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(From The Life and Death of Jason, Book VI)
AMIDST these thoughts, between the fair streets led, | |
| He noted well the size and goodly head | |
| Of all the houses, and the folk well clad, | |
| And armed as though good store of wealth they had, | |
| Peering upon them with a wondering gaze. | 5 |
| At last a temple, built in ancient days | |
| Ere Æa was a town, they came unto; | |
| Huge was it, but not fair unto the view | |
| Of one beholding from without, but round | |
| The ancient place they saw a spot of ground | 10 |
| Where laurels grew each side the temple door, | |
| And two great images set up before | |
| The brazen doors, whereof the one was she, | |
| Who draws this way and that the fitful sea; | |
| The other the great God, the life of man, | 15 |
| Who makes the brown earth green, the green earth wan, | |
| From spring to autumn, through quick following days, | |
| The lovely archer with his crown of rays. | |
| Now over against this temple, towering high | |
| Above all houses, rose majestically | 20 |
| Æetes’ marble house: silent it stood, | |
| Brushed round by doves, though many a stream of blood | |
| Had trickled o’er its stones since it was built, | |
| But now, unconscious of all woe and guilt, | |
| It drank the sunlight that fair afternoon. | 25 |
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| Then spake Æetes: “Stranger, thou shalt soon | |
| Hear all thou wouldst hear in my house of gold; | |
| Yet ere thou enterest the door, behold | |
| That ancient temple of the Far Darter, | |
| And know that thy desire hangeth there, | 30 |
| Against the gold wall of the inmost shrine, | |
| Guarded by seven locks, whose keys are thine | |
| When thou hast done what else thou hast to do, | |
| And thou mayst well be bold to come thereto.” | |
| “King,” said the prince, “fear not, but do thy part, | 35 |
| Nor look to see me turn back faint of heart, | |
| Though I may die as my forefathers died, | |
| Who, living long, their loved souls failed to hide | |
| From death at last, however wise they were. | |
| But verily, O King, thy house is fair, | 40 |
| And here I think to see full many a thing | |
| Men love; so, whatso the next day may bring, | |
| Right merrily shall pass these coming hours | |
| Amidst fair things and wine-cups crowned with flowers.” | |
| “Enter, O guests,” the king said, “and doubt not | 45 |
| Ye shall see things to make the heart grow hot | |
With joy and longing.”
As he spoke, within | |
| Blew up the horns, as when a king doth win | |
| His throne at last, and from behind, the men | |
| Who hedged the heroes in, shouted as when | 50 |
| He stands up on his throne, hidden no more. | |
| Then those within threw open wide the door, | |
| And straight the king took Jason by the hand, | |
| And entered, and the Minyæ did stand | |
| In such a hall as there has never been | 55 |
| Before or afterwards, since Ops was queen. | |
| The pillars, made the mighty roof to hold, | |
| The one was silver and the next was gold, | |
| All down the hall; the roof, of some strange wood | |
| Brought over sea, was dyed as red as blood, | 60 |
| Set thick with silver flowers, and delight | |
| Of intertwining figures wrought aright. | |
| With richest webs the marble walls were hung, | |
| Picturing sweet stories by the poets sung | |
| From ancient days, so that no wall seemed there, | 65 |
| But rather forests black and meadows fair, | |
| And streets of well-built towns, with tumbling seas | |
| About their marble wharves and palaces; | |
| And fearful crags and mountains; and all trod | |
| By many a changing foot of nymph and god, | 70 |
| Spear-shaking warrior and slim-ankled maid. | |
| The floor, moreover, of the place was laid | |
| With colored stones, wrought like a flowery mead; | |
| And ready to the hand for every need: | |
| Midmost the hall, two fair streams trickled down | 75 |
| O’er wondrous gem-like pebbles, green and brown, | |
| Betwixt smooth banks of marble, and therein | |
| Bright-colored fish shone through the water thin. | |
| Now midst these wonders were there tables spread, | |
| Whither the wondering seafarers were led, | 80 |
| And there with meat and drink full delicate | |
| Were feasted, and strange dainty things they ate, | |
| Of unused savor, and drank godlike wine; | |
| While from the golden galleries, divine, | |
| Heart-softening music breathed about the place; | 85 |
| And ’twixt the pillars, at a gentle pace, | |
| Passed lovely damsels, raising voices sweet | |
| And shrill unto the music, while their feet | |
| From thin dusk raiment now and then would gleam | |
| Upon the polished edges of the stream. | 90 |
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