While here (he cry'd) the flying Greeks are flain ;

645

Trojans on Trojans yonder load the plain.
Before great Ajax fee the mingled throng
Of men and chariots driven in heaps along!
I know him well, diftinguish'd o'er the field
By the broad glittering of the feven-fold fhield.
Thither, O Hector, thither urge thy fteeds, 650
There danger calls, and there the combat bleeds;
There horfe and foot in mingled deaths unite,
And groans of flaughter mix with fhouts of fight.
Thus having fpoke, the driver's lash resounds;
Swift through the ranks the rapid chariot bounds;
655
Stung by the ftroke, the courfers fcour the fields,
O'er heaps of carcafes, and hills of fhields.
The horses' hoofs are bath'd in heroes' gore,
And, dashing, purple all the car before;
The groaning axle fable drops diftils,
And mangled carnage clogs the rapid wheels.
Here Hector, plunging through the thickest
fight,

660

Broke the dark phalanx, and let in the light: (By the long lance, the fword, or ponderous ftone,

The ranks lie fcatter'd, and the troops o'erthrown)

665

Ajax he fhuns through all the dire debate,
And fears that arm whofe force he felt fo late.
But partial Jove, efpoufing Hector's part,
Shot heaven-bred horrour through the Grecian's
heart;

Confus'd, unnerv'd in Hector's prefence grown,
670
Amaz'd he stood, with terrours not his own.
O'er his broad back his moony fhield he threw,
And, glaring round, with tardy fteps withdrew.
Thus the grim lion his retreat maintains,
Befet with watchful dogs and fhouting fwains,
675

Repuls'd by numbers from the nightly stalls, Though rage impels him, and though hunger calls,

Long ftands the fhowering darts, and miffile fires;

Then fourly flow th' indignant beast retires.
So turn'd ftern Ajax, by whole hofts repell'd,
680

While his fwoln heart at every step rebell'd.
As the flow beaft with heavy ftrength endued,
In fome wide field by troops of boys pursued,
Though round his fides a wooden tempeft rain,
Crops the tall harvest, and lays waste the plain;

685

699

Thick on his hide the hollow blows refound,
The patient animal maintains his ground,
Scarce from the field with all their efforts chac'd,
And ftirs but flowly when he ftirs at last.
On Ajax thus a weight of Trojans hung,
The strokes redoubled on his buckler rung;
Confiding now in bulky ftrength he stands,
Now turns, and backwards bears the yielding
bands;

700

Fix'd as the bar between two warring powers,
While hitling darts defcend in iron fhowers :
In his broad buckler many a weapon itood,
Its furface briftled with a quivering wood;
And many a javelin, guiltless on the plain,
Marks the dry duft, and thirfts for blood in vain.
But bold Eurypylus his aid imparts,
And dauntless springs beneath a cloud of darts;
Whose eager javelin launch'd against the foe,
Great Apifaon felt the fatal blow;
From his torn liver the red current flow'd,
And his flack knees defert their dying load.
The victor rufhing to defpoil the dead,
From Paris' bow a vengeful arrow filed:
Fix'd in his nervous thigh the weapon ftood, 710
Fix'd was the point, but broken was the wood.
Back to the lines the wounded Greek retir'd,
Yet thus, retreating, his affociates fir'd:

705

What God, O Grecians! has your heart difmay'd?

Oh, turn to arms; 'tis Ajax claims your aid. 715
This hour he ftands the mark of hoftile rage,
And this the laft brave battle he fhall wage;
Hafte, join your forces; from the gloomy grave
The warriour refcue, and your country fave.
Thus urg'd the chief; a generous troop ap-

725

Thus rag'd both armies like conflicting fires,
While Neftor's chariot far from fight retires:
His courfers, fteep'd in sweat, and stai■'d with
gore,

The Greeks' preferver, great Machaon, bore,
That hour Achilles, from the topmost height 730
Of his proud fleet, o'erlook'd the fields of fight;
His feafted eyes beheld around the plain
The Grecian rout, the flaying, and the flain,
His friend Machaon fingled from the reft,
A tranfient pity touch'd his vengeful breaft. 735
Straight to Mencetius' much-lov'd fon he fent;
Graceful as Mars, Patroclus quits his tent :
In evil hour! Then fate decreed his doom;
And fix'd the date of all his woes to come.
Why calls my friend? Thy lov'd injunctions
lay;

Whate'er they will, Patroclus fhall obey.

