Part 30 (1/2)
The aetolians, long disdain'd, now took their turn, And left the chief their broken faith to mourn
Learn hence, betimes to curb pernicious ire, Nor stay till yonder fleets ascend in fire; Accept the presents; draw thy conquering sword; And be auardian Gods adored”
Thus he: the stern Achilles thus replied: ”My second father, and ifts demands, And asks no honours frons; His pleasure guides h behest) While life's warm spirit beats within e it in thy heart: No more ht to flow, For hienerous friendshi+p no cold lows; One should our interests and our passions be; My friend must hate the enerous part; And share my realms, e, or our stay, Rest undeter day”
He ceased; then order'd for the sage's bed A warmer couch with nu silence broke, And thus, io--aste we tiain!
Liked or not liked, his words we must relate, The Greeks expect them, and our heroes wait
Proud as he is, that iron heart retains Its stubborn purpose, and his friends disdains
Stern and unpitying! if a brother bleed, On just atoneives; The price of blood discharged, the e resign, And gifts can conquer every soul but thine(213) The Gods that unrelenting breast have steel'd, And cursed thee with a mind that cannot yield
One woman-slave was ravish'd from thy arms: Lo, seven are offer'd, and of equal charms
Then hear, Achilles! be of better uests be kind; And know the men of all the Grecian host, Who honour worth, and prize thy valour uide!
(To Ajax thus the first of Greeks replied) Well hast thou spoke; but at the tyrant's nae rekindles, and my soul's on flaraced, dishonour'd, like the vilest slave!
Return, then, heroes! and our answer bear, The glorious co navy slain, The blood of Greeks shall dye the sable main; Not till the flames, by Hector's fury thrown, Consume your vessels, and approach my own; Just there, the impetuous homicide shall stand, There cease his battle, and there feel our hand”
This said, each prince a double goblet crown'd, And cast a large libation on the ground; Then to their vessels, through the gloomy shades, The chiefs return; divine Ulysses leads
Meantime Achilles' slaves prepared a bed, With fleeces, carpets, and soft linen spread: There, till the sacred morn restored the day, In slumber sweet the reverend Phoenix lay
But in his inner tent, an ampler space, Achilles slept; and in his warm embrace Fair Diomede of the Lesbian race
Last, for Patroclus was the couch prepared, Whose nightly joys the beauteous Iphis shared; Achilles to his friend consign'd her char arms
And now the elected chiefs whoh the hosts, and reach'd the royal tent
Then rising all, with goblets in their hands, The peers and leaders of the Achaian bands Hail'd their return: Atrides first begun:
”Say what success? divine Laertes' son!
Achilles' high resolves declare to all: ”Returns the chief, orof nations! (Ithacus replied) Fix'd is his wrath, unconquer'd is his pride; He slights thy friendshi+p, thy proposals scorns, And, thus implored, with fiercer fury burns
To save our army, and our fleets to free, Is not his care; but left to Greece and thee
Your eyes shall viehenbillows fly; Us too he bids our oars and sails employ, Nor hope the fall of heaven-protected Troy; For Jove o'ershades her with his arlory shi+ne
Such was his word: what further he declared, These sacred heralds and great Ajax heard
But Phoenix in his tent the chief retains, Safe to transport hi dawns; if other he decree, His age is sacred, and his choice is free”
Ulysses ceased: the great Achaian host, With sorrow seized, in consternation lost, Attend the stern reply Tydides broke The general silence, and undaunted spoke
”Why should we gifts to proud Achilles send, Or strive with prayers his haughty soul to bend?
His country's woes he glories to deride, And prayers will burst that swelling heart with pride
Be the fierce ie obey'd, Our battles let him or desert or aid; Then let him arm when Jove or he think fit: That, to his madness, or to Heaven coht, let due repast refresh our powers; (For strength consists in spirits and in blood, And those are owed to generous wine and food;) But when the rosy olden ray, Ranged at the shi+ps, let all our squadrons shi+ne In flareat Atrides stand, The first in danger, as in high co heroes raise, Then each to Heaven the due libations pays; Till sleep, descending o'er the tents, bestows The grateful blessings of desired repose”(214)
[Illustration: ACHILLES]