With twice-old Iolas, and Nestor then but young; Laertes active, and Ancæus bold; } Mopsus the sage, who future things foretold; } And t'other seer,[24] yet by his wife unsold. } A thousand others of immortal fame; Among the rest, fair Atalanta came, Grace of the woods: a diamond buckle bound Her vest behind, that else had flow'd upon the ground, And shew'd her buskin'd legs; her head was bare, But for her native ornament of hair, Which in a simple knot was tied above,-- Sweet negligence, unheeded bait of love! Her sounding quiver on her shoulder tied, One hand a dart, and one a bow supplied. Such was her face, as in a nymph displayed } A fair fierce boy, or in a boy betrayed } The blushing beauties of a modest maid. } The Caledonian chief at once the dame Beheld, at once his heart received the flame, With heavens averse. O happy youth, he cried, For whom thy fates reserve so fair a bribe! He sighed, and had no leisure more to say; } His honour called his eyes another way, } And force him to pursue the now neglected prey. } There stood a forest on the mountain's brow, Which overlooked the shaded plains below; No sounding axe presumed those trees to bite, Coeval with the world, a venerable sight. The heroes there arrived, some spread around } The toils, some search the footsteps on the ground, } Some from the chains the faithful dogs unbound. } Of action eager, and intent on thought, The chiefs their honourable danger sought: A valley stood below; the common drain Of waters from above, and falling rain; The bottom was a moist and marshy ground, Whose edges were with bending osiers crowned; The knotty bulrush next in order stood, And all within, of reeds a trembling wood. From hence the boar was roused, and sprung amain, Like lightning sudden on the warrior-train; Beats down the trees before him, shakes the ground, } The forest echoes to the crackling sound; } Shout the fierce youth, and clamours ring around. } All stood with their protended spears prepared, With broad steel heads the brandished weapons glared. The beast impetuous with his tusks aside } Deals glancing wounds; the fearful dogs divide; } All spend their mouth aloft, but none abide. } Echion threw the first, but missed his mark, And stuck his boar-spear on a maple's bark. Then Jason; and his javelin seemed to take, But failed with over-force, and whizzed above his back. Mopsus was next; but, ere he threw, addressed To Phœbus thus: O patron, help thy priest! If I adore, and ever have adored Thy power divine, thy present aid afford,