Page:Aeneid (Conington 1866).djvu/168

144 A garniture of glorious show,

Nor fitted less to ward a blow.

Beneath, that burden staggering strain

Two stalwart squires of Mnestheus' train,

Wherewith Demoleos erst endued

Troy's scattered sons on foot pursued.

With caldrons twain the third is graced,

And silver-bowls with figures chased.

The meeds were given; the rivals proud

Were moving stately through the crowd,

Each glorying in his several boon,

And wreathed with purple-bright festoon,

When lo! unhonoured and forlorn,

Scarce from the rock with effort torn,

One tier destroyed, 'mid gibes and jeers

His wavering bark Sergestus steers.

E'en as a snake that on the way

Some wheel has mangled as it lay,

Or passer-by with stone well-aimed

Has left half-dying, crushed and maimed:

In slow retreat without avail

It strives its lengthening coils to trail:

One half erect the foe defies

With hissing throat and fiery eyes;

One, lame and wounded, backward holds

The surging spires and gathering folds:

So rows the bark on her slow way,

Yet sets her sail, and gains the bay.

Not less her chief receives his due

For ship brought back and rescued crew,

A Cretan slave, expert to spin,

And at her bosom children twin.

When ended now the naval race,

Æneas seeks a grassy space,