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Orpheus on Gems

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ORPHEUS ON GEMS.
Tinged by the blood that from her arteries flows, No longer green, with blushing red it glows— Struck with surprise the dauntless hero stares, E'en wise Minerva his amazement shares, And that her brother's fame may last for aye, 570 Gives power unfading to the coral spray Ever its early nature thus to change : She next endowed the plant with virtue strange, And to its kind a lasting influence lent To guard mankind on toilsome journeys bent, Whether by land their weary way they keep, Or brave in ships the terrors of the deep—. Of furious Mars to 'scape the lightning sword, Or murderous onslaught of the robber-horde. When the vexed Nereus tosses all his waves The potent Coral trembling sailors saves,
580 If they with vows the warlike blue-eyed Maid Invoke, and claim in their distress her aid. All drugs that poison, all the spells that bind, All curses that relentless Furies mind, The hid pollution that brings ruin down Upon the house e'en to its lord unknown, And all the ill wrought by enchantment dire Against thy weal when envious men conspire, For all these evils by benignant heaven The, Coral surest antidote is given. Pound this and mix it when thou sowest thy grain, It shall avert all mischief from the plain, The drought which parches with destruction sere
590 The milky juices of the swelling ear ;
The million darts which flung by driving hail With hopeless wound thy growing crops assail ; Destructive insects too it scares away, The caterpillar's troop, the worm's array, The rust which falling on thy corn from high Reddens the ear and burns its substance dry, The host of flies, the locust's countless swarms, E'en Jove's red lightning from thy field it charms, Such honour pays he to the glorious deed Of his great son, and grants the worthy mede. And this returning from earth's furthest shore
610 His choicest gift to man sage Hermes bore.
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