s the country with the pest still swarm.

Thence borne by adverse winds, he sweeps along,
Through boundless ether driven; now here, now there,
As watery clouds are swept. From lofty skies,
The earth far distant viewing, round the globe
He skimm'd: three times he saw the Arctic pole
And thrice the warmer Crab. Oft to the west,
Th' adventurous youth was borne; back to the east,
As often. Now the day in darkness sank,
When he, nocturnal flight mistrusting, lights
In Atlas' kingdom 'neath th' Hesperian sky;
A short repose requests, till Phosphor' bright,
Should call Aurora forth;--she ushering in
The chariot of the day. Japetus' son
All men in huge corporeal bulk surpass'd.
He to th' extremest confines of the land,
And o'er the ocean sway'd, whose waves receive
Apollo's panting steeds, and weary'd car.
A thousand bleating flocks; a thousand herds,
Stray'd through the royal pastures. Neighbouring lords
Not near him plough'd their lands. Trees grew, whose leaves
With splendor glittering, threw a golden shade
O'er golden branches, and o'er fruit of gold.
Thus Perseus;--"Friendly host, if glorious birth
"Thee pleases, here one born of Jove behold.
"If deeds of merit more attraction move,
"Mine thy applause may claim. At present grant
"An hospitable shelter here, and rest."
But Atlas, fearing these oraculous words,--
(Long since by Themis on Parnassus given)
"The time, O king! will come, thy golden tree
"Shall lose its fruit. The glory of the spoil
"A son of Jove shall boast:" and dreading sore;
Around his orchards massy walls he rears;
A dragon huge and fierce the guard maintains.
"Whatever strangers to his realm approach,
Far thence he drives; and thus to Perseus too;--
"Haste, quickly haste from hence, lest soon I prove
"Thy glorious deeds but feign'd,--feign'd as thy birth."
Then force to threats he added,--strove to thrust
The hero forth; who struggling, efforts urg'd
Resisting, while he begg'd with softening words.
Proving in strength inferior (who in strength
Could vie with Atlas?) "Since my fame," he cries,
"Such small desert obtains, a gift accept."
And, back his face averting, holds display'd,
On his left side Medusa's ghastly head.
A mountain now the mighty Atlas stands!
His hair and beard as lofty forests wave;
His arms and hands high hilly summits rear;
O'er-topp'd above, by what was once his head: