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T H E
I

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iC A
O
F

HOMER.
TRANSLATED
BY
E /q,

ALEXANDER

POPE,

VOLUME THE FOURTH.

S$ifi cupit

optatam curfu contingere met am f

Mult a tulitffecitqueypuen

Hor,

GLASGOW:
Printed by R.

e,

And

fold

by

a n

e l

Baxter,

Bookfellcr.

MDCGLIV,

ADAMS
13*.//

ILIA BOOK
The
reconciliation of Achilles

THE

XIX.

THE ARGUMENT.
and Agamemnon.

THETIS

brings to her fort the armour made by Vulcan.

the body of bis friendfrom corruption, and to ajfemble the army, to declare his re-

She preferves
commands him

fentment at an end.
en that occafion.

Agamemnon and
is

Achilles are fo-

lemnly reconciled: thefpeeches,prefents, and ceremonies

Achilles

with great

difficulty

per*

fuaded

to

refrain

from the

battle till the troops

have

The refrejhed themfehes, by the advice of Ulyfes. Br'f where Achilles tent ; to the conveyed are of prefents
feis laments over the body
nately refufes all repafl,
t ions for

of Patroclus. The hero obfli' and gives himfelfup to lament ahim.y

his friend.

Minerva defends to flreng then

:

by the order of Jupiter.

feamnce defcribed. and reproaches them with the death of Patroclus. One
of them
is

He arms for the fight his ap~ He addrefes himfelfto his horfes,

miraculoujly endued with voice,

and infpired

toprcphefy his fate; but the hero, not aflonijhed by that prodigy, rujkes with fury to the combat e.

The

thirtieth day.

Thefcene

is

on thefea-fiore.

COON
Above

as

Aurora heav'd her orient head

the waves, that blufti'd with early red,

to gladden mortal fight,

(With new-born day

And

gild the courts of heav'n with facred light,)

H-OMER's ILIA
:

D.

Book XIX.
5

Th* immortal arms

Swift to her fon

the Goddefs-mother bears

her Ton fhe finds in tears

;

Stretch 'd o'er Patroclus' corfe

while

all

the reft

Their

fov'reign's forrows in their

own

expreft.

ray divine her heav'nly prefence

thus, his

filed,

And

hand

foft- touching,

Thetis

faid.

10

Supprefs
It

(my

fon) this rage of grief, and

that

know
j

was not man, but heav'n

gave the blow

Behold what arms by Vulcan are beftow'd,

Arms worthy

thee, or

fit

to grace a

God.
15

Then drops

the radiant burden

on the ground;

Clang the flrong arms, and ring the mores around:

Back

fiirink the

Myrmidons with dread

furprize,

And from
Unmov'd,

the broad effulgence turn their eyes. the hero kindles at the

mow,
;

And
And

feels

with rage divine his bofom glow

fi0

from

his fierce eye-balls living flames expire,

fire:

flam mediant like a dream of

He

turns the radiant gift, and feeds his

all th'

mind

On

immortal

artlfr

had defign'd.

>\ 13. Behold what arms, etc.] It is not poetry only which has had this idea, of giving divine arms to a hero; we have a very remarkable example of it in our holy

books.

fees in a

In the fecond of Maccabees, chap. 16. Judas dream the prophet Jeremiah bringing to him a fvvordas from God though this was only a dream, or
:

a vifion, yet
likewife fo
is

ftill it

much

much

later

the fame idea. This example more worthy of obfervation, as than die age of Homer; and as thereby
is

is
it it

the

thinking continued a long time amongft the oriental nations. Dacier.

is feen, that

the fame

way of

Book XIX.

H O M E

R's

A D.

Goddefs (he cry'd)

the-e glorious

arms that mine 25

With

matchlefs art, confefs the hand divine.

to the bloody battel let
!

Now

me bend
!

But ah

the relics of

my

flaughter'd friend

In thofe wide wounds thro' which his

Shall
flies,

fpirit fled,
?

and worms obfcene, pollute the dead

3a

pollute the dead ?~\ f. 30. Shallflies, and worms obfcene, place to drive athis in Achilles takes which The care way the flies from the dead body of Patroclus, fecms to

ds a mean employment, and a care unworthy of a hero. But that office was regarded by Homer, and by all the Greeks of his time, as a pious duty confecrated by cuftora and religion ; which obliged the kindred and friends of the deceafed to watch his corps, and prevent any corIt is ruption before the folemn day of his funerals. plain this devoir was thought an indifpenfable one, fince

Achilles could not difcharge himfelf of

it

but by imposthat in thofe

ing

it

upon

his

mother.

It is alfo clear,

times the prefervation of a dead body was accounted a. very important matter, fince the GoddefTes themfelves y

nay the raoft delicate of the GoddefTes, made it the fubAs Thetis preferves the jed of their utmoft attention body of Fatroclus > and chafes from it thofe infects- that breed in the wounds and caufe putrefaction, fo Venus fs employed day and night about that of Heclor, in driving away the dogs to which Achilles had expofed it..
1

Apollo, on his part, covers

preferves
its freffinefa'

it

with a thick cloud,

and

amidd

the greateft heats of the

ftn

and

this care

of the deities over the dead was

as a fruit

looked upon by

men

of their piety.
this

There

is

an excellent remark upon

paflage in;

BomYs admirable treadle of the epic poem, lib. 3. c. io" To (peak (fays this author) of the arts and fcie-nces '* a? a poet ought, we ihcuid veil them under names.
**

and adcna of peHbns,

fi&ittous,

and

allegorical-

HO

E R's

ILIA

D.

Book XIX.

That unavailing

care be' laid afide,

to her Ton reply 'd)
fhall remair?
(lain.

(The azure Goddefs

"Whole years untouch'd, uninjur'd

Frefli as in life, the carcafe

of the

But go,

Achilles, (as affairs require)

ire

35

Before the Grecian peers renounce thine

Then

uncontroll'd in boundlefs war engage,

And

heav'n with ftrength fupply the mighty rage

in the noftrils

Then

of the

(lain fhe

pour'd

Nectareous drops, and rich ambrofia fhower'd

40

O'er

all

the corfe.
it refts,

The

flies

forbid their prey,

Untouch 'd

and facred from decay.

Achilles to the ftrand obedient went:

The

(hores refounded with the voice he lent.

The

heroes heard, and

all

the naval train

45;

That tend
i:
*'

the mips, or guide

will

them

o'er the main,

Homer

not plainly fay that

fait

has the virtue to

-preferve dead bodies,

4<

and prevent the flies from engendering worms in them; he will not fay, that the

fea prefented Achilles a remedy to preferve Patroclus from putrefaction; but he will make the fea a Godt{ defs, and tell us, that Thetis to comfort Achilles, '' engaged to perfume the body with an ambrofia which " mould keep it a whole year from corruption it is ** thus Homer teaches the poets to fpeak of arts and <; fciences. This example fhews the nature of the
4<
:

'
'

things, that

flies

caufe putrefaction, that faltpreferves

bodies from

it;

but

all this is

told us poetically, the

is

'

whole
fon

is

reduced into action, the fea

made

a peris

tl

who

fpeaks and acts, and this profopopceia

paffion, tenderness,
is

ac-

*'

"
4t

companied with in a word, there

and affection^
not (according

nothing which

is

to Ariftode's precept)

endued with manners."

BookXIX.

H
full,

E R's

D.

Alarm'd, tranfported, at the well

known

found,
;

Frequent and

the great afTembly

crown 'd

Studious to fee that terror of the plain,

Long

loft to battel,

fhine in arms again.

firlt

50

Tydides and Ulyffes

appear,

Lame

with their wounds, and leaning on the fpear;

feats

Thefe on the facred

of council plac'd,

The

king of men, Atrides came the lad:

He

too fore

wounded by Agenor's

fon.

55

Achilles (rifing in the midft) begun.

O monarch
Of thee,
If (ere the day

better far had been the fate

all

of me, of

the Grecian (late,

paffion fway'd,

when by mad

Rafh we contended for the black cy'd maid)

Preventing Dian

60

had difpatch'd her dart,

And mot

the mining mifchiefto the heart!

f. 61. Preventing Dian had difpatch'd her dart, Andjhot the Jhining mifchiefto the heart. ] Achilles wifhes Brifeis had died before (he had occafioned fo great calamities to his countrymen: I will not fay, to excufe him, that his virtue here overpowers his
love, but that the wifh
is

not fo very barbarous as

it

may feem by
that
ftroke or

the phrafe to a

modern

reader.

It is

not,

Diana had aclually killed her, as by a particular judgment from heaven; it means no more than a natural death, as appears from this paiTage in
OdyfT. 15.

When

age andfi'chiefs have unnerved the ftnng,

Apollo comes > and Cynthia comes along,

They bend the fiber bows

for fudden il/P

to kilL

And

every Jhining arrow flies

H O M

E R

A P.

Book XIX,

Then many
Nor Troy's
Long, long

a hero had not prefs'd the (hore,

glad fields been fatten 'd with our gore:

(hall

Greece the woes we caus'd, bewail, 65

And
But

fad pofterity repe.it the tale.

this,

no more

the fubjec'l of debate,

Is paft, forgotten,

and refign'd to fate:

Why

mould

(alas) a mortal

man,

as I,
?

Burn with a fury

Here then

that can never die

:

70

my

anger ends

let

war fucceed,

And

ev'n as Greece has bled, let Ilion bleed.

call the

Now
Troy
I

hods, and

try, if in

our

fight,,
?

yet mail dare to

camp

a fecond night
this

deem,

their mightieft,

when

arm he knows,

j$

Shall 'fcape with tranfport,

and with joy repofe.

He
The
"When
In

faid:

his fihiflTd wrath with loud acclaim

Greeks accept, and (hout Pelides' name.

thus, not riling from his lofty throne,

frate

unmov'd, the king of men begun,

!

80

Hear me, ye fons of Greece

with iilence hear t

And

grant yosr monarch an impartial ear;.

while your loud, untimely joy fufpend,

let

And

your

rafh, injurious
ill

clamours end

Unruly murmurs, or

tim'd applaufe,.

Wrong
Nor

the beft fpcaker, and the jufleft caufe.

charge on me, ye Greeks, the dire debate

Know, angry

Jove, and ail-compelling- Fate,

And he
been

does not wi(h her death now, after (he had

his mirtrefs, but

only that {he had died, before

he

knew, or loved her.

Book XIX.
"With
fell

H O M E

R's

D.

Erinnys, urg'd

my

wrath that day

the prey.

When
What

from Achilles' arms

then could
1,

I forc'd

90

againlt the will of heav'n?

Not by

myfelf, but vengeful Ate driv'n

She, Jove's dread daughter, fated to infeft

The

race of mortals, enter'd in

my

breaft.

f. 93. She, Jove's dread daughter.,] This fpeech of confiding of little elfe than the long (lory of Jupiter's carting Difcord out of heaven, feems odd enough at firft fight ; and does not indeed anfwer what

Agamemnon,

I believe every reader expects, at the conference of thefe

two

princes.

Without excufing

it

from the juftnefs

and proper application of the allegory in the prefent cafe, I think it a piece of artifice, very agreeable to the character of Agamemnon, which is a mixture of haughtinefs

and cunning
leflfen

he cannot prevail with himfelf any

way

to

the dignity of the royal character, of which

:

he every where appears jealous fomething he is obliged to fay in public, and not brooking directly to own himWith felf in the wrong, he flurs it over with this tale.

what

ftatelinefs

is it

that he yields

"

was mifled,

" * "

(fays he) but I

was mifled

like Jupiter.

We inveft you
to infejl

with our powers, take our troops and our treafures: our
royal promife fhall be fulfilled, but be you pacified."

f. 93. She, Jove's dread daughter , fated

The race of mortals

It

appears from hence, that the ancients

created by

owned

a Dae-

mon,

God

himfelf,

and

totally taken

up

in

doing mifchief.

This

fiction is

very remarkable, in as much as

it

proves that the Pagans

knew

that a

daemon of difcord

and malediction was

St. Juftin

in

heaven, and afterwards precipi*

tated to earth, which perfectly agrees with holy hiftory.

will have it, that Homer attained to the knowlege thereof in -gypt, and that he had even read

10

H O M E

R's

L
on

D,

Book XIX.
95

Not on
But

the ground that hanghty fury treads,

the heads

prints her lofty footfteps

;

Of mighty men
Long
feft'ring

inflicting as (he

goes
!

wounds, inextricable woes

Of old, me

ftalk'd

amid the bright abodes;

And Jove
The

himfelf, the fire of

felt

men and Gods,

her venom'd dart

100

world's great ruler,

Deceiv'd by Juno's wiles, and female art;

For when Alcmena's nine long months were run,

And

Jove expected

his

immortal fon
th'

To
He

gods and goddefTes

unruly joy

X05

fhow'd, and vaunted of his matchlefs boy:

From

us (he faid) this day an infant fprings,

Fated to rule, and born a king of kings.

Saturnia alk'd an oath, to vouch the truth,

And

fix

dominion on the favour'd youth.

IO

The

thund'rer unfufpicious of the fraud,

Pronounc'd thofe folemn words that bind a God.

The joyful

Goddefs, from Olympus' height,

Swift to Aehaian Argos bent her flight

what

Ifaiah writes, chap. 14.

How

art thou fallen from

bow art thni cut down to the ground which didfl weaken the nations? But our poet could not have feen the prophecy of ifaiah, becaufe he lived ico, or 150 years before that prophet; and this anteriority of time makes this pafTage the more
heaven ,
Lucifer, fon of the morning ,

obfcrvable.

Homer therein

bears authentic witnefs to

the truth of the (lory, of an- angel thrown from heaven,

and gives

this teftimony

above ioq years before one of

it.

the greatefl prophets fpoke of

Dacier.

Book XIX.
Scarce fev'n

H O M E
moons gone,

R*s

L
life

D.
;

n
115

lay Sthenelus his wife

She pufh'd her Hng'ring infant into

Her charms Alcmena's coming labours

(lay,

And

(lop the babe, juft iflbing to the day.

Then bids Saturnius bear his oath in mind " A youth (faid (he) of Jove's immortal kind

120

Is this

day born: from Sthenelus he fprings,

u And

claims thy promife to be king of kings.

Grief feiz'd the thund'rer, by his oath engag'd;

Stung to the

foul,

he forrow'd, and he rag'd.

From

his ambrofial head,

where perch 'd

(he fate,

125

He

fnatch'd the fury-Goddefs of Debate,

The
And

dread, th' irrevocable oath he fwore,

feats

Th' immortal

mould

ne'er behold her

more

whirl 'd her headlong

bright

down,

for ever driv'n

1

From

Olympus and

the ftarry heav'n:

fell;

30

Thence on

the nether world the fury

Ordain'd with man's contentious race to dwell.

Full oft' the

God

his fon's hard toils

bemoan'd,

Curs'd the dire fury, and in fecret groan'd.

Ev'n thus,

like

Jove himfelf, was

mified,

135

While raging

Hec"tor heap'd our

camps with dead.

?

What can
This

the errors of

my

rage atone

My martial troops, my
inftant

treafures are thy

(hall

own

from the navy

be fent

Whate'er Ulyfles promis'd

at

thy tent:

140

But thou

appeas'd, propitious to our prayY,

in war.

Refume thy arms, and mine again

12

HOME R's
O
king of nations
!

ILIAD.

Book XIX.

whofe fuperior fway

our hofts obey
care;

(Returns Achilles)

all

To keep or fend the prefents, be thy To us, 'tis equal: all we aik is war.
While
yet

145

we

talk, or

but an inftant fhun

The

fight,

our glorious work remains undone.

Let ev'ry Greek,

who

fees

my

fpear confound

The Trojan ranks, and deal deftruclion round,

With
emulation, what I act, furvey,

I5

And The
At

learn

from thence the bufinefs of the day,

The

fon ofPeleus thus: and thus replies

great in councils, Ithacus the wife.

art

Tho' godlike thou

leaft

by no

toils oppreft,

155

our armies claim

repafl:

and

reft

Long and

laborious muft the combate be,

infpir'd,

When
And

by the Gods

and

led

by

thee.

Strength isderiv'd from fpirits and from blood,

thofe

augment by gen'rous wine and food;

160

fend .the prefents be thy care.'] demands Agamemnon's prethe firft would be too contemptuous, and the ofents ther would look too feliifli. It would feemas if Achilles fought only for pay like a mercenary, which would be utterly unbecoming a hero, and difhonourable to that
keep or

)K 145. To
:

Achilles neither refufes nor

character

Homer

is

wonderful as to the manners.

Spond.

Dacier.
is cferiv'd

f. 159. Strength

from fpirits, etc,} This

after a

advice of Uly lfes, that the troops mould refrefh themfel ves

with eating and drinking, was extremely necefTary

battel

of

fo

long continuance as that of the day before:

and

Achilles's defire that they

mould charge the enemy

immediately,

Book XIX.

R's

ILIAD.
ftay,
?

13

What
Can

boaftful Ton

of war, without that

day

laft

a hero thro' a fingle

;

Courage may prompt

but, ebbing out his ftrength,

yield at length;
toils declin'd,

Mere unfupported man mult

Shrunk with dry famine, and with

165

The

dropping body

will defert the

mind
fare,

-But built

a-new with {trength-conferring

With

limbs and foul untam'd, he tires a war.

Difmifs the people then, and give

command,
band;

With
But
In

ftrong repaft to hearten ev'ry

170

let

the prefents to Achilles made,

full

afTembly of

all

Greece be

laid.

The

king of men

fhall rife in

public fight,
rite)

And
That

folemn fwear (obfervant of the

fpotlefs as (he

came, the maid removes,.

ij J

Pure from

his arms,

and guiklefs of

his loves.

That done,

fumptuous banquet

fhall

be made.

And

the full price of injur'd

honour paid.

immediately, without any reflection on the nece/Hty of

that refrefnment, was aMb highly natural to his violent
character.

and
,'

infill

This upon it

forces
fo

UiyiTes to repeat that advice,,

:

much

which thofe

critics did

not

fee into,

who

through a

falfe

delicacy are (hocked at his

infilling fo

warmly upon eating and drinking. Indeed reader who is more fond of heroic and romantic, than of jull and natural images, this at nrft
to a

common

fight

may have an
is

air

of ridicule; but

I'll

venture to

fay there

mean and low

itfeii, nor Homer's manner of expelling it: and I believe the fame of this translation, though 1 have not foft?\ied or abated of the idea they are fo ofFended with Vol. IV. B

nothing ridiculous in the thing

in

; ; :

i4

H O M E

R's

I
!

A D.

Book XIX.

Stretch not henceforth,

prince

thy fov 'reign might,

Beyond

the bounds of reafon and of right

iq

'Tis the chief praife that e'er to kings belong'd

To right with juftice whom with powYthey wrong'd. To him the monarch. Juft is thy decree,
Thy
And
Nor
'Till

words give joy, and wifdom breathes

gladly I prepare;
as I juftly fwear
ftay,

in thee.

Each due atonement

heav'n regard

185

me

Here then

a while let

Greece aflfembled

great Achilles grudge this fhort delay

from the

fleet

our prefents be convey'd,

And, Jove

attefting, the firm

compact made.
(hall bear;

190

train

of noble youth the charge

Thefe

to feletf, UlyflTes, be thy care:

let all

In order rank'd

our

gifts appear,

And

the fair train of captives cloie the rear

(hall the

Talthybius

victim boar convey,

195

Sacred to Jove, and yon' bright orb of day,

For thfe (the

(tern iEacides replies)

Some
)J\

lefs

important feafon

may

fuffice,

197. The jiern JEaciJes

replies .]

The Greek verfe is,

""

"lot

y
is

dxctf.'.u(Zoy.tvos XfOaifr) xoix.q cJx.v?

hy^iWiv^.
Iliad.

Which

repeated very frequently throughout the

what makes it fo much taken notice of, is the rumbling found and length of the won! d*au.ufi f,'.;vo;: this is io true, that if in a poem or romance of the fame length as the
It is a very juft

remark of a French
:

critic,

that

Iliad,

we

fliould repeat 'The hero anfwered, full as often,

we ve

fhould never be fenfible of that repetition.

are not (hocked at the like frequency

And

if

of thofe ex-

Book XIX.

H O M

E R's
is

ILIA
o'er,

D.

IS

When the
And

ftern fury

of the war

wrath extinguifh'd burns

my

breaft

no more. 200
voce refsrty

preflrons in the JEne'id, fie ore rcfert,

tulla

tal'ia

did a dabat, vix eafatus erat, etc. it is only becaufe the found of the Latin words does not fill the ear like that of the Greek *xap.a&iu*KThe difcourfe of the fame critic upon thefe fort of re,
.

petitions in general, deferves to be tranfcribed.

tlfelefs

That

nicety (fays he) of avoiding every repetition,

later

which the delicacy of

not

times has introduced, was

:

the books of Molls abound with them. Far from condemning their

known

to the

fir:1

ages of antiquity

frequent ufe in the moft ancient of

all

the poets,

we

mould look upon them

:

as the certain

character of the

they fpoke lb in his time, and to age in which he lived And indeed have fpoken otherwife had been a fault.

nothing
void to
before.

is

in itfeif fo contrary

to the true

fublime, as

that painful and frivolous exactnefs, with which

we

a-

make
It is

ufe of a proper

word becaufe

it

was ufed
lefs

certain that the

:

Romans were

fcru-

puious as to this point

you have often

five
is

in a (ingle

page
If
it

of Tully,
were
author

the fame

word
it

or fix times over.

really a fault,

not to be conceived

how an

who

fo little

wanted variety of expreflions as

Homer, could be

fo very negligent herein.

On

the

contrary, he feems to have afFetfted to repeat the fame

things in the fame words,
It

on many

occafions.

was from two principles equally true, that among fevered people, and in feveral ages, two practices intireMofes, Homer, and the ]y different took their rife.
writers of the
firft

times, had found that repetitions

of

the fame words recalled the ideas of things, imprinted

them much more more intelligible.

flrongly,

Upon

this principle, the

and rendered the difcourfe cuftom of

repeating words, phrafes, and even intire fpeeches, infenfibly eftablifhed itfeif both in profe
cially in narrations.

and poetry, efpe-

B2

i6

HOMER's ILIAD,
flain, their faces

Book XIX*

By Hector

to the fky,
lie

All grim with gaping wounds, our heroes

The writers who fucceeded them obferved, even from Homer himfeif, that the greateft beauty of ftyle confuted
in
variety.

This they made

their principle:
ftill

they

therefore avoided repetitions of words, and

more

pf whole fentences; they endeavoured to vary their tranfitions; and found out new turns and manners of exprefling the fame things. Either of thefe practices is good, but the excefs of either vicious: we mould neither on the one hand,
repeat the fame words, phrafes, or difcourfes

through a love of fimplicity and cleamefs, continually nor on ;

fall

the other, for the pieafure of variety,

affectation of*exprefiing every thing

into a chiidifli

twenty different

it be never [o natural and common. Nothing fo much cools the warmth of a piece, or puts out the lire of poetry, as that perpetual care to vary

ways, though

inceffantly even in the fmalleft circumftances.

as in

In this,

many

other points,

Homer
who

has defpifed the un-

grateful

labour of too

fcrupdlous a nicety.

He

has

done

does not think himfelf obliged to vary all his pieces to that degree, as not one of them fhall have the leaft refemblance to another if
like a great

painter,

jhe principal figures are intireiy different,

jeufe a

we

eailly

ex-

refemblance in the landfcapes, the

ffcies,

or the

Suppofe a gallery full of pictures, each of Graperies. which reprefents a particular fubject: in one I fee Achilies in fury, menacing Agamemnon ; in another the fame hero with regret delivers up Brifeis to the heralds; in a third it is ftill Achilles, but Achilles overcome with
-grief,

If the air, the and lamenting to his mother. gedure, the countenance, the character of Achilles, are

the fame in each of thefe three pieces

if

the

ground of

one of thefe be the fame with that of the others in the compofition and general deJign, whether it be landfcape or architecture > then indeed one mould have reafon to

Book XIX.
Thofe
call to

H O M
war I and
this

E R's
miglit

ILIAD.
voice incite,
fight.

1J

my

Mow, now,
And

mftant fhou'd commence the

let

Then, when the day's complete,

gen'rous bowls, 20$

copious banquets, glad your weary fouls.

Let not
'Till

my my

palate

know

the tafte of food,

my
lies

infatiate rage be cloy'd with blood:

Pale

friend, with

wounds

disfigured o'er,

And

his cold feet are pointed to the door.

210

blame the painter for the uniformity of his figures and But if there be no lamenefs but in the folds grounds. of a few draperies, in the ftrudure of fome part of a building, or in the figure of fome tree, mountain, or

what no one would regard as a fault. The application is obvious: Homer repeats, but they are not the great ftrokes which he repeats, not thofe which
cloud,
it is

flrike

and

fix

our attention

they are only the

little-

or faparts, the tranfitions, the general circumftances, which miliar images, which recur naturally, and upon
the reader but cafts his eye careiefly
as are
:

fiich as

tlie
:

de-

fections of facrifrces, repads, or embarquements

in fhortj in their

fucb

own

nature

much

the fame,
a-

which manner incapable of

it is

fufHcient juft to (hew,

different

and which, are in

It is in

ornaments.
etc.]

f. 2CO. Pale

lies

my friend,

the Greek,,

liesrexfjLied injiy tent wit/) his face turning towards the: door^S. *p&v*o* TirpxrcyJvo;, that is to fay, as the (cho-

Eaft has explained

door.

it,

having his feet turned towards

their

t he-

F r

"

lt:

was tnus l ^ e Greeks placed

dead iu

the porches of their hcufes, as likewife in Italy.

In port am rigidos calces extendi?:
-

Perfius*

P.ecepitque
v.hi

ad limina greffim

Corpus

exanimi pofihtm

PaHmtis Jcztz*

ztrvahat fcnkr

;!

; :

jS

HOMER' ILIAD.
3
is all

Book XIX.

Revenge
Int'reft,

my

foul

no meaner

care,

or thought, has

room

to harbour there

DeftrudHon be

my

feaft,

and mortal wounds,

And

fcenes of blood, and agonizing founds.

firft

O
Thy

of Greeks (UlyfTes thus rejoin'd)

of the warrior-kind

215

The bed and bravcft

praife
it is

in dreadful

camps

to Ihine,

But old experience and calm wifdom, mine.

Then

hear

my

counfel, and to reafon yield,

fatiate

The
Tho'

bravefl:

foon are

of the

field

220

vaft the heaps that flrow the crimfon plain,

The

bloody harveft brings but

fcale

little

gain
lies,

The The And

of conqueft ever wav'ring

it,

Great Jove but turns

great, the bold,

and the victor dies

fall,

by thoufands daily

225

endlefs were the grief, to

weep
?

for all.

Eternal forrows what avails to (hed

Greece honours not with folemn

fafts

the dead

Enough, when death demands the brave, to pay

The

tribute

of a melancholy day.

230

Thus we
ftibulo

are told

by Suetonius, of the body of Atfguftus

-Equefter ordo fufcepit, urbique intulit, at que in ve-

domus

collocavlt.

221
or

Tbo* vafl the heaps, etc.] UlyfTes's expre/Iion

is

in the original

very remarkable;

he

calls xaxaf^v,

Jlraw
is

chaff,

fuch as are killed in the battel; and he

calls >tov, the crop, fuch as

make

their efcape.

This

very conformable to the language of holy fcripture,

wherein thofe

who

perifh are called chaff t

and thofe

who

are faved are called corn.

Dacier.

Book XIX.

E R's

A D.

19

One
Our
Let

chief with patience to the grave refign'd,

care devolves

on

others

left

behind.

gen'rous food fupplies

rifing fpirits flow

of ftrength produce,
juice,

Let

from fprightly

Let their

warm

heads with fcenes of battel glow,

235

And

pour new furies on the feebler foe.

(hall

Yet a fhort interval, and none

dare

Expect a fecond fummons to the war;

Who waits

for that, the dire effect (hall find,

If trembling in the mips he lags behind.

24Q

Embodied, to the

battel let us

bend,

And

all

at

once on haughty Troy defcend.

the delegates UlyfTes fent,

And now

To

bear the prefents from the royal tent.

The

fons of Neftor, Phyleus' valiant heir,

245

Thias and Merion, thunderbolts of war,

With Lycomedes of Crekmtian

ltrain,

And

Melanippus, form'd the chofen train.

Swift as the

word was

giv'n, the youths obey'd;

Twice

ten bright vafes in the midft they laid

2$Q

f, 237.

None /ball dare

Expefl a fecondfummons
to the

war.1
Achilles to

This

is

very artful

UlylTes, to prevail

upon

let the

troops take repalt, and yet in fome fort to fecond

fame breath orders for by commanding the troops to march, and expect Thus though the troops go to take no farther orders. repair, it looks as if they do not lofe a moment's time,
his impatience, gives with the
battel,

but are going to put themfelves in array of battel,

Dacier.

2o

H O
row of fix
twice the

ME
fair

R's

ILIAD.

Book XIX.

tripods then fucceeds

fleeds
;

And

number of high-bounding

Sev'n captives next a lovely line compofe

The

eighth Brifeis, like the blooming rote,

:

Clos'd the bright band

Firft

great Ithacus, before,

255

of the
reft in

train, the

golden talents bore;

The

public view the chiefs difpofe,

!

fplendid fcene

then

Agamemnon
:

rofe

The
The

boar Talthybius held

the Grecian lord

K
is

Drew

the broad cntlace (heath 'd btiide

fword:

160

ftubborn bridles from the victim's

brow

He
On

crops, and off'ring meditates his

vow.

His hands

uplifted to th' attefting fides,

heav'n's broad marble roof were fix'd his eyes,

The
And

folemn words, a deep attention draw,

Greece around fate
firft
!

265

thrili'd

with facred awe.

I

Witnefs thou

thou greateft pow'r above

!

All-good, all-wife, and ali-furvcying- Jove

And mother-earth,
And
ye,
fell

and heav'n's revolving

light,

furies of the realms of nigvt,

27. I

"Who

rule the dead,

kin:;?,

and horrid woes prepare

For perjur'd

and

all

who

faTiely

Hvear

The

biack-ey'd maid inviolate removes,

unconfc".-.: &i
fal e,

Pure and
If this be

of

my manly
my

loves.
flied,
!

heav'n

all its

vengeance

27$

And

levell'd

thunder

ftrike

guilty head
inflicts

With

that, His

weapon deep

the

wound

The

bleeding favage tumbles to the ground^

Book XIX.

H O M

E R's

ILIA

D.

21

The
(A

facred herald rolls the victim (lain

feaft for

nth) into the foming main.

22o
!

Then

thus Achilles.
feel, 'tis

Hear, ye Greeks
inflicts

and know

Whate'er we

Jove

the

woe

Not

elfe

Atrides could our rage inflame,

Nor from my

arms, unwilling, force the dame.

will alone, o'er-ruling all,

'Twas Jove's high

285
falli

That doom'd

ourftrife,
!

and doom'd the Greeks to

rite

Go

then, ye chiefs

indulge the genial

Achilles waits ye, and expects the fight.

The

fpeedy council at his word adjourn'd

To

their black vcffels all the

Greeks return'd.
train before

290

Achilles fought his tent.

His

March 'd onward, bending with

Thofe
in the tents the fquires

the gifts they bore.

indubious fpread
ftails

The foaming

courfers to the

they led.

To

their

new

feats the female captives

move

295

Brifeis, radiant as the

queen of love,

Slow

as

me

pad, beheld with fad furvey

Where
i/.

gafh'd with cruel wounds, Patroclus lay.

280. Rolls the victim into the main."] For

flefh

it

was

not lawful to eat the

Euftathius.

of the victims facrificed in

confirmation of oaths; fuch were victims of malediction.

f. 281. Hear, ye Greeks,

felf,

etc.]
j

Achilles, to let

them

fee that heisintirely appeafed,

unifies

Agamemnon him-

had coloured his

and enters into the reafons with which that prince fault. But in that judication he and
illuftrates

perfectly well preferves his character,

the

advantage he has over that king

Dacier.

who

offended him.

22

HOME

R's
fell

ILIA
humid eyes
and thus

D.

Book XIX.

Prone on the body

the heav'nly fair,

Beat her fad breaft, and tore her golden hair;

All beautiful -in grief, her

300

Shining with tears, (he

lifts,

me

cries.

Ah

youth for ever dear, for ever kind,

friend of
life,

Once tender

my

diftracled

mind
505

I left thee frefli in

in beauty

gay

Now

find thee cold, inanimated clay

What woes my
The

wretched race of life attend?

!

Sorrows on forrows, never doom'd to end

firft

lov'd confort of

my

virgin bed
:

Before thefe eyes iniatal battel bled

31*

My

three brave brothers in one mournful day

All trod the dark, irremeable

way
the plain,

Thy
And

friendly

hand uprear'd

me from

dry'd

my forrows

for a hufband flam;

I

Achilles' care

you promis'd

mould prove,

315

The

firft,

the deareft partner of his love,

c!us.~]

f. 303. etc, The lamentation of Br'tfeis over PatroThis fpeech (fays Dionyfius of Hal earn aftiis) is
i

not without

its artifice

while Brifeis feerns only to be

deploring Patrocius, fhe reprefents to Achilles

frands by, the breach of the promifes he had

who
her,

made

and upbraids him with the neglect he had been guilty of in refigning her up to Agamemnon. He adds, that
Achilles hereupon acknowleges the juftice of her
plaint,

com-

and makes anfwer that his promifes mould be performed: it was a (lip in that great critic's memory,
for the verfe he cites
[jftpl cV^r^caTJa^ivojv,

is

not in

this part

of the author,

Part 2.3

jr. 315. Achilles* care you promts'V, etc.] In thefe days when our manners are fo different from thofe of

Book XIX.
That
rites

H O M

ER'sILlAD,

23

divine ihould ratify the band,

And make me
For

emprefs in his native land.

tears
!

Accept thefe grateful

for thee they flow,

thee, that ever felt another's

fitter

woe

320

Her

captives echo'd groan for groan,

Patroclus' fortunes, but their

Nor mourn 'd

own.

The

leaders prefs'd the chief on every fide;

fighs deny'd.

Unmov'd, he heard them, and with

If yet Achilles have
Is

a friend,

whofe care

325

bent to pleafe him, this

requefl: forbear:

Till yonder fun defcend, ah let

me pay

To grief and

anguilhone abftemious day.

the ancients, and

we

fee

none of thofe difmal

cataftro-

phes which laid whole kingdoms wafte, and fubjecled

princefles
it will

and queens to the power of the conqueror;

perhaps feem aftonlfhing, that a princefs of Rri-

the very day that her father, brothers, and hufband were killed by Achilles, fhould fuffer herfelf to be comforted, and even flattered with the hopes of beBut fuch were the coming the fpoufe of the murderer.
feis's birth,

manners of thofe times, as ancient hiflory tcftifies : and a poet reprefents them as they were ; but if there was a neceflity for juftifying them, it might be faid that flavery was at that time fo terrible, that in truth a princefs like Brifeis was pardonable, to chufe rather to become A
chilles's wife

than his flave.

Dacier.
but their

)h 322.
dwti.~]

Nor

mourn' d Patroclus* fortunes,

Homer

adds this touch to heighten the character

of

Brifeis,

her and the other captives.

and to fliew the difference there was between Brifeis, as a well-born

princefs, really bewailed Patroclus out of gratitude; but

the others, by pretending to bewail him, wept only out

ofintereft.

Dacier.

; :

24

H O M
He
(till

E R's

D.

BookXIX.

fpoke, and from the warriors turn'd his face:

the brother-kings

Yet

of Atreus' race,

330

Keftot, Idomeneus, UlyfTes fage,

And

Phcenix, drive to calm his grief and rage

His rage they calm not, nor his grief controul

He groans, he raves, he Thou too, Patroclus

Once

forrows from his foul.

!

(thus his heart he vents) 335

fpread th' inviting banquet in our tents:

Thy
Once
But

fweet fociety, thy winning care,

ftay'd Achilles, rufiiing to the

war.
refign'd,

now

alas

to death's cold

arms

What
What

banquet but revenge can glad

greater forrow could
afflict

my mind

340

my breaft,
?

What

more,

if

hoary Peleus were deceas'd

Who
What
(My

now, perhaps, in Phthia dreads to hear

fad fate,

His fon's

and drops a tender

tear.

more, mould Neoptolemus the brave

?

345

only offspring) fink into the grave

If yet that offspring lives, (1 diftant far,

Of all

negledful,

wage

a hateful

war)

I cou'd not this, this cruel ftroke attend;

Fate claim'd Achilles, but might fpare his friend.

35*

f.

3 3 j.

Thou

too,

Patroclus! etc J This lamentation

is finely

introduced: while the generals are perfuading

his

him to take fome refrefliment, it naturally awakens in mind the remembrance of Patroclus, who had fo often brought him food every morning before they went to
battel
*

this is

very natural, and admirably well conceals

the art of drawing the fubjeel of his difcourfe from the

things that prcfent themfelves.

Spondanus.
I

hop'd

Book XIX.

H O M

E R's

ILIAD.
^>

I hop'd Patroclus might furvive, to rear

My

tender orphan with a parent's care,

From

Scyros

ifle

conducl him o'er the mate,

And
The

glad his eyes with his paternal reign,

lofty palace,

^
J
%$%

and the large domain.

vital air;

For Peleus breathes no more the

Or

drags a wretched
till

life

of age and care,

fate invades

But

the news of my fad

foul,
:

His haftening

and finks him to the fhades

his grief the heroes join'd,

Sighing he faid

360

Each

ftole a tear for

what he
fire

left

behind.

Their mingled grief the

of beav'n furvey'd,

And
And

thus, with pity, to his blue-ey'd maid.

Is then Achilles
dofi:

now no more

thy care,
\

thou thus defert the great in war

fails their
fits,

&|

Lo, where yon'

canvas wings extend,

his friend

All comfortlefs he

and wails

Ere

thirft

and want

his forces

have oppreft,

Hafte and infufe ambrofia in his breaft.

He

fpoke, and fudden as the

word of Jove,

37Q

Shot the defcending goddefs from above.

troclus

f. 351. I hop'd Patroclus might furvht, etc.] Pawas young, and Achilles who had but a fhort time to live, hoped that after his death his dear friend would be as a father to his fori, and put him into the
pofleffion

of his kingdom: Neoptolemus would in Pa;

troclus find Peleus and Achilles

whereas when Patroclus

is

was dead, he muft be an orphan indeed. Homer

ticularly admirable for the fentiments,

parfol-

and always

lows nature.

Dacier.

Vol. IV.

a6

H
wide

R's

D.

Book XIX.
:

So

fwift thro', aether the fhrill

air floating to

Harpye

fprings,

The

her ample wings,

To

great Achilles (he her flight addreft,

And

pour'd divine ambrofia in his breaft,

nectar Tweet, (refection
fwift afcending,

375
!)

With

of the Gods

Then,

fought the bright abodes.

(hips the warrior train,

Now
And
And

iffued

from the

like a deluge pour'd upon the plain.

As when

the piercing blafts of Boreas blow,

fields

380

fcatter o'er the

the driving

fnow;

From

duflsy clouds the fleecy winter flies,

Whofe

dazling luftre whitens

all

the Ikies:

So helms fucceeding helms,

fo fhields

from
all

fhields

Catch the quick beams, and brighten

the fields;

385

Broad

glitt'ring breaft- plates, fpears

with pointed rays

Mix

in

one ftream,

reflecting blaze

on blaze:

Thick

beats the center as the courfers bound,

?

With fplendour flame thefkies and laugh the fields around.

^.384. So helmsfucceeding helms, fojhl eldsfrom /hi elds
Catch the quick beams, and brighten
fields?,
It is
all

the

probable the reader

may

think the words, fiining,

luftre
is

fplendid, and others derived

from the

of arms, too

frequent in thefe books.

it;

My

author

to anfwer for

but

it

may

be alleged in his excufe, that

when

it

was the cuftom for every foldier to ferve in armour, and when thofe arms were of brafs before the ufe of iron became common, thefe images of luftre were lefs avoidable, and more neceifarily frequent in defcriptions of
this nature.

Book XIX.

H O M

E R's

A D.

27

Full in the midft, high tow'ring o'er the reft,

390

His limbs in arms divine Achilles dreft;

Arms which
Forg'd on

the father of the

fire

beftow'd,

th' eternal anvils

of the God.

Grief and revenge his furious heart infpire,

His glowing eye-balls

roll

with living fire;

^95

He

grinds his teeth, and furious with delay

th'

O'erlooks

embattled hoft, and hopes the bloody day.

The
Then

lilver cuifhes firft-his thigh infold:

o'er his bread:

was brac'd the hollow gold:

The
And

brazen fword a various baldric ty'd,

ftarr'd

400

That,

with gems, hung glitt'ring at his fide;

like the

moon,

the broad refulgent (hield

field.

Blaz'd with long rays, and gleam'd athwart the

So to night wand'ring

failors, pale

with fears'

"Wide o'er the wat'ry wafte, a light appears,

4C5

Which on

the far-feen mountain blazing high,

r

Streams from fome lonely watch-tow'r to the fky

"With mournful eyes they gaze, and gaze again;

Loud howls

the ftorm,

and drives them

o'er the

main.

f. 390. Achilles ai*m\ng himfelf, etc.]] There is a wonderful pomp in this defcription of Achiiles's arming
himfelf;
fee the

every reader without being pointed to

all

it,

will

extreme grandeur of

thefe images; but

is particular, is, in what a noble fcale they rife bove another, and how the hero is fet ftill in a ftronger point of light than before; till he is at laft in a manner

what one a-

covered over with glories: he

is

at

firft

likened

to the

moon-light, then to the flames of a beacon, then to a

comet, and

laftly to the

fun

itfelf.

C2

;: :

28

HO M
Next,
bis high
creft

R's

III

D.
;

Book XIX.
behind
41

head the helmet grac'd

The fweepy
Like the red
Shakes

hung

floating in the

wind

ftar, that

from his flaming hair

and war
;

down

difeafes, peftiience

So

ftream'd the golden honours from his head,

loofe glories fhec!.
j

Trembled the fparkling plumes, and the

The

chief beholds himfelf with wond'ring eyes

poifes,

416

His arms he

and his motions

tries

Buoy'd by fbme inward force, he feems to fwim,

And

feels a

pinion lifting ev'ry limb.

And now
From

he (hakes his great paternal fpear,

!

42O

PondYous and huge

which not a Greek

could rear.

Pelion's cloudy top an

feil'd,

am
it

entire
fire

Old Chiron

and (hap'd

for his

fpear which ftern Achilles only wields,

The

death of heroes, and the dread of

fields

425

Automedon and Aleimus prepare

Th' immortal courfers, and

the radiant car,

(The
Their

filver traces fiery

fweeping at their fide)

bridles ty'd,

mouths refplendent

The

iv'ry-ftudded reins, return'd behind,

o'er their backs,

430

Wav'd

and to the chariot jom*d.

The
And

charioteer then whirl'd the tafh around,

fwiftafcended at one acYive bound.

All bright in heavnly arms, above his fquire

Achilles mounts, and fets the field

on

fire

43s

Not

brighter Phoebus in th' ethereal

his chariot,

way,

Flames from

and

reftores the day,

Book XIX.
High

H O M

E R's

D.

29

o'er the hoft, all terrible he (lands,

And

thunders to his deeds thefe dread commands.

!

Xanthus and Balius

of Podarges'

flrain,

440

(Unlefs ye boaft that heav'nly race in vain)

Be

fwift,

be mindful of the load ye bear,

And

learn to
falling

make your

matter

more your

care

Thro'
Nor,

fquadrons bear

my

flaught'ring fword,
lord.

as ye left Patroclus, leave

your

445

The
Seem'd

gen'rous Xanthus, as the words he faid,

fenfible

of woe, and droop'd his head r

the golden wain,.

Trembling he flood before

And bow'd
When,

to

dud the honours of his mane,

Juno
will'd)

ftrange to tell! (fo

he broke

450

Eternal filence, and portentous

fpokc

^.450.
It
is

V/henflrangeto tell! (fo Juno wflPd) helrckc

Eternal filence , and portentous /poke.'] remarked, in excufe of this extravagant fiction of a horfe fpeaking, that Homer was authorized herein by

two oxen

Livy makes mention of on different occafions, and recites Pliny the fpeech of one, which was, Roma cave tibi. tells us, thefe animals were particularly gifted' this way,
fable, tradition,

and

hiftory.

that fpoke

J.

8. c. 49.

intum.

Befides

Eft frequent in prodigiisprifcorum, bovem loHomer had prepared us for expecting

reprefenting them to be immortal.

fomething miraculous from thefe horfes of Achilles, by have fecn thenu

We

already fenfible, and weeping at the death of Patroclus, r

and we muft add to

in working this

all this,

that a goddefs

is

concerned
it.

wonder:

it is

Juno that does

Op~
firft

pian

alludes to this in a beautiful paflage of his

book: not having the original' by me, I (hall quote (what I believe is no lefs beautiful.) Mr^Fentcn's tranktion of it

::

30
Achilles

H O M
!

E R's
day

D.

Book XIX.

yes

this

at leaft
files

we bear
of war:

Thy
Kor
Not

rage infafety thro' the

it will,

But come

the fatal time

mod come,
doom.
45$

ours the fault, but

God

decrees thy

thro' our crime, or flownefs in the courfe,

Fell thy Patroclus, but

by heav'nly

force

The

bright farfhooting

God who

gilds the day,

(Confeft

we faw him)

tore his arms away.

No could
Or

our fwiftnefs o'er the winds prevail,

46*

beat the pinions of the weftern gale,

Of all the prone

Some

ere at ion, none difplay

A friendlier fenfe ofmarts fuperior fway

in the filent

pomp ofgrief complain,

by doom

for the brave chief

of battel/lain

And when young

Rujh'd

Peleus in his rapid car thunder of the war,

on, to rouze the

With human voice

infpir'd, his fteed dephr'cf

The fate impending

dreadful o'er his Lord.

Cyneg.

lib. I.

afs

Spondanus and Pacier fail not to bring up Balaam's on this occafion. But methinks the commentators are at too much pains to difcharge the poet from the

imputation of extravagant fi&ion, by accounting for wonders of this kind : I am afraid, that next to the extravagance of inventing them,
is

that of

endeavouring

Would not to reconcile fuch ficYions to probability. one general anfwer do better, to fay once for all, that
the above-cited authors lived in the ageof wonders : The tafte of the world has been generally turned to the

miraculous; wonders were what the people would have, and what cot only the poefcs, but the priefts, gave them.

BookXIX.

H O M

E R's

D.

31

All were in vain

the fates thy death

demand,

Due

to a mortal

and immortal hand.

Then
His

ceas'd forever,

by the Furies

ty'd,

fate-ful voice.

TV intrepid chief reply'd

"With unabated rage

465

So

let it

be

Portents and prodigies are

I

loft

on me.

know my

fates

to die, to fee

no more
native

My

much-lov'd parents, and

my

more
night
fight.
;

Enough
Isow

when heav'n ordains,

Troy
!

I fink in

470

perifh

he

faid,

and rufh'd to

f. 464. Then ceas'dfor ever, by the furies t/Jy His fate-ful voice The poet had offended againft probability if he had made Juno take away the voice ; for Juno (which fig-

Befides, the of the voice. poet was willing to intimate that the privation of the voice is a thing fo difmal and melancholy, that none
nifies the air) is the caufe

but the Furies can take upon them fo cruel an employ-

ment.

Euftathius.

33

ILIAD.
BOOK
XX.

THE

THE ARGUMENT.
The
battel

of the Gods, and the a&s cf Achilles.

upon Achilles''s return to the battel, calls a

JUP ITER
council

party.
deities

of the Gods, and permits them to aj/ifl either The terrors of the comb ate defcribed, taken the Apollo encourages Mneas to meet are engaged,
After a long convtrfation, thefe two heroes
is

Achilles.

encounter; but JEneas

preferved by the

ajfiftance

of

Neptune.

Achilles falls upon the reft of the Trojans ,

and

is

upon the point of killing Hector, but Apollo con*

veys him

away

in a cloud,

Achilles purfues the Trojans

with a great Jlaughier.

The fame
Troy.

day continues.

The fcene u

in the field before

'THUS

round Pelides breathing war and blood,

veilels flood
;

Greece (heath 'd in arms, befide her

While near impending from

a neighb'ring height,
fight.

Troy's black battalions wait the mock of

Then Jove

to

Themis

gives

command,

to call

The Gods
f.
poet
5.

to council in the ftarry hail

Then Jove

to

Themis gives command, etc.]

The

is

now

to bring his hero again into aclion, and he

34

H O M
all

E R's

A
me

D,
flies,

Book XX,

Swift o'er Olympus' hundred hills

And fummons

the fenate of the fkies.

in long proceflion

Thefe mining on,

come
10

To

Jove's eternal adamantine dome.

abfent, not a rural pow'r,

Not one was

That haunts
Each

the verdant gloom, or rofy bow'r,

fair-hair'd

dryad of the fhady wood,

Each azure

fitter

of the

filver flood;
fire
!

All but old Ocean, hoary

who

keeps

15

His ancient

feat

beneath the facred deeps.

other reafon he draws from the allegory of Oceanus, introduces him with the utmoit pomp and grandeur: the

gods are afTembled only upon

this account, and Jupiter permits feveral deities to join with the Trojans, and
itfelf.

hinder Achilles from over-ruling deftiny

The
gods
is

circumftance offending

Themis

to aflemble the
;

very beautiful

fhe

is

the goddefs o^juftke

the

Trojans by the rape of Helen, and by repeated perjuries having broken her laws, (he is the properell: meffenger to

fummon

a fynod to bring

them to

punifti-

mcnt.

Euflathius.

Proclus has given a farther explanation of this.

The-

mis or Juftice (fays he) is made to aflemble the gods round Jupiter, becaufe it is from him that all the powers of nature take their virtue, and receive their orders; and Jupiter fends them to the relief of both parties, to fhew that nothing falls out but by his perrniflion, and
that neither angels, nor

men, nor the elements,

is

acl

but

according to the power which

fons

given them.

f. 15. Jll but old Ocean.'] Euftathius gives two reawhy Oceanus was abfent from this afTembly : the one is becaufe he is fabled to be the original of all the gods, and it would have been a piece of indecency for

him to fee the deities, who were all his defendants, war upon one another by joining adverfe parties the other
:

Book XX.

H O M E RJs
fate the

D,

3;

On

marble thrones with lucid columns crown'd,

pow'rs around.

(The work of Vulcan)

Ev'n # he whofe trident fways the wat'ry reign,

Heard the loud fummons, and forfook the main,

AfTum'd his throne amid the bright abodes,

29

And

queftion'd thus the

fire

of men and Gods.

What moves the God whoheav'n and earth commands,

And
grafps the thunder in his awful hands,
to

Thus

convene the whole

aethereal ftate

25

Is Greece

and Troy

the fubject in debate?

Already met, the low'ring hods appear,

And

death (lands ardent on the edge of war.

'Tis true (the cloud-compelling Pow'r replies)

This day, we

call the

council of the (kies

;

30
eye

In care of human race

Sees with regret

ev'n Jove's

own

unhappy mortals

die.

Far on Olympus' top in fecret

Ourfelf will
fit,

ftate

and

fee the

hand of

fate
!

Work
And

out our will.

Celeftial

pow'rs

defcend,

35

as your

minds

direct,

your fuccour lend

# Neptune, which fignifies the element of water, and confequently the whole element could not afcend into the iEther but whereas Neptune, the rivers, and the fountains are faid to have been prefent, this is no way impoffible, if we confider it in an allegorical fenfe, which implies, that the rivers, feas, and fountains fupply the air with vapours, and by that means afcend into the iEther.
f. 35.
Celeftial pow'rs! defcend,

And
To

as your minds direct, your fuccour lend

either hofl

Euftathius informs us, that the ancients were very

much

$6

H
either heft.

E R's

ILIAD.
lie

Book XX.

To

Troy foon mufl

o'erthrown,

If uncontroll'd Achilles fights alone

Their troops but

lately durft
if in his

not meet his eyes;

rage he
rife ?

What
Aflift

can they now,

40

them, Gods
fall this

or

Ilion's facred wall

fall.

May

day, tho' fate forbids the

divided upon this pafTage of Homer.

Some have criticizand others have anfwered their criticifm; but he reports nothing more than the objection, without traned
it,

fmitting the

anfwer to us.

Thofe who condemned

Trojans; he faw the But therein
fo permitted the gods to

Homer,

faid Jupiter

was

for the

Greeks were the

that

ftrongeft,

declare themfelves, and

go

to the battel.

God

is

deceived, and does not gain his point; for

the gods
thofe

who favour the Greeks being ftronger than who favour the Trojans, the Greeks will ftill have the fame advantage. I do not know what anfwer the partifans of Homer made, but for my part, I think this
objection
is

more ingenious than

folid.

Jupiter does

not pretend that the Trojans fhould be ftronger than

the Greeks, he has

onlyamind

that the decree of Deftiny

(hould. be executed.

Deftiny had refufed to Achilles

if

the glory of taking Troy, but

againft the Trojans, he
is

Achilles fights fmgly

;

capable of forcing Deftiny

(as

Homer has already elfewhere faid, that there had been Whereas if the gods brave men who had done fo.)
took part, though thofe v/ho followed the Grecians were
ftronger than thofe
ter

who were for the Trojans, the latwould however be ftrong enough to fupport deftiny, and to hinder Achilles from making himfelf maftcr of Troy: this was Jupiter's fole view. Thus is this paffage far from being blameable, it is on the contrary very Dacier. beautiful, and infinitely glorious for Achilles. Or Ilions facred ivall f. 41.

May fall this

day, thJ fate forbids the fall.']

^lonf. de la Motte criticizes on this pafiage, as thinking

Book XX.

H
and

E R's

ILIA

D.
with rage

37

He

faid,

fir'd their heav'nly breads

On

adverfe parts the warring

Gods engage.
4$

Heav'n's awful queen; and he whofe azure round

Girds the

vafl:

globe

the

maid

in

arms renown'd

it

abfurd and contradictory to Homer's

own

fyftem, to

imagine, that what fate had ordained mould not

to pafs.

come
be

Jupiter here feems to fear that

fpite

Troy

will

taken this very day in

of

deftiny, Cxlf

fiopev,

M.

Boivin anfwers, that the explication hereof depends wholly upon the principles of the ancient Pagan theoIt is certain, logy, and their doctrine concerning fate. according to Homer and Virgil, that what deftiny had decreed did not constantly happen in the precife time

marked by

deftiny

the fatal

moment was not

:

to be re-

tarded, but might be haftened

for example, that of the

llie

death of Dido was advanced by the blow

felf;

gave her-

her hour was not then come.

Necfato, merit a

nee movie peribat y

Sed mlfera

ante

d'n

Every violent death was accounted vrrlp popov, that before the fated time, or (which is the fame thing)
gainfl:

is,

a-

the natural order, turbato mart all tath

ordine,

as

the

Romans
their

expreiTed

it.

of any misfortunes which

by
* lib.

own

ill

conduct.
it

And the fame might be faid men drew upon them (elves (See the note on $ 560.
.

16.)

In a word,
in the

mud

not eafy,

Pagan

religion, to

upon
which

a doctrine fo difficult
it is

it was form the jufrcft ideas to be cleared; and upon

be allowed that

no great wonder

if a

poet fhonld not always

it

be perfectly confident with himfelf, when

has puzzled

fuch a number of divines and phiiofophers.

#'.

44.

On

adverfe parts the warring Gods engage,

Heav'n's awful queen, etc.

Euftathius has a very curious remark

Con of

gods Vol. IV.

the

in

upon this diviHomer, which M. Dacier has en-

$8

E R's

D.

Book XX.

Hermes, of

profitable arts the fire,

fire:

And

Vulcan, the black fov'reign of the

Thefe

to the fleet repair with inftant flight

The
Mars

veffels

tremble as the Gods alight.

56

In aid of Troy, Latona, Phcebus came,

fiery-helm'd, the laughter-loving

dame,

tirely borrowed (as indeed no commentator ever borrowed more, or acknowleged lefs, than me has every This divifion, fays he, where done from Euftathius.) is not made at random, but founded upon very folid reafons, drawn from the nature of thofe two nations. He places on the fide of the Greeks all the gods who prefide over arts and fciences, to fignify how much in
all other nations. Juno, Mercury and Vulcan are for the Greeks Juno, not only as the goddefs who prefides over marriage, and who is concerned to revenge an injury done

that refpecl: the Greeks excelled

Pallas, Neptune,

to the nuptial bed, but likewife as the goddefs

who

re-

prefents monarchial government, which was better eltabiifhed in Greece than

any where

elfe;

Pallas, becaufe
affift

being the goddefs of war and wifdom, fhe ought to

thofe

who

are

wronged

befides the

Greeks underftood

the art of war better than the Barbarians; Neptune, becaufe he was an

enemy to the Trojans upon account of Laomedcn's perfidioufnefs, and becaufe moft of the Greeks being come from ifhnds or peninfulas, they were in fome fort his fubjecls; Mercury, becaufe he is a God who prefides over ftratagems of war, and becaufe Troy was taken by that of the wooden horfc; and laftly Vulcan, as the declared enemy of Mars and of all adulterers,
and as the father of
arts.

y. $2. MarSjJiery-helnfd, the laughter -loving dame 7^ The reafons why Mars and Venus engage for the 7'rojans, are very obvious
raviftiers
;

the point in hand was to

fa*

our

and debauchees.

But the fame reulon, you

Book XX.

H O M E R>
in

ILIAD.
bow.

39

Xanthus whofe dreams

golden currents flow,

And

the chafte huntrefs of the filver

Ere yet the

Gods

their various aid

employ,

5?

Each Argive bofom

fwell'd with

manly joy,

While

great Achilles, (terror of the plain)

loft to battel,

Long

(hone in arms again.

all

Dreadful he flood in front of

his hoft
loft
;

Pale Troy beheld, and feem'd already

60

Her

braveft heroes pant with inward fear,

And

trembling fee another

Cod of

war.
fwell'd the fight,
affright

But when the pow'rs descending

Then

tumult rofe;

fierce rage

and pale

Vary'd each face; then Difcord founds alarms,

Earth echoes, and the nations

6$

rum

to arms.
calls,

Now

thro' the trembling fhores

(he thunders
o'er his

Minerva

And now

from the Grecian walls.

Mars hov'ring

Troy,

his terror throuds

In gloomy tempcfts, and a night of clouds:

70

Now
With

thro' each

Trojan heart he fury pours

voice divine from Ilion's topmoft tow'rs,

fhouts to Simois, from her beauteous
hill

Now
The

mountain (hook, the rapid ftream ftood

dill.

will fay, does not ferve for Apollo,

It is

Diana and Latona,

Trojans, becaufe of

urged that Apollo

is

for the

the darts and arrows which were the principal ftrength of the Barbarians; and Diana, becaufe fne prefided over and dancing, and thofe Barbarians were great dancers Xanthus being Latona, as influenced by her children.
:

Trojan

river,

is

interefted for his country.

Eufta-

thius.

D2

40

H O M E
fire

R's

A D.

Book XX.
75

Above, the

of Gods

his thunder rolls,

And
The

peals

on

peals redoubled rend the poles.

folic!

Beneath, ftern Neptune (hakes the

forefts
all

ground;
;

wave, the mountains nod around

fummits tremble Ida's woods,

Thro'

their

And from

their fources boil her

hundred floods.

80

jr. 75. Above, the fire of Gods, etc.] " The images u {fays Longinus) which Homer gives of the combat " of the gods, have in them fomethingprodigioufly great
,

" and magnificent.

We

fee in thele verfes, the earth

itfelf,

" opened to its very center, hell ready to difclofe " the whole machine of the world upon the point
il

to be

and overturned to (hew that in fuch a rt conflict, heaven and hell, all things mortal and im" mortal, the whole creation in fhort was engaged in " this battel, and all the extent of nature in danger."
dcftroyed
:

Non [ecus ac fi qua penitus vi terra deh'ifcens J f mas refer et fedes et regna redudat Pallida, Bus tnv'ifoyfuperqtie humane barathrum
CernatvSy trepidentque inmijfo lum'me manes.
Virgil.

Madam

Dacicr rightly obferves that this copy

is

in-

J>rior to the original on this account, that Virgil has made a companion of that which Homer made an action.

This occafions an

infinite difference,

which

is

eafy to be perceived.

One may compare with

which
is

this

noble paffage of Homer,

the battel of the gods and giants in Hefiod's

Theogony,
:

one of the fubHmeft parts of that author; and the eMilton's battel of the Angels in the fixth book levation, and enthufiafm of our great countryman feems

owing

to this original.

Book XX.
Troy's

H O M

E R's

ILIAD.
plain
;

4*

turrets totter

on the rocking

And
Deep
Th'

the tofs'd navies beat the heaving main.

in the difmal regions

of the dead,

infernal

monarch

rear'd his horrid head,

left

Leap'd from his throne,

Neptune's arm mould lay S$

His dark dominions open to the day,

And pour

in light

on

Piuto's drear abodes,

Abhorr'd by men, and dreadful ev'n to Gods.

Such war
th'

immortals wage: fuch horrors rend

The

world's vaft concave,

when

the

Gods contend. 90

Firft filver-fhafted

Phoebus took the plain

1

Againft blue Neptune, monarch of the main

The God of arms

Oppos'd

his giant

bulk difplay'd,

to Pallas, v/ar's triumphant maid.

^.5

Againfl Latona march'd the fon of May \

The

quiver'd Dian,

fitter

of the day,
at

(Her golden arrows founding

her

fide)

Saturnia, majefty of heav'n, defy'd.

^'.91. Firft fiher-fhafted

Pkzbus

took the plain , etc.

With what
conflicl:
!

art

does the poet engage the gods in this

Pallas

Neptune oppofes Apollo, which implies that

:

things moift and dry are in continual difcord

fights

with Mars, which

fignifles that raftinefs

and wis-

dom

nothing more

always difagree: Juno is againft Diana, that is r differs from a marriage date, than celibacy^
is,

Vulcan engages Xanthus, that

perpetual variance.

fire

and water are in

Thus we have

a fine allegory con-

cealed under the veil of excellent poetry, and the reader

receives a double fatisfaclion at the fame

beautiful ver.fes ?

time from
Euftathius*.

and an

initrucYive

moral >

^2

43

HO M
fiery

R's

ILIA

D.

Book XX.

With

Vulcan- laft in battel (lands

The

facred flood that rolls

his

on golden fands;

100

Xanthus
But

name with

thofe of heav'nly birth,

call'd

Scamander by the fons of earth.

the

While thus

Gods

in various league engage,

Achilles glow'd with

more than mortal rage:

of Hector turn'd

Hector he fought;

in fearch

105

His eyes around, for Hector only burn'd;

And

burfl: like

light'ning thro' the ranks,

and vow'd

To glut the

God of

battels with his blood.

iEneas was the

firft

who dar'd

to ftay

Apollo wedg'd him in the warrior's way,

10

But

fwell'd his

bofom with undaunted might,

Half-forc'd, and half-perfuaded to the fight.

Like young Lycaon, of the royal

line,

In voice and afpect feem'd the power divine;

And

bade the chief reflect,

how late

with fcorn

1 1

In diftant threats he brav'd the Goddefs-born.

Then

thus the hero of Anchifes' drain.

in vain

To

meet Pelides you perfuade

I

Already have

met, nor void of fear

Obferv'd the fury of his flying fpear

120

that the poet lets

his

remarks f. 119. J/reaJj/ have I met, etc.] Euftathius no opportunity pafs of inferting into

poem the actions that preceded the tenth year of the war, efpecially the actions of Achilles the hero of it. In this place he brings in ^Eneas extolling the bravery of his enemy, and confefling him'eif to have formerly been
vanquished

by him

at the

fame time he preferves a

piece of ancient hiflory, by inferting into the

poem

the

hero's concmeft of Pedafus and Lyrncflus.

Book XX.

HOMER's ILIA
woods he chas'd us

D.

45

From
Our

Ida's

to the field,

force he fcatter'd, and our herds he kill'd:

j

LyrnefTus, Pedafus in afhe3 lay

But (Jove
Elfe had
I

aflifting) I furviv'd the

day.

funk oppreft

in fatal fight,

125

By

fierce Achilles

and Minerva's might.

Where'er he mov'd the goddefs (hone before,

And

bath'd his brazen lance in hoftile gore.

What
And

mortal

man

Achilles can fufta'm

Th' immortals guard him

fuffer

thro' the dreadful plain,'

fall in

not his dart to

aid, this

vain.
his

Were God my
Tho'

arm fhould check

pow'r,

ftrong in battel as a brazen tow'r.

To whom
And
be,

the fon of Jove.

That God implore,

13$

what great Achilles was before.

Irom

heav'nly Venus thou deriv'fl thy ftrain,

And

he, but

from a

fitter

of the main;

An

agectfea

God f

father of his line^

thine.

But Jove himfelf the facred fource of

i/. 121.

It is

From Ida's woods he chas'd us But Jove ajfifling Ifurviv'd.'] remarkable that jEneas owed his fafety to
Achilles, but
fo
it

his flight

from

may feem

ftrange that Achilles,

who was

mould not be able Euflathius anfwers, that this might proceed from the better knowlege iEneas might have of the ways and defiles Achilles being a ftranger, and jEneas having
famed
for his fwiftnefs

to overtake him, even with Minerva for his guide.

Jong kept his father's flocks in thofe parts.

He
it

farther obferves, that the

word

<p*h difcovers thaj

was

in the nighf that Achilles

purfued jEneas,

44

H O M
lift

E R's

D.

Book XX.
140

Then
Nor

thy weapon

for a noble blow,

fear the
faid,

vaunting of a mortal foe.

This

and

fpirit

breath 'd into his breaft,

th*

Thro' the thick troops

His vent'rous
act the

embolden 'd hero

preft:

white-arm'd queen furvey'd,

all

And

thus, afTembling

the pow'rs,
!

me

faid-

145:

Behold an action, Gods

that claims

your care,

Lo

great iEneas rufhing to the

war;

Againft Pelides he directs his courfe,

Phoebus impels, and Phoebus gives him force.

Reftrain his bold career;
at leaft, t'attend

15.0

Our

favour'd hero,

let

fome pow'r defcend.

his

To

guard his
the great
let

life,

and add to

renown,

We,

armament of heav'n, came down.

fall,

Hereafter

him

as fates defign,

That fpun
But
left

fo fhort his life's illuftrious line

155

fome adverfe

God now

crofs4iis
affilt

way,
day
:

Give him to know, what pow'rs

this

For how

fhall

mortal ftand the dire alarms,

?

When
The

heav'n's refulgent hoft appear in arms

fhe,

Thus

and thus the God whofe force can make 160

folid globe's eternal balls (hake.

Againft the might of man, fo feeble

known,

Why
And
But

mould

celeftial

pow'rs exert their

own ?

Suffice,

from yonder mount to view the fcene;

leave to
if th'

war the

fates

of mortal men.

165

armipotent, or

God of light,
the Gghfr^

Obftruct Achilles, or

commence

-Book

XX.

H O M
the
I

E R's

I>.

45

Thence on
Full foon,

Gods of Troy we

fwift defcend:

doubt not,

fhall the conflict

end,

And

thefe, in ruin

and confufion hurl'd,

IJ9

Yield to our conqu'ring arms the lower world.

Thus having

faid,

the tyrant of the fea,

Cerulean Neptune,

rofe,
field

and led the way.

there flood a

Advanc'd upon the

mound
;

Of

earth congested, wall'd,

and trench'd around

175

In elder times to guard Alcides made,

(The work of Trojans, with Minerva's

aid)

What

time, a vengeful monfter of the main

plain.

Swept the wide fhore, and drove him to the

etc.]

f. 174. Advanced upon the field there flood a mound, It may not be unnecefTary to explain this pafTage the poet is very to make it underftood by the reader
:

fhort in the defcription,

as

fuppofing the feci already

known, and

haftens to the combate between Achilles and Sneas. This is very judicious in Homer, not to dweil on a piece of hiftory that bad no relation to his action, when he has raifed the reader's expectation by
fo

pompous an

introduction, and

made

the

Gods them-

selves his Spectators.

The

ftory

is

as follows

Laomedon having defrauded

Neptune of the reward he promifed him for the building the walls of Troy, Neptune fent a monftro.es whale, to which Laomedon expofed his daughter Hefione: but
Hercules having undertaken to deftroy the monfter, the

Trojans

raifed
:

an intrenchmentto defend Hercules from

a remarkable piece of conduct

his purfuit

this being
it

in the Trojans,

gave occafion to the poet to adorn a

plain narration with fiction,

Pallas the goddefs of

by afcribing the work to

Euftathius*

wifdom.

46

E R's

D.

ook XX.
repair,

Here Neptune, and the Gods of Greece

"With clouds encompafs'd, and a veil of air

180

The

adverfe pow'rs, around Apollo laid,

the fair hills that filver Simois (hade.

Crown
In

circle clofe

each heav'nly party fate,

Intent to form the future fcheme of fate

185

But mix not yet in

fight, tho'

Jove on high

Gives the loud fignal, and the heav'ns reply.

Meanwhile the ruining armies hide the ground;

The

trampled centre yields a hollow found:

Steeds cas'd in mail, and chiefs in armour bright,

190

The

gleamy ehampain glows with brazen

hofts (a dreadful fpace) appear
;

light.

Amid both

There, great Achilles

bold iEneas here.

firft

"With tow'ring ftrides JEneas

advanc'd;.
191$

The nodding plumage on

his helmet danc'd^

f. 180. Here Neptune and the Gods, etc.] I wonder Euftathius and all other commentators fhould be filent upon this recefs of the gods it feems ftrange at

why

the

firft

view, that fo

many deities,

after

having entered
I

the fcene of action, fhould perform fo fhort a part, and

immediately become themfelves fpectators

the reafon of this conduct in the
chilles has

conceive

poet to be, that

A-

poem
go'ds

been inactive during the greatelt part of the and as he is the hero of it, ought to be the

chief character in

it: the poet therefore withdraws the from the field, that Achilles may have the whole honour of the day, and not ac~t in fubordination to the deities: befides the poem now draws to a conclufion, and it is necefiTary for Homer to enlarge upon the exploits of Achilles, that he may leave a noble idea of his valour upon the mind of the reader.

Book XX.

E R's

ILIAD.

47

Spread o'er his breaft the fencing fhield he bore,

And,

as he

mov'd,
;

his jav'lin flam'd before.

Not

fo Pelides

furious to engage,

He

rufh'd impetuous.
firft

Such the lion's rage,

Who viewing
Tho'
all in

his foes with fcornful eyes,

20

arms

the peopled city rile,

Stalks carelefs on, with unregarding pride;

'Till at the length,

by fome brave youth defy'd,

To
He He

his bold fpear the favage turns alone,

He murmurs fury
grins,

with an hollow groan

rolls his eyes

20$

he foams, he
tall

around

Lafh'd by his
calls

his heaving fides refound

up

all his

rage

he grinds his teeth,

Refolv'd on vengeance, or refolv'd on death.

So

fierce Achilles

on .Eneas

flies

2X9

So ftands iEneas, and

Ere yet the

his force defies.

ftern encounter join'd,

begun

The

feed of Thetis thus to

Venus' fon.

Why

comes ^neas

thro' the ranks fo far?

Seeks he to meet Achilles' arm in war,

2l

#.214,

etc.

\ mall lay before the reader the

The mmerfaUon of Achilles and 7Eneas7\ words of Euftathius in

I

defence of this paffage, which

confefs feems to

me

to

be faulty in the poet.

turally

The

reader (fays he) would na-

expect fome great and terrible atchievements mould enfue from Achilles on his firft enterance upon acThe poet feems to prepare us for it, by his tion. magnificent introduclion of him into the field? but inftead of a ftorm, wc have a calm; he follows the fame method in this book as he did in the third, where when

both armies were ready to engage in a general conflict,

48

HOMER'S ILIA

D.

Book XX*

In hope the realms of Priam to enjoy,

And

prove his merits to the throne of Troy

dies,
;

Grant that beneath thy lance Achilles

The

partial

monarch may

refufe the prize

Sons he has

many

thofe thy pride

may

quell

22

And

'tis

his fault to love thofe fons too well.

Or, in reward of thy victorious hand,

Has Troy propos'd fome

fpacious tract of land?

An

ample

foreft,

or a

fair

domain,
?

Of hills

for vines,

and arable for grain

225

JBv'n this, perhaps will hardly prove thy lot.

But can Achilles be

fo foon forgot

he ends the day

in a (Ingle

combat between two heroes:

thus he always agreeably furprizes his readers. Befides the admirers of Homer reap a farther advantage from
this converfation

of the heroes
is

there

is

a chain of an-

cient hiftory as well as a feries of poetical beauties.

Madam
(hew that

Dacier's excufe
this
is

very

little

better

and to

really a fault in the poet, I believe I

talte

may
fee

appeal to the

finds himfelf diiappointed:

of every reader who certainly our expectation is raifed to

it

gods and heroes engage, when fuddenly

all

(inks

into fuch a combat, in which neither party receives a

wound: and (what is more extraordinary) the gods are made the fpectators of fo fmall an action what occafioa
!

was there
deities,

for

thunder,

earthquakes,

to introduce a matter of fo
is it

and defcending little importance ?

any excufe to fay he has given us a piece of ancient hiftory ; we expected to read a poet, not an
neither
hiftorian.

In (hort, after the greateft preparation for

action imaginable, he fufpends the whole narration, and from the heat of a poet, cools at once into the fimpliclty

of an hiUorian.

Once

Book XX.
Once
(as
I

HOME

ILIA
to fear.

D.

4>

think) you faw this brandiih'd fpear,

And

then the -great

Aneas feem'd

With
Kor,

hearty hade from Ida's

'till

mount he

fled,

230

he reach 'd Lyrneflus, turn'd his head.

Her

lofty wails not

long our progrefs ftay'd

Thofe,

Pallas, Jove,

and we,

in ruins laid:

In Grecian chains her captive race were cart;

*Tis true, the great JEneas
fled

too

faft.

23 J

Defrauded of ray conquefl: once before,

What

then

I loft,

the

Gods

this

day

reftore.

Go; while thou

Fools ftay to

may'ft, avoid the threaten'd fate

feel it,

and arc wife too

late.

To this Anchifes' fon. Such words employ To one that fears thee, fome unwarlike boy ;
Such we difdain
;

240

the beft

may

be defy'd

With mean
Unworthy

reproaches, and unmanly pride

the high race from which

we came,
-245

Proclaim'd fo loudly by the voice of fame;

Each from

illuflrious fathers
;

draws his line;

Each goddefs-born

half

human, half divine*

Thetis' this day, or Venus' offspring dies,

And

tears (hall trickle

from

celefthl eyes

For when two heroes, thus

deriv'd, contend,
ftrife

25 c

'Tis not in words the glorious

can end.
birth

If yet thou farther feek to learn

my

(A

tale

refounded thro' the fpacions earth)

Hear how the glorious origin we prove

from

ancient Dardanus, the

-

firfl

from Jove

255

Vol. IV.

50

E R's

D.

Book XX.

Dardania's walls he rais'd; for Ilion, then,

(The

city fince

of many-languag'd men)
natives were content to
hill.
till

Was
The
The

not.

The

fhady foot of Ida's fount-full

From Dardanus,
richeft,

great Erichthonius fprings,

J

260

once, of Afia's wealthy kings

Three thoufand mares Three thoufand

his fpacious paflures bred,

foals befide their

mothers fed.

Boreas, enamour'd of the fprightly train,

Conceal'd his godhead in a flowing mane,

265

)h 258. The natives were content to till The Jhadyfoot of Ida's fount-fill hill.
Kt.c-(TI Se

LxpSavlw,

Ittu $tcj*1\io(

jp7j

Ev

ttiSIu xi-roKtro rc'x/f (^ipinuv

e'9'

AvQpdxov
"l<ff

Ahh

V7ruptla.s ux.tov

xokvT{xx.v

Plato and Strabo underftand this pafTagc as favouring

the opinion that the mountainous parts of the world

were

firft

inhabited, after the univerfal deluge; and that

mankind by degrees defcended

parts of the hills (which they

to dwell in the lower would have the word vnapuet fignify) and only in greater procefs of time ventured into the valleys Virgil however feems to have taken this word in a fenie fomething different where he
:

alludes to this paflage.

JEn. 3. 109,
et arces

Nondum Ilium

fergametz fleterant, habit abant

f. 262. Three thoufand mares,
dible,

vallibus imls.

etc. 3

the horles and mares of Erichthonius

The number of may feem increthat there

were we not

aflfured

by Herodotus

were

one time (befides thofe for the fervice of war) eight hundred horfes and fix thoufand Fultathius. fix hundred mares.
in the ftud
at

of Cyrus

f. 264. tioreas enamour'd, etc.]

Homer

has the hap-

"BookXX.
With

H O M E

R's

D.

51

voice diflembled to his loves he neigh'd,

And

cours'd the dappled beauties o'er the

mead

Hence fprung twelve others of unrival'd kind,

Swift as their mother mares, and father wind.

Thefe

lightly

(kimming, when they (wept the plain, 2 70

;

Nor

ply'd the grafs, nor bent the tender grain

pinefs of making the

fubjecl

leaf!

circumftance confiderable

the

grows under

his hands,
:

of poetry were as fwift as the wind, but Homer telis you that they fprung from Boreas the god of the wind; and thence drew their fwTfmefs. )>. 270. Thefe lightly fk'mmiog, as they /wept the

mines

in his drefs

and the plaineft matted another poet would h.ve

faid thefe horfes

plain.']

The

poet

iiIuPraies the fwiftnefs

of thefe horfes

by defcribing. them as running over the (landing corn, and furface of waters, without making any iropreflion. Virgil has imitated thefe lines, and adapts what Homer
fays of thefe horfes to the fwiftnefs of Camilla.
7
.

Mn.

809.
Ilia vel intaclae fegetis

per fumma volar et

titrjii laefiffet

Gramina

nee teneras

arifta\

Vel ma- e per medium, fluclu fufpsnfa tumenti

Ferret Uer} celeres nee tingeret cequore plantas.

The

render will eafily perceive that Virgil's

is

almoft a

literal tranflation:

he has imitated the very run of the

in dacftyls,

verfes, as the
I

which flow nimbly away

defcribe.

and

as fwift

wind they

cannot but obferve one thing in favour of Homer,

that there

can no greater commendation be given to

him, than by confidering the conduct of Virgil: vJio, though undoubtedly the greatett poet after him, feldom
ventures to vary

much from

his original in the paffages

he takes from him, as in a defpair of improving, and contented if he can but equal them.

52

HOME

R's

ILIAD.
feas

Book XX.

And when

along the level

they flew,

Scarce on the furface curlM the briny dew.

Such Erichthonius was

from him there came

the Trojan name.
his nuptiul bed,

The

facred

Tros, of

whom

27$

Three fons renown'd adorn'd

Uus, Affaracus, and Ganymed:

The

matchlefs

Ganymed, divinely

fair,

Whom heav'n enamour'd fnatch'd

To
The

to upper air,

bear the cup of Jove (asthereal gueft)

grace and glory of th* ambrofial feafL

280

The two
JPirft rofe

remaining fons the line divide

Laomedon from

Ilus* fide

From him Tithonus.

nov/ in cares grown old,

He<ftor, brave

And

Priam,

(bleft

u ith

and bold

;)

284

Clytius and Laropus, ever-honour'd pair;

And
From

Hicetaon, thunderbolt of war.

great AfTaracus fprung Capys,

He

Begat Anchifes, and Anchifes me.

f. 280. To hear the cup of Jove 7] To be a cupbearer all ages and nations been reckoned an honourable employment: Sappho mentions it in honour of her
has in

brother Labichus, that he was cup-bearer to the nobles of Mitylene: the fon of Menelaus executed the fame office;

Hebe and Mercury

was the cuflom

ferved the gods

in the

fame

ftation.
It

in the

Pagan worfhip to employ

noble youths to pour the wine upon the facrificc: in this office Ganymede might probably attend upon the altar of Jupiter, and from thence was fabled to be his cupbearer,

Euftathius.

Book XX.
Such
is

HOME
'tis

R's

D.

^3

our race:

fortune gives us birth,

290

But Jove alone endues the foul with worth:

He, fource of pov/r and might

All

with boundlefs fway,

human courage
in the field

gives, or takes away.

Long

of words

we may contend,
295

Reproach

is infinite,

and knows no end,

Arm'd or with

truth or falihood, right or

is
;

wrong,

So voluble a weapon

the tongue

Wounded, we wound

and neither fide can

ftrength to rail

fail.

For every man has equal

Women

alone,

when

in the ftreets they jar,

goo

Perhaps excel us in this

wordy war;

Like us they ftand, encompafs'd with the croud,

And

vent their anger impotent and loud.

Ceafe then

Our bufmefs

in the field of fight

Is not to question, but to

prove our might.

35

To

all

thofe infults thou haft ofTer'd here,

:

Receive this anfwer

'tts

my

flying fpear*

He

fpoke.

With

all

his force the jav'lin flung,

Fix'd deep, and loudly in the buckler rung.

Far on

his out-ftretch'd

arm, Pelides held

fijield,

310

(To

meet the thund'ring lance) his dreadful

as
it
5

That trembled
Saw, ere
His
fears
it fell,

ftuck; nor void of fear

th immeafurable fpear.
;

were vain

impenetrable charms,

Secur'd the temper of th' asthereal arms.

315

Thro' two ftrong

But ftopp'd, and

plates the point its paftage held^

refted,

by the third repelTd ^

54

H O M E

R's

D,

Book XX.

Five plates of various metal, various mold,

O
\ 32

Compos'd

the fhield, of brafs each outward fold,V

:

Of tin
There

each inward, and the middle gold

ftuck the lance.

Then

rifing ere

he threw,

The And

forceful fpear
pierc'd the

of great Achilles flew,

fhield's extremeft

Dardan

bound,

Where

the

fhrill

brafs retum'd a fharper found:

Thro' the thin verge

the Pelean

weapon

glides,

30$

And
And
And

the flight covering of expanded hides.

/Eneas his contracted body bends,

o'er

him high the riven targe extends,

its

Sees thro'

parting plates, the upper

air,

at his

back perceives the quiv'ring fpear:

33

fate fo

near him, chills his foul with fright,

before his eyes the many-col our'd light.

And fwims

Achilles, rufhingin with dreadful cries,

Draws

his

broad blade, and at iEneas

flies

jEneas rouzing as the foe came on,

33 c

(With

force collected) heaves a mighty ftone

!

mafs enormous

which

in

modern days
raife.

No
Saw

two of earth's degen'rate fons could

But Ocean's God, whofe earthquakes rock the ground,

the diftrefs,

and mov'd the pow'rs around.

340

y/. 339. But Ocean's God, etc.] The conduct of the poet in making JEneas owe his fafety to Neptune in this

place

is

remarkable: Neptune

is

an enemy to the Tro-

jans, yet he dares not luffer fo pious a

Jupiter mould be offended
that piety
th:it
is
:

man

to

fall, left

this fhews, fays Euftathius,

always under the protection of

God

and

favours are fometimes conferred not out of kindnefs,

Book XX.

R's

A D,

55

Lo

on the brink of fate iEneas

(lands,

An
By

inftant victim to Achilles'

hands:

Phoebus urg'd
:

but Phcebus has beftow'd

His aid in vain

the

man

o'erpow'rs the God.

And

can ye

fee this righteous chief

atone

345

With

guiltlefs blood, for vices not his

own ?
paid
aid.

To

all

the

Gods

his conftant

vows were

Sure, tho' he wars for

Troy, he claims our

Fate wills not

this

nor thus can Jove refign

The

future father of the

firft

Dardan

line

350

The And

great anceftor obtained his grace,

his love defcends

ftill

on

all

the race.

For Priam now, and Priam's

faithlefs

kind,

At length

are odious to th' all-feeing

mind;

but to prevent a greater detriment; thus Neptune preferves ^Eneas, left Jupiter mould revenge his death up-

on

the Grecians.

f. 345.

And can
is

ye fee

this

righteous

chief,

etc.J

Though
reafon

yEneas
is is

represented a

man of great

courage,

yet his piety

his

why he

moft mining character: this is the always the care of the gods, and they

favour him conftantly through the whole

their immediate protection.
It is in this light that Virgil

poem with

has prefented him to the

view of the reader place in the ^neis.

his valour bears

but the fecond

is

In the

Ifias

indeed he

drawn

in

miniature, and in the ^Eneis at

full

length; but there

in the ori-

are the fame features in the copy,

ginal,

which are

and he

is

the fame ineas in R.ome as he

was ia

Troy.

56*

HOMER's ILIAD.
great

Book XX,
355

On

^neas

fhall

devolve the reign,

And

fons fucceeding Tons the lading line fuftain.

f. 355. On great JEneas fiall devolve the reign.

The dory

of iEneas's founding the

Andfonsfucceedingfons the lafling linefu/lain.'] Roman empire, gave

Virgil the fined occafion imaginable of paying a complement to Auguftus, and his countrymen, who were fond of being thought the defendants of Troy. He has tranflated thefe two lines literally, and put them in

the nature of a prophecy

as the favourers of the opi-

nion of iEneas's
to be.
...
-._..

failing into Italy,

imagine Homer's

httuxi

t'r TpcSta-<riv

dvci%(t

Kal

flr7^f iraiSuv

roUtv fitrcrtaQt yivvvTcct.

cunftis dominabitur oris,
illis.

Hie domus JEnea

Et
There

nati natcrum et qui nafcentur ab

lias

been a very ancient alteration made (as

*-dv

Strabo obferves) in thefe two lines, by fubdituting

-rtovh in the

room of t^W*.

It is
it,

Virgil might give occafion for

bitur oris.

not improbable but by his cunfiis domina-

Euftathius does not intirely difcountenance this dory:

be underdood, fays he, as might take it from the Sibylline

if it

prophecy, the poet

oracles.

He

farther

remarks, that the poet artfully interweaves into his poem not only the things which happened before the

commencement, and in the pretention of the Trojan war; but other matters of importance which happened even after that war was brought to a concludes. Thus for inftancc, we have here a piece of hiftory not extant in any other author, by which we are informed that the houfe of iEReas fucceeded to the crown of Troas, and Euftathius. to the kingdom of Priam. This paflage is very confiderable, for U ruins the famous chimxra of the Roman empire, and of the family

BookXX.
The
Th'

H O M

E ITs
:

A D.
replies

57

great earth -fhaker thus

to

whom

imperial Goddefs with the radiant eyes.

of the Csefars, who both pretended to deduce their original from Venus by tineas, alleging that after the taking of Troy, jfcneas came into Italy: and this pretenfion
is

hereby actually deftroyed.

to be looked

This teftimony of

Homer ought
fidelity

upon

as an authentic act, the

ptune, as

Neand verity thereof cannot be queftioned. much an enemy as he is to the Trojans, deand
after

clares that _>Eneas,

him
if

his pofterity, (hall reign

Would over the Trojans. phecy in Neptune's mouth,

and
if

Homer have

put this pro-

he had not

known

that

jEneas did not leave Troy, but that he reigned there,

that prince reign there likewife

he had not feen in his time the defendants of That poet wrote two ?

hundred andfixty years, or thereabouts, after the taking of Troy ; and what is very remarkable, he wrote in fome

of the towns of Ionia, that is to fay, in the neighbourhood of Phrygia, fo that the time and place givefuch a
weight to his depofition, that nothing can invalidate it. All that the hiftorians have written concerning Alneas's

voyage into

Italy,

ought to be confidered as a romance,

to deftroy
all hirtorical

made on purpofe

truth

for the

mod

ancient

is

pofterior to

Homer by fome

ages.

Be-

fome writers being fenfible of the ftrength of this paffage of Homer, undertook to explain it fo as to reconcile it with this fable; and
fore Dionyfius of HalicarnafTus,

they faid that ,neas, after having been in Italy, return*

Dionyed to Troy, and left his fon Afcanius there. fius of HalicarnafTus, little fatisfied with this folution, which did not feem to him to be probable, has taken another method he would have it, that by thefe words,, " He (hall reign over the Trojans," Homer meant,
:

He

fhall

reign over the Trojans

Italy.

whom

he

(hall

carry

With him into

" For

is it

not poffible, fays he*

" that JEneas mould reign over the Trojans, whom he " had taken with him, though fettled elfewhere?"

58

HOME
as he
is,

R's

ILIAD.

Book XX.

Good

to immolate or fpare

The Dardan
Pallas and
I,

prince,

Neptune, be thy care;

36

by

all

that

Gods can bind,

to the

Have fworn deftru&ion

Trojan kind;

Not

ev'n an inftant to protract their fate,

Or

fave

one member of the finking

(late
Jaft

Till her lad flame be quench'd with her

gore,

365

And

ev'n her crumbling ruins are no more,

The
Thro'

king of Ocean to the fight defcends,

ail

the whittling darts his courfe he bends,

flies,

Swift interpos'd between the warriors

And

cads thick darknefs o'er Achilles' eyes.

370

That

hi/lorian,

who wrote

in

Rome

itfelf,

and

in the

very reign of Auguftus, was willing to m^ke his court

to that prince,

by explaining

this paifage

of Homer, fo

s to favour the chimaera he was pofleflied with.

this
is

And
cart

on him for poets may by their ficlions flatter princes, and But for hiftorians to corwelcome: it is their trade.
a reproach that
;

may

with fome juftice be

rupt

the gravity and feverity of hiflory, to

is

fubftitute

what ought not to be parStrabo was much more fcrupulous, for though doned. he wrote his books of geography towards the beginning
fable in the place of truth,

of Tiberius's reign, yet he

that this poet faid,

h:.d

the courage to give a

right explication to this paffage of

Homer, and

to aver,

and meant, that iEneas remained at

left

Troy,
dren

that

he reigned therein, Priam's whole race being

the

extinguifhed, and that he

after

kingdom

to his chil-

him,

lib. 13.

difcuffed in a letter

You may fee this whole matter from M. Bochart to M. de Sagrais,

upon the
tranflatioa

who

has prefixed

it

to his remarks

of Virgil.

Book XX.

H O M E

R's

D.

59

From

great Eneas'

fhield the fpear

he drew,

And

at its matter's feet the

weapon threw.
on high

That done, with

force divine he fnatch'd

The Dardan
Smooth

prince, and bore

him

thro' the fky,

gliding without ftep, above the heads

375

Of

warring heroes, and of bounding fteeds.

Till at the battel's utmoft verge they light,

Where

the flow Caucans clofe the rear of fight:

Where the flow Caucans clofe the rear. ~\ The jfr. 378. Caucones (fays Euftathius) were of Paphtagonian extract and this perhaps was the reafon why they are not diftinclly mentioned in the catalogue, they being included under the general name of Paphlagonians: though two lines are quoted which are faid to have been left out by fome tranfcriber, and immediately followed
:

this,

Which

verfes are thefe,

cclr

Kaux&vaf

lyi jtoXuxXeoc u{ 'ApifiOV,

Or

as others read

it,

'ApuGoc
httioi.

Ol xepl xap&ivioi xolxpov xXu7 iu^ar

Or according
Kara

to others,
Uaioi,

SufjictT

Yet

believe thefe are not

Homer's

lines,
it is

but rather the

addition of fome tranfcriber; and

evident by con-

curtailed, that they

futing the pafTage from which they are faid to have been would be abfurd in that place; for
the fecond line
is

actually there already

live

and

as

thefe

Caucons are
ed
palTage.

faid to

upon the banks of the Par-

thenius, fo are the Paphlagonians in the above-mentionIt is

therefore

more probable that the

Caucons are included

in the Paphlagonians.

!:

6o

E R's

D.

Book XX.

The Godhead
With words

there (his heav'nly form confefs'd)

like thefe the

panting chief addrefs'd. 383

What

pow'r,

prince, with force inferior far

in

Urg'd thee to meet Achilles* arm

war

Henceforth beware, nor antedate thy doom,

Defrauding
fate

of all thy fame to come.

it

But when the day decreed (for come

Shall lay this dreadful hero in the

muft)

385;

1 dun ,

Let then the

Secure,

furies

of that arm be known,

force tranfeends thy

no Grecian
that,

own.

With

he

left

him wond'ring

as he lay,

Then from

Achilles chas'd the mift

away

393

Sudden, returning with the ftream of light,

The

fcene

of war came rufhing on

:

his

figlit.

Then

thus, amaz'd

what wonders

ftrike

my mind

My

fpear, that parted

on

the wings of wind,

Laid here before

me

and the Dardan lord

395

That
1

fell this

inftant, vanifh'd

from

my

fword

thought alone with mortals to contend,

celeftial fure this foe
is,

But powers
Great as he

defend.

our arm he fcarce will try,

all

Content for once, with

his

Gods, to

fly.

400

isfow then let others bleed

This

faid,

aloud

He

vents his fury, and inflames the croud,

Greeks' (he cries,

and ev'ry rank alarm 3)

Join battel,

man

to

man, and arms

to

arms

'Tis not in me, tho' favoured by the Iky,

405
fly

To mow

whole troops, and make whole armies

No

BookXX.

H O M

E R's

ILIAD.

6l

No God

can fmgly fuch a hoft engage,

great Minerva's rage.

Not Mars him (elf, nor

But whatfoe'er Achilles can infpire,

"Whate'er of a&ive force, or acting
(Ire,

4 io

Whate'er
All,
all

this heart

can prompt, or hand obey;

!

Achilles,

Greeks
this

is

yours to-day.
(hall fcatter fear,

Thro' yon' wide hod

arm

And
The

thin the fquadrons with

lefs elate

my

(ingle (pear.

Hefaid: nor

with martial joy,

415

god-like Hector warm'd the troops of Troy.

!

Trojans, to war

think Hector leads you on

Nor dread
Deeds

the vaunts of Peleus' haughty fon.

mud

decide our fate.

Ev'n thofe with words

at their

Infult the brave,

who

tremble
all

fwords

42

The
Nor
Not

weakeft atheift- wretch

heav'n defies,
flies.

But mrinks and fhudders, when the thunder

from yon' boafter

tho' his heart
fire,

(hall

your chief retire,

hands were
fire;

were

(feel, his

That

that

(leel,

your Hector mould withftand, 425

And

brave that vengeful heart, that dreadful hand.

(breathing rage thro'
rifes
all)

Thus

the hero faid

wood of lances

round

his head,
all

Clamours on clamours tempeft

the air,

They join,

they throng, they thicken to the war. 430

But Phoebus warns him from high heav'n to fhun

The

(Ingle fight with Thetis' god-like fon

fafe to

More

combate in the mingled band,

Nor tempt

too near the terrors of his hand.

Vol. IV.

62

H O M E

R's

D,

Book XX.
43
c.

He

hears, obedient to the

God of light^

And

plung'd within the ranks, awaits the fight.

fierce Achilles, fliouting to the fides,
flies.

Then

On

Troy's whole force with boundlefs fury

head

Flrft falls Iphytion, at his army's

Brave was the

chief,

and brave the holt he

led,

440

From

great Otrynteus he deriv'd his blood,

His mother was a Nais of the flood

Beneath the fhades of Tmolus, crown'd with fnow,

From Hyde's

walls he rul'd the lands below,

Fierce as he fprings, the fword his head divides;

44J

The

parted vifage

falls

on equal

fides:

With

loud- refounding arms he flrikes the plain;

Achilles glories o'er the flain.
!

While thus

Lie there, Otryntides

the

Trojan earth
;

Receives thee dead, tho' Gygae boaft thy birth

45*
roll'd,

Thofe beauteous

fields

where Hyllus' waves are

fwells with tides

And
Are

plenteous
thine
left

Hermus

of gold,

no more

Th'

infulting hero faid,

And

him

fleeping in eternal (hade.

The
And

rolling wheels

of Greece the body tore,

with no vulgar gore.
offspring, laid

455

dafli'd their axles

Demoleon next, Antenor's

Breathlefs in duft, the price of rafhnefs paid.

Th'

impatient

fteel

with

full

defcending fway
its

Forc'd thro' his brazen helm

Kefiftlefs

furious way,

46$

drove the batter'd

fkull before,

And ddh'd and

mingled

all

the brains with gore.

Book XX.
This
fees

H O M

E R's

D.

63

Hippodamas, and

feiz'd

with fright,

Peferts his chariot for a fwifter flight

The The

lance arrefts

him

an ignoble

wound

465

panting Trojan rivets to the ground.

:

He

groans away his foul

fhrine
-,

not louder rores

At Neptune's

on

Helice's high fhores

The vi&im
And Ocean
Then

bull

the rocks rebellow round,

liftens to

the grateful found.

470

fell

on Polydore his vengeful rage,

The

youngeft hope of Priam's ftooping age

467,

Net

louder rores
s

At Neptune

fhrine on Helice's high

fam,

etc.]

In Helice, a town of Achaia, three quarters of a league from the gulph of Corinth, Neptune had a magnificent temple, where the Ionian s offered every year to him a
Sacrifice

spicious fign, and a certain

was with thefe people an aumark, that the facrifke would be accepted, if the bull bellowed as he was led to the After the Ionic migration, which happened aaltar. bont 140 years after the taking of Troy, the Ionian s of
of a
bull
;

and

it

Afia aflembled in the fields of Priene to celebrate the

fame

feftival in

thofe of Priene valued themfelves

honour of Heliconian Neptune ; and as upon being originally

of Helice, they chofe for the king of the facrifke a young Prienian. It is needlefs to difpute from whence
the poet has taken his comparifon
;

for as he lived 100,

or 121 years after the Ionic migration, it cannot be doubted but he took it in the Afian Ionia, and at Priene itfelf ; where he had probably often affifted at that facrifice, and been witnefs of the ceremonies therein obferved.

the cuftoms of the Ionians, which

cture that he

This poet always appears ftrongly addicted to makes fome conje-

was an Ionian himfelf. Euftathius. Dacier.

on Polydore bis vengeful rage.,]

f. 571. Then fell

F 2

64

H O M

E R's

D.

Book XX.

( VVhofe feet for fwiftnefs in the race furpafl)

Of all

his fons, the deareft,

and the

laft.

To the
In the

forbidden
firft

field

he takes

his flight

475

folly

of a youthful knight,

To

vaunt his fwiftnefs wheels around the plain,

all his

But vaunts not long, with

fwiftnefs (lain.

Struck where the crofling belts unite behind,

And

golden rings the double back-plate join'd

thrilling fteel

480

Forth thro' the navel burft the

And on

his knees with piercing (hrieks he fell;

The

ruihing entrails pour'd upon the ground

collect
;

His hands

anddarknefs wraps him round.

all

"When Heclor

view'd,

ghaftly in his gore

485

Thus

fadly (lain, th'

unhappy Polydore;

cloud of forrow overcaft his fight,

foul

His

no longer brook'd

the diftant fight,

Full in Achilles' dreadful front he came,

And

(hook his jav'lin like a waving flame.

490

Euripides in his Hecuba has followed another tradition,

when he makes Polydorus

the taking of Troy
folio wing book,
.has rather
;

the fon of Priam and of

Henot too

cuba, and fiain by Polymneftor king of Thrace, after

for according to

Homer, he

is

the fon of Hecuba, but of Laothoe, as he fays in the

and

is llain

by Achilles.

Virgil

chofen to follow Euripides than Homer.

Full in Achilles' dreadfulfront became."]

^.489.
great

The
of

judgment of the poet

is

in keeping the character

his hero,

in this place

very evident: when Achilles

was to engage iEneas, he holds a long conference with him, and with patience bears the reply of ^neas: had he purfued the fame method with Hedor, he had departed from his character.

Anger

is

the prevailing paf-

Book XX.

H OM
fees,

R>s

D.

<5$

The

fon of Peleus

with joy

pofTeft,

His heart high-bounding in his

rifing breaft:
;

And,

\o

the

man, on whom

black fates attend

The man,

that flew Achilles, in his friend

(hall

No more
Then

Hetfor's and Pelides' fpeas

495

Turn from each

other in the walks of war

with revengeful eyes he fcan'd

receive thy fate
i

him

o*er

Come, and

he fpake

no more.

Hector, undaunted, thus.

Such words employ

:

To

one that dreads thee,

fome unwarlike boy

500

Such we could give, defying and defy'd,

Mean
I

intercourfe of obloquy and pride!'

know

thy force to mine fuperior

far;.

But heav'n alone confers fuccefs in warr.

Mean

as I

am, the Gods may guide

it

my

dart,,

je$

And

give

entrance in a braver heart.

Then

parts the lance: but Pallas' heav'nly breath-

Far from Achilles wafts the winged death i

The

bidden dart again to Hector

at the feet

flies,
lies>.

And

of its great matter

Achilles ciofes with hfs hated fee,

Hs
Con

heart and eyes with flaming fury glow s

in Achilles

::

he

left the field in a

it

rage agamflr

Aga-

memnon, and entered

again to be revenged of Hechim take fire tor: the poet therefore judicioufly makes as impatient him describes he enemy at the fight of his
:

to kill him, he gives

challenge

is

him a haughty challenge, and that comprehended in a fingle line his impa:

tience to be revenged, would' not

fuflfer

hisn.tQ dela^ it

by a length of words.

66

H O M E

R's

D.

Book XX.

But prefent

to his aid, Apollo fhrouds

The

favour'd hero in a veil of clouds.

$
1

Thrice {truck Pelides with indignant heart,

Thrice in impafllve
air

he plung'd the dart:

The

fpear a fourth time bury'd in the cloud,

He foams
Has

with fury, and exclaims aloud.

!

Wretch

thou haft fcap'd again, once more thy

flight

fav'd thee, and the partial

(halt

God of light.
fate witbftand,

520

But long thou

If any power

not thy juft

aflift

Achilles' hand.
!

Fly then inglorious

but thy flight this day

ghofts fhall pay.

Whole hecatombs of Trojan

With
that,

he gluts his rage on numbers flain: 525

to th' enfanguin'd plain,

Then Dryops tumbled

^iere'd thro' the neck
:

he

left

him panting

there,

And

ftopp'd

Demuchus, great

Philetor's heir,

^.513. But

prefent to his aid> Apollo."]

It is a

com-

mon
it

obfervation, that a

God
life

fhouid never be introduced

into a

poem but where

be aiked

his pretence is necefTary.

And

may

why

the

of Hector

is

of fuch im-

portance that Apollo fhouid refcue him from the hand of Achilles here, and yet fuffer him to fall fo foon after?
Euftathius anfwers, that the poet had not yet fufficiently
exalted the valour of Achilles, he takes time to enlarge

upon
,at

his atchievements,
till

racter,

and he completes both

rifes

by degrees in his cha-

his

courage and refentment

one blow in the death of Hector. And the poet, adds he, pays a great compliment to his favourite countryman; by (hewing that nothing but the intervention
of
a

God

could have faved tineas and Hector from the

band of

Achilles.

Book XX.

H O M E

R's

A D.

*7

Gigantic chief! deep gafb'd th' enormous blade,

And

for the foul

an ample paffage made.

expire,
fire;

30

Laogonus and Dardanus

The
Both

valiant fons of an
in
in

unhappy

one

inftant

from the chariot hurl'd,

;

Sunk
This

one

inftant to the nether world

diff'rence only their fad fates afford,

535

That one

the fpear deftroy'd, and one the fword. unpity'd,

Nor

lefs

young Alaftor

bleeds

In vain his youth, in vain his beauty pleads:

In vain he begs thee with

a fuppliant's

moan,
54

To

fpare a form, an age fo like thy

!

own
art,

Unhappy boy
E'er bent that

no

pray'r,

no moving

fierce,

inexorable heart!

While

yet he trembled at his knees, and cry'd,

The

rutblefs falchion ope'd his tender fidej

f. 54 1
I confefs
art
tli e

Ni pra/r,
E'er bent that

no moving art

fierce, inexorable

heart f]

it is

a fatisfaelion to me, to obferve with what

poet purfues his fubjedt: the opening of the

treat

poem

profeffes to
all

of the anger of Achilles; that

anger draws on

the great events

of the

(lory

and

Homer

at

every opportunity awakens the reader to an

it,

attention to

when we

fee in this
it is

by mentioning the effe&s of it: fo that place the hero deaf to youth and

companion,

what we expect: mercy

in

him would

offend, becaufe

it is

contrary to his character.

Homer

propofes him not as a pattern for imitation; but the

moral of the poem which he defigned the reader mould draw from it, is, that we mould avoid anger, fince it is
ever pernicious in the event.

68

H O M
his

R's

D.

Book XX.
545

The

painting liver pours a flood of gore

That drowns

bofom

till

he pants no more.
th'

Thro' Mulius' head then drove

impetuous fpear,

The

warrior falls, transfix'd

life,

from ear to ear.

Thy

Echeclus

next the fword bereaves.

cleaves
lies,
;

Deep thro' the front thepond'rous faulchion

$0

Warm'd

in the brain the

fmoaking weapon

The

purple death comes floating o'er his eyes.

Then

brave Deucalion dy'd

the dart was flung

ftnangj,

"Where the knit nerves the pliant elbow

He

dropt his arm, an unaffifting weight,.

flood
all

55^

And
Full

impotent, expecting

fate:.

on

his

neck the

falling faulchion fped,

From

his broad moulders

hew'd

his crefted

heads

Forth from the bone the

fpinal

marrow

flies,

And

funk in duft, the corps extended

fruitful

lies.

563

Rhigmus, whofe race from

Thracia came,,

(The

fon of Pireus, an iHuftrious name,)

:

Succeeds to fate

the fpear his belly rends

Prone from

his car the thund'ring chief defcends

The

fquire,

who

faw expiring on the ground

fteeds

$6$
1

His proftrate matter, rein'd the

around

His back fcarce turn'd the Pelian

jav'lin gor'd y

And
And

ftretch'd the fervant o'er his dying lord*

As when

a flame the winding valley

fills,

runs on crackling mrubs between the

o'er the ftnbbleup the

hilts

570

Then

mountain

flies,

Fires the high woods,

and blazes to the

fldes^.

Book XX.

H O M

E R's

A D.

69

This way and

that, the fpreading torrent rores;

;

So fweeps the hero thro' the wafted fhores

Around him wide, immenfe

deftruction poors,

575

And
As

earth

is

delug'd with the fanguine fhow'rs.

with autumnal harvefts cover'd o'er,

thick beftrown,
lies

And

Ceres' facred floor,

When
The

round and round, with never- weary'd pain,

$

trampling fteers beat out th' un-number'd grain .

80

grain.']

f. 580. The trampling fleers beat out th' un-number'd In Greece, inftead of threshing the corn as we do, they caufed it to be trod out by oxen ; this was likewife pracYifed in Judaea, as is feen by the law of God,
forbad the Jews to muzzle the

who
tuas.

ox who trod out

the corn.

Non

ligabis os

bovis ter cutis in area fruges

Deut. xxv.

Dacier.
is ftill

The

fame practice

preferved

among

the

Turks

and modern Greeks.

The fimiles
heap
it is

at the end.]

It is ufual

with our author to

at the conclufion
:

his fimiles

very thick together

of a book.
in
its

He

has done the fame in the feventeenth

the natural difcharge of a vaft imagination, heated progrefs, and giving itfelf vent in this croud of

images.
1

cannot clofe the notes upon

this

book, without

obferving the dreadful idea of Achilles, which the poet

leaves

upon the mind of the

reader.

He

drives his the

chariot over fhields, and mangled heaps of flain:

wheels, the axle-tree, and the horfes are

are red with {laughter.
this pafTage the picture

ftained

with

blood, the hero's eyes burn with fury, and his h-rnds

painter might form

in the fullnefs

rom
of his

of Mars
all

terrors, as well as Phidias is

faid to

have dra>vn fcrom

another, that of Jupiter in

his majefty.

7o

H O

JVI

E R's

D.

Book XX.

So the

fierce courfers, as the chariot rolls,

Tread down whole ranks, and crufh out heroes

fouls.
fly,

Dafh'd from their hoofs while o'er the dead they

Black, bloody drops the fmoaking chariot dye

The
And
High
All

fpiky wheels thro' heaps of carnage tore;

thick the groaning axles dropp'd with gore.
o'er the fcene of death Achilles flood,
duft, all horrible in

585

grim with

blood
5

Yet

dill infatiate, dill

is

with rage on flame

i

Such

the luft of never dying fame

59

7i

ILIAD.
BOOK
XXI.

THE

THE ARGUMENT.
The
battel in the river

Scamander.

THE
'

the tow;?, Trojans fly before Achilles, fome towards upon the latter others to the river Scamander : he falls captives alive, to with great /laughter, takes twelve

and kills Lycaon and facrificeto the /bade of Patroclus; with all his waves: Afteropaus. Scamander attacks him the hero; Simois joins Sea-

Neptune and Pallas

atfifl

Juno, menders at length Vulcan, by the inftigation of theoended, combat This e almoft dries up the river.
intoTroy : Agemr continues the /laughter, drives the reft in a cloud by Aaway conveyed is and only makes a ft and,
ther Cods engage each other.

Meanwhile Achilles

Agcnor's delude Achilles) takes upon him gives that difguife, in him flape, and while he purfies into their city. retiring opportunity of an the Trojans is on the banks and tti fhe fame day continues. Thefcene
polio;

who (to

the fir earn of Scamander.

AND
The

now

to Xanthus' gliding

dream they drove,

Xanthus, immortal progeny of Jove,

river here divides the flying train.
fly

Part to the town

diverfe o'er the plain,

the foregoThis book is intirely different from all it is intirely of a new and battel, a be it though ing:

72

H O M

E R's

D,

Book

XXL
5

Where

late their troops

triumphant bore the

fight,

Now
And
The

cbas'd, and trembling in ignoble flight:

(Thefe with a gather'd mid Saturnia fhrouds,

rolls

behind the rout a heap of clouds)

Part plunge into the ftream: old Xanthns rores,

flaming billows beat the whiten'd mores

all

10

"With cries promifcuous

the banks refound,

And

here,

and there, in eddies whirling round,

O >
_>

The

flouncing fteeds and mrieking warriors drown'd.

furprizing kind, diverfified with a vaft variety of ima-

gery and defcription.

The

fcene

is totally

changed:
obferva-

he paints the combate of

ble, that

his hero

with the rivers, and

It is

defcribes a battel amidfl: an inundation.

though the whole war of the Iliad was upon the banks of thefe rivers, Homer has artfully left out the

machinery of river-gods in grandize this of his hero.

all

the other battels, to agis

There

poem

that has

more

force of imagination, or in

no book of the which

is

the great and inexhaufted invention of our author

more powerfully

exerted.

After this defcription of an

inundation, there follows a very beautiful contrafl: in

that of the drought
fuftained,
: the part of Achilles is admirably and the new flxokes which Homer gives to his picture are fuch, as are derived from the very fource of bis character, and finifh the intire draught of this hero. How far all that appears wonderful or extravagant

in this epifode,

may be
will

reconciled to probability, truth

and natural reafon,

be confidered in a diftincl note

on
is

may find it on f. 447. Xanthus, immortalprogeny of'Jove,.] The river here faid to be the fon of Jupiter, on account of its
that head: the reader
2.

f.

being fupplied with water* that

is,

fall

from Jupiter, that

from heaven.

Euftathius.

iBookXXI.
As

H O M

E R's

ILIAD.

73

the fcorch'd locufts from their fields retire,

faft

While

behind them runs the blaze of fire;

15

iOriv'n from the land before the fmoaky cloud,

The

cluft'ring legions

rum

into the flood:

force,

So plung'd

in

Xanthus by Achilles'

Roars the refounding furge with

men and

horie.

3^.14.

As

the fcorch'd hcufts,

etc.~]

Euftathius ob-

ferves that feveral countries have been

much

infefted

with armies of locuits; and that, to prevent their deftroying the fruits

of the

earth,

the countrymen
fields
;

by

kindling large
cufts to

fires

drove them from their

the lo-

avoid the intenfe.heat were forced to call them-

felves into the water.

From

this

oblervation the poet

draws

his allufion,
it

Achilles, fince

which is very much to the honour of reprefents the Trojans with refpect to

Tiim as no

more than {o many infects. The fame commentator takes notice, that becaufe the ifland of Cyprus in particular was ufed to praclife this method with. the locufls, fome authors have con-

jectured that

Homer was of

that country.

But

if this

were a funicient reaion for fuch a fuppofition, he might

be

faid to

be born

in almoft ail the countries

of the world,

fince he

draws his obfervations frcm the cuftoms of

for the innumerable armiejs

them

all.

We

may hence account

of thefe locuits, mentioned among the plagues of /Fgypr, without having recourle to an immediate creation, as

fome good men have imagined, whereas the miracle

in-

deed confifts in the wonderful manner of bringing them

upon the ^Egyptians. I have often obferved with ^leafure the fimilitude which many of Homer's expreffions
bear with the holy fcriptures, and that the mofr ancient

heathen writer in the world, often fneaks in the idiom

ofMofes: rhusasthelocuftsin Exodus ar\? faid to be driven

into the fea, fo in

Homer

they are forced into a river.

Vol. IV.

74

H O M E

R's

A D.

Book XXI.
20

His bloody lance the hero

cafts afide,

(Which
Then,

fpreading tam'rifks on the margin hide)

like a

God,

the rapid billows braves,

Arni'd with his fword, high-brandifn'd o'er the waves:

Now down

he plunges,

now he

whirls

it

round,

Deep groan'd

the waters with the dying

found;

25

Repeated wounds thered'ning river dy'd,

And

the

warm

purple circled

on

the tide.

Swift thro' the

foamy

flood the Trojans fly,

And

clofe in rocks or

winding caverns

lie.

So the huge dolphin tempefting the main,

In fhoals before him
fly

go

the fcaly train.

Confus'dly heap'd they feek their inmoft caves,

Or pant and heave beneath

the floating waves.

Now tir'd

with flaughter, from the Trojan band

alive to land

Twelve chofen youths he drags

35

f, 30. So the huge Dolphin, etc] It is obfervable with what juftnefs the author diverfifies his comparifons according to the different fcenes and elements he Is engaged in Achilles has been hitherto on the land, and
:

compared to land-animals,
tl'

a lion, etc.

water, the poet derives his images likens him to a dolphin. Euftathius.

Now he is in from thence, and

is

^.34.

Now tir'd with flaughter.'}

This

admirably

wellfuited to the character of Achilles, his rage bears' him headlong on the enemy, he kills all that oppofe

him, and flops not, until nature itfelf could not keep pace with his anger; he had determined to referve twelve noble youths to facrifice them to the Manes of
Patroclus, but his refentment gives him no time to think ot them, until the hurry of his paflion abates,

and he
I

is

tired with flaughter:

without

this circumftance,

think

Book XXI.

H O M E

R's

ILIAD.
arms conftrains,

75

With

their rich belts their captive

(Late their proud ornaments, but

now

their chains.)

Thefe

his attendants to the (hips

!

convey'd,

Sad victims

deftin

d to Patroclus' (hade.

the time an objection might naturally be raifed, that in leifureto much too enemy the gave Achilles of a purfuit
efcape, while

he bufied himfelf with tying thefe prithough it is not abfolutely necetfary to fuppofe hands. he tyed them with his own en youth s.~] This piece of cruelty Twelve chef 35. f, Achilles has appeared (hocking to many, and indeed
foners
:

in
is

what

think can only be excufed by confidering tne

It is

ferocious and vindictive fpirit of this hero. ever certain that the cruelties exercifed on

how-

enemies in

war were authorifed by the military laws of thofe times; is It them. nay, religion itfelf became a fanction to religious not only the fierce Achilles, but the pious and
JEneas, whofe very character
that referves feveral
jn battel, to facrifice
is

virtue and compafTion,

young unfortunate captives taken them to the Manes of his favourite

hero.

jEn. 10. f. 517.

Sulmone creatos
Quatuor hie juvenes,totidem quos e due at Ufens
Viventes rapit ; inferias quos immolet umbris,

Captivoque rogi perfundat fanguine flammas.

And ^n.

11.

$. 81.

Vinxerat et pofi terga /nanus, quos mitteret umbris,

Jnferias, cafo fparfuros fanguine flammam.
is very particular) the Latin poet exprefles no difapprobation of the action, which the Grecian does in plain terms, fpeaking of this in Iiiad 23. f. 176.

And (what

G2

:6

H O M
Then,
as

E R's
lie

D.

Book XXfc

once more

plung'd amid the flood,

m*

The young Lycaon

in his

pahage flood
the hero's hand

The

Ton of Priam,

whom

But hte made captive

in his father's land,

(As from

a fycamore, his founding fteel

to fpoke a chariot-wheel)

Lopp'd the green arms

To Lemnos
Where

ifle

he fold the royal ilave,

Jafon's fon the price

demanded gave

But kind Eetion touching on the more,

The

ranfom'd prince to

fair

Ari&e bore.

Ten days were

lie
felt

pair, fince in his father's reign

5*

the fwects of liberty again;

f, 41. The young Lye aon, etc.]

derfuJ art

Homer

has a

won-

in contriving fuch incidents as let the characterise qualities of his heroes in the higheft

and judgment

point of light. There is hardly any in the whole Iliad more proper to move pity than this circumftance of Lycaon; or to raife terror, than this view of Achilles, It is alfp the fineft piclure of them both imaginable: we
fee the different attitude

ferent paffions
at
firfl

of their perfons, and the difwhich appeared in their countenances *

Achilles ftands ereel, with furprize in his looks,

at the fight

of one

whom
is

he thought

it

impofiible

to,

of a fuppliant, with looks that plead for companion; with one hand holding the hero's lance, and his knee with the others
afterwards,

find there; while

Lycaon

in the pofture

when

at his

death he lets go the fpear, and-

places h.mfclf on his knees with his receive the mortal wound,

how

lively

arms extended, to and how ftrongly

nu-r)

) this p mted I believe every one perceives the beaut* of this P a( hge and allows that poetry (at leaft in Ho,
!

is

truly a fpeaking piclure,.

JBodk

XXI.

E R's

A D.

77

The
T

next, that

God whom men

in vain withftand,
;

Gives the fame youth to the fame conqu'ring hand

> ow never to return A fadder journey to the

!

and doom'd to go
(hades below.
great Achilles ey'd,
caft afide
field

55

His well

known

face

when

(The helm and

vifor he

had

With

wild affright, and drop'd upon the

His ufelefs lance and unavailing mield.)

As

fled, trembling, panting, from the ftream he

60

And

knock'd his fault'ring knees, the hero faid.

!

Ye mighty Gods
Is
it

what wonders

ftrike
?

my

view

in vain
I

our conqu'ring arms fubdue

Sure

mall fee yon* heaps of Trojans

kiil'd,

Rife from the (hades, and brave

me on

the field

6$

As now

the captive,

whom
(talks

fo late I

bound

And

(old to

Lemnos,

on Trojan ground

Not him
That

the fea's unmeafur'd deeps detain,

plain: barr fuch numbers from their native

returns.

Lo! he
Try,
if

Try

then,

my

flying fpcar!

the grave can hold the wanderer

can feize, If earth at length this aftive prince

Earth, whofe ftrong grafp has held

down

Hercules.

Thus

fears while he fpake, the Trojan, pale with

Approach'd,andfoughthlskneeswithfupplianttears;7J

Loth

as he

was to

yield his youthful breath,

And

his foul fhiv'ring at th'

approach of death.

AchiUes

rais'4 the fpear, prepar'd to

feet,

wound

HekifsVfhis

extended on

the ground:

G3

7$

H O M E
to dip

R's

D.

Book XXI.
So

And

while above the fpear fufpended flood,

its thirfty

Longing

point in blood,

One hand
While

embrac'd them clofe, one ftopt the dart

thus thcfe melting words attempt his heart.

Thy

well-known captive, great Achilles

at

fee,

Once more Lycaon trembles

thy knee.
afford,

8$.

Some pity

to a fuppllanfs

name

Who
!Far

fnar'd the gifts cf Ceres at thy board

lata

Whorti

thy conqu'ring arm to

Lemnos

bore,

from his father, friends, and native fhore;

It is imany thing to be better imagined than thefe two fpeeches: that of Lycaon is moving and compaffionate ; that of Achilles haughty and dreadful ; the one pleads with the utmoft tendernefs, the other denies with

>\ 84. Thefpeeches of Lye con and Ac hilies. 2

pofiible for

one would think it impofRble tothe utmoft ftemnefs amafs fo many moving arguments in fo few words as ihofe of Lycaon: he forgets no circumftance to foften.
:

5s afraid

memory of Patroclus, of being thought too nearly related to Hector, and would willingly put himfelf upon h'm as a fupplianr, and confeqeentiy as an inviolable peifoii: but Achilles
his enemy's anger, he flatters the
3s

ireaties,

immoveable, his refentment makes him deaf to inand it muft be remembered that anger, not
is

mercy,

his character.
I

I muft confefs

could have wifhed Achilles had fpar(o

td him: there are

in terms
a little
is

many

circumflances that fpeak in

life,

his favour, that he defervtd bis

had he not afked

it.

too abject.
air

There
fpeak s
braids his

an

of greatnefs in the conclusion of the

fpeech of x^chille?, which flrikes

r'y

unconcernedly of his

me very much he own death, and up:

Was

oi fo

enemy for afking life much kfs importance

fo earneiily, a

life

that

than his

own*

Book XXI.

It's

D.

79
90

A Now
And

hundred oxen were

Turns

his price that day,

(hall

immenfe thy mercy

I

repay.

Scarce refpited from woes

fcarce twelve

yet appear,

morning funs have feen me here;

Lo

Jove again fubmits

me

to thy hands,

Again, her victim cruel fate demands

I fprung from Priam, and Laothce
fair,

95

(Old Alte's daughter,, and Lelegia's heir;

Who
And

held in Pcdafus his fam'd abode,

rul'd the fields

where

fifver Satnio fiow'd)

Two
And

fons (alas
!

unhappy fons)
(hall

fhe bore

IOO

For ah
I

one fpear

drink each brother's gore>^

fucceed to flaughter'd Polydore.

that

^
?

How from

arm of terror
!

fhall I fly

Some daemon

urges

'tis

my doom

to die
5

If ever yet foft pity touch'd thy

mind ,
Hector's kind

105

Ah

think not
the fame
his,

me

too

much of

Not
,

mother gave thy fuppliant breath,

thy lov'd Patroclus' death.
a fhow'r of tears,
.

With

who wrought

Thefe words, attended with

The

youth addreft to unrelenting ears:

life,

IIQ

Talk not of

orranfom, (he replies)

Patroclus dead, whoever meets me, dies r

In vain a fingle Trojan fues for grace

But

leaft,

the fons of Priam's hateful race.

Die then,

my

friend

what boots
is

it

to deplore ?
!

115

The
He,

great, the

good Patroclus

no more
to die,
?

far thy better,

was foredoom'd

* And

thou > doit thou, bewail morultey

;:

8o
See'ft

HOMER'jILIA
thou not me,

D.

Book XXI.

whom

nature's gifts adorn,

Sprung from a hero, from a Goddefs born j

120

The
By

day

(hall

come (which nothing can avert)

fpear, the arrow, or the dart,

When

by the

night, or day,

by

force or by defign,
certain fate are mine.

Impending death and

Die then
he
faid
;

and as the word he fpoke,

125

The

fainting (tripling funk, before the ftroke

its

His hand forgot

grafp,

and

left

the fpear

While all

his trembling frame confeft his fear.

Sudden, Achilles his broad fword difplay'd,

And The

buried in his neck the recking blade.

fell

130

Prone

the youth

and panting on the land,

gufhing purple dy'd the thirfty fand

victor to the

The
And

dream the

carcafs gave,

thus infults him, floating on the wave.

!

Lie there, Lycaon

let

the

fifh

furround

13 c
:

Thy
But

bloated corfe, and fuck thy goary

fun'rals

wound
weep,

There no fad mother mall thy

fwift

Scamander

roll thee to the

deep,

Whofe

ev'ry

wave fome wat'ry monfter brings,

146

To

feafl:

unpunifh'd on the fat of kings.

121. The day Jhall come-

When
This,
is

by the fpear, the arrow, or the dart.

not fpoken at random, but with an air of fuperiority; when Achilles fays he (hall fall by an arrow,
a dart or a fpear, he infmuates that no man will have the courage to approach him in a clofe fight, or engage

him hand

to hand.

Euftathius.

Book XXI.

H O M
all

E R's
the

A D.

8l

So perifh Troy, and

Trojan

line

Such ruin

theirs,

and fuch companion mine.

Scamander's worfhip'd dream,

What

boots ye

now

His earthly honours, and immortal name

In vain your immolated bulls are
(lain,

145

Your

living courfers glut his gulphs in vain:

Thus he
Thus,

rewards you, with this bitter fate

the Grecian vengeance
is

till

compleat;

Thus

is

aton'd Patroclus' honour'd (hade,

And

the fhort abfence

boaftful

of Achilles paid.

15

Thefe

words provoke the raging God;

"With fury fwells the violated flood-

if.

146. Tour living courfers glut his gulphs in vain.]

was an ancient cuflom to caft living horfes into the Tea, and into rivers, to honour, as it were, by thefe viclims, the rapidity of their dreams. This practice continued a long time, and hiftory fupplies us with examples of it: Aurelins Victor fays of Pompey the younger,
It

Cum marl feliciter

in- facriflce,

uteretur, Neptuni fe filium confeffiis

et equo placavit.
a living
is

ejl y

eumque bobus auratis

He

offered

oxen

and threw

horfe into the fea, as ap-

pears from Dion, which

perfectly conformable to this

of Homer.
if.

Euftathius.

Dacier.

i.$2.

With fury f\v ells the violated food.']

fince the

The

poet has been preparing us for the epifode of the river

Xanthus ever
Achilles:

beginning of the

laft

book; and

here he gives us an account

it is

why

the river wars

is

upon
of a
:

not only becaufe he

a river of Troas,
in defence

but, as Euftathius remarks, becaufe

it is

man

that

was descended from

;

a brother river-God

he

was angry too with A'ch l!es on another account, becaufe he had choaked up his current with the bodies of hk countrymen, the Trojans..

fc2

HOME
divine
Achilles,

R's

ILIA

D.

Book XXI.

What means

may

yet the pow'r employ,

?

To check
The

and to refcue Troy

in

Meanwhile the hero fprings

arms, to dare

155

great Afteropeus to mortal

war;

The

Ton of Pelagon, whofe lofty line

Flows from the fource of Axius, dream divine

(Fair Peribaea's love the

God had crown'd,

round)
160

"With

all

his refluent waters circled

On him
And

Achilles rufli'd

he fearkfs flood,
5

fliook

two

fpears,

advancing from the flood

The

flood impell'd him,

on

Pelides'

head

T* avenge his

waters choak'd with heaps of dead,

Kear as they drew, Achilles thus began.

16$
?

What

art thou, boldefl

?

of the race of man

is

Who,

or from whence

Unhappy

the

fire,

Whofe

fon encounters our

!

refiftlefs ire.

O
From Arms

fon of Peleus

what

avails to trace
? 1

(Reply'd the warrior) our illuftrious race

rich Pasonia's valleys I

70

command

with protended fpears,

my

native band

f. 171. From
logue Pyrechmes

rich Pyemia's
is faid

etc.]

In the cata-

nians, where they are

commander of the Paeodefcribed as bow-men ; but here

to be

they are faid to be armed with fpears, and to have Afteropaeus for their general.

Euftathius

tells

us,

fome

cri-

tics aflerted that this line in the Cat.

*Itti\tyovoc
0'

f* 355.

vios ntpiSlfyos

'

ksipoTtouoq,

followed
Avldp TIvpul^/u.n( uyi Tlaiovcts dyx.v\o1o%v(.

But

I fee

no reafon

for fuch

an

aflertion.

Homer

has

Book XXI.

HOME
fields
all

R's

ILIA
fince I
:

D.
came

83

Now

(bines the tenth bright

morning
of fame

In aid of Ilion to the

Axius,

who

fwells with

the neighb'ring
fills,

rills,

175

And

wide around the floated region

Begot

my
lift

fire,

whofe fpear fuch glory won

Now

thy arm, and try that hero's fon!

faid
:

Threat'ning he

the hoflile chiefs advance

At once Afteropeus
(For both

difcharg'd each lance,

180

his dext'rous

hands the lance cou'd wield)

fhield

One
One
Spun

(truck, but pierc'd

not the Vulcanjan

raz'd Achilles'

hand ; the fpouting blood

forth, in earth the faften'd

weapon

flood.
1

Like lightning next the Pelian jav'lin

Its erring fury hifs'd

flies :

85

along the

Ikies

Deep

in the fwelling

bank was driv'n the

;

fpear,

Ev'n to the middle earth'd

and quiver'd there.

it was but ten days he came to the aid of Troy; he might be made general of the Pasonians upon the death of Pyraschmes,

cxprefly told us in this fpeech that

fince

who was

killed in the fixteenth

book.

Why alfo might

not the Pceonians, as well as Teucer, excel in the ma-

nagement both of the bow and the fpear? $, 187. Deep in the fwelling bank was driv'n thefpear
Ev'n
It
to

the middle earth'd,

was impoflible

for the poet to give us a greater idea

of the ftrength of Achilles than he has by

this circumfhnce; his fpear pierced fo deep into the ground, that
it

another hero of great ftrength could not difengage

repeated efforts;
it

by

but immediately

after, Achilles

draws

with the utmoft eafe:

how

prodigious was the force

of that arm that could drive at one throw a fpear half

way

into the earth,

and then with a touch

releafe

it ?

g4

TfOMER'sTLIA

D.

Boole

XXI.

Therefrom

his fide the (Vord Pelides drew,

And on The

his foe with doubled fury flew.

19a

foe thrice tugg'd,

and (hook the rooted wood

Repulfive of his might the weapon flood:

The
Bent

fourth, he tries to break the fpear in vain

as he (lands,

he tumbles to the plain

His: belly open'd with a ghaftly

wound,

19$

The And

reeking entvuls pour

upon the ground.

lies,

Beneath the hero's feet he panting

his eye darkens,

and

his fpirit flies:

While

the proud vi&or thus triumphing faid,

His radiant armour tearing from the dead:

20*

So ends thy glory

fucli the fate

they prove

Who

ftrive

prefumptuous with the fons of Jove.

didfl
is

Sprung from a river

thou boaft thy

line,

But great Saturnius

the fource of mine.

?

How durfl
Of Peleus,

thou vaunt thy wat'ry progeny

/Eacus, and Jove,

2Q

am

The

race of thefe fuperior far to thofe,

that thunders to the flream that flows.
rivers can,

As he

What

Scamander might have (hown

But Jove he dreads, nor wars againft his fon.

2x0

Ev'n Achelous might contend

An:!
all

in vain,

the roaring billows of the main.

Th'

eternal Ocean,

from whofe fountains flow

and the fprings below,
oj

The
The

feas, the rivers,

thand'ring voice
in his

Tove abhors to hear,

fear.

215

And

deep abylles ihakes with

He

Book XXI.

H O M E

R's

LI

A D.

8$

He
And

faid;

then from the bank hrsjav'lin tore,

left

the breatlilefs warrior in his gore.

The

floating tides the

ir,

bloody carcafs lave,

\d beat againfl
roll'd

wave fucceeding wave

it lies

223

*'* ill

between the banks,

eels,

the food

'Of curling

and

fifties

of the flood.

AH
He

fcatter'd

round the ftream (their mightieft Cain)

*Th' amaz'd Pseonians fcour along the plain

vents his fur/ on the flying crew,

2 2$

Thraflus, Aftypylus, and Mnefus flew;

Mydon,

Therfilochus, with ^Enius

his lance

fell

And numbers more

fcut from the

had plung'd

to he!!;

bottom cf

his gulphs

profound,

Scamander fpoke ; the mores return'd the found.

23a

firfl:

of mortals! (for the Gods are

thine.)
!

tn valour matchlefs, and in force divine

If Jove have giv'n thee ev'ry Trojan head,

*'Tis not

on me thy rage mould heap the dead.

choak'd dreams no more their courfe can keep,

See

my

Kor

roll their

wonted

tribute to the deep.

!

236

Turn

then, impetuous

from our injur 'd flood:

"Content, thy (laughters could amaze a God.

In

human form
river thus;
!

confefs'd before his eyes

replies.

The

and thus the chief

thy word

24*"

facred ftream
till

we

mail obey;

But not

Troy

the deftin'd vengeance pay,

Not

till

within her tow'rs the perjur'd train

Shall pant,

and tremble

at

our arms again;

Vol. IV.

86

H O M
till

E R'j

A
fall.

D.

Book XXI.
24]

Not Or

proud Hector, guardian of her wall,

or fee Achilles

ftain this lance,

He faid
Then

and drove with fury on the

foe.

to the

Godhead of the
:

filver

bow
!

The

yellow flood began

fon of Jove
fire

Was

not the mandate of the

?

above

250

Full and exprefs

that Phoebus

mould employ

His facred arrows in defence of Troy,

And make

her conquer,

till

Hyperion's
?

fall

In awful darknefs hide the face of all

He
Then
From

fpoke in vain

the chief without difmay

25$

Ploughs thro' the boiling furge his defp'rate way.

rifing in his rage
all

above the fhores,

his deep the bellowing river rores,

Huge heaps of (lain

difgorges

on the

coaft,

And round
While
all

the banks the ghafily dead are tod.

260

before, the billows rang'd

on high

(A

wat'ry bulwark) fkreen the bands

who

fly.

Now
The

burning on his head with thund'ring found,

falling deluge

whelms

the hero

round

y. 263.

Now

burfting on bis bead, etc.]

There

is

great beauty in the verification of this whole pafTage in

Homer: fome of the

verfes run hoarfe, full and fonorous,'

;

like the torrent they defcribe

others by their broken

cadences, and Hidden flops, image the difficulty, labour and interruption of the hero's march againft it. The
fail

of the elm, the tearing up of the bank, the rufliing

in the water, are all put into fuch

of the branches

words,

that almofl: every letter correfponds

fechoes to the fenfe, of each particular.

in its found,

and

Soot

XXI.

H O M E

R's

A D.

87
265

lis loaded fhield

bends to the rufhing tide;

divide, lis feet, upborn, fcarce the ftrong flood

ifidd'ring,

and

ftagg'ring.

On

the border flood

;

K fpreading elm, that overhung the flood

rte feiz'd

a bending bough, his fteps to flay

The

plant uprooted to his weight

gave way,
all

270

leaving the bank, and undermining

,oud flam the waters to the rufhing

fall

Of the thick

foliage.

The

large trunk difplay'd

:

Bridg'd the rough flood acrofs

the hero ftay'd

On

this his weight,

and

rais'd

upon

his

hand,

275

Leap'd from the chanel, and regain'd the land.

1 tfw tbc rough flood acrofs f. 274. Bridg'd but this, it had no other account of the river Xanthus could not were alone fufhcicnt to (hew that the current
wide for the poet here fays that the elmftretcho* from bank to bank, and as it were made a bridge perfeclly well inundation this of fuddennefs the ver it
be very
;

rd

agrees with a narrow river.

the f. 276. Leafd from
a criticifm

chanel.']

Euftathius recites

on

this verfe

in the original the a {landing

word a>,

fignifies

Stagnum, Palus,

water ;

now

this is

which always certainly contrary to the idea of a river, to folve this, fays that author, fome a current
implies
:

the river have fuppofed that the tree which lay acrofs forced them to (lopped the flow of the waters, and Others, diffatisfied with fpread as it were into a pool.
this folution,

think that a miftake is crept into the text, fc a*?. and that inflead of 'ex A7 y.wr, fhould be inferted to eirecourfe having of neceflity the fee But I do not the word a/.uvV, ther ofthefe folutions; for why may not here the chanel of the river, as it evidently does
fignify

in the

317th verfe?

And

nothing being more

common

: ;

88

HOME

It's

ILIAD.

Book

XXL
;

Then

blacken'd the wild waves ; the

murmur

rofe

The God

purfues, a hnger billow throws,

-dnd burfts the bank, ambitious to deftroy

The man whofe

He,

fury

is

the fate

of Troy.

28$

like the warlike eagle fpeeds his pace,

{Swiftelt

and (trongeft of

th' aerial race)

Jar

as a fpear can fly, Achilles fprings

At

ev'ry

bound

his clanging

armour rings:
fide,

Now

here,

now

there,

he turns on ev'ry

28$

And winds

his courfe before the following tide

The waves
And
gather

flow after, wherefoe'er he wheels,

fart,

and murmur

at his heels.

So when
Soft
rills

a peafant to his

garden brings

of water from the bubbling fprings,

290

than to fubftitute a part for the whole, why may not the chanel be fuppofed to imply the whole river ?

$. 289. So when a peafant to This changhig of the character

bis
is

garden brings, etc.]

very beautiful:

no

poet ever knew, like Horner, to pafs from the vehement and the nervous, to the gentle and agreeable ; fuchtranfitions, when properly made, give a lingular pleafure,
as

mufic a mailer paffes from the rough to the Demetrius Phalereus, who only praifes this comparifon for its clearnefs, has nor fufficiently recomin

when

tender.

mended
into his

its

beauty

and--

value.

Virgil has transferred it

firft

book of the Georgics, f\ 106.

De'inde fatis fluvlum inducit, rivofquefequentes

Et cum
Elicit

exujius ager morlentlbus ajiuat herbis,

clivofi tramitis

Ecce fupercilio
:

undam

Ilia cadens

raucwn per levia murmur

Sa.xa ciet> fcatebrifqu<:. arentia temper at arva.

Dacieiy

Book XXI.

HO

E R's

D.

89

And

calls the floods

from high,

to blefs his bow'rs,

And
Soon

feed rith pregnant ftreams the plants and flow'rs

as

he clears whatever their

paflTage (hid,

And marks

the future current with his fpade,

Swift o'er the rolling pebbles,

down

the hills

295

Louder and louder purl

the falling rills,

Before him fcatt'ring, they prevent his pains,

And mine

in

mazy wand'rings o'er

the plains.

Still flies

Achilles, but before his eyes

rolls where-e'er

Still fwift

Scamander

he

flies

300

Not

all

his fpeed efcapes the rapid floods;

The
And
So

firft

of men, but not a match for Gods.

Oft' as he turn'd the torrent to oppofe,

bravely try if

all

thepow'rs were foes;

3 ;$

oft'

the furge, in wat'ry mountains fpread,

Beat on his back, or burfts upon his head.

Yet dauntlef^ftill the adverfe flood he braves,

And

ftill

indignant bounds above the waves.

toil
foil

Tir'd by the tides, his knees relax with

Wafh'd from beneath him

Aides the flimy

310

When

thus (his eyes on tteav'n's expanfion thrown)

Forth burfts the hero with an angry groan.

Is there

no God Achilles

to befriend,

No

pow'r

t'avert his (inferable

this

end

Prevent, oh Jove I

ignominious date,
the fport of fate.

315

And make my
Of all

future

life

heav'n's oracles believ'd in vain,

But moil of Thetis,

mud

her fon complain y

H3

90

HOME
Phoebus' darts
!

R's

ILIA

D.

BookXXL
32a

By

me

prophefy'd

my fall,

In glorious arms before the Trojan walL

Oh

had

dy'd in

fields

of battel warm,
1

Stretch'd like a hero,

by a hero's arm

jh 321. Oh had Tdfd In fields of battel warm t etc.] Nothing is more agreeable than this wifh to the heroic
:

character of Achilles: glory is his prevailing paflion he grieves not that he rauft die, but that he mould die unlike a man of honour. Virgil has made ufe of the fame thought in the fame circumftance, where JEneas is. in danger of being drowned, JEn, 1. f. 98.

terque quaterque beati >

alth.

$ueis ante or a patrtim Trojarfubmxnibus

Contigit oppetere!

Danaum fortifime gentis

animam banc effundere dextra

Tydide, mene Iliads occumbere campis

Non potu'tjfe ?
Luean

tuaque.

in the fifth

book of his

Pharfalia, reprefenting

Caefar in the fame circumftance, has (I think) carried yet farther the characler of ambition, and a boundlefs.

third of glory, in his hero; when, after he has repined in the fame manner with Achilles, he acqiuefces at lafi in the reflection of the glory he had already acquired;,
~
Licet ingentes. abruperit afius

feflinata dies fath, fat

magna per egi.

^r tic as domui gentes : Inimicafubegi Jrma manu : Vidit Magnum mihi Roma fecundunu
And
pec~t

ed, in the view that

only wifhes that his obfcure fate mi<?ht be concealall the world might ftil! fear and ex~ him.
~~"

-Lacenim retinete cadaver

defint mihi bujla, rognfqne,

FlucJibus in mediis;

Dum

metuar ftmper terraque expefivr ub onm'u

Book XXI-

HOMER's ILIAD.
bofom rend,
!

91

jMioht Hector's fpear this dauntlefs

And my

fwift foul

o'ertakemy flaughter'd friend

fate,

Ah no

Achilles meets a (hameful

325

Oh how unworthy of the

Like fome
vile fwain,

brave and great

a rainy day,

whom on

Croffing a ford, the torrent fweeps away,

An

unregarded carcafe to the

Pallas

fea.

i
330
fear,

Neptune and

hade to

his relief,

And thus

in

human form
of Ocean
!

addrefs the chief:

The pow'r

firft.

Forbear thy

Oh

fon of Peleus
!

Lo

thy

Gods appear
to thy aid,

Behold

from Jove defcending

Propitious Neptune, and the blue-ey'd maid,

Stay, and the furious flood
fliall

33$
:.

ceafe to rave

'Tis not thy fate to glut his angry wave.

JBut thou, the counfel heav'n fuggeils, attend
I

Nor
'Till

breathe from combate, nor thy fword fufpend,

Troy

receive her flying fons,

'till all

340

Her routed fquadrons

Hector alone

pant behind their wall;

chance,

fhall (land his fatal

And

Hector's blood
is

(hall

fmoke upon thy lance.

Thine

the glory doora'd.

Thus

fpake the

Godsr
345

Then

fwift afcended to the bright abodes.

Stung with new ardour, thus by heav'n impeli'd^

He

fprings impetuous,
all th'

and invades the

field r

O'er

expanded

plain the waters fpread;

tiead,

Heav'd on the bounding billows danc'd the

Floating 'midlt fcatter'darms
;

while cafques of gold 35.O

And

turn'd-up bucklers glitter'd as they roll'd*

92

HOMER's ILIAD.
o'er the (urging tide,

Book XXI.

High

by

leaps and bounds,

He

wades, and mounts; the parted wave refounds.

!Not a whole river flops the hero's conrfe,

While

Pallas

fills

him with immortal

force.

355

With

equal rage, indignant Xanthus rores,

his billows,

And

lifts

and o'erwhelms his mores.

:

Then
Our

thus to Simois
this

hafte,

my. brother flood

And check

mortal that controuls a

God
360

braveft heroes elfe mail quit the fight,

Ilion tumble

And

from her tow'ry height.

Call then thy fubjecl ftreams,

and bid them rore,

From

all thy fountains fwell thy wat'ry ftore,

With broken

rocks, and with a load of dead

it

Charge the black furge, and pour

on

his head.

36*5

,Mark how

refiftlefs

thro' the floods he goes,

And

boldly bids the warring

Gods be

foes
fight

But nor that force, nor form divine to

Shall ought avail him, if our rage unite:

Whelm'd under our darkgnlphs

That blaze
fo dreadful in each

thofe arms mail

lie,

37*

Trojan eye

And

deep beneath a fandy mountain hurl'd,

this terror
fhall

Immers'd remain

of the world.

