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Bactrian Gold Treasure from Afghanistan, coming soon....
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Orpheus on Gems

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394
ORPHEUS ON GEMS.
But to my counsels a deaf ear he turned, My proffered aid he obstinately spurned, And seized his fatal sword—shun thou his fate, Nor slight my counsels till it be too late— But since thou knowest the medicine to be good Against the slippery viper's scaly brood, Advise thy friends to drink it, timely wise, Mixed with the draught the Naiad's urn supplies. Thus, I once wishing my swift-footed friend,
604 Dolon, to mighty Hector to commend, To lus petition lent a ready ear, The heaven-born stone conceding to his prayer Whence he above all other Trojans placed, With Priam's, as with Hector's, favour graced, My service to requite, for present brought The Liparœan stone with virtue fraught ; Which erst his sire directed by my lore Envoy to Memnon from Assyria bore ; More precious far than gold the prize he gained
690 From learned Magians through rich bribes obtained. Treasure my words in thy believing heart, Whilst I my own experience here impart.— First to the bloodless altar shouldst thou haste Whereon no living victim e'er was placed ; With pious hymns on radiant Phoebus call, And Earth, great mother giving suck to all : Next melt this stone amid the rising flames, Whose odorous fumes the long drawn dragon tames : They as they mark the vapour mount on high,
700 Forth issuing from their holes towards it fly, And hastening onwards in a long array The altar seek, nor shun the unwonted day. There let three youths robed in white vestments stand, Each with a sword two-edgèd in his hand, And seize that snake which nearest to the blaze Snuffing the fumes his spotted coils displays, Then cut his body as he slaughtered lies In portions nine, each one of equal size ; Three of all-seeing Sol the portions call,
710 And three of Earth, the mother of us all, And three the portions of the goddess dread, The omniscient prophetess, the unsullied Maid ;
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