A brimming chalice to Mardonius bears, Whom in these words he solemnly accosts:
"This fount is nam'd of Lethè. Who consults Our subterranean deity, must quaff Oblivion here of all preceding thoughts, Sensations, and affections."_"Reach the draught; If such oblivious sweets this cup contains, I gladly grasp it," cries the chief, and drinks. Ascending thence, a mazy walk they tread, Where all the Season's florid children show Their gorgeous raiment, and their odours breathe Unspent; while musical in murmur flows Fast down a deep declivity of bed Hercyna, winding in a channel new, Apparent often to the glancing eye
Through apertures, which pierce the loaden boughs Of golden fruit Hesperian, and th' attire Of myrtles green, o'ershadowing the banks. In alabaster's variegated hues, To bound the pleasing avenue, a fane Its symmetry discover'd on a plat,
Thick-set with roses, which a circling skreen Of that fair ash, where cluster'd berries glow, From ruffling gusts defended. Thither speeds Mardonius, there deliver'd to a third Religious minister supreme. Two youths, In snow-like vesture, and of lib'ral mien, Sons of Lebadian citizens, attend, Entitl'd Mercuries. The seer address'd The Persian warrior: "In this mansion pure Mnemosyne is worshipp'd; so in Greece The pow'r of memory is styl'd. Advance, Invoke her aid propitious to retain Whate'er by sounds, or visions, in his cave The prophet god reveals." The chief comply'd ; The hallow'd image he approach'd, and spake: "Thou art indeed a goddess, I revere. Now to Mardonius, if some dream or sign Prognosticate success, and thou imprint The admonitions of unerring Heav'n
In his retentive mind; this arm, this sword Shall win thy further favour to record His name and glory on the rolls of time." This said, with lighter steps he quits the fane. The Mercuries conduct him to a bath, Fed from Hercyna's fairer, second source, In shade sequester'd close. While there his limbs Are disarray'd of armour, to assume A civil garment, soon as spotless streams Have purify'd his frame; the priest, who stands Without, in ecstasy of joy remarks The rich Mardonian off'rings on their way, By servitors transported to enlarge The holy treasure. Instant he prepares For sacrifice. A sable ram is slain.
Fresh from ablution, lo! Mardonius comes In linen vesture, fine and white, as down Of Paphian doves. A sash of tincture bright, Which rivall'd Flora's brilliancy of dye, Engirds his loins; majestical his brows A wreath sustain; Lebadian sandals ease His steps. Exchanging thus his martial guise, Like some immortal, of a gentler mould
Than Mars, he moves. So Phoebus, when he sets, Lav'd by the nymphs of Tethys in their grot Of coral after his diurnal toil,
Repairs his splendours, and his rosy track Of morn resumes. With partial eyes the priest Explores the victim's entrails, and reports Each sign auspicious with a willing tongue;
Then to Mardonius: "Thee, Boeotia's friend, Magnificently pious to her gods, Thee I pronounce a votary approv'd By this Baotian deity. Now seek
In confidence the cavern. But the rites Demand, that first an image thou approach, Which none, but those in purity of garb, None, but accepted suppliants of the god, Can lawfully behold." Above the bath A rock was hollow'd to an ample space; Thence issued bubbling waters. "See," he said, "The main Hercynian fount, whose face reflects Yon Dædalean workmanship, the form Trophonius bears. Adore that rev'rend beard, The twisted serpents round that awful staff, Those looks, which pierce the mysteries of fate." Next through a winding cavity and vast He guides the prince along a mossy vault, Rough with protuberant and tortuous roots Of ancient woods, which, clothing all above, In depth shoot downward equal to their height; Suspended lamps, with livid glimpse and faint, Direct their darkling passage. Now they reach The further mouth unclosing in a dale Abrupt; there shadow, never-fleeting, rests. Rude-featur'd crags, o'erhanging, thence expel The blaze of noon. Beneath a frowning cliff A native arch, of altitude which tempts The soaring eagle to construct his nest, Expands before an excavation deep, Unbowelling the hill. On either side This gate of nature, hoary sons of time, Enlarg'd by ages to protentous growth, Impenetrable yews augment the gloom.
In height two cubits, on the rocky floor A parapet was rais'd of marble white, In circular dimension; this upholds The weight of polish'd obelisks, by zones Of brass connected, ornamental fence. A wicket opens to th' advancing prince; Steps moveable th' attentive priest supplies; By whom instructed, to the awful chasm Below, profound but narrow, where the god His inspiration breathes, th' intrepid son Of Gobryas firm descends. His nether limbs Up to the loins he plunges. Downward drawn, As by a whirlpool of some rapid flood, At once the body is from sight conceal'd. Entranc'd he lies in subterranean gloom, Less dark than superstition. She, who caus'd His bold adventure, with her wonted fumes Of perturbation from his torpid state Awakes him; rather in a dream suggests That he is waking. On a naked bank He seems to stand; before him sleeps a pool, Edg'd round by desert mountains, in their height Obscuring Heav'n. Without impulsive oars, Without a sail, spontaneous flies a bark Above the stagnant surface, which, untouch'd, Maintains its silence. On the margin rests The skiff, presenting to the hero's view An aged sire, of penetrating ken, His weight inclining on an ebon staff, With serpents wreath'd, who, beck'ning, thus began: "If, seed of Gobryas, thou wouldst know thy fate, Embark with me; Trophonius I am call'd."
Th' undaunted chief obeys. In flight more swift Than eagles, swiftest of the feather'd kind, Th' unmoving water's central spot they gain. At once its bosom opens; down they sink
In depth to equal that immane descent Of Hercules to Pluto, yet perform, As in a moment their portentous way. Around, above, the liquid mass retires, In concave huge suspended, nor bedews
Much more, when pow'r, when empire and renown, Hang on a crisis. If a serpent's guile Behind the pillows of such foes might lurk;
If darting thence, his unsuspected sting Might pierce their bosoms; if the ambient air
Their limbs, or garments. Two stupendous valves Could by mysterious alchymy be chang'd
Of adamant o'er half the bottom spread; Them with his mystic rod the prophet smites. Self-lifted, they a spacious grot expose, Whose pointed spar is tipt with dancing light, Beyond Phœbean clear. The Persian looks; Intelligent he looks. Words, names, and things, Recurring, gather on his anxious mind; [cave When he, who seems Trophonius: "Down this None, but the gods oracular, may pass. Here dwell the fatal Sisters; at their toil The Destinies thou see'st. The thread new-drawn Is thine Mardonius." Instantly a voice, Which shakes the grot, and all the concave round, Sounds Aemnestus. Swift the direful shears The line dissever, and Mardonius, whirl'd Back from Trophonian gloom, is found supine Within the marble parapet, which fenc'd
The cavern's mouth. The watchful priest conducts The agitated satrap, mute and sad, Back to Mnemosynè's abode. His eyes Are sternly fix'd. "Now, prince," the seer began, "Divulge whatever thou hast heard and seen Before this goddess."-" Priest," he said, "suspend Thy function now importunate. Remove."
The seer withdrawn, the Persian thus alone: "Then be it so. To luxury and pow'r, Magnificence and pleasure, I must bid Farewell. Leonidas let Greece extol, Me too shall Persia. Goddess, to thy charge A name, so dearly purchas'd, I consign."
