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(From The Life and Death of Jason, Book IX)
BUT Jason, going swiftly with good heart, | |
| Came to the wished-for shrine built all apart | |
| Midmost the temple, that on pillars stood | |
| Of jasper green, and marble red as blood, | |
| All white itself, and carven cunningly | 5 |
| With Neptune bringing from the wavy sea | |
| The golden shining ram to Athamas; | |
| And the first door thereof of silver was, | |
| Wrought over with a golden glittering sun | |
| That seemed wellnigh alike the heavenly one. | 10 |
| Such art therein the cunningest of men | |
| Had used, which little Jason heeded then, | |
| But thrusting in the lock the smallest key | |
| Of those he bore, it opened easily; | |
| And then five others, neither wrought of gold, | 15 |
| Or carved with tales, or lovely to behold, | |
| He opened; but before the last one stayed | |
| His hand, wherein the heavy key he weighed, | |
| And pondering, in low muttered words he said:— | |
| “The prize is reached, which yet I somewhat dread | 20 |
| To draw unto me; since I know indeed, | |
| That henceforth war and toil shall be my meed. | |
| Too late to fear, it was too late, the hour | |
| I left the gray cliffs and the beechen bower, | |
| So here I take hard life and deathless praise, | 25 |
| Who once desired naught but quiet days, | |
| And painless life, not empty of delight; | |
| I, who shall now be quickener of the fight, | |
| Named by a great name,—a far-babbled name, | |
| The ceaseless seeker after praise and fame. | 30 |
| “May all be well, and on the noisy ways | |
| Still may I find some wealth of happy days.” | |
| Therewith he threw the last door open wide, | |
| Whose hammered iron did the marvel hide, | |
| And shut his dazzled eyes, and stretched his hands | 35 |
| Out toward the sea-born wonder of all lands, | |
| And buried them deep in the locks of gold, | |
| Grasping the fleece within his mighty hold. | |
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| Which when Medea saw, her gown of gray | |
| She caught up from the ground, and drew away | 40 |
| Her wearied foot from off the rugged beast, | |
| And while from her soft strain she never ceased, | |
| In the dull folds she hid her silk from sight, | |
| And then, as bending ’neath the burden bright, | |
| Jason drew nigh, joyful, yet still afraid, | 45 |
| She met him, and her wide gray mantle laid | |
| Over the fleece, whispering: “Make no delay; | |
| He sleeps, who never slept by night or day | |
| Till now; nor will his charméd sleep be long. | |
| Light-foot am I, and sure thine arms are strong; | 50 |
| Haste, then! No word! nor turn about to gaze | |
| At me, as he who in the shadowy ways | |
| Turned round to see once more the twice-lost face.” | |
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| Then swiftly did they leave the dreadful place, | |
| Turning no look behind, and reached the street, | 55 |
| That with familiar look and kind did greet | |
| Those wanderers, mazed with marvels and with fear. | |
| And so, unchallenged, did they draw anear | |
| The long white quays, and at the street’s end now | |
| Beheld the ships’ masts standing row by row | 60 |
| Stark black against the stars: then cautiously | |
| Peered Jason forth, ere they took heart to try | |
| The open starlit place; but naught he saw | |
| Except the night-wind twitching the loose straw | |
| From half-unloaded keels, and naught he heard | 65 |
| But the strange twittering of a caged green bird | |
| Within an Indian ship, and from the hill | |
| A distant baying: yea, all was so still; | |
| Somewhat they doubted, natheless forth they passed, | |
| And Argo’s painted sides they reached at last. | 70 |
| On whom down-looking, scarce more noise they heard | |
| Than from the other ships, some muttered word, | |
| Some creaking of the timbers, as the tide | |
| Ran gurgling seaward past her shielded side. | |
| Then Jason knelt, and whispered: “Wise be ye, | 75 |
| O fair companions on the pathless sea, | |
| But come, Erginus, Nestor, and ye twain | |
| Of Lacedæmon, to behold my gain; | |
| Take me amongst you, neither be afraid | |
| To take withal this gold, and this fair maid. | 80 |
| Yare!—for the ebb runs strongly towards the sea, | |
| The east-wind drives the rack to Thessaly, | |
| And lightly do such kings as this one sleep | |
| If now and then small watch their servants keep.” | |
| Then saw Medea men like shadows gray | 85 |
| Rise from the darksome decks, who took straightway | |
| With murmured joy, from Jason’s outstretched hands, | |
| The conquered fleece, the wonder of all lands, | |
| While with strong arms he took the royal maid, | |
| And in their hold the precious burthen laid, | 90 |
| And scarce her dainty feet could touch the deck, | |
| Ere down he leapt, and little now did reck | |
| That loudly clanged his armor therewithal. | |
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