And wails of focks, secnre my native reign.
Whose fruitful soil bixnnant barvesU grace,
Rich in her fruits, and in her martial race.
Hither we saiPd, a voluntary throng,
V avenge a private, not a public wrong :
What Ae to IVoy th' assembled nations draws,
But thaie, ungrateful, and thy brother's cause ?
b this the pay our blood and toils deserve;
Disgrac'd and injur'd by the man we serve ?
And dar*st tboa threat to snatch mv prize away,
Doe to the deeds of many a dreadful day >
A prize as small, O tyrant 1 matohM with thine.
As thy own actions, if compar'dtomine.
Thme in each conquest is the wealthy prey.
Though mine the sweat and danger of the day.
Some trivial presents to my ships I bear,
Or barren praises pay the wodnds of war.
Bat know, proud monarch, I'm thy slave no more ',
My fleet shall waft me to Thessalia's shore.
Left by Achilles on the Trojan plain.
What spoils, what conquests, shall Atridcs gain V*
To thn the king : " Fly, mighty warrior ! fly,
Thy aid we need not. and thy threats defy.
There want not chiefe in such a cause to fi^^lit.
And Jore himself shall guard a monarch's right
Of all the kings (the gods' distingubh'd care)
To power superior none such hatred bear:
Strife and debate thy restless soul employ,
Aod wars and borrours are thy savage joy ;
If thou hast stren,^, 'twas Heaven that strength
bestow*d,
For know, vain man ! thy valour is frnm God.
Haste, lanch thy vessels, fly with speed away.
Rule thy own realms with arbitrary sway :
I heed thee not, but prize at equal rate
Illy short-liv*d firiefidship, and thy groundless hate.
Go, threat thy esuth-born mjrrmidons; bat here
Ttf mine to threaten, prince, and thioe to fear.
Know, if the god the beauteous dame demand.
My bark shall waft her to her native land ;
Bat then prepare, imperious prince ! prepare.
Fierce as thou art, to yield thy captive fair :
Kv'n in thy tent Til seize the blooming prize.
Thy lov'd Briseis with the radiant pyes.
Ileoee sbaH thou prove my might, and curse the
Tboo stood'st a rival of imperial power; [hour.
And hence to all our host it shall be known.
That kings are subject to the gods alone."
Achilles heard, with grief and rage opprcst.
His heart sweird hi?h, and laboured in his breast.
Distracting thoughts by turns h s bo^^um ruPd,
Kov fir'd by wrath, and now by rea^iun coulM :
That prompts his hand to draw the deadly <;t\ ord,
Force through the Greeks, and piurcc their baughtv
feidj
This whispen soft, his vengtaiioe to oontrol,
And calm the rising tempest of his souL
just as in anguish ^suspenee hastay'd.
While half unsheath'd appaar'd the glitteriiig blada,
Minerva swift descended from above,
Sent by the sister and the wife of Jora
( For both the princes claim'd bar equal eare) |
Behind she stood, and by the golden hair
Achilles seiz'd : to him alone confest;
A sable doud conoeaPd her from the rest.
He sees, and sudden to the g odd c si cries.
Known by the flames that sparkle fipom her ayet:
** Descends Mmerva in her guardian care,
A heavenly witness of the wrongs I bear
Prom Atreus' son } then let those eyes t|iat view
The daring crime, behold the vengeance toow**
" Forbear!'' the progeny of Jove replies ;
** To calm thy fury I forsake the skies :
I>et great i^chilles, to the gods resign'd.
To reason yield the empire o*er his mind«
By awful Juno thb command is given ;
The king and you are both the care of Heaven.
The force of keen reproaches let him feel,
But sheath, obedient; thy revenging steeL
For I pronoutace (and trust a heavenly power)
Thy iojur'd honour has its fated hour.
When the proud monarch shall thy arms Implore,
And bribe thy friendship with a boundless store.
Then let revenge no longer bear the sway,
Command thy passions, and the gods obey.**
To her Pelides. " With regardful ear
Tis just, O goddess ! I thy dictates hear.
Hard as it is, my vengeance I suppress:
Those who revere the gods, the gods will bleis.'*
He said, observant of the blue-ey'd mud ;
Then in the sheath retum'd the shining Made.
