William Cowper- Collected Poetical Works

by William Cowper

  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  Perceiving Pallas from the field withdrawn, 605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.