The Iliad: of Homer. Translated by Mr. Pope. [pt.2]

THE SIXTH BOOK OF THE ILIAD.

The ARGUMENT.

The Episodes of Glaucus and Diomed, and of Hector and Andromache.

THE Gods having left the Field, the Grecians prevail. Helenus, the chief Augur of Troy, commands Hector to return to the City in order to appoint a solemn Pro|cession of the Queen and the Trojan Matrons to the Temple of Minerva, to entreat her to remove Diomed from the Fight. The Battel relaxing during the Absence of Hector, Glaucus and Diomed have an Interview between the two Armies; where coming to the Knowledge of the Friendship and Hospitality past between their Ancestors, they make exchange of their Arms. Hector having performed the Orders of Helenus, prevail'd up|on Paris to return to the Battel, and taken a tender Leave of his Wife Andromache, hastens again to the Field.

The Scene is first in the Field of Battel, between the Rivers Simois and Scamander, and then changes to Troy.

THE SIXTH BOOK OF THE ILIAD.

NOW Heav'n forsakes the Fight: Th'Immor|tals yield To human Force and human Skill, the Field: Dark Show'rs of Javelins fly from Foes to Foes; Now here, now there, the Tyde of Combate flows; While Troy's fam'd Streams that bound the deathful Plain * 1.1Line 5 On either side run purple to the Main.

Great Ajax first to Conquest led the way, Broke the thick Ranks, and turn'd the doubtful Day. The Thracian Acamas his Faulchion found, That hew'd th' enormous Giant to the Ground;Line 10 His thundring Arm a deadly Stroke imprest Where the black Horse-hair nodded o'er his Crest:

Fix'd in his Front the brazen Weapon lies, And seals in endless Shades his swimming Eyes.

Next Teuthras' Son distain'd the Sands with Blood,Line 15 Axylus, hospitable, rich and good: In fair Arisba's Walls (his native Place) He held his Seat; a Friend to Human Race. Fast by the Road, his ever-open Door Oblig'd the Wealthy, and reliev'd the Poor.Line 20 To stern Tydides now he falls a Prey, No Friend to guard him in the dreadful Day! Breathless the good Man fell, and by his side His faithful Servant, old Calesius dy'd.

By great Euryalus was Dresus slain,Line 25 And next he lay'd Opheltius on the Plain. Two Twins were near, bold beautiful and young, From a fair Naiad and Bucolion sprung: (Laomedon's white Flocks Bucolion fed, That Monarch's First-born by a foreign Bed;Line 30 In secret Woods he won the Naiad's Grace, And two fair Infants crown'd his strong Embrace.) Here dead they lay in all their youthful Charms; The ruthless Victor stripp'd their shining Arms.

Astyalus by Polypaetes fell;Line 35 Ulysses' Spear Pidytes sent to Hell; By Teuter's Shaft brave Arctaon bled, And Nestor's Son laid stern Ablerus dead. Great Agamemnon, Leader of the Brave, The mortal Wound of rich Elatus gave,Line 40 Who held in Pedasus his proud Abode, And till'd the Banks where silver Satnio flow'd. Melanthius by Eurypylus was slain; And Phylacus from Leitus flies in vain.

Unblest Adrastus next at Mercy liesLine 45 Beneath the Spartan Spear, a living Prize. Scar'd with the Din and Tumult of the Fight, His headlong Steeds, precipitate in Flight, Rush'd on a Tamarisk's strong Trunk, and broke The shatter'd Chariot from the crooked Yoke:Line 50 Wide o'er the Field, resistless as the Wind, For Troy they fly, and leave their Lord behind. Prone on his Face he sinks beside the Wheel; Atrides o'er him shakes his vengeful Steel; The fallen Chief in suppliant Posture press'dLine 55 The Victor's Knees, and thus his Pray'r address'd.

Oh spare my Youth, and for the Life I owe Large Gifts of Price my Father shall bestow; When Fame shall tell, that not in Battel slain Thy hollow Ships his Captive Son detain,Line 60 Rich Heaps of Brass shall in thy Tent be told; And Steel well-temper'd, and persuasive Gold.

He said: Compassion touch'd the Hero's Heart, He stood suspended with the lifted Dart: As Pity pleaded for his vanquish'd Prize,Line 65 Stern Agamemnon swift to Vengeance flies, And furious, thus. Oh impotent of Mind! Shall these, shall these Atrides' Mercy find? Well hast thou known proud Troy's perfidious Land, And well her Natives merit at thy Hand!Line 70 Not one of all the Race, not Sex, nor Age, Shall save a Trojan from our boundless Rage: Ilion shall perish whole, and bury All; Her Babes, her Infants at the Breast, shall fall. A dreadful Lesson of exampled Fate,Line 75 To warn the Nations, and to curb the Great!

The Monarch spoke: the Words with Warmth addrest To rigid Justice steel'd his Brother's Breast.

Fierce from his Knees the hapless Chief he thrust; The Monarch's Javelin stretch'd him in the Dust.Line 80 Then pressing with his Foot his panting Heart, Forth from the slain he tugg'd the reeking Dart. Old Nestor saw, and rowz'd the Warrior's Rage; Thus, Heroes! thus the vig'rous Combate wage! No Son of Mars descend, for servile Gains,Line 85 To touch the Booty, while a Foe remains. Behold yon' glitt'ring Host, your future Spoil! First gain the Conquest, then reward the Toil.

And now had Greece Eternal Fame acquir'd. And frighted Troy within her Walls retir'd;Line 90 Had not sage Helenus her State redrest, Taught by the Gods that mov'd his sacred Breast: Where Hector stood, with great Aeneas join'd, The Seer reveal'd the Counsels of his Mind.

Ye gen'rous Chiefs! on whom th' Immortals layLine 95 The Cares and Glories of this doubtful Day, On whom your Aid's, your Country's Hopes depend, Wise to consult, and active to defend! Here, at our Gates, your brave Efforts unite, Turn back the Routed, and forbid the Flight;Line 100

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E're yet their Wives soft Arms the Cowards gain, The Sport and Insult of the Hostile Train. When your Commands have hearten'd ev'ry Band, Our selves, here fix'd, will make the dang'rous Stand: Press'd as we are, and sore of former Fight,Line 105 These Straits demand our last Remains of Might. Meanwhile, thou Hector to the Town retire, And teach our Mother what the Gods require: Direct the Queen to lead th' assembled Train Of Troy's chief Matrons to Minerva's Fane;Line 110 Unbar the sacred Gates; and seek the Pow'r With offer'd Vows, in Ilion's topmost Tow'r. The largest Mantle her rich Wardrobes hold, Most priz'd for Art, and labour'd o'er with Gold, Before the Goddess' honour'd Knees be spread;Line 115 And twelve young Heifers to her Altars led. If so the Pow'r, atton'd by fervent Pray'r, Our Wives, our Infants, and our City spare, And far avert Tydides' wastful Ire, That mows whole Troops, and makes all Troy retire.Line 120 Not thus Achilles taught our Hosts to dread, Sprung tho' he was from more than mortal Bed;

Not thus resistless rul'd the Stream of Fight, In Rage unbounded, and unmatch'd in Might.

Hector obedient heard; and, with a Bound,Line 125 Leap'd from his trembling Chariot to the Ground; Thro' all his Host, inspiring Force he flies, And bids the Thunder of the Battel rise. With Rage recruited the bold Trojans glow; And turn the Tyde of Conflict on the Foe:Line 130 Fierce in the Front he shakes two dazling Spears; All Greece recedes, and 'midst her Triumph fears. Some God, they thought, who rul'd the Fate of Wars, Shot down avenging, from the Vault of Stars.

Then thus, aloud. Ye dauntless Dardans hear!Line 135 And you whom distant Nations send to War! Be mindful of the Strength your Fathers bore; Be still your selves, and Hector asks no more. One Hour demands me in the Trojan Wall, To bid our Altars flame, and Victims fall:Line 140 Nor shall, I trust, the Matron's holy Train And rev'rend Elders, seek the Gods in vain.

This said, with ample Strides the Hero past; The Shield's large Orb behind his Shoulder cast, Line 145

His Neck o'ershading, to his Ancle hung;Line 145 And as he march'd, the brazen Buckler rung.

Now paus'd the Battel, (Godlike Hector gone) When daring Glaucus and great Tydeus' Son Between both Armies met: The Chiefs from far Observ'd each other, and had mark'd for War.Line 150 Near as they drew, Tydides thus began.

What art thou, boldest of the Race of Man? Our Eyes, till now, that Aspect ne'er beheld, Where Fame is reap'd amid th' embattel'd Field; Yet far before the Troops thou dar'st appear,Line 155 And meet a Lance the fiercest Heroes fear. Unhappy they, and born of luckless Sires, Who tempt our Fury when Minerva fires! But if from Heav'n, Celestial thou descend; Know, with Immortals we no more contend.Line 160 Not long Lycurgus view'd the Golden Light, That daring Man who mix'd with Gods in Fight; Bacchus, and Bacchus' Votaries he drove With brandish'd Steel from Nyssa's sacred Grove, Their consecrated Spears lay scatter'd round,Line 165 With curling Vines and twisted Ivy bound;

While Bacchus headlong sought the briny Flood, And Thetis' Arms receiv'd the trembling God. Nor fail'd the Crime th' Immortals Wrath to move, (Th' Immortals blest with endless Ease above)Line 170 Depriv'd of Sight by their avenging Doom, Chearless he breath'd, and wander'd in the Gloom, Then sunk unpity'd to the dire Abodes, A Wretch accurst, and hated by the Gods! I brave not Heav'n: But if the Fruits of EarthLine 175 Sustain thy Life, and Human be thy Birth; Bold as thou art, too prodigal of Breath, Approach, and enter the dark Gates of Death.

What, or from whence I am, or who my Sire, (Reply'd the Chief) can Tydeus' Son enquire?Line 180 Like Leaves on Trees the Race of Man is found, Now green in Youth, now with'ring on the Ground, Another Race the following Spring supplies, They fall successive, and successive rise; So Generations in their Course decay,Line 185 So flourish these, when those are past away. But if thou still persist to search my Birth, Then hear a Tale that fills the spacious Earth.

A City stands on Argos' utmost Bound, (Argos the fair for warlike Steeds renown'd)Line 190 Aeolian Sysiphus, with Wisdom blest, In ancient Time the happy Walls possest, Then call'd Ephyre: Glaucus was his Son; Great Glaucus Father of Bellerophon, Who o'er the Sons of Men in Beauty shin'd,Line 195 Lov'd for that Valour which preserves Mankind. Then mighty Praetus Argos' Sceptres sway'd, Whose hard Commands Bellerophon obey'd. With direful Jealousy the Monarch rag'd, And the brave Prince in num'rous Toils engag'd.Line 200 For him, Antaea burn'd with lawless Flame, And strove to tempt him from the Paths of Fame: In vain she tempted the relentless Youth, Endu'd with Wisdom, sacred Fear, and Truth. Fir'd at his Scorn the Queen to Praetus fled,Line 205 And beg'd Revenge for her insulted Bed: Incens'd he heard, resolving on his Fate; But Hospitable Laws restrain'd his Hate: To Lycia the devoted Youth he sent, With Tablets seal'd, that told his dire Intent.Line 210

Now blest by ev'ry Pow'r who guards the Good, The Chief arriv'd at Xanthus' silver Flood: There Lycia's Monarch paid him Honours due; Nine Days he feasted, and nine Bulls he slew. But when the tenth bright Morning Orient glow'd,Line 215 The faithful Youth his Monarch's Mandate show'd: The fatal Tablets, till that Instant seal'd, The deathful Secret to the King reveal'd. First, dire Chymaera's Conquest was enjoin'd; A mingled Monster, of no mortal Kind;Line 220 Behind, a Dragon's fiery Tail was spread; A Goat's rough Body bore a Lion's Head; Her pitchy Nostrils flaky Flames expire; Her gaping Throat emits infernal Fire.

This Pest he slaughter'd (for he read the Skies,Line 225 And trusted Heav'ns informing Prodigies) Then met in Arms the Solymaean Crew, (Fiercest of Men) and those the Warrior slew. Next the bold Amazon's whole Force defy'd; And conquer'd still, for Heav'n was on his side.Line 230

Nor ended here his Toils: His Lycian Foes At his Return, a treach'rous Ambush, rose,

With levell'd Spears along the winding Shore; There fell they breathless, and return'd no more.

At length the Monarch with repentant GriefLine 235 Confess'd the Gods, and God-descended Chief; His Daughter gave, the Stranger to detain, With half the Honours of his ample Reign. The Lycians grant a chosen Space of Ground, With Woods, with Vineyards, and with Harvests crown'd.Line 240 There long the Chief his happy Lot possess'd, With two brave Sons and one fair Daughter bless'd; (Fair ev'n in heav'nly Eyes; her fruitful Love Crown'd with Sarpedon's Birth th' Embrace of Jove) But when at last, distracted in his Mind,Line 245 Forsook by Heav'n, forsaking Human-kind, Wide o'er th' Aleian Field he chose to stray, A long, forlorn, uncomfortable Way! Woes heap'd on Woes oppress'd his wasted Heart; His beauteous Daughter fell by Phoebè's Dart;Line 250 His Eldest-born by raging Mars was slain, In Combate on the Solymaean Plain.

Hippolochus surviv'd; from him I came, The honour'd Author of my Birth and Name; By his Decree I sought the Trojan Town,Line 255 By his Instructions learn to win Renown, To stand the first in Worth as in Command, To add new Honours to my native Land, Before my Eyes my mighty Sires to place, And emulate the Glories of our Race.Line 260

He spoke, and Transport fill'd Tydides' Heart; In Earth the gen'rous Warrior fix'd his Dart, Then friendly, thus, the Lycian Prince addrest. Welcome, my brave Hereditary Guest! Thus ever let us meet, with kind Embrace,Line 265 Nor stain the sacred Friendship of our Race. Know, Chief, our Grandsires have been Guests of old; Oeneus the strong, Bellerophon the bold: Our ancient Seat his honour'd Presence grac'd, Where twenty Days in Genial Rites he pass'd.Line 270 The parting Heroes mutual Presents left; A golden Goblet was thy Grandsire's Gift; Oeneus a Belt of matchless Work bestow'd, That rich with Tyrian Dye refulgent glow'd. Line 275

(This from his Pledge I learn'd, which safely stor'dLine 275 Among my Treasures, still adorns my Board: For Tydeus left me young, when Thebè's Wall Beheld the Sons of Greece untimely fall.) Mindful of this, in Friendship let us join; If Heav'n our Steps to foreign Lands incline,Line 280 My Guest in Argos thou, and I in Lycia thine. Enough of Trojans to this Lance shall yield, In the full Harvest of yon' ample Field; Enough of Greeks shall die thy Spear with Gore; But Thou and Diomed be Foes no more.Line 285 Now change we Arms, and prove to either Host We guard the Friendship of the Line we boast.

Thus having said, the gallant Chiefs alight, Their Hands they join, their mutual Faith they plight, Brave Glaucus then each narrow Thought resign'd,Line 290 (Jove warm'd his Bosom and enlarg'd his Mind) For Diomed's Brass Arms, of mean Device, For which nine Oxen paid (a vulgar Price) He gave his own, of Gold divinely wrought, A hundred Beeves the shining Purchase bought.Line 295

Meantime the Guardian of the Trojan State, Great Hector enter'd at the Scaean Gate. Beneath the Beech-Tree's consecrated Shades, The Trojan Matrons and the Trojan Maids Around him flock'd, all press'd with pious CareLine 300 For Husbands, Brothers, Sons, engag'd in War. He bids the Train in long Procession go, And seek the Gods, t' avert th' impending Woe. And now to Priam's stately Courts he came, Rais'd on arch'd Columns of stupendous Frame;Line 305 O'er these a Range of Marble Structure runs, The rich Pavillions of his fifty Sons, In fifty Chambers lodg'd; and Rooms of State Oppos'd to those, where Priam's Daughters sate: Twelve Domes for them and their lov'd Spouses shone,Line 310 Of equal Beauty, and of polish'd Stone. Hither great Hector pass'd, nor pass'd unseen Of Royal Hecuba, his Mother Queen. (With her Laodicè, whose beauteous Face Surpass'd the Nymphs of Troy's illustrious Race)Line 315 Long in a strict Embrace she held her Son, And press'd his Hand, and tender thus begun.

O Hector! say, what great Occasion calls My Son from Fight, when Greece surrounds our Walls? Com'st thou to supplicate th' Almighty Pow'r,Line 320 With lifted Hands from Ilion's lofty Tow'r? Stay, till I bring the Cup with Bacchus crown'd, In Jove's high Name to sprinkle on the Ground, And pay due Vows to all the Gods around. Then with a plenteous Draught refresh thy Soul,Line 325 And draw new Spirits from the gen'rous Bowl; Spent as thou art with long laborious Fight, The brave Defender of thy Country's Right.

Far hence be Bacchus' Gifts (the Chief rejoin'd) Inflaming Wine, pernicious to Mankind,Line 330 Unnerves the Limbs, and dulls the noble Mind. Let Chiefs abstain, and spare the sacred Juice To sprinkle to the Gods, its better Use. By me that holy Office were prophan'd; Ill fits it me, with human Gore distain'd,Line 335 To the pure Skies these horrid Hands to raise, Or offer Heav'n's great Sire polluted Praise. You, with your Matrons, go! a spotless Train, And burn rich Odors in Minerva's Fane. Line 340

The largest Mantle your full Wardrobes hold,Line 340 Most priz'd for Art, and labour'd o'er with Gold, Before the Goddess' honour'd Knees be spread, And twelve young Heifers to her Altar led. So may the Pow'r, atton'd by fervent Pray'r, Our Wives, our Infants, and our City spare,Line 345 And far avert Tydides' wastful Ire, Who mows whole Troops and makes all Troy retire. Be this, O Mother, your religious Care; I go to rowze soft Paris to the War; If yet not lost to all the Sense of Shame,Line 350 The recreant Warrior hear the Voice of Fame. Oh would kind Earth the hateful Wretch embrace, That Pest of Troy, that Ruin of our Race! Deep to the dark Abyss might he descend, Troy yet should flourish, and my Sorrows end.Line 355

This heard, she gave Command; and summon'd came Each noble Matron, and illustrious Dame. The Phrygian Queen to her rich Wardrobe went, Where treasur'd Odors breath'd a costly Scent. There lay the Vestures, of no vulgar Art,Line 360 Sidonian Maids embroider'd ev'ry Part,

Whom from soft Sidon youthful Paris bore, With Helen touching on the Tyrian Shore. Here as the Queen revolv'd with careful Eyes The various Textures and the various Dies,Line 365 She chose a Veil that shone superior far, And glow'd refulgent as the Morning Star. Herself with this the long Procession leads; The Train majestically slow proceeds. Soon as to Ilion's topmost Tow'r they come,Line 370 And awful reach the high Palladian Dome, Antenor's Consort, fair Theano, waits As Pallas' Priestess, and unbars the Gates. With Hands uplifted and imploring Eyes, They fill the Dome with supplicating Cries.Line 375 The Priestess then the shining Veil displays, Plac'd on Minerva's Knees, and thus she prays.

Oh awful Goddess! ever-dreadful Maid, Troy's strong Defence, unconquer'd Pallas, aid! Break thou Tydides' Spear, and let him fallLine 380 Prone on the Dust before the Trojan Wall. So twelve young Heifers, guiltless of the Yoke, Shall fill thy Temple with a grateful Smoke.

But thou, atton'd by Penitence and Pray'r, Our selves, our Infants, and our City spare!Line 385 So pray'd the Priestess in her holy Fane; So vow'd the Matrons, but they vow'd in vain.

While these appear before the Pow'r with Pray'rs, Hector to Paris' lofty Dome repairs. Himself the Mansion rais'd, from ev'ry PartLine 390 Assembling Architects of matchless Art. Near Priam's Court and Hector's Palace stands The pompous Structure, and the Town commands. A Spear the Hero bore of wondrous Strength, Of full ten Cubits was the Lance's Length,Line 395 The steely Point with golden Ringlets join'd, Before him brandish'd, at each Motion shin'd. Thus entring in the glitt'ring Rooms, he found His Brother-Chief, whose useless Arms lay round, His Eyes delighting with their splendid Show,Line 400 Bright'ning the Shield, and polishing the Bow. Beside him, Helen with her Virgins stands, Guides their rich Labours, and instructs their Hands.

Him thus unactive, with an ardent Look The Prince beheld, and high-resenting spoke.Line 405

Thy Hate to Troy, is this the Time to show? (Oh Wretch ill-fated, and thy Country's Foe!) Paris and Greece against us both conspire; Thy close Resentment, and their vengeful Ire. For thee great Ilion's Guardian Heroes fall,Line 410 Till Heaps of Dead alone defend her Wall; For thee the Soldier bleeds, the Matron mourns, And wastful War in all its Fury burns. Ungrateful Man! deserves not this thy Care, Our Troops to hearten, and our Toils to share?Line 415 Rise, or behold the conqu'ring Flames ascend, And all the Phrygian Glories at an end.

Brother, 'tis just (reply'd the beauteous Youth) Thy free Remonstrance proves thy Worth and Truth: Yet charge my Absence less, oh gen'rous Chief!Line 420 On Hate to Troy, than conscious Shame and Grief: Here, hid from human Eyes, thy Brother sate, And mourn'd in secret, his, and Ilion's Fate. 'Tis now enough: now Glory spreads her Charms, And beauteous Helen calls her Chief to Arms.Line 425 Conquest to Day my happier Sword may bless, 'Tis Man's to fight, but Heav'ns to give Success.

But while I arm, contain thy ardent Mind; Or go, and Paris shall not lag behind.

He said, nor answer'd Priam's warlike Son;Line 430 When Helen thus with lowly Grace begun.

Oh gen'rous Brother! if the guilty Dame That caus'd these Woes, deserve a Sister's Name! Would Heav'n, e're all these dreadful Deeds were done, The Day, that show'd me to the golden Sun,Line 435 Had seen my Death! Why did not Whirlwinds bear The fatal Infant to the Fowls of Air? Why sunk I not beneath the whelming Tyde, And 'midst the Roarings of the Waters dy'd? Heav'n fill'd up all my Ills, and I accurstLine 440 Bore all, and Paris of those Ills the worst. Helen at least a braver Spouse might claim, Warm'd with some Virtue, some Regard of Fame! Now tir'd with Toils, thy fainting Limbs recline, With Toils, sustain'd for Paris' sake and mine:Line 445 The Gods have link'd our miserable Doom, Our present Woe, and Infamy to come: Wide shall it spread, and last thro' Ages long, Example sad! and Theme of future Song.

The Chief reply'd: This Time forbids to rest:Line 450 The Trojan Bands by hostile Fury prest. Demand their Hector, and his Arm require; The Combate urges, and my Soul's on fire. Urge thou thy Knight to march where Glory calls, And timely join me, e're I leave the Walls.Line 455 E're yet I mingle in the direful Fray, My Wife, my Infant, claim a Moment's Stay; This Day (perhaps the last that sees me here) Demands a parting Word, a tender Tear: This Day, some God who hates our Trojan LandLine 460 May vanquish Hector by a Grecian Hand.

He said, and past with sad presaging Heart To seek his Spouse, his Soul's far dearer Part; At home he sought her, but he sought in vain; She, with one Maid of all her Menial Train,Line 465 Had thence retir'd; and with her second Joy, The young Astyanax, the Hope of Troy. Pensive she stood on Ilion's Tow'ry Height, Beheld the War, and sicken'd at the Sight; There her sad Eyes in vain her Lord explore,Line 470 Or weep the Wounds her bleeding Country bore.

But he who found not whom his Soul desir'd, Whose Virtue charm'd him as her Beauty fir'd, Stood in the Gates, and ask'd what way she bent Her parting Step? If to the Fane she went,Line 475 Where late the mourning Matrons made Resort; Or sought her Sisters in the Trojan Court? Not to the Court (reply'd th' Attendant Train) Nor mix'd with Matrons to Minerva's Fane: To Ilion's steepy Tow'r she bent her way,Line 480 To mark the Fortunes of the doubtful Day. Troy fled, she heard, before the Grecian Sword; She heard, and trembled for her absent Lord: Distracted with Surprize, she seem'd to fly, Fear on her Cheek, and Sorrow in her Eye.Line 485 The Nurse attended with her Infant Boy, The young Astyanax, the Hope of Troy.

Hector, this heard, return'd without Delay; Swift thro' the Town he trod his former way, Thro' Streets of Palaces and Walks of State;Line 490 And met the Mourner at the Scaean Gate. With haste to meet him sprung the joyful Fair, His blameless Wife, Aëtion's wealthy Heir:

(Cilician Thebè great Aëtion sway'd, And Hippoplacus' wide-extended Shade)Line 495 The Nurse stood near, in whose Embraces prest His only Hope hung smiling at her Breast, Whom each soft Charm and early Grace adorn, Fair as the new-born Star that gilds the Morn. To this lov'd Infant Hector gave the NameLine 500 Scamandrius, from Scamander's honour'd Stream; Astyanax the Trojans call'd the Boy, From his great Father, the Defence of Troy. Silent the Warrior smil'd, and pleas'd resign'd To tender Passions all his mighty Mind:Line 505 His beauteous Princess cast a mournful Look, Hung on his Hand, and then dejected spoke; Her Bosom labour'd with a boding Sigh, And the big Tear stood trembling in her Eye.

Too daring Prince! ah whither dost thou run?Line 510 Ah too forgetful of thy Wife and Son! And think'st thou not how wretched we shall be, A Widow I, an helpless Orphan He! For sure such Courage Length of Life denies, And thou must fall, thy Virtue's Sacrifice.Line 515

Greece in her single Heroes strove in vain; Now Hosts oppose thee, and thou must be slain! Oh grant me Gods! e're Hector meets his Doom, All I can ask of Heav'n, an early Tomb!

So shall my Days in one sad Tenor run,Line 520 And end with Sorrows as they first begun. No Parent now remains, my Griefs to share, No Father's Aid, no Mother's tender Care. The fierce Achilles wrapt our Walls in Fire, Lay'd Thebè waste, and slew my warlike Sire!Line 525 His Fate Compassion in the Victor bred; Stern as he was, he yet rever'd the Dead, His radiant Arms preserv'd from hostile Spoil, And lay'd him decent on the Fun'ral Pyle; Then rais'd a Mountain where his Bones were burn'd,Line 530 The Mountain Nymphs the rural Tomb adorn'd, Jove's Sylvan Daughters bade their Elms bestow A barren Shade, and in his Honour grow.

By the same Arm my sev'n brave Brothers fell, In one sad Day beheld the Gates of Hell;Line 553 While the fat Herds and snowie Flocks they fed, Amid their Fields the hapless Heroes bled!

My Mother liv'd to bear the Victor's Bands, The Queen of Hippoplacia's Sylvan Lands: Redeem'd too late, she scarce beheld againLine 540 Her pleasing Empire and her native Plain, When ah! opprest by Life-consuming Woe, She fell a Victim to Diana's Bow.

Yet while my Hector still survives, I see My Father, Mother, Brethren, all, in thee.Line 545 Alas! my Parents, Brothers, Kindred, all, Once more will perish if my Hector fall. Thy Wife, thy Infant, in thy Danger share: Oh prove a Husband's and a Father's Care! That Quarter most the skillful Greeks annoy,Line 550 Where yon' wild Fig-Trees join the Wall of Troy: Thou, from this Tow'r defend th' important Post; There Agamemnon points his dreadful Host, That Pass Tydides, Ajax strive to gain, And there the vengeful Spartan fires his Train.Line 555 Thrice our bold Foes the fierce Attack have giv'n, Or led by Hopes, or dictated from Heav'n. Let others in the Field their Arms employ, But stay my Hector here, and guard his Troy.

The Chief reply'd: That Post shall be my Care,Line 560 Nor that alone, but all the Works of War. How would the Sons of Troy, in Arms renown'd, And Troy's proud Dames whose Garments sweep the Ground, Attaint the Lustre of my former Name, Should Hector basely quit the Field of Fame?Line 565 My early Youth was bred to martial Pains, My Soul impells me to th' embattel'd Plains; Let me be foremost to defend the Throne, And guard my Father's Glories, and my own.

Yet come it will, the Day decreed by Fates;Line 570 (How my Heart trembles while my Tongue relates!) The Day when thou, Imperial Troy! must bend, And see thy Warriors fall, thy Glories end. And yet no dire Prefage so wounds my Mind, My Mother's Death, the Ruin of my Kind,Line 575 Not Priam's hoary Hairs defil'd with Gore, Not all my Brothers gasping on the Shore; As thine, Andromache! thy Griefs I dread; I see thee trembling, weeping, Captive led! Line 580

In Argive Looms our Battels to design,Line 580 And Woes, of which so large a Part was thine! To bear the Victor's hard Commands, or bring The Weight of Waters from Hyperia's Spring. There, while you groan beneath the Load of Life, They cry, Behold the mighty Hector's Wife!Line 585 Some haughty Greek who lives thy Tears to see, Embitters all thy Woes, by naming me. The Thoughts of Glory past, and present Shame, A thousand Griefs shall waken at the Name! May I lie cold before that dreadful Day,Line 590 Press'd with a Load of Monumental Clay! Thy Hector wrapt in everlasting Sleep, Shall neither hear thee sigh, nor see thee weep.

Thus having spoke, th' illustrious Chief of Troy Stretch'd his fond Arms to clasp the lovely Boy.Line 595 The Babe clung crying to his Nurse's Breast, Scar'd at the dazling Helm, and nodding Crest. With secret Pleasure each fond Parent smil'd, And Hector hasted to relieve his Child, The glitt'ring Terrors from his Brows unbound,Line 600 And plac'd the beaming Helmet on the Ground.

Then kist the Child, and lifting high in Air, Thus to the Gods prefer'd a Father's Pray'r.

O Thou! whose Glory fills th' Aetherial Throne, And all ye deathless Pow'rs! protect my Son!Line 605 Grant him, like me, to purchase just Renown, To guard the Trojans, to defend the Crown, Against his Country's Foes the War to wage, And rise the Hector of the future Age! So when triumphant from successful Toils,Line 610 Of Heroes slain he bears the reeking Spoils, Whole Hosts may hail him with deserv'd Acclaim, And say, This Chief transcends his Father's Fame: While pleas'd amidst the gen'ral Shouts of Troy, His Mother's conscious Heart o'erflows with Joy.Line 615

He spoke, and fondly gazing on her Charms Restor'd the pleasing Burden to her Arms; Soft on her fragrant Breast the Babe she laid, Hush'd to Repose, and with a Smile survey'd. The troubled Pleasure soon chastis'd by Fear,Line 620 She mingled with the Smile a tender Tear. The soften'd Chief with kind Compassion view'd, And dry'd the falling Drops, and thus pursu'd.

Andromache! my Soul's far better Part, Why with untimely Sorrows heaves thy Heart?Line 625 No hostile Hand can antedate my Doom, Till Fate condemns me to the silent Tomb. Fix'd is the Term to all the Race of Earth, And such the hard Condition of our Birth. No Force can then resist, no Flight can save,Line 630 All sink alike, the Fearful and the Brave. No more—but hasten to thy Tasks at home, There guide the Spindle, and direct the Loom: Me Glory summons to the martial Scene, The Field of Combate is the Sphere for Men.Line 635 Where Heroes war, the foremost Place I claim, The first in Danger as the first in Fame.

Thus having said, the glorious Chief resumes His Tow'ry Helmet, black with shading Plumes. His Princess parts with a prophetick Sigh,Line 640 Unwilling parts, and oft' reverts her Eye That stream'd at ev'ry Look: then, moving slow, Sought her own Palace, and indulg'd her Woe. There, while her Tears deplor'd the Godlike Man, Thro' all her Train the soft Infection ran,Line 645

The pious Maids their mingled Sorrows shed, And mourn the living Hector, as the dead.

