With more than vulgar grief he stood oppress'd;
Words, mix'd with sighs, thus bursting from his breast:
Ye sons of Greece! partake your leaders care;
Fellows in arms, and princes of the war!
Of partial Jove too justly we complain,
And heavenly oracles believed in vain.
A safe return was promised to our toils,
With conquest honour'd, and enrich'd with spoils:
Now shameful flight alone can save the host;
Our wealth, our people, and our glory lost.
So Jove decrees, almighty lord of all!
Jove, at whose nod whole empires rise or fall,
Who shakes the feeble props of human trust,
And towers and armies humbles to the dust.
Haste then, for ever quit these fatal fields,
Haste to the joys our native country yields;
Spread all your canvass, all your oars employ,
Nor hope the fall of heaven-defended Troy.
Unfit for public rule, or private care;
That wretch, that monster, who delights in war: 90
Whose lust is murder, and whose horrid joy
To tear his country, and his kind destroy!
This night, refresh and fortify thy train;
Between the trench and wall let guards remain:
Be that the duty of the young and bold;
But thou, O king, to council call the old.
Great is thy sway, and weighty are thy cares;
30 Thy high commands must spirit all our wars.
With Thracian wine recruit thy honour'd guests,
For happy counsels flow from sober feasts.
Wise, weighty counsels aid a state distress'd,
And such a monarch as can choose the best.
See! what a blaze from hostile tents aspires,
How near our fleet approach the Trojan fires!
Who can, unmoved, behold the dreadful light?
What eye beholds them, and can close to-night?
This dreadful interval determines all;
40 To-morrow Troy must flame, or Greece must fall
Thus spoke the hoary sage: the rest obey:
Swift through the gates the guards direct their way.
His son was first to pass the lofty mound,
The generous Thrasymed, in arms renown'd:
Next him, Ascalaphus, Iälmen stood,
The double offspring of the warrior-god.
Deïpyrus, Aphareus, Merion join,
He said; deep silence held the Grecian band;
Silent, unmoved, in dire dismay they stand,
A pensive scene! till Tydeus' warlike son
Roll'd on the king his eyes, and thus begun :
When kings advise us to renounce our fame,
First let him speak, who first has suffer'd shame.
If I oppose thee, prince, thy wrath withhold,
The laws of council bid my tongue be bold.
Thou first, and thou alone, in fields of fight,
Durst brand my courage, and defame my might:
Nor from a friend the unkind reproach appear'd,
The Greeks stood witness, all our army heard.
The gods, O chief! from whom our honours spring,
The gods have made thee but by halves a king:
They gave thee sceptres, and a wide command;
They gave dominion o'er the seas and land;
The noblest power that might the world controul
They gave thee not-a brave and virtuous soul.
Is this a general's voice, that would suggest
Fears like his own to every Grecian breast?
Confiding in our want of worth, he stands;
And if we fly, 'tis what our king commands.
Go thou, inglorious! from the embattled plain;
Ships thou hast store, and nearest to the main;
A nobler care the Grecians shall employ,
To combat, conquer, and extirpate Troy.
Here Greece shall stay; or if all Greece retire,
Myself will stay, till Troy or I expire;
Myself and Sthenelus will fight for fame;
God bade us fight, and 'twas with God we came.
He ceased; the Greeks loud acclamations raise,
And voice to voice resounds Tydides' praise.
Wise Nestor then his reverend figure rear'd;
He spoke; the host in still attention heard:
And Lycomed, of Creon's noble line.
Seven were the leaders of the nightly bands,
And each bold chief a hundred spears commands.
The fires they light, to short repasts they fall,
Some line the trench, and others man the wall. 120
The king of men, on public counsels bent,
Convened the princes in his ample tent;
Each seized a portion of the kingly feast,
But staid his hand when thirst and hunger ceased.
Then Nestor spoke, for wisdom long approved,
And, slowly rising, thus the council moved:"
Monarch of nations! whose superior sway
60 Assembled states and lords of earth obey,
The laws and sceptres to thy hand are given,
And millions own the care of thee and heaven. 130
O king! the counsels of my age attend;
With thee my cares begin, in thee must end;
Thee, prince! it fits alike to speak and hear,
Pronounce with judgment, with regard give ear,
To see no wholesome motion be withstood,
And ratify the best for public good.