O first of friends! (Pelides thus reply'd) Still at my heart, and ever at my fide! The time is come, when yon despairing hoft Shall learn the value of the man they loft: Now at my knees the Greeks fhall pour their

moan,

745

Now stiff recedes, yet hardly feems to fly,

The hero faid. His friend obey'd with haste, Through intermingled fhips and tents he pafs'd;

755

760

The chiefs defcending from their car he found;
The panting fteeds Eurymedon unbound.
The warriours ftanding on the breezy thore,
To dry their fweat, and wash away the gore,
He paus'd a moment, while the gentle gale
Convey'd that fiefhnefs the cool feas exhale;
Then to confult on farther methods went,
And took their feats beneath the fhady tent.
The draught prescrib'd, fair Hecamede pre-
pares,

Arfinous' daughter, grac'd with golden hairs: 765
(Whom to his aged arms, a royal slave,
Greece, as the prize of Neftor's witdom, gave)
A table first with azure feet fhe plac'd;
Whofe ample orb a brazen charger grac'd:
Honey new prefs'd, the facred flower of wheat,

770

And wholesome garlick, crowned the favoury

treat.

Next her white hand an antique goblet brings,
A goblet facred to the Pylian kings
From eldest times: the maffy fculptur'd vafe,
Glittering with golden ftuds, four handles grace;
775

And curling vines around each handle roll'd
Support two turtle-doves embofs'd in gold.
A matly weight, yet heav'd with ease by him,
When the brifk nectar overlook'd the brim.
Temper'd in this, the nymph of form divine 780
Pours a large portion of the Pramnian wine;
With goat's-milk cheese a flavourous tafte be-
ftows,

And last with flour the fmiling furface ftrows.
This for the wounded prince the dame prepares;
The cordial beverage reverend Neftor fhares: 785
Salubrious draughts the warriours' thirst allay,
And pleafing conference beguiles the day.
Meantime Patroclus, by Achilles fent,
Unheard approach'd, and stood before the tent.
Old Neftor rifing then, the hero led
To his high feat; the chief refus'd, and faid:
'Tis now no feafon for thefe kind delays;

And ours was all the plunder of the plains:
Fifty white flocks, full fifty herds of swine,
As many goats, as many lowing kine:
And thrice the number of unrivall'd fteeds,
All teeming females, and of generous breeds. 825
Thefe, as my firft effay of arms, I won;
Old Neleus glory'd in his conquering fon.
Thus Elis forc'd, her long arrears reftor'd,
And shares were parted to each Pylian lord.
The state of Pyle was funk to last despair,
When the proud Elians firft commenc'd the war;
For Neleus fons Alcides' rage had flain;
Of twelve bold brothers, I alone remain !
Opprefs'd, we arm'd; and now this conqueft
gain'd,

830

My fire three hundred chofen fheep obtain'd. 835

(That large reprifal he might justly claim,
For prize defrauded, and infulted fame,
When Elis' monarch at the public courfe
Detain'd his chariot and victorious horfe.)
The reft the people fhar'd; myself furvey'd 840
The just partition, and due victims pay'd.
Three days were paft, when Elis rofe to war,
With many a courfer, and with many a car;
The fons of Actor at their army's head
(Young as they were) the vengeful squadrons led.

845

790

pride;

Myfelf the foremost; but my fire deni'd ;

This to sport my hafty courfe I bend;
Thou know'ft the fiery temper of my friend.
Can then the fons of Greece (the fage rejoin'd)

800

Excite compaffion in Achilles' mind?

