William Cowper- Collected Poetical Works
Page 92
To rend in Phylace her bleeding cheeks,
And an unfinish’d mansion. First he died
Of all the Greeks; for as he leap’d to land 860
Foremost by far, a Dardan struck him dead.
Nor had his troops, though filled with deep regret,
No leader; them Podarces led, a Chief
Like Mars in battle, brother of the slain,
But younger born, and from Iphiclus sprung 865
Who sprang from Phylacus the rich in flocks.
But him Protesilaüs, as in years,
So also in desert of arms excell’d
Heroic, whom his host, although they saw
Podarces at their head, still justly mourn’d; 870
For he was fierce in battle, and at Troy
With forty sable-sided ships arrived.
Eleven galleys, Pheræ on the lake,
And Boebe, and Iölchus, and the vale
Of Glaphyræ supplied with crews robust 875
Under Eumelus; him Alcestis, praised
057 For beauty above all her sisters fair,
In Thessaly to King Admetus bore.
Methone, and Olizon’s craggy coast,
With Melibœa and Thaumasia sent 880
Seven ships; their rowers were good archers all,
And every vessel dipped into the wave
Her fifty oars. Them Philoctetes, skill’d
To draw with sinewy arm the stubborn bow,
Commanded; but he suffering anguish keen 885
Inflicted by a serpent’s venom’d tooth,
Lay sick in Lemnos; him the Grecians there
Had left sore-wounded, but were destined soon
To call to dear remembrance whom they left.
Meantime, though sorrowing for his sake, his troops 890
Yet wanted not a chief; them Medon ruled,
Whom Rhena to the far-famed conqueror bore
Oïleus, fruit of their unsanction’d loves.
From Tricca, from Ithome rough and rude
With rocks and glens, and from Oechalia, town 895
Of Eurytus Oechalian-born, came forth
Their warlike youth by Podalirius led
And by Machaon, healers both expert
Of all disease, and thirty ships were theirs.
The men of Ormenus, and from beside 900
The fountain Hypereia, from the tops
Of chalky Titan, and Asteria’s band;
Them ruled Eurypylus, Evæmon’s son
Illustrious, whom twice twenty ships obeyed.
Orthe, Gyrtone, Oloösson white, 905
Argissa and Helone; they their youth
Gave to control of Polypœtes, son
Undaunted of Pirithoüs, son of Jove.
Him, to Pirithoüs, (on the self-same day
When he the Centaurs punish’d and pursued 910
Sheer to Æthicæ driven from Pelion’s heights
The shaggy race) Hippodamia bore.
Nor he alone them led. With him was join’d
Leonteus dauntless warrior, from the bold
058 Coronus sprung, who Cæneus call’d his sire. 915
Twice twenty ships awaited their command.
Guneus from Cyphus twenty and two ships
Led forth; the Enienes him obey’d,
And the robust Perœbi, warriors bold,
And dwellers on Dodona’s wintry brow. 920
To these were join’d who till the pleasant fields
Where Titaresius winds; the gentle flood
Pours into Peneus all his limpid stores,
But with the silver-eddied Peneus flows
Unmixt as oil; for Stygian is his stream, 925
And Styx is the inviolable oath.
Last with his forty ships, Tenthredon’s son,
The active Prothoüs came. From the green banks
Of Peneus his Magnesians far and near
He gather’d, and from Pelion forest-crown’d. 930
These were the princes and the Chiefs of Greece.
Say, Muse, who most in personal desert
Excell’d, and whose were the most warlike steeds
And of the noblest strain. Their hue, their age,
Their height the same, swift as the winds of heaven 935
And passing far all others, were the mares
Which drew Eumelus; on Pierian hills
The heavenly Archer of the silver bow,
Apollo, bred them. But of men, the chief
Was Telamonian Ajax, while wrath-bound 940
Achilles lay; for he was worthier far,
And more illustrious were the steeds which bore
The noble son of Peleus; but revenge
On Agamemnon leader of the host
Was all his thought, while in his gallant ships 945
Sharp-keel’d to cut the foaming flood, he lay.
Meantime, along the margin of the deep
His soldiers hurled the disk, or bent the bow.
059 Or to its mark dispatch’d the quivering lance.
Beside the chariots stood the unharness’d steeds 950
Cropping the lotus, or at leisure browsed
On celery wild, from watery freshes gleaned.
Beneath the shadow of the sheltering tent
The chariot stood, while they, the charioteers
Roam’d here and there the camp, their warlike lord 955
Regretting sad, and idle for his sake.
As if a fire had burnt along the ground,
Such seem’d their march; earth groan’d their steps beneath;
As when in Arimi, where fame reports
Typhoëus stretch’d, the fires of angry Jove 960
Down darted, lash the ground, so groan’d the earth
Beneath them, for they traversed swift the plain.
And now from Jove, with heavy tidings charged,
Wind-footed Iris to the Trojans came.
