Possess their famed abodes: And swiftly then he swoops, I ween, Down on the steeps of Cragus green Into the pleasant plain, Where Xanthus rolls his yellow stream, And Phœbus lights with glorious gleam The Patarean plain. Here he alights. His heavenly steed, With instant eye out-stripping speed Scorning the earthly loam, Wheels eastward far with vans sonorous, And o’er the rosy peaks of Taurus Sails to his starry home. VI. The Xanthian gate is wide and free;[9] The Xanthian towers are high; The Xanthian streets are fair to see; The knight, with wondering eye, Beholds and enters. To the king A ready troop the stranger bring, And scan him o’er and o’er; Carious that one so spruce and trim, And with such light unwearied limb, Had reached the Lycian shore. With kindly heart the Xanthian lord Opes his high hall and spreads his board, And pours the Coan wine; Nor question asked (for Jove gives free To all a questless courtesy) Till days were numbered nine. His tablets then the knight presents; The monarch scans their dire contents, For here ’twas written plainly, “If thou dost hate who works amiss Let not his hand that beareth this Have sinned against me vainly; Thy Prœtus.” Sore vexed was the king That he must do a bloody thing Against so brave a guest; But vows were strong, and family bonds; Therefore, composed, he thus responds— “Brave knight, a fearful pest Afflicts this land: a monster dire, With, terror armed, and breathing fire, In Cragus holds her den, Chimera named: with savage jaw She bites, and with voracious maw Consumes both beasts and men. This hideous form its birth did take From hoar Echidna, virgin-snake; She to that fiery blaster, Typhon, Cilicia’s curse of yore A triform goatish portent bore, With serpent’s sting and lion’s roar, This Lycian land’s disaster. Harmless at first, for sport ’twas bred By Caria’s thoughtless king, And by his innocent children led Obedient to a string. Anon its hellish blood grew hot; It breathed a breath of fire, And tainted every household spot With gouts of poison dire. Full grown at length, and fierce and bold,