d;
Soul of the riot; and his ashen spear,
Arm'd with a brazen point, he brandish'd high;--
"Lo, here!" he shouts, "lo, here I vengeful come
"On him who claims my spouse! Not thy swift wings;
"Nor cheating Jove, chang'd to a golden shower,
"Shall save thee from my arm,"--and pois'd to fling,
The dart was held, but Cepheus loud exclaim'd,--
"Brother! what dost thou? what dire madness sways
"To wicked acts thy soul? Is this the meed
"His gallant deeds deserve? Is this the dower,
"We for the valued life he sav'd bestow?
"List but to truth,--not Perseus of thy wife
"Bereft thee, but the angry Nereid nymphs,--
"The horned Ammon,--and the monster huge!
"Prepar'd to glut his hunger with my child.
"Then was thy spouse snatch'd from thee, when remain'd
"Of help no hope; to all she lost appear'd.
"Thy savage heart perhaps had ev'n rejoic'd
"To see her perish, that our greater grief
"Might lighten part of thine. Couldst thou her see
"Fast chain'd before thee? uncle! spouse betroth'd!
"And yet no aid afford! And storm'st thou thus?
"She to another now her safety owes;
"And would'st thou snatch the prize? So high if seems
"To thee her precious value, thy bold arm
"Should on the rock where chain'd she lay, have sought
"And have deserv'd her. Now permit that he
"Who sought her there; through whom my failing age
"Is not now childless, grant that he enjoy
"Peaceful, what through his merits he no less,
"Than our firm compact claims: not him to thee,
"But him to certain loss I preference gave."

Nought Phineus answer'd, but his furious eyes
Now Perseus, now the king alternate view;
Doubtful or this to pierce, or that: his pause
Was short; his powerful arm, by fury nerv'd,
At Perseus hurl'd the quivering spear,--in vain!
Fixt in the couch it stood. Quick bounded up
Th' indignant youth, and deep in Phineus' breast,
Had plung'd the point returning, but he shrunk
Behind an altar; which, O shame! preserv'd
The impious villain. Yet not harmless sped
The weapon;--full in Rhaetus' front it stuck;
Who lifeless dropp'd; broke in the bone the steel;
He spurn'd, and sprinkled all the feast with gore.
Then rag'd with ire ungovern'd all the crowd,
And hurl'd in showers their weapons; some fierce cry'd,
Cepheus, no less than Perseus, death deserv'd.
But Cepheus left the hall, adjuring loud,
The hospitable gods; justice; and faith;
That h