The Iliad: of Homer. Translated by Mr. Pope. [pt.4]

THE FOURTEENTH BOOK OF THE ILIAD.

The ARGUMENT.

Juno deceives Jupiter by the Girdle of Venus.

NEstor sitting at the Table with Machaon, is alarm'd with the encreasing Clamour of the War, and hastens to Agamemnon: On his way he meets that Prince with Diomed and Ulysses, whom he informs of the Extremity of the Danger. Agamemnon proposes to make their Escape by Night, which Ulysses withstands; to which Diomed adds his Advice, that, wounded as they were, they should go forth and encourage the Army with their Presence; which Advice is pursued. Juno seeing the Partiality of Jupiter to the Trojans, forms a Design to over-reach him; she sets off her Charms with the utmost Care, and (the more surely to enchant him) obtains the Magick Girdle of Venus. She then applies herself to the God of Sleep, and with some Difficulty, persuades him to seal the Eyes of Ju|piter; this done she goes to Mount Ida, where the God, at first sight, is ravish'd with her Beauty, sinks in her Embraces, and is laid asleep. Neptune takes Advantage of his Slumber, and succours the Greeks: Hector is struck to the Ground with a prodigious Stone by Ajax, and carry'd off from the Battel: Se|veral Actions succeed; till the Trojans much distress'd, are obliged to give way: The lesser Ajax signalizes himself in a par|ticular manner.

THE FOURTEENTH BOOK OF THE ILIAD.

BUT nor the genial Feast, nor flowing Bowl, Could charm the Cares of Nestor's watchful Soul; His startled Ears th' encreasing Cries attend; Then thus, impatient, to his wounded Friend.

What new Alarm, divine Machaon say,Line 5 What mixt Events attend this mighty Day? Hark! how the Shouts divide, and how they meet, And now come full, and thicken to the Fleet! Here, with the cordial Draught, dispel thy Care, Let Hecamede the strength'ning Bath prepare,Line 10 Refresh thy Wound, and cleanse the clotted Gore; While I th'Adventures of the Day explore.

He said: and seizing Thrasimedes' Shield, (His valiant Offspring) hasten'd to the Field; (That Day, the Son his Father's Buckler bore)Line 15 Then snatch'd a Lance, and issu'd from the Door. Soon as the Prospect open'd to his View, His wounded Eyes the Scene of Sorrow knew; Dire Disarray! the Tumult of the Fight, The Wall in Ruins, and the Greeks in Flight.Line 20 As when old Ocean's silent Surface sleeps, The Waves just heaving on the purple Deeps; While yet th' expected Tempest hangs on high, Weighs down the Cloud, and blackens in the Sky, The Mass of Waters will no Wind obey;Line 25 Jove sends one Gust, and bids them roll away. While wav'ring Counsels thus his Mind engage, Fluctuates, in doubtful Thought, the Pylian Sage; To join the Host, or to the Gen'ral haste, Debating long, he fixes on the last:Line 30 Yet, as he moves, the Fight his Bosom warms; The Field rings dreadful with the Clang of Arms; The gleaming Faulchions flash, the Javelins fly; Blows echo Blows, and all, or kill, or die.

Him, in his March, the wounded Princes meet,Line 35 By tardy Steps ascending from the Fleet. The King of Men, Ulysses the divine, And who to Tydeus owes his noble Line. (Their Ships at distance from the Battel stand, In Lines advanc'd along the shelving Strand;Line 40 Whose Bay, the Fleet unable to contain At length, beside the Margin of the Main, Rank above Rank, the crowded Ships they moor; Who landed first lay highest on the Shore.) Supported on their Spears, they took their way,Line 45 Unfit to fight, but anxious for the Day. Nestor's Approach alarm'd each Grecian Breast, Whom thus the Gen'ral of the Host addrest.

O Grace and Glory of th' Achaian Name! What drives thee, Nestor, from the Field of Fame?Line 50 Shall then proud Hector see his Boast fulfill'd, Our Fleets in Ashes, and our Heroes kill'd? Such was his Threat, ah now too soon made good, On many a Grecian Bosom writ in Blood. Is ev'ry Heart inflam'd with equal RageLine 55 Against your King, nor will one Chief engage?

And have I liv'd to see with mournful Eyes In ev'ry Greek a new Achilles rise?

Gerenian Nestor then. So Fate has will'd; And all-confirming Time has Fate fulfill'd.Line 60 Not he that thunders from th' aerial Bow'r, Not Jove himself, upon the Past has pow'r. The Wall, our late inviolable Bound, And best Defence, lies smoaking on the Ground: Ev'n to the Ships their conqu'ring Arms extend,Line 65 And Groans of slaughter'd Greeks to Heav'n ascend. On speedy Measures then employ your Thought; In such Distress if Counsel profit ought; Arms cannot much: Tho' Mars our Souls incite, These gaping Wounds withhold us from the Fight.Line 70

To him the Monarch. That our Army bends, That Troy triumphant our high Fleet ascends, And that the Rampart, late our surest Trust, And best Defence, lies smoaking in the Dust; All this from Jove's afflictive Hand we bear:Line 75 Who, far from Argos, wills our Ruin here. Past are the Days when happier Greece was blest, And all his Favour, all his Aid confest;

Now Heav'n averse, our Hands from Battel ties, And lifts the Trojan Glory to the Skies.Line 80 Cease we at length to waste our Blood in vain, And launch what Ships lie nearest to the Main; Leave these at Anchor till the coming Night: Then if impetuous Troy forbear the Fight, Bring all to Sea, and hoist each Sail for flight.Line 85 Better from Evils, well foreseen, to run, Than perish in the Danger we may shun.

Thus he. The sage Ulysses thus replies, While Anger flash'd from his disdainful Eyes. What shameful Words, (unkingly as thou art)Line 90 Fall from that trembling Tongue, and tim'rous Heart? Oh were thy Sway the Curse of meaner Pow'rs, And thou the Shame of any Host but ours! A Host, by Jove endu'd with martial Might, And taught to conquer, or to fall in Fight:Line 95 Advent'rous Combats and bold Wars to wage, Employ'd our Youth, and yet employs our Age. And wilt thou thus desert the Trojan Plain? And have whole Streams of Blood been spilt in vain? Line 100

In such base Sentence if thou couch thy Fear,Line 100 Speak it in Whispers, lest a Greek should hear. Lives there a Man so dead to Fame, who dares To think such Meanness, or the Thought declares? And comes it ev'n from him, whose sov'reign Sway The banded Legions of all Greece obey?Line 105 Is this a Gen'ral's Voice, that calls to flight, While War hangs doubtful, while his Soldiers fight? What more could Troy? What yet their Fate denies Thou giv'st the Foe: all Greece becomes their Prize. No more the Troops, our hoisted Sails in view,Line 110 Themselves abandon'd, shall the Fight pursue, Thy Ships first flying with Despair shall see, And owe Destruction to a Prince like thee.

Thy just Reproofs (Atrides calm replies) Like Arrows pierce me, for thy Words are wise.Line 115 Unwilling as I am to lose the Host, I force not Greece to quit this hateful Coast. Glad I submit, whoe'er, or young or old, Ought, more conducive to our Weal, unfold.

Tydides cut him short, and thus began.Line 120 Such Counsel if you seek, behold the Man

Who boldly gives it, and what he shall say, Young tho' he be, disdain not to obey: A Youth, who from the mighty Tydeus springs, May speak to Councils and assembled Kings.Line 125 Hear then in me the great Oenides' Son, Whose honour'd Dust (his Race of Glory run) Lies whelm'd in Ruins of the Theban Wall, Brave in his Life, and glorious in his Fall. With three bold Sons was gen'rous Prothous blest,Line 130 Who Pleuron's Walls and Calydon possest; Melas and Agrius, but (who surpast The rest in Courage) Oeneus was the last. From him, my Sire: from Calydon expell'd, He fled to Argos, and in Exile dwell'd;Line 135 The Monarch's Daughter there (so Jove ordain'd) He won, and flourish'd where Adrastus reign'd: There rich in Fortune's Gifts, his Acres till'd, Beheld his Vines their liquid Harvest yield, And num'rous Flocks, that whiten'd all the Field.Line 140 Such Tydeus was, the foremost once in Fame! Nor lives in Greece a Stranger to his Name.

Then, what for common Good my Thoughts inspire, Attend, and in the Son, respect the Sire. Tho' sore of Battel, tho' with Wounds opprest,Line 145 Let each go forth, and animate the rest, Advance the Glory which he cannot share, Tho' not Partaker, Witness of the War. But lest new Wounds on Wounds o'erpower us quite, Beyond the missile Javelin's sounding Flight,Line 150 Safe let us stand; and from the Tumult far, Inspire the Ranks, and rule the distant War.

He added not: The list'ning Kings obey, Slow moving on; Atrides leads the way. The God of Ocean (to inflame their Rage)Line 155 Appears a Hero furrow'd o'er with Age; Prest in his own, the Gen'ral's Hand he took, And thus the venerable Warrior spoke.

Atrides, lo! with what disdainful Eye Achilles sees his Country's Forces fly:Line 160 Blind impious Man! whose Anger is his Guide, Who glories in inutterable Pride! So may he perish, so may Jove disclaim The Wretch relentless, and o'erwhelm with Shame! Line 165

But Heav'n forsakes not thee: O'er yonder SandsLine 165 Soon shalt thou view the scatter'd Trojan Bands Fly diverse; while proud Kings, and Chiefs renown'd Driv'n Heaps on Heaps, with Clouds involv'd around Of rolling Dust, their winged Wheels employ, To hide their ignominious Heads in Troy.Line 170

He spoke, then rush'd amid the warring Crew; And sent his Voice before him as he flew, Loud, as the Shout encountring Armies yield, When twice ten thousand shake the lab'ring Field; Such was the Voice, and such the thund'ring SoundLine 175 Of him, whose Trident rends the solid Ground. Each Argive Bosom beats to meet the Fight, And grizly War appears a pleasing Sight.