This said, in haste his armour he resumes. Not as Leonidas compos'd, yet brave Amid the gloom of trouble, he prefers Death to dishonour. O'er the holy ground He pensive treads, a parallel to Saul, Return'd from Endor's necromantic cell In sadness, still magnanimously firm Ne'er to survive his dignity, but face Predicted ruin, and, in battle slain, Preserve his fame. Mardonius finds the gates; His friends rejoins; glides down Cephissian floods; Copææ's lake repasses; and is lodg'd
In his own tent by midnight. Sullen there He sits; disturb'd, he shuns repose; access Forbids to all: but Lamachus intrudes, Nefarious counsellor, in fell device Surpassing fellest tyrants. Now hath Night Upcall'd her clouds, black signal for the winds To burst their dungeons; cataracts of rain Mix with blue fires; th' ethereal concave groans; Stern looks Mardonius on the daring Greek, Who, in his wiles confiding, thus began:
"Supreme o'er nations numberless in arms, Sole hope of Asia, thy return I greet
With joy. Thy absence hath employ'd my soul To meditate the means, the certain means For thee to prosper. Lo! the active son Of Neocles, who keeps the Etaan pass, Lo! Aristides in the camp of Greece, Remain thy only obstacles. Her pow'r, Of them depriv'd, would moulder and disperse, Devoid of counsel, with an edgeless sword. Uncommon danger stimulates the wise
To search for safety through uncommon paths,
To viewless poison, and their cups infect With death; such help would policy disdain? Hast thou not hardy and devoted slaves? Try their fidelity and zeal. No life Can be secure against a daring hand.
Two Grecian deaths confirm thee lord of Greece." He ceas'd, expecting praise; but honour burns Fierce in the satrap's elevated soul:
"Dar'st thou suggest such baseness to the son Of Gobryas?" furious he exalts his voice; "Guards, seize and strangle this pernicious wolf." Time but to wonder at his sudden fate The ready guards afford him, and the wretch Fit retribution for his crimes receives.
This act of eastern equity expels
The satrap's gloom. "Now, Grecian gods," he cries, "Smile on my justice. From th' assassin's point I guard your heroes. By yourselves I swear, My preservation or success, assur'd By such unmanly turpitude, I spurn."
His mind is cheer'd. A tender warmth succeeds, Predominant in am'rous, eastern hearts, A balm to grief, and victor mild of rage.
The midnight hour was past, a season dear To softly-tripping Venus. Through a range Of watchful eunuchs in apartments gay He seeks the female quarter of his tent, Which, like a palace of extent superb, Spreads on the field magnificence. By snowy fingers touch'd, sweet-warbled song From ruby lips, which harmonize the air Impregnated with rich Panchæan scents, Salute him ent'ring. Gentle hands unclasp His martial harness, in a tepid bath Lave and perfume his much-enduring limbs. A couch is strewn with roses; he reclines In thinly-woven Taffeta. So long In pond'rous armour cas'd, he scarcely feels The light and loose attire. Around him smile Circassian Graces, and the blooming flow'rs Of beauty cull'd from ev'ry clime to charm. Lo! in transcending ornament of dress A fair-one, all-surpassing, greets the chief; But pale her lip, and wild her brilliant eye:
"Nam'd from Bethulia, where I drew my breath,
I, by a father's indigence betray'd, Became thy slave; yet noble my descent From Judith ever-fam'd, whose beauty sav'd Her native place. Indignant I withstood Thy passion. Gentle still a master's right Thou didst forbear, and my reluctant charms Leave unprofan'd by force. Repuls'd, thy love Grew cold. Too late contemplating thy worth, I felt a growing flame, but ne'er again Could win thy favour. In the haram's round Disconsolate, neglected, I have walk'd; Have seen my gay companions to thy arms Preferr'd, professing passion far unlike To mine, Mardonius. Now despair suggests To give thee proof of undissembled truth, Which no neglect hath cool'd. To thy success, Thy glory, my virginity is vow'd.
In this bright raiment, with collected pow'rs Of beauty, I at Aristides' feet
Will throw me prostrate. To th' alluring face Of my progenitrix a victim fell
Th' Assyrian captain, Holofernes proud; So shall thy foe of Athens fall by mine. The meritorious and heroic deed Soon will erase the transitory stain. O! if successful, let Bethulia hope
For thy reviving love." Mardonius starts In dubious trouble. Whether to chastise So fierce a spirit, or its zeal admire, He hesitates. Compassion for the sex At length prevails, suggesting this reply: "Fell magnanimity! enormous proof Of such intemp'rate passion! I forgive While I reject thy proffer'd crime, although The deed might fix my glory and success; And in return for thy prepost'rous love Will safe replace thee in thy native seat With gifts to raise from indigence thy house. But never, never from this hour will view Thy face again, Bethulia. Eunuchs, hear; Remove, conceal this woman from my sight." "No, thou inhuman," thus Bethulia wild: "This shall remove for ever from thy sight A woman scorn'd, and terminate her pains.'
