The wrath of Peleus' son, O muse, resound, Whose dire effects the Grecian army found, And many a hero, king, and hardy knight, Were sent, in early youth, to shades of night: Their limbs a prey to dogs and vultures made; So was the sovereign will of Jove obeyed: From that ill-omened hour when strife begun, Betwixt Atrides great, and Thetis' godlike son. What power provoked, and for what cause, relate, Sowed in their breasts the seeds of stern debate: Jove's and Latona's son his wrath expressed, In vengeance of his violated priest, Against the king of men; who, swoln with pride, Refused his presents, and his prayers denied. For this the God a swift contagion spread Amid the camp, where heaps on heaps lay dead. For venerable Chryses came to buy, With gold and gifts of price, his daughter's liberty. Suppliant before the Grecian chiefs he stood, Awful, and armed with ensigns of his God: Bare was his hoary head; one holy hand Held forth his laurel crown, and one his sceptre of command. His suit was common; but above the rest, To both the brother-princes thus addressed:-- Ye sons of Atreus, and ye Grecian powers, So may the Gods, who dwell in heavenly bowers, Succeed your siege, accord the vows you make, And give you Troy's imperial town to take; So, by their happy conduct, may you come With conquest back to your sweet native home; As you receive the ransom which I bring, Respecting Jove, and the far-shooting king, And break my daughter's bonds, at my desire, And glad with her return her grieving sire.-- With shouts of loud acclaim the Greeks decree To take the gifts, to set the damsel free. The king of men alone with fury burned, And haughty, these opprobrious words returned:-- Hence, holy dotard! and avoid my sight, Ere evil intercept thy tardy flight; Nor dare to tread this interdicted strand, } Lest not that idle sceptre in thy hand, } Nor thy god's crown, my vowed revenge withstand. } Hence, on thy life! the captive maid is mine, Whom not for price or prayers I will resign; Mine she shall be, till creeping age and time Her bloom have withered, and consumed her prime. Till then my royal bed she shall attend, And, having first adorned it, late ascend; This, for the night; by day, the web and loom, } And homely household-task, shall be her doom, } Far from thy loved embrace, and her sweet native home.-- } He said: the helpless priest replied no more, But sped his steps along the hoarse-resounding shore. Silent he fled; secure at length he stood, Devoutly cursed his foes, and thus invoked his God:-- O source of sacred light, attend my prayer, God with the silver bow, and golden hair, Whom Chrysa, Cilla, Tenedos obeys,