Nor, though a meaner give advice, repine,
70 But follow it, and make the wisdom thine.
Hear then a thought, not now conceived in haste,
At once my present judgment, and my past.
When from Pelides' tent you forced the maid,
I first opposed, and faithful durst dissuade;
But bold of soul, when headlong fury fired,
You wrong'd the man, by men and gods admired:
Now seek some means his fatal wrath to end,
With prayers to move him, or with gifts to bend.
To whom the king: With justice hast thou shown
A princes faults, and I with reason own.
That happy man, whom Jove still honours most,
Is more than armies, and himself a host.
Blest in his love, this wondrous hero stands,
Heaven fights his war, and humbles all our bands.
Fain would my heart, which err'd through frantie rage,
The wrathful chief and angry gods assuage.
If gifts immense his mighty soul can bow,
Hear, all ye Greeks, and witness what I vow.
O truly great! in whom the gods have join'd
Such strength of body with such force of mind.
In conduct, as in courage, you excel,
Still first to act what you advise so well.
Those wholesome counsels which thy wisdom moves,
Applauding Greece with common voice approves.
Kings thou canst blame; a bold but prudent youth;
And blame e'en kings with praise, because with truth.
yet those
years that since thy birth have run, 81
Would hardly style thee Nestor's youngest son.
Then let me add what yet remains behind,
A thought unfinish'd in that generous mind;
Age bids me speak; nor shall the advice I bring
Distaste the people, or offend the king:
Cursed is the man, and void of law and right, Unworthy property, unworthy light,
Ten weighty talents of the purest gold,
And twice ten vases of refulgent mould;
Seven sacred tripods, whose unsullied frame
Yet knows no office, nor has felt the flame :
Twelve steeds unmatch'd in fleetness and in force,
And still victorious in the dusty course,
Now pray to Jove to grant what Greece demands;
Pray in deep silence, and with purest hands.
He said, and all approved. The heralds bring 160 The cleansing water from the living spring.
The youth with wine the sacred goblets crown'd,
And large libations drench'd the sands around. 230
The rite perform'd, the chiefs their thirst allay,
Then from the royal tent they take their way;
Wise Nestor turns on each his careful eye,
Forbids to offend, instructs them to apply;
Much he advised them all, Ulysses most,
To deprecate the chief, and save the host.
Through the still night they march, and hear the roar
170 Of murmuring billows on the sounding shore.
To Neptune, ruler of the seas profound,
Whose liquid arms the mighty globe surround, 240
They pour forth vows, their embassy to bless,
And calm the rage of stern acides.
And now, arrived, where, on the sandy bay,
The Myrmidonian tents and vessels lay,
Rich were the man whose ample stores exceed
The prizes purchased by their winged speed :)
Seven lovely captives of the Lesbian line,
Skill'd in each art, unmatch'd in form divine;
The same I chose for more than vulgar charms,
When Lesbos sunk beneath the hero's arms:
All these, to buy his friendship, shall be paid,
And join'd with these, the long-contested maid;
With all her charms, Briseïs I resign,
And solemn swear those charms were never mine;
Untouch'd she stay'd, uninjured she removes,
Pure from my arms, and guiltless of my loves.
These instant shall be his; and if the powers
Give to our arms proud Ilion's hostile towers,
Then shall he store (when Greece the spoil divides)
With gold and brass his loaded navy's sides.
Besides, full twenty nymphs of Trojan race
With copious love shall crown his warm embrace; 180
Such as himself will choose; who yield to none,
Or yield to Helen's heavenly charms alone.
Yet hear me farther: when our wars are o'er,
If safe we land on Argos' fruitful shore,
There shall he live my son, our honours share,
And with Orestes' self divide my care.
Yet more-three daughters in my court are bred,
And each well worthy of a royal bed;
Laodicè and Iphigenia fair,
And bright Chrysothemis with golden hair;
Her let him choose, whom most his eyes approve,
I ask no presents, no reward for love:
Myself will give the dower; so vast a store,
As never father gave a child before.