She said, and struck a poniard through her heart. With shrieks the haram sounds; th' afflicted fair, The eunuchs shudder; when the satrap thus: "Is this another black portent of ill, Stern Horomazes? or is this my crime? No, thou art just. My conscious spirit feels Thy approbation of Mardonius now."
But from his breast the dire event expels All soft and am'rous cares. His vast command, His long inaction, and the dread of shame Recur. He quits the chamber; to his own Repairing, summons Mindarus, and firm
In aspect speaks: "The morning soon will dawn. Draw down our slingers, archers, and the skill'd In flying darts, to line th' Asopian brink; Thence gall the Grecians, whose diurnal wants That flood relieves." Then Mindarus: "O chief, This instant sure intelligence is brought, That from the isthmus, to supply their camp, A convoy, rich in plenty, is descry'd Advancing tow'rds Citharon's neighb'ring pass." Mardonius quick: "No moment shall be lost. Bid Tiridates with five thousand horse Possess that pass, and, pouring on the plain, Secure the precious store." This said, he seeks A short repose, and Mindarus withdraws.
In arms anon to paragon the Morn, The Morn new-rising, whose vermilion hand Draws from the bright'ning front of Heav'n serene The humid curtains of tempestuous night, Mardonius mounts his courser. On his bank The godlike figure soon Asopus views.
WHILE lamentation for Masistius dead Depress'd the Persians, undisturb'd the Greeks To all their camp refreshment had deriv'd From clear Asopus. To th' accustom'd edge Of his abounding flood they now resort.
Stones, darts, and arrows, from unnumber'd ranks, Along the margin opposite dispos'd
By Mindarus, forbid access. Repulse
Disbands the Greeks. Exulting, he forgets Cleora; active valour in his breast Extinguishes the embers, cherish'd long By self-tormenting memory, and warmth Of fruitless passion. Present too his chief, His friend and kinsman, from a fiery steed Mardonius rules and stimulates the fight, Like Boreas, riding on a stormy cloud, Whence issue darts of light'ning, mix'd with hail In rattling show'rs, The enemies dispers'd, Embolden Mindarus to ford the stream, In guidance swift of cavalry expert, With unresisted squadrons he careers Along the field. Inviolate the flood
He guards; each hostile quarter he insults. Now Gobryas' son, unfetter'd from the bonds Of superstitious terrours, joyful sees In Mindarus a new Masistius rise; Nor less the tidings Tiridates sends, Who in Citharon's passes hath despoil'd
The slaughter'd foes, inspire the gen'ral's thoughts, Which teem with arduous enterprise. The camp He empties all; beneath whose forming host The meadow sounds. The native Persians face Laconia's station, Greek allies oppose
Th' Athenian. All the force of Thebes array'd Envenom'd Leontiades commands.