But now, no longer deaf to Honour's Call, Forth issues Paris from the Palace Wall. In Brazen Arms that cast a gleamy Ray,Line 650 Swift thro' the Town the Warrior bends his way. The wanton Courser thus, with Reins unbound, Breaks from his Stall, and beats the trembling Ground; Pamper'd and proud, he seeks the wonted Tides, And laves, in Height of Blood, his shining Sides;Line 655 His Head now freed, he tosses to the Skies; His Mane dishevel'd o'er his Shoulders flies; He snuffs the Females in the distant Plain, And springs, exulting, to his Fields again. With equal Triumph, sprightly, bold and gay,Line 660 In Arms refulgent as the God of Day, The Son of Priam, glorying in his Might, Rush'd forth with Hector to the Fields of Fight.

And now the Warriors passing on the way, The graceful Paris first excus'd his Stay.Line 665 To whom the noble Hector thus reply'd: O Chief! in Blood, and now in Arms, ally'd!

Thy Pow'r in War with Justice none contest; Known is thy Courage, and thy Strength confest. What Pity, Sloath should seize a Soul so brave,Line 670 Or Godlike Paris live a Woman's Slave! My Heart weeps Blood at what the Trojans say, And hopes, thy Deeds shall wipe the Stain away. Haste then, in all their glorious Labours share; For much they suffer, for thy sake, in War.Line 675 These Ills shall cease, whene'er by Jove's Decree We crown the Bowl to Heav'n and Liberty: While the proud Foe his frustrate Triumphs mourns, And Greece indignant thro' her Seas returns.

OBSERVATIONS ON THE Sixth Book.

OBSERVATIONS ON THE SIXTH BOOK.

I.

VERSE 7. FIRST Ajax.]

Ajax performs his Ex|ploits immediately upon the Departure of the Gods from the Battel. It is ob|serv'd that this Hero is never assisted by the Deities, as most of the rest are: See his Character in the Notes on the seventh Book. The Expression of the Greek is, that he brought Light to his Troops, which M. Dacier takes to be metaphorical: I do not see but it may be literal; he broke the thick Squadrons of the Enemy, and open'd a Passage for the Light.

II.

VERSE 9. The Thracian Acamas.]

This Thracian Prince is the same in whose Likeness Mars appears in the preceding Book, rallying the Trojans and forcing the Greeks to retire. In the present Description of his Strength and Size, we see with what Propriety this Personage was selected by the Poet as fit to be assumed by the God of War.

III.

VERSE 16. Axylus, Hospitable.]

This beautiful Character of Axylus has not been able to escape the Misunderstanding of

some of the Commentators, who thought Homer design'd it as a Reproof of an undistinguish'd Generosity. It is evident|ly a Panegyrick on that Virtue, and not improbably on the Memory of some excellent, but unfortunate Man in that Coun|try, whom the Poet honours with the noble Title of A Friend to Mankind. It is indeed a severe Reproof of the Ingratitude of Men, and a kind of Satyr on human Race, while he repre|sents this Lover of his Species miserably perishing without Assistance from any of those Numbers he had obliged. This Death is very moving, and the Circumstance of a faithful Servant's dying by his side, well imagined, and natural to such a Character. His manner of keeping House near a fre|quented Highway, and relieving all Travellers, is agreeable to that ancient Hospitality which we now only read of. There is Abundance of this Spirit every where in the Odysseis. The Patriarchs in the Old Testament sit at their Gates to see those who pass by, and entreat them to enter into their Houses: This cordial manner of Invitation is particularly described in the 18th and 19th Chapters of Genesis. The Eastern Nati|ons seem to have had a peculiar Disposition to these Exercises of Humanity, which continues in a great measure to this Day. It is yet a Piece of Charity frequent with the Turks, to erect Caravanserahs, or Inns for the Reception of Travellers. Since I am upon this Head, I must mention one or two extraordi|nary Examples of ancient Hospitality. Diodorus Siculus writes of Gallias of Agrigentum, that having built severall Inns for the Relief of Strangers, he appointed Persons at the Gates to invite all who travell'd to make use of them; and that this Example was followed by many others who were inclined af|ter the ancient manner to live in a human and beneficent Correspondence with Mankind. That this Gallias entertain'd and cloathed at one time no less than five hundred Horse|men; and that there were in his Cellars three hundred Ves|sels, each of which contain'd an hundred Hogsheads of Wine. The same Author tells us of another Agrigentine, that at the Marriage of his Daughter feasted all the People of his City, who at that time were above twenty thousand.

Herodotus in his seventh Book has a Story of this kind, which is prodigious, being of a private Man so immensely

rich as to entertain Xerxes and his whole Army. I shall transcribe the Passage as I find it translated to my Hands.

"Pythius the Son of Atys, a Lydian, then residing in Celaene, entertain'd the King and all his Army with great Magnificence, and offer'd him his Treasures towards the Expence of the War: which Liberality Xerxes communi|cating to the Persians about him, and asking who this Pythius was, and what Riches he might have to enable him to make such an Offer? Receiv'd this Answer; Py|thius, said they, is the Person who presented your Father Darius with a Plane-Tree and Vine of Gold: and after you, is the richest Man we know in the World. Xerxes surpriz'd with these last Words, ask'd him to what Sum his Treasures might amount. I shall conceal nothing from you, said Pythius; nor pretend to be ignorant of my own Wealth; but being perfectly inform'd of the State of my Accompts, shall tell you the Truth with Sincerity. When I heard you was ready to begin the March towards the Grecian Sea, I resolv'd to present you with a Sum of Mo|ney towards the Charge of the War; and to that end having taken an Account of my Riches, I found by Com|putation that I had two thousand Talents of Silver, and three Millions nine hundred ninety three thousand Pieces of Gold, bearing the Stamp of Darius. These Treasures I freely give you, because I shall be sufficiently furnish'd with whatever is necessary to Life by the Labour of my Servants and Husbandmen.

"Xerxes heard these Words with Pleasure, and in answer to Pythius, said; My Lydian Host, since I parted from Susa I have not found a Man besides your self, who has offer'd to entertain my Army, or voluntarily to contribute his Treasures to promote the present Expedition. You a|lone have treated my Army magnificently, and readily of|fer'd me immense Riches: Therefore, in Return of your Kindness, I make you my Host; and that you may be Master of the intire Sum of four Millions in Gold, I will give you seven thousand Darian Pieces out of my own Treasure. Keep then all the Riches you now possess; and

if you know how to continue always in the same good Disposition, you shall never have reason to repent of your Affection to me, either now or in future time.

The Sum here offer'd by Pythius amounts by Brerewood's Computation to three Millions three hundred seventy five thou|sand Pounds Sterling, according to the lesser Valuation of Ta|lents. I make no Apology for inserting so remarkable a Passage at length, but shall only add, that it was at last the Fate of this Pythius (like our Axylus) to experience the Ingratitude of Man; his eldest Son being afterwards cut in Pieces by the same Xerxes.

IV.

VERSE 57. Oh spare my Youth, &c.]

This Passage, where Agamemnon takes away that Trojan's Life whom Menelaus had pardoned, and is not blamed by Homer for so doing, must be ascribed to the uncivilized Manners of those Times, when Mankind was not united by the Bonds of a rational Society, and is not therefore to be imputed to the Poet, who followed Nature as it was in his Days. The Historical Books of the Old Testament abound in Instances of the like Cruelty to conquer'd Enemies.

Virgil had this Part of Homer in his View when he descri|bed the Death of Magus in the tenth Aeneid. Those Lines of his Prayer where he offers a Ransome are translated from this of Adrastus, but both the Prayer and the Answer Aeneas makes when he refuses him Mercy, are very much heighten'd and improved. They also receive a great Addition of Beauty and Propriety from the Occasion on which he inserts them: Young Pallas is just kill'd, and Aeneas seeking to be reveng'd upon Turnus, meets this Magus. Nothing can be a more artful Piece of Address than the first Lines of that Supplica|tion, if we consider the Character of Aeneas to whom it is made.

Per patrios manes, per spes surgentis Jüli, Te precor, hanc animam serves natoque, Patrique!

And what can exceed the Closeness and Fullness of that Re|ply to it?

—Belli commercia Turnus Sustulit ista prior, jam tum Pallante perempto. Hoc patris Anchisae manes, hoc sentit Jülus.

This removes the Imputation of Cruelty from Aeneas, which had less agreed with his Character than it does with Aga|memnon's; whose Reproof to Menelaus in this Place is not un|like that of Samuel to Saul for not killing Agag.

V.

VERSE 74. Her Infants at the Breast shall fall.]

Or, her Infants yet in the Womb, for it will bear either Sense. But I think Madam Dacier in the right, in her Affirmation that the Greeks were not arrived to that Pitch of Cruelty to rip up the Wombs of Women with Child. Homer (says she) to remove all equivocal Meaning from this Phrase, adds the Words 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, juvenem puerulum existentem, which would be ridiculous were it said of a Child yet unborn. Besides, he would never have represented one of his first Heroes capable of so barbarous a Crime, or at least would not have commen|ded him (as he does just after) for such a wicked Exhortation.

VI.

VERSE 88. First gain the Conquest, then divide the Spoil.]

This important Maxim of War is very naturally introduced, upon Nestor's having seen Menelaus ready to spare an Enemy for the sake of a Ransome. It was for such Lessons as these (says M. Dacier) that Alexander so much esteem'd Homer and study'd his Poem. He made his Use of this Precept in the Battel of Arbela, when Parmenio being in danger of weakening the main Body to defend the Baggage, he sent this Message to him. Leave the Baggage there, for if we carry the Victory, we shall not only recover what is our

own, but be Masters of all that is the Enemy's. Histories ancient and modern are fill'd with Examples of Enterprizes that have miscarry'd, and Battels that have been lost, by the Greediness of Soldiers for Pillage.

VII.

VERSE 98. Wise to consult, and active to defend.]

This is a twofold Branch of Praise, expressing the Excellence of these Princes both in Council and in Battel. I think Madam Da|cier's Translation does not come up to the Sense of the Original. Les plus hardis & les plus experimentez des nos Capitains.

VIII.

VERSE 107. Thou Hector to the Town.]

