The Story of Nisus and Scylla
8:1 Now shone the morning star in bright array,
8:2 To vanquish night, and usher in the
day:
8:3 The wind veers southward, and moist
clouds arise,
8:4 That blot with shades the blue meridian
skies.
8:5 Cephalus feels with joy the kindly
gales,
8:6 His new allies unfurl the swelling
sails;
8:7 Steady their course, they cleave
the yielding main,
8:8 And, with a wish, th' intended harbour
gain.
8:9 Mean-while King Minos, on the Attick
strand,
8:10 Displays his martial skill, and
wastes the land.
8:11 His army lies encampt upon the
plains,
8:12 Before Alcathoe's walls, where
Nisus reigns;
8:13 On whose grey head a lock of purple
hue,
8:14 The strength, and fortune of his
kingdom, grew.
8:15 Six moons were gone, and past, when still
from far
8:16 Victoria hover'd o'er the doubtful
war.
8:17 So long, to both inclin'd, th'
impartial maid
8:18 Between 'em both her equal wings
display'd.
8:19 High on the walls, by Phoebus vocal
made,
8:20 A turret of the palace rais'd its
head;
8:21 And where the God his tuneful harp
resign'd.
8:22 The sound within the stones still
lay enshrin'd:
8:23 Hither the daughter of the purple
king
8:24 Ascended oft, to hear its musick
ring;
8:25 And, striking with a pebble, wou'd
release
8:26 Th' enchanted notes, in times of
happy peace.
8:27 But now, from thence, the curious
maid beheld
8:28 Rough feats of arms, and combats
of the field:
8:29 And, since the siege was long,
had learnt the name
8:30 Of ev'ry chief, his character,
and fame;
8:31 Their arms, their horse, and quiver
she descry'd,
8:32 Nor cou'd the dress of war the
warriour hide.
8:33 Europa's son she knew above the rest,
8:34 And more, than well became a virgin
breast:
8:35 In vain the crested morion veils
his face,
8:36 She thinks it adds a more peculiar
grace:
8:37 His ample shield, embost with burnish'd
gold,
8:38 Still makes the bearer lovelier
to behold:
8:39 When the tough jav'lin, with a
whirl, he sends,
8:40 His strength and skill the sighing
maid commends;
8:41 Or, when he strains to draw the
circling bow,
8:42 And his fine limbs a manly posture
show,
8:43 Compar'd with Phoebus, he performs
so well,
8:44 Let her be judge, and Minos shall
excell.
8:45 But when the helm put off, display'd to sight,
8:46 And set his features in an open
light;
8:47 When, vaulting to his seat, his
steed he prest,
8:48 Caparison'd in gold, and richly
drest;
8:49 Himself in scarlet sumptuously
array'd,
8:50 New passions rise, and fire the
frantick maid.
8:51 O happy spear! she cries, that
feels his touch;
8:52 Nay, ev'n the reins he holds are
blest too much.
8:53 Oh! were it lawful, she cou'd wing
her way
8:54 Thro' the stern hostile troops
without dismay;
8:55 Or throw her body to the distant
ground,
8:56 And in the Cretans happy camp be
found.
8:57 Wou'd Minos but desire it! she'd
expose
8:58 Her native country to her country's
foes;
8:59 Unbar the gates, the town with
flames infest,
8:60 Or any thing that Minos shou'd
request.
8:61 And as she sate, and pleas'd her longing sight,
8:62 Viewing the king's pavilion veil'd
with white,
8:63 Shou'd joy, or grief, she said,
possess my breast,
8:64 To see my country by a war opprest?
8:65 I'm in suspense! For, tho' 'tis
grief to know
8:66 I love a man that is declar'd my
foe;
8:67 Yet, in my own despite, I must
approve
8:68 That lucky war, which brought the
man I love.
8:69 Yet, were I tender'd as a pledge
of peace,
8:70 The cruelties of war might quickly
cease.
8:71 Oh! with what joy I'd wear the
chains he gave!
8:72 A patient hostage, and a willing
slave.
8:73 Thou lovely object! if the nymph
that bare
8:74 Thy charming person, were but half
so fair;
8:75 Well might a God her virgin bloom
desire,
8:76 And with a rape indulge his amorous
fire.
8:77 Oh! had I wings to glide along
the air,
8:78 To his dear tent I'd fly, and settle
there:
8:79 There tell my quality, confess
my flame,
8:80 And grant him any dowry that he'd
name.
8:81 All, all I'd give; only my native
land,
8:82 My dearest country, shou'd excepted
stand,
8:83 For, perish love, and all expected
joys,
8:84 E're, with so base a thought, my
soul complies.
8:85 Yet, oft the vanquish'd some advantage
find,
8:86 When conquer'd by a noble, gen'rous
mind.
8:87 Brave Minos justly has the war
begun,
8:88 Fir'd with resentment for his murder'd
son:
8:89 The righteous Gods a righteous
cause regard,
8:90 And will, with victory, his arms
reward:
8:91 We must be conquer'd; and the captive's
fate
8:92 Will surely seize us, tho' it seize
us late.
8:93 Why then shou'd love be idle, and
neglect
8:94 What Mars, by arms and perils,
will effect?
8:95 Oh! Prince, I dye, with anxious
fear opprest,
8:96 Lest some rash hand shou'd wound
my charmer's breast:
8:97 For, if they saw, no barb'rous
mind cou'd dare
8:98 Against that lovely form to raise
a spear.
8:99 But I'm resolv'd, and fix'd in this decree,
8:100 My father's country shall my
dowry be.
8:101 Thus I prevent the loss of life
and blood,
8:102 And, in effect, the action must
be good.
8:103 Vain resolution! for, at ev'ry
gate
8:104 The trusty centinels, successive,
wait:
8:105 The keys my father keeps; ah!
there's my grief;
8:106 'Tis he obstructs all hopes of
my relief.
8:107 Gods! that this hated light I'd
never seen!
8:108 Or, all my life, without a father
been!
8:109 But Gods we all may be; for those
that dare,
8:110 Are Gods, and Fortune's chiefest
favours share.
8:111 The ruling Pow'rs a lazy pray'r
detest,
8:112 The bold adventurer succeeds
the best.
8:113 What other maid, inspir'd with
such a flame,
8:114 But wou'd take courage, and abandon
shame?
8:115 But wou'd, tho' ruin shou'd ensue,
remove
8:116 Whate'er oppos'd, and clear the
way to love?
8:117 This, shall another's feeble
passion dare?
8:118 While I sit tame, and languish
in despair:
8:119 No; for tho' fire and sword before
me lay,
8:120 Impatient love thro' both shou'd
force its way.
8:121 Yet I have no such enemies to
fear,
8:122 My sole obstruction is my father's
hair;
8:123 His purple lock my sanguine hope
destroys,
8:124 And clouds the prospect of my
rising joys.
8:125 Whilst thus she spoke, amid the thick'ning
air
8:126 Night supervenes, the greatest
nurse of care:
8:127 And, as the Goddess spreads her
sable wings,
8:128 The virgin's fears decay, and
courage springs.
8:129 The hour was come, when Man's
o'er-labour'd breast
8:130 Surceas'd its care, by downy
sleep possest:
8:131 All things now hush'd, Scylla
with silent tread
8:132 Urg'd her approach to Nisus'
royal bed:
8:133 There, of the fatal lock (accursed
theft!)
8:134 She her unwitting father's head
bereft.
8:135 In safe possession of her impious
prey,
8:136 Out at a postern gate she takes
her way.
8:137 Embolden'd, by the merit of the
deed
8:138 She traverses the adverse camp
with speed,
8:139 'Till Minos' tent she reach'd:
the righteous king
8:140 She thus bespoke, who shiver'd
at the thing.
8:141 Behold th' effect of love's resistless sway!
8:142 I, Nisus' royal seed, to thee
betray
8:143 My country, and my Gods. For
this strange task,
8:144 Minos, no other boon but thee
I ask.
8:145 This purple lock, a pledge of
love, receive;
8:146 No worthless present, since in
it I give
8:147 My father's head.-Mov'd at a
crime so new,
8:148 And with abhorrence fill'd, back
Minos drew,
8:149 Nor touch'd th' unhallow'd gift;
but thus exclaim'd
8:150 (With mein indignant, and with
eyes inflam'd),
8:151 Perdition seize thee, thou, thy
kind's disgrace!
8:152 May thy devoted carcass find
no place
8:153 In earth, or air, or sea, by
all out-cast!
8:154 Shall Minos, with so foul a monster,
blast
8:155 His Cretan world, where cradled
Jove was nurst?
8:156 Forbid it Heav'n!-away, thou
most accurst!
8:157 And now Alcathoe, its lord exchang'd,
8:158 Was under Minos' domination rang'd.
8:159 While the most equal king his
care applies
8:160 To curb the conquer'd, and new
laws devise,
8:161 The fleet, by his command, with
hoisted sails,
8:162 And ready oars, invites the murm'ring
gales.
8:163 At length the Cretan hero anchor
weigh'd,
8:164 Repaying, with neglect, th' abandon'd
maid.
8:165 Deaf to her cries, he furrows
up the main:
8:166 In vain she prays, sollicits
him in vain.
8:167 And now she furious grows in wild despair,
8:168 She wrings her hands, and throws
aloft her hair.
8:169 Where run'st thou? (thus she
vents her deep distress)
8:170 Why shun'st thou her that crown'd
thee with success?
8:171 Her, whose fond love to thee
cou'd sacrifice
8:172 Her country, and her parent,
sacred ties!
8:173 Can nor my love, nor proffer'd
presents find
8:174 A passage to thy heart, and make
thee kind?
8:175 Can nothing move thy pity? O
ingrate,
8:176 Can'st thou behold my lost, forlorn
estate,
8:177 And not be soften'd? Can'st thou
throw off one
8:178 Who has no refuge left but thee
alone?
8:179 Where shall I seek for comfort?
whither fly?
8:180 My native country does in ashes
lye:
8:181 Or were't not so, my treason
bars me there,
8:182 And bids me wander. Shall I next
repair
8:183 To a wrong'd father, by my guilt
undone?-
8:184 Me all Mankind deservedly will
shun.
8:185 I, out of all the world, my self
have thrown,
8:186 To purchase an access to Crete
alone;
8:187 Which, since refus'd, ungen'rous
man, give o'er
8:188 To boast thy race; Europa never
bore
8:189 A thing so savage. Thee some
tygress bred,
8:190 On the bleak Syrt's inhospitable
bed;
8:191 Or where Charybdis pours its
rapid tide
8:192 Tempestuous. Thou art not to
Jove ally'd;
8:193 Nor did the king of Gods thy
mother meet
8:194 Beneath a bull's forg'd shape,
and bear to Crete.
8:195 That fable of thy glorious birth
is feign'd;
8:196 Some wild outrageous bull thy
dam sustain'd.
8:197 O father Nisus, now my death
behold;
8:198 Exult, o city, by my baseness
sold:
8:199 Minos, obdurate, has aveng'd
ye all;
8:200 But 'twere more just by those
I wrong'd to fall:
8:201 For why shou'dst thou, who only
didst subdue
8:202 By my offending, my offence pursue?
8:203 Well art thou matcht to one whose
am'rous flame
8:204 Too fiercely rag'd, for human-kind
to tame;
8:205 One who, within a wooden heifer
thrust,
8:206 Courted a low'ring bull's mistaken
lust;
8:207 And, from whose monster-teeming
womb, the Earth
8:208 Receiv'd, what much it mourn'd,
a bi-form birth.
8:209 But what avails my plaints? the
whistling wind,
8:210 Which bears him far away, leaves
them behind.
8:211 Well weigh'd Pasiphae, when she
prefer'd
8:212 A bull to thee, more brutish
than the herd.
8:213 But ah! Time presses, and the
labour'd oars
8:214 To distance drive the fleet,
and lose the less'ning shores.
8:215 Think not, ungrateful man, the
liquid way
8:216 And threat'ning billows shall
inforce my stay.
8:217 I'll follow thee in spite: My
arms I'll throw
8:218 Around thy oars, or grasp thy
crooked prow,
8:219 And drag thro' drenching seas.
Her eager tongue
8:220 Had hardly clos'd the speech,
when forth she sprung
8:221 And prov'd the deep. Cupid with
added force
8:222 Recruits each nerve, and aids
her wat'ry course.
8:223 Soon she the ship attains, unwelcome
guest;
8:224 And, as with close embrace its
sides she prest,
8:225 A hawk from upper air came pouring
down
8:226 ('Twas Nisus cleft the sky with
wings new grown).
8:227 At Scylla's head his horny bill
he aims;
8:228 She, fearful of the blow, the
ship disclaims,
8:229 Quitting her hold: and yet she
fell not far,
8:230 But wond'ring, finds her self
sustain'd in air.
8:231 Chang'd to a lark, she mottled
pinions shook,
8:232 And, from the ravish'd lock,
the name of Ciris took.