The Iliad: of Homer. Translated by Mr. Pope. [pt.1]

THE THIRD BOOK OF THE ILIAD.

The ARGUMENT.

The Duel of Menelaus and Paris.

THE Armies being ready to engage, a single Combate is agreed upon between Menelaus and Paris (by the Intervention of Hector) for the Determination of the War. Iris is sent to call Helena to behold the Fight. She leads her to the Walls of Troy, where Priam sate with his Counsel|lors observing the Graecian Leaders on the Plain below, to whom Helen gives an Account of the chief of them. The Kings on ei|ther Part take the solemn Oath for the Conditions of the Com|bate. The Duel ensues, wherein Paris being overcome is snatch'd away in a Cloud by Venus, and transported to his Apartment. She then calls Helen from the Walls, and brings the Lovers together. Agamemnon on the Part of the Grae|cians, demands the Restoration of Helen, and the Performance of the Articles.

The three and twentieth Day still continues throughout this Book. The Scene is sometimes in the Fields before Troy, and sometimes in Troy itself.

THE THIRD BOOK. OF THE ILIAD.

THUS by their Leader's Care each martial Band Moves into Ranks, and stretches o'er the Land. With Shouts the Trojans rushing from afar Proclaim their Motions, and provoke the War: So when inclement Winters vex the PlainLine 5 With piercing Frosts, or thick-descending Rain, To warmer Seas the Cranes embody'd fly, With Noise, and Order, thro' the mid-way Sky; To Pygmy-Nations Wounds and Death they bring, And all the War descends upon the Wing.Line 10 But silent, breathing Rage, resolv'd, and skill'd By mutual Aids to fix a doubtful Field,

Swift march the Greeks: the rapid Dust around Dark'ning arises from the labour'd Ground. Thus from his flaggy Wings when Notus shedsLine 15 A Night of Vapors round the Mountain-Heads, Swift-gliding Mists the dusky Fields invade, To Thieves more grateful than the Midnight Shade; While scarce the Swains their feeding Flocks survey, Lost and confus'd amidst the thicken'd Day:Line 20 So wrapt in gath'ring Dust, the Grecian Train A moving Cloud, swept on, and hid the Plain.

Now Front to Front the hostile Armies stand, Eager of Fight, and only wait Command: When, to the Van, before the Sons of FameLine 25 Whom Troy sent forth, the beauteous Paris came: In Form a God! the Panther's speckled Hyde Flow'd o'er his Armour with an easy Pride, His bended Bow a-cross his Shoulders flung, His Sword beside him negligently hung,Line 30 Two pointed Spears he shook with gallant Grace, And dar'd the Bravest of the Grecian Race.

As thus with glorious Air and proud Disdain, He boldly stalk'd, the foremost on the Plain, Line 35

Him Menelaus, lov'd of Mars, espies,Line 35 With Heart elated, and with joyful Eyes: So joys a Lion if the branching Deer Or Mountain Goat, his bulky Prize, appear; In vain the Youths oppose, the Mastives bay, The Lordly Savage rends the panting Prey.Line 40 Thus fond of Vengeance, with a furious Bound, In clanging Arms he leaps upon the Ground From his high Chariot: Him, approaching near, The beauteous Champion views with Marks of Fear, Smit with a conscious Sense, retires behind,Line 45 And shuns the Fate he well deserv'd to find. As when some Shepherd from the rustling Trees Shot forth to View, a scaly Serpent sees; Trembling and pale, he starts with wild Affright, And all confus'd, precipitates his Flight.Line 50 So from the King the shining Warrior flies, And plung'd amid the thickest Trojans lies.

As Godlike Hector sees the Prince retreat, He thus upbraids him with a gen'rous Heat. Unhappy Paris! but to Women brave,Line 55 So fairly form'd, and only to deceive!

Oh had'st thou dy'd when first thou saw'st the Light, Or dy'd at least before thy Nuptial Rite! A better Fate, than vainly thus to boast, And fly, the Scandal of thy Trojan Host.Line 60 Gods! how the scornful Greeks exult to see Their Fears of Danger undeceiv'd in thee! Thy Figure promis'd with a martial Air, But ill thy Soul supplies a Form so fair. In former Days, in all thy gallant Pride,Line 65 When thy tall Ships triumphant stem'd the Tide, When Greece beheld thy painted Canvas flow, And Crowds stood wond'ring at the passing Show; Say, was it thus, with such a baffled Mien, You met th' Approaches of the Spartan Queen,Line 70 Thus from her Realm convey'd the beauteous Prize, And * 1.1both her warlike Lords outshin'd in Helen's Eyes? This Deed, thy Foes Delight, thy own Disgrace, Thy Father's Grief, and Ruin of thy Race; This Deed recalls thee to the proffer'd Fight;Line 75 Or hast thou injur'd whom thou dar'st not right? Soon to thy Cost the Field wou'd make thee know Thou keep'st the Consort of a braver Foe.

Thy graceful Form instilling soft Desire, Thy curling Tresses, and thy silver Lyre,Line 80 Beauty and Youth, in vain to these you trust, When Youth and Beauty shall be laid in Dust: Troy yet may wake, and one avenging Blow Crush the dire Author of his Country's Woe.

His Silence here, with Blushes, Paris breaks;Line 85 'Tis just, my Brother, what your Anger speaks: But who like thee can boast a Soul sedate, So firmly Proof to all the Shocks of Fate? Thy Force like Steel a temper'd Hardness shows, Still edg'd to wound, and still untir'd with Blows,Line 90 Like Steel, uplifted by some strenuous Swain, With falling Woods to strow the wasted Plain. Thy Gifts I praise, nor thou despise the Charms With which a Lover golden Venus arms; Soft moving Speech, and pleasing outward Show,Line 95 No Wish can gain 'em, but the Gods bestow. Yet, wou'd'st thou have the proffer'd Combate stand, The Greeks and Trojans seat on either Hand; Then let a mid-way Space our Hosts divide, And, on that Stage of War, the Cause be try'd:Line 100

By Paris there the Spartan King be fought, For beauteous Helen and the Wealth she brought; And who his Rival can in Arms subdue, His be the Fair, and his the Treasure too. Thus with a lasting League your Toils may cease,Line 105 And Troy possess her fertile Fields in Peace; Thus may the Greeks review their native Shore, Much fam'd for gen'rous Steeds, for Beauty more.

He said. The Challenge Hector heard with Joy, Then with his Spear restrain'd the Youth of Troy,Line 110 Held by the midst, athwart; and near the Foe Advanc'd with Steps majestically slow. While round his dauntless Head the Grecians pour Their Stones and Arrows in a mingled Show'r.

Then thus the Monarch great Atrides cry'd;Line 115 Forbear ye Warriors! lay the Darts aside: A Parley Hector asks, a Message bears; We know him by the various Plume he wears. Aw'd by his high Command the Greeks attend, The Tumult silence, and the Fight suspend.Line 120

While from the Centre Hector rolls his Eyes On either Host, and thus to both applies.

Hear, all ye Trojans, all ye Grecian Bands! What Paris, Author of the War, demands. Your shining Swords within the Sheath restrain,Line 125 And pitch your Lances in the yielding Plain. Here, in the midst, in either Army's sight, He dares the Spartan King to single Fight; And wills, that Helen and the ravish'd Spoil That caus'd the Contest, shall reward the Toil.Line 130 Let these the brave triumphant Victor grace, And diff'ring Nations part in Leagues of Peace.

He spoke: in still Suspense on either side Each Army stood: The Spartan Chief reply'd.

Me too ye Warriors hear, whose fatal RightLine 135 A World engages in the Toils of Fight. To me the Labour of the Field resign; Me Paris injur'd; all the War be mine. Fall he that must beneath his Rival's Arms, And live the rest secure of future Harms.Line 140 Two Lambs, devoted by your Country's Rite, To Earth a sable, to the Sun a white, Prepare ye Trojans! while a third we bring Select to Jove, th' Inviolable King. Line 145

Let rev'rend Priam in the Truce engage,Line 145 And add the Sanction of consid'rate Age; His Sons are faithless, headlong in Debate, And Youth itself an empty wav'ring State: Cool Age advances venerably wise, Turns on all hands its deep-discerning Eyes;Line 150 Sees what befell, and what may yet befall; Concludes from both, and best provides for all.

The Nations hear, with rising Hopes possest, And peaceful Prospects dawn in ev'ry Breast. Within the Lines they drew their Steeds around,Line 155 And from their Chariots issu'd on the Ground: Next all unbuckling the rich Mail they wore, Lay'd their bright Arms along the sable Shore. On either side the meeting Hosts are seen, With Lances fix'd, and close the Space between.Line 160 Two Heralds now dispatch'd to Troy, invite The Phrygian Monarch to the Peaceful Rite; Talthybius hastens to the Fleet, to bring The Lamb for Jove th' Inviolable King.

Meantime, to beauteous Helen from the SkiesLine 165 The various Goddess of the Rain-bow flies:

(Like fair Laodicè in Form and Face, The loveliest Nymph of Priam's Royal Race) Her in the Palace, at her Loom she found; The golden Web her own sad Story crown'd,Line 170 The Trojan Wars she weav'd (herself the Prize) And the dire Triumphs of her fatal Eyes. To whom the Goddess of the painted Bow; Approach, and view the wond'rous Scene below! Each hardy Greek and valiant Trojan Knight,Line 175 So dreadful late, and furious for the Fight, Now rest their Spears, or lean upon their Shields; Ceas'd is the War, and silent all the Fields. Paris alone and Sparta's King advance, In single Fight to toss the beamy Lance;Line 180 Each met in Arms the Fate of Combate tries, Thy Love the Motive, and thy Charms the Prize.

