And his majestic consort join'd their hands And spoke their nuptial vows. Alas, 'twas there That the dire fame of Athens sunk in bonds I first received; what time an annual feast Had summon'd all the genial country round, By sacrifice and pomp to bring to mind That first great spousal; while the enamour'd youths And virgins, with the priest before the shrine, Observe the same pure ritual, and invoke The same glad omens. There, among the crowd 510 Of strangers from those naval cities drawn Which deck, like gems, the island's northern shore, A merchant of AEgina I descried, My ancient host; but, forward as I sprung To meet him, he, with dark dejected brow, Stopp'd half averse; and, "O Athenian guest," He said, "art thou in Crete, these joyful rites Partaking? Know thy laws are blotted out: Thy country kneels before a tyrant's throne." He added names of men, with hostile deeds 520 Disastrous; which obscure and indistinct I heard: for, while he spake, my heart grew cold And my eyes dim; the altars and their train No more were present to me; how I fared, Or whither turn'd, I know not; nor recall Aught of those moments, other than the sense Of one who struggles in oppressive sleep, And, from the toils of some distressful dream To break away, with palpitating heart, Weak limbs, and temples bathed in death-like dew, 530 Makes many a painful effort. When at last The sun and nature's face again appear'd, Not far I found me, where the public path, Winding through cypress groves and swelling meads, From Cnossus to the cave of Jove ascends. Heedless I follow'd on; till soon the skirts Of Ida rose before me, and the vault Wide opening pierced the mountain's rocky side. Entering within the threshold, on the ground I flung me, sad, faint, overworn with toil.' 540 * * * * * THE BEGINNING OF THE FOURTH BOOK OF THE PLEASURES OF THE IMAGINATION, 1770.