Seven ample cities shall confess his sway,
Him Enopè, and Pheræ him obey,
Cardamyle with ample turrets crown'd,
And sacred Pedasus for vines renown'd;
Epea fair, the pastures Hira yields,
| Amused at ease, the godlike man they found,
Pleased with the solemn harp's harmonious sound:
(The well-wrought harp from conquer'd Theba came,
Of polish'd silver was its costly frame :)
With this he soothes his angry soul, and sings
The immortal deeds of heroes and of kings.
Patroclus only of the royal train,
Placed in his tent, attends the lofty strain:
Full opposite he sat, and listen'd long,
In silence waiting till he ceased the song.
Unseen the Grecian embassy proceeds
To his high tent; the great Ulysses leads.
Achilles starting, as the chiefs he spied,
Leap'd from his seat, and laid the harp aside.
With like surprise arose Mencetius' son:
Pelides grasp'd their hands, and thus begun:
Princes, all hail! whatever brought you here,
Or strong necessity, or urgent fear:
Welcome, though Greeks! for not as foes ye came;
To me more dear than all that bear the name.
With that, the chiefs beneath his roof he led,
And placed in seats with purple carpets spread.
Then thus-Patroclus, crown a larger bowl,
200 Mix purer wine, and open every soul.
Of all the warriors yonder host can send,
Thy friend most honours these, and these thy friend.
271
He said; Patroclus o'er the blazing fire,
Heaps in a brazen vase three chines entire :
The brazen vase Automedon sustains,
Which flesh of porket, sheep, and goat contains:
Achilles at the genial feast presides,
The parts transfixes, and with skill divides.
Meanwhile Patroclus sweats the fire to raise;
And rich Antheia with her flowery fields:
The whole extent of Pylos sandy plain,
Along the verdant margin of the main :
There heifers and labouring oxen toil;
graze,
Bold are the men, and generous is the soil;
There shall he reign with power and justice crown'd,
And rule the tributary realms around.
All this I give, his vengeance to controul,
And sure all this may move his mighty soul.
Pluto, the grisly god, who never spares,
Who feels no mercy, and who hears no prayers, 210 The tent is brighten'd with the rising blaze:
Lives dark and dreadful in deep hell's abodes,
And mortals hate him as the worst of gods.
Great though he be, it fits him to obey;
Since more than his my years, and more my sway.
The monarch thus. The reverend Nestor then:
Great Agamemnon! glorious king of men!
Such are thy offers as a prince may take,
And such as fits a generous king to make.
Let chosen delegates this hour be sent
(Myself will name them) to Pelides' tent:-
Let Phoenix lead, revered for hoary age,
Great Ajax next, and Ithacus the sage.
Yet more to sanctify the word you send,
Let Hodius and Eury bates attend.
Then, when the languid flames at length subside,
He strews a bed of glowing embers wide,
Above the coals the smoking fragment turns,
And sprinkles sacred salt from lifted urns;
With bread the glittering canisters they load,
Which round the board Mencetius' son bestow'd:
Himself, opposed to Ulysses, full in sight,
Each portion parts, and orders every rite.
The first fat offerings, to the immortals due,
220 Amidst the greedy flames Patroclus threw;
Then each, indulging in the social feast,
His thirst and hunger soberly repress'd.
That done, to Phoenix Ajax gave the sign;
Not unperceived; Ulysses crown'd with wine
The foaming bowl, and instant thus began,
His speech addressing to the godlike man:
Health to Achilles! happy are thy guests!
Not those more honour'd whom Atrides feasts:
Though generous plenty crown thy loaded boards,
That Agamemnon's regal tent affords :
But greater cares sit heavy on our souls,
Not eased by banquets or by flowing bowls.
What scenes of slaughter in yon fields appear!
The dead we mourn, and for the living fear;
Greece on the brink of fate all doubtful stands,
And owns no help but from thy saving hands:
Troy and her aids for ready vengeance call:
Their threatening tents already shade our wall:
Hear how with shouts their conquest they proclaim,
And point at every ship their vengeful flame!
