"Hear me once more, and let the fuppliant foe "Avert thy wrath and flack thy dreadful bow!'

He pray'd; and great Apollo heard his pray’r. The fuppliants now their votive rites prepare ; Amid the flames they caft the hallow'd bread; 526 And heav'nward turn each victim's deftin'd head; Next flay the fatted bulls, their skins divide, And from each carcafs rend the fmoking hide; On ev'ry limb large rolls of fat bestow, And chofen morfels round the off'rings ftrow; Mysterious rites! then on the fire divine

530

535

The great high priest pours forth the ruddy wine;
Himself the off'ring burns. On either hand
A troop of youths in decent order stand;
On fharpen'd forks obedient to the fire
'They turn the tasteful fragments in the fire,
Adorn the feaft, fee ev'ry dish well ftor'd,
And ferve the plenteous meffes to the board.

539

When now the various feaft had cheer'd their fouls

With sparkling wines they crown the gen'rous bowls; The firft libations to Apollo pay,

And folemnize with facred hymns the day:

His praife in lo Peans loud they fing,

And footh the rage of the far fhooting king.

545

At ev❜ning thro' the shore difpers'd they fleep,

Hufh'd by the diftant roarings of the deep.
When now ascending from the fhades of night
Aurora glow'd in all her rofy light,

The daughter of the Dawn, th' awaken'd crew 550
Back to the Greeks encamp'd their course renew.
The breezes freshen; for with friendly gales
Apollo fwell'd their wide-distended fails:
Cleft by the rapid prow the waves divide,
And in hoarfe murmurs break on either fide:
In fafety to the destin'd port they past,
And fix'd their bark with grappling halfers fast,
Then dragg'd her farther on the dry land coast,
Regain'd their tents, and mingled in the host.

555

But fierce Achilles, still on vengeance bent, 560 Cherish'd his wrath, and madden'd in his tent. 'Th' affembled chiefs he fhunn'd with high difdain, A band of kings, nor fought the hostile plain, But long'd to hear the distant troops engage, The ftrife grow doubtful, and the battle rage. 565 Twelve days were past, and now th' ethereal train, Jove at their head, to heav'n return'd again, When Thetis from the deep prepar'd to rife Shot thro' a big-fwol'n wave and pierc'd the skies. At early morn she reach'd the realms above, The court of gods, the refidence of Jove.

570

On the top-point of high Olympus, crown'd With hills on hills, him far apart fhe found Above the reft. The earth beneath display'd (A boundless profpect!) his broad eye survey'd. 575 Her left hand grasp'd his knees, her right she rear'd,' And touch'd with blandishment his awful beard;

Then fuppliant with fubmiffive voice implor'd
Old Saturn's fon, the god by gods ador'd:

"If e'er by rebel deities oppreft

580

"My aid reliev'd thee, grant this one request. "Since to short life my hapless fon was born, "Do thou with fame the fcanty space adorn. "Punish the King of Men, whofe lawless fway 584 "Hath fham'd the youth and feiz'd his deftin'd prey. "A while let Troy prevail that Greece may grieve, "And doubled honours to my offspring give." She faid; the god vouchfaf'd not to reply, (A deep fufpenfe fat in his thoughtful eye.) Once more around his knees the goddefs clung, 590 And to foft accents form'd her artful tongue : "Oh! fpeak; or grant me or deny my pray❜r: "Fear not to speak what I am doom'd to bear, "That I may know if thou my pray'r deny "The most defpis'd of all the gods am I."

595.

With a deep figh the Thund'ring Pow'r replies ;

"To what a height will Juno's anger rife!
"Still doth her voice before the gods upbraid
My partial hand that gives the Trojans aid.

I grant thy fuit. But hence; depart unfeen, 600 "And shun the fight of heav'n's fufpicious queen. "Believe my nod, the great the certain fign "When Jove propitious hears the pow'rs divine, "The fign that ratifies my high command

"That thus I will; and what I will shall stand.” 605

This faid, his kingly brow the fire inclin'd; The large black curls fell awful from behind Thick shadowing the stern forehead of the god: Olympus trembled at th' almighty nod.

The goddess fmil'd; and with a sudden leap 610 From the high mountain plung'd into the deep. But Jove repair'd to his celeftial tow'rs, And as he rose uprofe th' immortal pow'rs. In ranks on either fide th' affembly caft Bow'd down, and did obeifance as he past.

615

620

To him enthron'd (for whisp'ring fhe had seen Clofe at his knees the Silverfooted queen, Daughter of him who low beneath the tides Aged and hoary in the deep refides) Big with invectives Juno filence broke, And thus opprobrious her refentments fpoke: "Falfe Jove! what goddefs whifp'ring did I fee? "O fond of counfels ftill conceal'd from me! "To me neglected thou wilt ne'er impart "One fingle thought of thy close-cover'd heart." To whom the fire of gods and men reply'd: 626 "Strive not to find what I decree to hide; "Laborious were the fearch, and vain the ftrife, "Vain ev'n for thee, my fifter and my wife.

"The thoughts and counfels proper to declare 630 "Nor god nor mortal shall before thee share;

"But what my fecret wisdom shall ordain

"Think not to reach, for know the thought were vain.

"Dread Saturn's Son! why fo fevere?" replies 635

The goddess of the large majestick eyes.

Thy own dark thoughts at pleasure hide or show; "Ne'er have I afk'd nor now afpire to know. "Nor yet my fears are vain nor came unfeen "To thy high throne the Silverfooted queen,

Daughter of him who low beneath the tides 640 << 'Aged and hoary in the deep refides.

“Thy nod affures me fhe was not deny'd, "And Grecce must perish for a madman's pride. To whom the god whofe hand the tempeft forms, Drives clouds on clouds and blackens heav'n with ftorms,

645

Thus wrathful anfwer'd: "Doft thou still complain?

Perplex'd for ever, and perplex'd in vain!

Shouldst thou disclose the dark event to come "How wilt thou stop th' irrevocable doom? "This ferves the more to sharpen my disdain, 650 "And woes foreseen but lengthen out thy pain. "Be filent then; difpute not my command, "Nor tempt the force of this fuperiour hand, "Left all the gods around thee leagu'd engage "In vain to fhield thee from my kindled rage." 655 Mute and abafh'd fhe fat without reply,

And downward turn'd her large majestick eye,
Nor further durft th' offended fire provoke :
The gods around him trembled as he spoke;