Thus fell two heroes; one the pride of Thrace,
And one the leader of the Epian race:

Death's fable fhade at once o'ercaft their eyes,
In duft the vanquish'd, and the victor lies.
With copious flaughter all the fields are red,
And heap'd with growing mountains of the dead.
Had fome brave chief this martial fcene beheld,
By Pallas guarded through the dreadful field;
Might darts be bid to turn their points away,
And fwords around him innocently play;
The war's whole art with wonder had he seen,
And counted heroes where he counted men.

So fought each hoft with thirft of glory fir'd,
And crouds on crouds triumphantly expir'd,

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635

THE

ARGUMENT.

The Acts of Diomed.

DIOMED, affifted by Pallas, performs wonders in this day's battle. Pandarus wounds him with an arrow, but the Goddefs cures him, enables him to difcern Gods from mortals, and prohibits him from contending with any of the former, excepting Venus. Æneas joins Pandarus to oppofe him: Pandarus is killed, and Æneas in great danger, but for the affiftance of Venus; who, as fhe is removing her fon from the fight, is wounded on the hand by Diomed. Apollo feconds her in his rescue, and at length carries off Eneas to Troy, where he is healed in the temple of Pergamus. Mars rallies the Trojans, and affifts Hector to make a stand. In the mean time Æneas is restored to the field, and they overthrow feveral of the Greeks; among the reft Tlepolemus is flain by Sarpedon. Juno and Minerva defcend to refift Mars; the latter incites Diomed to go against that God; he wounds him, and fends him groaning to heaven.

The first battle continues through this book. The fcene is the fame as in the former.

B

THE

ILIA D.

воок V.

UT Pallas now Tydides' foul inspires,

Fills with her force, and warms with all her fires,

Above the Greeks his deathlefs fame to raife,

And crown her hero with diftinguish'd praife.
High on his helm celestial lightnings play,
His beamy fhield emits a living ray;
Th' unweary'd blaze inceflant ftreams fupplies,
Like the red ftar that fires th' autumnal skies,
When fresh he rears his radiant orb to fight,
And, bath'd in Ocean, fhoots a keener light.
Such glories Pallas on the chief bestow'd,

Such, from his arms, the fierce effulgence flow'd:
Onward the drives him, furious to engage,

Where the fight burns, and where the thickeft rage,
The fons of Dares first the combat fought,

A wealthy priest, but rich without a fault;
In Vulcan's fane the father's days were led,
The fons to toils of glorious battle bred;

Thefe fingled from their troops the fight maintain,
Thefe from their fteeds, Tydides on the plain.
Fierce for renown the brother chiefs draw near,
And firft bold Phegus caft his founding spear,

L4

25

20

Which

Which o'er the warriour's fhoulder took its courfe,

And spent in empty air its erring force.

Not fo, Tydides, flew thy lance in vain,

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But pierc'd his breast, and stretch'd him on the plain. Seiz'd with unusual fear, Idæus fled,

Left the rich chariot, and his brother dead.

And, had not Vulcan lent his celeftial aid,
He too had funk to death's eternal shade;
But in a smoky cloud the God of fire
Preferv'd the fon, in pity to the fire.
The steeds and chariot, to the navy led,
Encreas'd the spoils of gallant Diomed.

Struck with amaze and fhaine, the Trojan crew
Or flain, or fled, the fons of Dares view;
When by the blood-stain'd hand Minerva preft
The God of battles, and this fpeech addreft:
Stern power of war! by whom the mighty fall,
Who bathe in blood, and shake the lofty wall!
Let the brave chiefs their glorious toils divide;
And whose the conqueft mighty Jove decide:
While we from interdicted fields retire,

Nor tempt the wrath of heaven's avenging Sire.

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Her words allay'd th' impetuous warriour's heat, 45 The God of arms and Martial Maid retreat; Remov'd from fight, on Xanthus' flowery bounds They fat, and liften'd to the dying founds.

Meantime, the Greeks, the Trojan race pursue,

And fome bold chieftain every leader flew :
First Odius falls, and bites the bloody fand,
His death ennobled by Atrides' hand.;

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