It was the time of council, when the throng 965
At Priam’s gate assembled, young and old:
Them, standing nigh, the messenger of heaven
Accosted with the voice of Priam’s son,
Polites. He, confiding in his speed
For sure deliverance, posted was abroad 970
On Æsyeta’s tomb, intent to watch
When the Achaian host should leave the fleet.
The Goddess in his form thus them address’d.
Oh, ancient Monarch! Ever, evermore
Speaking, debating, as if all were peace; 975
I have seen many a bright-embattled field,
But never one so throng’d as this to-day.
For like the leaves, or like the sands they come
Swept by the winds, to gird the city round.
But Hector! chiefly thee I shall exhort. 980
In Priam’s spacious city are allies
060 Collected numerous, and of nations wide
Disseminated various are the tongues.
Let every Chief his proper troop command,
And marshal his own citizens to war. 985
She ceased; her Hector heard intelligent,
And quick dissolved the council. All took arms.
Wide flew the gates; forth rush’d the multitude,
Horsemen and foot, and boisterous stir arose.
In front of Ilium, distant on the plain, 990
Clear all around from all obstruction, stands
An eminence high-raised, by mortal men
Call’d Bateia, but the Gods the tomb
Have named it of Myrinna swift in fight.
Troy and her aids there set the battle forth. 995
Huge Priameian Hector, fierce in arms,
Led on the Trojans; with whom march’d the most
And the most valiant, dexterous at the spear.
Æneas, (on the hills of Ida him
The lovely Venus to Anchises bore, 1000
A Goddess by a mortal man embraced)
Led the Dardanians;
but not he alone;
Archilochus with him and Acamas
Stood forth, the offspring of Antenor, each,
And well instructed in all forms of war. 1005
Fast by the foot of Ida, where they drank
The limpid waters of Æsepus, dwelt
The Trojans of Zeleia. Rich were they
And led by Pandarus, Lycaon’s son,
Whom Phœbus self graced with the bow he bore. 1010
Apæsus, Adrastea, Terie steep,
And Pitueia — them, Amphius clad
In mail thick-woven, and Adrastus, ruled.
They were the sons of the Percosian seer
Merops, expert in the soothsayers’ art 1015
Above all other; he his sons forbad
The bloody fight, but disobedient they
Still sought it, for their destiny prevailed.
The warriors of Percote, and who dwelt
061 In Practius, in Arisba, city fair, 1020
In Sestus, in Abydus, march’d behind
Princely Hyrtacides; his tawny steeds,
Strong-built and tall, from Sellcentes’ bank
And from Arisba, had him borne to Troy.
Hippothous and Pilmus, branch of Mars, 1025
Both sons of Lethus the Pelasgian, they,
Forth from Larissa for her fertile soil
Far-famed, the spear-expert Pelasgians brought.
The Thracians (all whom Hellespont includes
Within the banks of his swift-racing tide) 1030
Heroic Acamas and Pirous led.
Euphemus, offspring of Trœzenus, son
Of Jove-protected Ceas, was the Chief
Whom the spear-arm’d Ciconian band obey’d.
Pæonia’s archers follow’d to the field 1035
Pyræchmes; they from Amydon remote
Were drawn, where Axius winds; broad Axius, stream
Diffused delightful over all the vale.
Pylæmenes, a Chief of giant might
From the Eneti for forest-mules renowned 1040
March’d with his Paphlagonians; dwellers they
In Sesamus and in Cytorus were,
And by the stream Parthenius; Cromna these
Sent forth, and those Ægialus on the lip
And margin of the land, and some, the heights 1045
Of Erythini, rugged and abrupt.
Epistrophus and Odius from the land
Of Alybe, a region far remote,
Where veins of silver wind, led to the field
The Halizonians. With the Mysians came 1050
Chromis their Chief, and Ennomus; him skill’d
In augury, but skill’d in vain, his art
Saved not, but by Æacides the swift,
With others in the Xanthus slain, he died.
062 Ascanius, lovely youth, and Phorcis, led 1055
The Phrygians from Ascania far remote,
Ardent for battle. The Mœonian race,
(All those who at the foot of Tmolus dwelt,)
Mesthles and Antiphus, fraternal pair,
Sons of Pylæmenes commanded, both 1060
Of the Gygæan lake in Lydia born.
Amphimachus and Nastes led to fight
The Carians, people of a barbarous speech,
With the Milesians, and the mountain-race
Of wood-crown’d Phthira, and who dwelt beside 1065
Mæander, or on Mycale sublime.
Them led Amphimachus and Nastes, sons
Renown’d of Nomion. Like a simple girl
Came forth Amphimachus with gold bedight,
But him his trappings from a woful death 1070
Saved not, when whirled beneath the bloody tide
To Peleus’ stormy son his spoils he left.
Sarpedon with the noble Glaucus led
Their warriors forth from farthest Lycia, where
Xanthus deep-dimpled rolls his oozy tide. 1075
ARGUMENT OF THE THIRD BOOK.
