THE THEOGONY.

Begin we from the Muses oh my song! Muses of Helicon: their dwelling-place The mountain vast and holy: where around The altar of high Jove and fountain dark From azure depth, [142]they lightly leap in dance With delicate feet; and having duly bathed Their tender bodies in Permessian streams, [143]In springs that gush’d fresh from the courser’s hoof, Or blest Olmius’ waters, many a time Upon the topmost ridge of Helicon Their elegant and amorous dances thread, And smite the earth with strong-rebounding feet. Thence breaking forth tumultuous, and enwrapt With the deep mist of air, they onward pass Nightly, and utter, as they sweep on high, A voice in stilly darkness beautiful. They hymn the praise of Ægis-wielding Jove, And Juno, named of Argos, who august In golden sandals walks: and her, whose eyes Glitter with azure light, Minerva born From Jove: Apollo, [144]sire of prophecy, And Dian gladden’d by the twanging bow: Earth-grasping Neptune, shaker of earth’s shores: Majestic Themis and Dione fair: [145]And Venus twinkling bland her tremulous lids: Hebe, her brows with golden fillet bound: Morn, the vast Sun, and the resplendent Moon: Latona and Japetus: and him Of crooked wisdom, Saturn: and the Earth: And the huge Ocean, and the sable Night And all the sacred race of deities Existing ever. They to Hesiod erst Have taught their stately song: the whilst he fed His lambs beneath the holy Helicon. And thus the goddesses, th’ Olympian maids Whose sire is Jove, first hail’d me in their speech; “Shepherds! that tend in fields the fold; ye shames! [146]Ye fleshly appetites! the Muses hear: ’Tis we can utter fictions veil’d like truths, Or, if we list, speak truths without a veil.” So said the daughters of the mighty Jove, Sooth-speaking maids: and gave unto my hand A rod of marvellous growth, [147]a laurel-bough Of blooming verdure; and within me breathed A heavenly voice, that I might utter forth All past and future things: and bade me praise The blessed race of ever-living gods: And ever first and last the Muses sing. Away then—why [148]this tale of oaks and rocks? Begin we from the Muses oh my song! They the great spirit of their father Jove Delight in heaven: their tongues symphonious breathe All past, all present, and all future things: Sweet, inexhaustible, from every mouth That voice flows on: the Thunderer’s palace laughs With scatter’d melody of honied sounds From the breathed voice of goddesses, and all The snow-topp’d summits of Olympus ring, The mansions of immortals. They send forth Their undecaying voice, and in their songs Proclaim before all themes the race of gods From the beginning: the majestic race, Whom earth and awful heaven endow’d with life: And all the deities who sprang from these, Givers of blessings. Then again they change The strain to Jove, the sire of gods and men: Him praise the choral goddesses: him first And last: with rising and with ending song: How excellent he is above all gods, And in his power most mighty. Once again They sing the race of men, and giants strong; And soothe the soul of Jupiter in heaven. They, daughters of high Jove: Olympian maids: Whom erst Mnemosyne, protecting queen Of rich Eleuther’s fallows, in embrace With Jove their sire amidst [149]Pieria’s groves Conceived: of ills forgetfulness; to cares Rest: thrice three nights did counsel-shaping Jove Melt in her arms, apart from eyes profane Of all immortals to the sacred couch Ascending: and when now the year was full, When moons had wax’d and waned, and reasons roll’d, And days were number’d, she, some space remote From where Olympus highest towers in snow, [150]Bare the nine maids, with souls together knit In harmony: whose thought is only song: Within whose bosoms dwells th’ unsorrowing mind. There on the mount they shine in troops of dance, And dwell in beautified abodes: and nigh The Graces also dwell, and Love himself, And hold the feast. But they through parted lips Send forth a lovely voice; they sing the laws Of universal heaven; the manners pure Of deathless gods, and lovely is their voice. Anon they bend their footsteps tow’rds the mount, Rejoicing in their beauteous voice and song Unperishing: far round the dusky earth Rings with their hymning voices, and beneath Their many-rustling feet a pleasant sound Ariseth, as tumultuous pass they on To greet their heavenly sire. He reigns in heaven, The bolt and glowing lightning in his grasp, Since by the strong ascendant of his arm Saturn his father fell: he to the gods Appoints the laws, and he their honours names. So sing the Muses; dwellers on the mount Of heaven: nine daughters of the mighty Jove: Melpomene, Euterpe, Erato, Polymnia, Terpsichore, Thalia, Urania, Clio, and Calliope: The chiefest she: who walks upon the steps Of kingly judges in their majesty: And whomsoe’er of heavenly-nurtured kings Jove’s daughters will to honour, looking down With smiling aspect on his cradled head They pour a gentle dew upon his tongue: And words, as honey sweet, drop from his lips. To him the people look: on him all eyes Wait awful, who in righteousness discerns The ways of judgment: in a single breath, Utter’d with knowledge, ends the mightiest strife, And all is peace. The wisdom this of kings: That in their judgment-hall they from the oppress’d Turn back the tide of ills, retrieving wrongs With mild accost of [151]soothing eloquence. On him, the judge and king, when passing forth Among the city-ways, all reverent look With a mild worship, as he were a god: And in [152]the great assembly first is he. Such is the Muses’ goodly gift to man. The Muses, and Apollo darting far The arrows of his splendour, raise on earth [153]Harpers and men of song: but kings arise From Jove himself. Oh blessed is the man Whome’er the Muses love! sweet is the voice That from his lips flows ever. [154]Is there one Who hides some fresh grief in his wounded mind And mourns with aching heart? but he, the bard, [155]The servant of the Muse, awakes the song To deeds of men of old, and blessed gods That dwell on mount Olympus. Straight he feels His sorrow stealing in forgetfulness: Nor of his griefs remembers aught: so soon The Muse’s gift has turn’d his woes away. Daughters of Jove! all hail! but oh inspire The lovely song! record the heavenly race Of gods existing ever: those who sprang From earth and starry heaven and murky night, And whom the salt deep quicken’d. Say how first The gods and earth became: how rivers flow’d: Th’ unbounded sea raged high in foamy swell, The stars shone forth, and overhead the sky Spread its broad arch: and say from these what gods, Givers of blessings, sprang: and how they shared Heaven’s splendid attributes and parted out Distinct their honours: and how first they fix’d Their dwelling midst Olympus’ winding vales: Tell, oh ye Muses! ye who also dwell In mansions of Olympus: tell me all From the beginning: say who first arose. [156]First of all beings Chaos was: and next Wide-bosom’d Earth, the seat for ever firm Of all th’ immortals, whose abode is placed Among the mount Olympus’ snow-top’d