30
	POPE'S	TRANSLATIONS.
	With	grief	h	heard,	and	bade	the	chiefs	prepare
	To	join	his	milk-white	coursers	to	the	car	:
	He	mounts	the	seat,	Antenor	at	his	side	;
	The	gentle	steeds	through	Scaea's	gates	they	guide	:
	Next	from	the	car	descending	on	the	plain,
	Amid	the	Grecian	host	and	Trojan	train
	Slow	they	proceed	:	the	sage	Ulysses	then
	Arose,	and	with	him	rose	the	king	of	men.
	On	either	side	a	sacred	herald	stands,
	The	wine	they	mix,	and	on	each	monarch's	hands
	Pour	the	full	urn	;	then	draws	the	Grecian	lord
	His	cutlace,	sheath'd	beside	his	ponderous	sword	;
	From	the	sign'd	victims	crops	the	curling	hair,
	The	heralds	part	it,	and	the	princes	share	;
	Then	loudly	thus	before	th'	attentive	bands
	He	calls	the	gods,	and	spreads	his	lifted	hands	:
	"	O	first	and	greatest	power	!	whom	all	obey,
	Who	high	on	Ida's	holy	mountain	sway,
	Eternal	Jove	!	and	you	bright	orb	that	roll
	From	east	lowest,	and	view	from	pole	to	pole	!
	Thou	mother	Earth	!	and	all	ye	living	floods	!
	-Infernal	furies	and	Tartarian	gods,
	Who	rule	the	dead,	and	horrid	woes	prepare
	For	perjur'd	kings,	and	all	who	falsely	swear	J
	Hear,	and	be	witness.	If,	by	Paris	slain,
	Great	Menelaus	press	the	fatal	plain	;
	The	dame	and	treasures	let	the	Trojan	keep,
	And	Greece	returning	plough	the	watery	deep.
	If	by	my	brother's	lance	the	Trojan	bleed;
	Be	his	the	wealth	and	beauteous	dame	decreed	:
	Th'	appointed	fine	let	Ilion	justly	pay,
	And	every	age	record	the	signal	day.
	Thus	if	the	Phrygians	shall	refuse	to	yield,
	Arms	must	revenge,	and	Mars	decide	the	field."
	With	that	the	chief	the	tender	victims	slew,
	And	in	the	dust	their	bleeding	bodies	threw.
	The	vital	spirit	issued	at	the	wound,
	And	left	the	members	quivering	on	the	ground.
	From	the	same	urn	they	drink	the	mingled	wine,
	And	add	libations	to	the	powers	divine.
	While	thus	their	prayers	united	mount	the	sky	;
	?'	Hear,	mighty	Jove	!	and	hear,	ye	gods	on	high!
	And	may	their	blood,	who	first	the	league	con
	found,
	Shed	like	this	wine,	distain	the	thirsty	ground	;
	May	all	their	consorts	serve	promiscuous	Inst,
	And	all	their	race	be	scatter'd	as	the	dust	!"
	Thus	either	host	their	imprecations	join'd,
	Which	Jove	refus'd,	and	mingled	with	the	wind.
	The	rites	now	finish'd,	reverend	Priam	rose,
	And	thus	express'd	a	heart	o'ercharg'd	w	ith	woes	.
	"	Ye	Greeks	and	Trojans,	let	the	chiefs	engage,
	But	spare	the	weakness	of	my	feeble	age	:
	In	yonder	walls	that	object	let	me	shun,
	Nor	view	the	danger	of	so	dear	a	son.
	Whose	arms	shall	conquer,	and	what	prince	shall
	fall,
	Heaven	only	knows,	for	Heaven	disposes	all."
	This	said,	the	hoary	king	no	longer	stay'd,
	But	on	his	car	the	slaughter'd	victims	laid	;
	Then	seiz'd	the	reins	his	gentle	steeds	to	guide,
	And	drove	to	Troy,	Antenor	at	his	side.
	Bold	Hector	and	Ulysses	now	dispose
	The	lists	of	combat,	and	the	ground	enclose	:
	Ni/xt	to	decide	by	sacred	lots	prepare,
	Who	first	shnll	lanch	his	pointed	spear	in	air.
	The	people	pray	with	elevated	hands,	[bands
	And	words	like	these	are	heard	through	all	the
	"	Immortal	Jove,	high	Heaven's	sutieri^ur	lord,
	Pn	lofty	Ida's	holy	mount	adfcr'd	t
	Whoe'er	involv'd	us	in	this	dire	debate,
	Oh	give	that	author	of	the	war	to	fate
	And	shades	eternal	!	let	division	cease,
	And	joyful	nations	join	in	leagues	of	peace.'*
	With	eyes	averted,	Hector	hastes	to	turn
	[Tie	lots	of	fight,	and	shakes	the	brazen	urn.
	Then,	Paris,	titine	leap'd	forth;	by	fatal	chance
	Ordain'd	the	first	to	whirl	the	weighty	lance.
	h	armies	sat	the	combat	to	survey,
	3eside	each	chief	his	azure	armour	lay,
	And	round	the	lists	the	generous	coursers	neigh.
	The	beauteous	warrior	now	arrays	for	fight,
	;n	gilded	arms	magnificently	bright	:
	The	purple	citishes	clasp	his	thighs	around,
	With	flowers	adorn'd	x	with	silver	buckles	boimd	:
	Lycnon's	corslet	his	fair	body	drest,
	Brac'd	in,	and	fitted	to	his	softer	breast:
	\	radiant	baldric,	o'er	his	shoulder	ty'd,
	Sustain'd	the	sword	that	glitter'd	at	his	side	:
	His	youthful	face	a	polish'd	helm	o'erspread	;
	The	waving	horse-hair	nodded	on	his	head	;
	His	figur'd	shield,	a	shining	orb,	he	takes,
	And	in	his	hand	a	pointed	javelin	shakes.
	With	equal	speed,	and	fir'd	by	equal	charms,
	The	Spartan	hero	sheaths	his	limbs	in	arms.
	Now	round	the	lists	the	admiring	armies	stand,
	With	javelins	fix'd,	the	Greek	and	Trojan	band.
	Amidst	the	dreadful	vale,	the	chiefs	advance
	All	pale	with	rage,	and	shake	the	threatening	lance.
	The	Trojan	first	his	shining	javelin	threw	;
	Full	on	Atrides'	ringing	shield	it	flew;
	Nor	pierc'd	the	brazen	orb,	but	with	a	hound
	Leap'd	from	the	buckler,	blunted	on	the	ground.
	Atrides	then	his	massy	lance	prepares,
	In	act	to	throw,	but	first	prefers	his	prayers	:
	"	Give	me,	great	Jove	!	to	punish	lawless	lust,
	And	lay	the	Trojan	gasping	in	the	dust	:
	Destroy	th'	aggressor,	aid	my	righteous	cause,
	Avenge	the	breach	of	hospitable	laws,
	Let	this	example	future	times	reclaim,
	And	guard	from	wrong	fair	friendship's	holy	name."
	He	said,	and	pois'd	in	air	the	javelin	sent,
	Through	Paris'	shield	the	forceful	weapon	went,
	His	corselet	pierces,	and	his	garment	rends,
	And,	glancing	downward,	near	his	flank	descends.
	The	wary	Trojan,	bending	from	the	blow,
	Eludes	the	death,	and	disappoints	his	foe	:
	But	fierce	Atrides	wav'd	his	sword,	and	utrook
	Full	on	his	casque	;	the	crested	helmet	shook	;
	The	brittle	steel,	unfaithful	to	his	hand,
	Broke	short	:	the	fragments	glitter'd	on	the	sand-
	The	raging	warrior	to	the	spacious	skies
	Rais'd	his	upbraiding	voice,	and	.angry	eyes:
	"	Then	is	it	vain	in	Jove	himself	to	trust	?
	And	is	it	thus	the	gods	assist	the	just	?
	When	crimes	provoke	us,	Heaven	success	denies;
	The	dart	falls	harmless,	and	the	falchion	flies."
	Furious	he	said,	and	tow'rd	the	Gn-eian	crew
	(Sc-iz'd	by	the	crest)	th'	unhappy	warrior	drew	;	.
	Struggling	he	follovv'd,	while	th'	embroider'd
	thong,
	That	ty'd	his	helmet,	dragjr'd	the	chief	along.
	Then	had	his	ruin	crown'd	All	ides'	joy,
	But	Venus	trembles}	for	the	prince	of	Troy	:
	Unborn	she	came,	and	burst	the	col"*ii	band.;
	And	left	an	empty	hclmc-t.	in	his	hand.
	The	casque,	enrag'd,	amidst	the	Greeks	he	threw;
	The	Greeks	with	smiles	the	polish'd	trophy	view-
	Then,	as	once	more	he	lifts	the	deadly	dart,
	In	thirst	oi'	vengeance,	at	his	rival's	heart,


HOMER'S	ILIAD.	BOOK	IV.
	What	gifts	from	Troy,	from	Paris	would'st	thou	jr.iin,
	Thy	country's	foe,	the	Grecian	glory	slain	!
	Then	seize	th'	occasion,	dare	the	mighty	deed,
	Aim	at	his	breast,	and	may	that	aim	succeed	!
	But	fust,	to	speed	the	shut't,	address	th^	row
	To	Lycian	Phcebus	with	the	silver	bow,
	And	swear	the	firstlings	of	thy	flock	to	pay
	On	Zelia's	altars,	to	the	god	of	day."
	He	heard,	and	madly,	at	the	motion	pleas'd,
	His	polish'd	bow	with	hasty	rashness	seiz'd.
	'Twas	form'd	of	horn,	and	smooth'd	with	artfu!
	A	mountain	goat	resign'd	the	shining	spoil,	[toil,
	Who	pierc'd	long	since	beneath	his	arrows	bled	:
	The	stately	quarry	on	the	ciifi's	lay	dead,
	And	sixteen	palms	his	brow's	large	honours	spread	:
	The	workman	join'd,	and	shap'd	the	bended	horns,
	And	beaten	gold	each	taper	point	adorns.
	This,	by	the	Greeks	unseen,	the	warrior	bends,
	Screen'd	by	the	shields	of	his	surrounding	friends.
	Then-	meditates	the	mark;	and,	couching	low,
	Fits	the	sharp	arrow	to	the	well-strung	bow.
	One	from	a	hundred	feather'd	deaths	he	chose,
	Fated	to	wound,	and	cause	of	future	woes,
	Then	offers	vows	with	hecatombs	to	crown
	Apollo's	altars	in	his	native	town.
	.Vow	with	full	force	the	yielding	horn	he	bends,
	Drawn	to	an	arch,	and	joins	the	doubling	ends	;
	Close	to	his	breast,	he	strains	the	nerve	below,
	Till	the	barb'd	point	approach	the	circling	bow;
	Th'	impatient	weapon	whizzes	on	the	wing	:
	Sounds	the	tough	horn,	and	twangs	the	quivering
	But	thee.Atrides!	in	that	dangerous	hourfstrinjj.
	The	gods	forget	not,	nor	thy	guardian	power.
	Pallas	assists,	and	(weaken'd	in	its	force)
	Diverts	the	weapon	from	its	destin'd	course	:
	So	from	her	babe,	when	slumber	seals	his	eye,
	The	watchful	mother	wafts	th'	eny;-nom'd	fly-
	Just	where	his	belt	with	golden	buckles	jojn'd,
	Where	linen	folds	the	double	corslet	lin'd,
	She	turn'd	the	shaft,	which^	hissing	from	above,
	Pass'd	the	broad	belt,	and	through	the	corsjet
	drove	:
	The	folds	it	pierc'd,	the	plaited	linen	tore,
	And	raz'd	the	skin,	and	drew	the	purple	gore.
	As	when	some	stat-	K	Trappings	are	decreed
	To	grace	a	monarch	on	his	bounding	steed,
	A	nymph,	in	Caria	or	Maeonia	bred,
	Stains	the	pure	ivory	with	a	lively	red:
	With	equal	lustre	various	colours	vie,
	The	shining	whiteneps.	and	the	Tyrian	dye:
	So,	great	Atrides	1	ahow'd	tliy	sacred	blood,
	As	down	thy	snowy	thigh	distjll'd	the	streaming/lood.
	With	horrour	seiz'd,	the	king	of	men	dt	scried
	The	shaft	infiVd,	and	saw	the	gushing	tide	:
	Nor	less	thr:	Spartan	fear'd	before	he	found
	The	shining	barb	appcar'cl	above	the	wound.
	Then,	with	a	sigh,	that	heav'd	his	manly	breast,
	The	royal	brother	thus	his	grief	exprest,
	And	grasp'd	his	hands	;	while	all	the	f	Trer-ks	around
	With	answering	sighs	return'd	the	plaintive	sound	:
	"	Oh,	dear	as	life	!	did	I	for	this	agree
	The	solemn	truce,	a	fatal	truce	to	thec	!
	Wt-rt	thou	expos'd	to	all	the	hostile	train,
	To	tight	for	Greece,	and	conquer	to	he	slain	?
	The	race	of	Trojans	in	thy	ruin	join,
	And	faith	is	scorn'd	by	all	the.	perjur'd	lino.
	Not	thus	our	vow>,	confirm'd	with	wine	and	gore,
	Those	hands	we	plighted,	and	those	oaths	we	swore,
	Shall	all	be	vain	:	when	Heaven's	revenge	is	slow,
	Jove	but	prepares	to	striko	the	fitrct-r	blow.
	VOL.	XIX.
	The	day	shall	come,	that	great	avenging	d:iy,
	Which	Troy's	proud	glories	in	the	dust	sh;il!	lay.
	When	Priam's	powers	and	Priam's	self	shall	fall,
	And	one	prodigious	ruin	swallow	all.
	.1	seethe	go:!,	already,	from	the	pole
	Bare	his	red	arm,	and	bid	the	thunder	roll	j
	I	sec	th'	eternal	all	his	fury	shed,
	And	shake	his	asgis	o'er	their	guilty	head,
	Such	mighty	woes	on	perjur'd	princes	wait	;
	But	thou,	alas!	deserv'st	a	happier	fate.
	Still	mfist	I	mourn	the	period	of	thy	days,
	And	only	mourn,	without	my	share	of	praise	?
	Depriv'd	of	tl:e.,	the	heartless	Greeks	no	more
	Shall	dream	of	conquests	on	the	hostile	shore	;
	Troy	seiz'd	of	Helen,	and	our	glory	lost,
	Thy	bones	shall	moulder	on	a	foreign	coast	:
	While	some	proud	Trojan	thus	insulting	cries,
	(And	spurns.	the	dust	where	Menelaiis	lies)
	"	Such	are	the	trophies	Greece,	from	Ilion	brings,
	And	such	the	conquests	of	her	king	of	kings	!
	Lo	his	proud	vessels	scatter'd	o'er	the	main,
	And	unreveng'd	his	mighty	brother	slain."
	Oh	!	ere	that	dire	disgrace	shall	blast	my	fame,
	O'erwhelm	me,	Earth	!	and	hide	a	monarch's
	shame."
	He	said	:	a	leader's	and	a	brother's	fears
	Possess	his	soul,	which	thus	the	Spartan	cheers	:
	"	Let	not	thy	words	the	warmth	of	Greece	abate	;
	The	feeble	dart	is	guiltless	of	my	fate	:
	Stiff	with	the	rich	embroider'd	work	around,
	My	varied	belt	repoll'd	the	flying	wound."	[friend,
	To	whom	the	king	:	"	my	brother	and	my
	Thus,	always	thus,	may	Heaven	thy	life	defr	nrt	!
	Now	seek	some	skilful	hand,	whose	powerful	art
	May	stanch	th'	effusion,	and	extract	the	dart.
	Herald,	be	swift,	and	bid	Machaon	bring
	His	speedy	succour	to	the	Spartan	king
	Pierc'd	with	a	winged	shaft,	(the	deed	of	Troy)
	The	Grecian's	sorrow,	and	the	Dardan's	joy."
	With	hasty	zeal	the	swift	Talthybi	us	flies	;Tcyp5,
	Through	the	thick	files	he	darts	his	searching
	And	finds	Machaon,	where	sublime	he	stands
	In	arms	encircled	with	his	native	bands.
	Then	thus	:	"	Machaon,	to	the	king	repair,
	His	wounded	brother	claims	thy	timely	care	j
	Pierc'd	by	some	Lycian	or	Dardanian	bow,
	A	grief	to	us,	a	triumph	to	the	foe."
	The	heavy	tidings	griev'd	the	god-like	man	:
	Swift	to	his	snci'our	through	the	ranks	he	ran	;
	The	dauntless	king	yet	standing	firm	h^	found,
	And	all	the	chiefs	iti	deep	concern	around.
	Where	to	the	steely	point	the	rfed	was	jojn'd,
	The	shaft	he	drew,	but	left	the	head	behind.
	Straight	the	broad	belt	with	cray	embroidery	erac'd,
	He	loos'd	;	the	corslet	from	his	breast	unbrac'd	;
	Thensuok'd	the	blood,	and	sovereign	balm	int'us'd,
	Which	Chiron	gave,	and	.^'sculapius	used.
	While	ruund	the	prince	the	Greeks	employ
	their	care,
	The	Trojans	rush	tumultuous	to	the	war	j
	Once	more	they	glitter	in	refulgent	arms,
	Once	more	the	fields	are	fill'd	with	dire	alarms.
	Nor	had	you	seen	the	king	of	men	appear
	Confus'd,	inactive,	or	surpris'd	with	fear	j
	But	fond	of	glory	with	severe	delight,
	His	beating	bosom	claim'd	the	rising	fit'ht,
	No	longer	with	his	warlike	steeds	ht-	-.tny'd,
	Or	press'd	the	car	with	polish'd	brass	inlaid:
	But	left	F.urymodon	the	rein*	to	guide	;
	The	fiery	coursers	s>:io,rteu	at	kis	side,
	D


POPE'S	TRANSLATIONS.
	There,	'to	the	sons	of	Mars,	in	council	found,
	He	K*>M	bis	voice	;	the	host	stood	listening	round	:
	"	Ye	sons	of	/Hreus,	and	ye	Greeks,	give	ear!
	The	words	of	Troy	and	Troy's	great	monarch	hear,
	Ploas'drnay	ye	hear	(so	Heaven	succeed	my	prayers^,
	What	Paris,	author	of	the	war,	declares.
	The	spoils	and	treasures	he	to	Ilion	bore,
	(On,	had	he	perish'd	ere	they	touch'd	our	shore!)
	He	proffers	injur'd	Greece,	with	large	increase
	Of	added	Trojan	wealth,	to	buy	the	peace.
	But	to	restore	the	beauteous	bride	again,
	This	Greece	demands,	and	Troy	requests	in	vain.
	Jfext,	O	ye	chiefs	!	we	ask	a	truce,	to	burn
	Our	sldughter'd	heroes,	and	their	bones	innrn.
	That	done,	once	more	the	fate	of	war	be	try'd,
	And	whose	the	conquest,	mighty	Jove	decide	!"
	The	Greeks	gave	ear,	but	none	the	silence	broke	:
	At	length	Tydidcs	rose,	and	rising	spoke	:
	"Oh,	take	not,	friends!	defrauded	of	your	fame,
	Their	proffer'd	wealth,	nor	ev'n	the	Spartan	dame.
	Let	conquest	make	them	ours	:	fate	shakes	their
	And	Troy	already	totters	to	hr	fall."	[wall,
	.Th'	admiring	chiefs,	and	all	the	Grecian	name,
	'With	general	shouts	return'*!	him	loud	acclaim.
	Then	thns	the	king	of	kings	rejects	the	peace	:
	"	Herald	;	in	him	thou	hear'st	the	voioe	of	Greece.
	For	what	n	mains	;	let	funeral	flames	be	fed
	With	heroes'	corpse	;	I	war	not	with	the	dead	:
	Ho	Fearr-h	your	slaughter'd	chiefs	on	yonder	plain,
	And	gratify	the	manes	of	the	slain	:
	Be	witness,	Jove,	whose	thunder	rolls	on	high	!"
	He	said,	and	rear'd	his	sceptre	to	the	sky.
	To	sacred	Troy,	where	all	her	princes	lay
	To	wait	th'	event,	the	herald	bent	his	way.
	He	came,	and	standing	in	the	midst,	explain'd
	The	peace	rejected,	but	the	truce	obtained.
	Straight	to	their	several	cares	the	Trojans	move	;
	Some	search	the	plains,	some	fell	the	sounding
	grove:
	Nor	less	the	Greeks,	descending	on	the	shore,
	Hew'd	the	green	forests,	and	the	bodies	bore.
	And	now	from	forth	the	chambers	of	the	main,
	To	shed	his	sacred	light	on	Earth	again,
	Arose	the	golden	chariot	of	the	day,
	And	tipt	the	mountains	with	a	purple	ray.
	In	mingled	throngs	the	Greek	and	Trojan	train
	Though	heaps	of	carnage	search	the	mournful	plain.
	Scarce	coufd	the	friend	his	slaughter'd	friend	ex
	plore,
	With	dtst	dishbnour'd,	and	deform'd	with	gore."
	The	wounds	they	wash'd,	their	pious	tears	they	shed
	And,	laid	along	their	cars,	deplor'd	t!he	dead	;
	Sage	Priam	check'd	their	.grief:	with	silent	haste
	The	bodies	decent	on	their	piles	were	plac'd	:
	With	melting	hearts	the	cold	remains	they	burn'd
	And	sadly	flow	to	sacred	Troy	returned.
	Nor	I'-ss	the	Greeks	their	pious	sorrows'shed,
	And	decent	on	the	pile	dispose	the	dead	;
	The	cold	remains	consume	with	equaj	care;
	And,	sioivly,	sadly,	to	their	fleet	repnir.
	Now,	ere	the	morn	had	stroak'd	with	reddening	ligh
	1	h<	j	doubtful	confines	of	the	day	and	night	;
	AbMit	the	dying	flames	the	Greeks	appeared,
	And	round	the	pile	a	general	tomb	they	rear'd.
	i,	to	secure	the	camp	and	naval	powers,
	They	rnis'd	embattled	walls	with	lofty	towers	:
	T'rom	space	to	space	were	ample	gates	aronnd,
	For	passing	chariots	;	and	a	trench	profound,
	Of	l;rgw	extent	;	and	deep	in	earth,	below,
	Strong	piles	infix'd	stood	adverse	to	the	foe.
	So	toil'd	the	Greeks	;	meanwhile	the	gods	above
	n	shining	circle	round	their	father	Jove,
	Amaz'd	beheld	the	wondrous	works	of	man	:
	1'hen	he,	whose	trident	shakes	the	Kart.h,	began	:
	"	What	mortals	henceforth	shall	our	power	adore,
	Our	fanes	frequent,	our	oracles	implore,
	if	the	proud	Grecians	thus	successful	boast
	Their	rising	bulwarks	on	the	sea-beat	coast	?
	See	the	long	walls	extending	to	the	main,
	No	god	consulted,	and	no	victim	slain	!
	Their	fame	shall	fill	the	world's	remotest	ends	;
	Wide,	as	the	morn	her	golden	beam	extends,
	While	old	Laomedon's	divine	abodes,
	Those	radiant	structures	rais'd	by	labouring	gods,
	Shall,	raz'd	and	lost,	in	long	oblivion	sleep."
	Thus	spoke'	the	hoary	monarch	of	the	deep.
	Th'	almighty	thuriderer	with	a	frown	replies,
	That	clouds	the	world,	and	blackens	half	the	skies	:
	"	Strong	god	of	Ocean	!	thou,	whose	rage	can	make
	The	solid	Earth's	eternal	basis	shake	;
	What	cause	of	fear	from	mortal	works	could	move
	The	meanest	subject	of	our	realms	above	?
	Where'er	the	Sun's	refulgent	rays	are	cast,
	Thy	power	is	honour'd,	and	thy	fame	shall	last.
	Rut	yon	proud	work	no	future	age	shall	view,
	No	trace	remain	where	once	the	glory	grew,
	The	sapp'd	foundations	by	thy	force	shall	fall,
	And,	whelm'd	beneath	thy	waves,	drop	the	huge
	wall	:
	Vast	drifts	of	sand	shall	change	the	former	shore	;
	The	ruin	vanish'd,	and	the	name	no	more."
	Thus	they	in	Heaven	;	whole	o'er	the	Grecian
	The	rolling	Sun	descending	to	the	main	[train,
	Beheld	the	iinish'd	work.	Their	bulls	they	slew	:
	Black	from	the	tents	the	savoury	vapours	flew.
	And	now	the	fleet,	arriv'd	from	Lemnos'	stands,
	Wi	thBacchus'	blessings	cheer'd	the	generous	bands.
	Of	fragrant	wine	the	rich	Eunaeus	sent
	A	thousand	measures	to	the	royal	tent.
	(EunaeuSj	whom	Hypsipyle	of	yore
	To	Jason,	shepherd	of	his	people,	bore)
	The	rest	they	purchas'd	at	their	proper	cost,
	And	well	the	plenteous	freight	supply'd	the	host	:
	Each,	in	exchange,	proportion'd	treasures	gave	:
	Some	brass,	or	iron	;	some	an	ox,	or	slave.
	All	night	they	feast,	the	Greek	and	Trojan	powers;
	Those	on	the	fields,	and	these	within	their	towers.
	But	Jove	averse	the	signs	of	wrath	display'd,
	And	shot	red	lightnings	through	the	gloomy	shade	:
	Humbled	they	stood;	pale	horrour	seiz'd	on	all,
	While	the	deep	thunder	shook	th'	aerial	hall.
	Each	pour'd	to	Jove,	before	the	bowl	was	crown'd	:
	And	large	libations	drench'd	the	thirsty	ground	:
	ThH	late,	refresh'd	with	sleep	from	toils	of	fight,
	Enjoy'd	the	balmy	blessings	of	the	night.
	THE	ILIAD.
	BOOK	virt.
	ARGUMENT.
	THE	SECOND	BATTLE,	AND	THE	DISTRESS	OF	THE
	CREEK*.
	JUPITER	assembles	a	council	of	the	deities,	and
	threatens	them	with	the	pains	of	Tartarus	if
	they	assist	either	side	:	Minerva	only	obtains	of


74
	POPE'S	TRANSLATIONS.
	Safe	from	the	darts,	the	care	of	Heaven	he	stood,
	Amidst	alarms,	and	death,	and	dust,	and	blood.
	Now	past	the	tomb	where	ancient	Ilus	lay,
	Through	the	mid	field	the	routed	urge	their	way	;
	Where	the	wild	figs	th'	adjoining	summit	crown,
	That	path	they	take,	and	speed	to	reach	the	town.
	As	swift	Atrides	with	loud	shouts	pursued,
	Hot	with	his	toil,	and	bath'd	in	hostile	blood,
	Now	near	the	beech-tree,	and	the	Scaean	gates,
	The	hero	halts,	and	his	associates	waits.
	Meanwhile	on	every	side,	around	the	plain,
	Dispers'd,	disorder'd,	fly	the	Trojan	train	:
	So	flies	a	herd	of	beeves,	that	here	dismay'd
	The	lion's	roaring	through	the	midnight	shade;
	On	heaps	they	tumble	with	successless	haste	:
	The	savage	seizes,	draws,	and	rends	the	last	:
	Not	with	less	fury	stern	Atrides	flew,
	Still	press'd	the	rout,	and	still	the	hindmost	slew;
	Hurl'd	from	their	cars,	the	bravest	chiefs	are	kill'd,
	And	rage,	and	death,	and	carnage,	load	the	field.
	Now	storms	the	victor	at	the	Trojan	wall	;
	Surveys	the	towers,	and	meditates	their	fall.
	But	Jove	descending,	shook	th'	Idzan	hills,
	And	down	their	summits	pour'd	a	hundred	rills:
	Th'	unkindled	lightnings	in	his	hand	he	took,
	And	thus	the	many-colour'd	maid	bespoke	:
	"	Iris,	with	haste	thy	golden	wings	display,
	To	godlike	Hector	this	our	word	convey
	While	Agamemnon	wastes	the	ranks	around,
	Fights	in	the	front,	and	bathes	with	blood	the
	ground,
	Bid	him	give	way;	but	issue	forth	commands,
	And	trust	the	war	to	less	important	hands	,
	But	when,	or	wounded	by	the	spear	or	dart,
	That	chief	shall	mount	his	chariot,	and	depart	:
	Then	Jove	shall	string	his	arm,	and	fire	his	breast,
	Then	to	her	ships	shall	flying	Greece	be	press'd,
	Till	to	the	main	the	burning	Sun	descend,
	And	sacred	Night	her	awful	shade	extend."
	He	spoke,	and	Iris	at	his	word	obey'd	;
	On	wings	of	winds	descends	the	various	maid.
	The	chief	she	found	amidst	the	ranks	of	war,
	Close	to	the	bulwarks,	on	his	glittering	car.
	The	goddess	then	:	"	O	son	of	Priam,	hear!
	From	Jove	I	come,	and	his	Wgh	mandate	bear
	While	Agamemnon	wastes	the	ranks	around,
	Fights	in	the	front,	and	bathes	with	blood	the
	ground,
	Abstain	from	fight	;	yet	issue	forth	commands,
	And	trust	the	war	to	less	important	hands.
	But	when,	or	wounded	by	the	spear	or	dart,
	The	chief	shall	mount	his	chariot,	and	depart	:
	Then	Jove	shall	string	thy	arm,	and	fire	thy	breast,
	Then	to	her	ships	shall	flying	Greece	be	prest,
	Till	to	the	main	the	burning	Sun	descend,
	And	sacred	Night	her	awful	shade	extend."
	She	said,	and	vanish'd	:	Hector	with	a	bound,
	Springs	from	his	chariot	on	the	trembling	ground,
	In	clanging	arms	:	he	grasps	in	either	hand
	A	pointed	lance,	and	speeds	from	band	to	band	;
	Revives	their	ardour,	turns	their	steps	from	flight,
	And	wakes	anew	the	dying	flames	of	fight.
	They	stand	to	arms	:	the	Greeks	their	onset	dare,
	Condense	their	powers,	and	wait	the	coming	war.
	New	force,	new	spirits,	to	each	breast	returns	:
	The	fight	renew'd	with	fiercer	fury	burns:
	The	king	leads	on	;	all	fix	on	him	their	eye,
	And	learn	from	him	to	conquer,	or	to	die.
	Ye	sacred	Nine,	celestial	Muses	!	tell,
	Who	fac'd	him	first,	and	by	his	prowess	fell	!
	The	great	Iphidamas,	the	bold	and	yonng,
	From	sage	Antenor	and	Theano	sprung	;
	Whom	from	his	youth	his	grandsire	Cisseus	bred,
	And	nurs'd	in	Thrace,	where	snowy	flocks	are	fed.
	Scarce	did	the	down	his	rosy	cheeks	invest,
	And	early	honour	warm	his	generous	breast,
	When	the	kind	sire	consign'd	his	daughter's
	(Theano's	sister)	to	his	youthful	arms.	[charms
	But	eaird	by	glory	to	the	wars	of	Troy,
	He	leaves	untasted	the	first	fruits	of	joy	;
	From	his	lov'd	bride	departs	with	melting	eyes,
	And	swift	to	aid	his	dearer	country	flie?.
	With	twelve	black	ships	he	reach'd	Percope's
	strand,
	Thence	took	the	long	laborious	march	by	land.
	Now	fierce	for	fame	before	the	ranks	he	springs,
	Towering	in	arms,	and	braves	the	king	of	kings.
	Atridcs	first	discharg'd	the	missive	spear	;
	The	Trojan	stoop'd,	the	javelin	pass'd	in	air.
	Then	near	the	corselet,	at	the	monarch's	heart,
	With	all	his	strength,	the	youth	directs	his	dart:
	But	the	broad	belt,	with	plates	of	silver	bound,
	The	point	rebated,	and	repelPd	the	wound.
	Encumber'd	with	the	dart,	Atrides	stands,
	Till,	grasp'd	with	force,	he	wrench'd	it	from	his
	hands,
	At	once	his	weighty	sword	discharg'd	a	wound
	Full	on	his	neck,	that	fell'd	him	to	the	ground.
	Stretch'd	in	the	dust	th'	unhappy	warrior	lies,
	And	sleep	eternal	seals	his	swimming	eyes.
	Oh	worthy	better	fate	!	oh	early	slain	!
	Thy	country's	friend	;	and	virtuous,	though	in	vain	!
	No	more	the	youth	shall	join	his	consort's	side,
	At	once	a	virgin,	and	at	once	a	bride	!
	No	more	with	presents	her	embraces	meet,
	Or	lay	the	spoils	of	conquest	at	her	feet,
	On	whom	his	passion,	lavish	of	his	store,
	Bestow'd	so	much,	and	vainly	promis'd	more	!
