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

THE EIGHTH BOOK OF THE ILIAD.

The ARGUMENT.

The second Battel, and the Distress of the Greeks.

JUPITER assembles a Council of the Deities, and threatens them with the Pains of Tartarus if they assist either side: Minerva only obtains of him that she may direct the Greeks by her Counsels. The Armies join Battel; Jupiter on Mount Ida weighs in his Balances the Fates of both, and affrights the Greeks with his Thunders and Lightnings. Nestor alone con|tinues in the Field in great Danger; Diomed relieves him; whose Exploits, and those of Hector, are excellently described. Juno endeavours to animate Neptune to the Assistance of the Greeks, but in vain. The Acts of Teucer, who is at length wounded by Hector and carry'd off. Juno and Minerva pre|pare to aid the Grecians, but are restrained by Iris, sent from Jupiter. The Night puts an end to the Battel. Hector keeps the Field (the Greeks being driven to their Fortification before the Ships) and gives Orders to keep the Watch all Night in the Camp, to prevent the Enemy from reimbarking and escaping by Flight. They kindle Fires through all the Field, and pass the Night under Arms.

The Time of seven and twenty Days is employed from the Opening of the Poem to the End of this Book. The Scene here (except of the Celestial Machines) lies in the Field toward the Sea Shore.

THE EIGHTH BOOK OF THE ILIAD.

AURORA now, fair Daughter of the Dawn, Sprinkled with rosy Light the dewy Lawn. When Jove conven'd the Senate of the Skies, Where high Olympus' cloudy Tops arise. The Sire of Gods his awful Silence broke;Line 5 The Heav'ns attentive trembled as he spoke.

Celestial States, Immortal Gods! give ear, Hear our Decree, and rev'rence what ye hear; The fix'd Decree which not all Heav'n can move; Thou Fate! fulfill it; and ye Pow'rs! approve.Line 10 What God but enters yon' forbidden Field, Who yields Assistance, or but wills to yield;

Back to the Skies with Shame he shall be driv'n, Gash'd with dishonest Wounds, the Scorn of Heav'n: Or far, oh far from steep Olympus thrown,Line 15 Low in the dark, Tartarean Gulf shall groan, With burning Chains fix'd to the Brazen Floors, And lock'd by Hell's inexorable Doors; As deep beneath th' Infernal Centre hurl'd, As from that Centre to th' Aethereal World.Line 20 Let him who tempts me, dread those dire Abodes; And know, th' Almighty is the God of Gods. League all your Forces then, ye Pow'rs above, Join all, and try th' Omnipotence of Jove: Let down our golden everlasting Chain,Line 25 Whose strong Embrace holds Heav'n, and Earth, and Main: Strive all, of mortal and immortal Birth, To drag, by this, the Thund'rer down to Earth: Ye strive in vain! If I but stretch this Hand, I heave the Gods, the Ocean, and the Land,Line 30 I fix the Chain to great Olympus' Height, And the vast World hangs trembling in my Sight!

For such I reign, unbounded and above; And such are Men, and Gods, compar'd to Jove,

Th' Almighty spoke, nor durst the Pow'rs reply,Line 35 A rev'rend Horror silenc'd all the Sky; Trembling they stood before their Sov'reign's Look; At length his Best-belov'd, the Pow'r of Wisdom, spoke.

Oh First and Greatest! God by Gods ador'd! We own thy Might, our Father and our Lord!Line 40 But ah! permit to pity human State; If not to help, at least lament their Fate. From Fields forbidden we submiss refrain, With Arms unaiding mourn our Argives slain; Yet grant my Counsels still their Breasts may move,Line 45 Or all must perish in the Wrath of Jove.

The Cloud-compelling God her Suit approv'd, And smil'd superior on his Best-belov'd. Then call'd his Coursers, and his Chariot took; The stedfast Firmament beneath them shook:Line 50 Rapt by th' Aethereal Steeds the Chariot roll'd; Brass were their Hoofs, their curling Manes of Gold. Of Heav'ns undrossy Gold the God's Array Refulgent, flash'd intolerable Day. Line 55

High on the Throne he shines: His Coursers fly,Line 55 Between th' extended Earth and starry Sky. But when to Ida's topmost Height he came, (Fair Nurse of Fountains, and of Savage Game) Where o'er her pointed Summits proudly rais'd, His Fane breath'd Odours, and his Altar blaz'd:Line 60 There, from his radiant Car, the sacred Sire Of Gods and Men releas'd the Steeds of Fire: Blue ambient Mists th' immortal Steeds embrac'd; High on the cloudy Point his Seat he plac'd. Thence his broad Eye the subject World surveys,Line 65 The Town, the Tents, and navigable Seas.

Now had the Grecians snatch'd a short Repaste, And buckled on their shining Arms with Haste. Troy rowz'd as soon; for on this dreadful Day The Fate of Fathers, Wives, and Infants lay.Line 70 The Gates unfolding pour forth all their Train; Squadrons on Squadrons cloud the dusky Plain: Men, Steeds, and Chariots shake the trembling Ground; The Tumult thickens, and the Skies resound. And now with Shouts the shocking Armies clos'd,Line 75 To Lances, Lances, Shields to Shields oppos'd,

Host against Host with shadowy Legions drew, The sounding Darts in Iron Tempests flew, Victors and Vanquish'd join promiscuous Cries, Triumphant Shouts and dying Groans arise;Line 80 With streaming Blood the slipp'ry Fields are dy'd, And slaughter'd Heroes swell the dreadful Tide. Long as the Morning Beams encreasing bright, O'er Heav'ns clear Azure spread the sacred Light; Commutual Death the Fate of War confounds,Line 85 Each adverse Battel goar'd with equal Wounds. But when the Sun the Height of Heav'n ascends; The Sire of Gods his golden Scales suspends, With equal Hand: In these explor'd the Fate Of Greece and Troy, and pois'd the mighty Weight.Line 90 Press'd with its Load the Grecian Balance lies Low sunk on Earth, the Trojan strikes the Skies. Then Jove from Ida's Top his Horrors spreads; The Clouds burst dreadful o'er the Grecian Heads; Thick Light'nings flash; the mutt'ring Thunder rolls;Line 95 Their Strength he withers, and unmans their Souls. Before his Wrath the trembling Host retire; The God in Terrors, and the Skies on fire.

Nor great Idomeneus that Sight could bear, Nor each stern Ajax, Thunderbolts of War:Line 100 Nor He, the King of Men, th'Alarm sustain'd; Nestor alone amidst the Storm remain'd. Unwilling he remain'd, for Paris' Dart Had pierc'd his Courser in a mortal Part; Fix'd in the Forehead where the springing ManeLine 105 Curl'd o'er the Brow, it stung him to the Brain; Mad with his Anguish, he begins to rear, Paw with his Hoofs aloft, and lash the Air. Scarce had his Falchion cut the Reins, and freed Th' incumber'd Chariot from the dying Steed,Line 110 When dreadful Hector, thund'ring thro' the War, Pour'd to the Tumult on his whirling Car. That Day had stretch'd beneath his matchless Hand The hoary Monarch of the Pylian Band, But Diomed beheld; from forth the CrowdLine 115 He rush'd, and on Ulysses call'd aloud.

Whither, oh whither does Ulysses run? Oh Flight unworthy great Laertes' Son! Mix'd with the Vulgar shall thy Fate be found, Pierc'd in the Back, a vile, dishonest Wound?Line 120

Oh turn and save from Hector's direful Rage The Glory of the Greeks, the Pylian Sage. His fruitless Words are lost unheard in Air; Ulysses seeks the Ships, and shelters there. But bold Tydides to the Rescue goes,Line 125 A single Warrior 'midst a Host of Foes; Before the Coursers with a sudden Spring He leap'd, and anxious thus bespoke the King.

Great Perils, Father! wait th' unequal Fight; These younger Champions will oppress thy Might.Line 130 Thy Veins no more with ancient Vigour glow, Weak is thy Servant, and thy Coursers slow. Then haste, ascend my Seat, and from the Car Observe the Steeds of Tros, renown'd in War, Practis'd alike to turn, to stop, to chace,Line 135 To dare the Fight, or urge the rapid Race; These late obey'd Aeneas' guiding Rein; Leave thou thy Chariot to our faithful Train: With these against yon' Trojans will we go, Nor shall great Hector want an equal Foe;Line 140 Fierce as he is, ev'n He may learn to fear The thirsty Fury of my flying Spear.

Thus said the Chief; and Nestor, skill'd in War, Approves his Counsel, and ascends the Car: The Steeds he left, their trusty Servants hold;Line 145 Eurymedon and Sthenelus the bold. The rev'rend Charioteer directs the Course, And strains his aged Arm to lash the Horse. Hector they face; unknowing how to fear, Fierce he drove on; Tydides whirl'd his Spear.Line 150 The Spear with erring Haste mistook its way, But plung'd in Eniopeus' Bosom lay. His opening Hand in Death forsakes the Rein; The Steeds fly back: He falls, and spurns the Plain. Great Hector sorrows for his Servant kill'd,Line 155 Yet unreveng'd permits to press the Field; Till to supply his Place and rule the Car, Rose Archeptolemus, the fierce in War. And now had Death and Horror cover'd all; Like tim'rous Flocks the Trojans in their WallLine 160 Inclos'd had bled: but Jove with awful Sound Roll'd the big Thunder o'er the vast Profound: Full in Tydides' Face the Light'ning flew; The Ground before him flam'd with Sulphur blew; Line 165

The quiv'ring Steeds fell prostrate at the Sight;Line 165 And Nestor's trembling Hand confess'd his Fright. He drop'd the Reins; and shook with sacred Dread, Thus, turning, warn'd th' intrepid Diomed.