heads, [157]Or in the dark abysses of the ground: Then Love most beauteous of immortals rose: He of each god and mortal man at once Unnerves the limbs, dissolves the wiser breast By reason steel’d, and quells the very soul. From Chaos, Erebus and sable Night: From Night arose the Sunshine and the Day: Offspring of Night from Erebus’ embrace. Earth first conceived with Heaven: whose starry cope, Like to herself immense, might compass her On every side: and be to blessed gods A resting-place immoveable for ever. She teem’d with the high Hills, the pleasant haunts Of goddess nymphs, who dwell within the glens Of mountains. With no aid of tender love She gave to birth the sterile Sea, high-swol’n In raging foam: and, Heaven-embraced, anon She teem’d with Ocean, rolling in deep whirls His vast abyss of waters. Crœus, then, Cæus, Hyperion, and Iäpetus, Themis, and Thea rose; Mnemosyne, And Rhea; Phœbe diadem’d with gold, And love-inspiring Tethys: and of these, Youngest in birth, the wily Saturn came, The sternest of her sons; for he abhorr’d The sire who gave him life. Then brought she forth [158]The Cyclops brethren, arrogant of heart, Undaunted Arges, Brontes, Steropes: Who forged the lightning shaft, and gave to Jove His thunder: they were like unto the gods: Save that a single ball of sight was fix’d In their mid-forehead. Cyclops was their name, From that round eye-ball in their brow infix’d: And strength and force and manual craft were theirs. Others again were born from Earth and Heaven: Three giant sons: strong, dreadful but to name, Children of glorying valour: Briareus, Cottus and Gyges: from whose shoulders burst A hundred arms that mock’d approach, and o’er Their limbs hard-sinew’d fifty heads upsprang: Mighty th’ immeasurable strength display’d In each gigantic stature: and of all The children born to earth and heaven these sons Were dreadfullest: and they, e’en from the first, Drew down their father’s hate: as each was born He seized them all, and hid them in th’ abyss Of Earth: nor e’er released them to the light. Heaven in his evil deed rejoiced: vast Earth Groan’d inly, sore aggrieved: but soon devised A stratagem of mischief and of fraud. Sudden creating for herself a kind Of whiter iron, she with labour framed A scythe enormous: and address’d her sons: She spoke emboldening words, though grieved at heart. “My sons! alas! ye children of a sire Most impious, now obey a mother’s voice: So shall we well avenge the fell despite Of him your father, who the first devised Deeds of injustice.” While she said, on all Fear fell: nor utterance found they, till with soul Embolden’d, wily Saturn huge address’d His awful mother. “Mother! be the deed My own: thus pledged I will most sure achieve This feat: nor heed I him, our sire, of name Detested: for that he the first devised Deeds of injustice.” Thus he said, and Earth Was gladden’d at her heart. She planted him In ambush dark and secret: in his grasp She placed the sharp-tooth’d scythe, and tutor’d him In every wile. Vast Heaven came down from high, And with him brought the gloominess of Night On all beneath: with ardour of embrace Hovering o’er Earth, in his immensity He lay diffused around. The son stretch’d forth His weaker hand from ambush: in his right [159]He took the sickle huge and long and rough With sharpen’d teeth: and hastily he reap’d The genial organs of his sire, at once Cut sheer: then cast behind him far away. They not in vain escaped his hold: for Earth Received the blood-drops, and as years roll’d round Teem’d with strong furies and with giants huge, Shining in mail, and grasping in their hands Protended spears: and wood-nymphs, named of men Dryads, o’er all th’ immeasurable earth. So severing, as was said, with edge of steel The genial spoils, he from the continent Amidst the many surges of the sea Hurl’d them. Full long they drifted o’er the deeps: Till now swift-circling a white foam arose From that immortal substance, and a nymph Was quicken’d in the midst. The wafting waves First bore her to Cythera’s heavenly coast: Then reach’d she Cyprus, girt with flowing seas, And forth emerged a goddess, in the charms Of awful beauty. Where her delicate feet Had press’d the sands, green herbage flowering sprang. Her Aphrodite gods and mortals name, [160]The foam-born goddess: and her name is known, As Cytherea with the blooming wreath, For that she touch’d Cythera’s flowery coast: And Cypris, for that on the Cyprian shore She rose, amidst the multitude of waves: And Philomedia, from the source of life. [161]Love track’d her steps; and beautiful Desire Pursued, while soon as born she bent her way Towards heaven’s assembled gods: her honours these From the beginning: whether gods or men Her presence bless, to her the portion fell Of [162]virgin whisperings and alluring smiles, And smooth deceits, and gentle ecstasy, And dalliance, and the blandishments of love. But the great Heaven, rebuking those his sons That issued from his loins, new-named them now Titans: and said that they avenging dared A crime; but retribution was behind. Abhorred Fate and dark Necessity And Death were born from Night: by none embraced These gloomy Night brought self-conceiving forth: And Sleep and all the hovering host of dreams. [163]Then bare she Momus; Care, still brooding sad On many griefs; and next [164]th’ Hesperian maids, Whose charge o’er-sees the fruits of blooming gold Beyond the sounding ocean, the fair trees Of golden fruitage. Then the Destinies Arose, and Fates in vengeance pitiless: Clotho, and Lachesis, and Atropos: Who at the birth of men dispense the lot Of good and evil. They of men and gods The crimes pursue, nor ever pause from wrath Tremendous, till destructive on the head Of him that sins the retribution fall. Then teem’d pernicious Night with Nemesis, The scourge of mortal men: again she bare Fraud and lascivious Love: slow-wasting Age, And still-persisting Strife. From hateful Strife Came sore Affliction and Oblivion drear: Famine and weeping Sorrows: Combats, Wars, And Slaughters, and all Homicides: and Brawls, And Bickerings, and deluding Lies: with them Perverted Law and galling Injury, Inseparable mates: and the dread Oath; A mighty bane to him of earth-born men Who wilful swears, and perjured is forsworn. The Sea with Earth embracing, Nereus rose, [165]Eldest of all his race: unerring seer, And true: with filial veneration named Ancient of Years: for mild and blameless he: Remembering still the right; still merciful As just in counsels. [166]Then rose Thaumas vast, [167]Phorcys the mighty, Ceto fair of cheek, And stern Eurybia, of an iron soul. From Nereus and the fair-hair’d Doris, nymph Of ocean’s perfect stream, the lovely race Of goddess Nereids rose to light, whose haunt Is midst the waters of the sterile main: Eucrate, Proto, Thetis, Amphitrite, Love-breathing Thália, Sao, and Eudora, And Spio, skimming with light feet the wave: Galene, Glauce, and Cymothöe: Agave, and the graceful Melita: [168]Rose-arm’d Eunice, and Eulimene: Pasithea, Doto, Erato, Pherusa, Nesæa, Cranto, and Dynamene: Protomedía, Doris, and Actæa: And Panope, and Galatæa fair: Rose-arm’d Hipponöe: soft Hippothöe: Cymodoce who calms, at once, the waves Of the dark sea, and blasts of heaven-breathed winds: With whom Cymatolége, and the nymph Of beauteous ankles Amphitrite glide: Cymo, Eïone, Liagore, And Halimede, with her sea-green wreath: Pontoporïa, and Polynome; Evagore, and blithe Glauconome: Laomedía, and Evarne blest With gracious nature and with faultless form: Lysianassa, and Autonome, And Psamathe, with shape of comeliness: Divine Menippe, Neso, and Themistho: And Pronöe, and Eupompe, and Nemertes: Full of her deathless sire’s prophetic soul. These sprang from blameless Nereus: [169]Nereid nymphs: Who midst the waters ply their blameless tasks. Electra, nymph of the deep-flowing ocean, Embraced with Thaumas: rapid Iris thence Rose, and Aëllo and Ocypetes, [170]The sister-harpies, fair with streaming locks: Who track the breezy winds and flights of birds, On wings of swiftness hovering nigh the heaven. Then Ceto, fair of cheek, to Phorcys bore [171]The Graiæ; from their birth-hour gray: and hence Their name with gods, and men that walk the earth: Long-robed Pephredo, saffron-veil’d Enýo: And Gorgons dwelling on the brink of night Beyond the sounding main: where silver-voiced Th’ Hesperian maidens in their watches sing: Stheno, Euryale, Medusa these: The last ill-fated, since of mortal date: The two immortal, and unchanged by years. Yet her alone the blue-hair’d god of waves Enfolded, on the tender meadow grass, And bedded flowers of spring: [172]when Perseus smote Her neck, and snatch’d the sever’d bleeding head, [173]The great Chrysaor then leap’d into life: [174]And Pegasus the steed; who born beside [175]Old Nilus’ fountains thence derived a name. Chrysaor, grasping in his hands a sword Of gold, flew upward on the winged horse: And left beneath him earth, mother of flocks, And soar’d to heaven’s immortals: and there dwells In palaces of Jove, and to the god Deep-counsell’d bears the bolt and arrowy flame. Chrysaor with Callirhöe, blending love, Nymph of sonorous ocean, [176]Geryon rose, Three headed form: him the strong Hercules Despoil’d of life among his hoof-cloven herds On Erythia, girdled by the wave: What time those oxen ample-brow’d he drove To sacred Tyrinth, the broad ocean frith Once past: and Orthrus, the grim herd-dog, stretch’d Lifeless; and in their murky den beyond The billows of the long-resounding deep, The keeper of those herds, Eurytion, slain. Another monster Ceto bare anon [177]In the deep-hollow’d cavern of a rock: Stupendous nor in shape resembling aught Of human or of heavenly; the divine Echidna, the untameable of soul: Above, a nymph with beauty-blooming cheeks, And eyes of jetty lustre; but below, A speckled serpent horrible and huge, Gorged with blood-banquets, monstrous, hid in caves Of sacred earth. There in the uttermost depth Her cavern is, within a vaulted rock: Alike from mortals and immortals deep Remote: the gods have there decreed her place In mansions known to fame. So pent beneath The rocks of Arima Echidna dwelt Hideous: a nymph immortal, and in youth Unchanged for evermore. But legends tell, That with the jet-eyed nymph Typhaon mix’d His fierce embrace: [178]a whirlwind rude and wild: She, fill’d with love, conceived a progeny Of strain undaunted. Geryon’s dog of herds, Orthrus, the first arose: the second birth, Unutterable, was the dog of hell: Blood-fed and brazen-voiced, and bold and strong, [179]The fifty-headed Cerberus; and third Upsprang the Hydra, pest of Lerna’s lake: Whom Juno, white-arm’d goddess, fostering rear’d With deep resentment fill’d, insatiable, ’Gainst Hercules: but he, the son of Jove, Named of Amphytrion, in the dragon’s gore Bathed his unpitying steel: by warlike aid Of Iolaus, and the counsels high Of Pallas the Despoiler. Last came forth [180]Chimæra, breathing fire unquenchable: A monster grim and huge, and swift and strong: Her’s were three heads: a glaring lion’s one: One of a goat: a mighty snake’s the third: In front the lion threatened, and behind The serpent, and the goat was in the midst, Exhaling fierce the strength of burning flame. But the wing’d Pegasus his rider bore, The brave Bellerophon, and laid her dead. She, grasp’d by forced embrace of Orthrus, gave [181]Depopulating Sphinx, the mortal plague Of Cadmian nations: and the lion bare Named of Nemæa. Him Jove’s glorious spouse To fierceness rear’d: and placed his secret lair Among Nemæa’s hills, the pest of men. There lurking in his haunts he long ensnared The roving tribes of man, and held stern sway O’er cavern’d Tretum: o’er the mountain heights Of Apesantus, and Nemæa’s wilds: Till strong Alcides quell’d his gasping strength. Now Ceto, in embrace with Phorcys, bare Her youngest born: the dreadful snake, that couch’d In the dark earth’s abyss, his wide domain, Holds o’er the golden apples wakeful guard. [182]Tethys to Ocean brought the rivers forth, In whirlpool waters roll’d: Eridanus Deep-eddied, and Alpheus, and the Nile: Fair-flowing Ister, Strymon, and Meander, Phasis and Rhesus: Achelous bright With silver-circled tides: Heptaporus, And Nessus: Haliacmon and Rhodíus: Granícus and the heavenly Simois: Æsapus, Hermus, and Sangarius vast: Penéus, and Caicus smoothly flowing: And Ladon, and Parthenius, and Evenus: Ardescus, and Scamander the divine. Then bore she a blest race of Naiad nymphs, Who with the rivers and the king of day O’er the wide earth [183]claim the shorn locks of youth: Their portion this and privilege from Jove. Admete, Pitho, Doris and Ianthe: Urania heavenly-fair: and Clymene: Prymno, Electra, and Calliröe: Rhodía, Hippo, and Pasithöe: Plexaure, Clytie, and Melobosis: Idya, Thöe, Xeuxo, Galaxaure: And amiable Dione, and Circeis Of nature soft, and Polydora fair; [184]And Ploto, with the bright dilated eyes: Perseis, Ianira, and Acaste: Xanthe, the sweet Petræa, saffron-robed Telestho, Metis, and Eurynome: And Crisie, and Menestho, and Europa: Lovely Calypso, Amphiro, Eudora: Asia, and Tyche, and Ocyröe: And Styx, the chief of oceanic streams. The daughters these of Tethys and of Ocean, The eldest-born: for more untold remain: Three-thousand graceful Oceanides [185]Long-stepping tread the earth: or far and wide Dispersed, they haunt [186]the glassy depth of lakes, A glorious sisterhood of goddess birth. As many rivers also, yet untold, Rushing with hollow-dashing echoes, rose From awful Tethys: but their every name Is not for mortal man to memorate, Arduous; yet known to all the borderers round. Now Thia, yielding to Hyperion’s arms, Bare the great Sun and the refulgent Moon: And Morn, that scatters wide the rosy light To men that walk the earth, and deathless gods Whose mansion is yon ample firmament. Eurybia, noble goddess, blending love With Crius, gave the great Astræus birth, Pallas the god, and Perses, wise in lore. The Morning to Astræus bare the Winds Of spirit untamed: [187]East, West, and South, and North Cleaving his rapid course: a goddess thus Embracing with a god. Last, Lucifer Sprang radiant from the