The goddess swift to high Olympus fli^.
And joins the sacred senate of the ski«^
Nor yet the rage his boiling breast forsook,
Which thus redoubling on Atrides broke.
*' O monster! mix'd of insolence and fear.
Thou dog in forehead, but in heart a deer !
When wert thou known in ambush'd fights todare.
Or nobly face the horrid front of war ?
'Tis ours, the chance of flghting fields to try,
Thine to look on, and bid the valiant die.
So much 'tis safer through Ihe cantp to go.
And rob a subject, than despoil a foe.
Scourge of thy poopic, violent and base I
Sent in Jove's anger on a slavish race,
Who, lost to sense of generous freedom past.
Arc tam'd to wrongs, or this had been tliy last.
Now by this sacred sceptre hear nie swear.
Which never more shall leaves or blossoms bear.
Which sovcr'd from the trunk (as I from ihec;
On the bare mountains left its parent tree;
This sceptre, form'd by temper'd steel to prove
An ensign of the delegates of Jove,
From whom the power of laws and justice springs
(I'rcmendousoath ! inviolate to kin<4si) :
By this I swear, when bleeding (iroecc a^iiin
Shall call Achilles, she shall call in vain.
When, flush'd with slaughter, Hector comes to
spread
Tl»c purpled shore with mountains of the doa<l.
Then shall thou Uiourn th' alFront thy madntss
gave,
ForcM to d«*pl(»re, ^ hen impotent to save :
TM«>n nue in bittiTnt ss ot soul, to knc»w
This iict has uiaJc tiio bra\ est (Jrtck thy foe.**
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POPE'S TRANSLATIONS.,
He tpoice : and fuiiovs hurl*d against the ground
His sceptre starr'd with goMcn studs around.
I'hen sternly silent sat With liM disdain,
Th« raging" king retum'd his frowns again.
To calm their passions with the words of age.
Slow fram his seat arose the Pylian sage
Experienced Nestor, in persuasion skill'd.
Words sweet as honey from his lips distill'd;
Two generations now bad passed away.
Wise by his rules, and happy by his sway;
Two ages o'er his native realm he reign*d.
And qow th' example of the third remained.
All viewed with awe the venerable man ;
Wlio thus with mild benevolence began :
i* What shame, what woe i$ this to Greece ! what
joy
To Troy^s proud monarch, and the friends of Troy !
That adverse gods commit to stem debate
The best, the bravest of the Grecian state.
Young a« ye are, this youthful head r^rain.
Nor think your Ncstor*s years and wisdom vain.
A godlike race of heroes once 1 knew,
Such as no more these aged eyes shall view 1
lives there a chief to match Piritbous' fome,
I>ryas the bold, or Ceneus' deathless *name ;
Theseus, endued with mere than morUl might,
Pr Polyphemus, like the gods in fight ?
WTith these of old to toils of battle bred^
In early youth my hardy days I led :
Fir^d with the thirst which virtuous envy breeds,
And smit with love of honourable deeds.
Strongest of men, they pierc*d the mountain boar,
Rang'd the wild deserts red with monsters' gore,
Aad from their hills, the shaggy Centaurs tore.
Yet these with soft, persuasive arts I swayed;
WTicn Nestor spoke, they listened and obc3r'd.
If in my youth, ev*n these esteem'd me wise;
Do you, young warriors, bear my age advise.
Atrides, seize not on the beauteous slave ;
That prize the Greeks by common suffrage gave:
Nor thou, Achilles, treat our prince with pride ;
Let kings be just, and sovereign power preside.
Tbee, the first honours of the war adorn,
tike gods in strength, and of a goddess bom >
Him, awful majesty exalts above
The powers of Earth, and scrpter'dson of Jove.
Let both unite, with wr.ll-consenting mind.
So shall authority with strength be joined.
Leave me, O king ! to calm Achilks* rage ;
Rule thou thyself, as more advanced in age.
Forbid it, gods ! Achilles should be lost,
The pride of Greece, and bulwark of our host."
This said,, he ceasM : the king of men replies :
" Thy years are awful, and thy words are wise.
But that hnpcrious, that unconquer'd soul.
No laws can limit, no respect control.
Before his pride must his superiors fall.
His word the law, and he the lord of all ?
