Page:The Poems of John Dyer (1903).djvu/79

 Zetes and Calais, as the wind in speed ; Strong Hercules, and many a chief renown'd. On deep Iolcos' sandy shore they throng'd, Gleaming in armour, ardent of exploits ; And soon the laurel cord and the huge stone Uplifting to the deck, unmoor'd the bark, Whose keel, of wondrous length, the skilful hand Of Argus fashion'd for the proud attempt ; And in th' extended keel a lofty mast Uprais'd, and sails full swelling, to the chiefs Unwonted objects : now first, now they learn'd Their bolder steerage over ocean wave, Led by the golden stars, as Chiron's art Had mark'd the sphere celestial. Wide abroad Expands the purple deep ; the cloudy isles, Scyros and Scopelos, and Icos, rise, And Halonesos : soon huge Lemnos heaves Her azure head above the level brine, Shakes off her mists, and brightens all her cliffs ; While they, her flattering creeks and opening bowers Cautious approaching, in Myrina's port Cast out the cabled stone upon the strand. Next to the Mysian shore they shape their course, But with too eager haste : in the white foam His oar Alcides breaks; howe'er, not long The chance detains ; he springs upon the shore, And rifting from the roots a tapering pine, Renews his stroke. Between the threat'ning tow'rs Of Hellespont they ply the rugged surge, To Hero's and Leander's ardent love Fatal ; then smooth Propontis' wid'ning wave, That like a glassy lake expands, with hills, Hills above hills, and gloomy woods, begirt : And now the Thracian Bosphorus they dare, Till the Symplegades, tremendous rocks !