O Chief! too daring in thy Friend's Defence, Retire advis'd, and urge the Chariot hence.Line 170 This Day, averse, the Sov'reign of the Skies Assists great Hector, and our Palm denies. Some other Sun may see the happier Hour, When Greece shall conquer by his heav'nly Pow'r. 'Tis not in Man his fix'd Decree to move:Line 175 The Great will glory to submit to Jove.

O rev'rend Prince! (Tydides thus replies) Thy Years are awful, and thy Words are wise. But ah! what Grief? should haughty Hector boast, I fled inglorious to the guarded Coast.Line 180 Before that dire Disgrace shall blast my Fame, O'erwhelm me Earth! and hide a Warrior's Shame. To whom Gerenian Nestor thus reply'd, Gods! can thy Courage fear the Phrygian's Pride? Line 185

Hector may vaunt, but who shall heed the Boast?Line 185 Not those who felt thy Arm, the Dardan Host, Nor Troy, yet bleeding in her Heroes lost; Not ev'n a Phrygian Dame, who dreads the Sword That lay'd in Dust her lov'd, lamented Lord. He said; and hasty, o'er the gasping ThrongLine 190 Drives the swift Steeds; the Chariot smoaks along. The Shouts of Trojans thicken in the Wind; The Storm of hissing Javelins pours behind. Then with a Voice that shakes the solid Skies, Pleas'd Hector braves the Warrior as he flies.Line 195 Go, mighty Hero! grac'd above the rest In Seats of Council and the sumptuous Feast: Now hope no more those Honours from thy Train; Go, less than Woman in the Form of Man! To scale our Walls, to wrap our Tow'rs in FlamesLine 200 To lead in Exile the fair Phrygian Dames, Thy once-proud Hopes, presumptuous Prince! are fled; This Arm shall reach thy Heart, and stretch thee dead.

Now Fears dissuade him, and now Hopes invite, To stop his Coursers, and to stand the Fight;Line 205

Thrice turn'd the Chief, and thrice imperial Jove On Ida's Summits thunder'd from above. Great Hector heard; he saw the flashing Light, (The Sign of Conquest) and thus urg'd the Fight.

Hear ev'ry Trojan, Lycian, Dardan Band,Line 210 All fam'd in War, and dreadful hand to hand. Be mindful of the Wreaths your Arms have won, Your great Forefathers Glories, and your own. Heard ye the Voice of Jove? Success and Fame Await on Troy, on Greece eternal Shame.Line 215 In vain they skulk behind their boasted Wall, Weak Bulwarks! destin'd by this Arm to fall. High o'er their slighted Trench our Steeds shall bound, And pass victorious o'er the levell'd Mound. Soon as before yon' hollow Ships we stand,Line 220 Fight each with Flames, and toss the blazing Brand; Till their proud Navy wrapt in Smoak and Fires, All Greece, encompass'd, in one Blaze expires.

Furious he said; then, bending o'er the Yoke, Encourag'd his proud Steeds, while thus he spoke.Line 225 Now Xanthus, Aethon, Lampus! urge the Chace, And thou, Podargus! prove thy gen'rous Race:

Be fleet, be fearless, this important Day, And all your Masters well-spent Care repay. For this, high fed in plenteous Stalls ye stand,Line 230 Serv'd with pure Wheat, and by a Princess' Hand; For this my Spouse of great Aetion's Line So oft' has steep'd the strength'ning Grain in Wine. Now swift pursue, now thunder uncontroll'd; Give me to seize rich Nestor's Shield of Gold;Line 235 From Tydeus' Shoulders strip the costly Load, Vulcanian Arms, the Labour of a God: These if we gain, then Victory, ye Pow'rs! This Night, this glorious Night, the Fleet is ours.

That heard, deep Anguish stung Saturnia's Soul;Line 240 She shook her Throne that shook the starry Pole: And thus to Neptune: Thou! whose Force can make The stedfast Earth from her Foundations shake, See'st thou the Greeks by Fates unjust opprest, Nor swells thy Heart in that immortal Breast?Line 245 Yet Aegae, Helicè, thy Pow'r obey, And Gifts unceasing on thine Altars lay. Would all the Deities of Greece combine, In vain the gloomy Thund'rer might repine: Line 250

Sole should he sit, with scarce a God to Friend,Line 250 And see his Trojans to the Shades descend. Such be the Scene from his Idaean Bow'r; Ungrateful Prospect to the sullen Pow'r!

Neptune with Wrath rejects the rash Design: What Rage, what Madness, furious Queen! is thine?Line 255 I war not with the Highest. All above Submit and tremble at the Hand of Jove.

Now Godlike Hector, to whose matchless Might Jove gave the Glory of the destin'd Fight, Squadrons on Squadrons drives, and fills the FieldsLine 260 With close-rang'd Chariots, and with thicken'd Shields. Where the deep Trench in Length extended lay, Compacted Troops stand wedg'd in firm Array, A dreadful Front! they shake the Bands, and threat With long-destroying Flames, the hostile Fleet.Line 265 The King of Men, by Juno's self inspir'd, Toil'd thro' the Tents, and all his Army fir'd, Swift as he mov'd he lifted in his Hand His Purple Robe, bright Ensign of Command. High on the midmost Bark the King appear'd;Line 270 There, from Ulysses' Deck, his Voice was heard.

To Ajax and Achilles reach'd the Sound, Whose distant Ships the guarded Navy bound. Oh Argives! Shame of human Race; he cry'd, (The hollow Vessels to his Voice reply'd)Line 275 Where now are all our glorious Boasts of yore, Our hasty Triumphs on the Lemnian Shore? Each fearless Hero dares an hundred Foes, While the Feast lasts, and while the Goblet flows; But who to meet one martial Man is found,Line 280 When the Fight rages, and the Flames surround? Oh mighty Jove! oh Sire of the distress'd! Was ever King like me, like me oppress'd? With Pow'r immense, with Justice arm'd in vain; My Glory ravish'd, and my People slain!Line 285 To thee my Vows were breath'd from ev'ry Shore; What Altar smoak'd not with our Victims Gore? With Fat of Bulls I fed the constant Flame, And ask'd Destruction to the Trojan Name. Now, gracious God! far humbler our Demand;Line 290 Give these at least to 'scape from Hector's Hand, And save the Reliques of the Grecian Land!

Thus pray'd the King, and Heav'ns great Father heard His Vows, in Bitterness of Soul preferr'd; The Wrath appeas'd, by happy Signs declares,Line 295 And gives the People to their Monarch's Pray'rs. His Eagle, sacred Bird of Heav'n! he sent, A Fawn his Talons truss'd (divine Portent) High o'er the wond'ring Hosts he soar'd above, Who paid their Vows to Panomphaean Jove;Line 300 Then let the Prey before his Altar fall; The Greeks beheld, and Transport seiz'd on all: Encourag'd by the Sign, the Troops revive, And fierce on Troy with doubled Fury drive. Tydides first, of all the Grecian Force,Line 305 O'er the broad Ditch impell'd his foaming Horse; Pierc'd the deep Ranks; their strongest Battel tore; And dy'd his Javelin red with Trojan Gore. Young Ageläus (Phradmon was his Sire) With flying Coursers shun'd his dreadful Ire:Line 310 Strook thro' the Back the Phrygian fell opprest; The Dart drove on, and issu'd at his Breast: Headlong he quits the Car; his Arms resound; His pond'rous Buckler thunders on the Ground. Line 315

Forth rush a Tide of Greeks, the Passage freed;Line 315 th' Atridae first, th' Ajaces next succeed: Meriones, like Mars in Arms renown'd, And Godlike Idomen, now pass the Mound; Euaemon's Son next issues to the Foe, And last young Teucer with his bended Bow.Line 320 Secure behind the Telamonian Shield The skilful Archer wide survey'd the Field, With ev'ry Shaft some hostile Victim slew, Then close beneath the sev'nfold Orb withdrew. The conscious Infant so, when Fear alarms,Line 325 Retires for Safety to the Mother's Arms. Thus Ajax guards his Brother in the Field, Moves as he moves, and turns the shining Shield. Who first by Teucer's mortal Arrows bled? Orsilochus; then fell Ormenus dead:Line 330 The Godlike Lycophon next press'd the Plain, With Chromius, Daetor, Ophelestes slain: Bold Hamopäon breathless sunk to Ground; The bloody Pile great Melanippus crown'd. Heaps fell on Heaps, sad Trophies of his Art,Line 335 A Trojan Ghost attending ev'ry Dart.

Great Agamemnon views with joyful Eye The Ranks grow thinner as his Arrows fly, Oh Youth for ever dear! (the Monarch cry'd) Thus, always thus, thy early Worth be try'd.Line 340 Thy brave Example shall retrieve our Host, Thy Country's Saviour, and thy Father's Boast! Sprung from an Alien's Bed thy Sire to grace, The vig'rous Offspring of a stol'n Embrace, Proud of his Boy, he own'd the gen'rous Flame,Line 345 And the brave Son repays his Cares with Fame. Now hear a Monarchs Vow: If Heav'ns high Pow'rs Give me to raze Troy's long-defended Tow'rs; Whatever Treasures Greece for me design, The next rich Honorary Gift be thine:Line 350 Some golden Tripod, or distinguish'd Car, With Coursers dreadful in the Ranks of War; Or some fair Captive whom thy Eyes approve Shall recompence the Warrior's Toils with Love.

To this the Chief: With Praise the rest inspire,Line 355 Nor urge a Soul already fill'd with fire. What Strength I have, be now in Battel try'd, Till ev'ry Shaft in Phrygian Blood be dy'd.

Since rallying from our Wall we forc'd the Foe, Still aim'd at Hector have I bent my Bow;Line 360 Eight forky Arrows from this Hand have fled, And eight bold Heroes by their Points lie dead: But sure some God denies me to destroy This Fury of the Field, this Dog of Troy.

He said, and twang'd the String. The Weapon fliesLine 365 At Hector's Breast, and sings along the Skies: He miss'd the Mark; but pierc'd Gorgythio's Heart, And drench'd in Royal Blood the thirsty Dart. (Fair Castianira, Nymph of Form Divine, This Offspring added to King Priam's Line)Line 370 As full blown Poppies overcharg'd with Rain Decline the Head, and drooping kiss the Plain; So sinks the Youth: his beauteous Head, depress'd Beneath his Helmet, drops upon his Breast. Another Shaft the raging Archer drew;Line 375 That other Shaft with erring Fury flew, (From Hector Phoebus turn'd the flying Wound) Yet fell not dry, or guiltless to the Ground: Thy Breast, brave Archeptolemus! it tore, And dipp'd its Feathers in no vulgar Gore.Line 380

Headlong he falls; his sudden Fall alarms The Steeds that startle at his sounding Arms. Hector with Grief his Charioteer beheld, And ey'd him breathless on the sanguin Field. Then bids Cebriones direct the Rein,Line 385 Quits his bright Car, and issues on the Plain. Dreadful he shouts: from Earth a Stone he took, And rush'd on Teucer with the lifted Rock. The Youth already strain'd the forceful Yew; The Shaft already to his Shoulder drew;Line 390 The Feather in his Hand, just wing'd for flight, Touch'd where the Neck and hollow Chest unite: There, where the Juncture knits the Channel Bone, The furious Chief discharg'd the craggy Stone. The Tendon burst beneath the pondrous Blow,Line 395 And his numb'd Hand dismiss'd his useless Bow. He fell: But Ajax his broad Shield display'd, And screen'd his Brother with the mighty Shade; Till great Alastor, and Mecistheus, bore The batter'd Archer groaning to the Shore.Line 400

Troy yet found Grace before th' Olympian Sire, He arm'd their Hands, and fill'd their Breasts with Fire.

The Greeks, repuls'd, retreat behind their Wall, Or in the Trench on Heaps confus'dly fall. First of the Foe great Hector march'd along,Line 405 With Terror cloath'd, and more than mortal strong. As the bold Hound that gives the Lion chace, With beating Bosom, and with eager Pace, Hangs on his Haunch, or fastens on his Heels, Guards as he turns, and circles as he wheels:Line 410 Thus oft' the Grecians turn'd, but still they flew; Thus following Hector still the hindmost slew. When flying they had pass'd the Trench profound, And many a Chief lay gasping on the Ground; Before the Ships a desp'rate Stand they made,Line 415 And fir'd the Troops, and call'd the Gods to aid. Fierce on his ratt'ling Chariot Hector came; His Eyes like Gorgon shot a sanguin Flame That wither'd all their Host: Like Mars he stood, Dire as the Monster, dreadful as the God!Line 420 Their strong Distress the Wife of Jove survey'd; Then pensive thus, to War's triumphant Maid.

Oh Daughter of that God, whose Arm can wield Th' avenging Bolt, and shake the sable Shield! Line 425

Now, in this Moment of her last Despair,Line 425 Shall wretched Greece no more confess our Care, Condemn'd to suffer the full Force of Fate, And drain the Dregs of Heav'ns relentless Hate? Gods! shall one raging Hand thus level All? What Numbers fell! what Numbers yet shall fall!Line 430 What Pow'r Divine shall Hector's Wrath asswage? Still swells the Slaughter, and still grows the Rage!

So spoke th' imperial Regent of the Skies; To whom the Goddess with the Azure Eyes. Long since had Hector stain'd these Fields with Gore,Line 435 Stretch'd by some Argive on his native Shore: But He above, the Sire of Heav'n withstands, Mocks our Attempts, and slights our just Demands. The stubborn God, inflexible and hard, Forgets my Service and deserv'd Reward.Line 440 Sav'd I, for this, his Fav'rite * 1.1Son distress'd, By stern Eurystheus with long Labours prefs'd? He begg'd, with Tears he begg'd, in deep Dismay; I shot from Heav'n, and gave his Arm the Day. Oh had my Wisdom known this dire Event,Line 445 When to grim Pluto's gloomy Gates he went;

The Triple Dog had never felt his Chain, Nor Styx been cross'd, nor Hell explor'd in vain. Averse to me of all his Heav'n of Gods; At Thetis' Suit the partial Thund'rer nods.Line 450 To grace her gloomy, fierce, resenting Son, My Hopes are frustrate, and my Greeks undone. Some future Day, perhaps he may be mov'd To call his blue-ey'd Maid his Best-belov'd. Haste, launch thy Chariot, thro' yon' Ranks to ride;Line 455 My self will arm, and thunder at thy side. Then Goddess! say, shall Hector glory then, (That Terror of the Greeks, that Man of Men) When Juno's self, and Pallas shall appear, All dreadful in the crimson Walks of War?Line 460 What mighty Trojan then, on yonder Shore, Expiring, pale, and terrible no more, Shall feast the Fowls, and glut the Dogs with Gore?

She ceas'd, and Juno rein'd her Steeds with Care; Heav'ns awful Empress, Saturn's other Heir)Line 465 Pallas, meanwhile, her various Veil unbound, With Flow'rs adorn'd, with Art immortal crown'd;

The radiant Robe her sacred Fingers wove, Floats in rich Waves, and spreads the Court of Jove. Her Father's Arms her mighty Limbs invest,Line 470 His Cuirass blazes on her ample Breast. The vig'rous Pow'r the trembling Car ascends; Shook by her Arm, the massy Javelin bends; Huge, pond'rous, strong! that when her Fury burns, Proud Tyrants humbles, and whole Hosts o'erturns.Line 475

Saturnia lends the Lash; the Coursers fly; Smooth glides the Chariot thro' the liquid Sky. Heav'n-Gates spontaneous open to the Pow'rs, Heav'ns golden Gates, kept by the winged Hours, Commission'd in alternate Watch to stand,Line 480 The Sun's bright Portals and the Skies command; Close, or unfold, th' Eternal Gates of Day; Bar Heav'n with Clouds, or roll those Clouds away. The sounding Hinges ring, the Clouds divide; Pronedown the Steep of Heav'n their Course they guide.Line 485 But Jove incens'd from Ida's Top survey'd, And thus enjoin'd the many-colour'd Maid.

Thaumantia! mount the Winds, and stop their Car; Against the Highest who shall wage the War? Line 490

If furious yet they dare the vain Debate,Line 490 Thus have I spoke, and what I spake is Fate. Their Coursers crush'd beneath the Wheels shall lie, Their Car in Fragments scatter'd o'er the Sky; My Light'ning these Rebellious shall confound, And hurl them flaming, headlong to the Ground,Line 495 Condemn'd for ten revolving Years to weep The Wounds impress'd by burning Thunder deep. So shall Minerva learn to sear our Ire, Nor dare to combate her's and Natures Sire. For Juno, headstrong and imperious still,Line 500 She claims some Title to transgress our Will.

Swift as the Wind, the various-colour'd Maid From Ida's Top her golden Wings display'd; To great Olympus' shining Gates she flies, There meets the Chariot rushing down the Skies,Line 505 Restrains their Progress from the bright Abodes, And speaks the Mandate of the Sire of Gods.

What Frenzy, Goddesses! what Rage can move Celestial Minds to tempt the Wrath of Jove? Desist, obedient to his high Command;Line 510 This is his Word; and know his Word shall stand.

His Light'ning your Rebellion shall confound, And hurl ye headlong, flaming to the Ground: Your Horses crush'd beneath the Wheels shall lie Your Car in Fragments scatter'd o'er the Sky;Line 515 Your selves condemn'd ten rolling Years to weep The Wounds impress'd by burning Thunder deep. So shall Minerva learn to fear his Ire, Nor dare to combate her's and Nature's Sire. For Juno, headstrong and imperious still,Line 520 She claims some Title to transgress his Will: But Thee what desp'rate Insolence has driv'n, To lift thy Lance against the Sire of Heav'n?

Then mounting on the Pinions of the Wind, She flew; and Juno thus her Rage resign'd.Line 525

O Daughter of that God, whose Arm can wield Th'avenging Bolt, and shake the dreadful Shield! No more let Beings of superior Birth Contend with Jove for this low Race of Earth: Triumphant now, now miserably slain,Line 530 They breathe or perish, as the Fates ordain. But Jove's high Counsels full Effect shall find, And ever constant, ever rule Mankind.

She spoke, and backward turn'd her Steeds of Light, Adorn'd with Manes of Gold, and Heav'nly bright.Line 535 The Hours unloos'd them, panting as they stood, And heap'd their Mangers with Ambrosial Food. There ty'd, they rest in high Celestial Stalls; The Chariot propt against the Crystal Walls. The pensive Goddesses, abash'd, controul'd,Line 540 Mix with the Gods, and fill their Seats of Gold.

And now the Thund'rer meditates his Flight From Ida's Summits to th' Olympian Height. Swifter than Thought the Wheels instinctive fly, Flame thro' the Vast of Air, and reach the Sky.Line 545 'Twas Neptune's Charge his Coursers to unbrace, And fix the Car on its immortal Base; There stood the Chariot beaming forth its Rays, Till with a snowy Veil he screen'd the Blaze. He, whose all-conscious Eyes the World behold,Line 550 Th' Eternal Thunderer, sate thron'd in Gold. High Heav'n the Footstool of his Feet he makes, And wide beneath him, all Olympus shakes. Trembling afar th' offending Pow'rs appear'd, Confus'd and silent, for his Frown they fear'd.Line 555

He saw their Soul, and thus his Word imparts. Pallas and Juno! say, why heave your Hearts? Soon was your Battel o'er: Proud Troy retir'd Before your Face, and in your Wrath expir'd. But know, whoe'er Almighty Pow'r withstand!Line 560 Unmatch'd our Force, unconquer'd is our Hand: Who shall the Sov'reign of the Skies controul? Not all the Gods that crown the starry Pole. Your Hearts shall tremble, if our Arms we take, And each immortal Nerve with Horror shake.Line 565 For thus I speak, and what I speak shall stand; What Pow'r soe'er provokes our lifted Hand, On this our Hill no more shall hold his Place, Cut off, and exil'd from th'Aethereal Race.