	Unwept,	uncover'd,	on	the	plain	he	lay,
	While	the	proud	victor	bore	his	arms	away.
	Coon,	Antenor's	eldest	hope,	was	nigh	:
	Tears,	at	the	sight,	came	starting	from	his	eye,
	While	pierc'd	with	grief	the	much-lov'd	youth	he
	view'd,
	And	the	pale	features,	now	deform'd	with	blood	:
	Then	with	his	spear,	unseen,	his	time	he	took,
	?\im'd	at	the	king,	and	near	his	elbOw	strook.
	The	thrilling	steel	transpierc'd	the	brawny	part,
	And	through	his	arm	stood	forth	the	barbed	dart.
	Surpris'd	the	monarch	feels,	yet	void	of	fear
	On	Coon	rushes	with	his	lifted	spear	:
	His	brother's	corpse	the	pious	Trojan	draws,
	And	calls	his	country	to	assert	his	cause,
	Defends	him	breathless	on	the	sanguine	field,
	And	o'er	the	body	-spreads	his	ample	shield.
	Atrides,	marking	an	unguarded	part,
	Transfix'd	the	warrior	with	the	brazen	dart	;
	Prone	on	his	brother's	bleeding	breast	he	lay,
	The	monarch's	falchion	lopp'd	his	head	away	:
	The	social	shades	the	same	dark	journey	go,
	And	join	each	other	in	the	realms	below.
	The	vengeful	victor	rages	round	the	fields,
	With	every	weapon	art	or	fury	yields	:
	By	the	long	lance,	the	sword,	or	ponderous	ston,
	Whole	ranks	are	broken,	and	whole	troops	o'cr-
	thrown.
	This,	while	yet	warm,	distill'd	the	purple	flood	;
	But	when	the	wound	grew	stiff	with	clotted	blood,
	Then	grinding	tortures	his	strong	bosom	rend,
	Less	keen	those	darts	the	fierce	llythise	send


HOMER'S	ILIAD.	BOOK	XI.
	(The	powers	that	cause	the	teeming	matron's	throes,
	Sad	mothers	of	unutterable	woes	!	)
	Stung	with	the	smart,	all-panting	with	the	pain,
	He	mounts	the	car,	and	gives	his	squire	the	rein	:
	Then	with	a	voice	which	fury	made	more	strong,
	And	pain	augmented,	thus	exhorts	the	throng:
	"	O	friends	!	O	Greeks	!	assert	your	honours
	Proceed,	and	finish	what	this	arm	begun	:	[won,
	I.o	!	anjrry	Jove	forbids	your	chief	to	stay,
	And	envies	half	the	glories	of	the	day."
	He	said	;	the	driver	whirls	his	length	ful	thong;
	The	horses	fly	!	the	chariot	smokes	along.
	Clouds	from	their	nostrils	the	fierce	coursers	blow,
	And	from	their	sides	the	foam	descends	in	snow;
	Shot	through	the	battle	in	a	moment's	space,
	The	wounded	monarch	at	his	tent	they	place.
	No	sooner	Hector	saw	the	king	retir'd,
	But	thus	his	Trojans	and	his	aids	he	fir'd	:
	"	Hear,	all	ye	Dardan,	all	ye	Lycian	race!
	Fam'd	in	close	fight,	and	dreadful	face	to	face,
	Now	call	to	mind	your	ancient	trophies	won,
	Your	great	forefathers'	virtues,	and	your	own,
	Behold	the	general	flies	!	deserts	his	powers	!
	Lo,	Jove	himself	declares	the	conquest	ours	!
	Now	on	yon	ranks	impel	your	foaming-	steeds;
	And,	sure	of	glory,	dare	immortal	deeds."
	With	words	like	these	the	fiery	chief	alarms
	His	fainting	host,	and	every	bosom	warms.
	As	the	bold	hunter	cheers	his	hounds,	to	tear
	The	brindled	lion,	or	the	tusky	bear	;
	With	voice	and	hand	provoke	their	doubting	heart,
	And	springs	the	foremost	with	his	lifted	dart:
	So	godlike	Hector	prompts	his	troops	to	dare	;
	Nor	prompts	alone,	but	leads	himself	the	war.
	On	the	black	body	of	the	foes	he	pours;	[showers,
	As	from	the	cloud's	deep	bosom,	swell'd	with
	A	sudden	storm	the	purple	ocean	sweeps,
	Drives	the	wild	waves,	and	tosses	all	the	deeps.
	Say,	Muse	!	when	Jove	the	Trojans'	glory	crown'd,
	Beneath	his	arm	what	heroes	bit	the	ground	?
	Assaeus,	Dolops,	and	Autonous	dy'd,
	Opites	next	was	added	to	their	side	;
	Then	brave	Hipponous	fam'd	in	many	a	fight,
	Opheltins,	Orus,	sunk	to	endless	night	:
	./Esyinnus,	Agelaus	;	all	chiefs	of	name;
	The	rest	were	vulgar	deaths,	unknown	to	fame.
	As	when	a	western	whirlwind,	charg'd	with	storms,
	Dispels	the	gather'd	clouds	that	Notus	forms;
	The	gust	continued,	\	iolent,	and	strong,
	Rolls	sable	clouds	in	heaps	on	heaps	along	;
	Now	to	the	skies	the	foaming	billows	rears,
	Now	breaks	the	surge,	and	wide	the	bottom	bares:
	Thus	raging	Hector,	with	resistless	hands,
	O'erturns,	confounds,	and	scatters	all	their	bands.
	Now	the	last	ruin	the	whole	host	appals	;
	Now	Greece	had	trembled	in	her	wooden	walls;
	But	wise	Ulysses	call'd	Tydides	forth,
	His	soul	rekindled,	and	awak'd	his	worth.
	"	And	stand	we	dcedless,	O	eternal	shame	!
	Till	Hector's	arm	involve	the	ships	in	flame	?
	Haste,	let	us	join,	and	combat	side	by	side."
	The	warrior	thus	:	and	thus	the	friend	reply'd	:
	"	No	martial	toil	I	shun,	no	danger	fear;
	Let	Hector	come	;	I	wait	his	fury	here.
	But	Jove	with	conquest	crowns	the	Trojan	train	;
	And,	Jove	our	foe,	all	human	force	is	vain."
	He	sigh'd	;	but,	sighing,	rais'd	his	vengeful	steel,
	And	from	his	car	the	proud	Thymbrseus	fell	:
	Molion,	the	charioteer,	pursued	his	lord,
	His	death	ennobled	by	Ulysses'	sword.
	There	slain,	they	loft	them	in	eternal	night,
	Then	plung'd	amidst	the	thickest	ranks	of	fight	:
	So	two	wild	boars	outstrip	the	following	hounds,
	Then	swift	revert,	and	wounds	return	for	woundc.
	Stern	Hector's	conquests	in	the	middle	plain
	Stood	check'd	awhile,	and	Greece	respir'd	again.
	The	sons	of	Merops	shone	amidst	the	war	;
	Towering	they	rode	in	one	refulgent	car	:
	In	deep	prophetic	arts	their	father	skill'd,
	Had	warn'd	his	children	from	the	Trojan	field	;
	Fate	urg'd	them	on	;	the	father	warn'd	in	vain,
	They	rush'd	to	fight,	and	perish'd	on	the	plain	!
	Their	breasts	no	more	the	vital	spirit	warms	;
	The	stern	Tydides	strips	their	shining	arms.
	Hvpirochus	by	great	Ulysses	dies,
	And	rich	Hippodamus	becomes	his	prize;
	Great	Jove	from	Ide	with	slaughter	fills	his	sight,
	And	level	hangs	the	doubtful	scale	of	fight.
	By	Tydeus'	lance	Agastrophus	was	slain,
	The	far-fam'd	hero	of	Paeonian	strain	;
	VVing'd	with	his	fears,	on	foot	he	strove	to	fly,
	His	steeds	too	distant,	and	the	foe	too	nigh	;
	Through	broken	orders,	swifter	than	the	wind
	He	fled,	but	flying	left	his	life	behind.
	This	Hector	sees,	as	his	experienc'd	eyes
	Traverse	the	files,	and	to	the.	rescue	flies;
	Shouts,	as	he	past,	the	crystal	regions	rend,
	And	moving	armies	on	his	march	attend.
	Great	Diomed	himself	was	seiz'd	with	fear,
	And	thus	bespoke	his	brother	of	the	war	:	[yield	!
	"	Mark	how	this	way	yon	bending	squadrons
	The	storm	rolls	on,	and	Hector	rules	the	field	:
	Here	stand	his	utmost	force."	The	warrior	said	;
	Swift	at	the	word	his	ponderous	javelin	fled	;
	Nor	miss'd	its	aim,	but	where	the	plumage	danc'd,
	Raz'd	the	smooth	cone,	and	thence	obliquely
	glanc'd.
	Safe	in	his	helm	(the	gift	of	Phoebus'	hands)
	Without	a	wound	the	Trojan	hero	stands	:
	But	yet	so	stunn'd,	that,	staggering-	on	the	plain,
	His	arm	and	knee	his	sinking	bulk	sustain	;
	O'er	his	dim	sight	the	misty	vapours	rise,
	And	a	short	darkness	shades	his	swimming	eyes.
	Tydides	follow'd	to	regain	his	lance	;
	While	Hector	rose,	recover'd	from	the	trance	:
	Remounts	his	car,	and	herds	amidst	the	crowd	:
	The	Greek	pursues	him,	and	exults	aloud:
	"	Once	more	thank	Phoebus	for	thy	forfeit	breath,
	Or	thank	that	swiftness	which	outstrips	the	death.
	Well	by	Apollo	are	thy	prayers	repaid,
	And	oft	that	partial	power	has	lent	his	aid.
	Thou	shall	not	long	the	death	deserv'd	withstand,
	If	any	god	assist	Tydides'	hand.
	Fly	then,	inglorious	!	but	thy	flight,	this	day,	.
	Whole	hecatombs	of	Trojan	ghosts	shall	pay."
	Him,	while	u.-	triumph'd,	Paris	ey'd	from	far
	(The	spouse	of	Helen,	the	fair	cause	of	war)
	Around	the	fields	his	feather'd	shafts	he	sent,
	From	ancient	llus'	ruin'd	monument;
	Behind	the	column	plac'd,	he	bent	his	bow,
	Ami	wing'd	an	arrow	at	th'	unwary	foe;
	Just	as	he	stoop'd,	Agastrophus's	crest
	To	seize,	and	drew	the	corselet	from	his	breast,
	The	bow-string	twang'd	;	nor	flow	the	sliat'r	in	vain,
	But	pierc'd	his	foot,	and	nail'd	it	to	the	plain.
	The	laughing	Trojan,	with	a	joyful	spring,
	Leaps	from	his	ambush,	and	insults	the	king.
	"	He	bleeds!"	he	cries,	"	some	god	has	sped
	my	dart;
	Would	the	same	god	had	fixt	it	in	his	heart	!


HOMER'S	ILIAD.	BOOK	XIII.
	87
	A	dropping	sweat	creeps	cold	on	every	part,
	jigaiust	his	bosom	beats	his	quivering	heart	;
	Terrour	and	death	in	his	wild	eye-balls	stare	;
	With	chattering	teeth	he	stands,	and	stiffening	hair,
	And	looks	a	bloodless	image	of	despair	!
	Not	so	the	brave	still	dauntless,	still	the	same,
	Vnchang'd	his	colour,	and	unmov'd	his	frame;
	Compos	d	his	thought,	determin'd	is	his	eye,
	And	fix'd	his	soul,	to	conquer	or	to	die	:
	If	aught	disturb	the	tenour	of	his	breast,
	'Tis	bnt	the	wish	to	strike	before	the	rest.
	"	In	such	assay*	thy	blameless	worth	is	known,
	And	every	art	of	dangerous	war	thy	own.
	By	chance	of	fight	whatever	wounds	you	bore,
	Those	wounds	were	glorious	all,	and	all	before	;
	Such	as	may	teach,	'twas	still	thy	brave	delight
	T'	oppose	thy	bosom	where	the	foremost	fight.
	But	why,	like	infants,	cold	to	honour's	charms,
	Stand	we	to	talk,	when	glory	calls	to	arms	?
	Go	from	my	conquer'd	spears	the	choicest	take,
	And	to	their	owners	send	them	nobly	back."
	Swift	as	the	word	bold	Merion	snatch'd	a	spear,
	And,	breathing	slaughter,	follow'd	to	the	war.
	So	Mars	armipotent	invades	the	plain
	(The	wide	destroyer	of	the	race	of	man.)
	Terrour,	his	best-lov'd	son,	attends	his	course,
	Arm'd	w	ith	stern	boldness,	and	enormous	force	;
	The	pride	of	haughty	warriors	to	confound,
	And	lay	the	strength	of	tyrants	on	the	ground	:
	From	Thrace	they	fly,	call'd	to	the	dire	alarms
	Of	warring	Phlegyians,	and	Ephyrian	armsj
	Jnvok'd	by	both,	relentless,	they	dispese
	To	these	glad	conquest,	murderous	rout	to	those.
	So	march'd	ths	leaders	of	the	Cretan	train,
	And	their	bright	arms	shot	horrour	o'er	the	plain.
	Then	first	spake	Merion	:	"	Shall	we	join	the
	right,
	Or	combat	in	the	centre	of	the	fight	?
	Or	to	the	left	u	r	wanted	succour	lend	?
	Hazard	and	fame	all	parts	alike	attend."
	*"	Not	in	the	centre,"	Idomen	reply'd	:
	"	Our	ablest	chieftains	the	main	battle	guide	;
	Each	godlike	Ajax	makes	that	post	his	oare,
	And	gallant	Teucer	deals	destruction	there	:
	Skill'd,	or	with	shafts	to	gall	the	distant	field,
	Or	bear	close	battle	on	the	sounding	shield.
	These	can	the	rage	of	haughty	Hector	tame	:
	Safe	in	their	arms,	the	navy	fars	no	flame	;
	Till	Jove	himself	descends,	his	bolts	to	shed,
	And	hurl	the	blazing	ruin	at	our	head.
	Great	must	he	be,	of	more	than	human	birth,
	Nor	feed	like	mortals	on	the	fruits	of	earth	;
	Him	neither	rocks	can	crash,	nor	steel	can	wound,
	Whom	Ajax	fells	not	on	th'	ensanguin'd	ground	:
	In	standing	fight	he	mates	Achilles'	force,
	Excdl'd	alone	in	swiftness	in	the	course.
	Then	to	the	left	our	ready	arms	apply,
	And	live	with	glory,	or	with	glory	die."
	He	said	;	and	Merion	to	th'	appointed	place,
	Fieme	as	the	god	of	battles,	urg'd	his	pace.
	Soon	as	the	foe	the	shining	chiefs	beheld
	Rush	like	a	fiery	torrent	o'er	the	field,
	Their	force	embodied	in	a	tide	they	pour;
	The	rising	combat	sounds	along	the	shore.
	As	warring	winds,	in	Sirius'	sultry	reign,
	From	different	quarters	sweep	the	sandy	plain	;
	On	every	side	the	dusty	whirlwinds	rise,
	And	the	dry	fields	are	lifted	to	the	skies	:
	Thus,	by	despair,	hope,	rage,	together	driven.
	Met	the	black	hosts,	and,	meeting,	darken'd	Heaven.
	All	dreadful	glar'd	the	iron	face	of	war,
	Bristled	with	upright	spears,	that	flash'd	afar	;
	Dire	was	the	gleam	of	breast-plates,	helms,	and
	shields,
	And	polish'd	arms	emblaz'd	the	flaming	fields;
	Tremendous	scene	!	-that	general	horrour	gave.
	But	touch'd	with	joy	the	bosoms	of	the	brave.
	Saturn's	great	sons	in	fierce	contention	vy'd,
	And	crowds	of	heroes	in	their	anger	dy'd.
	The	sire	of	Earth	and	Heaven,	by	Thetis	won
	To	crown	with	glory	Peleus'	god-like	son,
	WjJl'd	not	destruction	to	the	Grecian	powers,
	But	spared	a	while	the	destin'd	Trojan	towers:
	While	Neptune,	rising	from	his	azure	main,
	Warr'd	on	the	king	of	Heaven	with	stern	disdain.
	And	breath	'd	revenge,	and	fir'd	the	Grecian	train.
	Gods	of	one	source,	of	one	ethereal	race,
	Alike	divine,	and	Heaven	their	native	place	;
	But	Jove	the	greater;	first-born	of	the	skies,
	And	more	than	men,	or	gods,	supremely	wise.