Meantime Saturnia from Olympus' Brow, High-thron'd in Gold, beheld the Fields below;Line 180 With Joy the glorious Conflict she survey'd, Where her great Brother gave the Grecians Aid. But plac'd aloft, on Ida's shady Height She sees her Jove, and trembles at the Sight. Jove to deceive, what Methods shall she try,Line 185 What Arts, to blind his all-beholding Eye?

At length she trusts her Pow'r; resolv'd to prove 'The old, yet still successful, Cheat of Love; Against his Wisdom to oppose her Charms, And lull the Lord of Thunders in her Arms.Line 190

Swift to her bright Apartment she repairs, Sacred to Dress, and Beauty's pleasing Cares: With Skill divine had Vulcan form'd the Bow'r, Safe from Access of each intruding Pow'r. Touch'd with her secret Key, the Doors unfold;Line 195 Self-clos'd behind her shut the Valves of Gold. Here first she bathes; and round her Body pours Soft Oils of Fragrance, and ambrosial Show'rs: The Winds perfum'd, the balmy Gale convey Thro' Heav'n, thro' Earth, and all th'aerial Way;Line 200 Spirit divine! whose Exhalation greets The Sense of Gods with more than mortal Sweets. Thus while she breath'd of Heav'n, with decent Pride Her artful Hands the radiant Tresses ty'd; Part on her Head in shining Ringlets roll'd,Line 205 Part o'er her Shoulders wav'd like melted Gold. Around her next a heav'nly Mantle flow'd, That rich with Pallas' labour'd Colours glow'd;

Large Clasps of Gold the Foldings gather'd round, A golden Zone her swelling Bosom bound.Line 210 Far-beaming Pendants tremble in her Ear, Each Gemm illumin'd with a triple Star. Then o'er her Head she casts a Veil more white Than new fal'n Snow, and dazling as the Light. Last her fair Feet celestial Sandals grace.Line 215 Thus issuing radiant, with majestic Pace, Forth from the Dome th'Imperial Goddess moves, And calls the Mother of the Smiles and Loves.

How long (to Venus thus apart she cry'd) Shall human Strifes celestial Minds divide?Line 220 Ah yet, will Venus aid Saturnia's Joy, And set aside the Cause of Greece and Troy?

Let Heav'n's dread Empress (Cytheraea said) Speak her Request, and deem her Will obey'd. Then grant me (said the Queen) those conqu'ring Charms,Line 225 That Pow'r, which Mortals and Immortals warms, That Love, which melts Mankind in fierce Desires, And burns the Sons of Heav'n with sacred Fires!

For lo! I haste to those remote Abodes, Where the great Parents (sacred Source of Gods!)Line 230 Ocean and Tethys their old Empire keep, On the last Limits of the Land and Deep. In their kind Arms my tender Years were past; What-time old Saturn, from Olympus cast, Of upper Heav'n to Jove resign'd the Reign,Line 235 Whelm'd under the huge Mass of Earth and Main. For Strife, I hear, has made the Union cease, Which held so long that ancient Pair in Peace. What Honour, and what Love shall I obtain, If I compose those fatal Feuds again?Line 240 Once more their Minds in mutual Ties engage, And what my Youth has ow'd, repay their Age.

She said. With Awe divine the Queen of Love Obey'd the Sister and the Wife of Jove: And from her fragrant Breast the Zone unbrac'd,Line 245 With various Skill and high Embroid'ry grac'd. In this was ev'ry Art, and ev'ry Charm, To win the wisest, and the coldest warm: Fond Love, the gentle Vow, the gay Desire, The kind Deceit, the still-reviving Fire,Line 250

Persuasive Speech, and more persuasive Sighs, Silence that spoke, and Eloquence of Eyes. This on her Hand the Cyprian Goddess lay'd; Take this, and with it all thy Wish, she said: With Smiles she took the Charm; and smiling prestLine 255 The pow'rful Cestus to her snowy Breast.

Then Venus to the Courts of Jove withdrew; Whilst from Olympus pleas'd Saturnia flew. O'er high Pieria thence her Course she bore, O'er fair Emathia's ever pleasing Shore,Line 260 O'er Haemus' Hills with Snows eternal crown'd; Nor once her flying Foot approach'd the Ground. Then taking wing from Athos' lofty Steep, She speeds to Lemnos o'er the rowling Deep, And seeks the Cave of Death's half-Brother, Sleep.Line 265

Sweet pleasing Sleep! (Saturnia thus began) Who spread'st thy Empire o'er each God and Man; If e'er obsequious to thy Juno's Will, O Pow'r of Slumbers! hear, and favour still. Shed thy soft Dews on Jove's immortal Eyes,Line 270 While sunk in Love's entrancing Joys he lies.

A splendid Footstool, and a Throne, that shine With Gold unfading, Somnus, shall be thine; The Work of Vulcan; to indulge thy Ease, When Wine and Feasts thy golden Humours please.Line 275

Imperial Dame (the balmy Pow'r replies) Great Saturn's Heir, and Empress of the Skies! O'er other Gods I spread my easy Chain; The Sire of all, old Ocean, owns my Reign, And his hush'd Waves lie silent on the Main.Line 280 But how, unbidden, shall I dare to steep Jove's awful Temples in the Dew of Sleep? Long since too vent'rous, at thy bold Command, On those eternal Lids I laid my Hand; What-time, deserting Ilion's wasted Plain,Line 285 His conqu'ring Son, Alcides, plow'd the Main: When lo! the Deeps arise, the Tempests roar, And drive the Hero to the Coan Shore: Great Jove awaking, shook the blest Abodes, With rising Wrath, and tumbled Gods on Gods;Line 290 Me chief he sought, and from the Realms on high Had hurl'd indignant to the nether Sky,

But gentle Night, to whom I fled for Aid, (The Friend of Earth and Heav'n) her Wings display'd; Impow'r'd the Wrath of Gods and Men to tame,Line 295 Ev'n Jove rever'd the Venerable Dame.

Vain are thy Fears (the Queen of Heav'n replies, And speaking rolls her large, majestic Eyes) Think'st thou that Troy has Jove's high Favour won, Like great Alcides, his all-conqu'ring Son?Line 300 Hear, and obey the Mistress of the Skies, Nor for the Deed expect a vulgar Prize; For know, thy lov'd one shall be ever thine, The youngest Grace, Pasithaë the divine.

Swear then (he said) by those tremendous FloodsLine 305 That roar thro' Hell, and bind th' invoking Gods: Let the great Parent Earth one Hand sustain, And stretch the other o'er the sacred Main. Call the black Gods that round Saturnus dwell, To hear, and witness from the Depths of Hell;Line 310 That, she, my lov'd one, shall be ever mine, The youngest Grace, Pasithaë the divine.

The Queen assents, and from th' infernal Bow'rs Invokes the sable Subtartarean Pow'rs, Line 315

And those who rule th' inviolable Floods,Line 315 Whom Mortals name the dread Titanian Gods.

Then swift as Wind, o'er Lemnos smoaky Isle, They wing their way, and Imbrus' Sea-beat Soil, Thro' Air unseen involv'd in Darkness glide, And light on Lectos, on the Point of Ide.Line 320 (Mother of Savages, whose echoing Hills Are heard resounding with a hundred Rills) Fair Ida trembles underneath the God; Hush'd are her Mountains, and her Forests nod. There on a Fir, whose spiry Branches riseLine 325 To join its Summit to the neighb'ring Skies, Dark in embow'ring Shade, conceal'd from Sight, Sate Sleep, in Likeness of the Bird of Night, (Chalcis his Name with those of heav'nly Birth, But call'd Cymindis by the Race of Earth.)Line 330

To Ida's Top successful Juno flies: Great Jove surveys her with desiring Eyes: The God, whose Light'ning sets the Heav'ns on fire, Thro' all his Bosom feels the fierce Desire; Fierce as when first by stealth he seiz'd her Charms,Line 335 Mix'd with her Soul, and melted in her Arms.

Fix'd on her Eyes he fed his eager Look, Then press'd her Hand, and thus with Transport spoke.

Why comes my Goddess from th' aethereal Sky, And not her Steeds and flaming Chariot nigh?Line 340

Then she—I haste to those remote Abodes, Where the great Parents of the deathless Gods, The rev'rend Ocean and grey Tethys reign, On the last Limits of the Land and Main. I visit these, to whose indulgent CaresLine 345 I owe the nursing of my tender Years. For Strife, I hear, has made that Union cease Which held so long this ancient Pair in Peace. The Steeds, prepar'd my Chariot to convey O'er Earth and Seas, and thro' th' aërial way,Line 350 Wait under Ide: Of thy superior Pow'r To ask Consent, I leave th' Olympian Bow'r; Nor seek, unknown to thee, the sacred Cells Deep under Seas, where hoary Ocean dwells.

For that (said Jove) suffice another Day;Line 355 But eager Love denies the least Delay. Let softer Cares the present Hour employ, And be these Moments sacred all to Joy.

Ne'er did my Soul so strong a Passion prove, Or for an earthly, or a heav'nly Love:Line 360 Not when I press'd Ixion's matchless Dame, Whence rose Perithous like the Gods in Fame. Not when fair Danaë felt the Show'r of Gold Stream into Life, whence Perseus brave and bold. Not thus I burn'd for either Theban Dame,Line 365 (Bacchus from this, from that Alcides came) Not Phoenix' Daughter, beautiful and young, Whence godlike Rhadamanth and Minos sprung. Not thus I burn'd for fair Latona's Face, Nor comelier Ceres' more majestic Grace.Line 370 Not thus ev'n for thy self I felt Desire, As now my Veins receive the pleasing Fire.

He spoke; the Goddess with the charming Eyes Glows with celestial Red, and thus replies. Is this a Scene for Love? On Ida's Height,Line 375 Expos'd to mortal, and immortal Sight; Our Joys prophan'd by each familiar Eye; The Sport of Heav'n, and Fable of the Sky! How shall I e'er review the blest Abodes, Or mix among the Senate of the Gods?Line 380

Shall I not think, that, with disorder'd Charms, All Heav'n beholds me recent from thy Arms? With Skill divine has Vulcan form'd thy Bow'r, Sacred to Love and to the genial Hour; If such thy Will, to that Recess retire,Line 385 And secret there indulge thy soft Desire.

She ceas'd, and smiling with superior Love, Thus answer'd mild the Cloud-compelling Jove. Nor God, nor Mortal shall our Joys behold, Shaded with Clouds, and circumfus'd in Gold,Line 390 Not ev'n the Sun, who darts thro' Heav'n his Rays, And whose broad Eye th' extended Earth surveys.

Gazing he spoke, and kindling at the view, His eager Arms around the Goddess threw. Glad Earth perceives, and from her Bosom poursLine 395 Unbidden Herbs, and voluntary Flow'rs; Thick new-born Vi'lets a soft Carpet spread, And clust'ring Lotos swell'd the rising Bed, And sudden Hyacinths the Turf bestrow, And flamy Crocus made the Mountain glow.Line 400 There golden Clouds conceal the heav'nly Pair, Steep'd in soft Joys, and circumfus'd with Air;

Celestial Dews, descending o'er the Ground, Perfume the Mount, and breathe Ambrosia round. At length with Love and Sleep's soft Pow'r opprest,Line 405 The panting Thund'rer nods, and sinks to Rest.

Now to the Navy born on silent Wings, To Neptune's Ear soft Sleep his Message brings; Beside him sudden, unperceiv'd he stood, And thus with gentle Words address'd the God.Line 410

Now, Neptune! now, th' important Hour employ, To check a while the haughty Hopes of Troy: While Jove yet rests, while yet my Vapours shed The golden Vision round his sacred Head; For Juno's Love, and Somnus' pleasing Ties,Line 415 Have clos'd those awful and eternal Eyes.

Thus having said, the Pow'r of Slumber flew, On human Lids to drop the balmy Dew. Neptune, with Zeal encreas'd, renews his Care, And tow'ring in the foremost Ranks of War,Line 420 Indignant thus—Oh once of martial Fame! O Greeks! if yet ye can deserve the Name! This half-recover'd Day shall Troy obtain? Shall Hector thunder at your Ships again? Line 425

Lo still he vaunts, and threats the Fleet with Fires,Line 425 While stern Achilles in his Wrath retires. One Hero's Loss too tamely you deplore, Be still your selves, and we shall need no more. Oh yet, if Glory any Bosom warms, Brace on your firmest Helms, and stand to Arms:Line 430 His strongest Spear each valiant Grecian wield, Each valiant Grecian seize his broadest Shield; Let, to the weak, the lighter Arms belong, The pond'rous Targe be wielded by the strong. (Thus arm'd) not Hector shall our Presence stay;Line 435 My self, ye Greeks! my self will lead the way.

The Troops assent; their martial Arms they change, The busy Chiefs their banded Legions range. The Kings, tho' wounded, and oppress'd with Pain, With helpful Hands themselves assist the Train.Line 440 The strong and cumb'rous Arms the valiant wield, The weaker Warrior takes a lighter Shield. Thus sheath'd in shining Brass, in bright Array, The Legions march, and Neptune leads the way: His brandish'd Faulchion flames before their Eyes,Line 445 Like Light'ning flashing thro' the frighted Skies.

Clad in his Might th' Earth-shaking Pow'r appears; Pale Mortals tremble, and confess their Fears.

Troy's great Defender stands alone unaw'd, Arms his proud Host, and dares oppose a God:Line 450 And lo! the God, and wond'rous Man appear; The Sea's great Ruler there, and Hector here. The roaring Main, at her great Master's Call, Rose in huge Ranks, and form'd a watry Wall Around the Ships: Seas hanging o'er the Shores,Line 455 Both Armies join: Earth thunders, Ocean roars. Not half so loud the bellowing Deeps resound, When stormy Winds disclose the dark Profound; Less loud the Winds, that from th' Aeolian Hall Roar thro' the Woods, and make whole Forests fall;Line 460 Less loud the Woods, when Flames in Torrents pour, Catch the dry Mountain, and its Shades devour.

With such a Rage the meeting Hosts are driv'n, And such a Clamour shakes the sounding Heav'n. The first bold Javelin urg'd by Hector's Force,Line 465 Direct at Ajax' Bosom wing'd its Course; But there no Pass the crossing Belts afford, (One brac'd his Shield, and one sustain'd his Sword.)

Then back the disappointed Trojan drew, And curs'd the Lance that unavailing flew:Line 470 But 'scap'd not Ajax; his tempestuous Hand A pond'rous Stone up-heaving from the Sand, (Where Heaps lay'd loose beneath the Warrior's Feet, Or serv'd to ballast, or to prop the Fleet) Toss'd round and round, the missive Marble flings;Line 475 On the raz'd Shield the falling Ruin rings: Full on his Breast and Throat with Force descends; Nor deaden'd there its giddy Fury spends, But whirling on, with many a fiery round, Smoaks in the Dust, and ploughs into the Ground.Line 480 As when the Bolt, red-hissing from above, Darts on the consecrated Plant of Jove, The Mountain-Oak in flaming Ruin lies, Black from the Blow, and Smoaks of Sulphur rise; Stiff with Amaze the pale Beholders stand,Line 485 And own the Terrors of th' Almighty Hand! So lies great Hector prostrate on the Shore; His slacken'd Hand deserts the Lance it bore; His following Shield the fallen Chief o'erspread; Beneath his Helmet drop'd his fainting Head;Line 490

His Load of Armour, sinking to the Ground, Clanks on the Field; a dead, and hollow Sound. Loud Shouts of Triumph fill the crowded Plain; Greece sees, in hope, Troy's great Defender slain: All spring to seize him; Storms of Arrows fly;Line 495 And thicker Javelins intercept the Sky. In vain an Iron Tempest hisses round; He lies protected, and without a Wound. Polydamas, Agenor the divine, The pious Warrior of Anchises' Line,Line 500 And each bold Leader of the Lycian Band; With cov'ring Shields (a friendly Circle) stand. His mournful Followers with assistant Care, The groaning Hero to his Chariot bear; His foaming Coursers, swifter than the Wind,Line 505 Speed to the Town, and leave the War behind.

When now they touch'd the Mead's enamel'd Side, Where gentle Xanthus rolls his easy Tyde, With watry Drops the Chief they sprinkle round, Plac'd on the Margin of the flow'ry Ground.Line 510 Rais'd on his Knees, he now ejects the Gore; Now faints anew, low-sinking on the Shore;

By fits he breathes, half views the fleeting Skies, And seals again, by fits, his swimming Eyes.

Soon as the Greeks the Chief's Retreat beheld,Line 515 With double Fury each invades the Field. Oïlean Ajax first his Javelin sped, Pierc'd by whose Point, the Son of Enops bled; (Satnius the brave, whom beauteous Neis bore Amidst her Flocks on Satnio's silver Shore)Line 520 Struck thro' the Belly's Rim, the Warrior lies Supine, and Shades eternal veil his Eyes. An arduous Battel rose around the dead; By turns the Greeks, by turns the Trojans bled. Fir'd with Revenge, Polydamas drew near,Line 525 And at Prothoenor shook the trembling Spear; The driving Javelin thro' his Shoulder thrust, He sinks to Earth, and grasps the bloody Dust. Lo thus (the Victor cries) we rule the Field, And thus their Arms the Race of Panthus wield:Line 530 From this unerring Hand there flies no Dart But bathes its Point within a Grecian Heart. Propt on that Spear to which thou ow'st thy Fall, Go, guide thy darksome Steps, to Pluto's dreary Hall!

He said, and Sorrow touch'd each Argive Breast:Line 535 The Soul of Ajax burn'd above the rest. As by his side the groaning Warrior fell, At the fierce Foe he launch'd his piercing Steel; The Foe reclining, shunn'd the flying Death; But Fate, Archelochus, demands thy Breath:Line 540 Thy lofty Birth no Succour could impart, The Wings of Death o'ertook thee on the Dart, Swift to perform Heav'n's fatal Will it fled, Full on the Juncture of the Neck and Head, And took the Joint, and cut the Nerves in twain:Line 545 The dropping Head first tumbled to the Plain. So just the Stroke, that yet the Body stood Erect, then roll'd along the Sands in Blood.

Here, proud Polydamas, here turn thy Eyes! (The tow'ring Ajax loud-insulting cries)Line 550 Say, is this Chief, extended on the Plain, A worthy Vengeance for Prothoenor slain? Mark well his Port! his Figure and his Face Nor speak him vulgar, nor of vulgar Race; Some Lines, methinks, may make his Lineage known,Line 555 Antenor's Brother, or perhaps his Son.

He spake, and smil'd severe, for well he knew The bleeding Youth: Troy sadden'd at the View. But furious Acamas aveng'd his Cause; As Promachus his slaughter'd Brother draws,Line 560 He pierc'd his Heart—Such Fate attends you all, Proud Argives! destin'd by our Arms to fall. Not Troy alone, but haughty Greece shall share The Toils, the Sorrows, and the Wounds of War. Behold your Promachus depriv'd of Breath,Line 565 A Victim ow'd to my brave Brother's Death. Not unappeas'd, He enters Pluto's Gate, Who leaves a Brother to revenge his Fate.

Heart-piercing Anguish struck the Grecian Host, But touch'd the Breast of bold Peneleus most:Line 570 At the proud Boaster he directs his Course; The Boaster flies, and shuns superior Force. But young Ilioneus receiv'd the Spear, Ilioneus, his Father's only Care: (Phorbas the rich, of all the Trojan TrainLine 575 Whom Hermes lov'd, and taught the Arts of Gain) Full in his Eye the Weapon chanc'd to fall, And from the Fibres scoop'd the rooted Ball,

Drove thro' the Neck, and hurl'd him to the Plain; He lifts his miserable Arms in vain!Line 580 Swift his broad Faulchion fierce Peneleus spread, And from the spouting Shoulders struck his Head; To Earth at once the Head and Helmet fly; The Lance, yet sticking thro' the bleeding Eye, The Victor seiz'd; and as aloft he shookLine 585 The goary Visage, thus insulting spoke.

Trojans! your great Ilioneus behold! Haste, to his Father let the Tale be told: Let his high Roofs resound with frantic Woe, Such, as the House of Promachus must know;Line 590 Let doleful Tidings greet his Mother's Ear, Such, as to Promachus' sad Spouse we bear; When we, victorious, shall to Greece return, And the pale Matron in our Triumphs mourn.

