Vulcan with aukward grace his office plies, 770 775 780 THE ARGUMENT. The Trial of the Army, and Catalogue of the Forces. JUPITER, in purfuance of the request of Thetis, fends a deceitful vifion to Agamemnon, perfuading him to lead the army to battle; in order to make the Greeks fenfible of their want of Achilles. The general, who is deluded with the hopes of taking Troy without his affiftance, but fears the army was difcouraged by his abfence and the late plague, as well as by the length of time, contrives to make trial of their dif pofition by a ftratagem. He firft communicates his defign to the princes in council, that he would propofe a return to the foldiers, and that they should put a ftop to them if the propofal was embraced. Then he affembles the whole hoft, and upon moving for a return to Greece, they unanimously agree to it, and run to prepare the fhips. They are detained by the management of Ulyffes, who chaftifes the infolence of Therfites. The assembly is recalled, several speeches made on the occafion, and at length the advice of Neftor followed, which was, to make a general mufter of the troops, and to divide them into their feveral nations, before they proceeded to battle. This gives occafion to the poet to enumerate all the forces of the Greeks and Trojans, and in a large catalogue. The time employed in this book confifts not entirely of one day. The fcene lies in the Grecian camp and upon the fea-fhore; toward the end it removes to Troy. No Stretch'd in the tents the Grecian leaders lie, 'Th' Immortals flumber'd on their thrones above; All, but the ever-wakeful eyes of Jove. To honour Thetis' fon he bends his care, Fly hence, deluding Dream! and light as air, Bid him in arms draw forth th' embattled train, F 2 10 15 20 Around |