Then to their veffels, through the gloomy fhades,
The chiefs return; divine Ulyffes leads.
Mean time Achilles' flaves prepar'd a bed,
With fleeces, carpets, and soft linen spread :
There, till the facred morn reftord the day,
In flumber fweet the reverend Phoenix lay,
But in his inner tent, an ampler space,
Achilles lept; and in his warm embrace
Fair Diomede of the Lesbian race.
Laft, for Patroclus was the couch prepar'd,
Whole nightly joys the beauteous Iphis thar'd;
Achilles to his friend confign'd her charms,
When Scyros fell before his conquering arms.
And now th' elected chiefs, whom Greece had
fent,

Pais'd thro' the hosts, and reach'd the royal tent.
Then rifing all, with goblets in their hands,
The peers and leaders of the Achaian bands,
Hail'd their return. Atrides first begun :
Say what fuccefs? divine Laertes' fon!
Achilles high refolves declare to all;
Returns the chief, or muft our navy fall?

Great king of nations! (Ithacus reply'd)
Fir'd is his wrath, unconquer'd is his pride;
He fights thy friendship, thy proposals fcorns,
And, thus implor'd, with fiercer fury burns:
To fave our army, and our fleets, to free,
Is not his care; but left to Greece and thee.
Your eyes fhall view, when morning paints the
Beneath his oars the whitening billows fly. [fky,
Us too he bids our oars and fails employ,
Nor hope the fall of heaven-protected Troy :
For Jove o'erfhades her with his arm divine,
Inspires her war, and bids her glory shine.

Such was his word: what farther he declar'd,
The facred heralds and great Ajax heard.
But Phoenix in his tent the chief retains,
Safe to transport him to his native plains,
When morning dawns: if other he decree,
His age is facred, and his choice is free.

Ulyffes ceas'd: the great Achaian host,
With forrow feiz'd, in confternation loft,
Attend the ftern reply. Tydides broke
The general filence, and undaunted spoke :
Why should we gifts to proud Achilles fend?
Or ftrive with prayers his haughty foul to bend
His country's woes he glories to deride,
And prayers will burst that fwelling heart with
pride.

Be the fierce impulfe of his rage obey'd;
Our battles let him, or defert, or aid;
Then let him arm when Jove or he think fit;
That, to his madness, or to Heaven commit:
What for ourselves we can, is always ours;
This night, let due repaft refresh our powers
(For strength confifts in spirits and in blood,
And thofe are ow'd to generous wine and
food);

But when the rofy meffenger of day
Strikes the blue mountains with her golden ray,
Rang'd at the thips, let all our squadrons shine,
In flaming arms, a long extended line :
In the dread front let great Atrides stand,
The first in danger, as in high command.

Shouts of acclaim the liftening heroes raise,
Then each to Heaven the due libations pays;
Till fleep, defcending o'er the tents, bestows
The grateful bleffings of defir'd repose.

ALL night the chiefs before their veffels lay,
And loft in fleep the labours of the day:
All but the king; with various thoughts oppreft,
His country's cares lay rolling in his breaft.
As when, by lightnings, Jove's etherial power
Foretells the rattling hail, or weighty thower,
Or fends foft fnows to whiten all the shore,
Or Bids the brazen throat of war to roar;
By fits one flash fucceeds as one expires,
And heaven flames thick with momentary fires.
So burting frequent from Atrides' breast,

Now o'er the field, dejected, he surveys

From thousand Trojan fires the mounting blaze;
Hears in the paffing wind their mufic blow,
And marks diftinct the voices of the foe.
Now looking backwards to the fleet and coaft,
Anxious he forrows for the endanger'd host.
He rends his hairs in facrifice to Jove,
And fues to him that ever lives above:
Inly he groans; while glory and despair
Divide his heart, and wage a double war.

A thousand cares his labouring breast involves;

With him in wholefome counfels, to debate
What yet remains to fave th' afflicted state.
He rofe, and firft he caft his mantle round,
Next on his feet the thining fandals bound;
A lion's yellow fpoils his back conceal'd;
His warlike hand a pointed javelin held.
Mean while his brother, preft with equal woes,
Alike deny'd the gifts of foft repose,
Laments for Greece; that in his caufe before
So much had fuffer'd, and muft fuffer more.
A leopard's fpotted hide his shoulders spread;
A brazen helmet glitter'd on his head:
Thus (with a javelin in his hand) he went
To wake Atrides in the royal tent.
Already wak'd, Atrides he defcry'd,
His armour buckling at his veffel's fide.
Joyful they met; the Spartan thus begun :
Why puts my brother his bright armour on?
Sends he fome fpy, amidst these filent hours,
To try yon camp, and watch the Trojan powers?
But fay, what hero fhall fuftain that task?
Such bold exploits uncommon courage afk;
Guidelefs, alone, through night's dark fhade to go,
And 'midst a hoftile camp explore the foe!

