Page:Virgil's Pastorals, Georgics and Aeneis - Dryden (1709) - volume 2.djvu/220

I bid my Friends for Vengeance then prepare;
And with the Hellish Nation wage the War.
They, as commanded, for the Fight provide,
And in the Grass their glitt'ring Weapons hide: 310
Then, when along the crooked Shoar we hear
Their clatt'ring Wings, and saw the Foes appear;
Misenus sounds a charge; We take th' Alarm;
And our strong hands with Swords and Bucklers arm.
In this new kind of Combat, all employ 315
Their utmost Force, the Monsters to destroy.
In vain; the fated Skin is proof to Wounds:
And from their Plumes the shining Sword rebounds.
At length rebuff'd, they leave their mangled Prey,
And their stretch'd Pinions to the Skies display. 320
$\scriptstyle {\left.{\begin{matrix}\ \\\\\ \ \end{matrix}}\right\}\,}$Yet one remain'd, the Messenger of Fate
High on a craggy Cliff Celæno sate,
And thus her dismal Errand did relate,
$\scriptstyle {\left.{\begin{matrix}\ \\\\\ \ \end{matrix}}\right\}\,}$What, not contented with our Oxen slain. 324
Dare you with Heav'n an impious War maintain,
And drive the Harpies from their Native Reign?
Heed therefore what I say; and keep in Mind
What Jove decrees, what Phœbus has design'd:
And I, the Fury's Queen, from both relate:
You seek th' Italian Shores, foredoom'd by Fate: 330
Th' Italian Shores are granted you to find:
And a safe Passage to the Port assign'd,
But know, that e'er your promis'd Walls you build,
My Curses shall severely be fulfill'd.

Fierce