Juno and Pallas grieving hear the Doom,Line 670 But feast their Souls on Ilion's Woes to come. Tho' secret Anger swell'd Minerva's Breast, The prudent Goddess yet her Wrath represt, But Juno, impotent of Rage, replies. What hast thou said, Oh Tyrant of the Skies!Line 575 Strength and Omnipotence invest thy Throne; 'Tis thine to punish; ours to grieve alone.

For Greece we grieve, abandon'd by her Fate To drink the Dregs of thy unmeasur'd Hate: From Fields forbidden we submiss refrain,Line 580 With Arms unaiding see our Argives slain; Yet grant our Counsels still their Breasts may move, Lest all should perish in the Rage of Jove.

The Goddess thus: and thus the God replies Who swells the Clouds, and blackens all the Skies.Line 585 The Morning Sun, awak'd by loud Alarms, Shall see th' Almighty Thunderer in Arms. What Heaps of Argives then shall load the Plain, These radiant Eyes shall view, and view in vain. Nor shall great Hector cease the Rage of Fight,Line 590 The Navy flaming, and thy Greeks in Flight, Ev'n till the Day, when certain Fates ordain That stern Achilles (his Patroclus slain) Shall rise in Vengeance, and lay waste the Plain. For such is Fate, nor can'st thou turn its CourseLine 595 With all thy Rage, with all thy Rebel Force. Fly, if thou wilt, to Earth's remotest Bound, Where on her utmost Verge the Seas resound;

Where curs'd Iäpetus and Saturn dwell, Fast by the Brink, within the Steams of Hell;Line 600 No Sun e'er gilds the gloomy Horrors there, No chearful Gales refresh the lazy Air: There arm once more the bold Titanian Band; And arm in vain: For what I will, shall stand.

Now deep in Ocean sunk the Lamp of Light,Line 605 And drew behind the cloudy Veil of Night: The conqu'ring Trojans mourn his Beams decay'd; The Greeks rejoicing bless the friendly Shade.

The Victors keep the Field; and Hector calls A martial Council near the Navy-Walls:Line 610 These to Scamander's Bank apart he led, Where thinly scatter'd lay the Heaps of Dead. Th' assembled Chiefs, descending on the Ground, Attend his Order, and their Prince surround. A massy Spear he bore of mighty Strength,Line 615 Of full ten Cubits was the Lance's Length; The Point was Steel, refulgent to behold, Fix'd to the Wood with circling Rings of Gold: The noble Hector on this Lance reclin'd, And bending forward, thus reveal'd his Mind.Line 620

Ye valiant Trojans, with Attention hear! Ye Dardan Bands, and gen'rous Aids give ear! This Day, we hop'd, would wrap in conq'ring Flame Greece with her Ships, and crown our Toils with Fame: But Darkness now, to save the Cowards, falls,Line 625 And guards them trembling in their wooden Walls. Obey the Night, and use her peaceful Hours Our Steeds to forage, and refresh our Pow'rs. Strait from the Town be Sheep and Oxen sought, And strength'ning Bread, and gen'rous Wine be brought.Line 630 Wide o'er the Field, high-blazing to the Sky, Let num'rous Fires the absent Sun supply; The flaming Piles with plenteous Fuel raise, Till the bright Morn her purple Beam displays: Lest in the Silence and the Shades of Night,Line 635 Greece on her sable Ships attempt her Flight. Not unmolested let the Wretches gain Their lofty Decks, and safely cleave the Main; Some hostile Wound let ev'ry Dart bestow, Some lasting Token of the Phrygian Foe,Line 640 Wounds, that long hence may ask their Spouses Care, And warn their Children from a Trojan War.

Now thro' the Circuit of our Ilian Wall, Let sacred Heralds sound the solemn Call; To bid the Sires with hoary Honours crown'd,Line 645 And beardless Youths, the Battlements surround. Firm be the Guard, while distant lie our Pow'rs, And let the Matrons hang with Lights the Tow'rs: Lest under Covert of the Midnight Shade, Th' insidious Foe the naked Town invade.Line 650 Suffice, to Night, these Orders to obey; A nobler Charge shall rowze the dawning Day. The Gods, I trust, shall give to Hector's Hand, From these detested Foes to free the Land, Who plow'd, with Fates averse, the wat'ry way;Line 655 For Trojan Vulturs a predestin'd Prey. Our common Safety must be now the Care; But soon as Morning paints the Fields of Air, Sheath'd in bright Arms let ev'ry Troop engage, And the fir'd Fleet behold the Battel rage.Line 660 Then, then shall Hector and Tydides prove, Whose Fates are heaviest in the Scale of Jove. To Morrow's Light (oh haste the glorious Morn!) Shall see his bloody Spoils in Triumph born, Line 665

With this keen Javelin shall his Breast be gor'd,Line 665 And prostrate Heroes bleed around their Lord. Certain as this, oh might my Days endure, From Age inglorious and black Death secure; So might my Life and Glory know no bound, Like Pallas worship'd, like the Sun renown'd;Line 670 As the next Dawn, the last they shall enjoy, Shall crush the Greeks, and end the Woes of Troy.

The Leader spoke. From all his Hosts around Shouts of Applause along the Shores resound. Each from the Yoke the smoaking Steeds unty'd,Line 675 And fix'd their Headstalls to his Chariot-side. Fat Sheep and Oxen from the Town are led, With gen'rous Wine, and all-sustaining Bread. Full Hecatombs lay burning on the Shore; The Winds to Heav'n the curling Vapours bore.Line 680 Ungrateful Off'ring to th' immortal Pow'rs, Whose Wrath hung heavy o'er the Trojan Tow'rs; Nor Priam, nor his Sons obtain'd their Grace; Proud Troy they hated, and her guilty Race.

The Troops exulting sate in order round,Line 685 And beaming Fires illumin'd all the Ground.

As when the Moon, refulgent Lamp of Night! O'er Heav'ns clear Azure sheds her sacred Light, When not a Breath disturbs the deep Serene; And not a Cloud o'ercasts the solemn Scene;Line 690 Around her Throne the vivid Planets roll, And Stars unnumber'd gild the glowing Pole, O'er the dark Trees a yellower Verdure shed, And tip with Silver ev'ry Mountain's Head; Then shine the Vales, the Rocks in Prospect rise,Line 695 A Flood of Glory bursts from all the Skies: The conscious Swains, rejoicing in the Sight, Eye the blue Vault, and bless the useful Light. So many Flames before proud Ilion blaze, And lighten glimm'ring Xanthus with their Rays.Line 700 The long Reflections of the distant Fires Gleam on the Walls, and tremble on the Spires. A thousand Piles the dusky Horrors gild, And shoot a shady Lustre o'er the Field. Full fifty Guards each flaming Pile attend,Line 705 Whose umber'd Arms, by fits, thick Flashes send. Loud neigh the Coursers o'er their Heaps of Corn, And ardent Warriors wait the rising Morn.

OBSERVATIONS ON THE Eighth Book.

OBSERVATIONS ON THE EIGHTH BOOK.

I.

HOMER, like most of the Greeks, is thought to have travell'd into Aegypt, and brought from the Priests there not only their Learning, but their manner of conveying it in Fables and Hiero|glyphicks. This is necessary to be consider'd by those who would thoroughly penetrate into the Beauty and De|sign of many Parts of this Author. For whoever reflects that this was the Mode of Learning in those Times, will make no doubt but there are several Mysteries both of Natural and Moral Philosophy involv'd in his Ficti|ons, which otherwise in the literal Meaning appear too tri|vial or irrational; and it is but just, when these are not plain or immediately intelligible, to imagine that something of this kind may be hid under them. Nevertheless, as Homer tra|vell'd not with a direct View of writing Philosophy or Theo|logy, so he might often use these Hieroglyphical Fables and Traditions as Embellishments of his Poetry only, without taking the Pains to open their mystical Meaning to his Rea|ders, and perhaps without diving very deeply into it himself.

II.

VERSE 25. Let down our golden everlasting Chain.]

The various Opinions of the Ancients concerning this Passage are

collected by Eustathius. Jupiter says, If he holds this Chain of Gold, the Force of all the Gods is unable to draw him down, but that he can draw up them, the Seas, and the Earth, and cause the whole Universe to hang unactive. Some think that Jupiter signifies the Aether, the golden Chain the Sun: If the Aether did not temper the Rays of the Sun as they pass thro' it, his Beams would not only drink up and exhale the Ocean in Vapours, but also exhale the Moisture from the Veins of the Earth, which is the Cement that holds it toge|ther; by which means the whole Creation would become un|active, and all its Powers be suspended.

Others affirm, that by this golden Chain may be meant the Days of the World's Duration, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, which are as it were painted by the Lustre of the Sun, and follow one another in a successive Chain till they arrive at their final Pe|riod: While Jupiter or the Aether (which the Ancients call'd the Soul of all Things) still remains unchanged.

Plato in his Theaetetus says that by this golden Chain is meant the Sun, whose Rays enliven all Nature and cement the Parts of the Universe.

The Stoicks will have it that by Jupiter is implied Desti|ny, which over-rules every thing both upon, and above the Earth.

Others (delighted with their own Conceits) imagine that Homer intended to represent the Excellence of Monarchy; that the Sceptre ought to be sway'd by one Hand, and that all the Wheels of Government should be put in Motion by one Person.