To whom the king: In fuch distress we stand,
No vulgar counfels our affairs demand;
Greece to preferve, is now no easy part,
But asks high wisdom, deep defign, and art:
For Jove averfe our humble prayer denies,
And bows his head to Hector's facrifice.
What eye has witness'd, or what ear believ'd,
In one great day, by one great arm achiev'd,
Such wond'rous deeds as Hector's hand has done,
And we beheld, the laft revolving fun.
What honours the belov'd of Jove adorn!
Sprung from no God, and of no Goddess born,
Yet fuch his acts, as Greeks unborn shall tell,
And curfe the battle where their fathers fell.

Now speed thy hafty course along the fleet,
There call great Ajax, and the prince of Crete;
Ourfelf to hoary Neftor will repair;

To keep the guards on duty be his care;
(For Neftor's influence beft that quarter guides,
Whole fon with Merion o'er the watch prefides.)
To whom the Spartan: These thy orders borne,
Say fhall I ftay, or with difpatch return?
There shalt thou ftay (the king of men reply'd)
Elfe may we mifs to meet, without a guide,
The paths fo many, and the camp so wide.
Still, with your voice the flothful foldiers raife,
Urge, by their father's fame, their future praise.
Forget we now our ftate and lofty birth;
Not titles here, but works must prove our worth.
To labour is the lot of man below;
And when Jove gave us life, he gave us woe.

This faid, each parted to his feveral cares;
The king to Neftor's fable fhip repairs;
The fage protector of the Greeks he found
Stretch'd in his bed with all his arms around;
The various-colour'd scarf, the fhield he rears,
The shining helmet, and the pointed spears:
The dreadful weapons of the warrior's rage,
That, old in arms, difdain'd the peace of age.
Then, leaning on his hand his watchful head,
The hoary monarch rais'd his eyes, and faid:
What art thou, fpeak, that on defigns unknown,
While others fleep thus range the camp alone?

Seek'ft thou fome friend, or nightly centinel?
Stand off, approach not, but thy purpose tell.

O fon of Neleus (thus the king rejoin'd)
Pride of the Greeks, and glory of thy kind!
Lo here the wretched Agamemnon stands,
Th' unhappy general of the Grecian bands;
Whom Jove decrees with daily cares to bend,
And woes, that only with his life fhall end!
Scarce can my knees these trembling limbs fuftain,
And scarce my heart fupport its load of pain.
No taste of fleep thefe heavy eyes have known;
Confus'd, and fad, I wander thus alone,
With fears diftracted, with no fix'd defign;
And all my people's miferies are mine.
If aught of ule thy waking thoughts fuggeft,
(Since cares, like mine, deprive thy foul of reft)
Impart thy counfel, and aflift thy friend;
Now let us jointly to the trench descend,
At every gate the fainting guard excite,
Tir'd with the toils of day and watch of night:
Elfe may the fudden foe our works invade,
So near, and favour'd by the gloomy shade.

To him thus Netor: Truft the Powers above, Nor think proud Hector's hopes confirm'd by Jove: How ill agree the views of vain mankind, And the wife counfels of th' Eternal Mind! Audacious Hector! if the Gods ordain That great Achilles rife and rage again, What toils attend thee, and what woes remain! Lo faithful Neftor thy command obeys; The care is next our other chiefs to raise: Ulyffes, Diomed, we chiefly need; Meges for ftrength, Oïleus fam'd for fpeed. Some other be dispatch'd of nimbler feet, To thofe tall fhips, remoteft of the fleet, Where lie great Ajax, and the king of Crete. To roufe the Spartan I myself decree; Dear as he is to us, and dear to thee, Yet must I tax his floth, that claims no share With his great brother in this martial care: Him it behov'd to every chief to sue, Preventing every part perform'd by you; For ftrong neceflity our toils demands, Claims all our hearts, and urges all our hands.

