Page:Ovid's Metamorphoses (Vol. 2) - tr Garth, Dryden, et. al. (1727).djvu/204

Surpriz'd by Night, and forc'd him to declare
In what was plac'd the Fortune of the War,
Heav'n's dark Decrees, and Answers to display,
And how to take the Town, and where the Secret lay:
Yet this I compass'd, and from Troy convey'd
The fatal Image of their Guardian-Maid;
That Work was mine; for Pallas, though our Friend,
Yet while she was in Troy, did Troy defend.
Now what has Ajax done, or what design'd?
A noisie Nothing, and an empty Wind.
If he be what he promises in Show,
Why was I sent, And why fear'd he to go?
Our boasting Champion thought the Task not light
To pass the Guards, commit himself to Night;
Not only through a hostile Town to pass,
But scale, with steep Ascent, the sacred Place;
With wand'ring Steps to search the Cittadel,
And from the Priests their Patroness to steal:
Then through surrounding Foes to force my way,
And bear in Triumph home the heav'nly Prey;
Which had I not, Ajax in vain had held,
Before that monst'rous Bulk, his sev'nfold Shield.
That Night to conquer Troy I might be said,
When Troy was liable to Conquest made.
Why point'st thou to my Partner of the War?
Tydides had indeed a worthy Share
In all my Toil, and Praise; but when thy Might
Our Ships protected, didst thou singly fight?
All join'd, and thou of many wert but one;
I ask'd no Friend, nor had, but him alone:
Who, had he not been well assur'd, that Art,
And Conduct were of War the better part,
And more avail'd, than Strength, my valiant Friend
Had urg'd a better Right, than Ajax can pretend:
As good at least Euripylus may claim,
And the more mod'rate Ajax of the Name:

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