William Cowper- Collected Poetical Works

by William Cowper

  Him fallen by both feet Calchodon’s son 550

  Seized, royal Elephenor, leader brave

  Of the Abantes, and in haste to strip

  His armor, drew him from the fight aside.

  But short was that attempt. Him so employ’d

  Dauntless Agenor mark’d, and as he stoop’d, 555

  In his unshielded flank a pointed spear

  Implanted deep; he languid sunk and died.

  So Elephenor fell, for whom arose

  Sharp conflict; Greeks and Trojans mutual flew

  Like wolves to battle, and man grappled man. 560

  102 Then Telamonian Ajax, in his prime

  Of youthful vigor Simöisius slew,

  Son of Anthemion. Him on Simoïs’ banks

  His mother bore, when with her parents once

  She came from Ida down to view the flocks, 565

  And thence they named him; but his parents’

  He lived not to requite, in early youth

  Slain by the spear of Ajax famed in arms.

  For him advancing Ajax at the pap

  Wounded; right through his shoulder driven the point 570

  Stood forth behind; he fell, and press’d the dust.

  So in some spacious marsh the poplar falls

  Smooth-skinn’d, with boughs unladen save aloft;

  Some chariot-builder with his axe the trunk

  Severs, that he may warp it to a wheel 575

  Of shapely form; meantime exposed it lies

  To parching airs beside the running stream;

  Such Simöisius seemed, Anthemion’s son,

  Whom noble Ajax slew. But soon at him

  Antiphus, son of Priam, bright in arms, 580

  Hurl’d through the multitude his pointed spear.

  He erred from Ajax, but he pierced the groin

  Of Leucus, valiant warrior of the band

  Led by Ulysses. He the body dragg’d

  Apart, but fell beside it, and let fall, 585

  Breathless himself, the burthen from his hand.

  Then burn’d Ulysses’ wrath for Leucus slain,

  And through the foremost combatants, array’d

  In dazzling arms, he rush’d. Full near he stood,

  And, looking keen around him, hurl’d a lance. 590

  Back fell the Trojans from before the face

  Dispersed of great Ulysses. Not in vain

  His weapon flew, but on the field outstretch’d

  103 A spurious son of Priam, from the shores

  Call’d of Abydus famed for fleetest mares, 595

  Democoon; him, for Leucus’ sake enraged,

  Ulysses through both temples with his spear

  Transpierced. The night of death hung on his eyes,

  And sounding on his batter’d arms he fell.

  Then Hector and the van of Troy retired; 600

  Loud shout the Grecians; these draw off the dead,

  Those onward march amain, and from the heights

  Of Pergamus Apollo looking down

  In anger, to the Trojans called aloud.

  Turn, turn, ye Trojans! face your Grecian foes. 605

  They, like yourselves, are vulnerable flesh,

  Not adamant or steel. Your direst dread

  Achilles, son of Thetis radiant-hair’d,

  Fights not, but sullen in his fleet abides.

  Such from the citadel was heard the voice 610

  Of dread Apollo. But Minerva ranged

  Meantime, Tritonian progeny of Jove,

  The Grecians, rousing whom she saw remiss.

  Then Amarynceus’ son, Diores, felt

  The force of fate, bruised by a rugged rock 615

  At his right heel, which Pirus, Thracian Chief,

  The son of Imbrasus of Ænos, threw.

  Bones and both tendons in its fall the mass

  Enormous crush’d. He, stretch’d in dust supine,

  With palms outspread toward his warrior friends 620

  Lay gasping life away. But he who gave

  The fatal blow, Pirus, advancing, urged

  Into his navel a keen lance, and shed

  His bowels forth; then, darkness veil’d his eyes.

  Nor Pirus long survived; him through the breast 625

  Above the pap, Ætolian Thoas pierced,

  And in his lungs set fast the quivering spear.