It has been a mo|dern Objection to Homer's Conduct, that Hector upon whom the whole Fate of the Day depended, is made to retire from the Battel, only to carry a Message to Troy concerning a Sacrifice, which might have been done as well by any o|ther. They think it absurd in Helenus to advise this, and in Hector to comply with it. What occasion'd this false Criti|cism was that they imagin'd it to be a Piece of Advice, and not a Command. Helenus was a Priest and Augur of the highest Rank, he enjoins it as a Point of Religion, and Hector obeys him as one inspired from Heaven. The Trojan Army was in the utmost Distress, occasion'd by the prodigious Slaughter made by Diomed: There was therefore more Reason and Ne|cessity to propitiate Minerva who assisted that Hero; which He|lenus might know, tho' Hector would have chosen to have stay'd and trusted to the Arm of Flesh. Here is nothing but what may agree with each of their Characters. Hector goes as he was obliged in Religion, but not before he has animated the Troops, re-established the Combate, repulsed the Greeks to some distance, received a Promise from Helenus that they would make a stand at the Gates, and given one himself to the Army that he would soon return to the Fight: All which Homer has been careful to specify, to save the Honour and preserve the Character of this Hero. As to Helenus his

Part, he saw the Straits his Countrymen were reduced to, he knew his Authority as a Priest, and design'd to revive the Courage of the Troops by a Promise of divine Assistance. Nothing adds more Courage to the Minds of Men than Su|perstition, and perhaps it was the only Expedient then left; much like a modern Practice in the Army, to enjoin a Fast when they wanted Provision. Helenus could no way have made his Promise more credible, than by sending a|way Hector; which look'd like an Assurance that nothing could prejudice them during his Absence on such a religious Account. No Leader of less Authority than Hector could so properly have enjoin'd this solemn Act of Religion; and lastly, no other whose Valour was less known than his, could have left the Army in this Juncture without a Taint upon his Honour. Homer makes this Piety succeed; Paris is brought back to the Fight, the Trojans afterwards prevail, and Jupi|ter appears openly in their favour, l. 8. Tho' after all, I can|not dissemble my Opinion, that the Poet's chief Intention in this, was to introduce that fine Episode of the Parting of Hector and Andromache. This Change of the Scene to Troy furnishes him with a great Number of Beauties. By this means (says Eustathius) his Poem is for a time divested of the Fierceness and Violence of Battels, and being as it were wash'd from Slaughter and Blood, becomes calm and smiling by the Beauty of these various Episodes.

IX.

VERSE 117. If so the Pow'r atton'd.]

The Poet here plainly supposes Helenus, by his Skill in Augury or some other divine Inspiration, well inform'd that the Might of Diomed which wrought such great Destruction among the Trojans, was the Gift of Pallas incens'd against them. The Prophet therefore directs Prayers, Offerings, and Sacrifices to be made to appease the Anger of this offended Goddess; not to in|voke the Mercy of any propitious Deity. This is conform|able to the whole System of Pagan Superstition, the Worship whereof being grounded not on Love but Fear, seems dire|cted rather to avert the Malice and Anger of a wrathful and

mischievous Daemon, than to implore the Assistance and Pro|tection of a benevolent Being. In this Strain of Religion this same Prophet is introduced by Virgil in the third Aeneid, giving particular Direction to Aeneas to appease the Indigna|tion of Juno, as the only means which could bring his Labours to a prosperous End.

Unum illud tibi, nate Dea, praeque omnibus unum Praedicam, & repetens iterumque iterumque monebo. Junonis magnae primum prece numen adora: Junoni cane vota libens, dominamque potentem Supplicibus supera donis:—

X.

VERSE 147. The Interview of Glaucus and Diomed.]

No Passage in our Author has been the Subject of more severe and groundless Criticisms than this, where these two Heroes enter into a long Conversation (as they will have it) in the Heat of a Battel. Monsieur Dacier's Answer in Defence of Homer is so full, that I cannot do better than to translate it from his Remarks on the 26th Chapter of Aristotle's Poetic. There can be nothing more unjust than the Criticisms past upon things that are the Effect of Custom. It was usual in ancient Times for Soldiers to talk together be|fore they encounter'd. Homer is full of Examples of this sort, and he very well deserves we should be so just as to believe, he had never done it so often, but that it was agreeable to the Manners of his Age. But this is not only a thing of Custom, but founded in Reason itself. The Ties of Hospitality in those Times were held more sacred than those of Blood; and it is on that Account Diomed gives so long an Audience to Glaucus, whom he acknowledges to be his Guest, with whom it was not lawful to engage in Com|bate. Homer makes an admirable Use of this Conjuncture, to introduce an entertaining History after so many Battels as he has been describing, and to unbend the Mind of his Rea|der by a Recital of so much Variety as the Story of the Family of Sisyphus. It may be farther observ'd, with what

Address and Management he places this long Conversation; it is not during the Heat of an obstinate Battel, which had been too unseasonable to be excused by any Custom what|ever; but he brings it in after he has made Hector re|tire into Troy, when the Absence of so powerful an Enemy had given Diomed that Leisure which he could not have had otherwise. One need only read the judicious Remark of Eu|stathius upon this Place. The Poet (says he) after having caus'd Hector to go out of the Fight, interrupts the Violence of Wars, and gives some Relaxation to the Reader, in causing him to pass from the Confusion and Disorder of the Action to the Tranquillity and Security of an Historical Narration. For by means of the happy Episode of Glaucus, he casts a thousand pleasing Wonders into his Poem; as Fables, that include beau|tiful Allegories, Histories, Genealogies, Sentences, ancient Cu|stoms, and several other Graces that tend to the diversifying of his Work, and which by breaking (as one may say) the Mono|tomy of it, agreeably instruct the Reader. Let us observe, in how fine a manner Homer has hereby praised both Diomed and Hector. For he makes us know, that as long as Hector is in the Field, the Greeks have not the least Leisure to take breath; and that as soon as he quits it, all the Trojans, how|ever they had regain'd all their Advantages, were not able to employ Diomed so far as to prevent his entertaining him|self with Glaucus without any danger to his Party. Some may think after all, that tho' we may justify Homer, we cannot excuse the Manners of his Time; it not being natu|ral for Men with Swords in their Hands to dialogue together in cold Blood just before they engage. But not to alledge, that these very Manners yet remain in those Countries, which have not been corrupted by the Commerce of other Nati|ons, (which is a great Sign of their being natural) what Rea|son can be offer'd that it is more natural to fall on at first Sight with Rage and Fierceness, than to speak to an E|nemy before the Encounter? Thus far Monsieur Dacier, and St. Evremont asks humourously, if it might not be as pro|per in that Country for Men to harangue before they fought, as it is in England to make Speeches before they are hanged.

That Homer is not in general apt to make unseasonable Harangues (as these Censurers would represent) may appear from that remarkable Care he has shewn in many Places to avoid them: As when in the fifth Book Aeneas being cured on a sudden in the middle of the Fight, is seen with Sur|prize by his Soldiers; he specifies with particular Caution, that they asked him no Questions how he became cured, in a time of so much Business and Action. Again, when there is a Necessity in the same Book that Minerva should have a Con|ference with Diomed, in order to engage him against Mars (after her Prohibition to him to fight with the Gods) Homer chuses a time for that Speech, just when the Hero is retir'd behind his Chariot to take Breath, which was the only Mo|ment that could be spared during the Hurry of that whole Engagement. One might produce many Instances of the same kind.

The Discourse of Glaucus to Diomed is severely censured, not only on Account of the Circumstance of Time and Place, but likewise on the Score of the Subject, which is taxed as improper, and foreign to the End and Design of the Poem. But the Criticks who have made this Objection, seem neither to comprehend the Design of the Poet in general, nor the particular Aim of this Discourse. Many Passages in the best ancient Poets appear unaffecting at present, which probably gave the greatest Delight to their first Readers, because they were nearly interested in what was there related. It is very plain that Homer designed this Poem as a Monument to the Honour of the Greeks, who, tho' consisting of several inde|pendent Societies, were yet very national in Point of Glory, being strongly affected with every thing that seem'd to ad|vance the Honour of their common Country, and resentful of any Indignity offer'd to it. This Disposition was the Ground of that grand Alliance which is the Subject of this Poem. To Men so fond of their Country's Glory, what could be more agreeable than to read a History fill'd with Wonders of a noble Family transplanted from Greece into Asia? They might here learn with Pleasure that the Grecian Virtues did not degenerate by removing into distant Climes: but especial|ly they must be affected with uncommon Delight to find that

Sarpedon and Glaucus, the bravest of the Trojan Auxiliaries, were originally Greeks.

Tasso in this manner has introduced an agreeable Episode, which shews Clorinda the Offspring of Christian Parents, tho' engag'd in the Service of the Infidels, Cant. 12.

XI.

VERSE 149. Between both Armies met, &c.]

It is usual with Homer before he introduces a Hero, to make as it were a Halt, to render him the more remarkable. Nothing could more prepare the Attention and Expectation of the Reader, than this Circumstance at the first meeting of Diomed and Glaucus. Just at the Time when the Mind begins to be weary with the Battel, it is diverted with the Prospect of a single Combate, which of a sudden turns to an Interview of Friend|ship and an unexpected Scene of sociable Virtue. The whole Air of the Conversation between these two Heroes has some|thing heroically solemn in it.

XII.

VERSE 159. But if from Heav'n, &c.]

A quick change of Mind from the greatest Impiety to as great Superstition, is frequently observable in Men who having been guilty of the most heinous Crimes without any Remorse, on the sudden are fill'd with Doubts and Scruples about the most lawful or in|different Actions. This seems the present Case of Diomed, who having knowingly wounded and insulted the Deities, is now afraid to engage the first Man he meets, lest perhaps a God might be conceal'd in that Shape. This Disposition of Diomed produces the Question he puts to Glaucus, which without this Consideration will appear impertinent, and so naturally occasions that agreeable Episode of Bellerophon which Glaucus relates in answer to Diomed.

XIII.

VERSE 161. Not long Lycurgus, &c.]

What Diomed

here says is the Effect of Remorse, as if he had ex|ceeded the Commission of Pallas in encountring with the Gods, and dreaded the Consequences of proceeding too far. At least he had no such Commission now, and besides, was no longer capable of distinguishing them from Men (a Fa|culty she had given him in the foregoing Book:) He there|fore mentions this Story of Lycurgus as an Example that suf|ficed to terrify him from so rash an Undertaking. The Ground of the Fable they say is this, Lycurgus caused most of the Vines of his Country to be rooted up, so that his Sub|jects were obliged to mix it with Water when it was less plen|tiful: Hence it was feign'd that Thetis receiv'd Bacchus into her Bosom.

XIV.

VERSE 170. Immortals blest with endless Ease.]

Tho' Da|cier's and most of the Versions take no Notice of the Epithet used in this Place, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, Dii facilè seu beatè viven|tes; the Translator thought it a Beauty which he could not but endeavour to preserve.

XV.

VERSE 178. Approach, and enter the dark Gates of Death.]

This haughty Air which Homer gives his Heroes was doubt|less a Copy of the Manners and hyperbolical Speeches of those Times. Thus Goliah to David, Sam. 1. Ch. 17. Approach, and I will give thy Flesh to the Fowls of the Air and the Beasts of the Field. The Orientals speak the same Language to this Day.

XVI.

VERSE 181. Like Leaves on Trees.]

There is a noble Gra|vity in the beginning of this Speech of Glaucus, according to the true Style of Antiquity, Few and evil are our Days. This beautiful Thought of our Author whereby the Race of Men are compared to the Leaves of Trees, is celebrated by

Simonides in a fine Fragment extant in Stobaeus. The same Thought may be found in Ecclesiasticus, Ch. 14. ℣. 18. al|most in the same Words; As of the green Leaves on a thick Tree, some fall, and some grow; so is the Generation of Flesh and Blood, one cometh to an end, and another is born.