Such pond'rous ruin

confound the place,

grace,

Ko

Greek

fhall e'er his perifh'd relicks

375

Ko

hand

his

bones mail gather, or inhume;

Thefe

his cold rites,

and

this his wat'ry

tomb.

He

faid;

and on the chief defcends amain,

flaiix.

Increas'd with gore, and fwelling with the

Book

XXL
a

HOME

R's

ILIAD.
:

93
380

Then murm'ring -from his

bed3, he boils, he raves,

And
At

foam whitens on the purple waves

ev'ry flcp, before Achilles flood

The

crimfon furge, and delug'd him with blood.

Fear touch'd the queen of heav'n: fhe faw difmay'd,

She

call'd aloud,

and fummon'd Vulcan's

!

aid.

385

Rife to the war

th.'

infulting flood requires

all

Thy

wafteful

arm

aflemble

thy

fires

While

to their aid,
fwift

by our command enjoin'd,

Rufh the

eaftem and the weftem wind

at

Thefe from old Ocean

my

word

fhall

blow>

ty9

Pour the red torrent on the wat'ry

foe,
\

CorfeS and arms to one bright ruin turn,

And

hiding rivers to their bottoms burn.

in thy rage
!

Go, mighty

difplay thy

powV,
59/5

Prink the whole

Scorch
all

flood, the crackling trees devour,

!

the banks

and

('till

our voice reclaim)L

Exert

th'

unweary'd

furies

of the flame

The pow'r ignipotent

her word obeys:

;

Wide

o'er the plain he pours the boundlefs blaze

At once confumes

the dead, and dries the

foil j

400

And

the (hrunk waters in their chanel boil

As when autumnal Boreas fweeps

thefky,

And

inftant

blows the water'd gardens dry:

field, fo

So look'd the

whiten'd was the ground,

the fiery bfeft around.

While Vulcan breath'd

405
x

It

f. 405. While Vulcan breatlfd the fiery is in the original, it. 35$.

hi'aft

around'.J

94

H O M

E R's I,L

D.

BookXXk

Swift on the fedgy reeds the ruin preys;

Along

the margin winds the running blaze

The

trees in flaming

rows to afhes turn,

The
The

flow'ry Lotos, and the tam'rifk burn.

rifing in a fpire;
fire.

Broad elm, and cy pre fs

410

wat'ry willows hifs before the

Now
The

glow the waves, the

fifties

pant for breath,

eels lie twifting in the

aloft,

pangs of death:

Now flounce
Or gafping,
At length

now

dive the fcaly fry,

turn their bellies to the fky.

415

the river rear'd his languid head,

And

thus, fhort-panting, to the

1

God

he

faid.

Oh Vulcan
I faint, I fink,
^J

oh

what pow'r

refills

thy might?

unequal to the fight

if fate

420
I

yield

Let Ilionfall;
bend no more thy
;

decree

Ah
The

fiery

arms on me

He ceas'd

wide conflagration blazing round

bubling waters yield ahifling found.

The epithet given to Vulcan in this verfe (as well as in the 367th) 'H?*troio *exvfP ovi>^ has no fort of allufion to the action defcribed : for what has his wifdom or

how

lege to

do with burning up the river Xanthus ? This is ufual in our author, and much exclaimed againft by his modern antagonifts, whom Mr. Boileau very well an-

" It is not fo ftrange in Homer to give thefe fwers. " epithets to perfons upon occafions which can have " no reference to them; the fame is frequent in modern " languages, in which we call a man by the name of " Saint, when we fpeak of any aclion of his that has " not the lead regard to hhjbntffy : as when we fay, " for example, that St. Paul held the garments of thofc " who ffoncd St. Stephen."

Book XXI. As when

H
fat

E R's

D.

p$

the flames beneath a caldron

rife,

To

melt the

of fome rich

facrifice,

425

Amid

the fierce embrace of circling fires

afpires

-The waters foam, the heavy fmoak

So

boils th' imprifon'd flood, forbid to flow,

And

choak'd with vapours,

feels his

bottom glow.

To

Juno

then, imperial queen of air,

430

The

burning river fends his earnefl pray'r.

!

Ah why, Saturnia
Me, only me, with

muft thy fon engage

his wafteful rage
?

ail

On

other

Gods

his dreadful

arm employ,
of Troy. 435

For mightier Gods

Submiffive

afTert the caufe

I defift, if

thou command,

But ah

withdraw

this all-deftroying

hand.

Hear then
Unaided
'Till

my

folemn oath, to yield to fate

Ilion,

and her deftin'd

ftate,

Greece
in

{hall

gird her with deftructive flame.,

fink the

449

And
fr*

one ruin

Trojan name.

424.

As when

the flames beneath a caldron rife3

literally fuch pafTages with any Thefe ideas can never be made to mine in Englifh ; fome particularities cannot be preferved ; but the Greek language gives them luftre, the words are noble and mufical.

It is impoflible to

render

tolerable beauty.

*,fl? St Xtfivc e?

evSov

tirtiyr>iu.Vio<;

rripl rrsXXj?,

KviCCW

/U.t\So/JLcVO a,sra\G7ptfiO{ (TtuXOiO,

TldvToSiv a.u/ioXaJS/V, Cro Si oAa necyxocva kiItoci.

All therefore that can be expected from a tranflator

is

to preferve the meaning of the fimile, and embellifh

it

with fome words of

the fenfe or found.

affinity that

carry nothing low in

$6

H O M
His warm

E R's

ILIAD.

Book XXI,

intreaty touch 'd Saturnia's ear:

She bade

th' igni potent his rage forbear,

Recall the flame, nor in a mortal caufe

Infeft a

God

th' obedient flame

withdraws:

44J

Again, the branching dreams begin to fpread,

And

foft

re-murmur

in their

wonted bed.

f. 447.

And foft

re-mirmur

in

their wotrted

/WJ

and I muft here lay before the .reader my thoughts upon the whole of it which appears to be in part an allegory, and in part a true hiftory. Nothing can give a better idea of Homer's manner of enlivening his inanimate machines, and of

Here ends

the epifode of the river-fights

making

incidents noble and whole pafFage in the com* mon hlftorical fenfe, which I fuppofe to be no more There happened a great overflow of the than this. river Xanthus during the fiege, which very much incommoded the alfailants : this gave occafion for the fiction of an engagement between Achilles and the river-god: Xanthus calling Simois to aflift him, implies that thefe

the plainefl: and fimpleft

poetteal, than to conlider the

two neighbouring
las

rivers joined in the inundation: Pal;

and Neptune relieve Achilles

that

is,

Pallas, or the

of Achilles, found fome means to divert the waters, and turn them into the fea,- wherefore Neptune, the God of it, is feigned to aflift him. Jupiter and Juno (by which are underftood the aerial regions) confent to
ivifdom

aid Achilles; that

may

fignify, that after this great flood

there happened a

warm, dry, windy feafon, which affnaged the waters, and dried the ground and what makes this in a manner plain, is, that Juno (which
:

fignifies

the air) promifes to fend the

diftrefs the river.

winds to

north and weft Xanthus being confumed

by Vulcan,

that

is,

dried up with heat, prays to

is this,

Juno

to relieve him: what

but that the drought hav-

ing drunk up his ftreams, he has recourfe to the air for

tains

Book XXI.
While

H O M

E R's

D.

97

thefe

by Juno's

will the ffrife rcfign,

The

warring Gods in

fierce

contention join:

Re-kindling rage each heav'nly bread alarms;

4^0

With

horrid clangor (hock'd

th' sethereal

arms:

Keav'n

in loud thunder bids the

trumpet found;

And

wide beneath them groans the rending ground.

Jove, as his fpoft, the dreadful fcene defcries,

And

views contending Gods with carelefs eyes.

4;$

Tains to re-fupply his current

Or, perhaps the whole

may

fignify

no more, than

that Achilles being

on the

farther fide of the river, plunged himfelf in to purfue

the enemy; that in this adventure he run the rifk of be-

ing drowned
tree,

that to fave himfelf he laid hold

a-flo.u
;

on

a fallen

was (till carried down the ftream to the place where was the confluence of the two rivers (winch is exprefTed by the one calling the other to his aid) and that when he came nearer the fea [Neptune] he found means by his prudence [Pallas] to fave himfelf from his danger.
that he

which ferved to keep him

If the reader

ftill

mould
is

think, the fiction of rivers

will

fpeaking and fighting

vanifh by confidering

too bold, the objection

the heathen

how much

mytho-

logy authorizes the feprefentation of rivers as perfons: nay, even in old hiftorians nothing is more common than ftories of rapes committed by river-gods and the fiction Was no way unprecedented, after one of the fame
;

nature fo well

known,

as the

engagement between Her-

cules

and the river Achelous.

his /port, the dreadful fcene defcries,

f. 454. Jove f as
I

And views contending Gods ivithcarelefi ejes.2

was
at a lofs for the reafon

why
till

Jupiter
I

is
it

faid to

fmile at the difcord of the gods,

ftathius;

found

in

Euis

Jupiter^ fays lie,

who

is

the lord of nature,

well pleafed with the

fea,

and

air, etc.

war of the gods, that is, of earth, becaufe the harmony of all beings arifes
I

Vol. IV.

9S

HO M
What mov'd

R's
lifts

ILIAD.
his

Book

XXL

The pow'r And

of battels

brazen fpear,

firft afTaults the radiant

queen of war.

thy madnefs, thus to dif-unite

all

Ethereal minds, and miK

heav'n in fight

What wonder this, when

Thou

in thy frantic

mood

460

drov'ft a mortal to infult a

God

Thy

impious hand Tydides' jav'lin bore,

bath'd
it

And madly

in celeftial gore.

He
r

fpoke, and fmote the loud-refounding fhield,

its

W hich bears Jove's thunder on

The
That
from
adamantine JEgis of her

dreadful

field

465

fire,
fire.

turns the glancing bolt, and forked

that difcord

thus earth
all

is
;

oppofite to water, air

to earth, and water to them

and yet from

this

op-

by which all nature fubfiits. Thus heat and cold, moift and dry, are in a continual war, yet upon this depends the fertility of the earth, and the beauty of the creation. So that Jupiter, who according to the Greeks is the foul of all,
position arifes that difcordant concord

may

well be faidto fmile at this contention.

f. 456. The power of battels, etc] The combateof Mars and Pallas is plainly allegorical jimUce and wifdom demanded that an end mould be put to this terrible war the god of war oppofes this, but is worded. Euftathius
:

fays that this holds forth

wifdom

the oppofition of rage and and no fooner has our reafon fubdued one
it,

temptation, but another fucceeds to reinforce

as

Venus fuccours Mars. The poet feems farther to infinuate, that reafon when it refills a temptation vigorously, eafily

overcomes

it

fo

it is

with the utmofl

facility,

that Pallas conquers both

that Pallas retreated

Mars and Venus. He adds, from Mars in order to conquer him:

this (hews us, that the beft

is -to

way

to fubdue a temptation

letreatirGra

it.

iBookXXT.

HOME

R's

ILIAD.

09

Then

heav'd the Goddefs in her mighty hand

(lone, the limit

fix'd

of the neighb'ring land,

vaft:

There
This,

from elded times; black, craggy,

heav'nly homicide (he
caft.'

470

at the

f. 468. Then heav'd the Goddefs

in

her mighty hand

flone, etc.]

poet has defcribed many of bis heroes in former parts of his poem, as throwing (tones of enormous bulk and weight; but here he rifes in his image: he is defcribing a goddefs, and has found a way to make that action excel all human ftrength, and be equal to a deity. Virgil has imitated this pafTage in his twelfth book,

The

and applied

it

to

Turnus; but
is

cannot help thinking

that the action in a mortal

fomewhat extravagantly

imagined: what principally renders it fo, is an addition of two lines to this fimile which he borrows from another part of Homer, only with this difference, that whereas

Homer

fays

no two men could

it

raife

fuch a (lone,

Virgil extends

to twelve;

Saxum
Saxum,
Limes agro

circumfpicit ingens,

antiquum, ingens, campo quod forte jacehat,

pofiluSy lit am ut difcerneret arvis.

(There

is

the fecond line

beauty in the repetition offaxum tngens> ; it makes us dwell upon the image, and
lines are as follow;

gives us leifure to confider the vaftnefs of the (lone:)

the other

two

Fix Mud,

letfi his J ex

cervice fibirent,
tellus.

Ghalia nunc hominum producii corpora

May

troduced in Virgil -? For

fcribed as

be allowed to think too, they are not fo well init is juft after Turnus is de-

weakened and opprelfed with fears and ill exceeds probability ; and Turnus, methinks, looks more like a knight-errant in a romance, than a hero in an epic poem.

omens

it

ico

HOME
falls;

R's

ILIA

D.

BookXXI.

Thund'ring he

a mafs of monftrous fize,

And
Loud

fev'n broad acres covers as he lies.

The dunning

ftroke his ftubborn nerves

unbound;
:

o'er the fields his ringing

arms refound

475

The
And

fcornful

dame her conqueft views with

fmiles,

glorying thus, the proftrate

God
!

reviles.

Had

thou not yet, infatiate fury

known

How far

Minerva's force tranfcends thy

own >
480

Jam, whom
Thus meets

thou rebellious

dar'ft withftand,

Corrects thy folly thus

by

Pallas'

hand;

thy broken faith with juft difgrace,

And

partial aid to

Troy's perfidious

race*.

The Goddefs

fpoke, and turn'd her eyes away,

celeftial

That beaming round, di&us'd

day.
the land,
:

485

Jovt's Cyprian daughter, ftooping

on

Lent to the wounded God her tender hand

Slowly he
rifes, fcarcely

breathes with pain,

And
And

propt on her fair arm, forfakes the plain.

This the bright emprefs of the hsav'ns furvey'd,

fcoffing, thus, to war's victorious
!

490

maid.
feen
!

ho
The

what an

aid

on Mars's

fide

is-

Smiles and Loves unconquerable queen

infolence, in

Mark with what

She moves
:

open view,
purfue.

let Pallas, if iKe dares,

495

Minerva fmiiing heard, the pair o'ertook,

And

flightly

on her bread the wanton ftrook:

fell
;

She, unrefifling,

(her fpirits fled)

On

earth together lay the lovers fpread.

Book XXI.

H O M E
who guard
fuch
let

R's

ILIAD.
all

ioi

And

like thefe heroes,

cries)

be the fate of
the

00

(Minerva

Trojan wall

To

Grecian God3

the Phrygian be,

is

So dread, fo

fierce, as

Venus

to

me

Then
Thus

from the
(he,

lowed (tone

(hail

Troy be mov'd
505fight,

and Juno with a fmile appro v'd.

to

Meantime,

mix

in

more than mortal

The God of Ocean

dares the

God of light.

Ocean dares the Cod of light.] f. 507. The God of and Apollo is very juNeptune between The interview our author. The diciously in this place enlarged upon by are to be Trojans the poem now draws to a conclufion ;
punifhed for their perjury and violence:

Homer accord-

evidence againft ingly with a poetical juftice fums up the Troy as an inof founder very the reprefents them, and There have been feveral references to jurious perfon. poem, but he forthis ftory fince the beginning of the

bore to give

it at

large till-near the

end of

it;

that

it

might be

upon the memory, and fhew, the Trojans deferve the punimment they are going to fuffer.
frefh
aflifts the Euftathius gives the reafon why Apollo afNeptune with equally Trojans, though he had been

fronted

by Laomedon:

this

proceeded from the ho-

Lacnours which Apollo received from the pofterity of or Cilia, than worihip lefs no him medon; Troy paid
Tenedos; and by thefe means won him over to a forgivenefs: but Neptune {till was flighted, and confequentrace. ly continued an enemy to the whole

The fame

author gives us various opinions

built the

why Nep-

have tune is faid to have Laomedon. been defrauded of his wages : Some fay that the temples, facrilegioufly took away the treaiures out of

Trojan

wall, and. to

fortifications %. of Apollo and Neptune, to carry on the built from whence it was fabled that Neptune and Apollo woxkthe of two that it, have Others will the walls*

13

102

H O MER's
floth has feiz'd us,

ILIA

D.

Book XXT.

when the fields around [found ? Ring with confining pow'rs, and heav'n returns the
Shall ignominious

What

we with

fliame retire,
fire >

10

No

deed perform'd, to our Olympian

!

Come, prove thy arm

Suits not

for

firlt

the

war

to wage,.

my

greatnefs, or fuperior age.

Ram
And

as thou art to

prop the Trojan throne,

O
\

(Forgetful of

my

wrongs, and of thy own)

!

jgj

guard the race of proud Laomedon

S
fame by with-

?nen dedicated their wages to Apollo and Neptune; and that Laomedon detained them : fo that he might in
fenfe be faid to defraud the deities themfelves,

creation, and are fjppofed to arife from this deity: thus Apollo in the rft book fends the plague into the Grecian army; the ancients therefore made him to prefide over eattel, that by preferving them from the plague,

holding what was dedicated to their temples. The reafon why Apollo is faid to, have kept the herds cf Laomedon, is not fo clear. Euftathius obferves that all plagues firft feife upon the four-footed

mankind might
tell

be fafe from infetfious difeafes.

this

Others

us, that

afcribed to Apollo, becaufe he figni, fles the fun: now the fun clothes the paftures with grafs and herbs ; fo that Apollo may be faid himfelf to
is

employment

feed'

the cartel, by fupplying them with food. Upon either f thefe accounts Laomedon may be faid to be ungrateful to tfeat deity,, for raifmg no temple to his honour.
It is obfervable that
ftail-ding

Homer,

in this ftory, afcribes the

of the wall to Neptune only: I mould conjecture the reafon might be, that Troy being a fea-port town the chief flrength of it depended upon its fitua*on, fo that the fea was in a- manner a wall to it upon, this, account Neptune may not improbably be faid to*
:

toe

fetufe,

ihe

wai.

Book XXI.

HOME
how

R's

ILIAD.
!

I0

Haft thou forgot,

at the

monarch's pray'r,

We
And

fhar'd the lengthened labours of a year

Troy

walls I rais'd (for fuch were Jove's

commands)
hands: 520

yon' proud bulwarks grew beneath

talk
it

my

Thy

was to

feed the bellowing droves

Along

fair Ida's vales,

and pendent groves.

in their train
;

But when the circling feafons

Brought back the grateful day that crown'd our pain

With menace
Our
latent

ftern the fraudful king defy'd

525,

Godhead, and the prize deny'dt

Mad

as he was, he threaten 'd fervile bands,

exiles far in barb'rous lands,
fled

And doom'dus
And

Incens'd, we heav'nward
deftin'd

with fwifteft wing,

vengeance on the perjur'd king.

this, afford

530

Doft thou, for

proud Ilion grace,

And not

like us, infeft the faithlefs race I

Like us, their prefent, future fons deftroy,

And from

its

deep foundations heave their Troy T

Apollo thus:
lil fuits

To

combate for mankind

53$

the
is

wifdom of celeftial mind

For what

man ?

calamitous by birth,

They owe

their life

and nouriftiment to earth;

f. 537; For what is- man? etc.] The poet is very Happy in interfperfing his poem with moral fentences;. in this place he fteals away his reader from war and> horror, and gives him a beautiful admonition of his

own frailty. " Shall I (fays Apollo) contend with thee u for the fake of man? man, who is no more than a " leaf of a tree, now green and flourifhing, but foon withered away and .gone, i" The Ton of Sirachhas an

104

H
on

M
;

E R's

A D.

BoofcXXI.

Like yearly leaves, that

Smile,

now, with beauty crown'd,

the

the fun

now, wither on

ground

540

To

their

own hands commit

immortals

the frantic fcene,

Nor mix Then

in a caufe fo

mean.

turns his face, far-beaming heav'nly fires,

And from
Him,

the fenior pow'r, fubmifs retires;

thus retreating, Artemis upbraids, quiver'd hnntrefs of the Sylvan (hades.

is it

54^

The And

And

thus the youthful Phoebus

fire,

flies,
?

yields to Ocean's hoary

the prize

How
Now
Thy
Not

vain that martial

pomp, and

dreadful

mow
55a

Of pointed
boaft

arrows, and the filver

bow

no more

in yon' celeftial bow'r,

force can

match the great earth-fhaking powV.

Silent,

he heard the queen of woods upbraid:

;

fo Saturnia bore the vaunting maid

But furious thus.

What

infolence has driv'n

?

$$$

Thy

pride to face the majefty of heav'n

expreffion which very

18.

much

refembfes this, Ecclus. xiv,

As

the green leaves upon a thick tree, fome fall,

offiejb

and

fome grow^Jo is the generation to an end, and one is born. f, 544.

and bloody one comet h

Two

things hinder
fight.

And from the fenior poiu'r, fubmifs retires\\ Homer from making Neptune and
Firft,

Apollo

becaufe having already

defcribed

the fight between Vulcan and Xanthus, he has nothing

farther to fay here, for
it is

the fame conflict between-

humidity and drynefs.

Apollo being the lame with Defiiny, and the ruin of the Trojans being concluded upon and decided^ that God can no longer
Secondly,
defer
it.

Dacier.

Book XXI,

H O M E
by Jove

R's

ILIAD.

105

What
The

tho'

the female plague defign'd,

Fierce to the feeble race of woman-kind,

wretched matron
fex's tyrant,

feels

thy piercing dart

?

Thy
Thy

with a tyger's heart

5 60

"What tho' tremendous in the woodland chafe,

certain

arrows pierce the favage race

How

dares thy rafhnefs on the pow'rs divine

thofe arms, or

Employ

match thy force with mine

Learn hence, no more unequal war to wage

She
faid,

565L
-

and

feiz'd her wrifts

with eager rage

f. 557.

The female plagueFierce to the feeble race of woman-kind etc."} in the original are, Though Jupiter has made

The words
you a
lion to

women.

The meaning of this

as being the

was

terrible to that fex,

is, that Diana fame with the

:

moon, and bringing on

the pangs of child-birth

all

or elfe

fudden deaths of women to the darts of Diana, as of men to thofe of Apollo %

that the ancients attributed

which opinion
ftathius.

is

frequently alluded to in

Homer.
I

Eu-

f. $66. She faid, and feiz'd her

confefs I

wrifls, etc.]

mud

am

at a lofs

how

to juftify
:

Homer

in every

point of thefe combats with the gods

when Diana and

xvo

Juno

are to fight,

Juno

calls

her an impudent bitch,

WtU\ When

they fight, fhe boxes her-foundly, and fends her crying and trembling to heaven : as foon as (he comes thither, Jupiter falls a laughing at her : in-

deed the
during

reft

of the deities feem to be in a merry vein

:

Pallas beats- Mars and laughs at them in the fame merry mood: Juno when fhe had cuffed Diana is not more ferious : in fhort, unlefs there be fome depths that I am not able to
all

the action
fees

him; Jupiter

fethom,

Homer

the cenfure

pad upon him by the

never better deferved than in this place ancients, that as he

io6

H O M
in her left

E R's

D.

Book XXI,

Thefe

hand lock'd, her

right unty'd
pride.

The bow,

the quiver,

and

its

plumy

About her temples

flies

the bufy

bow

Nowhere, now

there, (he

winds her from the blow; 57

The

featuring arrows rattling from the cafe,

idly

Drop round, and

mark

the dufty place.

files,

Swift from the field the baffled huntrefs

And
So,

fcarce reftrains the torrent in her eyes

when

the falcon wings her

way above,

575

To
Yet

the cleft cavern fneeds the gentle dove,

fated yet to die) there fafe retreats,

(Not

ftill

her heart againft the marble beats.

To

her,

Latona

haftes with tender care;

Whom Hermes viewing,

railed the characters

thus declines the war.

586

of his
to

men up

to gods, fo he funk

thofe of gods,

down
it

men.

Yet

think

but reafonable to conclude, from the

very abfurdity of

all this, (fuppofmg it had no hidden meaning or allegory) that there mult therefore certainly Nor do I think it any inference to the conbe fome.

the retrary, that it is too obfeure for us to find out motenefs of our times muft neceflarily darken yet more
:

and more fuch things

that
it is

as

were myfteries

at firft.
their,

Not
prefent

at all impofiible,

notwithftanding

darknefs, but they might then have been very obvious; as it is certain, allegories ought to be difguifed, but not

obfeured

an allegory
it

mould be

like a veil

over a

beautiful face, fo fine

and tranfparent ? as to (hew the

very charms

covers.

f. 580.

Whom Hermes viewing, thus declines the war,

Mercury mould encounter Latona:

It is impoifible that

fuch a fiction would be unnatural; he being a planet, and

Book XXI.

HOMER'* ILIAD.
dame,

107

How To him
And

(hall I face the

who

gives delight
?

whofe thunders blacken heav'n with night

!

Go, matchlefs Goddefs

boaft

triumph in the
I yield

fides,

my

conquest, while

the prize.

He
That

fpoke; and part: Latona, looping low,

585

Collects the fcatter'd (hafts, and fallen

glitt'ring

bow,
;

on the

duft, lay here

and there

Dimonour'd

relicks

of Diana's war.

Then

fwift purfu'd her to her bleft abode,

all

Where,

confus'd, (he fought the fov'reign

God

500

Weeping

(he grafp'd his knees:

fighs,

the ambrofial veft

brealt.

Shook with her

and panted on her

The

fire,

fuperior fmil'd;

and bade her (how

What

heav'nly hand had caus'd his daughter's woe?

AbafrVd, (he names his

own

imperial fpoufe;

595

And

the pale crefcent fades upon her brows.

Thus

they above: while fwiftly gliding down,

Ilion's facred

Apollo enters

town

The
And

guardian

God now

trembled for her wall,

fall.

fear'd the

Greeks, tho' fate forbad her

600

Back to Olympus, from the war's alarms, Return the mining bands of Gods
in

arms;
fire
fire
:

Some proud

in triumph,

fome with rage on

And

take their thrones around th' asthereal

thro' death, Achilles
(lill

Thro' blood,

proceeds, 605

O'er flaughter'd heroes, and o'er rolling deeds.

(he reprefenting the night; for the planets
luftre to the (hades

owe

all

their

of the night, and then only become

Euftathius.

vifible to the

world.

io8

H O M

RV
fome

D.

Book XXI.

As when avenging

flames with fury driv'n

On

guilty towns exert the wrath of heav'n;

The And
And

pale inhabitants,

fall,

fome

fly;

the red vapours purple

:

ail

the fky.

6iO

So rag'd Achilles
toils,

death and dire difmay,

fill'd

and terrors,

the dreadful day.

High on

a turret hoary

Priam {lands,

And marks

the wafte of hk deftrudtive hands

f. 607. As when avenging flames with fury driv'ti, On guilty towns exert the wrath of heav'n. j
'

This pafTage may be explained two ways, each very reFirft, by taking this fire for a real fire, fent markable. from heaven to punifh a criminal city, of which we have Hence w e find that Homer had example in holy writ.
r

a notion of this great truth, that

his

God fometimes
and

exerts

judgments on whole

cities in this fignal

terrible

Or if we take it in the other fenfe, (Imply as manner. a fire thrown into a town by the enemies who afTault it, and only expreffed thus by the author in the fame manner as Jeremy makes the city of Jerufalem fay, when the Chaldaeans burnt the temple, The Lord from above
hath fent fire into my bones, Lament,
i.

13.

Yet

ftill

thus
fire

much

will

appear underftood by Homer, that the

which is caft into a city comes not, properly fpeaking, from men, but from God, who delivers it up to their
fury.

Dacier.

f. 613. High on a turret hoary Priam, etc.] The poet ftill raifes the idea of the courage and ftrength of
his hero,

enter the

by making Priam in a terror that he fhould town after the routed troops: for if he had not furpafled all mortals, what could have been more defirable for an enemy, than to have let him in, and then deftroyed him ? Here again there was need of another machine to hinder him from entering the city; for Achilles being
vaftJy

Book XXI.
Views, from

H O M
his

R-'s

ILIA

D.
flight,

109 6ij

arm, the Trojans fcatter'd

And

the near hero rifing

flop,

on
!

his fight

No
Fad

no check, no

aid

with feeble pace,

And
And

fettled

forrow on his aged face,

as he could, he fighing quits the walls;

thus,

defcendingon the guards he

calls.

620

You

to

whofe care our city-gates belong,

Set wide your portals to the flying throng.

For

lo

he comes, with unrefifted fway;

He

comes, and defolation marks his way

But when within the walls our troops take breath, 625

Lock

faft

the brazen bars, and fhut out death.

Thus

charg'd the rev 'rend monarch: wide were flung

folds;

The opening

the founding hinges rung,

Phoebus rufh'd forth, the flying bands to meet,

Strook (laughter back, and cover'd the retreat.

630

vatlly fpeedier than thofe he purfued, he

muft necciTarily

overtake fome of them, and the narrow gates could not

let in a

hinJmoit..

body of troops, without his mingling with the The ftory of Agenor is therefore admirably contrived, and Apollo, (who was to take care that the fatal decrees mould be punctually executed) inierpetfes both to lave Agenor and Troy; for Achilles might have killed Agenor, and (till entered with the troops, if Apolio had not diverted him by the purfuit of that phantom. Agenor oppofed himfelf to Achilles only becaufe he could not do better; for he fees himfelf reduced to a
dilemma, either inglorioufiy to perilh among the fugi tives, or hide himfelf in the ibreft; both which were equally unfafe:
therefore he
is

pnrpofely infpired with a

generous refolution to try to fave his countrymen, and as the reward of that fervice, is at (aft laved himfelf.

Vol. IV.

no
On

H O M

E R's

D.

Book XXI.

heaps the Trojans croud to gain the gate,

fee their laft efcape

And gladfome
Thither,
all

from fate:

parch 'd with third, aheartlefs train,

dufl:,

Hoary with

they beat the hollow plain

And

gafping, panting, fainting, labour

on

635

With

heavier ftrides, that lengthen tow'rd the town.

his fpear
;

Enrag'd Achilles follows with

Wild with

revenge, infatiable of war.

the Greeks eternal praife acquir'd,
;

Then had

And Troy
down

inglorious to her walls retir'd

640

But # he, the God who darts

Shot
to fave her,

sethereal flame,

and redeem her fame.

To young

Agenor

force divine he gave,

(Antcnor's offspring, haughty, bold and brave)

In aid of him, befide the beech he

fate,

6*4$

And

wrapt, in clouds, reftrain'd the hand of fate.

the gen'rous youth Achilles fpies,

When now
Thick

beats his heart, the troubled motions rife,

(So, ere a ftorm, the waters heave and roll)

He

flops,

and queftions thus his mighty

(hall I fly this terror
fly,

foul.
?

650

What,

of the plain
?

Like others

and be

like others (lain

* Apollo.
f. 651. What.fhalllfiyP etc.] This is a very beautiful foliloquy of Agenor, fuch a one as would naturally
arife in the foul

enterprize
rcafon
;

of a brave man, going upon a defpcrate he weighs every thing in the balance of
before himfelf the bafenefs of flight, and

he

fets

the courage of his

enemy,

until at lafl the thirffof glory

preponderates

all

other confiderations.

From

the con-

Book XXI.
Vain hope
Yon'
line
!

H O M
to fhun

E R's

A D.

m
655

him by

the felf-famc road

lately trod.
fall

of flaughter'd Trojans

No

with the
if

common
me
r

heap

fcorn to

"What

they pafs'd
decline to

to the

Trojan wall,

While

onder path, that leads

?

To
So

Ida's forefts
I

and furronnding (hades

may

reach, conceal'd, the cooling ricol,

tir'd

From my
As foon

body warn

the dirt and blood,

660

as night her dufky veil extends,

Return in fafety to

my

Trojan
all

friends,

What
Stand

if?
I

But wherefore

this vain

debate?

to doubt, within the reach of fate?

I

Ev'n now perhaps, erj yet

turn the wall,

1

66$

The
;

fierce Achilles fees

is

me, and

fall:

Such

his fwiftnefs,

'tis

in vain to fly,

And

fuch his valour, that

'tis

who

ftands muft die.

(late,

Howe'er

better,

Sghtingfor the

Here, and in public view, to meet

my
feel

fate.

670

Yet fure he too

(Like
all

is

mortal

he

may

the fons of earth) the force of

fteel

One only

foul informs that dreadful frame

all

And

Jove's foie favour gives him

faid,

his fanie.

He
And

and ftood, collected

in his

might;

675

all

his beating

bofom

claim'd the fight.

clufion

of

this

fpeech

it is

evident, that the frory

the heel,
Co, there
is

Achilles's being invulnerable except in

of an

invention of latter ages

for

had he been
2

had

been nothing wonderful in his character. Euilathius,

:;

212

H O M E

R's

ILIA

D.

Book XXI.
ftarts,

So from fome deep grown wood the panther

Kous'd from

his thicket
fear or fly,

by a dorm of darts
he hears the founds,
;

Untaught to

Of (homing
Tho'

hunters, and of clam'rous hounds

680.

ftruck, tho'

wounded,

fcarce perceives the pain,

And

the barb'd jav'iin fKngs his bread in vain:

On

their

whole war, imtam'd the favage

beneath him

flies

And
Not

tears his hunter, or

iefs refolv'd,

dies.

Antenor's valiant heir

685

Confronts Achilles, and awaits the war,

Difdainful of retreat
:

high -held before,

His

fhield (a

broad circumference) he bore

Then

graceful as he ftood, in act to

throw

The

lifted

jav'iin, thus befpoke the foe.

690

How

proud Achilles glories in

this

his

fame!

And hopes

day to fink the Trojan name

!

Beneath her ruins

know,

that

hope

is

vainj

A thoufand
And
ftrong,

woes, a thoufand

toils

remain.

Parents and children our juft arms employ,

695

and many,
art,

are the fons of

Troy.

Great as thou

ev'n thou may'ft (tain with gore

Thefe Phrygian

field?,

2nd prefs a foreign more.

He

faid

with matchlefs force the jav'iin flung

Smote on

his

knee; the hollow cuifhes rung

fteel
;

70a

Beneath the pointed

but fafe from harms

He
His

Panels impuflive in th'aethereal arms.

fiercely rulhing

Then

on the daring

foe,

lifted

arm prepares

the fatal blow.

Book XXI.

H O M E

It's

A D.

n3
y

But jealous of his fame Apollo (hrouds

The
Safe

God-like Trojan in a

veil

of clouds:

from purfuit, and (hut from mortal view,

Difmiis'd with fame, the favour'd youth withdrew.

Meanwhile
AfTumes
Flies

the

God,

to cover their efcape,

7

Agenor's habit, voice, and fhape,

in this difguife,

10

from the furious chief

The

furious chief Hill follows

where he

flies

Now Now

o'er the fields they ftretch with lengthcn'd flrrides,

urge the courfe where fwift Scamander glides

diftant fcarce a ftride before,

The God now

Tempts

715

his purfuit,

and wheels about the more

\\ 709. Meanwhile the Cod, to cover their e/eape, etc."} poet makes a double life of this fiction of Apollo's deceiving Achilles in the fliape of Agenor; by thefe

The

means he draws him from the purfuit, 2nd gives the Trojans time to enter the city, and at (he fame time brings Agenor handfomely off from the combate. The moral of this fable is, that deftiny would not yet fuffer

Troy

to fall.

Euftathius fancies that the occafion of the fiction might be this Agenor Bed from Achilles to the banks
:

of Xanthus, and might there conceal himfelffrom the

purfuer behind fome covert that grew on the mores;
this

a narration

perhaps might be the whole of the ftory. So plain would have raffed in the month of an hiftoit

rian, but the poet drcMes

in ficVion,

and

teiis

us that

Apollo (or Deftiny) concealed hirn

fight

in a cloud

from the

ofhis enemy.
farther obferyes, that Achilles

The fame author

by

an unfeafonable piece of vain glory, in purfuing a fingle enemy, gives time to a whole army to efcape : he neither kills Agenor, ncr overtakes the Trojans.

K3

U4
"While

H
all

If

ER'$

ILIA

D.

Book XXI,

the flying troops their fpeed employ,

And pour on

heaps into the walls of Troy.

;

No

flop,

no

flay

no thought
or

to afk, or

telf,

Who
And
Pale

'fcap'd

by

flight,

who by

battel fell.

72a

Twas tumult

all,

and violence of flight;

fudden joy confus'd, and mix'd affright:

Troy againft

Achilles fnuts her gate

And

nations breathe, deliver'd from their

fate,.

"I

LI AD.
BOOK
THE
A R G U
The Death

THE

XXII.

E N*T.

of He&or.

THE
Old

Trojans being fafe -within the walls, HecJor only

flays to oppofe Achilles.

tries to

Priam
to

is ft ruck

at his approach r

per fade his fon

re-enter the town.

He-

cuba joins her intreaties7 but in vain.

Hector
t

confufti

within himfelf what meafures

to

take

kit at the ad-

vance of Achilles, his refolut ion fails him, and he flies ; Achilles purfues him thrice round the walls of 'Troy.

The Gods debate concerning the fate ofHector ; at length Minerva defends to the aid of Achilles. She deludes
Ueclor
in the jhape
is {lain.

of Deiphobus ; he

ft ana's

the corn-

bate, and

Achilles drags the dead body at his

chariot, in the fight

tations, tears anddefpair.

of Priam and Hecuba. Their lamenTheir cries reach the ears of

into the

Andromache, who, ignorant of this, was retired

inner part of the palace: Jhe mounts up to the waffs, She fvjoons at the pelade. beholds her dead husband.

Her
The

excefs of griefand lamentation.

thirtieth day flill continues.

The fcene lies under

the

walls,

and on the battlements of Troy.

to their bulwarks, fmit with panic fear,

HTHUS
The

herded llians

rufi: like

driven deer;
r^

It is impoffible

but the whole attention of .he

in this

!er

mull be awakened

buok; the Lroes of :hc two*

n6
There

H O M E
fafe,

R's

ILIAD.

Book XXII.

they wipe the briny drops away,

in

And drown

bowls the labours of the day.

fields,

Clofe to the walls advancing o'er the

Beneath one roof of well compacted fhields,

March, bending on, the Greeks embody'd pow'rs,

Far-ltretching in the

made of Trojan
chain'd

tow'rs.
fate,

Great Hector flngly (hy'd;

down by

There
Still

fixt

he ftood before the Scaean gate;

10

his bold

arms determin'd to employ,

ftill

The

guardian

of long-defended Troy.

Apollo

now

to tir'd Achilles turns

all

(The pow'r

confeit in

his glory burns)

in

And what

(he cries) has Peleus' fon

view,
?

35

"With mortal fpeed a Godhead to purfue

For not

to thee to

know

the

Gods

is

giv'n,

UnfkiU'd to trace the latent marks of heav'n.

What
Vain

boots thee now, that

Troy

forfook the plain

thy paft labour, and thy prcfent vain

20

armies are

now

to encounter;
fo

al!

the foregoing battels

have been but

Greece and
chiiles

many
is

preludes and

under- actions, in

order to this great event, wherein the whole fate of

Troy

to be decided

by the fword of AIliad appears

it

and Hector.
is

This
to

the book,

which of the whole

It

me

the mo(t charming.

affembles in

all

that

can be imagined of great and important on the one hand,

and of tender and melancholy on the other: Terror and Pity are here wrought up in perfection zxd if the reader
;

is

not fenfible of both

all tafte,

in a

high decree, either he

is

ut-

terly void of

or the tranfla-or of

ali lkill,

in

poetry.

Book XXII.

H O M

E R's

ILIAD.
God.

117

Safe in their walls are

now

her troops beilow'd,

While here thy

frantic rage attacks a

The

chief incens'd

Too

partial

God

of day

To check my conquefts in the middle way How few in iKon elfe had refuge found
?

25
?

What
Thou
Mean

gafping numbers
robb'fl:

now

had

bit the

ground

me

of a glory

juftly

mine,

Pow'rful of Godhead, and of fraud divine:

fame, alas

for one of heav'nly drain,

To cheat
Then
With

a mortal

who

repines in vain.

30

to the city terrible and ftrong,

high and haughty fleps he towr'd along.

So the proud courier, viclor of the prize,

To

the near goal with double ardour

flies.

Him,

as he blazing (hot acrofs the field,

35

The
Kot

careful eyes

of Priam

firft

beheld.

half fo dreadful rifes to the light

Thro' the thick gloom of fome tempefhous night

f. 37. Not half fo dreadful
rifts, etc.}

With how
!

much

dreadful

pomp

is

Achilles here introduced

how

noble, and in what bold colours hath he drawn the blazing of his arms, the rapidity of his advance, the terror of his appearance, the defolation round him; but above all, the certain death attending all his motions and his very looks ; what a croud of terrible ideas in this one
fimile
!

But immediately after this, follows the moving image of the two aged parents, trembling, weeping, and imploring their fon that is fucceeded again by the dread:
}

all on fire, obftinately bent on death, and expecting Achilles ; admirably painted in the fimile of the fnake rolled up in his den, and collecV

ful

gloomy piclure of Heclor,

; ;

n8
And

E R's

ILIAD.

Book XXII.

Orion's dog (the year

when Autumn weighs)

40

o'er the feebler (tars exerts his raysj

!

Terrific glory

for his burning breath

air

Taints the red

with fevers, plagues, and death.

So flam'd

his fiery mail.

Then wept

the fage

He He

ftrikes his rev'rend

lifts

head

now

white with age

his wither'd

arms; obtefts the fkies;

cries

4$

He

calls his

much-lov'd fon with feeble

The

fon, refolv'd Achilles' force to dare,

Full at the Scsearl gates expeels the

war
(lands,

While

the fad father

on the rampart

And

thus adjures him with extended hands.

ftay not, flay
!

50

Ah

not

guardlefs and alone

!

Heeler

my

lov'd,

my

deareft braved fon

ing his poifons: and indeed, through the whole book,

this

wonderful contrail* and eppofition of the moving

is

and of thtferriltle,
ing the other
:

perpetually kept up, each heighten-

cannot find words to exprefs

how

fo

great beauties affect me.

^.51. The
entertained us

/peech of
all

Priam

to

He ft or.

~]

The

poet has

along with various fcenes of Daughter

and horror: he now changes to the pathetic, and fills the mind of the reaeer with tender forrows. Euftathius obferves that Priam preludes to his words by aelions exprefiive of mifery the unhappy orator introduces his fpeech to Heftor with groins and tears, and rending his hoary hair. The father and the king plead with Hector to preferve his life and his country. He reprefents his
:

own

age,

and the

lofs

of many of his children

an end.

and adds,

that if Heftor falls, he

mould then be inconfolable, and

judgment
in

the empire of
It is a

Troy

at

piece of great

Homer,

to

mike

the

fall

of Troy to depend upon the death of Hector:

Book XXII.

H O M E
I

R's

D.

119

Methinks already

behold thee

flain,

And

ftretch'd beneath that fury

of the plain.

Implacable Achilles! might'ft thou be

To

all

the

Gods no dearer than

to

me
round the more

Thee, vultures wild mould

fcatter

And bloody dogs grow

fiercer
I late

from thy gore.

enjoy'd,

How many

valiant fons

Valiant in vain!

by thy

curfl:

arm deftroy'd:
in diftant ifles
toils.

60

Or, worfe than flaughter'd, fold

To

fhameful bondage and unworthy

Two,

while

fpeak,

my

eyes in vain explore,

}
S

Two
And

from one mother fprung,

lov'd
if in

my

Polydore,

Lycaon; now perhaps no more!

yonder
hoflile

J
give?

65

Oh

camp they

live,
I

What

heaps of gold, what treafures would

(Their grandfire's wealth, by right of

birth their

own,

Confign'd his daughter with Lelegia's throne)

'But
if

(which heav'n forbid) already

loft,

70

All pale they wander on the Stygian coaft;

"What forrows then muft

their fad

mother know,
!

What
Yet

anguifli I

unutterable

woe

lefs

that anguifh, lefs to her, to

all

me,
7$

Lefs to

Troy,

if

not depriv d of thee,

the poet does not openly

tell

us, that

by the Greeks; but

that the reader

Troy was taken might not be unac-

quainted with what happened after the period of his

poem, he gives us to underfrand in this fpeech, that the city was taken, ar.d that Priam, his wives, his fons, and
daughters, were either killed or

made

fiaves,

!:

120

H
fpare thy

E R's
!

D.

BookXXIL

Yet fhun Achilles

enter yet the wall;

And

felf,
life

thy father, fpare us

or if a foul fo brave

all

Save thy dear

Neglect that thought, thy dearer glory fave.

Pity, while yet I live, thefe filver hairs;

80

While
Yet

yet thy father feels

!

the woes he bears,

curft with fenfe

a wretch,

whom

in his rage

(Ail trembling on the verge of

helplefs age)
!

Great Jove has plac'd, fad fpectacle of pain

The

bitter dregs

of fortune's cup to drain

3$

To

fill

with fcenes of death his clofing eyes,

all his

And number

days by miferies
bridal bed o'ertnrn'd,

My My My

heroes

flain,

my

daughters ravifh'd, and

bleeding infants
1

my

city burn'd,

dauYd
fee,

againft the floor;

!

9$

Thefe

have yet to

perhaps yet more

y. J 6. Enter yet the wall,

Andfpare,

etc.]

The

ar-

gument

Priam ufcs (fays Euftathius) to induce Hector to fecure himfelfin Troy is remarkable: be draws it not from Hector's fears, nor does he tell him
that
life: but he infifts upon him he may prcferve his fellow-citizens, his country, and his father; and farther perfuades him not to add glory to his mortal enemy by

that he

is

to fave

his

own

ftroRger motives.: he

tells

his

fall.

bleeding infonts daflfd again/1 the floor\] Cruelties which the Barbarians ufually exercifed in the

y. 90.

My

facking of towns.

Thus

Ifaiah

foretells to

Babylon

that her children fnail be dafiied in pieces

before her

eyes by the Medes.

eorum,
xii. 16.

Infantes eorum allidentur in oculis

ftys to the

And David

fame
'ones

city, bapjj

Jhatl he be that taketh anddajhetb thy little

again fi the
flonem

Book XXII.
Perhaps ev'n

H O M E
I, referv'd

R's

ILIA
fate
ftate,
!)

D.

121

by angry

The
And

lad fad relick of ray ruin'd

(Dire

pomp of fov'reign

wretchednefs

mud

fall,

dain the pavement of

my

regal hall;

or
door,

Where famim'd
Shall lick their

dogs, late guardians of

my

mangled
I

matter's fpatter'd gore.

!

Yet for

my fons

thank ye Gods

'twas well
fell.

Well have they periuYd,

for in fight they

Who

dies in youth,

and vigour, dies the

belt,

ico

-Struck thro' with

wounds, A\ honed on the bread.

of their rage,

But when the

fates, in fulnefs

Spurn the hoar head of unrefidii^ age,

In dud the rev'rend lineaments deform,

And pour to dogs

This,
this
is

the life-blood fcarcely

i

warm

ioj

mifery
feel
;

the lad, the word,

fated to be curd

That man can

ftones.
xiii.

man,

Pfal.

cxxxvii. 9.

And

in the

prophet Hofea,
Dacier.

16.

Their infants Jhtdl be dajhed in pieces.

f. 102. But when the fates> etc.] Nothing can be more moving than the image which Homer gives here, in comparing the different effects produced by the view
of a young man, and that of an old one, both bleeding, and extended on the dud. The old man, it is eer touches us mod, and feveral reafons may be given for it; the principal is, that the young man defended himfe!f, and his death is glorious; whereas an old man no defence but his weoknefs, prayers and tears.
!

mud

be very infenfible of what

is

dreadful, and hav

who omit this paffage in a tranfta and fubditute things of a trivial and infipid nati
tade in poetry,

Dacier.

Vol. IV.

122

H O M
his

E R's

A D.

Book XXII.
fay,

He faid,
Rent from

and acting what no words could

head the
filver

locks away.

With him
Yet

the mournful

mother bears a part;

no

all their

forrows turn not Hector's heart:

The zone
And

unbrac'd, her

bofom

(he difplay'd

thus, faft-falling the fait tears, fhe faid.

Have mercy on me,

O my

fon

revere
I

The words of age

attend a parent's pray'r

115

If ever thee in thefe fond arms I preft,

Or

ftill'd

thy infant clamours at this breaft;

$. T14. The fpecch of Hecuba,,] The fpeech of Hecuba opens with as much tendemefs as that of Priam: the circumftance in particular of her (hewing that breaft
to her fon which

had fultained

his infancy,

is

highly

moving:
fpeaker.

it is

a filent kind

of oratory, and prepares the

heart to liflen, by prepofTeffing the eye in favour of the

Euftathius takes notice of the difference between the

speeches of Priam and

the combate,

Hecuba Priam diffuades him from by enumerating not only the lofs of his. own family, but of his whole country: Hecuba dwells entirely upon his fingle death; this is a great beauty in the poet, to make Priam a father to his whole country ; but to defcribe the fondnefs of the mother as prevailing
:

all other considerations, and to mention that only which chiefly affects her. This puts me in mind of a judicious (broke in Milton, with regard to the feveral characters of Adam and

over

Eve.

When

the angel

is

driving them both out of

mud leave a place where he had converfed with God and his angels; but Eve laments that fhe fhall never more behold the flowers of
paradife,

Adam

grieves that he

Eden.

Here

Adam mourns

like a

man, and Eve

like

woman.

Book XXII.

H O M

E R's

A D.

Ah do

not thus our helplefs years forego,

But by our walls fecur'd, repel the foe.

Againfl: his rage if fingly thou proceed,
Should'fl:

120

thou (but heav'n avert it!) ihouldTtthou bleed*

corps
lie

Nor mutt thy

!s'or

honour'd on the

bier,

fpoufe, nor mother, grace thee with a tear;

rites, thofe

Far from our pious

dear remains

Mud
But

fealt

the vultures on the naked plains.

125

So they, while down

fix'd

their cheeks the torrents roll

remains the purpofe of his foul:

a fiery

Refolv'd he (lands, and with

glance

Expects the hero's terrible advance

So

roll'd

up

in his

den, the fwelling fnake

;

130

Beholds the traveller approach the brake

"When

fed with

noxious herbs

his turgid veins

Have

gather'd half the poifons of the plains;

ftiffens

He

burns, he

with collected

ire,
1 3

And

his red eye-balls glare

with living nre.

Beneath a turret, on his

fhield reclin'd,

He

flood, and queftion'd thus his mighty mind.

lies

Where

my way
th'

to enter in the wall

Honour and fhame

>>.

ungen'rous thought

recall

138.

The

Soliloquy

of Hector. 1

There

is

muclr

greatnefs in the fentiments of this whole foliloquy. Hector prefers death to an ignominious life: he
to die with glory, but not

knows how

how

to live with dilhonour.

The

reproach of Polydamas

affects

him;

the fcandals of

the meaneft people have an influence on his thoughts.

It is

fults

remarkable that he does not fay, he fears the inof the braver Trojans, but of the moft worthies.

124
Shall

H O M E

R's

D.

Book XXII.
140

proud Polydamas before the gate

late,

Proclaim, his counfels are obey'd too

only.

Men

of merit are always the

all

mod

candid

but

others are ever for bringing

felves.

men

to a level with them*

They cannot

bear that any one mould be fo

bold as to excel, and are ready to pull him down to This fentiment is them, upon the leaft mifcarriage.
perfectly fine,

and agreeable to the way of thinking, naand

fenfible

tural to a great

mind.
is call-

There
fpeech.

is a

very beautiful break in the middle of this

Hector's mind fluctuates every way, he

ing a council in his

own

bread, and confulting what

method

to purfue he doubts if he mould not propofe terms of peace to Achilles, and grants him very large
:

concedions
leaves

but of a Hidden he checks himfelf, and

the fentence unfinifhed.

The
offer

paragraph runs

thus

"

If,

fays Hector,
all

mould

him the

largefl

conditions, give

flops,

Troy contains" There he and immediately fubjoins, " But why do I delude
that
etc.

" myfelf,
It is

evident from this fpeech, that the

power of mak-

ing peace was in Hector's hands: for unlefs Priam had

Transferred
it

to him,

proportions.

So that

he could not have made thefe who broke the it was Hector
It is

treaty in the third

book (where the very fame conditions

Hector therefore
blameable in continuing the war, and

were propofed by Agamemnon.)

that
is

guilty, he

is

involving the Greeks and Trojans in blood. This conduct in

juftice,

Homer was ncceffary ; he obferves a poetical and (hews that Hector is a criminal, before he brings him to death. Euftathius. j/. 140. Shall proud Polydamas, etc.] Hector alludes
to the counfel given

him by Polydamas in the eighteenth book, whicii he then neglected to follow: it was, to withdraw to the city, and fortify thcmfclves there, before Achilles returned to the battel,

Book XXII.

H O M E

R's

ILIAD.

%s$

Which

timely follow'd but the former night,

What numbers had

That
I feel

been fav'd by Heftor's flight?

wife advice rcjeded with difdain,

my

folly in

my

people

(lain.
I

,,,.

Methinks

my

fufPring country's voice

infult

hear,

But mod, her worthlefs fons

my

ear,

On my

raft courage charge the chance

of war,

And blame

thofe virtues which they cannot (hare.

return, return
I

Ko
Or
In

if I e'er

muft

150

Glorious,

my

country's terror laid in dnft

if I perifh, let
field at lead:,

her fee

me

fall

and fighting for her wall.

I

And

yet fuppofe thefe meafures

forego,
foe,

Approach unarm 'd, and parley with the

155

The

warrior-fhieid, the helm, and lance lay

treat

down,

And

on terms of peace tofave the town:

The

wife with-held, the treafure ill-detain'd,

(Caufe of the war, and grievance of the land)

With honourable

juftice to reftore

160

And add

half Ilion's yet remaining (lore,

(hall, ftvorn,

Which Troy

produce

that injur'd Greece

May

(hare our wealth,

this

and leave our walls in peace.

if I

But why

thought? unarm'd

mould go,

>

What hope

of mercy from
fall,

this vengeful foe,

fall

16 j
I

But woman-like to

and

without a blow

M-

126

H O M E
at

R's

D.

Book XXII.
;

"We

greet not here, as

man

converting man,

Met

an oak, or journeying o'er a plain:

$, 167.

We greet not here, as man converfing man, Met at an oak, orjourneying o'er a plain etc.]
,

The words literally

Achilles, dro
<J>v9?

are thefe,

" There

is

no talking

with

wT ath st/t^, from an oak y or from a rock, [or about an oak or a rock] as a young man and a
maiden talk together.
It is

thought an obfcure paflage,

though

confefs I
the

am

either too fond of

my own
make

exit

plication in

above

cited verfes, or they

" There is no converfing with this u implacable enemy in the rage of battel; as when tl fauntring people talk at leifure to one another on the u road, or when young men and women meet in a " field." I think the expofition of Euflathius more
very clear one.

though it be ingenious; and therefore I mnft do him the juflke not to fupprefs it. It was a common practice, fays he, with the heathens, to expofe fuch
far-fetched,

children as they either could not, or would not educate:

the places where they depofued them, were ufually in the cavities of rocks, or the hollow of oaks : thefe chil-

dren being frequently found and preferved by flrangers,

were faid to be the offspring of thofe oaks, or rocks This gave occalion to the vhere they were found. poets to feign that men were born of oaks, and there was

a famous fable too of Deucalion and PyrrhVs repairing' mankind by cafting [tones behind them it grew at laft
:

into a proverb, to fignify idle tales

fect pafTage
it

fo that in the prelijlen to

imports, that Achilles will not

fuch

idle tales as

may pafs with

(lories

filly

maids andfond lovers.

(lories as

for

fables

and

(and particularly fuch

the preservation, (Irange fortune, and adventures ofex-

pofed

children)

are the ufual converfation of

young
be

men and

maidens.

Euftathius's explanation

may
;

corroborated by a parallel place in the OdyiTey

the poet fays,

where

BockXXII.

H O M

E R's

ILIAD.

127

Ko

feafon

now

for calm familiar talk,

Like youths and maidens in an ev'ning walk:

170

War

is

our bufinefs, but to

whom

is

giv'n

To

die,

or triumph, that, determine heav'n

pond'ring, like a

Thus

God

the

Greek drew nigh

His dreadful plumage nodded from on high

The

Pelian jav'lin, in his better hand,

glitter'd o'er the land

175

Shot trembling rays that

And on

his breaft the

beamy fplendours (hone

Like Jove's

own

lightening, or the rifing fun.

rife,
flies.

As Hedlor

fees,

unufual terrors

Struck by fome God, he fears, recedes, and

j8o

Ov yap

a.7ro

Spvog

'icr^i

^ccXaitparv, ^'

dxo XiTpn$.
Tell

The meaning

of which pafTage

is

plainly this,

me

of what race you are, for undoubtedly you had a father and mother; you are not, according to the old ft on, defended from an oak or a rock. Where the word raxeupeiru (hews
that this

was become an ancient proverb even

in

Hoand

mer's days.

fiies.~]

f. 180. Struck by feme God, he fears, I doubt not mod readers are mocked
it is

recedes,

at the flight

of Heeler:

indeed a high exaltation of Achilles

(who was

the poet's chief hero) that fo brave a

man
was

as He<ftor durft
at a diftance he

not (tend him.

While

Achilles

had fortified his heart with noble refolutions, but at his approach they all vanifh, and he flies. This (as exceptionable as fome m3y think it) may yet
be allowed to be a true portrait of human nature ; for diftance, as it Mens all objects, fo it does our fears but
:

where

inevitable danger approaches, the ftouteft hearts

will feel

fome apprehenfions
feared

at certain fate.

It

was the

faying of one of the braveft

told

him he

men in this age, nothing, Shew me but a

to one

who

certain dan-

2S

H O M E

R's

ILIA

"D.

BookXXIL-

He

leaves the gates, he leaves the walls behind;

Achilles follows like the winged wind.

per, and 1Jhall he as much afraid as any ifyou. I do not abfolutely pretend tojuftify this pafTage in every point, but only to have thus much granted me, that Heclor

was

in this defoerate circumftance.

It: W *H not - c ^oun d in the whole Iliad, that Hector ever thought himfelf a match for Achilles. Homer (to keep this in our minds) had juft now made Priam tell him, as a thing known (for certainly Priam

Firft9

would not infult him at that time) that there was no companion between his own ftrength, and that of his
anragonift
iTTEtn rfoXv tp-cpTipog triv.

Secondly,

We

may

obferve with Dacier, the degrees

In the 18th by which Homer prepares this incident. Achilles unarmed, voice has and of fight mere the book terrified and put the whole Trojan army into diforder..

In the 19th the very found of the celeftial arms given him by Vulcan, has affrighted his own Myrmidons as In the 20th, he has been upon they (land about him.
the point of killing JEneas, and Hector himfelf was not In that faved from him but by Apollo's interpofing.

and the following book, he makes an incredible (laughter of all that oppofe him, he overtakes mod of thofe that fly from him, and Priam himfelf opens the gates of Troy
to receive the
reft.

he hopes to overcome and the dread of reproach forbid him to re-enter the city a fhame (fays Euftathius) which was a fault that betrayed him out of his life, and ruined his country. Nay, Homer adds farther, that he only ftayed by the immediate will of heaven, intoxicated'
Thirdly, Hector ftays, not that

Achilles, but becaufe fhame

and

irrefiftibiy

bound down by fate.

HKTopa

JUfr3 fct7yi

Ikon

potf

hiSr,rts

Book XXII.

HOME

R's

ILIAD.
flies,

129

Thus
!

at the panting
fwifteft racer

dove a falcon

(The

of the liquid fkies)

Fourthly, He had juft: been reflecting on the injufrice of the war he maintained ; his fpirits are deprefled by heaven, he expects certain death, he perceives himfelf abandoned by the Gods, (as he directly fays in > \ 300,
r

|etc.

of the Greek, and

38$;.

of the tranflation) fo that

he might fay to Achilles what Turnus does to Apneas,

Dii me fervent,
et

Jupiter

hojl'ts.

This indeed

is

the flrongeft reafon that can be offered

for the flight of Hector.

He

flies

not from Achilles as

a mortal hero, but

from one

whom

he fees clad

in

im-

penetrable armour, feconded by Minerva, and one

who
is

had put to

flight the inferior

Gods themfelves.
of

This

not cowardice,

according to the conftant principles of

it

Homer, who thought

be impious,

no

part

a hero's character to

or to fancy

himfelf independent on the

fupreme being.
Indeed
even
ble
it

had been a grievous

fault,

had our author

fuffered the courage of Hector intirely to forfake

in this extremity: a

him

brave man's foul

is ftill

capa-

itfelf, and acting honourably in the laft Accordingly Hector, though delivered over to his deftiny, abandoned by the gods, and certain of death, yet ftops and attacks Achilles v.hen he lofes his

of rouzing

ftruggles.

fpear,

he draws his Avord:

it

it

was impoflible he

fliould

conquer,
!

he did,

was only in his power to fail glorioufly ; and it was all that man could do.
all,

this

If the reader, after

this paflage, for his
I

cannot bring himfelf to

particular; yet to induce

like

own

him

to fufpend his abfolute cenfure, he

Virgil had an
fied

may
it,

conlider that

uncommon
it

efteem for

as he has tefli-

in

transferring
;

almoft intirely to the death of

Turnus

where there was no

;

the like incidents

necefllty of making ufe of but doubtlefs he was touched with

30

H O M E

R's

D.

BookXXIJ.
185

Juft

when he holds or

thinks he holds his prey,

th' aerial

Obliquely wheeling thro'

way;
he fprings,
:

With open beak and

fhrilling cries

And

aims his claws, and (hoots upon his wings

this epifode, as

with one of thofe which intereft us

mod
and

of the whole

Iliad,

by a fpectacle

at

once

fo terrible,

fo deplorable.

I rauft alfo

add the fuifrage of AriftotleJ

this pafTage as ridity

who was

fo far

from looking upon

culous or blameable, that he efteemed it marvellous and " The wonderful, fays he, ought to have admirable.

"

place in tragedy, but

(till

more

in epic poetry,

which

"
"
<l

proceeds in this point even to the unreafonable: for

as in epic

poems one

fees

not the perfons acting, fo

is

whatever paiTes the bounds of reafon

pie,

proper to pro-

(<
te

For examwhat Homer fays of Hector purfued by Achilles, " wouid appear ridiculous on the ftage; for the fpectaduce the admirable and the marvellous.

"

tors could not forbear laughing to fee

on one

(ice

the

" Greeks Handing without any motion, and on the " ther Achilles purfuing Hector, and making iigns
"
the troops not to dart at him.

oto

But
:

all this

does not

what is wonderi( ful is always agreeable, and as a proof of it, we find " that they who relate any thing, ufuaily add fomething
read the
for

"

appear when

we

poem

"
*'

to the truth, that

it

may

the better pleafe thofe

who

hear it."

The fame
" "
"
if

great critic vindicates this pafTage in the

chapter following.

"

poet,

fays he,

is

inexcufable

'

he introduces fuch things as are impoflible accord-

ing to the rules

fault, if
;

of poetry: but

this

ceafes to be a

by thofe means he
if

attains to the

" "
"

pofed

for he has then brought about

ed: for example,

T

he renders by

it

end prowhat he intendany part of his

Such
is

u poem more
place in the

aftonilhing or admirable.

the

Rad,

where Achilles purfues Hector."

Arilt. poet. chap. 25, 26.

Book XXII.

H O M

E R's

ILIAD.

131

No lefs
One

fore-right the rapid chace they held,

urg'd by fury, one by fear impell'd;

circling

190

Now

round the walls

their courfc maintain,

Where

the high watch-tow'r overlooks the plain;

fig-trees fpread their

Now where the

umbrage broad,

(A wider compafs) fmoke along

the road.

Next by Scamandcr's double fource they bound,

195

Where two fam'd

fountains burft the parted ground;

f. 196. Where two fam\i fountains."] Strabo blames

Homer for faying that one of the fources of Scamander was a warm fountain; whereas (fays he) there is but
one fpring, and that cold, neither is this in the place It is obWhere Homer fixes it, but in the mountain. fervcd by Euftathius, that though this was not true in Strabo's days, yet it might in Homer's, greater changes having happened in lefs time than that which paffed Sandys, who was both a between thofe two authors,
geographer and
veller
critic

of great accuracy, as well as a

tra-

of great veracity, affirms as an eye-witnefs, that there are yet fome hot- water fprings in that part of the country, oppofite to Tenedos. I cannot but think that

gentleman

mud

have been particularly diligent and

curious in his inquiries into the remains of a place fo

celebrated in poetry; as he was not only perhaps the mod: learned, but one of the heft p6ets of his time: I

am
its

glad

of

this occafion to

do lis n

mery
n o\v
>

fo

juftice as to fay, the Englifh verfificati

much much of

improvement

to his tranflations, 2nd efpecially that

admirable one of Job.

What chiefly
itfelf,

pleafes

place, is to fee the exact landfk'p of old

I

Troy

me in this we have
;

a clear idea of the town

and of the roads and and every

country
part
is fet

about

it

the

river, the fig-trees,

before our eyes.

I3

HOME

R's

I
is

A D.

Book

XXU,

This hot

thro' fcorching clefts

feen to rife,

With
That
Like

exhalations {learning to the Ikies

the green banks in fummer's heat o'erflows,
cryftal clear,

and cold as winter- fnows.

a marble ciftern
fills,

200

Each gufhing fount

Whofe

polifli'd

bed receives the

falling rills;

Where Trojan dames

Wafh'd
their fair

(ere yet alarm'd

by Greece)

garments in the days of peace.

By

thefe they part,

fled,

one chafing, one in

flight,

205

(The mighty

purfu'd by ftronger might)

;

Swift was the courfe

no vulgar

prize they play,

No

vulgar victim muft reward the day,

ftrife)
life.

(Such as in races crown the fpeedy

The

prize contended was great Hector's

210

As when fome

hero's fun'rals are decreed

In grateful honour of the mighty dead;

Where

high rewards the vig'rous youth inflame,

tripod, or

(Some golden

fome lovely dame)

215

The
And
Thus

panting courfers fwiftly turn the goal,

with them turns the rais'd fpectator's foul.
three times

round the Trojan wall they

fly;

The

gazing Gods lean forward from the Iky:

218. The gazing Gods lean forwardfrom the Jky.~\ have here an inftance of the great judgment of Homer. The death of Hector being the chief action of the poem ; he afTembles the gods, and calls a council in heaven concerning it: it is for the fame reafon that he reprefents Jupiter with the greateft folemnity weighing
i/.

We

in his fcales the fates of the

two heroes:

have before
obferved

Book XXII.

R's

ILIAD.

133

To whom,
The
fire

while eager on the chace they look,

of mortals and immortals fpoke.

fight
!

220

Unworthy

the man, belov'd of heav'n,

!

Behold, inglorious round yon' city driv'n

My

heart partakes the gen'rous Hector's pain

(lain,

Hector, whofe zeal whole hecatombs has

Whofe

grateful

fumes the Gods receiv'd with joy, 225

Trom
.

Ida's fummits,

and the tow'rs of Troy

to his fears rcfign'd,

Mow fee
And

him
and

flying

fate,

fierce Achilles, clofe

!

behind.

Confult, ye pow'rs

('tis

worthy your debate)

fate,

Whether

to fnatch

him from impending

230

obferved at large upon the

ing note, fo that there
I
is

laft

circumftance in a preced-

wonder

that

no cccafion to repeat it. none of the commentators have taken

;

notice of this beauty

cefTary obfervation,

in

my

opinion,
art

it

is

a very ne-

and judgment of the poet, that he has made the greateft and finiihing a-clion of the poem of fuch importance that it engages
the gods in debates.
] It was the cufiom f. 226. From Ida's fummits the Pagans to facrmce to the gods upon the hills and mountains, in fcripture language upon the high places,
a particular

and fhews the

of

for they were perfuaded that the gods in

manner inhabited fuch eminences: wherefore God ordered his people to defiroy all thofe high places, which
the nations had prophaned by their idolatry.
utterly deflroy all the places

Ton /hall

wherein the nations which yen

jhall pojfcfs ferved their gods, upon the high maintains,

and
2.

upon the

hills,

and under every green

tree.

Deut.

x.

i.

It is for this reafon that fo

many

kings are reproached

in fcripture for

not taking away the high places. Dacier.

Vol. IV.

M"

134

HOME R's
him
bear,

ILIAD.
on man
?

Book XXII.

Or

let

by

(tern Pelides (lain,

(Good

as he is) the lot impos'd

Then

Pallas thus: (hall he whofe vengeance forms

The

forky bolt, and blackens heav'n with ftorms,

Shall he prolong

one Trojan's

forfeit breath

23$

man,

a mortal, pre-ordain'd to death

And

will

no murmurs

fill

the courts above

their partial

? ?

Ko

Gods indignant blame

then (return'd the
will
:

Jove

Go

fire)

without delay,

Exert thy

give the fates their way.

flies,

240

Swift at the mandate pleas'd Tritonia

And
The

(loops impetuous from the cleaving fkies.

thro' the foreft, o'er the vale

As

and lav/n

well-breath'd beagle drives the flying

tries the

fawn;
245

In vain he

covert of the brakes,

Or deep beneath

the trembling thicket (hakes

Sure of the vapour in the tainted dews,

The

certain
ftep

hound

his various

maze

purfues.

Thus

by

(lep, where'er the

Trojan wheel'd,
round the
field.

There

fwift Achilles compafs'd

250
diffi-

f. 249. Thus flep

by ftep, etc.']
it

There

is

fome

culty in this paflage, and

feems ftrange that Achilles

he excelled fo much in
the poet defcribes

could not overtake Hector

fvviftnefs,

whom

efpecially

when

him

as

running in a narrower
gives us

circle

than Hector.
;

Euftathius

many

folutions from the ancients

life

Homer

has

already told us that they run for the

of Hector; and
utmofr fpeed,

consequently

Hector would
city:

exert

his

whereas Achilles might only endeavour to keep him

frOm entering the

befides,

Achilles could not diefforts to

rectly purfue him, becaufe

he frequently made

'Book XXII.
!

H O M

E R's

A D,

135

Oft' as to reach the

Dardan

gates he bends,

And hopes th' afliftance of his pitying friends, (Whofe fhowYmg arrows, as he cours'd below,

From
So

the high turrets might opprefs the foe)

oft' Achilles

turns him to the plain

255

He

eyes the city, but

he eyes

in vain.

Is men
One

pace in (lumbers feem with fpecdy

to purfue,

and one to lead the chace,

forfake, Their finking limbs the fancy'd courfe

Kor

this

can

fly,

nor that can overtake.

260

fhelter himfelf

to under the wall, and he being obliged

to take more fteps turn him from it, he might be forced away all grounds take to But the poet, than Hedor. that Apollo gave afterwards, us tells objection, ofan

him

a fupernatural fwiftnefs.
in

f. 257. As men
parifon has been

(lumbers?,

This

beautiful

com-

even fo

far as

condemned by fome of the ancients, a place m to judge it unworthy of having

mean, and the fimithe Iliad: they fay the diflion is the fwiftnefs of compares Ktude itfelf abfurd, becaufe it a ftate of reft and in are who adeep, men the heroes to groundlefs criBut there cannot be a more inactivity.
rcifm: the poet

from drawing his companfon he alludes only to he defenbes ; and that fancy their dreams: it is a race in to illnftrate the enough nimble is imagination furely the
is

fo far

from the repofe of

men

afleep, that

befides theverfesthemfelves greateft degree of fwiftnefs: and imitate the fwiftnefs rapidity, utmoft

run with the

they defcribe.

Euftathius.

What
is,

fufficiently

genuine, proves thefe verfes to be

JEn. 12. that Virgil has imitated* them,

Ac

vetuti

mfomnis

M2

J$6

HOME
lefs

R's

ILIAD.
this

Book

XX IT.

No

the lab 'ring heroes pant and ftrain;

flies,

While

that but

and
!

purfues in vain.
Hector's force,

What God, O mufe

aflifted

W ith
T

fate itfelf
it

fo.

long to hold the courfe?

his lateft

Phoebus

was; who, in

hour,

26

Endu'd

his

knees with ftrength, his nerves with pow'r:

left

And

great Achilles,

fome Greek's advance

lifted lance,

Should fnatch the glory from his

Sign'd to the troops, to yield his foe the way,

And

leave untouch 'd the honours of the day.

