Sidor som bilder
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THE NEW YORK PUBLIC LIBRARY 42901

ASTOR, LENOX AND
TILDEN FOUNDATIONS.

THE

SPEECHES

OF

AJAX AND ULYSSES:

From the Thirteenth Book of

OVID'S METAMORPHOSES.

HE chiefs were fet, the foldiers crown'd the field:

To these the mafter of the fevenfold fhield

Upftarted fierce and kindled with disdain,
Eager to fpeak, unable to contain

His boiling rage, he roll'd his eyes around
The shore, and Grecian gallies hall'd a-ground.
Then stretching out his hands, O Jove, he cry'd,
Muft then our caufe before the fleet be try'd?
And dares Ulyffes for the prize contend,
In fight of what he durft not once defend?
VOL. IV.
B

But bafely fled that memorable day,

When I from Hector's hands redeem'd the flaming prey.

So much 'tis fafer at the noisy bar

With words to flourish, than engage in war.
By diff'rent methods we maintain'd our right,
Nor am I made to talk, nor he to fight.
In bloody fields I labour to be great;

His arms are a smooth tongue, and soft decelt.
Nor need I speak my deeds, for those
you fee;
The fun and day are witneffes for me.
Let him who fights unseen relate his own,
And. vouch the filent ftars, and confcious moon.
Great is the prize demanded, I confefs,

But fuch an abject rival makes it lefs.
That gift, thofe honors, he but hop'd to gain,
Can leave no room for Ajax to be vain :
Lofing he wins, because his name will be
Ennobled by defeat, who durft contend with me.
Were mine own valour queftion'd, yet my blood
Without that plea would make my title good:
My fire was Telamon, whofe arms, employ'd
With Hercules, these Trojan walls destroy'd ;
And who before, with Jafon, fent from Greece,
In the first ship brought home the golden fleece:

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