There Lycia's monarch paid him honours due, Nine days he feasted, and nine bulls he slew. But when the tenth bright morning orient glow'd, The faithful youth his monarch's mandate show'd: The fatal tablets, till that instant seal'd, The deathful secret to the king reveal'd. First, dire Chimaera's conquest was enjoin'd; A mingled monster of no mortal kind! Behind, a dragon's fiery tail was spread; A goat's rough body bore a lion's head; Her pitchy nostrils flaky flames expire; Her gaping throat emits infernal fire. "This pest he slaughter'd, (for he read the skies, And trusted heaven's informing prodigies,) Then met in arms the Solymaean crew,(169) (Fiercest of men,) and those the warrior slew; Next the bold Amazons' whole force defied; And conquer'd still, for heaven was on his side. "Nor ended here his toils: his Lycian foes, At his return, a treacherous ambush rose, With levell'd spears along the winding shore: There fell they breathless, and return'd no more. "At length the monarch, with repentant grief, Confess'd the gods, and god-descended chief; His daughter gave, the stranger to detain, With half the honours of his ample reign: The Lycians grant a chosen space of ground, With woods, with vineyards, and with harvests crown'd. There long the chief his happy lot possess'd, With two brave sons and one fair daughter bless'd; (Fair e'en in heavenly eyes: her fruitful love Crown'd with Sarpedon's birth the embrace of Jove;) But when at last, distracted in his mind, Forsook by heaven, forsaking humankind, Wide o'er the Aleian field he chose to stray, A long, forlorn, uncomfortable way!(170) Woes heap'd on woes consumed his wasted heart: His beauteous daughter fell by Phoebe's dart; His eldest born by raging Mars was slain, In combat on the Solymaean plain. Hippolochus survived: from him I came, The honour'd author of my birth and name; By his decree I sought the Trojan town; B