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THE

SECOND BOOK

OF THE

I LI I A D.

VOL. I.

ARGUMEN T.

The Trial of the Army, and Catalogue of the Forces.

JUPITER, in pursuance of the request of Thetis, sends a deceitful vision to Agamemnon, perfuading him to lead the army to battle; in order to make the Greeks fenfible of their want of Achilles. The general, who is deluded with the hopes of taking Troy without his affiftance, but fears the army was discouraged by his abfence and the late plague, as well as by the length of time, contrives to make trial of their dif pofition by a stratagem. He first communicates his defign to the princes in council, that he would propofe a return to the foldiers, and that they should put a ftop to them if the propofal was embraced. Then he affembles the whole hoft, and upon moving for a return to Greece, they unanimously agree to it, and run to prepare the fhips. They are detained by the management of Ulyffes, who chaftifes the infolence of Therfites. The affembly is recalled, feveral fpeeches. made on the occafion, and at length the advice of Neftor followed, which was, to make a general muster of the troops, and to divide them into their feveral nations, before they proceeded to battle. This gives occafion to the poet to enumerate all the forces of the Greeks and Trojans, and in a large catalogue.

The time employed in this book confifts not entirely of one day. The fcene lies in the Grecian camp and upon the fea-fhore; toward the end it removes to Troy.

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