Page:Poems, Consisting Chiefly of Translations from the Asiatick Languages.djvu/162

 By this a hoary chief, on slaughter bent, Approach'd the gloomy king's unguarded tent; Where, late, his consort spread dismay around, Now her dark corse lies bleeding on the ground. Hail, happy youth! they glories not unsung Shall live eternal on the poet's tongue; For thou shalt soon receive a splendid change, And o'er the plain with nobler fury range. The swarthy leaders saw the storm impend, And strove in vain their sovereign to defend: Th' invader wav'd his silver lance in air, And flew like lightning to the fatal square; His limbs dilated in a moment grew To stately height, and widen'd to the view; More fierce his look, more lion-like his mien, Sublime he mov'd, and seem'd a warrior queen. As when the sage on some unfolding plant Has caught a wandering fly, or frugal ant, His hand the microscopic frame applies, And lo! a bright hair'd monster meets his eyes; He sees new plumes in slender cases roll'd; Here stain'd with azure, there bedropp'd with gold; Thus, on the alter'd chief both armies gaze, And both the kings are fix'd with deep amaze.