Quaking, as dogs that hear the lion’s roar.
We bear the stress, who are but Troy’s allies;
Myself am such, and from afar I came; 565
For Lycia lies far distant on the banks
Of the deep-eddied Xanthus. There a wife
I left and infant son, both dear to me,
With plenteous wealth, the wish of all who want.
Yet urge I still my Lycians, and am prompt 570
Myself to fight, although possessing here
Nought that the Greeks can carry or drive hence.
But there stand’st thou, neither employed thyself,
Nor moving others to an active part
For all their dearest pledges. Oh beware! 575
Lest, as with meshes of an ample net,
At one huge draught the Grecians sweep you all,
And desolate at once your populous Troy!
By day, by night, thoughts such as these should still
Thy conduct influence, and from Chief to Chief 580
Of the allies should send thee, praying each
To make firm stand, all bickerings put away.
So spake Sarpedon, and his reprimand
Stung Hector; instant to the ground he leap’d
All arm’d, and shaking his bright spears his host 585
Ranged in all quarters animating loud
His legions, and rekindling horrid war.
Then, rolling back, the powers of Troy opposed
Once more the Grecians, whom the Grecians dense
Expected, unretreating, void of fear. 590
As flies the chaff wide scatter’d by the wind
124 O’er all the consecrated floor, what time
Ripe Ceres with brisk airs her golden grain
Ventilates, whitening with its husk the ground;
So grew the Achaians white, a dusty cloud 595
Descending on their arms, which steeds with steeds
Again to battle mingling, with their hoofs
Up-stamp’d into the brazen vault of heaven;
For now the charioteers turn’d all to fight.
Host toward host with full collected force 600
They moved direct. Then Mars through all the field
Took wide his range, and overhung the war
With night, in aid of Troy, at the command
Of Phœbus of the golden sword; for he
Perceiving Pallas from the field withdrawn, 605
Patroness of the Greeks, had Mars enjoin’d
To rouse the spirit of the Trojan host.
Meantime Apollo from his unctuous shrine
Sent forth restored and with new force inspired
Æneas. He amidst his warriors stood, 610
Who him with joy beheld still living, heal’d,
And all his strength possessing unimpair’d.
Yet no man ask’d him aught. No leisure now
For question was; far other thoughts had they;
Such toils the archer of the silver bow, 615
Wide-slaughtering Mars, and Discord as at first
Raging implacable, for them prepared.
Ulysses, either Ajax, Diomede —
These roused the Greeks to battle, who themselves
The force fear’d nothing, or the shouts of Troy, 620
But steadfast stood, like clouds by Jove amass’d
On lofty mountains, while the fury sleeps
125 Of Boreas, and of all the stormy winds
Shrill-voiced, that chase the vapors when they blow,
So stood the Greeks, expecting firm the approach 625
Of Ilium’s powers, and neither fled nor fear’d.
Then Agamemnon the embattled host
On all sides ranging, cheer’d them. Now, he cried,
Be steadfast, fellow warriors, now be men!
Hold fast a sense of honor. More escape 630
Of men who fear disgrace, than fall in fight,
While dastards forfeit life and glory both.
He said, and hurl’d his spear. He pierced a friend
Of brave Æneas, warring in the van,
Deicöon son of Pergasus, in Troy 635
Not less esteem’d than Priam’s sons themselves,
Such was his fame in foremost fight acquired.
Him Agamemnon on his buckler smote,
Nor stayed the weapon there, but through his belt
His bowels enter’d, and with hideous clang 640
And outcry of his batter’d arms he fell.
Æneas next two mightiest warriors slew,
Sons of Diocles, of a wealthy sire,
Whose house magnificent in Phæræ stood,
Orsilochus and Crethon. Their descent 645
From broad-stream’d Alpheus, Pylian flood, they drew.
Alpheus begat Orsilochus, a prince
Of numerous powers. Orsilochus begat
Warlike Diodes. From Diodes sprang
Twins, Crethon and Orsilochus, alike 650
Valiant, and skilful in all forms of war.
Their boyish prime scarce past, they, with the Greeks
Embarking, in their sable ships had sail’d
To steed-fam’d Ilium; just revenge they sought
For Atreus’ sons, but perished first themselves. 655
As two young lions, in the deep recess
Of some dark forest on the mountain’s brow
Late nourished by their dam, forth-issuing, seize
126 The fatted flocks and kine, both folds and stalls
Wasting rapacious, till, at length, themselves 660
Deep-wounded perish by the hand of man,
So they, both vanquish’d by Æneas, fell,
And like two lofty pines uprooted, lay.
Them fallen in battle Menelaus saw
With pity moved; radiant in arms he shook 665
His brazen spear, and strode into the van.
Mars urged him furious on, conceiving hope
Of his death also by Æneas’ hand.
But him the son of generous Nestor mark’d
Antilochus, and to the foremost fight 670
Flew also, fearing lest some dire mischance
The Prince befalling, at one fatal stroke
Should frustrate all the labors of the Greeks.