But I fancy a much better Interpretation may be found for this, if we allow (as there is great Reason to believe) that the Aegyptians understood the true System of the World, and that Pythagoras first learn'd it from them. They held that the Planets were kept in their Orbits by Gravitation upon the Sun, which was therefore called Jovis carcer; and sometimes by the Sun (as Macrobius informs us) is meant Jupiter him|self: We see too that the most prevailing Opinion of Anti|quity fixes it to the Sun; so that I think it will be no strained Interpretation to say, that by the Inability of the Gods to pull Jupiter out of his Place with this Catena, may be un|derstood

the superior attractive Force of the Sun, whereby he continues unmoved, and draws all the rest of the Planets toward him.

III.

VERSE 16. Low in the dark Tartarean Gulf, &c.]

This Opinion of Tartarus, the Place of Torture for the Impious after Death, might also be taken from the Aegyptians: for it seems not improbable, as some Writers have observed, that some Tradition might then be spread in the Eastern Parts of the World, of the Fall of the Angels, the Punishment of the Damned, and other sacred Truths which were afterwards more fully explain'd and taught by the Prophets and Apostles. These Homer seems to allude to in this and other Passages; as where Vulcan is said to be precipitated from Heaven in the first Book, where Jupiter threatens Mars with Tartarus in the fifth, and where the Daemon of Discord is cast out of Heaven in the nineteenth. Virgil has translated a part of these Lines into the sixth Aeneid.

—Tum Tartarus ipse Bis patet in praeceps tantum, tenditque sub umbras, Quantus ad aethereum coeli suspectus Olympum.

And Milton in his first Book,

As far remov'd from God and Light of Heav'n, As from the Centre thrice to th' utmost Pole.

It may not be unpleasing just to observe the Gradation in these three great Poets, as if they had vied with each other, in extending this Idea of the Depth of Hell. Homer says as far, Virgil twice as far, Milton thrice.

IV.

VERSE 35. Th' Almighty spoke.]

Homer in this whole Pas|sage plainly shews his Belief of one supreme, omnipotent

God, whom he introduces with a Majesty and Superiority worthy the great Ruler of the Universe. Accordingly Justin Martyr cites it as a Proof of our Author's attributing the Power and Government of all things to one First God, whose Divinity is so far superior to all other Deities, that if compared to him they may be rank'd among Mortals. Ad|mon. ad Gentes. Upon this Account, and with the Autho|rity of that learned Father, I have ventur'd to apply to Ju|piter in this Place such Appellatives as are suitable to the su|preme Deity: a Practice I would be cautious of using in ma|ny others where the Notions and Descriptions of our Author must be own'd to be unworthy of the Divinity.

V.

VERSE 39. O first and greatest! &c.]

Homer is not only to be admir'd for keeping up the Characters of his Heroes, but for adapting his Speeches to the Characters of his Gods. Had Juno here given the Reply, she would have begun with some Mark of Resentment, but Pallas is all Submission; Ju|no would probably have contradicted him, but Pallas only begs leave to be sorry for those whom she must not assist; Juno would have spoken with the Prerogative of a Wife, but Pallas makes her Address with the Obsequiousness of a pru|dent Daughter. Eustathius.

VI.

VERSE 70. For on this dreadful Day The Fate of Fathers, Wives, and Infants lay.]

It may be necessary to explain why the Trojans thought themselves obliged to fight in order to defend their Wives and Children. One would think they might have kept within their Walls, the Grecians made no Attempt to batter them, neither were they invested; and the Country was open on all sides except towards the Sea, to give them Provisions. The most natural thought is, that they and their Auxiliaries being very numerous, could not sub|sist but from a large Country about them; and perhaps not

without the Sea, and the Rivers, where the Greeks encamp'd: That in time the Greeks would have surrounded them, and block'd up every Avenue to their Town: That they thought themselves obliged to defend the Country with all the Inha|bitants of it; and that indeed at first this was rather a War between two Nations, and became not properly a Siege till afterwards.

VII.

VERSE 71. The Gates unfolding, &c.]

There is a wonder|ful Sublimity in these Lines; one sees in the Description the Gates of a warlike City thrown open, and an Army pouring forth; and one hears the Trampling of Men and Horses rushing to the Battel.

These Verses are, as Eustathius observes, only a Repetition of a former Passage, which shews that the Poet was particu|larly pleas'd with them, and that he was not ashamed of a Repetition when he could not express the same Image more happily than he had already done.

VIII.

VERSE 84. The sacred Light.]

Homer describing the Ad|vance of the Day from Morning till Noon, calls it 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, or sacred, says Eustathius, who gives this Reason for it, because that Part of the Day was allotted to Sacrifice and religious Worship.

IX.

VERSE 88. The Sire of Gods his golden Scales suspends.]

This Figure representing God as weighing the Destinies of Men in his Balances, was first made use of in holy Writ. In the Book of Job, which is acknowledg'd to be one of the most ancient of all the Scriptures, he prays to be weighed in an even Balance, that God may know his Integrity. Daniel de|clares from God to Belshazzar, thou art weighed in the Ba|lances, and sound light. And Proverbs, Ch. 16. ℣. 11. A just

Weight and Balance are the Lord's. Our Author has it again in the twenty second Iliad, and it appear'd so beautiful to suc|ceeding Poets, that Aeschylus (as we are told by Plutarch de aud. Poetis) writ a whole Tragedy upon this Foundation, which he called Psychostasia, or the weighing of Souls. In this he introduced Thetis and Aurora standing on either side of Jupiter's Scales, and praying each for her Son while the Heroes fought.

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

It has been copied by Virgil in the last Aeneid.

Jupiter ipse duas aequato examine lances Sustinet, & fata imponit diversa duorum: Quem damnet labor, & quo vergat pondere lethum.

I cannot agree with Madam Dacier that these Verses are in|ferior to Homer's; but Macrobius observes with some Colour, that the Application of them is not so just as in our Author; for Virgil had made Juno say before, that Turnus would cer|tainly perish.

Nunc Juvenem imparibus video concurrere Fatis, Parcarumque dies & vis inimica propinquat.

So that there was less reason for weighing his Fate with that of Aeneas after that Declaration. Scaliger trifles miserably when he says Juno might have learn'd this from the Fates, tho' Jupiter did not know it, before he consulted them by weighing the Scales. But Macrobius's Excuse in behalf of Vir|gil is much better worth regard: I shall transcribe it entire, as it is perhaps the finest Period in all that Author.

Haec & alia ignoscenda Virgilio, qui studii circa Homerum nimietate excedit modum. Et revera non poterat non in aliquibus minor videri, qui per omnem poësim suam hoc uno est praecipue usus Archetypo. Acriter enim in Homerum oculos intendit, ut aemu|laretur

ejus non modo magnitudinem sed & simplicitatem, & praesentiam orationis, & tacitam majestatem. Hinc diversarum inter Heroas suos personarum varia magnificatio, hinc Deorum interpositio, hinc autoritas fabulosa, hinc affectuum naturalium expressio, hinc monumentorum persecutio, hinc parabolarum ex|aggeratio, hinc torrentis orationis sonitus, hinc rerum singula|rum cum splendore fastigium.

Sat. l. 5. c. 13.

As to the Ascent or Descent of the Scales, Eustathius ex|plains it in this manner. The Descent of the Scale toward Earth signifies Unhappiness and Death, the Earth being the Place of Misfortune and Mortality; the Mounting of it sig|nifies Prosperity and Life, the superior Regions being the Seats of Felicity and Immortality.

Milton has admirably improved upon this fine Fiction, and with an Alteration agreeable to a Christian Poet. He feigns that the Almighty weighed Satan in such Scales, but judici|ously makes this difference, that the Mounting of his Scale denoted ill Success; whereas the same Circumstance in Homer points the Victory. His Reason was, because Satan was im|mortal, and therefore the sinking of his Scale could not sig|nify Death, but the mounting of it did his Lightness, con|formable to the Expression we just now cited from Daniel.

Th' Eternal to prevent such horrid Fray Hung forth in Heav'n his golden Scales, yet seen Between Astraea and the Scorpion Sign: Wherein all things created first he weigh'd, The pendulous round Earth, with balanc'd Air, In counterpoise; now ponders all Events, Battels and Realms: In these he put two Weights, The Sequel each of Parting and of Fight; The latter quick up-flew, and kick'd the Beam.

I believe upon the whole this may with Justice be preferr'd both to Homer's and Virgil's, on account of the beautiful Al|lusion to the Sign of Libra in the Heavens, and that noble Imagination of the Maker's weighing the whole World at the Creation, and all the Events of it since; so correspondent at once to Philosophy, and to the Style of the Scriptures.

X.

VERSE 93. Then Jove from Ida's Top, &c.]

This Distress of the Greeks being suppos'd, Jupiter's Presence was abso|lutely necessary to bring them into it: for the inferior Gods that were friendly to Greece were rather more in Number and superior in Force to those that favour'd Troy; and the Poet had shew'd before, when both Armies were left to themselves, that the Greeks could overcome the Trojans; besides it would have been an indelible Reflection upon his Countrymen to have been vanquish'd by a smaller Number. Therefore no|thing less than the immediate Interposition of Jupiter was re|quisite, which shews the wonderful Address of the Poet in his Machinery. Virgil makes Turnus say in the last Aeneid,

—Dii me terrent & Jupiter hostis.

And indeed this Defeat of the Greeks seems more to their Glory than all their Victories, since even Jupiter's Omnipo|tence could with difficulty effect it.

XI.

VERSE 95. Thick Light'nings flash.]

This Notion of Ju|piter's declaring against the Greeks by Thunder and Lightning, is drawn (says Dacier) from Truth itself. Sam. 1. Ch. 7.

And as Samuel was offering up the Burnt-offering, the Phili|stines drew near to Battel against Israel: But the Lord thun|der'd with a great Thunder on that Day upon the Philistines, and discomfited them, and they were smitten before Israel.

