My rage rekindles and my soul's on flame; 'Tis just resentment, and becomes the brave;

Disgraced, dishonour'd, like the vilest slave!

Return then, Heroes! and our answer bear,
The glorious combat is no more my care;
Not till amidst yon sinking navy slain,
The blood of Greeks shall dye the sable
main;

Not till the flames, by Hector's fury thrown,

Consume your vessels, and approach my own;

Just there, th' impetuous homicide shall stand,

There cease his battle, and there feel our hand.'

770

This said, each Prince a double goblet crown'd,

And cast a large libation on the ground: Then to their vessels, thro' the gloomy shades,

The Chiefs return; divine Ulysses leads.
Meantime Achilles' slaves prepared a bed,
With fleeces, carpets, and soft linen spread:
There, till the sacred morn restor❜d the
day,

In slumbers sweet the rev'rend Phoenix lay,
But in his inner tent, an ampler space,
Achilles slept: and in his warm embrace
Fair Diomede of the Lesbian race.
Last, for Patroclus was the couch prepared,
Whose nightly joys the beauteous Iphis
shared:

781

To save our army, and our fleets to free, Is not his care; but left to Greece and thee.

Your eyes shall view, when morning paints the sky,

800

Beneath his oars the whitening billows fly.

Us too he bids our oars and sails employ, Nor hope the fall of Heav'n-protected Troy;

For Jove o'ershades her with his arm divine,

Inspires her war, and bids her glory shine. Such was his word: what farther he declared,

These sacred heralds and great Ajax heard. But Phoenix in his tent the Chief retains, Safe to transport him to his native plains, When morning dawns; if other he decree, His age is sacred, and his choice is free.' 811

Ulysses ceas'd: the great Achaian host, With sorrow seiz'd, in consternation lost, Attend the stern reply. Tydides broke The gen'ral silence, and undaunted spoke: Why should we gifts to proud Achilles send?

Or strive with prayers his haughty soul to bend?

His country's woes he glories to deride, And prayers will burst that swelling heart with pride.

Be the fierce impulse of his rage obey'd; 820 Our battles let him or desert or aid;

Then let him arm when Jove or he think fit;

That, to his madness, or to Heav'n, commit:

What for ourselves we can, is always ours: This night, let due repast refresh our

powers;

(For strength consists in spirits and in blood,

And those are owed to gen'rous wine and food);

But when the rosy Messenger of Day Strikes the blue mountains with her golden

ray,

Upon the refusal of Achilles to return to the army, the distress of Agamemnon is described in the most lively manner. He takes no rest that night, but passes through the camp, awaking the leaders, and contriving all possible methods for the public safety. Menelaus, Nestor, Ulysses, and Diomede, are employed in raising the rest of the captains. They call a council of war, and determine to send scouts into the enemy's camp, to learn their posture, and discover their intentions. Diomede undertakes this hazardous enterprise, and makes choice of Ulysses for his companion. In their passage they surprise Dolon, whom Hector had sent on a like design to the camp of the Grecians. From him they are informed of the situation of the Trojan and auxiliary forces, and particularly of Rhesus, and the Thracians, who were lately arrived. They pass on with success; kill Rhesus with several of his officers, and seize the famous horses of that Prince, with which they return in triumph to the camp.

The same night continues; the scene lies in the two camps.

ALL night the Chiefs before their vessels lay,

And lost in sleep the labours of the day: All but the King; with various thoughts oppress'd,

His country's cares lay rolling in his

breast.

So bursting frequent from Atrides' breast, Sighs following sighs his inward fears confess'd.

Now, o'er the fields, dejected, he surveys From thousand Trojan fires the mounting blaze;

Hears in the passing wind their music blow, And marks distinct the voices of the foe. Now, looking backwards to the fleet and coast,

20

Anxious he sorrows for th' endanger'd host.
He rends his hairs, in sacrifice to Jove,
And sues to him that ever lives above:
Inly he groans; while glory and despair
Divide his heart, and wage a doubtful war.
A thousand cares his lab'ring breast re-
volves;

To seek sage Nestor now the Chief resolves,

With him, in wholesome counsels, to debate What yet remains to save th' afflicted state. He rose, and first he cast his mantle round, Next on his feet the shining sandals bound; A lion's yellow spoils his back conceal'd; His warlike hand a pointed jav'lin held. Meanwhile his brother, press'd with equal

To try yon camp, and watch the Trojan powers?

But say, what hero shall sustain the task? Such bold exploits uncommon conrage ask, Guideless, alone, thro' night's dark shade to

go,

And 'midst a hostile camp explore the foe.'

Yet such his acts, as Greeks unborn shall tell,

And curse the battle where their fathers fell.

Now speed thy hasty course along the fleet,

There call great Ajax, and the Prince of Crete;

Ourself to hoary Nestor will repair; To keep the guards on duty, be his care: (For Nestor's influence best that quarter guides,

Whose son, with Merion, o'er the watch presides.')

To whom the Spartan: 'These thy orders borne,

Say, shall I stay, or with despatch return?'

'There shalt thou stay (the King of Men replied),

70

Else may we miss to meet without a guide, The paths so many, and the camp so wide. Still, with your voice, the slothful soldiers raise,

Urge by their fathers' fame, their future

No taste of sleep these heavy eyes have known;

Confused, and sad, I wander thus alone,
With fears distracted, with no fix'd design;
And all my people's miseries are mine.
If aught of use thy waking thought sug-
gest,

(Since cares, like mine, deprive thy soul of rest,

Impart thy counsel, and assist thy friend: Now let us jointly to the trench descend, At every gate the fainting guard excite, 110 Tired with the toils of day, and watch of

night:

Else may the sudden foe our works invade, So near, and favour'd by the gloomy shade.' To him thus Nestor: Trust the Powers above,

Nor think proud Hector's hopes confirm'd by Jove:

How ill agree the views of vain mankind, And the wise counsels of th' eternal mind! Audacious Hector, if the Gods ordain That great Achilles rise and rage again,