Alcmena's too, her eyelids set
Within a silken fringe of jet.305
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,310
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.315
And Hermes of the golden wand316
Sent his twin sons, whose bosoms beat
To join the enterprising band
With fervent youth's impetuous heat.
Prompt at the call, with fearless heart320
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'd325
The ample pinions' purple shade,
Zetes and Calais for the fray. 326
Great Juno waked the sweet desire
Which bade the demigods aspire
With Argo o'er the deep to roam;330
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 spoil335
Soon as to proud Iolcos' town
Came the bright flower of seamen down,
Jason extoll'd with praises due,
