and in merit dear,
Nine months are fled, Statirus, since I bow'd
In docile reverence, not unlike thy own,
To her instruction. All her words divine
In precept or narration, from this breast
No time can blot. I now perceive a lake,
Which holds an island she hath oft describ'd,
Where tombs are mould'ring under cypress shades;
There she bath told me, great Oileus rests.
O father of Melissa, should my pow'r
To savage licence of invasion leave

Thy dust expos'd, my progress were but small
In virtue's track; Masistius would disgrace
Thy daughter's guidance-Fly, Statirus, post
These my attendant vassals to protect
That sacred turf; let each battalion pass
Ere ye rejoin me." Uttering this, he hears
The trumpet's evening signal te encamp.
The Sun is low; not ent'ring yet the vale,
Mardonius halts, and summons to his tent
Thessalia's chieftain, faithless Greek, approv'd
The Persian's friend, with him th' unwilling prince
Of Macedon, to whom the gen'ral thus:
"To march by dawn your squadrons both prepare:
Thou, Larissæan Thorax, in these tracts
My trusted guide, with swift excursion reach
The isthmus; watch the Spartan motions there.
Thou, Alexander, sweep the furthest bounds
Of Locris, Doris, Phocis; all their youth
In arms collect; ere thirty days elapse,
I shall expect them on the plains of Thebes."
He said: the king and Thorax both retire.
The morning shines; they execute their charge;
The host proceeds. Once happy was the vale,
Where Medon's father, and his faithful swain,
Now to illustrious Haliartus chang'd,
Abode in peace. No longer is retain'd
The verdant smoothness, ridg'd by grating wheels
Of Libyan cars, uptorn by pond'rous hoofs
Of trooping steeds and camels. Not this day
Is festive, such as Sparta's king enjoy'd,
When lib'ral hospitality receiv'd
His guardian standard on the Oilean turf.
No jocund swain now modulates his pipe
To notes of welcome; not a maiden decks
Her hair in flow'rs; mute Philomel, whose throat
Once tun'd her warble to Laconian flutes,
Amid barbarian dissonance repines.

Now in rude march th' innumerable host
Approach the fountain, whose translucent rills
In murmur lull the passenger's repose
On beds of moss, in that refreshing cell,
To rural peace constructed by the friend
Of man, Oïleus. Thither to evade
The noontide heat the son of Gobryas turns.
Briareus, captain of his giant guard,
Accosts him ent'ring: "Image of the king,
A list'ning ear to me thy servant lend;
Thou goest to Thebes; far diff'rent is the track
To Delphi. Shall that receptacle proud
Of Grecian treasure, heap'd from earliest times,
Yet rest unspoil'd? An earthquake, not the arms
Of feeble Delphians, foil'd the first attempt;

Not twice Parnassus will disjoint his frame.
Let me the precious enterprise resume,
Who neither dread the mountain, nor the god."
Though not assenting, yet without reproof
Mardonius looks, postponing his reply.
Hence soon the rumour of a new attempt
Against the Pythian oracle, the seat
Of Amarantha's birth, alarms her soul.
Masistius, born to virtue, and refin'd
By frequent converse with Melissa pure,
The queen consults. Her instant he conveys
Before his friend, to deprecate an act

Of sacrilege so fatal once. The cell
She enters. Like Anchises, when his flock
On Ida's mount was folded, at the sight
Of Venus, breaking on his midnight hut
In all the radiance of celestial charms,
Mardonius stands, and fixes on the queen
An eye transported. At a sign his friend
Withdrew, but waited nigh. To her the chief:
"What fortune brings the fairest of her sex
To her adoring servant?" She replies:

"False sure the rumour which pervades thy camp. A second time to violate the shrine

Of Phoebus once provok'd, and sorely felt, Thou canst not mean." The eager Persian then: "Admit th' intent; thy interceding voice Protects Apollo."-" Not on my request Avoid an impious action," firm she spake; "Weigh thy own danger in offending Heav'n, By piety and mercy win its grace."