270

f. 269. Sigrt'i to the troops, etc.l The difference which Homer here makes between Hector and Achilles deferves to be taken notice of; Hector is running away towards the walls, to the end that the Trojans who are upon them may overwhelm Achilles with their darts; and Achilles in turning Hector towards the plain, makes
a Hgn to his troops not to attack him.

great courage of Achilles.

Yet
life

this

This mews the a&ion which ap-

pears fo generous has been very

<the

much condemned by
of Pompey gives us to
as the action
is

ancients; Plutarch in the

it

underftand, that

was looked upon

:

iool too greedy of glory

indeed this

of a not a fingle

corabate of Achilles againft Heftor, (for in that cafe Achilles would have done very ill not to hinder his troops from aflaujting him) this was a rencounter in a
bated, and fo Achilles might, and ought to take all advantages to rid himfelf, the readied and the fureft way, of an enemy whole death would procure an entire vic-

tory to his party. tory to chance?

Jofingit?

Wherefore does he leave

this vic-

Why

expofe himfelf to the hazard of does he prefer his private glory to the

Why

public weal, and the fafety of all the Greeks, which he puts to the venture by delaying to conquer, and en-

dangering -his

own

perfon

grant

it

is.

a fault, but

it

Book XXII.
Jove
lifts

E R's

A D.

137

the golden balances, that

mow

The

fates

of mortal men, and things below

lot

Here each contending hero's

he

tries,

And

weighs, with equal hand, their deftinies.

finks the fcale furcharg'd with Hettor's fate;
it

Low

27$

Heavy with death

finks,

and

hell receives the

weight,

Then

Phoebus

left

him.

Fierce Minerva
cries

flies

To
Oh
And

ftern Pelides,

and triumphing,
!

lov'd of Jove

this

day our labours ceafe,

full

conqueft blazes with

falls
;

beams on Greece.

2S0

Great Hetfor

that Heftor fam'd fo far,

infatiable
!

Drunk with renown,

Falls Shall

of war,

by thy hand, and mine

not force, nor flight

more

avail

him, nor his

God

of

light.

hero. muft be owned to be the fault of a

Euftathius.

Dacier.
-

2?7# rben Phoebus

left

htm

] This

_,_,..
is

very

beautiful and poetical

manner of
it

defcribing a plain cir-

was cumftance: the hour of Hetfor's death

and
the poet exprefles
:

now come,
Apollo, or

by faying

that

Deftiny, forfakes him

that is, the fates

no longer pro-

ted him.

Euftathius.
Fierce

Achilles, by The poet may feem to diminifh the glory of the affifiance of to Heeler over vitfory afcribing the by the hand only of Pallas; whereas in truth he fell every thing into a raife to loves Achilles: but poetry road oh narration, common the of out fteps it wonder; would farther inpoet the and aims to forprize; and Achilles to be beto glory greater a is finite that it only excellent ,n valour : loved by the gods, than to be for

^ 11

Minerva fies To

(hern

P elides,

etc. J

many men have

heaven. valour, but few the favour of

Euftathius.

B2

133
See,

H O M E
where
in vain

R's

A D.

BookXXII.
285

he fupplicates above,

Roll'ci at the feet

of unrelenting Jove

Reft here:

my

felf will lead the

Trojan on,

And

urge to meet the fate he cannot (hun.

divine the chief with joyful
refted,

Her voice
Obey'd
;

mind
20

and

on

his lance reelin'd.

"While like Deiphobus the martial dame

(Her

face, her gefture,

aid,

and her arms the fame)

fide

In fhow an

by haplefs Hector's
greets

Approach 'd, and

him thus with voice bely'd.

!

Too
Of
It

long,

O Hector
a

have

born the
flight

fight
j

295

this diftrefs,

and forrow'd in thy

fits

us

now

noble ftand to make,

And

here, as brothers, equal fates partake.

Then

he.
all

prince

ally'd in

blood and fame,

Dearer than

that

own

a brother's

name

',

300

Of all

that

Hecuba to Priam bore,

lov'd,

Long try^d, long lov'd ; much

if.

buthonour d more!

290.
Pallas

Obefd; and

refted.~]

The whole

pafTage

where

deceives Hector

is

evidently an allegory;

Achilles perceiving that he cannot overtake Hector, pre-

tends to be quite fpent and wearied in the purfuit

firatagem takes
effect,

the

enemy: this the poet expreflfes by faying that Pallas, or Wifdom, came Hector obferving his enemy (lay to to aflift Achilles.
and
recalls his
reft,

concludes that he

ly takes courage,

is quite fatigued, and immediateand advances upon him; lie thinks he

has him

at

an advantage, but at
that his

laft

finds h im felf deceivis

ed
to

thus making a
his

wrong judgment, he

betrayed inis

death

fo

own

falfe judgment

the

treacherous Pallas that deceives him.

Euftathius.

Book XXII.

HOME
life,

R's

ILIAD.

139

Since you of all our num'rous race, alone

Defend

my

regardlefs of

your own.
father's pray'r,
:

Again the Goddefs.

Much my

305

And much my

mother's, preft

me

to forbear

My

friends embrac'd

my knees,

adjur'd
I

my

ftay,

But ftrongerloveimpell'd, and

obey.

Come

then, the glorious conflict let us try,

fteel fparkle,

Let the

and the jav'Iin

fly;

310

Or
Or

let

us ftretch Achilles on the field,

to his

arm our bloody

trophies yield.

Fraudful fhe faid ; then fwiftly march'd before

The Dardan

hero (huns his foe no more.

Sternly they met.

The

filence

Hector broke
he fpoke.

315

His dreadful plumage nodded

as

Enough,

fon of Peleus

Troy

has view'd

Her

walls thrice circled,

and her chief purfu'd.

^.317. The fpeeches ofHeftor and ofAchilles?] There

is

anoppofition between thefe fpeeches excellently adapt-

.ed to the characters of both the heroes: that of Hector

is full

chilles,

of courage, but mixt with humanity: that of Aof refentment and arrogance: we fee the great

Hector difpofmg of his own remains, and that thirft of glory which has made him live with honour, now bids him provide, as Euftatbius obferves, that what once

was Hector may not be difhonoured: thus we fee a fedate, calm courage, with a contempt of death, in the
fpeeches of Hector.

But

in that

forte, and an infolent air of fuperiority;

of Achilles there is a his magnani-

mity makes him fcorn to

fteal a victory,
all

bebidshim pre:

pare to defend himfelf with

lour and refentment which

his forces

and that va-

made him

defirous that
his

he

might revenge himfelf upon Hector with

own hand,

j 4o

H O M E
now fome God
or my
fate:

R's
within

D.
try

Book XXII.

But

me

bids

me

Thine,

I kill thee,

or I die.

3 20

Yet on the verge of

battel let us flay,

And

for a

moment's fpace fufpend the day ;

Let heav'n's high pow'rs becall'd to arbitrate

The juft

conditions of this ftern debate,

(Eternal witnefTes of all below,

325

And

faithful
I

guardians of the treafur'd

if

vow

!)

To
No

them

fwear;

victor in the

ftrife,

Jove by thefe hands

vile

(hall died

thy

nobk

life,

difhonour

fhall

thy corps purfue

Stript of its

arms alone (the conqu'ror's due)

I'll

330

The

reft

to Greece uninjur'd

reftore:

Now

plight thy mutual oath, I.afk

no more.

Talk not of oaths (the dreadful chief replies,

While anger

flam'd from his difdainful eyes)

Detefted as thou art, and ought to be,

335
:
.

Nor

oath nor pact Achilles plights with thee

and forbade the Greeks to interpole, now directs him not to take any advantage over a brave enemy. I think both their characters are admirably fuftained, and though
Achilles be

drawn with
is

a great violence of features, yet

like

the picture

undoubtedly

him

and

it

had been the

this

utmoft abfurdity to have foftened one line upon

cafion,

oc-

when

the foul of Achilles was

all

on
I

fire

to re-

venge the death of his friend Patrdclus.

the reader to carry this obfervation in his
particularly in that place,

mnft defire

memory, and

eat the very

flefn

of Hector; (though $. 438.

where Achilles fays he could 1 have a little

foftened

it

in the tranflation,)

BookXXH.

R's

ILIAD.

141

Such pacts, as lambs and rabid wolves combine,

Such leagues, as

men and
Gods
!

furious lions join,

To
No

fuch

I call

the

one conftant date

Of lading

rancour and eternal hate:

ftrife,

340

thought but rage, and never-ceafing

'Till death extinguifh rage,

and thought, and

life.

Rouze then thy

forces this important hour,

all

Collect thy foul, and call forth

thy pow'r.

No

farther fubterfuge,

no

farther chance

34$

'Tis Pallas, Pallas gives thee to

my

lance.

Each Grecian ghoft by thee depriv'd of breath,

Now

hovers round, and

calls thee to

thy death.

He He

fpoke, and lanc'd his jav'lin at the foe;

But Hector fhun'd the meditated blow

ftoop'd, while o'er his head the flying fpear
its

350

Sung innocent, and fpent

force in air,

Minerva watch'd

it

falling

on the land,

Then

drew, and gave to great Achilles' hand,

elate with joy,

Unfeen of Hector, who,

355

Now

fliakes his lance,

life

and braves the dread of Troy.

to that jav'lin giv'n,

The
Prince
!

you boafted

you have mid.

My

fate

depends on heav'n.

To

thee (prefumptuous as thou art)

unknown,
own.

Or what muft prove my

Boafting
is

fortune, or thy

360

but an

art,

our fears to blind,

another's mind*-

And

with

falfe terrors fink

But know, whatever

fate I

am

to try,

By no

difhoneft

wound

fhali

Hedor

die;

I42
I {hall

HOME R's
not
fall

ILIA
from
;

D.

Book XXII.
36$

a fugitive at lead,

My
But

foul (hall bravely iflue

firft,

my

breaft.
this dart

try thou

my

arm

and may

End

all

my

country's woes, deep buried in thy heart

flew, its courfe unerring held,

The weapon

Unerring, but the heav'nly fhield repell'd

370

The

mortal dart

refulting with a
it

bound

From

off the ringing orb,

(truck the ground. in vain,

Heclor beheld his jav'lin

fall

Nor

other lance, nor other hope remain

He

calls

Deiphobus, demands a fpear,

375

In vain, for

no Deiphobus was
:

there.

All comfortlefs he (lands

then, with a figh,

Xis fo
I deem'd

heav'n wills

it,

and

my

hour
call,

is

nigh

Deiphobus had heard

lies

my

But he fecure

guarded; in the wall.

Pallas, 'twas thy deed,
!

380

A God
No

deceiv'd

me;

Death, and black fate approach

'Tis

muft bleed.

refuge now, no fuccour from above,

Great Jove deferts me, and the fbn of Jove,

Propitious once, and kind
!

then welcome fate

great

385

'Tis true

I periih,

yet

I perifti

Yet
-

in a

mighty deed
ages,

I (hall expire,
it,

Let future

hear

and admire

Fierce, at the

word,

his weighty

fword he drew,

And,

all

collecled,

on

Achilles flew.

39

Hook XXII.

E R's

ILIAD.
in the air,

fVj

So Jove's bold bird, high balanc'd

Stoops from the clouds to trufs the quiv'ring hare,

Nor

lefs

Achilles his fierce foul prepares,

Before his bread the flaming (hield he bears,

Refulgent orb

above his fourfold cone

395

The
And
As

gilded horfe-hair fparkled in the fun,

at ev'ry ftep:

Nodding

(Vulcanian frame!)

as he mov'd,

his figure feem'd

on flame.

radiant Hefper mines with keener light,

filver hoft

Far-beaming o'er the

of night,

400

When

all

the (tarry train emblaze the fphere

the point of great Achilles' fpear.

So fhone

In his right hand he waves the weapon round,

Eyes the whole man, and meditates the wound;

But the rich mail Patroclus
Securely cas'd the warrior's
lately

wore,
o'er.

405

body

One

place at length he fpies, to let in fate,

'twixt the neck and throat the jointed plate
thro' that penetrable part

Where

Gave entrance:

Furious he drove the well-direcled dart

410

f. 391. So Jove's bold bird\ etc.] The poet takes up fome time in defcribing the two great heroes before The verfes are pompous and mathey clofe in fight. gnificent, and he illuftrates his defcription with two beautihe makes a double ufe of this conducT, ful fimiles which not only raifes our imagination to attend to fo momentous an action, but by lengthening his narration keeps the mind in a pleating fufpence, and divides it between hopes and fears for the fate of Hector or Achilles.
:

#'.409. Thro that penetrable part Furious he drove , etc.] It was neceflary that the poet mould be very par-

144

HO M

R's

D,

BookXXIL

Kor

piercM the wind-pipe yet, nor took the pow'r

thy dying hour.

Of fpeech, unhappy! from

Prone on the
field

the bleeding warrior lies,

ftern Achilles cries.

While thus triumphing,

At
laft is

Hector ftretch'd upon the plain,

415
:

Who

fear'd

no vengeance
!

for Patroclus flain

Then, prince you mould havcfear'd, what now you feel;

Achilles abfent, was Achilles
(till.

Yet a fhort fpace the great avenger

ftay'd,

Then low

in duft thy ftrength and glory lay'd.

all

420

Peaceful he fleeps, with

our

rites

adorn 'd,

For ever hononr'd, and

for ever

mourn'd:
pow'r,

While
Thee,

caft to all the rage

of

hoftile

birds

(hall

mangle, and the dogs devour.

fainting at th' approach
1

Then Hedor

of death.

425

By
By

thy
all

own foul by

thofe

who gave

thee breath

the facred prevalence of pray'r

for Grecian

Ah, leave me not

dogs to

tear

The common

rites

of fepulture bellow,

To foothe

a father's and a mother's woe;

430

arms that Hector wore, were the arms of Achilles, taken from Patroclus ; and confequently as they were the work of Vulcan, they
ticular in this point, becaufe the

would preferve Hector from the

ftory, tells us that they

poflibility

of a wound:

the poet therefore to give an air of probability to his

were Patroclus's arms, and as

they were not made for Hector, they might not exactly
his body fo that it is not improbable but there might be fome place about the neck of Hector fo open, as to admit the fpear of Achilles. Euftathius. Let
fit
:

Book XXII.
Let their large
!And Hector's

R's

ILIAD.
leaft,

145

gifts

procure an urn at

allies in his

country

reft.

No, wretch

aceurft; relentlefs he replies,

'(Flames, as he fpoke, (hot flaming from his eyes)

;Not thofe

who gave me

breath (hou'd bid

me

fpare,

435

iKor

all
I

the facred prevalence

of pray'r.

ICould

myfelf the bloody banquet join

to the

:Ko

dogs that carcafe

I refign.
all

iShould Troy, to bribe me, bring forth

I

her {lore,

And

giving thoufands, offer thoufands more;

4^0

^'.347. Could 1 myfelf'the bloody banquet join!"] I have before hinted that there is fomething very fierce and
violent in this paffage
;

but

fancy that what

there

obferved will juftify

the expreffion by

Homer

in his relation,

though not

Achilles in his favage fentiments:

yet the poet foftens

making Achilles only wifn that his heart would permit him to devour him; this is much more tolerable than a paffage in the Thebais of Statins, where Tydeus in the very pangs of death is reprefented as gnawing the head of his enemy.
f. 439. Should Troy,
in anger
;

to bribe

me, etc.]

Such refo-

lutions as Achilles here makes, are very natural to

men

he

tells

Hector that no motives mail ever pre-

vail with him to fuffer his body to be ranfomed ; yet when time had cooled his heat, and he had fomewhat
Fatisfied his

revenge by infulting his remains, he reftores

them
nial,
this

to Priam.

This

perfectly agrees with his

at
firft

conduct

in the ninth

book, where

he gives

rough de-

and afterwards foftens into an eafkr temper.

is

And

very agreeable to the nature of Achilles; his an;

ger abates very flowly

it

is

ftubborn, yet

frill it

remits:

had the poet drawn him as never to be packed, he had outraged nature, and not reprefented his hero as a man,
but as a moniter.
Euilathius.

Vol. IV.

146

H O M

E R's

ILIAD.

Book XXII.

Should Dardan Priam, and his weeping dame

Drain their whole realm to buy one fun'ral flame:

Their Hector on the

pile they

mould not

fee,

Nor

rob the vultures of one limb of thee.

thus the chief his dying accents drew
!

Then

445

Thy
The

rage, implacable

too well

knew
fleel'd,

furies that relentlefs

curfl:

bread have

And

thee with a heart that cannot yield.

a

Yet think,

day

will

come, when

fate's

decree

And angry Gods,

Phcebus and Paris

mall wreak this wrong on thee; 450

fnall

avenge

my

fate,

And

ftretch thee here, before this Scaean gate.

He
And

ceas'd.

The

fates fupprefl: his lab'ring breath,

his eyes flifTened at the

hand of death;
its

To
And

the dark realm the fpirit wings

left a

way,

455

(The manly body

load of clay)

plaintive glides along the dreary coaft,

A- naked, wand'ring, melancholy ghoft!

Achilles, mufing as he roll'd his eyes

O'er the dead hero, thus (unheard) replies.

460
ordain,

Die thou the

I

firfl:

when Jove and heav'n

follow thee

He

faid,

and

ftripp'd the flain.

>>.

449.

A day

will come
fall

his death that Achilles (hall

] Heel or prophefies at by the hand of Paris.

This confirms an obfervation made in a former note, that the words of dying men were looked upon as pro-
phecies; but whether fuch conjectures are true or
it
falfe,

appears from hence, that fuch opinions have prevailed

in the world above three thoufand years.

Book XXII.

H O M

E R's

ILIAD.
gaping wound

47

Then forcing backward from the ground. The reeking jav'lin, caft it on the

with wond'ring eyes 465 The thronging Greeks behold

His manly beauty

2nd fuperior

fize:

While fome

ignobler, the great dead deface

v.ith taunts

With wounds ungen'rous, or

dfgrace.

How
-

chang'd that Hetfor

who
and

like

Jove of late

Sent light'ning on our

fleets,

fcatter'd fate ?"

470

High

Achilles (tends, o'er the (lain the great

Begirt with heroes,

and furrounding bands;

deface With wands, y. 467. The ptal dead introduces the loldiers Homer that \is Euftathins tells in order to mitigate wounding the dead body of Hector,
the cruelties

etc]

which Achilles exercifes upon

infults

it.

lor

it

every

common

wound, what
orable,

giving him a foldier takes a pride in not expecl from, the inex-

may we

muft confefs myfe.f inflamed Achilles? But I giving us (bob an idea or unable to vindicate the poet in former courage oi their the think I his countrymen.

moving tnem to reenemy mould have been fo far from him to their recommended venge, that it mould have is mit ble to his aas afterwards Achilles what
efteem:
eharacler,
5 and confequently the poet is of his temper? Fatroclus furely all the Greeks were not was to Achihes. It is was not fo dear to them all, as he

juuined

but

Euftathius obferves) poet reprefents Achilles (as fuffered from Hechad they ills many the enumerating
true, the

the whole army and feems to endeavour to infeft living, they been Hettor Had with his refentment. indignation agaroft him: had been acled by a generous dared approacn him but thefe men feem as if they only
tor;

dead

in (hort,

what they

fay over his

it

body

is

mean

infult,

and

the (tabs they give

are cowardly

and bar-

barous.
tf 2

143

H O M

E R's
all

ILIA

D.

Book XXII.

And

thus aloud, while

!

the holt attends.

I

Princes and leaders

Since

countrymen and friends

now

at length the pow'rful will

of heav'n

475

The
Is

dire deftroyer to our

fall'n already

arm has
?

giv'n,
!

not Troy

Hafte, ye pow'rs

See, if already their deferted tow'rs

Are

left

unmann'd; or

if

they yet retain

The fouls of heroes,

But what
is

their great

Hector

flain ?

480

Troy, of glory what to me?

Pt why

reflects

my mind on
I

ought but thee,

;

Dj

/ine Patroclus

death has feal'd his eyes

lies

Unwept, unhonour'd, uninterr'd he

f. 474. Thefpeecb ofAchilles.'] have a very fine obfervation of EuHathius on this place, that the judg-

We

ment and addrcfs. of Homer here is extremely worthy of remark; he knew, and had often faid, that the gods snd fate had not granted Achilles the glory of
taking

Troy^: there was then no reafon to make him march agaifift the town after the d.Mth of Hector, fince all his efforts muft have- been ineffectual. What has the poet
conjuncture ? It was but reafonabk that thought of Achilles mould be to march directly to Troy, and to profit himfelf of the general confternathe
tirft

done

in this

fible

a plaupretence from the impatience he has to pay the iaft devoirs to his. friend. The manners of Achilles, and what he has already done for Patroclus, make this very

which the death of Hector had thrown the We here fee he knows the duty, and does not want the ability, of a great general;, but after this on a fudderi he changes his defigrj, and derives
Trojans.

tion into

natural. At the fame time, this turning off to the leader and pathetic has a fine eifea the reader in the very fury of the hero's vengeance, perceives
:

that Achilles

(rill

a man, and capable of fofter

paf!iorj,s.

Book XXII.

HOME

R's

ILIAD.
heart
?

149

jCan his dear image from

my

foul depart,

485

.Long
,If,

as the vital fpirit

moves

my

in the

melancholy (hades below,

The
j

flames of friends and lovers ceafe to glow,

(hall facred laft;

Yet mine

mine undecay'd,

iBurn on thro' death, and animate

my

(hade.

490

(Meanwhile, ye fons of Greece, in triumph bring

The
Be

corps of Heclor, and your Pseans fing.

this the fong,

is

flow-moving tow'rd the more,

is

| Heclor

dead, and Ilion

no more."

Then
j

his fell

foul a thought of vengeance bred, 495

(Unworthy of

himfelf,

and of the dead;

" Heclor is dead, and Ilion is no mpre"] I f. 494. have followed the opinion of Eufiathius, who thought that what Achilles fays here was the chorus or burden of ifong of triumph, in which his troops bear apart with
him, as he returns from
obferves that this is
;

this glorious

combaie.

Dacier

very correfpondent to the manners of thofc times and inftances in that pafiage of the book of Kings, when David returns from the conqueft of

Goliah : the women there go out to meet him from all the cities of Ifrae], and fing a triumphal fong, the chorus

whereof

is,

Said has killed

his thoufands y

and David hh

ten thottfandj. the dead. ~] This jr. 496, Unworthy of bimfelfa and of inhumanity of Achilles in dragging the dead body of Heclor, has been feverely (and I think indeed not withand out feme juftice) cenfured by feveral, both ancients

moderns.

Plato in his third

book

de republican

fpe&s

great iuof it with deteftation: but methinks it is a of the aujullice to Homer, to refletf upon the morals
the marithor himfelf, for things which he only paints as

ners of a vicious hero,

*3

i$o

HOME
fix'd

R's

ILIAD.
feet

BookXXU..

The

nervous ancles bor'd, his

he bound

With thongs
Thefe

inferted thro' the ctauble

wound

up high behind the rolling wain,

trail'd

His graceful head was

along the plain.

500

Proud on

his car th' infuking victor ftood,

diflilling

And

bore aloft his arms,

blood.
flies;,

He

fmites the fteeds; the rapid chariot

The

Hidden clouds of circling dull

arife.

It

may

juftly be obferved in general

jecVions againft

Homer,

that they are

(till

of all Plato's ob* in a view to

ill

morality, confiantly blaming

him for reprefenting

and immortal things as the opinions or actions of his perfons. To every one of thefe, one general anfwer will ferve,. which is, that Homer as often defcribes ill things, in order to make us avoid them, as good, to induce us to follow them, (which is the cafe with all writers whatever.) But what is extremely remarkable, and e
fcidently

(hews the injuftice of Plato's cenfure,.

is, thai

many of thofe

very actions for which he blames him, are

expreOy characterized and marked by Homer himfelf as evil and deteftable, by previous expreflions or cautions,

Thus

in the prefent place, before

tells

barity of Achilles, he
action.

us

it

he defcribes this barwas a mofl unworthy

Xj "Exropa J7ov detxiu priSzTOipya*

When
1.

Achilles facrifices the twelve

young Trojans

in

23. he repeats the fame words.

1.

When

Pandarus
unjuft

broke the truce in

deed
\

4. he told us

it

was a mad,

And
Co of the rciL

-7J3 $t

rppiw$ appov-* tfuSt*.

Book XXII.

H O M
all

E R*s

D.

151
5:05

Kow loft is
The

that formidable air

face divine,

and long defcending hair

;

Purple the ground, and (treak the fable fand

Deform'd, difhonour'd, in his native

land.!
!

Giv'n to the rage of an infukirg throng

And,

in his parent's fight,

firft

now

dragg'd along

510

The mother
She rent her

beheld with Qxd furvey;

O
S>

trefles,

venerably grey,

And
With

caft, far off,

the regal veils away.

3
515

piercing (hrieks his bitter fate (he moans,

"While the fad father anfwcrs groans with groans,

Tears

after tears his

mournful cheeks o'erflow,

And
Iso

the whole city wears one face of woe.

lefs

than

if

the rage of hoftile fires

From

her foundations curling to her fpires,

f. 506. The face

having our curiofity

divine,

and

long- defcending hair.']

It is impoffi-ble to read the actions

of great

men without
it,

raifed to

know

the leaft circumto fatisfy

fiance that relates to them.

taken care in the procefsof his

Homer, poem to

has

give us the fnape

of his heroes, and the very colour of their hair; thus be has told us that Achilles's locks were yellow, and here the epithet Kudvexi mews us that thofe of Hector were of a darker -colour t as to his perfon, he told us a
little

above, that

It

was
fee

fo

handfome, that

all

the Greeks

were furprized to
ilaemon; that a

it.

Plutarch, recites a remarkable

ftory of the beauty

of Hector: it was reported in Lacehandfome youth who very much refembled Heclor was arrived there ; immediately the whole city run in fuch numbers to behold him, that he was
trampled to death by the croud*
Euftathius..

i$2

H O M E
the
laft

R's

D.

Book XXII.
420

O'er the proud citadel at length mould

rife,

And

blaze fend Ilion to the ikies.

(late,

The

wretched monarch of the falling

Diilracled, pre/Fes to the

Dardan

gate.

Scarce the whole people (top his defp'rate courfe,

While ftrong

affliction gives the feeble force

525

Grief tears his heart, and drives him to and fro,

In

all

the raging impotence of woe.

:

At

length he roll'd in duft, and thus begun

all,

Imploring

and naming one by one.

Ah
I,

let

me,

let

me go where forrow calls

from your walls,
!

530

only

I,

will iiTue

(Guide or companion, friends

afk ye

none)

And bow

before the murd'rer of

my

fon.

My
He

grief perhaps his pity

at lead

may engage;

Perhaps

he

may
;

refpcft

my

age.

535

has a father too

man

like

me

One, not exempt from age and mifery,

(Vig'rous no more, as

when
all

his

young embrace
rice.)

Begot

this peft

of me, and

my

How many
Has

valiant fons, in early

bloom,
!

40

that curft
!

hand fent headlong to the tomb

laft:

Thee, Hector
Sinks

thy lofs (divinely brave)

my

fad foul with forrow to the grave.

It is in the

y. 543. Sinks my fad foul with forrow Creek,

Ov
f&

to

the gravc7\

,V5 oo v.ciTOi'o-tTai d'^og u<ra.

It is needlefs

to obferve

to

the reader

with

what

beautiful pathos

the wretched father laments

his fon

BookXXIi:

E R's

ILIAD.
peace,

153

Oh

had thy gentle

fpirit paft in
fire's

The

Ton expiring in the

embrace,
the fatal hour,

545

While both thy parents wept

And bending
Some comfort
-To melt

o'er thee, that

mix'd the tender fhow'r!

relief,

had been, fome fad

in full fatiety

of grief

Thus

wail'd the father, grov'ling

on the ground, 550

And

all

the eyes of Ilion ftream'd around.

Amidit her matrons Hecuba appears,

(A mourning

princefs,

and a

train in tears)

Ah why

has heav'n prolong'd this hated breath,

?

Patient of horrors, to behold thy death

555

Oh Hector

late

thy parents pride and joy,

!

The

boaft of nations

the defence of

Troy

To whom
Her

her fafety and her

me

(he

ow'd,

chief, her hero,

and almoft her

in

God
560

O A

fatal

change

become
!

one fad day

!

fenfelefs corfe

inanimated clay

But not

as yet the fatal

news had fpread

\

To

fair

Andromache, of Hector dead

it is

Hector:
ibrrows.
reader,

impoflible not to join with Priam in his

I

But what

would
for

chiefly

point out to
is

my
of

is

the beauty of this line, which

particularly
that

tender, and almoft

word
;

word the fame with

a like occafion
tells his

the patriarch Jacob

who upon

breaks

out into the fame complaint, and

if

children, that

they deprive him of his fon Benjamin, they will bring down his grey hairs with forrow to the grave.

f. 563,
painted in
praifes that

etc.']

The

grief of
part,
it ;

the following

Andromache, which is is far beyond all the

I

can be given

bat

muft take notice of

r$4

E R's

ILIAD.
told his fate,

Book XXII.

As

yet

no mefTenger had

Nor
Far

ev'n his flay without the Scsean gate.

in the clofe recefles of the

565*

dome,
j

Penfive (he ply'd the melancholy loom

growing work employ'd her

fecret hours,

Confus'dly gay with intermingled fiow'rs.

Here

fair-hair'd

handmaids heat the brazen urn,

570

The

bath preparing for her Lord's return:

:

In vain

alas

her Lord returns no more

Unbath'd he

lies,

and bleeds along the more

Mow
And
As

from the walls the clamours reach her ear,

all

her members (hake with Fudden fear 5

falls,

575

Forth from her iv'ry hand the fhuttle

thus, aftonifh'd, to her maids (he calls.

Ah

follow

me

(me
5

cry'd)

what

plaintive noife

Invades

my

ear?

Tis fare

my

mother's voice.

My A pulfe
Some

fault'ring

knees their trembling frame defert,

580

unufuai flutters at

my

heart,

ftrange difafter,

fome

reverfe of fate

(Ye Gods

avert

it)

threats the

Trojan

ftate.

one particular which (hews the great art of the poet. In order to make the wife of Hector appear yet more
afflicted

than his parents, he has taken care to increafe

her

affliction

by fw prize:

it

is

finely prepared

by the

circumftances of her being retired to her innermoft apartment, of her employment in weaving a robe for her

hufband, (as

may

be conjectured from what (he fays

afterward, f. 657.) and of her maids preparing the bath for his return : all which (as the critics have obferved)

augment the

furprize, and render this reverfe of fortune

much more

dreadful and afflicting.

Bool: XXII.

H O M E
my

R's

ILIAD.
fuggeft:
!

155

Far be the

omen which my
I fear

thoughts

But much

Hector's dauntlefs bread

585

Confronts Achilles; chas'd along the plain,

Shut from our walls
!

I fear, I fear

him

(lain

Safe in the croud he ever fcorn'd to wait,

And

fought for glory in the jaws of fate

Perhaps that noble heat has cod his breath,

590

Now

quench'd for ever in the arms of death.

diftracled pace,

She fpoke; and furious, with

Fears in her heart, and anguith in her face,

Flies thro' the

dome, (the maids her

fteps purfue)

And mounts

the walls, and fends around her view. 59c/

Too The

foon her eyes the killing object found,

god-like Hector dragg'd along the ground.

fndden darknefs fhades her fwimming eyes

faints, (lie falls
;

She

her breath, her colour

flies.

Her

hair's fair

ornaments, the braids that bound,

600

The

net that held them, and the wreath that crown'd,

f. 600. Her hair 's fair ornament /.] Euftathius remarks, that in fpeaking of Andromache and Hecuba,
expatiates upon theornameuta of drefs in Andromache, becaufe (he was a beautiful young princefs; but is very concife about that of Hecuba^ becaufe me was old, and wore a drefs rather fuitable to her age and
gravity, than to her (late, birth, and condition.
I cannot pafs over a matter of fuch importance as a lady's drefs, without endeavouring to explain what fort of

Homer

heads were worn above three thoufand y.cs ago.

It is difficult

to defcribe particularly every

I (hall

ornament

mentioned by the poet, but

lay before

my

female
ufed.

readers the bifnop's explanation.

The *hf^v\ was

!!

156

HOME
veil
gift

R's

ILIA
far

D.

Book XXII.

The

and diadem, flew

away

(The

of Venus on her bridal day)

Around

a train of weeping lifters ftands

To raife
She

her (inking with

afiiftant

hands.

605

Scarce from the verge of death recall'd again,

faints,

or but recovers to complain.

O
For

wretched hufband of a wretched wife

fate, to

Born with one

fure

one unhappy

life

one

(tar its

baneful

beam

difpiay'd

6 13

On
At

Priam's roof, and Hippoplacia's (hade.

diff'rent parents, diffrent climes

From

we came,

diff'rent perbJs, yet

our

fate the

fame

Why was my
And why was

birth to great Aetion

all

ow'd,

that tender care beftow'd?

615

to rag IpirpoerQlxc rpi^ats aracTftv, that IS, tO tie

the hair that

KfHpvpxKoe

backwards grew on the forepart of the head the

:

was a veil of net- work that covered the hair when it was fo tied '^xSla^ was an ornament ufed Kv*.\?7rtfl 7-wV xpoTxpu; ivxSuv, to tie backwards the hair that grew on the temples; and the KpwJ^vav was a fillet, perhaps embroidered with gold, (from the expreflion of XF V AppoSlm) that bound the whole, and compleated
:

the drefs.

The ladies cannot but be pleafed to fee fo ing and Greek upon this important fubjecl.
Homer
ftinclion

much

learn-

is in nothing more excellent than in that diof characters which he maintains through his
:

whole poem what Andromache here fays, cannot be fpoken properly by any but Andromache: there is nothing general in her forrows, nothing that can be tranfferred to another character: the mother laments the fon, and the wife weeps over the huiband.

Would

Book XXII.

H O M
!

E R's

ILIAD.
!

157

Would
Of my

had never been

! O

thou, the ghoft

dead hufband

miferably loft

Thou
And
I

to the difmal realms for ever

gone

abandon'd, defolate, alone

An

only child, once comfort of

my

pains,
!

620

Sad product

now of haplefs
upon
!

love remains
!

No more

to fmile

his fire

no friend

To

help

him now

no

father to defend

For fhould he

'fcape the fword, the

common doom

What wrongs
Ev'n from
his

attend -him, and what griefs to

come ? 6l$

own

paternal roof expell'd,

Some

ftranger plows his patrimonial field.

The
Robs

day, that to the fhades the rather fends,

the fad orphan of his father's friends:

f. 628. The day, that to the /hades, etc.] The following verfes, which fo finely defcribe the condition of an orphan, have been rejected by fome ancient critics: it is a proof there were always critics of no manner of tafte; it being impoflible any where to meet with a

more

exquiiite pafTage.
all

I will

venture to fay, there

are not in

more worthy of him : the beauty of this tender and com pad: on ate image is fuch, that it even makes amends for the many cruel ones, with which the Iliad is too much ftained. Thefecenfurers

Homer any

lines

imagined this defcription to be of too abject and mean a nature of one of the quality of Aftyanax; but had they

conhdered (fays Euftathius) that thefe are the words of a fond' mother, who feared every thing for her fon
that

women
may;

are

by nature timorous, and think

is

all

mif-

fortunes will happen, becaufe there

a poffibility that

they

that

Andromache

is is

in the very height

of

her forrows, in the inftant (he

fpeaking

fancy they

would have

altered their opinion.

Vol. IV.

1^3

HOME R's
outcaft

ILIAD.
!

Book XXII.

He, wretched For

of mankind

appears

6$$

ever fad, for ever bath'd in tears;

he,

Amongft the happy, unregarded

Hangs on While

the robe, or trembles at the knee,

thofe his father's former bounty fed,

Ivor reach the goblet, nor divide the bread:

^35

The

kindeft but his prefent wants allay,

To

leave

him wretched
!

the fucceeding day.

Frugal compaflion

heedlefs tht?y
feel

who

boaft
loft,

Both parents
Shall cry,

ftill,

nor
!

what he has

" Be gone thy father feafts not

tear.

here:"

640

The
Thus

wretch obeys, retiring with a

wretched, thus retiring
all

in tears,
!

To my fad
And
to lib

foul Aftyanax appears

Forc'd by repeated infults to return,

widow'd mother vainly mourn.

delicacy hred,

64$

He, who with tender

With

princes fported, and

on

dainties fed,

It is

when

they link us in a

undoubtedly an aggravation to our misfortunes moment from the higheft flow of

:

profperity to the lo weft advertlty

the poet judicioufly

more to excite our and introduces the mother with the utmoft tendernefs, lamenting this reverfe of fortune in her fon; changed all at once into a (lave, a beggar, an orphan have we not examples in our own times of unhappy princes, whofe condition renders this of Aftyanax but too
ufe of this circumftance, the
pity,

makes

probable ?

u u

f. 647. On dainties fed\] It is in the Greek, " Who upon his father's knees, ufed to eat marrow and the fat of fheep." This would feem grofs if it were li;

terally tranflated, but it is a figurative expreflion

in

I Book XXII.
I And when
I Sunk
flill

H O M E
down upon

R's

ILIAD.
reft,

159

ev'ning gave him up to

foft in

the nurfe's bread,

?

1 Muft ah what muft he not

Whom

Ilion calls

650

Aftyanax, from her well-guarded walls,

Is

now

that

name no more, unhappy boy

Since

now no more

the father guards his Troy.

ly'ft

But thou,

my

Hector,

exposed in

air,

Far from thy parent's and thy confort's care,

655

Whofe hand

in vain, directed

by her love,

The martial

fcarf

and robe of triumph wove,

the ftyle of the orientals,,

for whatever
in
is

marrow and

fatnefs are taken

belt, tendereft,

and moit delicious. Thus

Requies autem

Job xxi. 24. Vifcera

ejus

ejus plena font adipe, et medullis

effa

irrigantur.
erit

And

xxxvi. 16.

menfe tua

God

plena phguedlne. In Jer. xxxi. 14. fays, that he willfatiate the foul of the priefts with
Inebriabo anim am facer-datum pinguedine. Dacier..

fetnefs.

f. 657. The martialfcarf and robe of triumph wove. ~\ This idea very naturally offers itfelf to a woman, who
reprefents to herfelf the
pieces, and
all

his limbs

body of her hufband darned to dragged upon the ground un-

covered

and nothing

is
it

It is well

known,

that

more proper to excite pity. was anciently the cuftom a-

mong

princefles

and great ladies to have large quantities

of fluffs and moveables. This proviGon was more neceffary in thofe times than now^becaufe of the great confumption made of them on thofe occafions of mourning. Dacier
I

..

am of opinion
that

that

Homer had

a farther view in ex-

upon the death of Hector. Every Hecuba, Priam, and Andromache fpeak, fhews us the importance of Hector: every word adds a weight to the concluding action of the poem, and at she fametime reprefents the fad effects of the anger of Achilles,
patiating thus largely

word

hich.

is

the fubject of

it.

! !

l6o

<J

E R's

D.

BookXXU.

Now to
Yet
let

devouring flames be thefe a prey,

Ufelefs to thee,

from

this accurfed

day

the facrHice at lead be paid,

to the living, not the dead
:

660

An

honour

So fpake the mournful dame

her matrons hear>

Sigh back her fighs, and anfwer tear with tear.

THE
i

l
B

a
XXIIL

x*

O O K

THE ARGUMENT.
ACHIL LES
and the Myrmidons do honours
i

to the body"

After 'hefiner al feajl he retires to the' of Patroclus. fea-Jhore; where falling afleep, theghofl of his friend appears to him, and demands the rites of burial; the nexir morning the foldiers are fen t with mules and waggons ta>

fetcbwoodfor the pyre.

veral animals, and
p'rle,
lajlly

The funeral procefion, and the

offering their hair to the dead.

Achilles facrifices fetwelve Trojan captives at the-

then fets fire to

it.

He

pays libations to the

winds) which (at the in/lance of Iris) rife, and raifr

tie flames.

When

the- pile has

burned

all

night T t hey

gather the bones, place them

raifi the tomb.

in-

an urn of gold, and

;:

Achilles inflitutcs the funeral games

the chariot-race, the fight of the Caflus,

fbooting with arrows,
the darting

the wrejl-

ling r the foot-race, thefingle com bate, the Difcus, the

the javelin

the

various ds/'criptions of which,

and the various

fitccefs

of the fever al
the book.

antagonifls,

make the greatejl part off

In

this book ends the- thirtieth day.

The
the-

night following x

the ghojl

ofPatroclus appears
is

to

Achilhs

the one and;

thirtieth day
pile;,

employed in felling

timber for the

the two and thirtieth in burning it; and the three,

and

thirtieth in the

ganm^

Thefcsne.

is

generalises,

tfitf&tfior-e:*

j62

H O M E
humbled
Thro' the

R's

D.

BookXXIlI.

'THUS
The body

in the dull, the penfive train

fad city

mourn'd her hero

flain.

foil'd

with duft, and black with gore,

Lies on broad f&Uefpont's refounding {here

This, and the following book, which contain the

defcription of the funeral of Patroclus and other matters relating to Hector, are undoubtedly fuper-acfded to the

grand cataftrophe of the poem

; for the ftory is compleatly finifhed with the death of that hero in the twen-

ty-fecond book. Many judicious critics have been of opinion, that Homer is blameable for protracting it.
Virgil clofes the whole fcene of action with the death of Turnns, and leaves the reft to be imagined by the mind

of the reader: he does not draw the picture at full length, out delineates it fo far, that we cannot fail of imagining the whole draught. There is however one thing to be
faid in favour

of Homer, which
that

may

m his method,

perhaps juftify him

what he undertook to paint was the qrger of Achilles: and as that anger does not die with

Hector, but'perfecutes his very remains, fo the poet ftill keeps up to his fubject; nay, it feems to require
that he

mould carry down the

is

relation of that refenttill it is

mcnt, which
fatisfied:

the foundation of his poem,

this

fully

and as

furvives Hector,
ftill

and gives the

poet an opportunity of

Achijles's anger, the two following

mewing many fad effects of books may be thought

aot to be excrefcencies, but eflential to the poem. Virgil had been inexcufable had he trod in Homer's
fall of Turnus, by power over Italy, anfwers the whole defign and intention of the poem ; had lie gone farther, he had over/hot his mark and though Homer proceeds
it is

footitens;

for

evident that the

giving .Eneas a

full

after Hector's death, yet the fubject is

ftill

the anger of

Achiiles.

are now paft the war and violence of the Hi as, the fcenes of blood are clofed during rhe reft: of the

We

Book XXIII.

H O M

E R's

ILIA

D,

169

The

Grecians feek their (hips, and clear the (brand,

All, but the martial

Myrmidonian band

Thefe yet afTcmbled great Achilles holds,

And

the (tern purpofe of his

yet

mind unfolds.

Not

(my brave companions of the war)

l&

Releafe your fmoking courfers from the car;

But, with his chariot each in order

led',

Perform due honours to Patroclus dead.

Ere yet from

reft

or food

we

feek relief,

Some

rites

remain, to glut our rage of grief.

The

troops obey'd; and thrice in order led

firft)

IS

'.Achilles

their courfers

round the dead;

And

thrice their forrows

and laments renew;

tears the fands

Tears bathe their arms, and

bedew.

poem; we may look back with a pleaCng kind ofhorroc upon the anger of Achilles, and fee what dire erTecls it
has wrought in the compafs of nineteen days
:

Troy

and Greece are both in mourning for it, heaven and earth,, gods and men, have fuffered in the con flicl. The 'leader feems landed upon the fhore after a violent dorm j and has leifure ta furvey the confequences of the temped, and the wreck occafkmed by the former commotions, Troy weeping for Heeler, and Greece for Patroclus. Our paffions have been in an agitation fince the opening of the poem ; wherefore the poet, like fome great mafter in mufic, foftens his notes, and meks his readers into tendernefs and pity. %. 1 8.. Tears bathe their arms, and tears the fands
bedew,
-Thetis aids their woe.
It is
~\

not eafy to give a reafon

why

Thetis fhouid be (aid

to excite the grief of the

had

feenied

Myrmidons and of Achilles ; It more natural for the mother to have com

164

E R's

ILIA
aids their

D.
woe,

BboRXXIir*

For fuch a warrior Thetis

Melts their ftrong hearts, and bids their eyes to flow. 20

pofed the forrows of the fon, and reftored his troubled
1

mind
racter

to tranquillity.

But fuch a procedure would have outraged the chaof Achilles, wh& is all along defcribed to be of fuch a violence of temper, that he is not eafy to be pa
cified at

any time, much

of this
fiction in

lef3

upon

fo great

an incident

as the death of his friend Patroclus.

Perhaps the poet

made

ufe

honour of Achilles^, he makes,

every paflion of his hero confiderable ; his forrow as well as anger is important, and he- cannot grieve but &

goddefs attends him, and a whole army weeps. Some commentators fancy that Homer animates the

very fands of the fea, and the arms of the Myrmidons,, and makes them fenfible of the lofs of Patroclus ; the preceding words feem to ftrengthen that opinion, becaufe the poet introduces a goddefs to raife the forrow But Euftathius feems not to give inta of the army. this conjecture, and I think very judicioufly; for what relation is there between the fands of the fhores, awfc the arms of the Myrmidons ? It would have been more
poetical to have faid, the fands and the rocks, than the

fends and the arms; but

it is

very natural to fay, thai

the foldkrs wept fo bitterly, that their

armour and thl

I believe

very fands were wet with their tears.

this

remark

will appear
after

very juft by reading the verfe, with*

thus,
riv^ia,
tpuriir*

aconima

r^e*,

AtvovTO

v^ct^aSiJJ, Sivov<to l

Acwcpus"!.

Then
will

the construction will be natural and eafy, period^

will anfwer period in the Greek,

be, the fands were wet,

with the tears

beauty

and the fenfein Englift* and the arms were wet,, of the mourners.
this

But however
in,

be,

there

is

a very remarkable-

the run of the verfe in

Homer, every wor

Book XXIII.
But

H O M E
:

R's

A D.

16$

chief, Pelides

thick-fucceeding fighs

Burft frpm his heart, and torrents from his eyes:

His flaught'ring hands,, yet red with blood, he

laid

On

his dead friend's cold breaft,

and thus he

faid.

All hail, Patroclus

let

thy honour'd ghoft

25

Hear, and rejoice

on Pluto's dreary coaft>

is

Behold

Achilles' promife

compleat;

The bloody Hedor

ftretch'd before thy feet.

Lo

to the dogs his carcafs I refign

And

twelve fad victims of the Trojan line,

Sacred to vengeance, inftant mall expire,

Their

lives effus'd

around thy

fun'ral pyre..

Gloomy

he faid, and (horrible to view)

Before the bier the bleeding Hector threw,

only has a melancholy cadence, and the poet has not verfe, very his even but made the fands and the arms,
to lament with Achilles. i\ 23. His plight' ring hands, yet red with blood, he
laid

On

his

dead friend's cold

hreaj}

by this paflage without obferving to my An reader the great beauty of this epithet, ivi^wt. ordinary poet would have contented himfelf with faying, he laid his hand upon the breaft of Patroclus; but HsI could not pafs

mer knows how

and by
or his
ideas,

to raife the moft trivial circumftance,. adding this one word, he laid his deadly hands, murderous hands, he fills our minds with great

and by a angle epithet recalls to our thoughts aH atchievements of Achilles through the Iliad. noble the
in this a^. 2c. All hail, Patroclus, etc.] There is a fort of Patroclus, of ghoft the to poftrophe of Achilles whida fcvagenefs, and a-mixture of foftnefsand atrocity,

are highly conformable to his character.

Dacier.

)66

E R/s

ILIAD.

Book XXIII.
35

Prone on the

duft.

The Myrmidons around

Unbrac'd their armour, and the deeds unbound.

All to Achilles' fable Ihip repair,

Frequent and

full,

the genial feaft to (hare.

afpire,

Now
The

from the well-fed fwine black fmoaks

briftly victims hitting o'er the lire

The huge ox
Around

bellowing
j

falls

with feebler cries

Expires the goat

the fheep in filence dies.

the hero's proftrate

body flow'd,

In one promifcuous ftream, the reeking blood.

And now

band of Argive monarchs brings

The

glorious victor to the king of kings.

his

From
With
Th'

dead friend the penfive warrior went,

fteps unwilling, to the regal tent.

attending heralds, as by office bound,

With

kindled flames the tripod-vafe furround

To

cleanfe his conqu'ring

hands from

hoftile gore,

They

urg'd in vain; the chief refus'd, and fwore.

No
The
''Till

drop mail touch me, by almighty Jove

and greateft of the Gods above
the pyre I place thee;
'till
!

firfi:

on

rear

The

grairy

mound, and

clip

thy facred hair.

jh 1 1. To

cleanfe his conquering hands

The
This
is

chief refus'd

chilles

conformable to the cuftom of the orientals: Awill not be induced to wafh, and afterwards re-

juft thus that

and fleeps on the ground. It is David mourns in the fcriptures; he refufes to warn, or to take any repaft, but retires from company, and lies upon the earth-

tires to the fea-fhore,

Book XXIII.

H O M E

R's

D.

167

Some

eafe at lead thofe pious rites

may

give,

lAnd foothe

my

forrows, while
I

bear to live.

Howe'er, reluctant as
1

am,

day,

And
(O

(hare your fead; but, with the

!) it

dawn of day,

60

king of men

claims thy royal care,

That Greece

the warrior's fun'ral pile prepare,

fall
:

And

bid the forefts

(fuch rites are paid

To

heroes flumb'rlng in eternal (hade)

his earthly part (hall

Then, when

mount

in fire,

65

Let the leagu'd fquadrons

to their ports retire.

He
The
Then

fpoke

they hear him, and the

word obey ;

O
-

rage of hunger and of third allay,

eafe in deep the labours of the day.

_>

But great Pelides, dretch'd along the (hore

70

Where dauYd on

rocks the broken billows rore,

;

Lies inly groaning

while on either hand

confus'dly (land:

The

martial

Myrmidons

Along

the grafs his languid

members

fall,

Tir'd with his

chafe around the Trojan wall;

75

Hufli'd by the murmurs of the rolling deep,

At length he

finks in the foft

arms of deep.

When lo
Of fad

the (hade before his clofing eyes

Patroclus rofc, or feem'd to rife;

#.78. The ghofi of Patroclus.'] Homer has introduced into the former parts of the poem the perfonages of gods and goddefles from heaven, and of furies from hell. He has embellimed it with ornaments from earth, fea,
and
air
;

and he here opens a new feme, and brings to

friend:

the view a ghoft, the (hade of the departed

thefe

by
fur-

methods he

diverfifies his

poem with new and

t68

HOMER's ILIA

D.

BookXXIIt.
So

In the fame robe he living wore, he came,

In

ftature, voice,

and pleafing look, the fame.

The form

familiar hover'd o'er his head,

And

fleeps Achilles (thus the

-phantom faid)
?

Sleeps

my
I

Achilles, his Patroclus dead

> J
85

Living,

feem'd his deareft, tend 'reft care>

But

now

forgot, I

wander in the

air

Let

my

pale corfe the rites of burial

know,

And

give

me

entrance in the realms below:

'Till then, the fpirit finds

no

reftitig-place,

But here and there

th'

unbody'd fpe&res chace

90

The

vagrant dead around the darfc abode,

th' irremeable flood.

Forbid to crofs

prizing circumftances, and awakens the attention of the reader; at the fame time he very poetically adapts his language to the circumftances of this imaginary Patroclus,

and teaches us the opinions that prevailed in his time, concerning the ftate of feparate fouls.
y

f. 92. Forbid to crofs th irremeable flood..] the common opinion of the ancients, that the
the departed were not admitted into the

It

was
the

fouls of

number of

had received the funeral rites; they fuppofed tbofe that wanted them wandered an hundred years before they were wafted over the infernal river ; Virgil perhaps had this paflage of Homer in his view in the fixth jEneis, at leaft he coincides with his
till

happy

their bodies

fentiments concerning the ftateof the departed fouls.

Hac

omnis,

quam cemis, imps inhumataque turba

eft :

Nee rip as datur horrendas, nee rant a fluent a Tr an/port are priiis, quam fe dibits of a quierunt
Centum errant annos, volit ant que hec
lit torn

circum ;

Turn demum admijfi ftagna exoptata revifunt.

It

Book XXIII.

H O M E

R's

ILIAD.

169

Now give thy hind; for to the farther fiiore When once we pafs, the foul returns no more. When once the laft funereal flames afcend, Ko more fhali meet Achilles and liis friend,
No more our
Or
thoughts to thofe

9$

we

lov'd

make known,

quit the deareft, to converle alone.

fate

Me

has fever'd from the fons of earth,

The

fate

fbre*doom'd that waited from

it

my

birth

100

Thee too

waits; before the Trojan wall

art

Ev'n great and godlike thou

doom'd

to fall.

Hear then| and

as in fate

and love we join,

reft

Ah

fufFer that

my

bones

may

with thine

It was during this interval between death and the rites of funeral, that they fuppofed the only time allowed for

feparate fpirits to appear to

fcere tells his friend,

men;

therefore Patroclus

When
For the
fuller

To

the farther fiore

ones wepafs, the foul returns no more.

undemanding of Homer,

it is

necefTary

to be acquainted with his notion of the (late of the foul after death : he followed the philofophy of the Egyptians,

who
an

fuppofed

parts,

intelligent

man to be compounded of three mind, a vehicle for that mind, and

a body; the mind they call tyfa or 4&X** the vehicle The iifaKov, image or fouly and the grofs body o-S^a.
foul, in

ly

to

refemble the body in

;

which the mind was lodged, was fuppofed exactfhape, magnitude, and
for this being in the body, as the ftatue in its
it

features

mold, fo foon as
that

goes forth
it

is

properly the image of

this it

body

in

which

was inclofed:
with the
full

was thatapp. 71.

J>eared

to Achilles,

refemblance of his

friend Patroclus.
if.

Vid. Dacier's life of Pythagoras,

reft

104. Abfujfer that my bones may

with tbine.l

Vol. IV.

:!

X 7o

HOME

R's
liv'd,

ILIA

D.

Book XXIII.
105

Together have we

together bred,

One houfe

receiv'd us,

and one table fed

That golden urn thy goddefs-mother gave,

May mix
And

our

allies in
:

one

common

grave.

is it

thou

(he anfwers) to

my

fight
?

Once more

return 'ft thou from the realms of night

!

no

Oh more

than brother
reft a
laft

think each office paid,

"Whate'er can

difcontented fhade;

But grant one

Afford at

embrace, unhappy boy

leaft that

melancholy joy.

There

is

fomething very pathetical in this whole fpeech

he begins it with kind reproaches, and ; blames Achilles with a friendly tendernefs ; he recounts

of Patroclus

to him the infeparable affection that had been between them in their lives, and makes it his laft requeft, that they may not be parted even in death, but that their bones may reft in the fame urn. The fpeech itfelf is of a due length; it ought not to be very fhort, becaufe this apparition is an incident intirely different from any other in the whole poem, and consequently the reader would not have been fatisfied with a curfory mention of it; neither ought it to be long, becaufe this would have been contrary to the nature of fuch apparitions, whofe ftay upon earth has ever been defcribed as very fhort, and confequently they cannot be fuppofed to ufe

many words. The circumftance of being

intirely

buried in the fame urn, is conformable to the eaftern cuftom : there are innumerable inftances in the fcriptures of great perfon-

ages being buried with their fathers: fo Jofeph would

not

fuffer his bones to reft in ^Egypt, but commands his brethren to carry them into Canaan, to the buryingplace of his father Jacob.

Book XXIII.

H O M

E R's

ILIAD.
efTay'd

171

He

faid,

and with his longing arms

115

In vain to grafp the vifionary fhadc

Like a thin fmoke he

fees the fpirit fly,

And

hears a feeble lamentable cry.

Confus'd he wakes; amazement breaks the bands

O
> 120 3

Of golden

fleep,

and darting from the fands,

Penlive he mufes with uplifted hands.

'Tis true,
'tis

certain;

man

tho' dead, retains

Part of himfeif ; th' immortal

mind remains

The form

fubGits without the body's aid,

Aerial femblance, and an

empty made

12 5

f. 124. The form fulfils,

writ boat the

bodfs aid,

Aerial femblance j and an empty /bade.'}

The words of Homer

are,

In which there feems to be a great difficulty; it being net eafy to explain how Achilles can fay that the ghoft

of

juft

friend had no understanding, when it had but made fuch a rational and moving fpeech ; efpechlly when the poet introduces the apparition with the very
his

(hape, air, and voice of Patroclus.

But

this

parage

will be clearly underftood,

by ex-

plaining the notion which the ancients entertained of

the fouls of the departed, according to the fore-cited

of mind, image, and body. They imagined was not only feparated from the body at the hour of death, but that there was a farther feparation of the ?>pv, or underflanding, from its tifa\ov t or vetriple diviilon

that the foul

hicle; fo

that while the hSuxov, or image of the

body,
in

was

in hell,

the w**> or

undemanding might be
explication,
is

heaven: and that

this is a true

evident

from a pafTage in the OdyfTey, book ii.f, 600.

172

HOMER's ILIAD.
my
at

Book XXIII*,

This night
?tood

friend, fo late in battel loft,

my

fide,

a penfive, plaintive ghoft

life,

Ev'n now
Alas
!

familiar, as in

he came,
like the

how

difPrent

yet

how

fame
tears
;

Thus while he fpoke, each eye grew big with

um

And now

the rofy-finger'd

morn

appears,

-hews ev'ry mournful

ftnd glares

face with tears o'erfpread,.

on

the pale vifage of the dead.

'Hpaxkntinv
8t$i<rt

To*

fj.(7

ttsrivoycra. (ilnv,
ju.-t'

Eiv6)Kov'

elvro; Si

dBxvuTOici

Now

J the ftrength of Hercules behold,

A toiv'riugfpecire ofgigantic mold; AJhadowjfartH! for high in heav'tfs abodes

Himfelf re fides > a God among the Gods
There
in the bright affemblies
:

of the piles
his joys.

He NeBar
By
this
it

quaffs ,

and Hebe crowns

appears that

Homer was of opinion

fecond reparation
is

cules was in heaven, while his I/Jaxov, or image,

hell:

fo that

when

this

Herwas in: made, the

that

image or vehicle becomes a merethoughtlefs form. We have this whole doctrine very difrinctly delivered' by Plutarch in thefe words A Man is a compound fub:

"
il

jeel; but not of

two

parte, as
is

is

commonly
it

believed,.

becaufe the under/landing

generally

accounted a*

part of the feu! ; whereas indeed

foul, as the foul
foul,
is

as far exceeds the

u
"

diviner than the body.

Now

the-

when compounded with the ucderftanding, " makes reafbn and when compounded with the body,. " paflion v. hereof the one is the fource or principle
; :

" of pleafure or
*J

pain, the other of vice or virtue.

Man

therefore properly dies

two deaths;

the hrit death

" makes him two ox

three,

and the fecond makes himthe.

u one of two."

Plutarch, of the face in

moon.

BookXXlII.
J
J
I

H O M E

R's

ILIAD.

73

But Agamemnon,

as the rites

demand,
135

With mules and waggons

fends a chofen band;

To

load the timber, and the pile tc rear,

charge confign'd to Merion's faithful care.

instruments they take the road,

With proper
Axes
Firfl:
I

to cut, and ropes to fling the load,

march the heavy mule?,

hills, o'er dales, o'er

fecurely flow,

140

O'er

crags, o'er rocks they go:

f. 141. O'er

hilts,

o'er dales,

o'er

crags, o*er rocks

they

go
]

On

all fides

round the fore Jl hurls her oaks

Headlong

The numbers
us.

in the original of this

whole pafTage are

found

admirably adapted to the images the verfes convey to

Every ear muft have

line,
J

felt

the propriety of

n this
'

TlOWCt S

UVCCVTCt,

XVVT,
is

TCCpCtVTKl Tt, ol^f/.ta. t ' ^9V

The

other in

its

kind

no

lefs

exafr,

Ta/tcvov lxayo/u.tvoi, reel Si fj.ty<x\u y.1u7riv<r<xi.

Ti'mlov

Dionyfius of HalicarnafTus has collected

many

inftances

of thefe

forts

of beauties

in

Homer.

of felling the forefts, fo excellent as hended in a few lines, which has left room for a larger and more particular one in Statius, one of the beft (I
think) in that author.
Cadlt ardua fagns,
cttpreffus;

This defcription is compreit is,

Chaomumque nemus, hrumaque HUfa

Procumhunt pice* 9 ftammis aliment a fupremis,

Ornique, iliciaque trahes, metuandaque fulu>

p 2

174

H Q M E

R's

D.

Book XXIII.

Jumping, high o'er the (limbs of the rough ground,

Rattle the clatt'ring cars, and the fkockt axles bound.

But when

arriv'd at Ida's fpreading

woods,
145;

(Fair Ida, water'd with defcending floods)

Loud founds

the axe, redoubling ftrokes

foreft hurls her

on

ftrokes;

On

all fides

round the

oaks

Headlong.

Deep-echoing groan the thickets brown %

Thei) ruftling, crackling, crafhing, thunder down.

Tax us,

et infandos belli potura cruores

Fr ax in us, a t que fit u non expugnabile robur :

Uinc audax
abies, et odoro vulnere plnus

Scinditur, accllnant intonfa cacumina terrx

Alms

arnica fret is

nee inhofpita vitibus ulmus, etc.

it

I the rather cite this fine paflage, becaufe I find

co*

pied by

two of the

greateft poets

of our own nation,

Chaucer and Spenfer.

The firft

in the ajjembly offowls >

the fecond in his fairy queen, lib. 1.

Thefailing fhe9

the cedar proud and tall,

The

vine-prop elm, the poplar never dry.

builder oak,fole king

The
The The

offore/Is

all,

afpin goodfor /laves, the cyprefs finer aL

laurel,

meed of mighty

conquerors,
ftill,

And poets fage ;

the fir that weepeth

The Willow, worn offorlorn paramours The yew obedient to the benders will,

The

birch for fiafts, the fallow for the mill,

in the bitter

The myrrh ,fiDset-hleeding

woundy
ill,

The

roar like beech, the ajh for nothing

olive,

Thefruitful

and the plant ans round,

7b* carver holms> the ma^l^feldom inwardfound,.

3pok XXIII.

H O M

E R's

A D.

17$

Hie wood the Grecians

cleave, prepar'd to burn

150

And

the flow mules the fame rough road return. fturdy

The

woodmen

equal burdens bore

fliore

(Such charge was giv'n 'em) to the fandy

There on the fpot which great Achilles Pnow'd,

They

eas'd their fhoulders,

and difpos'd the load

155

Circling around the place, where times to

Shall view Patroclus' and Achilles* tomb.

come

The hero
High on
Each
All

bids his martial troops appear

their cars in
all

the

pomp of war;
ico

in refulgent

arms

his limbs attires,

mount

their chariots,
firft

combatants and fquires.

;

The

chariots

proceed, a Alining train

Then
Next

clouds of foot that fmoke along the plain;

thefe the melancholy

band appear,

Amtdit, lay dead Patroclus on the bier

O'er
all

16$

the corfe their fcatter'd locks they throw;

Achilles next, opprefl: with mighty

woe,

f. 160. Each
rals
;

in refulgent

arms, etc.] It

is

not to be
all

fuppofed that this was a general cuflom ufed at

bul Patroclus being a warrior, he
is

fune*

buried like a

Soldier,

with military honours.

thrczv.~]

Euftathius.

f. 166. O'er

all the corfe- their fcatter'd

loch they

The ceremony of
0

cutting off the hair in honour of the.

dead, was practifed not only

among

the Greeks, but al-

among

other nations

thus Statius Thebaid 6*

et

Tergoque

peftore fufim

Ccefariem ferro minuit, feftifque jacenth-

Qbmibit t inula or a comis*

i7

HOME

R's

ILIAD.
body of

Book XXIII.

Supporting with his hand* the hero's head,

Bends

o'er th' extended

the dead.

This cuftom
lciel

is

taken notice of in holy fcripture:

ch. xxvii. f, 31.

EzeI

defcribing a great lamentation, lays, They jhall make

them/elves utterly baldfor thee,

live
it

be-

was done not only in token of forrow, but perhaps had a concealed meaning, that as the hair was cut from the head, and was never more to be joined to it, fo was the dead for ever cut off from the living, never

more
I

to return.

muft obferve that this ceremony of cutting off the hair was not always in token of forrow ; Lycophron in
his CafTandra,

f. $76. defcribing

a general

lamentation,

fays,
Kpccrog
<J'

uKVpoc vt y.cc\\vv;i

fo/3>;.

j4 length ofunjhorn hah- adorned their backs.

And

that the ancients fometimes had their hair cut off

in token

ofjoy,

is

evident from Juvenal, Sat. 12. f. 82.

ibl vertice rafo

Gaudent

C arrula fecur'i

narrare perieula nautce.

will

This feeming contradiction

it

be folved by having reIf

fpect to the different practices of different nations.

was the general cuftorn of any country to wear long hair, then the cutting it off was a token of forrow but if it was the cuftom to wear fhort hair, then the letting
;

it grow long and neglecting were mourners.

it,

mewed

that fuch people

i/

168. Supporting with his hands the hero's head.~\

Achilles follows the corpfe as chief mourner, and fuftains

the head of his friend: this lad circumftance feems to

be general

thus Euripides in the

funeral of Rhefus,

f. 886.

1
177

BookXXIIL

H O M
on
th'

E R's

ILIAD.
pile

,Patroclus decent

appointed ground

170

They

place,

and heap the fylvan

around.

But great Achilles ftands apart in pray'r,

And from
Thofe

his

head divides the yellow hair;

curling locks which

from his youth he vow'd,

:

And

facred grew, to Sperchius' honour'd flood

fighing, to the deep his looks he caft,

175

Then

And

roll'd his eyes

!

around the wat'ry wafte.

loft

Sperchius

whofe waves in mazy errors

along

Delightful roll

my

native coaft
at

To- whom we vainly vow'd,

Thefe locks to
fall,

our return,

180

and hecatombs to burn:

,

T*V vvip KJ^axfj? 8cf Z

Ba.o-ih.tV}

4>opaJ v Ttttu-fU)

What Cod,

king, with his hands fupports the head of the

deceafsd?

f, 175. And not only to offer their It was the cu (torn of the ancients own hair, but likewife to confecrate that of their chilto

facred grew

Sperchius' honour'd flood.

This is what dren to the river-gods of their country. thiCePaufanias faews in his Attics : Before you dp

tomb of Theodoras, who was phifa (fays he) you find the time for tragedy; and en his actor excellent of mofl the Mnefimachus, and the the hanks you fee two flaiues, one of honour of the rivers: in hair his cut who off other of his fen, the cuflcm of the Greeks, may for that this was in all ages Pe/eus promifs byte inferred from Homer's poetry, where Sperchius the hair afchmn vow to confecrate to the river

This the Trojan war. of his fen, if he returns fafe from Phiioltratus tells where in likewife Jggjftj was cuftom
us, that

Memnon

practice of Achilles

confecrated his hair to the Kile. This was imitated by Alexander at the

Mineral of Hephsftion.

Spondanus,

; ;

; : ;

178
Full

HOMER's ILIAD!
fifty

Book XXIII.

rams to bleed

in facrifice,

Where

to the day thy filver fountains rife, in

And where

made of confecrated bow'rs

perfum'd with native flow'rs
!

The

altars (land,

185

So vow'd

my

father, but he

vow'd

in vain

No

more

Achilles fees his native plain

In that vain hope thefe hairs no longer grow,

Patroclus bears them to the mades below.

Thus

o'er Patroclus while the hero pray'd,

19a

On

his cold

hand the facred lock he

afrefli
fiin

laid.

Once more

the Grecian forrows flow

And now

the

had

fet

upon

their

woe

But to the king of men thus fpoke the

chief.

Enough

Atrides

give the troops relief:

retire,

105

Permit the mourning legions to

And

let

the chiefs alone attend the pyre

.

The

pious care be ours, the dead to burn

the people to their mips return:

He

faid:

While

thofe deputed to interr the flain,

200

Heap with

a rifing pyramid the plain.

hundred foot in length, a hundred wide,

flrufture fpreads

The growing
High on

on ev'ry

fide

the top the

manly

corfe they lay,

And
And

well-fed ftieep,

and

fable

oxen

flay

205

Achilles cover'd with their fat the dead,

the pil'd victims

round the body fpread.

Then

jars of honey, and of fragrant oil

.

Sufpends around, low-bending o'er the pile.

Book XXIII.
Jour
Pour

R's

ILIAD.
groan

179

fprightly courfers, with a deadly

210

forth their lives, and

on the pyre are thrown'.

Of

nine large dogs, domeftic at his board,

Fall two, felected to attend their Lord.

Then lad of all, and

Sad
facrifice
!

horrible to

tell,
fell.

twelve Trojan captives

21

j;

On

thefe the rage of fire victorious preys,

Involves and joins them in one

common

blaze.

Smear'd with the bloody

rites,

he (lands on high,

And

calls the fpirit

with a dreadful cry.

!

All hail, Patroclus

let

thy vengeful ghoft

220

Hear, and exult on Pluto's dreary, coaft.

Behold, Achilles' promife fully paid,

Twelve Trojan
But heavier

heroes offer 'd to thy (hade;

fates

on Hector's

corfe attend,

Sav'd from the flames, for hungry dogs to rend.

225

So fpake he, threat'ning: but the Gods made vain

His threat, and guard inviolate the
Celeftial
(lain

Venus hover'd

o'er his head,

(lied:

And

rofeate unguents, heav'nly fragrance!

f. 22S. Celeflhl Venus, etc.] Homer has here introduced a /tries of allegories in the compafs of a few lir- : the body of Hector may be fuppofed to continue beautiful even after he was (lain ; and Venus being the prefident of beauty, the poet by a natural fiction tells us
it

was preferved by that goddefs.

Apollo's covering the body with a cloud
is

a very

natural allegory:

for the fun

(fays Euftathius) has a

double quality which produces contrary effects; the heat of it caufes a drynefs, but at the fame time it exhales the vapours of the earth,

from whence the clouds

: :

1S0

HOME
all

R's

t>.

BookXXIlT,
230

She watch'd him

the night,

and

all

the day,

And
Nor

drove the bloodhounds from their deftin'd prey.

facred Phoebus lefs employ'd his care;
air,

He

pour'd around a veil of gather'd

And

kept the nerves undry'd, the

flefli

intire,

Againft the foiar beam and Sirian

fire.

23$
lies,

Nor

yet the pile where dead Patroclus

Smokes, nor

as yet the fullen flames arifej

But

faft

befide Achilles flood in pray'r,

fpirit

Invok'd the Gods whofe

moves the
caft,

air,

And

vi&ims promts 'd, and libations

249

To gentle
He

Zephyr and the Boreal

blaft

call'd th' aerial

pow'rs, along the fides

fires

To

breathe,

and whifper to the

Iris

to rife.

The winged
Where,
Sate
all

heard the hero's

call,

Arid inftant haften'd to their airy hall,

in old

24*

Zephyr's open courts on high,

the bluil'ring brethren of the fky.

She

flione

amidd them, on her painted bow;

glitter'd with the
rife,

The

rocky pavement

fhow.

All from the banquet

and each invites

jci

The
Not

various Goddefs to partake the rites.

fo,

(the

dame

reply'd) I

hade to go

To

facred Ocean, and the floods below

of heaven are formed. This allegory may be founded upon truth- there might happen to be a cool feafon while Hetfor lay unburied, and Apollo, or the fun, raifing clouds which intercept the heat of his beams, by a
very cafy fiction
to preferve the
in

poetry

may be

introduced in perfon

body of Heclor.

