The Athenaid

Meantime while Venus from her Colian dome, Which o'er Phaleron cast a holy shade, Beheld the shatter'd fleet of Xerxes driv'n To refuge there precarious; from pursuit Recall'd, the Greeks, observant of their laws, Applied their pious labour to collect Their floating dead, and send with honours due Such glorious manes to the blest abodes. With artful assiduity remain'd Themistocles presiding, so to court Religion's favour. From the solemn toil, Accomplish'd now, to Salaminian strands He veers; the slain are landed; then his deck Himself forsakes. As Neptune, when the winds, His ministers of anger to o'erwhelm The pride of daring mortals, have fulfill'd His stern behests, and shook the vast profound, At length composing his afflicted reign, Serene from sated vengeance seeks the arms Of Amphitrite, watching his return With soft impatience in her placid grot Amidst encircling Nereids; so the chief To his Timothea in triumphant pace Advances. She that day had never left The beach; surrounded by Athenian fair, She rushes forward to his wish'd embrace. He stops; defil'd by slaughter, robs his heart Of such delights, and elegantly thus:

O all-surpassing woman, do not dye That lovely bosom in Barbarian gore; The blood of Ariabignes, not my own, Encrusts thy husband's cuirass. She replies:

Since not thy own, but hostile crimson stains Thy manly chest, Timothea will partake The honourable dye. O man divine! Thus for the public with a public kiss Thee I salute, thee saviour of all Greece, Thee scourge of Asia; thus will ev'ry wife Her husband; sisters, daughters thus infold Their brothers, sires; their tender hands like mine, Like mine their panting breasts, in transport bear These glorious marks of victory. Behold Those damsels pure, whose maidenly reserve Forbids such rapture; they in smiles, in tears Of gratitude and gladness, on the heads Of gallant youths triumphal garlands place.

Laodice is nigh; she quits th' embrace Of her Aminias, and accosts the chief:

Think'st thou, O son of Neocles, the dames Of Athens shrink to see Barbarian blood, Who would have spilt their own, had fortune frown'd; Had you, our slaughter'd husbands, left your wives No other choice than servitude or death?

Fair dame, united to the bravest chief, In smiles he answers, fortune more benign Preserv'd those husbands for the happiest lot, Society with you. In holy brine Of Neptune's flood permit them now to lave, That love in bridal decency may greet Athenian wives. Ye men of Athens, vote That ev'ry youth and ev'ry maid betroth'd To-night be wedded. This the gen'ral voice Confirms a law. His winning words dispers'd Th' obedient fair; each warrior in the deep Immers'd his limbs, while Phoebe's argent wheels Their track pursuing through unclouded skies, Diffuse around serenity and light.

To his Timothea's mansion soon repair'd Themistocles; Sicinus there he found, Who earnest thus address'd him: Thrice I hail My lord victorious; from thy servant's lips Now hear a tale to melt the stoniest hearts Of all but Euphrantides, yet with joy Reward compassion—To the sable grove, Where yew and cypress veil'd the hoary walls Of homicidal Bacchus, swift I led My choice companions; to the seer I told Thy pleasure; he indignant heard, and forc'd The victims forward to the fane abhorr'd. I follow'd careful, still in patient hope That he, though slow, would uncompell'd submit To thy commanding will; we enter'd all; Sandauce there at length her silence broke, Whom from her infants none so fell to part.

O house of great Darius! where will end Thy woes? How many of thy sons are fall'n! Sad Ariana, sacrifice to love! Thou sleep'st; thy wretched sister lives to see Her children butcher'd—On the pavement damp She threw her limbs, she clasp'd her lovely babes; They shudd'ring view Sandauce in distress; Too young to know their danger, they bewail Their mother, not themselves. The captive youth, Still sedulous and tender, from the spot, Where as in shackles of despair she lay, Essay'd in vain to raise her. Now the seer, Who in my look determination saw, Approach'd the loathsome idol, foul by age, In fell presumption utt'ring thus his wrath:

These victims, Bacchus, did my voice devote To thy neglected altar; of thy spoil Themistocles defrauds thee; on his head Let fall thy vengeance, not on mine, stern god!

This heard, the willing captives I remov'd From that grim seat of terror to these walls Of hospitality. Sicinus clos'd, When Aristides enter'd. Hail, he said, Well hast thou done, Themistocles! behold Me come attendant on illustrious dead, Whom on Psyttalia cast I bring to share The public funeral honours.—I salute Thee too, the son of Neocles returns; Our noble strife to serve the public best We both have well commenc'd. Prepare thee now To give thy counsel on my new device For better service still. Our climate holds All Asia now, her princes, wealth, and arms; I can detain her, till consuming time By famine, sword and pestilence, exhaust Her strength, and cover Greece with Persian graves.

