Page:The Works of Alexander Pope (1717).djvu/376
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340
The FIRST BOOK of
About the realm she walks her dreadful round,
When night with sable wings o'erspreads the ground,
Devours young babes before their parent's eyes,
And feeds and thrives on publick miseries.
But gen'rous rage the bold Choræbus warms,
Choræbus, fam'd for virtue, as for arms;
Some few like him, inspir'd with martial flame,
Thought a short life well lost for endless fame.
These, where two ways in equal parts divide,
The direful monster from afar descry'd;
Two bleeding babes depending at her side;
Whose panting vitals, warm with life, she draws,
And in their hearts embrues her cruel claws.
The youth surround her with extended spears;
But brave Choræbus in the front appears,
Deep in her breast he plung'd his shining sword,
And hell's dire monster back to hell restor'd.
Th' Inachians view'd the slain with vast surprize,
Her twisting volumes, and her rowling eyes,
When night with sable wings o'erspreads the ground,
Devours young babes before their parent's eyes,
And feeds and thrives on publick miseries.
But gen'rous rage the bold Choræbus warms,
Choræbus, fam'd for virtue, as for arms;
Some few like him, inspir'd with martial flame,
Thought a short life well lost for endless fame.
These, where two ways in equal parts divide,
The direful monster from afar descry'd;
Two bleeding babes depending at her side;
Whose panting vitals, warm with life, she draws,
And in their hearts embrues her cruel claws.
The youth surround her with extended spears;
But brave Choræbus in the front appears,
Deep in her breast he plung'd his shining sword,
And hell's dire monster back to hell restor'd.
Th' Inachians view'd the slain with vast surprize,
Her twisting volumes, and her rowling eyes,
Her