Part 18

Thou too, rash Nessus, through thy furious love, Of the same virgin, thy destruction met; Pierc'd through thy body with the feather'd dart! Jove's son returning to his natal soil, Companion'd by his new-made bride, approach'd Evenus' rapid flood. Swol'n was the stream With wintry showers as wont, and raging whirls Unfordable proclaim'd it; him, himself Fearless, yet anxious for his spouse's care, Nessus approach'd, in strength of limbs secure, And knowledge of the fords, and thus he spoke; "Her, O Alcides! will I safely bear "To yonder bank; thou all thy efforts use "In swimming." Straight the Theban hero gives The pallid Calydonian to his care, Shivering with dread; no less the centaur frights Than the rough flood. The mighty warrior, prest With his large quiver, and the lion's hide, For on the bank opposing had he flung His club and curved bow, exclaim'd--"the stream "My arms will vanquish, soon as I essay."-- Nor dubious waits, but in the torrent leaps, Not heeding where most tranquil flows the stream, But stemming furious all its utmost rage. Now had he reach'd the bank, now held again The bow flung o'er, when loud his spouse's shrieks Assail'd his ear. To Nessus, whom he saw His trust about betraying, loud he cry'd;-- "What vain reliance on thy rapid speed "Tempts thee to violence? O, double-shap'd! "I speak, regard me,--to respect my rights, "Should deference to me not move thee, think "How whirls thy sire, and that thy rage may check "For wishes unallow'd. Yet hope thou not "With courser's speed to 'scape me: with my dart, "Not feet, will I pursue thee."--His last words With deeds he guarantees, and through and through The flying culprit felt the javelin driv'n; Out through his breast the forked weapon stood: Withdrawn, from either wound gush'd forth the gore, Mixt with the venom of Lernæa's pest. This be preserv'd.--"Nor will I unreveng'd "Expire,"--he murmur'd faintly to himself; And gave his raiment, in the warm blood dipt, A present to the nymph whose spoil he sought; To wake again her husband's dormant love.