Dreadful he spoke, then toss'd the Head on high;Line 595 The Trojans hear, they tremble, and they fly: Aghast they gaze, around the Fleet and Wall, And dread the Ruin that impends on all.

Daughters of Jove! that on Olympus shine, Ye all-beholding, all-recording Nine!Line 600

O say, when Neptune made proud Ilion yield, What Chief, what Hero first embru'd the Field? Of all the Grecians, what immortal Name, And whose blest Trophies, will ye raise to Fame?

Thou first, great Ajax! on th' ensanguin'd PlainLine 605 Laid Hyrtius, Leader of the Mysian Train. Phalces and Mermer, Nestor's Son o'erthrew. Bold Merion, Morys and Hippotion slew. Strong Periphaetes and Prothoön bled, By Teucer's Arrows mingled with the dead.Line 610 Pierc'd in the Flank by Menelaus' Steel, His People's Pastor, Hyperenor fell; Eternal Darkness wrapt the Warrior round, And the fierce Soul came rushing thro' the Wound. But stretch'd in heaps before Oïleus' Son,Line 615 Fall mighty Numbers; mighty Numbers run; Ajax the less, of all the Grecian Race Skill'd in Pursuit, and swiftest in the Chace.

OBSERVATIONS ON THE Fourteenth Book.

OBSERVATIONS ON THE FOURTEENTH BOOK.

I.

THE Poet, to advance the Character of Nestor, and give us a due Esteem for his Conduct and Circum|spection, represents him as deeply sollicitous for the common Good: In the very Article of Mirth or Relaxation from the Toils of War, he is all Attention to learn the Fate and Issue of the Battel: And through his long Use and Skill in martial Events, he judges from the Quality of the Uproar still encreasing, that the Fortune of the Day is held no longer in suspense, but inclines to one side. Eu|stathius.

II.

VERSE 1. But nor the Genial Feast.]

At the end of the 11th Book we left Nestor at the Table with Machaon. The Attack of the Entrenchments, describ'd thro' the 12th and 13th Books, happen'd while Nestor and Machaon sate at the Table; nor is there any Improbability herein, since there is nothing perform'd in those two Books, but what might na|turally happen in the Space of two Hours. Homer constant|ly

follows the Thread of his Narration, and never suffers his Reader to forget the Train of Action, or the time it employs. Dacier.

III.

VERSE 10. Let Hecamede the Bath prepare.]

The Cu|stom of Women officiating to Men in the Bath was usual in ancient Times. Examples are frequent in the Odysseis. And it is not at all more odd, or to be sneer'd at, than the Cu|stom now us'd in France, of Valets de Chambres dressing and undressing Ladies.

IV.

VERSE 21. As when old Ocean's silent Surface sleeps.]

There are no where more finish'd Pictures of Nature, than those which Homer draws in several of his Comparisons. The Beauty however of some of these will be lost to many, who cannot perceive the Resemblance, having never had Op|portunity to observe the things themselves. The Life of this Description will be most sensible to those who have been at Sea in a Calm: In this Condition the Water is not entire|ly motionless, but swells gently in smooth Waves, which flu|ctuate backwards and forwards in a kind of balancing Mo|tion: This State continues till a rising Wind gives a Deter|mination to the Waves, and rolls 'em one certain way. There is scarce any thing in the whole Compass of Nature that can more exactly represent the State of an irresolute Mind, wa|vering between two different Designs, sometimes inclining to the one, sometimes to the other, and then moving to the Point to which its Resolution is at last determin'd. Every Circumstance of this Comparison is both beautiful and just; and it is the more to be admir'd, because it is very difficult to find sensible Images proper to represent the Motions of the Mind; wherefore we but rarely meet with such Comparisons even in the best Poets. There is one of great Beauty in Vir|gil, upon a Subject very like this, where he compares his Hero's Mind, agitated with a great Variety and quick Succes|sion

of Thoughts, to a dancing Light reflected from a Ves|sel of Water in Motion.

Cuncta videns, magno curarum fluctuat aestu, Atque animum, nunc huc, celerem, nunc dividit illuc, In partes{que} rapit varias, perque omnia versat. Sicut aquae tremulum labris ubi lumen ahenis Sole repercussum, aut radiantis imagine lunae, Omnia pervolitat latè loca; jamque sub auras Erigitur, summique ferit laquearia tecti. Aen. l. 8. ℣. 19.

V.

VERSE 30. He fixes on the last.]

Nestor appears in this Place a great Friend to his Prince; for upon deliberating whether he should go through the Body of the Grecian Host, or else repair to Agamemnon's Tent; he determines at last, and judges it the best way to go to the latter. Now because it had been ill concerted to have made a Man of his Age walk a great way round about in quest of his Commander, Homer has order'd it so that he should meet Agamemnon in his way thither. And nothing could be better imagin'd than the reason, why the wounded Princes left their Tents; they were impatient to behold the Battel, anxious for its Success, and desirous to inspirit the Soldiers by their Presence. The Poet was obliged to give a reason; for in Epic Poe|try, as well as in Dramatic, no Person ought to be in|troduced without some Necessity, or at least some Probabili|ty, for his Appearance. Eustathius.

VI.

VERSE 39. Their Ships at distance, &c.]

Homer being al|ways careful to distinguish each Scene of Action, gives a very particular Description of the Station of the Ships, shewing in what manner they lay drawn up on the Land. This he had only hinted at before; but here taking occasion on the wounded Heroes coming from their Ships, which were at a

distance from the Fight (while others were engag'd in the Defence of those Ships where the Wall was broke down) he tells us, that the Shore of the Bay (comprehended between the Rhaetean and Sigaean Promontories) was not sufficient to contain the Ships in one Line; which they were therefore obliged to draw up in Ranks, ranged in parallel Lines along the Shore. How many of these Lines there were, the Poet does not determine. M. Dacier, without giving any reason for her Opinion, says they were but two; one advanced near the Wall, the other on the Verge of the Sea. But it is more than probable, that there were several intermediate Lines; since the Order in which the Vessels lay is here describ'd by a Metaphor taken from the Steps of a Scaling-Ladder; which had been no way proper to give an Image only of two Ranks, but very fit to represent a greater, tho' undetermin'd Num|ber. That there were more than two Lines, may likewise be inferr'd from what we find in the beginning of the 11th Book; where it is said, that the Voice of Discord, standing on the Ship of Ulysses, in the middle of the Fleet, was heard as far as the Sta|tions of Achilles and Ajax, whose Ships were drawn up in the two Extremities: Those of Ajax were nearest the Wall (as is expresly said in the 68th Verse of the 13th Book) and those of Achilles nearest the Sea, as appears from many Passages scatter'd thro' the Iliad.

It must be suppos'd, that those Ships were drawn highest upon Land, which first approached the Shore; the first Line therefore consisted of those who first disembark'd, which were the Ships of Ajax and Protesilaus; the latter of whom seems mention'd in the Verse above cited of the 13th Book, only to give occasion to observe this, for he was slain as he landed first of the Greeks. And accordingly we shall see in the 15th Book, it is his Ship that is first attack'd by the Trojans, as it lay the nearest to them.

We may likewise guess how it happens, that the Ships of Achilles were plac'd nearest to the Sea; for in the Answer of Achilles to Ulysses in the 9th Book, ℣. 328. he mentions a Naval Expedition he had made while Agamemnon lay safe in the Camp: So that his Ships at their Return did natural|ly lie next the Sea; which, without this Consideration,

might appear a Station not so becoming this Hero's Courage.

VII.

VERSE 47. Nestor's Approach alarm'd.]

That so labori|ous a Person as Nestor has been described, so indefatigable, so little indulgent of his extreme Age, and one that never re|ceded from the Battel, should approach to meet them; this it was that struck the Princes with Amazement, when they saw he had left the Field. Eustathius.

VIII.

VERSE 81. Cease we at length, &c.]

Agamemnon either does not know what Course to take in this Distress, or only sounds the Sentiments of his Nobles (as he did in the second Book of the whole Army.) He delivers himself first after Nestor's Speech, as it became a Counseller to do. But knowing this Advice to be dishonourable, and unsuitable to the Character he assumes elsewhere, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, &c. and considering that he should do no better than abandon his Post, when before he had threaten'd the Deser|ters with Death; he reduces his Counsel into the Form of a Proverb, disguising it as handsomly as he can under a Sen|tence. It is better to avoid an Evil, &c. It is observable too how he has qualify'd the Expression: He does not say, to shun the Battel, for that had been unsoldierly, but he softens the Phrase, and calls it, to shun Evil: And this word Evil he applies twice together, in advising them to leave the En|gagement.

It is farther remark'd, that this was the noblest Opportunity for a General to try the Temper of his Officers; for he knew that in a Calm of Affairs, it was common with most People either out of Flattery or Respect to submit to their Leaders: But in imminent Danger, Fear does not bribe them, but every one discovers his very Soul, valuing all other Considerations, in regard to his Safety, but in the second Place. He knew the Men he spoke to were prudent Persons, and not easy to cast

themselves into a precipitate Flight. He might likewise have a mind to recommend himself to his Army by the means of his Officers; which he was not very able to do of himself, angry as they were at him, for the Affront he had offer'd Achilles, and by Consequence thinking him the Author of all their present Calamities. Eustathius.

IX.

VERSE 92. Oh were thy Sway the Curse of meaner Pow'rs, And thou the Shame of any Host but ours.]

This is a noble Complement to his Country and to the Gre|cian Army, to shew that it was an Impossibility for them to follow even their General in any thing that was cowardly, or shameful; tho' the Lives and Safeties of 'em all were con|cern'd in it.

X.

VERSE 104. And comes it ev'n from him whose sov'reign Sway The banded Legions of all Greece obey?]

As who should say, that another Man might indeed have utter'd the same Advice, but it could not be a Person of Prudence; or if he had Prudence, he could not be a Governour, but a pri|vate Man; or if a Governour, yet one who had not a well|disciplin'd and obedient Army; or lastly, if he had an Army so condition'd, yet it could not be so large and numerous an one as that of Agamemnon. This is a fine Climax, and of a wonderful Strength. Eustathius.

XI.

