bosom sure it moves. But were my aid
"Deny'd, the furious bulls with flaming breath
"His fate would compass; or the foes that spring
"From earth, his harvest, slay him in the fight;
"Or last, he'd fall the ravenous dragon's prey.
"If this I suffer, from the tiger sprung
"Believe me; steel and marble in my breast,
"Deem me to wear. Why not his death behold?
"Why not mine eyes with the dread sight pollute!
"Why not the bulls, the earth-born foes incite,
"And sleepless dragon, with redoubled ire?
"Heaven wills it better. But let deeds, not prayers
"My time employ. How! shall I then betray
"My parent's realm? an unknown stranger aid
"With all my power? who by my power preserv'd,
"Loos'd to the wind his sails, another's spouse
"Becomes,--me left for punishment behind?
"If this to do,--another nymph to me
"Born to prefer, let him, ingrate! be slain.
"But no! his face denies it; his great soul,
"And graceful form forbid the fear of fraud;
"Or benefits forgot. Yet shall he plight
"His solemn faith first, call th' attesting gods
"To witness what he vows. What fear I more?
"All's safe. Medea, hasten, spurn delay,--
"Jason, remaining life to thee shall owe;
"Join'd to his state, the annual torch shall flame
"To thee, preserver! through the Grecian towns
"By crowds of mothers hail'd. Shall I for this
"My sister leave, my brother, and my sire;
"My gods, and natal land? Yes,--fierce my sire;
"My country barbarous; and my brother young:
"With all my wishes, warm my sister joins;
"And dwells within my breast the mightiest god.
"Much I relinquish not, but much I seek.
"The glorious title of the Grecian youth
"Deliverer! gain'd; the sight of lands and towns
"Whose fame even here has journey'd; manners mild,
"And cultur'd arts; and Jason for my spouse,
"For whom all earth's possessions were too small
"To change. His spouse become, supremely blest,
"Dear to the gods, the loftiest stars I'll reach.
"What are those rocks, they tell, which 'mid the waves
"Meet in encounter? Fell Charybdis what,--
"Hostile to ships, now sucking in the tide,
"Now fierce discharging? What the savage bounds,
"Which compass greedy Scylla 'mid the main
"Sicilian? O'er the wide-spread ocean borne,
"Him whom I love embracing; sheltering close
"In Jason's bosom; clasp'd by him, no fear
"My soul could harbor. Or if fear I felt,
"For him alone I'd tremble