After all, what is it he yields to? Only to suffer his Friend to go in his stead, just to save them from present Ruin, but he expressly forbids him to proceed any farther in their As|sistance, than barely to put out the Fires, and secure his own and his Friend's Return into their Country: And all this concludes with a Wish, that (if it were possible) every Greek and every Trojan might perish except themselves. Thus his very Pity has the sternest Qualifications in the World. 773.) That time was not till the Flames should approach to his own Ships, till the last Article of Dan|ger, and that not of Danger to Greece, but to himself. What can match the Fierceness of his Answer? Which implies, that not the Oracles of Heaven itself should be regarded, if they stood in Competition with his Resent|ment: That if he yields, it must be thro' his own mere Mo|tive: The only reason he has ever to yield, is that Nature itself cannot support Anger eternally: And if he yields now, it is only because he had before determin'd to do so at a cer|tain time, ( Il. Patroclus, at the opening of this Speech, dares not name Agamemnon even for being wounded and af|ter he has tried to bend him by all the Arguments that could affect an human Breast, concludes by supposing that some Oracle or supernatual Inspiration is the Cause that with-holds his Arms. At the very Instant that Achilles is mov'd to ask the Cause of his Friend's Concern, he seems to say that nothing could deserve it but the Death of their Fathers: and in the same Breath speaks of the total Destruction of the Greeks as of too slight a Cause for Tears. While the former is melting with Sorrow for his Countrymen, the utmost he can hope from the latter, is but to borrow his Armour and Troops to obtain his personal Assistance he knows is impossible. ![]() The Pathetic of Patroclus's Speech is finely contrasted by the Fiertè of that of Achilles. As nothing can be more natural and affecting than the Speech of Patroclus, so nothing is more lively and Picturesque than the Attitude he is here describ'd in. Patroclus, pointing to the Ships, where the Flames already began to rise, tells him he is harder than the Rocks or Sea which lay in prospect before them, if he is not touch'd with so mo|ving a Spectacle, and can see in cold Blood his Friends pe|rishing before his Eyes. Achilles, struck with the Grief of his Friend, demands the Cause of it. We see Pa|troclus touch'd with the deepest Compassion for the Misfortune of the Greeks, (whom the Trojans had forc'd to retreat to their Ships, and which Ships were on the Point of burning) prostrating himself before the Vessel of Achilles, and pour|ing out his Tears at his Feet. The two different Characters are admirably sustain'd in the Dialogue of the two Heroes, wherein there is not a Period but strongly marks not only their na|tural Temper, but that particular Disposition of Mind in either, which arises from the present State of Affairs. WE have at the Entrance of this Book one of the most beautiful Parts of the Iliad. Several other Particulars of the Battel are de|scribed in the Heat of which, Patroclus, neglecting the Or|ders of Achilles, pursues the Foe to the Walls of Troy where Apollo repulses and disarms him, Euphorbus wounds him, and Hector kills him, which concludes the Book. The Trojans at the Sight of Patroclus in Achilles's Armour, taking him for that Hero, are cast into the utmost Consternation: He beats them off from the Vessels, Hector himself flies, Sarpedon is kill'd, tho' Jupiter was averse to his Fate. Achilles offers a Libation for the Success of his Friend, after which Patroclus leads the Myrmidons to Battel. The Armour, Horses, Soldiers, and Officers of Achilles are described. ![]() He agrees to it, but at the same time charges him to content himself with rescuing the Fleet, without farther Pursuit of the Enemy. PAtroclus (in Pursuance of the Request of Nestor in the eleventh Book) entreats Achilles to suffer him to go to the Assistance of the Greeks with Achilles's Troops and Armour. The sixth Battel: The Acts and Death of Patroclus.
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