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

THE FIFTEENTH BOOK OF THE ILIAD.

The ARGUMENT.

The fifth Battel, at the Ships; and the Acts of Ajax.

JUpiter awaking, sees the Trojans repuls'd from the Trenches, Hector in a Swoon, and Neptune at the Head of the Greeks: He is highly incens'd at the Artifice of Juno, who appeases him by her Submissions; she is then sent to Iris and Apollo. Juno repairing to the Assembly of the Gods, attempts with extraordinary Address to incense them against Jupiter, in particular she touches Mars with a violent Resentment: He is ready to take Arms, but is prevented by Minerva. Iris and Apollo obey the Orders of Jupiter; Iris commands Neptune to leave the Battel, to which, after much Reluctance and Passion, he consents. Apollo re-inspires Hector with Vigour, brings him back to the Battel, marches before him with his Aegis, and turns the Fortune of the Fight. He breaks down great part of the Grecian Wall; the Trojans rush in and attempt to fire the first Line of the Fleet, but are, as yet, repell'd by the greater Ajax with a prodigious Slaughter.

THE FIFTEENTH BOOK OF THE ILIAD.

NOW in swift Flight they past the Trench pro|found, And many a Chief lay gasping on the Ground: Then stopp'd, and panted, where the Chariots lie; Fear on their Cheek, and Horror in their Eye. Meanwhile awaken'd from his Dream of Love,Line 5 On Ida's Summit sate imperial Jove: Round the wide Fields he cast a careful view, There saw the Trojans fly, the Greeks pursue, These proud in Arms, those scatter'd o'er the Plain; And, 'midst the War, the Monarch of the Main.Line 10 Not far, great Hector on the Dust he spies, (His sad Associates round with weeping Eyes)

Ejecting Blood, and panting yet for Breath, His Senses wandring to the Verge of Death. The God beheld him with a pitying Look,Line 15 And thus, incens'd, to fraudful Juno spoke.

O thou, still adverse to th' eternal Will, For ever studious in promoting Ill! Thy Arts have made the godlike Hector yield, And driv'n his conqu'ring Squadrons from the Field.Line 20 Can'st thou, unhappy in thy Wiles! withstand Our Pow'r immense, and brave th' Almighty Hand? Hast thou forgot, when bound and fix'd on high, From the vast Concave of the spangled Sky, I hung thee trembling, in a golden Chain;Line 25 And all the raging Gods oppos'd in vain? Headlong I hurl'd them from th' Olympian Hall, Stunn'd in the Whirl, and breathless with the Fall. For godlike Hercules these Deeds were done, Nor seem'd the Vengeance worthy such a Son;Line 30 When by thy Wiles induc'd, fierce Boreas tost The shipwrack'd Hero on the Coan Coast: Him thro' a thousand Forms of Death I bore, And sent to Argos, and his native Shore. Line 35

Hear this, remember, and our Fury dread,Line 35 Nor pull th' unwilling Vengeance on thy Head, Lest Arts and Blandishments successless prove, Thy soft Deceits, and well-dissembled Love.

The Thund'rer spoke: Imperial Juno mourn'd, And trembling, these submissive Words return'd.Line 40

By ev'ry Oath that Pow'rs immortal ties, The foodful Earth, and all-infolding Skies, By thy black Waves, tremendous Styx! that flow Thro' the drear Realms of gliding Ghosts below: By the dread Honours of thy sacred Head,Line 45 And that unbroken Vow, our Virgin Bed! Not by my Arts the Rulet of the Main Steeps Troy in Blood, and rages round the Plain; By his own Ardour, his own Pity sway'd To help his Greeks; he fought, and disobey'd:Line 50 Else had thy Juno better Counsels giv'n, And taught Submission to the Sire of Heav'n.

Think'st thou with me? fair Empress of the Skies! (Th' immortal Father with a Smile replies!) Then soon the haughty Sea-God shall obey,Line 55 Nor dare to act, but when we point the way.

If Truth inspires thy Tongue, proclaim our Will To yon' bright Synod on th' Olympian Hill; Our high Decree let various Iris know, And call the God that bears the silver Bow.Line 60 Let her descend, and from th' embattel'd Plain Command the Sea-God to his watry Reign: While Phoebus hastes, great Hector to prepare To rise afresh, and once more wake the War, His lab'ring Bosom re-inspires with Breath,Line 65 And calls his Senses from the Verge of Death. Greece chas'd by Troy ev'n to Achilles' Fleet, Shall fall by thousands at the Hero's Feet. He, not untouch'd with Pity, to the Plain Shall send Patroclus, but shall send in vain.Line 70 What Youth he slaughters under Ilion's Walls? Ev'n my lov'd Son, divine Sarpedon falls! Vanquish'd at last by Hector's Lance he lies. Then, nor till then, shall great Achilles rise: And lo! that Instant, godlike Hector dies.Line 75 From that great Hour the War's whole Fortune turns, Pallas assists, and lofty Ilion burns.

Not till that Day shall Jove relax his Rage, Nor one of all the heav'nly Host engage In aid of Greece. The Promise of a GodLine 80 I gave, and seal'd it with th' Almighty Nod, Achilles' Glory to the Stars to raise; Such was our Word, and Fate the Word obeys.

The trembling Queen (th' Almighty Order giv'n) Swift from th' Idaean Summit shot to Heav'n.Line 85 As some way-faring Man, who wanders o'er In Thought, a Length of Lands he trod before, Sends forth his active Mind from Place to Place, Joins Hill to Dale, and measures Space with Space: So swift flew Juno to the blest Abodes,Line 90 If Thought of Man can match the Speed of Gods. There sate the Pow'rs in awful Synod plac'd; They bow'd, and made Obeysance as she pass'd, Thro' all the brazen Dome: With Goblets crown'd They hail her Queen; the Nectar streams around.Line 95 Fair Themis first presents the golden Bowl, And anxious asks, what Cares disturb her Soul?

To whom the white-arm'd Goddess thus replies: Enough thou know'st the Tyrant of the Skies, Line 100

Severely bent his Purpose to fulfill,Line 100 Unmov'd his Mind, and unrestrain'd his Will. Go thou, the Feasts of Heav'n attend thy Call; Bid the crown'd Nectar circle round the Hall; But Jove shall thunder thro' th' Ethereal Dome, Such stern Decrees, such threatned Woes to come,Line 105 As soon shall freeze Mankind with dire Surprize, And damp th' eternal Banquets of the Skies.

The Goddess said, and sullen took her Place; Blank Horror sadden'd each celestial Face. To see the gath'ring Grudge in ev'ry Breast,Line 110 Smiles on her Lips a spleenful Joy exprest, While on her wrinkled Front, and Eyebrow bent, Sate stedfast Care, and low'ring Discontent. Thus she proceeds—Attend ye Pow'rs above! But know, 'tis Madness to contest with Jove:Line 115 Supreme he sits; and sees, in Pride of Sway, Your Vassal Godheads grudgingly obey; Fierce in the Majesty of Pow'r controuls, Shakes all the Thrones of Heav'n, and bends the Poles. Submiss, Immortals! all he wills, obey;Line 120 And thou great Mars, begin and shew the way.

Behold Ascalaphus! behold him die, But dare not murmur, dare not vent a Sigh; Thy own lov'd boasted Offspring lies o'erthrown, If that lov'd boasted Offspring be thy own.Line 125

Stern Mars, with Anguish for his slaughter'd Son, Smote his rebelling Breast, and fierce begun. Thus then, Immortals! thus shall Mars obey; Forgive me Gods, and yield my Vengeance way: Descending first to yon' forbidden Plain,Line 130 The God of Battels dares avenge the slain; Dares, tho' the Thunder bursting o'er my Head Should hurl me blazing on those heaps of dead.

With that, he gives command to Fear and Flight To join his rapid Coursers for the Fight:Line 135 Then grim in Arms, with hasty Vengeance flies; Arms, that reflect a Radiance thro' the Skies. And now had Jove, by bold Rebellion driv'n, Discharg'd his Wrath on half the Host of Heav'n; But Pallas springing thro' the bright Abode,Line 140 Starts from her azure Throne to calm the God. Struck, for th' immortal Race with timely Fear, From frantic Mars she snatch'd the Shield and Spear;

Then the huge Helmet lifting from his Head, Thus, to th' impetuous Homicide she said.Line 145

By what wild Passion, Furious! art thou tost? Striv'st thou with Jove? Thou art already lost. Shall not the Thund'rer's dread Command restrain, And was Imperial Juno heard in vain? Back to the Skies would'st thou with Shame be driv'n,Line 150 And in thy Guilt involve the Host of Heav'n? Ilion and Greece no more should Jove engage; The Skies would yield an ampler Scene of Rage, Guilty and guiltless find an equal Fate, And one vast Ruin whelm th' Olympian State.Line 155 Cease then thy Offspring's Death unjust to call; Heroes as great have dy'd, and yet shall fall. Why should Heav'n's Law with foolish Man comply, Exempted from the Race ordain'd to die?

This Menace fix'd the Warrior to his Throne;Line 160 Sullen he sate, and curb'd the rising Groan. Then Juno call'd (Jove's Orders to obey) The winged Iris, and the God of Day. Go wait the Thund'rer's Will (Saturnia cry'd) On yon' tall Summit of the fount-ful Ide:Line 165

There in the Father's awful Presence stand, Receive, and execute his dread Command.

She said, and sate: the God that gilds the Day, And various Iris wing their airy way. Swift as the Wind, to Ida's Hills they came,Line 170 (Fair Nurse of Fountains and of savage Game.) There sate th' Eternal; He, whose Nod controuls The trembling World, and shakes the steady Poles. Veil'd in a Mist of Fragrance him they found, With Clouds of Gold and Purple circled round.Line 175 Well-pleas'd the Thund'rer saw their earnest care, And prompt Obedience to the Queen of Air; Then (while a Smile serenes his awful Brow) Commands the Goddess of the show'ry Bow.