"No, all the merit shall be thine," he cried; "The favour due from Heav'n be all thy own. I ask no more than Amarantha's smile For my reward; as Phoebus is thy god, Thou art my goddess. Let me worship thus-" He stopp'd, and seiz'd her hand with am'rous lips To stain those lilied beauties, which surpass'd Junonian whiteness. Virtue from her eyes Flash'd, and with crimson indignation dy'd Her cheeks: "Retire; forget not who I am," Stern she rebuk'd him. He, accustom'd long To yielding beauty in the wanton East, That torrid clime of love, a stranger he To elegance of coyness in the sex, Much more to chaste repulse, when ev'ry bar But honour warm occasion hath remov❜d, These words austerely utter'd: "Am I chang'd? No more Mardonius? Is my dazzling sun Of pow'r and splendour suddenly obscur'd? In state degraded, for a peasant's garb Have I exchang'd my purple? Is my prime, My form, in all th' impurities of age By some malignant talisman disguis'd, At once grown loathsome? Who, and what I am, Thou prodigy of coldness and disdain, Remind me."-"Who, and what thou art," she said, I will remind thee, to confound thee more. No characters of magic have the pow'r To change a noble and ingenuous mind; Thou hast thyself degraded; thou hast rent The wreaths, which circle thy commanding brow, And all their splendour wantonly defac'd. Thy rank and pow'r exalted dost thou hold From partial Heav'n to violate the laws Of men and gods? True pattern to the world Of Persian virtues! Now to all thy pomp, Thy steeds, thy chariots, and emblazing gems, The gorgeous pageants of tyrannic state, I leave thee, son of luxury and vice."

Those dreadful ministers of jealous Heav'n,
The elements, are hostile, and to low'r
The great with changing fortune oft conspire.
Her cruel sport, Mardonius, need we tempt
With our own follies? In thy arduous post
Thy hand sustains a balance, where the lives
Of nations, where an empire's fate is pois'd
From hour to hour against the common ills
Of chance and nature, which so often foil
The wisest; do not superadd the weight
Of thy own passions to the adverse scale.
I, who am ever to thy virtues just,

Will not be slow, though grieving at thy faults,
To furnish present help, Farewell; I mount
My swiftest courser to o'ertake the queen,
Whose indignation I can best compose."

Mardonius then: "Adventure is a chase
Thy virtue, no idolatress of fame,

Enjoys; thy prompters are the love of right,
Care for a friend, or zeal for Persia's state,
Which render hazardous attempts thy bliss,
Sublime Masistius. Thou hast weight to awe
Mardonius, who thy enterprising hand
Laments, but never to control assumes,
Yet feels and most regrets his own defects,
Whene'er they cause thy absence." Here they end
Discourse. Of cavalry a num'rous pow'r,
Train'd by himself, Masistius heads, and leaves
The army filing tow'rds Boeotian fields.

He bends his course to Delphi; he attains
Permessus, round the Heliconian heights
In argent mazes whisp'ring, as he flows,
To passengers along the winding way,

Which skirts the mountain, and o'erlooks the stream.
Back from the ford the satrap's courser starts
Affrighted. Lo! to crimson, as of blood,
In sudden change the late crystalline wave,
Melodious solace of the sacred Nine,
Rolls horrible to view.

Anon with helms,

With spears and bucklers, grating o'er the bed
Of loosen'd stone, with limbs and trunks of men,
The turbid current chafes. Masistius spurs
Through all obstruction; in his forc'd career
The clank of armour, crash of spears, and shouts
Of battle strike his ear; the vocal rocks
Augment the animating sound; he sees
A flying soldier, by his target known
A Macedonian guard, who stops, and thus:
"Hail! satrap, hail! thou timely sent by Heav'n,
Haste and protect the Macedonian queen.
A host of robbers, by the lawless times
Combin'd, have vanquish'd our inferior force;
Part of our mangled number choke that flood,
Part on the ground lie bleeding." At these words
Masistius rushes with his pond'rous lance
In rest; Emathia's beauteous queen in flight
Before pursuing ruffians he perceives
On her fleet courser. Thunderbolt of strength,
He hurls to earth their leader, giant-siz'd,
A profligate deserter from the guard
Mardonian. Next a Phocian born, expell'd
His native residence for crimes, he slew;
The active staff is broken in the chest
Of an Arcadian, branded by his state
With infamy; the victor then unsheaths
His sabre, op'ning through the savage rout
A passage wide for death. His faithful train
Surround them; irresistible he sweeps
The traitors headlong to the flood below,
Which foams like Simois, by Pelides swoln

With Trojan dead, and struggling to discharge Th' unwonted load in Neptune's briny waste.