Too high thy ardour mounts, replies the sage; Forbear to think of strength'ning such a pow'r By desperation. To the feeble brute Necessity gives courage. Such a host Of men and steeds innum'rous on our fields, By nature's stimulating wants compell'd To fight for life, might blast our budding hopes. Ah! rather some new stratagem devise To send the Persians back; let famine, want, Let pestilence pursue their tedious flight, Depriv'd of succour from their vanquish'd fleet, Which do thou chace and bury in the waves. Farewell! my post demands me. Since their foil, I have observ'd the enemies employ'd In wild attempts to fill the streight profound Between Psyttalia and th' Athenian shore.

He gone, these thoughts Themistocles revolves: I will adopt his counsel, safe for Greece, Nor less for me; his banishment prolong'd Will discontent the people, and repeal'd Place him commander in th' Athenian camp To rival me. Discouraging the war By land, confining to the sea our strength, I shall secure pre-eminence. From thought To action turn'd, Sicinus he bespake:

Before my presence all the captives bring. As Bacchus, not Devourer, in a smile Of heav'nly sweetness, proffer'd soft relief To Ariadne, when forlorn she sat, Her fate deploring on the Naxian rock; So gracious, so consoling were the looks Themistocles assum'd, in soothing phrase Accosting thus Sandauce: Thou shalt prove, So shall thy royal house, afflicted fair! A cordial friend in me. Sicinus, haste; Equip the bark which eastern colours dress, That, ere the moon forsake her lucid path, Thou mayst transport this princess to the king, Her infant train, and this ingenuous youth, With my best greetings. Say, the Athenian chief, Themistocles, these pledges of his truth And friendship sends; them rescued I restore, Him next will save. His Hellespontine bridge The Greeks vindictive menace to destroy, An enterprize of horror; this my pow'r, My dictates singly can and shall impede, Till he in safety hath regain'd his throne.

Sandauce answers: O thou gen'rous Greek, To thee, to thine, may fortune ne'er be cold. But I, partaker of imperial pomp, In ease, in safety nurtur'd, who have deem'd My state above the sorrows which torment Inferior mortals, when my soul reflects On this new lesson by misfortune taught, Reflects how lately on a field of blood, Young as I am, I saw my husband fall, My children doom'd to sacrifice, myself To endless bondage, had not heav'n achiev'd This marvel of compassion in a foe, I, (O forgive me!) I suspect the lot Of all, ev'n thine. O prosp'rous, godlike man, May Horomazes from thy head avert Vicissitudes like mine! may envious fate Ne'er bring Sandauce's gratitude to proof! Thou never want the pity thou hast shewn!

She ceas'd; she wept. When Artamanes spake: Her debt Sandauce can discharge alone By grateful tears; but I can promise more. In Persian thraldom lies a beauteous Greek, Nam'd Amarantha, Delphian Timon's child; For that bright maid's redemption I am pledg'd To her afflicted sire. Thy goodness shower'd On this excelling princess, shall augment My zeal the obligation to repay By Amarantha's freedom; till that hour Of retribution to thy virtues comes, We will proclaim them; nations shall admire Themistocles, and ev'ry heart abhor Inhuman Euphrantides. Now return'd Sicinus; him they follow'd. On her breast The lovely mother hush'd her female babe; But cold with horror at remembrance deep Of her unmatch'd calamities that day, She feebly falter'd o'er the sandy beach; While Artamanes led in either hand The tripping boys. Themistocles remain'd In these reflections, flowing from this proof Of fortune's changes: Few in Athens long Sustain their greatness—but to muse on ills Before they come, both time and thought I waste; Content at present that esteem procur'd, By this fair Persian, in her brother's court, May prove a gain. Timothea now approach'd; His hand affectionate she press'd and spake:

How sudden thou my hospitable cares Of their endearing object hast depriv'd! In woe how graceful is that eastern dame! How young a mother! On a widow'd bed How early cast by fortune! Thou hast sent Sicinus with her; ever-watchful man, Some new contrivance thou dost bring to birth; Thou smil'st in silence; listen then to me. Since Aristides on this isle hath shewn That face rever'd, when banish'd, his recal The men of Athens, nay the women wish. This by Aminias to th' assembled tribes, Laodice informs me, will be mov'd; In this expect Myronides the brave, Xanthippus, Cimon, Aeschylus will join.— So will thy husband, interpos'd the chief; I will forestall them, not to others leave Such merit with our people.—She rejoin'd:

