But by the oracle of truth below, The wondrous magnet guides the wayward prow. The powerful sails, with steady breezes swell'd, Swift and more swift the yielding bark impell'd: Across her stem the parting waters run, As clouds, by tempests wafted, pass the sun. 110 Impatient thus she darts along the shore, Till Ida's mount, and Jove's, are seen no more; And, while aloof from Retimo she steers, Maleca foreland full in front appears. Wide o'er yon Isthmus stands the cypress grove, That once enclosed the hallow'd fane of Jove: Here, too, memorial of his name! is found A tomb in marble ruins on the ground. This gloomy tyrant, whose despotic sway Compell'd the trembling nations to obey, 120 Through Greece for murder, rape, and incest known, The Muses raised to high Olympus' throne; For oft, alas! their venal strains adorn The prince whom blushing virtue holds in scorn: Still Rome and Greece record his endless fame, And hence yon mountain yet retains his name. But see! in confluence borne before the blast, Clouds roll'd on clouds the dusky noon o'ercast: The blackening ocean curls, the winds arise, And the dark scud [2] in swift succession flies. 130 While the swoln canvas bends the masts on high, Low in the wave the leeward [3] cannon lie. The master calls to give the ship relief, The top-sails [4] lower, and form a single reef! [5] Each lofty yard with slacken'd cordage reels; Rattle the creaking blocks and ringing wheels. Down the tall masts the top-sails sink amain, Are mann'd and reef'd, then hoisted up again. More distant grew receding Candia's shore, And southward of the west Cape Spado bore. 140 Four hours the sun his high meridian throne Had left, and o'er Atlantic regions shone; Still blacker clouds, that all the skies invade, Draw o'er his sullied orb a dismal shade: A lowering squall obscures the southern sky, Before whose sweeping breath the waters fly; Its weight the top-sails can no more sustain-- Reef top-sails, reef! the master calls again. The halyards and top-bow-lines [6] soon are gone, To clue-lines and reef-tackles [7] next they run: 150 The shivering sails descend; the yards are square; Then quick aloft the ready crew repair: The weather-earings [8] and the lee they past, The reefs enroll'd, and every point made fast. Their task above thus finish'd, they descend, And vigilant the approaching squall attend. It comes resistless! and with foaming sweep Upturns the whitening surface of the deep: In such a tempest, borne to deeds of death, The wayward sisters scour the blasted heath. 160