om plants Lethean; and repeated thrice,
The words which placid sleep inspire; which still
The ruffled ocean; and arrest the course
Of rapid torrents; sleep before unknown
Stole o'er his eyelids, and th' AEsonian youth
Seiz'd on the golden prize. Proud with the spoil,
(A second spoil possessing) she who gave
The power to conquer, as his wife he bears,
And lands triumphant on Thessalia's shores.

Mothers of Thessaly, and aged sires
For sons restor'd, glad offerings bring: bright flames
The high-heap'd incense; votive victims deck'd
With gilded horns are slain: but AEson, far
The grateful crowd avoids, now near his fate,
Bent by a weight of years. Hence Jason spoke;--
"O, spouse! to thee my life and safety ow'd;
"To me, thou all hast given; the high swol'n sum
"Of all thy favors might belief surpass:
"This more attempt, if this thou can'st,--and what
"Thy magic power defies? My years curtail,
"And to my sire's existence add the term."
Fast flow'd his tears while speaking;--while he spoke,
His pious duty mov'd Medea; quick
Her sire AEeta, so deserted, sprung
To thought, and shew'd the two contrasting souls.
But, veil'd her secret thoughts, she thus replies;--
"What impious accents hear I from thy tongue,
"O, spouse religious? Can I then transfer
"Of thy existence part? Not Hecat's power
"Fateful, would sanction this; nor stands thy wish
"In equity. Yet, Jason, will I try
"More than thou seek'st to give. With all my skill
"Thy sire's existence to prolong, thy years
"Unshorten'd; should the tri-form'd goddess aid
"Propitious my designs."--Three nights were now
Deficient, ere the full-form'd horns could meet
The lunar orb to fill. Complete her round;
A solid sphere of light from earth beheld,
Medea wanders forth; loose all her robes;
Naked her feet; bare-headed; while her hair
Wild o'er her shoulders floats; and thus array'd,
Untended, while deep midnight silence reigns
She bends her devious way. Men, beasts, and birds,
In bonds of sleep were chain'd; the hedges still,
No murmur breath'd; nor wav'd the silent trees;
Hush'd was the humid sky; the stars alone
Twinkled: to them her arms extending, thrice
She turn'd around; thrice from the flowing stream
Her tresses sprinkled; thrice with yelling noise
The silence broke; then with her bended knee
The hard earth pressing, cry'd;--"O, night! thou friend
"Of secret d