3ook XXIII.
iv'n

HOME
feafting

R's

ILIAD.

181

now our
is

folemn hecatombs attend,

;\nd heav'n

on

the world's green end,

2$ >

With righteous TEthiops (uncorrupted train!)

Far

on

th'

extremeft limits of the main.

facrifice,
rife

But Peleus' fon intreats, with

The Weftern
Let

Spirit,

and the North to

on Patroclus'

pile

your bind be driv'n,

260

And bear

the blazing honours high to heav'n.

Swift as the word, (he vanifh'd from their view

Swift as the

word

the winds tumultuous flew;

to

f. 263. The allegory of the winds. ~] A poet ought exprefs nothing vulgarly; and fure no poet ever treflefs againft this rule
is

paffed
lefs

than

Homer;
out'

the fruitful-

of his invention
furpriling.

continually railing incidents

this- pa-ilage

new

md
of

Take

of

its

poetical

and it will be no more than this: a ftrong gale wind blew, and fo increafed the flame that it focn onfumed the pile. But Homer introduces the gods of the winds in perfon and Iris, or the rain-bow, being ^as Euftathius obferves) a fign not only of mowers, but of winds, he makes them come at her fummons.
drefs,
:

Every circumftance
winds
fee Iris,

is

well adapted
is,

as

foon as the

they rife; that

rifes:
is,
(lie

when
(it,

the rainbow ap-

pears, the
ly

wind
;

refufes to
is

and immediate-

returns

that

the rainbow

never feen long at

:

one time, but foon appears, and foon vanifnes

turns over the ocean;
that
is,

me

re-

the

bow

is

compofed of

Raters, and

fi&ve defcribed

would have been an unnatural Action to her as palling by land. The winds are all together in the cave of Zephyrus, which may imply that they were there as at their general rendezvous; or that the nature of all the winds is
it

the fr.me; or that the weftern

wind

is
it

in that

country the

moft conftant, and consequently

may

be faid that at

Vol. IV.

Q,

::

182

H O M E

R's

D,

BookXXIII.

Forth burft the ftormy band with thund'ring rore,

And

heaps on heaps the clouds are

toft before.

265

To
The

the wide

main then {looping from the

fkies,

heaving deeps in wat'ry mountains

feels the biaft

rife

Troy
'Till

along her making walls,

en the

pile the gather'd

temped

falls.

The And

ftru&ure crackles in the roaring

all

fires,

270

the night the plenteous flame afpires.

All night Achilles hails Patroclus' foul,

With As

large libation from the golden bowl.

a poor father, helplefs and undone,

o'er the aflies

Mourns
Takes

of an only fon,
lafl

27$

a fad pleafure the

bones to burn,

And
So

pour in

tears, ere yet

they clofe the urn

ftay'd Achilles, circling

'till

round the more,

So watch'd the flames,

now

they flame no more.

'Twas when, emerging

thro' the fhades of night,

j

280

The morning
fuch feafons

planet told th' approach of light

all

the winds are afTembled in one corner,

or rendezvous with Zephyrus.

Iris will

not enter the cave:

intirely

it is

the nature of the

furface,

rainbow to be ftretched
therefore this ficlion
is

upon the

and

agreeable to reafon.

When
tombs

Iris

fays that the

it

in iEthiophia,

is

to be

gods are partaking hecaremembered that the

firft

gods are reprefented there in the fcenes of war were opened ; and
they return thither.
Euftathius.-

book, before the

they are clofed,

now

-Thus Homer
it

makes

the anger of his hero fo important, that

roufed

heaven to arms, and

Achilles as
it

now when

it

is

almoft appeafed,

were gives peace to the gods.

;;

bookXXUI.
And
faft

E R's

ILIAD.
:

183

behind, Aurora's warmer ray

\yev the broad ocean pour'd the golden day

Then

funk the blaze, the pile

no longer burn'd,
2S5

iAnd to their caves the whittling winds return'd:

they bore; Acrofs the Thracian feas their courfe

The

ruffled feas

beneath their pafTage rore.

Then
And funk

parting from the pile he ceased to weep,

to quiet in th' embrace of fleep,
grief:

Exhaufted with his

meanwhile the croud

290

Of

thronging Grecians round Achilles flood;

tumult wak'd him
:

The

from

his eyes he

fhook

Unwilling (lumber, and the chiefs befpoke.

Ye

kings and princes of

th'

Achaian name
295

Firft let us

quench the yet remaining flame

wine; then, (as the
rites d-retf)

With

fable

The

hero's bones with careful view feled:

(Apart, and eafy to be

known

they

lie,

eye: Amidft the heap, and obvious to the

The

reft

around the margins will be feen,

Promifcuous, fteeds,

and immolated men)

Thefe wrapt

in double cawls of fat, prepare;

And

in the
let

golden vafe difpofe with care

reft

There
'Till I

them

with decent honour laid,

mail follow to th' infernal (hade.

35

Meantime ere& the tomb with pious hands,

A common

ftrutfure

on the humble fands

Q,2

184

HOME

R's

ILIA
our praife.

D.

BookXXIH,
raife,

Hereafter Greece fome nobler

work may

And

late pofterity record

The
And
Next

Greeks obey; where yet the embers glow / 3*Q

pile the fable

"Wide o'er the

wine they throw,

below.

deep fubfides the

amy heap

the white bones his fad companions place

"With tears collected, in the golden vafe.

The
The

facred relicks to the tent they bore;

31 j

urn a veil of linen cover'd o'er.

bid the fepnlchre afpire,

That done, they

And
High

cafl the

deep foundations round the pyre;

in the midft they

heap the fweliing bed

Of rifing earth,

memorial of the dead.

populace the chief detains,

320

The {warming

.And leads amidft a wide extent of plains

f. 308. Hereafter Greece a nobler

pile /ball

raiJ&M

We fee how Achilles confults

of
it

his

own

glory

the defire

prevails over his tendernefs for Patroclus,

will not permit clus, to

and he any man, not even his beloved Patro* mare an equality of honour with himfeif, even
Euftathius.

in the grave.

^321.
in

Homer

The games for Patroclus^] The conduct of inlargi ng upon the games at the funeral of
very judicious
:

Patroclus

is

there had undoubtedly been'

fuch honours paid to fcveral heroes during this war, as appears from a pafTage in the ninth book, where Aga-

memnon
had

to enhance

the value of the horfes which he

offers Achilles, fays, that

any perfon would be

rich that

treafures equal to the vnlue of the prizes they

had

won; which

races

mud

have been run during the fiegei

it,

for had they been before

the horfes would

now have

been too old to be of any value,

this being the tenth

Book XXIII.
;

H O M

E R's

D.

iS$

There

plac'd 'em round: then from the fhips proceeds

train of oxen, mules,

and

ftately deeds,

Vafes and tripods, for the fun'ral games,

Refplendent brafs, and more refplendent dames.
Firft flood the prizes to

325

reward the force

Of rapid

racers in the dufty courfe.

for the
firft,

A woman
And

in beauty's

bloom,

Skill'd in the needle,

and the lab'ring loom

rife,

33

a large vafe,

where two bright handles

its

Of twenty

meafures

capacious

fize.

The

fecond victor claims a mare unbroke,

Big with a mule, unknowing of the yoke;

lover in fiience,

But the poet pafTes all thofe games and referves them for this feafon ; not only in honour of Patroclus, but alfo of his hero Aarmy; great chilles; who exhibits games to a whole himfelf generals are candidates for the prizes, and he
year of the war.
thus in peace as well as the judge and arbitrator war the poet maintains the fuperiority of the character of Achilles.
fits
:

But there

is

another reafon

why

the poet deferred to

preceding relate any games that were exhibited at any the death of Patroclus was the moft eminent funerals fuch period) and confequently the moft proper time for
:

games.
It is farther

time with
raged, the
the

obfervable, that he chufes this peculiar great judgment. When the fury of the war
well have found leifure for

army could not

games, and they might have met with interruption was from the enemy : but Hetfor being dead, atf Troy they are in too great a confternation to
in confufion
:

make any attempts, and therefore the poet could notpofopportunity. Euftathbs* fcbly have chofen a more happy

Q.2

: ;

186

HOMER'sILlAD,
third, a charger yet

BookXXin.
33

The

untouch'd by flame;
the mining frame

Four ample meafures held

Two golden
An
Thefe

talents for the fourth

were plac'd;
laft.

ample double bowJ contents the

in fair order rang'd

upon

the plain,

The

hero, rifing, thus addreft the train.

!

340

Behold the prizes, valiant Greeks

decreed

To

the brave rulers of the racing fteed

Frizes which nonebeiide ourfelf could gain,

Should our immortal courfers take the plain

(A

race unrivall'd, which from Ocean's

God

345

Peleus receiv'd, and on his fon befiow'd.)

But

this
fuit,

no time our vigour to

difplay,

Nor

wiih them, the games of this fad day:

JLofi: is

Patroclus

new,

that

wont

to deck
%$<,

Their flowing manes, and

fleek their gloffy neck.

y. 349. Lojl is Patroclus now, etc] I am not ignorant that Homer has frequently been blamed for fuel
cigreffions as thefe; in this pafTage he gives us tfy genealogy of his horfes, which he has frequently tolc us in the preceding part of the poem. But Euftathuijuftifles his condiuft, and fays that it was very prooer tt
little

commend the virtue of thefe horfes upon this occafion; "when horfes were to contend for viaory : at the farm time lie takes an opportunity to make an honourabli
mention of his friend Fatrocius,
in

whofe honour

thefi

games were exhibited.

It

may

that this

laft:

be added as a farther justification of Flomoe circumftance is very natural; Achilles

his horfes,
:

while he

commends

remembers how carefa

ii

Patroclus had been of them

&

his love for his friend

gsiea^ that the minutelt circumHance recalls,

him

Book XXIII.

HO M

E R's

ILIAD.
they (land,

287

Sad, as they fhar'd in

human

grief,

And

trail

thofe graceful honours en the fand

talk prepare,

Let others for the noble

Who
But

trufl:

the courfer, and the flying car.

Fir'd at his

word, the

rival racers rife;,

355.

far the firft,

Eumelus hopes the

prize,

Fam'd

thro' Pieria for the fleetefc breed,

And The
T

fkill'd

to

manage

the high-bounding

fteed'.

With

equal ardour bold Tydides fwell'd

deeds of Tros beneath his yokfe compell'd,

late

360

^Which

obey'd the Dardan chief's command,

his

W hen fcarce a God redeem'd him from

Then Menclaus
his

hand.)

Podargus brings,
:r

And

the fam'd courfer of the king of kings

rich Echepolus,

Whom
To
his

(more

rich than brave)

365.

Tcape the wars, to

Agamemnon

gave,

mind

and fueh

little

digretfions, fuch avocations

of

thought as thefe, very naturally proceed from the over'

flows of love and forrow,

that

f. 365. Whom, rich Echepolus >ztc.~] One would think Agamemnon might be accufed of avarice, in difa

penfmg with

man from going

to the

war

for the fake

of a horfe;. but Ariflotle very well obferves, that this prince is praife-worthy for having preferred a horfe to a perfon fo cowardly, and fo uncapable of fervice. It may be aifo conjectured from this pafTag?, that even in
thofe elder

times it was the cuflom, that thofe who were willing to be excufed from the war, fhould give Thus Scipio either a horfe or a man, and often both.

going to Africa, ordered the

Sicilians
:

either

to attend

him, or to give him horfes or men

at Ephefus and wanting cavalry,

and Agefilaus being

a proclamation,

made

i88

HOMER'sILH
home

D.

Book XXIII.

(jEthe her name) at

to end his days,

Bafe wealth preferring to eternal praife.

Next him Antilochus demands

the courfe,

With

beating heart,

and chears his Pylian horfe.

370

Experienc'd Keftor gives his fon the reins,

t>irects his

judgment, and his heat retrains;

that

the rich

men who would not

ferve

in the

war

fhould be difpenfed with, provided they furnifhed a man and a horfe in their (lead : in which, fays Plutarch, he
wifely followed the example of king Agamemnon, who> excufed a very rich coward from ferving in perfon, for Euftathius. Dacier. a prefent of a good mare.

^.371. Experienced Neftor, etc/] The poet omits no opportunity of paying honour to his old favourite Neftor, and I think he is no where more particularly
His age had difabled complemented than in this book. him from bearing any fnare in the games ; and yet he artfully introduces him not as a mere fpectator, but as Thus he as it were wins the an actor in the fports. prize for Antilochus; Antilochus wins not by thefwiftnefs of hishorfes, but by the wifdom of Neftor.

This fatherly tendernefs is wonderfully natural: we him in all imaginable inquietude and concern for his fon; he comes to the barrier, (lands befide the chariot, animates his fon by his nraifes, and directs him by his leifons: you think the old man's foul mounts on the
fee

chariot with his Antilochus, to partake the fame dangers,

and run the fame career. Nothing can be better adapted to the character than this fpeech; he expatiates upon the advantages ofwiP dom over (trength, which is a tacit complement to him* felf: and had there been a prize for wifdom, undoubtedly the old
Euftathius.

man would

have claimed

it

as his right.

; ;

; ;

Book XXIII.

H O M

E R's
fire,

ILIAD.

1891

Nor

idly

warns the hoary

nor hears

The

prudent fon with unattending ears.

fon, tho' youthful ardour fire thy bread,

My

375

The Gods

have lov'd thee, and with arts have bled.

the (kill,

Neptune and Jove on thee conferr'd

Swift round the goal to turn the flying wheel.

To

guide thy conduct,

little

precept needs;

But (low, and

Fear not thy

pad: their vigour, are

my

Heeds.

380

rivals, tho' for fwiftnefs

known,

Compare
It is

thofe rivals judgment, and thy

own:

not drength, but

to be fwift
is lefs

art, obtains the prize,

And

than to be wife

'Tis more by art, than force of num'rous drokes,

385

The
By

dext'rous

woodman

Pnapes the dubborn oaksj

art the pilot, thro' the boiling

deep

And howling temped,

fleers the fearlefs (hip

And
Not

'tis

the artid wins the glorious courfe,

thofe,

who

trud in chariots, and in horfe.

39

In vain un(ki!ful to the goal they drive,

And

fhort, or wide, th'

ungovenvd courfer drive:

while with
#

fure (kill, tho' with inferior Reeds,

The knowing
Fix'd

racer to his end proceeds

395.

on

the goal his eye fore-runs the courfe,

His hand unerring deers the deacly horfe,

And now
Obferving

contracts, or
dill

now

extends the rein,

the foremod
'tis

on the

plain.

Mark then
Yon'

the goal,

eafy to be found

aged trunk, a cubit

from the ground

400

;;

i 9a

H O M E
once
fir,

R's

D,

Book XXIII,

Of fome

(lately

oak the

laft

remains,

Or hardy

unperifh'd with the rains.

Inclos'd with ftones confpicuous from afar,

And
Or

round, a

circle for the

wheeling car.
to grace;

(Some tomb perhaps of old, the dead

then, as

405

now, the
this,

limit of a race)

Bear clofe to

and warily proceed,

left

little

bending to the
right,

hand

fteed
all

But urge the

and give him

his fHlo w's
'till,

the reins

While thy

ftrict

hand
fliort;

head retrains,
roll,

41c

And

turns

him

doubling as they

The

wheel's round naves appear to

to break the car, or

brum

the goaJ,

Yet (not

lame the horfe)

;

Clear of the ftony heap direct the courfe

Left thro' incaution tailing, thou may'ft be

413

A joy
So

to others, a reproach to

me.

fhalt

thou pafs the goal, fecure of mind,

And
Tho'

leave unfkilful fwifftiefs far behind.

thy fierce rival drove the matchlefs fteed

Which
Or

bore Adraftus, of celeftial breed

all

42c

the fam'd race thro'

the regions

known,

That

whirl'd the car of proud

Laomedon.
fage

Thus, (nought unfaid) the much-advifing

Concludes
;

then

fate, ftifTwith

unwieldy age.
42J

Next bold Meriones was

feen to rife,

The

laft,

but not lead ardent for the prize.

$ook XXIII.

H O M E
their feats
;

R's

A D.

191

They mount

the lots their place difpofe;

(Roll'd in his helmet, thefe Achilles throws.)

Young Neftor

leads the race

Eumelus then;

And

next the brother of the king of men

lot, Meriones, the fourth

430

Thy
And

was

caft

far the braved,

Diomed, was

laft.

f. 427. The

lots their

place difpofe."]

According to
;

thefe lots the charioteers took their places

but to

know

whether they flood

another,
is

all

in

an equal front, or one behind

were of
becaufe

ancients a difficulty: Euftathius fays, the front; one in (land not did opinion that they

had the firft lot, had it is evident that he who if he had a great advantage of the other charioteers : Dacier is Madam lots ? caft Achilles mould
not,

why

of opinion that they all ftood a-breaft at the advantage, and that the firft would ftill have a fufficient within the reft; as he was nearer the bound, and ftood whereas the others muft take a larger circle, and confeground. quently were forced to run a greater compafs of
barrier,

that is, Phoenix was placed as an infpeclor of the race, they had whether report make to was fays Euftathius, he feveral turnings. obferved the laws of the race in their Homer in Sophocles obferves the fame method with
relation to the lots

and infpeclors,

in his Eletf ra.

Oj TtrayfAivtt (Zpx(it"e

K\vpot{ *xy)\kv

y.ocl

x.xT(ri)<reiv JV/>ov.

The conflictedjudges ajfigncd the places

according to the lot/.

SiThe ancients fay that the charioteers ftarted at the ran towards gaeum, where the mips of Achilles lay, and

But the ftiores. the Rhseteum, from the (hips towards compafs of the in run they that affirmed Ariftarchus
wall and the ground bvefladia, which lay between the Euftathius. tents toward the more.

;;

; ; :;

192

HOMER's ILIA
on

D.

BookXXIIf.

They

(land in order an impatient train

Pelides points the barrier

the plain,

And

fends before old Phoenix to the place,

435

To

mark

the racers, and to judge the race.

At once

the courfers from the barrier

bound

The

lifted

fcourges

all at

once refound ;

Their

heart, their eyes, their voice, they fend before

And up
And

the champain thunder from the

more:
arife,

440

Thick, where they drive, the dufty clouds

the loft courfer in the whirlwind
their shoulders the long
flies

Loofe on

manes

reclin'd,

Float in their fpeed,

and dance upon the wind:

44 f

The fmoaking

chariots, rapid as they bound,

Now feem
While hot
(Each o'er
ErecT:

to touch the fky, and

for fame,

now

the ground.

and conqueft

all their care,

his flying courfer

hung

in air) rein,

with ardour, pois'd

upon the

They pant,

they ftretch, they (hout along the plain.

lall

450

Now,
At

(die

compafs fetch'd around the goal)

all

the near prize each gathers

his foul,

Each burns with double hope, with double pain,

Tears up the
Firft flew

(hore,

and thunders tow'rd the main.

fteeds

Eumelus on Pheretrian

455

With

thofe of Tros, bold Diomed fucceeds

Clofe on Eumelus' back they pufF the wind,

And

feem juft mounting on his car behind

in 4^8-

And feem juft

mounting on his car behind7\

more natural image than this could not be thought of. The poet makes us fpeclators of the race, we fee Dio-

med

BookXXIII.
Full

HOME
loft,

R's

ILIAD.
breeze,

I93

on

his

neck he

feels the fultry

And hov'ring

o'er, their ftretching

fhadows

fees.

462

Then had he

or

left

a doubtful prize
flies,

But angry Phoebus to Tydides

Strikes

from his hand the fcourge, and renders vain

His matchlefs horfes labour on the plain.

Rage

fills

his eye with anguifb, to furvey

46$

Snatch 'd from his hope, the glories of the day.

ed prefTing
feerr.s

upon Eumelus

fo clofely, that his chariot

to climb the chariot

of Eumelus.

$. 465. Rage fills his eye with arigmfh tofurvey , etc.] have feen Diomed furrounded with innumerable dangers acting in the moft perilous fcenes of blood and

We

death, yet never (bed one tear

fma'il

and

new

he weeps on a

occafion, for a mere

trifle: this

muft be afc/ibed to

the nature of mankind,

trifles
;

who

are often tranfported with

and there are certain unguarded moments in every man's life ; fo that he who could meet the greateft dangers' with intrepidity, may through anger be betrayed
into an indecency.
Euftathius.
is

The

reafon

why Apollo
is

angry

at

Diomed, accord-

ing to Euftathius,

becaufe he was mterefted for Eu-

melus, whofe mares he had red,

but
I

when he ferved Admetus

:

fancy he

is

under

a miftake

this indeed is a reafen

why

be angry at Diomed.

he mould favour Eumelus, but not why he fhould I rather think that the quarrel

of Apollo with Diomed was perfonal ; becaufe he offered him a violence in the fifth book, and Apollo (till refents
it.

The
upon

fiction

his

of Minerva's aflifting Diomed is grounded being fo wife as to take a couple of whips to

prevent any mifchance: fo that

Wifdom,

or Pallas,

may be faid to Vol. IV.

lend him one.

Euftathius.

194

HOMER's ILIAD,
fraud celefcial Pallas fees with pain,
his fteeds witfc vigour.
his rival's chariot

Book XXIII.

The

Springs to her knight, and gives the fcourge again,

And

fills

At

a ftroke,

She breaks

from the yoke;

;

47G

No more
The

their

way

the flartled horfes held

ratling

car revers'd

came

on

the field

Shot headlong from his

feat, befide the

wheel,

Prone on the duft

th'

unhappy matter

fell;

His batter'd face and elbows

ftrike the

ground

475

Nofe, mouth and front, one undiftinguifli'd wound

Grief ftops his voice, a torrent drowns his eyes
Before him far the glad Tydides
flies

Minerva's

fpirit

drives his matchlefs pace,

viclor of the labour'd race.
;

And crowns him The

While

480

next, tho' diflant, Menelaus fucceeds

thus

young Neftor animates

his fleeds.

Now, now, my
Not
that

gen'rous pair, exert your force

to

we hope

match Tydides' horfe,

48$

Since great Minerva wings their rapid way,

And

gives their lord the honours of the day.

f. 483 Thefpeech of Antikchus Antilochus his fpeech to his horfes

thius himfelf feems to think
it

to his horfes. ~\
is

I feafi

blameable; Eufta-,

a fault that he

mould

of the race. He commands and fooths, counfels and threatens his horfes, as if they were reafonable creatures. The fubfequent fpeech of Menelaus is more excufable as it is more fhort, but both of them are fpoken in a pafllon, and anger we know makes us fpeak to every thing, and we difchargc it upon the mod fenfelefs objecls.

fpeak fo

much

in the very heat

3ook XXIII.

H O M
!

R's

A D.

195

But reach Atrides

mail his mare out-go

?

Four

fwiftnefs

vanquifh'd by a female foe

if lagging
all

Thro' your neglect,

on the plain
gain
;
/J

The

laft

ignoble gift be
fhall

we

90

No more
The

Neftor's

hand your food fnpply,

old man's fury rifes, and ye die.

;

Hafte then

yon' narrow road before our fight

Prefents th' occafion, couid

we

ufe

it

right.

Thus

he.

The

courfers at their matter's threat

495

With quicker
A.nd

fteps the

founding

champam

beat.

now

Antilochus with nice furvey,

Obferves the compafs of the hollow way.

'Twas where by force of wintry torrents torn,

Faft

by the road a precipice was worn

pafs, to

500

Here, where but one could

fhun the throng

The

Spartan hero's chariot fmoak'd along.

Clofe up the vent'rous youth refolves to keep,

Still

edging near, and bears him tow'rd the Preen.

Atrides, trembling cafts his eye below,

505

And wonders
Hold,
(lay

at the rafhnefs

of

his foe.

your

iteeds

What madnefs thus to

field

ride

This narrow way ;

take larger

(he cry'd)
;

Or both mud

fall

Atrides cry'd

in vain
all

He

flies

more

faft,

and throws up

the rein.

10

Far as an able arm the difk can fend,

When
So
far,

youthful rivals their

full force

extend,

Antilochus

thy chariot flew

Before the king: he cautious, backward drew

;;

96

HOME
;

R's

ILIAD.

BookXXIIT.j
515

His horfe compel] 'd

foreboding in his fears

The
The And

rattling ruin

of the clafhing cars,

fiound'ring courfers rolling

on the plain,
to gain
:

conqueft

loft thro' frantic hafte

But thus upbraids

his rival as

he

flies;

Go,

furious youth, ungen'rous and unwife

I'll

Go, but expecl not

the prize refign

Add

perjury to fraud, and

to his fteeds with
all

make

it

thine

Then
Be

his force

he

cries
!

fwift,

be vig'rous, and regain the prize

Your

rivals, deftitute

of youthful force,

With

fainting knees (hall labour in the courfe,

And

yield the glory

yours The

fteeds

obey;

Already at their heels they wing their way,

And

feein already to retrieve the

day.
5

Meantime

the Grecians in a ring beheld

The

courfers bounding o'er the dufty field.

firft

The

who mark'd them was

riling

the Cretan king

High on a

ground, above the ring,

:

The monarch
And

fate

from whence with fure furvey

lie well obferv'd the chief

who kd

the

way,

heard from far his animating cries,

the foremoil fteed with (harpen'd eyes
front, a blaze

And faw

On
He

whofe broad
full

of fhining white

Like the
faw
;

moon,

ftood obvious to the fight.

5.

and rifmg, to the Greeks begun.

difcern'd

Are yonder horfe

by me alone

Or can

ye, all, another chief furvey,

And

other fteeds, than lately led the

way

Book XXIII.
Thofe, tho' the

H O M
fwifteft,

E R's

ILIAD.

197

by fome God with-held,

field

Lie fure difabled in the middle

545

For

fince the goal they c!oubled, round the plain

I fearch to find

them, but

fearch in vain.

Perchance the reins forfook the driver's hand,

And,

turn'd too (hort, he tumbled

on the

(brand,

Shot from the chariot; while

"With frantic
fury from the

his courfers

ftny

550

deftin'd

way.
fight,

Rife then fome other, and inform

my

(For thefe

dim

eyes, perhaps, difcern not right)

air,)

Yet fure he feems, (to judge by (hape and

The

great

MtoWm
!

chief,

renownM

in war.

555

Old man

(Oileus

raflily

thus replies)

Thy tongue
Nor

too haftily confers the prize.

the courfe, not (harpeft ey'd,

Of thofe who view

youngeft, yet the readieft to decide.

Eumelus' feeds high-bounding in the chace,

Still,

560

as at

firft,

unrivall'd lead the race

the rein, I well difeern him, as he fhakes

And

hear his fhouts victorious o'er the plain.

he.

Thus

Idomeneus incens'd

rejoin'd.
J

Barb'rous of words! and arrogant of mind

S&S

and Jjax-2 ^'.565. The dt/pnte between l.hmerieus than this imagined naturally more be" could Nothing the leaders were divided contention at a horfe-race and each was interefted for his friend : the
:

into parties,

to embellifli and poet had a two-fold defign, not only but aLcircumftances, natural fuch diverfiry his poem by the condua as Euftathius obferves, from
fo to (hew us,

of Ajax, thatp.flionate

men

betray therafelves inK>

R3

19$

H O M
laft in

E R's

ILIAD.
firft

Book XXIII.

Contentious prince, of all the Greeks befide

The

merit, as the

in pride.

To

vile

reproach what anfwer can we

let

make

goblet or a tripod

us flake,

And

be the king the judge.

their rafliriefs,

The

molt unwife
the price.

57a-

Will learn

when they pay

He

faid:

and Ajax by mad paffion born,

Stern had reply'd; fierce fcorn enhancing fcorn

follies, and are therofelves guilty of the faults of which, they accufe others. It is with a particular decency that Homer makes Achilles rhe arbitrator between Idomeneus andAiax::

Agamemnon was
las

his fuperior in the

army, but

as Achil-

mows, he was the proper judge of any difference that mould arife about them. Had the conteft been between Ajax and Idomeneus, confidered as

exhibited the

memnon;

foidkrs, the caufe muft have been brought before Aga. but as they are to be confidered as fpeclatora of the games, they ought to be determined by Achilles.

It may not be unneceffary juft to obferve to' the reader the judicioufnefs of Homer's conducl in making Achilles exhibit the games, and not Agamemnon
:

Achilles

is

the
I

hero of the poem, and cenfequently mufl be the chief actor in all the great fcenes of it : he had remained inactive during a great part of the poem, yet the

poet,

makes

his very inactivity contribute to the carrying tie defign cf his Mas ? and to flipply his abfence

oS

from

many of the bufy fcenes cf the preceding parts of ir, he now in the conclufion makes him almoft the fole aoent;
.by thefe means he leaves
the
a

mind

of his reader;

-as

noble idea of his hero Tipon he raifed our expectations

when he brought him upon the ihgc of action, fo hei Wake* him go oif with the utmoft pomp and applaufd

;:

BookXXIlL

HO MER's ILIAD.
But Thetis' god-like Ton
rofe,
!

199

To

fell

extreams.

Awful amidft them

and thus begun.

57^
*

Forbear, ye chiefs

reproachful to contend

Much would
Andlo!
th'

ye blame, mould others thus offend:

>
J

approaching fteeds your contefl end.

Tso fooner had he fpoke, but thund'ring near,

Drives, thro' a dream of duft, the charioteer;

580

High

o'er his head the circling

lam he wields;
fields

His bounding horfes fcarcely touch the His car amidft the dufty whirlwind

roll'd,

Bright with the mingled blaze of tin and gold,

Refulgent thro' the cloud: no eye could find

585

The
And
So

track his flying wheels had

left

behind:

the fierce courfers urg'd their rapid pace

it

fwift,

fee,m'd a flight,

and not a race.

Kow
From

viclor at the goal

Tydides (lands,

Quits his bright car, and fprings upon the fands;

the hot fteeds the fvveaty torrents

590

dream

The

well-ply'd

whip

is

hung athwart the beam:

^.581. High
I

o'er his

head the

circling lafh he wields i\

am

perfuaded that

thecommon

translation
is

of the word
faulty:
it is

kula/xxtfov, in

the original of this verfe,

rendered, helajhedthe horfes continually over the [boulders ,-

whereas

fancy

it

mould be

tranflated

thus,

ajfidue-

(equos) agiiabat feuiica ab humero duBa. This naturally expreHcs the very action, and whirl of the whip over
the act of laming the horfes, and agrees with the ufe of the fame word in the 431^ Kne of this book, where lP a s'^v^ xa?i^j,: ia mult be
tranflated/tfif7/Af dlfci

the driver's moulder, in

ab humero vibraii.

;;

200

E R's

A D. Book

XXIII.

"With joy brave Sthenelus receives the prize,

The

tripod-vafe, and

dame with

radiant eyes

Thefe to the mips

his train triumphant leads,

$oe

The

chiefhimfelfunyok.es the panting fteeds.

"Neftor follows

Young

(who by

art,

not force,

O'er-paft Atrides) fecond in the courfe.

Behind, Atrides urg'd the race, more near

Than

to the courfer in his fwift career

6oO

The

following car, juft touching with his heel

And

brufhing with his

tail

the whirling wheel.

Such, and fo narrow

now

the fpace between

The rivals,
So foon

late fo diftant

on

the green

fwift JEthe her loft

ground regain'd,

605

One

length,

one moment had the race obtain'd.

ftill,

Merion

purfu'd, at greater diftance

With

tardier courfers,

and inferior

fldll.

Laft came,

Admetus

thy unhappy fon

Slow dragg'd the

fteeds his batter'd chariot

on

\ 610

Achilles faw, and pitying thus begun.

Behold

the

man whofe
I

matchlefs art furpaft

laft

The

fons of Greece

the ableft, yet the

Fortune denies, but juftice bids us pay

(Since great Tydides bears the
firft

away)

615

To him,

the fecond honours of the day.

f. 614. Fortune
rule over

denies,

but juft ice,

etc.]

Achilles

here intends to {hew, that

it is

not juft, fortune mould

formed

man who had perand who did not bring upon himfelf his misfortune, ought to have the recompence he has deferved and this principle is juft, provided we do not
virtue, but that a brave
his duty,
:

Book XXIII.

HOME

R's

ILIAD.
cries,

201

The And

Greeks confent with loud applauding

then Eumelus had receiv'd the prize,

his fame,

But youthful Neftor, jealous of

Th' award oppofes, and

Think not (he
cries) I

afTerts his claim.

620

tamely will refign

fo juftly

Peleus' fon
if the

rhe

mare

mine.

"What

Gods, the

fkilful to

confound,

Have thrown

the horfe and horfeman to the ground

Perhaps he fought not heav'n by facrifke,

625

And vows omitted

forfeited the prize.

If yet, (diflinclion to thy friend to

mow,

And
Some

pleafe a foul defirous to bellow,)

gift

muft grace Eumelus

view thy

ftore

Of beauteous

handmaids, deeds, and mining ore,

let

650

An
But

ample prefent

him thence

receive,

And

Greece mall praife thy gen'rous third to give.

this,

my

prize, I never fhall forego

!

This,

who

but touches, warriors

is

my

foe.

reward him
is

at the

expence of another's right: Eumelus

it

a TheiTalian, and

is

probable Achilles has a parDacier.

tiality to his

countryman.

f. 633. But this, my prize, I never /ball forego. There is an air of bravery in this difcourfe of Antilochus: he fpeaks with the generolity of a gallant foldier,

and prefers
if

his

honour

to his intered; he tells Achilles

a richer prefent

he pleafes he
;

may make Eumelus

than

his prize

as

it

not concerned for the value of it ; but was the reward of viftory, he would not refign it,
he
is

becaufe that would be an acknowlegement thatEumelu3

deferved

it.

The
through

character of Antilochus
this

is

admirably fuftained
a very fenfible

whole epifode

he

is

man,

202

R's
;

D.

Book XXIII.
;

Thus fpake the youth

nor did his

words offend

635

Pleas'd with the well-turn'd flatt'ry of a friend,

Achilles

frail'd
!

the gift propos'd (he cry'd)

fhall ourfelf

Antilochus

we

provide.

"With plates of brafs the corfelet cover'd o'er,

(The fame renown'd

Afteropaeus wore)
rais'd
fhall

64*
mine,

Whofe
(No

glittering

margins

with

filver

vulgar gift) Eumelus,

laid:

be thine.

He
The

Automedon

at his

command
it

corfelet brought,

and gave

to his

hand.

Diflingufh'd by his friend, his

bofom glows

645

With

gen'rous joy

then Menelaus rofe;

The
And

herald plac'd the fceptre in his hands,

ftill'd

the clamour of the (homing bands.

caufe incens'd at TNeflor's fon,

Kot without

And

inly grieving, thus the king begun:

praife of wifdom, in thy youth obtain'd,

650

The

An

act fo rafh

(Antilochus) has ftain'd.

glory and
)

Robb'd of

my

To

you,

Grecians

my juft reward, be my wrong declar'd

6$$
rival's

So not

a leader mail our conduct blame,

Or judge me envious of a
But
(hall

fame;

not we, ourfelves, the truth maintain?

fact fo plain
?

What

needs appealing in a

but tranfported with youthful heat, and ambitious of

glory:
his rafhnefs in driving fo furioufly againft

Me-

nelaus

be imputed to this; but his paffions being gratified by the conqueft in the race, his reafon again
returns, he

mud

owns

his error,

and

is

full

of refignation to

Menelaus.

BookXXIIl.

H O M E
(hall

R's
if I

ILIAD.
bid tbee
rife,
?

203

What Greek
And
Rife

blame me,

vindicate by oath th' ill-gotten prize

if

660

thou

dar'ft,

before thy chariot ftand,

The
And

driving fcourge high-lifted in thy hand,

touch thy fteeds, and fwear, thy whole intent

but to conquer, not to circumvent.

Was

Swear by that God whofe liquid arms furround

66$

The globe,and whofe dread earthquakes heave the ground.

The
Then

prudent chief with calm attention heard

:

miidly thus

Excufe,

if

youth have err'd

Superior as thou art, forgive th' offence,

Nor

thy equal, or in years, or fenfe.

the errors of unripen'd age,
is its

670

-Thou know'ft

Weak
The
The
Ere
I

are

its

counfels, headlong

rage.

prize I quit, if

thou thy wrath refign

aik'ft,

mare, or ought thou

be freely thine,

become (from thy dear

friendfhip torn)

6j$

Hateful to thee, and to the

Gods forfworn.
at the

So fpake Antilochus; and

word

The mare

contefted to the king reftor'd.

j/.66%.

And

touch

thy /feeds, arid /wear

all

]
fraud

It is

evident, fays Euftathius, from hence, that

forbid in the chariot race
;

was
per-

but

it is

not very plain what

unlawful deceit Antilochus ufed

againfl:

Menelaus

haps Antilochus in his hafle had declined from the raceground, and avoided fome of the uneven places of
fary;
it,

and confequently took an unfair advantage of his adveror perhaps his driving fo furioufly
againfl:

Menelives,

laus, as to

endanger both their chariots and their

;

might be reckoned foul play

refufes to take the oath.

and therefore Antilochus

204
Joy

E R's

D.

Book XXIII.

fwells his foul, as

when

the vernal grain

Lifts the green ear above the fpringing plain,

680

The

fields their

vegetable

life

renew,

And And

laugh and giltter with the morning

dew

Such joy the Spartan's mining face o'er-fpread

lifted his

gay heart, while thus he

fouls,

faid.
!

Still

may our

gen'rous youth

agree,

6S$

Tis

now

Atrides' turn to yield to thee.

Ram
Not

heat perhaps a

moment might

controul,

break, the fettled temper of thy foul.

friend)
'tis Rill

Not but (my

the wifer

way
;

To

wave contention with

!

fuperior fway

690

For ah

how

few,

who mould

like thee offend,

?

Like thee, have talents to regain the friend

To

plead indulgence, and thy fault atone,

Suffice thy father's merit

and thy own:

f. 679.
Euftathius
litude,
is

Joy fwells

his foul',

as

when

the

vernal

grain, etc.]

very large in the explication of

at the fird

this fimif

which

view feems obfeure

his

words

are thefe

As the dew raifes the blades of corn, that are for want of it weak and depreffed, and by pervading the, pores of the corn animates and makes it flourifli, Co did the behaviour of Antilochus raife the dejected mind of
Menelaus, exalt his
fatisfaction.
I

fpirits,

and

rcftore

him

lo a full

lated

have given the reader his interpretation, and tranfit is very much in it with the liberty of poetry:
language of fcripture, and in the
fpirit

the

of the

orientals.

Gcn'rous

Book XXIII.

H O M
fuffer'd,
all

E R's
fire

ILIAD.
and Ton

205 695

iGen'rous alike, for me, the

Have greatly
I

and have greatly done.

foul can Bend,

yield;

that

may know, my

Is or is

my
faid;

pride preferr'd before

my

friend.

He

and pleas'd

his paffion to

command,
700

Refign'd the courfcr to Noeman's hand,

Friend of the youthful chief: himfelf content,

The mining The

charger to his vefTel fent.

golden talents Merion next obtain'd

fifth

The

reward, the double bowl, remain'd.

Achilles this to rev'rend Neflor bears,

705

And

thus the purpofe of his gift declares.

this,

Accept thou

facred fire

(he faid)
;

In dear memorial of Patroclus dead

Dead, and

for ever loft Patroclus lies,

For ever match 'd from our

defiring eyes

710

f. 707. Accept thou

in

this,

facred fire!']

The

poet

my

opinion preferves a great deal of decency towards

this old

hero and venerable counfellor: he gives him

an honorary reward for his fuperior wifdom, and therefore Achilles calls
it

asGxov.

and not

Sapov, a prize,

and

not

a prcfent.
lefs

ought no
cel in

moral of Hon.er is, that princes to honour and recompence thofe who excounfel, than thofe

The

wifdom and
fervice.

who

are capable

of actual

Achillea, perhaps, had a double view in paying

this refpecl,

him
the

net only out of deference to his age, and

alfo

wifdom, but
prize by

becaufe he had in a manner

;

won

the

advice he gave his fon

fo that-

Neftor

may

be faid to have conquered in the perfon of AntiloEuftathius.

chus.

Vol. IV.

206

H
'tis

E R's

ILIAD.

BookXXIII.

Take thou
Tho'

this

token of a grateful heart,

not thine to hurl the diftant dart,

The
Or

quoit to tofs, the pond'rous mace to wield,

field.

urge the race, or wreftle on the

Thy
But

prefent vigour age has overthrown, the glory of the part thy

7 IJ

left

own.
at his fide;

He
With

faid,

and plac'd the goblet

joy, the venerable king reply'd.

well,

Wifely and

my

fon, thy words have prov'd

!

A fenior

honour'd, and a friend belov'd

720

f. 719. Neftor''s fpeech to Achilles.'] This fpeech is he admirably well adapted to the character of Neftor
:

aggrandizes, with an infirmity peculiar to age, his

exploits; and
his eye,
.

own

one would think Horace had him in

Laudatur temporis afii

Se puero
any blemifh to the character of Neftor thus talkative about hisownatchievements: to have defcribed him otherwife, would have been an outNeither
to be a
is it little

rage to

human

nature, in as

much

as the wifefl:
;

man

liv-

ing

is

not free from the infirmities of man

and

as every

(lage of life has

feme imperfection peculiar to

itfelf.

The

-EftxtSov jvioxjv.

reader

may

obferve that the old

man

takes a-

bundance of pains to give reafons

to

how
is

his rivals

came

to be victors in the chariot-race: he

very follicitous

make

it

appear that

it

was not through any want of

and in

(kill

or power in htmfelf:

my

opinion Neftor
recital

is

never more vain -glorious than in this

difappointment.

of his

own

Book XXIII.

E R's

ILIAD.
fail'd at

307

Too Oh

true

it is,

deferted of my ftrengtb,

Thefc wither M arms and limbs have

!

length.

had

now

that force

I felt

of yore,

Known

thro'

Bnprafium and the Pylian more

Victorious then in ev'ry folemn game,

725

Ordain'd to Amarynces' mighty name;

The

brave Epeians gave

all

my

glory way,

iEtoIians, Pylians,

refign'd the day.

fame reafon he repeats the words I have above: he obtrudes (by that repetition) the disadvantages under which he laboured, upon the obfervaIt is for the

cited

tion of the reader, for fear he fnould impute the lofs of

the victory to his want of

{kill.

Neftor fays that thefe Moliones overpowered him

their number.

by

The

critics, as Euftathius

remarks, have
tell

laboured hard to explain this difficulty; they

us a

formal ftory, that

lifts

when Neftor was ready

it

to enter the

againft thefe brothers,

he objected againft them as

unfair adverfaries, (for

muft be remembered that they

were monfters that grew together, andconfequendy had four hands to Neftor's two) but the judges would not
allow his plea, but determined, that as they grew together, fo they ought to be conficered as one

man.

Others
to the

tells

us that they brought feveral chariots in-

lifts, whofe charioteers combined together in favour of Eurytus and Cteatus, thefe brother-monfters. Others fay, that the multitude of the fpectators con-

{pired to difappoint Neftor.

I

thought

it

neceftary to give

my

reader thefe feveral

conjectures that he might underftand

why

Neftor fays

he was overpowered by ljx8, or numbers ; and alfo, becaufe it confirms my former obfervation, that Neftor is very careful to draw his own picfture in the ftrongeft
colours, and to

mew

it

in the faired light.

S 2

208

HOME

Rs

ILIA
fights

D.

Book XXIII,

I quell'd

Clytomedes in

of hand,

And

backward hurl'd Ancaeus on the fand,

730

Surpaft Iphyclus in the fwift career,

Phyleus and Polydorus, with the fpear.

The
For

Tons of Aclor

won

the prize of horfe,

art or force

But won by numbers, not by

the fam'd twins, impatient to furvey,

73$

Prize after prize by Neftor born away,

Sprung to

their car

and with united pains

Pe

lafh'd the courfers, while

I

one

rul'd the reins.

Such once

was

now

to thefe tafks fucceeds

younger race, that emulate our deeds

!

74$

I yieid alas

(to age

who

mult not yield ?)

field.

Tho* once

the foremoft hero of the

Go

thou

my

Ton

by gen'rous

friendfhip led,
;

"With martial honours decorate the dead

"While pleas'd
I

take the gift thy hands prefenr,

74J

(Pledge of benevolence, and kind intent)

Kejoic'd, of
all

the num'rous Greeks, to fee

facred age and

Not one but honours

Thofe due

me:

diftinc*Hons thou fo well can'ft pay,

May

the juit

Gods

return another day.

75^
of days
:

Proud of the

gift,

thus fpake the

full

Achilles heard him, prouder of the praife.

The prizes

next are ordered to the

field,

For the bold champions who the

Cseftus wield.

A ftately
Of fix

mule, as yet by

toils

unbroke,

75

years age, unconfcious of the yoke,

Book XXIII.

HOME
:

R's

ILIAD.
and round.

209

Is to the Circus led,

and firmly bound J

Kext

(lands a goblet, marly, large

Achilles rifing thus

Let Greece excite

76*0

Two

heroes equal to this hardy fight;

dares his foe with lifted arms provoke,
?

Who
And

rufh beneath the long-defcending (broke

On whom
This mule

Apollo

(hall the

palm befiow,

And whom
The

the Greeks fupreme by conqueft

;

know,
j6

his dauntlefs labour (hall repay

vanquifh'd bear the mafly bowl away.

This dreadful combate great Epeus chofe,

High

o'er the croud,

feiz'd the bead,

enormous bulk

he rofe,

And

and thus began to fay:

!

Stand forth fome man, to bear the bowl away

(Price of his ruin
:)

770

for
?

who

dares deny
I.

This mule
Others,

my

right

th'

undoubted victor

'tis

o\vn'd,-in fields of battel fhine y

But the

firft:

honours of
all
?

this fight are

minej
foe

For

who

excels in

Then

let

my

JJ$

Draw

near, but

firft

his certain fortune

know,

Secure, this

hand

fhall his

whole frame confound,

his

Mafh
So

all his

bones, and

all

body pound

let his friends be nigh, a needful train

To heave the batter'd

The The
giant fpoke
;

carcafe

of

the plain.

7&>

and in a (rapid gaze

hoft beheld him, filent with

amaze

Twas

thou, Euryalus

who

durft afpire
firevj

To

meet his might, and emulate thy

S3

2io

HOME

R'i

ILIAD.
in

Book XXIII.
78 c
j

The

great Meciftheus;

who

days of yore*

In Theban games the nobleft trophy bore,

(The games

ordain 'd dead Oedipus to grace)

race.

Andfingly van^uilh'd the Cadmean

Him

great

Tydides urges

to contend,

Warm
And

with the hopes of conqueft for his friend,

793'

Officious with the cindure girds

to his wrift the gloves

him round

of death are bound.

Amid

the circle

now

each champion (lands,

And

poifes high in air his iron

hands
'

With claming

gantlets

now

they fiercely clofe,

795

Their crackling jaws re-echo to the blows,

\
J

And
At

painful fweat

from

all their

members

flows.

length Epeus dealt a weighty blow,

Full on the cheek of his

unwary foe;
refiftlefs

Beneath that pond'rous arm's

fway

800

Down
As

dropt he, nervelefs, and extended lay.

a large R(h,

when winds and

waters rore,

By fome huge

billow dafh'd againft the fhore,

lefs batter'd

Lies panting: not

with his wound,

805

The

bleeding hero pants upon the ground.

To

rear his fallen foe, the viclor lends,

;

Scornful, his hand

and gives him to his friends;

Whofe arms

And

fupport him, reeling thro' the throng, J dragging his difabled legs along;
his

Nodding,

head hangs
noflrils

down

his

moulder o'er;

810

His mouth and

pour the
lies,

clotted gore;
loft to

Wrapt round

in'mifts

he

and

thought

;.

His friends receive the bowl, too dearly bought.

: :

JJpok XXIII.

E R's

ILIAD.

211

The
And

third bold

game

Achilles next demands,

calls the wreftlers to

the level fands

lies,

815

mafly tripod for the victor

fix

Of twice
And

oxen

its

reputed price;

next, the lofers fplrits to reftore,

female captive, valu'd but at four.

ftrife

Scarce did the chief the vig'rous

propofc,
I

820

When
Amid

tow'r-like

Ajax and UlyfTes

rofe.

the ring each nervous rival (lands,

rigid with implicit

Embracing

hands

Clofe lock'd above, their heads and arms are mixt;

Below, their planted

i/ike

feet, at

difhnce

fixt

825

two ftrong
to the

rafters

which the builder forms

Proof

wintry wind and howling ftorms,

female captive, valu'd but at four f\ I canf. 819. not in civility neglect a remark made upon this paiTage

by Madam Dacier, who highly refents the affront put upon her fex by the ancients, who fet (it feems) thrice the value upon a Tripod as upon a beautiful female
flave
:

nay, (he

is

afraid the vslue

j

of women

is

not nifed

even

in

our days

for (he fays there are curious perfons

now

living,

than the fined

who had rather have a true antique kettle, woman alive r I confefs I intireiy agree

with the lady, and rnuft impute fuch opinions of the fair fex to want oftafte in both ancients and moderns:
the reader
ufe, but

may remember
intireiy for

that thefe tripods were of

no

made

mod
f
.

fatirical critic

Ihow; and confequently the could only fay, the woman and Tri-

pod ought
reader

to have born an equal value.

826. Like two firing rafters, etc.] I will give the

the words of Euftathius upon this (imilitude, which very happily reprefents the wreftlers in the pofture of wredling. Their heads leaned one againft the

212

HO M

E R's

AD.

Book XXIIIv

Their tops connected, but

at wider fpace

Fixt on the centre {lands their folid bafe.

Now

to the grafp each

manly body bends

839

The humid

fweat from ev'ry pore defcends;

fides, fhoulders, thighs,
rife.

Their bones refound with blows:

Swell to each gripe, and bloody tumours

Nor

could Ulyfles, for his art renown'd,

O'erturn the ftreng^hof Ajax on the ground;

835

Nor

could the ftrengtb of Ajax overthrow

watchful caution of his artful foe.
the long
ftrife

The
Thus
Or

While

ev'n tir'd the lookers-on-,

to Ulyfles fpoke great

Telamon.
lift

let

me

lift

thee, chief, or
force,

thou me:
reft

840

Prove we our

and Jove the

decree.
off the

He
The

faid;

and

(training, heav'd
;

him

ground

With matchlefs
ftrength
t'

ftrenglh

that time Ulyfles found

evade, and where the nerves combine

fell

His ankle ftrook: the giant

UlyfTes following,

fupine;
lies
;

845

on

his

bofom

Shouts of applaufe run ratt'ling thro' the

fides.

Ajax

to

lift,

UlylTes next effays,

:

He

barely ftirr'd him, but he could not raife

other, like the rafters that fupnort the roof of a houfe;

at the

foot they are disjoined, and

ftand at a greater

which naturally paints the attitude of body in the/e two wreftlers, while they contend for victory.
diftance,

The

f. 849. He barely fllrr'd him, but be could not raife.'] poet by this circumilance excellently maintains the

character of Ajax,

who

has
:

all

along been defcribed as a

is

ftrong, unwieldy warrior

he

fo heavy, that UlylTes

BookXXIH.

H O M
faft,

E R's

D.
;

213

JHis knee look'd

the foe's attempt deny'd

85^

And

grappling clofe, they tumbled fide by

duft, they roll

fide.

DenTd with honourable

Still

breathing

ftrife,

and unfubdu'd of foul:

rife;

Again they rage, again to combate

"When

great Achilles thus divides the prize.

friends, reftrain

855

Your nobler vigour, oh my

Nor weary

out your gen'rous ftrength in vain.

:

Ye both have won

let

others

who

excel,

Now
From
And,
/.nd

prove that prowefs you have prov'd fo well.

hero's

The

words the willing

chiefs obey,

Q 86
J>

their tir'd bodies

wipe the duft away,

cloath'd anew, the following

games furvey.

now

fuceeed the gifts, ordain'd to grace

The

youths contending in the rapid race.

urn that
in
full fix

filver

meafures held,

865

By none

weight or workmanfhip excell'd:

him.

can fcarce
different

lift

The words
either that

that follow will bear a

his leg with-

meaning,

Ajax locked
it.

in that of UlyfTes,

or that UlyfTes did

Euftathius

Ajax gave UlyfTes this (hook, then he may be allowed to have fome appearance of an equality in the conteft; but if UlyfTes gave it, than Ajax mufl be
obferves, that if

acknowleged to have been

foiled

but (continues he)

it

appeared to be otherwife to Achilles,

who was

the judge

of the

field,

and therefore he gives them an equal prize,

this place,

becaufe they were equal in the conteft.

Madam

Dacier mifreprefents Euftathius on

it

in faying he thinks

was
it

UlyflTes

who gave

the fecond

ftroke to Ajax, whereas

appears by the foregoing note

that he rather determines otherwife in content with the

judgment given by Achilles.

2T4

H O M E
artifts

R's

D.

Book XXIII.

Sidonian

taught the frame to mine,

Elaborate, with artifice divine;

Whence Tyrian

failors did the prize tranfport,

And

gave to Thoas at the Lemnian port:

defcended good Eunseus heir'd

87c

From him

The

glorious gift; and, for

Lycaon

fpar'd,

To

brave Patroclus gave the rich reward.

the fame hero's fun'ral rites to grace,

Now,

It ftands the prize

of fwiftnefs in the race.

for the fecond plac'd
;

well-fed

ox was

And

half a talent

mud

content the lad.

Achilles rifing then befpoke the train

Who

hope the palm of

fwiftnefs to obtain,

Stand forth, and bear thefe prizes from the plain.

The

hero

faid,

and darting from his place,

the race;

Oilean Ajax

rifes to

UlylTes next; and he

whofe fpeed furpaft

His youthful equals, Neflor's fon the lad.

Rang'd

in a line the ready racers ftand;

Pelides points the barrier with his

hand;

All dart at once; Oileus led the race;

The

next Ulyfles, meas'ring pace with pace;

clofe,

Behind him, diligently

he fped,

As

clofely following as the

running thread

The
Of

fpindle follows,

and difplays the charms

the fair fpinfter's bread, and

moving arms

Graceful in motion thus, his foe he plies,

And

treads each footdep ere the

dud can

rife

Book XXIII.
Ifris

HOME

R's

ILIAD.
raife,

215

glowing breath upon

his

moulders plays

895

|Th' admiring Greeks loud acclamations

lro him they

Iknd

give their wiflies, hearts, and eyes,

fend their fouls before

him

as

he

flies.

Now
The

three times turn'd in profpect of the goal,

panting chief to Pallas

lifts

his foul

900

Aflift,

Goddefs

(thus in. thought he pray'd)

And

prefent at his thought, defcends the maid.

Buoy'd by her heav'nly force, he fecms to fwim,

And

feels a

pinion lifting ev'ry limb.

All fierce,

and ready

now

the prize to gain,

the plain;

905

Unhappy Ajax (tumbles on

[O'erturn'd by Pallas) where the flipp'ry fnore

Was
^The

clogg'd with flimy dung, and mingled gore.

felf-fame place befide. Patroclus' pyre,
late the flaughter'd viclims fed the fire)
filth,

Where

9IQ

Befmear'd with

and blotted o'er with clay,

;

Obfcene to

fight, the rueful racer lay

The

well-fed bull (the fecond prize) he fhar'd,

left

And

the urn UlyfTes' rich reward.

t f. 90: Nothing could be

.

A0

Goddefs

(thus in thought heprafd.)']

better adapted to the prefent

circum-

ftances of UlyfTes than this prayer: itisfhort, and ought to be fo, becaufe the time would not allow him to make
y.ccrd a longer: nay he prefers this petition mentally, p* 6u^iv; all his faculties are fo bent upon the race, that he

does not

call off his attention

fhort a petition as feven words,

from it, even to fpeak fo: which comprehend the

whole of it: fuch paflTages as thefe are inftances of great judgment in the poet.

2i6*

HOMER'sILI
baffled

D.

BookXXIIH
beafr,

Then, grafping by the horn the mighty

91 f

The

hero thus the Greeks addreft.

fate
!

Accurfed

the conqueft

forego;

mortal

I,

a Goddefs was
fav'rite

my

foe

She urg'd her

on

the rapid way,

And

Pallas, not UlyfTes,

won

the day.

923
and gore,

Thus

fourly wail'd he, fputt'ring dirt

burft of laughter echo'd thro' the

more.
reft,

Antilochus, more hum'rous than the

Takes

the

laft

prize, and takes

it

with a

jeft.

Why
Ye

with our wifer elders fhould

dill

we

ftrive

925

The Gods
fee, to

love them, and they always thrive.

1

Ajax

muft yield the prize:

He

to UlyfTes,
old'

ftill

more aged and wife

(A green

age unconfcious of decays,

the hero born in better days !)
in this active race
!

That proves

930

Behold his vigour

Achilles only boafts a fwifter pace:

For who can match

Achilles

He who

can,

Muft yet be more' than hero, more than man,

f. 924. And takes it with ajefl.'] Antilochus comes off very well, and wittily prevents raillery; by attributing the victory of his rivals to the protection which the?

>

gods gave to age. By this he insinuates, that he hay fomething to comfort himfelf with; (for youth is better than the prize) and that he may pretend hereafter tosj the fame protection, fince it is a privilege of feniority.
Dacier.

f. 933. For who can match Achilles

that hero could not poffibly fhew his

?~\

There

\v

great art in thefe tranfient complements to Achilles

own

fuperiority
in

Book XXIII.

H O M

E R's

ILIAD.
Pelides cries,

217
93$

Th'

effect

fucceeds the fpeech.

Thy

artful praife deferves a better prize.

in vain
fliall

Nor Greece

hear thy friend extoll'd;

Receive a talent of the pureft gold.

The
The

youth departs content.

The

hoft admire
I

fon of Neftor, worthy of his

thefe a buckler, fpeaf

fire.

943

Next
Caft:

and helm, he brings,

on the

plain the

brazen burthen rings

Arms, which of

late divine

Sarpedon wore,

And

great Patroclus in fhort triumph bore.

hofi:
!

Stand forth the braved of our

(he cries)

94

Whoever

dares deferve fo rich a prize,

lifts

Now
And
And

grace the

before our army's fight,

(heath 'd in fteel, provoke his foe to fight.

firft

Who

the jointed

armour

fhall

explore,

(lain his rival's

mail with ifluing gore;

953

in thefe

games by contending

for

any of the prizes, be-

caufe he was the exhibiter of the fports: but

"has

Homer

found out a way to give him the victory in two of

In tha chariot-race Achilles
himfelf, the poet brings
it

them.
fpeaks

is

reprefented as

being able to conquer every opponent, and though he

it

it

in fo happily, that
this place

he fpeaks
the

without any indecency: and in

tells

Antilochus with a very good grace

foot-race

Achilles, that in

no one can
it is

difpute the prize with him.

Thus though Diomed and

and foot-race,
antagonift.

UlyfTes conquer in the chariot

is

only becaufe Achilles

not their

f. 949. Who

firJ} the jointed

Some of
thinking

the ancients have been

it

mocked

armour foall explore. ~\ at this combate,

in fport fhould thus

a barbarity that

men

Vol. IV.

218

HO MER's ILIAD.
fword, Afteropeus pofTefl of old,

Book XXIII.

The

(A Thracian

blade, diftinct with fluds of gold)

Shall pay the flroke,

and grace the fhiker's

let

fide:

Thefe arms

in

common

the chief divide

the combate ends,

For each brave champion, when

955

fumptuous banquet

at

our tent attends.

Fierce at the word, uprofe great Tydeus' fon,

And
Clad

the huge bulk of

A'px Telamon.
on
either

in refulgent ftcel,

hand,

The

dreadful chiefs amid the circle (land:

to the fight

960

Low'ring they meet, tremendous

Each Argive bofom

Oppos'd
in

beats with fierce delight,

idly flood,

arms not long they

But

thrice they clos'd,

and thrice the charge renew 'd,

furious pafs the {pear

fhield,

of Ajax made
at the corflet

9^5
ftayM

Thro' the broad

but

contend for their

lives

and therefore Ariftophanes the

grammarian made
'Oxxoripog
<>8'

this alteration in the verfes.

7rpuT0 Ixiypa^cts

y.iv

XP oa xa *--*

t7rtv%dfAiyos Std J' tyrta* etc.

But it is evident that they intirely miflook the meaning and intention of Achilles for lie that gave the firft wound was to be accounted the victor. How could Achilles promife to entertain them both in his tent after the combate, if he intended that one of them mould
;

This duel therefore was only a trial of fkill, fingle combates were frequent in the wars of thofe ages againft adverfaries, fo this was propofed only
fall

in it?

and as fuch

to fhew the dexterity of the combatants in that exercife.

Euftathius.

Boot XXIII.

E R's

ILIAD.

219

Kot

thus the foe; his jav'lin aim'd above

buckler's margin, at the neck he drove.

The

But Greece

now

trembling for her hero's

life,

Bade
Yet

(hare the honours,

and furccafe the

(trife.

970

dill

the victor's due Tydides gains,

"With him the fword and (kidded belt remains.

Then

hurl'd the hero, thund'ring

on the ground

mafs of iron, (an enormous round)

fize the circling

"Whofe weight and

Greeks admire, 975

fire.

Rude from

the furnace, and but fhap'd by

to rear,

This mighty quoit Action wont

And from

his whirling

arm
(lain,

difmifs in air:

The

giant

by Achilles

he ftow'd

Among

his fpoils this

memorable loud.
due Tydides gains .]

9S0

f. 971. Yet
chilles in
this

ft HI the vigor's

Afull

place acts

the part of a very juft arbi-

trator:
jjfilie,

though the combite did not proceed to a

yet

Diomed had

evidently

the

advantage, and

confequently ought to be rewarded as victor, becaufe

he would have been victorious; had not the Greeks interpofed-.

I

the prize in

could have wifhed that the poet had given Ajax He undoubtedly fome of- thefe contefls.

was

repulfing a
-foiled.

very gallant foldier, and has been defcribed as whole army yet in all thefe fports he is
:

But perhaps the poet had a double view in this teprefentation, not only to fhew, that ftrength without conduct is nfually unfuccefsill, but alfo his defign might
; by (hewwhole army of Trojans, was not able to conquer any one of the Grecian worthies: for we find him overpowered in three of

be to complement the Greeks his countrymen

J

ing that this Ajax,

who had

repelled a

thefe exercifes.

520
For

H
this,

E R's

D.

BookXXIIJ.

he bids thofe nervous

artifts vie,

That

teach the difk to found along the fky.

this

Let him whofe might can hurl

bowl,

arife,

Who

fartheft hurls

it,

take

it

as his prize

If he be one, inrich'd with large domain

98$

Of downs

for flocks, and arable for grain,

Small (lock of iron needs that

man provide ;
(hall

His hinds and (wains whole years

be fupply'd
city's aid,

From hence

nor afk the neighboring

all

For plowfhares, wheels, and

the rural trade.

;

990

Stern Polypcetes ftept before the throng

And

great

Leon teas, more

frhan

mortal (Irong

Whofe

force with rival forces to oppofe,

rofe.

Uprofe great Ajax; up Epeus

Each

flood in order:
o'er the

firft

Epeus threw;

995.
circle flew.

High

wond'ring crouds the whirling

f. 985. If be

be one inrich'd, etc.l

The

poet in

this,

place fpeaks in the (implicity of ancient times: the pro-

digious weight and fize of the quoit

is

defcribed with a

noble plainnefs, peculiar to the oriental way, and agreeable to the manners of thofe heroic ages.
fet

He

does not
iron,
it-

down

the quantity of this

its

enormous piece of
it.

neither as to
will be

bignefs nor weight, but as to the ufe

of to him

who

mail gain

We fee

from hence,

that the ancients in

the prizes they

propofed, had in

view not only the honourable, but the ufeful ; a captive for work, a bull for tillage, a quoit for the provifion of iron. Befides, it muft be remembered, that in thofe times iron was very fcarce; and a fure fign of this,
fcarcity,
is,

that

their

arms were

brafs.

Euiiathius.

Dacier.

Book XXIII.

E R's

ILIAD.

22i

Leonteus next a

little

fpace furpaft,

And

third, the ftrength

of god-like Ajax cafh

flew;
'till

O'er both their marks

it

fiercely flung
:

From Polyposes' arm, theDifcus

fung

ioco

Far, as a Twain his whirling fheephook throws,

That
So

diftant Falls

among

the grazing cows,

flies
:

paft:

them

all

the rapid circle

}
fides)

His friends (while loud applaufesfhake the

V ith force conjcin'd heave off the weighty prize. ) IC05

Thofe, who

in fkilful archery contend,

He

next invites the twanging

bow

to bend:-

And
CTen

twice ten axes cafts amidd: the round,

double-edg'd, and ten that Cngly wound.)

The

maft, which late a firft-rate galley bore,

icio

The

hero fixes in thefandy (borer

the
tall

To
The

top a milk-white dove they

at'

tie, fly.

trembling malfc

which
3

their

arrows

W-hofe weapon

flrikes

yon

fiutt'ring bird,..fhall bear

Thefe two-edg'd axes,

terrible in war;--

ICI"

The
And

fingle, he,

whofe

fhaft divides the cord.

y.

He faid:
Their

experienced Merion took the word

fkilful

Teucer:

in the

helm they threw

latter flew.
flics
;

lots infcrib'd,

and forth the

Swift from the firing the founding arrow

ics.

But

flies

unblefU no grateful facriSce,

lambs, unheedful
\

No
jj <

firftling

didft

thou

vow

To
For

Phoebus, patron of the fhaft and bow.

this,

thy well-aim'd arrow, turn'd

afide,',
*,

Err'd from the dove, yet cut the cord that ty'd

202

T-3

222

H O M
the

E R's
fell

ILIAD.

Book XXIII.

A-down

main-mad

the parted firing,

And

the free bird to heav'n difplays her

wing:

Seas, mores,

and

fides

with load applaufe rcfound,

And Merion

eager meditates the

wound
above,
1030*

He

takes the

bow,

directs the fhaft

And

following with his eye the foaring dove,

f* 1030. He

takes the bow.']

many
thefe

editions of

Homer,

that

There having beei* of Marfeiiles reprefents

two bows
in the

two
;

rivals in archery

as ufing

conteft

and reads the verfes thus,

~S7rtpx_op.ivo;

apa. Mpi6vy>g eV/3 y.eXT,o~rov

t

To'gw fv

ydp xiprh

ird.\a. t

a;

'iBvvtv.

Our common

editions follow the better alteration of

this

Antimachus, with

only difference, that he reads

it

lEgci'purc rtvxpv to$ov.

And

they, 'S&tfvirt

il PS

T %ov*

It is evident that thefe archers had but one bow, as they that threw the quoit had but one quoit ; by thefe

means
the

the one had

caufe both of them

no advantage over the other, bemot with the fame bow. So that
is

common

reading

undoubtedly the bed, where the

lines ftand thus,

^TttpxoyAvcg
To'|eV.

apec Mtipiowf i^upvcrt

7Tx\ctt

'P^ Of Ttvxpy

drup S uroy ?s

d{ iSvvtv.

Euftathius.

This Teucer is the moft eminent man for archery of any through the whole Iliad, yet he is here excelled by Meriones: and the poet afcribes his mifcarriages to the
at Meriones,

Dcgka of invoking Apollo, the God of archery; wherewho invokes him, is crowned with fuccefs.
There
is

an excellent moral

in this paffige,

and the

poet would teach us, that without addreffing to heaven we cannot fucceed: Meriones does not conquer becaufe he is the better archer, but becaufe he is
the better

man*

BookXXlII.
[Implores the

H O M
God

E R's
it

ILIA

D.

223

to fpeed

thro' the fkies,

facrifice.

With vows of firftling

lambs, and grateful

The

dove, in airy circles as

me

wheels,

Amid

the clouds the piercing arrow feels;

its

103$

Quite thro' and thro' the point

paflage found,

And

at his feet fell

bloody to the ground.

The wounded
With

bird, ere yet (he breath 'd her fad,

flagging wings alighted

on the matt,

A moment
Then
From

hung, and fpread her pinions there,

left

104O

fudden dropt, and

the pleas'd croud

her

life

in air.

new

peals of thunder rife,

prize.

And

to the mips brave

clofe the fun'ral

Merion bears the

To

games, Achilles lad

1045

mafly fpear amid the circle plac'd,

charger of unfuliied frame,

And ample
With
For

flow'rs high-wrought, not blacken'd yet by flame.

thefe he bids the heroes prove their art,.

Whofe
.

dextrous
great

lkill

directs the flying dart.

Here too

Merion hopes the noble prize;

rife.

1050

}sor here difdain'd the king of men to

i/

IC51.
is

There

Nor here difia'in'd the king of men to rife 7^ an admirable conduct in this paflage; Aga-

memnon

never contended for any of the former prizes, though of much greater value ; fo that he is a candidate The for this, only to honour Patroclus and Achilles. decency which the poet ufes both in the choice of the

game,

in

which Agamemnon

is

about to contend, and

is

the giving him the prize without a contefl,

very refor the

markable: the game was a warlike exercife,

general of an army;
the giving

fit

a conteft

is

a.

him the prize without decency judicioufly ob&rved, becauf- no

224

H O M

E R's

D.

Book XXIII.

"With joy Pelidcs faw the honour paid,

Rofe to the monarch, and

refpeclful faid.

Thee

firft

in virtue, as in pow'r fupreme,

all

O kmg

of nations!

thy Greeks proclaim;

atteft,

K>5''

In ev'ry martial game thy worth

And know
Take

thee both their greateft, and their befit.

let

then the prize, but

brave Merion bear

This beamy

jav'lin in thy brother's war.

Pleas'd from the hero's lips his praife to hear,

ro6o

The
But,

king to Merion gives the brazen fpear:

fet

apart for facred ufe,

commands
hands,

The

glitt'ring charger to Talthybius.'

cne ought

to be fuppofed

to excel the general in

any

military art:

Agamemnon

does jufHce to his

own

char-

acter; for whereas he had been reprefented

by Achilles
he

in the opening of the

poem

as a covetous perfon,
is

now

puts in for the prize that

of the

lead: value,

ani

gencroufly gives even that to Talthybius.

FAi(tathiu?

As

to this

laft

tHe charger to
opinion.
It

of Agamemnon's prefentlngj Talthybius, I cannot but be of a different

particular,
I

had beer an affront to Achilles not to have

believe'

accepted of his prefent on this occafion, and

the words of

Homer,
y.i'ruy.i JVj'a

Tai&utla

s*tp/xXX6f cliQkcs,

mean no more, than

this herald to cr-,-y
it

that he

put
;

it

into the hands

of

to his fnips

Talthybius being by

his ofhee

an attendant upon Agamemnon*

Book XXIII.

HOMER
more

>s

ILIAD.

225

IT will be expecled I mould here fay fomething tendkg to a comparifon between the games of Homer and if I may own my private opinion, thofe of Virgil,
there
is

in general

variety of natural incidents,

the and a more'lively picture of natural paflions, in On the other hand,, games and perfons of Homer. gradation, there feems to me more art, contrivance,

and

a greater
is

chariot-race

pomp of verfe in thofe of Virgil. The that which Homer has mod laboured, of

which Virgil being fenfible, he judicioufly avoided the fubftituted imitation of what he could not improve, and is in this It or fiip-race. conrfe, naval the in its place
the

Roman

poet has employed

all

his force, as if
j

on

fet

purpofe to rival his great matter

bfervable

but

it is

extremely
in his eye,

how

conftantly he keeps

Homer

when and is afraid to depart from his very track, even the acciAccordingly itfelf. fubjed the varied he had refemblance dents of the naval courfe have a ftrange not forcould He chariot-race. with thofe of Homer's that debear at the very beginning to draw a part of Do not we fee he has Homer's scription into a fimile.
chariots in his head,

by

thefe lines;

Non

tarn pracipites bijugo certamine

campum

Corripuere, ruuntque effufi carcere currus. Nee fie immijjis aurigc-e undantia lor a
Concujfere jugis } .pronique in verb era pendent. Jn. v. f. 144.