The conqueror dismounts; before the queen His gracious form presenting, in the arms Of his sustaining friends he sudden sinks, Oppress'd by wounds unheeded, ev'n unfelt Amid the warmth of action. Then her veil She rends asunder, and, lamenting, beats Her grateful breast. The notes of sorrow, loud Through all the concourse, dissipate his trance. Serene these words he utters: "Honour's track Is perilous, though lovely; there to walk, Not fearing Death, nor coveting his stroke, Though to receive it ever well prepar'd, Has been my choice and study. But, fair queen, Be not discourag'd at my present state, Wounds are to me familiar, and their cures ; To Delphi lead me, or whatever place Thy wish prefers. Masistius comes thy guard, So will continue, and, ere long restor'd, Hath much for thy instruction to impart."

While these to Delphi, on his march to Thebes Advanc'd the son of Gobryas. Soon the steps Innumerous of men and coursers bruise On green Cephissian meads the growth of May. Copaa's lake, perfum'd with orange groves, Which rude unsated violence deforms, The multitudes envelop; thence along The sedgy borders of Ismenus reach Cadmean walls, when now the golden Sun Sev'n times had fill'd his orbit. Thebes admits The Persian gen'ral, in these words address'd By Leontiades: "Thrice welcome, lord, We, thy allies, our counsel to disclose Have waited long. Not hazarding a fight, Thou hast the means to ascertain success. Here seated tranquil, from exhaustless stores Distribute gold among the Grecian states; Corrupt the pow'rful, open faction's mouth, Divide, nor doubt to overcome that strength, Which, link'd in union, will surmount the force Of all mankind." The ardent Persian here:

"To court th' Athenians with a lavish hand Have I not stoop'd already? but, disdain'd, That haughty race to destiny I leave. Have I not bid defiance to their boast, Themistocles? Him, forfeiting his word, Pledg'd to confront me on Baotian plains, I haste to summon at his native gates. What are the Greeks, if Athens be reduc'd? Where are the vaunted Spartans? lock'd in fear Behind their isthmian wall, by Heav'n in fear Of Thorax ranging with a slender band Of his Thessalian horse. Thou rule in Thebes, Brave Mindarus, till I from Athens tam'd Return with fetters for the rest of Greece."

He seeks his couch, and, after short repose,
By twilight bursts like thunder from a cloud,
Which, on Olympus hov'ring black, contains
The livid store of Jove s collected wrath
Against offending mortals. O'er a land
Deserted, silent, to the empty roofs

Of Athens was the march. Mardonius elimb'd
Ægaleos, thence on Salamis descry'd
That much enduring people, who again
For liberty forsook their native homes
On his approach. His gen'rous pride relents;
He wishes such a nation were a friend;
His wishes waken in his breast an awe
At such a foe. Murichides was nigh,

A Hellespoutine Grecian of his train,
Nor in his favour low; to him he spake:
"Look on that haughty, but that gallant race;
Perhaps at me, by myriads thus begirt,
Their very children lift their little hands
In menaces, and cursing lisp the names
Of Xerxes and Mardonius. Mount a bark;
Pass with a herald to that crowded isle;
The senators accost; the people shun,
In pride beyond nobility; repeat
The words Emathian Alexander us'd:
'Ye men of Athens, repossess your homes;
Enlarg'd dominion from the royal hand
Ask and obtain; be govern'd by your laws;
The son of Gobryas will rebuild your fanes;
Accept the king's alliance, and be free

With added strength and splendour.' Further say,
They little know what confidence is due

To him who sends thee. Asian Greeks, subdu'd
By me, retain their democratic rights."

On Salamis the Hellespontine lands';
Before th' Athenian senate he displays
The Persian proffer. All indignant hear
But Lycides, who thus exhorting spake:
"From Athens twice expell'd, deserted twice
By Lacedæmon, who her toil employs
Still on her isthmian fence, who lifts no shield
To guard our wives and progeny, to save
From desolation our defenceless fields,
Or from our homes repel the hostile blaze,
What can we better, injur'd and betray'd,
Than listen to Mardonius? be referr'd

His terms of friendship to th' assembling tribes."
The universal senate rose in scorn
Of such submission. By the people known,
His counsel rous'd enthusiastic rage,
Nor Aristides can the tumult cool;
They stone the timid senator to death.

