To soothe the awful Goddess; but she went
Hence to the tower of Troy: for she had heard
That the Achaians had prevail’d, and driven
The Trojans to the walls; she, therefore, wild
With grief, flew thither, and the nurse her steps 475
Attended, with thy infant in her arms.
So spake the prudent governess; whose words
When Hector heard, issuing from his door
He backward trod with hasty steps the streets
Of lofty Troy, and having traversed all 480
The spacious city, when he now approach’d
The Scæan gate, whence he must seek the field,
There, hasting home again his noble wife
Met him, Andromache the rich-endow’d
Fair daughter of Eëtion famed in arms. 485
Eëtion, who in Hypoplacian Thebes
Umbrageous dwelt, Cilicia’s mighty lord —
His daughter valiant Hector had espoused.
There she encounter’d him, and with herself
The nurse came also, bearing in her arms 490
Hectorides, his infant darling boy,
Beautiful as a star. Him Hector called
Scamandrios, but Astyanax all else
In Ilium named him, for that Hector’s arm
Alone was the defence and strength of Troy. 495
The father, silent, eyed his babe, and smiled.
Andromache, meantime, before him stood,
With streaming cheeks, hung on his hand, and said.
Thy own great courage will cut short thy days,
My noble Hector! neither pitiest thou 500
Thy helpless infant, or my hapless self,
Whose widowhood is near; for thou wilt fall
Ere long, assail’d by the whole host of Greece.
Then let me to the tomb, my best retreat
157 When thou art slain. For comfort none or joy 505
Can I expect, thy day of life extinct,
But thenceforth, sorrow. Father I have none;
No mother. When Cilicia’s city, Thebes
The populous, was by Achilles sack’d.
He slew my father; yet his gorgeous arms 510
Stripp’d not through reverence of him, but consumed,
Arm’d as it was, his body on the pile,
And heap’d his tomb, which the Oreades,
Jove’s daughters, had with elms inclosed around.
My seven brothers, glory of our house, 515
All in one day descended to the shades;
For brave Achilles, while they fed their herds
And snowy flocks together, slew them all.
My mother, Queen of the well-wooded realm
Of Hypoplacian Thebes, her hither brought 520
Among his other spoils, he loosed again
At an inestimable ransom-price,
But by Diana pierced, she died at home.
Yet Hector — oh my husband! I in thee
Find parents, brothers, all that I have lost. 525
Come! have compassion on us. Go not hence,
But guard this turret, lest of me thou make
A widow, and an orphan of thy boy.
The city walls are easiest of ascent
At yonder fig-tree; station there thy powers; 530
For whether by a prophet warn’d, or taught
By search and observation, in that part
Each Ajax with Idomeneus of Crete,
The sons of Atreus, and the valiant son
158 Of Tydeus, have now thrice assail’d the town. 535
To whom the leader of the host of Troy.
These cares, Andromache, which thee engage,
All touch me also; but I dread to incur
The scorn of male and female tongues in Troy,
If, dastard-like, I should decline the fight. 540
Nor feel I such a wish. No. I have learn’d
To be courageous ever, in the van
Among the flower of Ilium to assert
My glorious father’s honor, and my own.
For that the day shall come when sacred Troy, 545
When Priam, and the people of the old
Spear-practised King shall perish, well I know.
But for no Trojan sorrows yet to come
So much I mourn, not e’en for Hecuba,
Nor yet for Priam, nor for all the brave 550
Of my own brothers who shall kiss the dust,
As for thyself, when some Achaian Chief
Shall have convey’d thee weeping hence, thy sun
Of peace and liberty for ever set.
Then shalt thou toil in Argos at the loom 555
For a task-mistress, and constrain’d shalt draw
From Hypereïa’s fount, or from the fount
Messeïs, water at her proud command.
Some Grecian then, seeing thy tears, shall say —
“This was the wife of Hector, who excell’d 560
All Troy in fight when Ilium was besieged.”
Such he shall speak thee, and thy heart, the while,
Shall bleed afresh through want of such a friend
To stand between captivity and thee.
But may I rest beneath my hill of earth 565
Or ere that day arrive! I would not live
To hear thy cries, and see thee torn away.
So saying, illustrious Hector stretch’d his arms
Forth to his son, but with a scream, the child
Fell back into the bosom of his nurse, 570
His father’s aspect dreading, whose bright arms
159 He had attentive mark’d and shaggy crest
Playing tremendous o’er his helmet’s height.
His father and his gentle mother laugh’d,
And noble Hector lifting from his head 575
His dazzling helmet, placed it on the ground,
Then kiss’d his boy and dandled him, and thus
In earnest prayer the heavenly powers implored.
Hear all ye Gods! as ye have given to me,
So also on my son excelling might 580
Bestow, with chief authority in Troy.