Iris! descend, and what we here ordainLine 180 Report to yon' mad Tyrant of the Main. Bid him from Fight to his own Deeps repair, Or breathe from Slaughter in the Fields of Air. If he refuse, then let him timely weigh Our elder Birthright, and superior Sway.Line 185 How shall his Rashness stand the dire Alarms, If Heav'ns Omnipotence descend in Arms?

Strives he with me, by whom his Pow'r was giv'n, And is there Equal to the Lord of Heav'n?

Th' Almighty spoke; the Goddess wing'd her FlightLine 190 To sacred Ilion from th' Idaean Height. Swift as the rat'ling Hail, or fleecy Snows Drive thro' the Skies, when Boreas fiercely blows; So from the Clouds descending Iris falls; And to blue Neptune thus the Goddess calls.Line 195

Attend the Mandate of the Sire above, In me behold the Messenger of Jove: He bids thee from forbidden Wars repair To thy own Deeps, or to the Fields of Air. This if refus'd, he bids thee timely weighLine 200 His elder Birthright, and superior Sway. How shall thy Rashness stand the dire Alarms, If Heav'ns Omnipotence descend in Arms? Striv'st thou with him, by whom all Pow'r is giv'n? And art thou Equal to the Lord of Heav'n?Line 205

What means the haughty Sov'reign of the Skies, (The King of Ocean thus, incens'd, replies) Rule as he will his portion'd Realms on high; No Vassal God, nor of his Train am I. Line 210

Three Brother Deities from Saturn came,Line 210 And ancient Rhea, Earth's immortal Dame: Assign'd by Lot, our triple Rule we know; Infernal Pluto sways the Shades below; O'er the wide Clouds, and o'er the starry Plain, Ethereal Jove extends his high Domain;Line 215 My Court beneath the hoary Waves I keep, And hush the Roarings of the sacred Deep: Olympus, and this Earth, in common lie; What Claim has here the Tyrant of the Sky? Far in the distant Clouds let him controul,Line 220 And awe the younger Brothers of the Pole; There to his Children his Commands be giv'n, The trembling, servile, second Race of Heav'n.

And must I then (said she) O Sire of Floods! Bear this fierce Answer to the King of Gods?Line 225 Correct it yet, and change thy rash Intent; A noble Mind disdains not to repent. To elder Brothers guardian Fiends are giv'n, To scourage the Wretch insulting them and Heav'n.

Great is the Profit (thus the God rejoin'd)Line 230 When Ministers are blest with prudent Mind:

Warn'd by thy Words, to pow'rful Jove I yield, And quit, tho' angry, the contended Field. Not but his Threats with Justice I disclaim, The same our Honours, and our Birth the same.Line 235 If yet, forgetful of his Promise giv'n To Hermes, Pallas, and the Queen of Heav'n; To favour Ilion, that perfidious Place, He breaks his Faith with half th' ethereal Race; Give him to know, unless the Grecian TrainLine 240 Lay yon' proud Structures level with the Plain, Howe'er th' Offence by other Gods be past, The Wrath of Neptune shall for ever last.

Thus speaking, furious from the Field he strode, And plung'd into the Bosom of the Flood.Line 245 The Lord of Thunders from his lofty Height Beheld, and thus bespoke the Source of Light.

Behold! the God whose liquid Arms are hurl'd Around the Globe, whose Earthquakes rock the World; Desists at length his Rebel-war to wage,Line 250 Seeks his own Seas, and trembles at our Rage! Else had my Wrath, Heav'ns Thronesall shaking round, Burn'd to the bottom of his Seas profound;

And all the Gods that round old Saturn dwell, Had heard the Thunders to the Deeps of Hell.Line 255 Well was the Crime, and well the Vengeance spar'd; Ev'n Pow'r immense had found such Battel hard. Go thou my Son! the trembling Greeks alarm, Shake my broad Aegis on thy active Arm, Be godlike Hector thy peculiar Care,Line 260 Swell his bold Heart, and urge his Strength to War: Let Ilion conquer, till th' Achaian Train Fly to their Ships and Hellespont again: Then Greece shall breathe from Toils—The Godhead said; His Will divine the Son of Jove obey'd.Line 265 Not half so swift the sailing Falcon flies, That drives a Turtle thro' the liquid Skies; As Phoebus shooting from th' Idaean Brow, Glides down the Mountain to the Plain below. There Hector seated by the Stream he sees,Line 270 His Sense returning with the coming Breeze; Again his Pulses beat, his Spirits rise; Again his lov'd Companions meet his Eyes; Jove thinking of his Pains, they past away. To whom the God who gives the golden Day.Line 275

Why sits great Hector from the Field so far, What grief, what wound, withholds him from the War?

The fainting Hero, as the Vision bright Stood shining o'er him, half unseal'd his Sight: What blest Immortal, with commanding Breath,Line 280 Thus wakens Hector from the Sleep of Death? Has Fame not told, how, while my trusty Sword Bath'd Greece in Slaughter, and her Battel gor'd, The mighty Ajax with a deadly Blow Had almost sunk me to the Shades below?Line 285 Ev'n yet, methinks, the gliding Ghosts I spy, And Hell's black Horrors swim before my Eye.

To him Apollo. Be no more dismay'd; See, and be strong! the Thund'rer sends thee Aid, Behold! thy Phoebus shall his Arms employ,Line 290 Phoebus, propitious still to thee, and Troy. Inspire thy Warriors then with manly Force, And to the Ships impell thy rapid Horse: Ev'n I will make thy fiery Coursers way, And drive the Grecians headlong to the Sea.Line 295

Thus to bold Hector spoke the Son of Jove, And breath'd immortal Ardour from above.

As when the pamper'd Steed, with Reins unbound, Breaks from his Stall, and pours along the Ground; With ample Strokes he rushes to the Flood,Line 300 To bathe his Sides and cool his fiery Blood. His Head now freed, he tosses to the Skies; His Mane dishevel'd o'er his Shoulders flies; He snuffs the Females in the well known Plain, And springs, exulting, to his Fields again:Line 305 Urg'd by the Voice divine, thus Hector flew, Full of the God; and all his Hosts pursue. As when the Force of Men and Dogs combin'd Invade the Mountain Goat, or branching Hind; They gain th'impervious Rock, and safe retreatLine 310 (For Fate preserves them) from the Hunter's Threat. When lo! a Lyon shoots across the way: They fly; at once the Chasers and the Prey. So Greece, that late in conq'ring Troops pursu'd, And mark'd their Progress thro' the Ranks in Blood,Line 315 Soon as they see the furious Chief appear, Forget to vanquish, and consent to fear.

Thoas with Grief observ'd his dreadful Course, Thoas, the bravest of th' Aetolian Force: Line 320

Skill'd to direct the Javelin's distant Flight,Line 320 And bold to combate in the standing Fight; Nor more in Councils fam'd for solid Sense, Than winning Words and heav'nly Eloquence. Gods! what Portent (he cry'd) these Eyes invades? Lo! Hector rises from the Stygian Shades!Line 325 We saw him, late, by thund'ring Ajax kill'd; What God restores him to the frighted Field; And not content that half of Greece lie slain, Pours new Destruction on her Sons again? He comes not, Jove! without thy pow'rful Will;Line 330 Lo! still he lives, pursues, and conquers still! Yet hear my Counsel, and his worst withstand; The Greek's main Body to the Fleet command; But let the few whom brisker Spirits warm, Stand the first Onset, and provoke the Storm:Line 335 Thus point your Arms; and when such Foes appear, Fierce as he is, let Hector learn to fear.

The Warrior spoke, the list'ning Greeks obey, Thick'ning their Ranks, and form a deep Array. Each Ajax, Teucer, Merion, gave command,Line 340 The valiant Leader of the Cretan Band,

And Mars-like Meges: These the Chiefs excite, Approach the Foe, and meet the coming Fight. Behind, unnumber'd Multitudes attend, To flank the Navy, and the Shores defend.Line 345 Full on the Front the pressing Trojans bear, And Hector first came tow'ring to the War. Phoebus himself the rushing Battel led; A Veil of Clouds involv'd his radiant Head: High-held before him, Jove's enormous ShieldLine 350 Portentous shone, and shaded all the Field, Vulcan to Jove th' immortal Gift consign'd, To scatter Hosts, and terrify Mankind. The Greeks expect the Shock; the Clamours rise From diff'rent parts, and mingle in the Skies.Line 355 Dire was the Hiss of Darts, by Heroes flung, And Arrows leaping from the Bowstring sung; These drink the Life of gen'rous Warriors slain; Those guiltless fall, and thirst for Blood in vain. As long as Phoebus bore unmov'd the Shield,Line 360 Sate doubtful Conquest hov'ring o'er the Field; But when aloft he shakes it in the Skies, Shouts in their Ears, and lightens in their Eyes,

Deep Horror seizes ev'ry Grecian Breast, Their Force is humbled, and their Fear confest.Line 365 So flies a Herd of Oxen, scatter'd wide, No Swain to guard 'em, and no Day to guide, When two fell Lyons from the Mountain come, And spread the Carnage thro' the shady Gloom. Impending Phoebus pours around 'em Fear,Line 370 And Troy and Hector thunder in the Rear. Heaps fall on Heaps: the Slaughter Hector leads; First great Arcesilas, then Stichius bleeds; One to the bold Boeotians ever dear, And one Menestheus' Friend, and fam'd Compeer.Line 375 Medon and Iäsus, Aeneas sped; This sprung from Phelus, and th' Athenians led; But hapless Medon from Oïleus came; Him Ajax honour'd with a Brother's Name, Tho' born of lawless Love: From home expell'd,Line 380 A banish'd Man, in Phylace he dwell'd, Press'd by the Vengeance of an angry Wife; Troy ends, at last, his Labours and his Life. Mecistes next, Polydamas o'erthrew; And thee, brave Clonius! great Agenor slew.Line 385

By Paris, Deiochus inglorious dies, Pierc'd thro' the Shoulder as he basely flies. Polites' Arm laid Echius on the Plain; Stretch'd on one Heap, the Victors spoil the slain. The Greeks dismay'd, confus'd, disperse or fall,Line 390 Some seek the Trench, some skulk behind the Wall, While these fly trembling, others pant for Breath, And o'er the Slaughter stalks gigantic Death. On rush'd bold Hector, gloomy as the Night, Forbids to plunder, animates the Fight,Line 395 Points to the Fleet: For by the Gods, who flies, Who dares but linger, by this Hand he dies: No weeping Sister his cold Eye shall close, No friendly Hand his fun'ral Pyre compose. Who stops to plunder, in this signal Hour,Line 400 The Birds shall tear him, and the Dogs devour.

