The cause of liberty will receive no small advantage in future times, when it shall be observed that the Earl of Halifax was one of the patriots who were at the head of it; and that most of those who were eminent in the several parts of polite or useful learning, were by his influence and example engaged in the same interest.

I hope, therefore, the public will excuse my ambition for thus intruding into the number of those applauded men who have paid him this kind of homage, especially since I am also prompted to it by gratitude, for the protection with which he had begun to honour me; and do it at a time when he cannot suffer by the importunity of my acknowledgments.

THE FIRST BOOK OF THE ILIAD.

TO THE READER.

I MUST inform the reader, that when I began this first book, I had some thoughts of translating the whole Iliad; but had the pleasure of being diverted from that design, by finding the work was fallen into a much abler hand. I would not therefore be thought to have any other view in publishing this small specimen of Homer's Iliad, than to bespeak, if possible, the favour of the public to a translation of Homer's Odysseis, wherein I have already made some progress.

ACHILLES' fatal wrath, whence discord rose,
That brought the sons of Greece unnumber'd woes,
O goddess, sing. Full many a hero's ghost
Was driven untimely to th' infernal coast,
While in promiscuous heaps their bodies lay,
A feast for dogs, and every bird of

prey.

So did the sire of gods and men fulfil
His steadfast purpose, and almighty will;
What time the haughty chiefs their jars begun,
Atrides, king of men, and Peleus' godlike son.
What god in strife the princes did engage?
Apollo burning with vindictive rage

Against the scornful king, whose impious pride His priest dishonour'd, and his power defy'd. Hence swift contagion, by the god's commands, Swept thro' the camp, and thinn'd the Grecian bands.

For, wealth immense the holy Chryses bore, (His daughter's ransom) to the tented shore: His sceptre stretching forth, the golden rod, Hung round with hallow'd garlands of his god, Of all the host, of every princely chief, But first of Atreus' sons he begg'd relief:

So

Great Atreus' sons and warlike Greeks attend.

may th' immortal gods your cause befriend, So may you Priam's lofty bulwarks burn, And rich in gather'd spoils to Greece return, As for these gifts my daughter you bestow, And reverence due to great Apollo show, Jove's favourite offspring, terrible in war, Who sends his shafts unerring from afar."

Throughout the host consenting murmurs rise, The priest to reverence, and give back the prize, When the great king, incens'd, his silence broke In words reproachful, and thus sternly spoke:

"Hence, dotard, from my sight. Nor ever more Approach, I warn thee, this forbidden shore; Lest thou stretch forth, my fury to restrain, The wreaths and sceptre of thy god, in vain. The captive maid I never will resign, Till age o'ertakes her, I have vow'd her mine.

To distant Argos shall the fair be led:

She shall; to ply the loom, and grace my bed.
Begone, ere evil intercept thy way.

:

Hence on thy life nor urge me by thy stay."
He ended frowning. Speechless and dismay'd,

The aged sire his stern command obey'd.
Silent he pass'd, amid the deafening roar
Of tumbling billows, on the lonely shore;
Far from the camp he pass'd: then suppliant
stood;

And thus the hoary priest invok'd his god:
“Dread warrior with the silver bow, give ear.
Patron of Chrysa and of Cilla, hear.
To thee the guard of Tenedos belongs;
Propitious Smintheus! O! redress my wrongs.
If e'er within thy fane, with wreaths adorn'd,
The fat of bulls and well-fed goats I burn'd,
O! hear my prayer. Let Greece thy fury know,
And with thy shafts avenge thy servant's woe."

Apollo heard his injur'd suppliant's cry.

Down rush'd the vengeful warrior from the sky;
Across his breast the glittering bow he slung,
And at his back the well-stor'd quiver hung:
(His arrows rattled, as he urg'd his flight.)
In clouds he flew, conceal'd from mortal sight;
Then took his stand, the well-aim'd shaft to throw :
Fierce sprung the string, and twang'd the silver

bow.

The dogs and mules his first keen arrow slew;
Amid the ranks the next more fatal flew,

A deathful dart. The funeral piles around
For ever blaz'd on the devoted ground.

Nine days entire he vex'd th' embattled host, The tenth, Achilles through the winding coast Summon'd a council, by the queen's command Who wields Heaven's sceptre in her snowy hand: She mourn'd her favourite Greeks, who now enclose

The hero, swiftly speaking as he rose :

"What now, O Atreus' son, remains in view, But o'er the deep our wanderings to renew, Doom'd to destruction, while our wasted powers The sword and pestilence at once devours? Why haste we not some prophet's skill to prove, Or seek by dreams? (for dreams descend from Jove.)

What moves Apollo's rage let him explain, What vow withheld, what hecatomb unslain : And if the blood of lambs and goats can pay The price for guilt, and turn this curse away?" Thus he. And next the reverend Calchas

rose,

Their guide to Ilion whom the Grecians chose; The prince of augurs, whose enlighten'd eye

Could things past, present, and to come, descry: Such wisdom Phoebus gave. He thus began, His speech addressing to the godlike man:

"Me then command'st thou, lov'd of Jove, tu show

What moves the god that bends the dreadful bow?