This said, the many-colour'd Maid inspires Her Husband's Love, and wakes her former Fires; Her Country, Parents, all that once were dear,Line 185 Rush to her Thought, and force a tender Tear. O'er her fair Face a snowy Veil she threw, And, softly sighing, from the Loom withdrew.

Her Handmaids Clymenè and Aethra wait Her silent Footsteps to the Scaean Gate.Line 190

There sate the Seniors of the Trojan Race, (Old Priam's Chiefs, and most in Priam's Grace) The King the first; Thymaetes at his side; Lampus and Clytius, long in Council try'd; Panthus, and Hicetäon, once the strong,Line 195 And next the wisest of the Rev'rend Throng, Antenor grave, and sage Ucalegon, Lean'd on the Walls, and bask'd before the Sun. Chiefs, who no more in bloody Fights engage, But Wise thro' Time, and Narrative with Age,Line 200 In Summer-Days like Grashoppers rejoice, A bloodless Race, that send a feeble Voice. These, when the Spartan Queen approach'd the Tow'r, In secret own'd resistless Beauty's Pow'r: They cry'd, No wonder such Celestial CharmsLine 205 For nine long Years have set the World in Arms; What winning Graces! what majestick Mien! She moves a Goddess, and she looks a Queen! Yet hence oh Heav'n! convey that fatal Face,Line 210 And from Destruction save the Trojan Race.

The good old Priam welcom'd her, and cry'd, Approach my Child, and grace thy Father's Side. See on the Plain thy Grecian Spouse appears, The Friends and Kindred of thy former Years.Line 215 No Crime of thine our present Suff'rings draws, Not Thou, but Heav'ns disposing Will, the Cause; The Gods these Armies and this Force employ, The hostile Gods conspire the Fate of Troy. But lift thy Eyes, and say, What Greek is HeLine 220 (Far as from hence these aged Orbs can see) Around whose Brow such martial Graces shine, So tall, so awful, and almost Divine? Tho' some of larger Stature tread the Green, None match his Grandeur and exalted Mien:Line 225 He seems a Monarch, and his Country's Pride. Thus ceas'd the King, and thus the Fair reply'd.

Before thy Presence, Father, I appear With conscious Shame and reverential Fear. Ah! had I dy'd, e're to these Walls I fled,Line 230 False to my Country and my Nuptial Bed, My Brothers, Friends, and Daughter left behind, False to them all, to Paris only kind!

For this I mourn, 'till Grief or dire Disease Shall waste the Form whose Crime it was to please! The King of Kings, Atrides, you survey,Line 235 Great in the War, and great in Arts of Sway. My Brother once, before my Days of Shame; And oh! that still he bore a Brother's Name!

With Wonder Priam view'd the Godlike Man, Extoll'd the happy Prince, and thus began.Line 240 O blest Atrides! born to prosp'rous Fate, Successful Monarch of a mighty State! How vast thy Empire? Of yon' matchless Train What Numbers lost, what Numbers yet remain? In Phrygia once were gallant Armies known,Line 245 In ancient Time, when Otreus' fill'd the Throne, When Godlike Mygdon led their Troops of Horse, And I, to join them, rais'd the Trojan Force: Against the Manlike Amazons we stood, And Sangar's Stream ran purple with their Blood.Line 250 But far inferior those, in manly Grace And Strength of Numbers, to this Grecian Race.

This said, once more he view'd the martial Train: What's He, whose Arms lie scatter'd on the Plain? Line 255

Broad is his Breast, his Shoulders larger spread,Line 255 Tho' great Atrides overtops his Head. Nor yet appear his Care and Conduct small; From Rank to Rank he moves, and orders all. The stately Ram thus measures o'er the Ground, And, Master of the Flocks, surveys them round.Line 260

Then Helen thus. Whom your discerning Eyes Have singled out, is Ithacus the Wife: A barren Island boasts his glorious Birth; His Fame for Wisdom fills the spacious Earth.

Antenor took the Word, and thus began:Line 265 My self, O King! have seen that wondrous Man; When trusting Jove and hospitable Laws, To Troy he came, to plead the Grecian Cause; (Great Menelaus urg'd the same Request) My House was honour'd with each Royal Guest:Line 270 I knew their Persons, and admir'd their Parts, Both brave in Arms, and both approv'd in Arts. Erect, the Spartan most engag'd our View, Ulysses seated, greater Rev'rence drew. When Atreus' Son harangu'd the list'ning Train,Line 275 Just was his Sense, and his Expression plain,

His Words succinct, yet full, without a Fault; He spoke no more than just the Thing he ought. But when Ulysses rose, in Thought profound, His modest Eyes he fix'd upon the Ground,Line 280 As one unskill'd or dumb, he seem'd to stand, Nor rais'd his Head, nor stretch'd his sceptred Hand; But, when he speaks, what Elocution flows! Soft as the Fleeces of descending Snows The copious Accents fall, with easy Art;Line 285 Melting they fall, and sink into the Heart! Wond'ring we hear, and fix'd in deep Surprize Our Ears refute the Censure of our Eyes.

The King then ask'd (as yet the Camp he view'd) What Chief is that with Giant Strength endu'd,Line 290 Whose brawny Shoulders, and whose swelling Chest, And lofty Stature far exceed the rest? Ajax the great (the beauteous Queen reply'd) Himself an Host: the Grecian Strength and Pride. See! bold Idomeneus superior tow'rsLine 295 Amidst yon' Circle of his Cretan Pow'rs, Great as a God! I saw him once before, With Menelaus, on the Spartan Shore.

The rest I know, and could in Order name; All valiant Chiefs, and Men of mighty Fame.Line 300 Yet two are wanting of the num'rous Train, Whom long my Eyes have sought, but sought in vain; Castor and Pollux, first in martial Force, One bold on Foot, and one renown'd for Horse. My Brothers these; the same our native Shore,Line 305 One House contain'd us, as one Mother bore. Perhaps the Chiefs, from warlike Toils at ease, For distant Troy refus'd to sail the Seas: Perhaps their Sword some nobler Quarrel draws, Asham'd to combate in their Sister's Cause.Line 310

So spoke the Fair, nor knew her Brothers Doom, Wrapt in the cold Embraces of the Tomb; Adorn'd with Honours in their native Shore, Silent they slept, and heard of Wars no more.

Meantime the Heralds, thro' the crowded Town,Line 315 Bring the rich Wine and destin'd Victims down. Idaeus' Arms the golden Goblets prest, Who thus the venerable King addrest.

Arise, O Father of the Trojan State! The Nations call, thy joyful People wait,Line 320 To seal the Truce and end the dire Debate. Paris thy Son, and Sparta's King advance, In measur'd Lists to toss the weighty Lance; And who his Rival shall in Arms subdue, His be the Dame, and his the Treasure too.Line 325 Thus with a lasting League our Toils may cease, And Troy possess her fertile Fields in Peace; So shall the Greeks review their native Shore, Much fam'd for gen'rous Steeds, for Beauty more.

With Grief he heard, and bade the Chiefs prepareLine 330 To join his milk-white Coursers to the Car: He mounts the Seat, Antenor at his side; The gentle Steeds thro' Scaea's Gates they guide: Next from the Car descending on the Plain, Amid the Grecian Host and Trojan TrainLine 335 Slow they proceed: The sage Ulysses then Arose, and with him rose the King of Men. On either side a sacred Herald stands, The Wine they mix, and on each Monarch's Hands Line 340

Pour the full Urn; Then drew the Grecian LordLine 340 His Cutlace sheath'd beside his pondrous Sword. From the sign'd Victims crops the curling Hair, The Heralds part it, and the Princes share; Then loudly thus before th' attentive Bands He calls the Gods, and spreads his lifted Hands.Line 345

O first and greatest Pow'r! whom all obey, Who high on Ida's holy Mountain sway, Eternal Jove! and you bright Orb that roll From East to West, and view from Pole to Pole! Thou Mother Earth! and all ye living Floods!Line 350 Infernal Furies, and Tartarean Gods, Who rule the Dead, and horrid Woes prepare For perjur'd Kings, and all who falsely swear! Hear, and be Witness. If, by Paris slain, Great Menelaus press the fatal Plain;Line 355 The Dame and Treasures let the Trojan keep, And Greece returning plow the watry Deep. If by my Brother's Lance the Trojan bleed; Be his the Wealth and beauteous Dame decreed: Th' appointed Fine let Ilion justly pay,Line 360 And ev'ry Age record the signal Day.

This if the Phrygians shall refuse to yield, Arms must revenge, and Mars decide the Field.

With that, the Chief the tender Victims slew, And in the Dust their bleeding Bodies threw,Line 365 The vital Spirit issu'd at the Wound, And left the Members quiv'ring on the Ground. From the same Urn they drink the mingled Wine, And add Libations to the Pow'rs Divine. While thus their Pray'rs united mount the Sky;Line 370 Hear mighty Jove! and hear ye Gods on high! And may their Blood who first the League confound, Shed like this Wine, distain the thirsty Ground; May all their Consorts serve promiscuous Lust, And all their Race be scatter'd as the Dust!Line 375 Thus either Host their Imprecations join'd, Which Jove refus'd, and mingled with the Wind.

