Have thh>wn the horse and horseman to tht
Perhaps he sought not HeaVen by sacrifice.
And vows omitted forfeited the prize.
If yet (distinctioa to thy friend to show.
And please a soul desirous to bestow)
Soma gift mfost grace Eumelus; view thy store
Of beauteous handmaids, steeds, and shining ore |
An ample preseat let him thence receive,
And Greece shall pralK thy generous Hurst to givK
But this my prize I never shall forego :
This, who but touches, warriors! is my fbe."

Thus spake the youth ; nor did bis words oflbAd;
Pleas'd with the well-tum'd flattery of a friend,
Achilles smilM : " The gift proposed," he cry*d,
*' AnUloehtts ! we shall oufself provide.
With plates of brass the coitelet cover'd o'er,
(The same renown'd Asteropaus wore)
Whose glitt^ing margins rais'd wi^ silver shisia,
(No vulgar gift) Eumdus, shall be thine.'*
' He said : Autottiedon, at his commsAd,
The oorsdet bMnight, and gave it to his hand*
DistUiguish'd by his friend, his bosom glows
, With generous joy : then Mensiaiks t<mt
'The herald ptac'd thescmitre ita h's hatm,
I And still'd the cUtfKAil' of the shootio| battdt» ;
; Not without cause Mcens'd at Nestor's ioUk
And inly grievhigr. thus the kirtg begun:

*< The praSsa of wisdom, lb thy youth obtlhl'd,
|> Afi aet to NsK A9«B0(flMii^ mn tiaitf'd.



Digitized by VjOOQIC



M8



POPE'S TRANSLATIONS.



PobbM of my ^lory fttxl my jmt reward,
To you, O Grecians! be my wronir declared :
So pot m leader shall our conduct blame, ^
Or judfre me envious of a rivars fame.
Butsh^l BOt we, ourselves, the truth maintaia?
What needs appealing in a fact so plain ?
What Greek shall blame me, if I bid thee rise.
And vindicate by oath th' ill-gotten prize ?
Hisc'if thou dar*st, before thy chariot stpnd,
Hui driving scourge higb -lifted in thy hand }
And touch thy steeds, and swear, thy whole in-
tent
Was but to conquer, not to circumvent
Swear by that god whose liquid arms surround
The globe, and whose dread earthquakes heave the
ground.'*

The prudent chief with calm attention heard ;
Then mildly this : " Excuse, if youth have enr*d :
Superior as thou art, forgive th* oSence,
Nor I thy equal, or in years, or sense.
Thou know^st the errours of unripen*d age.
Weak are its counsels, headlong is its rage.
The prize I quit, if thou the wrath resign ;
The mare, or aught thou ask'st, be freely thine:
Ere I become (from thy dear friendship torn)
Hateful to thee, and to the gods forsworn,**

So spoke Antilochus : and at the word
The mare contested to the king restored.
Joy swells his soul : as when the vernal grain
Lifts the green ear above the springing plain.
The fields their vegetable life renew.
And laugh and glitter with the morning dew ;
Such joy the Spartan's shining lace overspread.
And lifted hb gay heart, while thus he said :

'* Still may our souls, O generous youth ! agree,
'TIS now Atrides' turn to yield to thee.
Bash heat, perhaps, a moment might control.
Not break, the settled temper of thy soul.
Not bnt (my friend) *tis still the wiser way
To wave contention with superior sway;
For ah ! how few, who should like thet offend,
like thee have talents to regain the friend !
To plead indulgence, and Uiy fault atone,
Suffice ihy father's merit and thy own :
Generous alike, for me, the aire and son
Have greatly suffisr'd, and have greatly done.
I yield ; that all may know, my soul can bend,
Npr is my pride preferr'd before my friend."

He said ; and, pleased his passion to command,
HesigttM the courser to Koeman's hand, ■
^end of the youthfbl chief : himself content,
The shining charger to his vessel seat.
The golden talents Merion next obtained ;
The fifth reward, the double bowl, remain'd.
Achilles this to reverend Nestor bears.
And thus the purpose of his gift declares :

" Accept thou this, O sacred sire !'' he said,
** In dear memorial of Patroclus dead ;
Dca4, and for ever lost, Patroclus lies.
For ever snatchM from our desiring eyes I
Take thou thin token of a grateful heart.
Though 'tis not thine to hurl the distant dart,
The quoit to toss, the ponderous mace to wield.
Or urge the race, or wrestle on the field.
Thy pristine vigour age has overthrown,
Bnt left the glory of the past thy own."

