THE ARGUMENT.

Chryfes, prieft of Apollo, brings prefents to the Grecian princes, to ransom his daughter Chryfeis, who was prifoner in the fleet. Agamemnon, the neral, whofe captive and miftrefs the young lady was, refufes to deliver, threatens the venerable

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old man, and difmiffes him with contumely. The prieft 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: be encourages Calchas, the high prieft and prophet, to tell the reafon, why the Gods were Jo much incenfed against them. Calchas is fearful of provoking Agamemnon, till Achilles engages to protect him: then, emboldened by the bero, be accuses the general as the cause 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 of Phebus; but, at the fame time, to revenge himself on Achilles, fends to feize bis 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 flips, and withdraws his aid from his countrymen. Thetis prefers her fon's petition to Jupiter, who grants her fute. Juno fufpects her errand, and quarrels with her kufband, for his grant; till

Vulcan reconciles kis parents with a bowl of nectar, and fends them peaceably to bed.

HE wrath of Peleus' fon, O Mufe, refound; Whofe dire effects the Grecian army found,

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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 fov'reign will of Jove obey'd:
From that ill-omen'd hour when ftrife begun,
Betwixt Atrides' great, and Thetis' god-like fon.
What Pow'r 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 pray'rs deny'd.
For this the God a swift contagion spread
Amid the camp, where heaps on heaps lay dead.
For venerable Chryfes came to buy,

With gold and gifts of price, his daughter's liberty.
Suppliant before the Grecian chiefs he ftood;
Awful, and arm'd with enfigns of his God: