Page:Pindar and Anacreon.djvu/130

122

They, when I first the light survey'd,

Dreading the haughty leader's pride,

Sent me in purple robes array'd,

(While female shrieks on every side

Raised through the house in solemn show

The mimic note of funeral wo,)

When only dark and silent night

Was conscious of my secret flight;

And to Saturnian Chiron gave,

The nurture of his hand to crave.

But all the tale ye know full well—

Where rose my noble sire's abode,

In car with milk-white steeds who rode,

Illustrious townsmen, clearly tell.

Great Æson's offspring, lo! I come

A native to no foreign home.

From Saturn sprung, the heavenly beast

His charge by Jason's name address'd."

He spoke: a father's doting eye

Soon recognised his progeny;

And from his aged lids below

The copious tears began to flow;

Which showed the soul's o'erflowing joy

To see his best and loveliest boy.

Attracted by the hero's fame,

To them both Æson's brothers came.

This Pheres from Hyperia's fountain calls,

And Amythaon from Messene's walls.

These soon Admetus and Melampus join'd,

To greet their kinsman with a friendly mind.

Them at the hospitable board

Jason with courteous speech address'd,

And bade the cheer profusely stored

Exhilarate the frequent guest.

Five days and nights their courses roll,

While pleasure warms each festive soul.