_Chryses Apollo_'s Priest appears at a Council of War with his Crown and guilt Scepter. He offers a valuable Ransom for his Daughter; and presses his Relation to _Apollo_. All the Army excepting _Agamemnon_ are willing to consider his Character, and comply with his Proposals. But this _General_ refuses to part with the Lady, and sends away her Father with disrespect. _Apollo_ thought himself affronted with this Usage, and revenges the Indignity in a Plague.
[Greek: Houneka ton Chrysên êtimês' arêtêra][228] [Greek: Atreidês.]
_Adrastus_ and _Amphius_ the Sons of _Merops_ a _Prophet_, commanded a considerable extent of Country in _Troas_,[229] and brought a Body of Men to King _Priam's_ Assistance.[230] And _Ennomus_ the Augur commanded the Troops of _Mysia_ for the Besieged.
_Phegeus_ and _Idæus_ were the Sons of _Dares_ the Priest of _Vulcan_.[231] They appear in an Equipage of Quality, and charge _Diomedes_ the third Hero in the _Grecian_ Army. _Idæus_ after the Misfortune of the Combat, is brought off by _Vulcan_. _Dolopion_ was _Priest_ to _Scamander_,[232] and regarded like the God he _Belong'd_ to,
_Ulisses_ in his return from _Troy_, took _Ismarus_ by Storm, and makes Prize of the whole Town, excepting _Maron_, and his Family. This _Maron_ was _Apollo's Priest_, and preserv'd out of respect to his Function: He presents _Ulisses_ nobly in Gold, Plate, and Wine; And this Hero makes an honourable Mention of him, both as to his Quality, and way of Living.[234]
These are all the _Priests_ I find Mentioned in _Homer_; And we see how fairly the Poet treats them, and what sort of Figure they made in the World.
To the Testimony of _Homer_, I shall joyn that of _Virgil_, who tho' He follows at a great distance of Time, was an Author of the first Rank, and wrote the same kind of Poetry with the other. Now _Virgil_ tho' he is very extraordinary in his Genius, in the Compass of his Learning, in the Musick and Majesty of his Stile; yet the exactness of his Judgment seems to be his peculiar, and most distinguishing Talent. He had the truest Relish imaginable, and always described Things according to _Nature_, _Custom_, and _Decency_. He wrote with the greatest Command of _Temper_, and _Superiority_ of good _Sense_. He is never lost in smoak and Rapture, nor overborn with Poetick Fury; but keeps his Fancy warm and his Reason Cool at the same time. Now this great Master of Propriety never Mentions any _Priests_ without some _Marks_ of _Advantage_. To give some Instances as they lie in Order.