Chryfes, priest of Apollo, brings presents to the Grecian princes, to ranfom his daughter Chryfeis, who was prifoner in the fleet. Agamemnon, the general, whose captive and miftrefs the young lady was, refuses to deliver, threatens the venerable old man, and difmies him with contumely. The priest craves vengeance of his God; who fends a plague among the Greeks: which occafions Achilles, their great champion, to fummon a council of the chief officers: he encourages Calchas, the high priest and prophet, to tell the reafon, why the Gods were fo much incenfed against them. Calchas is fearful of provoking Agamemnon, till Achilles engages to protect him: then, emboldened by the hero, he accufes the general as the caufe of all, by detaining the fair captive, and refufing the prefents offered for her ransom. By this proceeding, Agamemnon is obliged, against his will, to reflore Chryfeis, with gifts, that he might appease the wrath wrath of Phoebus; but, at the same time, to revenge himself on Achilles, fends to feize his flave Brifeis. Achilles, thus affronted, complains to his mother Thetis; and begs her to revenge his injury, not only on the general, but on all the army, by giving victory to the Trojans, till the ungrateful king became fenfible of his injuftice. At the fame time, be retires from the camp into his hips, and withdraws his aid from bis countrymen. Thetis prefers her fon's petition to Jupiter, who grants her fuit. Juno fufpects her errand, and quarrels with her husband for his grant; till Vulcan reconciles his parents with a bowl of nectar, and fends them peaceably to bed. HE wrath of Peleus' fon, O Mufe, refound; "TH Whofe dire effects the Grecian army found, From that ill-omen'd hour when strife begun, Against the king of men; who, fwoln with pride, For For venerable Chryfes came to buy, With gold and gifts of price, his daughter's liberty. Awful, and arm'd with enfigns of his God: Bare was his hoary head; one holy hand -Held forth his laurel crown, and one his fceptre of command. His fuit was common; but above the reft, Ye fons of Atreus, and ye Grecian powers, With fhouts of loud acclaim the Greeks decree Nor thy God's crown, my vow'd revenge withstand. } Mine she shall be, till creeping age and time And, having firft adorn'd it, late afcend: This, for the night; by day, the web and loom, Far from thy lov'd embrace, and her sweet native home. He faid the helpless prieft reply'd no more, But fped his fteps along the hoarfe refounding fhore: Devoutly curs'd his foes, and thus invok'd his God: He pray'd, and Phoebus, hearing, urg'd his flight, With fury kindled, from Olympus' heigh' ; His quiver o'er his ample fhoulders threw ; His bow twang'd, and his arrows rattled as they flew. The Th'effay of rage, on faithful dogs the next; The kings affembled, foon their chief inclofe; The plague within the camp, the fword without. And whence thefe ills, and what the Gods intent, What want of offer'd victims, what offence In fact committed could the Sun incenfe, And hungry graves no more be glutted with our spoils. Things prefent and the past; and things to come fore knew. VOL. IV. R Supreme |