To whom the king: With reverence we allow Thy juft rebukes, yet learn to spare them now. My generous brother is of gentle kind; He feems remifs, but bears a valiant mind; Through too much deference to our fovereign Content to follow when we lead the way. [[way, But now, our ills induftrious to prevent, Long ere the reft, he rofe, and fought my tent. The chiefs you nam'd, already at his call, Prepare to meet us near the navy wall; Affembling there, between the trench and gates, Near the night-guards, our chofen council waits. Then none (laid Neftor) fhall his rule with stand,

For great examples justify command.

With that the venerable warrior rose; The fhining greaves his manly legs inclofe; His purple mantle golden buckles join'd, Warm with the fofteft wool, and doubly lin'd Then, rufhing from his tent, he snatch'd in hafte His fteely lance, that lighten'd as he past. The camp he travers'd through the fleeping crowd, Stopp'd at Ulyffes' tent, and call'd aloud.

Vlyffes, fudden as the voice was fent,
Awakes, ftarts up, and iffues from his tent.
What new diftrefs, what fudden cause of fright,
Thus leads you wandering in the filent night.
O prudent chief! (the Pylian fage reply'd)
Wife as thou art, be now thy wildom try'd:
Whatever means of fafety can be fought,
Whatever counfels can infpire our thought,
Whatever methods, or to fly or fight,
All, all depend on this important night!

He heard, return'd, and took his painted shield: Then join'd the chiefs, and follow'd through the field.

Without his tent, bold Diomed they found,
All fheath'd in arms: his brave companions
round:

Each funk in fleep, extended on the field,
His head reclining on his boffy fhield.
A wood of fpears stood by, that, fix'd upright,
Shot from their flashing points a quivering light.
A bull's black hide compos'd the hero's bed;
A fplendid carpet roll'd beneath his head.
Then, with his foot, old Neftor gently shakes
The lumbering chief, and in these words a-
wakes:

Rife, fon of Tydeus! to the brave and strong
Reft feems inglorious, and the night too long.
But fleep'st thou now? when from yon hill the
foe
[low !
Hangs o'er the fleet, and shades our walls be-
At this, foft flumber from his eye-lids fled:
The warrior faw the hoary chief, and faid,
Wondrous old man! whofe foul no respite knows,
Though years and honours bid thee feek repose,
Let younger Greeks our fleeping warriors wake;
Ill fits thy age thefe toils to undertake.

My friend the anfwer'd) generous is thy care,
Thefe toils my fubjects and my fons might bear;
Their loyal thoughts and pious loves confpire
To cafe a fovereign, and relieve a fire.
But now the last despair furrounds our host;
No hour must pafs, no moment must be loft;
Each fingle Greek, in this conclusive strife,
Stands on the harpeft edge of death or life:
Yet, if my years thy kind regard engage,
Employ thy youth as. I employ my age:
Succeed to these my cares, and rouze the reft:
He ferves me moft, who serves his country beft.
This faid, the hero o'er his shoulders flung

A lion's poils, that to his ancles hung; [long.
Then feiz'd his ponderous lance, and ftrode a-
Meges the bold, with Ajax fam'd for speed,
The warrior rouz'd, and to th' entrenchments
led,

And now the chiefs approach the nightly guard;
A wakeful fquadron, each in arms prepar'd:
Th' unweary'd watch their liftening leaders keep,
And, couching clofe, repel invading fleep.
So faithful dogs their fleecy charge maintain,
With tail protected from the prowling train,
When the gaunt lionefs, with hunger bold,
Springs from the mountains tow'rd the guarded
[hear;
Through breaking woods her rustling courfe they
Loud, and more loud, the clamours ftrike their ear
Of hounds and men; they start, they gaze around,

fold:

Thus watch'd the Grecians, cautious of furprize,
Each voice, each motion, drew their ears and eyes,
Each step of paffing feet increas'd th' affright,
And hoftile Troy was ever full in fight.
Neftor with joy the wakeful band furvey'd,
And thus accofted through the gloomy fhade:
'Tis well, my fons! your nightly cares employ;
Elfe muft our hoft become the fcorn of Troy.
Watch thus, and Greece fhall live-The hero
faid;

Then o'er the trench the following chieftains led.
His fon, and godlike Merion, march'd behind
(For these the princes to their council join'd);
The trenches past, th' affembled kings around
In filent state the confiftory crown'd.

