Not unappeas'd he enters Pluto's gate, Heart-piercing anguish ftruck the Grecian hoft, 570 (Phorbas the rich, of all the Trojan train 575 Whom Hermes lov'd, and taught the arts of gain): Full in his eye the weapon chanc'd to fall, And from the fibres scoop'd the rooted ball, Drove through the neck, and hurl'd him to the plain : He lifts his miferable arms in vain! Swift his broad faulchion fierce Peneleus fpread, 580 585 590 Aghaft Aghaft they gaze around the fleet and wall, 600 O fay, when Neptune made proud Ilion yield, 610 615 And the fierce foul came rushing through the wound. Ajax the less, of all the Grecian race THE ARGUMENT. The fifth Battle, at the fhips; and the Acts of Ajax. JUPITER awaking, fees the Trojans repulfed 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 appeafes him by her fubmiffions: fhe is then fent to Iris and Apollo. Juno, repairing to the affembly of the Gods, attempts, with extraordinary addrefs, to incenfe them against Jupiter; in particular touches Mars with a violent refentment: 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 reluctanee and paffion, he confents. Apollo reinfpires Hector with vigour, brings him back to the battle, marches before him with his Ægis, and turns the fortune of the fight. He breaks down great part of the Grecian wall: the Trojans rush in, and attempt to fire the first line of the fleet, but are, as yet, repelled by the greater Ajax with a prodigious laughter. |