What
ftrait

the the encounter of Cloanlhus and Gyas in is between the rocks, but the fame with that of MeHadthegalley nelaus and Antilochusin the hollow way ? Eumelus had bfSergeftus been broken, if the chariot of cad from the been Mneftheus not been demolimed ? Or his feat ? from thrown been other the not had helm,

Does not Mneftheus exhort

his rowers in the very words?

Antilochus had ufed to his horfes

Non jam prima peto Mneftheus, neque vincere certo. Quamquam Olfedfuperent quibus hoc Neptune dediffh-

T26

E R's

D.

BookXXIIL

Extremes pudeat

rediiffe! hoc vincite, elves y

Et proh'tbete nefas
*E/xrjT0v, xa) crpv'i nrcclvcTOV orlt

Ta^irXt

*H

TCI

fJ.lv

KtiVOlG-lV tpi^i/JLtV UTl KiKt-JV

TuhiSiu

'ixjroHrt Scttfpovo;, o7<rw'A$riv)i

Nuv
T

vpi%i

Tx^o$
'ArpuSxo x.t%zviTt,
p-nSi \<Vcr9ov,

lvx\ig S'

Kccprrakiy.xf,
M

uri crpZiv Ixify.ilw

v.XTa^jw

A6 GJjXu; Ihcrx

Upon

the whole, the defcripticn-of the fea-race I think

has the more poetry and majefty, that of the chariots

more nature and

marks

lively incidents.

There

is

nothing in

Virgil fo picturefque, fo animated, or which fo

much

the characters, as the epifodes of Antilochus and

Menelaus, Ajax and Idomeneus, with that beautiful interpofitioii of old Neftor, (fo naturally

introduced into

an

arTair

where one

fo little expects

him.)

On

the other
it

fide,

in Virgil the defcription

itfelfis

nobler;

has

fornething
tacle

more oflentatioufly grand, and feems a fpecmore worthy the prefence of princes and great

perfons.
In three other games

we

find the

Roman
it

poet conthe Caetfus

tending openly with the Grecian.

is in

That of
:

great part a verbal tranflation

but

muft be owned

in favour of Virgil, that he has varied

from

Homer

in

the event of the combate with admirable judgment and

with an improvement of the moral.

Epeus and Dares

;

are defcribed by both poets as vain boafters

but Virgil

with more poetical juRice puniihes Dares for his arrogance, whereas the preiiimption and pride of Epeus
is

rewarded by Homer.
that

On the contrary, in the foot-race, I am of opinion, Homer has (hewn morejudgmentand morality than
Nifus in the latter
is
;

Virgil.

unjuft. to his adverfary in

favour of his friend Euryalus

prize;

fo that Euryalus wins the

race by a palpable fraud, and yet the poet gives him the
firft

whereas

Homer makes

UlyfTes victorious^

Book XXIII.

H O M E

R's

ILIAD.

227

purely through the mifchance of Ajax, and his

in

own piety

invoking Minerva.

The /hooting
tion.

is

alfo a direct

copy, but with the addi-

tion of two circumflances which

make

a beautiful grada-

In

Homer
firft

the

firft

archer cuts the firing that held

the bird, and the other (hoots

In Virgil the

him as he is mounting. only hits the mall which the b rd Was

;

fixed upon, the fecond cuts the firing, the third fhoots

directs his

him, and the fourth to vaunt the flrength of his arm arrow up to heaven, where it kindles into a
flame, and perior to

makes

a prodigy.

Homer
not

in

what

is

the intent
is

This laft is certainly fuwhat they call the wonderful : but or effect of this prodigy, or whether
in

much furprized at it, as at the Homer, I leave to thofe critics who are more inclined to find faults than I am nor fhall I obferve upon the many literal imitations in the Roman poet, to object againft which were to deroa reader
at leafr. as

mofl unreafonable parts

gate from the merit of thofe fine paflages, which Virgil

was

fo very

fenfible

of, that

he was refolved to take

them, at any

rate, to himfelf.

games untouched by and the Difcus. In Virgil there is only die Lufus Trojoe added, which is purely his own, and mud be confefl to be inimitable I do not know whether I may be allowed to fay, it is

There remain

in

Homer

three

Virgi!; the wreftling, the combate y

worth
I

all

thofe three of Homer?

could not forgive myfelf if I omitted to mention in this

;

place the funeral games in the flxth Thebaid of Statius

is
.

it

by much the moft beautiful book of that poem It is very !remarkable,thathe has followed Homer through the whole
courfe of his games: thereis the chariot-race, thefbot-race9
the Difcus, the C&ftus, the wreftling, the/ingle comitate

(which

is

put off in the fame manner as in Horner) and

the /hooting; which laftends (as in Virgil) with a pro-

digy: yet in the particular defcriptions of each of thefe

games

this

poet has not borrowed from either of his

predeceflbrs,

and

his

poem

is

fo

much

the worfe for

it.

229

ILIAD.
BOOK
it,

THE

XXIV.

THE ARGUMENT.
The
redemption of the body of Hector.

THE
body.
to

Gods deliberate about the redemption ofHec7or*r

Jupiter fends Thetis to Achilles
to difyofe

him

for the reftoring

and

Iris to

Priam,

to

encourage him

go

in

perfn, and treat for

which he

it.

The

old king, notwitfr*

/landing the remonflrances of his queen, makes Tea hfor

the journey,
to
is

encouraged by an omen from

Jupiter.

He fets forth

in his chariot,

with a waggon

loaded with prefents under the charge of Idxus the

herald. Mercury defends in the fb ape of a young man9 end conducts him to the pavilion of'Achilles. Their converfation on the way. Priam finds Achilles at his table t
cajls himfelfat his feet,

and begs for the body of his fan ;

his requefl, de-

Achilles,

moved with Companion, grants

:

tains him one night in his tent,

and the next morning

fends him home with the body

the Trojans run out to

meet him.

The

lamentations of Andromache\ Hecuba,

and Helen, with the folemnities of the funeral.

The time o/twelvedays is employed in this book, while thebodf of He dor lies in the tent of Achilles. And as many more are fpent in the truce allowed for his interment. The
fcene
is

partly in Achilles''s camp,

and partly

in Troy.

from the

finifli'd

games the Grecian band

<

Seek their black (hips, and clear thecrouded (brand

Vol. IV.

230

HOMER'sILIA
To Achilles
:

D.

Book XXIV.

All ftretch'd at eafe the genial banquet (hare,

And
Not
His

pleafing flumbers quiet all their care.

he, to grief refign'd,
5

friend's dear

image prefent to his mind,

Takes

his fad couch,

more unobferv'd

to weep,

Nor

tafles

the gifts of all-compofing deep.

rcll'd

Refilefs

he

around

his

weary bed,

And
That

all

his foul

on

his Patrocius fed

19
fo kind,

The form

fo pleafing,

and the heart

youthful vigour, and that manly mind,

What toils they fhar'd, what martial works they wrought,

Whatfeas they meafur'd, and what
fields

they fought;

f.

14.

Whatfeas they meafur'd,

etc.]

There

is

fome*
:

thing very noble in thefe fentiments of Achilles

he

does not recollect any foft moments, any tendernelfes that had paiTed between him and Patrocius, but he revolves the
dangers by

many
fea,

difficulties,

in

the toils by land, and the which they had been companions:
occafions admirably fuftains the

thus the poet on

all
;

character of Achilles

when he played upon

the harp in

the ninth book, he fung the atchievements

of kings
as

and

in this place there is

:

an air of greatnefs in his very

a hero

forrows

Achilles
fights.

is

as

much

when he weeps,

when he

This paiFage in Homer has not efcaped the cenfure of Plato, who thought it a diminution to his character
to be thus tranfported with grief; but the objection will
vanifh, if

we remember

that

all

the pafTions of Achilles

is

are in the extreme;

his nature

violent,

and

it

would

have been an outrage to his general character to have reprsfented him as mourning moderately for his friend.
Plato fpoke more like a philofopber than a critic

when
thefe

be blamed the behaviour of Achilles

as

unmanly:

Book XXIV.
All paH: before

H O M E
him
in

K's

ILIAD.
dear,
.

231
15

remembrance

Thought

follows thought, and tear fucceeds to tear.

fupine,

And now

now

prone, the hero lay,

:

Now
Then

fhifts

his fide, impatient for the day

ftarting up, difconfolate

he goes

Wide on
There

the lonely beach to vent his woes.

30

as the folitary

mourner

raves,

The

ruddy morning
it

rifes o'er the.

waves

Soon as

rofe, his furious deeds he join'd

flies,

The
And

chariot

and Heclor
!

trails

behind.

thrice Pairoclus

round thy monument

2$

Was

Hector dragg'd, then hurry o to the tent.

at laft o'efcoiiies the

There deep While

hero's eyes:
lies,

*1

foul in dull th'

ushoaour'd ctrcafe
fides.

>
3
30

But not deferted by the pitying

For Phoebus watch'd

it

with fuperior care,

air; Preferv'd from gaping wounds, and tainting

tears

would have

ill

become

Plato, but they are grace-

ful in Achilles.

fomething very inftruaive in this fincere whole reprefentation, it (hews us the power of a recommends the character friendfliip, and foftens and his enemy is of Achilles; the violence he ufed towards towardshis friend; alleviated bythefincerity heexpre-Tes
BeGdes, there
is

he

is

a terrible

enemy, but amiable

friend.

Euftathius fays, f.yb. For Phtebus watch'd it, etc.] the clouds that that by this fliield of Apollo are meant which cooling fun, the of beams the by are drawn up

preferved the and qualifying the fultrinefs of the air, fomething had poet the perhaps body from decay: but Apoilo upon this farther in his eye when he introduced God of medieccafion: Apollo is a phyfician and the

U2

232

HO M

E R's
it

D.

Book XXIV.

And

ignominious as

fwept the

field,

Spread o'er the facred corfe his golden fhield.

All heav'n was mov'd, and

Hermes wifTd
th'

to

go
:

By

Health to fnatch
this,

him from

infuking foe

35

But Neptune

and Pallas

this denies,

And

th'

unrelenting emprefs of the fides

caments

if therefore Achilles ufed any arts to preferve ; Hector from decay, that he might be able the longer to infult his remains, Apollo may properly be faid to protecl
it

with his

.ffigis.

f. 36. But Neptune this, and Pallas this denies.'] It is with excellent art that the poet carries on this part of the poem he (hews that he could have contrived ano:

body of Hector, but as a God human means fail, he rejects the interposition of Mercury, makes ufe of ordinary methods, and Priam redeems hisfon: this gives an air of probability to the relation, at the fame time
ther
is

way

to recover the

never to be introduced but when

it advances the glory of Achilles ; for the greateft of his enemies labours to purchaie his favour, the gods liokl a confutation, and a king becomes his fuppliant.

that

JEufta thins.

\o3-vvnv dxtyuvriv,

from K\i^xi y urpvvca-xov to M^have been thought fpurious by fome of the ancients: they judged it as an indecency that the goddefs of wifdom and Achilles mould be equally inexorable; and that it was below the majefty of the gods to

Thofe feven

lines,

be faid to deal. Befides, fay they, had Homer been acquainted with the judgment of Paris, he would undoubtedly have mentioned it before this time in his

poem, and confequently

tion
:

that ftory

was of

a later inven-

and Ariftarchus affirms that Ma^xoo-uvu is a more modern word, and never known before the time of He* liod, who ufes it when he fpeaks of the daughters of
J'rsetus;

and adds, that

it is

appropriated to fignify the

Book XXIV.

H O M

E R's

A D.

233

Troy, E'er fince that day implacable to

What

boy, time young Paris, fimple fhepherd

Won

by deftruaive

lull

(reward obfcene)

40

Their charms rejefted for the Cyprian queen.

But when the tenth

celeftial

morning broke;

To

heav'n ailembled, thus Apollo fpoke.

!

Unpitying pow'rs

how

oft each

holy fane
?

Has Heftor

ting'd with blood of vicVims flain

45

incontinence of

women, and cannot be

at all applied to

men

therefore others read the lad verfe,

Thefe objeaions are

to which

we may

been one of thofe who mentions the judgment of firms that our author never
Paris

entirely gathered from Euftathius have add, that Macrobius feems to rejected thefe verfes, fince he ai-

that the filence or Homer It may be anfwered, as to the judgment poem, the of part foregoing in the ignorant of that was he of Paris, is no argument that unfo.d it mod proper to think might he perhaps ftory of conclufion the in Troy the caufe of the definition of done, and wrong the feeing reader thellias; that the wrong immediately following, the puniflimcnt of that
:

of it. might acknowlege thejuftice anfwet to the objection an be will reafon fame The faPallas: Wifdom cannot be relating to the anger of Pallas ought confequently and juftice, nned without
#

lot to
I

ceafe

from refentment,

till

Troy has

fnfTered the

deferts of her crimes.

objection about the word cannot think that the date of words is utterly the weight; iuxxW., is of any able to determine the been has one no as and uncertain, can any pcrfon neither fo ages of Homer and Hcfiod, in ufe in Hoaur * not were words fuch that

be aifured
days.

234

H
can ye

M
ftill

R's

D. Book XXIV.

And
Still

his cold remains purfue?

grudge his body to the Trojans view?

to confort, mother, fon,
fad

Deny

and

fire,

The

laft

honours of a fun'ral

fire ?

Is then the dire Achilles all your care ?

$6

That

iron heart, inflexibly fevere;

lion, not a

man, who

(laughters

wide

In ftrength of rage and impotence of pride,

"Who

hafies to

murder with a favage joy,

55

Invades around, and breathes but to deftroy.

Shame

is

not of his foul

evil

nor underftood,
greateft

The greateft
Still

and the

good.

for one lofs he rages unrefign'd,

lot

Repugnant to the

of all mankind

To lofe a friend,
3Iav'n

a brother, or a fon,
its will is

(Jo

dooms each mortal, and

done:

.A while they forrow, then difmifs their care

Tate gives the wound, and

man

is

born to bear.

But

this infatiate the

fate,

commiffion giv'n

By

exceeds 5 and tempts the wrath of beav'n: 6$

Uotiy not a man, etcj This is a very for$. 52. mal condemnation of the morals of Achilles, which Horoer puts into the mouth of a God. One may fee from this alone that he was far from designing his hero a vir-,

tnons character; yet the poet artfully introduces Apollo in the midi of his reproaches, intermingling the hero's
praifes

with his blemifhes: Brave though he

is
is

be, etc.
[

Thus what
from what
polio or the

the real merit of Achilles

is

diftinguifhed

blameable in his character, and

we

fee

A-

God of wifdom,

is

no

lefs

impartial than

juft in his representation of Achilles.

IBookXXIV.
1 3Lo

H O M E

R's

ILIAD.
!

23;

how

his rage diflioneft drags along

I Hector's dead earth infenfible I

I

of wrong

Brave tho' he be, yet by no reafon aw'd,

He

violates the laws of

man and God.

7$

If equal honours by the partial fkies

I
I

Are doom'd both heroes, (Juno thus

If Thetis' fon muft

replies)

no
!

diftinclion

know,
bow.

I
I

Then

hear, ye

Gods

the patron of the

But Hector only His

boafts a mortal claim

|j

birth deriving

from a mortal dame:

sethereal race
j

75

Achilles of your

own

Springs from a Goddefs by a maiv s embrace

(A

Goddefs by our

felf to

Peleus giv*n,

A man divine, and

To
Your
felves

chofen friend of heav'n.)

grace thofe nuptials, from the bright abode

80

were prefent; where

this

minftrel-God

(Well

pleas'd to fhare the feaft,)

amid the quire

lyre.

Stood proud to hymn, and tune his youthful

Then thus the thundVer checks th' imperial dame:^

Let not thy wrath the court of heav'n inflame ;

> 5

Their merits, not

their

honours, are the fame.

But mine, and ev'ry God's peculiar grace Hector deferves, of all the Trojan race:
Still

on our

fnrines his grateful ofF'rings lay,

(The

only honours

men

to

Gods can pay)

$0

Nor

ever from our frnoking altar ceaft

The

pure libation, and the holy

feaft.

Howe'er by

ftealth to fnatch the corfe

:

away,

We will not

Thetis guards

it

night and day*

236
But

H
hafte,

E R's

D.

Book XXIV.
or

and fummon to our courts above

;

The
Her

azure queen

let

her perfuaflon

move

furious fon from Priam to receive

proffer'd ranfom,

The

and the corfe to leave.

Iris

He

added not

and

from the

fides,
flies,

Swift as a whirlwind

on the mefTage

ico

Meteorous the face of Ocean fweeps,

Refulgent gliding o'er the fable deeps.

Between where Samos wide

his forefts Spreads,

And

rocky Imbrus

lifts its

pointed heads,

Down plung'd
As

the maid; (the parted

waves refound) 105

She plung'd, and inftant (hot the dark profound.

bearing death in the fallacious bait
the bent angle finks the leaden weight;

From
So

part the

Goddefs thro' the clofing wave,

1

Where
There

Thetis forrow'd in her fecret cave

1&

plac'd

amidd her melancholy

train

(The

blue-hair'd lifters of the facred

main)

Penfive

me

fate,

revolving fates to come,

And

wept her God-like fon's approaching doom.

f
The

114.

And wept her

God-like fin's approaching doom !\

Thefe words

are very artfully inferted

by the poet.

poet could not proceed to the death

of Achilles

without breaking the adtion; and therefore to fatisfy

the curiofity of the reader concerning the fate of this
great

man, he takes

care to inform us that his

it

life

draws

to a period, and as
his death.

were celebrates his funeral before

raife the character

Such circumftances as thefe greatly

cf Achilles; he is fo truly valiant, that though he knows he rauft fall before Troy, yet he does not abftain from

^ookXXlV.
Then
Arife,

B'OMEK'I ILIAD.

237
i
i

painted bow. thus the Goddefs of the

Thetis, from thy feats below,

calls.

>Tis Jove that

And why

(the

dame
>

replies)

Calls Jove his Thetis

to the hated fkies

Sad object as

am for

heav'nly fight
1

Ah may my

forrows ever fnun the light

fire

Hovve'er be heav'n's almighty

obey'd

She fpake, and

veil'd

her head in fable (hade,

Which,

graceful perfon clad; flowing long, her

And

majeftically fad. forth (he pac'd,

thro' the

Then

world of waters, they repair

upper
air.

125

(The way

fair Iris led) to

The
And

coaft they rife, deeps dividing, o'er the

touch with momentary

flight the fkies.

There

blaze the fire they found, in the light'nings

the

And

all

Gods

in

mining fynod round.

13

anguifh in her face, Thetis approach'd with

(Minerva

riling,

gave the mourner place)

I meets his death: and here the war, but couragioufly that ought to obfervation an infert h nk i proper to

which have been made before,

is,

that Achilles did not

his hand; know that Heaor was been the have would where known it, he .as fingk cotnbate, in which

to fall

by

#JW

if

he had

Raging

L fe

from this is evident conquer? The contrary of comhate, the before juft words o^ Achilles to Hector
to

him

in a

Tlph y

*TJpo*

yt iurhroi

AlpxTog uaai

/>,

etc.

IwWmah

no comparts

but *n* with the, fays Achllks,

of us Jhali fall.

238

HOMER's ILIAD.
to confole,
offer'd
tafted,

BookXXIV,

Ev'n Juno fought her forrows

And
She

from her hand the nectar bowl

and refign'dit: Then began

13J

The

facred fire of Gods and mortal

man:

Thou

com'it, fair Thetis, but with grief o'ercaft,

laft
I

Maternal forrows long, ah long to

Suffice,

we know and we partake thy

cares:
declares.

But

yield to fate,

and hear what Jove

14

Nine days are

paft, fince ail the court

above

In Hector's caufe have mov'd the ear of Jove;

f. 141. Nine days are fafl > fince

etc.]
It

all

the court akve,

may be thought

that fo

many

interpofitions of

the gods, fuch meffages from heaven to earth, and down to the feas, are needlefs machines; and it may be ima-

gined that

it is

an offence againft probability that fo

to

many
but I
affair

deities

mould be employed

pacify Achilles
this
is

am of opinion
at the

that the poet conducts

whole

with admirable judgment.

The poem
is

now al-

moPc

conclufion, and Achilles

to pafs from a

(late of an almoft inexorable refentment to a ftate of perfect tranquillity; fuch a change could not be brought

about by human means; obey any thing lefs than

Achilles
a

is

too ftubborn to

God:

his rejecting the perfuafion of the

:

from whole Grecian army

this is evident

to return to the battel fo that it appears that this machinery was neceiTary, and confequently a beauty to the

poem.
It may be farther added, that thefe feveral incidents proceed from Jupiter: it is by his appointment that fo many gods are employed to attend Achilles. By thefe

means Jupiter

fulfils the promife mentioned in the firft book, of honouring the fon of Thetis, and Homer excel-

lently fufhins his character

by reprefenting the inexora*

SookXXlV.

H O M

E R's

ILIAD.
will'd

239

hrwas voted, Hermes from

his god-like foe

By

ftealth
will,

mould bear him, but we

not To

We
And

thy Ton himfclf the corfe reftore,

this glory

14$

to his conqueft add to him,

more.
;

Then hye thee

Ror

and our mandate bear

Tell him he tempts the wrath of heav'n too far:

let

him more (our anger

if

he dread)
:

Vent

his

mad vengeance on

the facred dead

150

But yield to ranfom and the father's pray'r.

The

mournful father
gifts to fue;

Iris

mall prepare,

With

and

offer to his

hands

Whate'er his honour a(ks, or heart demands.

His word the Giver-footed queen attends,

I55

And

from Olympus' fnowy tops defcends.

lament, Arriv'd, (he heard the voice of loud

And
His

echoing groans that (hook the lefty tent.

friends prepare the victim,

and difpofe

Repaft unheeded, while he vents his woes.

16Q

The
She

Goddefs feats her by her petifive fen,

hand, and tender thus begun.

preft his

ble Achilles as not parting with the

body of his mortal

enemy, but by the

immediate command of Jupiter.

human means,

incidents merely by If the poet had conducted thefe body or fuppofed Achilles to reftore the

draught had of Hector entirely out of companion, the fuch a violence been unnatural, becaufe unlike Achilles: ordinary methods. of temper was not to be pacified by propereft perfonages to the of ufe made has he Befides, have for who could be fuppofed to
carry

on the

affair;

fo great an influence

upon

Achilles as his

own mother,

who

is a

goddefs

240

HOME

R's
!

ILIAD.
(hall

Book XXIV.

How
And

long, unhappy

thy forrows flow

thy heart wafte with life-confuming

woe ?
165

Mindlefs of food, or love whole pleafing reign

Soothes weary

life,

and

foftens

human

pain.

fnatch the

moments

yet within thy pow'r,

Nor long

to live, indulge the am'rous hour

f. 164. And thy heart wafte with llfc-confuming woe.J Thisexpreflion in the original is very particular. Were it to be tranflated literally, it mult be rendered, how
long wilt thou
forrows
fenfe,
let
?

eat, or prey upon thy

it

own heart by thefe

a

And

feems that
;

it

was

common way
it

of

exprefling a deep forrow

and Pythagoras ufes

is,

in this

pi W?

xxpfitcv,

that

grieve not exceffively,

not forrow

make too

great an impreffion

ipon thy

heart.

Euftathius.

Indulge the amorous hour!'] The ancients ^.168. (fays Euftathius) rejecled thefe verfes becaufe of the indecent idea they convey: the goddefs in plain terms advifes Achilles to

go

to

bed to his

miftrefs,

and

tells
is

him a woman
of opinion,
fon he gives
is

will be a comfort.

The good

biihop

that they ought to be rejecled, but the reaas extraordinary as that

diers, fays he,

of Thetis : folhave more occafion for fomething to ftrengthen themfelves with, than for women and this
:

is the reafon, continues he,

why

wreftlers are forbid all

commerce with
exercife.

that fex during the whole time of their

Dionyfius of HalicarnafTus endeavours to juftify Homer by obferving that this adviceof Thetis was not given him to induce him to any wantonnefs, but was intended
to indulge a nobler paffion, his defire of glory:
yifes

me

ad-

go to that captive who was reftored to him in a public manner to fatisfy his honour: to that captive, the detention of whom had been fo great a punifnment to the whole Grecian army. And therefore Thetis
to
ufes

him

feookXXlV.

H O M

E R's

ILIAD.
I

24*

Lo

Jove himfelf <for Jove's command

bear)
far,

Forbids to tempt the wrath of heav'n too

ufes a very proper fing

170-

him

to gratify at

motive to comfort her Ton, by advionce both his love and his glory.

Plutarch has likewife laboured in Homer's j unification; he obferves that the poet has fet the pidure of Achilles in this place in a very fair and (bong point of light:

though Achilles had fo lately received his beloved Brifcis from the hands of Agamemnon; though he knew that
vails
life drew to a Cudden period ; yet the hero preover the lover, and he does not hade to indulge his love : he does not lament Patroclus like a common man by neglecting the duties of life, but he abftains from

his

own

all pleafure

by an excefs of forrow, and the tove of his

in that of his friend. This obfervation excellently j unifies Achilles, in not indulging hiinfelf with the company of his miurefs the

miftrefs

is loft

hero indeed prevails fo much over the lover, that Thetis

thinks herfelf obliged to recall Brifeis to his memory. Ail that can be faid Yet frill the indecency remains.
in favour of Thetis
is, that (he was mother to Achilles, and confequently might take the greater freedom with

her fon.

Madam
vations
:

Dacier difapproves of both the former obfer-

has recourle to the lawfulness of fuch a pra&ice between Achilles and Brifeis; and becaufc fuch commerces in thofe times were reputed honeir, therefore (bethinks the advice was decent: the married ladies

me

all are obliged to her for this obfervation, and I hope tender mothers, when their fons are afflicted, will advife

them to comfort themfelves

In fhort, I decency; and

in this

manner.

opinion that this pailage outrages it is a fign of fome wcaknefs to have fo much occafion of j unification. Indeed the whole paffage is capable of a ferious conftruaion, and of fuch a

am of

fenfe as a

mother might exprefs to a fon with decency;

it

and then

will

run thus,

"

Why

art

thou,

my

fon,

Vol. IV.

2 42

H O M E
relics

R's

D.

BookXXIV.

"No longer then (his fury if thou dread)

Detain the

of great Heclor dead

Kor
But

vent on fenfelefs earth thy vengeance vain,

yield to ranfom,

and reftore the

flain.

To whom
And we

Achilles:

be the ranfom giv'n,

17;

fubmit, fince fuch the will of heav'n.

While thus they commun'd, from th' Olympian bow'rs

Jove orders
Iris to the

Trojan tow'rs.
!

Hafte, winged Goddefs

to the facred

town,
180

And
And

urge her monarch to redeem his fon;

let

Alone, the Ilian ramparts

him

leave,

bear what ftern Achilles

may

receive

Alone, for fo we will: no Trojan near;

Except to place the dead with decent

care,

Some aged

herald,

who

with gentle hand,

fun'ral car
let

185

May
Kor

the flow mules and

let

command.

him death, nor

him danger dread,

led

Safe thro'

the foe by our protection

u thus afHi&ed ? Why thus refigned to forrow ? Can u neither fleep nor love divert you ? Short is thy date " of life, fpend it not all in weeping, but allow forac " part of it to love and pleafure!" But dill the indecency
lies in

the

manner of the

expreffion,

lowed to be
mifceri.)
v/e are

almofl. obfeene, (for fuch is the

which muft be alword joo-yurl'

is,

All that can be faid in defence of it

that as

not competent judges of what ideas words might carry in Homer's time, fo we ought not intirely to condemn him, becaufe it is poflible the expremon might not

found fo indecently in ancient, as in modern

ears.

Book XXIV.

H O M E

R's

ILIAD.

243

Him Hermes
Guard of

to Achilles (hall convey,

his life,

and partner of his way.

190

Fierce as he is, Achilles' felf mall fpare

His age, nor touch one venerable hair

The f. 189. Him Hermes to Achilles pall convey. ~] intervention of Mercury was very necefTary at this time,
and by
it

the poet not only gives an air of probability

to the relation, but alfo

trymen the Grecians

nothing but a

pays a complement to his counthey kept fo ftrivft a guard that

;

God

could pafs unobferved

this highly

recommends

their military difcipline;

and Priam not

being able to carry the ranfom without a chariot, it would have been an offence againft probability to have fuppofed him able to have palTed all the guards of the army in his chariot, without the affiftance of fome deity r

Horace had
firft

this paiTage in his

view, ode the xoth of the

book,
Iniqtta

Troja

caflra fefellit*

f, ,01.
It is

Achilles' felfjhallfpare

His age, nor

fa>K, aa*o*<K,

touch one venerable hair, etc/]

obfervable that every

word here
is dill

is

a negative,

ax,W, M v; Achilles
is

fo angry that

Jupiter cannot fay he

wife, judicious, and merciful;

fays

he only
is

not a
It is

commends him negatively, and barely madman, nor perverfely wicked.

of the
fins

he

the obfervation of the ancients, fays Euftathius,

that all the caufes

of

man

are included in

thofe three

words:

man

offends either out of ignorance,

and then he
is a.tr%oTtoq\

a;tVv.

is $pl>v, or through inadvertency, then he or wilfully and malicioufly, and then he is So that this defcription agrees very well
;

with the prefent difpofition of Achilles

he
is

becaufe his refentment begins to abate; he

is not *<&<&, not acrwrog r

;

becaufe his mother has

given him inftruittons

nor

244

H O M E
fenfe of duty,

R's

A D, BookXXlV.

Some thought Some

there mult be, in a foul fo brave,

fome

defire to fave.

Then down

her

bow

the

winged

Iris drives,

195

And

fwift at Priam's

mournful court arrives:

Where

the fad fons befide their father's throne

Sate bath'd in tears, and anfwer'd groan with groan.

And

all amidfl;

them
I)

lay the hoary fire>

(Sad fcene of woe

His face his wrapt

attire

200

tt\tTT).UUV,

becaufe he will not offend againft the injunctions

of Jupiter.

^.195. The winged Iris flirt,

are made ufe body of Hector from

etc/]

been very free upon this pafTage, where fo

chines
*' **

Monf. Rapin has many mafather (fays he)

of, to caufe

Priam to obtain the

Achilles,

" This

who

has fo

much

tendernefs for this fon,

who

is

fo

and u faving thofe precious remains from the dogs and " vultures ; ought not he to have thought of doing this
fuperftkious in obferving the funeral ceremonies,

himfelf, without being thus exprefly commanded by " the gods ? Was there need of a machine to make him remember that he was a father ?" But this cri*t tic intirely forgets what rendered fuch a conduct of ab-

folute ntceflity

namely, the extreme danger and (in

all

probability) imminent ruin both of the king and ftate,

inveterate

upon Priam's putting himfelf into the power of his moft There was no other method of re-, enemy.

covering Heclor, and of difcharging his funeral rites (which were looked upon by the ancients of fo high importance) and therefore the melfage from Jupiter to encourage Priam, with the aflHtance of Mercury to con* duct him, and to prepare Achilles to receive him with it was dignus vindicefavour, was far from impertinent no.hs, as Horace exprelles it. $. 200, His face his wrapt attire Conceal* d from
:

fight?^

The

poet has obferved a great decency in this

Book XXIV.

H O M
;

E R's

D.

245

Conceal'd from fight

with frantic hands he fpread

fhow'r of

afhes o'er his

neck and head.

From room

to

room

his penfive daughters

fill

roam

Whofe

(hrieks

and clamours

the vaulted

dome
205
!

Mindful of thofe, who,

late their pride

fields

and joy,
of Troy

Lie pale and breathlefs round the

Before the king Jove's meflTenger appears,

And

ears. thus in whifpers greets his trembling

!

Fear not, oh father

no

ill

news

bear

From Jove I
For

come, Jove makes thee

ftill

his care

ier

Heclor's fake thefe walls he bids thee leave,

bear what ftern Achilles
:

And

may

receive
near,
care,

Alone, for fo he wills

no Trojan

Except to place the dead with decent

Some aged

herald,

who

with gentle hand,

21 5

May
Nor

the flow mules and fun'ral car

command.
j

danger dread (halt thou death, nor (halt thou

Safe thro' the foe

by

his

protedion

led

Thee Hermes
Guard of thy
Fierce as he

to Pelides (hall
life,

convey

and partner of thy way.

220

is,

Achilles' felf (hall fpare

Thy age, nor touch one

place-

venerable hair

;.

grief of hi* royal* he was not able to exprefs the not reprefent. could he what covers fo mourner, and painter borFrom this paffage Semanthes theSicyonian reprethe facriffce of Iphigenia, and

rowed hisdefign
fents his

in

Agamemnon,

as

Homer does h is Priam JEfcby:

place, lus has likewife imitated this

and draws his NiobcEuftathius.

exactly after the

manner of Homer.

X3

246

E R's

ILIAD.
defire to fave.

Book XXIV.

Some thought

there rauft be, in a foul fo brave,

Some

fenfe of duty,

fome

She fpoke, and vanifh'd.

Priam bids prepare

225

His gentle mules, and harnefs to the car;

There, for the
gifts,

a polifh'd cafket lay

His pious fons the king's command obey.

Then

paft the

monarch

to his bridal

room,
2 jo

Where

cedar-beams the lofty roofs perfume,

the treafures of his empire lay

And where Then calPd

the queen, and thus began to fay.

Unhappy

confort of a kingdiftreft;

Partake the troubles of thy hufband's breaft

I

faw defcend the meflenger of Jove,

bids

235

Who
The
Tell

me try

Achilles'

mind

to

move;
obtain

Forfake thefe ramparts, and with

gifts

corps of Hector, at yon' navy

(lain.

me thy thought my
:

heart impels to

go
qaq

Thro'

hoftile

camps, and bears

thus.

me

to the foe.

The hoary monarch

Her

piercing cries

Sad Hecuba renews, and then

replies.
?

Ah

whither wanders thy diftemper'd mind

And where the prudence

now

that aw'd

mankind?
245

Thro' Phrygia once, and foreign regions known,

Kow
(Oh

all

confus'd, diftra&ed, overthrown

!

Singly to pafs thro' hofts of foes

heart of
fteel !)

to face
!

the murd'rer of thy race

To view

that deathful eye,

and wander o'er

!

Thofe hands,

yet red with Hector's noble gore

250

Book XXIV.
Alas
!

HOME
!

R's

ILIAD.
to fpare,

*47

my

lord
his

he

knows not how

(lain
!

And what
So brave
!

mercy, thy

fons declare

fo

many

fall'n

to

calm his rage

Vain were thy dignity, and vain thy age.

-$0

pent in this fad palace,

grief, the

let

us give
live.

255

To

wretched days we have to

let

Still, ftill

for

Hector

our forrows flow,

Born

to his

own, and

to his parents

woe
life

Doom'd from

the hour his lucklefs

begun,
!

To dogs,
Oh
!

to vultures, and to Peleus' fon

260

in his deareft

blood might

allay
!

My

rage,
!

and

thefe barbarities repay

?

For ah

could Hector merit thus

whofe breath

Expir'd not meanly, in unactive death

He

pour'd his
fell

latefl:

blood in manly

fight,

265

And

a hero in his country's right.

flay

Seek not to

me, nor

my

foul affright

With words of omen,

like a bird

of night;

(Reply'd unmov'd the venerable

'Tis heav'n

man)
urge in vain.

commands me, and you

270

$. 265.
courfe of

He

poured his lateft blood in manly fight, a hero 3

And fell
Hecuba
is

This whole

dif-

exceedingly natural, (he aggravates

the features of Achilles, and foftens thofe of Hector: her

anger blinds her fo much, that

in Achilles,

me

can fee nothing great

much, that fhe can difThus fhe draws Achilles in cern no defects in Hector. the fierceft colours, like a Barbarian, and calls him d/^ri's ; but at the fame time forgets that Hector ever fled -from Achilles, and in the original directly tells us that he knew
and her fondnefs
fo

not

how

to

fear, or how to fly.

Eultathius.

;!

248

E R's
th'

D,

Book XXIV.

Had any
Nor

mortal voice
prieft,

injunction laid,

augur,

or feer had been obey'd.

prefent Goddefs brought the high

command,

I faw, I

heard her, and the word

(hall ftand.

I go, ye

Gods

obedient to your

call
fall,

275

If in yon'

camp your pow'rs have doom'd my

Content

By

the fame hand

let

me

expire

Add
One

to the flaughter'd fon the wretched fire

cold embrace at lead

laft tears

may be

allow'd,
!

And my
From
Twelve

flow mingled with his blood

280

forth his open'd ftores, this faid, he

coftly carpets
vefts, as

drew

of refulgent hue,
mantles told,
ftiff

As many

many

And

twelve

fair veils

and garments

with gold.

Two tripods
With

next, and twice two chargers (hine,

285

ten pure talents from the richeft

a large well labour'd
treaties

mine
place,

And

laft

bowl had

(The pledge of
Seem'd
all

once with friendly Thrace)

too

mean

the ftores he could employ,

For one

laft

look to buy him back to

Troy

290

Lo

the fad father, frantic with his pain,

furious drives his menial train

Around him

^.291. Lo!
Priam
fion
is

the fadfather,

tic."]

This behaviour of

very natural to a perfon in his circumftances

his fpirits, that he is incapable

the lofs of his favourite fon makes fo deep an impref-

upon

of confoJation

he

is

difpleafed with every

;

body

he

is

angry he knows-

not

why

the diforder and hurry of his fpirits

make
to-

him break out

into paffionate expreflions, and ihofe ex*

prefllons are contained id fhort periods, very natural

Book XXIV.

R's

A D.

249

In vain each flave with duteous care attends,

Each

office hurts

him, and each face offends.

?

What make
Have ye no

ye here

officious crouds

(he cries) 295

eyes.
;

Hence! nor obtrude your anguifh on

griefs at

my

home, to

fix
?

ye there

Am I the only
men
in anger,

object of defpair

who give

not themfelves leifure toexprefs

:

their fentiments at full length

it is

from the fame paf-

fion that Priam, in the fecond fpeech, treats all his fons
calls them gluttons, dancers,, Euftathius very juftly remarks, that he and flatterers. had Paris particularly in his eye but his anger makes him transfer that character to the reft of his children, not being calm enough to make a diftinclion between the innocent and guilty. That paffage where he runs into the praifes of Hector, is particularly natural: his concern and fondnefs make him as extravagant in the commendation of him, as in the difparagement of his other fons: they are lefs than Rapin has cenfured this mortals, he more than man. anger of Priam as a breach of the manners, and fays he might have fhewn himfelf a father, otherwife than by

with the utmoft indignity,

this ufage

of his children.

But whoever confiders his

circumftances, will judge after another manner. Priam,

after

formidable monarch of Afia, becomes

having been the moft wealthy, moft powerful and all at once the

moft miferable of men; he lofes in lefs than eight days the beft of his army, and a great number of virtuous fons; he lofes the braveft of 'them all, his glory and his

This laft blow finks him and changes him fo much, that he is no longer the fame: he becomes impatient, frantic, unreafonable
defence, the gallant Heel or.
quite,
!

the terrible effect of

in fight into nature,

ill

fortune

whoever has the

fine a picture

leaft

muft admire fo

of the

force of adverfity

on an unhappy old man.

! ;

2$o

HOME
I

R's

ILIA
common

D.
(how,

BookXXIV,

Am

become

my
feel

people's

Set up by Jove your fpeftacle of

woe ?
fall

300

No, you mud

him too

yourfelves muft

The
Nor
Your
I fee

fame ftern
is

God

to ruin gives

you
;

all

great Hector loft

by me alone

fole defence,

your guardian pow'r

fields

is

gone
30$

your blood the

of Phrygia drown,
!

I fee the ruins of your

fmoking town day

Oh

fend me,

Gods

ere that fad

(hall
!

come,

willing ghoft to Pluto's dreary

dome

He faid,
The
Next on

and feebly drives his friends away

forrowing friends his frantic rage obey.

his fons his erring fury falls,

310

Polites, Paris, Agathon, he calls,

His

threats

Deiphobus and Dius hear,

feer,

Hippothous, Pammon, Helenus the

And

gen'rous Antiphon

for yet thefe nine

315

Surviv'd, fad relics of his num'rous line.

Inglorious fons of an unhappy

fire

Why did
Wretch

not

all in

Hector's caufe expire?

that I

am

my braveft

offspring (lain,
!

You, the difgrace of Priam's houfe, remain

3 20

Meftor the brave, renown'd in ranks of war,

With

Troilus, dreadful on his rufhing car,

$. 313. Deiphobus and Dius.,] It has been a difpute whether A7o? or 'Ayctvls in f. 251. was a proper name; but Pherecydes (fays Euflathius) determines it, and aft

fures us that

Dios was a fpurious fon of Priam.

; :

Book XXIV.

H O M

E R's

ILIAD.
divine,

2JI

And
For

laft

great Hector,

more than man

fure he feem'd not

of terreftrial line!
flew,

All thofe relentlefs

Mars untimely
a foft

325

And

left

me thefe,

and

fervile

crew,

Whofe

days the

feaft

and wanton dance employ,

Gluttons and

flatt'rers, the

contempt of Troy

Why
And

teach ye not fpeed

my

rapid wheels to run,

my

journey to redeem

my

fon

330

The
Forgive

fons their father's wretched age revere,

his anger,

and produce the

car.
:

High on

the feat the cabinet they bind

The new-made
Box was

car with folid beauty (hin'd;

the yoke, emboli with coftly pains,

335

And hung
Thefe

with ringlets to receive the reins

traces fwept the

Nine cubits long the

ground

to the chariot's polifh'd pole they

fix'd a ring the

bound,

Then

running reins to guide,

And
Next

clofe beneath the gather'd ends

were

ty'd.

340

with the gifts (the price of Hector flain)

fad attendants load the groaning

The
(The

wain

Laft to the yoke the well-match'd mules they bring,

gift

ofMyfiato the Trojan king.)

horfes, long his darling care,
-

But the

fair

34$

Himfelf receiv'd, and harnefs'd to his car:

f. 342. The fad attendants load the groaning

It is neceffary to

ivaln.']

obferve to the reader, to avoid confu-

fion,

that two cars are here prepared ; the one drawn by mules, to carry the prefents, and to bring back the body of Hector; the other drawn by horfes, in Vvhich the herald and Priam rode. Euftathius.

252

H O M

E R's

A D, Book XXIV.

Griev'd as he was, he not this talk deny'd;

The

hoary herald help'd him at his

fide.

While

careful thefe the gentle courfers join'd,

Sad Hecuba approach'd with anxious mind;

3 JO

golden bowl that foam'd with fragrant wine,

(Libation deftin'd to the pow'r divine)

Held

in her right, before the fteeds (he (lands,

And

thus configns

it

to the

monarch's hands.
that fafe from harms,

Take this, and pour to Jove;

His grace
reftore thee to

355

our roof, and arms.

Since victor of thy fears, and flighting mine,

Heav'n, or thy

foul, infpire this bold defign:

Pray to that God, who high on Ida's brow

Surveys thy defolated realms below,

360

His winged meflfenger to fend from high,

And

lead thy

way with

heav'nly augury

Let the flrong fov'reign of the plumy race

Tow'r on
That

the right of yon' aethereal fpace.

fign beheld,

and flrengthen'd from above,

365

Boldly purfue the journey mark'd by Jove;

But

if the

God

his

augury denies,

Snpprefs thy impulfe, nor reject advice.

'Tis juft (faid Priam) to the
(ire

above
as

To
He

raife

our hands, for

who

fo

good

Jove

370

fpoke, and bad th' attendant handmaid bring

pureft water of the living fpring:

The

(Her ready hands the ewer and bafon held)

Then took

the golden cup his queen

had

fiU'd;

On

Book XXIV.

E R/s

ILIAD.

253 37^

On- the mid pavement pours the rofy wine,

Uplifts his eyes,

and

calls the
!

pow'r divine.
imperial lord
!

Oh

firft,

and

greateft

heavVs
!

On

lofty Ida's holy hill ador-'d

To ftern
And
If fuch

Achilles

now

direct

my

ways,

teach him

mercy when a

father prays.

3S0

thy will, difpatch from yonder iky

!

Thy

facred bird, celeflial augury

Let the ftrong fov'reign of the plumy race

Tow'r
So

on' the right

of yon' ethereal fpace:

3$;

(hall

thy fuppliant, ftrengtben'd from above,

Fearlefs pu'rfne the journey mark'd "by Jove.

Jove heard his pray'r, and from the throne on high

Difpatch 'd his bird,
celeflial

augury

The

fwift-wing'd chafer of the feather'd game,

to

And known
Wtde,

Gods by Perenos*

lofty

name.

~q>

as appears fonie palace-gate difplay'd, his pinions flrerch'd their

So broad,

ample made,

As

(looping dexter with refounding wings

imperial bird defcends in airy rings.

Th'
I

f. 377. Oh fir!} , and great ft ! etc] Euftatbitis obis not one inttanre in the whoie 3 lias cf any prayer that was juftly, preferred, that failed of flicce rs. This proceeding or Homer's is very judicious,
l

ferves, that there

and anfwers exactly to the true end of poetry, which

%o pleafe and infrrucl.

is

Thus

^riatn prays that Achilles

his miferiesj

may

ceafe his wrath,

his

and compalfionate
requefl:

and Jupiter grants

finds a friend.

the

unfortunate king
inveterate

obtains compafiion, and in his

mod

enemy

Vol. IV.

2*4

HOME
on

R's

ILIA

D, ^BookXXIV.
395

dawn of joy

in ev'ry face appears

The
Swift

mourning matron

dries her tim'rous tears.

the car th' impatient

monarch fprung;
rung.

The The

brazen

portal in his paflfage

mules preceding draw the loaded wain,

gifts:

Charg'd with the

Idaeus holds the rein:

400

The
And

king himfelf his gentle deeds controuls,

thro' furrounding friends the chariot rolls.

On

his flow wheels the following people wait,

at

Mourn

each

ftep,

and give him up to fate;

With hands

uplifted, eye

him

as he paft,
laft.

40$

And

gaze upon hira as they gaz'd their

Now

forward fares the father on his way,

fields,

Thro' the lone

and back to Ilion they.

Great Jove beheld him as he croft the plain,

And

felt

the woesofmiferable
to

man,

410
conftant cares

Then thus
Still

Hermes.

Thou whofe

fuccour mortals, and attend their pray'rs;

Behold an object to thy charge confign'd,

If ever pity touch'd thee for mankind.

Go, guard

the fire; th' obferving foe prevent,

415

And

fafe

conduct him to Achilles' tent.

obeys, his golden pinions binds,
the wings of winds,

The God

And mounts incumbent on

no

f. 417. The defcription ofMercury J] A man mud have tafte for poetry that does not admire this fublime
:

defcription

Virgil has tranflated

it

almoft verbatim in

the 4th

book of

the iEneis, f. 240.

Hie patris magni par ere parabat

Imferh,

et

primm

pedibus Salaria ncftit

Book XXIV.
That high

E R's

ILIAD.

255

thro' fields

of air his

flight Curtain,

main: 420 O'er the wide earth, and o'er the boundlefs

Then
Or

grafps the

wand

that caufes deep to fly,

eye; in foft (lumbers feals the wakeful

arm'd, fwift Hermes (leers his airy way,
(loops

Thus

And

on Hellefpont's refounding

fea.

beauteous youth, majeftic and divine,

425
line!

He

feem'd;

fair

offspring

offome princely

Aurea, qua fiblimem

alts, five

aqucra fipra,

Seu

port ant. terrain rapido pariter cum famine

ille

Turn virgam capit, hac animas

evocat orco

mitt it Pallentes, alias fib triftia tartar a

Datfimnos, adimitque,
It

et lumina morte refignat.

which is more excellent, the is hard to determine appears in both pictures copy, or the original: Mercury

drcfs becomes with equal majefty ; and the Roman has added the latter part Virgil Grecian. the as well as

him

of the

which and the whole fixth line, to Homer, majeftical. and full more makes it out of Milton of Give me leave to produce a paflage is not inferior which above, lines the affinity with
fifth,

dill

near
to

Homer

or Virgil:

it is

the defcription of the defcent

of an angel.

Down

thither,
thro''

prom

in

fight

Hefpceds, and

the vaft athereal fky

Sails between worlds

and worlds ; with fie ady wing

:

Now

on the polar winds

the buxom air

then with quick force

Winnows

Of beaming finny

rays a golden tiar

lefs his

Circled his head; nor

loch behind

wings, Jllufriousy on his jhoulders fiedg'd with

Lay waving rmind

etc.

256

HOMERVILIAD.
clad the

BookXXI\%

Now
And

twilight veil'd the glaring face of day,

dufky

fields in

fober gray

"What time the herald and the hoary king

Their chariots flopping,
at the filver fpring

45^

That

circling Ilus' ancient marble flows,

Allow'd their mules and fleeds a fhort repofe.

Thro' the dim (hade the herald

firft

efpies
cries.

A
I

man's approach, and thus to Priam

mark fome

foe's

advance:

king

beware;

435

This hard adventure claims thy

utmofl: care:
:

For much

I fear,

deflruction hovers nigh

is it befi:

Our

flate afks

counfel;

to fly

Or, old and helplefs,

at his feet to fall,

call ?

(Two

wretched fuppliants) and for mercy

440

^.427. Now

tw'i fight ve\l\l

the glaring face of day

~\
.

The

poet by fuch intimations as thefe recalls to our

minds the exact time which Priam takes up in his journey to Achilles: he fet out in the evening; and by the time that he had reached the tomb of Ilus, it was grown fomewhat dark, which (hews that this tomb flood at ibme diftance from the city here Mercury meets him, and when it was quite dark, guides him into. the prefence of Achilles. By tbefe methods we may difcover how
:

exactly the poet prefer ves the unities of time and place,

and he

allots

fpace fufficient for the actions which

he

defcribes,

and yet does not croud more incidents into

of time than
thus
it

any
at

interval

may be

executed in as

much

he allows:

being improbable that fo ftubbom

relent in a

man

as Achilles

mould

few moments, the*

poet allows a whole night for this

affair, fo that

Priam

has leifure enough to go and return, and time enough

remaining to perfuade Achilles.

Book XXIV.
Th'
afflicted

H O M E
monarch

R's

A D.

257

fliiver'd

with defpair;

Pale grew his face, and upright ftood his hair;

Sunk was

his heart;

his colour

went and came;

A When
And

fudden trembling fhook his aged frame:

Hermes

greeting, touch'd his royal hand,

445

gentle, thus accofts with kind

!

demand.
fight

Say whither, father

when each mortal

Is feal'd in deep, thou wander'ft thro' the night t

dial! f. 447. etc. Tbefpeecb of Mercury to Priam^ I not trouble the reader with the dreams of Eufiathius,, who tells us that this fiction of Mercury, is partly true

and partly
piter
is

falfe : It is true that his father is old ; for Juking of the whole univerfe, was from eternity,
:

and created both men and gods in like manner, when Mercury fays he is the feventh child of his father, Euftathius affirms that he meant that there were fix planets befides Mercury. Sure it requires great pains and thought the fuppofition which he to be fo learnedly abfurd
:

Priam, fays he, makes afterwards is far more natural. might by chance meet with one of the Myrmidons, who might conduct him unobferved through the camp into the prefence of Achilles: and as the execution of any
wife defign
is

afcribed to Pallas, fo

may

this clandeitine

enterprize be faid to be

managed by the guidance of

Mercury. But perhaps this whole paffage may be better explained by having recourfe to the Pagan theology it was an
:

opinion that obtained

in

thofe early days, that Jupiter

frequently fent fome friendly meiTengers to protect the innocent, fo that Homer might intend to give his readers
a lecture of morality, by telling us that this unhappy king was under the protection of the gods. Madam Dacier carries it farther. Homer (fay me) inftructed by tradition, knew that God fends his angels to the fuccour of the

aSided.

The

fcriptute

is foil

Y3

258

H O M

E R's

ILIAD.

Book XXIV.

Why

roam thy mules and deeds the

foes, fo

plains along,
fo ftrong
!

Thro' Grecian

num'rous and

450
view,

What could'ft thou hope, mould thefe thy treafures

Thefe,

who

with endlefs hate thy race purfue

!

Tor what

defence, ahs

could'ft thou provide

Thy
Yet

felf

not young, a weak old

man thy

guide.

furfer

not thy foul to fink with dread;

mall touch thy rev'rend head

455

From me no harm
From Greece
I'll

guard thee too; for in thofe lines

The

living

image of

my

father fhines.

Thy
Are

words, that fpeak benevolence of mind

true,

my
my

foil

(the god-like fire rejoin'd)

;

460

Great are

hazards

but the

Gods furvey
of

My

fieps,

and fend

thee, guardian

my

way.

examples of this truth.

The

(lory of Tobit has a

won-

derful relation with this of

Homer: Tobit

fent his fon

to Rages, a city of Media, to receive a confiderable furn;

Tobias did not know the way; he found at his door a young man clothed with amajeftic glory, which attracted admiration it was an angel under the form of a man. This angel being afoed who he was, anfwered (as Mercury does helre) by a fidion ; he faid that he was of the children of ifrael, that his name was Azarias, and that he was fon of Ananias. This angel conducted Tobias he gave him inftruclions; and when he was in fafety
; ;

to receive the recompence which the father and fon ofi

feredhira, he declared that he

took
is

his flight

towards heaven, and difappeared.

a great conformity in

was the angel of the Lord, Hera the ideas and in the ftyle; and

the example of our author fo long before Tobit, proves,

that this opinion of God's fending his angels to the aid

of

nun was very common, and much

fpread amongft

the Pfgaiw in thofe former times.

Dacier.

Book XXIV.

H O M
!

E R's

ILIAD.

259

Hail, and be bleft

for fcarce of mortal kind

feature,

Appear thy form, thy

and thy mind.

;

Nor true

are

all

thy words, nor erring wide

465

(The
But

facred mefTenger of heav'n reply'd)

fay, convey'ft

thou thro' the lonely plains

What

yet

mod

precious of thy ftore remains,

To
Or

lodge in fafety with fome friendly hand?

Prepar'd perchance to leave thy native land.

fly 'II

47

thou

now? what hopes

can

Troy

retain?
!

Thy

matchlefs fon, her guard and glory, {lain

The

king alarm'd.

Say what, and whence thou

art,

Who

fearch the forrows of a parent's heart,

fo well

And know

how

god-like Heclor dy'd?

475

Thus Priam

fpoke, and

Hermes thus

reply'd.

You tempt me,

father,

and with pity touchy

On

this fad fubject

you enquire too much.

Oft' have thefe eyes that god-like Heclor view'd

In glorious fight with Grecian blood embru'd

I

480

faw him, when

like

Jove his flames he

toft

On
I

thoufand

(hips,

and wither'd half a hoft:

:

faw, but help'd not

afliftance,
I

(tern Achilles' ire

Forbad

and enjoy'd the Are.

of Myrmidonian race
;

For him

ferve,

485

One

(hip

convey'd us from our native placej

is

Polyclor

my

fire,

an honour'd name,

Old

like thyfelf,

and not unknown to fame

Of

fcv'n his ions

by

whom
it fell

the loft

was
the

caft

To ferve

our prince,

on me,

l^ft.

49a

2 6o

HOMER's ILIAD.
watch
this quarter

Book XXIV.

To

my

adventure

falls,

For with the morn the Greeks attack your walls

Sleeplefs they
fit,

impatient to engage,

And

fcarce their rulers check their martial rage.

If then thou art of ftern Pelides' train,

495

(The mournful monarch

thus rejoin'd again)

!

Ah

tell

me

truly,

where, oh

where are
befalls

laid

My
Or

fon's dear relics?

what

him dead?

Have dogs difmember'd on

yet unmangled
reft his

the naked plains,

cold remains

500

O
The

favour'd of the Ikies!

(thus anfwer'd then

pow'r that mediates between Gods and men)

vultures have thy Hector rent,
lies,

Nor dog? nor

But whole he
This the

neglected in the tent:

twelfth ev'ning fince he refted there,

air.

505

Untouch 'd by worms, untainted by the

Still

as Aurora's

ruddy beam

is

fpread,

Round

his friend's

tomb

Achilles drags the dead:

face,

Yet undisfigur'd, or in limb or

All frefh he
lies,

with ev'ry living grace,

!

51

Majeflical in death

no

ftains are
is

found

O'er

all

the corfe, and clos'd

a

ev'ry

wound

(Tho' many

wound

they gave) fome heav'nly care,

Some hand
Or
all

divine, preferves

him ever

fair:

the hoft of heav'n, to

fo grateful,
ftiJl

whom

he led

515:

life

regard him dead.

coeleftial

Thus

fpoke to Priam thr

thus the royal

guide,

And joyful

fire

reply'd.

Book XXIV.
Bled
is

H O M

E R's
the

ILIAD.
!

261

the

man who pays

Gods above
52

The

conftant tribute of refpect and love

inhabit the

Thofe who

Olympian bow'r

My
And

Ton forgot not, in exalted pow'r

heav'n, that ev'ry virtue be^rs in mind,
to the afhes of the juft,
!

Ev'n

is

kind.

But thou, oh gen'rous youth

this goblet take,

525

pledge of gratitude for Hector's fake;

And

while the fav'ring Gods our fteps furvey,

Safe to Pelides' tent conduct

my

way.

To whom the latent God. O king forbear To tempt my youth, for apt is youth to err: But can I, abfent from my prince's fight,
Take
gifts in fecret, that

53

mud

(hun the light

Plomer now begins, and long fable, to give the moral of it, and difplay his poetical juftice in rewards and pnnifhments thus Hector fought in a bad caufe, and there^.5:19.
Blejl is the man, etc.]
after a beautiful
:

of it ; but becaufe he was a good man, and obedient to the gods in other refpects, his very remains become the care of heaven.
fore fuffers in the defence
I

think
is

it

necefFary to take notice to the reader, that

more admirable than the conduct of Homer throughout his whole poem, inrefpect to morality. He
nothing
juftifies the

character of Horace,
',

Quid pukkr urn, quid turpe, quid'utile quid

Pleuiiu et melius Chryfippo et

nzn>

Cr antore

dicit.

If the reader does not obferve the morality

Ilias,

of the

and the nobler part of its beauty : he reads it as a common romance, and miftakes the chief aim of it, which is to inliruct. of f, 531. But can I, abfent etc.] In the original
he
lofes half,
y

262

H O M

E R's

D.

Book XXIV.

What

from our matter's

int'reft

thus

we draw,

Is but a licens'd theft that 'fcapes the law.

Refpecling him,

my

foul abjures th' offence;

535

And

as the crime, I dread the confequence.

far as

Thee,

Argos, pleas'd
life,

could convey

Guard of thy

and partner of thy way.

On

thee attend, thy fafety to maintain,

O'er pathlefs forefts, or the roring main.

540

He faid,
And

then took the chariot at a bound,

fnatch'd the reins, and whirl'd the lafh around

Before th' infpiring

God

that urg'd

them on,

The

courfers

fly,

with

fpirit

not their own.

And now

they reach'd the naval walls, and found

54J

The

guards repaying, while the bowls go round

On

thefe the virtue

of his wand he

tries,

And

pours deep flumber on their watchful eyes

the mafly gates, remov'd the bars,

Then heav'd

And

o'er the trenches led the rolling cars,

all

550

Unfeen, thro'

the hoftile

camp they went,

And now
this place

approach'd Pelides' lofty tent.

(which

have paraphrafed a

little)

the

word

i^>\tvuv is remarkable.

Priam offers Mercury (whom he looks upon as a foldier of Achilles) a prefent, which he refufes becaufe his prince is ignorant of it: this prefent he calls a direct theft or robbery ; which may (hew us how (trie! the notions of juftice were in the days of

Homer, when

if a prince's

fervant received any prefent

without the knowlege of his matter, he was efteemed a

thief and a robber.

Euftathius.

BookXXIV.
Of fir
With
And,

H O M E

R's

ILIAD.
more

263

the roof was rais'd, and cover'd o'er

reeds collected from the marfliy

fenc'd with palifades, a hall of ftate,

the hero fate.

5^

(The work of foldiers) where

f*S5B- Offir the roof was rais'd.'] I have in the courfe of thefe obfervations described the method of encamping ufed by the Grecians: the reader has here a
full

and exact defcription of the tent of Achilles: this

royal pavilion was built witli long palifadocs

fir:

made of

covered with reeds, and the infide was divided into feveral apartments: thus Achilles had his *v\n fjaydhr, or large hall, and behind it were lodging
the top of
it

So in the ninth book Phoenix has a bed prerooms. pared for him in one apartment, Patroclus has another
for

him felf and his captive

Iphis,

for himfelf and his miftrefs

and Achilles has a third Diomeda.

But we mud not imagine that the other Myrmidons had tents of the like dimenfions they were, as Eu> :a:

thius obferves, inferior to this royal one of Achilles:

which indeed

is

no

better than an hovel, yet agrees very

well with the duties of a foldier, and the fimplicity of

thofe early times.
I

am

of opinion that fuch fixed tents were not ufed

by

the Grecians in their

common marches,
when
their

but only du-

ring the time of fieges,

place

long flay in one

as are here
in the

made
;

it

necefTary to build fuch tents

defcribed

at

other times they lay like

air,

Diomed

tenth book, in the open

right, to be ready

their

fpears (landing up-

of

beafts fpread
It is

upon any alarm ; and with the hides on the ground, inftead of a bed. worthy obfervation, that Homer even upon Co
ftrength

trivial

an occafion as the defcribing the tent of Achilles,

takes an opportunity to fhew the fuperior

his hero
;

of
a-

and

tells

us that three

men

could fcarce open

it

the door of his pavilion, but Achilles could open

lone.

264

HOMER's ILIAD,

Book XXIV.

Large was the door, vhofe well-compadred flrength

folid pine-tree barr'd,

of wond'rous length;
its

Scarce three flrong Greeks could' lift

mighty weight,

But great Achilles fingly clos'd the gate,

560
fet

This .Hermes (fuch

the pow'.r of

Gods)

wide

Then

fwift alighted the celeiKal guide,

And

thus, reveal'd
ow'fl:
I

Hear, prince

and understand
:

Thou

thy guidance to no mortal hand

Hermes

am, defcended from above,

$6$

The

king of arts, the meffenger of Jove.

to

Farewell:

mun

Achilles' fight. I fly

O
>

Uncommon
Nor

are fuch favours of the Iky,

(land confeft to frail mortality.

3
570

Now.fearlefs enter, and prefer thy. pr3y'rs;

Adjure him by

his father's filver hairs,

f. 569. Nor
thius thinks
it

fl and confefl to

frail mortality^

Euda?

was from

this

maxim,

that the princes

of the eafl: alfumed that air of majeity which feparates them from the fight of their fubjecls; but I mould rather believe that

Homer

copied this
.it

after, the originals^

from fome kings of his time:

this policy is very ancient.

not being unlikely that

Dacier.

J jure him by hh father, etc.] EuftathiuS f. 571. obferves that Priam does not intirely follow the indrucr
tions of Mercury, but only calls to his

aged father Peleus

:

remembrance his and this was judicioufly done by Priam for what motive to compafHon could arife from the mention of Thetis, who was a goddef?, and incapr able of misfortune ? Or how could Neoptolemus be any
:

inducement to make Achilles pity Priam, when

at

the

fame time heflourifnedin thegreatnt profperity ? therefore Priam only mentions his father Peleus, who, like him, Hood upon the very brink of the grave, and was

Book XXIV.
His
Ton, his

H O M

E R's

ILIAD.
know.

2 6>

mother! urge him to bellow

Whatever

pity that (tern heart can

faid,
fiiot

Thus having

he vanifh'd from his eyes,

into the fkies:

And

in a

moment

$y $

The king,
And

confirmed from heav'n, alighted there,

left his

aged herald on the car.

With folcmn

pace thro' various rooms he went,

And
And

found Achilles in his inner tent:

fate the

There

hero

Alcimus the brave,

580

great

Automedon, attendance gave:

Thefe

ferv'd his perfon at the royal feaft,

at awful diftance, (lood the reft,

Around,

Unfeen by

thefe, the

king his entry made;

And

proftrate

now

before Achilles laid,

585

Sudden, (a venerable fight!) appears;

Embrac'u

his knees,

and bath'd

his

hands

in tears;

liable to the

fame misfortunes he

(iifFered.

Thefe are

the remarks of Euftathius; but

how then

mall wejuftify

Mercury,
the poet

who gave him

?

fuch improper inftruclions with

in defence

relation to Thetis
is,

All that can be faid

of

that Thetis, though a goddefs, has through

Ilias

the whole ccurfe of the

in
all

been

defct'ibed as a partner

the afflictions of Achilles, and cqr.fequentiy n

raife the

be made u(e of as an inducement to

compaflioh

Priam might have faid, I conjure thee by of Achilles. the love thou beared to thy mother, take pity on me for if fne who is a goddefs would grieve for the lofs of
her beloved fon,
afHicT:

how

greatly muft the lofs

of Hector
I

the unfortunate

Hecuba and Priam

y. 586.

Sudden t

{a venerable fight /)

appears.'}

ifancy this interview between Priam and Achilles

would

furnifh an admirable fubjeel: for a painter, in the furprize

Vol. IV.

: !

!!

266

H O M E
direful

R's

D.

Book XXIV,

Thofe

hands

his kifles prefs'd,

embru'd

Ev'n with the bed, the

deareft of his

blood
crime, 590

As when

a wretch,

(who confeious of his

his native clime)
!

Purfu'd for murder,

Juft gains

flies

fome
all

frontier, breatblefs, pale

amaz'd

All gaze,

wonder: thus Achilles gaz'd

Thus

flood th' attendants ftupid with furprize;

:

All mute, yet feem'd to queftion with their eyes

595

Each look'd on

other,

none the

filence broke,

'Till thus at laft the kingly fuppliant fpoke.

Ah

think, thu favour'd of the pow'rs divine

father's age,

Think of thy

and pity mine

of Achilles, and the other fpeclators, the attitude of Priam, and the forrows in the countenance of this unfortunate king.

That circumftance of Priam's

Achilles
is

kitting

the hands of

inimitably fine; he killed, fays

Homer,

the

hands of Achilles ; thofe terrible, murderous hands that had robbed him of fo many fons by thefe two words the poet recalls to our mind all the noble a&ions per:

formed by Achilles in the whole Uias

and

at the fame
this unto

time (hikes us with the utmofl: compaflion for

happy king, who

kifs thofe

is

reduced fo low, as to be obliged

llain his

hands that had his kingdom and family.

riofity

fubje&s, and ruined

f. 598. The fpeech of Priam to Achilla .] The cuof the reader muft needs be awakened to know how Achilles would behave to this unfortunate king ; it
requires
all

the art of the poet to fuftain the violent

character of Achilles, and yet at the fame time to foften

him

into companion.

To

this

end the poet

ufes no

preamble, but breaks direclly into that circumftance

which

is

molt likely to mollify him, and

utters are, y.^s-ui

words he

the two firft nurpo^fee thy father, O A-

Book XXIV.

H O M

E R's

ILIAD.

267

In me, that father's rev'rend image trace,

600

Thofe

filver hairs, that

venerable face

His trembling limbs, his helplefs perfon, fee!

In
all

my

equal, but in mifery

Yet now, perhaps, fome turn of

human

fate
;

Expels him helplefs from his peaceful Rate

605
fly,

Think, from fome pow'rful foe thou

fce'it

him

And beg
Yet
dill

protection with a feeble cry.

one comfort
(till

in his foul

may

rife

He

hears his fen

lives to glad his eyes

chilles, in

me! Nothing could be more happily imagin;

ed than this entrance into his fpcech

Achilles

h?.s

every

where been defcribed as bearing a great affection to his father, and by two words the poet recalls all the tendernefs that love and duty can fuggeft to an affectionate
fon.

Priam

tells

Achilles, that Heclor

I

fell

in the defence

from thinking that this was inferted accidentally: it could not fail of having a very good effect upon Achilles, not only as one brave man naturally loves another, but as it implies that Heclor had
of his country:
far

am

no particular enmity
fought againft him,

againfl: Achilles,

but that though he

it

was

in defence

of his country.

The

reader will obferve that Priam repeats the be-

ginning of his fpeech, and recalls his father to his meThis is done with great mory in the conclufion of it. judgment; the poet takes care to enforce his petition with the (rrongefl: motive, and leaves it frefh upon his memory; and poifibly Priam might perceive that the

mention of his father had made a deeper impreflion up-

on Achilles than any other part of his petition, therefore while the mind of Achilles dwells upon it, he again fets him before his imagination by this repetition, and
loft ens

him

into compafHon.

! !

c68

H O M E
hearing
ftill

R*s

ILIAD.
a better

Book XXIV.
6io

And

may hope,

day

May

fend him thee, to chafe that foe away.

Ko

comfort to

my

griefs,

no hopes remain,
fons are flam

The
The

heft, the bravefi:

of

my

Yet what a racej

ere Greece to

Uion came,
6i
!

pledge of many a lov'd, and loving dame:

all

Nineteen one mother bore Dead,

are

dead
?

How
Still

oft', alas

has wretched Priam bled

one was

left, their lofs to

recompenfe;

His

father's hope, his country's laft defence.

Him

too thy rage has

flain

beneath thy
fell

fteel

6ld

Unhappy

in his country's caufe he

For him,

thro' hoftile

camps

bent
I

my

way,

For him thus proitrate at thy feet

Large
gifts

lay
I

proportion'd to thy wrath

bear;

l'h hear the wretched, and the

Gods

revere

625
!

Think of thy

father,

and

this face

behold

See him in me, as helplefs and as old

Tho' not

fo

wretched

there he yields to

me,

The
The
And

firft

of men

in fov'reign mifery.

Thus

forc'd to kneel, thus grov'ling to embrace

630

fcourge and ruin of

my

realm and race:

Suppliant

my

children's murd'rer to implore,

kifs thofe

hands yet reeking with their gore

foft pity in the chief infpire,

Thefe words

Touch 'd with the dear

f. 634.

remembrance of his

fire.

63 J

T'hefc words

Jft

pity, etc.]

We

are

now

come

almoft to the end of the poem, and confequently to the end of the anger of Achilles and Homer has de:

Book XXIV.
I

E R's

ILIAD.
(till

269

Then
The

with his hand (as proftrate

he lay)

old man's cheek he gently ttirn'd away.

Kow
I

each by turns indulg'd the gufh of

woe;

And now

the mingled tides together flow:

o'er,

This low on earth, that gently bending

640

father one,

and one a fon deplore

diff'rent paflions rend,

But great Achilles

And now
Th'

his (ire he

mourns, and now

his friend.
"}

infectious foftnefs thro' the heroes ran;

One

univerfal folemn (how'r began

J> 645

They

bore as heroes, but they

felt as

man.

Satiate at length with unavailing

woe?,

From

the high throne divine Achilles rofe;

The

rev'rend monarch by the hand he rais'd;

On
Kot

his

white beard and form majeftic gaz'd,

650

unrelenting i -then ferene began

to foothe the miferable

With words
Alas
!

man.

what weight of anguifh

prince
!

haft thou

known

Unhappy
icribed

thus guardlefs and alone

the abatement of

it

with excellent judgment.

necefTary the conduct

may here Homer was, in

Priam with

We

obferve

how

of

fending Thetis to prepare her fon to ufe

it

civility:

would have been

ill

fuited

with

the violent temper of Achilles to have nfed Priam withtendernefs without fuch pre-admonition ; nay, the un-

expected fight of his enemy might probably have carried him into violence and rage? but Hvier has avoided
thefe abfurdities ; for Achilles being already prepared for a reconciliation, the mifery of this venerable prince

naturally melts

him

into companion.to

)K 653. Achilla'sfteech

Priam.1 There

is

not a

Z3

27

HOME
pafs thro' foes, fure has

R's

A D. BookXXIV.
65$

To

and thus undaunted face

?

