Soon as on home's fair hills thine eyes shall signal a welcome,
See that on each straight yard down droop their funeral housings,
235 Whitely the tight-strung cordage a sparkling canvas aloft swing,
Which to behold straightway with joy shall cheer me, with inward
Joy, when a prosperous hour shall bring to thee happy returning.
So for a while that charge did Theseus faithfully cherish.
Last, it melted away, as a cloud which riven in ether
240 Breaks to the blast, high peak and spire snow-silvery leaving.
But from a rock's wall'd eyrie the father wistfully gazing,
Father whose eyes, care-dimm'd, wore hourly for ever a-weeping,
Scarcely the wind-puff'd sail from afar 'gan darken upon him,
Down the precipitous heights headlong his body he hurried,
245 Deeming Theseus surely by hateful destiny taken.
So to a dim death-palace, alert from victory, Theseus
Came, what bitter sorrow to Minos' daughter his evil
Perjury gave, himself with an even sorrow atoning.
She, as his onward keel still moved, still mournfully follow'd;
250 Passion-stricken, her heart a tumultuous image of ocean.
Also upon that couch, flush'd youthfully, breathless Iacchus
Roam'd with a Satyr-band, with Nisa-begot Sileni;
Seeking thee, Ariadna, aflame thy beauty to ravish.
Wildly behind they rushed and wildly before to the folly,
255 Euhoe rav'd, Euhoe with fanatic heads gyrated;
Some in womanish hands shook rods cone-wreathed above them,
Some from a mangled steer toss'd flesh yet gorily streaming;
Some girt round them in orbs, snakes gordian, intertwining;
Some with caskets deep did blazon mystical emblems,
260 Emblems muffled darkly, nor heard of spirit unholy.
Part with a slender palm taborines beat merrily jangling;
Now with a cymbal slim would a sharp shrill tinkle awaken;
Often a trumpeter horn blew murmurous, hoarsely resounding.
Rose on pipes barbaric a jarring music of horror.
265 Such, wrought rarely, the shapes this quilt did richly apparel,
Where to the couch close-clasped it hung thick veils of adorning.
So to the full heart-sated of all their curious eying,
Thessaly's youth gave place to the Gods high-throned in heaven.
As, when dawn is awake, light Zephyrus even-breathing
270 Brushes a sleeping sea, which slant-wise curved in edges
Breaks, while mounts Aurora the sun's high journey to welcome;
They, first smitten faintly by his most airy caressing,
Move slow on, light surges a plashing silvery laughter;
Soon with a waxing wind they crowd them apace, thick-fleeting,
275 Swim in a rose-red glow and far off sparkle in Ocean;
So thro' column'd porch and chambers sumptuous hieing,
Thither or hither away, that company stream'd, home-wending.
First from Pelion height, when they were duly departed,
Chiron came, in his hand green gifts of flowery forest.
280 All that on earth's leas blooms, what blossoms Thessaly nursing
Breeds on mountainous heights, what near each showery river
Swells to the warm west-wind, in gales of foison alighting;
These did his own hands bear in girlonds twined of all hues,
That to the perfume sweet for joy laugh'd gaily the palace.
285 Follow'd straight Penios, awhile his bowery Tempe,
Tempe, shrined around in shadowy woods o'erhanging,
Left to the bare-limb'd maids Magnesian, airily ranging.
No scant carrier he; tall root-torn beeches his heavy
Burden, bays stemm'd stately, in heights exalted ascending.
290 Thereto the nodding plane, and that lithe sister of youthful
Phaethon flame-enwrapt, and cypress in air upspringing:
These in breadths inwoven he heap'd close-twin'd to the palace,
Whereto the porch wox green, with soft leaves canopied over.
Him did follow anear, deep heart and wily, Prometheus,
295 Scarr'd and wearing yet dim traces of early dishonour,
All which of old his body to flint fast-welded in iron,
Bore and dearly abied, on slippery crags suspended.
Last with his awful spouse, with children goodly, the sovran
Father approach'd; thou, Phoebus, alone, his warder in heaven,
300 Left, with that dear sister, on Idrus ranger eternal.
Peleus sister alike and brother in high misprision
Held, nor lifted a torch when Thetis wedded at even.
So when on ivory thrones they rested, snowily gleaming,
Many a feast high-pil'd did load each table about them;
305 Whiles to a tremor of age their gray infirmity rocking,
Busy began that chant which speaketh surely the Parcae.
Round them a folding robe their weak limbs aguish hiding,
Fell bright-white to the feet, with a purple border of issue.
Wreaths sat on each hoar crown, whose snows flush'd rosy beneath them;
310 Still each hand fulfilled its pious labour eternal.
Singly the left upbore in wool soft-hooded a distaff,
Whereto the right large threads down drawing deftly, with upturn'd
Fingers shap'd them anew; then thumbs earth-pointed in even
Balance twisted a spindle on orb'd wheels smoothly rotating.
315 So clear'd softly between and tooth-nipt even it ever
Onward moved; still clung on wan lips, sodden as ashes,
Shreds all woolly from out that soft smooth surface arisen.
Lastly before their feet lay fells, white, fleecy, refulgent,
Warily guarded they in baskets woven of osier.
320 They, as on each light tuft their voice smote louder approaching,
Pour'd grave inspiration, a prophet chant to the future,
Chant which an after-time shall tax of vanity never.
O in valorous acts thy wondrous glory renewing,
Rich Aemathia's arm, great sire of a goodlier issue,
325 Hark on a joyous day what prophet-story the sisters
Open surely to thee; and you, what followeth after,
Guide to a long-drawn thread and run with destiny, spindles.
Soon shall approach, and bear the delight long-wish'd for of husbands,
Hesper, a bride shall approach in starlight happy presented,
330 Softly to sway thy soul in love's completion abiding,
Soon in a trance with thee of slumber dreamy to mingle,
Making smooth round arms thy clasp'd throat sinewy pillow.
Trail ye a long-drawn thread and run with destiny, spindles.