dawn-appearing Morn: And all the glittering stars that gird the heaven. Styx, ocean-nymph, with Pallas mingling love, Bare Victory, whose feet are beautiful In palaces: and Zeal, and Strength, and Force, Illustrious children. [188]Not apart from Jove Their mansion is: nor is there seat, or way, But he before them in his glory sits Or passes forth: and where the Thunderer is, Their place is found for ever. So devised The nymph of Ocean, the eternal Styx: What time the Lightning-sender call’d from heaven, And summon’d all th’ immortal deities To broad Olympus’ top: then thus he spake: “Hear all ye gods! That god who wars with me Against the Titans, shall retain the gifts Which Saturn gave, and honours heretofore His portion midst th’ immortals: and whoe’er Unhonour’d and ungifted has repined Under Saturnian sway, the same shall rise, “As just it is, to honours and rewards.” Then first of every power eternal Styx, Sway’d by the careful counsels of her sire, Stood on Olympus, and her sons beside: Her Jove received with honour, and endow’d With goodly gifts: ordain’d her the great oath Of deities: her sons for evermore Indwellers with himself. Alike to all, Even as he pledged that sacred word, the god Perform’d; so reigns he, strong in power and might. Now Phœbe sought the love-delighting couch Of Cœus: so within a god’s embrace Conceived the goddess. Then arose to life The azure-robed Latona: ever mild: Gracious to man and to immortal gods: Mild from the first beginning of the world: Gentlest of all within th’ Olympian courts. Anon she bare [189]Asteria, blest in fame: Whom Perses to his spacious palace led, That he might call her spouse: and [190]she conceived With Hecaté. Her o’er all others Jove Hath honour’d, and endow’d with splendid gifts: With power on earth and o’er the untill’d sea: Nor less her glory from the starry heaven, Chief honour’d by immortals: and if one Of earthly men performing the due rite Of victim divination, would appease The gods above, he calls on Hecaté: To him, whose prayer the goddess gracious hears, High honour comes spontaneous, and to him She yields all affluence; for the power is hers. Whatever gods, the sons of heaven and earth, Shared honour at the hands of Jove, o’er all [191]Her wide allotment stands: nor whatsoe’er Of rank she held, midst the old Titan gods, Has Saturn’s son invaded or deprived; As was the ancient heritage of power So hers remains: e’en from the first of things. Nor is [192]her solitary birth reproach: Nor less, though singly born, her rank and power In heaven and earth and main, but higher meed Of glory, since her honour is from Jove. She, in the greatness of her power, is nigh With aid to whom she lists: whoe’er she wills O’er the great council of the people shines: And when the mailed men arise to wage Destroying battle, she to whom she lists Is present, yielding victory and fame; And on the judgment-seat with awful kings She sits; and when in the gymnastic strife Men struggle, the propitious goddess comes Present with aid: then easily the man, Conqueror in hardiment and strength, obtains The graceful wreath, and glad-triumphing sheds [193]A gleam of glory o’er his parents’ days. She, as she lists, is nigh to charioteers Who strive with steeds: and voyagers who cleave Through the blue watery vast th’ untractable way. They call upon the name of Hecaté With vows: and his, loud-sounding god of waves, Earth-shaker Neptune. Easily at will The glorious goddess yields the woodland prey Abundant: easily, while scarce they start On the mock’d vision, snatches them in flight. She too with Hermes is propitious found To herd and fold: and bids increase the droves Innumerable of goats and woolly flocks, And swells their numbers or their numbers thins. And thus, although her mother’s lonely child, She midst th’ immortals shares all attributes. Her Jove appointed nursing-mother bland Of babes, who after her to morn’s broad light Should lift the tender lid: so from the first The foster-nurse of babes: her honours these. Embraced by Saturn, Rhea gave to light Illustrious children. [194]Golden-sandal’d Juno, [195]Ceres, and Vesta: [196]Pluto strong, who dwells In mansions under earth: of ruthless heart; [197]Earth-shaker Neptune, loud with dashing waves: And [198]Jupiter th’ all-wise: the sire of gods And men; beneath whose crashing thunder-peal The wide earth rocks in elemental war. But them, as issuing from the sacred womb They touch’d the mother’s knees, did Saturn huge Devour: revolving in his troubled thought Lest other one of beings heavenly-born Usurp the kingly honours. For from earth And starry heaven the rumour met his ear, That it was doom’d by Fate, strong though he were, [199]To his own son he should bow down his strength. Jove’s wisdom this fulfill’d. No blind design He therefore cherish’d, and in crooked craft Devour’d his children. But on Rhea prey’d Never-forgotten anguish. When the time Was full, and Jove, the sire of gods and men, Came to the birth, her parents she besought, Earth and starr’d Heaven, that they should counsel yield How secretly the babe may spring to life: And how the father’s furies ’gainst his race In subtlety devour’d may meet revenge: They to their daughter listen’d and complied: Unfolding what the Fates had sure decreed Of kingly Saturn and his dauntless son: And her they sent to Lyctus: to the clime Of fallow’d Crete. Now when her time was come, The birth of Jove her youngest-born, vast Earth Took to herself the mighty babe, to rear With nurturing softness in the spacious isle Of Crete. So came she then, transporting him With the swift shades of night, to Lyctus first: And thence, upbearing in her arms, conceal’d Beneath the sacred ground, in sunless cave, Where shagg’d with thickening woods th’ Egæan mount Impends. Then swathing an enormous stone She placed it in the hands of Heaven’s huge son, The ancient king of gods: that stone he snatch’d; And in his ravening breast convey’d away: Wretch! nor bethought him that the stone supplied His own son’s place; survivor in its room, Unconquer’d and unharm’d: the same, who soon Subduing him with mightiness of arm, Should drive him from his state, and reign himself King of immortals. Swiftly grew the strength And hardy limbs of that same kingly babe: And when the great year had fulfill’d its round, Gigantic Saturn, wily as he was, Yet foil’d by Earth’s considerate craft, and quell’d By his son’s arts and strength, released his race: The stone he first disgorged, the last devour’d: This Jove on earth’s broad surface firmly fix’d At Pythos the divine, in the deep cleft Of high Parnassus: [200]to succeeding times A monument, and miracle to man. The brethren of his father too he loosed, Whom Heaven, their sire, had in his frenzy bound: They the good deed in grateful memory bore: And gave the thunder, and the burning bolt, And lightning, which vast Earth had heretofore Hid in her central caves. In these confides The god, and reigns o’er deities and men. Iäpetus ascends the bed of love With Clýmene, fair-ankled ocean-nymph: She brought forth Atlas: her undaunted son: Glorying Menœtius and Prometheus vers’d In changeful turns and shifting subtleties: And Epimetheus of unwary mind: Who from old time became an evil curse To man’s inventive race; for he received The clay-form’d virgin-woman sent from Jove. All-seeing Jove struck with his smouldering flash Haughty Menœtius, and cast down to hell; Shameless in crime and arrogant in strength. Atlas, enforced by stern necessity, [201]Props the broad heaven: on earth’s far borders, where Full opposite th’ Hesperian virgins sing With shrill sweet voice, he rears his head and hands Aye unfatiguable: Heaven’s counsellor So doom’d his lot. But with enduring chains [202]He bound Prometheus, train’d in shifting wiles, With galling shackles fixing him aloft Midway a column. Down he sent from high His eagle hovering on expanded wings: She gorged his liver: still beneath her beak Immortal; for it sprang with life, and grew In the night-season, and repair’d the waste Of what the wide-wing’d bird devour’d by day. But her the fair Alcmena’s hardy son Slew; from Prometheus drove the cruel plague, And freed him from his pangs. Olympian Jove, Who reigns on high, consented to the deed; That thence yet higher glory might arise, O’er peopled earth, to Hercules of Thebes: And in his honour, Jove now made to cease The wrath he felt before; ’gainst him who strove In wisdom e’en with Saturn’s mighty son. Of yore when strife arose for sacrifice, Twixt gods and men, within Mecona’s walls, Prometheus wilful [203]parted a huge ox And set before the god: so tempting him With purpose to deceive: for here he laid The unctuous substance, entrails, and the flesh Close cover’d with the belly of the hide: There the white bones he craftily disposed; And with the marrowy substance wrapt them round. Then spake the father of the gods and men: “Son of Iäpetus!” thou famous god! How partial, friend! are thy divided shares!” So in rebuke spoke Jupiter: whose thoughts Of wisdom perish not. Then answer’d him Wily Prometheus, with a laugh suppress’d, And well remembering his insidious fraud: “Hail glorious Jove! thou mightiest of the gods Who shall endure for ever: choose the one Which now the spirit in thy breast persuades.” He spoke, revolving treachery. Jove, whose thoughts Of wisdom perish never, knew the guile, Not unforewarn’d: and straight his soul devised Evil to mortals, that should surely be: He raised the snowy portion with his hands, And felt his spirit wroth: yea, anger seiz’d His spirit, when he saw the whitening bones O’erlaid with cunning artifice: and thence, E’en from that hour, the dwellers upon earth Consume the whitening bones, when climbs the smoke Wreath’d from their flaming altars. Then again Cloud-gatherer Jove with indignation spake: “Son of Iäpetus! of all most wise! Still, friend! rememberest thou thy arts of guile?” So spake, incensed, the god, whose wisdom yields To no decay: and from that very hour, Remembering still the treachery, he denied The strength of indefatigable fire To all the dwellers upon earth. But him Benevolent Prometheus did beguile: For in a hollow reed he stole from high The far-seen splendour of unwearied flame. Then deep resentment stung the Thunderer’s soul; And his heart chafed in anger, when he saw The fire far-gleaming in the midst of men. And for the flame restored, he straight devised A mischief to mankind. At Jove’s behest Famed Vulcan fashion’d from the yielding clay A bashful virgin’s likeness: and the maid Of azure eyes, Minerva, round her waist Clasp’d the broad zone, and dress’d her limbs in robe Of flowing whiteness; placed upon her head A wondrous veil of variegated threads; Entwined amidst her hair delicious wreaths Of verdant herbage and fresh-blooming flowers; And set a golden mitre on her brow; Which Vulcan framed, and with adorning hands Wrought, at the pleasure of his father Jove. Rich-labour’d figures, marvellous to sight, Enchased the border: forms of beasts that range The earth, and fishes of the rolling deep: Of these innumerable he there had graven; And exquisite the beauty of his art Shone in these wonders, like to animals Moving in breath, with vocal sounds of life. Now when his plastic hand instead of good Had framed this beauteous bane, he led her forth Where were the other gods and mingled men. She went exulting in her graced array, Which Pallas, daughter of a mighty sire, Known by her eyes of azure, had bestow’d. On gods and men in that same moment seiz’d The ravishment of wonder, when they saw The deep deceit, th’ inextricable snare. From her the sex of tender woman springs: [204]Pernicious is the race: the woman tribe Dwell upon earth, a mighty bane to men: No mates for wasting want, but luxury: And as within the close-roof’d hive, the drones, Helpers of sloth, are pamper’d by the bees; These all the day, till sinks the ruddy sun, Haste on the wing, “their murmuring labours ply,” And still cement the white and waxen comb: Those lurk within the cover’d hive, and reap With glutted maw the fruits of others’ toil; Such evil did the Thunderer send to man In woman’s form, and so he gave the sex, Ill helpmates of intolerable toils. Yet more of ill instead of good he gave: The man who shunning wedlock thinks to shun The vexing cares that haunt the woman-state, And lonely waxes old, shall feel the want Of one to foster his declining years: Though not his life be needy, yet his death Shall scatter his possessions to strange heirs, And aliens from his blood. Or if his lot Be marriage, and his spouse of modest fame, Congenial to his heart, e’en then shall ill For ever struggle with the partial good, And cling to his condition. But the man, Who gains the woman of injurious kind, Lives bearing in his secret soul and heart Inevitable sorrow: ills so deep As all the balms of medicine cannot cure. Therefore it is not lawful to elude The eye of Heaven, nor mock th’ Omniscient Mind. For not Prometheus, the benevolent, Could shun Heaven’s heavy wrath: and vain were all His arts of various wisdom: vain to ’scape Necessity, or loose the mighty chain. When Heaven their sire ’gainst Cottus, Briareus, And Gyges, felt his moody anger chafe Within him, sore amazed with that their strength Immeasurable, their aspect fierce, and bulk Gigantic, with a chain of iron force He bound them down; and fix’d their dwelling-place Beneath the spacious ground: beneath the ground They dwelt in pain and durance: in th’ abyss There sitting, where earth’s utmost bound’ries end. Full long oppress’d with mighty grief of heart They brooded o’er their woes: but them did Jove Saturnian, and those other deathless gods Whom fair-hair’d Rhea bare to Saturn’s love, By policy of Earth, lead forth again To light. For she successive all things told: How with the giant brethren they should win Conquest and splendid glory. Long they fought With toil soul-harrowing: they the deities Titanic and Saturnian: each to each Opposed, in valour of promiscuous war. From Othrys’ lofty summit warr’d [205]the host Of glorious Titans: from Olympus they, The band of gift-dispensing deities Whom