And now, the warriors passing on the way,
The graceful Paris first excused his stay.
To whom the noble Hector thus replied:
“O chief! in blood, and now in arms, allied!
Thy power in war with justice none contest;
Known is thy courage, and thy strength confess’d.
What pity sloth should seize a soul so brave,
Or godlike Paris live a woman’s slave!
My heart weeps blood at what the Trojans say,
And hopes thy deeds shall wipe the stain away.
Haste then, in all their glorious labours share,
For much they suffer, for thy sake, in war.
These ills shall cease, whene’er by Jove’s
decree
We crown the bowl to heaven and liberty:
While the proud foe his frustrate triumphs mourns,
And Greece indignant through her seas returns.”
{Illustration: BOWS AND BOW CASE.}
{Illustration: IRIS.}
ARGUMENT
THE SINGLE COMBAT OF HECTOR AND AJAX.
The battle renewing with double ardour upon the return
of Hector, Minerva is under apprehensions for the
Greeks. Apollo, seeing her descend from Olympus,
joins her near the Scaean gate. They agree to
put off the general engagement for that day, and incite
Hector to challenge the Greeks to a single combat.
Nine of the princes accepting the challenge, the lot
is cast and falls upon Ajax. These heroes, after
several attacks, are parted by the night. The
Trojans calling a council, Antenor purposes the delivery
of Helen to the Greeks, to which Paris will not consent,
but offers to restore them her riches. Priam
sends a herald to make this offer, and to demand a
truce for burning the dead, the last of which only
is agreed to by Agamemnon. When the funerals
are performed, the Greeks, pursuant to the advice of
Nestor, erect a fortification to protect their fleet
and camp, flanked with towers, and defended by a ditch
and palisades. Neptune testifies his jealousy
at this work, but is pacified by a promise from Jupiter.
Both armies pass the night in feasting but Jupiter
disheartens the Trojans with thunder, and other signs
of his wrath.
The three and twentieth day ends with the duel of
Hector and Ajax, the next day the truce is agreed;
another is taken up in the funeral rites of the slain
and one more in building the fortification before the
ships. So that somewhat about three days is employed
in this book. The scene lies wholly in the field.
So spoke the guardian of the Trojan state,
Then rush’d impetuous through the Scaean gate.
Him Paris follow’d to the dire alarms;
Both breathing slaughter, both resolved in arms.
As when to sailors labouring through the main,
That long have heaved the weary oar in vain,
Jove bids at length the expected gales arise;
The gales blow grateful, and the vessel flies.
So welcome these to Troy’s desiring train,
The bands are cheer’d, the war awakes again.
