Inly they groan, big drops of fweat diftil,
Th' enormous timber lumbering down the hill:
So thefe-Behind, the bulk of Ajax ftands,
And breaks the torrent of the rushing bands.
Thus, when a river fwell'd with fudden rains
Spreads his broad waters o'er the level plains,
Some interpofing hill the ftream divides,
And breaks its force, and turns the winding tides.
Still close they follow, close the rear engage;
Æneas ftorms, and Hector foams with rage:
While Greece a heavy, thick retreat maintains,
Wedg'd in one body, like a flight of cranes,
That fhriek inceffant while the falcon, hung
High on pois'd pinions, threats their callow young.
So from the Trojan chiefs the Grecians fly,
Such the wild terrour, and the mingled cry:
Within, without the trench, and all the way,
Strow'd in bright heaps, their arms and armour lay;
Such horrour Jove impreft! yet still proceeds
The work of death, and still the battle bleeds.
The Grief of Achilles, and new Armour made him by Vulcan.
THE news of the death of Patroclus is brought to Achilles by Antilochus. Thetis, hearing his lanientations, comes with all her fea-nymphs to comfort him. The fpeeches of the mother and son on this occafion. Iris appears to Achilles by the command of Juno, and orders him to fhew himself at the head of the intrenchments. The fight of him turns the fortune of the day, and the body of Patroclus is carried off by the Greeks. The Trojans call a council, where Hector and Polydamas difagree in their opinions; but the advice of the former prevails, to remain encamped in the field. The grief of Achilles over the body of Patroclus.
Thetis goes to the palace of Vulcan, to obtain new arms for her fon. The defcription of the wonderful works of Vulcan; and laftly, that noble one of the fhield of Achilles.
The latter part of the nine and twentieth day, and the night enfuing, take up this book. The fcene is at Achilles's tent, on the fea-fhore, from whence it changes to the palace of Vulcan.
HUS, like the rage of fire, the combat burns;
And now it rifes, now it finks, by turns.
Meanwhile, where Hellefpont's broad waters flow,
Stood Neftor's fon, the meffenger of woe;
There fat Achilles, fhaded by his fails,
On hoifted yards extended to the gales ;
Penfive he fat; for all that Fate design'd
Rofe in fad profpect to his boding mind.
Thus to his foul he faid: Ah! what constrains
The Greeks, late victors, now to quit the plains?
Is this the day, which Heaven fo long ago
Ordain'd, to fink me with the weight of woe?
(So Thetis warn'd) when by a Trojan hand
The bravest of the Myrmidonian band
Should lose the light? Fulfill'd is that decree?
Fall'n is the warriour, and Patroclus he?
In vain I charg'd him foon to quit the plain,
And warn'd to fhun Hectorean force in vain !
Thus while he thinks, Antilochus appears,
And tells the melancholy tale with tears :
Sad tidings, fon of Peleus! thou must hear;
And wretched I, th' unwilling messenger!
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