When Hector got upon the plain, They fell to loggerheads again; Pallas, afraid Greece would not stand, Prepar'd to lend a helping hand: Apollo saw her tie her garters, And straight resolv'd to watch her waters; On which he popp'd his body down, And met her pretty near the town. After a spell of small-talk prattle, They both agree to cease the battle For the remainder of that day, But farther Homer doth not say. Then Hector came and puff'd his cheeks, And sorely frighten'd all the Greeks, Told 'em he'd box that afternoon Their boldest cock, for half a crown. Which scar'd 'em so confoundedly, That every mother's son let fly; Though nine at least their names put in, After they'd wip'd their breeches clean. Nestor, who knew at any rate Nothing but Ajax' knotty pate Could stand his blows, contriv'd it so That he should draw the longest straw; On which these thick-skull'd champions fight Till parted by one Mrs. Night. Next, in a council, Troy's old pack Of statesmen vote to send Nell back; But Paris by his bullying cool'd 'em, Or else by brib'ry over-rul'd 'em; Then d——d his eyes if he would spare Of all her stock one single hair From any place that was about her, But he would give the Greeks without her All the hard cash she brought to Dover, And double it five or six times over. Priam a bellman sent to offer The Greeks this advantageous proffer, And beg a truce, to look about And see who'd got their brains knock'd out. The Greeks, though they were every bit As poor as our great patriot P——, When he began at first to slaver, And stun the house with his palaver, Yet, for a truth depend on't, I know They all refus'd the ready rhino; But readily agreed, they say, To cease all fratching for a day. After both sides their arms had grounded, And gather'd up their sick and wounded, Old Nestor did their bricklayers call up, And made 'em build a good strong wall up; At which old Neptune fell a-grumbling, Till Jove, to stop his guts from rumbling, Promis'd the wall should soon come tumbling.