The Rites now finish'd, rev'rend Priam rose, And thus express'd a Heart o'ercharg'd with Woes. Ye Greeks and Trojans, let the Chiefs engage,Line 380 But spare the Weakness of my feeble Age: In yonder Walls that Object let me shun, Nor view the Danger of so dear a Son.

Whose Arms shall conquer, and what Prince shall fall, Heav'n only knows, for Heav'n disposes all.Line 385

This said, the hoary King no longer stay'd, But on his Car the slaughter'd Victims laid, Then seiz'd the Reins his gentle Steeds to guide, And drove to Troy, Antenor at his Side.

Bold Hector and Ulysses now disposeLine 390 The Lists of Combate, and the Ground inclose; Next to decide by sacred Lots prepare, Who first shall launce his pointed Spear in Air. The People pray with elevated Hands, And Words like these are heard thro' all the Bands.Line 395 Immortal Jove! high Heav'n's superior Lord, On lofty Ida's holy Mount ador'd! Whoe'er involv'd us in this dire Debate, Oh give that Author of the War to Fate, And Shades Eternal! Let Division cease,Line 400 And joyful Nations join in Leagues of Peace.

With Eyes averted Hector hasts to turn The Lots of Fight, and shakes the brazen Urn. Then Paris, thine leap'd forth, by fatal Chance Ordain'd the first to whirl the weighty Lance.Line 405

Both Armies sate, the Combate to survey, Beside each Chief his Azure Armour lay, And round the Lists the gen'rous Coursers neigh. The beauteous Warrior now arrays for Fight, In gilded Arms magnificently bright:Line 410 The Purple Cuishes clasp his Thighs around, With Flow'rs adorn'd, and silver Buckles bound: Lycaon's Cors'let his fair Body drest, Brac'd in, and fitted to his softer Breast; A radiant Baldric, o'er his Shoulder ty'd,Line 415 Sustains the Sword that glitters at his side. His youthful Face a polish'd Helm o'erspread; The waving Horse-hair nodded on his Head. His figur'd Shield, a shining Orb, he takes, And in his Hand a pointed Jav'lin shakes.Line 420 With equal Speed, and fir'd by equal Charms, The Spartan Hero sheaths his Limbs in Arms.

Now round the Lists th' admiring Armies stand, With Jav'lins fix'd, the Greek and Trojan Band. Amidst the dreadful Vale the Chiefs advance,Line 425 All pale with Rage, and shake the threat'ning Lance.

The Trojan first his shining Jav'lin threw; Full on Atrides' ringing Shield it flew, Nor pierc'd the brazen Orb, but with a Bound Leap'd from the Buckler blunted on the Ground.Line 430 Atrides then his massy Lance prepares, In Act to throw, but first prefers his Pray'rs.

Give me, great Jove! to punish lawless Lust, And lay the Trojan gasping in the Dust: Destroy th' Aggressor, aid my righteous Cause,Line 435 Avenge the Breach of hospitable Laws! Let this Example future Times reclaim, And guard from Wrong fair Friendship's holy Name.

He said, and poiz'd in Air the Jav'lin sent, Thro' Paris' Shield the forceful Weapon went,Line 440 His Cors'let pierces, and his Garment rends, And glancing downward, near his Flank descends. The wary Trojan, bending from the Blow, Eludes his Death, and disappoints the Foe: But fierce Atrides wav'd his Sword and strookLine 445 Full on his Casque; the crested Helmet shook; The brittle Steel, unfaithful to his Hand, Broke short: the Fragments glitter'd on the Sand.

The raging Warrior to the spacious Skies Rais'd his upbraiding Voice, and angry Eyes:Line 450 Then is it vain in Jove himself to trust? And is it thus the Gods assist the Just? When Crimes provoke us, Heav'n Success denies; The Dart falls harmless, and the Faulchion flies. Furious he said, and tow'rd the Grecian CrewLine 455 (Seiz'd by the Crest) th' unhappy Warrior drew; Struggling he follow'd, while th' embroider'd Thong That ty'd his Helmet, dragg'd the Chief along. Then had his Ruin crown'd Atrides' Joy, But Venus trembl'd for the Price of Troy:Line 460 Unseen she came, and burst the golden Band; And left an empty Helmet in his Hand. The Casque, enrag'd, amidst the Greeks he threw; The Greeks with Smiles the polish'd Trophy view. Then, as once more he lifts the deadly Dart,Line 465 In Thirst of Vengeance, at his Rival's Heart, The Queen of Love her favour'd Champion shrouds (For Gods can all things) in a Veil of Clouds. Rais'd from the Field the panting Youth she led, And gently laid him on the Bridal Bed,Line 470

With pleasing Sweets his fainting Sense renews, And all the Dome perfumes with Heav'nly Dews.

Meantime the brightest of the Female Kind, The matchless Helen o'er the Walls reclin'd: To her, beset with Trojan Beauties, cameLine 475 In Groea's Form, the * 1.2Laughter-loving Dame. (Groea, her Fav'rite Maid, well-skill'd to cull The snowie Fleece, and wind the twisted Wool.) The Goddess softly shook her silken Vest That shed Perfumes, and whisp'ring thus addrest.Line 480

Haste, happy Nymph! for thee thy Paris calls, Safe from the Fight, in yonder lofty Walls, Fair as a God with Odours round him spread He lies, and waits thee on the well-known Bed: Not like a Warrior parted from the Foe,Line 485 But some gay Dancer in the publick Show.

She spoke, and Helen's secret Soul was mov'd; She scorn'd the Champion, but the Man she lov'd. Fair Venus' Neck, her Eyes that sparkled Fire, And Breast, reveal'd the Queen of soft Desire.Line 490 Struck with her Presence, strait the lively Red Forsook her Cheek; and, trembling, thus she said.

Then is it still thy Pleasure to deceive? And Woman's Frailty always to believe? Say, to new Nations must I cross the Main,Line 495 Or carry Wars to some soft Asian Plain? For whom must Helen break her second Vow? What other Paris is thy Darling now? Left to Atrides, (Victor in the Strife) An odious Conquest and a Captive Wife,Line 500 Hence let me sail: And if thy Paris bear My Absence ill, let Venus ease his Care. A Hand-maid Goddess at his Side to wait, Renounce the Glories of thy Heav'nly State, Be fix'd for ever to the Trojan Shore,Line 505 His Spouse, or Slave; and mount the Skies no more. For me, to lawless Love no longer led, I scorn the Coward, and detest his Bed; Else should I merit everlasting Shame, And keen Reproach, from ev'ry Phrygian Dame:Line 510 Ill suits it now the Joys of Love to know, Too deep my Anguish, and too wild my Woe.

Then thus, incens'd, the Paphian Queen replies; Obey the Pow'r from whom thy Glories rise: Line 515

Should Venus leave thee, ev'ry Charm must fly,Line 515 Fade from thy Cheek, and languish in thy Eye. Cease to provoke me, lest I make thee more The World's Aversion, than their Love before; Now the bright Prize for which Mankind engage, Then, the sad Victim of the Publick Rage.Line 520

At this, the Fairest of her Sex obey'd, And veil'd her Blushes in a silken Shade; Unseen, and silent, from the Train she moves, Led by the Goddess of the Smiles and Loves.

Arriv'd, and enter'd at the Palace Gate,Line 525 The Maids officious round their Mistress wait, Then all dispersing, various Tasks attend; The Queen and Goddess to the Prince ascend. Full in her Paris' Sight the Queen of Love Had plac'd the beauteous Progeny of Jove;Line 530 Where, as he view'd her Charms, she turn'd away Her glowing Eyes, and thus began to say.

Is this the Chief, who lost to Sense of Shame Late fled the Field, and yet survives his Fame? Oh hadst thou dy'd beneath the righteous SwordLine 535 Of that brave Man whom once I call'd my Lord!

The Boaster Paris oft' desir'd the Day With Sparta's King to meet in single Fray: Go now, once more thy Rival's Rage excite, Provoke Atrides and renew the Fight:Line 540 Yet Helen bids thee stay, lest thou unskill'd Should'st fall an easy Conquest on the Field.

The Prince replies; Ah cease, divinely fair, Nor add Reproaches to the Wounds I bear, This Day the Foe prevail'd by Pallas' Pow'r;Line 545 We yet may vanquish in a happier Hour: There want not Gods to favour us above; But let the Business of our Life be Love: These softer Moments let Delights employ, And kind Embraces snatch the hasty Joy.Line 550 Not thus I lov'd thee, when from Sparta's Shore My forc'd, my willing Heav'nly Prize I bore, When first entranc'd in Cranaë's Isle I lay, Mix'd with thy Soul, and all dissolv'd away. Thus having spoke, th' enamour'd Phrygian BoyLine 555 Rush'd to the Bed, impatient for the Joy. Him Helen follow'd slow with bashful Charms, And clasp'd the blooming Hero in her Arms.

While these to Love's delicious Rapture yield, The stern Atrides rages round the Field:Line 560 So some fell Lion whom the Woods obey, Roars thro' the Desart, and demands his Prey. Paris he seeks, impatient to destroy, But seeks in vain along the Troops of Troy; Ev'n those had yielded to a Foe so braveLine 565 The recreant Warrior, hateful as the Grave. Then speaking thus the King of Kings arose; Ye Trojans, Dardans, all our gen'rous Foes! Hear and attest! From Heav'n with Conquest crown'd, Our Brother's Arms the just Success have found:Line 570 Be therefore now the Spartan Wealth restor'd, Let Argive Helen own her lawful Lord, Th' appointed Fine let Ilion justly pay, And Age to Age record this signal Day.

