Part 39 (1/2)

Then with his sceptre, that the deep controls, He touch'd the chiefs, and steel'd their th, not their own, the touch divine i hearts

Then, as a falcon froht, Forth-springing instant, darts herself fro the sky: Such, and so swift, the power of ocean flew; The wide horizon shut hi God Oileus' active son Perceived the first, and thus to Telamon:

”So descends, and wills to stand the storm

Not Calchas this, the venerable seer; Short as he turned, I saw the power appear: I ht evidence reveals a God

Even now sos, and tread in air!”

”With equal ardour (Telamon returns) My soul is kindled, andspirits all my force alarm, Lift each impatient li, shakes the dart; The blood pours back, and fortifieschief I meet, And stretch the dreadful Hector atbreast, The heroes thus their mutual warmth express'd

Neptune meanwhile the routed Greeks inspired; Who, breathless, pale, with length of labours tired, Pant in the shi+ps; while Troy to conquest calls, And swar before the i in their eye

Greece sunk they thought, and this their fatal hour; But breathe new courage as they feel the power

Teucer and Leitus first his words excite; Then stern Peneleus rises to the fight; Thoas, Deipyrus, in arms renown'd, And Merion next, the impulsive fury found; Last Nestor's son the same bold ardour takes, While thus the God the race To chiefs of vigorous youth, and manly race!

I trusted in the Gods, and you, to see Brave Greece victorious, and her navy free: Ah, no--the glorious combat you disclaim, And one black day clouds all her fory these eyes survey, Unseen, unthought, till this ath from Troy's oft-conquer'd bands?

And falls our fleet by such inglorious hands?

A rout undisciplined, a straggling train, Not born to glories of the dusty plain; Like frighted fawns froe of the wood: Shall these, so late who trembled at your name, Invade your cae so shaht?

The soldiers' baseness, or the general's fault?

Fools! will ye perish for your leader's vice; The purchase infamy, and life the price?

'Tis not your cause, Achilles' injured fame: Another's is the crime, but yours the shae or lust, Must you be cowards, if your king's unjust?

Prevent this evil, and your country save: Sht retrieves the spirits of the brave

Think, and subdue! on dastards dead to faer, for they feel no shame: But you, the pride, the flower of all our host, My heart weeps blood to see your glory lost!

Nor deem this day, this battle, all you lose; A day more black, a fate more vile, ensues

Let each reflect, who prizes fame or breath, On endless infamy, on instant death: For, lo! the fated tiates burst, the brazen barriers roar!

Impetuous Hector thunders at the wall; The hour, the spot, to conquer, or to fall”

These words the Grecians' fainting hearts inspire, And listening armies catch the Godlike fire

Fix'd at his post was each bold Ajax found, With well-ranged squadrons strongly circled round: So close their order, so disposed their fight, As Pallas' self ht; Or had the God of war inclined his eyes, The God of war had own'd a just surprise

A chosen phalanx, fir Hector and his battle wait

An iron scene gleams dreadful o'er the fields, Armour in armour lock'd, and shi+elds in shi+elds, Spears lean on spears, on targets targets throng, Hel plumes unnurove; And levell'd at the skies with pointing rays, Their brandish'd lances at eachdeath, in terrible array, The close coed their way: Fierce they drove on, ied the first, and Hector first of Troy

As froment flies, with fury borne, (Which from the stubborn stone a torrent rends,) Precipitate the ponderousruin bounds; At every shock the crackling wood resounds; Still gathering force, it sed amain, Whirls, leaps, and thunders down, impetuous to the plain: There stops--so Hector Their whole force he proved,(230) Resistless when he raged, and, when he stopp'd, unmoved

On him the war is bent, the darts are shed, And all their falchions wave around his head: Repulsed he stands, nor from his stand retires; But with repeated shouts his army fires

”Trojans! be firh yon square body, and that black array: Stand, andas they seem, embattled like a tower; For he that Juno's heavenly bosom warms, The first of Gods, this day inspires our ared with desire of fa, held Before his wary steps his ample shi+eld

Bold Merion ai javelin pierced the tough bull-hide; But pierced not through: unfaithful to his hand, The point broke short, and sparkled in the sand

The Trojan warrior, touch'd with timely fear, On the raised orb to distance bore the spear

The Greek, retreating, mourn'd his frustrate blow, And cursed the treacherous lance that spared a foe; Then to the shi+ps with surly speed he went, To seek a surer javelin in his tent

Meanwhile with rising rage the battle glows, The turows