close phalanx, and put a stop to Hector and the Trojans. Several deeds of valour are performed; Meriones, losing his spear in the encounter, repairs to seek another at the tent of Idomeneus: this occasions a conversation between these two warriors, who return together to the battle. Idomeneus signalizes his courage above the rest; he kills Othryoneus, Asius, and Alcathous Deiphobus and Æneas march against him, and at length Idomeneus retires. Menelaus wounds Helenus, and kills Pisander. The Trojans are repulsed in the left wing. Hector still keeps his ground against the Ajaxes, till, being galled by the Locrian slingers and archers, Polydamas advises to call a council of war: Hector approves his advice, but goes first to rally the Trojans; upbraids Paris, rejoins Polydamas, meets Ajax again, and renews the attack.

The eight-and-twentieth day still continues. The scene is between the Grecian wall and the sea-shore.

WHEN now the Thunderer on the sea-beat coast
Had fix'd great Hector and his conquering host,
He left them to the fates, in bloody fray

To toil and struggle through the well-fought day.
Then turned to Thracia from the field of fight1
Those eyes that shed insufferable light,
To where the Mysians prove their martial force,
And hardy Thracians tame the savage horse;
And where the far-famed Hippemolgian2 strays,
Renown'd for justice and for length of days.
Thrice happy race! that, innocent of blood,
From milk innoxious seek their simple food:
Jove sees delighted; and avoids the scene
Of guilty Troy, of arms, and dying men:
No aid, he deems, to either host is given,

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While his high law suspends the powers of heaven.
Meantime the monarch of the watery main

Observ'd the Thunderer, nor observ'd in vain.

In Samothracia, on a mountain's brow,

Whose waving woods o'erhung the deeps below,
He sat; and round him cast his azure eyes,
Where Ida's misty tops confus'dly rise;
Below, fair Ilion's glittering spires were seen;
The crowded ships, and sable seas between.
There, from the crystal chambers of the main
Emerg'd, he sat; and mourn'd his Argives slain.

1 The Poet being desirous to stay the further success of the Trojans, represents Jupiter as turning aside his eyes, which gives Neptune an opportunity to assist the Greeks, and thereby causes all the adventures of this book. 2 The Hippemolgi were a people of Scythia. Their name signifies "living on the milk of mares." 3 Neptune.

B. XIII.]

CONCERN OF NEPTUNE.

At Jove incens'd, with grief and fury stung,
Prone down the rocky steep he rush'd along;
Fierce as he pass'd, the lofty mountains nod,
The forests shake; earth trembled as he trod,
And felt th' footsteps of the immortal god.
From realm to realm three ample strides he took,
And, at the fourth, the distant Egæ shook.
Far in the bay his shining palace stands,

This ha ing reach'd, his brass-hoof'd steeds he reing,

Eternal frame! not rais'd by mortal hands:

Fleet as the winds, and deck'd with golden manes.
Refulgent arms his mighty limbs infold,

Immortal arms of adamant and gold.

He mounts the car, the golden scourge applies,
He sits superior, and the chariot flies:
His whirling wheels the glassy surface sweep;
Th' enormous monsters, rolling o'er the deep,
Gambol around him on the watery way;
And heavy whales in awkward measures play:
The sea subsiding spreads a level plain,
Exults, and owns the monarch of the main ;
The parting waves before his coursers fly;
The wondering waters leave his axle dry.

Deep in the liquid regions lies a cave, Between where Tenedos 5 the surges lave, And rocky Imbrus breaks the rolling wave: There the great ruler of the azure round

Stopp'd his swift chariot, and his steeds unbound,
Fed with ambrosial herbage from his hand,
And link'd their fetlocks with a golden band,
Infrangible, immortal: there they stay;
The father of the floods pursues his way,
Where, like a tempest darkening heaven around,
Or fiery deluge that devours the ground,
Th' impatient Trojans, in a gloomy throng,
Embattl'd roll'd, as Hector rush'd along:
To the loud tumult and the barbarous cry,
The heavens re-echo, and the shores reply;
They vow destruction to the Grecian name,
And in their hopes the fleets already flame.

But Neptune, rising from the seas profound,
The god whose earthquakes rock the solid ground,

Probably an island of that name in the Egean sea is meant. 5 Islands between the Egean sea and the Hellespont.

Now wears a mortal form; like Calchas seen,
Such his loud voice, and such his manly mien;
His shouts incessant every Greek inspire,
But most th' Ajaces, adding fire to fire:

'Tis yours, O warriors, all our hopes to raise ;
'Oh recollect your ancient worth and praise!
'Tis yours to save us if you cease to fear;

Flight, more than shameful, is destructive here
On other works though Troy with fury fall,

'And pour her armies o'er our batter'd wall;

'There, Greece has strength: but this, this part o'erthrown,
'Her strength were vain; I dread for you alone.
'Here Hector rages like the force of fire,

'Vaunts of his gods, and calls high Jove his sire.
'If yet some heavenly power your breast excite,
'Breathe in your hearts and string your arms to fight,
'Greece yet may live, her threaten'd fleet maintain,

And Hector's force, and Jove's own aid, be vain.'
Then with his sceptre that the deep controls,

He touch'd the chiefs, and steel'd their manly souls:
Strength, not their own, the touch divine imparts,

Prompts their light limbs, and swells their daring hearts.
Then, as a falcon from the rocky height,

Forth-springing instant, darts herself from high,

Her quarry seen, impetuous at the sight,

Shoots on the wing, and skims along the sky:
Such, and so swift, the power of ocean flew ;
The wide horizon shut him from their view.
Th' inspiring god Oïleus' active son

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Perceiv'd the first, and thus to Telamon:

'Some god, my friend, some god in human form,

'Favouring descends, and wills to stand the storm; 'Not Calchas this, the venerable seer;

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Short as he turn'd, I saw the power appear:

'I mark'd his parting, and the steps he trod;

'His own bright evidence reveals a god.

'E'en now some energy divine I share,

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'And seem to walk on wings, and tread in air!' With equal ardour,' (Telamon returns,)

'My soul is kindled, and my bosom burns;
New rising spirits all my force alarm,

'Lift each impatient limb, and brace my arm.
This ready arm, unthinking, shakes the dart;
The blood pours back, and fortifies my heart;
Singly, methinks, yon towering chief I meet,
'And stretch the dreadful Hector at my feet."

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