Greece in her lines sits tranquil; either host Expects the other. By their augurs still Restrain'd, they shun the interdicted ford. But of the river's plenteous stream depriv'd By Mindarus, the Grecians fear a dearth Of that all-cheering element. A rill Flows from a distant spring, Gargaphia nam'd, Their sole resource. Nor dread of other wants Afflicts them less; their convoy is o'erpow'r'd By Tiridates. Anxious, all exhaust
A night disturb'd; the bravest grieve the most, Lest through severe necessity they quit Inglorious their position. Morning shines; When frequent signals from th' external guards, Near and remote, successive rise. To arms All rush. Along the spacious public way From Megara, obscuring dust ascends. The sound of trampling hoofs, and laden wheels, With shouts of multitude, is heard. Behold, Forth from the cloud, a messenger of joy, Sicinus breaks, of bold auxiliar bands Forerunner swift, and unexpected aid In copious stores, at Megara's wide port New-landed from Thermopylæ. The camp Admits, and hails in rapturous acclaim Euboean standards, Potidæa's ranks, The laurell'd priest and hero, Timon sage, Th' ennobled heir of Lygdamis, and thee, Melissa's brother, great Oïleus' son, Friend of Leonidas, thee dear to all,
O brave, and gen'rous Medon! From their tents The chiefs assemble, when Sicinus spake:
"Pausanius, gen'ral of united Greece, Accept these ample succours from the hand Of provident Themistocles. Possess'd Of Eta's passes, he the Persian host Now with impenetrable toils besets Like beasts of prey, entangled by the skill Of some experienc'd hunter. Thou receive, Just Aristides, from Timothea's love, A suit of armour new, in Chalcis fram'd, Without luxuriant ornament, or gold. The shield, an emblem of thy soul, displays
Truth, Equity, and Wisdom, hand in hand. This for her children, and thy own, consign'd To her Euboean roof and pious care,
She bids thee lift and conquer. Thou restore The little exiles in their native homes
To dwell in peace. Her gift, she adds, derives Its only value from the wearer's worth."
In smiles, like Saturn at the tribute pure Of fruits and flow'rs in singleness of heart Paid by religion of the golden age, Timothea's gift the righteous man receives, Not righteous more than practis'd to endure Heroic labours, soon by matchless deeds To justify the giver. He began:
"Confederated warriors, who withstand A tyrant's pow'r, unanimous confess
Your debt to great Themistocles, the lord Of all-admir'd Timothea. He and I Evince the fruits of concord. Ancient foes, Through her united, cheerful we sustain Our public charge. From gen'ral union Greece Expects her safety. Him success hath crown'd In arms and counsel; whether on the main His naval flag he spread, or shook the land With his triumphant step. O, hero-born Pausanias! glowing with Herculean blood, Now under thee let Aristides hope
To share success, nor tarnish with disgrace His armour new. Behold, yon river gleams With hostile.arms. Those standards on the left, Well-known to Attic eyes, are proudly borne By native Medes and Persians. Treach'rous Thebes Lifts her Cadmëan banner on the right. A second time Mardonius forms his host To proffer battle. He, perhaps, may ford Asopus, which Tisamenus, the learn'd In divination, hath forbid our steps
To pass. Thy former numbers swift arrange. New from a march let these auxiliars guard The camp." To him Pausanias thus apart: "Athenian, hear: Your citizens are vers'd In this barbarian warfare, yet unknown
To us. Let Spartans and Athenians change Their station. You, an adversary try'd At Marathon, and foil'd, will best oppose. To vanquish Grecians we accustom'd long Will yon Boeotians and Thessalians face. Such is my will." Concise the Attic sage: "Thou hast commanded what my willing thoughts
Themselves devis'd, but waited first to hear. Well canst thou fight, Pausanias. I will strive To imitate thy deeds and thy renown, On whose increase our liberty and laws Depend." This said, they part. Behind the rear Soon from the left th' Athenians, from the right The Spartans file. Their stations they exchange, Not by Mardonius unperceiv'd. He moves His Medes and Persians to the post of Thebes, Whence still the Spartan phalanx they confront, The Thebans still th' Athenian. This observ'd, Pausanias swift to Aristides sends Strict charge his old position to resume.
