Alexander Pope: Selected Poetry and Prose

‘justice, in that he scorns to enjoy what he does not
merit; gratitude, because he would endeavour to
recompense his obligations to his subjects; and
magnanimity, in that he despises death, and thinks of
nothing but glory’ (line 371). The speech is adapted
to the polite world in The Rape of the Lock, V, 9–34.
61 Teucer an expert bowman who generally stood
alongside his half-brother Ajax son of Telamon in
order to use the latter’s large shield as cover. the
Ajaces Ajax the son of Telamon, and Ajax the son of
Oileus, stout defenders both.
130 Patroclus Achilles’ great comrade in arms. As a result
of the quarrel with Agamemnon at the opening of the
poem Achilles has withdrawn from the fighting. In his
absence the Trojans gain success; the leading Greeks
are wounded and Hector breaks through the wall
threatening to set fire to the Greek ships. The angry
Achilles still refuses to rescue the Greeks but relents
to the extent of allowing Patroclus to act on his
behalf, wearing his armour. Patroclus has some
success, killing Sarpedon in this episode, until he
himself falls victim to Hector in the pivotal action of
the poem. Achilles then returns to avenge his friend.
140 Phrygian referring to the region around Troy, here
used for Trojan.
166 the cloud-compeller Jupiter (Jove) who as god of the
upper air controls storms, rain, and thunder, and so
compels the clouds.
182 Pedasus The other two horses of Achilles were
immortal (one of them even speaks in the poem)
having been given to his father Peleus by Neptune as
a wedding present. The third trace-horse is loosely
harnessed beside a pair to take the place of either of
them in case of need. Automedon, Achilles’
charioteer, cuts the traces to free the chariot.
214 Glaucus, be bold Pope comments on the noble
sentiments of Sarpedon’s dying speech: ‘being sensible of
approaching death, without any transports of rage, or
desire of revenge, he calls to his friend to take care to