Long was the intermediate time, the deeds, Of great Alcides, and his step-dame's hate, Fill'd all the world meanwhile. Victor return'd From out OEchalia, when the promis'd rites, To Jove Cænean, he prepar'd to pay, Tattling report, who joys in falshood mixt With circumstantial truth, and still the least Swells with her lies, had in thine ears instill'd, O Dejanira! that Alcmena's son, With Iölé was smitten. Ardent love Sway'd her belief, and terror-struck to hear Of this new flame, she melted into tears; With them her weeping grief first flow'd away: But soon she bursted forth.--"Why weep I so? "The harlot will but gladden in my tears! "But ere she here arrives, it me behoves "Each effort to employ, while time now serves, "To hinder what he seeks; whilst yet my couch "Another presses not. Shall I complain, "Or rest in silence? Shall I Calydon "Re-seek, or here remain? Shall I abscond "His habitation, or, if nought else serves, "Strenuous oppose him? Or if truly bent, "O, Meleager! with a sister's pride, "Thy wicked deeds t' outvie, a witness leave, "The harlot's throat divided, what the rage "Of woman may accomplish, when so wrong'd."-- In whirls her agitated mind is toss'd; Determining last to send to him the robe, In Nessus' blood imbu'd, and so restore His waning love. Witless of what she sends, Herself to Lychas' unsuspecting hands The cause of future grief delivers. Wretch Most pitiable! she, with warm-coaxing words, Instructs the boy to bear her spouse the gift. Th' unwitting warrior takes it, and straight clothes His shoulders with Echidna's poisonous gore. Incense he sprinkles in the primal flames He kindles,--with the flames his prayers ascend. As from the goblet he the vintage pours On marble altars; hapless by the heat The poison more was quicken'd; by the flame Melted, it grew more potent; wide diffus'd, Through all the limbs of Hercules it spread. Still while he could, his fortitude, as wont His groans suppress'd; at last his patience spent, Fierce from the altar flinging, OEté's mount So woody, with his plaintive shrieks he fills, And instant from his limbs the deadly robe Essays to tear: that, where he strips, the skin, Stript also, follows; dreadful to describe! Or to his limbs, his utmost struggling vain, It clings: or bare his lacerated joints And huge bones stand. With hissing noise his blood Burns, as when glowing iron in a pool Is dipp'd, so boils it with the venom fierce. Nor hope of help remain'd, the greedy fires, His utmost vitals waste; and purple sweat Bedews his every limb; his scorch'd nerves crack; And whilst his marrow, with the latent pest, Runs fluid, high tow'rd heaven his arms he holds, Exclaiming;--"now Saturnia, feast thy soul "With my destruction; joy, O savage!--view "From lofty heaven my tortures; satiate now "Thy rancorous soul:--but if a foe may move "Commiseration, (for thy foe I am) "Take hence this life, grievous, through direful pains: "Hateful to thee, and destin'd first for toils. "Death now would be a boon; and such a boon "A step-dame might confer. Have I for this, "Busiris slain, who drench'd the temples deep "With travellers' blood? For this Antæus robb'd "Of nutriment parental? Did thy bulk, "Of triple-form, swain of Iberia, fright? "Or thou, three-headed Cerberus, me move? "Wrought I for this in Elis? at the lake "Of Stymphalis? and in Parthenian woods? "Did not my valor seize the golden belt "Of Thermodon's brave queen? the apples gain, "Ill-guarded by th' unsleeping dragon's care? "Could the fierce Centaur me resist? or could "The mighty boar that laid Arcadia waste? "And what avail'd the Hydra, that he grew "From every loss, in double strength reviv'd? "How? Saw I not the Thracian coursers gorg'd "With human gore! whose stalls with mangled limbs "Crowded, I overthrew, and slew their lord "On his slain coursers? Strangled by these hands "Nemæa's monster lies. Heaven I upbore "Upon these shoulders. The fierce wife of Jove "Weary'd at length with bidding, I untir'd "Still was of acting. But at length behold "A new-found plague, which not the bravest soul, "Nor arms, nor darts can aught resist. Fierce fire, "Darts through my deepest inwards; all my limbs "Greedy devouring. Yet Eurystheus lives! "Still are there who the deities believe?"-- He said, and o'er high OEté tortur'd rov'd Like a mad tiger, when the hunter's dart Stands in his body, and the wounder flies. Oft would you see him groaning; storming oft; Oft straining from his limbs again to fling The vest; trees rooting up; against the hills Fierce railing; next up to his father's skies His arms extending. Lo! he Lychas spies, Where trembling in a hollow rock he hides! Then, all his fury in its utmost strength, Raging, he cry'd;--"Thou, Lychas, thou supply'd "This deadly gift. Thou art the author then "Of my destruction."--Shuddering he, and pale, In timid accents strove excuse to plead: Speaking, and round his knees prepar'd to cling, Alcides seiz'd him, with an engine's force Whirl'd round and round, and hurl'd him in the waves, Which by Eubæa roll. He, as he shot Through air, was harden'd. As the falling showers Concrete by freezing winds, whence snow is form'd: As snows by rolling, their soft bodies join, Conglomerating into solid hail: So ancient times believ'd, the boy thus flung, Through empty air, by strong Alcides' arm, Bloodless through fear, and all his moisture drain'd, Chang'd to a flinty rock. A rock e'en now High in Eubæa's gulph exalts its head, Which still of human form the marks retains. Which, as though still of consciousness possess'd, The sailors fear to tread, and Lychas call.

Thou, Jove's renowned offspring, fell'd the trees Which lofty OEté bore, and built a pile: Then bade the son of Pæan bear thy bow, Thy mighty quiver, and thy darts, to view Once more the realm of Troy; and through his aid The flames were plac'd below, whose greedy spires Seiz'd on the structure. On the woody top Thou laid'st the hide Nemæan, and thy head, Supported with thy club, with brow serene As though with garlands circled, at a feast Thou laid'st, 'mid goblets fill'd with sparkling wine.

