The third Battle, and the Acts of Agamemnon. Agamemnon, having armed himself, leads the Grecians to battle: Hector prepares the Trojans to receive them; while Jupiter, Juno, and Minerva, give the fignals of war. Agamemnon bears all before him; and Hector is commanded by Jupiter (who fends Iris for that purpose) to decline the engagement, till the king fhall be wounded and retire from the field. He then makes a great flaughter of the enemy; Ulyffes and Diomed put a stop to him for a time; but the latter being wounded by Paris, is obliged to defert his companion, who is encompaffed by the Trojans, wounded, and in the utmost danger, till Menelaüs and Ajax rescue him. Hector comes against Ajax; but that hero alone oppofes, multitudes, and rallies the Greeks. In the mean time Machaon, in the other wing of the army, is pierc'd with an arrow by Paris, and carried from the fight in Neftor's chariot. Achilles (who overlooked the action from his ship) fent Patroclus to enquire which of the Greeks was wounded in that manner? Neftor entertains him in his tent with an account of the accidents of the day, and a long recital of fome former wars which he remembered, tending to put Patroclus upon perfuading Achilles to fight for his countrymen, or at least permit Him to do it, clad in Achilles's armour. Patroclus in his return meets Eurypylus also wounded, and affifts him in that diftrefs. This book opens with the eight and twentieth day of the poem; and the fame day, with its various actions and adventures, is extended through the twelfth thirteenth, fourteenth, fifteenth, fixteenth, seventeenth, and part of the eighteenth books. The fcene lies in the field, near the monument of Ilus. THE I L IA D. BOOK XI. ... THE faffron morn, with early blushes spread, Now rofe refulgent from Tithonius' bed; With new-born day to gladden mortal fight, 1 5. She took, and thunder'd through the feas and land. 1o Whofe flips, remote, the guarded navy bound. Each bofom boils, each warriour starts to arms. No more they figh, inglorious to return, The king of men his hardy hoft infpires 20 And And firft he cas'd his manly legs around 25 30 35 On which a mimic ferpent creeps along ; 50% His azure length in easy waves extends, Till in three heads th' embroider'd monfter ends. Laf |