Homer'j Life and ffintings.
105
the Enquiry, &c. calls the Eastern Establijhment Sect. for Women, which can hardly be looked upon XH. without pain by one accustomed to European, and much more to British Manners. Th e ancient Rule of War was, at the taking of a Town, to put all the Men to the Sword, and carry off the Women and Children Cap tives. If any of the Ladies were extremely beautiful, the Prince or Captain took them to his Bed ; and this hard Fate we find they bore with such Resignation as soon to contract some sort of Affection for the Destroyers of their Family. The beautiful Brise'is was in this me* lancholy Circumstance. Achilles had killed her Husband and her three Brothers in oneDay ; had plundered the Town, and brought her with th« Booty to the Grecian Camp, where she was ad judged to him as his Part of the Spoil. Soon after, the Quarrel happened between him and Aga memnon, who being obliged through Achilles' means to restore Chryfe'is, his loved Mistress, to her Father, swore in his Wrath to take Brise'is from him ; and accordingly sent the two He ralds, Talthybius and Eurybates to fetch her. Achilles ordered his Friend Patroclus to deliver the fair Captive to these sacred Messengers of Gods and Men ; and in obedience to this Command, Brise'is bloomingfrom the Tent he brought ; Then gave her to the Heralds, to be led Along
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