He said, and plac'd the goblet at his side ;
With joy the venerable king reply'd :

^ Wisely and well, my son, thy words have pror'd
A senior honour'di and % firjend belovM !



Too true it isj deserted of my strrtifih, ' ' "
These withered arms and limbs have failM at
Oh ! bad I now that fdroe 1 felt of yore, (K!Qt:th.
Known through Buprashlm and the Pylian shore !
Victorious then in every solemn game,
Ordain*d to Amarjmce's mighty name ;
The brave Epeiant gave my glory way,
.^tolians, Pylians, all resign the day.
I queli'd Cl^toroedes in fights of hand.
And backward huri*d Aucsbus on the>and,
Surpast Iphyclus in the swift career,
Phyleus and Polydorus with the spear.
The sons of Actor won the prize of horse.
But won by nutnbei%, not by art or force :
For the fam*d twins, impatient to survey
Prize after prize by Nestor borne away.
Sprung to their car; and with united pains
One lash'd the coursers, while one rul*d the reins*
Such once I was ! Now to these tasks succeeds
A youkiger race, that emulate our deeds :
I yield, alas ! (to age who must not yield ?)
Though once the fbrenoost hero of the field.
Go thou, my son ! by generous friendship led.
With martial honours decorate the dead ;
While pleas*d I take the gift thy hands present
(Pledge of benevolence, and kind intent) ;
Rejoic*d, of all the numerous Greeks, to sea
Not oue but honours sacred age and me :
Those due djitinctions thou so well canst pay.
May the just gods return another day 1"

Proiid of the gift, thus spake the ftill of days.
Achilles heard htm, prouder of the praise.

The prizes next are ordered to the field.
For the bold champions who the cestns wield.
A stately mule, as yet by toils unbroke.
Of six years age, unconsdons of the yoke.
Is to the Circus led, and firmly bound ;
Next stands a goblc^ massy, brge, and round*
Achilles, rising, thus: ** Let Greece -excite
Two heroes equal to this hardy fight ;
Who dare tlie foe with lifted arms provoke.
And rush beneath the long-descending stroke.
On whom Apollo shall the palm bestow.
And wImto the Greeks supreme by conquest know.
This mule his dauntless labours shall repay ;
The vanquished bear the massy bowl away."

This dreadful combat great Epeus <!ho6e ;
Hieh o'er the crowd, enormous bulk ! be roae.
And seiz'd the beast, and thus began to say :
'* Stand forth some man, to bear the bowl away !
(Pri^eof hisniin:) for who dares defiy
This mole my right ; tb' undoobted victor I ?
Otb^t, tis own'd, in fields of battle shine.
But the ftrstlumours of this fight are mine;
For who excels In all ? Then let my foe
Draw ifeat, but first his certain fortune know ;
Secure, this hand shall his whole frame coftfouad.
Mash fill his bones, and all his body pound >
iSo let his friends be nigh, a needful train, '
To heave the batter'd carcase Off the plain.'*

The giant spoke ; and in a stupid gaze
The host bebdd him, silent with amaze !
*rwasthou, F^iryahis! who durst asptt«
To meet h'ls mijght, and emulate thy sire, "
The great Medstfaeus; who in days>of yore
In Theban games the noblest trophy bore,
(The games ordainM dead Oedipus to^raoe)
And singly vanquish*d the Cadmcan race.
Him great Tydides uigos to contend,
Wann'd )Kitk.the hapot of coaqnot tat hMnmi ;



Digitized by VjOOQIC



HOMER^S ILIAD. BOOK XXIII.



HO



OScioos with the c in c U nre firds bim round ;
Jlnd to lut wrist tbe gfcnres ^death aro bound.
Amid Uir circle nov eaeh champion stands.
And poises hifh in air bis iron hands ;
With clashing gauntlets nov they fiercely close.
Their crackling jaws re-echo to tbe blows.
And painfiil sweat from all their members flows.
At length JEpitts dealt a weighty blow,
FqU on the dieek of his unwary ibe;
3es»eath that ponderous arm's resistless sway
Down dropt he, nerveless, and extended lay.
As a Urge fish, when winds and waters foar,
By flone hoge biUow dash'd against the shore,
lies pnatmg : not lets battpr'd with his wound.
The bleeding hero pants upon the ground.
To rear his £sUen foe, the victor lends,
Scornfol, his hand ! and gives him to his friends;
'Whbae arms support him reeliBg through the

throng,
And dragging his disabled legs along ;
:Nbddiiig, his head hangr down his shoulder o'er;
Ha nKMith and nostrils pour the clotted gore ;
MTrapc round in mists be lies, and lost to thought;
^Es friends receive the bowl, too deafly bought