He ceas'd; His Army's just Applauses rise,Line 575 And the long Shout runs ecchoing thro' the Skies.

OBSERVATIONS ON THE Third Book.

OBSERVATIONS ON THE THIRD BOOK.

OF all the Books of the Iliad, there is scarce any more pleasing than the Third. It may be divided into five Parts, each of which has a Beauty different from the other. The first contains what pass'd before the two Armies, and the Proposal of the Combate between Paris and Menelaus: The Attention and Suspense of these mighty Hosts, which were just upon the Point of joining Battel, and the lofty manner of offering and accepting this important and unex|pected Challenge, have something in them wonderfully pom|pous and of an amusing Solemnity. The second Part which de|scribes the Behaviour of Helena in this Juncture, her Conference with the old King and his Counsellors, with the Review of the Heroes from the Battelments, is an Episode entirely of another sort, which excels in the Natural and Pathetick. The third consists of the Ceremonies of the Oath on both sides and the Preliminaries to the Combate; with the beau|tiful Retreat of Priam, who in the Tenderness of a Parent withdraws from the sight of the Duel: These Particulars de|tain the Reader in Expectation, and heighten his Impatience for the Fight itself. The fourth is the Description of the Duel, an exact Piece of Painting where we see every Atti|tude, Motion, and Action of the Combatants particularly and distinctly, and which concludes with a surprizing Pro|priety, in the rescue of Paris by Venus. The Machine of

that Goddess which makes the fifth Part, and whose End is to reconcile Paris and Helena, is admirable in every Circum|stance; The Remonstrance she holds with the Goddess, the Reluctance with which she obeys her, the Reproaches she casts upon Paris, and the Flattery and Courtship with which he so soon wins her over to him. Helen (the main Cause of this War) was not to be made an odious Character; She is drawn by this great Master with the finest Strokes, as a frail, but not an abandon'd Creature. She has perpetual Struggles of Virtue on the one side, and Softnesses which overcome them on the other. Our Author has been remark|ably careful to tell us this; whenever he but slightly names her in the foregoing Part of his Work she is represented at the same time as repentant; and it is thus we see her at large at her first Appearance in the present Book, which is one of the shortest of the whole Iliad, but in recompence has Beau|ties almost in every Line, and most of them so obvious that to acknowledge them we need only to read them.

I.

VERSE 3. With Shouts the Trojans.]

The Book begins with a fine Opposition of the Noise of the Trojan Army to the Silence of the Graecians. It was but natural to imagine this, since the former was compos'd of many different Na|tions, of various Languages and Strangers to each other; the latter were more united in their Neighbourhood, and under Leaders of the same Country. But as this Observation seems particularly insisted upon by our Author (for he uses it again in the fourth Book, ℣. 430.) so he had a farther Reason for it. Plutarch in his Treatise of reading the Poets, remarks upon this Distinction, as a particular Credit to the military Discipline of the Greeks. And several ancient Authors tell us, it was the Manner of the Barbarians to encounter with Shouts and Outcries; as it continues to this Day the Custom of the Eastern Nations. Perhaps these Clamours were only to encourage their Men, instead of martial Instruments. I think Sir Walter Raleigh says, there never was a People but made use of some sort of Musick in Battel: Homer never

mentions any in the Greek or Trojan Armies, and it is scarce to be imagined he would omit a Circumstance so poetical without some particular Reason. The Verb 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 which the modern Greeks have since appropriated to the sound of a Trumpet, is used indifferently in our Author for other Sounds, as for Thunder in the the 21st Iliad, ℣. 388. 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉—. He once names the Trumpet 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 in a Simile, upon which Eustathius and Didymus observe that the use of it was known in the Poet's Time, but not in that of the Trojan War. And hence we may infer that Homer was particularly careful not to confound the Manners of the Times he wrote of, with those of the Times he liv'd in.

II.

VERSE 7. The Cranes embody'd fly.]

If Wit has been truly describ'd to be a Similitude in Ideas, and is more excellent as that Similitude is more surprizing; there cannot be a truer kind of Wit than what is shewn in apt Comparisons, espe|cially when composed of such Subjects as having the least Re|lation to each other in general, have yet some Particular that agrees exactly. Of this Nature is the Simile of the Cranes to the Trojan Army, where the Fancy of Homer flew to the re|motest Part of the World for an Image which no Reader could have expected. But it is no less exact than surprizing. The Likeness consists in two Points, the Noise and the Order; the latter is so observable as to have given some of the An|cients occasion to imagine the embatteling of an Army was first learn'd from the close manner of Flight of these Birds. But this Part of the Simile not being directly express'd by the Author, has been overlook'd by some of the Commentators. It may be remark'd that Homer has generally a wonderful Closeness in all the Particulars of his Comparisons, notwith|standing he takes a Liberty in his Expression of them. He seems so secure of the main Likeness, that he makes no scru|ple to play with the Circumstances; sometimes by transposing the Order of them, sometimes by super-adding them, and some|times (as in this Place) by neglecting them in such a manner as to leave the Reader to supply them himself. For the present

Comparison, it has been taken by Virgil in the tenth Book, and apply'd to the Clamours of Soldiers in the same manner.

—Quales sub nubibus atris Strymoniae dant signa grues, atque aethera tranant Cum sonitu, fugiuntque Notos clamore secundo.

III.

VERSE 26. The beauteous Paris came, In Form a God.]

This is meant by the Epithet 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, as has been said in the 24th Note on the first Book. The Picture here given of Paris's Air and Dress, is exactly correspondent to his Character; you see him endeavouring to mix the fine Gentleman with the Warriour; and this Idea of him Homer takes care to keep up, by describing him not without the same Regard when he is arming to encounter Menelaus afterwards in a close Fight, as he shews here where he is but preluding and flourishing in the Gaiety of his Heart. And when he tells us in that Place that he was in danger of being strangled by the Strap of his Helmet, he takes notice that it was 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, embroider'd.

IV.

VERSE 37. So joys a Lion if the branching Deer, Or Moun|tain Goat.]

The old Scholiasts refining on this Simile will have it that Paris is compar'd to a Goat on account of his Incon|tinence, and to a Stag for his Cowardice: To this last they make an Addition which is very ludicrous, that he is also liken'd to a Deer for his Skill in Musick, and cite Aristotle to prove that Animal delights in Harmony, which Opinion is alluded to by Mr. Waller in these Lines,

Here Love takes stand, and while she charms the Ear Empties his Quiver on the list'ning Deer.

But upon the whole, it is whimsical to imagine this Compa|rison consists in any thing more, than the Joy which Mene|laus conceiv'd at the sight of his Rival, in the hopes of de|stroying

him. It is equally an Injustice to Paris, to abuse him for understanding Musick, and to represent his Retreat as purely the Effect of Fear, which proceeded from his Sense of Guilt with respect to the particular Person of Menelaus. He appear'd at the Head of the Army to challenge the boldest of the Enemy: Nor is his Character elsewhere in the Iliad by any means that of a Coward. Hector at the end of the sixth Book confesses, that no Man could justly reproach him as such. Nor is he represented so by Ovid (who copy'd Homer very closely) in the end of his Epistle to Helen. The Moral of Homer is much finer: A brave Mind however blinded with Passion is sensible of Remorse as soon as the injur'd Object presents itself; and Paris never behaves himself ill in War, but when his Spirits are depress'd by the Consciousness of an Injustice. This also will account for the seeming Incongruity of Homer in this Passage, who (as they would have us think) paints him a shameful Coward, at the same time that he is perpetually calling him the divine Paris, and Paris like a God. What he says immediately afterwards in answer to Hector's Reproof, will make this yet more clear.

V.

VERSE 47. As when a Shepherd.]

This Comparison of the Serpent is finely imitated by Virgil in the second Aeneid.

Improvisum aspris veluti qui sentibus anguem Pressit humi nitens, trepidus{que} repentè refugit Attollentem iras, & caerula colla tumentem: Haud secus Androgeus visu tremefaclus abibat.

But it may be said to the Praise of Virgil, that he has ap|ply'd it upon an Occasion where it has an additional Beauty. Paris upon the sight of Menelaus's Approach, is compar'd to a Traveller who sees a Snake shoot on a sudden towards him. But the Surprize and Danger of Androgeus is more lively, be|ing just in the reach of his Enemies before he perceiv'd it; and the Circumstance of the Serpent's rouzing his Crest, which brightens with Anger, finely images the shining of

their Arms in the Night-time, as they were just lifted up to destroy him. Scaliger criticizes on the needless Repetition in the Words 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 and 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, which is avoided in the Translation. But it must be observ'd in general, that little Exactnesses are what we should not look for in Homer; the Genius of his Age was too incorrect, and his own too fiery to regard them.

VI.

VERSE 53. As God-like Hector.]

