360
VIRGIL's
Æn. II.
Androgeos fell among us, with his Band, 500
Who thought us Grecians newly come to Land:
From whence, said he, my Friends this long delay?
You loiter, while the Spoils are born away:
Our Ships are laden with the Trojan Store,
And you like Truants come too late ashore. 505
He said, but soon corrected his Mistake,
Found, by the doubtful Answers which we make:
Amaz'd, he wou'd have shun'd th' unequal Fight,
But we, more num'rous, intercept his flight.
As when some Peasant in a bushy Brake, 510
Has with unwary Footing press'd a Snake;
He starts aside, astonish'd, when he spies
His rising Crest, blue Neck, and rowling Eyes;
So from our Arms, surpriz'd Androgeos flies.
In vain; for him and his we compass'd round, 515
Possess'd with Fear, unknowing of the Ground;
And of their Lives an easie Conquest found.
Thus Fortune on our first Endeavour smil'd:
Choræbus then, with youthful Hopes beguil'd,
Swoln with Success, and of a daring Mind, 520
This new Invention fatally design'd.
My Friends, said he, since Fortune shows the way,
Tis fit we shou'd th' auspicious Guide obey.
For what has she these Grecian Arms bestow'd,
But their Destruction, and the Trojans good? 525
Then change we Shields, and their Devices bear,
Let Fraud supply the want of Force in War.
Who thought us Grecians newly come to Land:
From whence, said he, my Friends this long delay?
You loiter, while the Spoils are born away:
Our Ships are laden with the Trojan Store,
And you like Truants come too late ashore. 505
He said, but soon corrected his Mistake,
Found, by the doubtful Answers which we make:
Amaz'd, he wou'd have shun'd th' unequal Fight,
But we, more num'rous, intercept his flight.
As when some Peasant in a bushy Brake, 510
Has with unwary Footing press'd a Snake;
He starts aside, astonish'd, when he spies
His rising Crest, blue Neck, and rowling Eyes;
So from our Arms, surpriz'd Androgeos flies.
In vain; for him and his we compass'd round, 515
Possess'd with Fear, unknowing of the Ground;
And of their Lives an easie Conquest found.
Thus Fortune on our first Endeavour smil'd:
Choræbus then, with youthful Hopes beguil'd,
Swoln with Success, and of a daring Mind, 520
This new Invention fatally design'd.
My Friends, said he, since Fortune shows the way,
Tis fit we shou'd th' auspicious Guide obey.
For what has she these Grecian Arms bestow'd,
But their Destruction, and the Trojans good? 525
Then change we Shields, and their Devices bear,
Let Fraud supply the want of Force in War.
