"'No dubious signs Tritonia's wrath declared.
Scarce stood her image in the camp, when bright With flickering flames her staring eyeballs glared.
Salt sweat ran down her; thrice, a wondrous sight! With shield and quivering spear she sprang upright.
"Back o'er the deep," cries Calchas; "nevermore Shall Argives hope to quell the Trojan might, Till, homeward borne, new omens ye implore, And win the blessing back, which o'er the waves ye bore." XXIV.

"'So now to Argos are they gone, to gain Fresh help from heaven, and hither by surprise Shall come once more, remeasuring the main.
Thus Calchas warned them; by his words made wise This steed, for stol'n Palladium, they devise, To soothe the outrag'd goddess.

Tall and great, With huge oak-timbers mounting to the skies, They build the monster, lest it pass the gate, And like Palladium stand, the bulwark of the State.
XXV.

"'"Once had your hands," said Calchas, "dared profane Minerva's gift, dire plagues" (which Heaven forestall Or turn on him) "should Priam's realm sustain; But if by Trojan aid it scaled your wall, Proud Asia then should Pelops' sons enthrall, And children rue the folly of the sire."' His arts gave credence, and forced tears withal Snared us, whom Diomede, nor Achilles dire, Nor thousand ships subdued, nor ten years' war could tire.
XXVI.

"A greater yet and ghastlier sign remained Our heedless hearts to terrify anew.
Laocoon, Neptune's priest, by lot ordained, A stately bull before the altar slew, When lo!--the tale I shudder to pursue,-- From Tenedos in silence, side by side, Two monstrous serpents, horrible to view, With coils enormous leaning on the tide, Shoreward, with even stretch, the tranquil sea divide.
XXVII.