To which may be added that in the 18th Psalm.

The Lord thunder'd in the Heavens, and the Highest gave his Voice; Hailstones and Coals of Fire. Yea, he sent out his Arrows and scatter'd them; he shot out Lightnings and discomfited them.

Upon occasion of the various Successes given by Jupiter, now to Grecians, now to Trojans, whom he suffers to perish interchangeably; some have fancy'd this Supposition injurious

to the Nature of the Sovereign Being, as representing him variable or inconstant in his Rewards and Punishments. It may be answer'd, that as God makes use of some People to chastise others, and none are totally void of Crimes, he often decrees to punish those very Persons for lesser Sins, whom he makes his Instruments to punish others for greater: so pur|ging them from their own Iniquities before they become wor|thy to be Chastisers of other Men's. This is the Case of the Greeks here, whom Jupiter permits to suffer many ways, tho' he had destin'd them to revenge the Rape of Helen upon Troy. There is a History in the Bible just of this Nature. In the 20th Chapter of Judges, the Israelites are commanded to make War against the Tribe of Benjamin, to punish a Rape on the Wife of a Levite committed in the City of Gibeah: When they have laid Siege to the Place, the Benjamites sal|ly upon them with so much Vigour, that a great Number of the Besiegers are destroy'd; they are astonish'd at these De|feats, as having undertaken the Siege in Obedience to the Command of God: But they are still order'd to persist, till at length they burn the City, and almost extinguish the Race of Benjamin. There are many Instances in Scripture, where Heaven is represented to change its Decrees according to the Repentance or Relapses of Men: Hezechias is order'd to pre|pare for Death, and afterwards fifteen Years are added to his Life: It is foretold to Achab that he shall perish miserably, and then upon his Humiliation God defers the Punishment till the Reign of his Successor, &c.

I must confess, that in comparing Passages of the sacred Books with our Author one ought to use a great deal of Cau|tion and Respect. If there are some Places in Scripture that in Compliance to human Understanding represent the Deity as acting by Motives like those of Men; there are infinitely more that shew him as he is, all Perfection, Justice, and Be|neficence; whereas in Homer the general Tenor of the Po|em represents Jupiter as a Being subject to Passion, Inequa|lity, and Imperfection. I think M. Dacier has carry'd these Comparisons too far, and is too zealous to defend him upon every occasion in the Points of Theology and Doctrine.

XII.

VERSE 115. But Diomed beheld.]

The whole following Story of Nestor and Diomed is admirably contriv'd to raise the Character of the latter. He maintains his Intrepidity, and ventures singly to bring off the old Hero, notwithstan|ding the general Consternation. The Art of Homer will ap|pear wonderful to any one who considers all the Circumstan|ces of this Part, and by what degrees he reconciles this Flight of Diomed to that undaunted Character. The Thunderbolt falls just before him; that is not enough; Nestor advises him to submit to Heaven; this does not prevail, he cannot bear the Thoughts of Flight: Nestor drives back the Chariot with|out his Consent; he is again inclined to go on till Jupiter again declares against him. These two Heroes are very art|fully placed together, because none but a Person of Nestor's Authority and Wisdom could have prevailed upon Diomed to retreat: A younger Warrior could not so well in Honour have given him such Counsel, and from no other would he have taken it. To cause Diomed to fly, required both the Counsel of Nestor, and the Thunder of Jupiter.

XIII.

VERSE 121. Oh turn and save, &c.]

There is a Decorum in making Diomed call Ulysses to the Assistance of his Bro|ther Sage; for who better knew the Importance of Nestor, than Ulysses? But the Question is, whether Ulysses did not drop Nestor as one great Minister would do another, and fan|cy'd He should be the wise Man when the other was gone? Eustathius indeed is of Opinion that Homer meant not to cast any Aspersion on Ulysses, nor would have given him so many noble Appellations when in the same Breath he reflected up|on his Courage. But perhaps the contrary Opinion may not be ill grounded if we observe the manner of Homer's Expres|sion. Diomed call'd Ulysses, but Ulysses was deaf, he did not hear; and whereas the Poet says of the rest, that they had

not the Hardiness to stay, Ulysses is not only said to fly, but 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, to make violent Haste towards the Navy.

Ovid at least understood it thus, for he puts an Objection in Ajax's Mouth, Metam. 13. drawn from this Passage, which would have been improper had not Ulysses made more speed than he ought; since Ajax on the same occasion retreated as well as he.

XIV.

VERSE 142. The thirsty Fury of my flying Spear.]

Homer has Figures of that Boldness which it is impossible to pre|serve in another Language. The Words in the Original are 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, Hector shall see if my Spear is mad in my Hands. The Translation pretends only to have taken some Shadow of this, in animating the Spear, giving it Fury, and strength|ning the Figure with the Epithet thirsty.

XV.

VERSE 159. And now had Death, &c.]

Eustathius observes how wonderfully Homer still advances the Character of Diomed: when all the Leaders of Greece were retreated, the Poet says that had not Jupiter interposed, Diomed alone had driven the whole Army of Troy to their Walls, and with his single Hand have vanquish'd an Army.

XVI.

VERSE 164. The Ground before him flam'd.]

Here is a Battel describ'd with so much Fire, that the warmest Imagi|nation of an able Painter cannot add a Circumstance to heigh|ten the Surprize or Horror of the Picture. Here is what they call the Fracas, or Hurry and Tumult of the Action in the utmost Strength of Colouring, upon the Foreground; and the Repose or Solemnity at a distance, with great Propriety and Judgment. First, in the Eloignement, we behold Jupi|ter in golden Armour, surrounded with Glory, upon the Sum|mit

of Mount Ida; his Chariot and Horses by him, wrapt in dark Clouds. In the next Place below the Horizon, ap|pear the Clouds rolling and opening, thro' which the Light|ning flashes in the Face of the Greeks, who are flying on all sides; Agamemnon and the rest of the Commanders in the Rear, in Postures of Astonishment. Towards the middle of the Piece, we see Nestor in the utmost Distress, one of his Horses having a deadly Wound in the Forehead with a Dart, which makes him rear and writhe, and disorder the rest. Nestor is cutting the Harness with his Sword, while Hector advances driving full speed. Diomed interposes, in an Action of the utmost Fierceness and Intrepidity: These two Heroes make the principal Figures and Subject of the Picture. A burning Thunderbolt falls just before the Feet of Diomed's Horses, from whence a horrid Flame of Sulphur arises.

This is only a Specimen of a single Picture design'd by Ho|mer out of the many with which he has beautified the Iliad. And indeed every thing is so natural and so lively, that the History-Painter would generally have no more to do but to delincate the Forms, and copy the Circumstances just as he finds them described by this great Master. We cannot there|fore wonder at what has been so often said of Homer's furnish|ing Ideas to the most famous Painters of Antiquity.

XVII.

VERSE 194. The solid Skies.]

Homer sometimes calls the Heavens Brazen, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, and Jupiter's Palace, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉. One might think from hence that the Notion of the Solidity of the Heavens, which is indeed very ancient, had been generally receiv'd. The Scripture uses Expressions a|greeable to it, A Heaven of Brass, and the Firmament.

XVIII.

VERSE 214. Heard ye the Voice of Jove?]

It was a noble and effectual manner of encouraging the Troops, by telling them that God was surely on their side: This, it seems, has been an ancient Practice, as it has been used in modern Times by those who never read Homer.

XIX.

VERSE 226. Now Xanthus, Aethon, &c.]

There have been those who blame this manner introduced by Homer and copied by Virgil, of making a Hero address his Discourse to his Horses. Virgil has given human Sentiments to the Horse of Pallas, and made him weep for the Death of his Master. In the tenth Aeneid Mezentius speaks to his Horse in the same manner as Hector does here. Nay; he makes Turnus utter a Speech to his Spear, and invoke it as a Divinity. All this is agreeable to the Art of Oratory, which makes it a Precept to speak to every thing, and make every thing speak; of which there are innumerable applauded Instances in the most celebrated Orators. Nothing can be more spirited and affecting than this Enthusiasm of Hector, who, in the Trans|port of his Joy at the Sight of Diomed flying before him, breaks out into this Apostrophe to his Horses, as he is pur|suing. And indeed the Air of this whole Speech is agreeable to a Man drunk with the Hopes of Success, and promising himself a Series of Conquests. He has in Imagination alrea|dy forced the Grecian Retrenchments, set the Fleet in Flames, and destroyed the whole Army.

XX.

VERSE 231. For this my Spouse.]

There is (says M. Da|cier) a secret Beauty in this Passage, which perhaps will on|ly be perceiv'd by those who are particularly vers'd in Homer. He describes a Princess so tender in her Love to her Husband, that she takes care constantly to go and meet him at his Re|turn from every Battel, and in the Joy of seeing him again, runs to his Horses, and gives them Bread and Wine as a Te|stimony of her Acknowledgment to them for bringing him back. Notwithstanding the Raillery that may be past upon this Remark, I take a Lady to be the best Judge to what Actions a Woman may be carry'd by Fondness to her Husband. Homer does not expresly mention Bread, but Wheat; and the Commentators are not agreed whether she gave them

Wine to drink, or steep'd the Grain in it. Hobbes translates it as I do.

XXI.

VERSE 237. Vulcanian Arms, the Labour of a God.]

These were the Arms that Diomed had received from Glaucus, and a Prize worthy Hector, being (as we were told in the sixth Book) entirely of Gold. I do not remember any other Place where the Shield of Nestor is celebrated by Homer.

XXII.

VERSE 245. Yet Aegae, Helice.]

These were two Cities of Greece in which Neptune was particularly honoured, and in each of which there was a Temple and Statue of him.

XXIII.

VERSE 262. Where the deep Trench.]