The Reader who has seen so many Passages imitated from Homer by succeeding Poets, will no doubt be pleased to see one of an ancient Poet which Homer has here imitated; this is a Fragment of Musaeus preserv'd by Clemens Alexandrinus in his Stromata, Lib. 6.

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

Tho' this Comparison be justly admir'd for its Beauty in this obvious Application to the Mortality and Succession of human Life, it seems however design'd by the Poet in this Place as a proper Emblem of the transitory State not of Men but of Fa|milies, which being by their Misfortunes or Follies fallen and decay'd, do again in a happier Season revive and flourish in the Fame and Virtues of their Posterity: In this Sense it is a direct Answer to what Diomed had ask'd, as well as a pro|per Preface to what Glaucus relates of his own Family, which having been extinct in Corinth, had recover'd new Life in Lycia.

XVII.

VERSE 193. Then call'd Ephyre.]

It was the same which was afterwards called Corinth, and had that Name in Homer's Time, as appears from this Catalogue, ℣. 77.

XVIII.

VERSE 196. Lov'd for that Valour which preserves Man|kind.]

This Distinction of true Valour which has the Good of Mankind for its End, in Opposition to the Valour of Ty|rants or Oppressors, is beautifully hinted by Homer in the E|pithet

〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, amiable Valour. Such as was that of Bellero|phon who freed the Land from Monsters, and Creatures de|structive to his Species. It is apply'd to this young Hero with particular Judgment and Propriety, if we consider the Innocence and Gentleness of his Manners appearing from the following Story, which every one will observe has a great Re|semblance with that of Joseph in the Scriptures.

XIX.

VERSE 216. The faithful Youth his Monarch's Mandate show'd.]

Plutarch much commends the Virtue of Bellerophon, who faithfully carry'd those Letters he might so justly suspect of ill Consequence to him: The Passage is in his Discourse of Curiosity, and worth transcribing.

"A Man of Curiosity is void of all Faith, and it is better to trust Letters or any important Secrets to Servants, than to Friends and Fami|liars of an inquisitive Temper. Bellerophon when he car|ry'd Letters that order'd his own Destruction, did not un|seal them, but forbore touching the King's Dispatches with the same Continence, as he had refrain'd from injuring his Bed: For Curiosity is an Incontinence as well as Adultery.

XX.

VERSE 219. First dire Chimaera.]

Chimaera was feign'd to have the Head of a Lion breathing Flames, the Body of a Goat, and the Tail of a Dragon; because the Mountain of that Name in Lycia had a Vulcano on its top, and nourish'd Lions, the middle Part afforded Pasture for Goats, and the bottom was infested with Serpents. Bellerophon destroying these, and rendring the Mountain habitable, was said to have conquer'd Chimaera. He calls this Monster 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, in the manner of the Hebrews, who gave to any thing vast or extraordinary the Appellative of Divine. So the Psalmist says, The Mountains of God, &c.

XXI.

VERSE 227. The Solymaean Crew.]

These Solymi were an ancient Nation inhabiting the mountainous Parts of Asia Mi|nor between Lycia and Pisidia. Pliny mentions them as an Instance of a People so entirely destroy'd, that no Footsteps of them remain'd in his Time. Some Authors both ancient and modern, from a Resemblance in sound to the Latin Name of Jerusalem, have confounded them with the Jews. Tacitus; speaking of the various Opinions concerning the Origin of the Jewish Nation, has these Words, Clara alii tradunt Ju|daeorum initia, Solymos carminibus Homeri celebratum gentem, conditae urbi Hierosolymam nomen è suo fecisse. Hist. Lib. 6.

XXII.

VERSE 239. The Lycians grant a chosen Space of Ground.]

It was usual in the ancient Times, upon any signal Piece of Service perform'd by the Kings or great Men, to have a Por|tion of Land decreed by the Publick as a Reward to them. Thus when Sarpedon in the twelfth Book incites Glaucus to behave himself valiantly, he puts him in mind of these Pos|sessions granted by his Countrymen.

〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉—&c. 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉

In the same manner in the ninth Book of Virgil, Nisus is promised by Ascanius the Fields which were possess'd by Lati|nus, as a Reward for the Service he undertook.

—Campi quod rex habet ipse Latinus.

Chapman has an Interpolation in this Place, to tell us that this Field was afterwards called by the Lycians, The Field of Wandrings, from the Wandrings and Distraction of Bel|lerophon in the latter Part of his Life. But they were not

these Fields that were call'd 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, but those upon which he fell from the Horse Pegasus, when he endeavour'd (as the Fable has it) to mount to Heaven.

XXIII.

VERSE 245. But when at last, &c.]

The same Criticks who have taxed Homer for being too tedious in this Story of Bellerophon, have censured him for omitting to relate the particular Offence which had rais'd the Anger of the Gods against a Man formerly so highly favour'd by them: But this Relation coming from the Mouth of his Grandson, it is with great Decorum and Propriety he passes over in Si|lence those Crimes of his Ancestor, which had provok'd the divine Vengeance against him. Milton has interwoven this Story with what Homer here relates of Bellerophon.

Lest from this flying Steed unrein'd (as once Bellerophon, though from a lower Clime) Dismounted on the Aleian Field I fall, Erroneous there to wander and forlorn. Parad. lost. B. 7.

Tully in his third Book of Tusculane Questions, having ob|serv'd that Persons oppress'd with Woe naturally seek Soli|tude, instances this Example of Bellerophon, and gives us his Translation of two of these Lines.

Qui miser in campos moerens errabat Aleis, Ipse suum cor edens, hominum vestigia vitans.

XXIV.

VERSE 267. Our Grandsires have been Guests of old.]

The Laws of Hospitality were anciently held in great Vene|ration. The Friendship contracted hereby was so sacred, that they prefer'd it to all the Bands of Consanguinity and Alliance, and accounted it obligatory even to the third and fourth Generation. We have seen in the foregoing Story of

Bellerophon, that Proetus, a Prince under the Supposition of being injur'd in the highest degree, is yet afraid to re|venge himself upon the Criminal on this Account: He is forced to send him into Lycia rather than be guilty of a Breach of this Law in his own Country. And the King of Lycia having entertain'd the Stranger before he unseal'd the Letters, puts him upon Expeditions abroad, in which he might be destroy'd, rather than at his Court. We here see Diomed and Glaucus agreeing not to be Enemies du|ring the whole Course of a War, only because their Grand|fathers had been mutual Guests. And we afterwards find Tea••er engaged with the Greeks on this Account against the Trojans, tho' he was himself of Trojan Extraction, the Ne|phew of Priam by the Mother's side, and Cousin German of Hector, whose Life he pursues with the utmost Violence. They preserved in their Families the Presents which had been made on these Occasions, as obliged to transmit to their Children the Memorials of this Right of Hospitality. Eustathius.

XXV.

VERSE 291. Jove warm'd his Bosom and enlarg'd his Mind.]

The Words in the Original are 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, which may e|qually be interpreted, he took away his Sense, or he elevated his Mind. The former being a Reflection upon Glaucus's Prudence, for making so unequal an Exchange, the latter a Praise of the Magnanimity and Generosity which induced him to it. Porphyry contends for its being understood in this last way, and Eustathius, Monsieur and Madam Dacier are of the same Opinion. Notwithstanding it is certain that Homer uses the same Words in the contrary Sense in the seventeenth Iliad, ℣. 470. and in the nineteenth, ℣. 137. And it is an obvi|ous Remark, that the Interpretation of Porphyry as much dishonours Diomed who proposed this Exchange, as it does Honour to Glaucus for consenting to it. However I have followed it, if not as the juster, as the most heroic Sense, and as it has the nobler Air in Poetry.

XXVI.

VERSE 295. A hundred Beeves.]

I wonder the Curious have not remark'd from this Place, that the Proportion of the Va|lue of Gold to Brass in the Time of the Trojan War, was but as an hundred to nine; allowing these Armours of equal Weight; which as they belong'd to Men of equal Strength, is a reasonable Supposition. As to this manner of compu|ting the Value of the Armour by Beeves or Oxen, it might be either because the Money was anciently stamp'd with those Figures, or (which is most probable in this Place) because in those Times they generally purchased by Exchange of Commodities, as we see by a Passage near the end of the se|venth Book.

XXVII.

VERSE 329. Far hence be Bacchus' Gifts—Enflaming Wine.]

This Maxim of Hector's concerning Wine, has a great deal of Truth in it. It is a vulgar Mistake to imagine the Use of Wine either raises the Spirits, or encreases Strength. The best Physicians agree with Homer in the Point; whate|ver our modern Soldiers may object to this old heroic Re|gimen. One may take notice that Sampson as well as He|ctor was a Water-drinker; for he was a Nazarite by Vow, and as such was forbid the Use of Wine. To which Milton alludes in his Sampson Agonistes.

Where-ever Fountain or fresh Current flow'd Against the Eastern Ray, translucent, pure, With touch Aethereal of Heav'ns fiery Rod, I drank, from the clear milky Juice allaying Thirst, and refresh'd; nor envy'd them the Grape, Whose Heads that turbulent Liquor fills with Fumes.

XXVIII.

VERSE 335. Ill fits it me, with human Gore distain'd, &c.]

The Custom which prohibits Persons polluted with Blood to perform any Offices of divine Worship before they were puri|fied, is so ancient and universal, that it may in some sort be esteem'd a Precept of natural Religion, tending to inspire an uncommon Dread and religious Horror of Bloodshed. There is a fine Passage in Euripides where Iphigenia argues how im|possible it is that human Sacrifices should be acceptable to the Gods, since they do not permit any defil'd with Blood, or even polluted with the Touch of a dead Body, to come near their Altars. Iphig. in Tauris. ℣. 380. Virgil makes his Aeneas say the same thing Hector does here.

Me bello è tanto digressum & caede recenti Attrectare nefas, donec me flumine vivo Abluero.—

XXIX.

VERSE 361. Sidonian Maids.]

Dictys Cretensis, lib. 1. ac|quaints us that Paris return'd not directly to Troy after the Rape of Helen, but fetch'd a Compass, probably to avoid Pursuit. He touch'd at Sidon, where he surprized the King of Phoenicia by Night, and carry'd off many of his Treasures and Captives, among which probably were these Sidonian Women. The Author of the ancient Poem of the Cypriacks says, he sailed from Sparta to Troy in the Space of three Days: from which Passage Herodotus concludes that Poem was not Homer's. We find in the Scriptures, that Tyre and Sidon were famous for Works in Gold, Embroidery, &c. and for whatever regarded Magnificence and Luxury.

XXX.

VERSE 374. With Hands uplifted.]

The only Gesture de|scrib'd by Homer as used by the Ancients in the Invocation of the Gods, is the lifting up their Hands to Heaven. Vir|gil frequently alludes to this Practice; particularly in the se|cond Book there is a Passage, the Beauty of which is much rais'd by this Consideration.