VERSE 118. Whoe'er, or young, or old, &c.]

This nearly resembles an ancient Custom at Athens, where in Times of Trouble and Distress, every one, of what Age or Quality so|ever, was invited to give in his Opinion with Freedom by the publick Cryer. Eustathius.

XII.

VERSE 120.] This Speech of Diomed is naturally intro|duced, beginning with an Answer, as if he had been call'd upon to give his Advice. The Counsel he proposes was that alone which could be of any real Service in their present Exi|gency: However since he ventures to advise where Ulysses is at a Loss, and Nestor himself silent, he thinks it proper to apologize for this Liberty by reminding them of his Birth and Descent, hoping thence to add to his Counsel a Weight and Authority which he could not from his Years and Expe|rience. It can't indeed be deny'd that this historical Digres|sion seems more out of Season than any of the same kind which we so frequently meet with in Homer, since his Birth and Pa|rentage must have been sufficiently known to all at the Siege, as he here tells them. This must be own'd a Defect not al|together to be excus'd in the Poet, but which may receive some Alleviation, if consider'd as a Fault of Temperament. For he had certainly a strong Inclination to genealogical Stories, and too frequently takes occasion to gratify this Humour.

XIII.

VERSE 135. He fled to Argos.]

This is a very artful Co|lour: He calls the Flight of his Father for killing one of his Brothers, travelling and dwelling at Argos, without mention|ing the Cause and Occasion of his Retreat. What imme|diately follows (so Jove ordain'd) does not only contain in it a Disguise of his Crime, but is a just Motive likewise for our Compassion. Eustathius.

XIV.

VERSE 146. Let each go forth and animate the rest.]

It is worth a Remark, with what Management and Discretion the Poet has brought these four Kings, and no more, towards

the Engagement, since these are sufficient alone to perform all that he requires. For Nestor proposes to them to enquire, if there be any way or means which Prudence can direct for their Security. Agamemnon attempts to discover that Me|thod. Ulysses refutes him as one whose Method was disho|nourable, but proposes no other Project. Diomed supplies that Deficiency, and shews what must be done: That wounded as they are, they should go forth to the Battel; for tho' they were not able to engage, yet their Presence would re-establish their Affairs by detaining in Arms those who might otherwise quit the Field. This Counsel is embrac'd, and readily obey'd by the rest. Eustathius.

XV.

VERSE 179. The Story of Jupiter and Juno.]

I don't know a bolder Fiction in all Antiquity, than this of Jupiter's being deceiv'd and laid asleep, or that has a greater Air of Impiety and Absurdity. 'Tis an Observation of Mons. de St. Evre|mond upon the ancient Poets, which every one will agree to;

"that it is surprizing enough to find them so scrupulous to preserve Probability, in Actions purely human; and so ready to violate it, in representing the Actions of the Gods. Even those who have spoken more sagely than the rest, of their Nature, could not forbear to speak extravagantly of their Conduct. When they establish their Being and their Attributes, they make them immortal, infinite, almighty, perfectly wise, and perfectly good: But the Moment they represent them acting, there's no Weakness to which they do not make 'em stoop, and no Folly or Wickedness they do not make 'em commit."

The same Author answers this in another Place by remarking,

"that Truth was not the Inclination of the first Ages: A foolish Lye or a lucky Falshood gave Reputation to Impostors, and Pleasure to the credulous. 'Twas the whole Secret of the great and the wise to govern the simple and ignorant Herd. The vul|gar, who pay a profound Reverence to mysterious Errors, would have despised plain Truth, and it was thought a piece of Prudence to deceive them. All the Discourses of

the Ancients were fitted to so advantagious a Design. There was nothing to be seen but Fictions, Allegories, and Similitudes, and nothing was to appear as it was in itself."

I must needs, upon the whole, as far as I can judge, give up the Morality of this Fable; but what Colour of Excuse for it Homer might have from ancient Tradition, or what mystical or allegorical Sense might attone for the appearing Impiety, is hard to be ascertain'd at this distant Period of Time. That there had been before his Age a Tradition of Jupiter's being laid asleep, appears from the Story of Hercules at Coos, referr'd to by our Author, ℣. 285. There is also a Passage in Diodorus, lib. 1. c. 7. which gives some small Light to this Fiction. Among other Reasons which that Historian lays down to prove that Homer travell'd into Egypt, he alledges this Passage of the Interview of Jupiter and Juno, which he says was grounded upon an Egyptian Festival, whereon the nuptial Ceremonies of these two Deities were celebrated, at which time both their Tabernacles, adorned with all sorts of Flowers, are carry'd by the Priests to the top of a high Moun|tain. Indeed as the greatest Part of the Ceremonies of the ancient Religions consisted in some symbolical Representations of certain Actions of their Gods, or rather deify'd Mortals, so a great part of ancient Poetry consisted in the Description of the Actions exhibited in these Ceremonies. The Loves of Venus and Adonis are a remarkable Instance of this kind, which, tho' under different Names, were celebrated by annual Representations, as well in Egypt as in several Nations of Greece and Asia: and to the Images which were carry'd in these Festivals, several ancient Poets were indebted for their most happy Descriptions. If the Truth of this Observation of Diodorus be admitted, the present Passage will appear with more Dignity, being grounded on Religion; and the Conduct of the Poet will be more justifiable, if that, which has been generally accounted an indecent wanton Fiction, should prove to be the Representation of a religious Solemnity. Con|sidering the great Ignorance we are in of many ancient su|perstitious Ceremonies, there may be probably in Homer ma|ny Incidents entirely of this Nature; wherefore we ought to

be reserv'd in our Censures, lest what we decry as wrong in the Poet, should prove only a Fault in his Religion. And indeed it would be a very unfair way to tax any People, or any Age whatever, with Grossness in general, purely from the gross or absurd Ideas or Practices that are to be found in their Religions.

In the next Place, if we have recourse to Allegory, (which softens and reconciles every thing) it may be imagin'd that by the Congress of Jupiter and Juno, is meant the min|gling of the Aether and the Air (which are generally said to be signify'd by these two Deities.) The Ancients believ'd the Aether to be Igneous, and that by its kind Influence up|on the Air it was the Cause of all Vegetation: To which nothing more exactly corresponds, than the Fiction of the Earth putting forth her Flowers immediately upon this Con|gress. Virgil has some Lines in the second Georgic, that seem a perfect Explanation of the Fable into this Sense. In describing the Spring, he hints as if something of a vivifying Influence was at that time spread from the upper Heavens in|to the Air. He calls Jupiter expresly Aether, and represents him operating upon his Spouse for the Production of all things.

Tum pater omnipotens foecundis imbribus aether Conjugis in gremio laetae descendit, & omnes Magnus alit, magno commixtus corpore, foetus. Parturit omnis ager, &c.

But, be all this as it will, it is certain, that whatever may be thought of this Fable in a theological or philosophical View, it is one of the most beautiful Pieces that ever was produc'd by Poetry. Neither does it want its Moral; an ingenious modern Writer (whom I am pleas'd to take any oc|casion of quoting) has given it us in these Words.

"This Passage of Homer may suggest abundance of In|struction to a Woman who has a mind to preserve or re|call the Affection of her Husband. The Care of her Per|son and Dress, with the particular Blandishments wo|ven in the Cestus, are so plainly recommended by this Fa|ble,

and so indispensably necessary in every Female who de|sires to please, that they need no farther Explanation. The Discretion likewise in covering all matrimonial Quarrels from the Knowledge of others, is taught in the pretend|ed Visit to Tethys, in the Speech where Juno addresses her|self to Venus; as the chaste and prudent Management of a Wife's Charms is intimated by the same Pretence for her appearing before Jupiter, and by the Concealment of the Cestus in her Bosom. I shall leave this Tale to the Consi|deration of such good Houswives who are never well dress'd but when they are abroad, and think it necessary to ap|pear more agreeable to all Men living than their Husbands: As also to those prudent Ladies, who, to avoid the Ap|pearance of being over-fond, entertain their Husbands with Indifference, Aversion, sullen Silence, or exasperating Language."

XVI.

VERSE 191. Swift to her bright Apartment she repairs, &c.]

This Passage may be of Consideration to the Ladies, and, for their sakes, I take a little Pains to observe upon it. Ho|mer tells us that the very Goddesses, who are all over Charms, never dress in Sight of any one: The Queen of Heaven adorns herself in private, and the Doors lock after her. In Homer there are no Dieux des Ruelles, no Gods are admitted to the Toilette.

I am afraid there are some earthly Goddesses of less Pru|dence, who have lost much of the Adoration of Mankind by the contrary Practice. Lucretius (a very good Judge in Gal|lantry) prescribes as a Cure to a desperate Lover, the frequent Sight of his Mistress undress'd. Juno herself has suffer'd a lit|tle by the very Muse's peeping into her Chamber, since some nice Criticks are shock'd in this Place of Homer to find that the Goddess washes herself, which presents some Idea as if she was dirty. Those who have Delicacy will profit by this Remark.

XVII.

VERSE 198. Soft Oils of Fragrance.]

The Practice of Juno in anointing her Body with perfumed Oils was a remarkable part of ancient Cosmeticks, tho' entirely disused in the modern Arts of Dress. It may possibly offend the Niceness of mo|dern Ladies; but they who paint so artificially ought to con|sider that this Practice might, without much greater Difficul|ty, be reconciled to Cleanliness. This Passage is a clear In|stance of the Antiquity of this Custom, and clearly deter|mines against Pliny, who is of Opinion that it was not so an|cient as those times, where, speaking of perfum'd Unguents, he says, Quis primus invenerit non traditur; Iliacis temporibus non erant. lib. 13. c. 1. Besides the Custom of anointing Kings among the Jews, which the Christians have borrow'd, there are several Allusions in the Old Testament which shew that this Practice was thought ornamental among them. The Psalmist, speaking of the Gifts of God, mentions Wine and Oil, the former to make glad the Heart of Man, and the latter to give him a chearful Countenance. It seems most probable that this was an Eastern Invention, agreeable to the Luxury of the Asiaticks, among whom the most pro|per Ingredients for these Unguents were produc'd; from them this Custom was propagated among the Romans, by whom it was esteem'd a Pleasure of a very refin'd Nature. Whoever is curious to see Instances of their Expence and De|licacy therein, may be satisfy'd in the three first Chapters of the thirteenth Book of Pliny's Natural History.

