Classic Poem

CEPHALUS' STORY

But with herself she kindly did confer
What gifts the goddess had bestowed on her;
The fleetest greyhound, with this lovely dart,
And I of both have wonders to impart.
Near Thebes a savage beast, of race unknown,
Laid waste the field, and bore the vineyards down;
The swains fled from him, and with one consent
Our Grecian youth to chase the monster went;
More swift than lightning he the toils surpast,
And in his course spears, men, and trees o'ercast.
We slipt our dogs, and last my Lelaps too,
When none of all the mortal race would do:
He long before was struggling from my hands,
And, ere we could unloose him, broke his bands,
That minute where he was, we could not find,
And only saw the dust he left behind.
I climbed a neighbouring hill to view the chase,
While in the plain they held an equal race;
The savage now seems caught; and now by force
To quit himself, nor holds the same straight course;
But running counter, from the foe withdraws,
And with short turning cheats his gaping jaws:
Which he retrieves, and still so closely prest,
You'd fear at every stretch he were possessed:
Yet for the gripe his fangs in vain prepare;
The game shoots from him, and he chops the air,
To cast my jav'lin then I took my stand;
But as the thongs were fitting to my hand,
While to the valley I o'erlooked the wood,
Before my eyes two marble statues stood;
That, as pursued appearing at full stretch,
This, barking after, and at point to catch:
Some god their course did with this wonder grace,
That neither might be conquered in the chase.