FIRST NEMÆAN ODE.
135
When, lo! by jealous Juno's fierce commands,
Two dreadful serpents come,
Rolling and hissing loud, into the room;
To the bold babe they trace their bidden way;
Forth from their flaming eyes dread lightnings went,
Their gaping mouths did forked tongues, like thunder-bolts, present.
Two dreadful serpents come,
Rolling and hissing loud, into the room;
To the bold babe they trace their bidden way;
Forth from their flaming eyes dread lightnings went,
Their gaping mouths did forked tongues, like thunder-bolts, present.
Some of th' amazed women dropp'd down dead
With fear, some wildly fled
About the room, some into corners crept,
Where silently they shook and wept:
All naked from her bed the passionate mother leap'd,
To save or perish with her child;
She trembled, and she cry'd; the mighty infant smil'd:
The mighty infant seem'd well pleas'd
At his gay gilded foes;
And, as their spotted necks up to the cradle rose,
With his young warlike hands on both he seiz'd;
In vain they rag'd, in vain they hiss'd,
In vain their armed tails they twist,
And angry circles cast about;
Black blood, and fiery breath, and poisonous soul, he squeezes out!
With fear, some wildly fled
About the room, some into corners crept,
Where silently they shook and wept:
All naked from her bed the passionate mother leap'd,
To save or perish with her child;
She trembled, and she cry'd; the mighty infant smil'd:
The mighty infant seem'd well pleas'd
At his gay gilded foes;
And, as their spotted necks up to the cradle rose,
With his young warlike hands on both he seiz'd;
In vain they rag'd, in vain they hiss'd,
In vain their armed tails they twist,
And angry circles cast about;
Black blood, and fiery breath, and poisonous soul, he squeezes out!
With their drawn swords
In ran Amphitryo and the Theban lords;
With doubting wonder, and with troubled joy,
They saw the conquering boy
In ran Amphitryo and the Theban lords;
With doubting wonder, and with troubled joy,
They saw the conquering boy
