Not long he labour'd, for his lucky thought
In captive Cymon found the friend he sought
The example pleased: the cause and crime the same;
An injured lover, and a ravish'd dame.
How much he durst he knew by what he dared;
The less he had to lose, the less he cared
To manage loathsome life, when love was the reward.
This ponder'd well, and fix'd on his intent, In depth of night he for the prisoner sent; In secret sent, the public view to shun, Then with a sober smile he thus begun. The Powers above, who bounteously bestow Their gifts and graces on mankind below, Yet prove our merit first; nor blindly give To such as are not worthy to receive : For valour and for virtue they provide Their due reward, but first they must be tried. These fruitful seeds within your mind they sow'd, 'Twas yours to improve the talent they bestow'd: They gave you to be born of noble kind, They gave you love to lighten up your mind, And purge the grosser parts: they gave you care To please, and courage to deserve the fair. "Thus far they tried you, and by proof they found The grain intrusted in a grateful ground: But still the great experiment remain'd, They suffer'd you to lose the prize you gain'd; That you might learn the gift was theirs alone: And when restored to them the blessing own. Restored it soon will be; the means prepared, The difficulty smoothed, the danger shared : Be but yourself, the care to me resign, Then Iphigene is yours, Cassandra mine.
Your rival Pasimond pursues your life,
Impatient to revenge his ravish'd wife,
But yet not his; to-morrow is behind,
And Love our fortunes in one band has join'd:
Two brothers are our foes; Ormisda mine,
As much declared, as Pasimond is thine :
To-morrow must their common vows be tied
;
With love to friend, and fortune for our guide,
Let both resolve to die, or each redeem a bride.
'Right I have none, nor hast thou much to plead ; 'Tis force, when done, must justify the deed: Our task perform'd, we next prepare for flight; And let the losers talk in vain of right: We with the fair will sail before the wind; If they are grieved, I leave the laws behind. Speak thy resolves; if now thy courage droop, Despair in prison, and abandon hope;
But if thou darest in arms thy love regain, (For liberty without thy love were vain) Then second my design to seize the prey;
Or lead to second rape, for well thou know'st the
Said Cymon, overjoy'd, 'Do thou propose The means to fight, and only show the foes; For from the first, when love had fired my mind, Resolved I left the care of life behind.'
To this the bold Lysimachus replied,
'Let Heaven be neuter, and the sword decide:
The spousals are prepared, already play
The minstrels, and provoke the tardy day :
By this the brides are waked, their grooms are
All Rhodes is summon'd to the nuptial feast,
All but myself, the sole unbidden guest.
Unbidden though I am, I will be there,
And, join'd by thee, intend to joy the fair.
‘Now hear the rest; when day resigns the light,
And cheerful torches gild the jolly night,
Be ready at my call; my chosen few
With arms administer'd shall aid thy crew.
Then entering unexpected will we seize
Our destined prey, from men dissolved in ease,
By wine disabled, unprepared for fight;
And hastening to the seas suborn our flight :
The seas are ours, for I command the fort;
A ship well mann'd expects us in the port:
If they or if their friends the prize contest,
Death shall attend the man who dares resist.'
It pleased; the prisoner to his hold retired,
His troop with equal emulation fired,
All fix'd to fight, and all their wonted work required. The sun arose; the streets were throng'd around, The palace open'd, and the posts were crown'd: The double bridegroom at the door attends
The expected spouse, and entertains the friends. They meet, they lead to church; the priests invoke The Powers, and feed the flames with fragrant smoke.
This done, they feast; and at the close of night By kindled torches vary their delight;
These lead the lively dance, and those the brimming bowls invite.
Now at the appointed place and hour assign’d, With souls resolved, the ravishers were join'd. Three bands are form'd: the first is sent before, To favour the retreat, and guard the shore: The second at the palace-gate is placed; And up the lofty stairs ascend the last:
A peaceful troop they seem with shining vests,
But coats of mail, beneath, secure their breasts.
Dauntless they enter, Cymon at their head,
And find the feast renew'd, the table spread
Sweet voices, mix'd with instrumental sounds,
Ascend the vaulted roof, the vaulted roof rebounds:
When like the harpies rushing through the hall
The sudden troop appears, the tables fall,
Their smoking load is on the pavement thrown;
Each ravisher prepares to seize his own :
The brides, invaded with a rude embrace,
Shriek out for aid, confusion fills the place:
Quick to redeem the prey, their plighted lords
Advance; the palace gleams with shining swords.
But late is all defence, and succour vain ;
The rape is made, the ravishers remain:
Two sturdy slaves were only sent before,
To bear the purchased prize in safety to the shore.
The troop retires, the lovers close the rear,
With forward faces not confessing fear :
Backward they move, but scorn their pace to mend ;
Then seek the stairs, and with slow haste descend.
Fierce Pasimond, their passage to prevent,
Thrust full on Cymon's back in his descent;
The blade return'd, unbathed, and to the handle
bent:
Stout Cymou soon remounts, and cleft in two
His rival's head with one descending blow:
And as the next in rank Ormisda stood,
He turn'd the point: the sword, inured to blood,
Bored his unguarded breast, which pour'd a purple
With vow'd revenge, the gathering crowd pursues, The ravishers turn head, the fight renews;
The hall is heap'd with corps; the sprinkled gore
Besmears the walls, and floats the marble floor.
Dispersed at length, the drunken squadron flies;
The victors to their vessels bear the prize,
And hear, behind, loud groans and lamentable cries.
The crew with merry shouts their anchors weigh,
Then ply their oars, and brush the buxom sea;
While troops of gather'd Rhodians crowd the key.
What should the people do, when left alone?
The governor and government are gone;
The public wealth to foreign parts convey'd ;
Some troops disbanded, and the rest unpaid.
Rhodes is the sovereign of the sea no more;
Their ships unrigg'd, and spent their naval store;
They neither could defend, nor can pursue,
But grinn'd their teeth, and cast a helpless view;
In vain with darts a distant war they try,
Short and more short the missive weapons fly.
Meanwhile the ravishers their crimes enjoy,
And flying sails and sweeping oars employ ;
The cliffs of Rhodes in little space are lost,
Jove's isle they seek; nor Jove denies his coast.
In safety landed on the Candian shore,
With generous wines their spirits they restore;
There Cymon with his Rhodian friend resides,
Both court and wed, at once, the willing brides.
A war ensues,
the Cretans own their cause,
Stiff to defend their hospitable laws:
Both parties lose by turns, and neither wins,
Till peace propounded by a truce begins.
The kindred of the slain forgive the deed,
But a short exile must for show precede:
The term expired, from Candia they remove;
And happy each, at home, enjoys his love.
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