Have sent, with costly offerings to the God: 460 465 I oft have heard thee boast, how thou, alone With chains to bind him; then, O Goddess, thou 470 Didst set him free, invoking to his aid 475 And clasp his knees, and supplicate his aid Thus he; and Thetis, weeping, thus replied: 480 "Alas, my child, that e'er I gave thee birth! 485 Would that beside thy ships thou couldst remain Few years are thine, and not a lengthen❜d term; I gave thee birth! But to the snow-clad heights Since yesternight; and with him all the Gods. 490 495 On the twelfth day he purpos'd to return And at his feet my supplication make; And he, I think, will not deny my suit." This said, she disappear'd; and left him there Musing in anger on the lovely form Torn from his arms by violence away. 500 505 Arriv'd at Chrysa's isle; and when his bark They landed, and the sacred hecatomb To great Apollo; and Chryseis last. Her to the altar straight Ulysses led, The wise in counsel; in her father's hand He plac'd the maiden, and address'd him thus: 510 515 "Chryses, from Agamemnon, king of men, To thee I come, thy daughter to restore; And to thy God, upon the Greeks' behalf, 520 To offer sacrifice, if haply so We may appease his wrath, who now incens'd With grievous suff'ring visits all our host." 525 Then to her sire he gave her; he with joy Receiv'd his child; the sacred hecatomb Around the well-built altar for the God In order due they plac'd; their hands then wash'd And the salt cake prepar'd, before them all 530 With hands uplifted Chryses pray'd aloud : "Hear me, God of the silver bow! whose care Chrysa surrounds, and Cilla's lovely isle, Whose sov'reign sway o'er Tenedos extends! Once hast thou heard my pray'r, aveng'd my cause, 535 And pour'd thy fury on the Grecian host. Hear yet again, and grant what now I ask; Withdraw thy chast'ning hand, and stay the plague.” 540 Upon the victims' heads, they drew them back, Of ruddy wine; arm'd with the five-fork'd prongs The thighs consum'd with fire, the inward parts They tasted first; the rest upon the spits 545 550 Roasted with care, and from the fire withdrew. Their labours ended, and the feast prepar'd, They shar'd the social meal, nor lack'd there ought. The rage of thirst and hunger satisfied, Th' attendant youths the flowing goblets crown'd, 555 And in fit order serv'd the cups to all. All day they sought the favour of the God, The glorious pæans chanting, and the praise 560 |