Then, turning back, the Sacrifice they sped:
The fatted Oxen flew, and flea'd the Dead.
Chop'd off their nervous Thighs, and next prepar'd
T'involve the lean in Cauls, and mend with Lard.
Sweet-breads and Collops, were with Skewers
prick'd
About the Sides; imbibing what they deck'd.'
The Prieft with holy Hands was seen to tine
The cloven Wood, and pour the ruddy Wine.
The Youth approach'd the Fire, and as it burn'd
On fivefharpBroachers rank'd, theRoast they turn'd:
These Morfels ftay'd their Stomachs; then the reft
They cut in Legs and Fillets for the Feaft;
Which drawn and ferv'd,theirHunger they appease
With fav'ry Meat, and set their Minds at ease.
Now when the rage of Eating was repell'd,
The Boys with generous Wine the Goblets fill'd.
The firft Libations to the Gods they pour:
And then with Songs indulge the Genial Hour.
Holy Debauch! Till Day to Night they bring,
With Hymns and Peans to the Bowyer King.
At Sun-fet to their Ship they make return,
And fnore fecure on Decks, till rofy Morn.
The Skies with dawning Day were purpled o'er; Awak'd, with lab'ring Oars they leave the Shore: The Pow'r appeas'd, with Winds fuffic'd the Sail, The bellying Canvass strutted with the Gale; The Waves indignant roar with furly Pride, And press against the Sides, and beaten off divide. They cut the foamy way, with Force impell'd Superior, till the Trojan Port they held: Then hauling on the Strand their Gally moor, And pitch their Tents along the crooked Shore.
Mean time the Goddefs-born in fecret pin'd; Nor visited the Camp, nor in the Council join'd, But keeping clofe, his gnawing Heart he fed With hopes of Vengeance on the Tyrant's Head: And wifh'd for bloody Wars and mortal Wounds, And of the Greeks oppress'd in Fight to hear the dying Sounds.
[Race, Now, when twelve Days compleat had run their The Gods bethought them of the Cares belonging to their Place.
Jove at their Head afcending from the Sea,
A fhoal of puny Pow'rs attend his way.
Then Thetis, not unmindful of her Son,
Emerging from the Deep, to beg her Boon,
Purfu'd their Track; and waken'd from his Reft,
Before the Sovereign ftood a Morning Gueft.
Him in the Circle, but apart, the found:
The reft at awful distance ftood around.
She bow'd, and ere the durft her Sute begin,
OneHand embrac'd his Knees,one prop'd hisChin.
Then thus. If I, Celestial Sire, in aught,
Have ferv'd thy Will, or gratify'd thy Thought,
One glimpse of Glory to my Issue give;
Grac'd for the little time he has to live.
Dishonour'd by the King of Men he stands:
His rightful Prize is ravish'd from his Hands.
But thou, O Father, in my Son's Defence, T
Affume thy Pow'r, affert thy Providence.
Let Troy prevail, till Greece th' Affront has paid,
With doubled Honours; and redeem'd his Aid.
She ceas'd, but the confid'ring God was mute: 'Till fhe, refolv'd to win, renew'd her Sute: Nor loos'd her Hold, but forc'd him to reply, Or grant me my Petition, or deny:
Jove cannot fear: Then tell me to my Face
That I, of all the Gods, am leaft in grace.
This I can bear: The Cloud-Compeller mourn'd,
And, fighing first, this Answer he return'drolo
Know'ft thou whatClamours will disturb my Reign,
What my stunn'd Ears from Juno muft fuftain?
In Council fhe gives Licence to her Tongue,
Loquacious, Brawling, ever in the wrong.
And now she will my partial Pow'r upbraid, ba'
If, alienate from Greece, I give the Trojans Aid.
But thou depart, and fhun her jealous Sight,
The Care be mine, to do Pelides right.
Go then, and on the Faith of Jove rely;
When nodding to thy Sute, he bows the Sky.
This ratifies th' irrevocable Doom:
The Sign ordain'd, that what I will shall come:
The Stamp of Heav'n, and Seal of Fate; He said,
And fhook the facred Honours of his Head.
With Terror trembled Heav'ns fubfiding Hill:
And from his fhaken Curls Ambrofial Dews diftil.
The Goddess goes exulting from his Sight,
And feeks the Seas profound; and leaves the
Realms of Light.
He moves into his Hall: The Pow'rs refort, Each from his Houfe to fill the Sovereign's Court. Nor waiting Summons, nor expecting stood; But met with Reverence, and receiv'd the God. He mounts the Throne; and Juno took her place: But fullen Discontent fate lowring on her Face. With jealous Eyes, at diftance fhe had seen, Whisp'ring with Jove the Silver-footed Queen; Then, impotent of Tongue (her Silence broke) Thus turbulent in rattling Tone she spoke.
Author of Ills, and clofe Contriver Jove,
Which of thy Dames, what Profstitute of Love,
Has held thy Ear fo long, and begg'd so hard,
For fome old Service done, fome new Reward?
Apart you talk'd, for that's your special care,
The Confort never must the Council fhare.
One gracious Word is for a Wife too much: [such.
Such is a Marriage-Vow, and Jove's own Faith is
Then thus the Sire of Gods, and Men below,
What I have hidden, hope not thou to know.
Ev'n Goddeffes are Women: And no Wife
Has Pow'r to regulate her Husband's Life:
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