Page:Aeneid (Conington 1866).djvu/33

Rh And first from flints together clashed

The latent spark Achates flashed,

Caught in sere leaves, and deftly nursed

Till into flame the fuel burst.

Then from the hold the crews o'ertoiled

Bring out their grain by ocean spoiled,

And gird themselves with fire and quern

To parch and grind the rescued corn.

Meanwhile Æneas scales a height

And sweeps the ocean with his sight;

Might he perchance a Capys mark,

An Antheus in his Phrygian bark,

Or trace the arms that wont to deck

Caicus in some labouring wreck.

No vessel seaward meets his eyes,

But on the shore three stags he spies,

Close followed by a meaner throng

That grazed the winding coasts along.

He catches from Achates' hand

Quiver and bow, and takes his stand;

And first the lordly leaders fall

With tree-like antlers branching tall;

Then, turning on the multitude,

He drives them routed through the wood,

Nor stays till his victorious bow

Has laid seven goodly bodies low,

For his seven ships; then portward fares,

And 'mid his crews the quarry shares;

The wine which late their princely host,

What time they left Trinacria's coast,

Bestowed in casks, and freely gave,

A brave man's bounty to the brave,

With like equality he parts,

And comforts their desponding hearts;