Whofe memory of found is long fince gone, Like a thin mantle, ferves to wrap A wreath of darkness round his head he wears, IV. But hark! the heavenly sphere turns round, How on a fudden the still air is charm'd, And with what speed and care Defcending angels cull the thinnest air! Hafte then, come all th' immortal throng, And liften to her fong; Leave your lov'd manfions in the sky, And hither, quickly hither fly, Your lofs of heaven nor fhall you need to fear; While the fings, 'tis heaven here, V. See V. See how they crowd, fee how the little cherubs skip! While others fit around her mouth,' and fip Sweet Hallelujahs from her lip, Thofe lips, where in furprize of bliss they rove; So exquifite a feast, Of mufic and of love. Prepare then, ye immortal choir, And with her voice in chorus join; Her voice, which next to yours is most divine. To notes, which only the can learn, and you can teach: Are wrapt in fweet forgetfulness Of all, of all, but of the prefent happiness : Wishing for ever in that ftate to lie, For ever to be dying fo, yet never die. PRIAM'S PRIA M'S LAMENTATION AND PETITION то A CHI L LE S, FOR THE BODY OF HIS SON HECTOR. Tranflated from the Greek of Homer, Iliad w. Beginning at this Line, Ως ἄρα φωνήσας ἀπέβη πρὸς μακρὸν Ὄλυμπου Argument introductory to this Translation. Hector's body (after he was flain) remained still in the poffeffion of Achilles; for which Priam made great lamentation. Jupiter had pity on him; and fent Iris to comfort him, and direct him after what manner he fhould go to Achilles' tent; and how he should there ranfom the body of his fon. Priam accordingly orders his chariot to be got ready, and, preparing rich pre-, fents for Achilles, fets forward to the Grecian camp, accompanied by nobody but his herald Idæus. Mercury, at Jupiter's command, meets him by the way, in the figure of a young Grecian, and, after bemoaning his misfortunes, undertakes to drive his chariot unobserved through the guards, and to the door of D Achilles' Achilles' tent; which having performed, he difcovered himself a god, and giving him a fhort instruction how to move Achilles to compaffion, flew up to heaven. S O fpake the god, and heavenward took his flight; When Priam from his chariot did alight; Leaving Idæus there, alone he went With folemn pace into Achilles' tent. Heedlefs he pafs'd through various rooms of ftate, At greater distance, greater ftate exprefs'd. Much of his blood (for many fons he lost). But, as a wretch who has a murder done, And, feeking refuge, does from justice run, So did Achilles gaze, furpriz'd to see The godlike Priam's royal misery ; All All on each other gaz'd, all in furprize, And mute, yet feem'd to question with their eyes, A proftrate King, in wretchedness grown old : "Think on your father, and then look on me, "His hoary age and helpless person fee; "So furrow'd are his cheeks, fo white his hairs, "Such, and fo many, his declining years; "Could you imagine (but that cannot be) "Could you imagine fuch, his mifery! "Yet it may come, when he shall be opprefs'd, "And neighbouring princes lay his country wafte; "Ev'n at this time, perhaps, fome powerful foe, "Who will no mercy, no compaffion show, "Entering his palace, fees him feebly fly, "And feek protection where no help is nigh. "In vain he may your fatal abfence mourn, "And with, in vain, for your delay'd return; "Yet, that he hears you live, is fome relief; "Some hopes alleviate his excefs of grief; "It glads his foul to think, he once may fee “His much-lov'd fon; would that were granted me "But I, moft wretched I! of all bereft! "Of all my worthy fons how few are left ! "Are now, alas! a mournful tribute to one tomb. D 2 |