"To footh thy foul," the Blueey'd maid replies, "(If thou obey my voice) I left the skies.

"Heav'n's queen, who favours both, gave this command,

Supprefs thy wrath and stay thy vengeful hand; 250 "Be all thy rage in tauntful words expreft,

"But guiltless let the thirsty falchion rest.
"Mark what I speak. An hour is on its way
"When gifts tenfold for this affront fhall pay.
Supprefs thy wrath, and Heav'n and me obey.”
Then he: "Iyield tho' with reluctant mind: 256
'Who yields to Heav'n fhall Heav'n propitious find."
The filver hilt close-grafping, at the word

260

Deep in the sheath he plung'd his mighty fword.
The goddefs turning darted from his fight,
And reach'd Olympus in a moment's flight.
But fierce Achilles in a thund'ring tone
Throws out his wrath, and goes impetuous on:
"Valiant with wine, and furious from the bowl,
"Thou fierce-look'd talker with a coward foul! 265
"War's glorious peril ever flow to share,
"Aloof thou view'ft the field, for death is there :
""Tis greater far this peaceful camp to fway,
And peel the Greeks at will who disobey;
"A tyrant lord o'er flaves to earth debas'd,
"For had they fouls this outrage were thy last.
"But thou my fix'd my final purpose hear:
"By this dread fceptre folemnly I fwear,

270

1

275

By this (which once from out the forest torn "Nor leaf nor fhade fhall ever more adorn, "Which never more its verdure must renew, 66 Lopp'd from the vital fiem whence first it grew," "But giv'n by Jove the fons of men to awe, "Now fways the nations and confirms the law) "A day fhall come when for this hour's difdain 280 "The Greeks fhail wish for me and wish in vain ; "Nor thou tho' griev'd the wanted aid afford, "When heaps on heaps fhall fall by Hector's fword; "Too late with anguish shall thy heart be torn 284 "That the first Greek was made the publick scorn." He faid; and mounting with a furious bound He dafh'd his ftudded fceptre on the ground; Then fat: Atrides eager to reply

On the fierce champion glanc'd a vengeful eye. 289
'Twas then the madding monarchs to compose
The Pylian prince, the smooth-fpeech'd Neftor, rofe.
His tongue dropp'd honey: full of days was he;
Two ages paft he liv'd the third to fee,

And his first race of fubjects long decay'd

O'er their fons fons a peaceful fceptre sway'd.

295

"Alas for Greece!" he cries; " and with what joy "Shall Priam hear, and ev'ry fon of Troy,

"That you the first in wisdom as in wars
"Wafle your great fouls in poor ignoble jars!
"Go to! you both are young; yet oft' rever'd
"Greater than you have the wife Neftor heard:

300

"Their equals never fhall thefe eyes behold,
"Cæneus the juft, Pirithous the bold,
"Exadius, Dryas, born to high command,

Shepherds of men, and rulers of the land, "Thefeus unrivall'd in his fire's abodes,

"And mighty Polypheme, a match for gods.
"They, greateft names that ancient story knows,
"In mortal conflict met as dreadful foes,

305

"Fearless thro' rocks and wilds their prey purfu'd, "And the huge double Centaur-race fubdu'd. 31r "With them my early youth was pleas'd to roam "Thro' regions far from my sweet native home: They call'd me to the wars: no living hand "Could match their valour or their strength with

ftand;

"Yet wont they oft' my sage advice to hear : "Then liften both with an attentive ear.

315

"Seize not thou, King of Men, the beauteous flave, "Th' allotted prize the Grecian voices gave; "Nor thou, Pelides, in a threat'ning tone

320

"Urge him to wrath who'fills that facred throne, "The King of forty kings, and honour'd more "By mighty Jove than e'er was king before. "Brave tho' thou art, and of a race divine, "Thou must obey a pow'r more great than thine: 325 "And thou, O King! forbear: myself will fue "Great Thetis' fon his vengeance to fubdue ;

"Great Thetis valiant fon, our country's boast, "The fhield and bulwark of the Grecian hoft!"

331

"Wife are thy words, O Sire!" the King began, “ But what can fatiate this aspiring man? "Unbounded pow'r he claims o'er humankind, "And hopes for flaves I truft he ne'er fhall find. "Shall we because the gods have form'd him strong "Bear the lewd language of his lawless tongue?”335

If aw'd by thee the Greeks might well despise "My name," the prince precipitate replies. "In vain thou nodd'st from thy imperial throne; "Thy vaffals feek elsewhere, for I am none. "But break we here. The fair, tho' juftly mine, 340 "With fword undrawn I'purpose to refign: "On aught befide, I once for all command,

Lay not I charge thee thy prefumpt'ous hand: "Come not within my reach, nor dare advance, "Or thy heart's blood shall reek upon my lance." 345 Thus both in foul debate prolong'd the day; The council broke each takes his fep'rate way: Achilles feeks his tent with restless mind, Patroclus and his train move flow behind.

Mean-time a bark was haul'd along the fand; Twice ten felected Greeks, a brawny band, 351 Tug the tough oars at the great King's command. The gifts, the hecatomb, the captive fair, Are all intrufted to Ulyffes' carc.

They mount the deck, the veffel takes its flight, 355
Bounds o'er the furge and leffens to the fight.

Next he ordains along the winding coaft
By hallow'd rites to purify the host:
A herd of chofen victims they provide,
And caft their offals on the briny tide:
Fat bulls and goats to great Apollo die,

360

In clouds the fav'ry steam ascends the sky.

The Greeks to Heav'n their folemn vows addrest,

But dire revenge roll'd in the Monarch's breast.
Obfequious at his call two heralds stand,

365

To them in frowns he gives this harsh command: "Ye Heralds! to Achilles' tent repair,

"Thence fwift the female flave Brifeïs bear.
"With armas if difobey'd myself will come :
"Bid him refign her or he tempts his doom."
The heralds tho' unwillingly obey;
Along the fea-beat fhore they speed their way;
And now the Myrmidonian quarter past
At his tent door they find the hero plac'd.
Disturb'd the folemn meffengers he faw;
They too ftood filent with respectful awe
Before the royal youth: they neither spoke :
He guefs'd their meffage, and the filence broke:

370

375

"Ye Minifters of gods and men! draw near; "Not you but him whofe heralds ye appear 380 "Robb'd of my right I blame. Patroclus, bring "The damfel forth for this difdainful King.