Furious he said; the smarting Scourge resounds; The Coursers fly; the smoaking Chariot bounds: The Hosts rush on; loud Clamours shake the Shore; The Horses thunder, Earth and Ocean roar!Line 405 Apollo, planted at the Trenche's Bound, Push'd at the Bank: Down sunk th' enormous Mound:

Roll'd in the Ditch the heapy Ruin lay; A sudden Road! a long and ample way. O'er the dread Fosse (a late-impervious Space)Line 410 Now Steeds, and Men, and Cars, tumultuous pass. The wond'ring Crowds the downward Level trod; Before them flam'd the Shield, and march'd the God. Then with his Hand he shook the mighty Wall; And lo! the Turrets nod, the Bulwarks fall.Line 415 Easy, as when ashore an Infant stands, And draws imagin'd Houses in the Sands; The sportive Wanton, pleas'd with some new Play, Sweeps the slight Works and fashion'd Domes away. Thus vanish, at thy touch, the Tow'rs and Walls;Line 420 The Toil of thousands in a Moment falls.

The Grecians gaze around with wild Despair, Confus'd, and weary all the Pow'rs with Pray'r; Exhort their Men, with Praises, Threats, Commands; And urge the Gods, with Voices, Eyes, and Hands.Line 425 Experienc'd Nestor chief obtests the Skies, And weeps his Country with a Father's Eyes.

O Jove! if ever, on his native Shore, One Greek enrich'd thy Shrine with offer'd Gore; Line 430

If e'er, in hope our Country to behold,Line 430 We paid the fattest Firstlings of the Fold; If e'er thou sign'st our Wishes with thy Nod; Perform the Promise of a gracious God! This Day, preserve our Navies from the Flame, And save the Reliques of the Grecian Name.Line 435

Thus pray'd the Sage: Th' Eternal gave consent, And Peals of Thunder shook the Firmament. Presumptuous Troy mistook th' accepting Sign, And catch'd new Fury at the Voice divine. As, when black Tempests mix the Seas and Skies,Line 440 The roaring Deeps in watry Mountains rise, Above the sides of some tall Ship ascend, Its Womb they deluge, and its Ribs they rend: Thus loudly roaring, and o'erpow'ring all, Mount the thick Trojans up the Grecian Wall;Line 445 Legions on Legions from each side arise; Thick sound the Keels; the Storm of Arrows flies. Fierce on the Ships above, the Cars below, These wield the Mace, and those the Javelin throw.

While thus the Thunder of the Battel rag'd,Line 450 And lab'ring Armies round the Works engag'd;

Still in the Tent Patroclus sate, to tend The good Eurypylus, his wounded Friend. He sprinkles healing Balmes, to Anguish kind, And adds Discourse, the Med'cine of the Mind.Line 455 But when he saw, ascending up the Fleet, Victorious Troy: Then, starting from his Seat, With bitter Groans his Sorrows he exprest, He wrings his Hands, he beats his manly Breast. Tho' yet thy State require Redress (he cries)Line 460 Depart I must: What Horrors strike my Eyes? Charg'd with Achilles' high Commands I go, A mournful Witness of this Scene of Woe: I haste to urge him, by his Country's Care, To rise in Arms, and shine again in War.Line 465 Perhaps some fav'ring God his Soul may bend; The Voice is pow'rful of a faithful Friend.

He spoke; and speaking, swifter than the Wind Sprung from the Tent, and left the War behind. Th' embody'd Greeks the fierce Attack sustain,Line 470 But strive, tho' num'rous, to repulse in vain. Nor could the Trojans, thro' that firm Array, Force, to the Fleet and Tents, th' impervious way.

As when a Shipwright, with Palladian Art, Smooths the rough Wood, and levels ev'ry Part;Line 475 With equal Hand he guides his whole Design, By the just Rule, and the directing Line. The martial Leaders, with like Skill and Care, Preserv'd their Line, and equal kept the War. Brave Deeds of Arms thro' all the Ranks were try'd,Line 480 And ev'ry Ship sustain'd an equal Tyde. At one proud Bark, high-tow'ring o'er the Fleet Ajax the Great, and Godlike Hector meet: For one bright Prize the matchless Chiefs contend; Nor this the Ships can fire, nor that defend;Line 485 One kept the Shore, and one the Vessel trod; That fix'd as Fate, this acted by a God. The Son of Clytius, in his daring Hand, The Deck approaching, shakes a flaming Brand; But pierc'd by Telamon's huge Lance expires;Line 490 Thund'ring he falls, and drops th' extinguish'd Fires. Great Hector view'd him with a sad Survey, As stretch'd in Dust before the Stern he lay. Oh! all of Trojan, all of Lycian Race! Stand to your Arms, maintain this arduous Space!Line 495

Lo! where the Son of Royal Clytius lies, Ah save his Arms, secure his Obsequies!

This said, his eager Javelin sought the Foe: But Ajax shunn'd the meditated Blow. Not vainly yet the forceful Lance was thrown;Line 500 It stretch'd in Dust unhappy Lycophron: An Exile long, sustain'd at Ajax' Board, A faithful Servant to a foreign Lord; In Peace, in War, for ever at his side, Near his lov'd Master, as he liv'd, he dy'd.Line 505 From the high Poop he tumbles on the Sand, And lies, a lifeless Load, along the Land. With Anguish Ajax views the piercing Sight, And thus inflames his Brother to the Fight.

Teucer, behold! extended on the ShoreLine 510 Our Friend, our lov'd Companion! now no more! Dear as a Parent, with a Parent's Care, To fight our Wars, he left his native Air. This Death deplor'd to Hector's Rage we owe; Revenge, revenge it on the cruel Foe.Line 15 Where are those Darts on which the Fates attend? And where the Bow, which Phoebus taught to bend?

Impatient Teucer, hastening to his Aid, Before the Chief his ample Bow display'd; The well-stor'd Quiver on his Shoulders hung:Line 520 Then hiss'd his Arrow, and the Bowstring sung. Clytus, Pisenor's Son, renown'd in Fame, (To thee, Polydamas! an honour'd Name) Drove thro' the thickest of th' embattel'd Plains The startling Steeds, and shook his eager Reins.Line 525 As all on Glory ran his ardent Mind, The pointed Death arrests him from behind: Thro' his fair Neck the thrilling Arrow flies; In Youth's first Bloom reluctantly he dies. Hurl'd from the lofty Seat, at distance far,Line 530 The headlong Coursers spurn his empty Car; Till sad Polydamas the Steeds restrain'd, And gave, Astynous, to thy careful Hand; Then, fir'd to Vengeance, rush'd amidst the Foe; Rage edg'd his Sword, and strengthen'd ev'ry Blow.Line 535

Once more bold Teucer, in his Country's Cause, At Hector's Breast a chosen Arrow draws; And had the Weapon found the destin'd way, Thy Fall, great Trojan! had renown'd that Day. Line 540

But Hector was not doom'd to perish then:Line 540 Th' all-wise Disposer of the Fates of Men, (Imperial Jove) his present Death withstands; Nor was such Glory due to Teucer's Hands. At his full Stretch, as the tough String he drew, Struck by an Arm unseen, it burst in two;Line 545 Down drop'd the Bow: the Shaft with brazen Head Fell innocent, and on the Dust, lay dead. Th' astonish'd Archer to great Ajax cries; Some God prevents our destin'd Enterprize: Some God, propitious to the Trojan Foe,Line 550 Has, from my Arm unfailing, struck the Bow, And broke the Nerve my Hands had twin'd with Art, Strong to impell the Flight of many a Dart.

Since Heav'n commands it (Ajax made reply) Dismiss the Bow, and lay thy Arrows by;Line 555 Thy Arms no less suffice the Lance to wield, And quit the Quiver for the pond'rous Shield. In the first Ranks indulge thy Thirst of Fame, Thy brave Example shall the rest enflame. Fierce as they are, by long Successes vain;Line 560 To force our Fleet, or ev'n a Ship to gain,

Asks Toil, and Sweat, and Blood: Their utmost Might Shall find its Match—No more: 'Tis ours to fight.

Then Teucer laid his faithless Bow aside; The fourfold Buckler o'er his Shoulder ty'd;Line 565 On his brave Head a crested Helm he plac'd, With nodding Horsehair formidably grac'd; A Dart, whose Point with Brass refulgent shines, The Warrior wields; and his great Brother joins.

This Hector saw, and thus express'd his Joy.Line 570 Ye Troops of Lycia, Dardanus, and Troy! Be mindful of your selves, your ancient Fame, And spread your Glory with the Navy's Flame. Jove is with us; I saw his Hand, but now, From the proud Archer strike his vaunted Bow.Line 575 Indulgent Jove! how plain thy Favours shine, When happy Nations bear the Marks divine! How easy then, to see the sinking State Of Realms accurs'd, deserted, reprobate! Such is the Fate of Greece, and such is ours:Line 580 Behold, ye Warriors, and exert your Pow'rs. Death is the worst; a Fate which all must try; And, for our Country, 'tis a Bliss to die.

The gallant Man, tho' slain in Fight he be, Yet leaves his Nation safe, his Children free;Line 585 Entails a Debt on all the grateful State; His own brave Friends shall glory in his Fate; His Wife live honour'd, all his Race succeed; And late Posterity enjoy the Deed!

This rouz'd the Soul in ev'ry Trojan Breast:Line 590 The godlike Ajax next his Greeks addrest. How long, ye Warriors of the Argive Race, (To gen'rous Argos what a dire Disgrace!) How long, on these curs'd Confines will ye lie, Yet undetermin'd, or to live, or die!Line 595 What Hopes remain, what Methods to retire, If once your Vessels catch the Trojan Fire? Mark how the Flames approach, how near they fall, How Hector calls, and Troy obeys his Call! Not to the Dance that dreadful Voice invites,Line 600 It calls to Death, and all the Rage of Fights. 'Tis now no time for Wisdom or Debates; To your own Hands are trusted all your Fates: And better far, in one decisive Strife, One Day should end our Labour, or our Life;Line 605

Than keep this hard-got Inch of barren Sands, Still press'd, and press'd by such inglorious Hands.

The list'ning Grecians feel their Leader's Flame, And ev'ry kindling Bosom pants for Fame. Then mutual Slaughters spread on either side;Line 610 By Hector here the Phocian Schedius dy'd; There pierc'd by Ajax, sunk Laodamas, Chief of the Foot, of old Antenor's Race. Polydamas laid Otus on the Sand, The fierce Commander of th' Epeian Band.Line 615 His Lance bold Meges at the Victor threw; The Victor stooping, from the Death withdrew: (That valu'd Life, O Phoebus! was thy Care) But Croesmus' Bosom took the flying Spear; His Corps fell bleeding on the slipp'ry Shore;Line 620 His radiant Arms triumphant Meges bore. Dolops, the Son of Lampus rushes on, Sprung from the Race of old Laomedon, And fam'd for Prowess in a well-fought Field; He pierc'd the Centre of his sounding Shield:Line 625 But Meges, Phyleus' ample Breastplate wore, (Well known in Fight on Selles' winding Shore,

For King Euphetes gave the golden Mail, Compact, and firm with many a jointed Scale) Which oft, in Cities storm'd, and Battels won,Line 630 Had sav'd the Father, and now saves the Son. Full at the Trojan's Head he urg'd his Lance, Where the high Plumes above the Helmet dance, New-ting'd with Tyrian Dye: In Dust below, Shorn from the Crest, the purple Honours glow.Line 635 Meantime their Fight the Spartan King survey'd, And stood by Meges' side, a sudden Aid, Thro' Dolops' Shoulder urg'd his forceful Dart, Which held its Passage thro' the panting Heart, And issu'd at his Breast. With thund'ring SoundLine 640 The Warrior falls, extended on the Ground. In rush the conqu'ring Greeks to spoil the slain; But Hector's Voice excites his kindred Train; The Hero most, from Hicetaon sprung, Fierce Melanippus, gallant, brave, and young.Line 645 He (e'er to Troy the Grecians cross'd the Main) Fed his large Oxen on Percote's Plain; But when oppress'd, his Country claim'd his Care, Return'd to Ilion, and excell'd in War: Line 650

For this, in Priam's Court he held his Place,Line 650 Belov'd no less than Priam's Royal Race. Him Hector singled, as his Troops he led, And thus inflam'd him, pointing to the Dead.

Lo Melanippus! lo where Dolops lies; And is it thus our Royal Kinsman dies?Line 655 O'ermatch'd he falls; to two at once a Prey, And lo! they bear the bloody Arms away! Come on—a distant War no longer wage, But hand to hand thy Country's Foes engage: Till Greece at once, and all her Glory end;Line 660 Or Ilion from her tow'ry Height descend, Heav'd from the lowest Stone; and bury All, In one sad Sepulchre, one common Fall.

Hector (this said) rush'd forward on the Foes: With equal Ardour Melanippus glows:Line 665 Then Ajax thus—Oh Greeks! respect your Fame, Respect your selves, and learn an honest Shame: Let mutual Reverence mutual Warmth inspire, And catch from Breast to Breast the noble Fire. On Valour's side the odds of Combate lie,Line 670 The brave live glorious, or lamented die;

The Wretch that trembles in the Field of Fame, Meets Death, and worse than Death, eternal Shame.

His gen'rous Sense he not in vain imparts; It sunk, and rooted in the Grecian Hearts.Line 675 They join, they throng, they thicken at his Call, And flank the Navy with a brazen Wall; Shields touching Shields in order blaze above, And stop the Trojans, tho' impell'd by Jove. The fiery Spartan first, with loud Applause,Line 680 Warms the bold Son of Nestor in his Cause. Is there (he said) in Arms a Youth like you, So strong to fight, so active to pursue? Why stand you distant, nor attempt a Deed? Lift the bold Lance, and make some Trojan bleed.Line 685

He said, and backward to the Lines retir'd; Forth rush'd the Youth, with martial Fury fir'd, Beyond the foremost Ranks; his Lance he threw, And round the black Battalions cast his View. The Troops of Troy recede with sudden Fear,Line 690 While the swift Javelin hiss'd along in Air. Advancing Menalippus met the Dart With his bold Breast, and felt it in his Heart:

Thund'ring he falls; his falling Arms resound, And his broad Buckler rings against the Ground.Line 695 The Victor leaps upon his prostrate Prize; Thus on a Roe the well-breath'd Beagle flies, And rends his side, fresh-bleeding with the Dart The distant Hunter sent into his Heart. Observing Hector to the Rescue flew;Line 700 Bold as he was, Antilochus withdrew: So when a Savage, ranging o'er the Plain, Has torn the Shepherd's Dog, or Shepherd Swain; While conscious of the Deed, he glares around, And hears the gath'ring Multitude resound,Line 705 Timely he flies the yet-untasted Food, And gains the friendly Shelter of the Wood. So fears the Youth; all Troy with Shouts pursue, While Stones and Darts in mingled Tempest flew; But enter'd in the Grecian Ranks, he turnsLine 710 His manly Breast, and with new Fury burns.

Now on the Fleet the Tydes of Trojans drove, Fierce to fulfill the stern Decrees of Jove: The Sire of Gods, confirming Thetis' Pray'r, The Grecian Ardour quench'd in deep Despair;Line 715

But lifts to Glory Troy's prevailing Bands, Swells all their Hearts, and strengthens all their Hands. On Ida's Top he waits with longing Eyes, To view the Navy blazing to the Skies; Then, nor till then, the Scale of War shall turn,Line 720 The Trojans fly, and conquer'd Ilion burn. These Fates revolv'd in his almighty Mind, He raises Hector to the Work design'd, Bids him with more than mortal Fury glow, And drives him, like a Light'ning, on the Foe.Line 725 So Mars, when human Crimes for Vengeance call, Shakes his huge Javelin, and whole Armies fall. Not with more Rage a Conflagration rolls, Wraps the vast Mountains, and involves the Poles. He foames with Wrath; beneath his gloomy BrowLine 730 Like fiery Meteors his red Eyeballs glow: The radiant Helmet on his Temples burns, Waves when he nods, and lightens as he turns: For Jove his Splendour round the Chief had thrown, And cast the Blaze of both the Hosts on one.Line 735 Unhappy Glories! for his Fate was near, Due to stern Pallas, and Pelides' Spear:

Yet Jove deferr'd the Death he was to pay, And gave what Fate allow'd, the Honours of a Day!

Now all on fire for Fame; his Breast, his EyesLine 740 Burn at each Foe, and single ev'ry Prize; Still at the closest Ranks, the thickest Fight, He points his Ardour, and exerts his Might. The Grecian Phalanx moveless as a Tow'r, On all sides batter'd, yet resists his Pow'r:Line 745 So some tall Rock o'erhangs the hoary Main, By Winds assail'd, by Billows beat in vain, Unmov'd it hears, above, the Tempest blow, And sees the watry Mountains break below. Girt in surrounding Flames, he seems to fallLine 750 Like Fire from Jove, and bursts upon them all: Bursts as a Wave, that from the Clouds impends, And swell'd with Tempests on the Ship descends; White are the Decks with Foam; the Winds aloud Howl o'er the Masts, and sing thro' ev'ry Shroud:Line 755 Pale, trembling, tir'd, the Sailors freeze with Fears; And instant Death on ev'ry Wave appears. So pale the Greeks the Eyes of Hector meet, The Chief so thunders, and so shakes the Fleet.

As when a Lion, rushing from his Den,Line 760 Amidst the Plain of some wide-water'd Fen, (Where num'rous Oxen, as at ease they feed, At large expatiate o'er the ranker Mead;) Leaps on the Herds before the Herdsman's Eyes; The trembling Herdsman far to distance flies:Line 765 Some lordly Bull (the rest dispers'd and fled) He singles out; arrests, and lays him dead. Thus from the Rage of Jove-like Hector, flew All Greece in Heaps; but one he seiz'd, and slew. Mycenian Periphes, a mighty Name,Line 770 In Wisdom great, in Arms well known to Fame: The Minister of stern Euristheus' Ire Against Alcides, Copreus, was his Sire: The Son redeem'd the Honours of the Race, A Son as gen'rous as his Sire was base;Line 775 O'er all his Country's Youth conspicuous far, In ev'ry Virtue, or of Peace or War: But doom'd to Hector's stronger Force to yield! Against the Margin of his ample Shield He struck his hasty Foot: his Heels up-sprung;Line 780 Supine he fell; his brazen Helmet rung.

