Page:Virgil's Pastorals, Georgics and Aeneis - Dryden (1709) - volume 1.pdf/343

Geor. III. Or with hard Stones, demolish from a-far His haughty Crest, the seat of all the War. Invade his hissing Throat, and winding spires; Till stretch'd in length, th' unfolded Foe retires. He drags his Tail; and for his Head provides: And in some secret cranny slowly glides; But leaves expos'd to blows, his Back and batter'd Sides. In fair Calabria's Woods, a Snake is bred, With curling Crest, and with advancing Head: Waving he rolls, and makes a winding Track; His Belly spotted, burnisht is his Back: While Springs are broken, while the Southern Air And dropping Heav'ns, the moisten'd Earth repair, He lives on standing Lakes, and trembling Bogs, And fills his Maw with Fish, or with loquacious Frogs. But when, in muddy Pools, the water sinks; And the chapt Earth is furrow'd o'er with Chinks; He leaves the Fens, and leaps upon the Ground; And hissing, rowls his glaring Eyes around. With Thirst inflam'd, impatient of the heats, He rages in the Fields, and wide Destruction threats. Oh let not Sleep, my closing Eyes invade, In open Plains, or in the secret Shade, When he, renew'd in all the speckl'd Pride Of pompous Youth, has cast his slough aside: And in his Summer Liv'ry rowls along: Erect, and brandishing his forky Tongue, Leaving his Nest, and his imperfect Young;