  Then Thoas swift approach’d, pluck’d from the wound

  104 His stormy spear, and with his falchion bright

  Gashing his middle belly, stretch’d him dead. 630

  Yet stripp’d he not the slain, whom with long spears

  His Thracians hairy-scalp’d so round about

  Encompassed, that though bold and large of limb

  Were Thoas, from before them him they thrust

  Staggering and reeling in his forced retreat. 635

  They therefore in the dust, the Epean Chief

  Diores, and the Thracian, Pirus lay

  Stretch’d side by side, with numerous slain around.

  Then had Minerva led through all that field

  Some warrior yet unhurt, him sheltering safe 640

  From all annoyance dread of dart or spear,

  No cause of blame in either had he found

  That day, so many Greeks and Trojans press’d,

  Extended side by side, the dusty plain.

  ARGUMENT OF THE FIFTH BOOK.

  Diomede is extraordinarily distinguished. He kills Pandarus, who had violated the truce, and wounds first Venus and then Mars.

  BOOK V.

  Then Athenæan Pallas on the son

  Of Tydeus, Diomede, new force conferr’d

  And daring courage, that the Argives all

  He might surpass, and deathless fame achieve.

  Fires on his helmet and his shield around 5

  She kindled, bright and steady as the star

  Autumnal, which in Ocean newly bathed

  Assumes fresh beauty; with such glorious beams

  His head encircling and his shoulders broad,

  She urged him forth into the thickest fight. 10

  There lived a man in Troy, Dares his name,

  The priest of Vulcan; rich he was and good,

  The father of two sons, Idæus this,

  That, Phegeus call’d; accomplish’d warriors both.

  These, issuing from their phalanx, push’d direct 15

  Their steeds at Diomede, who fought on foot.

  When now small interval was left between,

  First Phegeus his long-shadow’d spear dismiss’d;

  But over Diomede’s left shoulder pass’d

  108 The point, innocuous. Then his splendid lance 20

  Tydides hurl’d; nor ineffectual flew

  The weapon from his hand, but Phegeus pierced

  His paps between, and forced him to the ground.

  At once, his sumptuous chariot left, down leap’d

  Idæsus, wanting courage to defend 25

  His brother slain; nor had he scaped himself

  His louring fate, but Vulcan, to preserve

  His ancient priest from unmixt sorrow, snatch’d

  The fugitive in darkness wrapt, away.

  Then brave Tydides, driving off the steeds, 30

  Consign’d them to his fellow-warriors’ care,

  That they might lead them down into the fleet.

  The valiant Trojans, when they saw the sons

  Of Dares, one beside his chariot slain,

  And one by flight preserved, through all their host 35

  Felt consternation. Then Minerva seized

  The hand of fiery Mars, and thus she spake.

  Gore-tainted homicide, town-battering Mars!

  Leave we the Trojans and the Greeks to wage

  Fierce fight alone, Jove prospering whom he will, 40

  So shall we not provoke our father’s ire.

  She said, and from the fight conducted forth

  The impetuous Deity, whom on
the side

  She seated of Scamander deep-embank’d.

  And now the host of Troy to flight inclined 45

  Before the Grecians, and the Chiefs of Greece

  Each slew a warrior. Agamemnon first

  Gigantic Odius from his chariot hurl’d.

  Chief of the Halizonians. He to flight

  Turn’d foremost, when the monarch in his spine 50

  Between the shoulder-bones his spear infixt,

  And urged it through his breast. Sounding he fell,

  And loud his batter’d armor rang around.

  By brave Idomeneus a Lydian died,

  Phæstus, from fruitful Tarne sent to Troy, 55

  Son of Mæonian Borus; him his steeds

  109 Mounting, Idomeneus the spear-renown’d

  Through his right shoulder pierced; unwelcome night

  Involved him; from his chariot down he fell,

  And the attendant Cretans stripp’d his arms. 60

  But Menelaus, son of Atreus slew

  With his bright spear Scamandrius, Stropius’ son,

  A skilful hunter; for Diana him,

  Herself, the slaughter of all savage kinds

  Had taught, on mountain or in forest bred. 65

  But she, shaft-aiming Goddess, in that hour

  Avail’d him not, nor his own matchless skill;

  For Menelaus, Atreus son spear-famed,

  Him flying wounded in the spine between

  His shoulders, and the spear urged through his breast. 70

  Prone on his loud-resounding arms he fell.

