92 THE HISTORY AND ART 



The fliouiing crowds admire their charms, and trace 



The parents lines in every lovely face. 



Now round in rings, before their fathers, ride 



The boys, in all their military pride. 



Till Periphontes founding lafh from far, 



Gave the loud fignal of the mimick war. 



Strait in three bands dillindl they break away, 



Divide in order, and their ranks difplay. 



Swift at the fammons they return and throw, 



At once their hoftile lances at the foe. 



Then take a new excurfion on the plain, 



And now retreat, and now advance again. 



With well-diffembled rage their rivals dare, 



And pleafe the crowd with images of war. 



Alternate now they turn their backs in flight, 



Now dart their lances, and renew the fight. 



Then in a moment from the combat ceafe, 



Rejoin their fcatter'd bands, and move in peace. 



So winds delufive in a thoufand ways 



Perplext and intricate, the Cretan maze ; 



Round within round, the blind Mceanders run 



Untrac'd and dark, and end where they begun. 



The fkilful youths in fport alternate ply 



The Ihifting courfc, by turns they fight and fly. 



As dolphins gambol in the wat'ry way. 



And bounding o'er the tides in wanton circles play. 



Thefe fports Afcanius when in mighty length 



He rais'd proud Alba, glorying in her ftrength, 



Taught 