My fire deny'd in vain: on foot I fled Amidft our chariots: for the Goddefs led. Along fair Arene's delightful plain,

870

In arms we flept, befide the winding flood,
While round the town the fierce Epeians stood.
Soon as the fun, with all revealing ray,
Flam'd in the front of heaven, and gave the day;
Bright scenes of arms, and works of war appear;
The nations meet; there Pylos, Elis here.
The first who fell, beneath my javelin bled;
King Augias' fon, and fpoufe of Agamede: 875
(She that all fimples' healing virtues knew,
And every herb that drinks the morning dew.)
I feiz'd his car, the van of battle led;
Th' Epeians faw, they trembled, and they fled.
The foc difpers'd, their braveft warriour kill'd,

880

Fierce as a whirlwind now I fwept the field:
Full fifty captive chariots grac'd my train;
Two chiefs from each fell breathlefs to the plain.
Then Actor's fons had dy'd, but Neptune throuds
The youthful heroes in a veil of clouds. 885
O'er heapy fhields, and o'er the proftrate throng,
Collecting spoils, and flaughtering all along,
Through wide Buprafian fields we forc'd the
foes,

Where o'er the vales th' Olenian rocks arofe;
Till Pallas ftopp'd us where Alifium flows. 890.
Ev'n there the hindmoft of their rear I flay,
And the fame arm tha; led, concludes the day,
Then back to Pyle triumphant take my way.
There to high Jove were public thanks affign'd,
As first of Gods; to Neftor, of mankind.
Such then I was, impell'd by youthful blood;
So prov'd my valour for my country's good.
Achilles with unactive fury glows,
And gives to paffion what to Greece he owes.
How shall he grieve, when to th' eternal fhade
900

895

Her hofts fhall fink, nor his the power to aid?
O friend! my memory recalls the day,
When, gathering aids along the Grecian sea,
I, and Ulyffes, touch'd at Phthia's port,
And enter'd Peleus' hofpitable court.

905

A bull to Jove he flew in facrifice,

910

And pour'd libations on the flaming thighs.
Thyfelf, Achilles, and thy reverend fire
Mencetius, turn'd the fragments on the fire.
Achilles fees us, to the feast invites;
Social we fit, and share the genial rites.
We then explain'd the cause on which we came,
Urg'd you to arms, and found you fierce for fame.
Your ancient fathers generous precepts gave;
Peleus faid only this" My fon! be brave:" 915
Menatius thus: "Though great Achilles fhine
"In strength superior, and of race divine,
"Yet cooler thoughts thy elder years attend;
"Let thy juft counfels aid, and rule thy friend."
Thus fpoke your father at Theffalia's court; 920
Words now forgot, though now of vaft import.
Ah! try the utmost that a friend can fay,
Such gentle force the fiercest minds obey.
Some favouring God Achilles' heart may move;
Though deaf to glory, he may yield to love.
If fome dire oracle his breaft alarm,

925

If aught from heaven with-hold his faving arm; VOL. VI.

Along the fhore with hafty ftrides he went; 935
Soon as he came, where, on the crouded ftrand,
The public mart and court of justice ftand,
Where the tall fleet of great Ulyffes lies,
And altars to the guardian Gods arife;
There fad he met the brave Evæmon's fon,
Large painful drops from all his members run;
An arrow's head yet rooted in his wound,
The fable blood in circles mark'd the ground.
As faintly reeling he confefs'd the fmart;
Weak was his pace, but dauntlefs was his heart;

940

945

Divine compaffion touch'd Patroclus' breast,
Who, fighing, thus his bleeding friend addreft:
Ah, hapless leaders of the Grecian hoft!
Thus muft ye perifh on a barbarous coaft?
Is this your fate, to glut the dogs with gore,
Far from your friends, and from your native
fhore?

950

955

Say, great Eurypylus! fhall Greece yet ftand2
Refifts the yet the raging Hector's hand?
Or are her heroes dooni'd to die with fhame,
And this the period of our wars and fame>
Eurypylus replies: No more, my friend,
Greece is no more! this day her glories end.
Ev'n to the fhips victorious Troy pursues,
Her force encreafing as her toil renews.
Those chiefs, that us'd her utmost rage to meet,
969
'Lie pierc'd with wounds, and bleeding in the
fleet.

But thou, Patroclus! act a friendly part,
Lead to my fhips, and draw this deadly dart;
With lukewarm water wash the gore away,
With healing balms the raging smart allay,
Such as fage Chiron, fire of Pharmacy,
Once taught Achilles, and Achilles thee.
Of two fam'd furgeons, Podalirius ftands
This hour furrounded by the Trojan bands;
And great Machaon, wounded in his tent,
Now wants that fuccour which fo oft he lent.