  Next, by Meriones, Phereclus died,

  Son of Harmonides. All arts that ask

  A well-instructed hand his sire had learn’d,

  For Pallas dearly loved him. He the fleet, 75

  Prime source of harm to Troy and to himself,

  For Paris built, unskill’d to spell aright

  The oracles predictive of the wo.

  Phereclus fled; Meriones his flight

  Outstripping, deep in his posterior flesh 80

  A spear infix’d; sliding beneath the bone

  It grazed his bladder as it pass’d, and stood

  Protruded far before. Low on his knees

  Phereclus sank, and with a shriek expired.

  110 Pedæus, whom, although his spurious son, 85

  Antenor’s wife, to gratify her lord,

  Had cherish’d as her own — him Meges slew.

  Warlike Phylides following close his flight,

  His keen lance drove into his poll, cut sheer

  His tongue within, and through his mouth enforced 90

  The glittering point. He, prostrate in the dust,

  The cold steel press’d between his teeth and died.

  Eurypylus, Evemon’s son, the brave

  Hypsenor slew; Dolopion was his sire,

  Priest of Scamander, reverenced as a God. 95

  In vain before Eurypylus he fled;

  He, running, with his falchion lopp’d his arm

  Fast by the shoulder; on the field his hand

  Fell blood-distained, and destiny severe

  With shades of death for ever veil’d his eyes. 100

  Thus strenuous they the toilsome battle waged.

  But where Tydides fought, whether in aid

  Of Ilium’s host, or on the part of Greece,

  Might none discern. For as a winter-flood

  Impetuous, mounds and bridges sweeps away; 105

  The buttress’d bridge checks not its sudden force,

  The firm inclosure of vine-planted fields

  Luxuriant, falls before it; finish’d works

  Of youthful hinds, once pleasant to the eye,

  Now levell’d, after ceaseless rain from Jove; 110

  So drove Tydides into sudden flight

  The Trojans; phalanx after phalanx fled

  Before the terror of his single arm.

  When him Lycaon’s son illustrious saw

  Scouring the field, and from before his face 115

  The ranks dispersing wide, at once he bent

  Against Tydides his elastic bow.

  111 The arrow met him in his swift career

  Sure-aim’d; it struck direct the hollow mail

  Of his right shoulder, with resistless force 120

  Transfix’d it, and his hauberk stain’d with blood.

  Loud shouted then Lycaon’s son renown’d.

  Rush on, ye Trojans, spur your coursers hard.

  Our fiercest foe is wounded, and I deem

  His death not distant far, if me the King 125

  Jove’s son, indeed, from Lycia sent to Troy.

  So boasted Pandarus. Yet him the dart

  Quell’d not. Retreating, at his coursers’ heads

  He stood, and to the son of Capaneus

  His charioteer and faithful friend he said. 130

  Arise, sweet son of Capaneus, dismount,

  And from my shoulder draw this bitter shaft.

  He spake; at once the son of Capaneus

  Descending, by its barb the bitter shaft

  Drew forth; blood spouted through his twisted mail 135

  Incontinent, and thus the Hero pray’d.

  Unconquer’d daughter of Jove Ægis-arm’d!

  If ever me, propitious, or my sire

  Thou hast in furious fight help’d heretofore,

  Now aid me also. Bring within the reach 140

  Of my swift spear, Oh grant me to strike through

  The warrior who hath check’d my course, and boasts

  The sun’s bright beams for ever quench’d to me!

  He prayed, and Pallas heard; she braced his limbs,

  She wing’d him with alacrity divine, 145

  And, standing at his side, him thus bespake.

