Part 28 (2/2)
And now, arrived, where on the sandy bay The Myrmidonian tents and vessels lay; Amused at ease, the Godlike man they found, Pleased with the soleht harp from conquered Thebae came; Of polish'd silver was its costly fras The is
Patroclus only of the royal train, Placed in his tent, attends the lofty strain: Full opposite he sat, and listen'd long, In silence waiting till he ceased the song
Unseen the Grecian ereat Ulysses leads
Achilles starting, as the chiefs he spied, Leap'd from his seat, and laid the harp aside
With like surprise arose Menoetius' son: Pelides grasp'd their hands, and thus begun:
”Princes, all hail! whatever brought you here
Or strong necessity, or urgent fear; Welcoh Greeks! for not as foes ye came; To me more dear than all that bear the name”
With that, the chiefs beneath his roof he led, And placed in seats with purple carpets spread
Then thus--”Patroclus, crown a larger bowl, Mix purer wine, and open every soul
Of all the warriors yonder host can send, Thy friend most honours these, and these thy friend”
He said: Patroclus o'er the blazing fire Heaps in a brazen vase three chines entire: The brazen vase Autooat contains
Achilles at the genial feast presides, The parts transfixes, and with skill divides
Meanwhile Patroclus sweats, the fire to raise; The tent is brighten'd with the rising blaze: Then, when the languid fla ements turns And sprinkles sacred salt fro canisters they load, Which round the board Menoetius' son bestow'd; Hiht, Each portion parts, and orders every rite
The first fat offering to the ireedy fla in the social feast, His thirst and hunger soberly repress'd
That done, to Phoenix Ajax gave the sign: Not unperceived; Ulysses croine The foa to the Godlike uests!
Not those enerous plenty crown thy loaded boards, That, Agareater cares sit heavy on our souls, Nor eased by banquets or by flowing bowls
What scenes of slaughter in yon fields appear!
The dead wefear; Greece on the brink of fate all doubtful stands, And owns no help but froeance call; Their threatening tents already shade our wall: Hear hoith shouts their conquest they proclaieful flame!
For them the father of the Gods declares, Theirs are his oing Hector rise!
See! heaven and earth the raging chief defies; What fury in his breast, what lightning in his eyes!
He waits but for the morn, to sink in flame The shi+ps, the Greeks, and all the Grecian name
Heavens! how my country's woes distract n'd!
And lorious lay In Trojan dust, and this the fatal day?
Return, Achilles: oh return, though late, To save thy Greeks, and stop the course of Fate; If in that heart or grief or courage lies, Rise to redeem; ah, yet to conquer, rise!
The day may come, when, all our warriors slain, That heart shall ard in time, O prince divinely brave!
Those wholesoed ar son, these accents were his last:
”'My child! with strength, with glory, and success, Thy arms may Juno and Minerva bless!
Trust that to Heaven: but thou, thy cares engage To calentler row, And shun contention, the sure source of woe; That young and old may in thy praise combine, The virtues of huave; Ah! check thy anger; and be truly brave
If thou wilt yield to great Atrides' prayers, Gifts worthy thee his royal hand prepares; If not--but hear me, while I number o'er The proffer'd presents, an exhaustless store
Ten weighty talents of the purest gold, And twice ten vases of refulgent mould; Seven sacred tripods, whose unsullied frame Yet knows no office, nor has felt the flame; Twelve steeds unmatched in fleetness and in force, And still victorious in the dusty course; (Rich were the man, whose aed speed;) Seven lovely captives of the Lesbian line, Skill'd in each art, unar char arms
All these, to buy thy friendshi+p shall be paid, And, join'd with these, the long-contested n, And solemn swear those charms were only thine; Untouch'd she stay'd, uninjured she reuiltless of his loves
These instant shall be thine; and if the powers Give to our arms proud Ilion's hostile towers, Then shalt thou store (when Greece the spoil divides) With gold and brass thy loaded navy's sides