Him must our hosts, our chiefs, ourselves obey ?
W^at king can bear a rival in his sway !
' Grant that the gods his matchless force have given ;
Has foul reproach a privilege firom Heaven ?"
He're on the mbnarch's speech Achillea broke.
And furious, thus, and interrupting spoke :
*' Tyrant, I well deservM thy galling chain.
To live thy slave, and still to serve in vain,
Should I submit to each unjust decree :
Command thy vassals, but command not me.
Seize on Briseis, whom the Grecians doomed
My prize of war, yet tamely see resum'd ;
And seize secure; no more Achilles draws
His conquering sword in any woman's cause*
The gods command me to forgive the past ;
But let this first invasion be the last :
For know, th)r blood, when next thou dar'st invade,
Shall stream in vengeance on my reeking bhide."
At this they ceas'd ; the stem debate expir'd :
The chiefs in sullen majesty retired.
Achilles with Patroclus took his way.
Where near his tents his hollow vessels lay.
Mean time Atrides lanch'd with numerous oars
A well -rigged ship fbr Chrysa's sacred shores:
High on the deck was fair Chrysets plac'd.
And sage Ulysses with the conduct grac'd ;
Safe in her sides the hecatomb they stowed.
Then, ^ifUy sailing, cut the liquid road.
The host to expiate, next the king prepares,
W^ith pure lustrations, and with solemn prayers.
Wash'd by the briny wave, tlie pious train
Are cleans'd, and castth' ablutions in the main.
Along the shore wh<^ hecatombe were laid.
And bulb and goats to Phoebus' altars paid»
The sable fumes in curling spires arise,
And waft their grateful odours to the skief.
The army thus in sacred rites engaged,
Atrides ptill with deep resentment rag'd.
To wait his will, two sacred heralds stood,
Talthybius and Eurybates tho good.
" Haste to the fierce Achiles' tent," he cries,
'* Thence bear Briseis as our royal prize :
Submit he must : or, if they wiU not part,
Ourself in arms shall tear her from bis heart"
Th' unwilling heralds act their lord's commands ; '
Pensive they walk along the barren sands :
Arriv'd, the hero in his tent they find,
With gloomy aspect, on his arm rcdin'd.
At awhil distance long they silent stand,
Loih to advance, or speak tbeir hard command ;
Decent confusion ! This the godli&e man
Pefceiv*d, andthus with accent mild began:
** With leaye ^nA honour enter Qur abodes.
Ye sacred ministers of qicq and gods !
I know your message; by constraint you came s
Not you, but your imperious lord, I blame.
Patroclus, haste, the fair Briseis bring ;
Conduct m^ captive to the haughty king.
But witness, heralds, and proclaim my vow.
Witness to gods above, and mm below !
But first, and loudest to your prince declare.
That I{f wless tyrant m hoste commands you bear ;
Umnov'd as death Achilles shall remain,
Though prostrateGreccc should bleed at ev'ry vein ;
The raging chief in frantic passion lost.
Blind to himself, and useless to his host,
Unskrll'd to judge the future by the past.
In blood and slaughter shall repent at last."
Patroclus now th' unwilling beauty brought j
She, in soft sorrow, and in pensive thought.
Past silent, as the heralds held her hand.
And oft look'd. back, slow moving o'er the strand.
Not so his loss the fierce Achilles bore ;
But sad retiring to the sounding shore,
0*er the wild margin of the deep he hung.
That kindred deep from whence his mother sprung :
There, bath'd in tears of anger and disdain.
Thus loud lamented to the stormy main:
" O parent goddess ! since in eariy bloooi
Thy son must fall, by too severe a doom ;
Sure, to so short a race of glory bom.
Great Jove in justice should this span adorn :
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ttOMEK'S ILtAD. BOOk I.
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fiMir utA ftme at least the thtindercr ow'd.
And ill he pAjs the promise of a god ;
if yoa prood monarch thus thy son de6es,
OiKcures my glories, and resumes my prize***
Far from the deq> recesKS of the main.
Where aged Ocean holds his watery reign,
llie goddess-mother heard. The waves divide ;
And like a mist she rose above the tide $
Beheld him mourning on the naked shores,
And thos the sorrows of his son! explores.