Now the strong fires spread wide o'er every part, Crackling, and seizing his regardless limbs, Who them despis'd. The gods beheld with fear The earth's avenger. Jove, who saw their care With joyous countenance, thus the powers address'd: "This fear, O deities! makes glad my heart; "And lively pleasure swells in all my breast, "That sire and sovereign o'er such grateful minds "I hold my sway; since to my offspring too "Your favoring care extends. No less, 'tis true, "His deeds stupendous claim. Still I'm oblig'd. "But from your anxious breasts banish vain fear; "Despise those flames of OEté; he who all "O'ercame, shall conquer even the flames you see: "Nor shall the power of Vulcan ought consume, "Save his maternal part: what he deriv'd "From me, is ever-during; safe from death; "And never vanquish'd by the force of fire. "That we'll receive, his earthly race compleat, "Amidst the heavenly host; and all I trust "My actions gladly will approve. Should one "Haply, with grief see Hercules a god, "And grudge the high reward; ev'n he shall grant "His great deserts demand it; and allow "Unwilling approbation." All assent; Not even his royal spouse's forehead wore, A frown at ought he said; his final words Irk'd her at length, to be so plainly mark'd. Vulcan meantime each corruptible part Bore off in flames, nor could Alcides' form Remaining, now be known; nought he retain'd Of what his mother gave; Jove's share alone. A serpent revels thus in glittering scales, His age and former skin thrown off at once. So when Tirynthius from his mortal limbs Departed, in his better part he shone, Increas'd in stature; and majestic grace Augustly deck'd his venerable brow. Veil'd in a hollow cloud, and borne along By four swift steeds, in a high car, the sire Him plac'd in glory 'mid the radiant stars. Atlas perceiv'd his load increas'd. Nor yet Eurystheus 'bated in his rancorous hate, But cruel exercis'd his savage rage, Against the offspring of the sire abhorr'd.

But now Alcmena, worn with constant cares, In Argolis, to Iölé confides Her aged plaints, to her the labors tells Her son atchiev'd, o'er all the wide world known; And her own griefs beside. Alcides' words Caus'd Hyllus to his couch to take, and take Iölé, cordial to his inmost heart: And now with generous fruit, the nymph was large. Alcmena, thus to her commenc'd her tale.--

"May thee, at least, the favoring gods indulge; "And all delay diminish, when matur'd, "Thou to Ilithyiä shalt have need to call, "Who o'er travailing mothers bears the rule; "Whom Juno's influence made so hard to me. "Of Hercules toil-bearing, now the birth, "Approach'd, and in the tenth sign rul'd the sun. "A mighty bulk swell'd out my womb, so huge, "Well might you know that Jove the load had caus'd: "Nor could I longer bear my throes (my limbs "Cold rigors seize, while now I speak; my pains "Part ev'n in memory now I seem to feel) "Through seven long nights, and seven long days with pangs "Incessant was I rack'd: my arms to heaven "Stretching, I call'd Lucina, and the powers, "With outcries mighty. True Lucina came, "But came by Juno prepossest, and bent "My life to sacrifice to Juno's rage. "Soon as my groans she hearken'd, down she sate "Upon the altar, plac'd without the gates: "'Neath her right ham, her left knee pressing; join'd "Fingers with fingers cross'd upon her breast "My labor stay'd; and spellful words she spoke "In whispering tone; the spellful words delay'd "Th' approaching birth. I strain, and madly rave "With vain upbraidings to ungrateful Jove, "And crave for death; in such expressions 'plain "As hardest flints might move. The Theban dames "Around me throng; assist me with their prayers; "And me my trying pains exhort to bear. "Galanthis, one who tended me, of race "Plebeïan; yellow-hair'd; and sedulous "What order'd to perform; and much esteem'd "For courteous deeds;--she first suspected, (what, "I know not) somewhat, form'd by Juno's pique: "And while she constant pass'd; now to, now fro, "She saw the goddess on the altar sit, "Girding her arms, with close-knit fingers o'er "Her knees, and said;--O dame, whoe'er thou art, "Our mistress gratulate. Alcmena now "Argolican, is lighten'd. Now the prayers "Of the child-bearer meet her hopes.--The dame "Who rules the womb, straight from her station leap'd, "And all astounded, her clench'd fingers loos'd: "I in that moment felt my bonds undone. "Galanthis, they report, the goddess mock'd "Thus cheated, by her laughter. Savage, she "Dragg'd her so laughing, by the tresses seiz'd, "And forc'd her down to earth, as up she strove "Erect to rise; and to forefeet her arms "Transform'd. The same agility remains; "Her back its colour keeps; her form alone "Is diverse. She, 'cause then her lying mouth "My birth assisted, by her mouth still bears: "And round my house she harbors as before."--

She said, and by the memory mov'd, she mourn'd For her lost servant, whom, lamenting, thus Her child-in-law address'd.--"If then the form "Alter'd, of one an alien to your blood, "O mother! thus affects you, let me tell "The wond'rous fortune which my sister met: "Though grief and tears will frequent choke my words.

"Her mother, Dryopé alone could boast, "(Me to my sire another bore) her charms "OEthalia all confess'd; whom (rifled first "Of virgin charms, when passively she felt "His force, who Delphos, and who Delos rules) "Andræmon took, and held a happy spouse. "A lake expands with steep and shelving shores "Encompass'd; myrtles crown the rising bank. "Here Dryopé, of fate unconscious came, "And what must more commiseration move, "Came to weave chaplets for the Naïad nymphs; "Her arms sustain'd her boy, a pleasing load, "His first year scarce complete, as with warm milk "She nourish'd him. The watery Lotus there, "For promis'd fruit in Tyrian splendor bright, "Grew flowering near. The flowers my sister cropp'd, "And held them to delight her boy; and I, "(For there I stood,) the same prepar'd to do; "But from the flowers red flowing drops I saw, "And all the boughs with tremulous shuddering shook. "Doubtless it is, (but far too late we learn'd "By the rough swains,) nymph Lotis, when she fled "From Priapus obscene, her shape transform'd "Into this tree which still retains her name. "My sister witless of this change, in fright "Would back retreat, and leave the nymphs ador'd, "But roots her feet retain: these from the ground "She strains to rend; but save her upper limbs "Nought can she move; a tender bark grows o'er "The lower parts, and her mid limbs invades. "This seeing, and her locks to rend away "Attempting; her rais'd hand with leaves was fill'd. "Leaves cover'd all her head. Amphyssus found, "(His grandsire had the child Amphyssus nam'd) "His mother's breasts grow hard; nor when he suck'd "Lacteal fluid gain'd he. I there stood, "Of her sad fate spectator: loud I cry'd-- "But, O my sister! aid I could not bring; "Yet what I could I urg'd; the growing trunk, "And growing boughs, my close embraces staid: "In the same bark I glad had been enclos'd. "Lo! come her spouse Andræmon, and her sire "So wretched; and for Dryopé they seek: "A Lotus, as for Dryopé they ask, "I shew them; to the yet warm wood salutes "Ardent they give; and prostrate spread, the roots "They clasp of their own tree. Now, sister dear! "Nought save thy face but what a tree becomes. "Thy tears, the leaves thy body form'd, bedew. "And now, whilst able, while her mouth yet gives "To words a passage, such like plaints as these "She breathes;--If faith th' unhappy e'er can claim, "I swear by all the deities, this deed "I never merited: without a crime "My punishment I suffer. Innocent "My life has been. If I deceive, may drought "Parch those new leaves; and, by the hatchet fell'd, "May fire consume me. Yet this infant bear "From those maternal branches; to a nurse "Transfer him; but contrive that oft he comes "And 'neath my boughs let him his milk imbibe; "And 'neath my boughs sport playful. When with words "Able to hail me, let him me salute, "And sorrowing say;--Within that trunk lies hid "My mother--But the lakes, O! let him dread, "Nor dare from any tree to snatch a flower; "But think each shrub he sees a god contains. "Adieu! dear husband; sister dear, adieu! "Father, farewel! if pious cares you feel, "From the sharp axe defend my boughs, and from "The browsing flocks. And now, as fate denies "To lean my arms to yours,--your arms advance; "Approach my lips, whilst you my lips may touch: "And to them lift my infant boy. More words "I may not;--now the tender bark my neck, "So white, invades; my utmost summit hid. "Move from my lids your fingers, for the bark, "So rapid growing, will my dying eyes "Without assistance close.--Her lips to speak "Cease, and existence ceases: the fresh boughs "Long in the alter'd body warm were felt."

