The king (so tell him) shall chastise his pride; And with armed multitudes in person come To vindicate his power, and justify his doom.-- This hard command unwilling they obey, } And o'er the barren shore pursue their way, } Where quartered in their camp the fierce Thessalians lay.} Their sovereign seated on his chair they find, } His pensive cheek upon his hand reclined, } And anxious thoughts revolving in his mind. } With gloomy looks he saw them entering in } Without salute; nor durst they first begin, } Fearful of rash offence and death foreseen. } He soon, the cause divining, cleared his brow, And thus did liberty of speech allow: Interpreters of Gods and men, be bold; Awful your character, and uncontrouled: Howe'er unpleasing be the news you bring, I blame not you, but your imperious king. You come, I know, my captive to demand; Patroclus, give her to the herald's hand. But you authentic witnesses I bring Before the Gods, and your ungrateful king, Of this my manifest, that never more This hand shall combat on the crooked shore: No; let the Grecian powers, oppressed in fight, Unpitied perish in their tyrant's sight. Blind of the future, and by rage misled, He pulls his crimes upon his people's head; Forced from the field in trenches to contend, And his insulted camp from foes defend.-- He said, and soon, obeying his intent, Patroclus brought Briseis from her tent, Then to the entrusted messengers resigned: She wept, and often cast her eyes behind. Forced from the man she loved, they led her thence, Along the shore, a prisoner to their prince. Sole on the barren sands the suffering chief Roared out for anguish, and indulged his grief; Cast on his kindred seas a stormy look, And his upbraided mother thus bespoke: Unhappy parent of a short-lived son,-- Since Jove in pity by thy prayers was won To grace my small remains of breath with fame, Why loads he this embittered life with shame, Suffering his king of men to force my slave, Whom, well deserved in war, the Grecians gave?-- Set by old Ocean's side the Goddess heard, Then from the sacred deep her head she reared; Rose like a morning mist, and thus begun To sooth the sorrows of her plaintive son:-- Why cries my care, and why conceals his smart? Let thy afflicted parent share her part.-- Then, sighing from the bottom of his breast, To the Sea-Goddess thus the Goddess-born addressed: Thou know'st my pain, which telling but recals; By force of arms we razed the Theban walls; The ransacked city, taken by our toils, We left, and hither brought the golden spoils: Equal we shared them; but before the rest,