There stood a forest on a mountain’s brow, Which overlook’d the shaded plains below: No sounding axe presumed those trees to bite; Coeval with the world, a venerable sight. The heroes there arrived, some spread around The toils; some search the footsteps on the ground Some from the chains the faithful dogs unbound. Of action eager, and intent in thought, The chiefs their honourable danger sought: A valley stood below, the common drain Of waters from above, and falling rain; The bottom was a moist and marshy ground, Whose edges were with bending osiers crown’d: The knotty bulrush next in order stood, And all within of reeds a trembling wood.