The armies meet. Paris throws out a challenge to the Grecian Princes. Menelaus accepts it. The terms of the combat are adjusted solemnly by Agamemnon on the part of Greece, and by Priam on the part of Troy. The combat ensues, in which Paris is vanquished, whom yet Venus rescues. Agamemnon demands from the Trojans a performance of the covenant.
BOOK III.
Now marshall’d all beneath their several chiefs,
With deafening shouts, and with the clang of arms,
The host of Troy advanced. Such clang is heard
Along the skies, when from incessant showers
Escaping, and from winter’s cold, the cranes 5
Take wing, and over Ocean speed away;
Wo to the land of dwarfs! prepared they fly
For slaughter of the small Pygmæan race.
Not so the Greeks; they breathing valor came,
But silent all, and all with faithful hearts 10
On succor mutual to the last, resolved.
As when the south wind wraps the mountain top
In mist the shepherd’s dread, but to the thief
Than night itself more welcome, and the eye
Is bounded in its ken to a stone’s cast, 15
Such from beneath their footsteps dun and dense
Uprose the dust, for swift they cross the plain.
066 When, host to host opposed, full nigh they stood,
Then Alexander in the Trojan van
Advanced was seen, all beauteous as a God; 20
His leopard’s skin, his falchion and his bow
Hung from his shoulder; bright with heads of brass
He shook two spears, and challenged to the fight
The bravest Argives there, defying all.
Him, striding haughtily his host before 25
When Menelaus saw, such joy he felt
As hunger-pinch’d the lion feels, by chance
Conducted to some carcase huge, wild goat,
Or antler’d stag; huntsmen and baying hounds
Disturb not him, he gorges in their sight. 30
So Menelaus at the view rejoiced
Of lovely Alexander, for he hoped
His punishment at hand. At once, all armed,
Down from his chariot to the ground he leap’d
When godlike Paris him in front beheld 35
Conspicuous, his heart smote him, and his fate
Avoiding, far within the lines he shrank.
As one, who in some woodland height descrying
A serpent huge, with sudden start recoils,
His limbs shake under him; with cautious step 40
He slow retires; fear blanches cold his cheeks;
So beauteous Alexander at the sight
Of Atreus’ son dishearten’d sore, the ranks
Of haughty Trojans enter’d deep again:
Him Hector eyed, and thus rebuked severe. 45
Curst Paris! Fair deceiver! Woman-mad!
I would to all in heaven that thou hadst died
Unborn, at least unmated! happier far
067 Than here to have incurr’d this public shame!
Well may the Grecians taunt, and laughing loud, 50
Applaud the champion, slow indeed to fight
And pusillanimous, but wondrous fair.
Wast thou as timid, tell me, when with those
Thy loved companions in that famed exploit,
Thou didst consort with strangers, and convey 55
From distant lands a warrior’s beauteous bride
To be thy father’s and his people’s curse,
Joy to our foes, but to thyself reproach?
Behold her husband! Darest thou not to face
The warlike prince? Now learn how brave a Chief 60
Thou hast defrauded of his blooming spouse.
Thy lyre, thy locks, thy person, specious gifts
Of partial Venus, will avail thee nought,
Once mixt by Menelaus with the dust.
But we are base ourselves, or long a
go, 65
For all thy numerous mischiefs, thou hadst slept
Secure beneath a coverlet of stone.
Then godlike Alexander thus replied.
Oh Hector, true in temper as the axe
Which in the shipwright’s hand the naval plank 70
Divides resistless, doubling all his force,
Such is thy dauntless spirit whose reproach
Perforce I own, nor causeless nor unjust.
Yet let the gracious gifts uncensured pass
Of golden Venus; man may not reject 75
The glorious bounty by the Gods bestow’d,
Nor follows their beneficence our choice.
But if thy pleasure be that I engage
With Menelaus in decision fierce
Of desperate combat bid the host of Troy 80
And bid the Grecians sit; then face to face
Commit us, in the vacant field between,
To fight for Helen and for all her wealth.
068 Who strongest proves, and conquers, he, of her
And hers possess’d shall bear them safe away; 85
While ye (peace sworn and firm accord) shall dwell
At Troy, and these to Argos shall return
And to Achaia praised for women fair.
He ceased, whom Hector heard with joy; he moved
Into the middle space, and with his spear 90
Advanced athwart push’d back the Trojan van,
And all stood fast. Meantime at him the Greeks
Discharged full volley, showering thick around
From bow and sling; when with a mighty voice
Thus Agamemnon, leader of the host. 95
Argives! Be still — shoot not, ye sons of Greece!
Hector bespeaks attention. Hear the Chief!
He said, at once the Grecians ceased to shoot,
And all sat silent. Hector then began.
Hear me, ye Trojans, and ye Greeks mail-arm’d, 100
While I shall publish in your ears the words
Of Alexander, author of our strife.
Trojans, he bids, and Grecians on the field
Their arms dispose; while he, the hosts between,
With warlike Menelaus shall in fight 105
Contend for Helen, and for all her wealth.
Who strongest proves, and conquers, he, of her
And hers possess’d, shall bear them safe away,