THE

FIRST BOOK

OF

HOME R's ILI A S.

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 general, whofe captive and mifirefs the young lady was, refufes to deliver, threatens the venerable

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 accufes 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 g neral, 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.

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 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 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

may

command.

His fuit was common; but above the rest,
To both the brother-princes thus addrefs'd:
Ye fons of Atreus, and ye Grecian pow'rs,
So the Gods who dwell in heav'nly bow'rs
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 conqueft back to your sweet native home;
As
you receive the ranfom which I bring,
(Refpecting Jove, and the far-fhooting 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 bury burn'd;
And haughty, these opprobrious words return'd:
Hence, holy dotard, and avoid my fight,
Ere evil intercept thy tardy flight:
Nor dare to tread this interdicted strand,
Left not that idle fceptre in thy hand,

Nor thy God's crown, my vow'd revenge with

ftand.

Hence on thy life: the captive maid is mine;
Whom not for price or pray'rs I will refign:
Mine she shall be, till creeping age and time
Her bloom have wither'd, and confum'd her prime.
Till then my royal bed she shall attend;
And having first adorn'd it, late afcend:

This, for the night; by day, the web and loom,
And homely houshold-task, shall be her doom,
Far from thy lov'd embrace, and her sweet native
home.

He said: the helpless prieft reply'd no more,
But fped his steps along the hoarfe-refounding

shore :

Silent he fled; fecure at length he stood,
Devoutly curs'd his foes, and thus invok'd his God.
O fource of facred light, attend my pray'r,
God with the filver bow, and golden hair;
Whom Chryfa, Cilla, Tenedos obeys,
And whose broad eye their happy foil surveys;
If, Smintheus, I have pour'd before thy fhrine
The blood of oxen, goats, and ruddy wine,
And larded thighs on loaded altars laid,
Hear, and my just revenge propitious aid.
Pierce the proud Greeks, and with thy shafts atteft

How much thy pow'r is injur'd in thy priest.