This book begins with Atreus' son Persuading all his Greeks to run, Let's haste, says he, and save our lives, And like good husbands kiss our wives; For, if we stay, be sure Old Nick Will play us some damn'd slipp'ry trick; Nor hope the sooty-fac'd old boy Will e'er desert his fav'rite Troy. At this fine speech Tydides swore Worse than he'd ever done before, And spoke his mind, because he reckon'd Old Chatterbags would be his second: Here he was right: th' old cock begun, And d—d his eyes if he would run. They then consult to know which way They can with any safety stay. Old Square-toes in the humour still is To try and reconcile Achilles; Then adds, I think it not amiss is To send both Ajax and Ulysses. As he propos'd, they both are sent, And with them goody Phœnix went. Now, though it plain appears, that each Made in his turn a pretty speech, And did with as much cunning plead As ******, when he's double-fee'd, Achilles turn'd it all to farce, And clapp'd his hand upon his a—e.