965

970

To him the chief: What then remains to do? Th' event of things the Gods alone can view. Charg'd by Achilles' great command I fly, And bear with hafte the Pylian king's reply; 975 But thy diftreis this inftant claims relief. He faid, and in his arms upheld the chief. The flaves their master's flow approach furvey'd, And hides of oxen on the floor display'd; There ftretch'd at length the wounded hero lay,

50

Arm'd foes around a dreadful circle form,
And hiffing javelins rain an iron storm:
His powers untam'd their bold affault defy,
And where he turns, the rout difperfe, or die:
He foams, he glares, he bounds against them all,
And if he falls. his courage makes him fall.
With equal rage encompass'd Hector glows;
Exhorts his armies, and the trenches thows.
The panting fteeds impatient fury breathe,
But fnort and tremble at the gulph beneath;
Just on the brink they neigh, and paw the
ground,

55

And the turf trembles, and the skies refound. 60
Eager they view'd the prospect dark and deep,
Vaft was the leap, nd headlong hung the fteep;
The bottom bare (a formidable show!)

And briftled thick with fharpened stakes below.
The foot alone this ftrong defence could force, 65
And try the pass impervious to the horse.
This faw Polydamas; who, wifely brave,
Reftrain'd great Hector, and his counfel gave:
Oh thou bold leader of the Trojan bands,
And you, confederate chiefs from foreign lands!

This courfel pleas'd: the God-like Hector fprung

110

In arms with thefe the mighty Afius ftood,
Who drew from Hyrtacus his noble blood,
And whom Arifba's yellow courfers bore,
The courfers fed on Selle's winding fhore.
Antenor's fons the fourth battalion guide,
And great Eneas, born on fountful ide.
Divine Sarpedon the last band obey'd,
Whom Glaucus and Afteropeus aid;
Next him, the braveft at their army's head,
But he more brave than all the hofts he led.
Now with compacted fhields, in close array,
The moving legions fpeed their headlong way:

Already in their hopes they fire the fleet,
And fee the Grecians gafping at their feet.
While every Trojan thus, and every aid,
Th' advice of wife Polydamas obey'd;
Afius alone, confiding in his car,

His vannted courfers urg'd to meet the war.
Unhappy hero! and advis'd in vein!

115.

120

Thofe wheels returning ne'er fhall mark the plain;

130

No more thofe courfers with triumphant joy
Restore their master to the gates of Troy!
Black death attends behind the Grecian wall,
And great Idomeneus shall boaft thy fall.
Fierce to the left he drives, where from the
plain

The flying Grecians ftrove their fhips to gain;
Swift through the wall their horfe and chariots

past,

The gates half-open'd to receive the laft.
Thither, exulting in his force, he flier :

His following host with clamours rend the skies;
To plunge the Grecians headlong in the main,
Such their proud hopes, but all their hopes were
vain.

To guard the gates, two mighty chiefs attend, Who from the Lapiths' warlike race defcend; This Pilypetes' great Pirithous heir, And that Leonteus, like the God of war.

As two tall oaks, before the wall they rife; 145
Their roots in earth, their heads amidst the skies:
Whofe fpreading arms, with leafy honours
crown'd,

Forbid the tempeft, and protect the ground;
High on the hill appears their stately form,
And their deep roots for ever brave the ftorm
150.

95

So graceful these, and fo the fhock they stand
Of raging Afius, and his furious band.
Oreftes, Acamus, in front appear,
And Oenomaus and Thoon clofe the rear ;
In vain their clamours fhake the ambient fields,

155

Swift from his feat; his clanging armour rung.
The chief's example follow'd by his train,
Each quits his car, and iffues on the plain.
By orde. s ftrict the charioteers enjoin'd,
Cempel the courfers to their ranks behind.
The forces part in five diftinguish'd bands,
And all obey their feveral chiefs' commands. 100
The best and braveft in the first confpire,
Pant for the fight, and threat the fleet with fire:,
Great Hector glorious in the van of thefe,
Polydamas, and brave Cebriones,

Before the next the graceful Paris fhines,
And bold Alcathoüs, and Agenor joins.
The fons of Priam with the third appear,
Deiphobus, and Helenus the feer;

In vain around them beat their hollow fhields;
The fearless brothers on the Grecians call,
To guard their navies, and defend the wall.
Ev'n when they faw Troy's fable troops impend,
And Greece tumultuous from her towers defcend,

160

war.

N 2