Agamemnon, after the last day's defeat, proposes to the Greeks to quit the siege, and return to their country. Diomed opposes this, and Nestor seconds him, praising his wisdom and resolution. He orders the guard to be strengthened, and a council summoned to deliberate what measures were to be followed in this emergency. Agamemnon pursues this advice, and Nestor farther prevails upon him to send ambassadors to Achilles, in order to move him to a reconciliation. Ulysses and Ajax are made choice of, who are accompanied by old Phoenix. They make, each of them, very moving and pressing speeches, but are rejected with roughness by Achilles, who notwithstanding retains Phoenix in his tent. The ambassadors return unsuccessfully to the camp, and the troops betake themselves to sleep.

This book, and the next following, take up the space of one night, which is the twentyseventh from the beginning of the poem. The scene lies on the sea-shore, the station of the Grecian ships.

THUS joyful Troy maintain'd the watch of night:

While Fear, pale comrade of inglorious Flight,

And heav'n-bred Horror, on the Grecian part,

Sat on each face, and sadden'd ev'ry heart.

As from its cloudy dungeon issuing forth, A double tempest of the west and north

approve,

I ask no presents, no reward for love; Myself will give the dower; so vast a store,

As never father gave a child before. Sev'n ample cities shall confess his sway, Him Enopé, and Pheræ him obey, Cardamyle with ample turrets crown'd, And sacred Pedasus for vines renown'd; Epea fair, the pastures Hira yields,

And rich Antheia with her flowery fields: The whole extent to Pylos' sandy plain, 201 Along the verdant margin of the main. There heifers graze, and lab'ring oxen toil; Bold are the men, and gen'rous is the soil;

There shall he reign with power and justice crown'd,

And rule the tributary realms around.
All this I give, his vengeance to control,
And sure all this may move his mighty
soul.

Pluto, the grisly God, who never spares, Who feels no mercy, and who hears no prayers,

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Lives dark and dreadful in deep Hell's abodes,

Wise Nestor turns on each his careful eye, Forbids t' offend, instructs them to apply: Much he advised them all, Ulysses most, To deprecate the Chief, and save the host. Thro' the still night they march, and hear the roar

Of murm'ring billows on the sounding shore.

To Neptune, ruler of the seas profound, Whose liquid arms the mighty globe sur

round,

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They pour forth vows, their embassy to bless,

And calm the rage of stern Æacides.
And now arrived, where, on the sandy bay
The Myrmidonian tents and vessels lay,
Amused at ease, the godlike man they
found,

Pleas'd with the solemn harp's harmonious sound

(The well-wrought harp from conquer'd Thebæ came,

Of polish'd silver was its costly frame);

What scenes of slaughter in yon fields appear!

The dead we mourn, and for the living fear;

Greece on the brink of fate all doubtful stands,

And owns no help but from thy saving hands:

Troy and her aids for ready vengeance call;

Their threat'ning tents already shade our wall:

Hear how with shouts their conquest they proclaim,

And point at ev'ry ship their vengeful flame!

For them the Father of the Gods declares, Theirs are his omens, and his Thunder theirs.

See, full of Jove, avenging Hector rise! See! Heav'n and Earth the raging Chief defies;

What fury in his breast, what lightning in his eyes!

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He waits but for the morn, to sink in flame The ships, the Greeks, and all the Grecian