That is to say, the Space betwixt the Ditch and the Wall was filled with the Men and Chariots of the Greeks. Hector not having yet past the Ditch. Eustathius.

XXIV.

VERSE 269. His Purple Robe.]

Agamemnon here addresses himself to the Eyes of the Army; his Voice might have been lost in the Confusion of a Retreat, but the Motion of this purple Robe could not fail of attracting the Regards of the Soldiers. His Speech also is very remarkable; he first endea|vours to shame them into Courage, and then begs of Jupiter to give that Courage Success; at least so far as not to suffer the whole Army to be destroyed. Eustathius.

XXV.

VERSE 270. High on the midmost Bark, &c.]

We learn from hence the Situation of the Ships of Ulysses, Achilles, and

Ajax. The two latter being the strongest Heroes of the Ar|my, were placed to defend either end of the Fleet as most obnoxious to the Incursions or Surprizes of the Enemy; and Ulysses being the ablest Head, was allotted the middle Place, as more safe and convenient for the Council, and that he might be the nearer if any Emergency required his Advice. Eustathius, Spondanus.

XXVI.

VERSE 293. Thus pray'd the King, and Heav'ns great Fa|ther heard.]

It is to be observ'd in general, that Homer hard|ly ever makes his Heroes succeed, unless they have first of|fer'd a Prayer to Heaven. Whether they engage in War, go upon an Embassy, undertake a Voyage; in a word, whatever they enterprize, they almost always supplicate some God; and whenever we find this omitted, we may expect some Adver|sity to befall them in the Course of the Story.

XXVII.

VERSE 297. The Eagle, sacred Bird!]

Jupiter upon the Prayers of Agamemnon sends an Omen to encourage the Greeks. The Application of it is obvious: The Eagle signified Hector, the Fawn denoted the Fear and Flight of the Greeks, and be|ing drop'd at the Altar of Jupiter, shew'd that they would be saved by the Protection of that God. The word 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 (says Eustathius) has a great Significancy in this Place. The Greeks having just received this happy Omen from Jupiter, were offering Oblations to him under the Title of the Father of Oracles. There may also be a natural Reason for this Ap|pellation, as Jupiter signified the Aether, which is the Vehi|cle of all Sounds.

Virgil has a fine Imitation of this Passage, but diversify'd with many more Circumstances, where he make Juturna shew a Prodigy of the like Nature to encourage the Latins, Aen. 12.

Namque volans rubrâ sulvus Jovis ales in aethrâ, Litoreas agitabat aves, turbamque sonantem

Agminis aligeri: subito cum lapsus ad undas Cycnum excellentem pedibus rapit improbus uncis. Arrexere animos Itali: cunctaeque volucres Convertunt clamore fugam (mirabile visu) Aetheraque obscurant pennis, hostemque per auras Factâ nube premunt: donec vi victus & ipso Pondere defecit, praedamque ex unguibus ales Projecit fluvio, penitusque in nubila fugit.

XXVIII.

VERSE 305. Tydides first.]

Diomed, as we have before seen, was the last that retreated from the Thunder of Jupi|ter; he is now the first that returns to the Battel. It is worth while to observe the Behaviour of the Hero upon this Occa|sion: He retreats with the utmost Reluctancy, and advances with the greatest Ardour, he flies with greater Impatience to meet danger, than he could before to put himself in Safety. Eustathius.

XXIX.

VERSE 320. Secure behind the Telamonian Shield.]

Eusta|thius observes that Teucer being an excellent Archer, and using only the Bow, could not wear any Arms which would incum|ber him, and render him less expedite in his Archery. Ho|mer to secure him from the Enemy, represents him as stand|ing behind Ajax's Shield, and shooting from thence. Thus the Poet gives us a new Circumstance of a Battel, and tho' Ajax atchieves nothing himself, he maintains a Superiority over Teucer: Ajax may be said to kill these Trojans with the Arrows of Teucer.

There is also a wonderful Tenderness in the Simile with which he illustrates the Retreat of Teucer behind the Shield of Ajax: Such tender Circumstances soften the Horrors of a Battel, and diffuse a Dawn of Serenity over the Soul of the Reader.

XXX.

VERSE 336. Great Agamemnon views.]

Eustathius observes that Homer would here teach the Duty of a General in a Bat|tel. He must observe the Behaviour of his Soldiers: He must honour the Hero, reproach the Coward, reduce the disor|derly; and for the Encouragement of the deserving, he must promise Rewards, that Desert in Arms may not only be paid with Glory.

XXXI.

VERSE 342. Sprung from an Alien's Bed.]

Agamemnon here in the Height of his Commendations of Teucer, tells him of his spurious Birth: This (says Eustathius) was reckon'd no Disgrace among the Ancients; nothing being more common than for Heroes of old to take their Female Captives to their Beds; and as such Captives were then given for a Reward of Valour, and as a Matter of Glory, it could be no Reproach to be descended from them. Thus Teucer (says Eustathius) was descended from Telamon, and Hesione the Sister of Priam, a Female Captive.

XXXII.

VERSE 363. This Dog of Troy.]

This is literal from the Greek, and I have ventured it as no improper Expression of the Rage of Teucer for having been so often disappointed in his Aim, and of his Passion against that Enemy who had so long prevented all the Hopes of the Grecians. Milton was not scrupulous of imitating even these, which the modern Refiners call unmannerly Strokes of our Author (who knew to what Extreams human Passions might proceed, and was not ashamed to copy them.) He has put this very Expression in|to the Mouth of God himself, who upon beholding the Ha|vock which Sin and Death made in the World, is moved in his Indignation to cry out,

See with what Heat these Dogs of Hell advance!

XXXIII.

VERSE 365. He miss'd the Mark.]

These Words, says Eu|stathius, are very artfully inserted; the Reader might won|der why so skilful an Archer should so often miss his Mark, and it was necessary that Teucer should miss Hector because Homer could not falsify the History: This Difficulty he re|moves by the Intervention of Apollo, who wafts the Arrow aside from him: The Poet does not tell us that this was done by the Hand of a God, till the Arrow of Teucer came so near Hector as to kill his Charioteer, which made some such Con|trivance necessary.

XXXIV.

VERSE 370. As full-blown Poppies.]

This Simile is very beautiful, and exactly represents the manner of Gorgythion's Death: There is such a Sweetness in the Comparison, that it makes us pity the Youth's Fall, and almost feel his Wound. Virgil has apply'd it to the Death of Euryalus.

—Inque humeros cervix collapsa recumbit: Purpureus veluti cum flos succisus aratro Languescit moriens; lassove papavera collo Demisere caput, pluvia cum forte gravantur.

This is finely improved by the Roman Author with the Par|ticulars of succisus aratro, and lasso collo. But it may on the other hand be observ'd in the favour of Homer, that the Cir|cumstance of the Head being oppressed and weigh'd down by the Helmet is so remarkably just, that it is a wonder Virgil omitted it, and the rather because he had particularly taken notice before that it was the Helmet of Euryalus which occa|sion'd the Discovery and unfortunate Death of this young He|ro and his Friend.

One may make a general Observation, that Homer in those Comparisons that breath an Air of Tenderness, is very ex|act, and adapts them in every Point to the Subject which he

is to illustrate: But in other Comparisons, where he is to in|spire the Soul with sublime Sentiments, he gives a Loose to his Fancy, and does not regard whether the Images exactly correspond. I take the Reason of it to be this: In the first, the Copy must be like the Original to cause it to affect us; the Glass needs only to return the real Image to make it beau|tiful; whereas in the other, a Succession of noble Ideas will cause the like Sentiments in the Soul, and tho' the Glass should enlarge the Image, it only strikes us with such Thoughts as the Poet intended to raise, sublime and great.

XXXV.

VERSE 393. There, where the Juncture knits the Channel Bone.]

Hector struck Teucer (it seems) just about the Articu|lation of the Arm, with the Shoulder; which cut the Ten|don or wounded it so, that the Arm lost its Force: This is a true Description of the Effect of such a Blow.

XXXVI.

VERSE 406. As the bold Hound that gives the Lion chace.]

This Simile is the justest imaginable; and gives the most lively Picture of the manner in which the Grecians fled, and Hector pursued them, still slaughtering the hindmost. Gra|tius and Oppian have given us particular Descriptions of those sort of Dogs, of prodigious Strength and Size, which were employ'd to hunt and tear down wild Beasts. To one of these fierce Animals he compares Hector, and one cannot but observe his Care not to disgrace his Grecian Countrymen by an unworthy Comparison: Tho' he is obliged to represent them flying, he makes them fly like Lions, and as they fly, turn frequently back upon their Pursuer; so that it is hard to say if they, or he, be in the greater Danger. On the contra|ry, when any of the Grecian Heroes pursue the Trojans, it is He that is the Lion, and the Flyers are but Sheep or trem|bling Deer.

XXXVII.

VERSE 438. The stubborn God, inflexible and hard.]

It must be owned that this Speech of Minerva against Jupiter, shocks the Allegory more than perhaps any in the Poem. Unless the Deities may sometimes be thought to mean no more than Beings that presided over those Parts of Nature, or those Passions and Faculties of the Mind. Thus as Venus suggests unlawful as well as lawful Desires, so Minerva may be described as the Goddess not only of Wisdom but of Craft, that is, both of true and false Wisdom. So the Moral of Minerva's speaking rashly of Jupiter may be, that the wisest of finite Beings is liable to Passion and Indiscretion, as the Commentators have already observ'd.

XXXVIII.

VERSE 460. What mighty Trojan then, on yonder Shore.]

She means Hector, whose Death the Poet makes her foresee is such a lively manner as if the Image of the Hero lay bleed|ing before her. This Picture is noble, and agreeable to the Observation we formerly made of Homer's Method of Pro|phecying in the Spirit of Poetry.

XXXIX.

VERSE 468. Floats in rich Waves.]

