Urge their success, and call the willing winds, Then ply their oars, and cut their liquid way In larger compass on the roomy sea. As, when the dove her rocky hold forsakes, Roused in a fright, her sounding wings she shakes; The cavern rings with clattering; out she flies, And leaves her callow care, and cleaves the skies: At first she flutters; but at length she springs To smoother flight, and shoots upon her wing: So Mnestheus in the Dolphin cuts the sea; And, flying with a force, that force assists his way. Sergestus in the Centaur soon he passed, Wedged in the rocky shoals, and sticking fast. In vain the victor he with cries implores, And practises to row with shattered oars. Then Mnestheus bears with Gyas, and outflies: The ship, without a pilot, yields the prize. Unvanquished Scylla now alone remains; Her he pursues, and all his vigour strains. Shouts from the favouring multitude arise; } Applauding Echo to the shouts replies; } Shouts, wishes, and applause, run rattling through the skies. } These clamours with disdain the Scylla heard, Much grudged the praise, but more the robbed reward: Resolved to hold their own, they mend their pace, All obstinate to die, or gain the race. Raised with success, the Dolphin swiftly ran; For they can conquer, who believe they can. Both urge their oars, and Fortune both supplies, And both perhaps had shared an equal prize; When to the seas Cloanthus holds his hands, And succour from the watery powers demands:-- "Gods of the liquid realms, on which I row! } If, given by you, the laurel bind my brow, } (Assist to make me guilty of my vow!) } A snow-white bull shall on your shore be slain; His offered entrails cast into the main, And ruddy wine from golden goblets thrown, Your grateful gift and my return shall own." The choir of nymphs, and Phorcus, from below, With virgin Panopea, heard his vow; And old Portunus, with his breadth of hand, Pushed on, and sped the galley to the land. Swift as a shaft, or winged wind, she flies, And, darting to the port, obtains the prize. The herald summons all, and then proclaims Cloanthus conqueror of the naval games. The prince with laurel crowns the victor's head, And three fat steers are to his vessel led, The ship's reward; with generous wine beside, And sums of silver, which the crew divide. The leaders are distinguished from the rest; The victor honoured with a nobler vest, Where gold and purple strive in equal rows, And needle-work its happy cost bestows. There, Ganymede is wrought with living art, Chasing through Ida's groves the trembling hart: Breathless he seems, yet eager to pursue; When from aloft descends, in open view, The bird of Jove, and, sousing on his prey, With crooked talons bears the boy away.