A place there was yet undefil'd with gore,
The fpot where Hector ftopp'd his rage before;
When night defcending, from his vengeful hand
Repriev'd the relicks of the Grecian band:
(The plain befide with mangled corpfe was spread,
And all his progrefs mark'd by heaps of dead.)
There fat the mournful kings: when Neleus' for
The council opening, in these words begun :

Is there (faid he) a chief fo greatly brave,
His life to hazard, and his country fave?
Lives there a man, who fingly dares to go
To yonder camp, or feize fome straggling foe?
Or, favour'd by the night, approach fo near,
Their fpeech, their counfels, and defigus, to hear 2.
If to befiege our navies they prepare,

Or Troy once more must be the feat of war?
This could he learn, and to our peers recite,
And país unharm'd the dangers of the night,
What fame were his through all fucceeding days,
While Phoebus fhines, or men have tongues to
praise ?

What gifts his grateful country would bestow?
What must not Greece to her deliverer owe?
A fable ewe each leader should provide,
With each a fable lambkin by her fide;
At every rite his share should be increas'd,
And his the foremost honours of the feast.
Fear held them mute: alone, untaught to fear
Tydides fpoke-The man you feek, is here.
Through yon black camps to bend my dangerous
way,

Some God within commands, and I obey.
But let fome other chofen warrior join,
To raise my hopes, and fecond my defign.
By mutual confidence, and mutual aid,
Great deeds are done, and great discoveries made;
The wife new prudence from the wife acquire,
And one brave hero fans another's fire.

Contending leaders at the word arose:
Each generous breaft with emulation glows:
So brave a talk each Ajax ftrove to share,
Bold Merion ftrove, and Neftor's valiant heir;
The Spartan with'd the second place to gain,
And great Ulyffes wifh'd, nor wish'd in vain.
Then thus the king of men the contest ends:
Thou firft of warriors, and thou best of friends,
Undaunted Diomed! what chief to join
In this great enterprize, is only thine.
Juft be thy choice, without affection made;
To birth or office, no refpect be paid;
Let worth determine here. The monarch spake,

Then thus (the godlike Diomed rejoin'd): My choice declares the impulfe of my mind, How can I doubt, while great Ulyffes ftands To lend his counfels, and affift our hands? A chief, whose safety is Minerva's care; So fam'd, fo dreadful, in the works of war: Bleft in his conduct, I no aid require; Wisdom like his might pass through flames of fire.

It fits thee not, before these chiefs of fame, (Reply'd the fage) to praise me, or to blame : Praise from a friend, or cenfure from a foe, Are loft on hearers that our merits know. But let us hafte-Night rolls the hours away, The reddening orient shows the coming day, The stars fhine fainter on th' æthereal plains, And of Night's empire but a third remains. Thus having spoke, with generous ardour preft, In arms terrific their huge limbs they dreft. A two-edg'd faulchion Thrafymed the brave, And ample buckler, to Tydides gave: Then in a leathern helm he cas'd his head, Short of its creft, and with no plume o'erfpead: (Such as by youths unus'd to arms are worn; No spoils enrich it, and no studs adorn.) Next him Ulyffes took a fhining fword, A bow and quiver, with bright arrows stor❜d: A well-prov'd cafque, with leather braces bound, (Thy gift, Meriones) his temples crown'd: Soft wool within; without, in order spread, A boar's white teeth grinn'd horrid o'er his head. This from Amyntor, rich Ormenus' son, Autolychus by fraudful rapine won, And gave Amphidamas; from him the prize Molus receiv'd, the pledge of focial ties; The helmet next by Merion was poffefs'd, And now Ulyffes' thoughtful temples prefs'd. Thus fheath'd in arms, the council they forfake, And dark through paths oblique their progrefs Just then, in fign the favour'd their intent, [take. A long-wing'd heron great Minerva fent: This, though furrounding fhades obfcur'd their view, [knew. By the thrill clang, and whistling wings, they As from the right the foar'd, Ulyffes pray'd, Hail'd the glad omen, and addrefs'd the Maid:

O daughter of that God, whofe arm can wield Th' avenging bolt, and shake the dreadful shield! O thou! for ever prefent in my way, Who all my motions, all my toils, survey! Safe may we pal's beneath the gloomy shade, Safe by thy fuccour to our fhips convey'd ; And let fome deed this fignal night adorn, To claim the tears of Trojans yet unborn.

Then godlike Diomed preferr'd his prayer: Daughter of Jove, unconquer'd Pallas! hear. Great queen of arms, whofe favour Tydeus won, As thou defend'st the fire, defend the fon. When on fopus' banks the banded powers Of Greece he left, and sought the Theban tow. fhow, Peace was his charge; receiv'd with peaceful He went a legate, but return'd a foe: Then help'd by thee, and cover'd by thy He fought with numbers, and made numbers So now be prefent, Oh celeftial Maid! So ftill continue to the race thine aid!

ers,

fhield, [yield.

