Firmly prepared, of one event secured, Or of his death or his design assured. 60 The Trojan youth about the captive flock, To wonder, or to pity, or to mock. Now hear the Grecian fraud, and from this one Conjecture all the rest. Disarm'd, disorder'd, casting round his eyes On all the troops that guarded him, he cries, 'What land, what sea, for me what fate attends? Caught by my foes, condemned by my friends, Incensèd Troy a wretched captive seeks To sacrifice; a fugitive the Greeks.'-- 70 To pity this complaint our former rage Converts; we now inquire his parentage; What of their counsels or affairs he knew Then fearless he replies, 'Great king! to you All truth I shall relate: nor first can I Myself to be of Grecian birth deny; And though my outward state misfortune hath Depress'd thus low, it cannot reach my faith. You may by chance have heard the famous name Of Palamede, who from old Belus came, 80 Whom, but for voting peace, the Greeks pursue, Accus'd unjustly, then unjustly slew, Yet mourn'd his death. My father was his friend, And me to his commands did recommend, While laws and councils did his throne support; I but a youth, yet some esteem and port We then did bear, till by Ulysses' craft (Things known I speak) he was of life bereft: Since, in dark sorrow I my days did spend, 90 Till now, disdaining his unworthy end, I could not silence my complaints, but vow'd Revenge, if ever fate or chance allow'd My wish'd return to Greece; from hence his hate, From thence my crimes, and all my ills bear date: Old guilt fresh malice gives; the people's ears He fills with rumours, and their hearts with fears, And then the prophet to his party drew. But why do I those thankless truths pursue, Or why defer your rage? on me, for all The Greeks, let your revenging fury fall. 100 Ulysses this, th'Atridæ this desire At any rate.'--We straight are set on fire (Unpractised in such myst'ries) to inquire The manner and the cause: which thus he told, With gestures humble, as his tale was bold. 'Oft have the Greeks (the siege detesting) tired With tedious war, a stolen retreat desired, And would to Heaven they'd gone! but still dismay'd By seas or skies, unwillingly they stay'd. Chiefly when this stupendous pile was raised, 110 Strange noises filled the air; we, all amazed, Despatch Eurypylus t'inquire our fates, Who thus the sentence of the gods relates: "A virgin's slaughter did the storm appease, When first t'wards Troy the Grecians took the seas; Their safe retreat another Grecian's blood 116 Must purchase." All at this confounded stood; Each thinks himself the man, the fear on all Of what the mischief but on one can fall. Then Calchas (by Ulysses first inspired) Was urged to name whom th'angry god required; Yet was I warn'd (for many were as well