Part 24 (1/2)

As this advice ye practise, or reject, So hope success, or dread the dire effect”

The senior spoke and sate To whoraceful husband of the Spartan bride: ”Cold counsels, Trojan, rateful in a warrior's ears: Old man, if void of fallacy or art, Thy words express the purpose of thy heart, Thou, in thy tiiven; But wisdon'd by heaven

Then hear me, princes of the Trojan name!

Their treasures I'll restore, but not the dan; But be this bright possession everdiscord to compose, Slow from his seat the reverend Priam rose: His Godlike aspect deep attention drew: He paused, and these pacific words ensue:

”Ye Trojans, Dardans, and auxiliar bands!

Now take refreshment as the hour deht

Till the new sun restores the cheerful light

Then shall our herald, to the Atrides sent, Before their shi+ps proclaim my son's intent

Next let a truce be ask'd, that Troy hter'd heroes, and their bones inurn; That done, once hty Jove decide!”

The monarch spoke: the warriors snatch'd with haste (Each at his post in arms) a short repast

Soon as the rosy morn had waked the day, To the black shi+ps Idaeus bent his way; There, to the sons of Mars, in council found, He raised his voice: the host stood listening round

”Ye sons of Atreus, and ye Greeks, give ear!

The words of Troy, and Troy's great monarch, hear

Pleased may ye hear (so heaven succeed my prayers) What Paris, author of the war, declares

The spoils and treasures he to Ilion bore (Oh had he perish'd ere they touch'd our shore!) He proffers injured Greece: with large increase Of added Trojan wealth to buy the peace

But to restore the beauteous bride again, This Greece demands, and Troy requests in vain

Next, O ye chiefs! we ask a truce to burn Our slaughter'd heroes, and their bones inurn

That done, once hty Jove decide!”

The Greeks gave ear, but none the silence broke; At length Tydides rose, and rising spoke: ”Oh, take not, friends! defrauded of your fame, Their proffer'd wealth, nor even the Spartan dame

Let conquest make them ours: fate shakes their wall, And Troy already totters to her fall”

The adeneral shouts return'd his rejects the peace: ”Herald! in him thou hear'st the voice of Greece For what remains; let funeral flames be fed With heroes' corps: I war not with the dead: Go search your slaughtered chiefs on yonder plain, And gratify the manes of the slain

Be witness, Jove, whose thunder rolls on high!”

He said, and rear'd his sceptre to the sky

To sacred Troy, where all her princes lay To wait the event, the herald bent his way

He ca in the midst, explain'd The peace rejected, but the truce obtain'd

Straight to their several cares the Trojans rove: Nor less the Greeks, descending on the shore, Hew'd the green forests, and the bodies bore

And now froht on earth again, Arose the golden chariot of the day, And tipp'd the s the Greek and Trojan train Through heaps of carnage search'd the hter'd friend explore, With dust dishonour'd, and deforore

The wounds they wash'd, their pious tears they shed, And, laid along their cars, deplored the dead

Sage Priarief: with silent haste The bodies decent on the piles were placed: Withhearts the cold remains they burn'd, And, sadly slow, to sacred Troy return'd

Nor less the Greeks their pious sorrows shed, And decent on the pile dispose the dead; The cold remains consume with equal care; And slowly, sadly, to their fleet repair

Now, ere the ht The doubtful confines of the day and night, About the dying flaeneral tomb they rear'd