This is the first Place of the Poem where Hector makes a figure, and here it seems proper to give an Idea of his Character, since if he is not the chief Heroe of the Iliad, he is at least the most amiable. There are several Reasons which render Hector a favorite Character with every Reader, some of which shall here be offer'd. The chief Moral of Homer was to expose the ill Ef|fects of Discord; the Greeks were to be shewn disunited, and to render that Disunion the more probable, he has design|edly given them mixt Characters. The Trojans on the other hand were to be represented making all Advantages of the others Disagreement, which they could not do without a strict Union among themselves. Hector therefore who commanded them, must be endu'd with all such Qualifications as tended to the Preservation of it; as Achilles with such as promoted the contrary. The one stands in Contraste to the other, an ac|complish'd Character of Valour unruffled by Rage and An|ger, and uniting his People by his Prudence and Example. Hector has also a Foil to set him off in his own Family; we are perpetually opposing in our Minds the Incontinence of Paris, who exposes his Country, to the Temperance of Hector who protects it. And indeed it is this Love of his Country which appears his principal Passion, and the Motive of all his Actions. He has no other Blemish than that he fights in an unjust Cause, which Homer has yet been careful to tell us he would not do, if his Opinion were followed. But since he cannot prevail, the Affection he bears to his Parents and Kindred, and his desire of defending them, in|cites him to do his utmost for their Safety. We may add

that Homer having so many Greeks to celebrate, makes them shine in their turns, and singly in their several Books, one succeeding in the Absence of another: Whereas Hector ap|pears in every Battel the Life and Soul of his Party, and the constant Bulwark against every Enemy: He stands against Agamemnon's Magnanimity, Diomed's Bravery, Ajax's Strength, and Achilles's Fury. There is besides, an acciden|tal Cause for our liking him from reading the Writers of the Augustan Age, especially Virgil, whose Favorite he grew more particularly from the time when the Caesars fancy'd to derive their Pedigree from Troy.

VII.

VERSE 55. Unhappy Paris, &c.]

It may be observ'd in Honour of Homer's Judgment, that the Words which Hector is made to speak here, very strongly mark his Cha|racter. They contain a warm Reproach of Cowardice, and shew him to be touch'd with so high a Sense of Glory, as to think Life insupportable without it. His calling to mind the gallant Figure which Paris had made in his Amours to He|len, and opposing to it the Image of his Flight from her Husband, is a Sarcasm of the utmost Bitterness and Vivacity. After he has named that Action of the Rape, the Cause of so many Mischiefs, his insisting upon it in so many broken Periods, those disjointed Shortnesses of Speech,

(〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉)

That hasty manner of Expression without the Connexion of Particles, is (as Eustathius remarks) extreamly natural to a Man in Anger, who thinks he can never vent himself too soon. That Contempt of outward Shew, of the Graceful|ness of Person, and of the Accomplishments of a Courtly Life, is what corresponds very well with the War-like Tem|per of Hector; and these Verses have therefore a Beauty here which they want in Horace, however admirably he has trans|lated them, in the Ode of Nireus's Prophecy.

Nequicquam Veneris praesidio ferox, Pectes caesariem; grataque foeminis Imbelli citharâ carmina divides, &c.

VIII.

VERSE 72. And both her Warlike Lords.]

The Original is 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉. The Spouse of Martial Men. I wonder why Madam Dacier chose to turn it Alliée à tant de braves guerriers, since it so naturally refers to Theseus and Menelaus, the former Husbands of Helena.

IX.

VERSE 80. Thy curling Tresses, and thy silver Lyre.]

It is ingeniously remark'd by Dacier, that Homer who celebrates the Greeks for their long Hair [〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉] and Achilles for his Skill on the Harp, makes Hector in this Place object them both to Paris. The Greeks nourished their Hair to appear more dreadful to the Enemy, and Paris to please the Eyes of Women. Achilles sung to his Harp the Acts of Heroes, and Paris the Amours of Lovers. The same reason which makes Hector here displeas'd at them, made Alexander afterwards refuse to see this Lyre of Paris when offer'd to be shewn to him, as Plutarch relates the Story in his Oration of the Fortune of Alexander.

X.

VERSE 83. One avenging Blow.]

It is in the Greek, You had been clad in a Coat of Stone. Giphanius would have it to mean stoned to death on the account of his Adultery: But this does not appear to have been the Punishment of that Crime among the Phrygians. It seems rather to signify, destroy'd by the Fury of the People for the War he had brought upon them; or perhaps may imply no more than being laid in his Grave under a Monument of Stones; but the former being the stronger Sense is here followed.

XI.

VERSE 86. 'Tis just, my Brother.]

This Speech is a far|ther opening of the true Character of Paris. He is a Master of Civility, no less well-bred to his own Sex than courtly to the other. The Reproof of Hector was of a severe Nature, yet he receives it as from a Brother and a Friend, with Can|dour and Modesty. This Answer is remarkable for its fine Address; he gives the Heroe a decent and agreeable Reproof for having too rashly depreciated the Gifts of Nature. He allows the Quality of Courage its utmost due, but desires the same Justice to those softer Accomplishments, which he lets him know are no less the Favour of Heaven. Then he re|moves from himself the Charge of want of Valour, by pro|posing the single Combate with the very Man he had just declined to engage; which having shewn him void of any Malevolence to his Rival on the one hand, he now proves himself free from the Imputation of Cowardice on the other. Homer draws him (as we have seen) soft of Speech, the na|tural Quality of an amorous Temper; vainly gay in War as well as Love; with a Spirit that can be surprized and recol|lected, that can receive Impressions of Shame or Apprehen|sion on the one side, or of Generosity and Courage on the other; the usual Disposition of easy and courteous Minds which are most subject to the Rule of Fancy and Pas|sion. Upon the whole, this is no worse than the Picture of a gentle Knight, and one might fancy the Heroes of the mo|dern Romance were form'd upon the Model of Paris.

XII.

VERSE 108. Much fam'd for gen'rous Steeds, for Beauty more.]

The Original is, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉. Perhaps this Line is translated too close to the Letter, and the Epithets might have been omitted. But there are some Traits and Particularities of this Nature, which methinks preserve to the Reader the Air of Homer. At least the latter of these Circumstances, that Greece was eminent

for beautiful Women, seems not improper to be mention'd by him who had rais'd a War on the account of a Grecian Beauty.

XIII.

VERSE 109. The Challenge Hector heard with Joy.]

Hector stays not to reply to his Brother, but runs away with the Challenge immediately. He looks upon all the Trojans as disgrac'd by the late Flight of Paris, and thinks not a Mo|ment is to be lost to regain the Honour of his Country. The Activity he shews in all this Affair wonderfully agrees with the Spirit of a Soldier.

XIV.

VERSE 123. Hear all ye Trojan, all ye Grecian Bands.]

It has been ask'd how the different Nations could understand one another in these Conferences, since we have no mention in Homer of any Interpreter between them? He who was so very particular in the most minute Points, can hardly be thought to have been negligent in this. Some Reasons may be offer'd that they both spoke the same Language; for the Trojans (as may be seen in Dion. Halic. lib. 1.) were of Gre|cian Extraction originally. Dardanus the first of their Kings was born in Arcadia; and even their Names were generally Greek, as Hector, Anchises, Andromache, Astyanax, &c. Of the last of these in particular Homer gives us a Derivation which is purely Greek in Il. 6. ℣. 403. But however it be, this is no more (as Dacier somewhere observes) than the just Privilege of Poetry. Aeneas and Turnus understand each other in Virgil, and the Language of the Poet is suppos'd to be universally intelligible, not only between different Coun|tries, but between Earth and Heaven itself.

XV.

VERSE 135. Me too ye Warriors hear, &c.]

We may ob|serve what care Homer takes to give every one his proper Character, and how this Speech of Menelaus is adapted to

the Laconick; which the better to comprehend, we may re|member there are in Homer three Speakers of different Cha|racters, agreeable to the three different kinds of Eloquence. These we may compare with each other in one Instance, sup|posing them all to use the same Heads, and in the same Order.

The Materials of the Speech are, The manifesting his Grief for the War, with the hopes that it is in his Power to end it; an Acceptance of the propos'd Challenge; an Ac|count of the Ceremonies to be us'd in the League; and a Proposal of a proper Caution to secure it.

Now had Nestor these Materials to work upon, he would pro|bably have begun with a Relation of all the Troubles of the nine Year's Siege which he hop'd he might now bring to an end; he would court their Benevolence and good Wishes for his Prospe|rity with all the Figures of Amplification; while he accepted the Challenge, he would have given an Example to prove that the single Combate was a wise, gallant, and gentle way of ending the War, practis'd by their Fathers; in the Descrip|tion of the Rites he would be exceeding particular; and when he chose to demand the Sanction of Priam rather than of his Sons, he would place in Opposition on one side the Son's Action which began the War, and on the other the Im|pressions of Concern or Repentance which it must by this time have made in the Father's Mind, whose Wisdom he would undoubtedly extol as the effect of his Age. All this he would have expatiated upon with Connexions of the Discourses in the most evident manner, and the most easy, gliding, undiso|bliging Transitions. The Effect would be, that the People would hear him with Pleasure.

Had it been Ulysses who was to make the Speech, he would have mention'd a few of their most affecting Calamities in a pathetick Air; then have undertaken the Fight with testify|ing such a chearful Joy, as should have won the Hearts of the Soldiers to follow him to the Field without being desired. He would have been exceeding cautious in wording the Con|ditions; and solemn rather than particular in speaking of the Rites, which he would only insist on as an Opportunity to exhort both sides to a fear of the Gods, and a strict regard

of Justice. He would have remonstrated the use of sending for Priam; and (because no Caution could be too much) have demanded his Sons to be bound with him. For a Conclusion he would have us'd some noble Sentiment agreeable to a He|roe, and (it may be) have enforc'd it with some inspirited Action. In all this you would have known that the Discourse hung together, but its Fire would not always suffer it to be seen in cooler Transitions, which (when they are too nicely laid open) may conduct the Reader, but never carry him away. The People would hear him with Emotion.