	For	this,	of	Jove's	superior	might	afraid,
	Neptune	in	human	form	conceal'd	his	aid.
	These	powers	infold	the	Greek	and	Trojan	train
	In	war	and	discord's	adamantine	chain,
	Indissolubly	strong	;	the	fatal	tye
	Is	stretch'd	on	both,	and,	close-compell'd,	they	die.
	Dreadful	in	arms,	and	grown	in	combats	gray,
	The	bold	Idomeneus	controls	the	day.
	First	by	his	hand	Othryoneus	was	slain,
	Swell'd	with	false	hopes,	with	mad	ambition	vain	f
	Call'd	by	the	voice	of	war	to	martial	fame,
	From	high	Cabesus'	distent	walls	he	came	;
	Cassandra's	love	he	sought,	with	boasts	of	power,
	And	promis'd	conquest	was	the	proffer'd	dower.
	The	king	consented,	by	his	vaunts	abus'd	;
	The	king	consented,	but	the	fates	refus'd.
	Proud	of	himself,	and	of	th'	imagin'd	bride,
	The	field	he	measur'd	with	a	larger	stride.
	Him,	as	he	stalk'd,	the	Cretan	javelin	fouudj
	Vain	was	his	breast-plate	to	repel	the	wound	:
	His	dream	of	glory	lost,	he	plung'd	to	Hell	:
	His	arms	resounded	as	the	boaster	fell.
	The	great	Idoraeneus	bestrides	the	dead	;
	"	And	thus,"	he	cries,	"	behold	thy	promise	sped4
	Such	is	the	help	thy	arms	to	Ilion	bring,
	And	such	the	contract	of	the	Phrygian	king	)
	Our	offers	now,	illustrious	prince	!	receive	j
	For	such	an	aid	what	will	not	Argos	give?
	To	conquer	Troy,	with	ours	thy	forces	join,
	And	count	Atrides'	fairest	daughter	thine.
	Meantime,	on	farther	methods	to	advise,
	Come,	follow	to	the	fleet	thy	new	allies-:
	There	hear	what	Greece	has	on	her	part	to	say."
	He	spoke,	and	dragg'd	the	gory	corse	away.
	This	Asius	view'd,	unable	to	contain,
	Before	his	chariot	warring	on	the	plain	;
	(His	crowded	coursers,	to	his	squire	consign'^,
	Impatient	panted	on	his	neck	behind)
	To	vengeance	rising	with	a	sudden	spring,
	He	hop'd	the	conquest	of	the	Cretan	king.
	The	wary	Cretan,	as	his	foe	drew	near,
	Full	on	his	throat	discharg'd	the	forceful	spear	:
	Beneath	the	chin	the	point	was	seen	to	glide,
	And	glitter'd,	extant	at	the	farther	side.
	As	when	the	mountain-oak,	or	poplar	tall,
	Or	pine,	fit	mast	for	some	great	admiral,
	(5	roans	to	the	oft-heav'd	ax,	with	many	a	wound	;
	Then	spreads	a	length	of	ruin	o'er	the	ground:
	So	sunk	proud	Asius	in	that	dreadful	day,	,
	And	stretch'd	before	his	much-lov'd	courserr	Uy,


HOMER'S	ILIAD.	BOOK	XIII.
	Like	gods	of	war,	dispensing	fate,	they	stood,
	And	burn'd	to	drench	the	ground	with	mutual
	blood.
	The	Trojan	weapon	whizz'd	along	in	air.
	The	Cretan	saw,	and	shunn'd	the	brazen	spear	:
	Sent	from	an	arm	so	strong,	the	missive	wood
	Stuck	deep	in	earth,	and	quiver'd	where	it	stood.
	But	CEuomas.receiv'd	the	Cretan's	stroke,
	The	forceful	spear	his	hollow	corsejet	broke,
	It	ripp'd	his	belly	with	a	ghastly	wound,
	And	roll'd	the	smoking	entrails	to	the	ground.
	Stretch'd	on	the	plain,	he	sobs	away	his	breath,
	And	furious	grasps	the	bloody	dust,	in	death.
	The	victor	from	his	breast	the	weapon	tears	;
	(His	spoils	he	could	not,	for	the	shower	of	spears.)
	Though	now	unfit	an	active	war	to	wage,
	Heavy	with	cumbrous	arms,	stiff	with	cold	age,
	His	listless	limbs	unable	for	the	course	;
	In	standing	fight	he	yet	maintains	his	force	:
	Till,	faint	with	labour,	and	by	foes	repell'd,
	His	tir'd	slow	steps	he	drags	from	uft'	the	Held.
	Deiphobus	beheld	him	as	he	past,
	And,	fir'd	with	hate,	a	parting	javelin	cast	:
	The	javelin	err'd,	but	held	its	course	along,
	And	pierc'd	Ascalaphus,	the	brave	and	young	:
	The	son	of	Mars	fell	gasping	on	the	ground,
	And	gnash'd	the	dust	all	bloody	with	his	wound.
	Nor	knew	the	furious	father	of	his	fall	;
	High-thron'd	amidst	the	great	Olympian	hall,
	On	golden	clouds	th'	immortal	synod	sate	;
	Detained	from	bloody	war	by	Jove	and	fate.
	Now,	where	in	dust	the	breathless	hero	lay,
	For	slain	Ascalaphus	commenc'd	the	fray.
	Deiphobus	to	seize	his	helmet	flies,
	And	from	his	temples	rends	the	glittering	prize	;
	Valiant	as	Mars,	Meriones	drew	near,
	And	on	his	loaded	arm	discharged	his	spear	:
	He	drops	the	weight,	disabled	with	tin;	pain	;
	The	hollow	helmet	rings	against	the	plain.
	Swift	as	a	vulture	leaping	on	his	prey,
	From	his	toru	arm	the	Grecian	rent	away	,
	The	reeking	javelin,	and	rejoin'd	his	friends.
	His	wounded	brother	good	Polites	tends;
	Around	his	waist	the	pious	arms	he	threw,
	And	from	the	rage	of	combat	gently	drew	:
	Him	his	swift	coursers,	on	his	splendid	car,
	Rapt	from	the	lessening	thunder	of	the	war	;
	To	Troy	they	drove	him,	groaning	from	the	shore,
	And	sprinkling,	as	he	pass'd,	the	sands	with	gore.
	Meanwhile	fresh	slaughter	bathes	the	sanguine
	ground,
	Heaps	fall	on	heaps,	and	Heaven	and	Earth	re-
	Bold	Aphareus	by	great	jEneas	bled	j	[sound.
	As	tow'rcl	the	chief	hevturn'd	his	daring	head,
	He	pierc'd	his	throat;	the	bending	h,	ad,	deprest
	Beneath	his	helmet,	nods	upon	his	breast	;
	His	shield	revers'd	o'er	the	fall'n	warrior	lies	;
	And	everlasting	slumber	seals	his	eyes.
	Antilochus,	as	Thoon	turn'd	him	round,
	Transpierc'd	his	back	with	a	dishonest	wound	:
	The	hollow	vein	that	to	the	neck	extends
	Along	the	chine,	his	eager	javelin	rends	:
	Supine	he	falls,	and	to	his	social	train
	Spreads	his	imploring	arms,	but	spreads	in	vain.
	Th'	exulting	victor,	leaping	where	he	lay,
	From	his	broad	shoulders	tore	the	spoils	away	;
	His	time	observ'd	;	for,	clos'd	by	foes	around,
	On	all	sides	thick,	the	peals	of	arms	resound.
	His	shield,	emhoss'd,	the	ringing	storm	sustains,
	Bat	he	impervious	and	imtouch'd	remains.
	(Great	Neptune's	care	preserv'd	from	hmrtile	raj
	This	youth,	the	joy	of	Nestor's	glorious	age)
	In	arms	intrepid,	with	the	first	he	fought,
	Fac'd	every	foe,	and	every	danger	fought	j
	His	winged	lance,	resistless	as	the	wind,
	Obeys	each	motion	of	the	master's	mind,
	Restless	it	flies,	impatient	to	be	free,
	And	meditates	the	distant	enemy.
	The	son	of	Asius,	Adainas,	drew	near,
	Andstruck	his	target	with	the	brazen	spear,
	Fierce	in	his	front	:	but	Neptune	wards	the	blow.
	And	blunts	the	javelin	of	th''	eluded	foe.
	In	the	broad	buckler	half	the	weapon^stood	;
	Splinter'd	on	earth	flew	half	the	broRen	woo<J.
	Disarm'd,	he	mingled	in	the	Trojan	crew	;
	But	Merion's	spear	o'ertook	him	as	he	flew,
	Deep	in	the	belly's	rim	an	entrance	found,
	Where	sharp	the	pang,	and	mortal	is	the	wound.
	Bending,	he	fell,	and	doubled	to	the	ground,
	Lay	panting.	Thus	an	ox,	in	fetters	ty'd,
	While	death's	strong	pangs	distend	his	labouring
	His	bulk	enormous	on	the	field	displays	;	[side,
	His	heaving	heart	beats	thick,	as	ebbing	life	decays.
	The	spear,	the	conqueror	from	his	body	drew,
	And	death's	dim	shadows	swam	before	his	view.
	Next	brave	Deipyrus	in	dust	was	laid	:
	King	Helenus	wav'd	high	the	Thracian	blade,
	And	smote	his	temples,	with	an	arin	so	strong-,
	The	helm	fell	oflf,	and	roll'd	amid	the	throng	:
	There,	for	some	luckier	Greek	it	rests	a	prize	;
	For	dark	in	death	the	godlike	owner	lies	!
	Raging	with	grief,	great	Menelaiis	burns,
	And,	fraught	with	vengeance,	to	the	victor	turns:
	That	shook	the	ponderous	lance,	in	act	to	throw	j
	And	this	stood	adverse	with	the	bended	bow	:
	Full	on	his	breast	the	Trojan	arrow	fell,
	But	harmless	bounded	from	the	plated	steel.
	As	on	some	ample	barn's	well-harden'd	floor,
	(The	winds	collected	at	each	open	door)
	While	the	broad	fan	with	force	is	whirl'd	around,
	Light	leaps	the	golden	grain,	resulting	from	the
	ground	:
	So	from	the	steel	that	guards	Atrides'	heart,
	Repell'd	to	distance	flies	the	bounding	dart.
	Atrides,	watchful	of	th'	unwary	foe,
	Pierc'd	with	his	lance	the	hand	that	grasp'd	the	bow,
	And	nail'd	it	to	the	yew	:	the	wounded	hand
	Trail'd	the	long	lance	that	mark'd	with	blood	the
	But	good	Agenor	gently	from	the	wound	[sand.
	The	spear	solicits,	and	the	bandage	bound	;
	A	sling's	soft	wool,	snatch'd	from	a	soldier's	side,
	At	once	the	tent	and	ligature	supply'd.
	Behold	!	Pisander,	urg'd	by	fate's	decree,
	Springs	through	the	ranks	to	fall,	and	fall	by	thee.
	Great	Menelaiis	!	to	enhance	thy	fame	;
	High-lowering	1	in	the	front,	the	warrior	came.
	First	the	sharp	lance	was	by	Atrides	thrown	;
	The	laucefar	distant	by	the	winds	was	blown,
	Nor	pierc'd	Pisander	through	Atrides'	shield	j
	T'isander's	spear	fell	shivor'd	on	f	hf	field.
	Not	so	discourag'd,	to	the	future	blind,
	Vain	dreams	of	conquest	swell	his	haughty	mind	j
	Dauntless	he	rushes	where	the	Spartan	lord
	Like	lightning	brandish'd	his	far-braining	sword.
	His	M't	arm	high	oppos'd	the	shining	shield	:
	His	right,	beneath,	the	cover'd	pole-ax	held
	An	olive's	cloudy	grain	the	handle	made,
	Distinct	with	studs	;	and	brazen	was	the	blade)	;
	This	on	the	helm	dist'h.irg'd	a	noble	blow	;
	.The	plume	dropt	nodding	to	the	plain	below,


POPE'S	TRANSLATIONS:
	Shorn	from	the	crest.	Atrides	wav'd	his	steel	:
	Deep	through	his	front	the	weighty	falchion	foil	;
	The	crashing	bones	before	its	force	gave	way	;
	In	drst	and	blood	the	groaning	hero	lay	;
	Forc'd	from	their	ghastly	orbs,	and	spouting	gore,
	The	clotted	eye-balls	tumble	on	the	shore.
	The	fierce	Atrides	spurn	'd	him	as	he	bled,
	Tore	off	his	arms,	and,	loud-exulting,	said	:
	"	Thus,	Trojans,	thus,	at	length	be	taught	to
	O	race	perfidious,	who	delight	in	war	!	[fear;
	Already	noble	deeds	ye	have	perform'd,
	A	princess	rapt	transcends	a	navy	storm'd	:
	In	such	bold	feats	your	impious	might	approve,
	"Without	th'	assistance,	or	the	fear,	of	Jove.
	The	violated	rites,	the	ravish'd	dame,
	Our	heroes	slaughter'd,	and	our	ships	on	flame,
	Crimes	heap'd	on	crimes	shall	bend	your	glory	down,
	And	whelm	in	ruins	yon	flagitious	town.
	O	thou,	great	Father	!	Lord	of	earth	and	skies,
	Above	the	thought	of	man	!	supremely	wise	!
	Jf	from	thy	hand	the	fates	of	mortals	flow,
	From	whence	this	favour	to	an	impious	foe,
	A	godless	crew,	abandon'd	and	unjust,
	Still	breathing	rapine,	violence,	and	lust	?
	The	best	of	things,	beyond	their	measure,	cloy;
	Sleep's	balmy	blessing,	love's	endearing	joy	;
	The	feast,	the	dance	;	whate'er	mankind	desire,
	Ev'n	the	sweet	charms	of	sacred	numbers	tire.
	But	Troy	for	ever	reaps	a	dire	delight
	In	thirst	of	slaughter,	and	in	lust	of	fight."
	Thi>>	said,	he	seiz'd	(while	yet	the	carcass	heav'd)
	The	bloody	armour,	which	his	train	receiv'd	:
	Then	sudden	mix'd	among	the	warring	crew,
	And	the	bold	son	of	Pyloemenes	flew	:
	Harpalion	had	through	Asia	travel'd	far,
	Following	his	martial	father	to	the	war	;
	Through	filial	lox-e	he	left	his	native	shore,
	Never,	ah	never,	to	behold	it	more	!
	His	unsuccessful	spear	he	chanc'd	to	fling
	Against	the	target	of	the	Spartan	king	;
	Thus	of	his	lance	disarm'd,	from	death	he	flics,
	And	turns	around	his	apprehensive	eyes.
	Him,	through	the	hip	transpiercing	as	he	fled,
	The	shaft	of	Merion	mingled	with	the	dead.
	Beneath	the	bone	the	glancing	point	descends,
	And,	driving	down,	the	swelling	bladder	rends:
	Sunk	in	his	sad	companion's	arms	he	lay,
	And	in	short	pantings	sobb'd	his	soul	away	;
	(Like	some	vile	worm	extended	on	the	ground)
	While	life's	red	torrent	gush'd	from	out	the	wound.
	Him	on	his	car	the	Paphlagonian	tram
	In	slow	procession	bore	from	off	the	plain.
	The	pensive	father,	father	now	no	more	!
	Attends	the	mournful	pomp	along	the	shore	;
	And	unavailing	tears	profusely	shed	;
	And,	unreveng'd,	deplor'd	his	offspring	dead.
	Paris	from	far	the	moving	sight	beheld,
	With	pity	soften'd,	and	with	fury	swell'd	;
	His	honour'd	host,	a	youth	of	matchless	grace,
	And	lov'd	of	all	th?	Paphlagonian	race	;
	With	his	full	strength	he	bent	his	angry	bow,
	And	wing'd	the	fcather'd	vengeance	at	the	foe.
	A	chief	there	-was,	the	brave	Euchenor	nam'd,
	For	riches	much,	and	more	for	virtue	fam'd,
	Who	held	his	seat	in	Corinth's	stately	town;
	Polydus'	son,	a	seer	of	old	renown.
	Oft	had	the	father	told	his	early	doom,
	By	arms	abroad,	or	slow	disease	at	home:
	He	elimb'd	his	vessel,	prodigal	of	breath,
	Aswi	choee	the	certain,	glorious	path	to	death.