A youthful steer shall fall beneath the ftroke,
Untam'd, unconfcious of the galling yoke,
With ample forehead, and with fpreading horns,
Whose taper tops refulgent gold adorns.

The heroes pray'd; and Pallas from the skies
Accords their vow, fucceeds their enterprize.
Now, like two lions panting for the prey,
With dreadful thoughts they trace the dreary way,
Through the black horrors of th' enfanguin'd
plain,

Through duft, through blood, o'er arms and hills of flain.

Nor less bold Hector, and the fons of Troy,
On high defigns the wakeful hours employ :
Th' aflembled peers their lofty chief inclos'd;
Who thus the counfels of his breaft propos'd:

What glorious man for high attempts prepar'd,
Dares greatly venture, for a rich reward,
Of yonder fleet a bold discovery make, [take?
What watch they keep, and what refolves they
If now fubdued they meditate their flight,
And spent with toil neglect the watch of night ?
His be the chariot that thall please him moft,
Of all the plunder of the vanquifh'd hoft;
His the fair steeds that all the rest excel,
And his the glory to have ferv'd fo well.

A youth there was among the tribes of Troy,
Dolon his name, Eumedes' only boy
(Five girls befide the reverend herald told)
Rich was the fon in brafs, and rich in gold,
Not bleft by nature with the charms of face,
But fwift of foot, and matchless in the race.
Hector! (he faid) my courage bids me meet
This high achievement, and explore the fleet:
But first exalt thy fceptre to the skies,

And swear to grant nie the demanded prize :
Th' immortal courfers, and the glittering car,
That bear Pelides through the ranks of war,
Encourag'd thus, no idle fcout I go,
Fulfil thy with, their whole intention know.
Ev'n to the royal tent purfue my way,
And all their counfels, all their aims betray.

The chief then heav'd the golden fceptre high,
Attefting thus the monarch of the sky:
Be witness thou! immortal Lord of all!
Whofe thunder shakes the dark aërial hall:
By none but Dolon fhall this prize be borne,
And him alone th' immortal steeds adorn.

Thus Hector fwore: the Gods were call'd in vain;

But the rash youth prepares to fcour the plain :
Across his back the bended bow he flung,
A wolf's grey hide around his shoulders hung,
A ferret's downy fur his helmet lin'd,
And in his hand a pointed javelin shin'd.
Then (never to return) he fought the shore,
And trod the path his feet must tread no more.
Scarce had he pass'd the steeds and Trojan throng
(Still bending forward as he cours'd along),
When, on the hollow way, th' approaching tread
Ulyffes mark'd, and thus to Diomed:

O friend! I hear some step of hoftile feet,
Moving this way, or haftening to the fleet:
Some fpy perhaps, to lurk befide the main;
Or nightly pillager that ftrips the flain.
Yet let him pafs, and win a little space;
Then rush behind him, and prevent his pace

But if too fwift of foot he flies before,
Confine his courfe along the fleet and shore,
Betwixt the camp and him our spears employ,
And intercept his hop'd return to Troy.
With that they stepp'd afide, and ftoop'd their
(As Dolon país'd) behind a heap of dead: [head
Along the path the spy unwary flew;
Soft, at juft diftance, both the chiefs pursue.
So diftant they, and fuch the space between,
As when two teams of mules divide the green
(To whom the hind like shares of land allows),
When now new furrows part th' approaching
ploughs.

Now Dolon listening heard them as they past;
Hector (he thought) had fent, and check'd his
Till fcarce at diftance of a javelin's throw, [hafte,
No voice fucceding, he perceiv'd the foe.
As when two skilful hounds the leveret wind;
Or chace through woods obfcure the trembling
Now loft, now feen, they intercept his way, [hind;
And from the herd still turn the flying prey :
So fast, and with fuch fears, the Trojan flew ;
So clofe, fo conftant, the bold Greeks purfue.
Now almoft on the fleet the daftard falls,
And mingles with the guards that watch the walls;
When brave Tydides stopp'd; a generous thought
(Infpir'd by Pallas) in his bolom wrought,
Left on the foe fome forward Greek advance,
And fnatch the glory from his lifted lance.
Then thus aloud: Whoe'er thou art remain;
This javelin elfe fhall fix thee to the plain.
He faid, and high in air the weapon cast,
Which wilful err'd, and o'er his fhoulder past;
Then fix'd in earth. Against the trembling wood
The wretch ftood propp'd, and quiver'd as he
A fudden palfy feiz'd his turning head; [ftood;
His loofe teeth chatter'd, and his colour fled :
The panting warriors feize him as he stands,
And with unmanly tears his life demands.

O fpare my youth, and for the breath I owe,
Large gifts of price my father shall bestow.
Vaft heaps of brafs fhall in your ships be told,
And feel well-temper'd, and refulgent gold.
To whom Ulyffes made this wife reply;
Whoe'er thou art, be bold, nor fear to die.
What moves thee, fay, when fleep has clos'd the
To roam the filent fields in dead of night? [fight,
Cam'ft thou the secrets of our camp to find,
By Hector prompted, or thy daring mind?
Or art fome wretch by hopes of plunder led
Through heaps of carnage to defpoil the dead?
Then thus pale Dolon with a fearful look,
(Still as he spoke, his limbs with horror shook)
Hither I came, by Hector's words deceiv'd;
Much did he promise, rafhly I believ'd:
No lefs a bribe than great Achilles' car,
And thofe fwift fteeds that sweeps the ranks of
Urg'd me, unwilling, this attempt to make; [war,
To learn what counfels, what refolves you take :
If, now fubdued, you fix your hopes on flight,
And, tir'd with toils, neglect the watch of night?
Bold was thy aim, and glorious was the prize!
(Ulyffes, with a scornful smile, replies)
Far other rulers thofe proud steeds demand,
And fcorn the guidance of a vulgar hand;
Ev'n great Achilles fcarce their rage can tame,

But fay, be faithful, and the truth recite !
Where lies encamp'd the Trojan chief to night?
Where ftand his courfers? in what quarter sleep
Their other princes? tell what watch they keep:
Say, fince their conqueft, what their counfels
Or here to combat, from their city far, [are;
Or back to Ilion's wall transfer the war.

Ulyffes thus, and thus Eumedes' fon :
What Dolon knows, his faithful tongue shall own.
Hector, the peers affembling in his tent,
A council holds at Ilus' monument,
No certain guards the nightly watch partake;
Where'er yon fires afcend, the Trojans wake:
Anxious for Troy, the guard the natives keep;
Safe in their cares, th' auxiliar forces fleep,
Whofe wives and infants, from the danger far,
Difcharge their fouls of half the fears of war.

Then fleep thofe aids among the Trojan train, (Enquir'd the chief) or scatter'd o'er the plain? To whom the fpy: Their powers they thus difpose:

The Pæons, dreadful with their bended bows,
The Carians, Caucons, the Peiafgian hoft,
And Leleges, encamp along the coaft.
Not diftant far, lie higher on the land
The Lycian, Myfian, and Mæonian band,
And Phrygia's horfe, by Thymbras' ancient wall;
The Thracians utmost, and apart from all.
Thefe Troy but lately to her fuccour won,
Led on by Rhefus, great Eioneus' fon :
I faw his courfers in proud triumph go,
Swift as the wind, and white as winter fnow:
Rich filver plates his fhining car infold;
His folid arms, refulgent, flame with gold;
No mortal fhoulders fuit the glorious load,
Celeftial Panoply, to grace a God!

Let me, unhappy, to your fleet be borne,
Or leave me here, a captive's fate to mourn,
In cruel chains; till you return reveal,
The truth or falfehood of the news I tell.

To this Tydides, with a gloomy frown:
Think not to live though all the truth be shown
Shall we difmifs thee, in some future strife
To risk more bravely thy now forfeit life?
Or that again our camps thou may'ft explore;
No---once a traitor, thou betray'ft no more.

Sternly he spoke, and as the wretch prepar'd With humble blandishment to stroke his beard, Like lightning fwift the wrathful faulchion flew, Divides the neck, and cuts the nerves in two; One instant snatch'd his trembling foul to hell, The head, yet fpeaking, mutter'd as it fell. The furry helmet from his brow they tear, The wolf's grey hide, th' unbended bow and spear; Thefe great Ulyffes lifting to the skies, To favouring Pallas dedicates the prize:

Great Queen of arms! receive this hostile spoil, And let the Thracian steeds reward our toil: Thee first of all the heavenly hoft we praise; O speed our labours, and direct our ways! This faid, the spoils with dropping gore defac'd, High on a spreading tamarisk he plac'd; Then heap'd with reeds and gather'd boughs the To guide their footsteps to the place again. [plain, Through the still night they cross the devious fields [fhields,