  Now Diomede, be bold! Fight now with Troy.

  To thee, thy father’s spirit I impart

  Fearless; shield-shaking Tydeus felt the same.

  I also from thine eye the darkness purge 150

  112 Which dimm’d thy sight before, that thou may’st know

  Both Gods and men; should, therefore, other God

  Approach to try thee, fight not with the powers

  Immortal; but if foam-born Venus come,

  Her spare not. Wound her with thy glittering spear. 155

  So spake the blue-eyed Deity, and went,

  Then with the champions in the van again

  Tydides mingled; hot before, he fights

  With threefold fury now, nor less enraged

  Than some gaunt lion whom o’erleaping light 160

  The fold, a shepherd hath but gall’d, not kill’d,

  Him irritating more; thenceforth the swain

  Lurks unresisting; flies the abandon’d flock;

  Heaps slain on heaps he leaves, and with a bound

  Surmounting all impediment, escapes; 165

  Such seem’d the valiant Diomede incensed

  To fury, mingling with the host of Troy.

  Astynoüs and Hypenor first he slew;

  One with his brazen lance above the pap

  He pierced, and one with his huge falchion smote 170

  Fast by the key-bone, from the neck and spine

  His parted shoulder driving at a blow.

  Them leaving, Polyides next he sought

  And Abas, sons of a dream-dealing seer,

  Eurydamas; their hoary father’s dreams 175

  Or not interpreted, or kept concealed,

  Them saved not, for by Diomede they died.

  Xanthus and Thöon he encounter’d next,

  Both sons of Phænops, sons of his old age,

  Who other heir had none of all his wealth, 180

  113 Nor hoped another, worn with many years.

  Tydides slew them both; nor aught remain’d

  To the old man but sorrow for his sons

  For ever lost, and strangers were his heirs.

  Two sons of Priam in one chariot borne 185

&
nbsp; Echemon next, and Chromius felt his hand

  Resistless. As a lion on the herd

  Leaping, while they the shrubs and bushes browse,

  Breaks short the neck of heifer or of steer,

  So them, though clinging fast and loth to fall, 190

  Tydides hurl’d together to the ground,

  Then stripp’d their splendid armor, and the steeds

  Consigned and chariot to his soldiers’ care.

  Æneas him discern’d scattering the ranks,

  And through the battle and the clash of spears 195

  Went seeking godlike Pandarus; ere long

  Finding Lycaon’s martial son renown’d,

  He stood before him, and him thus address’d.

  Thy bow, thy feather’d shafts, and glorious name

  Where are they, Pandarus? whom none of Troy 200

  Could equal, whom of Lycia, none excel.

  Come. Lift thine hands to Jove, and at yon Chief

  Dispatch an arrow, who afflicts the host

  Of Ilium thus, conquering where’er he flies,

  And who hath slaughter’d numerous brave in arms, 205

  But him some Deity I rather deem

  Avenging on us his neglected rites,

  And who can stand before an angry God?

  Him answer’d then Lycaon’s son renown’d.

  Brave leader of the Trojans brazen-mail’d, 210

  Æneas! By his buckler which I know,

  And by his helmet’s height, considering, too

  His steeds, I deem him Diomede the bold;

  Yet such pronounce him not, who seems a God.

  But if bold Diomede indeed he be 215

  Of whom I speak, not without aid from heaven

  His fury thus prevails, but at his side

  Some God, in clouds enveloped, turns away

  114 From him the arrow to a devious course.

  Already, at his shoulder’s hollow mail 220

  My shaft hath pierced him through, and him I deem’d

  Dismiss’d full sure to Pluto ere his time

  But he survives; whom therefore I at last

  Perforce conclude some angry Deity.

  Steeds have I none or chariot to ascend, 225

  Who have eleven chariots in the stands

  Left of Lycaon, with fair hangings all

  O’ermantled, strong, new finish’d, with their steeds

  In pairs beside them, eating winnow’d grain.