Hi^ third bold game Achilles next demands,
Jkad calls the wre^lers to the level sands :
A mmasf tripod for the victor Ues,
Of twice six oxen its reputed price ;
And next, the loser's spirits to restore,
Jk lesnale captive, valued but at (bur.
Scarce did the chief the vigorous strife propose,
Wlien tower-Kke Ajax and UlysMS rose.
ftniiil the cio^ each nervous rival stands,
EabtaciQg njnd with implicit hands :
Oo&e lodi'd above, their heads and arms are mixt ;
Selow, their phnted feet at distance flx^:
Uke two strong rafters which the builder forms,
Pi«of to the wintery wind and howling storms.
Their tops co n nec t ed, but at wider space
Vizt oa tbe centre stands their solid base.
Kow to the grasp each manly body bends;
The bamid sweat from every pore descends ;
Tkcir bonea sesoond with Uows : sides, shoulders,

thighs.
Swell U> each gripe, and bloody tamonn rise.
K4ir could Ulysses, lor his art renown'd,
O'ertnro the strength of iljax on the ground ;
Ker eonld tbe strength of Ajax overthrow
The watcblol caution of his artfnl foe.
mobile tiv long strife ev'n tir'd the lookers-on,
Tlras to Ulynes spoke great Telaraon:
•' O let meliftthee, chief, or lifttbonme;
Piova are onrfbrce, and Jove the rest decree."

He said; and, straining, hcav'd him off the

groiuid

VTtth nsatcbJess strength ; that time Ulysses found
The strength t' evade, and where the nerves oom-
Ka ankle struck : tbe giant fell supine; [bine
Ulyasea, following, on his boeom lies ;
Aoots of applause mn rattling through the skiet.
Ajaxtolift, Ulysses next essays,
Hebardystinr'dhiai, bat he could not raise : .
m» knea lock'd fost, thefoe*s attempt deny'd ;
iUid grappling dose, they tumbled side by side.
Deil'd with honourable dost, they roll,
S^ bfcathtag strife, and unsubdued of sonl :
Agtm they rsge, agam to combat rise ;
Whcsi great Achilles thus divides the prize :

** Your noble vigour, oh myiriends! restrain : *
JSer veaqrMt y«mr geafrom stieogtk ia vain.



Ye both have won : let others who excel.

Now prove that prowess you have proved so well."

The hero*s words the willing chiefs obey.
From their tir'd bodies wipe the dwst away.
And, clothed anew, the following games survey.

And now succeed the gifts ordaio'd to grace
The youths contending in the rapid race.
A silver um that full six measures held.
By none in weight or workmanship excelVd ;
Sidonian attists Uught the frame to shine,
Elaborate, with artifice divine;
Whence 'ryrian sailors did the prize transport.
And gave to Tboas at the Lemnian port :
From him descended, good £un«us heir'd
The glorious gift ; and, for Lycaon spar'd.
To brave Patroclus gave the rich reward.
' Now, the same hero's funeral rites to grace.
It stands the prise of swiftness in the race. '

A wisll-fed ox was for the second plac'd ;
And half a talent must content the last
Achilles rising then bespoke the train—
** Who hope the palm of swiftness to obtam.
Stand forth, and bear these prizes from the plain.^

The hero said, and, starting from his place,
Oilean Ajax rises to the race ;
Ulysses next ; and he whose speed ,sarpast
His youthful equals, Nestor's son the last.
Ranged in a Ime the ready racers stand ;
Fdides points the barrier witli his hand :
All start at once ; Oileus led the race ;
The next Ulysses, measuring pace with pace;
Behind him, diligently close, he sped, -
As closely following as the running thread
The spindle follows, and displays the charms
Of the fair spinster's breast, and moving arms :
Graceful in motion thus his fbc he plies.
And treads each footstep ere the dust can rise:
His glowing breath upon his shoulders plays ;
Th* admiring Greeks loud acclamations raise :
To him they give their wishes, hearts, and eyes.
And send their souls before him as he flies.
Now three times tum'd in prospect of the gOal,
The panting chief to Pallas lifts his soul:
** Assist, O goddess !" (thus in thought he pray'd)
And present at his thought descends the maid.
Buoy'd by her heavenly force, he seems to swim.
And feels a pinion lifting every limb.
All fierce, and ready now the prize to gain.
Unhappy Ajax stumbles on the plain
(O'ertum'd by Pallas) ; where the slippery shore
Was clogg'd with slimy dung, and muffled gore
(Tlie selfsame place, beside Patroclus' pyre.
Where late the slaughter'd victims fed the fire) :
Besmcar'd with filth, and blotted o'er with day.
Obscene to sight, the rueful racer lay ;
The well-fed bull (the second prize) he shar'd.
And left the um Ulysses* rich reward.
Then, grasping by the horn the mighty beast.
The baflaed hero thus the Greeks addrest :