And be his record this, in time to come,
When he returns from battle. Lo! how far
The son excels the sire! May every foe
Fall under him, and he come laden home 585
With spoils blood-stain’d to his dear mother’s joy.
He said, and gave his infant to the arms
Of his Andromache, who him received
Into her fragrant bosom, bitter tears
With sweet smiles mingling; he with pity moved 590
That sight observed, soft touch’d her cheek, and said,
Mourn not, my loved Andromache, for me
Too much; no man shall send me to the shades
Of Tartarus, ere mine allotted hour,
Nor lives he who can overpass the date 595
By heaven assign’d him, be he base or brave.
Go then, and occupy content at home
The woman’s province; ply the distaff, spin
And weave, and task thy maidens. War belongs
To man; to all men; and of all who first 600
Drew vital breath in Ilium, most to me.
160 He ceased, and from the ground his helmet raised
Hair-crested; his Andromache, at once
Obedient, to her home repair’d, but oft
Turn’d as she went, and, turning, wept afresh. 605
No sooner at the palace she arrived
Of havoc-spreading Hector, than among
Her numerous maidens found within, she raised
A general lamentation; with one voice,
In his own house, his whole domestic train 610
Mourn’d Hector, yet alive; for none the hope
Conceived of his escape from Grecian hands,
Or to behold their living master more.
Nor Paris in his stat
ely mansion long
Delay’d, but, arm’d resplendent, traversed swift 615
The city, all alacrity and joy.
As some stall’d horse high-fed, his stable-cord
Snapt short, beats under foot the sounding plain,
Accustomed in smooth-sliding streams to lave
Exulting; high he bears his head, his mane 620
Undulates o’er his shoulders, pleased he eyes
His glossy sides, and borne on pliant knees
Shoots to the meadow where his fellows graze;
So Paris, son of Priam, from the heights
Of Pergamus into the streets of Troy, 625
All dazzling as the sun, descended, flush’d
With martial pride, and bounding in his course.
At once he came where noble Hector stood
Now turning, after conference with his spouse,
When godlike Alexander thus began. 630
My hero brother, thou hast surely found
My long delay most irksome. More dispatch
Had pleased thee more, for such was thy command.
To whom the warlike Hector thus replied.
No man, judicious, and in feat of arms 635
Intelligent, would pour contempt on thee
(For thou art valiant) wert thou not remiss
And wilful negligent; and when I hear
The very men who labor in thy cause
161 Reviling thee, I make thy shame my own. 640
But let us on. All such complaints shall cease
Hereafter, and thy faults be touch’d no more,
Let Jove but once afford us riddance clear
Of these Achaians, and to quaff the cup
Of liberty, before the living Gods. 645
It may be observed, that Hector begins to resume his hope of success, and his warlike spirit is roused again, as he approaches the field of action. The depressing effect of his sad interview is wearing away from his mind, and he is already prepared for the battle with Ajax, which awaits him.
The student who has once read this book, will read it again and again. It contains much that is addressed to the deepest feelings of our common nature, and, despite of the long interval of time which lies between our age and the Homeric — despite the manifold changes of customs, habits, pursuits, and the advances that have been made in civilization and art — despite of all these, the universal spirit of humanity will recognize in these scenes much of that true poetry which delights alike all ages, all nations, all men. — Felton.
ARGUMENT OF THE SEVENTH BOOK.
Ajax and Hector engage in single combat. The Grecians fortify their camp.
BOOK VII.
So saying, illustrious Hector through the gates
To battle rush’d, with Paris at his side,
And both were bent on deeds of high renown.
As when the Gods vouchsafe propitious gales
To longing mariners, who with smooth oars 5
Threshing the waves have all their strength consumed,
So them the longing Trojans glad received.
At once each slew a Grecian. Paris slew
Menesthius who in Arna dwelt, the son
Of Areithoüs, club-bearing chief, 10
And of Philomedusa radiant-eyed.
But Hector wounded with his glittering spear
Eïoneus; he pierced his neck beneath
His brazen morion’s verge, and dead he fell.
Then Glaucus, leader of the Lycian host, 15
Son of Hippolochus, in furious fight
Iphinoüs son of Dexias assail’d,
Mounting his rapid mares, and with his lance
His shoulder pierced; unhorsed he fell and died.
Such slaughter of the Grecians in fierce fight 20
Minerva noting, from the Olympian hills
Flew down to sacred Ilium; whose approach
Marking from Pergamus, Apollo flew
To meet her, ardent on the part of Troy.
Beneath the beech they join’d, when first the King, 25
The son of Jove, Apollo thus began.
166 Daughter of Jove supreme! why hast thou left
Olympus, and with such impetuous speed?
