Firmly prepar'd, of one event fecur'd,
Or of his Death or his Defign affur'd.
The Trojan Youth about the Captive flock,
To wonder, or to pity, or to mock.
Now hear the Grecian fraud, and from this one
Difarm'd, diforder'd, cafting 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,
Incensed Troy a wretched Captive feeks
To facrifice, a Fugitive, the Greeks;
To Pity this Complaint our former Rage.
Converts, we now enquire his Parentage,
What of their Councils or Affairs he knew,
Then fearless, he replies, Great King to you
All truth I fhall relate: Nor first can I
My felf to be of Grecian birth deny,
And though my outward ftate Misfortune hath
Depreft thus low, it cannot reach my Faith.
You may by chance have heard the famous name
Of Palimede, who from old Belus came,
Whom, but for voting Peace, the Greeks pursue,
Accus'd unjustly, then unjustly flew,
Yet mourn'd his death. My Father was his Friend,
And me to his commands did recommend,
While Laws and Councils did his Throne fupport,
I but a Youth, yet fome Efteem and Port
We then did bear, till by Ulyffes craft
(Things known I fpeak) he was of life bereft:
Since in dark forrow I my days did spend,
Till now difdaining his unworthy end,
I could not filence my Complaints, but vow'd
Revenge, if ever Fate or Chance allow'd
My wifht return to Greece; from hence his Hate,
From thence my Crimes, and all my Ills bear date:
Old Guilt fresh Malice gives; the Peoples Ears
He fills with Rumours, and their Hearts with Fears,
And then the Prophet to his Party drew.
But why do I these thankless Truths purfue;
Or why defer your Rage? on me, for all
The Greeks, let your revenging fury fall.
Ulyffes this, th' Atride this defire
At any rate. We ftraight are set on fire
(Unpractis'd in fuch Myft'ries) to enquire
The manner and the caufe: Which thus he told
With Gestures humble, as his Tale was bold.
Oft have the Greeks (the Siege detesting) tyr'd
With tedious War, a ftol'n Retreat defir'd,
And would to Heav'n they'd gone: But ftill difmay'd
By Seas or Skies, unwillingly they stay'd,
Chiefly when this ftupendious Pile was rais'd
Strange Noises fill'd the Air; we all amaz'd
Dispatch Eurypilus t'enquire our Fates,
Who thus the Sentence of the Gods relates;
A Virgin's flaughter did the storm appease,
When firft tow'rds Troy the Grecians took the Seas;
Their fafe Retreat another Grecian's blood
Must purchase. All at this confounded stood:
Each thinks himself the Man, the fear on all
Of what, the Mifchief, but on one can fall:
Then Calchas (by Ulyffes firft infpir'd)
Was urg'd to name whom th' angry Gods requir'd,
Yet was I warn'd (for many were as well
Infpir'd as he) and did my Fate foretel.
Ten days the Prophet in fufpence remain❜d,
Would no Man's Fate pronounce; at last constrain'd By Ithacus, he folemnly defign'd
Me for the Sacrifice; the People join'd
In glad confent, and all their common fear
Determine in my Fate; the Day drew near,
The facred Rites prepar'd, my Temples crown'd
With holy Wreaths; Then I confefs I found
The means to my efcape, my Bonds I brake,
Fled from my Guards, and in a muddy Lake
Amongst the Sedges all the Night lay hid,
Till they their Sails had hoift (if so they did.)
And now alas no hope remains for me
My Home, my Father, and my Sons to see,
Whom they, enrag'd, will kill for my Offence,
And punish, for my Guilt, their Innocence.
Thofe Gods who know the Truths I now relate,
That Faith which yet remains inviolate
By Mortal Men; by these I beg, redress
My causless Wrongs, and pity fuch Distress.
And now true Pity in exchange he finds
For his falfe Tears, his Tongue his Hands unbinds. Then fpake the King, Be Ours, who e'er thou art, Forget the Greeks. But firft the Truth impart,
|