For them the father of the gods declares,
Theirs are his omens, and his thunder theirs.
See, full of Jove, avenging Hector rise!
See! heaven and earth the raging chief defies:
What fury in his breast, what lightning in his eyes!
He waits but for the morn, to sink in flame
Untouch'd she stay'd, uninjured she removes,
Pure from his arms, and guiltless of his loves.
These instant shall be thine: and if the powers
Give to our arms proud Ilion's hostile towers,
Then shalt thou store (when Greece the spoil
divides)
With gold and brass thy loaded navy's sides.
Besides, full twenty nymphs of Trojan race
With copious love shall crown thy warm embrace;
Such as thyself shall choose; who yield to none,
Or yield to Helen's heavenly charms alone.
Yet hear me farther: when our wars are o'er,
If safe we land on Argos' fruitful shore.
There shalt thou live his son, his honours share,
And with Orestes' self divide his care.
Yet more-three daughters in his court are bred,
And each well worthy of a royal bed;
310 Laodicè and Iphigenia fair,
The ships, the Greeks, and all the Grecian name.
Heavens how my country's woes distract my
mind,
Lest fate accomplish all his rage design'd!
And must we, gods! our heads inglorious lay
In Trojan dust, and this the fatal day?
Return, Achilles! oh return, though late,
To save thy Greeks, and stop the course of fate;
If in that heart or grief or courage lies,
Rise to redeem; ah yet, to conquer, rise!
The day may come, when all our warriors slain,
That heart shall melt, that courage rise in vain.
Regard in time, O prince divinely brave!
Those wholesome counsels which thy father gave.
When Peleus in his aged arms embraced
His parting son, these accents were his last:
And bright Chrysothemis with golden hair;
Her shalt thou wed whom most thy eyes approve,
He asks no presents, no reward for love;
Himself will give the dower: so vast a store,
As never father gave a child before.
Seven ample cities shall confess thy sway,
Thee Enopè and Phere thee obey,
Cardamylè with ample turrets crown'd,
And sacred Pedasus for vines renown'd;
Epea fair, the pastures Hira yields,
And rich Antheia with her flowery fields.
The whole extent to Pylos' sandy plain,
Along the verdant margin of the main :
There heifers graze, and labouring oxen toil;
Bold are the men, and generous is the soil:
There shalt thou reign, with power and justice
crown'd,
And rule the tributary realms around.
Such are the proffers which this day we bring,
Such the repentance of a suppliant king.
My child! with strength, with glory, and success, 330 But if all this relentless thou disdain,
Thy arms may Juno and Minerva bless!
Trust that to heaven; but thou, thy cares engage
To calm thy passions and subdue thy rage:
From gentler manners let thy glory grow,
And shun contention, the sure source of woe;
That young and old may in thy praise combine,
The virtues of humanity be thine.-
This, now despised, advice thy father gave;
Ah! check thy anger, and be truly brave.
If thou wilt yield to great Atrides' prayers,
Gifts worthy thee his royal hand prepares ;
If not but hear me, while I number o'er
The proffer'd presents, an exhaustless store.
Ten weighty talents of the purest gold,
And twice ten vases of refulgent mould;
Seven sacred tripods, whose unsullied frame
Yet knows no office, nor has felt the flame;
Twelve steeds unmatch'd in fleetness and in force,
And still victorious in the dusty course;
If honour, and if interest plead in vain,
Yet some redress to suppliant Greece afford,
And be among her guardian gods adored
If no regard thy suffering country claim,
Hear thy own glory, and the voice of fame :
For now that chief, whose unresisted ire
Made nations tremble, and whole hosts retire,
Proud Hector, now, the unequal fight demands,
And only triumphs to deserve thy hands.
Then thus the goddess-born: Ulysses, hear
A faithful speech, that knows nor art, nor fear;
What in my secret soul is understood,
My tongue shall utter, and my deeds make good.
Let Greece then know, my purpose I retain :
Nor with new treaties vex my peace in vain.