** Accursed fate ! the conquest I forego;
A morUl I, a goddess was my foe;
She urg'd her favourite on the rapid way.
And Pallas, not Ulysses, won the day,"

Thns souriy wail'd he, sputtering dirt m4
gore;
A barstof laughtf^ echo'd through thediore.
Antilochus, more humorous than the rest, , ^

Takes the last prize, and tikes it with a jest :

** Why with our wiser elders should we strive }
The gods still love them, lod they thrayB thiiT%



Digitized by VjOOQIC



liO



POPE'S TRANSLATIONS.



Y«tee, toi^IoMityMdtheDriMt
K*d ana wife



H« to V\jwte», ttiU more ag'
(A green oM-age ; unoona^oui of d cayi.
That prove the hero bom io better daya i)
Behold bit vigour in this acthre raoe I
Acbinei CNoly boasts a swifter pa^a ;
For who cau match Achilles ! lie who cao,
Must yet be more than bero» moru thaa man.**
Th* effect succeeds the speech : Pelides cne$,
** Thy artful praise deserves a better priie.
Nor Greece in vain shall hear thy friend eitoU'd :
Recetre a talent of the pnreat gokL'*
The foix^ departs content The boat admire
The son of Nestor, worthy of his sire. [bringa;
Nest these; a buckler, spear, and helm, he -
Cast on the plain, the brazen biutheo rings:
Arms, which of late divii^ Sarpedon won>
Jknd great Patrodus in short triumph bore.
^ Stand forth the bravest of our host !** (be ories)
*' Whoever dares deserve so rich a priae,
Kow grace the list before our army*s sight,
And, sKiMth'd in steel, provoke bis foe to fl^
HVbo first the jointed armour shall explore.
And stain his rival's mail with issuing gore ;
The sword Asteropeus possest of old
(A Thracian blade, distinct with studs of gold)
Shall pay the stroke, and grace the striker^s sUa :
These arms in common let the cbiefii divide:
For each brave champion, when the combat end»,
A sumptuous banquet at our tent attends.**

Fierce at the woid, up-rose great Tydena' ton.
And (he huge bulk of Aja^c TeUmon.
Clad in refulgent steel, on either band.
The dreadful chiefr amid tbe circle stand :
Loif ering they meet tremendous to the sight ;
Each Argive bosom beats with fierce delight.
Opposed in arms not long they idly stood, [ncVdv
But thrice they clos'd, and thrice the charge re-
A furious pass the spear of Ajax made [sUy'd :
ThrOMgb the broad shield, but at the oocseki
Kdt thus the foe : his javelin aim'd above
The bu.ckler> margin, at the neck he drove.
But Greece now trembling for her l^ero*s life,
9ad9. share the honours, and susoaase the strifo :
'Yet still the victor's due Tydides gains.
With htm the sword and stodded belt remains.

Then huri'd the hero thundering on the ground
A mass of iron, (an enormous round)
Whose Weigbtand sise the circling Gre<>ks admire,
Kfldft from a fomace, and but shapVl by flre«
Tfijs mighty quoit Aetion wont to rear.
And from Ins whirling arm dbmiss in air :
Tl)e,giai|t by Achilles slain, he stowM
Among bis spoils this memorable load,
Fdr this, he bids those nervous artists vie,
Thatteadi the disk to sound along the sky.
*• Let him wbose might can hurl this bowl, arise ;
Who &rtt|s4 hurls it, takes it as his prize :
K he be one, enriched with large domain
Of dowQs.for flpcka, and arable for grain,
flmall stock of iron needs that man provide ;
His hinds apdrSwains whole years shall be supply'd
fimm hence : nor ask the neighbouring city's aid,
Far.n|oi|dbsbares, wheels, and all the ryiraJ t|v^''