Now indignation high through all the tribes Of Athens rages. Noble pride, and sense Of just desert, in exclamation fierce Break from th' exalted populace, who claim Their soil for parent. "Gods! from wing to wing Must we like servile mercenary bands, Like Helots, slaves to Lacedæmon born,
Be hurry'd thus obsequious to control From an imperious Spartan? Tegea first Contested our prerogative. The pride Of Sparta next removes us from the post, Assign'd by public judgment; we comply. Must we at her contemptuous nod resume The station we forsook? Defending Greece, Ourselves meanwhile deserted and betray'd, Twice have we lost our city. What is left Of our abandon'd residence, but dust? Let Greece defend herself. Let us remove For the last time our standards, hoist our sails, Our floating empire fix on distant shores, Our household gods, our progeny, and name, On some new soil establish, sure to find None so ingrate as this." The Athenians thus Swell with ingenuous ire, as ocean boils, Disturb'd by Eurus, and the rude career Of Boreas, threat'ning furious to surmount All circumscription. But as oft a cloud, Distilling gentle moisture as it glides, Dissolves the rigour of their boist❜rous wings, Till o'er the main serenity returns; So from the mouth of Aristides fall Composing words. Insensibly he soothes Their justly-irritated minds, and calms Their just resentment. Righteousness and truth, How prevalent your efforts, when apply'd By placid wisdom! In these strains he spake: "Ye men of Athens, at Laconia's call To meet the flow'r of Asia's host in fight Do ye repine? A station, which implies Pre-eminence of Attic worth, a task Of all most glorious, which the martial race Of Sparta shuns, and you should covet most, Ye Marathonian victors? In the sight Of Greece, who trembles at a Median garb, You are preferr'd for valour. Arms the same, The same embroider'd vestment on their limbs Effeminate, the same unmanly souls, Debas'd by vices and monarchal rule, The Medes retain, as when their vanquish'd ranks Fled heretofore. With weapons often try'd, With confidence by victories increas'd, Not now for liberty and Greece alone You march to battle; but to keep unspoil'd Your trophies won already, and the name, Which Marathon and Salamis have rais'd, Preserve unstain'd; that men may ever say, Not through your leaders, not by fortune there You triumph'd, but by fortitude innate, And lib'ral vigour of Athenian blood."
He said, and march'd. All follow mute through Of Aristides, inexpressive love, Which melts each bosom. Solemn they proceed, Though lion-like in courage, at his call Meek and obedient, as the fleecy breed To wonted notes of Pan's conducting pipe.
Arriv'd, disbanded, in their sep'rate tents Cecropia's tribes exhaust a tedious night, Unvisited by sleep. The morning breaks; Instead of joy to gratulate her light The tone of sadness from dejected hearts, Combining sighs and groans in murmur deep, Alarms the leader. "Aristides, show Thy countenance amongst us," hasty spake The warrior-poet ent'ring: "All thy camp Enthusiastic sorrow hath o'erwhelm'd, And ev'ry heart unbrac'd. By earliest dawn Each left his restless couch. Their first discourse
Was calm, and fill'd with narratives distinct Of thy accomplishments, and worth. At length A soldier thus in agitation spake: 'Yet, O most excellent of gods! O Jove! This is the man we banish'd! In thy sight' The most excelling man, whose sole offence Was all-transcending merit, from his home Our impious votes expell'd, by envy's spite Seduc'd. We drove him fugitive through Greece; Where still he held ungrateful Athens dear, For whose redemption from her sloth he rous'd All Greece to arms.' The soldier clos'd in floods Of anguish. Instant through the concourse ran Contagious grief; as if the fiend Despair, From his black chariot, wheeling o'er their heads In clouds of darkness, dropp'd his pois'nous dews Of melancholy down to chill the blood, Unnerve the limbs, and fortitude dissolve. Speed, Aristides. By th' immortal pow'rs! The feeblest troop of Persians in this hour Might overcome the tame, desponding force Of thy dear country, mistress long confess'd Of eloquence and arts, of virtue now Through thy unerring guidance." Here the sage: "Withhold thy praise, good Æschylus-Be swift, Arrange my fellow citizens in arms Beneath each ensign of the sev'ral tribes. I will appear a comforter, a friend, Their public servant." Eschylus withdraws. Soon Aristides, in his armour new, Timothea's gift, advances from his tent. Should from his throne th' Omnipotent descend In visitation of the human race, While dreading his displeasure; as to earth All heads would bend in reverential awe, Contrite and conscious of their own misdeeds; So look th' Athenians, though in all the pomp Of Mars array'd, and terrible to half