Who dares think one thing, and another tell,
My heart detests him as the gates of hell.
Then thus in short my fix'd resolves attend,
Which nor Atrides nor his Greeks can bend;
(Rich were the man whose ample stores exceed 350 Long toils, long perils, in their cause I bore,
The prizes purchased by their winged speed :)
Seven lovely captives of the Lesbian line,
Skill'd in each art, unmatch'd in form divine:
The same he chose for more than vulgar charms,
When Lesbos sunk beneath thy conquering arms,
All these, to buy thy friendship, shall be paid,
And join'd with these, the long-contested maid;
With all her charms, Briseïs he'll resign,
And solemn swear those charms were only thine;
But now the unfruitful glories charm no more.
Fight or not fight, a like reward we claim,
The wretch and hero find their prize the same;
Alike regretted in the dust he lies,
Who yields ignobly, or who bravely dies.
Of all my dangers, all my glorious pains,
A life of labours, lo! what fruit remains?
As the bold bird her helpless young attends,
From danger guards them, and from want defends;
His gifts are hateful: kings of such a kind
Stand but as slaves before a noble mind.
Not though he proffer'd all himself possess'd,
And all his rapine could from others wrest;
430 Not all the golden tides of wealth that crown
The many peopled Orchomenian town;
In search of prey she wings the spacious air,
And with the untasted food supplies her care:
For thankless Greece such hardships have I braved,
Her wives, her infants, by my labours saved;
Long sleepless nights in heavy arms I stood,
And sweat laborious days in dust and blood.
I sack'd twelve ample cities on the main,
And twelve lay smoking on the Trojan plain :
Then at Atrides' haughty feet were laid
The wealth I gather'd, and the spoils I made.
Your mighty monarch these in peace possess'd;
Some few my soldiers had, himself the rest.
Some present too to every prince was paid;
And every prince enjoys the gift he made;
I only must refund, of all his train;
See what pre-eminence our merits gain!
My spoil alone his greedy soul delights;
My spouse alone must bless his lustful nights :
The woman, let him (as he may) enjoy;
But what's the quarrel then of Greece to Troy?
What to these shores the assembled nations draws?
What calls for vengeance, but a woman's cause?
Are fair endowments and a beauteous face
Beloved by none but those of Atreus' race?
Not all proud Thebes' unrivalled walls contain, 500
The world's great empress on the Egyptian plain,
(That spreads her conquests o'er a thousand states,
And pours her heroes through a hundred gates,
Two hundred horsemen, and two hundred cars
From each wide portal issuing to the wars;)
Though bribes were heap'd on bribes, in number more
Than dust in fields, or sands along the shore;
440 Should all these offers for my friendship call,
"Tis he that offers, and I scorn them all.
Atrides' daughter never shall be led
(An ill-match'd consort) to Achilles' bed;
Like golden Venus though she charm'd the heart,
And vied with Pallas in the works of art.
Some greater Greek let those high nuptials grace,
I hate alliance with a tyrant's race.
If heaven restore me to my realms with life,
The reverend Pelus shall elect my wife.
The wife whom choice and passion both approve, 450 Thessalian nymphs there are, of form divine,
Sure every wise and worthy man will love.
Nor did my fair-one less distinction claim;
Slave as she was, my soul adored the dame.
Wrong'd in my love, all proffers I disdain ;
Deceived for once, I trust not kings again.
Ye have my answer-what remains to do,
Your king, Ulysses, may consult with you.
What needs he the defence this arm can make ?
Has he not walls no human force can shake?
Has he not fenced his guarded navy round,
With piles, with ramparts, and a trench profound?
And will not these (the wonders he has done!)
Repel the rage of Priam's single son?
There was a time ('twas when for Greece I fought)
When Hector's prowess no such wonders wrought;
He kept the verge of Troy, nor dared to wait
Achilles' fury at the Scæan gate;
He tried it once, and scarce was saved by fate.
But now those ancient enmities are o'er ;
To-morrow we the favouring gods implore;
Then shall you see our parting vessels crown'd
And hear with oars the Hellespont resound.