fair-hair’d Rhea bore to Saturn’s love. So waged they war soul-harrowing: each with each Ten years and more the furious battle join’d, Unintermitted: nor to either host Was issue of stern strife or end: alike Did either stretch the limit of the war. But now when Jove had set before his powers All things befitting; the repast of gods; The nectar and ambrosia, in each breast Th’ heroic spirit kindled: and now all With nectar and with sweet ambrosia fill’d, Thus spake the father of the gods and men: “Hear me! illustrious race of Earth and Heaven! That what the spirit in my bosom prompts I now may utter. Long, and day by day, Confronting each the other, we have fought For conquest and dominion: Titan gods, And we the seed of Saturn. Still do ye, Fronting the Titans in funereal war, Show mighty strength: invulnerable hands: Remembering that mild friendship, and those pangs Remembering, when ye trod the upward way Back to the light: and by our counsels broke “The burthening chain, and left the murky gloom.” He spake: and Cottus brave of soul replied: “Oh Jove august! not darkly hast thou said: Nor know we not how excellent thou art In counsel and in knowledge: thou hast been Deliverer of immortals from a curse Of horror: by thy wisdom have we risen, Oh kingly son of Saturn! from dark gloom And bitter bonds, unhoping of relief. Then with persisting spirit and device Of prudent warfare, shall we still assert Thy empire midst the fearful fray, and still In hardy conflict brave the Titan foe.” He said: the gods, the givers of all good, Heard with acclaim: nor ever till that hour So burn’d each breast with ardour to destroy. All on that day stirr’d up the mighty strife, Female and male: Titanic gods, and sons And daughters of old Saturn; and that band Of giant brethren, whom, from forth th’ abyss Of darkness under earth, deliverer Jove Sent up to light: grim forms and strong, with force Gigantic: arms of hundred-handed gripe Burst from their shoulders: fifty heads up-sprang, Cresting their muscular limbs. They thus opposed In dreadful conflict ’gainst the Titans stood, In all their sinewy hands [206]wielding aloft Precipitous rocks. On th’ other side, alert The Titan phalanx closed: then hands of strength Join’d prowess, and show’d forth the works of war. Th’ immeasurable sea tremendous dash’d With roaring; earth re-echoed; the broad heaven Groan’d shattering: vast Olympus reel’d throughout Down to its rooted base beneath the rush Of those immortals: the [207]dark chasm of hell Was shaken with the trembling, with the tramp Of hollow footsteps and strong battle-strokes, And measureless uproar of wild pursuit. So they against each other through the air Hurl’d intermix’d their weapons, scattering groans Where’er they fell. The voice of armies rose With rallying shout through the starr’d firmament, And with a mighty war-cry both the hosts Encountering closed. Nor longer then did Jove Curb down his force; but sudden in his soul There grew dilated strength, and it was fill’d With his omnipotence: [208]his whole of might Broke from him, and the godhead rush’d abroad. The vaulted sky, the mount Olympus, flash’d With his continual presence; for he pass’d Incessant forth, and lighten’d where he trod. Thrown from his nervous grasp the lightnings flew Reiterated swift; the whirling flash Cast sacred splendour, and the thunderbolt Fell. Then on every side the foodful earth Roar’d in the burning flame, and far and near The trackless depth of forests crash’d with fire. Yea—the broad earth burn’d red, the floods of Nile Glow’d, and the desert waters of the sea. Round and around the Titans’ earthy forms Roll’d the hot vapour, and on fiery surge Stream’d upward, swathing in one boundless blaze The purer air of heaven. Keen rush’d the light In quivering splendour from the writhen flash: Strong though they were, intolerable smote Their orbs of sight, and with bedimming glare Scorch’d up their blasted vision. [209]Through the void Of Erebus, the preternatural flame Spread, mingling fire with darkness. But to see With human eye and hear with ear of man Had been, as on a time [210]the heaven and earth Met hurtling in mid-air: as nether earth Crash’d from the centre, and the wreck of heaven Fell ruining from high. Not less, when gods Grappled with gods, the shout and clang of arms Commingled, and the tumult roar’d from heaven. Shrill rush’d the hollow winds, and roused throughout A shaking and a gathering dark of dust; Crushing the thunders from the clouds of air, Hot thunderbolts and flames, the fiery darts Of Jove: and in the midst of either host They bore upon their blast the cry confused Of battle, and the shouting. For the din Tumultuous of that sight-appalling strife Rose without bound. Stern strength of hardy proof Wreak’d there its deeds, till weary sank the fight. But first, array’d in battle, front to front, Full long they stood, and bore the brunt of war. Amid the foremost, towering in the van, [211]The war-unsated Gyges, Briareus, And Cottus, bitterest conflict waged: for they Successive thrice a hundred rocks in air Hurl’d from their sinewy grasp: with missile storm [212]The Titan host o’ershadowing, them they drove, Vain-glorious as they were, with hands of strength O’ercoming them, beneath th’ expanse of earth And bound with galling chains: [213]so far beneath This earth, as earth is distant from the sky: So deep the space to darksome Tartarus. A brazen anvil rushing from the sky Through thrice three days would toss in airy whirl, Nor touch this earth, till the tenth sun arose: Or down earth’s chasm precipitate revolve, Nor till the tenth sun rose attain [214]the verge Of Tartarus. A fence of massive brass Is forged around: around the pass is roll’d A night of triple darkness; and above Impend the roots of earth and barren sea. There the Titanic gods in murkiest gloom Lie hidden: such the cloud-assembler’s will: There in a place of darkness, where vast earth Has end: from thence no egress open lies: Neptune’s huge hand has closed with brazen gates The mouth: a wall environs every side. There Gyges, Cottus, high-souled Briareus, Dwell vigilant: the faithful sentinels Of Ægis-bearer Jove. Successive there The dusky Earth, and darksome Tartarus, The sterile Ocean, and the starry Heaven, [215]Arise and end, their source and boundary. [216]A drear and ghastly wilderness, abhorr’d E’en by the gods; a vast vacuity: Might none the space of one slow-circling year Touch the firm soil, that portal enter’d once, [217]But him the whirls of vexing hurricanes Toss to and fro. E’en by immortals loathed This prodigy of horror. There too stand The mansions drear of gloomy Night, o’erspread With blackening vapours: and before the doors Atlas upholding heaven his forehead rears, And indefatigable hands. There Night And Day, near passing, mutual greeting still Exchange, [218]alternate as they glide athwart The brazen threshold vast. This enters, that Forth issues; nor the two can one abode At once constrain. This passes forth and roams The round of earth; that in the mansion waits, Till the due season