Medulla Poetarum Romanorum Or, the Most Beautiful and Instructive Passages of the Roman Poets. Being a Collection, (Disposed under proper Heads,) Of such Descriptions, Allusions, Comparisons, Characters, and Sentiments, as may best serve to shew the Religion, Learning, Politicks, Arts, Customs, Opinions, Manners, and Circumstances of the Antients. With Translations of the same in English Verse. By Mr. Henry Baker |
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Ambush.
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 | Medulla Poetarum Romanorum |  |
Ambush.
Sabbura
, great in the Numidian Race,
And second to their swarthy King in Place,
First with a chosen slender Band proceeds,
And, seemingly, the Force of Juba leads:
While hidden He, the Prince Himself, remains,
And in a secret Vale his num'rous Troops restrains.
And second to their swarthy King in Place,
First with a chosen slender Band proceeds,
And, seemingly, the Force of Juba leads:
While hidden He, the Prince Himself, remains,
And in a secret Vale his num'rous Troops restrains.
Thus oft th' Ichneumon, on the Banks of Nile,
Invades the deadly Aspick by a Wile:
While artfully his slender Tail is play'd,
The Serpent darts upon the dancing Shade:
Then turning on the Foe with swift Surprize,
Full at his Throat the nimble Seizer flies.
The gasping Snake expires beneath the Wound,
His gushing Jaws with pois'nous Floods abound,
And shed the fruitless Mischief on the Ground.—
With seeming Fear Retreat and Flight they feign,
Invades the deadly Aspick by a Wile:
While artfully his slender Tail is play'd,
The Serpent darts upon the dancing Shade:
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Full at his Throat the nimble Seizer flies.
The gasping Snake expires beneath the Wound,
His gushing Jaws with pois'nous Floods abound,
And shed the fruitless Mischief on the Ground.—
To draw th' unwary Leader to the Plain:
He, bold, and unsuspicious of their Wiles,
Now thinking Conquest sure, and Fortune's smiles,
Wide o'er the naked Champion spreads his Files:
When, sudden, all the circling Mountains round,
With numberless Numidians thick are crown'd.
At once the rising Ambush stands confess'd;
Dread strikes the Chief, and ev'ry Soldier's Breast:
Helpless they view th' impending Danger nigh,
Nor can the Valiant fight, nor Coward fly.—
Curio, Cæsar's General in Africa, was thus circumvented and destroy'd by Juba King of Numidia, who took the Side of Pompey.
Well form'd for Ambush, and the Frauds of War,
On ev'ry Side with gloomy Boughs inclos'd:
To which a slender Path, thro' narrow Sides,
(A difficult malignant Passage) leads.
High on the Mountain's Top a secret Plain,
And safe Retreat there lies: Or to the Right,
Or to the Left, from thence you may engage,
Obvious in Fight: or standing on the Ridge,
Roll Stones and rocky Fragments on the Foe.
Hither the youthful Hero march'd his Force,
Thro' the known Ways: with Expedition seiz'd
The Post, and in th' uneven Thickets lay.—
| Medulla Poetarum Romanorum | |