The clang of arms and iron hoofs resound. 225 But while young Phoebus pleased himself to view His furious Knight destroy the vulgar crew, Sly Hermes long’d t’ attempt with secret aim Some noble act of more exalted fame. For this, he inoffensive pass’d along 230 Through ranks of Foot, and midst the trembling throng Sent his left Horse, that free without confine Rov’d o’er the plain, upon some great design Against the King himself. At length he stood, And having fix’d his station as he would, 235 Threaten’d at once with instant fate the King And th’ Indian beast that guarded the right wing. Apollo sigh’d, and hast’ning to relieve The straiten’d Monarch, griev’d that he must leave His martial Elephant expos’d to fate, 240 And view’d with pitying eyes his dang’rous state. First in his thoughts however was his care To save his King, whom to the neighbouring square On the right hand, he snatch’d with trembling flight; At this with fury springs the sable Knight, 245 Drew his keen sword, and rising to the blow, Sent the great Indian brute to shades below. O fatal loss! for none except the Queen Spreads such a terror through the bloody scene. Yet shall you ne’er unpunish’d boast your prize, 250 | The Delian god with stern resentment cries; | And wedg’d him round with Foot, and pour’d in fresh supplies. | Thus close besieg’d trembling he cast his eye Around the plain, but saw no shelter nigh, No way for flight; for here the Queen oppos’d, 255 The Foot in phalanx there the passage clos’d: At length he fell; yet not unpleas’d with fate, Since victim to a Queen’s vindictive hate. With grief and fury burns the whiten’d host, One of their Tow’rs thus immaturely lost. 260 As when a bull has in contention stern Lost his right horn, with double vengeance burn His thoughts for war, with blood he’s cover’d o’er, And the woods echo to his dismal roar, So look’d the flaxen host, when angry fate 265 O’erturn’d the Indian bulwark of their state. Fired at this great success, with double rage Apollo hurries on his troops t’ engage, For blood and havoc wild; and, while he leads His troops thus careless, loses both his steeds: 270 For if some adverse warriors were o’erthrown, He little thought what dangers threat his own. But slyer Hermes with observant eyes March’d slowly cautious, and at distance spies What moves must next succeed, what dangers next arise. 275 Often would he, the stately Queen to snare, The slender Foot to front her arms prepare, And to conceal his scheme he sighs and feigns Such a wrong step would frustrate all his pains. Just then an Archer, from the right-hand view, 280 At the pale Queen his arrow boldly drew, Unseen by Phoebus, who, with studious thought, From the left side a vulgar hero brought. But tender Venus, with a pitying eye,