^JXtiPolypcetes stept before the throng.
And great Lsonteus, more than mortal stroac;
Whose mnce, with rival forees to (^posf, .
Up-ro^gr^tAjax; up Epens rose.
Racl^siood m order: first Epeus threw ; f flew.
Hai^ilicr this wpnderini crowds th^whifgttg. QlsQlq



And third, the strength of fndUht A|tt caaL
0*er both their marks it fiev; till fisrosly iia^
From PolypoetM' arai, the diacns snn^:
Far as a swain his whirimgsiMepbook ih siwis .
That distant foils among the gracing o«ws,
So paat them all the n^ eifek fiias:
His fHends (while lood applauses shake tba ikies)
With force conjoint heara etf the weighty priM.

Those who in skiKbl archery oon t and^
He ne«t invites the twanging bow to bend :
And twice ton axes cast amidst the ronnd
(Ten double-edg'd, and tea that singly ■uiMi)>
The mast, which late a firstrtalr gaUey bore^
The hero foosa in the sandy shore $
To the toll top a milk-wbite dovt they tia»
The tremUiag mark at which thair arrows iyw
" Whoae weapon strikes ynn foMMng hh< akttll

bear
These two-edgV} anas, terrible in wmtt
The single, ha, whosa shaft divides the «osd.*>
He said: experianoHi Marion took the ww4|
. And skilful Teuoer : in the helm tiiey threiw
Their kMU inseribM, and forth Aa latter fiew.
Swift from the string the soundii^ asTOw iies ;
But flies nnblest! No grateful aaerifloa.
No firstling lambs, nnheedfttl! didat timn vov-
To Phoebus, patron of the shaft and bow.
For this, thy well-nim'd anmw, tamMasMn, •
Err*d from the dove, yet ost the cord that ty^dN
A-dowm tlie main-mast foil the pnrtinf strings
And the free bird to Heaven displaya Imr winy:
Seas, shores, and skies, with iond spplanto i
And Merion eager meditates the wound :
Hetakcqtbebaw, directo the shaft dbave,
And , following with his eye the soaring doee^
Implores the god to speed it through the skiea,
Witb vows of firstling lamba, and gratoftd I
The dove, in airy ctielfiS aajrtie wheels,
I Amid the iclottds, the piercing arrow foels;
I Quito through and throngh the point ita i
I ibnnd.

And at his feet fell Uoodjr to tfaa gfoond.
The wounded bird, ere yet she brealhM her last,
WIth.flagginff wings alighted on. the mast;
A moment hung, and apread her pinians thera^
Then snddeh dropt, and left her life In aifv.
Prom the pleased ccowdnew peals of thmidor lis^
And to the ships brave Merion beam the prinn.

To . oloae the funeral gamea Aichillea last
A massy spear amid the eirole plac*d^
An ample charger of onnnied.fimme.
With flowers higb-wronght, not bfauilwn*d yet toy

flame.
For these he bids the heroes prove their art.
Whose dextrous skill diroots tha flying dart.
Here too great Merion hopes tha n^ble psiae ;
Nor here disdained the king of men to rise.
With joy Pelides saw the honour paid.
Rose to tha monarch, and resprctfol said :

** Thee first in virttta, as in powar snprease/
O king of nations I all thy Graaka peoehte |
In every martial game tlqr worl^ attest.
And know thee both their grsatmt, and their ^BBI.
Take then the priga, but, let fasmva Mai ion bci^
This l)eBmy>veiin in thy baother^ wnr.**

Pleas'd from the hero's lipa his praise to hnwL
The kmg to Merion gives tha hraaan spear :
But, set apart to-saoradrnse, commands
The ffi mm. ek§ iW9J k. B i lt|ihM I



Digitized by VjOOQIC



HOMJ:R*$ iLlAli. BOOK XXIV.



151



THE lUAa



MoK ttin



AKOUMKIft.
««■ ttttMf^ov cfF TBI tbtnr or RtcTVHu

Til godt Mibemte iftoat the redeihption of
Hector^ body. Jopitfef Miiili Thetis to Achillet,
to ikntm Yxm for tiie reitodiig it ; and Iris
t» Pmai, to eneoiirage him to gb in person,
and treat for it. The old kiilg, aotwHhstiUidiflgp
the re mourtra nces of his queen, makes ready
for the jottmey, to which he is encouraged by
m ooMQ lima Jupiter. He sets forth in his
chariot, with a waggon leaded with presents,
aader the charge of Idvus, the herald. Mer-
6uy dasasp^is in the shape of a yonng man, and
ooadnelahiaitotliepwriUionofAdiilles. Their
ca if us a ti oa oa the way. Priam fihds Achilles
athistabte, ofliti hittsOlf at hb feet, and begs
for the body of his son ; Achilles, moT*d with
fiww|isMion, granta his request, detains him one
niight m hii tent, and the xntxt mominf sends
hhn hone with the body. The Trojans run out
to meat hkli. The lamentations of Andromache,
Haeoha, and H*l0ii ! with the solemnities of
thefoncml.