" Why grieves my son ? Thy anguish let me share,
Bereal the cause, and trust a parent's care.*'
He deeply sighing said : *' To tell my woe,
Is bat to mention what too well you know.
Fh>m Tbeb^ sacred to Apollo's name,
(Aetioa's realm) our conquering army came,
With treasure loaded and triumphant spoils,
Whose just division crowned the soldier's toils;
But bright Chryseis, heavenly prize ! was led.
By vote selected, to the general's bed.
The priest of Phoebus sought by gifts to gain
His beaateoo&jdaoghter from the victor's chain ;
The fleet he reacfa'd, and, lowly bending down,
Held forth the sceptre and the laurel crown,
Kntreating all : but chief implor'd for grace
The brotber-nngs of Atreus' 'royal race :
The generous Greeks their joint consent declare
Hie priest to reverence, and release the fair ;
Not so Atrides : he, with wonted pridje,
llie sire insulted, and his gifts denyM :
Th' insulted sire (his god's peculiar care)
To Phoebus prayed, and Phoebus heard the prayer :
A dreadful plague ensues ; th' avenging darts
Incessant fly, and pierce the Grecian hearts.
A prophet then, inspir'd by Heaven, arose.
And points the crime, and thence derives the woes.
Myself the 6m th' assembled chiefs incline
T' avert the Tcngeancc of the power divine ;
Then rising in his wrath, the monarch storm'd ;
Inceos'd he threaten'd, and his threats perform'd :
The fsir Chryseis to her sire was sent.
With oiler'd gifts to make the god relent ;
But now he seiz'd Brise'is heavenly charms,
And of my valour's prize defrauds my arms,
Defrauds the votes of all the Grecian train ;
And service, faith, and justice, plead in vain.
Bot, goddesB ! thou thy suppliant son attend.
To high Olympus' shining court ascend,
Urge all the ties to former service ow'd,
Aod sua fbr vengeance to the thundering god.
Oft hast thou triumph'd in the glorious boast,
That thou stood'st forth of all th' ethereal host,
When bold rebellion shook the realms above,
Th' undaunted guard of cloud-compelling Jove.
When the bright partner of his awful rei^n,
Th' warlike oiaid, and monarch of the main.
The tiaitor-gods, by mad ambition driven,
Dorst threat with chains th' omnipotence of Heaven.
Then caU'd by thee, the monster Titan came,
(Whom gods Briarem, men ^eon name)
Through wondering skies enormous stalk'd along ;
Not be * that shalus tlie solid Earth so strong:
With giant-pride at Jove's high throne he stands,
And t^randisli'd round him all his hundred hands;
Th' afirightdd gods coufess'd their awfid lord,
They drop(the fetters, trembled, and ador d.
Thii, gnddesB. this to his remembrance call.
Embrace his knc^ at his tribunal fiall ^
â– Neptune.
Conjure him far to drive the OrecTan traib.
To hurl them headlong to their fleet and main,
To heap the shores with copious death, and bring
The Greeks to know the curse of such a king :
Let Agamemnon lift his haughtj^ head
O'er all his wide dominion of the d^d,
And mourn in blood, that e'er he durst disgrace
The boldest warrior of the Grecian race."
" Unhappy son!" feir Thetis thus replies.
While tears celestial trickle from her e^es,
** Why have I borne thee with a mothet's throes^
To fates averse, and nurs'd for future woes ?
So short a space the light of Heaven to view !
So short a space and fill'd with sorrow too !
O might a parent's careful wish prevail,
Far, far from II ion should* thy vessels sail.
And thou, from camps remote, the danger shuol,
tVTiich now, alas ! too nearly threats my son.
Yet (what I can) to move thy suit I'll go
To great Olympus crown'd with fleecy snow.
Meantime, secure within thy shipfi, firom far
fichold the field, nor mingle in the war.
The sire of gods and all th' ethereal train.
On the warm limits of the farthest main.
Now mix with mortals, nor disdain to grace
I'he feast of Ethiopia's blameless race ;
Twelve days the powers indulge the geniaPrite^
Returning with the twelfth revolving light
Then will I mount the brazen dome, and move
The high tribunal of immortal Jove."
