Part 12 (1/2)
The raging warrior to the spacious skies Raised his upbraiding voice and angry eyes: ”Then is it vain in Jove himself to trust?
And is it thus the Gods assist the just?
When crimes provoke us, Heaven success denies; The dart falls harmless, and the falchion flies”
Furious he said, and towards the Grecian crew (Seized by the crest) the unhappy warrior drew; Struggling he follohile the e
Then had his ruin crown'd Atrides' joy, But Venus treolden band; And left an eed, amidst the Greeks he threw; The Greeks with smiles the polish'd trophy view
Then, as once eance, at his rival's heart; The queen of love her favour'd chas) in a veil of clouds
Raised froently laid hi sense renews, And all the dohtest of the female kind, The matchless Helen, o'er the walls reclined; To her, beset with Trojan beauties, ca dame
(She seem'd an ancient maid, well-skill'd to cull The snowy fleece, and wind the twisted wool) The Goddess softly shook her silken vest, That shed perfu thus address'd:
[Illustration: VENUS, DISGUISED, INVITING HELEN TO THE CHAMBER OF PARIS]
VENUS, DISGUISED, INVITING HELEN TO THE CHAMBER OF PARIS
”Haste, happy nyht, in yonder lofty walls, Fair as a God; with odours round him spread, He lies, and waits thee on the well-known bed; Not like a warrior parted froay dancer in the public show”
She spoke, and Helen's secret soul was moved; She scorn'd the champion, but the man she loved
Fair Venus' neck, her eyes that sparkled fire, And breast, reveal'd the queen of soft desire(123) Struck with her presence, straight the lively red Forsook her cheek; and tre, thus she said: ”Then is it still thy pleasure to deceive?
And woman's frailty always to believe!
Say, to new nations must I cross the main, Or carry wars to some soft Asian plain?
For whom must Helen break her second vow?
What other Paris is thy darling now?
Left to Atrides, (victor in the strife,) An odious conquest and a captive wife, Hence let me sail; and if thy Paris bear My absence ill, let Venus ease his care
A handlories of thy heavenly state, Be fix'd for ever to the Trojan shore, His spouse, or slave; and er led, I scorn the coward, and detest his bed; Else should I ian dauish, and too wild my woe”
[Illustration: VENUS PRESENTING HELEN TO PARIS]
VENUS PRESENTING HELEN TO PARIS
Then thus incensed, the Paphian queen replies: ”Obey the power frolories rise: Should Venus leave thee, every charuish in thy eye
Cease to provoke me, lest I make thee more The world's aversion, than their love before; Now the bright prize for which e”
At this, the fairest of her sex obey'd, And veil'd her blushes in a silken shade; Unseen, and silent, from the train she moves, Led by the Goddess of the Sate, The maids officious round their , various tasks attend; The queen and Goddess to the prince ascend
Full in her Paris' sight, the queen of love Had placed the beauteous progeny of Jove; Where, as he view'd her charan to say:
”Is this the chief, who, lost to sense of shame, Late fled the field, and yet survives his fahteous sword Of that brave man whom once I call'd my lord!
The boaster Paris oft desired the day With Sparta's king to e excite, Provoke Atrides, and renew the fight: Yet Helen bids thee stay, lest thou unskill'd Shouldst fall an easy conquest on the field”
The prince replies: ”Ah cease, divinely fair, Nor add reproaches to the wounds I bear; This day the foe prevail'd by Pallas' power: We yet may vanquish in a happier hour: There want not Gods to favour us above; But let the business of our life be love: These softer hts employ, And kind embraces snatch the hasty joy
Not thus I loved thee, when fro heavenly prize I bore, When first entranced in Cranae's isle I lay,(124) Mix'd with thy soul, and all dissolved away!”