Series 1 > Grameid: an heroic poem descriptive of the campaign of Viscount Dundee in 1689, and other pieces

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PANURGI PHILOCABALLI [659-686
At nunc ille fugax incertis motibus errat,
Aut vaga praecipiti mutat tentoria cursu,
Aut latitat tacitis clausus convallibus inter
Praeruptos scopulos, et concava viscera terrae.
Degener ut mediis fodit cunabula silvis
Delituitque lepus, venantum incursibus actus,
Jam mea signa timet, fataliaque arma tremiscit,
Linquit et arva metu, longeque per avia tendit.
Me si caelicolae incolumem mortalibus oris
Praestiterint, tacito lateat licet abditus antro,
Ignotove solo, defensae aut moenibus urbis,
Praedonem hunc patriae terrae a radicibus imis
Eruam, et extorrem trans Belgica littora mittam.’
Haec fatus ; turmas montana per ardua ducit,
Rura secans, scopulosque, et saxa minantia caelo ;
Et loca senta situ peragit, liquidasque paludes
Transmeat, et largo fluctantes aequore fossas,
Quaerit iter longo perque arva palustria tractu.
Jam multi in foveas fessi jacuere caballi
Immersique luto glauca stabulantur in ulva,
Quos socii frustra certatim attollere tentant,
Sed graviter lapsos, mediaque palude trahentes
Ilia quadrupedes linquunt, et ephippea lato
Imponunt humero, et terram pede praepete pulsant.
Ipse coactus equo tandem pedes ire relicto
Tesqua per, atque altos scopulos et confraga saxa,
Atque amnes atque arva pedum transmittere plantis.
Tandem per fluvios, udasque uligine valles,
through these wild forests. But he now flees, or wanders with
uncertain purpose, or hides mid mountains and glens. As the
hare, frightened by the sportsman, buries itself in the woods, so
he now fears my banners, and trembles at my dread arms. If the
gods preserve me on this mortal stage, I will root out this robber
of his country, and send him as an exile to his Dutch home, though
he lie in secret cave or walled town.’ Thus speaking he led his
troops through the mountains, forcing his way by plain and rock
and cliff, by sweltering bog and gully. Now many of the wearied
horses sink into the marsh, and are lost in its depth. Failing to
raise them, the riders place the saddles on their own shoulders,
and pursue their way on foot. I myself, having lost my horse,
have to tramp by rugged path and hill, by rock and river. At