The Greek word is 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, pours the Veil on the Pavement. I must just take Notice that here is a Repetition of the same beautiful Verses which the Author had used in the fifth Book.

XL.

VERSE 477. Smooth glides the Chariot, &c.]

One would almost think Homer made his Gods and Goddesses descend from Olympus, only to mount again, and mount only to de|scend again, he is so remarkably delighted with the Descri|ptions

of their Horses, and their manner of Flight. We have no less than three of these in the present Book.

XLI.

VERSE 500. For Juno headstrong and imperious still, She claims, &c.]

Eustathius observes here, if a good Man does us a Wrong, we are justly angry at it, but if it proceeds from a bad one, it is no more than we expected, we are not at all surprized, and we bear it with Patience.

There are many such Passages as these in Homer which glance obliquely at the Fair Sex, and Jupiter is here forced to take upon himself the severe Husband, to teach Juno the Duty of a Wife.

XLII.

VERSE 522. But thee what desp'rate Insolence.]

It is ob|servable that Homer generally makes his Messengers, divine as well as human, very punctual in delivering their Messages in the very Words of the Persons who commission'd them. Iris however in the Close of her Speech has ventur'd to go beyond her Instructions and all Rules of Decorum, by adding these Expressions of bitter Reproach to a Goddess of superior Rank. The Words of the Original, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, are too gross to be literally translated.

XLIII.

VERSE 524. Juno her Rage resign'd.]

Homer never in|tended to give us the Picture of a good Wife in the Descrip|tion of Juno: She obeys Jupiter, but it is a forced Obedi|ence: She submits rather to the Governor than to the Hus|band, and is more afraid of his Lightning than his Commands.

Her Behaviour in this Place is very natural to a Person un|der a Disappointment: She had set her Heart upon preferring the Greeks, but failing in that Point, she assumes an Air of Indifference, and says, whether they live or die, she is uncon|cern'd.

XLIV.

VERSE 530. They breathe or perish as the Fates ordain.]

The Translator has turn'd this Line in Compliance to an old Observation upon Homer, which Macrobius has written, and several others have since fallen into: They say he was so great a Fatalist, as not so much as to name the word Fortune in all his Works, but constantly Fate instead of it. This Re|mark seems curious enough, and indeed does agree with the general Tenor and Doctrine of this Poet; but unluckily it is not true, the Word which they have proscribed being im|ply'd in the Original of this ℣. 430. 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉.

XLV.

VERSE 545. And fix the Car on its immortal Base.]

It is remark'd by Eustathius that the word 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 signifies not only Altars, but Pedestals or Bases, of Statues, &c. I think our Language will bear this literally, tho' M. Dacier durst not venture it in the French. The Solemnity with which this Chariot of Jupiter is set up, by the Hands of a God, and co|ver'd with a fine Veil, makes it easy enough to imagine that this Distinction also might be shewn it.

XLVI.

VERSE 569. Juno and Pallas.]

In the beginning of this Book Juno was silent, and Minerva reply'd: Here, says Eu|stathius, Homer makes Juno reply with great Propriety to both their Characters. Minerva resents the Usage of Jupiter, but the Reverence she bears to her Father, and her King, keeps her silent; she has not less Anger than Ju|no, but more Reason. Minerva there spoke with all the Submission and Deference that was owing from a Child to a Father, or from a Subject to a King; but Juno is more free with her Husband, she is angry, and lets him know it by the first word she utters.

Juno here repeats the same Words which had been us'd by

Minerva to Jupiter near the beginning of this Book. What is there utter'd by Wisdom herself, and approv'd by him, is here spoken by a Goddess who (as Homer tells us at this very time) imprudently manifested her Passion, and whom Jupiter answers with Anger. To deal fairly, I cannot de|fend this in my Author, any more than some other of his Repetitions; as when Ajax in the fifteenth Iliad, ℣. 561. uses the same Speech word for word to encourage the Greeks, which Agamemnon had made in the fifth, ℣. 529. I think it equally an Extreme, to vindicate all the Repetitions of Homer, and to excuse none. However Eustathius very ingeniously excuses this, by saying that the same Speeches become entirely dif|ferent by the different manner of introducing them. Mi|nerva address'd herself to Jupiter with Words full of Respect, but Juno with Terms of Resentment. This, says he, shews the Effect of opening our Speeches with Art: It prejudices the Audience in our favour, and makes us speak to Friends: whereas the Auditor naturally denies that Favour, which the Orator does not seem to ask; so that what he delivers, tho' it has equal Merit, labours under this Disadvantage, that his Judges are his Enemies.

XLVII.

VERSE 590. Nor shall great Hector cease, &c.]

Here, says Eustathius, the Poet prepares the Reader for what is to succeed: he gives us the Outlines of his Piece, which he is to fill up in the Progress of the Poem. This is so far from cloying the Reader's Appetite, that it raises it, and makes him desirous to see the Picture drawn in its full length.

XLVIII.

VERSE 620. Ye valiant Trojans, &c.]

Eustathius observes that Hector here speaks like a Soldier: He bears a Spear, not a Sceptre in his Hand; he harangues like a Warrior, but like a Victor; he seems to be too much pleased with himself, and in this Vein of Self-flattery, he promises a compleat Conquest over the Greeks.

XLIX.

VERSE 647. And let the Matrons.]

I have been more ob|servant of the Decorum in this Line than my Author himself. He calls the Women 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, an Epithet of scandalous Im|port, upon which Porphyry and the Greek Scholiast have said but too much. I know no Man that has yet had the Impu|dence to translate that Remark, in regard of which it is Po|liteness to imitate the Barbarians, and say, Graecum est, non legitur. For my part, I leave it as a Motive to some very cu|rious Persons of both Sexes to study the Greek Language.

L.

VERSE 679. Full Hecatombs, &c.]

The six Lines that fol|low being a Translation of four in the Original, are added from the Authority of Plato in Mr. Barnes his Edition: That Author cites them in his second Alcibiades. There is no doubt of their being genuine, but the Question is only whether they are rightly placed here? I shall not pretend to decide upon a Point which will doubtless be the Speculation of future Criticks.

LI.

VERSE 687. As when the Moon, &c.]

This Comparison is inferior to none in Homer. It is the most beautiful Night|piece that can be found in Poetry. He presents you with a Prospect of the Heavens, the Seas, and the Earth: The Stars shine, the Air is serene, the World enlighten'd, and the Moon mounted in Glory. Eustathius remarks that 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 does not signify the Moon at full, for then the Light of the Stars is diminish'd or lost in the greater Brightness of the Moon. And others correct the word 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, to 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, for 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, but this Criticism is forced, and I see no Necessity why the Moon may not be said to be bright, tho' it is not in the full. A Poet is not obliged to speak with the Exactness of Philosophy, but with the Liberty of Poetry.

LII.

VERSE 702. A thousand Piles.]

Homer in his Catalogue of the Grecian Ships, tho' he does not recount expresly the Number of the Greeks, has given some Hints from whence the Sum of their Army may be collected. But in the same Book where he gives an Account of the Trojan Army, and relates the Names of the Leaders and Nations of the Auxili|aries, he says nothing by which we may infer the Number of the Army of the besieged. To supply therefore that Omis|sion, he has taken occasion by this Piece of Poetical Arith|metick, to inform his Reader, that the Trojan Army amounted to fifty thousand. That the Assistant Nations are to be inclu|ded herein, appears from what Dolon says in l. 10. that the Auxiliaries were encamped that Night with the Trojans.

This Passage gives me occasion to animadvert upon a Mistake of a modern Writer, and another of my own. The Abbè Terasson in a late Treatise against Homer, is under a grievous Error, in saying that all the Forces of Troy and the Auxiliaries cannot be reasonably suppos'd from Homer to be above ten thousand Men. He had entirely overlook'd this Place, which says there were a thousand Fires, and fifty Men at each of them. See my Observation on the second Book, where these Fires by a slip of my Memory are called Funeral Piles: I should be glad it were the greatest Error I have com|mitted in these Notes.

LIII.

VERSE 706. The Coursers o'er their Heaps of Corn.]

I durst not take the same Liberty with M. Dacier, who has omitted this Circumstance, and does not mention the Horses at all. In the following Line, the last of the Book, Homer has gi|ven to the Morning the Epithet fair-haired, or bright-throned, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉. I have already taken notice in the Preface of the Method of translating the Epithets of Homer, and must add here, that it is often only the Uncertainty the Mo|derns lie under, of the true genuine Signification of an

ancient word, which causes the many various Constructions of it. So that it is probable the Author's own Words, at the time he used them, never meant half so many things as we translate them into. Madam Dacier generally observes one Practice as to these throughout her Version: She ren|ders almost every such Epithet in Greek by two or three in French, from a fear of losing the least part of its Signifi|cance. This perhaps may be excusable in Prose; tho' at best it makes the whole much more verbose and tedious, and is rather like writing a Dictionary than rendring an Author: But in Verse, every Reader knows such a Redoubling of Epi|thets would not be tolerable. A Poet has therefore only to chuse that, which most agrees with the Tenor and main In|tent of the particular Passage, or with the Genius of Poetry itself.

It is plain that too scrupulous an Adherence to many of these, gives the Translation an exotic, pedantic, and whimsical Air, which it is not to be imagined the Original ever had. To call a Hero the great Artificer of Flight, the swift of Foot, or the Horse-tamer, these give us Ideas of little Pecu|liarities, when in the Author's Time they were Epithets used only in general to signify Alacrity, Agility, and Vigor. A common Reader would imagine from these servile Versions, that Diomed and Achilles were Foot-Racers, and Hector a Horse-Courser, rather than that any of them were Heroes. A Man shall be call'd a faithful Translator for rendring 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 in English, swift-footed; but laugh'd at if he should translate our English word dext'rous into any other Language, right-handed.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Hercu|les