Page:Homer - Iliad, translation Pope, 1909.djvu/131

219—265 First, dire Chimæra's conquest was enjoined;

A mingled monster, of no mortal kind;

Behind, a dragon's fiery tail was spread;

A goat's rough body bore a lion's head;

Her pitchy nostrils flaky flames expire;

Her gaping throat emits infernal fire.

"This pest he slaughtered; for he read the skies,

And trusted heaven's informing prodigies;

Then met in arms the Solymæan crew,

Fiercest of men, and those the warrior slew.

Next the bold Amazon's whole force defied;

And conquered still, for heaven was on his side.

"Nor ended here his toils: his Lycian foes,

At his return, a treacherous ambush rose,

With levelled spears along the winding shore:

There fell they breathless, and returned no more.

"At length the monarch with repentant grief

Confessed the gods, and god-descended chief;

His daughter gave, the stranger to detain,

With half the honours of his ample reign.

The Lycians grant a chosen space of ground,

With woods, with vineyards, and with harvests crowned.

There long the chief his happy lot possessed, With two brave sons and one fair daughter blessed: Fair e'en in heavenly eyes; her fruitful love Crowned with Sarpedon's birth the embrace of Jove. But when at last, distracted in his mind, Forsook by heaven, forsaking human kind, Wide o'er the Aleian field he chose to stray, A long, forlorn, uncomfortable way! Woes heaped on woes consumed his wasted heart; His beauteous daughter fell by Phœbe's dart; His eldest-born by raging Mars was slain, In combat on the Solymæan plain. Hippolochus survived; from him I came, The honoured author of my birth and name; By his decree I sought the Trojan town, By his instructions learn to win renown; To stand the first in worth as in command, To add new honours to my native land; Before my eyes my mighty sires to place, And emulate the glories of our race." He spoke, and transport filled Tydides' heart;

In earth the generous warrior fixed his dart,

Then friendly, thus, the Lycian prince addressed;

"Welcome, my brave hereditary guest!

Thus ever let us meet with kind embrace,