Part 24 (2/2)

Then, to secure the camp and naval powers, They raised embattled walls with lofty towers:(186) Fro chariots, and a trench profound Of large extent; and deep in earth below, Strong piles infix'd stood adverse to the foe

So toil'd the Greeks:circle round their father Jove, Amazed beheld the wondrous works of an:

”What mortals henceforth shall our power adore, Our fanes frequent, our oracles implore, If the proud Grecians thus successful boast Their rising bulwarks on the sea-beat coast?

See the long walls extending to the main, No God consulted, and no victim slain!

Their fame shall fill the world's reolden beam extends; While old Laomedon's divine abodes, Those radiant structures raised by labouring Gods, Shall, razed and lost, in long oblivion sleep”

Thus spoke the hoary hty Thunderer with a frown replies, That clouds the world, and blackens half the skies: ”Strong God of ocean! thou, whose rage can make The solid earth's eternal basis shake!

What cause of fear from mortal works could move(187) The meanest subject of our realent rays are cast, Thy power is honour'd, and thy fae shall view, No trace rerew

The sapp'd foundations by thy force shall fall, And, whele wall: Vast drifts of sand shall change the former shore: The ruin vanish'd, and the name no more”

Thus they in heaven: while, o'er the Grecian train, The rolling sun descending to the main Beheld the finish'd work Their bulls they slew; Back from the tents the savoury vapour flew

And now the fleet, arrived froenerous bands

Of fragrant wines the rich Eunaeus sent A thousant measures to the royal tent

(Eunaeus, whom Hypsipyle of yore To Jason, shepherd of his people, bore,) The rest they purchased at their proper cost, And well the plenteous freight supplied the host: Each, in exchange, proportion'd treasures gave;(188) Soht they feast, the Greek and Trojan powers: Those on the fields, and these within their towers

But Jove averse the signs of wrath display'd, And shot red lightnings through the gloomy shade: Humbled they stood; pale horror seized on all, While the deep thunder shook the aerial hall

Each pour'd to Jove before the boas crown'd; And large libations drench'd the thirsty ground: Then late, refresh'd with sleep froht

[Illustration: GREEK AMPHORA--WINE VESSELS]

GREEK AMPHORA--WINE VESSELS

BOOK VIII

ARGUMENT

THE SECOND BATTLE, AND THE DISTRESS OF THE GREEKS

Jupiter assembles a council of the deities, and threatens them with the pains of Tartarus if they assist either side: Minerva only obtains of him that she may direct the Greeks by her counsels(189) his balances the fates of both, and affrights the Greeks with his thunders and lightnings

Nestor alone continues in the field in great danger: Diomed relieves him; whose exploits, and those of Hector, are excellently described Juno endeavours to animate Neptune to the assistance of the Greeks, but in vain The acts of Teucer, who is at length wounded by Hector, and carried off Juno and Minerva prepare to aid the Grecians, but are restrained by Iris, sent froht puts an end to the battle Hector continues in the field, (the Greeks being driven to their fortifications before the shi+ps,) and gives orders to keep the watch all night in the ca by flight They kindle fires through all the fields, and pass the night under arms

The ti of the poem to the end of this book The scene here (except of the celestial machines) lies in the field towards the seashore

Aurora now, fair daughter of the dawn, Sprinkled with rosy light the den; When Jove convened the senate of the skies, Where high Olympus' cloudy tops arise, The sire of Gods his awful silence broke; The heavens attentive trembled as he spoke:

”Celestial states! iive ear, Hear our decree, and reverence what ye hear; The fix'd decree which not all heaven can move; Thou, fate! fulfil it! and, ye powers, approve!

What God but enters yon forbidden field, Who yields assistance, or but wills to yield, Back to the skies with shame he shall be driven, Gash'd with dishonest wounds, the scorn of heaven; Or far, oh far, froroan, With burning chains fix'd to the brazen floors, And lock'd by hell's inexorable doors; As deep beneath the infernal centre hurl'd,(190) As from that centre to the ethereal world

Let hihty is the God of Gods

League all your forces, then, ye powers above, Join all, and try the o chain(191) Whose strong embrace holds heaven, and earth, and , by this, the Thunderer down to earth Ye strive in vain! if I but stretch this hand, I heave the Gods, the ocean, and the land; I fix the chain to great Olyht!

For such I reign, unbounded and above; And such are hty spoke, nor durst the powers reply: A reverend horror silenced all the sky; Treth his best-beloved, the power of wisdoreatest! God, by Gods adored We own thy ht, our father and our lord!

But, ah! permit to pity human state: If not to help, at least lament their fate

Fro rant my counsels still their breasts may move, Or all must perish in the wrath of Jove”