These Materials being given to Menelaus, he but just mentions their Troubles, and his Satisfaction in the Prospect of ending them, shortens the Proposals, says a Sacrifice is necessary, requires Priam's Presence to confirm the Conditi|ons, refuses his Sons with a Resentment of that Injury he suffer'd by them, and concludes with a Reason for his Choice from the Praise of Age, with a short Gravity, and the Air of an Apothegm. This he puts in order without any more Transition than what a single Conjunction affords. And the effect of the Discourse is, that the People are instructed by it in what is to be done.

XVI.

VERSE 141. Two Lambs devoted.]

The Trojans (says the old Scholiast) were required to sacrifice two Lambs; one Male, of a white Colour, to the Sun, and one Female, and black, to the Earth; as the Sun is Father of Light, and the Earth the Mother and Nurse of Men. The Greeks were to offer a third to Jupiter, perhaps to Jupiter Xenius because the Trojans had broken the Laws of Hospitality: on which account we find Menelaus afterwards invoking him in the Combate with Paris. That these were the Powers to which they sacrific'd, appears by their being attested by Name in the Oath, ℣. 340.

XVII.

VERSE 153. The Nations hear, with rising Hopes possest.]

It seem'd no more than what the Reader would reasonably

expect, in the Narration of this long War, that a Period might have been put to it by the single danger of the Parties chiefly concern'd, Paris and Menelaus. Homer has there|fore taken care toward the beginning of his Poem to ob|viate that Objection; and contriv'd such a Method to ren|der this Combate of no effect, as should naturally make way for all the ensuing Battels, without any future Prospect of a Determination but by the Sword. It is farther worth ob|serving, in what manner he has improved into Poetry the common History of this Action, if (as one may imagine) it was the same with that we have in the second Book of Dictys Cretensis. When Paris (says he) being wounded by the Spear of Menelaus fell to the Ground, just as his Adversary was rush|ing upon him with his Sword, he was shot by an Arrow from Pandarus, which prevented his Revenge in the Moment he was going to take it. Immediately on the sight of this perfidious Action, the Greeks rose in a Tumult; the Trojans rising at the same time, came on, and rescued Paris from his Enemy. Homer has with great Art and Invention mingled all this with the Marvellous, and rais'd it in the Air of Fable. The Goddess of Love rescues her Favourite; Jupiter debates whether or no the War shall end by the Defeat of Paris; Juno is for the Continuance of it; Minerva incites Pandarus to break the Truce, who thereupon shoots at Menelaus. This heigh|tens the Grandeur of the Action without destroying the Ve|risimilitude, diversifies the Poem, and exhibits a fine Moral; that whatever seems in the World the Effect of common Causes, is really owing to the Decree and Disposition of the Gods.

XVIII.

VERSE 165. Mean while to beauteous Helen, &c.]

The following Part where we have the first sight of Helena, is what I cannot think inferior to any in the Poem. The Rea|der has naturally an Aversion to this pernicious Beauty, and is apt enough to wonder at the Greeks for endeavouring to recover her at such an Expence. But her amiable Behaviour here, the secret Wishes that rise in favour of her rightful

Lord, her Tenderness for her Parents and Relations, the Re|lentings of her Soul for the Mischiefs her Beauty had been the Cause of, the Confusion she appears in, the veiling her Face and dropping a Tear, are Particulars so beautifully na|tural, as to make every Reader no less than Menelaus him|self, inclin'd to forgive her at least, if not to love her. We are afterwards confirm'd in this Partiality by the Sentiment of the old Counsellors upon the sight of her, which one would think Homer put into their Mouths with that very view: We excuse her no more than Priam does himself, and all those do who felt the Calamities she occasion'd: And this Regard for her is heighten'd by all she says herself; in which there is scarce a word that is not big with Repentance and Good-nature.

XIX.

VERSE 170. The golden Web her own sad Story crown'd.]

This is a very agreeable Fiction, to represent Helena weaving in a large Veil, or Piece of Tapestry, the Story of the Trojan War. One would think that Homer inherited this Veil, and that his Iliad is only an Explication of that admirable Piece of Art. Dacier.

XX.

VERSE 201. Like Grashoppers.]

This is one of the justest and most natural Images in the World, tho' there have been Criticks of so little Taste as to object to it as a mean one. The Garrulity so common to old Men, their Delight in Asso|ciating with each other, the feeble Sound of their Voices, the Pleasure they take in a Sun-shiny Day, the Effects of Decay in their Chillness, Leanness, and Scarcity of Blood, are all Circumstances exactly parallel'd in this Comparison. To make it yet more proper to the old Men of Troy, Faista|thius has observ'd that Homer found a Hint for this Simile in the Trojan Story, where Tithou was feign'd to have been trans|form'd into a Grashopper in his old Age, perhaps on account of his being so exhausted by Years as to have nothing left him but Voice. Spondanus wonders that Homer should apply

to Grashoppers 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, a sweet Voice, whereas that of these Animals is harsh and untuneful; and he is contented to come off with a very poor Evasion of Homero fingere quid|libet fas fuit. But Hesychius rightly observes that 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 sig|nifies 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, tener or gracilis, as well as suavis. The Sense is certainly much better, and the Simile more truly preserv'd by this Interpretation, which is here follow'd in translating it feeble. However it may be alledg'd in Defence of the com|mon Versions, and of Madam Dacier's (who has turn'd it Harmonieuse) that tho' Virgil gives the Epithet raucae to Ci|cadae, yet the Greek Poets frequently describe the Grashopper as a musical Creature, particularly Anacreon, and Theocritus Idyl. 1. where a Shepherd praises another's singing by telling him,

〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉

It is remarkable that Mr. Hobbes has omitted this beautiful Simile.

XXI.

VERSE 203. These, when the Spartan Fair approach'd.]

Madam Dacier is of Opinion there was never a greater Pane|gyrick upon Beauty than what Homer has found the Art to give it in this Place. An Assembly of venerable old Coun|sellors, who had suffer'd all the Calamities of a tedious War, and were consulting upon the Methods to put a Conclusion to it, seeing the only Cause of it approaching towards them, are struck with her Charms, and cry out, No wonder! &c. Nevertheless they afterwards recollect themselves, and con|clude to part with her for the publick Safety. If Homer had carry'd these old Mens Admiration any farther, he had been guilty of outraging Nature, and offending against Probabi|lity. The Old are capable of being touch'd with Beauty by the Eye; but Age secures them from the Tyranny of Passion, and the Effect is but transitory, for Prudence soon regains its Dominion over them. Homer always goes as far as he should, but constantly stops just where he ought. Dacier.

The same Writer compares to this the Speech of Holosernes's Soldiers on the sight of Judith, Ch. 10. ℣. 18. But tho'

there be a Resemblance in the Words, the Beauty is no way parallel; the Grace of this consisting in the Age and Cha|racter of those who speak it. There is something very gal|lant upon the Beauty of Helen in one of Lucian's Dialogues. Mercury shews Menippus the Sculls of several fine Women; and when the Philosopher is moralizing upon that of Helen, Was it for this a thousand Ships sail'd from Greece, so many brave Men dy'd, and so many Cities were destroy'd? My Friend (says Mercury) 'tis true; but what you behold is only her Scull, bad you seen her Face you would have been of their Opinion, and have done the very same thing.

XXII.

VERSE 211. The good old Priam.]

The Character of a benevolent old Man is very well preserv'd in Priam's Beha|viour to Helena. Upon the Confusion he observes her in, he encourages her by attributing the Misfortunes of the War to the Gods alone, and not to her Fault. This Sentiment is also very agreeable to the natural Piety of old Age; those who have had the longest Experience of human Accidents and Events, being most inclin'd to ascribe the Disposal of all things to the Will of Heaven. It is this Piety that renders Priam a Favourite of Jupiter (as we find in the beginning of the fourth Book) which for some time delays the Destruction of Troy; while his soft Nature and Indulgence for his Children makes him continue a War which ruines him. These are the two principal Points of Priam's Character, tho' there are several lesser Particularities, among which we may observe the Curiosity and inquisitive Humour of old Age, which gives occasion to the following Episode.

XXIII.

VERSE 219. And say, what Chief is he?]

This View of the Grecian Leaders from the Walls of Troy, is justly look'd upon as an Episode of great Beauty, as well as a Masterpiece of Conduct in Homer; who by this means acquaints the Rea|ders with the Figure and Qualifications of each Heroe in a

more lively and agreeable manner. Several great Poets have been engag'd by the Beauty of this Passage to an Imitation of it. In the seventh Book of Statius, Phorbas standing with Antigone on the Tower of Thebes, shews her the Forces as they were drawn up, and describes their Commanders who were neighbouring Princes of Boeotia. It is also imi|tated by Tasso in his third Book, where Erminia from the Walls of Jerusalem points out the chief Warriours to the King; tho' the latter part is perhaps copied too closely and minutely; for he describes Godfrey to be of a Port that be|speaks him a Prince, the next of somewhat a lower Stature, a third renown'd for his Wisdom, and then another is distin|guish'd by the Largeness of his Chest tnd Breadth of his Shoulders: Which are not only the very Particulars, but in the very Order of Homer's.

