“ ’Twas harder yet to move the mother’s mind, And to this heavy task was I design’d: Reasons against her love I knew were vain; I circumvented whom I could not gain: Had Ajax been employ’d, our slacken’d sails Had still at Aulis waited happy gales.

“Arrived at Troy, your choice was fix’d on me A fearless envoy, fit for a bold embassy: Secure, I enter’d through the hostile court, Glittering with steel, and crowded with resort: There, in the midst of arms, I plead our cause, Urge the foul rape, and violated laws; Accuse the foes, as authors of the strife, Reproach the ravisher, demand the wife. Priam, Antenor, and the wiser few, I moved; but Paris and his lawless crew Scarce held their hands and lifted swords; but stood In act to quench their impious thirst of blood: This Menelaus knows; exposed to share With me the rough preludium of war.