On the fall'n Chief th' invading Trojan prest, And plung'd the pointed Javelin in his Breast. His circling Friends, who strove to guard too late Th' unhappy Hero; fled, or shar'd his Fate.Line 785

Chas'd from the foremost Line, the Grecian Train Now man the next, receding tow'rd the Main: Wedg'd in one Body at the Tents they stand, Wall'd round with Sterns, a gloomy, desp'rate Band. Now manly Shame forbids th' inglorious Flight;Line 790 Now Fear itself confines them to the Fight: Man Courage breathes in Man; but Nestor most (The sage Preserver of the Grecian Host) Exhorts, adjures, to guard these utmost Shores; And by their Parents, by themselves, implores.Line 795

O Friends! be Men: your gen'rous Breasts inflame With mutual Honour, and with mutual Shame! Think of your Hopes, your Fortunes; all the Care Your Wives, your Infants, and your Parents share: Think of each living Father's rev'rend Head;Line 800 Think of each Ancestor with Glory dead; Absent, by me they speak, by me they sue; They ask their Safety and their Fame from you:

The Gods their Fates on this one Action lay, And all are lost, if you desert the Day.Line 805

He spoke, and round him breath'd heroic Fires; Minerva seconds what the Sage inspires. The Mist of Darkness Jove around them threw, She clear'd, restoring all the War to view; A sudden Ray shot beaming o'er the Plain,Line 810 And shew'd the Shores, the Navy, and the Main: Hector they saw, and all who fly, or fight, The Scene wide-opening to the Blaze of Light. First of the Field, great Ajax strikes their Eyes, His Port majestick, and his ample Size:Line 815 A pond'rous Mace, with Studs of Iron crown'd, Full twenty Cubits long, he swings around. Nor fights like others, fix'd to certain Stands, But looks a moving Tow'r above the Bands; High on the Decks, with vast gigantic Stride,Line 820 The godlike Hero stalks from side to side. So when a Horseman from the watry Mead (Skill'd in the Manage of the bounding Steed) Drives four fair Coursers, practis'd to obey, To some great City thro' the publick way;Line 825

Safe in his Art, as side by side they run, He shifts his Seat, and vaults from one to one; And now to this, and now to that he flies; Admiring Numbers follow with their Eyes. From Ship to Ship thus Ajax swiftly flew,Line 830 No less the Wonder of the warring Crew. As furious, Hector thunder'd Threats aloud, And rush'd enrag'd before the Trojan Croud: Then swift invades the Ships, whose beaky Prores Lay rank'd contiguous on the bending Shores.Line 835 So the strong Eagle from his airy Height Who marks the Swan's or Crane's embody'd Flight, Stoops down impetuous, while they light for Food, And stooping, darkens with his Wings the Flood. Jove leads him on with his almighty Hand,Line 840 And breathes fierce Spirits in his following Band. The warring Nations meet, the Battel roars, Thick beats the Combate on the sounding Prores. Thou wouldst have thought, so furious was their Fire No Force could tame them, and no Toil could tire;Line 845 As if new Vigour from new Fights they won, And the long Battel was but then begun.

Greece yet unconquer'd, kept alive the War, Secure of Death, confiding in Despair; Troy in proud Hopes already view'd the MainLine 850 Bright with the Blaze, and red with Heroes slain: Like Strength is felt, from Hope, and from Despair, And each contends, as his were all the War.

'Twas thou, bold Hector! whose resistless Hand First seiz'd a Ship on that contested Strand;Line 855 The same which dead Protesilaus bore, The first that touch'd th' unhappy Trojan Shore: For this in Arms the warring Nations stood, And bath'd their gen'rous Breasts with mutual Blood. No room to poize the Lance, or bend the Bow;Line 860 But hand to hand, and Man to Man they grow. Wounded, they wound; and seek each others Hearts With Faulchions, Axes, Swords, and shorten'd Darts. The Faulchions ring, Shields rattle, Axes sound, Swords flash in Air, or glitter on the Ground;Line 865 With streaming Blood the slipp'ry Shores are dy'd, And slaughter'd Heroes swell the dreadful Tyde.

Still raging Hector with his ample Hand Grasps the high Stern, and gives this loud Command.

Haste, bring the Flames! the Toil of ten long YearsLine 870 Is finish'd; and the Day desir'd appears! This happy Day with Acclamations greet, Bright with Destruction of yon' hostile Fleet. The Coward-Counsels of a tim'rous Throng Of rev'rend Dotards, check'd our Glory long:Line 875 Too long Jove lull'd us with lethargic Charms, But now in Peals of Thunder calls to Arms; In this great Day he crowns our full Desires, Wakes all our Force, and seconds all our Fires.

He spoke—The Warriors, at his fierce Command,Line 880 Pour a new Deluge on the Grecian Band. Ev'n Ajax paus'd (so thick the Javelins fly) Step'd back, and doubted or to live, or die. Yet where the Oars are plac'd, he stands to wait What Chief approaching dares attempt his Fate;Line 885 Ev'n to the last, his Naval Charge defends, Now shakes his Spear, now lifts, and now protends, Ev'n yet, the Greeks with piercing Shouts inspires, Amidst Attacks, and Deaths, and Darts, and Fires.

O Friends! O Heroes! Names for ever dear,Line 890 Once Sons of Mars, and Thunderbolts of War!

Ah yet be mindful of your old Renown, Your great Forefathers Virtues, and your own. What Aids expect you in this utmost Strait? What Bulwarks rising between you and Fate?Line 895 No Aids, no Bulwarks your Retreat attend, No Friends to help, no City to defend. This Spot is all you have, to lose or keep; There stand the Trojans, and here rolls the Deep. 'Tis hostile Ground you tread; your native LandsLine 900 Far, far from hence: your Fates are in your Hands.

Raging he spoke; nor farther wastes his Breath, But turns his Javelin to the Work of Death. Whate'er bold Trojan arm'd his daring Hands Against the sable Ships with flaming Brands,Line 905 So well the Chief his Naval Weapon sped, The luckless Warrior at his Stern lay dead: Full twelve, the boldest, in a Moment fell, Sent by great Ajax to the Shades of Hell.

OBSERVATIONS ON THE Fifteenth Book.

OBSERVATIONS ON THE FIFTEENTH BOOK.

I.

ADAM, in Paradise lost, awakes from the Embrace of Eve, in much the same Humour with Jupiter in this Place. Their Circumstance is very parallel; and each of 'em, as soon as his Passion is over, full of that Resentment natural to a Superior, who is im|posed upon by one of less Worth and Sense than himself, and imposed upon in the worst manner by Shews of Tenderness and Love.

II.

VERSE 23. Hast thou forgot, &c.]

It is in the Original to this Effect. Have you forgot how you swung in the Air when I hung a Load of two Anvils at your Feet, and a Chain of Gold on your Hands?

"Tho' it is not my Design, says M. Dacier, to give a Reason for every Story in the Pagan Theology, yet I can't prevail upon my self to pass over this in Silence. The physical Allegory seems very apparent to me: Ho|mer mysteriously in this Place explains the Nature of the

Air, which is Juno; the two Anvils which she had at her Feet are the two Elements, Earth and Water; and the Chains of Gold about her Hands are the Aether, or Fire, which fills the superior Region: The two grosser Elements are called Anvils, to shew us, that in these two Elements only, Arts are exercis'd. I don't know but that a moral Allegory may here be found, as well as a physical one; the Poet by these Masses tied to the Feet of Juno, and by the Chain of Gold with which her Hands were bound, might signify, that on one side domestick Affairs should like Fetters detain the wise at home; and on the other, that proper and beautiful Works like Chains of Gold ought to employ her Hands."

The physical part of this Note belongs to Heraclides Pon|tius, Eustathius, and the Scholiast: M. Dacier might have been contented with the Credit of the moral one, as it seems an Observation no less singular in a Lady.

III.

VERSE 23.] Eustathius tells us, that there were in some Manuscripts of Homer two Verses which are not to be found in any of the printed Editions, (which Hen. Stephens places here.)

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

By these two Verses Homer shews us, that what he says of the Punishment of Juno was not an Invention of his own, but founded upon an ancient Tradition. There had probably been some Statue of Juno with Anvils at her Feet, and Chains on her Hands; and nothing but Chains and Anvils being left by Time, superstitious People rais'd this Story; so that Ho|mer only follow'd common Report. What farther confirms it, is what Eustathius adds, that there were shewn near Troy certain Ruins, which were said to be the Remains of these Masses. Dacier.

IV.

VERSE 43. And thy black Waves, tremendous Styx!]

The Epithet Homer here gives to Styx is 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, subterlabens, which I take to refer to its Passage thro' the infernal Regi|ons. But there is a Refinement upon it, as if it signify'd ex alto stillans, falling drop by drop from on high. Herodotus in his sixth Book, writes thus.

"The Arcadians say, that near the City Nonacris flows the Water of Styx, and that it is a small Rill, which distilling from an exceed|ing high Rock, falls into a little Cavity or Bason, envi|ron'd with a Hedge."

Pausanias, who had seen the Place, gives Light to this Passage of Herodotus.

"Going from Phereus, says he, in the Country of the Arcadians, and drawing towards the West, we find on the left the City Clytorus, and on the right that of Nonacris, and the Foun|tain of Styx, which from the Height of a shaggy Preci|piece falls drop by drop upon an exceeding high Rock, and before it has travers'd this Rock, flows into the River Crathis; this Water is mortal both to Man and Beast, and therefore it is said to be an infernal Fountain. Ho|mer gives it a Place in his Poems, and by the Description which he delivers, one would think he had seen it."

This shews the wonderful Exactness of Homer in the Description of Places which he mentions. The Gods swore by Styx, and this was the strongest Oath they could take; but we likewise find that Men too swore by this fatal Water: for Herodotus tells us, that Cleomenes going to Arcadia to en|gage the Arcadians to follow him in a War against Sparta, had a design to assemble at the City Nonacris, and make them swear by the Water of this Fountain. Dacier. Eu|stath. in Odyss.

V.

VERSE 47. Not by my Arts, &c.]

This Apology is well contriv'd; Juno could not swear that she had not deceiv'd Jupiter, for this had been entirely false, and Homer would

be far from authorizing Perjury by so great an Example. Juno, we see, throws part of the Fault on Neptune, by shew|ing she had not acted in concert with him. Eustathius.

VI.

VERSE 67. Greece chas'd by Troy, &c.]

In this Discourse of Jupiter the Poet opens his Design, by giving his Readers a Sketch of the principal Events he is to expect. As this Conduct of Homer may to many appear no way artful, and since it is a principal Article of the Charge brought against him by some late French Criticks, it will not be improper here to look a little into this Dispute. The Case will be best stated by translating the following Passage from Mr. de la Motte's Reflections sur la Critique.