But however this manner of Introduction has been admir'd, there have not been wanting some Exceptions to a Particular or two. Scaliger asks, how it happens that Priam, after nine Years Siege, should be yet unacquainted with the Faces of the Grecian Leaders? This was an old Cavil, as appears by the Scholia that pass under the Name of Didymus, where it is very well answer'd, that Homer has just before taken care to tell us the Heroes had put off their Armour on this occasion of the Truce, which had conceal'd their Persons 'till now. Others have objected to Priam's not knowing Ulysses, who (as it appears afterwards) had been at Troy on an Embassy. The answer is, that this might happen either from the Dim|ness of Priam's Sight, or Defect of his Memory, or from the Change of Ulysses's Features since that time.

XXIV.

VERSE 227. Before thy Presence.]

Helen is so over|whelmed with Grief and Shame, that she is unable to give a direct Answer to Priam without first humbling herself before him, acknowledging her Crime, and testifying her Repent|ance. And she no sooner answers by naming Agamemnon, but her Sorrows renew at the Name; He was once my Bro|ther! but I am now a Wretch unworthy to call him so.

XXV.

VERSE 236. Great in the War, and great in Arts of Sway.]

This was the Verse which Alexander the Great prefer'd to all others in Homer, and which he propos'd as the Pattern of his own Actions, as including whatever can be desired in a Prince. Plut. Orat. de fort. Alex. 1.

XXVI.

VERSE 240. Extoll'd the happy Prince.]

It was very natu|ral for Priam on this occasion, to compare the declining Condition of his Kingdom with the flourishing State of Aga|memnon's, and to oppose his own Misery (who had lost most of his Sons and his bravest Warriours) to the Felicity of the other, in being yet Master of so gallant an Army. After this the Humour of old Age breaks out, in the Narration of what Armies he had formerly seen, and bore a Part in the Command of; as well as what Feats of Valour he had then performed. Besides which this Praise of the Greeks from the Mouth of an Enemy, was no small Encomium of Homer's Countrymen.

XXVII.

VERSE 258. From Rank to Rank he moves.]

The Vigilance and Inspection of Ulysses were very proper Marks to distinguish him, and agree with his Character of a wise Man no less, than the Grandeur and Majesty before described with that of Agamemnon, as the supreme Ruler; whereas we find Ajax afterwards taken notice of only for his Bulk, as a heavy He|roe without Parts or Authority. This Decorum is observable.

XXVIII.

VERSE 271. I knew their Persons, &c.]

In this View of the Leaders of the Army it had been an Oversight in Homer to have taken no Notice of Menelaus, who was not only one

of the Principal of them, but was immediately to engage the Observation of the Reader in the single Combate. On the other hand it had been a high Indecorum to have made He|lena speak of him. He has therefore put his Praises into the Mouth of Antenor; which was also a more artful way than to have presented him to the Eye of Priam in the same man|ner with the rest: It appears from hence what a Regard he has had both to Decency and Variety in the Conduct of his Poem. This Passage concerning the different Eloquence of Menelaus and Ulysses is inexpressibly just and beautiful. The close, Laconick Conciseness of the one, is finely opposite to the copious, vehement, and penetrating Oratory of the other; which is so exquisitely describ'd in the Simile of the Snow, falling fast, and sinking deep. For it is in this the Beauty of the Comparison consists according to Quintilian, l. 12. c. 10. In Ulysse facundiam & magnitudinem junxit, cui orationem ni|vibus hybernis copiâ verborum atque impetu parem tribuit. We may set in the same Light with these the Character of Nestor's Eloquence, which consisted in Softness and Persua|siveness, and is therefore (in Contradistinction to this of Ulysses) compar'd to Honey which drops gently and slowly: a manner of Speech extremely natural to a benevolent old Man, such as Nestor is represented. Ausonius has elegantly distinguish'd these three kinds of Oratory in the following Verses.

Dulcem in paucis ut Plisthenidem, Et torrentem ceu Dulichii

Ningida dicta.

Et mellitae nectare vocis Dulcia fatu verba canentem

Nestora regem.

XXIX.

VERSE 278. He spoke no more than just the thing he ought.]

Chapman in his Notes on this Place and on the second Book, has described Menelaus as a Character of Ridicule and Sim|plicity. He takes advantage from the word 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 here made

use of, to interpret that of the Shrillness of his Voice, which was apply'd to the Acuteness of his Sense; He observes that this sort of Voice is a Mark of a Fool; that Menelaus's com|ing to his Brother's Feast uninvited in the second Book has occasion'd a Proverb of Folly; that the Excuse Homer him|self makes for it (because his Brother might forget to invite him thro' much Business) is purely ironical; that the Epithet 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 which is often apply'd to him, should not be trans|lated warlike, but one who had an Affectation of loving War. In short, that he was a weak Prince, play'd upon by others, short in Speech, and of a bad Pronunciation, valiant only by fits, and sometimes stumbling upon good Matter in his Speeches, as may happen to the most slender Capacity. This is one of the Mysteries which that Translator boasts to have found in Homer. But as it is no way consistent with the Art of the Poet, to draw the Person in whose behalf he engages the World, in such a manner as no Regard should be con|ceiv'd for him; we must endeavour to rescue him from this Misrepresentation. First then, the present Passage is taken by Antiquity in general to be apply'd not to his Pronunciation, but his Eloquence. So Ausonius in the foregoing Citation, and Cicero de claris Oratoribus: Menelaum ipsum dulcem illum quidem tradit Homerus, sed pauca loquentem. And Quintilian l. 12. c. 10. Homerus brevem cum animi jucunditate, & propriam (id enim est non errare verbis) & carentem supervacuis, Elo|quentiam Menelao dedit, &c. Secondly, tho' his coming un|invited may have occasion'd a jesting Proverb, it may natu|rally be accounted for on the Principle of brotherly Love, which so visibly characterises both him and Agamemnon throughout the Poem. Thirdly, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 may import a Love of War, but not an ungrounded Affectation. Upon the whole, his Character is by no means contemptible, tho' not of the most shining Nature. He is called indeed in the 17th Iliad 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, a soft Warrior, or one whose Strength is of the second rate, and so his Brother thought him when he prefer'd nine before him to fight with Hector in the 7th Book. But on the other hand, his Courage gives him a considerable Figure in conquering Paris, defending the Body of Patroclus, rescuing Ulysses, wounding Helenus,

killing Euphorbus, &c. He is full of Resentment for his pri|vate Injuries, which brings him to the War with a Spirit of Revenge in the second Book, makes him blaspheme Jupiter in the third, when Paris escapes him, and curse the Grecians in the seventh when they hesitate to accept Hector's Chal|lenge. But this also is qualify'd with a Compassion for those who suffer in his Cause, which he every where manifests upon proper Occasions; and with an Industry to gratify others, as when he obeys Ajax in the seventeenth Book, and goes up|on his Errand to find Antilochus, with some other Condescen|sions of the like nature. Thus his Character is compos'd of Qualities which give him no uneasy Superiority over others while he wants their Assistance, and mingled with such as make him amiable enough to obtain it.

XXX.

VERSE 280. His modest Eyes, &c.]

This Behaviour of Ulysses is copy'd by Ovid, Met. 13.

Astitit, atque oculos parum tellure moratos Sustulit—.

What follows in the Greek translated word for word runs thus: He seem'd like a Fool, you would have thought him in a Rage, or a Madman. How oddly this would appear in our Language I appeal to those who have read Ogilby. The whole Period means no more than to describe that Behaviour which is commonly remarkable in a modest and sensible Man who speaks in publick: His Diffidence and Respect gives him at his first rising a sort of Confusion, which is not indecent, and which serves but the more to heighten the Surprize and Esteem of those who hear him.

XXXI.

VERSE 309. Perhaps their Swords.]

This is another Stroke of Helen's Concern: The Sense of her Crime is perpetually afflicting her, and awakes upon every occasion. The

Lines that follow wherein Homer gives us to understand that Castor and Pollux were now dead, are finely introduc'd and in the Spirit of Poetry; the Muse is suppos'd to know every thing, past and to come, and to see things distant as well as present.

XXXII.

VERSE 315. Mean time the Heralds, &c.]

It may not be unpleasing to the Reader to compare the Description of the Ceremonies of the League in the following Part, with that of Virgil in the twelfth Book. The Preparations, the Pro|cession of the Kings, and their Congress, are much more so|lemn and poetical in the latter; the Oath and Adjurations are equally noble in both.

XXXIII.

VERSE 342. The curling Hair.]

We have here the whole Ceremonial of the solemn Oath, as it was observ'd anciently by the Nations our Author describes. I must take this Occa|sion of remarking that we might spare our selves the trouble of reading most Books of Grecian Antiquities, only by being well vers'd in Homer. They are generally bare Transcripti|ons of him, but with this unnecessary Addition, that after having quoted any thing in Verse, they say the same over again in Prose. The Antiquitates Homericae of Feithius may serve as an Instance of this. What my Lord Bacon observes of Authors in general, is particularly applicable to these of Antiquities, that they write for Ostentation not for Instruc|tion, and that their Works are perpetual Repetitions.

XXXIV.

VERSE 361. And Age to Age record the signal Day.]

〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉. This seems the natural Sense of the Line, and not as Madam Dacier renders it, the Tribute shall be paid to the Posterity of the Greeks for ever. I think she is single in that Explication, the Ma|jority of the Interpreters taking it to signify that the Victo|ry

of the Grecians and this Pecuniary Acknowledgment should be recorded to all Posterity. If it means any more than this, at least it cannot come up to the Sense Madam Dacier gives it; for a Nation put under perpetual Tribute is rather enslaved, than received to Friendship and Alliance, which are the Terms of Agamemnon's Speech. It seems ra|ther to be a Fine demanded as a Recompence for the Ex|pences of the War, which being made over to the Greeks should remain to their Posterity for ever, that is to say, which they should never be molested for, or which should never be redemanded in any Age as a Case of Injury. The Phrase is the same we use at this Day, when any Purchase or Grant is at once made over to a Man and his Heirs for ever. With this will agree the Scholiast's Note, which tells us the Mulct was reported to have been half the Goods then in the besieg'd City.

XXXV.

VERSE 364. The Chief the tender Victims slew.]

One of the grand Objections which the Ignorance of some Moderns has rais'd against Homer, is what they call a Defect in the Manners of his Heroes. They are shock'd to find his Kings employ'd in such Offices as slaughtering of Beasts, &c. But they forget that sacrificing was the most solemn Act of Re|ligion, and that Kings of old in most Nations were also Chief-Priests. This, among other Objections of the same kind, the Reader may see answered in the Preface.

XXXVI.

VERSE 433. Give me, great Jove.]

Homer puts a Prayer in the Mouth of Menelaus, but none in Paris's: Menelaus is the Person injur'd and innocent, and may therefore apply to God for Justice; but Paris who is the Criminal, remains silent. Spondanus.

XXXVII.

VERSE 447. The brittle Steel, unfaithful to his Hand, Broke short

—This Verse is cut to express the Thing it describes, the snapping short of the Sword. 'Tis the Observation of Eustathius on this Line of the Original, that we do not only see the Action, but imagine we hear the Sound of the break|ing Sword in that of the Words. 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉. And that Homer design'd it, may appear from his having twice put in the 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 (which was a Letter unne|cessary) to cause this Harshness in the Verse. As this Beauty could not be preserv'd in our Language, it is endeavour'd in the Translation to supply it with something parallel.

XXXVIII.

VERSE 479. The Goddess softly shook, &c.]

Venus having convey'd Paris in Safety to his Chamber, goes to Helena who had been Spectator of his Defeat, in order to draw her to his Love. The better to bring this about, she first takes upon her the most proper Form in the World, that of a fa|vourite Servant-Maid, and awakens her Passion by representing to her the beautiful Figure of his Person. Next assuming her own Shape she frightens her into a Complyance, notwith|standing all the Struggles of Shame, Fear, and Anger, which break out in her Speech to the Goddess. This Machine is Allegorical, and means no more than the Power of Love tri|umphing over all the Considerations of Honour, Ease, and Safety. It has an excellent Effect as to the Poem, in pre|serving still in some degree our good Opinion of Helena, whom we look upon with Compassion as constrain'd by a su|perior Power, and whose Speech tends to justify her in the Eye of the Reader.

XXXIX.

VERSE 487. She spoke, and Helen's secret Soul was mov'd.]

Nothing is more fine than this; the first Thought of Paris's

Beauty overcomes (unawares to herself) the Contempt she had that Moment conceiv'd of him upon his Overthrow. This Motion is but natural, and before she perceives the Deity. When the Affections of a Woman have been tho|roughly gained, tho' they may be alienated for a while, they soon return upon her. Homer knew (says Madam Dacier) what a Woman is capable of, who had once lov'd.

XL.

VERSE 507. For me, to lawless Love no longer led, I scorn the Coward.]

We have here another Branch of the Female Charac|ter, which is, to be ruled in their Attaches by Success; Helen finding the Victory belong'd to Menelaus, accuses herself secretly of having forsaken him for the other, and immediately entertains a high Opinion of the Man she had once despised. One may add that the Fair Sex are generally Admirers of Courage, and naturally Friends to great Soldiers. Paris was no Stranger to this Disposition in them, and had formerly endeavour'd to give her that Opinion of himself; as appears from her Re|proach to him afterwards.

XLI.

VERSE 515. Should Venus leave thee, ev'ry Charm must fly.]

This was the most dreadful of all Threats, Loss of Beauty and of Reputation. Helen who had been Proof to the per|sonal Appearance of the Goddess, and durst even reproach her with Bitterness just before, yields to this, and obeys all the Dictates of Love.

XLII.

VERSE 531. She turn'd away Her glowing Eyes.]

This In|terview of the two Lovers, plac'd opposite to each other and over-look'd by Venus, Paris gazing on Helena, she turning away her Eyes shining at once with Anger and Love, are Particulars finely drawn, and painted up to all the Life of Nature. Eustathius imagines she look'd aside in the Con|sciousness

of her own Weakness, as apprehending that the Beauty of Paris might cause her to relent. Her bursting out into Passion and Reproaches while she is in this State of Mind, is no ill Picture of Frailty: Venus (as Madam Da|cier observes) does not leave her, and Fondness will imme|diately succeed to these Reproaches.

XLIII.

VERSE 543. Ah cease, divinely fair.]

This Answer of Pa|ris is the only one he could possibly have made with any Success in his Circumstance. There was no other Method to reconcile her to him but that which is generally most powerful with the Sex, and which Homer (who was Learned every way) here makes use of.

XLIV.

VERSE 553. When first entranc'd in Cranaë's Isle.]

It is in the Original 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉. The true Sense of which is express'd in the Translation. I cannot but take notice of a small Piece of Pruderie in Madam Da|cier, who is exceeding careful of Helen's Character. She turns this Passage as if Paris had only her Consent to be her Husband in this Island. Pausanias explains this Line in ano|ther manner, and tells us it was here that Paris had first the Enjoyment of her, that in Gratitude for his Happiness he built a Temple of Venus Migonitis, the Mingler or Coupler, and that the neighbouring Coast where it was erected was call'd Migonian from 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, à miscendo. Paus. Laconicis.

XLV.

VERSE 551. Not thus I lov'd thee.]

However Homer may be admired for his Conduct in this Passage, I find a general Outcry against Paris on this Occasion. Plutarch has led the way in his Treatise of reading Poets, by remarking it as a most heinous Act of Incontinence in him to go to Bed to his Lady in the Day-time. Among the Commentators the

most violent is the moral Expositor Spondanus, who will not so much as allow him to say a civil thing to Helen. Mollis, effoeminatus, & spurcus ille adulter, nihil de libidine suâ immi|nutum dicit, sed nunc magis eâ corripi quàm unquam aliàs, ne quidem cùm primùm ea ipsi dedit (Latini ita rectè exprimunt 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 in re venereâ) in Insula Cranaë. Cùm alioqui ho|mines primi concubitûs soleant esse ardentiores. I could not deny the Reader the Diversion of this Remark, nor Sponda|uus the Glory of his Zeal, who was but two and twenty when it was written. Madam Dacier is also very severe upon Pa|ris, but for a Reason more natural to a Lady. She is of Opinion that the Passion of the Lover would scarce have been so excessive as he here describes it, but for fear of losing his Mistress immediately, as foreseeing the Greeks would demand her. One may answer to this lively Remark, that Paris having nothing to say for himself, was obliged to testify an uncommon Ardour for his Lady, at a time when Compli|ments were to pass instead of Reasons. I hope to be excus'd if (in Revenge for her Remark upon our Sex) I observe up|on the Behaviour of Helen throughout this Book, which gives a pretty natural Picture of the Manners of theirs. We see her first in Tears, repentant, cover'd with Confusion at the sight of Priam, and secretly inclin'd to return to her former Spouse. The Disgrace of Paris increases her Dis|like of him; she rails, she reproaches, she wishes his Death; and after all, is prevail'd upon by one kind Compliment, and yields to his Embraces. Methinks when this Lady's Ob|servation and mine are laid together, the best that can be made of them is to conclude, that since both the Sexes have their Frailties, it would be well for each to forgive the other.

It is worth looking backward, to observe the Allegory here carry'd on with respect to Helena, who lives thro' this whole Book in a Whirl of Passions, and is agitated by turns with Sentiments of Honour and Love. The Goddesses made use of to cast the Appearance of Fable over the Story, are Iris and Venus. When Helen is call'd to the Tower to behold her former Friends, Iris the Messenger of Juno (the Goddess

of Honour) is sent for her; and when invited to the Bed-Chamber of Paris, Venus is to beckon her out of the Com|pany. The Forms they take to carry on these different Af|fairs, are properly chosen: the one assuming the Person of the Daughter of Antenor, who press'd most for her being re|stor'd to Menelaus; the other the Shape of an old Maid, who was privy to the Intrigue with Paris from the begin|ning. And in the Consequences, as the one inspires the Love of her former Empire, Friends and Country; so the other instills the Dread of being cast off by all if she for|sook her second Choice, and causes the Return of her Ten|derness to Paris. But if she has a Struggle for Honour, she is in a Bondage to Love; which gives the Story its Turn that way, and makes Venus oftner appear than Iris. There is in one Place a Lover to be protected, in another a Love-Quarrel to be made up, in both which the Goddess is kindly officious. She conveys Paris to Troy when he had escap'd the Enemy; which may hint his Love for his Mistress, that hurry'd him away to justify himself before her. She softens and terrifies Helen, in order to make up the Breach between them: And even when that Affair is finished, we do not find the Poet dismisses her from the Chamber, whatever Privacies the Lovers had a mind to: In which Circumstance he seems to draw aside the Veil of his Allegory, and to let the Reader at last into this Meaning of it, that the Goddess of Love has been all the while nothing more than the Passion of it.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Theseus and Me|nelaus.
• * 1.2

  Venus.