Comest thou to give the Danaï success
Decisive? For I know that pity none 30
Thou feel’st for Trojans, perish as they may
But if advice of mine can influence thee
To that which shall be best, let us compose
This day the furious fight which shall again
Hereafter rage, till Ilium be destroy’d. 35
Since such is Juno’s pleasure and thy own.
Him answer’d then Pallas cærulean-eyed.
Celestial archer! be it so. I came
Myself so purposing into the field
From the Olympian heights. But by what means 40
Wilt thou induce the warriors to a pause?
To whom the King, the son of Jove, replied.
The courage of equestrian Hector bold
Let us excite, that he may challenge forth
To single conflict terrible some chief 45
Achaian. The Achaians brazen-mail’d
Indignant, will supply a champion soon
To combat with the noble Chief of Troy.
So spake Apollo, and his counsel pleased
Minerva; which when Helenus the seer, 50
Priam’s own son, in his prophetic soul
Perceived, approaching Hector, thus he spake.
Jove’s peer in wisdom, Hector, Priam’s son!
I am thy brother. Wilt thou list to me?
Bid cease the battle. Bid both armies sit. 55
Call first, thyself, the mightiest of the Greeks
To single conflict. I have heard the voice
Of the Eternal Gods, and well-assured
Foretell thee that thy death not now impends.
He spake, whom Hector heard with joy elate. 60
Before his van striding into the space
Both hosts between, he with his spear transverse
167 Press’d back the Trojans, and they sat. Down sat
The well-greaved Grecians also at command
Of Agamemnon; and in shape assumed 65
Of vultures, Pallas and Apollo perch’d
High on the lofty beech sacred to Jove
The father Ægis-arm’d; delighted thence
They view’d the peopled plain horrent around
With shields and helms and glittering spears erect. 70
As when fresh-blowing Zephyrus the flood
Sweeps first, the ocean blackens at the blast,
Such seem’d the plain whereon the Achaians sat
And Trojans, whom between thus Hector spake.
Ye Trojans and Achaians brazen-greaved, 75
Attend while I shall speak! Jove high-enthroned
Hath not fulfill’d the truce, but evil plans
Against both hosts, till either ye shall take
Troy’s lofty towers, or shall yourselves in flight
Fall vanquish’d at your billow-cleaving barks. 80
With you is all the flower of Greece. Let him
Whose heart shall move him to encounter sole
Illustrious Hector, from among you all
Stand forth, and Jove be witness to us both.
If he, with his long-pointed lance, of life 85
Shall me bereave, my armor is his prize,
Which he shall hence into your fleet convey;
Not so my body; that he shall resign
For burial to the men and wives of Troy.
But if Apollo make the glory mine, 90
And he fall vanquish’d, him will I despoil,
And hence conveying into sacred Troy
His arms, will in the temple hang them high
168 Of the bow-bender God, but I will send
His body to the fleet, that him the Greeks 95
May grace with rights funereal. On the banks<
br />
Of wide-spread Hellespont ye shall upraise
His tomb, and as they cleave with oary barks
The sable deep, posterity shall say —
“It is a warrior’s tomb; in ancient days 100
The Hero died; him warlike Hector slew.”
So men shall speak hereafter, and my fame
Who slew him, and my praise, shall never die.
He ceased, and all sat mute. His challenge bold
None dared accept, which yet they blush’d to shun, 105
Till Menelaus, at the last, arose
Groaning profound, and thus reproach’d the Greeks.
Ah boasters! henceforth women — men no more —
Eternal shame, shame infinite is ours,
If none of all the Grecians dares contend 110
With Hector. Dastards — deaf to glory’s call —
Rot where ye sit! I will myself take arms
Against him, for the gods alone dispose,
At their own pleasure, the events of war.
He ended, and put on his radiant arms. 115
Then, Menelaus, manifest appear’d
Thy death approaching by the dreadful hands
Of Hector, mightier far in arms than thou,
But that the Chiefs of the Achaians all
Upstarting stay’d thee, and himself the King, 120
The son of Atreus, on thy better hand
Seizing affectionate, thee thus address’d.
Thou ravest, my royal brother! and art seized
With needless frenzy. But, however chafed,
Restrain thy wrath, nor covet to contend 125
With Priameian Hector, whom in fight
All dread, a warrior thy superior far.
Not even Achilles, in the glorious field
(Though stronger far than thou) this hero meets
Undaunted. Go then, and thy seat resume 130
In thy own band; the Achaians shall for him,
169 Doubtless, some fitter champion furnish forth.
Brave though he be, and with the toils of war
Insatiable, he shall be willing yet,
Seated on his bent knees, to breathe a while, 135
Should he escape the arduous brunt severe.
So saying, the hero by his counsel wise
His brother’s purpose alter’d; he complied,
And his glad servants eased him of his arms.
William Cowper- Collected Poetical Works Page 101