"I could not forbear wishing that Homer had an Art, which he seems to have neglected, that of preparing Events without making them known beforehand, so that when they happen one might be surprized agreeably. I could not be quite satisfied to hear Jupiter, in the middle of the Iliad, give an exact Abridgment of the Remainder of the Action. Mad. Dacier alledges as an Excuse, that this past only between Jupiter and Juno; as if the Reader was not let into the Secret, and had not as much share in the Confidence.

She adds,

"that as we are capable of a great deal of Plea|sure at the Representation of a Tragedy which we have seen before, so the Surprizes which I require are no way necessary to our Entertainment. This I think a pure Piece of Sophistry: One may have two sorts of Pleasure at the Representation of a Tragedy; in the first place, that of taking part in an Action of Importance the first time it passes before our Eyes, of being agitated by Fear and Hope for the Persons one is most concern'd about, and in fine, of partaking their Felicity or Misfortune, as they happen to succeed, or be disappointed.

"This therefore is the first Pleasure which the Poet should design to give his Auditors, to transport them by pathetic

Surprizes which excite Terror or Pity. The second Plea|sure must proceed from a View of that Art which the Au|thor has shewn in raising the former.

"'Tis true, when we have seen a Piece already, we have no longer that first Pleasure of the Surprize, at least not in all its Vivacity; but there still remains the second, which could never have its turn, had not the Poet labour'd suc|cessfully to excite the first, it being upon that indispensable Obligation that we judge of his Art.

"The Art therefore consists in telling the Hearer only what is necessary to be told him, and in telling him only as much as is requisite to the Design of pleasing him. And altho' we know this already when we read it a second time, we yet taste the Pleasure of that Order and Conduct which the Art required.

"From hence it follows, that every Poem ought to be contrived for the first Impression it is to make. If it be otherwise, it gives us (instead of two Pleasures which we expected) two sorts of Disgusts; the one, that of being cool and untouch'd when we should be mov'd and trans|ported; the other, that of perceiving the Defect which caus'd that Disgust.

"This, in one word, is what I have found in the Iliad. I was not interested or touch'd by the Adventures, and I saw it was this cooling Preparation that prevented my being so."

It appears clearly that M. Dacier's Defence no way excuses the Poet's Conduct; wherefore I shall add two or three Con|siderations which may chance to set it in a better Light. It must be own'd that a Surprize artfully managed, which arises from unexpected Revolutions of great Actions, affects the Mind with a peculiar Delight: In this consists the prin|cipal Pleasure of a Romance and well writ Tragedy. But be|sides this, there is in the Relation of great Events a different kind of Pleasure which arises from the artful unravelling a Knot of Actions, which we knew before in the gross. This is a Delight peculiar to History and Epic Poetry, which is founded on History. In these kinds of writing, a preceding summary Knowledge of the Events described, does no way

damp our Curiosity, but rather makes it more eager for the Detail. This is evident in a good History, where ge|nerally the Reader is affected with a greater Delight, in pro|portion to his preceding Knowledge of the Facts described: The Pleasure in this case is like that of an Architect first viewing some magnificent Building, who was before well ac|quainted with the Proportions of it. In an Epic Poem the case is of a like Nature; where, as if the historical Fore-know|ledge were not sufficient, the most judicious Poets never fail to excite their Reader's Curiosity by some small Sketches of their Design; which like the Outlines of a fine Picture, will necessarily raise in us a greater desire to see it in its fi|nish'd Colouring.

Had our Author been inclined to follow the Method of managing our Passions by Surprizes, he could not well have succeeded by this manner in the Subject he chose to write upon, which being a Story of great Importance, the principal Events of which were well known to the Greeks, it was not possible for him to alter the Ground-work of his Piece; and probably he was willing to mark by these Recapitulations how much of his Story was founded on historical Truths, and that what is superadded were the poetical Ornaments.

There is another Consideration worth remembring on this Head, to justify our Author's Conduct. It seems to have been an Opinion in these early times, deeply rooted in most Countries and Religions, that the Actions of Men were not only foreknown, but predestinated by a superior Being. This Sentiment is very frequent in the most ancient Writers both sacred and prophane, and seems a distinguishing Character of the Writings of the greatest Antiquity. The Word of the Lord was fulfill'd, is the principal Observation in the History of the Old Testament, and 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 is the declared and most obvious Moral of the Iliad. If this great Moral be fit to be represented in Poetry, what Means so proper to make it evident, as this introducing Jupiter foretelling the Events which he had decreed?

VII.

VERSE 86. As some way-faring Man, &c.]

The Discourse of Jupiter to Juno being ended, she ascends to Heaven with wonderful Celerity, which the Poet explains by this Compa|rison. On other Occasions he has illustrated the Action of the Mind by sensible Images from the Motion of the Bodies; here he inverts the Case, and shews the great Velocity of Ju|no's Flight by comparing it to the Quickness of Thought. No other Comparison could have equall'd the Speed of an heavenly Being. To render this more beautiful and exact, the Poet describes a Traveller who revolves in his Mind the several Places which he has seen, and in an Instant passes in Imagination from one distant Part of the Earth to another. Milton seems to have had it in his Eye in that ele|vated Passage,

—The Speed of Gods Time counts not, tho' with swiftest Minutes wing'd.

As the Sense in which we have explain'd this Passage is exact|ly literal, as well as truly sublime, one cannot but wonder what should induce both Hobbes and Chapman to ramble so wide from it in their Translations.

This said, went Juno to Olympus high. As when a Man looks o'er an ample Plain, To any distance quickly goes his Eye: So swiftly Juno went with little Pain.

Chapman's is yet more foreign to the Subject,

But as the Mind of such a Man, that hath a great way gone, And either knowing not his way, or then would let alone His purpos'd Journey; is distract, and in his vexed Mind Resolves now not to go, now goes, still many ways inclin'd—

VIII.

VERSE 102. Go thou, the Feasts of Heav'n attend thy Call.]

This is a Passage worthy our Observation: Homer feigns, that Themis, that is Justice, presides over the Feasts of the Gods; to let us know, that she ought much more to pre|side over the Feasts of Men. Eustathius.

IX.

VERSE 114. Juno's Speech to the Gods.]

It was no sort of Exaggeration what the Ancients have affirm'd of Homer, that the Examples of all kinds of Oratory are to be found in his Works. The present Speech of Juno is a Masterpiece in that sort, which seems to say one thing, and persuades another: For while she is only declaring to the Gods the Orders of Ju|piter, at the time that she tells 'em they must obey, she fills them with a Reluctance to do it. By representing so strong|ly the Superiority of his Power, she makes them uneasy at it, and by particularly advising that God to submit, whose Tem|per could least brook it, she incites him to downright Re|bellion. Nothing can be more sly and artfully provoking, than that Stroke on the Death of his darling Son. Do thou, O Mars, teach Obedience to us all, for 'tis upon thee that Jupi|ter has put the severest Trial: Ascalaphus thy Son lies slain by his means: Bear it with so much Temper and Moderation, that the World may not think he was thy Son.

X.

VERSE 134. To Fear and Flight.—]

Homer does not say, that Mars commanded they should join his Horses to his Chariot, which Horses were call'd Fear and Flight. Fear and Flight are not the Names of the Horses of Mars, but the Names of two Furies in the Service of this God: It appears likewise by other Passages, that they were his Children,

Book 13. ℣. 299. This is a very ancient Mistake; Eusta|thius mentions it as an Error of Antimachus, yet Hobbes and most others have fallen into it.

XI.

VERSE 164. Go wait the Thund'rer's Will.]

'Tis remark|able, that whereas it is familiar with the Poet to repeat his Errands and Messages, here he introduces Juno with very few Words, where she carries a Dispatch from Jupiter to Iris and Apollo. She only says,

"Jove commands you to attend him on Mount Ida,"

and adds nothing of what had pass'd between herself and her Consort before. The reason of this Brevity is not only that she is highly disgusted with Jupiter, and so unwil|ling to tell her Tale from the Anguish of her Heart; but al|so because Jupiter had given her no Commission to relate ful|ly the Subject of their Discourse; wherefore she is cautious of declaring what possibly he would have concealed. Nei|ther does Jupiter himself in what follows reveal his Decrees: For he lets Apollo only so far into his Will, that he would have him discover and rout the Greeks: Their good Fortune, and the Success which was to ensue, he hides from him, as one who favour'd the Cause of Troy. One may remark in this Passage Homer's various Conduct and Discretion concern|ing what ought to be put in Practice, or left undone; where|by his Reader may be inform'd how to regulate his own Af|fairs. Eustathius.

XII.

VERSE 210. Three Brother Deities, from Saturn came, And ancient Rhea, Earth's immortal Dame: Assign'd by Lot, our Triple Rule we know, &c.

Some have thought the Platonic Philosophers drew from hence the Notion of their Triad (which the Christian Platonists since imagined to be an obscure Hint of the Sacred Trinity.) The Trias of Plato is well known, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉.

In his Gorgias he tells us, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉(autorem sc. fuisse)〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉. See Proclus in Plat. Theol. lib. 1. c. 5. Lucian Philopatr. Aristotle de coelo, l. 1. c. 1. speaking of the Ternarian Number from Pythago|ras, has these Words; 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉. From which Passage Trapezuntius endeavour'd ve|ry seriously to prove, that Aristotle had a perfect Knowledge of the Trinity. Duport (who furnish'd me with this Note, and who seems to be sensible of the Folly of Trapezuntius) never|theless in his Gnomologia Homerica, or Comparison of our Author's Sentences with those of the Scripture, has placed opposite to this Verse that of St. John. There are three who give Testimony in Heaven, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost. I think this the strongest Instance I ever met with of the manner of thinking of such Men, whose too much Learning has made them mad.

Lactantius, de Fals. Relig. lib. 1. cap. 11. takes this Fa|ble to be a Remain of ancient History, importing, that the Empire of the then known World was divided among the three Brothers; to Jupiter the Oriental part, which was call'd Heaven, as the Region of Light, or the Sun: To Pluto the Occidental, or darker Regions: And to Neptune the So|vereignty of the Seas.

XIII.

VERSE 228. To elder Brothers.]