Ecce trahebatur passis Priameia virgo Crinibus, a Templo, Cassandra, adytisque Minervae, Ad caelum tendens ardentia lumina frustra, Lumina! nam teneras arcebant vincula palmas.

XXXI.

VERSE 378. Oh awful Goddess, &c.]

This Procession of the Trojan Matrons to the Temple of Minerva, with their Offering, and the Ceremonies; tho' it be a Passage some Mo|derns have criticis'd upon, seems to have particularly pleas'd Virgil. For he has not only introduced it among the Figures in the Picture at Carthage,

Interea ad templum non aequae Palladis ibant Crinibus Iliades passis, peplumque ferebant Suppliciter tristes; & tunsis pectora palmis. Diva solo fixos oculos aversa tenebat.

But he has again copied it in the eleventh Book, where the Latian Dames make the same Procession upon the Approach of Aeneas to their City. The Prayer to the Goddess is tran|slated almost word for word:

Armipotens praeses belli, Tritonia virgo, Frange manu telum Phrygii praedonis, & ipsum Pronum sterne solo portisque effunde sub altis.

This Prayer in the Latin Poet seems introduced with less Pro|priety, since Pallas appears no where interested in the Con|duct of Affairs thro' the whole Aeneid. The first Line of the Greek here is translated more literally than the former Versions; 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉. I take the first Epithet to al|lude to Minerva's being the particular Protectress of Troy by means of the Palladium, and not (as Mr. Hobbes understands it) the Protectress of all Cities in general.

XXXII.

VERSE 387. But they vow'd in vain.]

For Helenus only ordered that Prayers should be made to Minerva to drive Diomed from before the Walls. But Theano prays that Dio|med may perish, and perish flying, which is included in his falling forward. Madam Dacier is so free as to observe here, that Women are seldom moderate in the Prayers they make against their Enemies, and therefore are seldom heard.

XXXIII.

VERSE 390. Himself the Mansion rais'd.]

I must own my self not so great an Enemy to Paris as some of the Commen|tators. His blind Passion is the unfortunate Occasion of the Ruine of his Country, and he has the ill Fate to have all his fine Qualities swallowed up in that. And indeed I can|not say he endeavours much to be a better Man than his Nature made him. But as to his Parts and Turn of Mind, I see nothing that is either weak, or wicked, the general Manners of those Times considered. On the contrary, a gentle Soul, patient of good Advice, tho' indolent enough to forget it; and liable only to that Frailty of Love which methinks might in his Case as well as Helen's be charged up|on the Stars, and the Gods. So very amorous a Constitu|tion, and so incomparable a Beauty to provoke it, might be Temptation enough even to a wise Man, and in some degree make him deserve Compassion, if not Pardon. It is remar|kable, that Homer does not paint him and Helen (as some other Poets would have done) like Monsters, odious to Gods and Men, but allows their Characters such esteemable Quali|fications as could consist, and in Truth generally do, with tender Frailties. He gives Paris several polite Accomplish|ments, and in particular a Turn to those Sciences that are the Result of a fine Imagination. He makes him have a Taste and Addiction to curious Works of all sorts, which caus'd him to transport Sidonian Artists to Troy, and employ himself at home in adorning and finishing his Armour: And now we

are told that he assembled the most skilful Builders from all Parts of the Country, to render his Palace a compleat Piece of Architecture. This, together with what Homer has said elsewhere of his Skill in the Harp, which in those Days in|cluded both Musick and Poetry, may I think establish him a Bel-Esprit and a fine Genius.

XXXIV.

VERSE 406. Thy Hate to Troy, &c.]

All the Commen|tators observe this Speech of Hector to be a Piece of Artifice; he seems to imagine that the Retirement of Paris proceeds only from his Resentment against the Trojans, and not from his Indolence, Luxury, or any other Cause. Plutarch thus discourses upon it.

"As a discreet Physician rather chuses to cure his Patient by Diet or Rest, than by Castoreum or Scammony, so a good Friend, a good Master, or a good Father, are always better pleased to make use of Commen|dation than Reproof, for the Reformation of Manners: For nothing so much assists a Man who reprehends with Frankness and Liberty, nothing renders him less offensive, or better promotes his good Design, than to reprove with Calmness, Affection, and Temper. He ought not therefore to urge them too severely if they deny the Fact, nor forestall their Justification of themselves, but rather try to help them out, and furnish them artificially with honest and colourable Pretences to excuse them; and tho' he sees that their Fault proceeded from a more shameful Cause, he should yet impute it to something less criminal. Thus He|ctor deals with Paris, when he tells him, This is not the time to manifest your Anger against the Trojans: As if his Retreat from the Battel had not been absolutely a Flight, but merely the Effect of Resentment and Indignation.

Plut. Of knowing a Flatterer from a Friend, juxta fin.

XXXV.

VERSE 418. Brother, 'tis just, &c.]

Paris readily lays hold of the Pretext Hector had furnish'd him with, and confesses

he has partly touch'd upon the true Reason of his Retreat, but that it was also partly occasion'd by the Concern he felt at the Victory of his Rival. Next he professes his Readiness for the Fight; but nothing can be a finer Trait (if we con|sider his Character) than what Homer puts into his Mouth just in this Place, that he is now exhorted to it by Helen: which shews that not the Danger of his Country and Parents, neither private Shame, nor publick Hatred, could so much prevail upon him, as the Commands of his Mistress, to go and recover his Honour.

XXXVI.

VERSE 432. Helen's Speech.]

The Repentance of Helena (which we have before observed Homer never loses an Oppor|tunity of manifesting) is finely touch'd again here. Upon the whole we see the Gods are always concern'd in what be|falls an unfortunate Beauty: Her Stars foredoom'd all the Mischief, and Heaven was to blame in suffering her to live: Then she fairly gets quit of the Infamy of her Lover, and shews she has higher Sentiments of Honour than he. How very natural is all this in the like Characters to this Day?

XXXVII.

VERSE 462. The Episode of Hector and Andromache.]

Homer undoubtedly shines most upon the great Subjects, in raising our Admiration or Terror: Pity, and the softer Pas|sions, are not so much of the Nature of his Poem, which is formed upon Anger and the Violence of Ambition. But we have cause to think his Genius was no less capable of touch|ing the Heart with Tenderness, than of firing it with Glory, from the few Sketches he has left us of his Excellency that way too. In the present Episode of the Parting of Hector and Andromache, he assembled all that Love, Grief, and Compassion could inspire. The greatest Censurers of Homer have acknowledg'd themselves charm'd with this Part, even Monsieur Perault translated it into French Verse as a kind of

Penitential Sacrifice for the Sacrileges he had committed a|gainst this Author.

This Episode tends very much to raise the Character of Hector and endear him to every Reader. This Hero, tho' doubtful if he should ever see Troy again, yet goes not to his Wife and Child, till after he has taken care for the Sacri|fice, exhorted Paris to the Fight, and discharg'd every Duty to the Gods, and to his Country; his Love of which, as we formerly remark'd, makes his chief Character. What a beau|tiful Contraste has Homer made between the Manners of Pa|ris and those of Hector, as he here shews them one after the other in this domestic Light, and in their Regards to the Fair Sex? What a Difference between the Characters and Behaviour of Helen and of Andromache? And what an a|miable Picture of conjugal Love, oppos'd to that of un|lawful Passion?

I must not forget, that Mr. Dryden has formerly translated this admirable Episode, and with so much Success, as to leave me at least no hopes of improving or equalling it. The ut|most I can pretend is to have avoided a few modern Phrases and Deviations from the Original, which have escaped that great Man. I am unwilling to remark upon an Author to whom every English Poet owes so much; and shall therefore only take notice of a Criticism of his which I must be obli|ged to answer in its Place, as it is an Accusation of Homer himself.

XXXVIII.

VERSE 468. Pensive she stood on Ilion's Tow'ry Height.]

It is a fine Imagination to represent the Tenderness of Andro|mache for Hector, by her standing upon the Tower of Troy, and watching all his Motions in the Field; even the religious Office of the Procession to Minerva's Temple could not draw her from this Place, at a time when she thought her Hus|band in danger.

XXXIX.

VERSE 473. Whose Virtue charm'd him, &c.]

Homer in

this Verse particularizes the Virtue of Andromache in the E|pithet 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, blameless, or without a Fault. I have used it literally in another Part of this Episode.

XL.

VERSE 487. Hector, this heard, return'd.]

Hector does not stay to seek his Wife on the Tower of Ilion, but hastens where the Business of the Field calls him. Homer is never wanting in Point of Honour and Decency, and while he con|stantly obeys the strictest Rules, finds a way to make them contribute to the Beauty of his Poem. Here for instance he has managed it so, that this Observance of Hector's is the Cause of a very pleasing Surprize to the Reader; for at first he is not a little disappointed to find that Hector does not meet Andromache, and is no less pleased afterwards to see them encounter by chance, which gives him a Satisfaction he thought he had lost. Dacier.

XLI.

VERSE 501. Scamandrius, from Scamander's honour'd Stream, &c.]

This manner of giving proper Names to Children derived from any Place, Accident, or Quality be|longing to them or their Parents, is very ancient, and was customary among the Hebrews. The Trojans call'd the Son of Hector, Astyanax, because (as it is said here and at the end of the twenty second Book) his Father defended the City. There are many Instances of the same kind in the thirtieth Chapter of Genesis, where the Names given to Jacob's Chil|dren, and the Reasons of those Names, are enumerated.

XLII.

VERSE 524. The fierce Achilles, &c.]

Mr. Dryden in the Pre|face to the third Volume of Miscellany Poems has past a Judgment upon Part of this Speech which is altogether unworthy of him.

"Andromache (says he) in the midst of her Concernment and Fright for Hector, runs off her Biass, to tell him a Story

of her Pedigree, and of the lamentable Death of her Fa|ther, her Mother, and her seven Brothers. The Devil was in Hector, if he knew not all this Matter, as well as she who told it him; for she had been his Bedfellow for many Years together: and if he knew it, then it must be confess'd, that Homer in this long Digression, has rather given us his own Character, than that of the fair Lady whom he paints. His dear Friends the Commentators, who never fail him at a Pinch, will needs excuse him, by making the present Sorrow of Andromache, to occasion the Remembrance of all the past: But others think that she had enough to do with that Grief which now oppress'd her, without running for Assistance to her Family."