of her travel come. Lo! from the one the far-discerning light Beams upon earthly dwellers; but a cloud Of pitchy blackness veils the other round: Pernicious Night: aye-leading in her hand [219]Sleep, Death’s half-brother: sons of gloomy Night There hold they habitation, Death and Sleep; Dread deities: [220]nor them the shining Sun E’er with his beam contemplates, when he climbs The cope of heaven, or when from heaven descends. Of these the one glides gentle o’er the space Of earth and broad expanse of ocean waves, Placid to man. The other has a heart Of iron; yea, the heart within his breast Is brass, unpitying: whom of men he grasps Stern he retains: e’en [221]to immortal gods A foe. The hollow-sounding palaces Of Pluto strong the subterranean god, [222]And stern Prosérpina, there full in front Ascend: a grisly dog, implacable, Holds watch before the gates: a stratagem Is his, malicious: them who enter there, With tail and bended ears he fawning soothes: But suffers not that they with backward step Repass: whoe’er would issue from the gates Of Pluto strong and stern Prosérpina, For them with marking eye he lurks; on them Springs from his couch, and pitiless devours. There, odious to immortals, dreadful Styx Inhabits: refluent Ocean’s eldest-born: She from the gods apart for ever dwells In far-re-echoing mansions, [223]with arch’d roofs Of loftiest rock o’erhung: and all around The silver columns lean upon the skies. Swift-footed Iris, nymph of Thaumas born, Takes with no frequent embassy her way O’er the broad main’s expanse, when haply strife Be risen, and midst the gods dissension sown: And if there be among th’ Olympian race Who falsehood utters, [224]Jove sends Iris down To bring the great oath in a golden ewer: The far-famed water, from steep, sky-capt rock Distilling in cold stream. Beneath wide Earth Abundant from [225]the sacred river-head, Through shades of blackest night, the Stygian horn Of ocean flows: a tenth of all the streams To the dread oath allotted. In nine streams Circling the round of earth and the broad seas, With silver whirlpools twined in many a maze, It falls into the deep: one stream alone Flows from the rock; a mighty bane to gods. Who of immortals, that inhabit still Olympus top’d with snow, [226]libation pours And is forsworn, he one whole year entire Lies reft of breath: nor yet approaches once The nectar’d and ambrosial sweet repast: But still reclines on the spread festive couch Mute, breathless; and a mortal lethargy O’erwhelms him: but, his malady absolved With the great round of the revolving year, More ills on ills afflictive seize: nine years From ever-living deities remote His lot is cast: in council nor in feast Once joins he, till nine years entire are full: The tenth again he mingles with the blest Societies, who fill th’ Olympian courts. So great an oath the deities of heaven Decreed the water of eternal Styx, The ancient stream; that sweeps with wandering waves A rugged region: where of dusky Earth, And darksome Tartarus, and Ocean waste, And starry Heaven, the source and boundary Successive rise and end: a dreary wild And ghastly: e’en by deities abhorr’d. There gates resplendent rise; the threshold brass; Immoveable; on deep foundations fix’d; Self-framed. Before them the Titanic gods Abide, without th’ assembly of the Blest, Beyond the gulf of darkness. There beneath The ocean-roots, th’ auxiliaries renown’d Of Jove who rolls the hollow-pealing thunder, Cottus and Gyges in near mansions dwell: But He that shakes the shores with dashing surge Hailing him son, gave Briareus as bride Cymopolía; prize of brave desert. But now when Jupiter from all the heaven Had cast the Titans forth, huge Earth embraced By Tartarus, through balmy Venus’ aid, [227]Her youngest-born Typhœus bore; whose hands Of strength are fitted to stupendous deeds: And indefatigable are the feet Of the strong god: and from his shoulders rise A hundred snaky heads of dragon growth, Horrible, quivering with their blackening tongues: In each amazing head, from eyes that roll’d Within their sockets, fire shone sparkling: fire Blazed from each head, the whilst he roll’d his glance Glaring around him. In those fearful heads Were voices of all sound, miraculous: Now utter’d they distinguishable tones Meet for the ear of gods: now the deep cry Of a wild-bellowing bull untamed in strength: And now the roaring of a lion, fierce In spirit: and anon the yell of whelps Strange to the ear: and now the monster hiss’d, That the high mountains echoed back the sound. Then had a dread event that fatal day Inevitable fall’n, and he had ruled O’er mortals and immortals; but the Sire Of gods and men the peril instant knew Intuitive; and vehement and strong He thunder’d: instantaneous all around Earth reel’d with horrible crash: the firmament Of high heaven roar’d: the streams of Nile, the sea, And uttermost caverns. While the king in wrath Uprose, [228]beneath his everlasting feet The great Olympus trembled, and earth groan’d. From either god a burning radiance caught The darkly azured ocean: from the flash Of lightnings, and that monster’s darted flame, Hot thunderbolts, and blasts of fiery winds. Earth, air, sea, glow’d: the billows, heaved on high, Foam’d round the shores, and dash’d on every side Beneath the rush of gods. Concussion wild And unappeasable uprose: aghast The gloomy monarch of th’ infernal dead Shudder’d: the sub-tartarean Titans heard E’en where they stood, with Saturn in the midst: They heard appall’d the unextinguish’d rage Of tumult, and the din of dreadful war. But now when Jove had gather’d all his strength, And grasp’d his weapons, bolts, and bickering flames, He from the mount Olympus’ topmost ridge Leap’d at a bound, and smote him: hiss’d at once The horrible monster’s heads enormous, scorch’d In one conflagrant blaze. When thus the god Had quell’d him, thunder-smitten, mangled, prone, He fell: earth groan’d and shook beneath his weight. Flame from [229]the lightning-stricken deity Flash’d, midst the mountain-hollows, rugged, dark, Where he fell smitten. Broad earth glow’d intense From that unbounded vapour, and dissolv’d: As fusile tin by art of youths above The wide-brimm’d vase up-bubbling foams with heat; Or iron, hardest of the mine, subdued By burning flame amidst [230]the woody dales Melts in the sacred caves beneath the hands Of Vulcan, so earth melted in the glare Of blazing fire. He down wide Hell’s abyss His victim hurl’d in bitterness of soul. [231]Lo! from Typhœus is the strength of winds Moist-blowing: save the South, North, East, and West: [232]These born from gods, a blessing great to man: Those, unavailing gusts, o’er the waste sea Breathe barren: with sore peril fraught to man: In whirlpool rage fall black upon the deep: Now here, now there, they rush with stormy gale, Scatter the rolling barks, and whelm in death The mariner: an evil succourless To men, who midst the ocean-ways their blast Encounter. They again o’er all th’ expanse Of flowery earth the pleasant works of man Despoil, and fill the blacken’d air with cloud Of