Turn where distress demands immediate aid; The dead, encircled by his friends, forego, He spoke, and high the sounding jav'lin Which pass'd the shield of Aretus the young; It pierc'd his belt, emboss'd with curious art; Then in the lower belly stuck the dart. Struck 'twixt the horns, he springs with many a bound, 590 Then tumbling rolls enormous on the ground: Thus fell the youth; the air his soul receiv'd, And the spear trembled as his entrails heav'd. Now at Automedon the Trojan foe Discharged his lance; the meditated blow, Stooping, he shuun'd; the jav’lin idly fled, And hiss'd innoxious o'er the hero's head: Deep rooted in the ground, the forceful O'er the dark clouds extends his purple bow (In sign of tempests from the troubled air, Ör, from the rage of man, destructive war); The drooping cattle dread th' impending skies, 620 To guard the body of the man I lov'd? rear This wearied arm, and ward the storm of war! But Hector, like the rage of fire, we dread, And Jove's own glories blaze around his head.' Pleas'd to be first of all the Powers ad dress'd, She breathes new vigour in her hero's breast, And fills with keen revenge, with fell de Desire of blood, and rage, and lust of fight. By Hector lov'd, his comrade, and his | guest; Thro' his broad belt the spear a passage found, And, pond'rous as he falls, his arms resound. Sudden at Hector's side Apollo stood, (Asius the great, who held his wealthy reign In fair Abydos, by the rolling main). 'Oh Prince' (he cried), 'oh foremost once in Fame ! What Grecian now shall tremble at thy name? Dost thou at length to Menelaüs yield? 660 A Chief, once thought no terror of the field ! Yet singly, now, the long-disputed prize He bears victorious, while our army flies. By the same arm illustrious Podes bled, The friend of Hector, unrevenged, is dead!' This heard, o'er Hector spreads a cloud of Of martial Merion: Coranus his name, Who left fair Lyctus for the fields of fame. On foot bold Merion fought; and now, laid low, Had graced the triumphs of his Trojan foe; But the brave squire the ready coursers brought, And with his life his master's safety bought. Between his cheek and ear the weapon Transfers the glory to the Trojan band! Whether the weak or strong discharge the dart, He guides each arrow to a Grecian heart: Not so our spears: incessant tho' they rain, He suffers ev'ry lance to fall in vain. BOOK XVIII THE GRIEF OF ACHILLES, AND NEW ARMOUR MADE HIM BY VULCAN THE ARGUMENT The news of the death of Patroclus is brought to Achilles by Antilochus. Thetis, hearing his lamentations, comes with all her seanymphs to comfort him. The speeches of the mother and son on this occasion. Iris appears to Achilles by the command of Juno, and orders him to show himself at the head of the intrenchments. The sight of him turns the fortune of the day, and the body of Patroclus is carried off by the Greeks. The Trojans call a council, where Hector and Polydamas disagree in their opinions; but the advice of the former prevails, to remain encamped in the field. The grief of Achilles over the body of Patroclus. Thetis goes to the palace of Vulcan, to obtain new arms for her son. The description of the wonderful works of Vulcan; and, lastly, that noble one of the shield of Achilles. The latter part of the nine-and-twentieth day, and the night ensuing, take up this book. The scene is at Achilles' tent on the seashore, from whence it changes to the palace of Vulcan. for groan. The circling Nereids with their mistress weep, And all the sea-green Sisters of the Deep. |