Part 6 (1/2)

But 'tis for Greece I fear: for late was seen, In close consult, the silver-footed queen

Jove to his Thetis nothing could deny, Nor was the signal vain that shook the sky

What fatal favour has the Goddess won, To grace her fierce, inexorable son?

Perhaps in Grecian blood to drench the plain, And glut his vengeance with my people slain”

Then thus the God: ”O restless fate of pride, That strives to learn what heaven resolves to hide; Vain is the search, presumptuous and abhorr'd, Anxious to thee, and odious to thy lord

Let this suffice: the iht to be

Goddess, submit; nor dare our ithstand, But dread the power of this avenging hand: The united strength of all the Gods above In vain resists the omnipotence of Jove”

[Illustration: VULCAN]

VULCAN

The thunderer spoke, nor durst the queen reply; A reverent horror silenced all the sky

The feast disturb'd, with sorrow Vulcan saw His mother menaced, and the Gods in awe; Peace at his heart, and pleasure his design, Thus interposed the architect divine: ”The wretched quarrels of the mortal state Are far unworthy, Gods! of your debate: Let men their days in senseless strife employ, We, in eternal peace and constant joy

Thou, Goddess-mother, with our sire comply, Nor break the sacred union of the sky: Lest, roused to rage, he shake the bless'd abodes, Launch the red lightning, and dethrone the Gods

If you subracious power is willing to be pleased”

Thus Vulcan spoke: and rising with a bound, The double boith sparkling nectar crown'd,(72) Which held to Juno in a cheerful way, ”Goddess (he cried), be patient and obey

Dear as you are, if Jove his arrieve, unable to defend What God so daring in your aid to ainst the force of Jove?

Once in your cause I felt his ht;(73) Toss'd all the day in rapid circles round, Nor till the sun descended touch'd the ground

Breathless I fell, in giddy motion lost; The Sinthians raised me on the Leoblet heaved, Which, with a smile, the white-arm'd queen received Then, to the rest he fill'd; and in his turn, Each to his lips applied the nectar'd urn, Vulcan with aard grace his office plies, And unextinguish'd laughter shakes the skies

Thus the blest Gods the genial day prolong, In feasts a(75) Apollo tuned the lyre; the Muses round With voice alternate aid the silver sound

Meanti swift, roll'd down the rapid light: Then to their starry do monuments of Vulcan's art: Jove on his couch reclined his awful head, And Juno sluolden bed

[Illustration: JUPITER]

JUPITER

[Illustration: THE APOTHEOSIS OF HOMER]

THE APOTHEOSIS OF HOMER

BOOK II

ARGUMENT

THE TRIAL OF THE ARMY, AND CATALOGUE OF THE FORCES

Jupiter, in pursuance of the request of Thetis, sends a deceitful vision to Aga him to lead the army to battle, in order to eneral, who is deluded with the hopes of taking Troy without his assistance, but fears the arue, as well as by the length of tien to the princes in council, that he would propose a return to the soldiers, and that they should put a stop to them if the proposal was e for a return to Greece, they unaniree to it, and run to prepare the shi+ps They are detained by the ement of Ulysses, who chastises the insolence of Thersites The assembly is recalled, several speeches th the advice of Nestor follohich was to eneral muster of the troops, and to divide them into their several nations, before they proceeded to battle This gives occasion to the poet to enue catalogue

The time employed in this book consists not entirely of one day The scene lies in the Grecian camp, and upon the sea-shore; towards the end it re sleep had seal'd each mortal eye, Stretch'd in the tents the Grecian leaders lie: The immortals slumber'd on their thrones above; All, but the ever-wakeful eyes of Jove(76) To honour Thetis' son he bends his care, And plunge the Greeks in all the woes of war: Then bids an eht, And thus co Dreaamemnon's ample tent repair

Bid him in arms draw forth the embattled train, Lead all his Grecians to the dusty plain