The man whofe

Heav'n

fury has deflroy'd thy race

arm'd thee with a heart of fleel,

ftrength proportion'd to the

let

woes you

feel.

Rife then:

reafon mitigate our care:

To

mourn,
is,

avails
!

not

man

is

born to bear.

660

Such

alas

the

Gods

fevere decree

They, only they

are bleft, and only free.

Two
The

urns by Jove's high throne have ever flood,

fource of evil one, and one of

good

more
us
:

beautiful paflage in the

Homer to ihew

that Achilles

here draws him as a

reafon: Plato

whole Ilias than thisbefore was not a mere foldier, perfon of excellent feme and found

himfelf

(who condemns

this

paffage)

could not fpeak more like a true philofopher:

and

it

was

a piece of great

judgment thus

to defcribe

him;

for the reader

would have retained but a very

it

indifferent

opinion of the hero of a poem, that had no qualification

but mere ftrength

clufion of the
his

alio

(hews the art of the poet

.

thus to defer this part of his character to the very con-

mesns he fixes an idea of greatnefs upon our minds, and makes his hero go
thefe

poem: by

off the flage with applaufe.

Neither does he here afcribemore wiJHom to Achilles

than he might really be matter of; for as Eufiathius
cbicrves, he had Chiron and Phcenix for his tutors,

and

a goddefs for his mother.

f. 663. Two urns by Jove's high throne, etcl This: jsan admirable allegory, and very beautifully imagined

by the poet.
that

Pit

m
:

has accu fed

it

as

an impiety to fay

God

gives evil

but

it

teems borrowed

from the

eaftern

way of fpeaking, and

Lord there

bears a great refemblance'

:

to feveral exprdlions in fcripture

thus in the PfalmsJ

thf band ofihe

is

a cup, and he pour6th cut

Book XXIV.

H 6 M'E

R's

ILIAD.
fills,

271

From

thence the cup of mortal

man he

665

Bleflings to thefe, to thofc diftributes ills;

To

moft, he mingles both

tafte

the wretch decreed

is

To
He
But

the bad, unmix'd,

enrft indeed

Purfu'd by wrongs, by meagre famine driv'n,

wanders, outcaft both of earth and heav'n.

happieft tafte not bappinefs fincere,

670

The

find the cordial

draught

is

danYd with
in

care.

Who
What

more than PeJeus mone

(tars

wealth and pow'r?

concurring bled his natal hour?

realm, a Goddefs, to his wifhes giv'n,

all

675

Crac'd by the Gods with

the gifts of heav'n!

One

evil yet o'ertakes his latefr day,

No

race fucceeding to imperial fway

cf the fame; as for the dregs thereof,

the earth {hall drink them.
It

all the

ungodly

of

was the culLom of the Jews

to give

condemned
wine
it

perfons jud before execution,

oivov etrftvpvto-p&rot,

mixed with myrrh, to make them

ready to perijh.
the Jews, that

lefs fenflble

of pain:

thus Prov. xxxi. 6. Give Jlrong drink

to

him that

This cufrom was fo frequent among the cup which was given him before exto denote death
itfelf,

ecution,

came

as in that paifa^e,

Father,

let this

cup pafs from ine.

Some have fuppofed

,

that there were three urns,

;

one

of good, and two of

fiv

evil

thus Pindar,

yap

ccSAoy,

tuy-ara cvvSvo

AcclovTOii (ZpoTo7c aAa.va.Tti,

Eut, as Euftathius obferves, the word htpeg {hews that

there were but two, for that

word

is

never ufed

whea

more than two

are intended.

272

O
!

E R's

ILIAD.

Book XXIV.

An only fon and he (alas !) ordain'd To fall untimely in a foreign land

See him, in Troy, the pious care decline

680

Of his weak

age, to live the curfe of thine

Thou

too, old

man,

haft happier

days beheld;

In riches once, in children once excell'd;

Extended Phrygia own'd thy ample

reign,

68$

And
And

all fair

Lefbos'

blifsful feats

contain,

all

wide Hellefpont's unmeafur'd main.

But fince the

God

his

hand has

pleas'd to turn,

And

fill

thy meafure from his bitter urn,

What

fees the fun,

but haplefs heroes

falls ?

690
!

War, and

the blood of man, furround thy walls

be, muft be.

"What muft

Bear thy

lot,

nor fhed

Thefe unavailing forrows o'er the dead

Thou

canft not call

alas
i

him from the Stygian more,

live to naffer

But thou,

may 'ft

more

695
!

To whom
Here
let

the king.

O
!

favour'd of the fkies

fince

me grow

to earth

Heclor

lies

On

the bare beech, depriv'd of obfequies.

J
here gives

^.685. Extended Phrygia,

-Ms

etc.]

Homer

of geography, and (hews the full extent of Lefbos bounded it on the fouth, Priam's kingdom. Phrygia on the eaft, and the He-lefpont on the r.orth. This kingdom, according to Strabo in the 13th book, was divided into nine dynafties, who all depended upon
a piece
:

Priam as their king fo that what Homer here relates of Priam's power is literally true, and confirmed by hi(lory.

Eullathius.

Book XXIV.

H O M E
!

R's

ILIAD.
afk

273

O give me
Thou,

Hector

to

my

eyes reftore
I

His corfe, and take the

gifts:

no more.

7CO

as thou may'it, thefe boundlefs (lores enjoy;

fail,

Safe may'ft thou

and turn thy wrath from Troy

So

{hail

thy pity and forbearance give

to fee the light and live
!

weak old man

Move me no more

(Achilles thus replies,

705

While kindling anger

fparkled in his eyes)

y. 706. IVhv.e kindling anger fparkled

was, to

in his eye%.~]
I

believe every reader muft be furprized, as

confefs I

fee Achilles fly out into fo fudden a pafiion, It can fcarce be without any apparent reafon for it. imagined that the name of Hector (as Euftathius thinks) could throw him into fo much violence, when he had

heard

it

mentioned with patience and calmnefs by Priam

:

in this very conference

efpecialiy if

we remember

that

Achilles had actually determined to reftore the

body of

Hector to Priam. find that the words

interpretation,
difficulty.

in the original

was therefore very well pleafed to would bear another

a

and fnch

The meaning

of the pafTage

one as naturally folves the I fancy may be

his addrefs

this:

Priam preceiving that

had mollified

the heart of Achilles, takes this opportunity to perfuade him to give over the war, and return home; efpecialiy
fince his

anger was furnciently

Is

iatrsfied

by the

fall

of

Hector. Immediately Achilles hikes

fire at this
I

propofal,

and anfwers. "

it

not enough thai

?

have determined

"

to reftore thy fon

afi<

"

refutation."

In this

no more, led I retract that view we fee a natural reafon for

the fudden paffion of Achilles.

What may
word
mit
Ttpvrov
j

perhaps (lengthen this conjecture is the and then the fenfe will run thus ; fince I

have found

fo

much favour

in thy fight* as
ftill

firft

to per-

me

to live,

woulde.t thou
to thy

inlarge
1

my
etc.

happi-

nefs,

and return home

own

country

274

H O M E
feek

R's

D.

BookXXlV.
j

Nor

by

tears

my
I

fteady foul to bend

To

yield thy

Hector

myfelf intend

For know, from Jove

my

Goddefs-mother came,

(Old Ocean's daughter, filver-footed dame)

710
from what

This opinion may be

farther eftablifhed

follows in the latter end of this interview, where Achilles afks Priam, how many days he would requeft for the in-

terment of Hector

Achilles had refufed to give over

it

the war, but yet confents to intermit

a few days

and

then the fenfe will be this : " I will not confent to re(< turn home, but alk a time for a cefTation, and it mail

" be
this

granted."

And what mod

is

flrongly fpeaks for

;

interpretation

the anfv/er of Priam

I afk, fays

he, eleven days to bury

my
//

fon, and then let the

uvrtp

war

commence again, you necefutate me

fince

mufl be Jo,

uVufxn; fince

to

it

or fince you will not be perfuad-

ed to leave thefe mores. f. 706. While kindling cnger par Bed

in his
is

e\es7\

The
fally

reader

may be

pleafcd to obferve that this

the laft

cioufly defcribes

of the refentment of Achilles; and the poet judihim moderating it by his own refle:

ction

fo

that his reafon

now
is

prevails over his anger,

and the defign of the poem

fully

executed.

7^9, 710. For know, from Jove my Goddefs mother came.'] The injuftice of La Motte's criticifm, (who blames Homer for reprefenting Achilles fo mercenary,

>

as to inquire into the price offered for Hector's

body

before he would reftore

palfage,

it) will

appear plainly from this

where he makes Achilles exprefly fay, it is not any other reafon that he delivers the body, but that The words are heaven had directly commanded it.
for

very

full.

Aii&cv Sz

(x,oi

ayfihoc

wXfif

Nr,Tp

r p.
trt

fTEKEv,

Bvydrvp XXlOlO yipOVTOf,

j/,s

Ka<

St

yivua-x.a Ylplu/xi $pur}v, vSi

XtiQiif,

*Q?1t fv rig yyt Qoxs irl v?f A^aiav.

; ;

BookXXIV.
Nor

H O M

E R's
;

ILIAD.
nor com'ft alone,
thy

27;

com'ft thou but by heav'n

Some God impels with courage not

own

No human
Nor

hand the weighty gates unbarr'd,

could the boldeft of our youth have dar'd

^ >
J)

To
I

pafs our out-works, or elude the guard.

;

715

Ceafe

left

neglectful
!

of high Jove's command

tread'ft

(how thee, king

thou

on

hoftile land

Releafe

my

knees, thy fnppliant arts give o'er,

the purpofe of

And make
The fire

my

foul

no more.
720

obey'd him, trembling and o'er-aw'd.

Achilles, like a lion, rufii'd abroad

Automedon and Alcimus

attend,
loft his friend ;)

(Whom
And

moft he honour'd, fince he

Thefe to unyoke the mules and horfes went,

led the

hoary herald to the tent

the num'rous prefents bear

725

Next heap'd on high

(Great He&or's ranfom) from the polifh'd car.

Two
They

fplendid mantles, and a carpet fprcad,

leave; to cover, and inwrap the dead.

call the

Then

handmaids with

afliftant toil
oil
fire

730

To

wafh the body and anoint with

left th'

Apart from Priam,

unhappy

Provok'd to pafllon, once more rouze

to ire

The

ftern Pelides

and nor

facred age

Nor Jove's command, mould check

This done,
Achilles

the rifing rag-.

75c

the garments o'er the corfe they fpread

to the fun'ral bed
:

lifts it

Then, while

the

body on

the car they laid,

He

groans, and calls

on

lov'd Patroclus' made.

2j6

O
that

E R's

ILIAD.
light

Book XXIV.

If, in

gloom which never

mud know, 740

The

deeds of mortals touch the ghofts below:

!

friend

forgive me, that

thus

fulfill

(Reftoring Heclor)

heavVs

unqueftion'd will.

The gifts

the father gave, be ever thine,

To

grace thy manes, and adorn thy (hrine.

faid,
full

74

He
Where

and ent'ring, took

before

his feat of ftate,

fate

him rev'rend Priam

To whom,
Lo
!

compos'd, the God-like chief begun.

;

to thy pray'r reftor'd, thy breathlefs fon

fun'ral

Extended on the

couch he

lies ;

H 750
fides,

And
The
But

foon as morning paints the eaflern

fight is grantee to

>

thy longing eyes.

now

the peaceful hours of facred night

refection,

Demand
Kor

and to
!

reft invite:

thop,

father

thus confum'd with woe,

life,

755

The common
Not

cares that nourifh

forego.

thus did Niche, of form divine,

parent once, whofe forrows eqiull'd thine:

tf.JSJ. Not this

fort Priam, tells

dt J a

Ni'ote,

etc.]

Achilles, to
,

him

known

hijiory

comwinch was very

proper to work this

dren,

efTeol. Niobe had loft all her chilViobe's had been Priam had fomc remaining. nine days extended on the earth, drowned in their

blood, in the fight of .their people,

prefentiftg

without

anyone
;

him (elf

to intert

them

H-.?;or has likewife

been twelve days, hut in the midft of his enemies

fore
it is

there-

no wonder

that

no one has paid him

the laft

duties.

The gods

at taft interred

Niobe's children, and

the gods likewife are concerned to procure honourable

funerals for

Hc&or.

Euftathius.

Six

Book XXIV.

H O M

E R's

ILIAD.
maids,
;

277

Six youthful Tons, as

many blooming

In one fad day beheld the Stygian (hades

763

Thefe by Apollo's

filvcr

bow were
ftretch'd

(lain,

Thofe, Cynthia's arrows

upon the

plain.

So was her pride chaftiz'd by wrath divine,

Who

match'd her

own

with bright Latona's line;

But two the Goddefs, twelve the queen enjoy 'd;

76;

Thofe boafted twelve

th'

avenging two deflroy'd.

Steep 'd in their blood, and in the

dud

outfpread,
;

Nine days neglected lay expos'd the dead

None by

to

weep them, to inhume them none

all

(For Jove had turn'd the nation

to (lone:)

y-;<$

The Gods

themfelves at length relenting, gave

race the honours of a grave.

Th' unhappy

Herfelf a rock, (for fuch was heav'n's high will)

Thro' dcfarts wild now pours a weeping

rili;

Where round
The

the bed

whence Achelous

frrings,

775

wat'ry fairies dance in

his

mazy

rings,

There high on Sipytes

She ftands her

fnaggy brow,

\
^>

own

fad
lafts,
!

monument of woe;
the tears for ever Sow.

The

reck for ever

griefs,

Such

king

have other parents known; 78a

Remember

theirs,

and mitigate thy own.

The
Nor

care of heav'n thy Hector has appear*d,

(hall lie lie

unwept, and uninterr'd;

in tears

Soon may thy aged cheeks

be drown'd,
7O,;.

And

all

the eyes of llion (Iream around.

He
"With

fait',

and rifing, chofe the vicTim

ewe

(iiver fleece,

which

his attendants (lew.

Vol. IV.

278

H O M
(kill

E R's

A IX Book XXIV.

The

limbs they fever from the reeking hide,

prepare them, and in parts divide
fep'rate morfels lays,
rifing blaze.

With

Each on the coals the

790

And

hafty, fnatches

from the

With bread

the glitt'ring caniders they load,

the board

Which round

Automedon beftow'd:

The

chief himfelf to each his portion plac'd,

And The

each indulging fhar'd in fweet repair.

the rage of hunger

795

When now
No
lefs

was

repreft,

wond'ring hero eyes his royal gueft:

the royal gueft the hero eyes,
afpecl

His god -like

and majeflic

fize;

Here, youthful grace and noble

fire

engage,

800

And

there, the mild benevolence

of age.

f. 798. The royal gueft the hero eyes, etc.] The poet omits no opportunity of praifing his hero Achilles, and
it is

obfervable that he
:

now commends him

for his

more

amiable qualities

he foftens the terrible idea we have conceived of him, as a warrior, with feveral virtues of humanity ; and the angry, vindictive foldier is become In this place he makes his calm and companionate. very enemy admire his perfomge, and be aflonifhed at
bis

manly beauty.

So that though courage be

is

his moft

diltinguiming character, yet Achilles

for the

admirable both

'Enixtplo uL' V
t

endowments of mind and body. The fenfe of this word

.

differs in this

place from that

it

ufually bears

it

does not imply

Tp*;^^

uf/us-jKHV,

any reproachful afperity of language,

but hcyt>aiv ^tutu; <?'?, the raifing of a falfe fear in the old man, that he might not be concerned at his being
in the outermoft part of the tent; and by this method he gives Priam an opportunity of going away Euftathius. in the morning without obfervation.

lodged

BookXXIV.
Thus gazing

H O M

E R's

ILIAD.'

279

long, the filence neither broke,

at length the father fpoke.
!

<A

folemn fcene!)

Permit me now, belov'd of Jove

to deep

My
For

careful temples in the

fince the

dew of

fleep

805

day that number'd with the dead

My haplefs
My
Till

fon, the duft has been

my

bed,

Soft fleep a ftranger to

my

weeping eyes,

only food,

my

forrows and

my

flghs

now,

encourag'd by the grace you give,

810

I {hare

thy banquet, and confent to live.

that, Achilles
foft,

With
With

bad prepare the bed,

purple

and fhaggy carpets fpread

their way, Forth, by the flaming lights, they bend

And

lay. place the couches, and the covVings

815

Then

he:

now

father fleep, but fleep not here.

Confult thy fafety, and forgive

my

fear,

awake, Left any Argive (at this hour

To afk our counfel,

Approaching fudden

or our orders take)

to

our open'd

tent,

820

grace prevent. Perchance behold thee, and our

or our orders take.'}

819. To afk our counfel, of Achilles in the army poet here (hews the importance general, yet ail the chief comthe be Agamemnon though and thus he promife, manders apply to him for advice: days, purely by h>s feveral for arms of Priam a cefTation took to conAchilles that method

The

own

authority. The cefTation, agrees with the ciiftort firm the truth of the he gave him his hand upon it, day, this at ufe which we
_

8*xC*

'/f ^ yh Wv*.
1

Euflathius.

Aa

2So

H O M
king of

E R's

ILIAD.

Book XXIV.

Should fuch report thy honour'd perfon here,

The

men

the ranfom might defer

if

But fay with fpeed,

ought of thy

defire

Remains

unaflc'd

what time the

?

rites require

825

T'

interr thy

Hector

For, fo long

we

flay

Our

flaught'ring

arm, and bid the hods obey.

If then thy will permit (the

monarch

faid)

To
The
And

finifti all

due honours to the dead,

:

This, of thy grace accord

fears
at

to thee are

known

$30

of Ilion, clos'd within her town,

di-ftance

what

from our walls afpire

forefts for the fire.
I requeft,

The
The The The

hills

of Ide, and

Nine days to vent our forrows

tenth (hall fee the fun'ral and the feaft:

83$

next, to raife his

twelfth

monument be

giv'n

we war,

if

war be doom'd by heav'n

enjoy

This thy

requr:ft (reply'd the chief}

fall

Till then, our arms fufpend the

of Troy*
prevent

Then gave

his

hand

at parting, to

840

The

old man's fears, and turn'd within the tent;

fair Brifeis

Where

bright in blooming charms

Expects her hero with defiring arms.

But

in the

porch the king and herald

reft,

Sad dreams of care yet wand'ring in their breafc.

845

Kow
The

gods and

men

the gifts of deep partake

Induftrious

Hermes only was awake,

king's return revolving in his mind,

To

pafs the ramparts,

and the watch

to blind.

Book XXIV.

H O M E

R's

ILIAD.

281

The

pow'r defending hover'd p'er his head

fleep'ft

850

And
Nor

thou, father!
fleep,

(thus the vifion faid)

is

Now doft
Thy

thou

when Hector

reftor'd
?

fear the Grecian foes, or Grecian lord

prefence here fhou'd Hern Atrides fee,

ftill-furviving fbns
offer all

Thy
May

may

fue for thee,

855

thy treafures yet contain,

all

To

fpare thy age; and offer

in vain.
fire

Wak'd

with the word, the trembling

:

arofc,

And

rais'd his friend

the

God

before

him goes,
his hand,

H^ joins

the mules, directs

them with

860

And moves

in filence thro' the hoftile land. to

When now

Xanthus' yellow ftream they drove,

(Xanthus, immortal progeny of Jove)

The winged And

in a
flied

deity forfook their view,

moment

to

Olympus

flew.

865

Now

Aurora round her

faffron ray,
:

Sprung thro' the gates of light, and gave the day

Charg'd with their mournful load, to Ilion go

The The
Her

fage and king, majeftically flow.

firft

CaflTandra

beholds, from Ilion's fpire,

870

fad proceffion

of her hoary

fire,

Then,

as the peniive

pomp

advanc'd more near,

breathlefs brother ftretch'd

upon

the bier

fhow'r of tears o'erflows her beauteous eyes,

all

Alarming thus

Ilion with her cries.

875

Turn

here your fceps, and here your eyes employ, daughters, and ye fons of

Ye wretched

Troy

a 3

&2
To

H O M E

R's

ILIAD.

Book XXIV.

If e'er ye rufh'd in crouds, with vaft delight

haH your hero glorious from the

meet him dead, and
let

fight
1

Now

your forrows flow

88

Your common triumph, and your common woe.

In thronging crouds they
iilue to

the plains,

Nor man, nor woman,

In ev'ry face the
felf

in the walls remains,

fame grief is (hown,

And Troy
At Scceu^

fends forth one univerfal groan.

7

885

gates the} meet the

mourning wain,

Hang on

the wheels, and grovel -round the (lain.

The

wife and mother, frantic with defpair,

Kifs his pale cheek, and rend their fcatter'd hair:

Thus

wildly wailing, at the gates they lay;

there

890

And

had

figh'd

and forrow'd out the day;

rofe;

But god-like Priam from the chariot

Forbear (he cry'd)
this violence

of woes,

Tiril to the palace let the car proceed,

Then pour your

boundlefs forrows o'er the dead. 8o.

at his

The waves
Slow

of people

word

divide,

rolls the chariot thro' the

following tide;
they wait
(late.

Xv'n to the palace the

fad

pomp

They weep, and place him on the bed of

melancholy choir attend around,

plaintive fighs,

900

With

and mufie's folemn found

choir, etc.]
paiTecl

f. ceo.

A melancholy

This was

cufrom

generally received, and which

from the Hebrews There were to the Greeks, Romans, and Afiatics. weepers by profelBon, of both faces, who fung dolelut
tunes round the clcad.
Ecciefiaiticus chap. xii. y. 5.

/;

hen a

man fiull go

into the

boufe of bis eternity, there

BookXXIV.

H O M
tears,

E R's

ILIAD.

2S3

Alternately they fing, alternate flow

Th' obedient

melodious in their woe.

full

"While deeper forrows groan from each

heart,

And

nature fpeaks at ev'ry paufe of

to the corfe the
his

art.

905;

Firfl:

weeping confort flew

Around

neck her milk-white arms

Hector!

me

threw,

And oh my

Oh my Lord

fhe cries,

Snatch'd in thy bloom from thefe defiring eyes

It appears from St. Matwere likewife employed in

flail encompafs him weepers.

thew

xi.

17. that children

this office.

Dacier.

4'. 906, etc.

poet judicioufly

The lamentations over makes Priam to be filent

Heclor."]

The

in this general

lamentation

he has already borne a fufncient (hare in and faid what thefe forrows, in the tent of Achilles, upon fuch a grief can dictate to a father and a king
;

But he introduces three women ai melancholy fubje<5t. only in general of the lafpeaks and mourners, chief bementation of the men of Troy, an exced of forrow whereas thefe women might with deunmanly
ing
:

lamentation that cency indulge themfelves in all the wife, the moThe fuggeft. could fondnefs and grief three perfons introther of Hector, and Helen, are the the fame occaduced ; and though they all mourn upon that not a their lamentations are fo diflereur,
fion, yet

lenience that
-

is

fpoken by the one, could be made ufe

of by the other:

Andromache fpeaks

like a tender

wUe,

Hecuba

like a

fond mother, and Helen mourns with

forrow rifmg from felf-accufation:

Andromache com-

mends

his bravery,

Hecuba

his

manly beauty, and Helen

his pentlenefs

Homer
Hector,
ter he

and humanity. of very concife in defcnbing the funeral afconduct, of piece which was but a neceflary
is

had been ^o

full in that

of Patroclus.

284

H O M
I

E R's

D.
gone
!

BookXXIV.
910

Thou
And

to the difmal realms for ever

abandon'd, defolate, alone

An

only fon, once comfort of our pains,

Sad product

now

of haplefs love remains

that fon mail rife,

Kever

to

manly age

Or
For

with encreafing graces glad my- eyes:

Ilion

015

now

(her great defender flain)

Shall fink a

fmoaking ruin on the plain,

Who now
"Who

protects her wives with guardian care?

faves her infants

hoflile fleets

from the rage of war?

waft thofe infants o'er,

Now
Thou

mud

020
!

(Thofe wives
too,

mud
fon
!

wait 'em) to a foreign

more

my

to barb'rous climes malt go,

The

fad

companion of thy mother's woe;

Driv'n hence a Have before the victor's fword;

Condemn'd
.Or
elfe

to toil for

fome inhuman

lord.

925

fome Greek whofe

father preft the plain,

flain,

Or

fon, or brother,

by great Hector

In Hector's blood his vengeance mail enjoy,

And

hurl thee headlong from the tow'rs of

ftern father
all

Troy.

For thy

never fpar'd

a foe

030
of woe
!

Thence

thefe tears,

and aU

this fcene

Thence, many

evils his fad parents bore,

His parents many, but his confort more.

Why

gav'il thou not to

me
thy

thy dying hand

laft

And why

recciv'd not

command?
iv.e

935

f. 934. Why gavjl thou

And why
I have taker, whofe tranflation

hand? command? thefe two lines from Mr. Congreve, of this part was one ofinsfirit eilays
not to

thy dying
laji

received net

I thy

Book XXIV.

H O M

E R's

ILIAD.
tear
;

285

Some Word thou

wouldft have fpoke, which fadly dear,

My

foul

might keep, or utter with a

Which

never, never could be

loft in air,
!

Flx'd in

my

heart,

and

oft repeated there

Thus

to her weeping

maids (he makes her moan

940

Her weeping handmaids echo groan for groan.

The

mournful mother next

Mains

her part.

thou, the beft, the deareft to

my heart

Of all my

race thou moft by heav'n approv'd,

And by
While

th'
all

immortals ev'n in death belov'd

other fons in barb'rous bands

94$

my
no

Achilles bound, and fold to foreign lands,

This

felt

chains, but

went

a glorious ghoft

coaft, Free, and a hero to the Stygian

Sentenc'd,

'tis

true,

by

his

inhuman doom,

950

Thy

noble corfe

was dragg'd around the tomb,

thy warlike arm had flain)

(The tomb of him

Ungen'rous
infult,

impotent and vain

living grace, Yet glow'ft thou frefn with ev'ry

No mark
Rofy and

of pain, or violence of face

fair
!

955

as Phoebus' filver

bow

DifmhVd

below. thee gently to the {hades

tears. fpoke the dame, and melted into
in

Thus
'

Sad Helen next

in poetry.

pomp

of grief appears

aALv

words diamprudens;'Mch is meant or the dangerous exigence at fome in one or man, of a dyinP fomething oftheutwhich times what is fpokenisufually with theutmoftcare: which

He

has

of very joffly rendered the fenfe

;

U,

moftirn P ortance,anddelivered thetruefignification of theepithet

is

rfcu^

in this place,

2 26

H O M E
round

R's

D.

Book XXIV.
960

Fafl from the mining fluices of her eyes

Fall the
cryftal drops, while thus (he cries.
!

Ah
The

dearefl: friend

in

whom

the

Gods had

join'd

mildeft

manners with the braveft mind

Now

twice ten years (unhappy years) are o'er

Since Paris brought

me

to the

Trojan more;

965

(Oh had

-I

perifh'd, ere that

foft, this

form divine

Seduc'd this

eafy heart of

mine

!)

Yet was

it

ne'er

my

fate,

from thee

to find

A deed
i*

ungentle, or a word unkind:

When others curfl: the auth'refs of their woe, Thy pity check'd my forrows in their flow
:

970

If fome proud brother ey'd

me

with didiain,

O
S.

Or fcomful

fifter

with her fweeping train,

all

Thy
For

gentle accents foften'd

my
my

pain.
felf in thee,

3
975

thee I

mourn

and mourn

The
The

wretched fource of

all this

mifery
;

fate I caus'd, for ever I

bemoan

Sad Helen has no friend

now

thou art gone

Thro' Troy's wide

In

ftreets

abandon'd

(hall I
!

roam

Troy

deferted, as abhorr'd at
fair,

home

980
:

So fpoke the

with forrow -breaming eye

Diftrefsful beauty melts each ftander-by;

On

all

around

th' infectious

forrow grows
as
it

But Priam check'd the torrent

Perform, ye Trojans
!

rofe.

what the

rites require,

985

And

fell

the forefts for a fun'ral pyre;

foes,

Twelve days, nor

nor fecret

ambum

dread;

Achilles grants thefe honours to the dead.

.BookXXIV.

H O M E
;

R's

ILIAD.

287

He

fpoke

and

at his

word, the Trojan train

Their mules and oxen harnefs to the wain,

990

Pour

thro' the gates,

and

fell'd

from Ida's crown,

Roll back the gather'd forefts to the town.

Thefe

toils

continue nine fucceeding days,

air a

And

high in

fylvan flruclure raife.

fair

But when the tenth

Forth to the
pile

morn began

to mine,

995

was born the man divine,

:

And
Soon

plac'd aloft

while

all,

with ftreaming eyes,

arife.

Beheld the flames and rolling fmokes

as Aurora, daughter of the
luftre ftreak'd the

dawn,
;

"With rofy

dewy lawn

000

Again the mournful crouds furround the pyre,

And quench

with wine the yet-remaining

fire,

The fnowy
(With

bones his friends and brothers place

golden vafe
palls
;

tears collected) in a

The

golden vafe in purple

texture,

they roll'd,

1005

Of fofteft
And

and inwrought with gold.

Lafl: o'er the

urn the facred earth they fpread,

rais'd the

tomb, memorial of the dead.

fpies,
till all

(Strong guards and

the rites were done,

Watch'd from
All

the rifing to the fetting fun)

1019

Troy

then moves to Priam's court again,

:

folemn, dent, melancholy train

AfTembled there,

from pious

toil

they

reft,

And
And

fadly (har'd the laft fepulchral feaft.

Such honours Ilion to her hero paid,

peaceful flept the mighty Hector's (hade.

10 1

The

End of

the fourth Volume.

and feen the of it, at an end: as that only was the fubject of the poem, and the nature of epic poetry v/ould not permit our author to proceed to the event of the war, it may perhaps be
have
through the
Iliad,

WE

now pad

anger of Achilles, and the terrible

effects

acceptable to the

common

reader to give a Ihort account

of what happened to Troy and the chief actors in this poem, after the conclusion of it. I need not mention that Troy was taken foon after
the death

of Hector, by

the ftratagem of the

wooden

horfe, the particulars of which are defcribed

in the fecond

by Virgil

Achilles

the (hot

book of the JEneis. before Troy, by the hand of Paris, by of an arrow in his heel, as Hector had prophefifell

ed

at his death, lib.

22.

The

unfortunate Priam was killed by Pyrrhus the

after the death

fon of Achilles.

Ajax,
his aim,

of Achilles, had a conteft with

UlyfTes for the armour of Vulcan, but being defeated in

he flew himfelf through indignation. Helen, after the death of Paris, married Deiphobus his brother, and at the taking of Troy betrayed him, in
order to reconcile herfelf to Menelaus her
firft

bufband,

who received her again into favour. Agamemnon at his return was barbaroufly murthered
by iEgyfthus
at the mitigation

of Clytaemneftra his wife,

his

who

in his abfence

had dishonoured

bed with

Mr

gyfthus.

omed

after the fall

country, and fcarce efcaped with

wife iEgiaie
pulia,
;

of Troy was expelled his own life from his adulterous

but at hft was received by Daunus in

A-

and

fliared his

kingdom

it is

uncertain

how he

died.

Neflor lived in peace with his children, in Pylos his

native country.
UlyfTes alfo, after innumerable

troubles by fea and

Ithaca,

land, at lad returned in fafety

fubject

to

which

is

the

of Homer's OdyfTes.

I muft end thefe notes by difcharging my duty to two of my friends, which is the more an indifpenfable piece of juftice, as the one of them is fince dead the merit of
:

their kindnefs to

me

will

appear infinitely the greater, as

its

the talk they undertook was in

own

nature, of much

more

labour, than either pleafure or reputation.

The

larger part of the extracts

from Eufhthius, together with feveral excellent obfervations, were fcnt me by Mr. Broome: and the whole efTay upon Homer was written upon fuch memoirs as I had collected, by the
Dr. Parnell, archdeacon of Ciogher
in Ireland
:

late

how

very

much

that gentleman's friendfhip prevailed over

his genius, in detaining a writer

of his

fpirlt in

the drud-

gery of removing the rubbifh of paft pedants, will foon

appear to the world,

when

they mall fee thofe beautiful

pieces of poetry, the publication of

which he

left to

my

charge, almoll with his dying breath.

For what remains, I beg to be excufed from the ceremonies of taking leave at the end of my work ; and from embaraffing myfelf, or others, with any defences
or apologies about
raife a vain
ficulties
it.

monument
let

to myfelf,

But inftead of endeavouring to of the merits or difleft to

of it, (which

mud be
me

the world, to truth,

and to pofterity)

leave behind

me

a memorial

of

my

friendfhip, with

one of the

mod

valuable men, as

1 well as finen writers, of my age and country:

has tried, and knows by his

own

experience,

one who how hard

period

an undertaking

it is

to

do

jullice to

Homer: and one,

who
of

(I

am

fure) fincerely rejoices with

me

at the

my

labours.

To

him

therefore, having brought this

I defire

long work to a conclufion,

to dedicate

it

and to

have the honour and fatisfaclion" of placing together, in this manner, the names of Mr. CONGREVE, and of

March
Tjv ev

25.

A.

POPE.

1720.
<?

'.vrrciixf

Tloinrixri y.al
t7c-Bo/u.*iv

aXAoi?

to ft* Irr) xKiov fj.t irpoxtyai cv T/r<?u^acr;, lv 0'; "tcrcji uv -/.xtic^';?*, tt

IfjcetvTov
I.

tvofos irpJioYTfc.

M. Aurel. Anton,

dc

feipfo,

1. .

14.

Vol. IV.

Bb

api

A N

D
O F

PERSONS and THINGS.

book

29*

INDEX

s/Pe rsons
yer.

and Things'.

book
the death of Patroclus

book
lays Hector's

vcr.

body on
x

19 335
19

Priam's chariot

he

is

armed
A-

398

Adrestus
taken by Menelaus
JE.N'EAS

*4 717 1007
6
2
5

Agamemnon's prefents
are delivered to
chillcs

45

19

2.43

feeks Pandarus

P92 214

he and Agamemnon
reconciled
his anfA'er to

together alTauh Dib-

19

57

med
he
kills

293

Aga19 143

Crethon and

memnon
diiTuades Aeneas

Ornlochus he encounters with

Achilles

J 760
20 193 20 240 20 25*
20 307
2

from

contendingwithhim 20 114

contemns vneas for

flying

anfwers Achilles
tells his lineage

from him

he

kills Ipbition

20 393 20 439

the fight of ikneas

Demoleon
Ilippodamas

Polydore

457 20 463 20 471

2,0

and Achilles
Aetolians

694,

and many others 20 52 S iddreiTes the ipirit of

Patroclus
kills

Agamemnon
reflores Chryfeis to

779 210

23
in

25

hdr father
takes Brifds

406 4fJ
6g
139

many Trojans
Lycaon

from AI

the river Xanthns 21 denies

his life 21

25
112

chilles
tells his

dream in
2

he purfues Hector
kills

22

182

council
his fpeech, advifing a

him

22 453

declares the rites to be

return to Greece
his prayer to Jupiter

2 2

obferved by his

489

Myrmidons
cuts off his hair, devot-

23

orders

Machaon
affift

to be

called to

Me4 230 4 z66 5 6so

4 27S
311

ed to the river
Sperchius
lie

nelaus wounded

23

171

exhorts his foldiers

prays to the winds 23

237
blames theindolent

inftitutes funeral

games
is

23

319

fpeaks to Idomeneus 4 292

gives a cup toNeftor 23

704
9

goes to the two Ajaxes 4

deprived of fleep

24
2.4

goes to Neftor

4 334

receives the peiition of

blames Meneflheus

4 390
4 422

Priam

65;

blames Diomed

INDEX
his words to

of

Persons
ver.

W Things.
21
1
S

493

book

book ver.
faved by Apollo

wounded 4 186 5 660

7

685
526
911

Menelaus
kills

The Jgh

of Jupiter

Deicoon

treats the generals

385
21

his fpeech to the ge-

467
74*

nerals
fvvears he has not car-

13

Agapcnor

2
r

Ajax
9

Oileus

fon

631

nally
feis

known

Bri-

contends with U-

172

lyfTes in the foot-

acknowteges his
fault,

race
(juarrels

*3

880

and makes

with Ido-

large offers to fatisfy

meneus
9

23 555
7

Achilles

148
119

Ajax Telamon
fights with Hecftor

fends ambaflUdors to
Achilles

250
74*
'72,

his fpeech to Achilles 9

Agamemnon
Menelaus

and
in

his retreat nobly de-

fcribed

ri
fight

great perplexity

ro

The two Ajaxes

together

they deliberate together

13

1023

ro
10
ir

41
81 21
127

Ajax Telamon
challenges Hector
his fight over the
13

he goes to Nefior he arms

fights bravely
kills a great
is

628

n
11
11
11

dead body of Alcathous

13

number

281
325

61&

wounded

he wounds Hector
kills

14 471

goes out of the battel

advifes flight
for

360
71

Archilocus

14 540
15
666,

14

exhorts his

men

591,

which UlyfTes
14.

89a

blames him

88

defends the fhips

is

15

814

K reconciled to Achilles

hard preffed

t6 130
57

1$
he has not
Brifcis

he fpeaks to Menelaus

he

fvvears

282
33^

enjoyed

19

167

kills

Hippothous
in fear

17
17
to

his fpeech concerning

he

is

705

the goddefs Dif-

advifes
1

Menelaus

eord

81

fend Antilochus to

Agenor

deliberates

inform Achilles of
Patroclus's death

if he fhall

meet
21
is

17
23

73-7

Achilles

649

contends with Ulyffes in wreftling

meets him, and

ho

2P4

INDEX
with

of

Persons
vcr.

and

Things,
book ver.

book
fights

Diomed 13 95$ Amphimachus a 755.

1060

death of Euphorbus 17

84
658

encourages JEneas

17 378
17

and Hector
incites

Amphius
Antenor
ftore

a
advifes to re-

1007

Aeneas to en-

counter Achilles
7

ao 410 ao 431

Helen and

419

forbids Hector to en-

Andromache Hector

gage Achilles
6

490

faves Hector from

Andromache ignorant
of Hector's death,
runs to the tumult a a
56* a

Achilles
refufes to fight with

ao 513
ai

Neptune
takes Agenor

536

her grief for his

death
her lamentation

from
ai

ax

59a 14 906

Achilles

71*
ij

difcovers the deceit to

Antilochus
Echepolus
kills kills

kills

Achilles

aa
to the

4
$
j 5

complains

Gods
done

My don
Menalippus

709

of the

cruelties

69%
ji

to Hector's

body

a4
a

informs Achilles of
Patroclus's death

Archilocus
18

44 996

Afcalaphus and Jal-

he chears up

his hor-

fes in the race

a3

51A

menus Mars
Afcanius
Afius

the foas of

<?ia

yields the contefted

a 1050
a

prize to
laus

Mene13
a

iois

676
8a
7,

he

is

angry with Ju1

Antiphus

piter

18-4

ies4

Afpledon and Orcho-

Apollo fends a plague

amoDg
jans
the Greeks
1

menians
61 Afteropaeus meets Achilles

610
157

encourages the Tro-

andis killed ai

4 585
5

Aftyanax
Athenians

aa 643
a
65.S

reprimands Diomed
iruifes

533

the

phantom of
546

Automedon and Alcimedon

5
rule the

^neas
his

to deceive

enemies

horfes of AehiLles 17

488,

excites

Mars
from

y 553
B.

548
Bellerophon
6 16
a

drives Patroclus

the walls of

Troy 16 863
i<5

194 273
841

and overthrows him

954

The bowl of Achilles

Biifds

informs Heftor of the

INDEX
(he
is

of

Perso ns and Things,

ver.

*9S
book
ver.

book
reftored to

A19

exhorts UlyiTes to

chilles

54
33

fuccour Neitor

117

grieves forPatroclus 19

he relieves Keftor
his fpeech to

129

Bupraf;ans

747
91

Aga9

C.

memnon
1

43

Calchas the prophet

going a fpy to the ene-

he

is

blamed by Aga1

my's camp, chufes

131
Uiyflfcs for his

memnon
Caftor and Pollux

30Z

Cebrion brother and charioteer to Hetlor \6 895

prr.v> to

companion Minerva
UlyfieS
furprize Dolon,

10 183
10

335

Diomed and

Chromis
Chryfes defiieshis
daughter

2,

1046

whom
1
1

they take
10 455
10

who
S3

and examine

was captive
his prayers to Apollo

Diomed
590
2 45

kills

Dolon

5*4

kills the

Thracians
10 5^ 10 6i 4

Coon

13

while deeping
returns with UlyiTes
to the fleet

The

Ceftus of Venus 14 a

Cretans

785

D
Dardanus
20 25s
7

he

ftrikes

Hector

45

advifes the

wounded
'*'

The

dead are buried

is

495

to

go into the army

S

Deiphobus

ftricken

to encourage others 14

by Merion, but not 1 wounded 1 kills Hypfenor

he a(ks ./Eneas to
fift

Dione comforts Venus

213

4*7*

Dins
Dolon, a fpy, taken
is

I0 43

509

10 447
o 524 z
7<53

af-

killed

him in attack13 575 ing Idomeneus 13 655 kills Afcalaphus

Dulichians

Elephenor

654
104T

Diomed
blames Sthenelus is wounded by Pa-ndarus

2,

683

Ennomus

the augur

2
3

4 666
5
5

Epiftrophus

Erichthonius

IC 43 10 260

130

Eumelus's mares

a 926
Z

invokes Minerva
kills

146
352

Euphemus
Euphoibus wounds
Patroclus
advifes

IOZ$

Pan^arus

wounds Venus
is

S
5

417 732

16
to
X 7

973
*4

in fear

of Hedor
S

Menelaus

wounds Mars

I050

yield to

him

$>6

INDEX

of Pers ons and

Things.
book ver,

book ver.
is

killed

by Menclaus 17
2
2
is

50

an afTembly of their
generals
their fhips are burnt

Euryalus

682
893
082,

i*
i<5

Eurypylus
wounded,
cured

339 140

by
11

Guneus

906

Patroclus

H
Hector
fends out his
forces to battel
tells Paris's

G.
Ganymedes
Glaucus
accufes Hector of
flight

20 278
a

988
123

1069
iJ3

challenge
3

to the Greeks

17

retreats out
battel into

of the

Glaucus and Diomed

in the battel

Troy
Mi-

6 296

meet
6

exhorts the Trojans

to fupplicate

and difcourfe together

150

nerva
goes to the houfe of
Paris
to his wife

6 338
6*

interchange armour

6 z86

his prayers to Apollo 16

633

389

exhorts the Trojans

to defend the corfe

Andro6 463

mache
1

of Sarpedon
Gods, an alTembly of

654

his difcourfe with her 6

510

challenges the Greeks

to fingle

them a 4 Gods engage, fome on one fide and fome 20 91 on the other The fight of the Gods ai 450
Grecian
facrifices
1

combate

79
210

exhorts his

men

encourages his horfes 8

zz6
83

fends Dolon as a fpy 10 376

his glory

n
forces,

599

he exhorts his

2 502,

and rufhes to battel 11

derides Polydamas's

368

theyretreatfromTroy* 173 prepare for war 2 470

go
to battel

advice

12

2^7
537 20c

522
97

forces open a gate of

their forces their night their

march

4 484
8

the Grecian wall

12
13
13

exhorts his

men
and

watch

no

feeksforaid
rallies his forces,

967
991
1041-

nine Grecians are

willing to accept

attacks the
7

enemy

13
13 13

Hector's challenge
build a wall round

195 520

anfwers Ajax
kills

Amphimacus
retreats

247
503-

the

fleet

wounded,
is

14

buy wine

$66

encouraged by A-

INDEX
polio

of

Pers ons and Thijtcs.

ver.
a

2*7
book ver.

book
15
15 15

88

Achilles
fhe

ax

55a
942,

goes again to battel

kills

296
500

Lrcophron

mournshis death 14 Helen goes to fee the

exhorts Menalippus 15
kills Peripoetes

15

654 770
854

combate between
Paris and
laus

Mene3

takes a fhip
is

15

113

put to

flight

16 440
16
7i>7

the Trojans admire

her beauty
chides Paris

a?4
S5*

encounters with Patroclus

16 885

fpeaks to Heclor

6 432,

and

kills

him

i<5

excites his

men

17

987 160
205

laments over Hector's

body

24
7

962.

his fpeech to his warlike friends

Helenus advifes Hec17

tor and Aeneas

48
95
102,1

he gives way

to

Ajax

140
187

anfwers Glaucus

17

Kippothous
T.

puts on Achilles's ar-

mour
iie

17

219

Idaeus carries Paris's

challenge to the

purfaes Achilles's

horfes with the affiftance

Greeks

4<5

of Aeneas 17 550

Idomeneus
Othryonens

a
3

79*

again endeavours to

*95
45 7

take the body of

Patroclus
refolves to

kills

13
13

18

187

Anus
Alcathous

483
5

combate io 415 20 485

23 470

13

37

with Achilles
affaults Achilles

Iphidamas

his death

finely defcribed 11 283, etc.

Iris

his

wound

orders the Trojans

he deliberates with
himfelf

to

arms

95

138

tells

Helen of the An-

he

fights with Achil-

gle

combate of Paand Menelaus

and
3

les

22 3*7
22 45 3
is

ris

16"$

his death his funeral

fent to Pallas

14 989
he
fight

Juno with Jove's

orders
1

Hecuba

defires

488

would not
Achilles

admonifhes Achilles to

ix

no

fuccour his friends

fighting for the

fbe renews her defires

he would not fight

body of Patroclus

18 a.o

a*8

INDEX
of

of

Pers ons and Things.

book ver.
fends Vulcan to oppofe

book ver.
fiimmonsthe winds to
raife the fire

Xanthus
13

21
ax

385 564

Patroclus's pile

34*

overcomes Diana

Ithacans

769

Jupiter

promifes

Juno fends Minerva to hinder the Greeks from retreating a 191

her quarrel with Jupiter
fhe and

Thetis to be re-

venged on the

Greeks
infpires

67a
9

Agamemnon
a
to

4
Minerva pre5

35

with a dream
forbids the

Gods

pare for fight

afk lea- e

883

affift

either part

of Jupiter
5

his golden chain

8
8

a5

to go to battel

94a 14a

defcends on Ida
fends Iris to order

57

her fpeech to Neptune

drefTes herfelf to de~

Juno and Minerva to retreat from

the battel
8

ceive Jupiter
defires

14 191

488

of Venus her

fends Iris amongfr the

girdle to deceive

Greeks
14

11

Jupiter

zzs

fends Iris to forbid

goes tcrthe

Gcd of
14

Hector fome time

Sleep to put Jupiter into a fleep

from perfonally en%66

gaging
infpires Sarpedon to

11

241

by

large promifes ob-

tains her requefis

14
14

335
331
is

afTault the Gree-k

goes to Jupiter
denies
it

wall

1a

348

was

at

her

caufsd by Juno to
fleep

requeft that

Nepthe
1

tune

afllfted

awaking from
5

fleep

14 305 he
5

Greeks
goes to the
reft

41

is

angry with Juno 15 and Apollo to

15

of the
15

orders Juno to fend

Gods
tells

84

Iris

the order of Ju-

him
fends Iris to order

J9

piter to Apollo
Iris

and
15

Nep15

16a

tune to
fighting

defift

from
180

fhe advifes with the

Gods concerning
Aeneas's fighting

fends Apollo to encou-

rage Hector

15

158

with Achilles

ao

14$

encouragesHeftorhim*

INDEX
felf
is

of

Per sons and Things.

ver.

29$
book vcr.

book
15
grieved for Sarpedon's death
i<S

722
530

expoftulates with

Jupiter

5
is

lojp

for which he

re-

orders Apollo to take

care of Sarpedon's

prehended by Jupiter
s

1092

funeral

16 811

hearing of the death

he examines Juno concerning the exciting

Achilles to engage
in battel

of

his fon is en-

raged

15

I2<J
7<Sx

Meges
18 4:7
Meleager, the ftory of

he gives the Gods leave

to
aflift

him

653

which party

Menelaus
29
227
is

710
137

they pleafe

22
17

undertakes to fight

he

pities

Hector

with Paris
treacheroufly

fends Minerva to com.

fort Achilles

woun-

19 3S4

ded by Pandarus
takes Adreftus

4 13s
6

fends Thetis to Achilles,

45

ordering

him

to

would undertake to
fight with Hector,

deliver Hetfor's

body
Priam

to

Priam
go

14 137

but

is

hindered by
7

fends Iris to advife

to
to

Agamemnon
he and Ajax
aflift Li-

127

A24 178

chilles

ly fles

11 13 13

582
733
7

orders Mercury to

wounds Helenus
kills

conduct Priam to
Achilles

Pifander

S3

24 411
L.
3

exhorts Antilochus

15 <S8

he

is

defpifed

by Eu17
17

Lacedaemonians
Locrians

704

phorbus
kills

18

630
41

Euphorbus

50
lot

Lycaon overcome by
Achilles

yields to Hector

17

21
vain 21

begs his

life in

exhorts the generals 17

is

194
16

encouraged by Minerva
17

M.
Machaon
cures Menelaus

880

he fends Antilochus
to
tell

Magnefians

4 150 2 916
is

Achilles of

the death of Patroclus

17
7

Mars is wounded by Diomed 5 1050 on which account he

75

angry with Antilochus

23

6*51

S oo

INDEX

of

INDEX
memnon
exhorts the foldiers
his fpeech for bury-

of

Persoms and Things

ver.

301

book

book ver.
treacheroufly

4 37o 84

wounds
4
5

Menelaus
is

killed

by Diomed

ing the dead, and

building a wall
7

Paris
392,

boafts at the be3 3 3

ginning of the fight

iS

blames the Greeks

for not daring to

cowardly

flies

44
55

blamed of Hector
145 8 101
7

encounter Hector
is in
flies

undertakes

a fingle

great danger

combate with Menelaus

is

with

Diomed

190
36
141

3 3

his advice for guards

armed
fights

4^9
4*7
4<?7

and refrefhment
for pacifying Achil.
les

and

with

Me3

nelaus

is

taken from the

3 3

approves Diomed's

fpeechtoAgamemnonp goes by night to UlyfTcs

73

combate by Venus blamed by Helen

refcued from fight,
is

10

is

put to bed with

encourages Diomed
advifes to fend fpies

10 180

Helen
refufes to reftore

He-

into the enemy's

len

4x3
619
709 6z6
4<S*

camp
Teckes what he did
in his

10

Z4I

wounds Diomed

Machaon
11

youth
the caufe

817

Eurypylus
kills

goes on an uproar to

Euchenor

know

14
15

Patroclus returns
to Achilles
i$

prays to Jupiter

418

exhorts the Greeks

entreats Achilles to
let

tooppufetheenemyi5 796
advifes his fon con-

him go

to aid

the Greeks

3i
161,

cerning the race

13

369

armed
exhorts the

Niobe, her fable

24 757
%

Myrmi16

Nireus, the mofc hand-

dons

314

fome Greek O.
Orcus his helmet
Odius
P.
f \

817
1037

he and
jans

his

men

kill

many of
IC43
IOOI

the Tro-

443
483
847

Pandarus

exhorts the

twoA-

Vol. IV.

3d
jaxes
kills
is

INDEX
Cebrion

of

Persons and Things.

book verl
is

book ver.
i<5

681

called

by an herald
319J

i<5

89S

to agree to a treaty 3

ftruck

by Apollo 16 954

returns into the city

3
7

385

a fierce conteft about

fpeaks to the Trojans

444
6*2

the body of Patroclus

commands thefoldiers

17

3M.

to

open the gate

ai

471, 613
appears to Achilles
in a

intreats Hector not

dream

13 23

78

to meet Achilles :i bemoans the death of

51

his funeral pile

his fepulchrc
his funeral

198

Hector
tells his

a3

515

games

13 305 23 3x3
a

wife the

com24 a33

mands of

Jupiter

Phidippus

827

takes the gifts to car-

Phocians

a <Jao
intreats

Phoeuix

A-

chilles to be reconciled with

Aga9
5<5a

memnon
fits

a4 341 34 311 his council to Hecuba 24 355 he prays to Jupiter a4 377 he meets Achilles a4 579
ry to Achilles
rebukes his fons,
defires to fleep

as one

of the
a
a a

judges of the race 14 435

he

carries the

24 body of 24 882
11

Phorcis
Podalirius

1050

Hector into the

city

889
8<Jo

Podaices

Prodigies

70

Polydamas
lines

advifes to

12

233

force the

Greek
ia

of
6^

dragon which

devoured anefl of
birds

interprets a prodigy,

and the dam

37a

and gives his advice la 24s blames Hector 13 907

kills

Protefilaus

a
a

853

Prothous

916
705

Prothenor

14 515 a

Pyiaemenes
is flain

a 1034
5
.

Pclypoetcs

904
141

and Leontius
Prayers and
injuftice,

ia

Pylians

2 2

715

Pyraechmes

1018
505

their influence

on
9

R.
624
Rhefus
is flain

the

Gods
enquires of

'10

Pri \m

by Diomed

10 576
2

Helen about the

Grecians which
they faw
3

Rhodians
S.

79S

220

Sarpedon

1069

INDEX
wounded by Tlepolem\is, defires the

of

Persons

and

Things.
book

303
vcr.

book
for her fon /he in great grief

65*

afuitance
tor

of HecS

fpeaks to the Ne-

841
371

reids

18 18

exhorts Glaucus to
fight

enquires of Achilles

ia

promifes Achilles ar-

breaks

down a battlement of the wall ia 483

good and
J

mour made by Vulcan

goes to Vulcan
befeeches Vulcan to

18
1

17*

Soldiers, the

43i

bad defcribed
Sleep, (the

359

God

of

make

Achilles's

Sleep,)

at

the in-

armour
carries the

18

5*9

ftanee

of Juno
14 x66 14 411
a

armour
to

puts Jupiter iato

a fleep

made by Vulcan
Achilhs

19
2

incites

Neptune

Thoas
kills Pirus

775
<5io

Sthenelus

683

4
a

anfwers

Agamem4 45$
1

Titareiius

river

910
7

non fharply

Tlepolemus
fights with Sarpe-

93

T.
Talthybius

411

don
Trojans and Grecians

77*

Teucer from behind

the fnitld of Ajax,
kills

march
8
8

to battel

3
3

many Tro320
3S7

they fign a treaty

333

jans
is

Trojans and Greeks

in battel

wounded by Hector
Imbrius

4 508
6 8
5
<S3<5

kills

13

Zi7

many of
killed

the Trojans

and Clitus
his

15

5*1

bow

is

broke by a
1

the Trojans watch

$

divine power

544
755
711

Trojans march, attack the Greek

trenches

Thalpius

a a

Thamyris his ftory Themis prefents the

nectar bowl to Ju-

**
IX

95

*95

Trojans
15

fly

14 596
15

no
Thetis, her words to
Achilles

96

Trojans make a great

(laughter

Therfites his loquacity a

37*

The
I

Trojans fight

540

bravely at the

her petition to Jove

Grecian

fleet

IS

84*

CC2

304

INDEX

of

Persons

and

Things.

book

3*S

POETICAL INDEX
T O

H O M E
The
firft

R's

ILIAD.
the fecond the verfe.

number marks

the book,

FABLE.
HP
**

PI

great moral
that

of the

les to

perfuade

him

to a re-

Iliad,

concord ais

union, in vain,
diftrefs

ibid.

The

mong

governors,

the pre-

continues; the geneall

fervationof ftates,and difcord

the ruin of them
j

rals

and

the beft warriors

purfued

are wounded, 11.

tification

The
15.

for-

through the whole fable.

overthrown,

and

The

anger of Achilles breaks

the

fleet fet

on

fire,

A-

this

union in the opening of

t.

chilles

himfelf fhares in the

the poem,

I.

He
firlt

with-

misfortunes he brought upon

the
allies,

draws from the body of the

Greeks,

by

the iofs of his

which

inter-

friend Patroclus, 16.

Here-

rupts the iuceefe of the

com-

upon the hero

to

is

reconciled

mon

caufe, ibid.

mutiny,

z.

The army The Trojans

the general,

the victory

over

Troy
(lain

is

compleat, and

break the truce, 4.

A
to

great
(lain,

Hector

By Achilles, ip,
*

number of the Greeks

7.

ao, xi, zz,

etc.

391.

Forced

build

fortifications
fleet, ibid.

to guard their

Episodes

or

Fables
to
its

In great diftiefs

which are interwoven into thi

from the enemy, v.hofe victory is only ftopt by the

night,
8.

poem, but foreign

fig*

de-

Ready

to

quit

their defign,

and return with

Send to Achil-

The
3

fable

of the confpiracy

infamy, 9.

of the Gods again!* Jupiter,

Cc

S c5

POETICAL INDEX.
Fable.
516".

Fable.
I.

Of

Vulcan's

fall

to the
etc.

from heaven on the ifland of Lemnos, i. 761. The imprifonment of Mars by Otus

arms of Helen, 3. 460, True Courage overcomof Mars and Venus, by

ing PafTion, in Diomed's contjueft

and Ephialtes,
ftory

5.

475.
2.

The
711.

the afliftance

of

Pallas,

$.

of Thamyris,
430.
6.

507,
look.

etc,

through that

-whole

The

embafly of Tydeus to
4.

Prayers the daughters

Thebes,

The
195.

tale

of Jupiter.followinglnjufHce,

of Bellerophon,
6.

Of
the
6.

and

perfecuting her
9.

at the

Lycurgusandthe Bacchanals,
if 1.

throne of heaven,

625.

The war of
and
Arcadians,
ftory of

The
legory

Ceflus,

or

girdle

of
al-

Pylians
165.
.nix,

Venus,

14.

247'

The

The
9.

Phoe-

of Sleep, 14. 265.

S7z.
the

Of Meleawars

The
93,

allegory of Difcord caft 19,

ger

and

of the
9.

out of heaven to earth,

Curetes
653.
Elis,

and

Aetolians,

The

allegory

of the

The
11.

wars of Pyle and

two Urns of Pleafure and

Pain,

81a.

The
103.

birth

24. 663.

of Hercules,

and labour of

Phyfical orPhilofophical.TThe

Alcmena, 19.

The
abode

combate of the elements

the
fable

till

expulfion of Ate from heaven,

j

water fubfided,

in

the

9.

93.

Vulcan's

of the wars of Juno or

with Thetis, and his employ-

the Air, and Neptune or the

Sea, with- Jupiter or the

ment

there, 18. 463.

The

Ae-

family and hiftory of Troy,

2. 255
tion

ther,

till

Thetis put an end

i.

The

transforma14.

to them,

$16.

Fire deto earth,

of Niobe,

757.

rived

from heaven
fall

Building

of the walls of
2
1
.

imaged by the
can

of Vul1

-Troy by Neptune,

518.

on

Lemnos,

7^r.

Thegravitation ofthe Planets

Allegorical

Fables.

upon

the Sun, in

the alle-

gory of the golden chain of

Moral.] Prudence redrawing

Paifion,

Jnpiter,

8.

25.

The

in-

r^prtfenttd

in

the

fluence

of the Aether upon

the allegory

machine of .linerva descending to calm Achille*,

1.

the Air, in

of
Air

26!.

the congrefs of Jupiter and

Love

aliv.ring.and extin? mill-

Juno,

14-

395-

The

ing Honour, in Venusbringing Paris from the

fupplied

by the vapours of

com bate

the Ocean and Earth, in the

POETICAL INDEX.
Fable.
ftory of

307

Fable,

Juno nourished by Oceanus and Tethys, 14. The allegory of the S3 1.

"Winds, 13. 242.
ty of Salt

womens

labour,

11.

349.
1

Terror the fon of Mars,

3*6. SLep, 14. z6$.
14. 293.

Night,
Sleep,

Thequalidead
in

Death and
fea

preferving

two twins, 16. 831. Nereids,

or

bodies from

corruption,

nymphs of the

a ca-

Thetis or the Sea preferving

the

talogue

of them,

18.

4J.

body of Patroclus, 19.

Ate, or the Goddefs of Difcord,

19.

40.

93.

Scamand-r
ai.

the

river- God,

231.
per-

For the reft of the Allegories fee the Syflem of the Gods as
atling
in

Fire and fons in

Water made
the battel

of Sca-

their

allegorical
article

cbaratlers,

under the

Characters.
Allegorical or fictitious perfons
in

manderand Vulcan.ai. 387. The Eaft and Weft Winds, Iris, or the Rainbow, ibid.
and the Winds, a3- 242.

Homer.

The Marvellous or Fiction? pernatural

fu~
in

The lying dream fent to Agamemnon by Jupiter, a. 7.

Fame
a.

Homer.
Omen
of the birds and
fer-

the mefienger of Jove,

Furies,
3
.

iai.

puni'hers

pent, reprefenting the event

of the wicked,
or

351. Hebe,
the
3.

of the Trojan war,

a.

370*

Youth,

attending

The
The
the

miraculous rivers

Ti

banquets of the Gods, 4.

tarefius

and Styx,

a.

910.

Flight and Terror attendants

giant

upon Mars,
Goddefs

4. jco.

Difcord
Bellona
5.

burning mountain
952.

Typhon under TyBattel ef

3.

defcribed, 4.

50a.

phaeus, a.

of war,

716.

the cranes and pygmies,

<5.

The
gates

Hours, keepers of the

Prodigy of

comet, 4,

of heaven,

5.

9'^9-

01.

Diumed's helmet e
fire,

Nymphs
6. 532.

of the
Night,
Iris,

mountains,
a

jsfting

5.

6.

Horfes
5.

Goddtfs,

of

coeleftial breed,

327.

6.

3\z.
8.

or the Rain-

Vaft ftone heaved

by Dio-

bow,

485.

Prayers the

med,
470.

5.

370.

daughters of Jupiter, 9

625.

12. 537.

And Hector, And Minerva, 20.

Pallas, 5.

ErisorDifcord.il.
thiae,

s-

Hy-

The miraculous chariot,

885,

Goddeflispreudingin

and arms of


S o8

POETICAL INDEX.
Fable,
etc.

Fable.
907,

The Gorgon,

hel-

The
13.

chain of War and Dif-

met, and Mgis of Jupiter,

ibid.
ibid.

cord ftretched overthe armies,

The gates of heaven, The leap of immortal

5,

451.

The
14.

loud voice
173.
So-

of Neptune,

horfes,

960.

Shout of

Stentor,

5.
5,

978.

Roaring

lemn oath of the Gods, 14. Minerva 307. -15. 41.

of Mars,
of

1054.

Helmet
1036.
5.

fpreads a light over the ar-

Orcus,

which rendered

my,

15. 808.

Jupiter in-

the wearer invifible, 5

volvesthe combatants inthick

darknefs,
16.

The
4x2.

blood of the Gods,

412,

6g%.

The immediate
chirnaera, 6. ::o.

heal-

Horfes begot by the wind on

ing of their wounds, 5.

mo".
De15.

aharpye, 16. 183. Afhower

The

of blood, 16. 560.

Mira-

fhv.ction

by Neptune of the
rampart,

culous tranfportation and in-

Grecian

n.

terment of Sarpedon by Apollo,

Wail pu(hed down by Apollo, 15.

Sleep and Death, 16.

etc.

415.

The

golden
8.

810,

Prophecy
i<5.

at the

chain

of
50.

Jupiter,

25.

hour of death,

1026.

Horfes and chariot of Jupiter,

22.450.
to flight

Achilles

8.

His balances,
fates

puts the whole Trojan

unarmed army
tri-

weighing the
8.

of men,
Jupiter's

on

his appearance,

88.

%%. %ii. the

18.

240,

etc.

Moving
ftatues

affifting

Trojans

by
fa-

pods and

living

of

thunders and lightnings, and

vifible declarations

Vulcan, 18. 44. 488.

The The

of his

horfe of Achilles fpeaks by

a prodigy,

vour, 8.

03, 16s, etc.

17.
and

ij.

450.

670.

Prodigy
8.

of an eagle
297-

battel
etc.

and fawn,

Horfes

of the Gods, 20. 63, Horfes of a miraculous

the transforma

of the
chariots, cd,
8.

Gods,

(tables

extraction,
tion

pompoufly defcribetc.

of Boreas,

20.

264.

535,

Hector's

The
ctor's

wonderful battel of the

etc.

lance of ten cubits, 8.

615.

Xanthus, 21. 23,

pollo and

He-

Omen of anheron, 10. 310. The defcent of Ens, 11. 5.

body prefcrved by AVenus, 23. 226",

23.

(hower of blood, 11. 70.

560.

15.
The

Omen

of an
230.

e3gle and ferpent, 12.

The ghoftof Patroclus, The two urns of 77. The piter, 24. 66
:>.

Juvaft

progrefs

of Neptune
feas,

quoit

of Action,

23.

975*

through the

13. 4*.

The transformation ofNiobe

POETICAL INDEX.
Fa b l e
14.

309

Fable.
ftones,

and her people into

757-

machines and appearances of

the

Gods

in the

poem, and
:

their

transformations

the

Under
cluded

this

head

of the

miraculous birch of heroes;

the
paffions in

marvellous
all

may
the

alfo be in-

human and
reft.

immediate

vifible

forms, and the

CHARACTERS
Characters of the

or

MANNERS.
as

Gods

0/"

Homer,

afting in the

phyfical or moral capacities ofthofe deities.

JUPITER.
Atling and governing
all, as

call

her to behold the corn-

the

bate with Menelaus, 3. 185.

fupreme Being.] See the article

Theology

in the

next Index.

APOLLO.
As the
Sun.,]

Caufes the plague

JUNO.
As
the element

in the heat

of fummer,
a

1.

of

A\r.~\

Her
of

16.

Raifcs

phantom of
545.

congrefs with Jupiter, or the

.flitber,

clouds and vapours, 5.

and production
etc.

Difcovers in the morning the

Slaughter
fore,

vegetables, 14. 390.

Her
978.

made

the night be-

loud (hout, the air being the

caufe

10.

606.

Recovers
z8o.

of found,

5.

Hector from fainting, and opens

his

Nourifhed by Oceanus and

eyes,

15.

Tethys, 14. 231,

Dazzles

the

eyes

of the

Greeks, and (hakes his Aegis

As

Goddefs of Empire and Ho-

in their faces, 15. 36Z.

Re-

nour.] Stops the

Greeks from
In-

ftores vigour to Glaucus, 16.

flying ignominioufly, z. 191.

647.

Preferves the body of

and

in

many

other places.

Sarpedon
16.
tor,

from

corruption,
that of

cites

and commands Achilles

In-

830.
ij.
to

And
230.

Hea

to revenge the death of his

friend,

Raifes

18.

103,

etc.

cloud
zo.

conceal

Aeneas r
Aeneas.

fpires into

Helen a contempt

ft j.
DeJIiny.]

ef

Paris,

and fends

Iris to

As

Saves

3*

POETICAL INDEX.
Characters.
And
Ais

Characters.
from
genor,
death, 5. 441.

lyfTes to retire in

time from
10.

Hector, xo. xi.

513.
706".

Saves

the

night

expedition,

Deferts

593.

Affifts

him through-

He<tor

when

his

hour

out that expedition, 10. 35,

etc.

come, xi.

2,77.

Difcovers the ambufh

the Pylians by

laid againfl:

As Wifdom.] He and Minerva iafpire Helenus to keep

off the general-

night,

and caufes them to

851.
Affifts

fally, 11.

A-

engagement
7.

chilles

to

conquer

Hector,

by

a fingle

combate,

25.

XX. 277, tC

Advifes Heftor to fhun en-

countering Achilles, ao. 431.

As Wifdomfepar at ely confidered

1.

MARS.
As
rnere martial courage -with-

SupprefTes Achilles's paffion,

261.

SupprefTes her

own

anger againfl Jupiter, 4. 31.

Brings to pafs Jupiter's will
in contriving the

out

conduB.]

Goes

to the

fight againfl the orders

piter, 5.
7

of JuJupi-

breach of

id.

Again pro-

the truce, 4.

95.

Teaches

voked
ter

to rebel againfl
his paffion, 15.

Diomed to difcern Gods from

men, and
5.

by

126.

to conquer Venus,

Is vanquifhed

by Minerva, or

155,

etc-

Called the

bed

Conduct, 21. 480.

beloved of Jupiter, 8. 48.

MINERV A.
As
martial courage -with Wifdom.'] Joins

Obtains

leave

of Jupiter,

that while the other

Gods

da not

affifl

the Greeks, fhe

with Juno in re-

may

direct
8.

them with her

45.
Is again

draining the
flight,

Greeks from

ccunfels,

and
z.

infpires Ulyffes to

checked by the

command of
to in
afllfl,

do

it,

a jo.

Animates
Defcribed

Jupiter, and fubmits, 8. $60.,

the army,a. 525.

as leading a

580.
fave

Is

faid

or

hero fafe through

any hero,

general

abattel, 4. 632. Aififts

Dio-

through the poem, when any

act

med

to

overcome Mars and

Over-

of prudence preferves him.

Venus, 5.407, 1042.

Reftrai. \sMars

comesthemherfelf, 21. 480.

VENUS.
As
the paffttn

from rebellion
5.

againfl Jupiter,

45to

Ju-

cf

love.']

Brings

Paris from the

fight to the

15. 140.
piter,

Submits
40.

embraces of Helen, and inflames

the lovers,
3*

8.

Advifes

U-

460,

POETICAL INDEX.
Characters.
530,
etc.

Jit

Characters.
overcome by
"Wifdom,
5.

Is

iSS-

S. S.

ipj.

S. S.

Minerva,
407.

or

And
of
it,

again, xi.

500.

705. Revengeful and implacable in

the higheft degree,

405.

746.

14.
S.

Z95.S. 9

Her

Ceftus or girdle, and the

14.

effects

147.

7^518
S.

9.

i<S-

<58.

75$, 121. S.

NEPTUNE.
As
the
Sea.'}

IiO, I2J.

S.--I9.H1.

22. 333.
16.

S.

Overturns

the

Cruel,

122.

437.
19.

S.

39j.

Grecian wall with his waves,

ix. 15.
at
their
Aflifts the
fleet,

21. 112.

22. 437. S.
23. 30.

Greeks
was
the

495.
51.

S.

14.

which

drawn up
67,
etc.

at the Tea fide, 13.

Superior to

all

men
etc.

in valour,

Retreats

at

20. 60, 437,

xi. 22,

order of Jupiter, 15.

245.

throughout.

Shakes
battel

the

whole

field

of

Conftant and violent in friendfhip, 9. 730.

and

fea-fhore
2,0.

with

18. 33, 371.

earthquakes,

77.

*3-

54,

171-

24S.

VULCAN.
Or
the

16. 9. S.

208.
S.

18.
335.

100.
Falls
1

S.

380.

19.

Element of

Fin
in

S. 22.

482.

S.

Achilles
without

from heaven
761.

to

earth,

fcarce ever

(peaks

Received

Lemnos,
fires,

mention of
clus.

his friend Patro-

a place of fubterrancous
ibid.

His operations of vari-

ous kinds, 18 .440, 4<58, 54*.

INEAS.
Pious to the Gods, 5. 226.
20.
Senfible
S.

Dries up the river Xanthus,

%l.

460.

Afllfled

by the

132,

290,

345,

winds, 11. 390.

and moral, 20. 242,

not
ram,
20.

2 93> etc. S.

Characters

of the

Heroes.
-which

Valiant,

240.

S.-

130,

N.

B.

The Speeches

Tender
See
on
v.

to his friend, 13. 590.

depended upon, and flow from

thefe feveral characters, ere
difiinguifhed by
his chara9.er
1

in the

notes

an

S.

5. v.

212. andoni. 13.

ACHILLES.
Furious, paffionate, difdainful,

578.