All will applaud thee. Now, my anxious lord, The second watch its measure hath consum'd; The moon descends, the sprightly birds are still; Dead sleep hath laid the soldier on his shield; The active sailor slumbers; all forget The hardships, rage, and tumult of the day; All but thyself reposing. Shall that mind Continue ranging o'er the field of thought, In pregnancy exhaustless, till the lark Salute the day-spring with his early song? Till thou unresting, unrefresh'd, resume The statesman's troubles, and the soldier's toils? Be counsell'd; oft the thunder-bearing god To Juno listens; thou my voice obey.

He hears; serene conducts her to repose. As Jove on Ida, by Saturnia charm'd, Confess'd a rapture never felt before, While lucid dew of odours from a cloud Of gold distill'd around him; from the turf Beneath his feet while hyacinths upsprung, The unctuous lotos, and the crocus gay, To grace his secret tabernacle there Of love celestial; so the Attic chief To his Timothea, in her chamber pure, With bridal honours deck'd, perfum'd with flow'rs, Whate'er the meads of Salamis supplied, His tender flame in winning language breath'd:

Whoe'er had whisper'd on our nuptial day That I should view thee, in a time remote From that sweet aera, with superior joy, I should have held him ignorant of love. What is the cause, Timothea, that I feel My bosom pierc'd by transport yet unknown? That eastern fair, deliver'd from distress, Appearing then the fairest of her sex, Thou dost exceed. Timothea smiling spake:

O thou artificer of sweetest wiles, Wouldst thou seduce me into vain belief, That I exceed Sandauce's youthful charms? But wouldst thou know, my husband (solemn here She modulates her accents), wouldst thou know Why thou survey'st me with uncommon joy? It is the conscience of a noble deed, Of gather'd trophies never match'd before, Creates this change. The perils of this day Were new to Athens, to thy race, and me; Thy sword hath rescued all, increas'd thy fame, Thy heart exalted; with increas'd delight, Thro' that bright medium of a happy mind, Thou look'st on ev'ry object—sure on me Not less than others. Artless were these words, By nature prompted, nature's noblest fire.

They ceas'd discourse. Her loftiness of mind, His valour, talents, policy, to love Subside. Perhaps the first of human pairs, Who in the bless'd Assyrian garden met, Were not more happy in their first embrace, Than fair Timothea and her conqu'ring lord!

A pleasing stillness on the water sleeps; The land is hush'd; from either host proceeds No sound, no murmur. With his precious charge Embark'd, Sicinus gently steers along; The dip of oars in unison awake Without alarming silence; while the moon, From her descending, horizontal car, Shoots lambent silver on the humid blades Which cleave the curling slood. On carpets soft Sandauce's babes devoid of sorrow lie, In sweet oblivious innocence compos'd To smiling slumber. But the mother's breast Admits no consolation; when they skim Psyttalia's frith, at memory severe Of that disast'rous isle, she sudden sinks A lifeless image in the watchful arms Of Artamanes, who had studied well Her sorrows, knew each tender thought and care, Humanity his tutor. Swift he calls Sicinus: Friendly pilot, stay thy course; We must not leave Autarctus in his gore Behind, lest grief incurable reside In this fair breast, perhaps eternal shade In these extinguish'd eyes. Sicinus feels A sympathizing pain, of Persian stock Himself a branch, in Attic soil matur'd; He stops the bark and lands. The Asian tents Were still erect, whence Aristides comes In steel accoutred, to salute the dawn, Then breaking. Him Sicinus humbly greets, Requests, obtains the body, which convey'd On board he careful on the deck bespreads With canvass new. Impell'd by active strokes Of oars resum'd, the bounding vessel gains Phaleron's haven. Artemisia there, Whose vigilance, augmented by defeat, Had kenn'd the bark while distant, now arrests Her further progress; but no sooner hears The sad intelligence Sicinus gives, Than swift descending where Sandauce lay, That mourning fair in friendly strains accosts:

O lift thy head, thou daughter of a king! Our sov'reign's sister, sister to the man My soul rever'd, to Hyperanthes good, The flow'r of Asia's princes! In thy woes I sharing cordial, cordially rejoice In thy redemption. Leave this doleful keel; Think of thy duty to approach the king; Thy other cares entrust to me.—She said; They row to shore. To Xerxes, then retir'd, The queen conducts Sandauce and her train. The princess thus to him amaz'd began:

A widow'd sister, late a wretched slave, With these three orphans just redeem'd from death, Sandauce greets her brother; but her tongue Would be disloyal to obtrude her tale, Her tedious tale of sorrows on his ear. The preservation of her king demands His first attention; that attention grant To him who comes deputed by a Greek, Thy friend, my guardian, saviour of those babes; Oh listen! thy salvation from his lips Receive. Fast bound by terror was the mouth Of Xerxes.—Then Sicinus: He who ranks Among the Greeks superior in command, In talents, prudence, policy, and arms, Themistocles, these pledges of his truth And friendship sends; them rescued he restores; Thee next will save. Thy Hellespontine bridge The Greeks vindictive menace to destroy; An enterprize of horror, which his pow'r, His dictates singly can and will impede, Till thou in safety hast regain'd thy throne.

All from his presence straight the king commands, Save Artemisia; her in broken tones Addresses: Queen of Caria, singly wise Among my council, pity, not upbraid Thy master, suff'ring by his rash neglect Of thy sage voice unutterable pangs.

He paus'd in torture. Prudent, she replied: Without a cause the lord of nations droops; Mardonius well hath counsel'd thy retreat, Who undertakes to finish, what his sword Hath well begun thro' Macedon and Thrace, This mighty war. Thy servant may succeed; In whose behalf? His master's: Thou wilt reap His fruits of glory; if Mardonius fail, He the disgrace. Thy march commence by dawn; Appoint the fleet's departure swift this night, To guard with force collected and repair'd The Hellespontine bridge; with grace accept The proffer'd service of th' Athenian chief; Load his returning messenger with gifts Of royal price, and, O my gracious lord! Fraternal kindness on Sandauce show'r. Her gallant lord hath perish'd in thy cause, Herself been menac'd by a barb'rous priest To see her children sacrific'd; a doom Themistocles withstood, and set them free.

As when a timid child perceives a cloud Obscure the sky, and hears the thunder's peal, He weeps, he trembles, but the cloud dispers'd, The clamour ceasing, and the sun restor'd, His wonted sport resumes, forgetting fear; So chang'd the monarch. Artemisia, go, He said; the satraps instantly convene; Th' Athenian messenger, Argestes' son, Again before us with Sandauce call; Ne'er will I deviate from thy counsels more.

First to Sicinus ent'ring he began: Say to thy sender, I accept well pleas'd His service pass'd and proffers; thou return; To him ten golden talents thou shalt bear. Thee from the depths of sorrow shall the king, Sandauce, raise; demand a present boon; Thou canst not ask what Xerxes will refuse.

By gratitude surmounting grief inspir'd, Mov'd to retaliate kindness in the shape Herself had prov'd, the gen'rous suppliant thus:

In Persian thraldom is a Grecian maid Of Delphian lineage, Amarantha nam'd; Her I demand of Xerxes, that my hand A captive daughter to a tender sire May render back; from bondage free his head, Now in Nicaea, and thus far my debt Of gratitude discharge. In transport here, Admiring such perfection of the heart, Spake Artamanes: Ever live the king! There is a captive whom the princess nam'd—

Fly thou in search of this requested slave, Son of Argestes, interrupts the king; Let none withold her from Sandauce's pow'r. The female train before the cumb'rous host Shall move by dawn for Thessaly, there join The rest of Asia's dames behind us left On our late march; the guard, ten thousand horse, Thou, Artamanes, shalt command.—He said; They all retir'd. A pensive grief o'ercasts Sandauce, moving with her children slow, By slaves attended, to the vacant tent Autarctus late possess'd. Argestes' son Observes her anguish, penetrates her thoughts, In guarded words then proffers this relief:

O fairest princess, whose external form But half displays thy excellence of mind, Wilt thou forgive thy servant, if he feels With thee a present sorrow, which the heart Fobids the tongue to name? Sandauce, trust My pious service, and those thoughts compose.

She, weeping, looks assent; he speeds away, But meets the body of Autarctus borne By Artemisia's soldiers. She at first, With care conceal'd, had order'd from the bark His precious reliques; these the noble youth With equal care delivers to that skill, Which with Sabaean gums, and scented growths Of bless'd Arabia, purifies the clay Depriv'd of life, and Time's consuming breath Repels. A regal car he next provides, In full apparel of funereal pomp.