Haste, rear the mast, the swelling shroud display;

Haste, to our ambush’d friends the news convey!”


Scarce had he spake, when, turning to the strand,

Amphinomus survey’d the associate band;

Full to the bay within the winding shores

With gather’d sails they stood, and lifted oars.

“O friends!” he cried, elate with rising joy,

“See to the port secure the vessel fly!

Some god has told them, or themselves survey

The bark escaped; and measure back their way.”


Swift at the word descending to the shores,

They moor the vessel and unlade the stores:

Then, moving from the strand, apart they sate,

And full and frequent form’d a dire debate.


“Lives then the boy? he lives (Antinous cries),

The care of gods and favourite of the skies.

All night we watch’d, till with her orient wheels

Aurora flamed above the eastern hills,

And from the lofty brow of rocks by day

Took in the ocean with a broad survey

Yet safe he sails; the powers celestial give

To shun the hidden snares of death, and live.

But die he shall, and thus condemn’d to bleed,

Be now the scene of instant death decreed.

Hope ye success? undaunted crush the foe.

Is he not wise? know this, and strike the blow.

Wait ye, till he to arms in council draws

The Greeks, averse too justly to our cause?

Strike, ere, the states convened, the foe betray

Our murderous ambush on the watery way.

Or choose ye vagrant from their rage to fly,

Outcasts of earth, to breathe an unknown sky?

The brave prevent misfortune; then be brave,

And bury future danger in his grave.

Returns he? ambush’d we’ll his walk invade,

Or where he hides in solitude and shade;

And give the palace to the queen a dower,

Or him she blesses in the bridal hour.

But if submissive you resign the sway,

Slaves to a boy, go, flatter and obey.

Retire we instant to our native reign,

Nor be the wealth of kings consumed in vain;

Then wed whom choice approves: the queen be given