	Jencath	his	ear	the	pointed	arrow	went	;
	The	soul	came	issuing	at	the	narrow	vent	;
	1\s	limbs,	unnerv'd,	drop	useless	on	the	ground,
	And	everlasting	darkness	shades	him	round.
	Nor	knew	great	Hector	how	his	legions	yield
	Wrapt	in	the	cloud	and	tumult	of	the	field	;)
	Wide	on	the	left	the	force	of	Greece	commands,
	And	conquest	hovers	o'er	th'	Achaian	bands	:
	.Vith	such	a	tide	superior	virtue	sway'd,
	And	he	a	that	shakes	the	solid	Earth,	gave	aid.
	Jut	in	the	center	Hector	fix'd	remain'd	;
	iVhere	first	the	gates	were	forc'd	and	bulwarks
	[Tiere,	on	the	margin	of	the	hoary	deep,	[gain'd	;
	Their	naval	station	where	th'	Ajaces	keep,
	And	where	low	walls	confine	the	beating	tides,
	Whose	humble	barrier	scarce	the	foe	divides	;
	Where	late	in	fight,	both	foot	and	horse	engag*d,
	And	all	the	thunder	of	the	battle	rag'd)
	There	join'd	the	whole	Boeotian	strength	remains,
	The	proud	lonians	with	their	sweeping	trains,
	Locriansand	Phthians,	andth'	Epasan	force;
	But,	join'd,	repel	not	Hector's	fiery	course.
	The	flower	of	Athens,	Stiehius,	Phidas	led,
	Bias	and	great	Menestheus	at	their	head.
	Meges	the	strong	th'	Epcian	bands	control'd,
	And	Dracius	prudent,	and	Amphion	bold	;
	The	Phthians	Medon,	fam'd	for	martial	might,
	And	brave	Podarces,	active	in	the	fight.
	This	drew	from	Phylacus	his	noble	line	:
	Iphiclus's	son	;	and	that	(O'ileus)	thine	:
	(	Yqung	Ajax'	brother,	by	a	stol'n	embrace	;
	He	dwelt	far	distant	from	his	native	place,
	By	his	fierce	stepdame	from	his	father's	reign
	Expel	I'd	and	exil'd	for	her	brother	slain.)
	These	rule	the	Phthians,	and	their	arms	employ
	Mixt	with	Boeotians,	on	the	shores	of	Troy.
	Now	side	by	side,	with	like	unweary'd	care,
	Each	Ajax	labour'd	through	the	field	of	war	:
	So	when	two	lordly	bulls,	with	equal	toil,	fsoil,
	Force	the	bright	ploughshare	through	the	fallow
	Join'd	to	one	yoke,	the	stubborn	earth	they	tear,
	And	trace	large	furrows	with	the	shining	share;
	O'er	their	huge	limbs	the	foam	descends	in	snow,
	And	streams	of	sweat	down	their	sour	foreheads
	A	train	of	heroes	follow'd	through	the	field,	[flow.
	Who	bore	by	turns	great	Ajax'	seven-fold	shield	;
	Whene'er	he	breath'd,	remissive	of	his	might,
	Tir'd	with	incessant	slaughters	of	the	fight.
	No	following	troops	his	brave	associate	grace	:
	In	close	engagement	an	unpractis'd	race,
	The	Locrian	squadrons	nor	the	javelin	wield,
	Nor	bear	the	helm,	nor	lift	the	moony	shield;
	But	skill'd	from	far	the	flying	shaft	to	wing,
	Or	whirl	the	sounding	pebble	from	the	sling	;
	Dextrous	with	these	they	aim	a	certain	wound,
	Or	fell	the	distant	warrior	to	the	ground.
	Thus	in	the	van,	the	Telamonian	train
	Throng'd	in	bright	arms,	a	pressing	fight	main-
	Far	in	the	rear	the	Locrian	archeis	lie,	[tain	;
	Whose	stones	and	arrows	intercept	the	sky,
	The	mingled	tempest	on	the	foes	they	pour	;
	Troy's	scattering	orders	open	to	the	shower.-
	Now	had	the	Greeks	eternal	fame	acquir'd,
	And	the	gall'd	Iliansto	their	walls	retir'd	;
	But	sage	Polydames,	discreetly	brave,
	Address'd	great	Hector,	and	this	counsel	gave	:
	"	Though	great	in	all,	thou	seem'st	averse	to
	Impartial	audience	to	a	faithful	friend	;	[lend
	J	Neptune.


HOMER'S	ILIAD.	BOOK	XVI.
	105
	Some	adverse	god	thy	rashness	may	destroy	;
	Some	god,	like	Phoebus,	ever	kind	to	Troy.
	Let	Greece,	redeem'd	from	this	destructive	strait,
	Do	her	own	work	;	and	leave	the	rest	to	fate.
	Oh	!	would	to	all	th'	immortal	powers	abpve,
	.Apollo,	Pallas,	and	almighty	Jove,
	That	not	one	Trojan	might	be	left	alive,
	And	not	a	Greek	of	all	the	race	survive	.;
	Might	only	we	the	vast	destruction	shun,
	And	only	we	destroy	th'	accursed	town	!"	[strand
	Such	conference	held	the	chiefs	!	while	on	the
	Great	Jove	with	conquest	crown'd	the	Trojan	band.
	Ajax	no	more	the	sounding	storm	sustained,
	So	thick	the	darts	an	iron	tempest	rain'd	:
	On	his	tir'd	arm	the	weighty	buckler	hung	;
	His	hollow	helm	with	falling	javelins	rung	;	[goes;
	His	breath,	in	quick,	short	pantings,	comes	and
	And	painful	sweat	from	all	his	members	flows.
	Spent	and	o'erpower'd,	he	barely	breathes	at	most	;
	Yet	scarce	an	army	stirs	him	from	his	post	:
	Dangers	on	dangers	all	around	him	grow,
	And	toil	to	toil,	and	woe	succeeds	to	woe.
	Say,	Muses,	thron'd	above	the	starry	frame,
	How	first	the	navy	blaz'd	with	Trojan	flame	?
	Stern	Hector	wav'd	his	sword	:	and	standing	near
	Where	furious	Ajax	ply'd	his	ashen	spear,
	Full	on	the	lance	a	stroke	so	justly	sped,
	That	the	broad	falchion	lopp'd	its	brazen	head	:
	His	pointless	spear	the	warrior	shakes	in	vainj
	The	brazen	head	falls	sounding	on	the	plain.
	''ireat	Ajax	saw,	and	own'd	the	hand	divine,
	Confessing	Jove,	and	trembling	at	the	sign	;
	Warn'd,	he	retreats.	Then	swift	from	all	sides	pour
	The	hissing	brands	;	thick	streams	the	fiery	shower	;
	O'er	the	high	stern	the	curling	volumes	rise,
	And	sheets	of	rolling	smoke	involve	the	skies.
	Divine	Achilles	view'd	the	rising	flames,
	And	smote	his	thigh,	and	thus	aloud	exclaims	:
	"	Arm,	arm,	Patroclus	!	Lo,	the	blaze	aspires	!
	The	glowing	ocean	reddens	with	the	fires.
	Arm,	ere	our	vessels	catch	the	spreading	flame	;
	Arm,	ere	the	Grecians	be	no	more	a	name	;
	I	haste	to	bring	the	troops"	the	hero	said	;
	The	friend	with	ardour	and	with	joy	obey'd.
	He	cas'd	his	limbs	in	brass	;	and	first	around
	His	manly	legs	with	silver	buckles	bound
	The	clasping	greaves	;	then	to	his	breast	applies
	The	flamy	cuirass,	of	a	thousand	dyes	:
	Emblaz'd	with	studs	of	gold	his	falchion	shone
	In	the	rich	belt,	as	in	a	starry	zone	:
	Achilles'	shield	his	ample	shoulders	spread,
	Achilles'	helmet	nodded	o'er	his	head	:
	Adorn'd	in	all	his	terrible	array,
	He	flash'd	around	intolerable	day.
	Alone,	untouch'd,	Pelides'	javelin	stands,
	Not	to	be	pois'd	but	by	Pi	lides'	hands	;
	From	Pelion's	shady	brow	the	plant	entire
	Old	Chiron	rent,	and	shap'd	it	for	his	sire	;
	Whose	son's	great	arm	alone	the	weapon	wields,
	The	death	of	heroes,	and	the	dread	of	fields.
	Then	brave	Automedon	(an	honour'd	name,
	The	second	to	his	lord	in	love	and	fame,
	In	peace	his	friend,	and	partner	of	the	war)
	The	winged	coursers	harness'd	to	the	car	;
	Xanthus	and	Balms,	of	immortal	breed,
	Sprung	from	the	wind,	and	like	tht	wind	in	speed	;
	Whom	the.	wing'd	-harpy,	swift	f'odarge,	bore,
	By	Zephyr	pregnant	on	the	breezy	shore	:
	Swift	Pedasus	was	added	to	their	side
	(Once	great	Action's,	now	Achilles'	pride)
	Who,	like	in	strength,	in	swiftness,	and	in	grace,
	A	mortal	courser,	match'd	th'	immortal	race.
	Achilles	speeds	from	tent	to	tent,	and	warms
	His	hardy	Myrmidons	to	blood	and	arms.
	All	breathing	death,	around	their	chief	they	stand,
	A	grim	terrific	formidable	band	:
	Grim	as	voracious	wolves,	that	seek	the	springs
	When	scalding	thirst	their	burning	bowels	wrings	;
	When	some	tall	stag,	fresh-slaughter'd	in	the
	wood,	[blood,
	Has	drench'd	their	wide	insatiate	throats	with
	To	the	black	fount	they	rush,	a	hideous	throng,
	With	paunch	distended,	and	with	lolling	tongue,
	Fire	fills	their	eye,	their	black	jaws	belch	the	gore,
	And,	gorg'd	with	slaughter,	still	they	thirst	for
	more.
	Like	furious	rush'd	the	Myrmidonian	crew,
	Such	their	dread	strength,	and	such	their	deathful
	view.
	High	in	the	midst	the	great	Achilles	stands,
	Directs	their	order,	and	the	war	commands.
	He,	lov'd	of	Jove,	had	lanch'd	from	Iliou's	shores
	Full	fifty	vessels,	mann'd	with	fifty	oars	:
	Five	chosen	leaders	the	fierce	hands	obey,
	Himself	supreme	in	valour,	as	in	sway.
	First	march'd	Menestheus,	of	celestial	birth,
	Deriv'd	from	thee,	whose	waters	wash	the	earth,
	Divine	Spirchius	!	Jove-descending	flood	!
	A	mortal	mother	mixing	with	a	god.
	Such	was	Menestheus,	but	miscall'd	by	fame
	The	son	of	Borus,	that	espous'd	the	dame.
	Eudorus	next	?	whom	Polymele	the	gay,
	Fam'd	in	the	graceful	dance,	produc'd	to	day.
	Her,	sly	Cyllenius	lov'd,	on	her	would	gaze,
	As	with	swift	step	she	form'd	the	running	maze	:
	To	her	high	chamber,	from	Diana's	quire,
	The	god	pursu'd	her,	urg'd,	and	crown'd	his	fire.
	The	son	confess'd	his	father's	heavenly	race,
	And	heir'd	his	mother's	swiftness	in	the	chase;
	Strong	Fchecleiis,	blest	in	all	those	charms
	That	pleas'd	a	god,	succeeded	to	her	arms	;
	Not	conscious	of	those	loves,	long	hid	from	fame,
	With	gifts	of	price	he	sought	and	won	the	dame	;
	Her	secret	offspring	to	her	sire	she	bare	;
	Her	sire	caress'd	him	with	a	parent's	care.
	Pisander	follow	'd	;	matchless	in	his	art
	To	wing	the	spear,	or	aim	the	distant	dart	;
	No	hand	so	sure	of	all	th'	Emathian	line,
	Or	if	a	surer,	great	Patroclus	!	thine.
	The	fourth	by	Phoenix'	grave	command	was	grac'd	;
	Lacrces	valiant	offspring	led	the	last.
	.Soon	as	Achilles	with	superior	care
	Had	call'd	the	chiefs,	and	order'd	all	the	war,
	This	stern	remembrance	to	his	troops	he	gave	:
	"	Ye	far	fam'd	Myrmidons,	ye	fierce	and	brave	!
	Think	with	what	threats	ye	dar'd	the	Trojan	throng.
	Think	what	reproach	these	ears	endur'd	so	long,
	1	Stern	son	of	Pelus	!'	(thus	ye	us'd	to	say,
	While	restless,	raging,	in	your	ships	you	lay)
	'	Oh	nurs'd	with	gall,	unknowing	how	to	yield	;
	Whose	rage	defrauds	us	of	so	fam'd	a	field	j
	If	that	dire	fury	must	for	ever	burn,
	What	make	we	here?	Return,	ye	chiefs,	return	!'
	Such	were	your	words	Now,	warriors,	grieve	no
	more.
	Lo	there	the	Trojans	!	bathe	your	swords	in	gore	(
	This	day	shall	give	you	all	your	soul	demands	;
	Glut	all	your	hearts	!	and	weary	all	your	hands	!*'
	Thus	while	he	rous'd	the	fire	in	every	breast,
	Close,	and	more	clone,	the	listening	cohorts	prest	;


POPE'S	TRANSLATIONS.
	108
	Ranks	wedg'd	in	ranks	;	of	arms	a	steely	ring
	Still	grows,	and	spreads,	and	thickens	round	the
	As	when	a	circling	wall	the	builder	forms,	[king.
	Of	strength	defensive	against	wind	and	storms,
	Compacted	stones	the	thickening	work	compose,
	And	round	him	wide	the	rising	structure	grows	:
	So	helm	to	helm,	and	crest	to	crest	they	throng,
	Shield	urg'd	on	shield,	and	man	drove	man	along	;
	Thick,	undistinguish'd	plumes,	together	join'd,
	Float	in	one	sea,	and	wave	before	the	wind.
	Far	o'er	the	rest,	in	glittering	pomp	appear,
	There	bold	Automedon,	Patroclus	here	;
	Brothers	in	arms,	with	equal	fury	fir'd	;
	Two	friends,	two	bodies	with	one	soul	inspir'd.
	But,	mindful	of	the	gods,	Achilles	went
	To	the	rich	coffer	in	his	shady	tent	:
	There	lay	on	heaps	his	various	garments	roll'd,
	And	costly	furs,	and	carpets	stiff	with	gold
	(The	presents	of	thi:	silver-footed	dame).
	From	thence	he	took	a	howl,	of	antique	frame,
	Which	never	man	had	stain'd	with	ruddy	wine,
	Nor	rais'd	in	offerings	to	the	powers	divine,
	Bnt	Peleus'	son	;	and	Peleus'	son	to	none
	Had	rais'd	in	offerings,	but	to	Jove	alone.
	This	ting'd	with	sulphur,	sacred	first	to	flame,
	He	purg'd	;	and	wash'd	it	in	the	running	stream.
	Then	cleans'd	his	hands	;	and,	fixing	for	a	space
	His	eyes	on	Heaven,	his	feet	upon	the	place
	Of	sacrifice,	the	purple	draught	he	pour'd
	Forth	in	the	midst	;	and	thus	the	god	implor'd	:
	"	O	thou	Supreme!	high	thron'd	all	height	above	!
	Oh	great	Pelasgic,	Dodonasan	Jove	!
	Who,	'midst	surrounding	frosts,	and	vapours	chill,
	Presid'st	on	bleak	Dodona's	vocal	hill	;
	{Whose	groves,	the	Selli,	race	austere	!	surround,
	Their	feet	unwash'd,	their	slumbers	on	the	ground	;
	Who	hear,	from	rustling	oaks,	thy	dark	decrees	;
	And	catch	the	fates,	low-whisper'd	in	the	breeze	:)
	Hear,	as	of	old!	thou	gav'st,	at	Thetis'	prayer,
	Glory	to	me,	and	to	the	Greeks	despair.
	Lo,	to	the	dangers	of	the	fighting	field
	The	best,	the	dearest	of	my	friends,	I	yield	;
	Though	still	determin'd,	to	my	ships	confin'd	;
	Patroclus	gone,	I	stay	but	half	behind.
	Oh	!	be	his	guard	thy	providential	care,
	Confirm	his	heart,	and	string	his	arm	to	war	:
	Press'd	by	his	single	force,	let	Hector	see
	His	fame	in	arms	not	owing	all	to	me.
	But	when	the	fleets	are	sav'd	from	foes	and	fire,
	Lot	him	with	conquest,	and	renown	retire	;
	Preserve	his	arms,	preserve	his	social	train,
	And	safe	return	him	to	those	eyes	again."