AGAMEMNON.
Imperious and paffionate, 1,

and reproachful,

lip,

1. v.

3!*

POETICAL INDEX.
direct
6".

Characters.
34, Tig. S.

Characters.
him, 5.
throughout.
8o.

Sometimes
140. S.

cruel,

a.

10. a87, 33S-

Artful

and defigning,

a. 62,

See

his

character in the notes

95.
Valiant, and an excellent
neral, 4. a 56, *<>S> etc.

MLj.y.ii
Ge-

11.
A
affec-

HECTOR.
true lover

throughout.

of his country,
15.

Eminent
tion,

for brotherly

8.

6zi. S.~ia. a84.

4.

183,

etc.

S.

7-

5 8z. S.

jao.

Valiant in the higheft degree,

3.

89.

7.

80. iz.
etc.

zio.

See
en

his
1.

char after in the notes

11.

S. 18.
S. 11.

333. S.

.
J

1.

Excellent in conduct, 8. 610.

66^.
140, 339, 60S'
<S.
'

A
Of
and

A X.
on that account,
7.

Pious, 6.

fuperior ftrength and fize,

fearlefs

Tender
.

to his parents,

3 T S

to his wife, 6. to his child, 6. to his friends,

456.
606.
zo. 485*

13.410.
S.

zz7.

S.

X74-

15. 666.

Indefatigable and patient, 11.

X4Sec
on\.

962-'

683,

etc.

13.

877.
14,

IShis character in the notes

throughout.

535.

fhort in his fpeeches, 7. zz7.

f.

3. v.

53.

741.

15.
zz6.

666,

etc.

IDOMENEUS,
An old foldier, 13.4JS,
648.
13.

See
on

h':s

character in the notes

7. v.

1.

lover

of

his foldiers,

DIOMED.
Daringandintrepid,5 through.

z8o.

Talkative upon

fubje&s
etc.

of
4.

war, 13. 34, 355,

out,

and

8. 163, 180. S.

6$, 8ao.

10

9.

30s.

S.

z<5o.

Vain of his family, 13. 565,

etc.

Proud and boalling, 6. 15a.

1

1.

500.
his
birth,

Stately and intuiting, 13. 47 z,

Vain of

Generous, 6. z6$.
Is guided

14. 1x5.

etc.

by Pallas or WifUlyfies to

See
en

his
I.

character in the
13. v. Z7j.

wefts

dom,

ar.d chufes

 POETICAL INDEX.

3if

Characters.
.

Characters.
to Paris, 3. 381.
to Helen,
3.

MENELAUS.
Valiant, 3. 35.

13. 7J3

10.

%\x.

S.

An

eafy prince of too yielding

17. throughout.

a temper, 7. 443.

Tender of

the people,

Gentle and companionate,

211, 38a.

3.

3x.
Gentle
in his nature, 10.

1$%
his

Pious, 4.

70

14. jzo.

S.

13. 685.
But
fired

See

his cbaratler in the

1.

notes

by
x.

a fenfe

wrongs,

711

of
3-

en

3. v.

air.

45-

7.

109. S.

13. 780. S.

PARIS.
Effeminate in drefsand perfon,
3- X7, 55, 80,

17.
See
en
his
1.

6\o.
charaBcr in the notes
3. v.

409.
mufic, J,

Amorous,
80.

*78.

3. 5 so.
arts,

Ingenious in

NEST OR.
Wife and experienced in counx. 441 cil, i.lV*34

Building, 6. 390.

Patient of reproof, 3. 85.

Naturally valiant, 6.
13. 985,

665.

Skilful in the

art

43*,

670.
39*-

of war,
338,

*.

4-

etc. S.

7.

S.
l
33a,
1

See his character in the notes

Brave, 7.165
15. 7p*. S.

81 7

*n

1.

3. v. x6, 37, B6,

Eloquent,

1.

etc.

PATROCLUS.
6x4,
Companionate of the
947.
16. 5. 3ifufFer-

Vigilant, 10. 88, i8 6

Pious, 15. 4x7.

ings of his countrymen, 11.

S.

Talkative through old age, 4.

370,

7.

i4S-

IT

800.
in

Raih, but valiant,

16".

709.
310.

13.

373.

7i8

and

Of

a gentle nature, 19.

general through the book.

17. 755.

See
on

his charafter
1.

in the votes

r.

v.

339

on

x.

SARPEDON.
Valiant, out of principle and

402,

etc.

honour,5. 575.S.- 11. 371.

A M.
275.

S.

Eloquent,
tender father to Heclor, xx.

ibid.

51.

S.

44.

Vol. IV.

3'*

POETICAL INDEX.
Characters.
common
605.
S.

Characters.
Careful only of the
caufeinhis death,
reafbnable,
i<5.

and

artful,

$xx.

23. 505. 618, 666.

16,

4.
S.

*3- 9*o, 930.

See

his character in the notes

1.

Euphorbus, beautiful and taliant,

en

16. y.

511.

973. 17* U

7-

ULYSSES.
Prudent,
3.

Glaucus, pious to his friend,

x6i.

jo.

187.

16. 669.-

-17.

165.

i8.

19. zx8.

Helenus, a prophet and hero,

9. 19$.'

Eloquent, 3. 183.
S. etc.

6. 91.

Meriones, dauntlefs and faith-

Valiant in the
tion, 4. s66.

field

with cau-

ful, 13.

315,

etc.

11. 515, etc.

Machaon, an excellent phy fi

cian, x. 890.

Bold in the council with prudence, 14. 90.

II. 630.
friendfhip

Phoenix,

his

and
9.

tendernefs

for Achilles,

See

his character
1.

in

the notes

<So>.

1. v. 402,. et fparfim.

Polydamas, prudent and eloquent. See

his fpeeches,

1*. 18.

Characters of other

70,

X45. 13. 907

Heroes.
Agenor, valiant and confiderate, &i.

300.

Teucer, famous for archery,

8. 3zo.

15. 510. etc.

648.

Thoas, famous for eloquence,

15. 3zx.

Antenor, a prudent counfellor,

7.

418.
fwift-

Ajax Oileus, famous for

nefs, x. <5ji

For

other

lefs

dtjiinguijhei

14, iQ.

characters,

fee

the

article,

Anrilochus, bold-fpirited, but

Defcriptions of the paffions.

POETICAL INDEX.

3W

SPEECHES
A TABLE
In the exhortatory

or

ORATIONS.
confiderable in the

of the mofl

Iliad.

or delibera-

In the vituperative kind.

tive kind.

The

fpeech

of Therfites,
306.

2.

The oration of Neftor to memnon and Achilles,

340.
ftor,

Agaperi.

a,

75.

That of

UlylTcs an-

fwcring him, a.

suading a reconciliation,

Hector to

Paris, 3. 55.

Of Of

The

orations of Ne-

Ulyffes,

and

Agamem402, 451.
5.

non, to perfuade the army

to
flay,

2. 350,

Agamemnon to Diomed, 4. Of Hector to Paris, 6. 406. Of Diomed to AOf Ugamemnon, 9. 43.

42 2.
lyfles to the

Of

Sarpedon to Hector,

fame,

14. 90.

575.
rage

Of
the

Neftor to encou-

Sarpedon to Hector, 5. 575.

Greeks

to

accept

Glaucus to Hector, 17. 153.

In the narrative.

the challenge of Hector, 7.

145.
jans,

Of Hector
8.

to the

<Jn.

TroOfNeftor
and A-

to fend to Achilles, 9. 127,

Achilles to

Thetis,

1.

47*.
230.
190.

Of

UlyfTes, Phoenix,

Pandarus to iEneas,

5. 6.

jax, to

move

Achilles to a

Glaucus to Diomed,

reconciliation, 9. 295, 562,

Phoenix
652.

to Achilles, 9. 562,
to

741. Achilles'sreplytoeach,
Hid.

Agamemnon

the

Sarpedon to Glaucus,

Greeks, 19. 90.

Achilles, 20. 240.
flor,

iEntas to

xx. 271.

Of Neptune
to

to

Of Ne11.

the Greeks,
fleet,

defend the

7.

163.

800.

13. 131.

Of Ajax

to

and the fpeeches of Neftor in general.

the Greeks, 15. 666.

ftor to

Ne-

the fame,

15. 796.

Of Ajax
ai. 360.

again, 15. 890. Sca-

In the pathetic.

inander to the river Simois.

Juno

to

Vulcan,

Agamemnon
wounded,

on

Menelaus

ai.387.

Achilles to Patro-

4. 186.

clus, 16. 7c, etc.

Andromache to Hector, and his

anfwer, 6. 510. 570.

d2

3i

POETICAL INDEX.
SPEECHI&,
iff.

Speeches.
Patroclus
ro, etc.

and Achilles,
fight

2 the irony, or fauafm.

Jupiter on
17. x$i.

of Hetfor,.
Brifeis

The

fpeech of Pallas on Venus,

5..

Lamentation of
of Achilles
*9- 335.

being wounded,
fos

505.

Patroclus, 19. 303.

for Patroclus,.

Ulyfles ove? Soeus, 11. $66-,

Idomencusover Othryoneus*
13-47*. Four farcaftic fpeeches over
the dead, 14. 5x9, 550, 561,
J 87.

of Priam to He&or, a a.

-of
22.

Si- 530.

Hecuba, to the fame,

Juno

to

Mars con-

115-

and

cerning Afealaph us, 15. izo.

again,

24.

243, 943of Andromacb-e at Hector's death, xx. <5o8.

iEneas to Meriones, 16. 745.

Patroclus on Cebriones,
iff.

903.

Heclor on Patroclus,.
Achilles to

of Andromache
neral, 24. p3.

16. ro3.
at his fu-

Oto

try n tides,

10.

450.
to

of Helena, 14.

Lycaon, %i. 135.

ptfx.

H-

Lycaon

ctor, xx.

to Achilles, zi. 85.

1.7.

415.
horfes-,

Thetis to the Nereids,

70.

Speeches to

The

ghoft of Patroclus to

A-

chilles, ij-. 83.

Heclor to his horfes,

8.

u$.

Piiam. to Achilles, 14. 600.

Achilles to his horfes, 19. 440.

Jove to the horfes of Achilles,

1

7.

S04.

Antilochus, 23. 483.

Menelaus, x$. $xx.

Descriptions of

IMAGES.

A Colle

CI ion

of the moft remarkable throughout the Poem,

City in flames, 17. 8x$.

Defcrtptlons of

Places.

Court of

juftice,

Ends of

the

earth

18.577. and

fea t

Of

the

apartment of Juno,
burning mountain, 2.

the relidence of Saturn

Iapetus, 8

and

14-

191.

597.

Of

Fountains of Scamander, iz.

i^5.

950.

POETICAL INDEX.
Descriptions.
Field, plowed, 18. 6x7Forelt,

3i7

Descriptions.
Hon
defcribed, 13. 141.
is felled,

when timber
feat

ii. no.'

23. 144-

Dcfcriptions of

1:

R so N s

Heaven, the

and pleafures
i.

of the Gods,

690, jiz.
gates

Achilles's dreadful appearance,

4.

3. s-

The
9*8.

of

z$S9-

**.3 X >^-3P3-

heaven,

8.
J

478.

The Gods
Ida, its

aflembled, xo. 9.

Apollo's perfon, enfigns, and defcent to earth, 1. 61. Apollo's appearance in the war,
15- 348.

forefts,

temple,

and

profpedt, 8. S7-

4- 3*-

Landfcapes of
x.
84.0,

a fine

country,

Ajax,

his

fallen

retreat
to

de-

1036,

1040.

Of
fheep,

fcribed,

Il.7S,#C

696.

pafture-gronnds
18. 677.

and

Brothers, two killed together,

xo. 531.

Mount of Hercules near Troy,

xo. 174-

coward, defcribed in Therbeaten,

x.

fites,

3x6.

A
in

Palace of Neptune, 13. 35.

coward
cut,

defcribed

througha g ain

Palace of Priam defcribed, 6.

304.

13-

359-

Of

Paiis, 6. 59-

Theftor, 16.488.
%.

A cown.

River
1030.

Axius

defcribed,

ard furprized. 10. 443.

Diana cuffed and

570.

buffeted,

River Titarefius and Peneus,

x. 910.

Sea,
it,

and

iflands rifing out

of

Gods, Homer's great ideas of them, in the defcriptions of

their armour, s- 97tion, 13- 3-

Mo*

x. 770.

Tempe

defcribed, z. 91S.

*S' 9-

Tent of
14- S53-

Achilles

defcribed,

960.
xo. 63,

Battels,
etc.

15- *$*

xi. 450, etc.

Troy,
ao.

the country about

it,

Hours
5.

at the gates

of heaven,

and roads,

u.
ir.

191.

13.

919horrible appearance

14- z6-

Hector's

Tomb

of

Ilus,

47 7.

Of
Sar "

in battel, 8.
13.

4*7-

!*

553-

Eateia,

9&4-

0f

1010.

15- 73-

Heat

pedon, io\ 8zo.

ctor's dead

body dragged

Vulcan,
18. 43

his palace, forge, etc.

1
.

the chariot of Achilles, x.

etc

5o.
-

vineyard, 18. 6$t.

7-

Jupiter in

bis

glory,

"Wall of the Grecians,

5*3-

jX

8. 8.

sso

1.

ij,

in his
eic
-

"Winds, their court and man-

riot,

50.

541.

cha.

V <3


318

E T

C A L

INDEX.
Descriptions.
Defcriptions of

Descriptions.
his terrors, 17. 670.

Juno,

dreft,

14.

zoo.

Things,

Lycaon, his youth and unhappy death, 21. 4c, etc.

Of

an affembly gathering to2.

Mars and Bellona

tor
in

before Hec5. 7.

battel,

72.6*

gether,
Battel.
tar'y

no.

[See the article Mili

Mars
*3-

in

arms,

252.
his

Deferiptions.]

385-- -15.
fize,

7*6.
21. 473.

monftrous

Burning up of a field, 21. 400. A bow, 4. 137.

Blood trickling from a wound,
4-

Mercury
Neptune,
grefs,

defcribed, 24. 417.

his chariot

and pro-

170,

etc.

13.

28,

etc.

Brightnefs of a helmet, 5.

5.

Niobe, turned into

773-

a rock,

24.

Burial of the dead,

7.

494.

A
a venerable one, 1.

breach

made

in an attack,

Old man,
330.

12. 485.

Old connfellors
converting,
3,

of
197,

Boiling
18.

water in a cauldron,

Troy
etc.

405. 21. 415.

facrificed,

miferable old man, 22. 80,

etc.

Beacon, 19. 405.

in Priam,

Beads
his

23.

41.

Priam

palling

through

bird ihot through,

23.1033.
8.

people, in

forrow, to go to

Chariot

of Jupiter,

50,

redeim

Hector,

24.

402.

542.

Of
335-

Neptune, 13.41.
at large,
etc.

Priam weeping

at the feet

of

Chariot

Achilla, 24. 636.

Pallas, her defcent

34-

defcribed
S-

889,

A
etc.

from hea50 j.

chariot-race,

23.

353,

ven, 4.
fpear, 9.

00.
veil,

Her armour,
5.

Chariots

overturned,

16.

and

445bodies,

Chariots crufhing ths

20.

^66.
fhield,

577.

Teucer, behind Ajax's

8.

child frighted at a helmet,

6.

3*f.
a beautiful one, killed,

S9$>
Jupiter,

Touth,
4.

Golden chain of
15.

8,

542.

17.

55.

etc.

20.

537.

Interceding for
21.
75.
(lain in

conflagration,

21.

387,

mercy

in vain,

400.

young and old man

Cookery
766,

defcribed, 9. 277.

war, their pi&urcs, 2a. 190.

Ceflus, the
etc.

game defcribed, 23.

z.

Deformity,
Dancing,

261.

if.

681,

etc.

POETICAL INDEX.
Descriptions.
Difcus, the

^l*

Descriptions.
defcribed,
etc.

game
etc.

101, 304, 407.

a warrior, 23. 156.

23.

927,

Funeral of

Diving,

24.

105.
11,

funeral pile defcrib-d, 23.

Driving
6S
5-

a chariot,

363,

200.

Gates of a

fortification

bro-

Dreadful appearance

of
192.

the

ken,

12.

S4S11. 14.
7

Myrmidons,
Achilles, 18.

i<5.

of

Goblet defcribed,
Girdle of Venus,
Horfes,
the
2.

74-

254.
422.

245.

Darknefs,

17.

famous ones of
924.

Death, 16. 1033.

22.455of
diffe-

Enmclus,
tor, 8-

The

deferiptions

226.

Of HecOf Achiiles,
T.os,
5,

rent forts of deaths in Htmer,

16.

181.

Of

are innumerable, and featured

throughout the battels.

327.

Of

Erifthonius,

20,

Jgii, or Ihield

of Jupiter,
is-

2.

526.

5.

909.

35.

262. Horfe pampered and prancing, Korfc killed by a 6. 652.

dart,
8.
1

xi. 465-

05.

Horfes

a-

An

entrenchment,

7.

520.
ix.

fraid

of leaping a ditch,
Horfes

12.

Eagle ftung by
2.33.

a ferpent.

57.

of

Achilles
1

Eagle

foaring,

24.

mourning
490.

for Patroclus,

7.

390.

Furnace and forge defcribed,

18.

feat

of horfemanihip, is* 9*8.

their

540.
t-.i.

822.
41 J-

Fifties fcorehed,

Flowers of various kinds, 14.

39 6 -

Helmet of Helmets
Hofpitable
6.

Jupiter.

5-

nodding
945-

plumes, 13.
19.

Famine,
Fall

160, etc.

life

of a good man>

of a warrior headlong
715.
battel,.

16.
18.

into the deep fands, 5.

Harveft,

637.
18.
13.

Fatigue in the day of

2.

Herds of oxen,
Inundation, 12.

66$.

458.

16.
5.

132.

17.

iS-4^5*
A350,
etc.

445Fainting,

Of Scamander
8$<5

againft

11.460.

chilles,
etc.

14.

487, SG9-

8.

xi.

258,

Fires by

night, defcribed,

Lightnings

and thunder, 7.

685,

etc.

Recovery from
271.

fainting, rs.

57I ._8. -93, etc. 161, etc. Light coming over a plain,
15.

810.

17- 43-

Fortification attacked, 1 *. 170,

Light ftrcaming from a bea-


3io

POETICAL INDEX.
Descriptions.
etc.

Descriptions.
con by night, 19. 405.
Majefty of a prince, 2. 564.

Seeming

to

run in a

dream, 22. 257.

3.

221.

Rough way defcribed,

23. 139.

Majeftic

march of Sarpedon,

race defcribed, 23. 881, etc.

iz. 356.

Of Juno,
6.

14. 26.

Shield of Achilles, defcribed at

large,

Melancholy,

245.
8.

18.

550,

etc.

Moon
687.

and

(tars defcribed,

Hector, 6. 143.
7.

Of Of Ajax,

265.

Marriage-pomp,

18

5 7-

Scales

Monument
49*Noife, a

over the dead, 17.

Smoke
Sailing

of Jupiter, 22. 271. cleared, and light re16.

a

turning,

35.
fnip,
1.

loud one, 5.
ioss16.
14-

1054.
I7i,

of

6x$.

13.

Ship anchoring and coming

into port,
1
.

457.

767.
inquietude

$66.

Night

paft in

by
reft,

The
7.

(lately

(talk

of a hero,
8is1.

the foldiers, and their feveral

251.

is-

pofhires

of taking

iacrifice defcribed,
7.

<Joo.

10.

82, 1703.

380.
2. init.

Old age,

150.

The
in

picture

Sleep,

14.
off

2<5j, etc,

of

its

miferies

ftate

of

(laughter

by

night, 10. 560.

war,

22.

80.

Snow, 12. 331.

Soldiers,

0rphan,itsmifery,22. 6zo,etc.
Proeeflion defcribed,
6-.

when
with
1

from duty,
2. 938. bow, 4.

367.

their

amufements,
the

Peaceful

life,

9.

510.
receiving a
lifted up,

Shooting
144.
8.
to

Pofture of a

man

s<5.

23.

1005.

dart on his (hield

13.

3S9.
19.

$ix.

10. 325, etc.

Spear of Achilles,

42c

Panting defcribed, 13. 555, 720.-

Perfumes,
14.

fpear driven deep into the

earth,

21.

188.

198.
19.

A (lone
410.

whirling on the ground

14.

Plume of a helmet,
13-

with vaft force,

174.
s

94712.
ix.

Stone, thrown by a hero,

Plowing,

617.
37,

370. 100.
14.

Rainbow,

17.
Reaping,

24.

320.-^-12. 537. 4717.

616.
18.

Svviftnefs

of horfes, 20. 270.

i<5.

637.

Swooning,
Vintage,

955. 651.

Running away, 21. 6*34. Running round Troy, Hector

18,

Wall, overwhelmed
ters,

by wa23.

and Achilles, 22. 250,

7.

SSO.

I*.

POETICAL INDEX.
Descriptions.
"Woodman's dinner, ix.uo. "Woods felled down, 13. 144
16.

3*1

Descriptions.
Winter, H. 17S, 33 r
-

767
miferies,
o.

Military
An
ftore,
1.

DeferHf thus.

"War,

its

709*

Watch by

night,

10.

ao*.
23.

a-rmy defcending

on the

WreMing
821
417.

deferibed,

117a.

An arm y
18
x,

rnai-ching,

94

Wound of Venus

deferibed, 5.

The

Diomed wounded, j. A wound healing, 5 U "

A
my

day of battel, '. 458. army on the plain, vafi:

55s,

Water,
ai.
9.
ter, 21.

troops

plunging

in,

An arto 563. rftf. going forth to battel, 2.

59-

fight in the

wa-

976. 13-

l6

*SS

tree

falling in

the water,
ter rolling

26. 2S9.

Waa

377. chariot of war,

19-

5.

89>

tf*

down

hill in

Confufion and noife of battel,

16.

current,
floating

*t.

290.

Arms
a
1

<5zi.
all
-

upon the water,

23.

fmgle combate, with

ceremonial,
3.

the

123. etc

3Si.

Winds

rifing,

161.

The combate between

and Menelaus,
3.

Paris

4*3-

Defections

/Time$

c^

of Heaor and Ajax, f.

Seasons.
Day-break, 10. 295-

150
les,

to 335.

of Hector and Achiliz.

4.

Morning,
8.

2. 60.

7-

S*$-

1.

Squadrons embattled,

183. 9- 833. 11. S>11. "SJ

5.

637.

8. 160.

32a.

Eii-ft

onfet of battel, 4.

49*
$,

Sun-rifing,

11.

871.

to siscircle inclofing the

Noon,
8.

if.

93 8

-
5S<*.

foe,

Sun-fetting, 1.

716. 7.
94*

'

772.

6*s16.

Stand of
Joining
eHt
11.

an
in

army,
battel,

7.

7S
7

8.

Evening,
Night,
2.

5.

Mir.

i tn book
ftarry night,

,3.

4ll

A
l66
-

rout,

throughout.
8.

A
3>

193.
etc.

14A
An

l6 '

63/.
14-

440,

-21. 720.

for-

Spring,

*
637$. lotfo.

tification attacked,

12. 170*

Summer,
Autumn,

18.

joi, 304.
12.

breach made,

18. 651.

485.
12.

obftinate clofe-

aa.

4'

fight,

510-

15.8^0,

3**

POETICA
order, 13.
1

INDEX.
Descriptions.
13. 109,

Descriptions. An army in clofe

77
to

Courage,

366

x 7

185,

4 o5.
and

150.
Cowardice,
13.

An
14

attack on

the

fea-fide,

355.

,$.

45*.

Levelling
trench,
fleet,

488.
Curiofity, in old
etc.

parting a

15. 408. 15. 677,

men,

3.

Attack of the
etc.

194,

786, 855,
at
all

etc.

hero

Defpair,

22.
3.

377.

arming
elus,

points,

Aga-

Diffidence,
Diftrefs, 8.

*8o.
,

memnon,
i(5.

ix.

ii.

PatroAchilles,

x5i.

lo
Doubt,

290.-9. Jx
z 1,
etc.

etc.

t)5.

*918.

39o.

Siege of a town,

14.

21.

5pr,

tf
ibid.

Surprize

of

a convoy,
ibid.

Skirmilh,

651, etc. xz. 138. Fear, 10. 443. 24. 441

Battel
6*3

of the

Gods,
heroes

Fear

in

Priam,

a 1.

615.
etc.

For

ao.

to 90.

Two

his fon,

xx 43, 51,
6.

meeting

in battel,

zo. 192.

Fear of

a child,

The

596.

rage, destruction, and carnage of battel, 20.574,

Fidelity.in Lycophron,fervant

of Ajax,
Grief in
x

15.

S ox.

Cale-

fius.fervantof Axylus, 6 zo.

Defcripthns of the

Internal

fine
3.

woman,
.

1.

Passions,
fible

or of their vi-

So

l85

.,

Effects.
Agamemnon,
io,

450.-

Grief of a

fitter

for her dead

etc.

Anx

ety, in

brothers,

3.

300,

13, etc. 100, etc.

Grief in two parents in tendernefs

for their
6"

Activity, in Achilles, 19. 416.

Admiration,
800.
Affright,

zi.

a.

14,

child,

6.

504.

16.

968.
458.

Grief occafioned by love of our country, in Patroclus,

16.
init.

Amazement, 14. 590.

Ambition,
13.

Grief for a friend

for Patroclus,

in Achilles

Anger,

1.

z$z.

18. 25, 100,

Awe,
etc.

1. 430. BufToonry in Therfites,

etc. 19.
2.

335 ii- 482.

18.

25

c,

24-

5-

Furious grief,
9. in
<?.

357.

Contentment,
Conjugal love,

jza.

Frantic grief,

24. 291.

Hector and
510,
ffr.

Grief of

a father for his fon,

Andromache,

in Priam, zz.

$z

j, etc.

24.

100, Z75, Z91.

POETICAL INDEX.
Descriptions.
Grief of a wife for her hufband, %%.
$6x.
to the end,

Descriptions.
Pride.in Othryoncus, 13. 457.
Pity,

of a people

for

their

the epifode of Andromache,

prince in

mifery, 24. 401.

in

and again, 14. 906.

Grief out of gratitude,
feis,

Repentance,
in Bri-

Helen,
<S-

3.

13,

493-

43*
iz.

to

19. 319. in Helen, 14.

45
Rafhnefs,
etc.

Hafte, exprcfTed in Hector, 15.

in Afius,

ixy,

395, 4*,

etc.

Hate, in Achilles to Hector,

* 335, 433,
'*

Refentment,
<*35-

in

Achilles,

1.

15- 7*.

Hardnefs of heart, 9. 750.

Infolence, in Tlepolemus,
5.

Revenge, in Menelaus, 1.710.

In Achilles, for
18.

Patroclus,

783. in Epeus, 14. 767.

Joy,
its vifible effects,

13. 678.
Paris,
3.

394-

1x5,

etc.

19.
466.

air,

Love,

in

Helen and

Revenge and
Refolution,

glory, 16. 113.

19.

$Si>etc. in Jupiter and Juno,

14. 33a,
etc.

la

357.

Hector, zz. 47, 107.

Conjugal love, in Hector and

Shame,
etc.

in

Helen,

3.

185,

Andromache,

6, etc.

Love of
in

mother
117love, in

to her fon,

373

sii-

In

Juno,

14.

Thetis to

Achilles,

18.

Spite, in

Juno,

15.
17.

no.
640.
for

70. X4
Brotherly

In Menelaus,

Agamem4. 183.

Tendernefs,
their child,

of
in
6.

parents

non and Menelaus,

805.

Hector and
504, 598,

Filial love, in Harpalion,

13.

Andromache,

616.
at parting, in
1
.

Lovers forrow

"Wiih,

of Hector,
13.

to

be im-

Achilles and Brifeis,

450.

mortal,

1046.
for a general
16.

In Hector and Andromache, Effects of beauty 6. 640.

of

Achilles,

Deftruction,

izz.

on old men,

3.

203.
z.

of Ajax,
1$$*
light,

to die in the

day-

Malice in Therfites,

17.

730.

Modefty,

14. 373.

3H

POETICAL INDEX.

SIMILES.
to the body of Invbriiis carri-

From Beasts.

ed

oy

the Ajaxcs,
to

13.

z5?.

Aboarenraged,

Idomeneus
13.

The
$66.

ftatelinefs

of

a bull,

to
t.

meeting

his

enemy,
in the

59$.

the port of

Agamemnon,
ram
to

An
13.

ox rolling
to a

pangs of

Ofa

ftalking beL'lvflcs,

death,

dying warrior,
Beafts retreating

fore the

flock,

7*t.

tj. A wanton ftelliott %S9breaking from the pa ft tires

from hunters, to the Greeks

retiring,

15.

303.
lions,

Oxen
to

and mares,

to

Paris ifiuing

flying

from

the

from his apartment, 6. 6$%. A hound following a lion,

to Hector follow-ingthe GreDogs watchcians, 8. 407.
ing the folds, to the guards

Greeks

flying

from Apollo

A and Heclor, ij. 366. hound faftening on a roe, to a hero flying on an enemy, A wild bead 15. 697.
wounded and
retreat, 15

by

night, io,

xn. Hounds

retiring

from a
hideto

chafing a hare through thick

multitude, to Antilochus his

woods,

to

lyfles purfuing an

Diomed and Uenemy by

417.
a lion,

70*.

ous aftembly of wolves,

the fierce figure of the

night,
flying

10.

A
to

hind
the

Myr-

from

midons, 16. 194invading the flocks,

Wolves
to the

Trojans flying

from Aga153Beafts

memnon,
flying

11.

Greeks,
torn
killed

16.

4x0.

bull

from
10.

a lion, to

the

by

a lion to

Sarpedon

fame,

2x7.

Hounds
hunter,
to

by Patroclus, 16. 600.

chearcd by the
troops
general,

bull facrificed, to Aretus,

encouraged

by the

17.

588.

Hounds followto the

11.378.

A
11.

hunt$16.

ing a boar,
following

Trojans
17-

ed boar, to Ajax,

Ajax,

811.

wounded deer encompafled by

enemies,

Mules dragging a beam, to heroes

17.

with wolves to Ulyfies fur-

carrying a dead body,

rounded
595.

n.

83a.

panther hunted,

An

afs

iurrounded by

toAgenor, 11. 978.

A hound

boys, to Ajax, 11.

683.

purfuing a fawn, to Achilles

fawn carried

off

by two lions,

purfuing Hector, a*. 243.

POETICAL INDEX.
Similes.
of
a lion, to that
laus, Si

3iS

MILKS.

of

Meac
rage

From Lions.

17.

741.

The

and

grief of a lion for his

to that

Hon routing

at his prey, to

young,

of Achilles
371.

Menelaus
3.

at fight

of

Paris,

for Patroclus, 18.

lion rufhing

37.

lion

falling

on

on

his

foe, to

the flocks, and wounded by

a fhepherd.toDiomed
ed, 5. 174.

Achilles,

zo.

zoo.

wound-

lion

among

From Birds.

heifers, to the fame, 5. 106.

Two
riors,

young
c.

lions killed

hunters, to two

by young war-

flight

of cranes

or

fwans,
z.

to a

numerous army,
noife

540.

681.

lion detheir

The

of cranes,
3.

to the
5.

ftroying

the fheep in

fhouts of an army,

folds, to Ulyffes flaughtering

An eagle preferving and

fight-

the

Thracians

afleep,

10.

ing for her young, to Achilles

protecting the Grecians,
9,

564.

The

four retreat

of

a lion, to that of Ajax,

n.

414.

falcon flying at a
flight,

675. Alion, or boar hunted,

to a hero diftrefTcd,
iz. 47.
flocks,

quarry, to Neptune's
13. 91.

An

eagle frooping

A
to

lion rufhing

cm the

at a f.van, to Heftor's a r t lck-

Sarpedon's

march,

iz.

ing a fhip, 15

835.

Two

557.

A
750.

lion killing a bull,

vultures fighting,

to Sarpe-

to Hector killing

Periphas v

don and Patroclus, 16. $zz.

15.
ter

lion (lain, af-

vulture driving geefe,

fcattering

to

he has

made

great

Automedon,
Trojans,

the

daughter, applied
clus,
1

to Patro-

17-

Si 7-

An

5.

909.

Two

lions

eagle cafting his eyes on the

fighting,
troclus,

to Hector and Pa16".

quarry, to Menelaus looking

9! 5.

A
A

lion

through the ranks for Antilochus,

afraid

and boar
fame,

at a fpiing, to the

17.

l6l\

Cranes
to

i<5.

993-

lion

of falcons,
afraid

the

putting a whole village

flight, to

to

Greeks
jnea?,
afraid

of Keclor and

Menelaus,

17. 70.

17,

84 j.

dove
Diana

Retreat of

a lion, to that

of
li-

of

a falcon, to

Menelaus, 17.

117..

afraid of Juno,

;i. 576.

onefs defending her young,

to his defence

falcon following a dove, to

Achilles purfuing Hector, zz.
1

of Patroclus,

if.

14s

Another retreat

83.

An

eagle at an hare,

Vol. IV.

3'itf

POETICAL INDEX.
Similes.
Hector,
zz.
Achilles at

Similes.
to

of armour,
to the

z.

534.

The

391.

The

broad wings of

fpreading of a conflagration,

an eagle extended, to palacegates fet open, 44.

march of an army,
Trees finking in
zoi.

391.

a.

948.

a conflagration, to femadrons

From SeRTENTS.

falling in

battel,

11.

The

noife

of

fire in

a wood,
in

traveller retreating

from a

to that
fufion,

of an army
14.

concon15.

ferpent,

to Paris afraid
3.

of
and

461.
to

Mcnelaus,
rolled

47his

A
den,

fnake

flagration,

Hector,

up

in

7z8.

The rumbling and

fire,

collecting his anger, to

He-

rage of a
fion

to the confu-

ftor expecting Achilles, zz.

and roar of a routed ar17.

130.

my,
the

8zs-

Fires

on
the

hills,

and beacons to give

From Ik sects.
Bees fwarming, to a numerous

fignals

of

diftrefs,

to

blaze of Achilles' s
18, Z4S.

helmet,

fire

running o-

army ifiuing out, z. in. warms of flies, to the fame,

a. 55z.

ver fields and woods, to the

progrefs

and

devaluations

Graihoppers chirp-

made by

Achilles, zo.

569.

ing in the fun, to old

talking,
3.

men

Fire boiling

the waters, to

zoi.
neft,

AVafps
to the

Vulcan opeiatingon Scamander, zi. 415.

in a

defending their

fire

raging
in the

muhitude and violence of

folJiers

town, to Achilles
zi.
zz.

defending a battleiz.

battel,

608. 518.

town

ment,

190-

Wafps
to

on

fire,

provoked by children flying

at

the traveller,
in

troops
16.
to

From Arts.

violent

an

attack,

314.

hornet angry,

The

ftaining

of ivory, to the

Mcnelaus incenfed, 17. 641.

Locufts driven into a river,
to the

blood running down the thigh

of Mcnelaus,
architect

4.

170.

An

Trojans in Scamander,

obfervin^ the rule

zi.

14-

and

line, to leaders preferv-

ing the line of battel, 4. 474.

From Fires.

An

artiit

managing
compared

four

horfes, and leaping

from one
to

A fjreft

in flames, to the lufirc

to another,

A-

POETICAL INDEX.
Similes.
jax finding from fhip to
15. Szx.
fhip,

Si

m les.
1

fucccfTion

of leaves on

trees,

A
his

builder cement-

10 the generation

ing a wall, to a leader

em156.

181.

of men, 6.

if.

540.

bodying

men,

16.

Curriers (Training a hide, to

joldiers tugging

From
Rolling
in

the

Sea.

for a dead

body,

17.

450.

Bringing

billows, to an
z.

army

a current to

water a garden,

motion,
of

175.

The
to the

to the purfuit of
after Achilles, x
1
.

Scamander
290.

murmurs
Succcflion

waves,

The

noife of a multitude, z. X49.

placing of rafters in a building, to

of waves,
troops,
to 4.

to the

the pofturc

of two

moving of

478.

wreftlers,

13.
a

815.
fpinfter,

The
the
the 23.
a

frefh

gak
like

weary ma-

-motions of
fpindle and
fvviftnefs

riners,

the

coming of
7.

thread,
a

to

Hector to his troops,

5.

of

racer,

The

feas ftrtling

trcm-

889.

The

finking

of

felves, to thick troops

ccmnee,

plummet,
Iris,

to the

paffage
fea,

of
24.

pofed in order
7.

and
fea

file

through the

71.

The

agitated
to

JC7.

by

different
in

winds,

tb

army

doubt and confuGon,

From Trees.

9.

5.

The waves
till

rolling

neither way,

one wind
Neflor's

The

fall

of a poplar, to that
4.

fways

them,

to

of Simoifius,

55Z.
c

Of
of

doubt and fudden refolution,

14.

11.

a beautiful olive,

rock breaking

that,

Euphbrbus, 17. 57.

tail

Two
145.

the billows, to the body of

the

oaks on the mountains,

Greeks,
15.

refilling

the

to

two
fall

Trojans,
heroes,
iz.

746its

The
to

The

of an
13.

fea
a(h,

roaring at
a river

recep'ion

to that

of Imbrius,
ground,

241.

Of a

of

into

it,

the

pine or oak frretched on the

to Afius

dead, 13.

meeting ofarrniesat a charge, A beacon to 310. 17.

mariners
at fea, to the

light

493.

An oak
by
a ftone,

overturned

by

a thunderbolt, to

Hector

of

Achilles' s fhield, 19- 4S-

felled

14. 408.

dolphin purfuing the

lefllr

An

fifh.to

Achilles in Scamander,

oak, pine or poplar fall-

ing, to

Sarpedon,

1(5,

591.

The

flaort

duration and quick

Eei

3*8

P O E

C A L

INDEX.
Similes.
15.

Similes.
breach,

440.

An

au-

From

the

Sun, Stars.
and

Moon,

tumnal ftorm and a deluge, to the ruin of a routed army,

1

6.

467.

A
913.

florm roaring

The moon

flars in glory,

in a
ing,

wood,
16.

to armies fhout-

to the brigbtnefs

and numfires,

The wind
Hector
.

ber of the Trojan

8.

tofling the clouds, to

687.

flar

fometimes

driving the Greeks,

1 1

395.

fhewing and fometimes hiding itfelf in clouds,

clor feen
to

Different winds driving the

dufl, to different paflions

He-

urg-

by

fits

through the
83.
to

ing the combatants, 13.415.

battalions,

11.

The
flar,

whirlwind on the waters,

fun in

glory,

Achilles,

to the hurry of an

lp. 436.

The

evening

motion, 13.

1000.

army in Winds
or

to the point

of his

fpear, az.

roaring through

woods,
the noife

399.
to

The

dog-flar rifing,

on the
an

feas, to

of

Diomed's
az.

dreadful
to

ap-

army,

14.

457.

pearance, 5. 8chillcs,

Ared

tempefl and fhipwreck, com-

37.

The
19.

pared to the rage of Hctor

rays of the dog-ftar, to

chilles's

and terrors of the Greeks,

15.

helmet,

41a.

75X.
a

The
field

north wind

The morning-liar, itsbeauty,

to

drying

garden, to Vulcan

young Aflyanax,

6.

499.

drying the

afte^an in-

undation, zi. 403.

From

Torrents,
Frcrn
heavenly

Storms, Winds.
Torrents rufhing to the vallie?,

appearances,

Thunder
to

and

Light-

king, Comets, Clouds,

etc.

armies

meeting in
4.

an

engagement
the

516.
field,

Torrents drowning the

to

mountain fhaken by thuntrampling of an

rage

of

a hero,

der, to the

116.

torrent flopping a

army,

a.

950.

The

blaze

fhephcrd, to Hector (topping

of a comet, to the defcent of

Pallas,

loomed,
jax, 11.

5.

734.

The
A-

4.

01.

Thedark-

violence of a torrent, to

nefs of troops, to the gather-

615.

A
a fhip

ftcrm oat
fea,

ing of clouds, 4. 314.

The

verwhelming
to the

regular appearance of clouds

Trojans mounting

on the mountain

tops, to a

POETICAL INDEX
Similes.
line
Si

319

MILES.
fall-

of

battel, S-

641.

Pe-

the duft,

5.

611,

Corn

(Hlentiai vapours
to
1

afcending,

ing in ranks, to
in battel,

Mars

flying to heaven, s-

10. 90.

nun Gain The >y

j

os 3.

The

quick flames of

of a (hepherd
to the joy

fitting his fleck,

lightning, to the thick fighs

of a general
t$.

fur-

of

Agamemnon,
flakes

to.
finow,

5.

veying his army,

6*0,

Thick

of

to

The
the

corn

bounding

from
to

(bowers of arrows,

12. 17 5-

threfhing-floer,

an

Snow covering
fields,

the earth, to

heaps of (tones hiding the

arrow bounding from armour, Two bulls plow13 739.

ing, to

u.

331-

The

blaze

two heroes labouring

of

lightning, to the
13. 318.

arms of
Clouds
profipect

in a battel fide

by

fide,

13.

Idomeneus,
difperfed

879.
the
16.
fall

Felling of timher, to

and

the

of heroes

in battel,

appearing, to the fmokes be-

767.

Oxen trampling
10. 580.
reviving

ing cleared from the

fhips,

out the corn, to horfes trampling on the Main,

and the navy appearing, 16.

354.

cloud

(hading the
rout

The morning dew

the corn, to

field as it

rifes, to the

the exaltation

of the Trojans flying over

the
plain,

of joy
678.

in a

man's mind, 13.

figure

434of a rain-bow, to the

16.

The

appearance

of

Pallas,

17-

From

Low

Life,
child-

616.

The

luftre

of fnow,

to that of armour,

19.380.

mother defending her

from

a wafp,

to

Minerva's

From

Rural

Affairs.

dickering Menelaus from an

arrow, 4.

161.

An

heifer
one,-

"Waving of corn in the field, to the motion of plumes and

fpears, a. 172-

(landing over her

to

young

Menelaus guarding the

(hepherd
to a

gathering his

flocks,

body of Patroclus, 17- 5 Two countrymen difputing

about the limftsof their land,
to

general ranging his army. 2.

j6z.

thick mirt on the

diift taifed

two armies

d'.frutir.g

ct

mountains, to the

poil, 11

-5"-

A poor wowool,
the

by an army,
of men,
4.

3-

*S*

T^&
fl/-

man
fc'ales

weighing

bleating of flocks, tothenoifo

fiangihg uncertain, tofates

491

Chaff

the doubtful
armies,
1*.

of two

&w

from the barn-floor,

to

$J**

Bq2 3

'

Ee

33o

POETICA' L INDEX.
Simile:
to

Similes.
building and deftroyinghoufes

of fand,

Apollo's

overwall,

Miscellaneous
Similes.
Soft piercing words, to fnow,
3-

turning the
15-

Grecian

4 T<5-

child

weeping

to his mother, to Patroclus's

fupplications to Achilles,
it.

16",

185to

The
milk

clofing

of a

wound,
curd,
5.

turning to

iu 4
to a

The
tower,

fall

Similes
cf men

exalting the

chambers
them
to

of

hero,

4.

by comparing

Gods.

518. Indefatigable courage, to an axe, 3. 90. Aga.

memnon
Agamemnon compared
piter,

weeping, to a foun19.

to Ju-

tain,

9.

Juno
paffing

flying,

Mars, and Neptune, x. Ajax to Mars, 7. 564.

to

the

mind

over
80".

diftant

places,

15.

15 Meriones to Mars ruling to the battel, 13. 384.

Dancers, to a wheel turning round, 18. 695. A warrior breaking the fjuadrons, to a

Hector to Mars destroying

armies,
15.

726.

mound
of

dividing the
17.

courfc

a river,

839.
in a

Men
dream,

Similes

difadvantcgious to the

feeming to run
to the courfe

Characters.
Paris running from Menelaus,

of Hector and

Achilles,

22. 257.
at

fa-

ther

mourning

the funeral
for

to a traveller frighted by a
fnake,
3.

of

his fon, to

Achilles

47.

gaudy

Patroclus,

23.
a

271.

foppifh foldier, to a
drefTed out, 2

woman
Teucer
Theftor

fragment of

rock falling,

1063.

to the furious defcent

eler,

/hulking behind Ajax's mield,

to a child, 8. 325.

13.

191.

A
371.

of Hepoppy

bending the head, to Gorgythion dying,

fvift
to
8.

fulled from his chariot, to a

fifh

The

drawn by an

angler, 16,

motion of the Gods,

eye pafling
5.

495. Ajax, to an afs, patient and ftuhborn, 11. 683. Patroclus weeping, to an infant,
|<S.

the

over a

profpeel,

960.

The
5,

fmoothneis of their motion,

to

11.

Cebriones

tam-

the flight

of doves,

bling,

to a diver,

16. 904.

POETICAL INDEX.

33'

VERSIFICATION.
Expretfuig in the found the things dtfcribed.

Made
hafte,

abrupt

(and
in

without
expreffing
15. 401.

Bounding of
rock,
13.

a (tone

from a

conjunctions)
7.

198.

z8z.

fudden

Short, in earned
entreaties,

and vehement
13.

Stiffnefs

flop, 13. 199 and flownefs of old

11. 4x0.

kge

3-

6 49>

6 53-

*3>

56.
Full of Breaks,

4*3-

where difapimaged,
zz. 18.

fudden

fall,

23.

14$.

pointment
101,
144,

is

The

ruftling

and cralhing of
13.

378.
is

trees falling,

where rage
prefled,

and fury
137is

ex-

The

rattling and

147 jumping of

id.

carts over rough and

rocky

where
$50.
Broken

grief

fcarce able to

go on, 18. 101.

az.
in
fea,

616,

way, *3- 139, i4 A fudden (hock of chariots

(toped,

16.

445a

and difordered

de13.

Leaping over
460.

ditch,

16.

cribing a

ftormy

l05.
Straining,

The
imaged
in the found,

quivering of feathers in 19. 415-

the fun,

15.

544
imaged
446.
7zi.
in

Supplanted by a ftream, *i.

the

Trembling,
found,
10.
13.

z68, 169.

The

fiafhing

of waters,

zj

Panting,

*73-

Relaxation of all the limbs in

death,
7-

Bounding and heaving on the

waters,
zi.

i3,

**
n, 4 to
-

350.
!

confufed noiie,

Out of breath, zi. 4

piring,

9> etc.

hard-fqught fpot of ground,

Voice of different animals ex33. 41. 4*

t* c '

n.

T13, itc

Tumbling of

a wall, 7. j;i.

3Ji

N
Arts

D
O F

E
Sciences,
the fecond the verfs.

and

The frjf number marks

the look,

Encamping, the manner of en-

Art Military.

campment of
10. 4Qi5.
in

the Trojans,

Of the

Thracians

PRaife

of

art military, 4.

three lineSj

their

weaas

631.

pons orvthe ground before

Ambujl) efteem'd a venturous

them,

the

chariots
10.

manner of
ver. 299.
/.

fighting,
13.

/.

1.

fence, outward,
Fortification,

544.

ver. 35:5.

wails uith bat-

Ambufcadedtfcrib'd, 18. 6o;.

Attack,
12,
ibid.

tlements, in the Iine r towers

at

95,

etc. etc.

itid.

upon thofe

walls, gate*

171.

305,

proper diftances,

and

Arming, the policy of giving

the be(r arms to the ftxongefc,

trenches inclofed with pairfadoes,

7.406,523.

The
iz.

14.
1

438.
1
.

ftrong gates to a fortifica-

Bejieging,

61.

ix, 170,

tion,

how compos'd,
armies',

303, 534.

8.
3.

2.61.

545

a*.

5.

Single copibat,
7.

123,

etc.

Marfa ailing
etc.

1.

66 7,

Cantoning the troops-

80,

etc.

of each nation under their

in the

Courts of Jult'ce
11.

camp,

own

leaders, a.
in

433.

Em^
312.

038.

bodying
7
.

an orb, 4

Councils of
8.

war,

415
130,

610,

9.

etc.

Difpofing in order of battel,

4.342,
tel in
etc.

etc.

Lines of bat-

10.
1

14*-. 232.
290.'
7.

357-

exact order, 5. 641,

to

Where

place
4.

the

Military excrcije,

189,

etc.

vvorft foldiers,

344-

333

INDEX
6x. In an Orb,
15.

of

Art s

and Sciences.

Another order of battel,

17-

IX.

by

night,

under fears of
10.

4 11

furprize,

63

to

zz<S.

Clofe fight,

860.
"7T-

In
etc -

The manner of
riors

the war10.

the Phalanx, 1315.

fleeping,

170.

744.
6.

In the Teftudo,

The

pofture of the guards.

xx.

10. xio. Better to trult the

Armies
3>*-

drawn

up

in

two
13.

-wings,

with a center,

guard to native troops than to foreigners, 10. 49c, f/c.

The

ftrength of the

army plain

Agriculture

and

Rural

ced in

the centre, 13. 401filence

Arts.
Tillage.

Marching an army
and
difcipline,

3.

n.
a

The

manner

of
18.

4. 487.

plowing,
pafllng

10.410.

Method of

trench
etc.

and palifadoes, iz. 65, Plunder and Pillage forbidden

till

617. Plowing with oxen, 13. 880. with mules, 10.

410.
field

Ufual to plow

the

the conqueft is

compleat,

three times over, 18.

6. 8*.

<5z8.

Reaping,
637.

U.

89.

Retreat.
treat

The manner of
prefcrib'd,
A'yix,
5-

re-

18.

Treading out

74$-

That of
17-

n.<57S-

the corn

threfhing, zo.

by oxeninftead of 580. Fanchaff,

5

837. both as
fol-

ning the
13- 74Pajlurage,

<>

Soldiers taught to row in the

gallies, fcrving

diers
Scouts,

and
10.

failors, x. 876".

43

i 4S

and at

18. 667. Meadow grounds with running water, ibid. Vintage, 18. 651.

large in the ftory

tned,

of Dioin

Bringing currents to water

gardens, zi. Z90.

Ulyfes, and Dolon,

that book.
Spies,

18.

605.

Fiping, by angling, 14- 107. by diving, 16. 95-

Watch towers, to obferve the motions of the foe, x. %6i,

xx.

Hunting, the boar,

11.
5i5.

17-

814.
11.

Lion,
743J

ioi-

378.

17-

The
S-

Watch,

at fet (rations, 7.

45 5-

deer, 11. S95-

697.
680.

Nightly watch by
631.

fires, 8.

At the

fortifications

The The
Siting,

panther,
hare,
ia-

zi.

4*7
a 3-

in regular bodies under diftinft captains, 9.

n>' in g>

I0 3-

no,
the

etc.

Management of

army

334

INDEX
Architecture.

of

Arts

and

Sciences.
opinion

Heeler's

of augury,

Nt--ff7>
light-

By owns, thunder and

nings, 7. 571.
11. 58.

Architefture, the gift of

nerva,
5. 80.
a

Mi-

_9

3lo .__
.

Architecture of
archs,

palace upon

The

with

apartments

13. 3 i 9 rainbow, 11. 38. 616.

17,

round

a court built entirely

6.

Comets, 4. 101.

of marble,
ture,

304.
in

Showers of blood, 11. 70.

560.

Paris /kilful

architec-

brings

together ar-

By

Lots,

7,

Z15.

chitects to erecl his palace,

39i,

By Dreams, By Oracles,
zpothe

1.81.16.

5. 191.

54.
Dcdotia,
it,

ks.

Rafters,
8 1?

how

placed,

23.

that

of

and

manner of

etc.

Building walls,

16.

z$6.

The

rule and line, 15.

477.
with

Gymnastics.
Dancing,
16. zi 7
.

Architecture of a tent,
a fnit

of apartments with-

The

dif-

in

one another, 24. $$$,

feent kinds for men and

etc.

women,

18.

687.

circular, 18. 573.

Astronomy.
In general,
iS.

Thje.

Mixwar-

ed,

18. 690.
praclifed
16.

Dancing
560.
563.
riors,

by

746.

Orion and the Bear, 18.

with fwords, 18. 688.

Diiii.g,

The
S-

rifjng

of the

dog-ftar,

16. 905, 495.

10.
defcrib'd, 4, ior,

Tumblers, 18, 698.

Horfematf.np.'}
horfe,

comet

Manage of
and the
391,

the

The

rainbow,

u.

36.

xSi>.

Precepts of
art
etc.

Power of
ties,

the ftars in nativi-

horfeman(hip,

zz. 610.

of racing,

23.

Four horfesrid by one man

Divination.
Divination by augury, a. 375,
etc.

at once,

15.

izt.

Three
of Eric

thoufand breeding marcs at

once

in the (tables

8.Z97.
iz. Z30.

10. 310.

tkomtts,

zo. zfiz.
Z3. 753, etc.

13.
etc.

1039.

Z4

3*'

The The

Cefius,

>ur,H,

or

Difcus,

a 3..

7*, etc.

INDEX
W
refiling,

of

Art s

a</

Sciences,

33 j
2.

23, 810.

etc.

^rf,

celebrated for vines,

Racing, 23. 880,

etc.

606.
JEfepus,
a

Trojan

river

of

Geography.

black water, 2. ioco.

Argns,

its

fca coaft diicribcd,

A TABLE
whofe
people,

of

thofe

places,

with the products of that

part

ftuation,
or hijiory,

produtls,
etc.

of the
rtc.

country,

9.

are

198,

particularized by II om

er.

Athens, and fomc cuftoms of

the Athenians, with mention

JEtolia,

and

its

royal family,

of the temple of Minerva,

2.

2. 780.

657, 663.

Arcadia,

and the genius of

Alybe,

famous anciently
mines, 2.

for

the inhabitants, 2. 735

Aalis,
its

filver

1045.

rocky

fitvtation,

2.

Axius,

the river, defcribed, 2.

590.

1030.
iflands

Imbnts and Tenedos,

near Trey,
IJliaca,

Bcagrius,

the river and places

13. 50-

adjacent, 2.
Bcebe,

638.

famous for vineyard?,

and the neighbouring

the lake and parts ad2.

2. 645.

jacent,
Calydon,

865.

Ithaca,

its

rocky

fituation,

iflands in profpect, 2. 7*2>

etc.

2.

777- 9its

6 53-

Cephijfus,
its fertility,

the river and places

Larifa,
Letlos,

2. leio.

upon
Ihore,

banks,
fituate

2.

$22.

fituate
iirte,

on the top of
14.
3 i0>

Cerintbus,

on the fea-

mount
SS9-

2.

648.

Lcmnos, traded in vuncs,

7.

C-jllene,

the Arcadian

moun-

tain, river, 2. 1056.

.

with the tomb of Mr

2.

Macander, the

pytus,
its

73

Maeonia, under the mountains of Tmolus, 2. 1052.

Me/?!',

Of/?,

hundred

cities,

2.

790.
Ccruns,
a

town of

Sparti,

a-

barbarous
2.
its
c/f.

mixed
tempi**,

bonnding in doves, 2. 7SMycaleffus,

its plain.

people,
Dodo>:a,

1059.
fite,

2. 5 93-

Anthedon,
Bceotia,

the
z.

laft

town

in

grove,

16.

287.- 2.

607.

909.
Dorion,
the place of

Arene,

its

plain,

watered by

Thamy*

the river Minyas,

n,

8<5o.

rh's death, the

celebrated
11

Arisba,

on the

river

Sellcis,

mufician,

a.

z. ioi4>


13*
El'iSy

INDEX
its

of

Arts

and Sciences.
pla-.

exaft boundaries, z.

Parthemus, the river and

ces adjacent,
Pedafuts,
a.

747. and the iflands opposite

1038.
river

to that continent,

760

feated
6.

on the

to 774.

Satnio,

41.
river

Ephyre, the ancient

Corinth, 6.
193.

name of

Peneus,

the

running

through Tempe, and mount

Pelion, defcribed, a. 918.
Phtkiei,
its fituation,

Epidaurus, planted with vineyards, Eteon,

a.

679.
a.

1.

z4.

its hills,

591.

famous for
Phylace

horles,

zo$.
a

Haliartus,

pafhire grounds, a.

and

Phyrrhufus,

598.
Hellefpont,

beautiful
z.

country

with

1024.
(.own,

groves
*.

and flowery meawealth,

Helos, a

maritime

dows, defcribed, a. 850.

Rhodes,
its its

708.
Henetia,

planta-

famous for
z.

its

breed

tion

by Tlepolemus, anddi-

of mules,

1035.

vifion into three dynafties,

Hermon and
the bay,

Afine, feated
z.
i,

on

a.

808,

etc,

680.
their long life
13. iz.

Samothracia,
its

the

view
13.

from
19.

Hippe

mountains,
its

and nutriment,

Scamander,

twofprings, aa.

Hippoplacian woods, 6. 539.

Its confluence with Simois,

5-

965.
the ifland. 19. 353.

Hyfo,

its

watry

fituation

and

Scyros,

the genius of the inhabitants,

5.
its

Sidon,

famous

for

works of
866. and

87a.
fountains, z. 895.
its

fculpture,

Z3.

Hyperil,

embroidery, 6. 360,
Sipylus,
its

Mount

Ida,

fountains and

mountains, rocks,
a4.
7

forefts,

14.

311.

and

defarts,

7S

Catalogue of the rivers that

Spcrchius,

a riverof Theffaly,

run from mount Ida,

17-

n.
two

a3.
Styx,

176.
the river defcribed,
a.

Jardanus and
rivers,

Celadon,
163.
its

91S.
Thebac, in ./Egypt, anciently

7.

Mycenae,
towns,
Onchejfits,

and
z.

maritime
grove of

the richeftcityin the world

685.
the

with

hundred gates, dea.

and
z.

fcribed,
Thcjjirfy,

506.
divifion,
a.

Neptune,
Orchomenos
cipal
,

600.

its

ancient

one of the prinwealth

9.

and inhabitants,
Th'tsbe,

833.

cities for

in

famous for doyes, a.

Homer's time,

498.

601.

INDEX
Thrace,
its hills

of

Arts

and

Sciences.

3i7

and promonetc.

tories,

14.

x6o,

Mosio
Mufic praftifcd by princes, the
ufe
9.

Titarefius,

the river, x. 91-

Troy,

its fituation

and remark-

able places about it, x. 981.

11.

ofthe harp

in Achillea,
3.

zi7.
the burning

247. in Paris,
ufe

80.
ij.

Typhosus,
tain,

moun-

The

ofthe
mufic

pipe, 10,

x.

953

18. 609.

Xanthus, the river of Troy, defcribed, its banks, and

plants produced there, xi.

Vocal

accompanying
7

the inftruments, 1.

75-

Chorus's

at intervals,

14. 901.

507,
Xanthus,

etc.

Mufic ufed in the army, io.

IS.

the river of Lycia,

a. v. a/f.
JcSff,
fituate at the

at funerals, X4in the vintage,

foo.

foot of

18.661.
160.

mount

Ida, x.

99%>

Trumpets

in war, 18.

History.
Hi/lory preferved by

Mechanics.
Homer.]
Archery,
all

Of
1.

the heroes

before the
etc.

making

bow, and
4.

fiegeof Troy, Centaurs,

its

parts defcribed,

347 to

358. OfTlepoa

136,

etc.

lemus planting

colony in

Chariot making, fcribed in all

a chariot deits parts,

Rhodes,

2.

808. Ofthe ex-

$.

pulfion ofthe Centaurs from

889,

etc.

24. 33S-

Of the wars of the Phrygians and AmaGreece, X.90X.

zons, 3. *4S-

Poplar proper for wheels, 4.

SS4-

Of

the war

Sycamore
44.
Clock-work,

fit

for wheels,

XX-

of Thebes, and embafly of Tydeus, 4- 43- OfBelle*ophon,6.i94- OfErythalionandLycurgus, Of the Curetes and
ans,
7*

18.

44
6 3S5-

Enamelling,
Ship-building,

18.

6 4-

8o

l S'

/Etoli-

475Pine,
a proper

9-6S3-

Ofthe wars
iEtoli-

wood
16.

for the

of the Pylians and ans,xi.8i8 Ofthe raceof Troy, %o.zSS,*tc. To this

head

mart of a

(nip,

59*-

etc. The Smitbcry, iron -work, Forge defcribed, 18. 43 5.

may

be

referred

the
in

540. 540.
vil,

Bellows, 435. 48 x.

numerous
our cuihor.

Genealogies

Hammer,
S47-

tongs, an-

Vol. IV.

333

INDEX
ibid.

of

Arts

and Sciences.
the

Mixing of metals,
Spinning, z$. 890.

How

wood was

joined

to.

the point,
6. 580.

18. 618.

Weaving,

3.

580.
361.

Sivords,

how ornamented with

Embroidery, 6.

ivory, gems, 19. 400.

Armoury,
-war.

and inflruments of

Oratory.
fuit, that

compleat
3.

of Paris,
See the article Speeches in the
poetical index.

410,

etc.

of Agamem-

non,

11. 3.x,

etc.

Scale armour,

15. 619.

Helmets,

with four plumes, 5.

Policy.
Kings.] Derive their honour

919.
without any
303.
'

crefts, 10.

from God,
lined with wool.and or-

2.

133.
to

1.

315.

Their names
z. 143.

be

namented with boars teeth, of a particular make, 10.

3iilinedwithfurr.to.j97.Boivs,

honoured, z. 313. One fole

monarch,

Heredi-

tary right of kings reprefented by the fceptre of A-

how made,

4. i-jj

gamemnon
z.

given by Jove,

Battle-ax, defcribed, 13. 7<S6.

Belts,

crofting each other, to

hang the fword and the

fhield,

Kings not to be difobeyed on the one hand, nor to frrerch too far their
1x9.
prerogative on the
other,

14. 46$.

Corfelets,

ornamented
11.
lin^d,

with

1.

36s,

etc.

Kings not abonly for

in

fculpture,

33.
4. \6$
-

solute in

council, 9. 133*
fo,

how
Mace, or
816.
Shields,

Kings made
their

club, 7. 170.

1%

excelling others

virtue and valour, i. 337.

Co

large

as to cover to the an-

Vigilance

continually ne*

from the neck

kles, 6. 145.

How made
7.

ceflary in princes, z. 7.

10. xoz. Againft

monarchs
9. 8z,

and covered,
11.
Slings,

267. de-

delighting in

war,

fcribed in every particular,

etc. z 4 . 55.

The

true

43, etc.
13. 899.
points, 8.

valour.that which preferves,

not deftroys mankind,

196.

6.

Spear s t with brafs 6r

7
.

Kingsmay do wrong,
to repara-

and are obliged

i<5.

A(hfit

tcmake them,
19.

143.

tion,

9.

144.

Character

41*.

I SI

DEX
%$6.

of

Arts

>:d

Scifn

K.S.

3J

of a great prince in war and

peace,
Councils.]
3.

women, Agamede GuBOOl for it, 11.877Anatomy.]

41

The
The

danger of a
advice,

Of

the

had,

u-.

fubjecYs
1.

too bold

s, etc.
grc,

103.

advantage of

The

14- S7 7ear, a

wife councils feconded by a

Under tbe
mortal,

wound

there

wife prince, 9. 101.

ufe of advice, 9.
1

37

The The

13. 841.

The
The

junttare of the
14- 544-

had md

fingular bleffing to a nation

nerves,

and

prince, in a

good and
13-

juncture of the week and

the collar-bone,

wife counfellor,

9*8.

theft,

and

The

deliberations
to

of the
the

itsinfertion, the disj inting

council

be

free,

of which tenders the arm

ufelefs, 8. 393. *tc '

prince only to give a function to the bed, 9- *3 3-

The

fpinal

marrow exprefled
that runs along
a

Laws.] Derived from

315. Committed

God,
to the

by the vein
the chine
;

and legiflatorshis delegates,

1.

wound
691.

there

mortal,

13.

'*

care of kings, as guardians of the laws of God, 9. 119*

Tribute

559-

The

elbow,

its

tendons and

paid to princes

from

ligaments,

ao. 554eflufion

towns, 9. ac$.

thoj, a great
afllft

of
;

it,

Taxes upon fubjeds to

foreign allies, 17- * 6 <*Ambatfadors, a -facred character, 1. 43S- 9-

by cutting off the arm the caufc of immediate death,

5-

ic5-

***

The heart
59-

and

its fibres,

i<5.

Vohintiers,

lifted

into fervice,

11. 94

The

force

of the mufcle of
13-

the heart,

suhladdcr

See the article Art Military.

wound
mortal,

in

the

by

joint, piercing the Jfchiatie

Physic.

13. 813.

The

infertion of
its

the thigh-

The

praife of a phyfician,

bone, and
fcribed,
S

ligaments dc-

37 S-

37Chiron learned
lapius, 4it

from -tfeu .

The wounds
,

of the

painmortal and execflively

ful,

*S*
Podalirius pro
a. 890.
13-

7i8.
ar.kle, 4.

Macbaon and
feiTors

of it,

The
(Wilful

tendons of the

Ba/ fl 7.] Profeffed

by

597.

Ef2

34

INDEX
4. 228.

c/

Ar ts
of

and Sciences.
of majcfly.'] The majefty of Jupiter, from

Chirurgery."]

Extraction

Characters

darts,

Sucking the blood

from the

whence Phidias copied

flatue,
1.

his

wound,
250.

4.

250.

683.

Of Mars

Infufion of balms into wounds,

4.

5.

mi.
warm

The

and Neptune, 2. 569. majefty of a prince, in

the figure of

"Warning the wound with

Agamemnon,

water, and the ufe of lenitives,

a.

564,

etc.

Of

a wife

11.

06%.
blood by
the

man,
280.
983.
13.

in Ulyfles's afpect, 3.

Stanching the
bitter root,

Of

an old man, in
1.

n.

Neflor and Priam,

752. 24. 600.

330.

Ligatures of wool,
\*'fc

Of

young

of baths for wounded

10.

hero, in Achilles,- 19. 390,

etc.

men, 14.
from

All varioufly charac-

Sprinkling water to
fainting,

recover

terized

by Homer.

14.

509.

CharaRcrs of beauty.'] Alluring

Pharmacy and Diaetetics.

beauty in the goddefs Venus,

14.

The
6.

ufe

of wine forbidden,
1 1

250.

Majeftic
14. zi6.
in

330.

beauty in Juno,

Cordial potion of Neflor,

Beauty of a ivoman
len,
3.

He-

782,

etc.
firft

205.

Beauty of a
3. 2 5.
etc.

infection, feizing

on ani1.

young man

in Paris,

mals, then

men,
crifis

70.
dif-

Euphorbns,

17.

53,
infant

Nine days the

afes, 1.

of

Beauty of

a fine

in

71.

Fevers and

Aftyanax, 6. 497.
Beauties of the
body.]
i

plagues from the dog- (tar,

5. ioj8.

parts

of the

19.

412. 22.

Largenefs and main Juno's.

jefty

of the eyes
Blue, in

Blacknefs, in thofe of Chry-

Painting,

Sculpture,
tic.

feis.

Minerva's,
black,

etc.

Eye-brows,
1.

graceful,

683.

The

See the -whole flneld of Achilles % and the notes on lib. 18.

beauty of the cheeks, and

the fairnefs of hair, in the
epithets of Helen.

Whiteof

The CHARACTERS.
mer
racier in the figures

Ho-

nefs of the

arms
in

in thofe

diftinguifhes the cha.

Juno.

Fingers rather red

the
epithet

of Gods

than pale,

fuperior to thofe

of men,

of

rofy

fingered to

Auror

a.

18.

$02.

Whiteuefs of the

feet in that

INDEX
f fdver-footed
etc.
to

of

Arts

and

Sciences

341

Thetis,

Colour of the (kin to

differently

TOETRY.
See the intire In d ex.

be painted

ac-

cording to the condition of

the perfonages,
applied to

the whitenefs of the thigh

Theology.

of Menelaus,

4.

X7S-

Character of Deformity.']
oppofites to beauty in

The
tie

View of Homer's Theology.

feveral parts, confidered in

the figure of Therfites, i.

Jupiter,

cr

the

Supreme

z6i,

ett.

Being.

For pilures of
things, fee

particular

Superior to
ven,
7.

all

powers of hea-

the article I-

241

-9

*Oi

^f

mages

in

the

Poeti-

Enjoying

hiiifi-lf in

the

cal Index.
jkip -painting, aniHiftory, land

contemplation of his glory

and power, 11. 107.

fuincient, and above all fe-

mals, etc. in the buckler

of

cond

caufrs,
.

or

inferior

Achilles,

18. at large.

deities, 1. 6.\i

The
him
5.
1

other

The

defign

of
11.

goblet

in

deitie-refort to

as their

fculpture,

77511.

fovercign appeal,
.

1365.
will
is

Sculpture of
33,
etc.

a coifelet, a

2i

593.
10.

is

Of

bowl.

13.

fate, 8.

Hisfole will
all

Hofes

carved

on

monuin

the caufe of
vents, 1. 8.
certain
1.

human

e-

ments, 17. 495Enamelling,

His will takes

erTctr,

and

Inlaying,

and inftant

the buckler of Achilles, 18.

685. his wUl immuta

1
J

635, 65

and breaft-plate

bleand always j'ift,

All-feeing,
8.

of Agamemnon, 11 35(lories, Tapeftry, or weaving hi

flowers,
etc.

65.-2.
all,

4-

Supreme above
governor and
2.

and

3.

171.

<*

fole-fufficient.ii. 107-

The
of
i-

580.

22. 5<5o.

fole

fate

Embroidery of garments,
3<5o.

6.

all things,

147-

all

845.

Difpofer of

the

glories and fuccefs of

men,
all

17. 198.
things,

Fore-feeing

17.228.Tlu
iv;
-

tfviftdry, 7. ^ 8

34*

NDEX
human

of

Art s

and Sciences.
a fubordinate pow-

pofer of
9. 3*.

all

affairs,

They have

Hisleaft regard, or

er over one another.

In-

thought, reftores mankind,

15. a 74.

ferior deities or angels fubject to pain,

or turns the fate

imprifonment,

of armies, 17. 675. Difpenfcr of all the good and

evil that befalls

5-475. 1090. Threatened by Jupiter to be cafl into

Tartarus, 8. 15.

mankind,

Are (up-

24. -663.
perior to
9. 151.

His favour faall

pofed to converfe in a lan-

human means,
.

guage different from-^hat

His counfels un1

of mortals, a. 985.
fill

Subfood,

searchable,
^
t

705.

Themis

not by material

or ju (lice
ao. 5.

is

his meflenger,

5. 4.

Companionate man-

God

profpers thofe
1.

kind, 8 4s.
ble to
aflifl

24.41;.

A-

who

worfhip him,

190.
the
4.

mortals at any

Conflantly
wicked,

punifhes
late,

diflance, 16. 633.

Regard

though

and take care of thofe who

ferve them,

194.

The

avenger of in-

even to their

jufHce/4- aoz. Nothing fo

terrible

remains after death, a4.

5ao.

as his

wrath,

5.

No

refilling
5.

heaven-

at 7.

His

divine

ju-ftice

ly powers,

495.

The

Sometimes punifhes whole

nations by general calamities,

meannefs and vilenefsof all

earthly creatures in
rifon

com pa-

16. 468. Children pu-

of the divine natures,

rjilhed for the fins

of

their

5- 535-

parents, 11. 166.

and if.

Prayer
poem.

recommended on

all

393-

enterprizeS;

throughout the

The

inferior

Deities.
offices

Prayers intercede

at the

throne

of heaven,

9.

614.
the place of

Have different God fome

:

under
over

Opinions of the ancients concerning

hell,

prefide

elements,i8.4<5.

13

140.

punifhment for the wicked

afterdeath,8. 15.

Some over cities and

4- 75-

countries,

19^71.
uo.
etc.

Opinions of the ancients confprings, etc.

Some over woods,

10. la.

cerning the ftate of feparate

Jpirits t %$. 89, etc.

&.