XVIII.

VERSE 203. Thus while she breath'd of Heav'n, &c.]

We have here a compleat Picture from Head to Foot of the Dress of the Fair Sex, and of the Mode between two and three thousand Years ago. May I have leave to observe the great Simplicity of Juno's Dress, in Comparison with the in|numerable

Equipage of a modern Toilette? The Goddess, even when she is setting herself out on the greatest Occasion, has only her own Locks to tie, a white Veil to cast over them, a Mantle to dress her whole Body, her Pendants, and her Sandals. This the Poet expresly says was all her Dress, [〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉;] and one may reasonably conclude it was all that was used by the greatest Princesses and finest Beauties of those Times. The good Eustathius is ravish'd to find, that here are no Washes for the Face, no Dies for the Hair, and none of those artificial Embellishments since in Practice; he also rejoices not a little, that Juno has no Looking-Glass, Tire-Woman, or waiting Maid. One may preach till Doomsday on this Subject, but all the Commentators in the World will never prevail upon a Lady to stick one Pin the less in her Gown, except she can be convinced, that the ancient Dress will better set off her Person.

As the Asiaticks always surpass'd the Grecians in whatever regarded Magnificence and Luxury, so we find their Women far gone in the contrary Extreme of Dress. There is a Pas|sage in Isaiah, Ch. 3. that gives us a Particular of their Ward|robe, with the Number and Uselessness of their Ornaments; and which I think appears very well in Contrast to this of Homer. The Bravery of their tinkling Ornaments about their Feet, and their Cauls, and their round Tires like the Moon: The Chains, and the Bracelets, and the Mufflers, the Bonnets, and the Ornaments of the Legs, and the Headbands, and the Tablets, and the Ear-rings, the Rings and Nose-jewels, the changeable Suits of Apparel, and the Mantles, and the Wimples, and the Crisping-Pins, the Glasses, and the fine Li|nen, and the Hoods, and the Veils.

I could be glad to ask the Ladies, which they should like best to imitate, the Greeks, or the Asiaticks? I would desire those that are handsome and well-made, to consider, that the Dress of Juno (which is the same they see in Statues) has mani|festly the Advantage of the present, in displaying whatever is beautiful: That the Charms of the Neck and Breast are not less laid open, than by the modern Stays; and that those of the Leg are more gracefully discover'd, than even by the Hoop-petticoat: That the fine Turn of the Arms is better ob|serv'd:

and that several natural Graces of the Shape and Bo|dy appear much more conspicuous. It is not to be deny'd but the Asiatic and our present Modes were better contriv'd to conceal some People's Defects, but I don't speak to such Peo|ple: I speak only to Ladies of that Beauty, who can make any Fashion prevail by their being seen in it; and who put others of their Sex under the wretched Necessity of being like them in their Habits, or not being like them at all. As for the rest, let 'em follow the Mode of Judaea, and be content with the Name of Asiaticks.

XIX.

VERSE 216. Thus issuing radiant, &c.]

Thus the God|dess comes from her Apartment against her Spouse in com|pleat Armour. The Pleasures of Women mostly prevail upon us by pure cunning, and the artful Management of their Per|sons; against which a wise Man ought to be upon his guard: For there is but one way for the weak to subdue the mighty, and that is by Pleasure. The Poet shews at the same time, that Men of Understanding are not master'd, without a great deal of Artifice and Address. There are but three ways, where|by to overcome another, by Violence, by Persuasion, or by Craft: Jupiter was invincible by main Force; to think of persuading was as fruitless, after he had pass'd his Nod to Achilles; therefore Juno was obliged of necessity to turn her Thoughts entirely upon Craft; and by the Force of Plea|sure it is, that she insnares and manages the God. Eu|stathius.

XX.

VERSE 218. And calls the Mother of the Smiles and Loves.]

Notwithstanding all the Pains Juno has been at, to adorn her|self, she is still conscious that neither the natural Beauty of her Person, nor the artificial one of her Dress, will be suffi|cient to work upon a Husband. She therefore has Recourse to the Cestus of Venus, as a kind of Love-charm, not doubt|ing to enflame his Mind by magical Enchantment; a Folly

which in all Ages has possest her Sex. To procure this, she applies to the Goddess of Love; from whom hiding her real Design under a feign'd Story, (another Propriety in the Character of the Fair) she obtains the invaluable Present of this wonder-working Girdle. The Allegory of the Cestus lies very open, tho' the Impertinences of Eustathius on this Head are unspeakable. In it are comprized the most power|ful Incentives to Love, as well as the strongest Effects of the Passion. The just Admiration of this Passage has been a-l+ways so great and universal, that the Cestus of Venus is be|come proverbial. The Beauty of the Lines which in a few Words comprehend this agreeable Fiction, can scarce be equall'd. So beautiful an Original has produc'd very fine Imi|tations, wherein we may observe a few additional Figures, expressing some of the Improvements which the Affectation, or Artifice, of the Fair Sex have introduc'd into the Art of Love since Homer's Days. Tasso has finely imitated this De|scription in the magical Girdle of Armida. Gierusalemme liberata, Cant. 16.

Teneri Sdegni, e placide e tranquille Repulse, e cari vezzi, e liete paci, Sorrisi, parrolette, e dolci stille Di pianto, e sospir tronchi, e molli baci.

Mons. de la Motte's Imitation of this Fiction is likewise won|derfully beautiful.

Ce tissu, le simbole, & la cause à la sois, Du pouvoir d'l'Amour, du charme de ses loix. Elle enflamme les yeux, de cet Ardeur qui touche; D'un sourire enchanteur, elle anime la bouche; Passionne la voix, en adoucit les sons, Prête ces tours heureux, plus forts que les raisons; Inspire, pour toucher, ces tendres stratagêmes, Ces resus attirans, l'ecueil des sages mêmes. Et la nature enfin, y voulut rensermer, Tout ce qui persuade, & ce qui fait aimer.

En prenant ce tissu, que Venus lui presente, Junon n'etoit que belle, elle devient charmante. Les graces, & les ris, les plaisirs, & les jeux, Surpris cherchent Venus, doutent qui l'est des deux. L'Amour même trompè, trouve Junon plus belle; Et son Arc à la main, deja vole après elle.

Spencer, in his 4th Book, Canto 5. describes a Girdle of Venus of a very different Nature; for as this had the Power to raise up loose Desires in others, that had a more wonderful Faculty to suppress them in the Person that wore it: But it had a most dreadful Quality, to burst asunder whenever tied about any but a chaste Bosom. Such a Girdle, 'tis to be fear'd, would produce Essects very different from the other: Homer's Cestus would be a Peace-maker to reconcile Man and Wife; but Spencer's Cestus would probably destroy the good Agreement of many a happy Couple.

XXI.

VERSE 255.—And prest The pow'rful Cestus to her snowy Breast.]

Eustathius takes notice, that the word Cestus is not the Name, but Epithet only, of Venus's Girdle; tho' the Epi|thet has prevail'd so far as to become the proper Name in common use. This has happen'd to others of our Author's Epithets; the word Pygmy is of the same Nature. Venus wore this Girdle below her Neck, and in open Sight, but Juno hides it in her Bosom, to shew the difference of the two Characters: It suits well with Venus to make a Shew of what|ever is engaging in her; but Juno, who is a Matron of Pru|dence and Gravity, ought to be more modest.

XXII.

VERSE 263. She speeds to Lemnos o'er the rolling Deep, And seeks the Cave of Death's Half-brother, Sleep.]

In this Fiction Homer introduces a new divine Personage: It does not appear whether this God of Sleep was a God of Ho|mer's

Creation, or whether his Pretensions to Divinity were of more ancient Date. The Poet indeed speaks of him as of one formerly active in some heavenly Transactions. Be this as it will, succeeding Poets have always acknowledg'd his Title. Virgil would not let his Aeneid be without a Person so pro|per for poetical Machinery; tho' he has employ'd him with much less Art than his great Master, since he appears in the 5th Book without Provocation or Commission, only to de|stroy the Trojan Pilot. The Criticks, who cannot see all the Allegories which the Commentators pretend to find in Homer's Divinities, must be obliged to acknowledge the Re|ality and Propriety of this; since every thing that is here said of this imaginary Deity is justly applicable to Sleep. He is called the Brother of Death; is said to be protected by Night; and is employed very naturally to lull a Husband to Rest in the Embraces of his Wife; which Effect of this Con|jugal Opiate even the modest Virgil has remark'd in the Per|sons of Vulcan and Venus, probably with an Eye to this Pas|sage of Homer.

—Placidumque petivit Conjugis infusus gremio per membra soporem.

XXIII.

VERSE 263. To Lemnos.]

The Commentators are hard put to it, to give a Reason why Juno seeks for Sleep in Lem|nos. Some finding out that Lemnos anciently abounded with Wine, inform us that it was a proper Place of Residence for him, Wine being naturally a great Provoker of Sleep. Others will have it, that this God being in love with Pasithaë, who resided with her Sister the Wife of Vulcan, in Lemnos, it was very probable he might be found haunting near his Mistress. Other Commentators perceiving the Weakness of these Con|jectures, will have it that Juno met Sleep here by mere Ac|cident; but this is contradictory to the whole Thread of the Narration. But who knows whether Homer might not de|sign this Fiction as a Piece of Raillery upon the Sluggishness of the Lemnians; tho' this Character of them does not ap|pear?

A kind of Satyr like that of Ariosto, who makes the Angel find Discord in a Monastery: Or like that of Boileau in his Lutrin, where he places Mollesse in a Dormitory of the Monks of St. Bernard?

XXIV.

VERSE 266. Sweet-pleasing Sleep, &c.]

Virgil has copied some part of this Conversation between Juno and Sleep, where he introduces the same Goddess making a Request to Aeolus. Scaliger, who is always eager to depreciate Homer, and zeal|ous to praise his favourite Author, has highly censured this Passage: But notwithstanding this Critick's Judgment, an impartial Reader will find, I don't doubt, much more Art and Beauty in the Original than the Copy. In the former, Juno endeavours to engage Sleep in her Design by the Promise of a proper and valuable Present; but having formerly run a great Hazard in a like Attempt, he is not prevail'd upon. Hereupon the Goddess, knowing his Passion for one of the Graces, engages to give her to his Desires: This Hope brings the Lover to Consent, but not before he obliges Juno to con|firm her Promise by an Oath in a most solemn manner, the very Words and Ceremony whereof he prescribes to her. These are all beautiful and poetical Circumstances, most whereof are untouch'd by Virgil, and which Scaliger therefore calls low and vulgar. He only makes Juno demand a Favour from Aeolus, which he had no reason to refuse; and promise him a Reward, which it does not appear he was fond of. The Latin Poet has indeed with great Judgment added one Circumstance concerning the Promise of Children,

—& pulchrâ faciat te prole parentem.

And this is very conformable to the Religion of the Romans, among whom Juno was suppos'd to preside over human Births; but it does not appear she had any such Office in the Greek Theology.

XXV.

VERSE 272. A splendid Footstool.]

Notwithstanding the Cavils of Scaliger, it may be allow'd, that an easy Chair was no improper Present for Sleep. As to the Footstool, Mad. Dacier's Observation is a very just one; that besides its being a Conveniency, it was a Mark of Honour, and was far from presenting any low or trivial Idea. 'Tis upon that Account we find it so frequently mention'd in Scripture, where the Earth is call'd the Footstool of the Throne of God. In Jere|miah, Judaea is call'd (as a Mark of Distinction) the Foot|stool of the Feet of God. Lament. 2. ℣. 1. And he remem|ber'd not the Footstool of his Feet, in the Day of his Wrath. We see here the same Image, founded no doubt upon the same Customs. Dacier.

XXVI.

VERSE 279. The Sire of all, old Ocean.]

"Homer (says Plutarch) calls the Sea Father of All, with a View to this Doctrine, that all things were generated from Water. Thales the Milesian, the Head of the Ionick Sect who seems to have been the first Author of Philosophy, affirm|ed Water to be the Principle from whence all things spring, and into which all things are resolv'd; because the prolific Seed of all Animals is a Moisture; all Plants are nourished by Moisture; the very Sun and Stars, which are Fire, are nourished by moist Vapours and Exhalations; and consequently he thought the World was produc'd from this Element."

Plut. Opin. of Philos. lib. 1. c. 3.

XXVII.

VERSE 281. But how, unbidden, &c.]

This Particularity is worth remarking; Sleep tells Juno that he dares not ap|proach Jupiter without his own Order; whereby he seems to intimate, that a Spirit of a superior kind may give itself up

to a voluntary Cessation of Thought and Action, tho' it does not want this Relaxation from any Weakness or Necessity of its Nature.

XXVIII.

VERSE 285. What-time deserting Ilion's wasted Plain, &c.]

One may observe from hence, that to make Falsity in Fables useful and subservient to our Designs, it is not enough to cause the Story to resemble Truth, but we are to corroborate it by parallel Places; which Method the Poet uses elsewhere. Thus many have attempted great Difficulties, and surmount|ed 'em. So did Hercules, so did Juno, so did Pluto. Here therefore the Poet feigning that Sleep is going to practise in|sidiously upon Jove, prevents the Strangeness and Incredibility of the Tale, by squaring it to an ancient Story; which an|cient Story was, that Sleep had once before got the mastery of Jove in the case of Hercules. Eustathius.

XXIX.

VERSE 296. Ev'n Jove rever'd the venerable Dame.]

Ju|piter is represented as unwilling to do any thing that might be offensive or ungrateful to Night; the Poet (says Eusta|thius) instructs us by this, that a wise and honest Man will curb his Wrath before any awful and venerable Person: Such was Night in regard of Jupiter, feign'd as an Ancestor, and honourable on account of her Antiquity and Power. For the Greek Theology teaches that Night and Chaos were before all things. Wherefore it was held sacred to obey the Night in the Conflicts of War, as we find by the Admonitions of the Heralds to Hector and Ajax in the 7th Iliad.

Milton has made a fine Use of this ancient Opinion in re|lation to Chaos and Night, in the latter Part of his second Book, where he describes the Passage of Satan thro' their Empire. He calls them,

—Eldest Night And Chaos, Ancestors of Nature;—

And alludes to the same, in those noble Verses,

—Behold the Throne Of Chaos, and his dark Pavillion spread Wide on the wasteful Deep: With him enthron'd Sate sable-vested Night, eldest of things The Consort of his Reign.—

That fine Apostrophe of Spenser has also the same Allu|sion, Book 1.

O thou, most ancient Grandmother of all, More old than Jove, whom thou at first didst breed, Or that great House of Gods coelestial; Which was begot in Daemogorgon's Hall, And saw'st the Secrets of the World unmade.

XXX.

VERSE 307. Let the great Parent Earth one Hand sustain, And stretch the other o'er the sacred Main, &c.]

There is something wonderfully solemn in this manner of Swearing propos'd by Sleep to Juno. How answerable is this Idea to the Dignity of the Queen of the Goddesses, where Earth, Ocean, and Hell itself, where the whole Creation, all things visible and invisible, are call'd to be Witnesses of the Oath of the Deity.

XXXI.

VERSE 311. That she, my lov'd one, &c.]

Sleep is here made to repeat the Words of Juno's Promise, than which Re|petition nothing, I think, can be more beautiful or better placed. The Lover fired with these Hopes, insists on the Promise, dwelling with Pleasure on each Circumstance that relates to his fair one. The Throne and Footstool, it seems, are quite out of his Head.

XXXII.

VERSE 323. Fair Ida trembles.]

It is usually suppos'd at the Approach or Presence of any heavenly Being, that upon their Motion, all should shake that lies beneath 'em. Here the Poet giving a Description of the Descent of these Deities upon the Ground at Lectos, says that the loftiest of the Wood trembled under their Feet: Which Expression is to intimate the Lightness and Swiftness of the Motions of heavenly Be|ings; the Wood does not shake under their Feet from any corporeal Weight, but from a certain awful Dread and Hor|ror Eustathius.

XXXIII.

VERSE 328. In Likeness of a Bird of Night.]

This is a Bird of Night about the Size of a Hawk, entirely black; and that is the reason why Homer describes Sleep under its Form. Here (says Eustathius) Homer lets us know, as well as in many other Places, that he is no Stranger to the Language of the Gods. Hobbes has taken very much from the Digni|ty of this Supposition, in translating the present Lines in this manner.

And there sate Sleep in Likeness of a Fowl, Which Gods do Chalcis call, but Men an Owl.

We find in Plato's Cratylus a Discourse of great Subtility, grounded chiefly on this Observation of Homer, that the Gods and Men call the same thing by different Names. The Phi|losopher supposes that in the original Language every thing was express'd by a word, whose Sound was naturally apt to mark the Nature of the thing signify'd. This great Work he ascribes to the Gods, since it required more Knowledge both in the Nature of Sounds and Things, than Man had attain'd to. This Resemblance he says was almost lost in modern Languages by the unskilful Alterations Men had made, and the great Licence they had taken in compounding

of Words. However, he observes there were yet among the Greeks some Remains of this original Language, of which he gives a few Instances, adding, that many more were to be found in some of the barbarous Languages, that had deviated less from the Original, which was still preserv'd entire among the Gods. This appears a Notion so uncommon, that I could not forbear to mention it.

XXXIV.

VERSE 345.—To whose indulgent Cares I owe the Nur|sing, &c.]

The Allegory of this is very obvious. Juno is constantly understood to be the Air; and we are here told she was nourished by Oceanus and Tethys: That is to say, the Air is fed and nourished by the Vapours which rise from the Ocean and the Earth. For Tethys is the same with Rhea. Eustathius.

XXXV.

VERSE 359.] This Courtship of Jupiter to Juno may pos|sibly be thought pretty singular. He endeavours to prove the Ardour of his Passion to her, by the Instances of its Warmth to other Women. A great many People will look upon this as no very likely Method to recommend him|self to Juno's Favour. Yet, after all, something may be said in Defence of Jupiter's way of thinking, with respect to the Ladies. Perhaps a Man's Love to the Sex in general may be no ill Recommendation of him to a Particular. And to be known, or thought, to have been successful with a good many, is what some Moderns have found no unfortunate Qualifica|tion in gaining a Lady, even a most virtuous one like Juno, especially one who (like her) has had the Experience of a married State.

XXXVI.

VERSE 395. Glad Earth perceives, &c.]

It is an Obser|vation of Aristotle in the 25th Chapter of his Poeticks, that

when Homer is obliged to describe any thing of itself absurd or too improbable, he constantly contrives to blind and dazle the Judgment of his Readers with some shining Description. This Passage is a remarkable Instance of that Artifice, for ha|ving imagined a Fiction of very great Absurdity, that the su|preme Being should be laid asleep in a female Embrace, he immediately, as it were to divert his Reader from reflecting on his Boldness, pours forth a great Variety of poetical Or|naments; by describing the various Flowers the Earth shoots up to compose their Couch, the golden Clouds that encom|pass'd them, and the bright heavenly Dews that were shower'd round them. Eustathius observes it as an Instance of Homer's modest Conduct in so delicate an Affair, that he has purpose|ly adorn'd the Bed of Jupiter with such a Variety of beauti|ful Flowers, that the Reader's Thoughts being entirely taken up with these Ornaments, might have no room for loose Ima|ginations. In the same manner an ancient Scholiast has ob|serv'd, that the golden Cloud was contriv'd to lock up this Action from any farther Enquiry of the Reader.

XXXVII.

VERSE 395.] I cannot conclude the Notes on this Story of Jupiter and Juno, without observing with what particular Care Milton has imitated the several beautiful Parts of this Episode, introducing them upon different Occasions as the Subjects of his Poem would admit. The Circumstance of Sleep's sitting in Likeness of a Bird on the Fir-Tree upon Mount Ida, is alluded to in his 4th Book, where Satan sits in Like|ness of a Cormorant on the Tree of Life. The Creation is made to give the same Tokens of Joy at the Performance of the nuptial Rites of our first Parents, as she does here at the Congress of Jupiter and Juno. Lib. 8.

