But God had quickly blown Our fleet in pieces; and to wretched me The counsellor Jove did much mishap decree, For, only one month, I had leave t’ enjoy My wife and children, and my goods t’ employ. But, after this, my mind for Ægypt stood, When nine fair ships I rigg’d forth for the flood, Mann’d them with noble soldiers, all things fit For such a voyage soon were won to it. Yet six days after stay’d my friends in feast, While I in banquets to the Gods addrest Much sacred matter for their sacrifice. The seventh, we boarded; and the Northern skies Lent us a frank and passing prosp’rous gale, ‘Fore which we bore us free and easy sail As we had back’d a full and frolic tide; Nor felt one ship misfortune for her pride, But safe we sat, our sailors and the wind Consenting in our convoy. When heav’n shin’d In sacred radiance of the fifth fair day, To sweetly-water’d Egypt reach’d our way, And there we anchor’d; where I charg’d my men To stay aboard, and watch. Dismissing then Some scouts to get the hill-tops, and discover, They (to their own intemperance giv’n over). Straight fell to forage the rich fields, and thence Enforce both wives and infants, with th’ expence Of both their bloods. When straight the rumour flew Up to the city. Which heard, up they drew By day’s First break, and all the field was fill’d With foot and horse, whose arms did all things gild. And then the lightning-loving Deity cast A foul flight on my soldiers; nor stood fast One man of all. About whom mischief stood, And with his stern steel drew in streams the blood The greater part fed in their dissolute veins; The rest were sav’d, and made enthralléd swains To all the basest usages there bred. And then, ev’n Jove himself supplied my head With saving counsel; though I wish’d to die, And there in Egypt with their slaughters lie, So much grief seiz’d me, but Jove made me yield, Dishelm my head, take from my neck my shield, Hurl from my hand my lance, and to the troop Of horse the king led instantly made up, Embrace, and kiss his knees; whom pity won To give me safety, and (to make me shun The people’s outrage, that made in amain, All jointly fir’d with thirst to see me slain) He took me to his chariot, weeping, home, Himself with fear of Jove’s wrath overcome, Who yielding souls receives, and takes most ill All such as well may save yet love to kill. Seven years I sojourn’d here, and treasure gat In good abundance of th’ Ægyptian state, For all would give; but when th’ eighth year began, A knowing fellow (that would gnaw a man[3] Like to a vermin, with his hellish brain, And many an honest soul ev’n quick had slain, Whose name was Phœnix) close accosted me, And with insinuations, such as he Practis’d on others, my consent he gain’d To go into Phœnicia, where remain’d His house, and living. And with him I liv’d A cómplete year; but when were all arriv’d The months and days, and that the year again Was turning round, and ev’ry season’s reign Renew’d upon us, we for Libya went,