THE

ILIA D.

BOOK X.

The Argument.

THE NIGHT-ADVENTURE OF DIOMED AND ULYSSES.

UPON the refusal of Achilles to return to the army, the distress of Agamemnon is described in the most lively manner. He takes no rest that night, but passes through the camp, awaking the leaders, and contriving all possible methods for the public safety. Menelaus, Nestor, Ulysses, and Diomed, are employed in raising the rest of the captains. They call a council of war, and determine to send scouts into the enemy's camp, to learn their posture, and discover their intentions. Diomed undertakes this hazardous enterprize, and makes choice of Ulysses for his companion. In their passage they surprise Dolon, whom Hector had sent on a like design to the camp of the Grecians. From him they are informed of the situation of the Trojan and auxiliary forces, and particularly of Rhesus, and the Thracians, who were lately arrived. They pass on with success; kill Rhesus, with several of his officers, and seize the famous horses of that prince, with which they return in triumph to the camp.

The same night continues; the scene lies in the two camps.

ALL night the chiefs before their vessels lay,
And lost in sleep the labours of the day :
All but the king; with various thoughts opprest,
His country's cares lay rolling in his breast.
As when by light'nings Jove's æthereal pow'r 5
Foretels the rattling hail, or weighty show'r,

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Or sends soft snows to whiten all the shore,
Or bids the brazen throat of war to roar;
By fits one flash succeeds as one expires,
And heav'n flames thick with momentary fires. 10
So bursting frequent from Atridès' breast,
Sighs following sighs his inward fears confest.
Now o'er the fields, dejected, he surveys
From thousand Trojan fires the mounting blaze;
Hears in the passing wind their music blow, 15
And marks distinct the voices of the foe.
Now looking backwards to the fleet and coast,
Anxious he sorrows for th' endanger'd host.
He rends his hairs, in sacrifice to Jove,
And sues to him that ever lives above:
Inly he groans, while glory and despair
Divide his heart, and wage a doubtful war.
And thousand cares his lab'ring breast revolves;
To seek sage Nestor now the chief resolves,
With him in wholesome counsels to debate 25
What yet remains to save th' afflicted state.
He rose, and first he cast his mantle round,
Next on his feet the shining sandals bound;
A lion's yellow spoils his back conceal'd;
His warlike hand a pointed jav'in held.
Meanwhile his brother, prest with equal woes,
Alike deny'd the gifts of soft repose,

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Laments for Greece; that in his cause before
So much had suffer'd, and must suffer more.
A leopard's spotted hide his shoulders spread; $5
A brazen helmet glitter'd on his head:

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Thus (with a jav'lin in his hand) he went To wake Atridès in the royal tent. Already wak'd Atridès he descry'd, His armour buckling at his vessel's side. Joyful they met; the Spartan thus begun : Why puts my brother his bright armour on? ، Sends he some spy, aunidst these silent hours, To try yon' camp, and watch the Trojan pow'rs? 'But say, what hero shall sustain that task? 'Such bold exploits uncommon courage ask, Guideless, alone, thro' night's dark shade to go, ' And 'midst a hostile camp, explore the foe!'

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To whom the king: In such distress we stand, 'No vulgar counsels our affairs demand; . Greece to preserve is now no easy part, 'But asks high wisdom, deep design, and art; 'For Jove averse our humble pray'r denies, 'And bows his head to Hector's sacrifice. 'What eye has witness'd, or what ear believ'd, 55 'In one great day, by one great arm atchiev'd, 'Such wond'rous deeds as Hector's hand has done, ' And we beheld, the last revolving sun?

'What honors the belov'd of Jove adorn!

Sprung from no god, and of no goddess born; 60 Yet such his acts, as Greeks unborn shall tell, 'Aud curse the battle where their fathers fell. 'Now speed thy hasty course along the fleet, 'There call great Ajax, and the prince of Crete: ، Ourself to hoary Nestor will repair; To keep the guards on duty, be his care;

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'Some other be dispatch'd, of nimbler feet, 125 'To those tall ships, remotest of the fleet,

• Where lie great Ajax, and the king of Crete. To rouse the Spartan I myself decree;

'Dear as he is to us, and dear to thee,

Yet must I task his sloth, that claims no share 130 With his great brother in his martial care: < Him it behov'd to ev'ry chief to sue,

Preventing ev'ry part perform'd by you; 'For strong necessity our toils demands, 'Claims all our hearts, and urges all our hands.'135 To whom the king: 'With rev'rence we allow Thy just rebukes, but learn to spare them now: My gen'rous brother is of gentle kind,

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He seems remiss, but bears a valiant mind; 'Thro' too much def'rence to our sov'reign sway, 'Content to follow when we lead the way. • But now, our ills industrious to prevent, < Long ere the rest he rose, and sought my tent. The chiefs you nam'd, already, at his call, Prepare to meet us at the navy-wall; Assembling there, between the trench and gates, 'Near the night guards, our chosen council waits.' Then none' (said Nestor) shall this rule withstand,

For great examples justify command.'
With that, the venerable warrior rose ;
The shining greaves his manly legs enclose;
His purple mantle golden buckles join'd,
Warm with the softest wool, and doubly lin'd.

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Then rushing from his tent, he snatch'd in haste
His steely lance, that lighten'd as he past.
The camp he travers'd thro' the sleeping crowd,
Stopt at Ulysses' tent, and call'd aloud.
Ulysses, sudden as the voice was sent,

Awakes, starts up, and issues from his tent. 159
'What new distress, what sudden cause of fright,
'Thus leads you wand'ring in the silent night?'
"O prudent chief!' (the Pylian sage reply'd,)
Wise as thou art, be now thy wisdom try'd:
Whatever means of safety can be sought,
'Whatever counsels can inspire our thought, 165
Whatever methods, or to fly or fight!

All, all depend on this important night.'

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He heard, return'd, and took his painted shield,
Then join'd the chiefs, and follow'd thro' the field.
Without his tent, bold Diomed they found
All sheath'd in arms, his brave companions round;
Each, sunk in sleep, extended on the field,
His head reclining on his bossy shield.

A wood of spears stood by, that, fix'd upright,
Shot from their flashing points a quiv'ring light. 175
A bull's black hide compos'd the hero's bed;
A splendid carpet roll'd beneath his head.
Then with his foot old Nestor gently shakes
The slumb'ring chief, and in these words awakes:
'Rise, son of Tydeus! to the brave and strong 180
• Rest seems inglorious, and the night too long.
'But sleep'st thou now! when from yon hill the foe
"Hangs o'er the fleet, and shades our walls below ?'