without suitable society. I now see Bone of my bone, flesh of my flesh, myself All was harmony and beauty, and innocence, throughout the creation, while man retained his integrity. On his obedience depended the happiness of this world. He stood the representative of the whole extended line of his posterity; and, in some measure, that of all animated nature, and even of the globe itself. "And Adam said, This is bone of my bone, and flesh of my flesh; she is called woman, because she was taken out of man." Gen. ii. 23. 632 Hesperian sets, my signal to depart, Hesper, or Vesper; the setting sun, or the evening. 639 Him whom to love is to obey, and keep His great command; This is the love of God, that we keep his commandments. 1 John, v. 3. Wonder not that I insist so much on the influence of religious principles, on the life and conversation. For this is the love of God, this is the great evidence we are to give of it, that we impartially keep all his commandments, without allowing ourselves in the violation of any one of them. And, to a mind influenced by true love, his commandments are not grievous: as they are all most equitable, reasonable and gracious in themselves, all adapted to promote the true happiness of our lives; so we shall find, that fervent love will make them all pleasant and delightful to us. END OF THE EIGHTH BOOK. BOOK IX. 15 Of stern Achilles on his foe pursued Thrice fugitive about Troy wall; Achilles was the son of Peleus, king of Thessaly, and of Thetis, goddess of the sea. His education was entrusted to the centaur Chiron, who taught him the art of war and of music: he was taught eloquence by Phoenix. Vulcan, at the entreaties of Thetis, made him a strong armour which was proof against all weapons. Agamemnon deprived him of his favourite mistress Briseis, who had fallen to his lot in the division of the booty of Lyrnesse. The following is an extract from Homer's Iliad. Nor think proud Hector's hopes confirmed by How ill agree the views of vain mankind, (The plain beside with mangled corps were spread, To yonder camp, or seize some straggling foe? Thro' yon What watch they keep, and what resolves they take? His be the chariot that shall please him most, Encouraged thus, no idle scout I go, Dolan's rashness throws him into the power of the enemy; he is killed. Hector is struck to the ground by a stone from the hand of Ajax; but recovers Several actions succeed, till the Trojans are obliged to give way. Hector is again reinspired, and the fortune of the fight is turned. Hector kills Patroclus, the friend of Achilles : the Trojans fly before Achilles; they retire into the city: Hector stays to oppose Achilles. As when some heroes' fun'rals are decreed, In grateful honour of the mighty dead; The panting coursers quickly turn the goal, And with them turns the rais'd spectators' soul. Thus three times round the Trojan wall they fly: The gazing gods lean forward from the sky. The silence Hector broke; His dreadful plumage nodded as he spoke: |