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Wards overruled by ^Eneas in his fcheme for attacking the enemy, 

 and it is agreed that a fpy mould be fent into the Grecian army. 

 Upon this Dolon offers himfelf, bargains with Hector for his 

 reward, and is promifed by him the chariot of Achilles. A mef- 

 fenger then makes his appearance, and gives an account of the 

 arrival of Rhefus at the Trojan Camp : Rhefus himfelf follows 1 

 immediately after, where he is very coldly received by Hector, 

 for having fo long delayed his march ; and this fcene, which is at! 

 pretty long one, and in which the expectation of the audience 

 is reafonably raifed, while thefe two principal characters are pre- 

 fent, is as dull and tirefome a one I believe as was ever penned. 

 Diomede and Ulyffes, in the mean time, favoured by the night,, 

 come with an intention to furprize Hector in his tent ; but are 

 diverted from this by Minerva, who advifes them to fill upon 

 the quarters of Rhefus, which they accordingly do, and fucceed 

 in killing him while afleep. This is not done on the ftage, but the 

 audience hath very properly an account of the difafter from a fer- 

 vant of Rhefus's, who taxes Hector with the murder. After this the 

 Mufe Terpfichore laments the lofs of her fon, and I think, really, 

 that from a Mufe, one might have expected fomething more pa- 

 thetic and touching upon the occafion. Now T appeal to you 

 whether in this whole play there is any {ingle intereffing cir- 

 cumflance; and if- 1: was to afk you what the moral was, I an} 

 afraid you could not eafily find it out. 



Phil.'] I recollect having read, fbme time ago, this tragedy of 

 Euripides (as it is generally called^ and remember that it ap- 

 peared to me almoft below criticifm ; but I muft own, that 

 for my own part, I cannot hefitate a moment to declare that 

 the play is not written by that author. There always have 

 been difputes, I believe, who this tragedy is to be attri- 

 buted to, and if I was acquainted with the name of the worft 



M ni m writer 



