Churn’d in his teeth the foamy venom flows, While from his mouth a blast of vapours rose, Such as the infernal Stygian waters cast; The plants around him wither in the blast. Now in a maze of rings he lies enroll’d; Now all unravell’d and without a fold; Now, like a torrent, with a mighty force Bears down the forest in his boist’rous course. Cadmus gave back, and on the lion’s spoil Sustain’d the shock, then forced him to recoil: The pointed javelin warded off his rage: Mad with his pains, and furious to engage, The serpent champs the steel, and bites the spear, Till blood and venom all the point besmear. But still the hurt he yet received was slight; For, while the champion with redoubled might Strikes home the javelin, his retiring foe Shrinks from the wound, and disappoints the blow.