death she mix'd
The baneful aconite, long since from shores
Of Scythia brought; which thus old tales relate,
From Cerberus' venom'd jaws was first produc'd,
Through a dark den, with gloomy opening, lies
A path steep shelving, where Alcides dragg'd
Fierce Cerberus to light, resisting strong,
Glancing askaunce his eyes from day, whose rays
Sparkled too bright, in adamantine chains.
With rabid anger swol'n, a triple yell
Fill'd all the air; he o'er the virid plain
Sprinkled white foam; increasing fast this shoots;
The fruitful soil fresh virulence imparts,
And ranker grows its power: from hardest rocks
It lively springs, and Aconite hence nam'd.
This did old AEgeus, by his crafty spouse
Deceiv'd, to Theseus, as a foe, present.
Unwitting Theseus, in his hand receiv'd
The cup presented; when the sire espy'd
Upon his ivory-hilted sword a mark,
Which prov'd his offspring; from his lips he dash'd
The poison. Wrapp'd in clouds by magic rais'd,
The sorceress from their furious vengeance fled.

The sire, though joy'd, his son in safety found,
Trembles astonish'd at the narrow 'scape;
And horrid crime premeditated: burns
On every altar fires;--to every god
Piles costly gifts: full on the brawny neck
Of oxen falls, their horns with garlands bound,
The sacrificing axe. Ne'er till that day
Had Athens' town, such joyous feasting seen;
Nobles and commons crowd around the board,
And thus, by wine inspir'd, sublime they sing.

"Thee, mighty Theseus! Marathon admires,
"Stain'd by the vanquish'd Cretan bull's black gore.
"Thy aid the swains of Cromyon own; thou gav'st
"That now secure they till their fields. The land
"Of Epidaurus saw the club-arm'd son
"Of Vulcan slain by thee. By thee, beheld
"Cephisus' shores, the fierce Procrustes die,
"Ceres' Eleusis hail'd Cercyon's fall.
"Sinis thou slew'st, gifted with strength ill-us'd;
"His strength high trees could bend, and oft he dragg'd
"Close down to earth the loftiest tops of pines,
"Thus rent the bodies of his victims wide.
"Safe now extends the road to Lelex' walls,
"Scyron low laid: earth to the robber's limbs,
"Wide scatter'd, rest refuses; to his bones
"Ocean a tomb denies; long widely tost,
"Age hardens into rock his last remains;
"His name the rock still bears. Should we thy age
"And actions count, thy famous deeds by far
"Thy years outnumber. O, most brave of