then the yellow sand upon me threw.
"Now on my neck he seizes; now he grasps
"My slippery thighs: but only thinks to hold,
"In every part assailing. Still secure
"In bulk I stand, and he assails in vain.
"Thus stands a rock, which waves with thundering roar
"Surround; it stands unhurt in all its strength.
"A little we recede, then rush again
"To join the war: stoutly our ground we hold,
"Steady resolv'd to yield not. Foot to foot
"Fixt firm: I prone press with my ample breast,
"And hand with hand, with forehead forehead joins.
"So have I seen two mighty bulls contend,
"When each the fairest heifer of the grove
"Expects the arduous struggle to reward:
"The herds behold and tremble, witless which
"The powerful contest shall successful gain.
"Thrice while I clasp'd him close, Alcides strove
"To throw me from his breast, in vain,--the fourth
"He shook me from him, and my clasping arms
"Unloosing, instant turn'd me with his hand;
"(Truth must I speak,) and heavy on my back
"He hung. If credence may my words demand,
"Nor seek I fame through tales of false deceit,
"A mighty mountain on me seem'd to weigh:
"Scarce were my arms, with trickling sweat bedew'd,
"Loos'd from his grasp; scarce was my body freed
"From his hard gripe, when panting hard for breath,
"Ere I could strength regain, my throat he seiz'd.
"Then on the earth my knee was press'd; my mouth
"Then bit the sand. Inferior prov'd in strength,
"To arts I next betook me. Slipp'd his hands
"In form a long round serpent; while I roll'd
"In winding spires my body; while I shook
"My forked tongue with hisses dire, he laugh'd,
"And mock'd my arts; exclaiming,--snakes to kill
"I in my cradle knew; grant thou excel'st,
"O, Acheloues! others far in size,
"What art thou mated with the Hydra's bulk?
"He fertile from his wounds, his hundred heads
"Ne'er felt diminish'd, for straightway his neck,
"With two successors, brav'd the stroke again:
"Yet him I vanquish'd with his branching heads
"From blood produc'd: from every loss more stout,
"Him prostrate I o'erthrew. What hope hast thou,
"In form fallacious, who with borrow'd arms
"Now threaten'st? whom a form precarious hides?
"He said, and fast about my throat he squeez'd
"His nervous fingers; choaking, hard I strove,
"As pincer-like he press'd me, to unloose
"From his tight grasp my neck. Conquer'd in this,
"Still a