Acastus, Phileus, Phœnix, Telamon,
Echion, Lelix, and Eurytion,
Achilles' Father, and great Phocus' Son;
Dryas the Fierce, and Hippasus the Strong;
With twice old Iolas, and Nestor then but young.
Laertes active, and Ancæus bold;
Mopsus the Sage, who future things foretold;
And t'other Seer, yet by his Wife [1] unsold.
A thousand others of immortal Fame;
Among the rest, fair Atalanta came,
Grace of the Woods: A Diamond Buckle bound
Her Vest behind, that else had flow'd upon the Ground,
And shew'd her buskin'd Legs; her Head was bare,
But for her native Ornament of Hair;
Which in a simple Knot was ty'd above,
Sweet Negligence! unheeded Bait of Love!
Her sounding Quiver, on her Shoulder ty'd,
One Hand a Dart, and one a Bow supply'd.
Such was her Face, as in a Nymph display'd
A fair fierce Boy, or in a Boy betray'd
The blushing Beauties of a modest Maid.
The Caledonian Chief at once the Dame
Beheld, at once his Heart receiv'd the Flame,
With Heav'ns averse. O happy Youth, he cry'd;
For whom thy Fates reserve so fair a Bride!
He sigh'd, and had no Leisure more to say;
His Honour call'd his Eyes another Way,
And forc'd him to pursue the now neglected Prey.
There stood a Forest on a Mountain's Brow,
Which over-look'd the shaded Plains below.
No sounding Ax presum'd those Trees to bite;
Coeval with the World, a venerable Sight.
The Heroes there arriv'd, some spread around
The Toils; some search the Footsteps on the Ground:
Some from the Chains the faithful Dogs unbound.
- ↑ Amphiarus.