The world in battle. Down their corslets bright Tears trickle, tears of penitence and shame, To see their injur'd patriot chief assume
In goodness Heav'n's whole semblance, as he moves Observant by, and through the weeping ranks From man to man his lib'ral hand extends, Consoling. No resentment he could show, Who none had felt. Ascending now on high, He thus address'd the penitential throng: "Rate not too high my merit, nor too low Your own depreciate. Errour is the lot Of man; but lovely in the eye of Heav'n Is sense of errour. Better will you fight, As better men from these auspicious tears, Which evidence your worth, and please the gods. With strength and valour, equity of mind Uniting doubles fortitude. Your wives, Your progeny and parents, laws and rites, Were ne'er so well secur'd." The warlike bard Rose next: 26 Requested by the sev'ral tribes, In their behalf I promise to thy rule All acquiescence. Bid them fight, retreat, Maintain, or yield a station; bid them face Innumerable foes, surmount a foss
Deep as the sea, or bulwarks high as rocks; Subordination, vigilance, contempt Of toil and death, thy dictates shall command," Th' Oilean hero, Timon, and the seed Of Lygdamis, are present, who encamp'd Among th' Athenians. They admire the chief, Nor less the people. While the term of morn Was passing thus, a summons to his tent
Calls Aristides. Aemnestus there Salutes him: "Attic friend, a new event In Sparta's quarter is to thee unknown; From me accept th' intelligence. The Sun Was newly ris'n, when o'er th' Asopian flood An eastern herald pass'd. Behind him tow'r'd A giant-siz'd barbarian. He approach'd Our camp; before Pausanias brought, he spake: "I am Briareus, of Mardonian guards Commander. Through my delegated mouth Thus saith the son of Gobryas: I have heard Among the Greeks your prowess vaunted high, Ye men of Sparta, that in martial ranks You either kill, or perish; but I find Fame is a liar. I expected long,
You would defy me on the field of war. Have I not seen you shift from wing to wing, The task imposing on th' Athenians twice To face the Medes and Persians; while yourselves Sought with our servants to contend in arms, Ye brave in name alone! Since you decline To challenge us, we, prime of eastern blood, With equal numbers challenge you to prove, That you possess, what rumour hatir proclaim'd, The boldest hearts in Greece. Acknowledge else Your boasted valour bury'd in the grave With your Leonidas, o'erthrown and slain.'
"Pausanias gave no answer, not through fear, But humour torpid and morose, which wrapp'd In clouds of scorn his brow. Consulting none, With silent pride the giant he dismiss'd. The challenger, in triumph turning back, Repass'd the river." Aemnestus paus'd; A second messenger appear'd. Behold, In blooming vigour, flush'd by rapid haste, Young Menalippus, from the rev'rend seer Megistias sprung. "Athenian chief," he said, "Bring down thy active, missile-weapon'd troops; On their immediate help Pausanias calls. A cloud of hostile cavalry invests
Laconia's quarter. Javelins, arrows, darts, In sheets discharg'd, have chok'd our last resource, Gargaphia's fountain, and our heavy bands Perplex and harass." Aristides hears, And issues swift his orders, while the youth Continues thus: "Thou knew'st of old my sire, Who at Thermopyla expir'd. The just Consort together." Aristides thus:
"Ingenuous youth, for Greece thy father bled A spotless victim, but for ever lives Companion with Leonidas in fame.
By Heav'n protected, thou shalt live to see Their death aton'd; the period is not far. Come on; my force is ready." Medon arms With Haliartus, once the shepherd-swain In Eta's pass to Menalippus known, Whom both embrace with gratulation kind. All march, but reach not Sparta's distant wing, Before the Persians, sated with success, Fil'd back to join Mardonius. Secret he Was communing with Mirzes, most renown'd Among the Magi. Thus the satrap clos'd:
"Through each occurrence undisguis'd, O sage! My circumstantial narrative hath run, From where I enter'd first Trophonian ground, Till my descent and vision in the cave. Speak frankly, Mirzes-nor believe thy words, Whatever black presages they contain, Subjoin'd to all Trophonius hath foretold, Can change my firm resolves, or blunt my sword."
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