352
VIRGIL's
Æn. II.
Their nimble Tongues they brandish'd as they came,
And lick'd their hissing Jaws, that sputter'd Flame.
We fled amaz'd; their destin'd way they take, 280
And to Laocoon and his Children make:
And first around the tender Boys they wind,
Then with their sharpen'd Fangs their Limbs and Bodies grind.
The wretched Father, running to their Aid
With pious Haste, but vain, they next invade: 285
Twice round his Waste their winding Volumes rowl'd,
And twice about his gasping Throat they fold.
The Priest, thus doubly choak'd, their Crests divide,
And tow'ring o'er his Head, in Triumph ride.
With both his Hands he labours at the Knots, 290
His Holy Fillets the blue Venom blots:
His roaring fills the flitting Air around.
Thus, when an Ox receives a glancing Wound,
He breaks his Bands, the fatal Altar flies, 294
And with loud Bellowings breaks the yielding Skies.
Their Tasks perform'd, the Serpents quit their Prey,
And to the Tow'r of Pallas make their way:
Couch'd at her Feet, they lie protected there,
By her large Buckler, and protended Spear.
Amazement seizes all; the gen'ral Cry 300
Proclaims Laocoon justly doom'd to die,
Whose hand the Will of Pallas had withstood,
And dar'd to violate the Sacred Wood.
All Vote t'admit the Steed, that Vows be paid,
And Incense offer'd to th' offended Maid. 305
And lick'd their hissing Jaws, that sputter'd Flame.
We fled amaz'd; their destin'd way they take, 280
And to Laocoon and his Children make:
And first around the tender Boys they wind,
Then with their sharpen'd Fangs their Limbs and Bodies grind.
The wretched Father, running to their Aid
With pious Haste, but vain, they next invade: 285
Twice round his Waste their winding Volumes rowl'd,
And twice about his gasping Throat they fold.
The Priest, thus doubly choak'd, their Crests divide,
And tow'ring o'er his Head, in Triumph ride.
With both his Hands he labours at the Knots, 290
His Holy Fillets the blue Venom blots:
His roaring fills the flitting Air around.
Thus, when an Ox receives a glancing Wound,
He breaks his Bands, the fatal Altar flies, 294
And with loud Bellowings breaks the yielding Skies.
Their Tasks perform'd, the Serpents quit their Prey,
And to the Tow'r of Pallas make their way:
Couch'd at her Feet, they lie protected there,
By her large Buckler, and protended Spear.
Amazement seizes all; the gen'ral Cry 300
Proclaims Laocoon justly doom'd to die,
Whose hand the Will of Pallas had withstood,
And dar'd to violate the Sacred Wood.
All Vote t'admit the Steed, that Vows be paid,
And Incense offer'd to th' offended Maid. 305
