Page:Poems, Consisting Chiefly of Translations from the Asiatick Languages.djvu/159


 * He ends: To arms, the maids and striplings cry;

To arms, the groves and sounding vales reply. Sirena led to war the swarthy crew, And Delia those that bore the lily's hue. Who first, O muse, began the bold attack; The white refulgent, or the mournful black? Fair Delia first, as favoring lots ordain, Moves her pale legions tow'rd the sable train: From thought to thought her lively fancy flies, Whilst o'er the board she darts her sparkling eyes.


 * At length the warrior moves with haughty strides;

Who from the plain the snowy king divides: With equal haste his swarthy rival bounds; His quiver rattles, and his buckler sounds: Ah! hapless youths, with fatal warmth you burn; Laws, ever fix'd, forbid you to return. then from the wing a short-liv'd spearman flies, Unsafely bold, and see! he dies, he dies: The dark-brow'd hero, with one vengeful blow Of life and place deprives his ivory foe. Now rush both armies o'er the burnish'd field, Hurl the swift dart, and rend the bursting shield.