Concealing art

Anyone who supposes that Alexander Pope produced his gloriously smooth
version of the Iliad effortlessly should have a look at this facsimile of a
page of his manuscript, somehow preserved by one Frank J. Addison (not the
famous Joseph Addison) and which turned up among the books of Benjamin
Disraeli.

It's the passage from Book VI where Hector takes leave of Andromache.

RH

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Thus having spoke, the illustrious chief of Troy
Stretch=E2=80=99d his fond arms to clasp the lovely boy.
The babe clung crying to his nurse=E2=80=99s breast,
Scared at the dazzling helm, and nodding crest.
With secret pleasure each fond parent smiled,
And Hector hasted to relieve his child,
The glittering terrors from his brows unbound,
And placed the beaming helmet on the ground;
Then kiss=E2=80=99d the child, and, lifting high in air,
Thus to the gods preferr=E2=80=99d a father=E2=80=99s prayer:

"O thou! whose glory fills the ethereal throne,
And all ye deathless powers! protect my son!
Grant him, like me, to purchase just renown,
To guard the Trojans, to defend the crown,
Against his country=E2=80=99s foes the war to wage,
And rise the Hector of the future age!
So when triumphant from successful toils
Of heroes slain he bears the reeking spoils,
Whole hosts may hail him with deserved acclaim,
And say, =E2=80=99This chief transcends his father=E2=80=99s fame:=E2=80=99
While pleased amidst the general shouts of Troy,
His mother=E2=80=99s conscious heart o=E2=80=99erflows with joy."

He spoke, and fondly gazing on her charms,
Restored the pleasing burden to her arms;
Soft on her fragrant breast the babe she laid,
Hush=E2=80=99d to repose, and with a smile survey=E2=80=99d.
The troubled pleasure soon chastised by fear,
She mingled with a smile a tender tear.

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