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 ; 230
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 235
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 240
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 ; 245
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 250
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, 255
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, 260
Till the Symplegades, tremendous rocks !