Iris, that she may not seem to upbraid Neptune with Weakness of Judgment, out of Regard to the Greatness and Dignity of his Person, does not say that Jupiter is stronger or braver; but attacking him from a Motive not in the least invidious, Superiority of Age, she says sententiously, that the Furies wait upon our Elders. The Furies are said to wait upon Men in a double Sense: ei|ther for Evil, as they did upon Orestes after he had slain his Mother; or else for their good, as upon Elders when they are injur'd, to protect them and avenge their Wrongs. This

is an Instance that the Pagans look'd upon Birth-right as a Right divine. Eustathius.

XIV.

VERSE 252. Else had our Wrath, &c.]

This Representa|tion of the Terrors which must have attended the Conflict of two such mighty Powers as Jupiter and Neptune, whereby the Elements had been mix'd in Confusion, and the whole Frame of Nature endangered, is imaged in these few Lines with a Nobleness suitable to the Occasion. Milton has a Thought very like it in his fourth Book, where he represents what must have happen'd if Satan and Gabriel had encounter'd.

—Not only Paradise In this Commotion, but the starry Cope Of Heav'n, perhaps, and all the Elements At least had gone to wrack, disturb'd and torn With Violence of this Conflict, had not soon Th' Almighty, to prevent such horrid Fray, &c.

XV.

VERSE 274. Jove thinking of his Pains, they past away.]

Eustathius observes, that this is a very sublime Representation of the Power of Jupiter, to make Hector's Pains cease from the Moment wherein Jupiter first turn'd his Thoughts to|wards him. Apollo finds him so far recover'd, as to be able to sit up, and know his Friends. Thus much was the Work of Jupiter; the God of Health perfects the Cure.

XVI.

VERSE 298. As when the pamper'd Steed.]

This Compa|rison is repeated from the sixth Book, and we are told that the ancient Criticks retain'd no more than the two first Ver|ses and the four last in this Place, and that they gave the

Verses two Marks; by the one (which was the Asterism) they intimated, that the four Lines were very beautiful; but by the other (which was the Obelus) that they were ill placed. I believe an impartial Reader who considers the two Places will be of the same Opinion.

Tasso has improv'd the Justness of this Simile in his sixteenth Book, where Rinaldo returning from the Arms of Armida to Battel, is compared to the Steed that is taken from his Pa|stures and Mares to the Service of the War: The Reverse of the Circumstance better agreeing with the Occasion.

Qual feroce destrier, ch'al faticoso Honor de l'arme vincitor sia tolto, E lascivo marito in vil riposo Frà gli armenti, e ne'paschi erri disciolto; Se'l desta o suon di tromba, o luminoso Acciar, colà tosto annittendo è volto; Già già brama l'arringo, e l'huom sùl dorso Portando, urtato riurtar nel corso.

XVII.

VERSE 311. For Fate preserves them.]

Dacier has a pretty Remark on this Passage, that Homer extended Destiny (that is, the Care of Providence) even over the Beasts of the Field; an Opinion that agrees perfectly with true Theology. In the Book of Jonas, the Regard of the Creator extending to the meanest Rank of his Creatures, is strongly express'd in those Words of the Almighty, where he makes his Compas|sion to the Brute Beasts one of the Reasons against destroying Nineveh. Shall I not spare the great City, in which there are more than sixscore thousand Persons, and also much Cattel? And what is still more parallel to this Passage, in St. Matth. Ch. 10. Are not two Sparrows sold for a Farthing? And yet one of them shall not fall to the Ground, without your Father.

XVIII.

VERSE 363. But when aloft he shakes.]

Apollo in this Passage by the mere shaking his Aegis, without acting offensively, annoys and puts the Greeks into Disorder. Eu|stathius thinks that such a Motion might possibly create the same Confusion, as hath been reported by Historians to proceed from Panic Fears: or that it might intimate some dreadful Confusion in the Air, and a Noise issuing from thence; a Notion which seems to be warranted by Apollo's Outcry, which presently follows in the same Verse. But per|haps we need not go so far to account for this Fiction of Ho|mer: The Sight of a Hero's Armour often has the like Ef|fect in an Epic Poem: The Shield of Prince Arthur in Spen|cer works the same Wonders with this Aegis of Apollo.

XIX.

VERSE 386. By Paris, Deiochus inglorious dies, Pierc'd thro' the Shoulder as he basely flies.]

Here is one that falls under the Spear of Paris, smitten in the Extremity of his Shoulder, as he was flying. This gives occasion to a pretty Observation in Eustathius, that this is the only Greek who falls by a Wound in the Back, so careful is Homer of the Honour of his Countrymen. And this Remark will appear not ill grounded, if we except the Death of Eio|neus in the beginning of Lib. 6.

XX.

VERSE 396. For by the Gods, who slies, &c.]

It sometimes happens (says Longinus) that a Writer in speaking of some Person, all on a sudden puts himself in that other's Place, and acts his part; a Figure which marks the Impetuosity and Hur|ry of Passion. It is this which Homer practises in these Verses; the Poet stops his Narration, forgets his own Per|son, and instantly, without any Notice puts this precipitate

Menace into the Mouth of his furious and transported Hero. How must his Discourse have languish'd, had he stay'd to tell us, Hector then said these, or the like Words. Instead of which by this unexpected Transition he prevents the Rea|der, and the Transition is made before the Poet himself seems sensible he had made it. The true and proper Place for this Figure is when the Time presses, and when the Occasion will not allow of any Delay: It is elegant then to pass from one Person to another, as in that of Hecataeus. The Herald, extremely discontented at the Orders he had re|ceiv'd, gave command to the Heraclidae to withdraw.—It is no way in my Power to help you; if therefore you would not perish entirely, and if you would not involve me too in your Ruin, depart, and seek a Retreat among some other People. Longinus, ch. 23.

XXI.

VERSE 416. As when ashore an Infant stands.]

This Si|mile of the Sand is inimitable; it is not easy to imagine any thing more exact and emphatical to describe the tum|bling and confus'd Heap of a Wall, in a Moment. More|over the Comparison here taken from Sand is the juster, as it rises from the very Place and Scene before us. For the Wall here demolished, as it was founded on the Coast, must needs border on the Sand; wherefore the Similitude is bor|rowed immediately from the Subject Matter under View. Eu|stathius.

XXII.

VERSE 427, Oh Jove! if ever, &c.]

The Form of Ne|stor's Prayer in this Place resembles that of Chryses in the first Book. And it is worth remarking, that the Poet well knew what Shame and Confusion the reminding one of past Bene|fits is apt to produce. From the same Topick Achilles talks with his Mother, and Thetis herself accosts Jove; and like|wise Phoenix where he holds a Parley with Achilles. This righteous Prayer hath its wished Accomplishment. Eustathius.

XXIII.

VERSE 438. Presumptuous Troy mistook the Sign.]

The Thunder of Jupiter is design'd as a Mark of his Acceptance of Nestor's Prayers, and a Sign of his Favour to the Greeks. However, there being nothing in the Prodigy particular to the Greeks, the Trojans expound it in their own Favour, as they seem warranted by their present Success. This Self|partiality of Men in appropriating to themselves the Prote|ction of Heaven, has always been natural to them. In the same manner Virgil makes Turnus explain the Transforma|tion of the Trojan Ships into Nymphs, as an ill Omen to the Trojans.

Trojanos haec monstra petunt, his Jupiter ipse Auxilium solitum eripuit.—

History furnishes many Instances of Oracles, which by reason of this partial Interpretation, have prov'd an occasion to lead Men into great Misfortunes: It was the Case of Craesus in his Wars with Cyrus; and a like Mistake engaged Pyrrhus to make War upon the Romans.

XXIV.

VERSE 448. On the Ships above, the Cars below.]

This is a new sort of Battel, which Homer has never before men|tion'd; the Greeks on their Ships, and the Trojans in their Chariots, fight as on a Plain. Eustathius.

XXV.

VERSE 472. Nor could the Trojans—Force to the Fleet and Tents th' impervious way.]

Homer always marks distinctly the Place of Battel; he here shews us clearly, that the Tro|jans attack'd the first Line of the Fleet that stood next the

Wall, or the Vessels which were drawn foremost on the Land: These Vessels were a strong Rampart to the Tents, which were pitch'd behind, and to the other Line of the Navy which stood nearer to the Sea; to penetrate therefore to the Tents, they must necessarily force the first Line, and defeat the Troops which defended it. Eustathius.

XXVI.

VERSE 582. Death is the worst, &c.]

'Tis with very great Address, that to the Bitterness of Death, he adds the Advan|tages that were to accrue after it. And the Ancients are of Opinion, that 'twou'd be as advantageous for young Sol|diers to read this Lesson, concise as it is, as all the Vo|lumes of Tyrtaeus, wherein he endeavours to raise the Spirits of his Countrymen. Homer makes a noble Enumeration of the Parts wherein the Happiness of a City consists. For ha|ving told us in another Place, the three great Evils to which a Town, when taken, is subject; the Slaughter of the Men, the Destruction of the Place by Fire; the leading of their Wives and Children into Captivity: now he reckons up the Blessings that are contrary to those Calamities. To the Slaughter of the Men indeed he makes no Opposition; be|cause it is not necessary to the Well-being of a City, that every Individual should be saved, and not a Man slain. Eustathius.

XXVII.

VERSE 590. The godlike Ajax next.]

The Oration of He|ctor is more splendid and shining than that of Ajax, and also more solemn, from his Sentiments concerning the Favour and Assistance of Jupiter. But that of Ajax is the more po|litick, fuller of Management, and apter to persuade: For it abounds with no less than seven generous Arguments to inspire Resolution. He exhorts his People even to Death, from the Danger to which their Navy was exposed, which if once consumed, they were never like to get home. And as

the Trojans were bid to die, so he bids his Men dare to die likewise: and indeed with great Necessity, for the Trojans may recruit after the Engagement, but for the Greeks, they had no better way than to hazard their Lives; and if they should gain nothing else by it, yet at least they would have a speedy Dispatch, not a lingring and dilatory Destruction. Eustathius.