eddying dust and hollow rustlings drear. Now had the blessed Powers of Heaven fulfill’d Their toils, for meed of glory ’gainst the gods Titanic striving in their strength: and now, Earth-counsell’d, they exhort Olympian Jove, Of wide beholding eyes, to regal sway And empire o’er immortals: he to them Due honours portion’d with an equal hand. First as a bride the Monarch of the gods [233]Led Metis: her o’er deities and men Vers’d in all knowledge. But when now the time Was full, that she should bear [234]the blue-eyed maid Minerva, he with treacheries of smooth speech Beguiled her thought, and hid his spouse away In his own breast: so Earth and starry Heaven Had counsell’d: him they both advising warn’d Lest, in the place of Jove, another seize The kingly honour o’er immortal gods. For so the Fates had destined, that from her An offspring should be born, of wisest strain. First the Tritonian virgin azure-eyed: Of equal might and prudence with her sire: And then a son, king over gods and men, Had she brought forth, invincible of soul, But Jove in his own breast before that hour Deposited the goddess: evermore So warning him of evil and of good. Next led he shining Themis: and she bare Order, and Justice, and the blooming Peace, The Hours by name: who perfect all the works Of human kind: and Destinies, whom Jove All-wise array’d with honour: Lachesis, Clotho, and Atropos: who deal to men The dole of good or ill. To him anon Old Ocean’s daughter, amiablest of mien, Eurynome, [235]brought the three Graces forth Beauteous of cheek: Euphrosyne, Aglaia, And Thália blithe: their eye-lids, as they gaze, Drop love, unnerving: and beneath the shade Of their arch’d brows they steal the sidelong glance Of sweetness. To the couch anon he came Of many-nurturing Ceres: Proserpine The snowy-arm’d she bare: her gloomy Dis Snatch’d from her mother, and all-prudent Jove Consign’d the prize. Next loved he the fair-hair’d Mnemosyne: from her the Muses nine Are born: their brows with golden fillets wreath’d; Whom feasts delight, and rapture sweet of song. In mingled joy with ægis-wielding Jove Latona bore [236]the arrow-shooting Dian, And Phœbus, loveliest of the heavenly tribe. He last the blooming Juno led as bride: And she, embracing with the king of gods And men, bore Mars, and [237]Hebe, and Lucina. He from his head disclosed himself to birth The blue-eyed maid, Tritonian [238]Pallas; fierce, Rousing the war-field’s tumult; unsubdued; Leader of armies; awful: whom delight The shout of battle and the shock of war. Without th’ embrace of love did Juno bear [239]Illustrious Vulcan, o’er celestials graced With arts: and strove contending with her spouse Emulous. From the god of sounding waves, Shaker of earth, and Amphitrite, sprang [240]Sea-potent Triton huge: beneath the deep He dwells in golden edifice, a god Of awful might. Now [241]Venus gave to Mars, Breaker of shields, a dreadful offspring: Fear, And Consternation: they confound, in rout Of horrid war, the phalanx dense of men, With city-spoiler Mars. [242]Harmonia last She bare, whom generous Cadmus clasp’d as bride. Daughter of Atlas, Maia bore to Jove [243]The glorious Hermes, herald of the gods; The sacred couch ascending. [244]Semele, Daughter of Cadmus, melting in embrace With Jove, gave jocund Bacchus to the light: A mortal an immortal: now alike Immortal deities. Alcmena bare Strong Hercules: dissolving in embrace With the cloud-gatherer Jove. The crippled god, In arts illustrious, Vulcan, as his bride The gay Aglaia led, the youngest Grace. [245]Bacchus of golden hair, his blooming spouse Daughter of Minos, Ariadne clasp’d With yellow tresses. Her Saturnian Jove Immortal made, and fearless of decay. Fair-limb’d [246]Alcmena’s valiant son, achieved His agonizing labours, Hebe led A bashful bride, the daughter of great Jove And Juno golden-sandal’d, on the mount Olympus top’d with snow. Thrice blest who thus, A mighty task accomplish’d, midst the gods Uninjur’d dwells, and free from withering age For evermore. Perseis, ocean-nymph Illustrious, to th’ unwearied Sun produced Circe and king Æetes. By the will Of Heaven, Æetes, boasting for his sire The world-enlightning Sun, Idya led Cheek-blooming, nymph of ocean’s perfect stream: And she, to love by balmy Venus’ aid Subdued, [247]Medea beauteous-ankled bare. And now farewell, ye heavenly habitants! Ye islands, and ye continents of earth! And thou, oh main! of briny wave profound! Oh sweet of speech, Olympian Muses! born From ægis-wielding Jove! sing now the tribe Of goddesses; whoe’er, by mortals clasp’d In love, have borne a race resembling gods. Ceres, divinest goddess, in soft joy Blends with Iäsius brave, in the rich tract Of Crete, whose fallow’d glebe thrice-till’d abounds; And [248]Plutus bare, all-bountiful, who roams Earth, and th’ expanded surface of the sea: And him that meets him on his way, whose hands He grasps, him gifts he with abundant gold, And large felicity. Harmonia, born Of lovely Venus, gave to Cadmus’ love Ino and Semele: and fair of cheek Agave, and Autonöe, the bride Of Aristæus with the clustering locks; And Polydorus, born in towery Thebes. Aurora to Tithonus Memnon bare, The brazen-helm’d, the Æthiopian king, And king Emathion: and to Cephalus Bare she a son illustrious, Phäethon, Gallantly brave, a mortal like to gods: Whom, while a youth, e’en in the tender flower Of glorious prime, a boy, and vers’d alone In what a boy may know, love’s amorous queen Snatch’d with swift rape away: in her blest fane Appointing him her nightly-serving priest; The heavenly dæmon of her sanctuary. [249]Jason Æsonides, by heaven’s high will, Bore from Æetes, foster-son of Jove, His daughter: those afflictive toils achieved, Which Pelias, mighty monarch, bold in wrong, Unrighteous, violent of deed, imposed: And much-enduring reach’d th’ Iolchian coast, Wafting in winged bark the jet-eyed maid, His blooming spouse. She yielding thus in love To Jason, shepherd of his people, bare Medeus, whom the son of Philyra, [250]Sage Chiron, midst the mountain-solitudes Train’d up to man: thus were high Jove’s designs Fulfill’d. Now Psamathe, the goddess famed, Who sprang from ancient Nereus of the sea, Bare Phocus; through the lovely Venus’ aid By Æacus embraced. To Peleus’ arms Resign’d, the silver-footed Thetis bare Achilles lion-hearted: cleaving fierce The ranks of men. Wreath’d Cytherea bare Æneas: blending in ecstatic love With brave Anchises on the verdant top Of Ida, wood-embosom’d, many-valed. Now [251]Circe, from the Sun Hyperion-born Descended, with the much-enduring man Ulysses blending love, Latinus bare, And Agrius, brave and blameless: far they left Their native seats in Circe’s hallow’d isles, And o’er the wide-famed Tyrrhene tribes held sway. Calypso, noble midst the goddess race, Clasp’d wise Ulysses: and from rapturous love Nausithous and Nausinous gave to day. Lo! these were they, who yielding to embrace Of mortal men, themselves immortal, gave A race resembling gods. Oh now the tribe Of gentle women sing! Olympian maids! Ye Muses, born from ægis-bearer Jove!