Ths time of twelre days is employed in this book,
while the body of Hector lies in the tent of
Achilles : and as many more are spent m the
trace allowed for his mtennent The scene is
partly in Achilles' camp, and partly in Troy.



Noir IroiB t6« finish'd games the Grecian band
Seek their black ships, and clear the clouded



AH stietch'd at esse the gehial banquet share.

Aid pletainjr slumbers quiet all their care.

Not so Achillea : he to grief resigned,

His friend's dear image present to his mind,

l^kas bts sad conch, more on obsert ' d to weep ;

Kor taste* the gifts of all-oomposing sleep.

Restless he rolFd armrad his weary bed.

And all hte •not on his Patv^lus fed :

The form so pleasing, and ihe heart so khid.

That 3roattfol ^gonr, ami that manly mind,

Whit tofli they shir'd, #hat martial works

they wrought,
WhatPseas thev mAsni'd, ahd what fields they
All past before biM hi r^inefAbninee dear, [fought ;
Thooght fMhft thought, and t^r succeeds to tear.
And now satiii&e, now* prone, the hero lay.
Mow shifU hii aide, hnpaU^t for th« day :
Th«scarfh%^tiii, disconsolate' he goes
Wide on th«r lonelf^ b^aeh to Vcnl! his wo>^
Th**, a<tli» idHliart mootiier rare*,
The mdd^ nMHrfhf riies o'er the waves !
Soon as it rOee', WfoHonsst^edihejohi'd!
Tbecharioirfic^ sadNiiMsrMikrbiihiiiir



And thrice, Patroclos ! round thy moftnihen't

Was Hector dragt*d, then htlrry'd to the Unt.

There sleep at la^ o'ercomes the hero's eyes;

While fool ih dust th* unhooour'd carcase lies^

But not desertisd by the pitying skies.

F<

Pi

Ai

S|

A] I

B

Bi

Ai

E'

"^

\l

Tl

B

T

H

A

Si

D

The last sad honours of a funeral fire P

Is tlien the dire Achilles all your care ?

That iron heait, indexibly serere |

A lion, not a man, who slaughters wide

In strength of rage and impotence of pride ?

Who hastes to murder with a savage joy,

Invades around, and breathes but to destroy*

Shame is not of his soul; nor understood,

The greatest evil and the greatest good*

Still for one loss he rages unresign*d.

Repugnant to the lot of all mankhid ;

To lose a friend, a brother, or a son.

Heaven dooms each mortal, and its will is done :

A while they sorrow, then dismiss their care ;

Fate gives the wound, and man is bom to bear.

But this, insatiate, the commission given

By fate exceeds, and tempts the wrath of Heaven :

Lo ! how his rage dishonest drags along

Hector's dead earth, insensible of wrong!

Brave though he be, yet, by no reason aw'd

He violates the laws of man and God."

'* If equal honours by the partial skies
Are doom'd both heroes," (Juno thus replies)
" If Thetis' son must no distinction know,
Then hear, ye gods ! the patron of the bow^
But Hector only boasts a mortal claim.
His birth deriving from a mortal dame:
Achilles of your own etherial race
Springs from a goddess by a man's embrace.
(A goddess by ourself to Peleus given,
A man divine, and chosen friend of Heaven.)
To grace those nuptials from the bright abode
Yourselves were present ; where this minstrel-god
(Weil pleas'd to share the feast) amid the quire
Stood proud to hymn, and tune his youthful
lyre."

TheA' thus the thunderer checks th' imperial
dame :
** Let not thy wrath the court of Heaven infhime 5
Their merits, not their honours, are the same.
But minie, and' every god's peculiar grace,
HiKJtor deserves, of all the Trojan race:
Still on our shrines his grateful offerings lay
(The only honours men to gods can pay ;)
Nor eve/ from our smoking altar ceas'd
The purt libatfon, and the holy feast.



Digitized by VjOOQIC



152



POPE'S TRANSLATIONS;