The Iliad (tr Edward, Earl of Derby) | Page 9

all, in order due,?He minister'd, and from the flagon pour'd?The luscious nectar; while among the Gods?Rose laughter irrepressible, at sight?Of Vulcan hobbling round the spacious hall.
Thus they till sunset pass'd the festive hours;?Nor lack'd the banquet aught to please the sense,?Nor sound of tuneful lyre, by Phoebus touch'd,?Nor Muses' voice, who in alternate strains?Responsive sang: but when the sun had set,?Each to his home departed, where for each?The crippled Vulcan, matchless architect,?With wondrous skill a noble house had rear'd.
To his own couch, where he was wont of old,?When overcome by gentle sleep, to rest,?Olympian Jove ascended; there he slept,?And, by his side, the golden-throned Queen.
ARGUMENT.
THE TRIAL OF THE ARMY AND CATALOGUE OF THE FORCES.
Jupiter, in pursuance of the request of Thetis, sends a deceitful vision to Agamemnon, persuading him to lead the army to battle in order to make the Greeks sensible of their want of Achilles. The general, who is deluded with the hopes of taking Troy without his assistance, but fears the army was discouraged by his absence and the late plague, as well as by length of time, contrives to make trial of their disposition by a stratagem. He first communicates his design to the princes in council that he would propose a return to the soldiers, and that they should put a stop to them if the proposal was embraced. Then he assembles the whole host, and upon moving for a return to Greece, they unanimously agree to it, and run to prepare the ships. They are detained by the management of Ulysses, who chastises the insolence of Thersites. The assembly is recalled, several speeches made on the occasion, and at length the advice of Nestor followed, which was to make a general muster of the troops, and to divide them into their several nations, before they proceeded to battle. This gives occasion to the poet to enumerate all the forces of the Greeks and Trojans, in a large catalogue.
The time employed in this book consists not entirely of one day. The scene lies in the Grecian camp and upon the sea-shore; toward the end it removes to Troy.
BOOK II.
All night in sleep repos'd the other Gods,?And helmed warriors; but the eyes of Jove?Sweet slumber held not, pondering in his mind?How to avenge Achilles' cause, and pour?Destructive slaughter on the Grecian host.?Thus as he mus'd, the wisest course appear'd?By a deluding vision to mislead?The son of Atreus; and with winged words?Thus to a phantom form he gave command:?"Hie thee, deluding Vision, to the camp?And ships of Greece, to Agamemnon's tent;?There, changing nought, as I command thee, speak.?Bid that he arm in haste the long-hair'd Greeks?To combat; for the wide-built streets of Troy?He now may capture; since th' immortal Gods?Watch over her no longer; all are gain'd?By Juno's pray'rs; and woes impend o'er Troy."
He said: the Vision heard, and straight obey'd:?Swiftly he sped, and reached the Grecian ships,?And sought the son of Atreus; him he found?Within his tent, wrapped in ambrosial sleep;?Above his head he stood, like Neleus' son,?Nestor, whom Agamemnon rev'renc'd most?Of all the Elders; in his likeness cloth'd?Thus spoke the heav'nly Vision; "Sleep'st thou, son?Of Atreus, valiant warrior, horseman bold??To sleep all night but ill becomes a chief,?Charg'd with the public weal, and cares of state.?Hear now the words I bear; to thee I come?A messenger from Jove, who from on high?Looks down on thee with eyes of pitying love.?He bids thee arm in haste the long-hair'd Greeks?To combat; since the wide-built streets of Troy?Thou now mayst capture; for th' immortal Gods?Watch over her no longer; all are gain'd?By Juno's pray'rs; and woes impend o'er Troy.?Bear this in mind; and when from sleep arous'd?Let not my words from thy remembrance fade."?This said, he vanish'd; and the monarch left,?Inspir'd with thoughts which ne'er should come to pass.?For in that day he vainly hop'd to take?The town of Priam; ignorant what Jove?Design'd in secret, or what woes, what groans,?What lengthen'd labours in the stubborn fight,?Were yet for Trojans and for Greeks in store.?He woke from sleep; but o'er his senses spread?Dwelt still the heavenly voice; he sat upright;?He donn'd his vest of texture fine, new-wrought,?Then o'er it threw his ample robe, and bound?His sandals fair around his well-turn'd feet;?And o'er his shoulders flung his sword, adorn'd?With silver studs; and bearing in his hand?His royal staff, ancestral, to the ships?Where lay the brass-clad warriors, bent his way.
Aurora now was rising up the steep?Of great Olympus, to th' immortal Gods?Pure light diffusing; when Atrides bade?The clear-voic'd heralds to th' Assembly call?The gen'ral host; they gave the word, and straight?From ev'ry quarter throng'd the eager crowd.?But first, of all the Elders, by the side?Of Nestor's ship, the aged Pylian chief,?A secret conclave Agamemnon call'd;?And, prudent, thus the chosen few address'd:?"Hear me, my friends! In the still hours of night?I saw