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Rh Alcmena's too, her eyelids set

Within a silken fringe of jet.

Two heroes of th' earth-shakers race,

Whose locks in clustering beauty play,

Dreading by fear or dull delay

Their ancient valour to disgrace;

From Pylos one directs his flight,

And one from the Tænarean height.

Be this, Euphemus, to thy glory told,

And thine, oh Periclymenus the bold!

The harper Orpheus join'd the valiant train,

Apollo's vaunted son, and father of the strain.

And Hermes of the golden wand

Sent his twin sons, whose bosoms beat

To join the enterprising band

With fervent youth's impetuous heat.

Prompt at the call, with fearless heart

Echion, Erytus depart

From their loved home, that lay below;

Distant Pangæus' lofty brow.

Boreas, whose rule the winds obey,

Arm'd his brave sons, whose back display'd

The ample pinions' purple shade,

Zetes and Calais for the fray.

Great Juno waked the sweet desire

Which bade the demigods aspire

With Argo o'er the deep to roam;

That fix'd in his maternal home

Remote from peril none should stay

And wear his laggard age away.

But share his fellow heroes' toil,

Death's fairest antidote, the spoil

Soon as to proud Iolcos' town

Came the bright flower of seamen down,

Jason extoll'd with praises due,

And numbered all the valiant crew.