The women catch the spirit; fierce, as fair,
Laodice collects th' infuriate sex.
They hand in hand a dreadful circle form
Around his mansion, and his wife and race
Doom to perdition, that his coward blood

May ne'er survive in Greece. Enormous thought!
Perhaps not less than such excess of zeal
Excess of peril in that season claim'd

To save a land, which foster'd ev'ry Muse;
That eloquence, philosophy, and arts,
Might shine in Attic purity of light
To latest ages: but a sudden fleet,
In wide array extending on the shore,
Suspends the deed. Before each wond'ring eye
Timothea lands, Sicinus at her side;

When thus the matron to th' impatient throng:
"His native friends Themistocles salutes;
Euboean plenty in your present need
He sends. Returning, I this crowded isle
Will disencumber, and to safety bear
Your wives and infants; open to their wants
Eudora holds her Amarynthian seat;
Elephenor, Tisander to the shrines
Of Jove invite them, and to friendly roofs
Euboea's towns. As oft Aurora sheds
Serenity around her, when the gates
Of light first open to her fragrant step;
Hush'd at her feet lies Boreas, who had rent
The dusky pall of night, and Jove restrains
The thunder's roar, and torrents of the skies;
Such was Timothea's presence, so the storm,
By furies late excited, at her voice

Was tame. She learns the melancholy fate
Of Lycides, to her protection takes
His helpless orphans, and disastrous wife.
Now of its plenteous stores while eager hands
The num'rous fleet unlade, and Attic dames
Prepare with good Timothea to embark;
Just Aristides, first of men, conducts
That first of matrons to his joyful tent,
Where she began: "O, righteous like the gods,
Now hear my whole commission, and believe
Themistocles, my husband, feels thy worth.
When at his summons on Euboea's coast

I landed first, "Thrice welcome,' he exclaim'd,
'From Athens hither to a safe abode.
A second emigration I presage

To her afflicted race.' From port to port
Around Euboea's populous extent

With him convey'd, I saw her wealthy towns
To his control subordinate. Their pow'rs
He now is gath'ring; some achievement new
He meditates, which secresy conceals
Like Fate's dark roll inscrutable to all.
From thee an early notice he requests,
Soon as the Greeks, united in one camp,
The sole attention of Mardonius draw;
Th' intelligence to bring I leave behind
That faithful man, Sicinus."-" Virtuous dame,
Wise is thy husband," Aristides spake ;
"From him no other than achievements high,
However my conjecture they surpass,

I still expect. Themistocles apprise,
That I am bound for Sparta to upbraid
Pausanias proud, and summon to the field
That selfish breed so martial, yet so cold
To public welfare. Let me next prefer
To thy benignity a fervent suit."

He straight withdrew, and reappearing led
Two little damsels humble in attire.

"Behold my daughters," he resum'd; "admit These to thy care; now motherless they want Protection; ev'n Euphemia they have lost; My venerable parent have the gods Releas'd but newly from the growing scene Of trouble. Athens must a parent prove To these hereafter, fated to receive No portion from a father, who delights In poverty. His arms are all the wealth Of Aristides." With a tender hand

She takes the children; "O! of men," she said, "Most rich, whose wealth is virtue, in the name Of household gods this office I accept.

O Aristides! these shall mix with mine;
These shall contribute to cement the work,
I long have wrought, the amity begun
Betwixt Themistocles and thee." In tears
Depart the infant maidens from a sire
Of gentlest nature, and in manners bland
Not less than just. Meanwhile to Athens steers
Murichides, unharm'd. The rising dawn
Sees with her precious charge Timothea sail.
Lo! from the city clouds of smoke ascend
Voluminous, with interlacing flames,
Such as Vesuvius vomits from his gulf
Sulphureous, when unquenchable the heat
Within his concave melts the surging ore
To floods of fire. Murichides had told
His fruitless embassy; Mardonius, wild
With ire, to instant conflagration doom'd
Th' abode of such inexorable foes.
They, on the margin opposite, beheld