385 Caught, like dry stubble fired, or like seerwood; 390 The wounded warrior shook his flaming hair; 395 'Thus flush'd, the conqueror, with force renew'd, Evagrus, Dryas, Corythus, pursued. 401 First Corythus, with downy cheeks, he slew, Whose fall when fierce Evagrus had in view, He cried: What palm is from a beardless prey?' 405 And drove within his mouth the fiery death, 410 415 Thaumas, and Medon, wounded in the breast; And Mermeros, in the late race renown'd, Now limping ran, and tardy, with his wound. Pholus and Melaneus from fight withdrew, 420 From fight dissuaded the four-footed train, But to his fellow cried: Be safely slow; 425 Thy death deferr'd is due to great Alcides' bow.' All one by one, and fighting face to face: I saw Petræus' arms employ'd around A well-grown oak, to root it from the ground: 430 435 440 This way and that he wrench'd the fibrous bands; 445 And still obey'd the bent: while thus he stood, A nobler palm: Helops through either ear, 450 This Dictys saw, and, seized with sudden fright, And crush'd an ash beneath, that could not bear his weight: The shatter'd tree receives his fall, and strikes 455 460 Press'd with his knees his sides: the double man, 465 His speed with spurs increased, unwilling ran. One hand the hero fasten'd on his locks; His other plied him with repeated strokes ; The club rung round his ears and batter'd brows: He falls, and, lashing up his heels, his rider throws. 6 The same Herculean arms Nedymnus wound, And lay by him Lycotas on the ground; 470 475 And Hippasus, whose beard his breast invades ; 'Demoleon could not bear this hateful sight, 480 Yet not in vain the enormous weight was cast, 6 485 490 495 500 505 Thy sire, with grieving eyes, beheld his fate, And cried: Not long, loved Crantor, shalt thou wait Thy vow'd revenge.' At once he said, and threw His ashen spear, which quiver'd as it flew; With all his force and all his soul applied, The sharp point enter'd in the centaur's side: Both hands to wrench it out the monster join'd, And wrench'd it out, but left the steel behind; Stuck in his lungs it stood: enraged he rears His hoofs, and down to ground thy father bears. Thus trampled under foot, his shield defends His head; his other hand the lance portends: Ev'n while he lay extended on the dust, He sped the centaur with one single thrust: Two more his lance before transfix'd from far; And two his sword had slain in closer war. To these was added Dorylas, who spread A bull's two goring horns around his head: With these he push'd: in blood already dyed, Him fearless I approach'd, and thus defied : Now, monster, now by proof it shall appear Whether thy horns are sharper, or my spear.' At this, I threw for want of other ward, He lifted up his hand, his front to guard: His hand it pass'd, and fix'd it to his brow: Loud shouts of ours attend the lucky blow. Him Peleus finish'd, with a second wound, Which through the navel pierced: he reel'd around, And dragg'd his dangling bowels on the ground; 510 515 Trod what he dragg'd, and what he trod, he crush'd, And to his mother earth with empty belly rush'd.' 521 STORY OF CYLLARUS AND HYLONOME. THE centaur Cyllarus is mortally wounded in the conflict with the Lapithæ; and his mistress Hylonome expires in his arms. NOR could thy form, O Cyllarus, foreslow Thy fate (if form to monsters men allow :) Just bloom'd thy beard; thy beard of golden hue: Thy locks in golden waves about thy shoulders flew : 525 Sprightly thy look! Thy shapes in every part So clean, as might instruct the sculptor's art, O Castor, was a courser worthy thee: 530 535 So rose his brawny chest; so swiftly moved his feet: Nor less her blandishments than beauty move; 540 At once both loving, and confessing love. She comb'd, and set in curl her auburn hair: Of roses, violets, and lilies mix'd, And sprigs of flowing rosemary betwixt, 545 |