'Thetis' (replied the God) 'our powers may claim, An ever-dear, an ever-honour'd name! When my proud mother hurl'd me from the sky (My awkward form, it seems, displeas'd her eye), She, and Eurynome, my griefs redress'd, And soft receiv'd me on their silver breast. Ev'n then, these arts employ'd my infant thought; Chains, bracelets, pendants, all their toys I wrought. 468 Nine years kept secret in the dark abode, Secure I lay, conceal'd from man and God: Deep in a cavern'd rock my days were led; The rushing ocean murmur'd o'er my head. Now since her presence glads our mansion, 'Tis thine, fair Thetis, the command to lay, And Vulcan's joy and duty to obey.' To whom the mournful mother thus replies (The crystal drops stood trembling in her eyes): 500 'Oh Vulcan! say, was ever breast divine So pierc'd with sorrows, so o'erwhelm'd as mine? Of all the Goddesses, did Jove prepare By force subjected to a man's embrace, Who, sinking now with age and sorrow, pays The mighty fine imposed on length of days. Sprung from my bed, a godlike Hero came, The bravest sure that ever bore the name; Like some fair plant, beneath my careful hand, 511 And bade the public and the laws decide: The witness is produced on either hand: For this, or that, the partial people stand: Th' appointed heralds still the noisy bands, And form a ring, with sceptres in their hands; On seats of stone, within the sacred place, The rev'rend elders nodded o'er the case; Alternate, each th' attending sceptre took, And, rising solemn, each his sentence spoke. Two golden talents lay amidst, in sight, The prize of him who best adjudg'd the right. 590 Thetis brings to her son the armour made by Vulcan. She preserves the body of his friend from corruption, and commands him to assemble the army, to declare his resentment at an end. Agamemnon and Achilles are solemnly reconciled: the speeches, presents, and ceremonies on that occasion. Achilles is with great difficulty persuaded to refrain from the battle till the troops have refreshed themselves, by the advice of Ulysses. The presents are conveyed to the tent of Achilles : where Briseis laments over the body of Patroclus. The hero obstinately refuses all repast, and gives himself up to lamentations for his friend. Minerva descends to strengthen him, by the order of Jupiter. He arms for the fight; his appearance described. He addresses himself to his horses, and reproaches them with the death of Patroclus. One of them is miraculously endued with voice, and inspired to prophesy his fate; but the hero, not astonished by that prodigy, rushes with fury to the combat. The thirtieth day. The scene is on the seashore. |