He spoke; the Goddess with the charming eyes

Glows with celestial red, and thus replies: Is this a scene for love? On Ida's height, Exposed to mortal and immortal sight; Our joys profaned by each familiar eye; The sport of Heav'n, and fable of the sky! How shall I e'er review the bless'd abodes, Or mix among the Senate of the Gods? 380 Shall I not think, that, with disorder'd charms,

All Heav'n beholds me recent from thy arms?

With skill divine has Vulcan form'd thy

bower,

Sacred to love and to the genial hour;
If such thy will, to that recess retire,
And secret there indulge thy soft desire.'
She ceas'd: and smiling with superior
love,

Thus answer'd mild the cloud-compelling
Jove:

To check awhile the haughty hopes of Troy:

While Jove yet rests, while yet my vapours shed

The golden vision round his sacred head; For Juno's love, and Somnus' pleasing ties, Have closed those awful and eternal eyes.'

Thus having said, the Power of Slumber

flew,

Thy lofty birth no succour could impart, The wings of death o'ertook thee on the dart:

Swift to perform Heav'n's fatal will it fled, Full on the juncture of the neck and head, And took the joint, and cut the nerves in twain;

The drooping head first tumbled to the plain:

So just the stroke, that yet the body stood Erect, then roll'd along the sands in blood. 'Here, proud Polydamas, here turn thy eyes!'

The tow'ring Ajax loud-insulting cries: 550 'Say, is this chief, extended on the plain, A worthy vengeance for Prothonor slain? Mark well his port! his figure and his face Nor speak him vulgar, nor of vulgar race; Some lines, methinks, may make his lineage known,

Antenor's brother, or perhaps his son.'

He spake, and smil'd severe, for well he

Jupiter, awaking, sees the Trojans repulsed from the trenches, Hector in a swoon, and Neptune at the head of the Greeks; he is highly incensed at the artifice of Juno, who appeases him by her submissions; she is then sent to Iris and Apollo. Juno, repairing to the assembly of the Gods, attempts with extraordinary address to incense them against Jupiter; in particular she touches Mars with a violent resentment; he is ready to take arms, but is prevented by Minerva. Iris and Apollo obey the orders of Jupiter; Iris commands Neptune to leave the battle, to which, after much reluctance and passion, he consents. Apollo reinspires Hector with vigour, brings him back to the battle. marches before him with his ægis, and turn the fortune of the fight. He breaks down a great part of the Grecian wall; the Trojans rush in, and attempt to fire the first line of the fleet, but are yet repelled by the greater Ajax with a prodigious slaughter.

Else had thy Juno better counsels giv'n, And taught submission to the Sire of Heav'n.'

'Thinkst thou with me? fair Empress of the Skies!'

Th'immortal Father with a smile replies:
'Then soon the haughty Sea-God shall obey,
Nor dare to act, but when we point the way.
If truth inspires thy tongue, proclaim our
will

To yon bright Synod on th' Olympian Hill;
Our high decree let various Iris know,
And call the God that bears the silver bow.
Let her descend, and from th' embattled