The third day hence, shall Pthia greet our sails,
If mighty Neptune send propitious gales;
Pthia to her Achilles shall restore
And kings that sue to mix their blood with mine,
Blest in kind love, my years shall glide away,
Content with just hereditary sway;
There, deaf for ever to the martial strife,
Enjoy the dear prerogative of life.
Life is not to be bought with heaps of gold;
Not all Apollo's Pythian treasures hold,
Or Troy once held, in peace and pride of sway,
Can bribe the poor possession of a day!
Lost herds and treasures we by arms regain,
And steeds unrivall'd on the dusty plain :
But from our lips the vital spirit fled,
Returns no more to wake the silent dead.
My fates long since by Thetis were disclosed,
And each alternate, life or fame, proposed;
Here if I stay, before the Trojan town,
Short is my date, but deathless my renown:
If I return, I quit immortal praise
For years on years, and long-extended days.
470 Convinced, though late, I find my fond mistake,
And warn the Greeks the wiser choice to make:
To quit these shores, their native seats enjoy,
Nor hope the fall of heaven-defended Troy.
Jove's arm display'd asserts her from the skies;
Her hearts are strengthened, and her glories rise.
Go then, to Greece report our fix'd design;
Bid all your councils, all your armies join,
Let all your forces, all your arts conspire
To save the ships, the troops, the chief's from fire.
480 One stratagem has fail'd, and others will:
Ye find Achilles is unconquer'd still.
Go then-digest my message as ye may—
But here this night let reverend Phoenix stay:
His tedious toils and hoary hairs demand
A peaceful death in Pthia's friendly land.
But whether he remain or sail with me,
His age be sacred, and his will be free.
The wealth he left for this detested shore;
Thither the spoils of this long war shall pass,
The ruddy gold, the steel, and shining brass :
My beauteous captives thither I'll convey,
And all that rests of my unravish'd prey.
One only valued gift your tyrant gave,
And that resumed, the fair Lyrnessian slave.
Then tell him, loud, that all the Greeks may hear,
And learn to scorn the wretch they basely fear;
(For, arm'd in impudence, mankind he braves,
And meditates new cheats on all his slaves;
Though shameless as he is, to face these eyes
Is what he dares not: if he dares, he dies ;)
Tell him, all terms, all commerce I decline,
Nor share his council nor his battle join;
For once deceived, was his; but twice, were mine.
No-let the stupid prince, whom Jove deprives
Of sense and justice, run where frenzy drives;
The son of Peleus ceased: the chiefs around In silence wrapp'd, in consternation drown'd, 490 Attend the 'stern reply. Then Phoenix rose: (Down his white beard a stream of sorrow flows.) And while the fate of suffering Greece he mourn'd, With accent weak these tender words return'd: 561
Divine Achilles! wilt thou then retire,
And leave our hosts in blood, our fleets on fire?
If wrath so dreadful fill thy ruthless mind,
How shall thy friend, thy Phoenix stay behind?
The royal Peleus, when from Pthia's coast
He sent thee early to the Achaian host;
Thy youth as then in sage debates unskill'd,
And new to perils of the direful field;
| Injustice, swift, erect, and unconfined,
Sweeps the wide earth, and tramples o'er mankind,
While prayers, to heal her wrongs, move slow be-
Who hears these daughters of almighty Jove, 631
For him they mediate to the throne above:
When man rejects the humble suit they make,
The sire revenges for the daughters' sake;
470 From Jove commission'd, fierce Injustice then
Descends, to punish unrelenting men.
He bade me teach thee all the ways of war;
To shine in councils, and in camps to dare.
Never, ah never let me leave thy side!
No time shall part us, and no fate divide.
Not though the god, that breathed my life, restore
The bloom I boasted, and the port I bore,
When Greece of old beheld my youthful flames,
(Delighted Greece, the land of lovely dames!)
My father, faithless to my mother's arms,
Old as he was, ador'd a stranger's charms.
I tried what youth could do (at her desire)
To win the damsel, and prevent my sire.
My sire with curses loads my hated head,
And cries, Ye furies! barren be his bed.
