And the barb'd javelin stings his breast in vain:

685

On their whole war, untam'd, the favage flies ;
And tears his hunter, or beneath him dies.
Not lefs refolv'd, Antenor's valiant heir
Confronts Achilles, and awaits the war,
Disdainful of retreat: high-held before,
His fhield (a broad circumference) he bore;
Then, graceful, as he ftood in act to throw
The lifted javelin, thus bespoke the foe :
How proud Achilles glories in his fame!
And hopes this day to fink the Trojan name
Beneath her ruins! Know, that hope is vain ;
A thousand woes, a thousand toils, remain..
Parents and children our juft-arms employ,
And strong, and many, are the fons of Troy.
Great as thou art, ev'n thou may'ft ftain with gore.
Thefe Phrygian fields, and press a foreign shore.

690

695

He faid: with matchiefs force the javelin flung
Smote on his knee; the hollow cuishes rung
Beneath the pointed steel; but fafe from harms
He ftands impaffive in th' ætherial arms.
Then, fiercely rushing on the daring foe,
His lifted arm prepares the fatal blow:
But, jealous of his fame, Apollo shrouds
The God-like Trojan in a veil of clouds.
Safe from purfuit, and fhut from mortal view,
Difmifs'd with fame the favour'd youth withdrew.
Meanwhile the God, to cover their escape,
Affumes Ageror's habit, voice, and shape,

3

700

785

730

Flies

1

Flies from the furious chief in this difguife;

The furious chief ftill follows where he flies.
Now o'er the fields they ftretch with lengthen'd ftrides,
Now urge the course where fwift Scamander glides :
The God, now diftant fcarce a ftride before,

Tempts his purfuit, and wheels about the shore;
While all the flying troops their fpeed employ,
And pour on heaps into the walls of Troy:
No ftop, no ftay; no thought to ask, or tell,
Who fcap'd by flight, or who by battle fell.
'Twas tumult all, and violence of flight;
And fudden joy confus'd, and mix'd affright:
Pale Troy against Achilles thuts her gate;
And nations breathe, deliver'd from their fates.

715

720

THE

TWENTY-SECOND BOOK

O. F THE

I L I A D.

ARGUMENT.

The Death of Hector.

THE Trojans being fafe within the walls, Hector only ftays to oppofe Achilles. Priam is ftruck at his approach, and tries to perfuade his fon to re-enter the town. Hecuba joins her intreaties, but in vain. Hector confults within himself what measures to take; but, at the advance of Achilles, his refolution fails him, and he flies; Achilles purfues him thrice round the walls of Troy. The Gods debate concerning the fate of Hector; at length Minerva defcends to the aid of Achilles. She deludes Hector in the fhape of Deiphobus; he stands the combat, and is flain. Achilles drags the dead body at his chariot, in the fight of Priam and Hecuba. Their lamentations, tears, and despair. Their cries reach the ears of Andromache, who, ignorant of this, was retired into the inner part of the palace; the mounts up to the walls, and beholds her dead hufband. She fwoons at the fpectacle. Her excess of grief and lamentation.

The thirtieth day ftill continues. The fcene lies under the walls and on the battlements of Troy.