TRANSLATIONS

FROM

HOME R.

THE

FIRST BOOK

O F

HOMER'S

ILIA S.

THE ARGUMENT.

Chryfes, priest of Apollo, brings prefents to the Grecian princes, to ransom 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 difmisses him with contumely. The priest craves vengeance of his God; who sends 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 fo much incenfed against them. Calchas is fearful of provoking Agamemnon, till Achilles engages to protect him: then, emboldened by the hero, he accufes the general as the caufe of all, by detaining the fair captive, and refusing the prefents offered for her ranfom. 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 Jupiter, who grants her fuit. Juno 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.

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

TH

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 fon.
What Power provok'd, and for what caufe relate,
Sow'd, in their breasts, the feeds of stern debate:
Jove's and Latona's fon his wrath exprefs'd,
In vengeance of his violated prieft,

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

For