sire the slaughter of his son forgives; The price of blood discharged, the murderer lives: The haughtiest hearts at length their rage resign, And gifts can conquer every soul but thine.(213) The gods that unrelenting breast have steel'd, And cursed thee with a mind that cannot yield. One woman-slave was ravish'd from thy arms: Lo, seven are offer'd, and of equal charms. Then hear, Achilles! be of better mind; Revere thy roof, and to thy guests be kind; And know the men of all the Grecian host, Who honour worth, and prize thy valour most." "O soul of battles, and thy people's guide! (To Ajax thus the first of Greeks replied) Well hast thou spoke; but at the tyrant's name My rage rekindles, and my soul's on flame: 'Tis just resentment, and becomes the brave: Disgraced, dishonour'd, like the vilest slave! Return, then, heroes! and our answer bear, The glorious combat is no more my care; Not till, amidst yon sinking navy slain, The blood of Greeks shall dye the sable main; Not till the flames, by Hector's fury thrown, Consume your vessels, and approach my own; Just there, the impetuous homicide shall stand, There cease his battle, and there feel our hand." This said, each prince a double goblet crown'd, And cast a large libation on the ground; Then to their vessels, through the gloomy shades, The chiefs return; divine Ulysses leads. Meantime Achilles' slaves prepared a bed, With fleeces, carpets, and soft linen spread: There, till the sacred morn restored the day, In slumber sweet the reverend Phoenix lay. But in his inner tent, an ampler space, Achilles slept; and in his warm embrace Fair Diomede of the Lesbian race. Last, for Patroclus was the couch prepared, Whose nightly joys the beauteous Iphis shared; Achilles to his friend consign'd her charms When Scyros fell before his conquering arms. And now the elected chiefs whom Greece had sent, Pass'd through the hosts, and reach'd the