The goddess spoke: the rolling waves unclose;
Then down the deep she plung'd from whence she
And left liim sorrowing on the lonely coast, [rosc^
In wild resentment for the fair he lost.
In Chrysa's port now sage Ulysses rode ;
Beneath the deck thedestin'd victims stow'd ;
The sails they furl'd, they lash'd the mastnside.
And dropp'd their anchors, and the pinnace ty'd
Next on the shore their hecatomb they land,
Chryseis last descending on the strafid.
Her, thus returning from the furrow'd main,
Ulysses led to Phoebus' sacred fane;
Where at his solemn altat as the maid
He gave to Chryses, thus the hfero said :
" Hail! reverend priest ! to Phoebus' awful dome
A suppliant I from great Atrides come :
Unransom'd here receive the spotless fair;
Accept the hecatombs the Greeks prepare ;
And may thy god, who scatters uarts around,
Aton'd by sacrifice, desist to wound."
At this the sire embraced the maid again.
So sadly lost, so lately sought in vain.
Then near the altar of the darting king,
Disposed in rank their hecatomb they bring :
Witli water purify their hands, and take
The sacred offering of the salted cake ;
While thus with arms devoutly rais'd in air.
And solemn voice, the priest directs his prayer :
" Godof the silver bow, thy ear incline.
Whose power encircles Cilia the divine ; '
Whose sacred eye thy Tenedo*; surveys.
And gilds fair Chrysa with distingiiish'd rays!
If, fir'd to vengeance at thy priest's request,
Thy direful darts inflict the raging pest;
Once more attend ! avert the v\ asteful woe.
And smile propitious, and unheiKl thy bovk."
So Chrrrses pray'd, Apollo heard his prayer :
And now the Greeks their liecatomb prepare;
Between their horns the salted barley threw.
And wiih ludr heads to Heaven the victims slew i
VOL. XIX.
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POPFS TRANSLATION&
The IhnWtliey W Ki fim i tK* mioloefaig hide ;
The thighf, selected to the godi, diride:
On these, m,double cawk myolv*d with art^
Hie choicest morsels lay Ironi every part
The priest himself befoi» his altar stands,
And bmrns the ofiering with bis holy hands ;
Poors the black wine, and sees the flames aspiie;
The youth with instruments surrpond the fire :
The thighs thus saciific'd, and entrails dUtest,
Th' assistants part, transfix, and roast the rest :
Then sprt%d the tables, the repast prepare,
Each takes his seat, and each receives his share.
When now the rage of hunger was represt,
With pure libations they conclude the feast;
The youths with wine the copious goblets crowjiM,
And, pleas'd, dispense the flowing bowls around.
With-hytnns divine the joyous banquet ends.
The Psoans lengthen'd till the Sun descends :
The Greeks, restored, the grateful notes prolong;
Apollo listens, and approves the song.
'Twas night ; the chiefs beside their vessel lie.
Till rosy Mom bad puipled o'er the sky :
Then lanch, and hoist tluimast; indulgent gales,
Supply'd by Phoebus, fill the swelling sails;
llie milk-white canvas bellying as they blow.
The parted ocean foams and roars below ;
Above the bounding billows swift they flew.
Till now the Grecian camp appeared in view.
Far on the beach they haul their bark to land
(The crookoil keel divides the yellow sand);
llien part, where stretched along- the winding bay
The ships and tents in mingled prospect lay.
But raging still, amidst his navy sate
The stem Achilles, stcdfast in his hate ;
Nor mix'd in combat, nor in council joined ;
But wasting cares lay lieavy on his mind :
In his black thoughts revenge and slaughter roll.
And scenes of blood rise dreadful in hir soul.
Twelve days were past, and now the dawning light
The gods had summoned to th' Olympian heights
Jove first ascending from the watery bowers,
lieads the long order of ethereal powers.
When, like the morning mist in early day.
Hose firom the flood the daughter of the sea;
And to the seats divine her flight addrest.
There, far apart, and high above the rest.
The thunderer sat; where old Olympus shrouds
His hundred heads in Heaven, and props the clouds.
Suppliant the goddess stood: one hand she placM
Beneath his heard, and one his knee embraced :
" If e*er, O father of the gods !" she said,
'* My words could please thee, or my actions akl;
Some marks of honour ou my son bestow.
And pay in glory what in life you owe.