But may not it be answer'd, that nothing was more natural in Andromache, than to recollect her past Calamities in order to represent her present Distress to Hector in a stronger Light, and shew her utter Desertion if he should perish. What could more effectually work upon a generous and tender Mind like that of Hector? What could therefore be more proper to each of their Characters? If Hector be induced to refrain from the Field, it proceeds from Compassion to Andromache: If Andromache endeavour to persuade him, it proceeds from her Fear for the Life of Hector. Homer had yet a farther View in this Recapitulation; it tends to raise his chief Hero Achil|les, and acquaints us with those great Atchievements of his which preceded the Opening of the Poem. Since there was a Necessity that this Hero should be absent from the Action during a great Part of the Iliad, the Poet has shewn his Art in nothing more, than the Methods he takes from time to time to keep up our great Idea of him, and to awaken our Expectation of what he is to perform in the Progress of the Work. His greatest Enemies cannot upbraid or complain of him, but at the same time they confess his Glory and de|scribe his Victories. When Apollo encourages the Trojans to fight, it is by telling them Achilles fights no more. When Juno animates the Greeks, it is by putting them in mind that they have to do with Enemies who durst not appear out of their Walls while Achilles engaged. When Andromache trem|bles for Hector, it is with Remembrance of the resistless Force

of Achilles. And when Agamemnon would bribe him to a Re|conciliation, it is partly with those very Treasures and Spoils which had been won by Achilles himself.

XLIII.

VERSE 528. His Arms preserv'd from hostile Spoil.]

This Circumstance of Aetion's being burned with his Arms will not appear trivial in this Relation, when we reflect with what eager Passion these ancient Heroes fought to spoil and carry off the Armour of a vanquish'd Enemy; and therefore this Action of Achilles is mention'd as an Instance of uncommon Favour and Generosity. Thus Aeneas in Virgil having slain Lausus, and being mov'd with Compassion for this unhappy Youth, gives him a Promise of the like Favour.

Arma, quibus laetatus, habe tua: teque parentum Manibus, & cineri, si qua est ea cura, remitto.

XLIV.

VERSE 532. Joves's Sylvan Daughters bade their Elms bestow A barren Shade, &c.]

It was the Custom to plant about Tombs only such Trees as Elms, Alders, &c. that bear no Fruit, as being most suitable to the Dead. This Passage al|ludes to that Piece of Antiquity.

XLV.

VERSE 543. A Victim to Diana's Bow.]

The Greeks ascri|bed all sudden Deaths of Women to Diana. So Ulysses in Odyss. 11. asks Antyclia among the Shades if she died by the Darts of Diana? And in the present Book Laodame the Daughter of Bellerophon, is said to have perish'd young by the Arrows of this Goddess. Or perhaps it may allude to some Disease fatal to Women, such as Macrobius speaks of Sat. 1. 17.

Foeminas certis afflictas morbis 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 vocant.

XLVI.

VERSE 550. That Quarter most—Where yon' wild Fig|trees.]

The Artifice Andromache here uses to detain Hector in Troy is very beautifully imagined. She takes occasion from the three Attacks that had been made by the Enemy upon this Place, to give him an honourable Pretence for staying at that Rampart to defend it. If we consider that those At|tempts must have been known to all in the City, we shall not think she talks like a Soldier, but like a Woman, who naturally enough makes use of any Incident that offers, to persuade her Lover to what she desires. The Ignorance too which she expresses, of the Reasons that mov'd the Greeks to attack this particular Place, was what I doubt not Homer in|tended, to reconcile it the more to a Female Character.

XLVII.

VERSE 583. Hyperia's Spring.]

Drawing Water was the Office of the meanest Slaves. This appears by the holy Scri|pture, where the Gibeonites who had deceiv'd Josuah are made Slaves and subjected to draw Water. Josuah pronounces the Curse against them in these Words:

Now therefore ye are cursed, and there shall none of you be freed from being Bond|men, and Hewers of Wood, and Drawers of Water.

Josh. Ch. 9. V. 23. Dacier.

XLVIII.

VERSE 595. Stretch'd his fond Arms.]

There never was a finer Piece of Painting than this. Hector extends his Arms to embrace his Child; the Child affrighted at the glittering of his Helmet and the shaking of the Plume, shrinks backward to the Breast of his Nurse; Hector unbraces his Helmet, lays it on the Ground, takes the Infant in his Arms, lifts him towards Heaven, and offers a Prayer for him to the Gods: then returns him to the Mother Andromache, who receives him with a Smile of Pleasure, but at the same

instant the Fears for her Husband make her burst into Tears. All these are but small Circumstances, but so artfully chosen, that every Reader immediately feels the force of them, and represents the whole in the utmost Liveliness to his Imagina|tion. This alone might be a Confutation of that false Cri|ticism some have fallen into, who affirm that a Poet ought only to collect the great and noble Particulars in his Paint|ings. But it is in the Images of Things as in the Characters of Persons; where a small Action, or even a small Circum|stance of an Action, lets us more into the Knowledge and Comprehension of them, than the material and principal Parts themselves. As we find this in a History, so we do in a Picture, where sometimes a small Motion or Turning of a Finger will express the Character and Action of the Figure more than all the other Parts of the Design. Longinus in|deed blames an Author's insisting too much on trivial Cir|cumstances; but in the same Place extols Homer as

"the Poet who best knew how to make use of important and beautiful Circumstances, and to avoid the mean and superfluous ones."

There is a vast difference betwixt a small Circumstance and a trivial one, and the smallest become important if they are well chosen, and not confused.

XLIX.

VERSE 604. Hector's Prayer for his Son.]

It may be asked how Hector's Prayer, that his Son might protect the Trojans, could be consistent with what he had said just before, that he certainly knew Troy and his Parents would perish. We ought to reflect that this is only a Prayer: Hector in the Excess of a tender Emotion for his Son, entreats the Gods to preserve Troy, and permit Astyanax to rule there. It is at all times allowable to beseech Heaven to appease its Anger, and change its Decrees; and we are taught that Prayers can alter Desti|ny. Dacier. Besides it cannot be infer'd from hence, that Hector had any divine Foreknowledge of his own Fate and the approaching Ruine of his Country; since in many fol|lowing Passages we find him possess'd with strong Hopes and firm Assurances to raise the Siege by the Flight or Destructi|on

of the Greeks. So that these Forebodings of his Fate were only the Apprehensions and Misgivings of a Soul de|jected with Sorrow and Compassion, by considering the great Dangers to which he saw all that was dear to him expos'd.

L.

VERSE 612. Transcends his Father's Fame.]

The Commen|dation Hector here gives himself, is not only agreeable to the Openness of a brave Man, but very becoming on such a so|lemn Occasion; and a natural Effect from the Testimony of his own Heart to his Honour; at this time especially, when he knew not but he was speaking his last Words. Virgil has not scrupled it, in what he makes Aeneas say to Ascanius at his Parting for the Battel.

Et pater Aeneas & avunculus excitet Hector. Disce puer virtutem ex me, verumque laborem, Fortunam ex aliis— Aen. 12.

I believe he had this of Homer in his Eye, tho' the pathetical mention of Fortune in the last Line seems an Imitation of that Prayer of Sophocles, copied also from hence, where Ajax wishes his Son may be like him in all things but in his Mis|fortunes.

LI.

VERSE 615. His Mother's conscious Heart.]

Tho' the chief Beauty of this Prayer consists in the paternal Piety shewn by Hector, yet it wants not a fine Stroake at the end, to con|tinue him in the Character of a tender Lover of his Wife, when he makes one of the Motives of his Wish, to be the Joy she shall receive on hearing her Son applauded.

LII.

VERSE 628. Fix'd is the Term.]

The Reason which Hector here urges to allay the Affliction of his Wife, is grounded on

a very ancient and common Opinion, that the fatal Period of Life is appointed to all Men at the time of their Birth; which as no Precaution can avoid, so no Danger can hasten. This Sentiment is as proper to give Comfort to the distress'd, as to inspire Courage to the desponding; since nothing is so fit to quiet and strengthen our Minds in Times of Difficulty, as a firm Assurance that our Lives are expos'd to no real Ha|zards, in the greatest Appearances of Danger.

LIII.

VERSE 649. Forth issues Paris.]

Paris stung by the Re|proaches of Hector, goes to the Battel. 'Tis a just Remark of Eustathius, that all the Reproofs and Remonstrances made in Homer have constantly their Effect. The Poet by this shews the great Use of Reprehensions when properly apply'd, and finely intimates that every worthy Mind will be the better for them.

LIV.

VERSE 652. The wanton Courser thus, &c.]

This beauti|ful Comparison being translated by Virgil in the eleventh Aeneid; I shall transcribe the Originals that the Reader may have the Pleasure of comparing them.

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

Qualis ubi abruptis fugit praesepia vinclis Tandem liber equus, campoque potitus aperto, Aut ille in pastus armentaque tendit equarum: Aut assuetus aquae perfundi flumine noto Emicat, arrectisque fremit cervicibus alte Luxurians; luduntque jubae per colla, per armos.

Tho' nothing can be translated better than this is by Virgil, yet in Homer the Simile seems more perfect, and the Place more proper. Paris had been indulging his Ease within the Walls of his Palace, as the Horse in his Stable, which was not the Case of Turnus. The Beauty and Wantonness of the Steed agrees more exactly with the Character of Paris than with the other: And the Insinuation of his Love of the Mares has yet a nearer Resemblance. The languishing Flow of that Verse,

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

finely corresponds with the Ease and Luxuriancy of the pamper'd Courser bathing in the Flood; a Beauty which Scaliger did not consider, when he criticis'd particularly upon that Line. Tasso has also imitated this Simile, Cant. 9.

Come destrier, che da la regie stalle Ove a l'uso de l'arme si reserba, Fugge, e libero alfin per largo calle Và trâ gl'armenti, ò al fiume usato, ò a l'erba; Scherzau sù 'l collo i crini, e sù le spalle, Si scote la cervice alta, e superba; Suonano i piè nel corso, e par, ch'auvampi, Di sonori nitriti empiendo i campi.

LV.

VERSE 665. Paris excus'd his Stay.]

Here, in the Original, is a short Speech of Paris containing only these Words; Bro|ther, I have detained you too long, and should have come sooner as you desired me. This and some few others of the same Nature in the Iliad, the Translator has ventured to omit, ex|pressing only the Sense of them. A living Author (whom future Times will quote, and therefore I shall not scruple to do it) says that these short Speeches, tho' they may be natu|ral in other Languages, can't appear so well in ours, which is much more stubborn and unpliant, and therefore are but as

so many Rubs in the Story that are still turning the Narra|tion out of its proper Course.

LVI.

VERSE 669. Known is thy Courage, &c.]

Hector here confesses the natural Valour of Paris, but observes it to be overcome by the Indolence of his Temper and the Love of Pleasure. An ingenious French Writer very well remarks, that the true Character of this Hero has a great Resemblance with that of Marc Anthony. See the 4th and 11th Notes on the third Book.

LVII.

VERSE 677. We crown the Bowl to Heav'n and Liberty.]

The Greek is, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, the free Bowl, in which they made Libations to Jupiter after the Recovery of their Li|berty. The Expression is observed by M. Dacier to resemble those of the Hebrews; The Cup of Salvation, the Cup of Sor|row, the Cup of Benediction, &c. Athenaeus mentions those Cups which the Greeks call'd 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, and were consecrated to the Gods in Memory of some Success. He gives us the Inscription of one of this sort, which was, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Scaman̄|der and Simois.