"Not Atreus' son, tho' now himself he boast "The King of Men and fov'reign of the host." 110 Then boldly he. "Nor does the god complain "Of vows withheld or hecatombs unflain. "Chryfeïs to her awful fire refus'd, “The gifts rejected, and the priest abus’¿, "Call down these judgments, and for more they call, Just ready on th' exhausted camp to fall, "Till ranfome-free the damfel is bestow'd, "And hecatombs are fent to footh the god, "To Chryfa fent. Perhaps Apollo's rage 116 "The gifts may expiate and the priest affuage." 120 325 "Augur of ills (for never good to me "Did that most inaufpicious voice decree) "For ever ready to denounce my woes, "When Greece is punifh'd I am still the caufe; 130 "And now when Phoebus fpreads his plagues abroad "And wastes our camp, it is I provoke the god, "Because my blooming captive I detain, "And the large ranfome is produc'd in vain. "Fond of the maid, my queen in beauty's pride 135 "Ne'er charm'd me more a virgin and a bride; "Not Clytemnestra boasts a nobler grace, "A fweeter temper or a lovelier face, "In works of female fkill hath more command, "But mark me well; fee instantly prepar'd To whom the swift purfuer quick reply'd; "Oh funk in avarice, and fwol'n with pride! 140 145 150 "How fhall the Greeks, tho' large of foul they be, "Collect their fever'd fpoils, a heap for thee "To fearch a-new, and cull the choiceft share "Amid the mighty harvest of the war? "Then yield thy captive to the god refign'd, "Affur'd a tenfold recompenfe to find 155 "When Jove's decree fhall throw proud Ilion down "And give to plunder the devoted town." 160 "Think not," Atrides anfwer'd, "tho' thou fhine "Graceful in beauty like the pow'rs divine, "Think not thy wiles in fpecious words convey'd "From its firm purpose shall my foul diffuade. "Muit I alone bereft fit down with fhame, "And thou infulting keep thy captive dame ? "If as I afk the large-foul'd Greek's confent "Full recompenfe to give I ftand content: "If not, a prize I shall myself decree .165 "From him, or him, or else perhaps from thee, "While the proud prince defpoil'd shall rage in vain. "But break we here? the reft let time explain. 170 "Lanch now a welltrimm'd galley from the shore, “With hands experienc'd at the bending oar; "Enclose the hecatomb, and then with care “To the high deck convey the captive fair. "The facred bark let fage Ulyffes guide, "Or Ajax or Idomeneus prefide; 175 180 "Or thou, O mighty Man! the chief fhalt be, "And who more fit to footh the god than thee?" "Shameless, and poor of foul!" the prince replies, And on the Monarch casts his scornful eyes, "What Greek henceforth will march at thy command "In fearch of danger on the doubtful strand? "Who in the face of day provoke the fight, "Or tempt the secret ambush of the night? "Not I be fure. Henceforward I am free, "For ne'er was Priam's house a foe to me: "Far from their inroads in my pastures feed "The lowing heifer and the pamper'd steed. "On Phthia's hills our fruits fecurely grow, 185 "And ripen careless of the distant foe, 190 "Between whofe realms and our Theffalian shore "Unnumber'd mountains rife and billows roar. "For thine and for thy baffled brother's fame "Acrofs thofe feas, difdainful,Man! I came; "Yet, Infolent! by arbitrary sway 195 “Thou talk'ft of seizing on my rightful prey, "The prize whofe purchase toils and dangers cost, "And giv'n by fuffrage of the Grecian host. "What town when fack'd by our victorious bands "But still brought wealth to those rapacious hands? "To me thus fcorn'd contented doft thou yield 201 "My fhare of blood in the tumultuous field; "But ftill the flow'r of all the fpoil is thine; "There claim'ft thou most, nor e'er did I repine: "Whate'er was giv'n I took, and thought it beft, 205 "With flaughter tir'd, and panting after reft. "To Phthia now, for I fhall fight no more, 61 My fhips their crooked prows fhall turn from fhore. "When I am fcorn'd I think I well forefee "What spoils and pillage will be won by thee. 210 "Hence," cry'd the Monarch, "hence, without delay; "Think not, vain Man! my voice shall urge thy stay: "Discord and jars thy joy. But learn to know "Go at thy pleasure, none will stop thy way; Myfelf will feize, and feize before thy eyes, "That thou and each audacious man may fee "How vain the rash attempt to cope with me.' Stung to the foul tumult'cus thoughts began 220 225 230 While thus by turns his rage and reafon fway'd, 235 240 Then thus with hasty words: “O heav'nly-born! "Com'ft thou to fee proud Agamemnon's scorn? "But thou fhalt fee (my fword fhall make it good) 245 "This glutted sand smoke with the tyrant's blood." |