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ARGUMENT.

Chryfes, prief of Apollo, brings prefents to the Grecian princes, to ranjom his daughter Chryfeis, who was prifoner in the fleet. Agamemnon, the general, whofe captive and mistress the young lady was, refuses to deliver, threatens the venerable old man, and difmiffes him with contumely. The priest craves vengeance of his God; who fends a plague among the Greeks which occafions Achilles, their great champion, to fummon a council of the chief officers: he encourages Calchas, the high priest and prophet, to tell the reafon, why the Gods were so much incenfed against them. Calchas is fearful of provoking Agamemnon, till Achilles engages to protect him: then, embollened by the hero, he accuses the general as the caufe of all, by detaining the fair captive, and refufing the prefents offered for her ranfem. By this proceeding, Agamemnon is obliged, against his will, to reftore Chryfeis, with gifts, that he might appease the

wrath

wrath of Phoebus; but, at the fame time, to revenge himself on Achilles, fends to feize his flave Brifeis. Achilles, thus affronted, complains to his mother Thetis; and begs her to revenge his injury, not only on the general, but on all the army, by giving victory to the Trojans, till the ungrateful king became fenfible of his injuftice. At the fame time, he retires from the camp into his hips, and withdraws his aid from his ..countrymen. Thetis prefers her fon's petition to Jupi

ter, who grants her fuit. Funo fufpects her errand, and quarrels with her husband for his grant; till Vulcan reconciles his parents with a bowl of nectar, and fends them peaceably to bed.

"T

HE wrath of Peleus' fon, O Mufe, refound.;

Whofe dire effects the Grecian army found,
And many a hero, king, and hardy knight,
Were fent, in early youth, to fhades of night :
Their limbs a prey to dogs and vultures made :
So was the fovereign will of Jove obey'd:
. From that ill-omen'd hour when ftrife begun,
· Betwixt Atrides' great, and Thetis' god-like son.
What Power provok'd, and for what caufe relate,
Sow'd, in their breafts, the feeds of ftern debate:
Jove's and Latona's fon his wrath express'd,
In vengeance of his violated priest,

Against the king of men; who, fwoln with pride,
Refus'd his prefents, and his prayers deny'd.
For this the God a swift contagion spread
Amid the camp, where heaps on heaps lay dead.

For

For venerable Chryfes came to buy,

With gold and gifts of price, his daughter's liberty.
Suppliant before the Grecian chiefs he stood;

Awful, and arm'd with enfigns of his God:

Bare was his hoary head; one holy hand

Held forth his laurel crown, and one his fceptre of command.

His fuit was common; but above the reft,
To both the brother-princes thus addrefs'd :
Ye fons of Atreus, and ye Grecian powers,
So may the Gods who dwell in heavenly bowers
Succeed your fiege, accord the vows you make,
And give you Troy's imperial town to take;
So, by their happy conduct, may you come
With conquest back to your sweet native home;
As you receive the ranfom which I bring
(Refpe&ting Jove, and the far-shooting king),
And break my daughter's bonds, at my defire;
And glad with her return her grieving fire.
With fhouts of loud acclaim the Greeks decree
To take the gifts, to fet the damfel free.
The king of men alone with fury burn'd;
And, haughty, thefe opprobrious words return'd:
Hence, holy dotard, and avoid my fight,
Ere evil intercept thy tardy flight:
Nor dare to tread this interdicted ftrand,
Left not that idle fceptre in thy hand,

Nor thy God's crown, my vow'd revenge withstand.
Hence, on thy life: the captive maid is mine;
Whom not for price or prayers I will resign:

Mine