Stretch their broad plumes, and float upon the wind.

Above the assembled peers they wheel on high,

And clang their wings, and hovering beat the sky;

With ardent eyes the rival train they threat,

And shrieking loud denounce approaching fate.

They cuff, they tear; their cheeks and neck they rend,

And from their plumes huge drops of blood descend;

Then sailing o'er the domes and towers, they fly,

Full toward the east, and mount into the sky.

The wondering rivals gaze, with cares oppress'd,

And chilling horrors freeze in every breast,

Till big with knowledge of approaching woes,

The prince of augurs, Halitherses, rose:

Prescient he view'd the aerial tracks, and drew

A sure presage from every wing that flew.

"Ye sons (he cried) of Ithaca, give ear;

Hear all! but chiefly you, O rivals! hear.

Destruction sure o'er all your heads impends

Ulysses comes, and death his steps attends.

Nor to the great alone is death decreed;

We and our guilty Ithaca must bleed.

Why cease we then the wrath of heaven to stay?

Be humbled all, and lead, ye great! the way.

For lo? my words no fancied woes relate;

The Odyssey of Homer