BRITISH POETS. VOL. XXIV. EDINBURG H: Printed for A. KINCAID and W. CREECH,, M, DCC, LXXIII, Quis Martem tunica tectum adamantina HOR. EDINBURG H: Printed for A. KINCAID and W. CREECH, and J. BALFOUR. M, DCC, LXXIII. AGAMEMNON, after the laft day's defeat, propofes to the Greeks to quit the fiege, and return to their country. Diomed oppofes this, and Neftor feconds him, praising his wisdom and refolution. He orders the guard to be ftrengthened, and a council fummoned to deliberate what meafures were to be followed in this emergency. Agamemnon pursues this advice; and Neftor farther prevails upon him to send ambassadors to Achilles, in order to move him to a reconciliation. Ulyffes and Ajax are made choice of, who are accompanied by old Phoenix. They make, each of them, very moving and preffing fpeeches, but are rejected with roughness by Achilles, who notwithstanding retains Phoenix in The ambafladors return unsuccessfully to the camp, and the troops betake themselves to fleep. This book, and the next following, take up the space his tent. of one night, which is the twenty-feventh from the beginning of the poem. The fcene lies on the feafhore, the station of the Grecian ships. |