	Great	Jove	consents	to	half	the	chief's	request,
	But	Heaven's	eternal	doom	denies	the	rest	;
	To	free	the	fleet,	was	grant<	d	to	his	prayer	;
	His	safe	return,	the	winds	dispers'd	in	air.
	Back	to	his	tent	the	stern	Achilles	flies,
	And	waits	the	combat	with	impatient	eyes.
	Meanwhile	the	troops	beneath	Patrodus'	care
	Jnrade	the	Trojans,	and	commence	the	war.
	As	wasps,	provok'd	by	children	in	their	play,
	Pour	from	their	mansions	by	the	broad	highway,
	In	swarms	the	guiltless	traveller	engage,
	Whet	all	shoir	stings,	and	call	forth	all	their	rage	:
	All	rise	in	artm,	and	with	a	general	cry
	Assert	their	waxen	domes,	and	buzzing	progeny.
	Thus	from	the	tents	the	fervent	legion	swarms,
	go	loud	their	clamour,	and	so	keen	their	arms	j
	Their	rising	rage	Patroclus'	breath	inspires,
	Who	thus	inflames	them	with	heroic	fires	:
	"	Oh	warriors,	partners	of	Achilles'	praise	!
	Be	mindful	of	your	deeds	in	ancient	days	:
	Your	godlike	master	let	your	acts	proclaim,
	And	add	new	glories	to	his	mighty	name.
	Think,	your	Achilles	sees	you	fight:	be	brave,
	And	humble	the	proud	monarch	whom	you	save.	p
	Joyful	they	heard,	and	kindling	as	he	spoke,
	Flew	to	the	fleet,	involv'd	in	fire	and	smoke.
	From	shore	to	shore	the	doubling	shouts	resound,
	The	hollow	ships	rtturn	a	deeper	sound.
	The	war	stood	still,	and	all	around	them	gaz'd,
	When	great	Achilles'	shining	armour	blaz'd	:
	Troy	saw,	and	thought	the	dread	Achilles	nigh	,
	At	once	they	see,	they	tremble,	and	they	fly.
	Then	first	thy	spear,	divine	Patroclus	!	flew,
	Where	the	war	rag'd,	and	where	the	tumult	grew.
	Close	to	the	stern	of	that	fam'd	ship	which	bore
	Unblest	Protcsilaus	to	Ilion's	shore,
	The	great	Paronian,	hold	Pyrajchmcs,	stood
	(Who	led	his	bands	from	Axius'	winding	flood)	;
	His	shoulder-blade	receives	the	fatal	wound	;
	The	groaning	warrior	pants	upon	the	ground,
	His	troops	that	see	their	country's	glory	slain,
	Fly	diverse,	scatter'd	o'er	the	distant	plain.
	Patroclus'	arm	forbids	the	spreading	fires,
	And	from	the	half-hurn'd	ship	proud	Troy	retires	:
	Clear'd	from	the	smoke	the	joyful	navy	lies	:
	In	heaps	on	heaps	the	foe	tumultuous	flies	;
	Triumphant	Greece	her	rescued	decks	ascends,
	And	loud	acclaim	the	starry	region	rends.
	So,	when	thick	clouds	inwrap	the	mountain's	head	1	,
	O'er	Heaven's	expanse,	like	one	black	cieling	spread,
	Sudden	the	thunderer,	with	a	flashing	ray,
	Bursts	through	the	darkness,	and	lets	down	the	day	:
	The	hills	shine	out,	the	rocks	in	prospect	rise,
	And	streams,	and	vales,	and	forests,	strike	the	eyesj
	The	smiling	scene	wide	opens	to	the	sight,
	And	all	th'	unmeasur'd	ether	flames	with	light.
	But	Troy	repuls'd,	and	scatter'd	o'er	the	plains.
	Forc'd	from	the	navy,	yet	the	fight	maintains.
	Now	every	Greek	some	hostile	hero	slew,
	But	still	the	foremost	bold	Patroclus	flew	;
	As	Arielycus	had	tum'd	him	round,
	Sharp	in	bis	thigh	he	felt	the	piercing	wound	;
	The	brazen-pointed	spear,	with	vigour	thrown,
	The	thigh	transfix'd,	and	broke	the	brittle	bone	;
	Headlong	he	fell.	Next,	Thoas,	was	thy	chance,,
	Thy	breast,	unarm'd,	receiv'd	the	Spartan	lance.
	Phylides'	dart	(as	Amphiclus	drew	nigh)
	His	blow	prevented,	and	transpierc'd	his	thigh,
	Tore	all	the	brawn,	and	rent	the	nerves	away	;
	In	darkness	and	in	death	the	warrior	lay.
	In	equal	arms	two	sons	of	Nestor	stand,
	And	two	bold	brothers	of	the	Lycian	band	:
	By	great	Antilochus,	Atymnius	dies,
	Pierc'd	in	the	flank,	lamented	youth	!	he	lies.
	Kind	Maris,	bleeding	in	his	brother's	wound,
	Defends	the	breathless	carcase	on	the	ground	:
	Furious	he	flies,	his	murderer	to	engage	j.
	But	godlike	Thrasimed	prevents	his	rage,
	Between	his	arm	and	shoulder,	aims	a	blow	;
	His	arm	falls	spouting	on	the	dust	below	;
	He	sinks,	with	endless	darkness	cover'd	o'er	;
	And	vents	his	soul,	effus'd	with	gushing	gore.
	Slain	by	two	brothers,	thus	two	brothers	bleed,
	Sarpedon's	friends,	Amisodarus'	seed	;
	Amisodarus,	who,	by	furies	led,
	The	bane	of	men,	abhorr'd	Chimera	bred	;
	Skill'd	in	the	dart	in	vain,	his	sons	expire,
	And	pay	the	forfeit	of	their	guilty	sire.


112
	POPE'S	TRANSLATIONS.
	plore	the	loss	of	Patroclus	:	Jupiter	covers	his
	body	with	a	thick	darkness	:	the	noble	prayer	of
	Ajax	on	that	occasion.	Menelaus	sends	Antilo-
	chus	to	Achilles,	with	the	news	of	Patroclus'
	death,	then	returns	to	the	fight,	where,	though
	attacked	with	the	utmost	fury,	he	and	Meriones,
	assisted	by	the	Ajaxes,	bear	off	the	body	to	the
	ships.
	The	time	is	the	evening	of	the	eight	and	twen
	tieth	day.	The	scene	lies	in	the	fields	before
	Troy.
	ON	the	cold	earth	divine	Patroclus	spread,
	Lies	pierc'd	with	wounds	among	the	vulgar	dead.
	Great	Menelaus,	touch'd	with	generous	woe,
	Springs	to	the	front,	and	guards	him	from	the	foe:
	Thus	round	her	new-fall'n	young	the	heifer	moves,
	Fruit	of	her	throes,	and	first-born	of	her	loves	;
	And	anxious	(helpless	as	he	lies,	and	bare)
	Turns,	and	re-turns	her,	with	a	mother's	care.
	Oppos'd	to	each	that	near	the	carcase	came,
	His	broad	shield	glimmers,	and	his	lances	flame.
	The	son	of	Panthus,	skill'd	the	dart	to	send,
	Eyes	the	dead	hero,	and	insults	the	friend	:
	"	This	hand,	Atrides,	laid	Patroclus	low	;
	Warrior	desist,	nor	tempt	an	equal	blow	:
	To	me	the	spoils	my	prowess	won,	resign	;
	Depart	with	life,	and	leave	the	glory	mine."
	The	Trojan	thus	;	the	Spartan	monarch	burn'd
	With	generous	anguish,	and	in	scorn	return'd	:
	"	Laugh'stthou	not,	Jove	!	from	thy	superior	throne,
	When	mortals	boast	of	prowess	not	their	own	?
	Not	thus	the	lion	glories	in	his	might,
	Nor	panther	braves	his	spotted	foe	in	fight,
	Nor	thus	the	boar;	(those	terrours	of	the	plain)
	Man	only	vaunts	his	force,	and	-vaunts	in	vain.
	But	far	the	vainest	of	the	boastful	kind
	These	sons	of	Panthus	vent	their	haughty	mind.
	Yet	'twas	but	late,	beneath	my	conquering	steel
	This	boaster's	brother,	Hvperenor,	fell	;
	Against	our	arm,	which	rashly	he	defy'd,
	Vain	was	his	vigour,	and	as	vain	his	pride.
	These	eyes	beheld	him	on	the	dust	expire,
	No	more	to	cheer	his	spouse,	or	glad	his	sire.
	Presumptuous	youth	!	like	his	shall	be	thy	doom,
	Go,	wait	thy	brother	to	the	Stygian	gloom	;
	Or,	while	thou	may'st,	avoid	the	threaten'd	fate	;
	Fools	stay	to	feel	it,	and	are	wise	too	late."
	Unmov'd	Euphorbus	thus	:	"	That	action	known,
	Come,	from	my	brother's	blood	repay	thy	own.
	His	weeping	father	claims	thy	destined	head,
	And	spouse,	a	widow	in	her	bridal	bed	:
	On	these	thy	conquer'd	spoils	I	shall	bestow,
	To	soothe	a	consort's	and	a	parent's	woe	;
	!Ne	longer	then	defer	the	glorious	strife,
	Let	Heaven	decide	our	fortune,	fame,	and	life	"
	Swift	as	the	word	the	missile	lance	he	flings,
	The	well-aim'd	weapon	on	the	buckler	rings,
	But	blunted	by	the	brass	innoxious	falls.
	On	Jove	the	father,	great	Atrides	calls,
	Nor	flies	the	javelin	from	his	arm	in	vain,
	It	pierc'd	his	throat,	and	bent	him	to	the	plain	;
	Wide	through	the	neck	appears	the	grizzly	wound,
	Prone	sinks	the	warrior,	and	his	arms	resound.
	The	shining	circlets	of	his	golden	hair,
	Which	ev'n	the	Graces	might	be	proud	to	wear,
	lustarr'd	with	gems	and	gold,	bestrow	the	shore,
	st	di-hv&our'd,	and	deform'J	with	gore.
	As	the	young	olive,	in	some	sylvan
	Crown'd	by	frtsh	fountains	with	eternal	green,
	Lifts	the	gay	head,	in	snowy	flowerets	fair,
	And	plays	and	dances	to	the	gentle	air	;
	When	lo	!	a	whirlwind	from	high	Heaven	invades
	The	tender	plant,	and	withers	all	its	shades;
	It	lies	uprooted	from	its	genial	bed,
	A	lovely	ruin,	now	defac'd	and	dead.
	Thus	young,	thus	beautiful,	Euphorbus	lay,
	While	the	fierce	Spartan	tore	his	arms	away.
	Proud	of	his	deed,	and	glorious	in	the	prize,
	Affrighted	Troy	the	towering	victor	flies	:
	Flies,	as	before	some	mountain	lion's	ire
	The	village	curs	and	trembling	swains	retire,
	When	o'er	the	slaughter'd	bull	they	hear	him	roar^
	And	see	his	jaws	distil	with	smoking	gore	;
	All	pale	with	fear,	at	distance	scatter'd	round,
	They	shout	incessant,	and	the	vales	resound.
	Meanwhile	Apollo	view'd	with	envious	eyes,
	And	nrg'd	great	Hector	to	dispute	the	prize
	(	In	Mentes'	shape,	beneath	whose	martial	care
	The	rough	Ciconians	learn'd	the	trade	of	war)	:
	"Forbear,"	he	cry'd,	"	with	fruitless	speed	to	chase
	Achilles'	coursers,	of	etherial	race;
	They	stoop	not,	these,	to	mortal	man's	command,
	Or	stoop	to	none	but	great	Achilles'	hand.
	Too	long	amus'd	with	a	pursuit	so	vain,
	Turn,	and	behold	the	brave	Euphorbus	slain	\
	By	Sparta	slain	!	for	ever	now	supprest
	The	fire	which	burn'd	in	that	undaunted	breast	!'*
	Thus	having	spoke,	Apollo	wing'd	his	flight,
	And	mix'd	with	mortals	in	the	toils	of	fight	:
	His	words	infix'd	unutterable	care
	Deep	in	great	Hector's	soul	:	through	all	the	war
	He	darts	his	anxious	eye	;	and	instant	view'd
	The	breathless	hero	in	his	blood	imbrued,
	(Forth	welling	from	the	wound,	as	prone	he	lay)
	And	in	the	victor's	hands	the	shining	prey,	[flies,
	Sheath	'd	in	bright	arms,	through	cleaving	ranks	he
	And	send	his	voice	in	thunder	to	the	skies	:
	Fierce	as	a	flood	of	flame	by	Vulcan	sent,
	It	flew,	and	fir'd	the	nations	as	it	went.
	Atrides	from	the	voice	the	storm	divin'd,
	And	thus	explor'd	his	own	unconquer'd	mind	:
	"	Then	shall	I	quit	Patroclus	on	the	plain,
	Slain	in	my	cause,	and	for	my	honour	slain	?
	Desert	the	arms,	the	relics	of	my	friend	?
	Or,	singly,	Hector	and	his	troops	attend	?
	Sure	where	such	partial	favour	Heaven	bestow'd,
	To	brave	the	hero	were	to	brave	the	god	:
	Forgive	me,	Greece,	if	once	I	quit	the	field	;
	Tis	not	to	Hector,	but	to	Heaven,	I	yield.
	Yet,	nor	the	god,	nor	Heaven,	should	give	me
	Did	but	the	voice	of	Ajax	reach	my	ear	:	[fear,
	Still	would	we	turn,	still	battle	on	the	plains,
	And	give	Achilles	all	that	yet,	remains
	Of	his	and	our	Patroclus."	This,	no	more,
	The	time	allow'd	:	Troy	thicken'd	on	the	shore,
	A	sable	scene	!	the	terrours	Hector	led.
	Slow	he	recedes,	and,	sighing,	quits	the	dead.
	So	from	the	fold	th'	unwilling	lion	parts,
	Forc'd	by	loud	clamours,	and	a	storm	of	darts-j
	He	flies	indeed,	but	threatens	as	he	flies,
	With	heart	indignant	and	retorted	eyes.
	Now	enter'd	in	the	Spartan	ranks,	he	turn'd
	His	manly	breast,	and	with	new	Fury	burn'd	j
	O'er	all	the	black	battalions	sent	his	view,
	And	through	the	cloud	the	godlike	Ajax	knew	;
	Where,	labouring	on	the	left,	the	warrior	stood,
	Al!	grim	in	arm?,	and	cover'd	o'er	with	blood;


HOMER'S	ODYSSEY.	BOOK	I.
	THE	ODYSSEY.
	ARGUMENT.
	MINERVA'S	DESCENT	TO	ITHACA.
	THE	poem	opens	within	forty-eight	days	of	the	ar
	rival	of	Ulysses	in	his	dominions.	He	hu.l	now
	remained	seven	years	in	the	island	of	Calyp*o,
	when	the	gods,	assembled	in	council,	proposed
	the	method	of	his	departure	from	thence,	and
	his	return	to	his	native	country.	For	this	pur
	pose	it	is	concluded	to	send	Mercury	to	Calypso,
	and	Pallas	immediately	descends	to	Ithaca.
	She	holds	a*conference	with	Telemaehus,	in	the
	Shape	of	Mentes,	king	of	the	Taphians	;	in	which
	she	advises	him	to	take	a	journey	in	quest	of	his
	father	Ulysses,	to	Pylos	and	Sparta,	where	Nestor
	and	Menelaus	yet	reigned:	then,	after	having
	visibly	displayed	her	divinity,	disappears.	The
	suitors	of	Penelope	make	great	entertainments,
	and	riot	in	her	palace	till	night.	Phemius	sings
	to	them	the	return	of	the	Grecians,	till	Penelope
	puts	a	stop	to	the	scmg.	Some	words	arise	be
	tween	the	suitors	and	Telemaehus,	who	summons
	the	council	to	meet	the	day	following.
	THE	man,	for	wisdom's	various	arts	renown'd,
	Long	exercis'd	in	woes,	oh	Muse	!	resound.
	Who,	when	his	arms	had	wrought	the	destin'd	fall
	Of	sacred	Troy,	and	raz'd	her	heaven-built	wall,
	"Wandering	from	clime	to	clime,	observant	stray'd,
	Their	manners	noted,	and	their	states	survey'd.