Fame is at least by heavenly promise dwe
To life 90 short, and now dishonoured too.
Avenge this wrong, oh, ever just and wise!
Let Greece be humbled, and the Trojans rise ;
Till the proud king, and the Acbaian race.
Shall heap with honours him they now disgrace.**
Thus Thetis spoke, but Jove in silence held •
The sacred coimcils of his breast concealed.
Not so repuls'd, the godd<^ closer prest.
Still graspM his knees, and urg'd the dear request :
** O sire of gods and men ! thy suppliant iicar j
Refuse, or grant ; for what has Jove to fe*r >
Or, oil ! declare, of all the powers above,
b wrctohod Thetis least the care of Jove ?"
Shfe said, and sighing thus the god replies,
^'Jio rolls the thuuder o'er the vaulted skies:
'< What hast thou ask'd ? Ah, i^y ihoald Jove
In foreign contests, and domestic f«ge» [engage
The gods' complaints, and Jnno^ fierce ahimiSy
Wh9e I, too partial, aid the IVqjan arms )
Go, lest the haughty partner of my sway.
With jealoQS eyes, thy close access survey;
But part in peace, secure thy pnyer is sped :
Witness the sacred honours of our head.
The nod that ratifies the will dirfaie.
The faithful, fix^d, irrevocable sign,
'litis 8ea[ls thy suit, and this fiilfils thy vows— ^
He spoke, and awful bends his sable brows ;
Shakes his ambrosial curls, and gives the nod ;
The stamp of fiate, and sanction of the god :
High Heaven with trembling the dread signal took*
And fl^ll Olympus to the centre shook.
Swift to the seas profound the goddess flies,
Jove to his starry mansion in the skies.
I'he shining synod of th' immortals wait
The coming god, and from their thrones of state
Arising silent, wmpt in holy fear.
Before the nugesty of Heaven appear.
Trembling they stand, while Jove assumes the throne.
All, but the god's imperious queen alone:
Late had she vicw'd the silver-footed dame.
And all her passions kindled into fl^iine.
" Say, artful manager of Heaven,*^ she cries,
'* Who now partakes the secrets of the skies ?
Thy Juno knows not the decrees of feite,
In vain the partner of imperial state.
What favoorite goddess then those cares divides,
Which Jove in prudenve from his consort hides ?"
To tins the thunderer : <* Seek not thou to find
The sacred counsels of almighty mind :
Involved in darkness lies the great decree,
Nur can the depths of fate be piercM by thee.
What fiU thy knowledge, thou the first sbalt know
The first of gods above and men below ;
But thou,nor they, shall search th/e thoughts that roll
Deep in the close recesses of my soul."
Full on the sire the goddess of the skies
Roird the large orbs of her majestic eyes.
And thus retura'd : '* Austere Saturaius, say
From whence this wrath, or whooontrols thy sway ^
Thy boundless will for me remains, in force.
And. all thy councils take the destan'd course.
But 'tis for Greece I fear : for late was seen
In close consult the silver-ibotftd queen.
Jove to his Thetis nothing could deny.
Nor was the signal vain that shook the sky.
What fatal fisvour has the goddess won,
To grace her fierce, inexorable son ?
Perhaps in Grecian blood to drench the phiin,
And glut his vengeance with my people slain.''
Thc-n thus the god : ** Oh restless fate of pride.
That strives to learo what Heaven resolves to hide;
Vain is the search, presumptuous and abhorred.
Anxious to thee, and odious to thy lord.
U t tiiis sufilce ; th' immutable decree
No force can shake t what is, that ou|jbt<o be.
Goddess submit, nor dare our will withstand.
But dread the power of this avenging hand ;
Th» united strength of all the gtkJs nbove
In vain resists ih' onmipot<.noe of Jove."
The thuuflwrer sp«>ke, nor durst the qneen reply ;
A reverend horrour silenc'd all the sky.
7Ti<" feast disturii'd, with wrrow Vulcan saw
His mother menaced, and the gods m awe ;
Peace at his heart, and pleasure his design^
Thus interpos'd the architect divine :
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HOMER'S ILIAD. BOOK U.
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"71)C wretched quarreb of the mortal state
Are ^ unworthy, gods! of yonr debate :