Infernal Jove, the vengeful fiends below,
And ruthless Proserpine confirm'd his vow.
Despair and grief distract my labouring mind!
Gods! what a crime my impious heart designed!
I thought (but some kind god that thought sup-
press'd)
Oh let not headlong passion bear the sway;
These reconciling goddesses obey:
Due honours to the seed of Jove belong :
Due honours calm the fierce, and bend the strong
Were these not paid thee by the terms we bring, 641
Were rage still harbour'd in the haughty king,
Nor Greece, nor all her fortunes, should engage
Thy friend to plead against so just a rage.
580 But since what honour asks, the general sends,
And sends by those whom most thy heart commends,
The best and noblest of the Grecian train;
Permit not these to sue, and sue in vain!
Let me, my son, an ancient fact unfold,
A great example drawn from times of old;
Hear what our fathers were, and what their praise
Who conquer'd their revenge in former days.
Where Calydon on rocky mountains stands,
Once fought the Ætolian and Curetian bands;
To guard it those, to conquer these advance;
590 And mutual deaths were dealt with mutual chance.
The silver Cynthia bade Contention rise,
In vengeance of neglected sacrifice:
To plunge the poinard in my father's breast:
Then meditate my flight; my friends in vain
With prayers entreat me, and with force detain.
On fat of rams, black bulls, and brawny swine,
They daily feast, with draughts of fragrant wine:
Strong guards they placed, and watch'd nine nights
The roofs and porches flamed with constant fire:
The tenth I forced the gates, unseen of all,
And favour'd by the night, o'erleap'd the wall.
My travels thence through spacious Greece extend;
In Pthia's court at last my labours end.
Your sire received me, as his son caress'd,
With gifts enrich'd, and with possessions bless'd.
The strong Dolopians thenceforth own'd my reign,
And all the coast that runs along the main.
By love to thee his bounties I repaid,
And early wisdom to thy soul convey'd :
Great as thou art, my lessons made thee brave
A child I took thee, but a hero gave.
Thy infant breast a like affection show'd;
Still in my arms (an ever pleasing load,)
Or at my knee, by Phoenix wouldst thou stand;
No food was grateful but from Phoenix' hand.
I pass my watchings o'er thy helpless years,
The tender labours, the compliant cares;
The gods (I thought) reversed their hard decree,
And Phoenix felt a father's joys in thee:
Thy growing virtues justified my cares,
And promised comfort to my silver hairs.
Now be thy rage, thy fatal rage, resign'd;
A cruel heart ill suits a manly mind:
The gods (the only great, and only wise)
Are moved by offerings, vows, and sacrifice;
Offending man their high compassion wins,
And daily prayers atone for daily sins.
Prayers are Jove's daughters, of celestial race,
Lame are their feet, and wrinkled is their face;
With humble mien and with dejected eyes,
Constant they follow where injustice flies:
On Eneus' fields she sent a monstrous boar,
That levell'd harvests, and whole forests tore:
This beast (when many a chief his tusks had slain)
Great Meleager stretch'd along the plain.
Then, for his spoils a new debate arose,
The neighbour nations thence commencing foes.
Strong as they were, the bold Curetes fail'd,
While Meleager's thundering arm prevail'd:
Till rage at length inflamed his lofty breast,
(For rage invades the wisest and the best.)
Cursed by Althæa, to his wrath he yields,
And in his wife's embrace forgets the fields.
(She from Marpessa sprung, divinely fair,
And matchless Idas, more than man in war;
The god of day adored the mother's charms.
Against the god the father bent his arms:
The afflicted pair, their sorrows to proclaim,
From Cleopatra changed his daughter's name,
610 And call'd Alcyone; a name to show
The father's grief, the mourning mother's woe.)
To her the chief retired from stern debate,
But found no peace from fierce Althæa's hate: 680
Althaa's hate the unhappy warrior drew,
Whose luckless hand his royal uncle slew :
She beat the ground, and call'd the powers beneath
On her own son to wreak her brother's death;
Hell heard her curses from the realms profound,
And the red fiends that walk the nightly round.
620 In vain Ætolia her deliverer waits,
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