Till, to the full of slaughter, I have chased

These Trojans from the field." He said, and

urged

His steeds, and with a shout rush'd to the van.

THE BATTLE OF THE GODS.

WHILE yet the Gods stood distant, and forbore To mix with mortal men, so long the Greeks Gloried that their Achilles once again

Appear'd amongst them, who had long foregone Distressful war; the Trojans panic-struck

Shook every limb, when thus before their eyes They saw the son of Peleus, fleet of foot, Shining in arms, like Mars the scourge of men. But when th' Olympian habitants came down Into the throng of men, strife fierce uprose, Stirring the people's hearts. Minerva stood Beside the deepen'd trench, without the wall, And shouted: and anon upon the sands

Where dash'd the roaring waves her shout was heard.

Far distant, like a gloomy whirlwind, Mars
Stood on Troy's highest turret, and exclaim'd,
Cheering the Trojans on with cries of war;
Or running with swift feet cours'd Simois' banks,
And steep Callicolone. So the blest

Of heaven mix'd indiscriminate the hosts,
Spurring their rage, and havock rang'd it wide.
The Father of the Deities and men

Thunder'd from heaven on high. The ocean God
Heav'd from beneath th' immensity of earth,
And shook the mountain tops. The roots of Ide
And all its fountain-gushing summits reel'd;
Troy city and the navy of the Greeks

Rock'd as in earthquake. Deep beneath the ground
The Monarch of the dead in darkest hell

Felt fear, and leap'd affrighted from his throne,
And shriek'd aloud, lest he that shakes the shores
Should cleave earth's vault asunder, and the scene
Of those drear mansions glare upon the sight
Of Gods and men: a dismal wilderness,
Hoary with desolation, which the blest
Behold, and shuddering turn their eyes away.
Such clang arose while Gods encountering strove.

From the Odyssey.

THE GROT OF CALYPSO.

He said; nor did the Messenger of Heaven
Stand disobedient; but with instant haste
Bound underneath his feet the sandals, fair,
Golden, and undecay'd, that waft him o'er
The sea and o'er th' immeasurable earth
With the swift-breathing wind. He took the rod
Wherewith at will he soothes the drooping lids
Of men, or from their startled slumber shakes.
This in his grasp, the vigorous Argicide
Flew forth; and, hovering o'er Pieria's hills,
Dropp'd from the height of ether in the sea;
Then lightly pois'd above the topmost waves
Skimm'd, fluttering like a sea-mew, that around
The desert ocean's spacious bays, in chase
Of fishes, ever and anon dips quick

Its pinions in the brine. So Hermes skimm'd
The multitudinous waves. But, when he reach'd

That isle remote, he straight ascended up

From the blue sea, and inland bent his steps,

Till to the roomy grot he came, where dwelt The nymph of beauteous locks, whom there he found Sitting within. Upon the hearth glow'd bright

A fire wide-blazing; and the curl'd perfume

Of the cleft cedar and the cypress-tree,

Red in the flame, far off the island fill'd

With fragrant smoke. She, trilling her sweet voice,
Within the grotto sate, and cross'd the web
With golden shuttle. Round the cave had grown
A wood of poplars, flourishing and green,
Alders, and aromatic cypress-trees.

There birds of spreading wing had hung their nests;
The owl, and hawk, and raven of the sea
Wide-tongued, who finds her calling in the deep;
And there, around the hollow of the cave,
A sprouting vine had spread, and ripening blush'd
With grapes; and four fresh fountains, side by side,
Gushing with limpid waters, branch'd away
In twin'd meanders. All around, soft meads
With verdant parsley bloom'd and violets.
If an immortal being to that spot
Approach'd, although immortal he would gaze
Admiring, and his spirit thrill with joy: