were by his influence and example engaged in the fame intereft. I hope therefore the publick will excufe my ambition for thus intruding into the number of those applauded men, who have paid him this kind of homage: especially fince I am also prompted to it by gratitude, for the protection with which he had begun to honour me; and do it at a time when he cannot fuffer by the importunity of my acknowledgments. I Muft inform the reader, that when I began this first book, I had fome thoughts of tranflating the whole Iliad: but had the pleasure of being diverted from that defign, by finding the work was fallen into a much abler hand. I would not therefore be thought to have any other view in publishing this small specimen of Homer's Iliad, than to bespeak, if poffible, the favour of the publick to a tranflation of Homer's Odyffeis, wherein I have already made fome progress. A THE FIRST BOOK OF THE ILIAD. CHILLES' fatal wrath, whence difcord rofe, That brought the fons of Greece unnumber'd woes, O goddefs, fing. Full many a hero's ghoft So did the fire of gods and men fulfil rage Against the fcornful king, whose impious pride But first of Atreus' fons, he begg'd relief: Great Atreus' fons and warlike Greeks attend. So may th' immortal gods your cause befriend, Hence, dotard, from my fight. Nor ever more Approach, I warn thee, this forbidden fhore; Left Left thou ftretch forth, my fury to restrain, The wreaths and fceptre of thy god, in vain. Till age o'ertakes her, I have vow'd her mine. To diftant Argos fhall the fair be led : She fhall; to ply the loom, and grace my bed. Hence, on thy life He ended frowning. nor urge me by thy stay.' Speechlefs and dismay'd, The aged fire his stern command obey'd. Silent he pafs'd, amid the deafening roar Far from the camp he pass'd: then fuppliant stood; Dread warrior with the filver bow, give ear. • Patron of Chryfa and of Cilla, hear. The dogs and mules his first keen arrow flew; Nine days entire, he vex'd th' embattled hoft, The tenth, Achilles through the winding coaft Summon'd a council, by the queen's command Who wields heaven's fceptre in her fnowy hand: She mourn'd her favourite Greeks, who now inclofe The hero, fwiftly fpeaking as he rose: What now, O Atreus' fon, remains in view, But o'er the deep our wanderings to renew, Doom'd to deftruction, while our wafted powers The fword and peftilence at once devours? Why hafte we not fome prophet's fkill to prove, Or feek by dreams? (for dreams defcend from Jove.) What moves Apollo's rage let him explain, 'What vow withheld, what hecatomb unflain: And if the blood of lambs and goats can pay The price for guilt, and turn this curse away?' Thus he. And next the reverend Calchas rose, Their guide to Ilion whom the Grecians chose; The prince of augurs, whofe enlighten'd eye Could things paft, prefent, and to come, defcry: Such wisdom Phoebus gave. He thus began, His fpeech addreffing to the godlike man : Me then command't thou, lov'd of Jove, to fhow What moves the god that bends the dreadful bow? First plight thy faith thy ready help to lend, By words to aid me, or by arms defend. • For • For I foresee his rage, whose ample sway That, while these eyes behold the light, no hand Then boldly he. • Nor does the god complain Of vows withheld, or hecatombs unflain. Chryfeïs to her awful fire refus'd, The gifts rejected, and the priest abus'd, Call down thefe judgments, and for more they call, Juft ready on th' exhausted camp to fall; Till ranfom-free the damfel is bestow'd, And hecatombs are fent to footh the god, To Chryfa fent. Perhaps Apollo's rage The gifts may expiate, and the priest affuage.' He spoke, and fat. When, with an angry frown, The chief of kings upstarted from his throne. Difdain and vengeance in his bofom rise, Lour in his brows, and sparkle in his eyes: Full at the priest their fiery orbs he bent, And all at once his fury found a vent. |