	On	stormy	seas	unnumber'd	toils	he	bore,
	Safe	with	his	friends	to	gain	his	natal	shore:
	Vain	toils	!	their	impious	folly	dar'd	to	prey
	On	herds	devoted	to	the	god	of	day	;
	The	gods	vindictive	doom'd	them	never	more
	(Ah,	men	unbless'd	!)	to	touch	that	natal	shore.
	Oh,	snatch	some	portion	of	these	acts	from	fate,
	Celestial	Muse	!	and	to	our	world	relate.
	Now	at	their	native	realms	the	Greeks	arriv'd	j
	All	who	the	war	of	ten	long	years	surviv'd,
	And	'scap'd	the	perils	of	the	gulphy	main.
	Ulysses,	sole	of	all	the	victor	train,
	An	exile	from	his	dear	paternal	coast,
	Deplor'd	his	absent	queen,	and	empire	lost.
	Calypso	in	her	caves	constrain'd	his	stay,
	With	sweet,	reluctant,	amorous	delay	:
	In	vain	for	now	the	circling	years	disclose
	The	day	predestin'd	to	reward	his	woes.
	At	length	his	Ithaca	is	given	by	fate,
	Where	yet	new	labours	his	arrival	wait	;
	At	length	their	rage	the	hostile	powers	restrain,
	All	but	the	ruthless	monarch	of	the	main.
	But	now	the	god,	remote,	a	heavenly	guest,
	Jn	/Ethiopia	grac'd	the	genial	feast
	(A	race	divided,	whom	with	sloping	rays
	The	rising	and	descending	Sun	surveys)	;
	There	on	the	world's	extremest	verge,	rever'd
	With	hecatombs	and	prayer	in	pomp	preferr'd,
	Distant	he	lay	:	while	in	the	bright	abodes
	Of	high	Olympus,	Jove	conven'd	the	gods	:
	Th'	assembly	thus	the	sire	supreme	addrest,
	5Lgysthus'	fate	revolving	in.	his	breast,
	Whom	young	Orestes	to	the	dreary	coast
	Of	Pluto	sent,	a	blood-polluted	ghost.
	"	Perverse	mankind	!	whose	wills,	created	free,
	Charge	all	their	woes	on	absolute	decree	;
	All	to	the	dooming	gods	their	guilt	translate,
	And	follies	are	miscall'd	the	crimes	of	fate.
	When	to	his	lust	jTlgysthus	gave	the	rein,
	Did	fate,	or	we,	th'	adulterous	act	constrain	?
	Did	fate,	or	we,	when	great	Atrides	dy'd,
	Urge	the	bold	traitor	to	the	regicide	?
	Hermes	I	sent,	while	yet	his	soul	remain'd
	Sincere	from	royal	blood,	and	faith	profan'd	;
	To	warn	the	wretch,	that	young	Orestes,	grown
	To	manly	years,	should	re-assert	the	throne.
	Yet,	impotent	of	mind,	and	uncontroll'd,
	He	plung'd	into	the	gulf	which	Heaven	foretold."
	Here	paus'd	the	god	;	and	pensive	thus	replie*
	Minerva,	graceful	with	her	azure	eyes	:
	"	O	thou	!	from	whom	the	whole	creation	springs,
	The	source	of	power	on	Earth	deriv'd	to	kings	!
	His	death	was	equal	to	the	direful	deed	;
	So	may	the	man	of	blood	be	doom'd	to	bleed	1
	But	grief	and	rage	alternate	wound	my	breast,
	For	brave	Ulysses,	still	by	fate	opprest.
	Amidst	an	isle,	around	whose	rocky	shore
	The	forests	murmur,	and	the	surges	roar,
	The	blameless	hero	from	his	wish'd-for	home
	A	goddess	guards	in	her	enchanted	dome	:
	(Atlas	her	sire,	te	whose	far-piercing	eye
	The	wonders	of	the	deep	expanded	lie	;
	Th'	eternal	columns	which	on	Earth	he	rears
	End	in	the	starry	vault,	and	prop	the	spheres.)
	By	his	fair	daughter	is	the	chief	confin'd,
	Who	soothes	to	dear	delight	his	anxious	mind	:
	Successless	all	her	soft	caresses	prove,
	To	banish	from	his	breast	his	country's	love	;
	To	see	the	smoke	from	his	lov'd	palace	rise,
	While	the	dear	isle	in	distant	prospect	lies,
	With	what	contentment	would	he	close	his	eyes	?
	And	will	Omnipotence	neglect	to	save
	The	suffering	virtue	of	the	wise	and	brave	?
	Must	he,	whose	altars	on	the	Phrygian	shore
	With	frequent	rites,	and	pure,	avow'd	thy	power,
	Be	doom'd	the	worst	of	human	ills	to	prove,
	Uabless'd,	abandon'd	to	the	wrath	of	Jove	?"
	"	Daughter	!	what	words	have	pass'd	thy	lips
	unweigh'd	?"
	(Reply'd	the	thunderer	to	the	martial	maid)
	"	Deem	not	unjustly	by	my	doom	opprest
	Of	human	race	the	wisest	and	the	best.
	Neptune,	by	prayer	repentant	rarely	WOH	?
	Afflicts	the	chief,	t'	avenge	his	giant-son,
	Whose	visual	orb	Ulysses	robb'd	of	light	!
	Great	Polypheme,	of	more	than	mo-.tal	might	!
	Him	young	Thoosa	bore	(the	bright	increase
	Of	Phorcys,	dreaded	in	the	sounds	and	seas)	:
	Whom	Neptune	ey'd	with,	bioom	of	beauty	blcstj
	And	in	his	cave	the	yielding	nymph	comprest.
	For	this,	the	god	Constrains	the	Greek	to	roam,
	A	hopeless	exile,	from	his	native	home,
	From	death	aloue	exempt	but	cease	to	mourn	!
	Let	all	combine	t'	achieve	his	wish'd	return	:
	Neptune	aton'd,	his	wrath	shall	now	refrain,
	Or	thwart	the	synod	of	the	gods	in	vain."
	"	Father	and	king	ador'd	!"	Minerva,	cry'd,
	"	Since	all	who	in	th'	Olympian	bower	reside
	Now	make	the	wandering	Greek	their	public	care,,
	Let	Hermes	to	th'	Atlantic	isle	'	repair	;


183
	POPE'S	TRANSLATIONS.
	0r	the	congenial	dust	injoin'd	to	shear
	The	graceful	curl,	and	drop	the	tender	tear.
	Then,	minelin;;	in	the	mournful	pomp	with	you,
	I'll	pay	my	brother's	ghost	a	warrior's	due,
	And	mourn	the	brave	Antilochus,	a	name
	Not	unrecorded	in	the.	rolls	of	fame	:	'
	"With	strength	and	speed	superior	form'd	In	fight
	To	face	the	foe,	or	intercept	his	flight:	'
	Too	eatly	snatch'd	by	fate,	ere	known	to	me	!
	I	boast	a	witness	of	his	worth	in	thec,"	[rejoins,)
	-"	Young	and	mature	!"	(the	monarch	thus
	*'	In	thec	renew'd	the	sonl	of	Nestor	shines	:
	Form'd	by	the	care	of	that	consummate	sage,
	In	early	bloom	an	oracle	of	age.
	"Whene'er	his	influence	Jove	vouchsafes	to	shower
	To	bless	the	natal,	and	the	nuptial	hour;
	From	the	creat	sire	trarismissive	to	the	race,
	The	boon	devolving	gives	distinguish'd	grace.
	Such,	happy	Nestor!	was	thy	glorious	doom	'.
	Around	thec,	full	of	years,	thy	offspring	bloom,
	Expert	of	arms,	and	prudent	in	debate	:
	The	gifts	of	Heaven	to	guard	thy	hoaiy	state.
	Eut	now	let	each	becalm	his	troubled	breast,
	Wash,	and	partake	serene	the	friendly	feast.
	To	move	thy"	suit,	Telemaehus,	delay,
	Till	Heaven's	revolving	lamp	restores	the	day."
	He	said,	Asphalion	swift	the	laver	brings	j
	Alternate	all	partake	the	grateful	springs	:
	Then	from	the	rites	of	purity	repair,
	And	with	keen	gust	the	savory	viands	share.
	Meantime,	with	genial	joy	to	warm	the	soul,
	Bright	Helen	mix'd	a	mirth-inspiring	bowl	:
	Temper'd	with	drugs	of	sovereign	use,	t'	assuage
	The	boiling	bosom	of	tumultuous	rage	;
	To	clear	the	cloudy	front	of	wrinkled	care,
	And	dry	the	tearful	sluices	of	despair	:
	Charm'd	with	that	virtuous	draught	th'	exalted
	All	sense	of-	woe	delivers	to	the	wind.	[mind
	Though	on	the	blazing	pile	his	parent	lay,
	Or	a	lov'd	brother	groan'd	his	life	awav|	:
	Or	darling	son,	oppress'd	by	ruftian-force,
	Fell	breathless	at	his	feet,	a	mangled'	corse	;
	From	morn	to	eve,	impassive	and	serene,	*
	The	man	entranc'd	would	view	tbedeathful	scene.
	These	drngs,	so	friendly	to	the	joys	of	life,
	Bright	Helen	learn'd	from	Thone's	imperial	wife	;
	Who	sway'd	the	sceptre,	where	prolific	Nile
	;	With	various	simples	clothes	the	fatten'd	soil.
	With	wholesome	herbage:	mix'd,	the	direful	bane
	Of	vegetable	venom	taints	the	plain	;
	From	Paeori	sprung,	their	patron-god	imparts
	To	all	the	Pharian	race	his	healing	arts.
	The	beverage	now	prcpar'd	t'	inspire	the	feast,
	The	circle	thus	the	beauteous	queen	addrest	:
	"	Thron'd	in	omnipotence,	supremest	Jove
	Tempers	the	fates	of	human	race	above	;
	5y	the	firm	sanction	of	his	sovereign	will,
	Alternate	are	decreed	our	good	and	ill.
	To	feastful	mirth	be	this	white	hour	assign'd,
	And	sweet	discourse,	the	banquet	of	the	mn.d.
	Myself,	assisting	in	the	social	joy,
	Will	tell	Ulysses'	bold	exploit	in	Troy:
	Sole	witness	of	the	deed	I	now	declare	;
	Speak	you	(who	saw)	his	wonders	in	the	war.
	"	Seam'd	o'er	with	-wounds,	which	his	own	sabre
	In	the	vile	habit	of	a	village-slave,	[g	ave	>
	The	foe	deceiv'd,	he	pass'd	the	tented	plain,
	In	Tro}	1	to	mingle	with	the	hostile	train.
	In	this	attire	secure	from	searching	eyes,
	Till	haply	piercing	through	the	dark	disguise
	The	chief	I	challeng'd	;	he,	whose	practis'd	wit
	Knew	all	the	serpent	mazes	of	deceit,
	1	tides	my	search	:	but	when	his	form	I	view'4
	Fresh	fiom	the	bath	with	fragrant	oils	renew'd,
	Flis	limbs	in	military	purple	drc-ss'd	;
	Each	brightening	grace	the	genuine	Greek	con-
	fess'd.
	A	previous	pledge	of	sacred	faith	ohtain'd,
	Till	he	the	lines	and	Argive	fleet~regain'd,
	To	keep	his	st;r-;	conceal'd	;	the	chief	declar'd
	The	plans	of	war	against	the	town	prepar'd.	'
	Exploring	tlit	n	the	secrets	of	the	state,
	He	learn'd	what	best	might	urge	the	Dardan	fate:
	And,	safe	returning	to	the	Grecian	host,
	Sent	many	a	shade	to	Pluto's	dreary	coast.
	Loud	grief	resounded	through	the	tcnvers	of	Troy,
	But	my	pleas'd	bosom	giow'd	with	Secret	joy:
	For	then,	with	dire	remorse	and	conscious	shame,
	I	view'd	III'	eft-	cts	ef	that	disastrous	flame,
	Which,	kindled	by	th'	imperious	queen	of	love,
	Constrained	me	from	my	native	realm	to	rove	:
	And	oft	in	bitterness	of	soul	deplor'd
	My	absent	daughter,	and	my	dearer	lord,
	Admir'd	among	the	first	of	human	race,
	For	every	gift	of	mind,	and	man!y	grace."
	"	Plight	well,"	rtply'd	theking,	"	your	speech
	displays
	The	matchless	merit	of	the	chief	you	praise	:
	Heroes	in	various	climes	myself	have	foiind,
	For	martial	deeds,	and	depth	of	thought	renown'<i	:
	But	Ithacus,	unrival'd	in	his	claim,
	May	boast	a	title	to	the	loudest	fame	:
	In	battle	calm,	he	guides	the	rapid	storm,
	\Vise	to	resolve,	and	patient	to	perform.
	What	wondrous	conduct	in	the	chief	appear'd,
	When	the	vast	fabric	of	the	steed	we	rear'd	!
	Some	demon,	anxious	for	the	Trojan	doom,
	Urg'd	yon	with	great	Deiphobus	to	come,
	T'	explore	the	fraud;	with	guile	oppos'd	to	guile,
	Slow-pacing	thrice	around	th'	insidious	pile	;
	Each	noted	leader's	name	you	thrice	invoke,
	Your	accent	varying	as	their	spouses	spoke.
	The	pleasing	sounds	each	latent	warrior	warm'd,
	But	most	Tydides'	and	myheart	alarm'd	:
	To	quit	the	steed	we	both	impatient	press,
	Threatening	to	answer	from	the	dark	recess.
	Unmov'd	the	mind	of	Ithacus	remain'd	:
	And	the	vain	ardours	of	our	love	restrain'd	:
	But	Anticlus,	unable	to	control,
	Spoke	loud	the	langim-:*	of	his	yearning	soul	:
	Ulysses	straight,	with	indignation	fir'd,
	(For	so	the	common	care	of	Greece	requir'd)
	Firm	to	his	lips	his	forceful	hands	apply'd,
	Till	on	his	tongue	the	fluttering	murmurs	dy'd.
	Meantime	Minerva,	from'	the	fraudful	horse,
	Back	to	the	court	of	Priam	bent	your	course.	5	'
	"'Inclement	Fate!"	Telernachus	replies,
	"	Frail	is	the	boasted	attribute	of	wise	:
	The	leader,	mingling	with	the	vulgar	host,
	Is	in	the	common	mass	of	matter	lost	!
	But	now	let	sleep	the	painful	waste	repair
	Of	sad	reflection,	and	corroding	care."
	He	ceas'd	;	the	menial	fair	that	round	her	wait,
	At	Helen's	beck	prepare	the	room	of	state	;
	Beneath	an	ample	portico,	they	spread
	The	downy	fleece	to	form	the	slumberous	bed	;
	And	o'er	soft	palls	of	purple	grain,	unfold
	Rich	tapestry,	stiff	with	inwoven	gold:
	Then,	through	th'	illumin'd	dome,	to	balmy	rest
	Th'	obsequious	herald	guides	each	princely	gut-st	:


190
	POPE'S	TRANSLATIONS.
	And	thou,	O	Styx	!	whose	formidable	floods
	Glide	through	ihe	shades,	and	bind	th'	attesting
	No	form'd	design,	HO	meditated	end,	[gods	I
	Lurks	in	the	counsel	of	thy	faithful	friend	;
	Kind	the	persuasion,	and	sincere	tny	aim;
	The	same	iny	practice,	were	my	fate	the	same.
	Heaven	has	not	curst	me	with	a	heart	of	steel,
	But	given	the	sense,	to	pity,	and	to	feel.''
	Thus	having	said,	the	goddess	march'd	before	:
	He	trod	her	footsteps,	in	the	sandy	shore.
	At	the	cool	cave	arrived,	they	took	their	state	;
	He	fill'd	the	throne	where	Mercury	had	sate.
	For	him,	the	nymph	a	rich	repast	ordains,
	Siich	as	the	mortal	life	of	man	sustains	;
	Before	herself	were	plac'd	the	cates	divine,
	Ambrosial	banquet,	and	celestial	wine.
	Their	hunger	satiate,	and	their	thirst	represt,
	Thus	spoke	Calypso	to	her	godlike	guest	:
	"	Ulysses	!"	(with	a	sigh	she	thus	begau)
	"	O	sprung	from	gods	!	in	wisdom	more	than	man	;
	Is	then	thy	home	the	passion	of	thy	heart	?
	Thus	wilt	thou	leave	me,	are	we	thus	to	part	?
	Farewell	!	and	ever	joyful	may'st	thou	be,
	Nor	break	the	transport	with	one	thought	of	me.