XXVIII.

VERSE 677. And flank the Navy with a Brazen Wall.]

The Poet has built the Grecians a different sort of Wall from what they had before, out of their Arms; and perhaps one might say, that 'twas from this Passage Apollo borrow'd that Oracle which he gave to the Athenians about their Wall of Wood; in like manner, the Spartans were said to have a Wall of Bones: If so, we must allow the God not a little obliged to the Poet. Eustathius.

XXIX.

VERSE 723. He raises Hector, &c.]

This Picture of He|ctor, impuls'd by Jupiter, is a very finish'd Piece, and excels all the Drawings of this Hero which Homer has given us in so various Attitudes. He is here represented as an Instrument in the Hand of Jupiter, to bring about those Designs the God had long projected: And as his fatal Hour now ap|proaches, Jove is willing to recompence his hasty Death with this short-liv'd Glory. Accordingly this being the last Scene of Victory he is to appear in, the Poet introduces him with all imaginable Pomp, and adorns him with all the Terror of a Conqueror: His Eyes sparkle with Fire, his Mouth foams with Fury, his Figure is compared to the God of War, his Rage is equall'd to a Conflagration and a Storm, and the Destru|ction he causes is resembled to that which a Lyon makes among the Herds. The Poet, by this Heap of Comparisons, raises the Idea of the Hero higher than any single Descripti|on could reach.

XXX.

VERSE 736.—His Fate was near—Due to stern Pallas.]

It may be ask'd, what Pallas has to do with the Fates, or what Power has she over them? Homer speaks thus, because Minerva has already resolv'd to succour Achilles, and deceive Hector in the Combate between these two Heroes, as we find in Book 22. Properly speaking, Pallas is nothing but the Knowledge and Wisdom of Jove, and it is Wisdom which presides over the Councels of his Providence; therefore she may be look'd upon as drawing all things to the fatal Term to which they are decreed. Dacier.

XXXI.

VERSE 752. Bursts as a Wave, &c.]

Longinus, observing that oftentimes the principal Beauty of Writing consists in the judicious assembling together of the great Circumstances, and the Strength with which they are mark'd in the proper Place, chuses this Passage of Homer as a plain Instance of it.

"Where (says that noble Critick) in describing the Terror of a Tempest, he takes care to express whatever are the Accidents of most Dread and Horror in such a Situation: He is not content to tell us that the Mariners were in dan|ger, but he brings them before our Eyes, as in a Picture, upon the Point of being every Moment overwhelm'd by every Wave; nay the very Words and Syllables of the De|scription give us an Image of their Peril."

He shews, that a Poet of less Judgment would amuse himself in less impor|tant Circumstances, and spoil the whole Effect of the Image by minute, ill-chosen, or superfluous Particulars. Thus Aratus endeavouring to refine upon that Line,

And instant Death on ev'ry Wave appears!

He turn'd it thus,

A slender Plank preserves them from their Fate.

Which, by flourishing upon the Thought, has lost the Lof|tiness and Terror of it, and is so far from improving the Image, that it lessens and vanishes in his Management. By confining the Danger to a single Line, he has scarce left the Shadow of it; and indeed the word preserves takes away even that. The same Critick produces a Fragment of an old Poem on the Arimaspians, written in this false Taste, whose Author he doubts not imagin'd he had said something won|derful in the following affected Verses. I have done my best to give 'em the same turn, and believe there are those, who will not think 'em bad ones.

Ye Pow'rs! what Madness! How, on Ships so frail, (Tremendous Thought!) can thoughtless Mortals sail? For stormy Seas they quit the pleasing Plain, Plant Woods in Waves, and dwell amidst the Main. Far o'er the Deep (a trackless Path) they goe, And wander Oceans, in pursuit of Woe. No Ease their Hearts, no Rest their Eyes can find, On Heav'n their Looks, and on the Waves their Mind; Sunk are their Spirits, while their Arms they rear; And Gods are weary'd with their fruitless Pray'r.

XXXII.

VERSE 796. Nestor's Speech.]

This popular Harangue of Nestor is justly extoll'd as the strongest and most persuasive Piece of Oratory imaginable. It contains in it every Motive by which Men can be affected; the Preservation of their Wives and Children, the secure Possession of their Fortunes, the Respect of their living Parents, and the due Regard for the Memory of those that were departed: By these he di|verts the Grecians from any Thoughts of Flight in the Ar|ticle of extreme Peril. Eustathius.

This noble Exhortation is finely imitated by Tasso, Jeru|salem. l. 20.

—O valoroso, hor via con questa Faccia, a ritor la preda a noi rapita. L'imagine ad alcuno in mente desta, Glie la figura quasi, e glie l'addita De la pregante patria e de la mesta Supplice famiglivola sbigottita. Credi (dicea) che la tua patria spieghi Per la mia lingua in tai parole i preghi.

Guarda tù le mie leggi, e i sacri Tempi Fà, ch'io del sangue mio non bagni, e lavi, Assicura le virgini da gli empi, E i sepolchri, e le cinere de gli avi. A te piangendo i lor passati tempi Mostran la bianca chioma i vecchi gravi: A tè la moglie, e le mammelle, e'l petto, Le cune, e i figli, e'l marital suo letto.

XXXIII.

VERSE 814. First of the Field, great Ajax.]

In this very Book, Homer, to raise the Valour of Hector, gives him Nep|tune for an Antagonist; and to raise that of Ajax, he first opposed to him Hector, supported by Apollo, and now the same Hector impell'd and seconded by Jupiter himself. These are Strokes of a Master-hand. Eustathius.

XXXIV.

VERSE 824. Drives four fair Coursers, &c.]

The Com|parison which Homer here introduces, is a Demonstrati|on, that the Art of mounting and managing Horses was brought to so great a Perfection in these early Times, that one Man could manage four at once, and leap from one to the other even when they run full speed. But some object, that the Custom of Riding was not known in Greece at the time of the Trojan War: Besides, they say the

Comparison is not just, for the Horses are said to run full speed, whereas the Ships stand firm and unmov'd. Had Ho|mer put the Comparison in the Mouth of one of his Heroes, the Objection had been just, and he guilty of an Inconsi|stency; but it is he himself who speaks: Saddle-Horses were in use in his Age, and any Poet may be allow'd to illustrate Pieces of Antiquity by Images familiar to his own Times. This I hope is sufficient for the first Objection; nor is the se|cond more reasonable than this; for it is not absolutely ne|cessary that Comparisons should correspond in every Particu|lar; it suffices if there be a general Resemblance. This is only introduced to shew the Agility of Ajax, who passes swiftly from one Vessel to another, and is therefore entirely just. Eustathius.

XXXV.

VERSE 856. The same that dead Protesilaus bore.]

Homer feigns that Hector laid hold on the Ship of the dead Prote|silaus, rather than that of any other, that he might not dis|grace any of his Grecian Generals. Eustathius.

XXXVI.

VERSE 874. The Coward Counsels of a tim'rous Throng Of rev'rend Dotards.—]

Homer adds this with a great deal of Art and Prudence, to answer beforehand all the Objections which he well foresaw might be made, because Hector never till now once attacks the Grecians in their Camp, or endeavours to burn their Na|vy. He was retain'd by the Elders of Troy, who frozen with Fear at the Sight of Achilles, never suffer'd him to march from the Ramparts. Our Author forgets nothing that has the Resemblance of Truth; but he had yet a farther Reason for inserting this, as it exalts the Glory of his principal Hero: These Elders of Troy thought it less difficult to defeat the Greeks, tho' defended with strong Entrenchments, while Achilles was not with them; than to overcome them without

Entrenchments when he assisted them. And this is the reason that they prohibited Hector before, and permit him now, to sally upon the Enemy. Dacier.

XXXVII.

VERSE 877. But now Jove calls to Arms, &c.]

Hector seems to be sensible of an extraordinary Impulse from Hea|ven, signified by these Words, the most mighty Hand of Jove pushing him on. 'Tis no more than any other Person would be ready to imagine, who should rise from a State of Distress or Indolence, into one of good Fortune, Vigour, and Activi|ty. Eustathius.

XXXVIII.

VERSE 890. The Speech of Ajax.]

There is great Strength, Closeness, and Spirit in this Speech, and one might (like many Criticks) employ a whole Page in extolling and ad|miring it in general Terms. But sure the perpetual Rap|ture of such Commentators, who are always giving us Ex|clamations instead of Criticisms, may be a Mark of great Ad|miration, but of little Judgment. Of what Use is this ei|ther to a Reader who has a Taste, or to one who has not? To admire a fine Passage is what the former will do without us, and what the latter cannot be taught to do by us. How|ever we ought gratefully to acknowledge the good Nature of most People, who are not only pleased with this superficial Applause given to fine Passages, but are likewise inclined to transfer to the Critick, who only points at these Beauties, part of the Admiration justly due to the Poet. This is a cheap and easy way to Fame, which many Writers ancient and modern have pursued with great Success. Formerly in|deed this sort of Authors had Modesty, and were humbly content to call their Performances only Florilegia or Posies: But some of late have pass'd such Collections on the World for Criticisms of great Depth and Learning, and seem to expect the same Flowers should please us better, in these pal|try

Nosegays of their own making up, than in the native Gardens where they grew. As this Practice of extolling without giving Reasons, is very convenient for most Wri|ters; so it excellently suits the Ignorance or Laziness of most Readers, who will come into any Sentiment rather than take the trouble of refuting it. Thus the Complement is mutual: For as such Criticks do not tax their Readers with any thought to understand them, so their Readers in Return advance nothing in Opposition to such Criticks. They may go roundly on, admiring and exclaiming in this manner; What an exquisite Spirit of Poetry—How beautiful a Circumstance—What Delicacy of Sentiments—With what Art has the Poet—In how sublime and just a manner—How finely imagined—How wonderfully beautiful and poetical—And so proceed, without one Reason to interrupt the Course of their Eloquence, most comfortably and ignorantly Apostrophising to the end of the Chapter.