—To the nuptial Bow'r I led her blushing like the Morn, all Heav'n And happy Constellations on that Hour Shed their selectest Influence; the Earth

Gave sign of Gratulation, and each Hill; Joyous the Birds; fresh Gales and gentle Airs Whisper'd it to the Woods, and from their Wings Flung Rose, flung Odours from the spicy Shrub.

Those Lines also in the 4th Book are manifestly from the same Original.

—Roses and Jessamine Rear'd high their flourish'd Heads between, and wrought Mosaic, underfoot the Violet, Crocus and Hyacinth with rich Inlay Broider'd the Ground.—

Where the very Turn of Homer's Verses is observed, and the Cadence, and almost the Words, finely translated.

But it is with wonderful Judgment and Decency he has used that exceptionable Passage of the Dalliance, Ardour, and Enjoyment: That which seems in Homer an impious Fiction, becomes a moral Lesson in Milton; since he makes that las|civious Rage of the Passion the immediate Effect of the Sin of our first Parents after the Fall. Adam expresses it in the Words of Jupiter.

For never did thy Beauty since the Day I saw thee first, and wedded thee, adorn'd With all Perfections, so enflame my Sense, With Ardour to enjoy thee, fairer now Than ever; Bounty of this virtuous Tree!

So said he, and forbore not Glance or Toy Of amorous Intent, well understood Of Eve, whose Eye darted contagious Fire. Her Hand he seiz'd, and to a shady Bank Thick over-head with verdant Roof embow'r'd, He led her, nothing loath: Flow'rs were the Couch, Pansies, and Violets, and Asphodel, And Hyacinth; Earth's freshest, softest Lap. There they their Fill of Love and Love's Disport Took largely, of their mutual Guilt the Seal;

The Solace of their Sin, till dewy Sleep Oppress'd them, weary of their amorous Play.

Milton, l. 9.

XXXVIII.

VERSE 417. The Pow'r of Slumbers flew.]

M. Dacier in her Translation of this Passage has thought fit to dissent from the common Interpretation, as well as obvious Sense of the Words. She restrains the general Expression 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, the famous Nations of Men, to signify only the Coun|try of the Lemnians, who, she says, were much celebrated on account of Vulcan. But this strain'd Interpretation can|not be admitted, especially when the obvious Meaning of the Words express what is very proper and natural. The God of Sleep having hastily delivered his Message to Neptune, im|mediately leaves the Hurry of the Battel, (which was no pro|per Scene for him) and retires among the Tribes of Man|kind. The word 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, on which M. Dacier grounds her Criticism, is an expletive Epithet very common in Homer, and no way fit to point out one certain Nation, especially in an Author one of whose most distinguishing Characters is Particularity in Description.

XXXIX.

VERSE 444. The Legions march, and Neptune leads the way.]

The chief Advantage the Greeks gain by the Sleep of Jupiter seems to be this: Neptune unwilling to offend Jupi|ter, has hitherto concealed himself in disguised Shapes; so that it does not appear that Jupiter knew of his being among the Greeks, since he takes no notice of it. This Precaution hinders him from assisting the Greeks otherwise than by his Advice. But upon the Intelligence receiv'd of what Juno had done, he assumes a Form that manifests his Divinity, in|spiring Courage into the Grecian Chiefs, appearing at the Head of their Army, brandishing a Sword in his Hand, the Sight of which struck such a Terror into the Trojans that,

as Homer says, none durst approach it. And therefore it is not to be wonder'd, that the Trojans who are no longer su|stain'd by Jupiter, immediately give way to the Enemy.

XL.

VERSE 442. The weaker Warrior takes a lighter Shield.]

Plutarch seems to allude to this Passage in the beginning of the Life of Pelopidas.

"Homer, says he, makes the bravest and stoutest of his Warriors march to Battel in the best Arms. The Grecian Legislators punish'd those who cast away their Shields, but not those who lost their Spears or their Swords, as an Intimation, that the Care of preserving and defending our selves is preferable to the wounding our Enemy, espe|cially in those who are Generals of Armies, or Governors of States."

Eustathius has observ'd, that the Poet here makes the best Warriors take the largest Shields and longest Spears, that they might be ready prepar'd, with proper Arms, both offensive and defensive, for a new kind of Fight, in which they are soon to be engaged when the Fleet is attack'd. Which indeed seems the most rational Account that can be given for Neptune's Advice in this Exigence.

Mr. Hobbes has committed a great Oversight in this Place; he makes the wounded Princes (who it is plain were unfit for the Battel, and do not engage in the ensuing Fight) put on Arms as well as the others; whereas they do no more in Ho|mer than see their Orders obey'd by the rest as to this Change of Arms.

XLI.

VERSE 452. And lo the God, and wondrous Man appear.]

What Magnificence and Nobleness is there in this Idea? where Homer opposes Hector to Neptune, and equalizes him in some degree to a God. Eustathius.

XLII.

VERSE 453. The roaring Main, &c.]

This swelling and Inundation of the Sea towards the Grecian Camp, as if it had been agitated by a Storm, is meant for a Prodigy, intimating that the Waters had the same Resentments with their Com|mander Neptune, and seconded him in his Quarrel. Eu|stathius.

XLIII.

VERSE 457. Not half so loud, &c.]

The Poet having ended the Episode of Jupiter and Juno, returns to the Battel, where the Greeks being animated and led on by Neptune, renew the Fight with Vigour. The Noise and Outcry of this fresh Onset, he endeavours to express by these three sounding Comparisons; as if he thought it necessary to awake the Reader's Attention, which by the preceding De|scriptions might be lull'd into a Forgetfulness of the Fight. He might likewise design to shew how soundly Jupiter slept, since he is not awak'd by so terrible an Uproar.

This Passage cannot be thought justly liable to the Obje|ctions which have been made against heaping Comparisons one upon another, whereby the principal Object is lost amidst too great a Variety of different Images. In this Case the principal Image is more strongly impress'd on the Mind by a Multiplication of Similes, which are the natural Product of an Imagination labouring to express something very vast: But finding no single Idea sufficient to answer its Conceptions, it endeavours by redoubling the Comparisons to supply this Defect: the different Sounds of Waters, Winds, and Flames being as it were united in one. We have several Instances of this sort even in so castigated and reserv'd a Writer as Virgil, who has joined together the Images of this Passage in the 4th Georgic, ℣. 261. and apply'd them, beautifully sof|tened by a kind of Parody, to the buzzing of a Beehive.

Frigidus ut quondam sylvis immurmurat Auster, Ut mare sollicitum stridet refluentibus undis, Aestuat ut clausis rapidus fornacibus ignis.

Tasso has not only imitated this particular Passage of Homer, but likewise added to it. Cant. 9. St. 22.

Rapido si che torbida procella De cavernosi monti esce piu tarda: Fiume, ch' alberi insieme, e case svella: Folgore, che le torri abbatta, & arda: Terremoto, che'l mondo empia d'horrore, Son picciole sembianze al suo furore.

XLIV.

VERSE 480. Smoaks in the Dust, and ploughs into the Ground.]

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

These Words are translated by several as if they signify'd, that Hector was turn'd round with the Blow, like a Whirlwind; which would enhance the wonderful Greatness of Ajax's Strength. Eustathius rather inclines to refer the Words to the Stone itself, and the Violence of its Motion. Chapman I think is in the right to prefer the latter, but he should not have taken the Interpretation to himself. He says, it is above the Wit of Man to give a more fiery Illustration both of Ajax's Strength and Hector's; of Ajax, for giving such a Force to the Stone, that it could not spend itself on Hector, but af|terwards turn'd upon the Earth with that Violence; and of Hector, for standing the Blow so solidly; for without that Consideration, the Stone could never have recoil'd so fiercely. This Image, together with the noble Simile following it, seem to have given Spencer the Hint of those sublime Verses.

As when almighty Jove, in wrathsul Mood, To wreak the Guilt of mortal Sins is bent,

Hurls forth his thund'ring Dart, with deadly Food Enroll'd, of Flames, and smouldring Dreariment Thro' riven Clouds, and molten Firmament, The fierce three-forked Engine making way, Both lofty Tow'rs and highest Trees hath rent, And all that might his dreadful Passage stay, And shooting in the Earth, casts up a Mound of Clay. His boist'rous Club so bury'd in the Ground, He could not rear again, &c.—

XLV.

VERSE 533. Propt on that Spear, &c.]

The occasion of this Sarcasm of Polydamas seems taken from the Attitude of his falling Enemy, who is transfixed with a Spear thro' his right Shoulder. This Posture bearing some Resemblance to that of a Man leaning on a Staff, might probably suggest this Conceit.

The Speech of Polydamas begins a long String of Sarcastick Raillery, in which Eustathius pretends to observe very diffe|rent Characters. This of Polydamas, he says, is pleasant, that of Ajax, heroic; that of Acamas, plain; and that of Peneleus, pathetick.

XLVI.

VERSE 599. Daughters of Jove! &c.]

Whenever we meet with these fresh Invocations in the midst of Action, the Poets would seem to give their Readers to understand, that they are come to a Point where the Description being above their own Strength, they have occasion for supernatural Assistance; by this Artifice at once exciting the Reader's Attention, and gracefully varying the Narration. In the present case Ho|mer seems to triumph in the Advantage the Greeks had gain'd in the Flight of the Trojans, by invoking the Muses to snatch the brave Actions of his Heroes from Oblivion, and set them in the Light of Eternity. This Power is vindicated to them by the Poets on every occasion, and it is to this Task they

are so solemnly and frequently summon'd by our Author. Tasso has, I think, introduced one of these Invocations in a very noble and peculiar manner; where, on occasion of a Battle by Night, he calls upon the Night to allow him to draw forth those mighty Deeds which were perform'd under the Conceal|ment of her Shades, and to display their Glories, notwith|standing that Disadvantage, to all Posterity.

Notte, che nel profondo oscuro seno Chiudesti, e ne l'oblio fatto si grande; Piacciati, ch'io nel tragga, e'n bel sereno A la future età lo spieghi, e mande. Viva la fame loro, e trà lor gloria Splenda del fosco tuo l'alta memoria.