	But	ah,	UJysses	!	wert	thou	given	to	know
	What	fate	yet	dooms	thee,	yet,	to	undergo	;
	Thy	heart	might	settle	in	this	scene	of	ease,
	And	ev'ntbc^e-sthjbted	charms	might	learn	to	please.
	A	williiv.'	goddess	and	immortal	life
	Might	banish	from	thy	mind	an	absent	wife.
	Am	I	inferior	to	a	mortal	dauu-	?
	Less	soft	my	feature,	less	august	my	frame	?
	Or	shall	the	daughters	of	mankind	couipaie
	Their	earth-born	beauties	with	the	heavenly	fair	?"
	'	'	Alas	!	for	this	1	'	(the	prudent	man	replies)
	"	Against	Ulysses	shall	thy	anger	rise	?
	Lov'd	and	ador'd,	oh	goddess	!	as	thou	art,
	Forgive	the	weakness	of	a	human	heart.
	Though	well	I	s.	j	e	thy	graces	far	above
	The	dear,	though	mortal,	object	of	my	love,
	Of	youth	eternal	well	the	difference	know,
	And	the	short	date	of	fading	charms	below	;
	Yet	every	day,	while	absent	thus	I	roam,
	I	languish	to	return	and	die	at	home.
	Whate'rr	the	gods	shall	destine	me	to	bear
	In	the	black	ocean,	or	the	watery	war,
	'Tis	mine	to	master	with	a	constant	mind	;
	Inur'd	to	perils,	to	the	worst	resign'd.
	By	seas,	by	wars,	so	many	dangers	run	;
	Still	I	can	suffer:	their	high	will	be	done	!"
	Thus	while	he	spoke,	the	beamy	Sun	descends^
	And	rising	night	her	friendly	shade	extends.
	To	the	close	grot	the	lonely	pair	remove,
	And	slept	delighted	with	the	gifts	of	love.
	When	rosy	morning	call'd	them	from	their	rest,
	1-lysse?	rob'd	him	in	the	cloak	and	vest.
	The	nymph's	fair	head	a	veil	transparent	grac'd,
	Her	swelling	loins	a	radiant	zone	embrac'd
	With	flowers	of	gold	:	an	under	robe,	unbound,
	In	snowy	waves	flow'd	glittering	on	the	ground.
	Forth	issuing	thus,	she	gave	him	first	to	wield
	A	weighty	ax	with	truest	temper	steel'd,
	And	double	edg'd	;	the	handle	smooth	and	plain,
	Wrought	of	the	clouded	olive's	easy	grain	;
	And	next,	a	wedge	to	drive	with	sweepy	sway	:
	Then	to	the	neighbouring	forest	led	the	way.
	On	the	lone	island's	utmost	verge	they	stood
	Of	poplars,	pines,	and	firs,	a	lofty	wood,
	Whose	leafless	summits	to	the	skies	aspire,
	Scorch's!	by	the	Sun,	or	sear'd	by	heavenly	fire
	(	Already	dry'd).	Tliese	pointing	out	to	view,
	The	nymph	just	sliow'd	him,	and	with	t<;ara	withdrew.
	Now	toils	the	hero	;	trees	on	trees	oVrthrowji
	Fall	c.	adding	round	him,	and	the	fore.st	groan	:
	Sudden,	full	twenty	on	the	plain	arc	stjow'd,
	And	lopp'd,	and	lighten'd	of	their	branchy	load.
	At	pq<ial	angles	these	disp'us'd	to	join,
	He	smooth	M	and	squar'd	them,	by	the	rule	and	line.
	(The	wimbles	fur	the	work	Calypso	found)
	With	those	he	pierc'd	them,	and	with	clinchers
	Long	and	capacious	as	a	shipwright	forms	[bound.
	Some	bark's	broad	bottom	to	out-ride	the	storms,
	So	large	he	built	the	raft	:	then	ribb'd	it	strong
	From	space	to	space,	and	nail'd	the	planks	along	;
	These	form'd	the	sides	:	the	deck	he	fahiun'd	last	j
	Then	o'er	the	vessel	rais'd	the	taper	mast,
	With	crossing	sail-yards	dancing	in	the	wind;
	And	to	the	helm	the	guiding	rudder	join'd
	(With	yielding	osiers	feuc'd,	to	break	the	force
	Of	surging	waves,	and	steer	the	steady	Course).
	Thy	loom,	Calypso	!	for	the	future	sails
	Supply'd	the	cloth,	capacious	of	the	gales.
	With	stays	and	cordage	last	he	rigg'd	the	ship,
	And,	roli'd	on	levers,	lanch'd	her	in	the	deep.
	Four	days	were	pE.st,	and	now	the	wurk	complete,
	Shone	the	fifth	morn	:	when	from	her	sacred	seat
	The	nymph	dismiss'd	him,	(odorousg^rments	given)
	Aridbath'd	in	fragrant	o	Is	that	breath'd	of	Heavtu	:
	Then	fill'd	tv.-o	goat-skins	with	her	hands	divine,
	With	water	one,	and	one	with	sable	wine	:
	Of	every	kind,	provisions	heav'd	aboard;
	And	the	full	decks	with	copious	viands	stor'd.
	The	goddess	last	a	gentle	breeze	supplies,.
	To	curl	old	ocean,	and	to	warm	the	skies.
	And	now,	rejoicing	in	the	prosperous	gales,
	With	beating	he	wt,	Ulysses	spreads	his	sails	;
	Plac'd	at	the	helm	he	sate,	and	mark'd	the	skiesj
	Nor	clos'd	in	"sleep	his	ever-watchful	eyes;
	There	view'd	the	Pleiads,	and	the	Northern	team,
	And	great	Orion's	more	refulgent	beam,
	To	which,	around	the	axle	of	the	sky
	The	Bear,	revolving,	points	his	golden	eye	:
	Who	shines	exalted	on	th'	etherial	plain,
	Nor	bathes	his	blazing	forehead	in	the	main.
	Far	on	the	left	those	radiant	fires	to	keep
	The	nymph	directed,	as	he	sail'd	the	deep.
	Full	seventeen	nights	he	cut.	the	foamy	way	:
	The	distant	land	appear'd	the	following	day	:
	Then	swell'd	to	sight	PhaDacia's	dusky	coast,
	And	woody	mountains,	half	in	vapours	lost:
	That	lay	before	him,	indistinct	and	vast,
	Like	a	broad	shield	amid	the	watery	waste.
	But	him,	thus	voyaging	the	deeps	below,
	From	far,	on	Solyme's	aerial	brow,
	The	king	of	ocean	saw,	and	seeing	burn'd
	(From	^Ethiopia's	happy	climes	return'd)	j
	The	raging	monarch	shook	his	azure	head,
	And	thus	in	secret	to	his	soul	he	said	:
	"	Heavens	!	how	uncertain	are	the	powers	on	high	?
	Is	then	revcrs'd	the	sentence	of	the	sky,
	In	one	man's	favour	;	while	a	distant	guest
	I	shar'd	secure	the	.^Ethiopian	feast	?
	Behold	how	near	PhaDacia's	land	he	draws	!
	The	laud,	affix'd	by	fate's	eternal	laws
	To	end	his	toils.	Is	then	our	anger	vain	?
	No	;	if	this	sceptre	yet	commands	the	main."
	He	spoke,	and,	high	the	forky	trident	hurl'd,
	Rolls	clouds	on	clouds,	and	stirs	the	watery	world,
	At	once	the	face	of	earth	and	sea	deforms,
	Swells	all	the	winds,	aud	rouses	all	the	^torms.


HOMER'S	ODYSSEY.	BOOK	IX.
	207
	And,	cautious,	thus:	'	Against	a	dreadful	rock,
	Fast	by	your	shore	the	gallant	vessel	broke,
	Scarce	with	these	few	I	scap'd;	of	all	my	train,
	Whom	angry	Neptune	whelm'd	beneath	the	main	;
	The	scatter'd	wreck	the	winds	blew	back	again.'
	"	He	answev'd	with	his	deed.	His	bloody	hand
	Snatch'd	two,	unhappy	!	of	my	martial	band	;
	And	dash'd	like	dogs	against	the	stoney	floor	:
	The	pavement	swims	with	brains	and	mingled	gore.
	Torn	limb	from	limb,	he	spreads	his	horrid	feast,
	And	fierce	devours	it	like	a	mountain	-beast:
	He	sucks	the	marrow,	and	the	blood	he	drains,
	Nor	entrails,	flesh,	nor	solid	bone	remains.
	We	see	the	death	from	which	we	cannot	move,
	And	humbled	groan	beneath	the	hand	of	Jove.
	His	ample	maw	with	human	carnage	fill'd,
	A	milky	deluge	next	the	giant	swill'd	;
	Then	stretch'd	in	length	o'er	half	the	cavern'd	rock,
	Lay	senseless,	and	supine,	amidst	the	flock.
	To	seize	the	time,	and	with	a	Sudden	wound
	To	fix	the	slumbering	monster	to	the	ground,
	My	soul	impels	me	;	and	in	act	I	stand
	To	draw	the	sword	;	but	wisdom	held	my	hand.
	A	deed	so	rash	had	finish'd	all	our	fate,
	No	mortal	forces	from	the	lofty	gate
	Could	roll	the	rock.	In	hopeless	grief	we	lay,
	And	sigh,	expecting	the	return	of	day.
	Now	did	the	rosy-finger'd	morn	arise,
	And	shed	her	sacred	light	along	the	skies.
	He	wakes,	he	lights	the	fire,	he	milks	the	dams,
	And	to	the	mother's	teats	submits	the	lambs.
	The	task	thus	finish'd	of	his	morning	hours,
	Two	more	he	snatches,	murders,	and	devours.
	Then	pleas'd,	and	whistling,	drives	his	flock	before:
	Removes	the	rocky	mountain	from	the	door,
	And	shuts	again:	with	equal	ease	disposed,
	As	a	light	quiver's	lid	is	op'd	and	clos'd.
	His	giant	voice	the	echoing	region	fills	:
	His	flocks,	obedient,	spread	o'er	all	the	hills.
	"	Thus	left	behind,	ev'n	in	the	last	despair
	I	thought,	dftvis'd,	and	Pallas	heard	my	prayer.
	Revenge,	and	doubt,	and	caution	work'd	my	breast	;
	But	this	of	many	counsels	seem'd	the	best	:
	The	monster's	club	within	the	cave	I	'spy'd.
	A	tree	of	stateliest	growth,	and	yet	undry'd,
	Green	from	the	wood	;	of	height	and	bulk	so	vast,
	The	largest	ship	might	claim	it	for	a	mast.
	This	shorten'd	of	its	top,	I	gave	my	train
	A	fathom's	length,	to	shape	it	and	to	plane	;
	The	narrower	end	I	sharpen'd	to	a	spire;
	Whose	point	we	harden'd	with	the	force	of	fire,
	And	hid	it	in	the	dust	that	strew'd	the	cave.
	Then	to	my	few	companions,	bold	and	brave,
	Propos'd,	who	first	the	venturous	deed	should	try,
	In	the	broad	orbit	of	his	monstrous	eye
	To	plunge	the	brand,	and	twirl	the	pointed	wood,
	When	slumber	next	should	tame	the	man	of	blood
	Just	as	I	wish'd,	the	lots	were	cast	on	four:
	Myself	the	fifth.	We	stand,	and	wait	the	hour.
	He	comes	with	evening:	all	1m	fleecy	flock
	Before	him	march,	and	pour	into	the	rock:
	Not	one,	or	male	or	female	stay'd	behind
	(So	fortune	chane'd,	or	so	some	god	design'd)	;
	Then	heaving	high	the	stone's	unwieldy	weight,
	He	roll'd	it	on	the	cave,	and'	clos'd	the	gate.
	First	down	he	sits,	to	milk	<he	woolly	dams,
	And	then	permits	thejr	udder	to	the	lambs.
	Next	seiz'd	two	wretches	more,	and	headlong	cast
	Brairi'd	on	t^e	rock	:	his	second	dire	repast.
	I	tbea	approadi'd	him	reekiut	*&	tbvir	gore.
	And	held	the	brimming	goblet	foaming	o'er;
	Cyclop	!	since	human	flesh	has	been	thy	feast,
	S	T	ow	d.ain	this	goblet,	potent	to	digest	;
	Know	hence	what	treasures	in	our	ship	we	lost.
	And	what	rich	liquors	other	climates	boast
	We	to	thy	shore	the	precious	freight	shall	bear,
	If	home	thou	send	us,	and	vouchsafe	to	spare,
	But	oh	!	thus	furious,	thirsting	thus	for	gore,
	The	sons	of	men	shall	ne'er	approach	thy	shore,
	And	never	shall	thou	taste	this	nectar	more.'
	He	heard,	he	took,	and,	pouring	down	his	throat
	Delighted,	swill'd	the	large	luxurious	draught.
	More	!	give	me	more,'	he	cry'd	:	'	the	booh	bs
	thine,
	Whoe'er	thou	art	that	bear'st	celestial	wine	!
	Declare	thy	name	:	not	mortal	is	this	juice,
	Such	as	th'	unblest	Cyclopean	climes	produce
	(Though	sure	our	vine	the	largest	cluster	yields,
	And	Jove's	scorn'd	thunder	serves	to	drench	our
	But	this	descended	from	the	blest	abodes,	[fields)}
	A	rill	of	nectar,	streaming	from	the	gods.'
	"	He	said,	and	greedy	grasp'd	the	heady	bowl,
	Thrice	drain'd,	and	pour'd	the	deluge	on	his	soul.
	His	sense	lay	cover'd	with	the	dozy	fume	;
	While	thus	my	fraudful	speech	I	re-assume	:
	'	Thy	promis'd	boon,	O	Cyclop	!	now	I	claim,
	And	plead	my	title	:	Noman	is	my	name.
	By	that	distinguish'd	from	my	tender	years,
	'Tis	what	my	parents	call	me,	and	my	peers.'
	"	The	giant	then	:	'	Our	promis'd	grace	receive,
	The	hospitable	boon	we	mean	to	give	:
	When	all	thy	wretched	crew	have	felt	my	power,
	Noman	shall	be	the	last	I	will	devour.'
	"	He	said	:	then	noddiny	with	the	fumes	of	wine,
	Dropp'd	his	huge	head,	and	snoring	lay	supine.
	His	neck	obliquely	o'er	his	shoulders	hung,
	Press'd	with	the	weight	of	sleep	that	tames	the
	strong	!
	There	belch'd	the	mingled	sreams	of	wine	and	blood,
	And	human	flesh,	his	indigested	food.
	Sudden	I	stir	the	embers,	and	inspire
	With	animating	breath	the	seeds	of	fire	;
	Each	drooping	spirit	with	bold	words	repair,
	And	urge	my	train	the	dreadful	deed	to	dare.
	The	stake	now	glow'd	beneath	the	burning	bed
	(Green	as	it	was)	and	sparkled	fiery	red.
	Then	forth	the	vengeful	instrument	I	bring	;
	With	beating	hearts	my	fellows	form	a	ring.
	UrgM	by	some	present	god.	they	swift	let	fall
	The	pointed	torment	OH	his	visual	ball.
	Myself	above	them	from	a	rising	ground
	Guide	the	sharp	stake,	and	twirl	it	round	and	round*
	As	when	a	shipwright	stands	his	workmen	o'er,
	Who	ply	the	wimble,	some	huge	beam	to	bore	;
	Urg'd	on	all	hands,	it	nimbly	spins	about,
	The	grain	deep-piercing	till	it.	scoops	it	out	:
	In	his	broad	eye	so	whirls	the	fiery	wood	;
	From	the	pierc'd	pupil	spouts	the	boiling	blood	;
	Sing'd	are	his	brows	;	the	scorching	lids	grow	black	j
	The	je.lly	bubbles,	and	the	fibres	crack.
	And	as	when	armourers	temper	in	the	ford
	The	keen-edg'd	polr-ax,	or	the	shining	sword,
	The	red-hot	metal	hisses	in	the	lake,
	Thus	in	his	eye-ball	hiss'd	the	plunging	stake.
	He	sends	a	dreadful	groan	:	the	rocks	around
	Through	all	their	inmost	winding	caves	resound.
	Scar'd	\VP	receded.	Forth,	with	frantic	hand,
	He	tore,	and	dash'd	on	earth	the	gory	brand	:
	Th?n	.uls	the	Cy*:i"ps,	all	that	round	him	dwell,
	WiU	voice	like	tuuader,	aud	a	direful	yell.