Was upward blown below, and brushed away by love. Love made an active progress through his mind, The dusky parts he cleared, the gross refined, The drowsy waked; and, as he went, impressed The Maker's image on the human breast. Thus was the man amended by desire, And, though he loved perhaps with too much fire, His father all his faults with reason scan'd, And liked an error of the better hand; Excused the excess of passion in his mind, By flames too fierce, perhaps too much refined; So Cymon, since his sire indulged his will, Impetuous loved, and would be Cymon still; Galesus he disowned, and chose to bear The name of fool, confirmed and bishoped by the fair. To Cipseus by his friends his suit he moved, Cipseus, the father of the fair he loved; But he was pre-engaged by former ties, While Cymon was endeavouring to be wise; And Iphigene, obliged by former vows, Had given her faith to wed a foreign spouse: Her sire and she to Rhodian Pasimond, Though both repenting, were by promise bound, Nor could retract; and thus, as fate decreed, Though better loved, he spoke too late to speed. The doom was past; the ship already sent Did all his tardy diligence prevent; Sighed to herself the fair unhappy maid, While stormy Cymon thus in secret said:-- The time is come for Iphigene to find The miracle she wrought upon my mind; Her charms have made me man, her ravished love In rank shall place me with the blessed above. For mine by love, by force she shall be mine, Or death, if force should fail, shall finish my design.-- Resolved he said; and rigged with speedy care A vessel strong, and well equipped for war. The secret ship with chosen friends he stored; And bent to die, or conquer, went aboard. Ambushed he lay behind the Cyprian shore, Waiting the sail that all his wishes bore; Nor long expected, for the following tide Sent out the hostile ship and beauteous bride. To Rhodes the rival bark directly steered, When Cymon sudden at her back appeared, And stopped her flight; then standing on his prow, In haughty terms he thus defied the foe:-- Or strike your sails at summons, or prepare To prove the last extremities of war.-- Thus warned, the Rhodians for the fight provide; } Already were the vessels side by side, } These obstinate to save, and those to seize the bride. } But Cymon soon his crooked grapples cast, } Which with tenacious hold his foes embraced, } And, armed with sword and shield, amid the press he passed. } Fierce was the fight, but, hastening to his prey, By force the furious lover freed his way; Himself alone dispersed the Rhodian crew, The weak disdained, the valiant overthrew; Cheap conquest for his following friends remained, He reaped the field, and they but only gleaned. His victory confessed, the foes retreat,