They, hand to hand, and spear to spear opposed,
Stood threatening dreadful onset, when beside 675
The Spartan chief Antilochus appear’d.
Æneas, at the sight of two combined,
Stood not, although intrepid. They the dead
Thence drawing far into the Grecian host
To their associates gave the hapless pair, 680
Then, both returning, fought in front again.
Next, fierce as Mars, Pylæmenes they slew,
Prince of the shielded band magnanimous
Of Paphlagonia. Him Atrides kill’d
Spear-practised Menelaus, with a lance 685
His throat transpiercing while erect he rode.
Then, while his charioteer, Mydon the brave,
Son of Atymnias, turn’d his steeds to flight,
Full on his elbow-point Antilochus,
The son of Nestor, dash’d him with a stone. 690
The slack reins, white as ivory, forsook
His torpid hand and trail’d the dust. At once
Forth sprang Antilochus, and with his sword
Hew’d deep his temples. On his head he pitch’d
127 Panting, and on his shoulders in the sand 695
(For in deep sand he fell) stood long erect,
Till his own coursers spread him in the dust;
The son of Nestor seized, and with his scourge
Drove them afar into the host of Greece.
Them Hector through the ranks espying, flew 700
With clamor loud to meet them; after whom
Advanced in phalanx firm the powers of Troy,
Mars led them, with Enyo terror-clad;
She by the maddening tumult of the fight
Attended, he, with his enormous spear 705
in both hands brandish’d, stalking now in front
Of Hector, and now following his steps.
Him Diomede the bold discerning, felt
Himself no small dismay; and as a man
Wandering he knows not whither, far from home, 710
If chance a rapid torrent to the sea
Borne headlong thwart his course, the foaming flood
Obstreperous views awhile, then quick retires,
So he, and his attendants thus bespake.
How oft, my countrymen! have we admired 715
The noble Hector, skillful at the spear
And unappall’d in fight? but still hath he
Some God his guard, and even now I view
In human form Mars moving at his side.
Ye, then, with faces to the Trojans turn’d, 720
Ceaseless retire, and war not with the Gods.
He ended; and the Trojans now approach’d.
Then two bold warriors in one chariot borne,
By valiant Hector died, Menesthes one,
And one, Anchialus. Them fallen in fight 725
Ajax the vast, touch’d with compassion saw;
Within small space he stood, his glittering spear
Dismiss’d, and pierced Amphius. Son was he
Of Selagus, and Pæsus was his home,
Where opulent he dwelt, but by his fate 730
Was led to fight for Priam and his sons.
Him Telamonian Ajax through his belt
128 Wounded, and in his nether bowels deep
Fix’d his long-shadow’d spear. Sounding he fell.
Illustrious Ajax running to the slain 735
Prepared to strip his arms, but him a shower
Of glittering-weapons keen from Trojan hands
Assail’d, and numerous his broad shield received.
He, on the body planting firm his heel,
Forth drew the polish’d spear, but his bright arms 740
Took not, by darts thick-flying sore annoy’d,
Nor fear’d he little lest his haughty foes,
Spear-arm’d and bold, should compass him around;
Him, therefore, valiant though he were and huge,
They push’d before them. Staggering he retired. 745
Thus toil’d both hosts in that laborious field.
And now his ruthless destiny impell’d
Tlepolemus, Alcides’ son, a Chief
Dauntless and huge, against a godlike foe
Sarpedon. They approaching face to face 750
Stood, son and grandson of high-thundering Jove,
And, haughty, thus Tlepolemus began.
Sarpedon, leader of the Lycian host,
Thou trembler! thee what cause could hither urge
A man unskill’d in arms? They falsely speak 755
Who call thee son of Ægis-bearing Jove,
So far below their might thou fall’st who sprang
From Jove in days of old. What says report
Of Hercules (for him I boast my sire)
All-daring hero with a lion’s heart? 760
With six ships only, and with followers few,
He for the horses of Laomedon
Lay’d Troy in dust, and widow’d all her streets.
But thou art base, and thy diminish’d powers
Perish around thee; think not that thou earnest 765
For Ilium’s good, but rather, whatsoe’er
Thy force in fight, to find, subdued by me,
A sure dismission to the gates of hell.
To whom the leader of the Lycian band.
Tlepolemus! he ransack’d sacred Troy, 770
129 As thou hast said, but for her monarch’s fault
Laomedon, who him with language harsh
Requited ill for benefits received,
Nor would the steeds surrender, seeking which
He voyaged from afar. But thou shalt take 775
Thy bloody doom from this victorious arm,
And, vanquish’d by my spear, shalt yield thy fame
To me, thy soul to Pluto steed-renown’d.
So spake Sarpedon, and his ashen beam
Tlepolemus upraised. Both hurl’d at once 780
Their quivering spears. Sarpedon’s through the neck
Pass’d of Tlepolemus, and show’d beyond
Its ruthless point; thick darkness veil’d his eyes.
