Part 58 (1/2)

To these a youth awakes the warbling strings, Whose tender lay the fate of Linus sings; In measured dance behind him move the train, Tune soft the voice, and answer to the strain

Here herds of oxen h their horns, and see shores A rapid torrent through the rushes roars: Four golden herdss co from the wood appear'd; And seized a bull, the s, the men withstood; They tore his flesh, and drank his sable blood

The dogs (oft cheer'd in vain) desert the prey, Dread the grim terrors, and at distance bay

Next this, the eye the art of Vulcan leads Deep through fair forests, and a length of meads, And stalls, and folds, and scatter'd cots between; And fleecy flocks, that whiten all the scene

A figured dance succeeds; such once was seen In lofty Gnossus for the Cretan queen, Form'd by Daedalean art; a co hand in hand

The raceful in the glossy vest: Of those the locks with floreath inroll'd; Of these the sides adorn'd with swords of gold, That glittering gay, from silver belts depend

Now all at once they rise, at once descend, With well-taught feet: now shape in oblique ways, Confusedly regular, the ht, they spring, And undistinguish'd blend the flying ring: So whirls a wheel, in giddy circle toss'd, And, rapid as it runs, the single spokes are lost

The gazing multitudes adh, no, their pliant lihtly revel end

Thus the broad shi+eld complete the artist crown'd With his last hand, and pour'd the ocean round: In living silver seee, and bound the whole

This done, whate'er a warrior's use requires He forged; the cuirass that outshone the fires, The greaves of ductile tin, the helolden crest

At Thetis' feet the finished labour lay: She, as a falcon cuts the aerial way, Swift fro present through the skies(257)

BOOK XIX

ARGUMENT

THE RECONCILIATION OF ACHILLES AND AGAMEMNON

Thetis brings to her son the armour made by Vulcan She preserves the body of his friend from corruption, and commands him to asseamemnon and Achilles are solemnly reconciled: the speeches, presents, and cerereat difficulty persuaded to refrain from the battle till the troops have refreshed themselves by the advice of Ulysses The presents are conveyed to the tent of Achilles, where Briseis laments over the body of Patroclus The hero obstinately refuses all repast, and gives himself up to lathen hiht: his appearance described He addresses himself to his horses, and reproaches them with the death of Patroclus One of them is miraculously endued with voice, and inspired to prophesy his fate: but the hero, not astonished by that prodigy, rushes with fury to the combat

The thirteenth day The scene is on the sea-shore

Soon as Aurora heaved her Orient head Above the waves, that blush'd with early red, (With new-born day to gladden ht,) The immortal arms the Goddess-mother bears Swift to her son: her son she finds in tears Stretch'd o'er Patroclus' corse; while all the rest Their sovereign's sorrows in their own express'd

A ray divine her heavenly presence shed, And thus, his hand soft touching, Thetis said:

”Suppress, rief, and knoas not ave the blow; Behold what arrace a God”

Then drops the radiant burden on the ground; Clang the strong ar the shores around; Back shrink the Myrence turn their eyes

Une divine his boso flames expire, And flash incessant like a streaift: and feeds his n'd

”Goddess! (he cried,) these glorious arms, that shi+ne With matchless art, confess the hand divine

Now to the bloody battle let hter'd friend!

In those ounds through which his spirit fled, Shall flies, and wor care be laid aside, (The azure Goddess to her son replied,) Whole years untouch'd, uninjured shall reo, Achilles, as affairs require, Before the Grecian peers renounce thine ire: Then uncontroll'd in boundless war engage, And heaven with strength supply the e!”

[Illustration: THETIS BRINGING THE ARMOUR TO ACHILLES]

THETIS BRINGING THE ARMOUR TO ACHILLES

Then in the nostrils of the slain she pour'd Nectareous drops, and rich ambrosia shower'd O'er all the corse The flies forbid their prey, Untouch'd it rests, and sacred from decay

Achilles to the strand obedient went: The shores resounded with the voice he sent

The heroes heard, and all the naval train That tend the shi+ps, or guide them o'er the main, Alarm'd, transported, at the well-known sound, Frequent and full, the great asse lost to battle, shi+ne in arain