And had no fear but for the foe’s escape,
Nor guessed how much the lurking enemy
Outmatched our weakened numbers. What surprise,—
I blame myself,—then, when our scouts came in
At sunset with the tidings that the foe,
Whom we thought flying from us, held the pass
Against our coming. Straight I chose a spot
Such as we might defend, and there encamped,
And would have stayed till morn, when suddenly
The stragglers on our rear were driven in