The fourth Battle continued, in which Neptune affifts

the Greeks: the acts of Idomeneus.

:

NEPTUNE, concerned for the loss of the Grecians,

upon seeing the fortification forced by Hector (who had entered the gate near the station of the Ajaxes) assumes the shape of Calchas, and inspires those heroes to oppose him : then, in the form of one of the generals, encourages the other Greeks, who had retired to their vessels. The Ajaxes form their troops in a close phalanx, and put a stop to Hector and the Trojans. Several deeds of valour are performed; Meriones, losing his spear in the encounter, repairs to seek another at the tent of Idomeneus : this occasions a conversation between those two warriours, who return together to the battle. Idomeneus signalizes his courage above the rest ; he kills Othryoneus, Afius, and Alcathous : Deïphobus'and Æneas march against him, and at length Idomeneus retires. Menelaus wounds Helenus, and kills Pisander. The Trojans are repulsed in the left wing; Hector still keeps his ground against the Ajaxes, till, being galled by the Locrian slingers and archers, Polydamas advises to call a council of war: Hector approves his advice, but goes first to rally the Trojans; upbraids Paris, rejoins Polydamas, meets Ajax again, and renews the attack.

The eight and twentieth day still continues. The scene is between the Grecian wall and the sea-shore.

W

Those

'HEN now the Thunderer on the sea-beat coast

Had fix'd great Hector and his conquering hoft; He left them to the Fates, in bloody fray To toil and struggle through the well-fought day ; Then turn'd to Thracia from the field of fight 5 eyes

that shed insufferable light: To where the Myfians prove their martial force, And hardy Thracians tame the favage horse ; And where the far-fam'd Hippemolgian strays, Renown'd for justice and for length of days; IO Thrice happy race ! that, innocent of blood, From milk, innoxious, seek their fimple food : Jove sees delighted; and avoids the scene of guilty Troy, of arms, and dying men: No aid, he deems, to either host is given,

IS While his high law suspends the powers of Heaven.

Mean-time the * Monarch of the watery main * Observ'd the Thunderers, nor observ'd in vain.

In Samothracia, on a mountain's brow,
Whose waving woods o'ernung the deeps below, 20
Ht fate; and round him cast his azure eyes,
Where Ida's mifty tops confus’dly rise;

Below,

B 2

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Below, fair Ilion’s glittering spires were feen,
The crouded ships, and sable seas between.
There, from the crystal chambers of the main

25
Emerg’d, he sate; and mourn’d his Argives Lain.
At Jove incens'd, with grief and fury ftung,
Prone down the rocky steep he ruh'd along;
Fierce as he past, the lofty mountains nod,
The forest shakes! earth trembled as he trod, 30
And felt the footsteps of th' immortal God.
From 'realm to realm three ample strides he took,
And, at the fourth, the distant Ægæ fhook.

Far in the bay his shining palace stands, Eternal frame ! not rais’d by mortal hands :

35 This having reach'd, his brass-hoofd steeds he reins, Fleet as the winds, and deck'd with golden manes. Refulgent arms his mighty limbs infold, Immortal arins of adamant and gold. He mounts the car, the golden scourge applies,

40 He fits superior, and the chariot flies : His whirling wheels the glaffy surface sweep ;. Th'enormous monsters, rolling o'er the deep, Gambol around him on the watery way; And heavy whales in aukward measures play : 45 The sea subsiding spreads a level plain, Exults, and owns the monarch of the main ; The parting waves before his coursers fly: The wondering waters leave his axle dry.

Deep in the liquid regions lies a cave; etween where Tenedos the surges lave, And rocky Imbrus breaks the rolling wave :

There

50

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