While Iölé the mournful fact relates; And while Alcmena, from Eurytus' maid, With ready fingers dry'd the tears; herself Still weeping, lo! a novel deed assuag'd Their grief--for Iölaüs, scarcely youth, His cheeks with tender down just cover'd, stands Within the porch; to early years restor'd.

Junonian Hebé, by her husband's prayers O'ercome, to Iölaüs gave the boon. Who, when to vow she went, that future times Should none such gift enjoying, e'er perceive, Was check'd by Themis. "Now all Thebes,"--she said, "Discordant warfare moves. Through Jove alone "Capaneus can be conquer'd. Mutual wounds "Shall slay the brothers. In the yawning earth "A living prophet his own tomb shall see. "A son avenger of his parent's death "Upon his parent: impious for the deed, "At once, and pious: at the action stunn'd, "Exil'd from home, and from his senses driv'n, "The furies' faces, and his mother's shade "Shall haunt him; till his wife the fatal gold "Shall ask: and till the Phegian sword shall pierce "Their kinsman's side. Callirhoë then, the nymph "From Acheloüs sprung, suppliant shall seek "From Jove, her infants years mature may gain. "Mov'd by her prayers, Jove will from thee demand, "Son's spouse, and daughter of his wife, the boon "And unripe men thou'lt make the youths become."

While Themis thus, with fate-foretelling lips, This spoke; the gods in murmuring grudgings mourn'd, Angry why others might not grant the gift. Aurora mourn'd her husband's aged years: Mild Ceres 'plain'd that Jason's hairs were white: Vulcan, for Erichthonius pray'd an age Renew'd. E'en Venus future cares employ'd, Anxious for promise that Anchises' years Replenishment might find: And every god Had whom he lov'd; and dark sedition grew From special favor; till the mighty sire The silence broke.--"If reverence I may claim, "Where rashly rush ye? Which of you the power, "Fate to control, possesses? Fate it was "Gave Iölaüs youth restor'd again: "By Fate Callirhoë's sons ere long shall spring "To manhood, prematurely; nor can arms "Nor yet ambition gain this gift. With souls "More tranquil bear this; since you see the fates "Me also rule. Could I the fates once change, "Old age should never bend Æäcus down; "And Rhadamanthus had perpetual spring "Of youth enjoy'd, with Minos, now despis'd "Through load of bitter years, nor reigns as wont."

Jove's words the deities all mov'd; not one Longer complain'd, when heavy press'd with years They Æäcus, and Rhadamanthus saw; And Minos: who, when in his prime of age, Made mightiest nations tremble at his name. He, feeble then, at Deïoné's son Miletus, trembled, who with youthful strength, And Phoebus' origin proud swol'n, and known About to rise against his rule:--yet him He dar'd not from his household roof to drive. But thou, Miletus, fled'st spontaneous, thou Th' Ægean waves in thy swift ship didst pass, And on the Asian land the walls didst found Which bear the builder's name. Cyancë here, Mæander's daughter, whose recurving banks She often trode: (whose stream itself reseeks So oft) in beauteous form, by thee was known, And, claspt by thee, a double offspring came, Byblis and Caunus, from the warm embrace.