Tlepolemus with his long lance the thigh
Pierced of Sarpedon; sheer into his bone 785
He pierced him, but Sarpedon’s father, Jove,
Him rescued even on the verge of fate.
His noble friends conducted from the field
The godlike Lycian, trailing as he went
The pendent spear, none thinking to extract 790
For his relief the weapon from his thigh,
Through eagerness of haste to bear him thence.
On the other side, the Grecians brazen-mail’d
Bore off Tlepolemus. Ulysses fill’d
With earnest thoughts tumultuous them observed, 795
Danger-defying Chief! Doubtful he stood
Or to pursue at once the Thunderer’s son
Sarpedon, or to take more Lycian lives.
But not for brave Ulysses had his fate
That praise reserved, that he should slay the son 800
Renown’d of Jove; therefore his wavering mind
Minerva bent against the Lycian band.
Then Cœranus, Alastor, Chromius fell,
Alcander, Halius, Prytanis, and brave
Noëmon; nor had these sufficed the Chief 805
Of Ithaca, but Lycians more had fallen,
Had not crest-tossing Hector huge perceived
The havoc; radiant to the van he flew,
130 Filling with dread the Grecians; his approach
Sarpedon, son of Jove, joyful beheld, 810
And piteous thus address’d him as he came.
Ah, leave not me, Priamides! a prey
To Grecian hands, but in your city, at least,
Grant me to die: since hither, doom’d, I came
Never to gratify with my return 815
To Lycia, my loved spouse, or infant child.
He spake; but Hector unreplying pass’d
Impetuous, ardent to repulse the Greeks
That moment, and to drench his sword in blood.
Then, under shelter of a spreading beech 820
Sacred to Jove, his noble followers placed
The godlike Chief Sarpedon, where his friend
Illustrious Pelagon, the ashen spear
Extracted. Sightless, of all thought bereft,
He sank, but soon revived, by breathing airs 825
Refresh’d, that fann’d him gently from the North.
Meantime the Argives, although press’d alike
By Mars himself and Hector brazen-arm’d,
Neither to flight inclined, nor yet advanced
To battle, but inform’d that Mars the fight 830
Waged on the side of Ilium, slow retired.
Whom first, whom last slew then the mighty son
Of Priam, Hector, and the brazen Mars!
First godlike Teuthras, an equestrian Chief,
Orestes, Trechus of Ætolian race, 835
Œnomaüs, Helenus from Œnops’ sprung,
And brisk in fight Oresbius; rich was he,
And covetous of more; in Hyla dwelt
131 Fast by the lake Cephissus, where abode
Bœotian Princes numerous, rich themselves 840
And rulers of a people wealth-renown’d.
But Juno, such dread slaughter of the Greeks
Noting, thus, ardent, to Minerva spake.
Daughter of Jove invincible! Our word
That Troy shall perish, hath been given in vain 845
To Menelaus, if we suffer Mars
/> To ravage longer uncontrol’d. The time
Urges, and need appears that we ourselves
Now call to mind the fury of our might.
She spake; nor blue-eyed Pallas not complied. 850
Then Juno, Goddess dread, from Saturn sprung,
Her coursers gold-caparison’d prepared
Impatient. Hebe to the chariot roll’d
The brazen wheels, and joined them to the smooth
Steel axle; twice four spokes divided each 855
Shot from the centre to the verge. The verge
Was gold by fellies of eternal brass
Guarded, a dazzling show! The shining naves
Were silver; silver cords and cords of gold
The seat upbore; two crescents blazed in front. 860
The pole was argent all, to which she bound
The golden yoke, and in their place disposed
The breast-bands incorruptible of gold;
But Juno to the yoke, herself, the steeds
Led forth, on fire to reach the dreadful field. 865
Meantime, Minerva, progeny of Jove,
On the adamantine floor of his abode
132 Let fall profuse her variegated robe,
Labor of her own hands. She first put on
The corselet of the cloud-assembler God, 870
Then arm’d her for the field of wo complete.
She charged her shoulder with the dreadful shield
The shaggy Ægis, border’d thick around
With terror; there was Discord, Prowess there,
There hot Pursuit, and there the feature grim 875
Of Gorgon, dire Deformity, a sign
Oft borne portentous on the arm of Jove.
Her golden helm, whose concave had sufficed
The legions of an hundred cities, rough
With warlike ornament superb, she fix’d 880
On her immortal head. Thus arm’d, she rose
Into the flaming chariot, and her spear
Seized ponderous, huge, with which the Goddess sprung
From an Almighty father, levels ranks
Of heroes, against whom her anger burns. 885
Juno with lifted lash urged quick the steeds;
At her approach, spontaneous roar’d the wide-
Unfolding gates of heaven; the heavenly gates
Kept by the watchful Hours, to whom the charge
Of the Olympian summit appertains, 890
And of the boundless ether, back to roll,
And to replace the cloudy barrier dense.
William Cowper- Collected Poetical Works Page 98
