William Cowper- Collected Poetical Works

by William Cowper

  Meantime Leonteus, branch of Mars, his spear

  Hurl’d at Hippomachus, whom through his belt 235

  He pierced; then drawing forth his falchion keen,

  Through all the multitude he flew to smite

  Antiphates, and with a downright stroke

  Fell’d him. Iämenus and Menon next

  He slew, with brave Orestes, whom he heap’d, 240

  All three together, on the fertile glebe.

  While them the Lapithæ of their bright arms

  Despoil’d, Polydamas and Hector stood

  (With all the bravest youths and most resolved

  To burst the barrier and to fire the fleet) 245

  Beside the foss, pondering the event.

  For, while they press’d to pass, they spied a bird

  Sublime in air, an eagle. Right between

  Both hosts he soar’d (the Trojan on his left)

  A serpent bearing in his pounces clutch’d 250

  Enormous, dripping blood, but lively still

  And mindful of revenge; for from beneath

  300 The eagle’s breast, updarting fierce his head,

  Fast by the throat he struck him; anguish-sick

  The eagle cast him down into the space 255

  Between the hosts, and, clanging loud his plumes

  As the wind bore him, floated far away.

  Shudder’d the Trojans viewing at their feet

  The spotted serpent ominous, and thus

  Polydamas to dauntless Hector spake. 260

  Ofttimes in council, Hector, thou art wont

  To censure me, although advising well;

  Nor ought the private citizen, I confess,

  Either in council or in war to indulge

  Loquacity, but ever to employ 265

  All his exertions in support of thine.

  Yet hear my best opinion once again.

  Proceed we not in our attempt against

  The Grecian fleet. For if in truth the sign

  Respect the host of Troy ardent to pass, 270

  Then, as the eagle soar’d both hosts between,

  With Ilium’s on his left, and clutch’d a snake

  Enormous, dripping blood, but still alive,

  Which yet he dropp’d suddenly, ere he reach’d

  His eyry, or could give it to his young, 275

  So we, although with mighty force we burst

  Both gates and barrier, and although the Greeks

  Should all retire, shall never yet the way

  Tread honorably back by which we came.

  No. Many a Trojan shall we leave behind 280

  Slain by the Grecians in their fleet’s defence.

  An augur skill’d in omens would expound

  This omen thus, and faith would win from all.

  To whom, dark-louring, Hector thus replied.

  Polydamas! I like not thy advice; 285

  Thou couldst have framed far better; but if this

  Be thy deliberate judgment, then the Gods

  Make thy deliberate judgment nothing worth,

  Who bidd’st me disregard the Thunderer’s firm

  301 Assurance to myself announced, and make 290

  The wild inhabitants of air my guides,

  Which I alike despise, speed they their course

  With right-hand flight toward the ruddy East,

  Or leftward down into the shades of eve.

  Consider we the will of Jove alone, 295

  Sovereign of heaven and earth. Omens abound,

  But the best omen is our country’s cause.

  Wherefore should fiery war thy soul alarm?

  For were we slaughter’d, one and all, around

  The fleet of Greece, thou need’st not fear to die, 300

  Whose courage never will thy flight retard.

  But if thou shrink thyself, or by smooth speech

  Seduce one other from a soldier’s part,

  Pierced by this spear incontinent thou diest.

  So saying he led them, who with deafening roar 305

  Follow’d him. Then, from the Idæan hills

  Jove hurl’d a storm which wafted right the dust

  Into the fleet; the spirits too he quell’d

  Of the Achaians, and the glory gave

  To Hector and his host; they, trusting firm 310

  In signs from Jove, and in their proper force,

  Assay’d the barrier; from the towers they tore

  The galleries, cast the battlements to ground,

  And the projecting buttresses adjoin’d

  To strengthen the vast work, with bars upheaved. 315

  All these, with expectation fierce to break

  The rampart, down they drew; nor yet the Greeks

  Gave back, but fencing close with shields the wall,

  Smote from behind them many a foe beneath.

  Meantime from tower to tower the Ajaces moved 320

  302 Exhorting all; with mildness some, and some

  With harsh rebuke, whom they observed through fear

  Declining base the labors of the fight,

  Friends! Argives! warriors of whatever rank!

  Ye who excel, and ye of humbler note! 325

  And ye the last and least! (for such there are,

  All have not magnanimity alike)

  Now have we work for all, as all perceive.

  Turn not, retreat not to your ships, appall’d

  By sounding menaces, but press the foe; 330

  Exhort each other, and e’en now perchance

  Olympian Jove, by whom the lightnings burn,

  Shall grant us to repulse them, and to chase

  The routed Trojans to their gates again.

  So they vociferating to the Greeks, 335

  Stirr’d them to battle. As the feathery snows

  Fall frequent, on some wintry day, when Jove

  Hath risen to shed them on the race of man,

  And show his arrowy stores; he lulls the winds,

  Then shakes them down continual, covering thick 340

  Mountain tops, promontories, flowery meads,

  And cultured valleys rich; the ports and shores

  Receive it also of the hoary deep,

  But there the waves bound it, while all beside

  Lies whelm’d beneath Jove’s fast-descending shower, 345

  So thick, from side to side, by Trojans hurl’d

  Against the Greeks, and by the Greeks return’d

  The stony vollies flew; resounding loud

  Through all its length the battered rampart roar’d.

  Nor yet had Hector and his host prevail’d 350

  To burst the gates, and break the massy bar,

  Had not all-seeing Jove Sarpedon moved

  His son, against the Greeks, furious as falls

  The lion on some horned herd of beeves.

  At once his polish’d buckler he advanced 355

  With leafy brass o’erlaid; for with smooth brass

  The forger of that shield its oval disk

  Had plated, and with thickest hides throughout

  303 Had lined it, stitch’d with circling wires of gold.

  That shield he bore before him; firmly grasp’d 360

  He shook two spears, and with determined strides

  March’d forward. As the lion mountain-bred,

  After long fast, by impulse of his heart

  Undaunted urged, seeks resolute the flock

  Even in the shelter of their guarded home; 365

  He finds, perchance, the shepherds arm’d with spears,

  And all their dogs awake, yet can not leave

  Untried the fence, but either leaps it light,

  And entering tears the prey, or in the attempt

  Pierced by some dexterous peasant, bleeds himself; 370

  So high his courage to the assault impell’d

  Godlike Sarpedon, and him fired with hope

  To break the barrier; when to Glaucus thus,

>   Son of Hippolochus, his speech he turn’d.

  Why, Glaucus, is the seat of honor ours, 375

  Why drink we brimming cups, and feast in state?

  Why gaze they all on us as we were Gods

  In Lycia, and why share we pleasant fields

  And spacious vineyards, where the Xanthus winds?

  Distinguished thus in Lycia, we are call’d 380

  To firmness here, and to encounter bold

  The burning battle, that our fair report

  Among the Lycians may be blazon’d thus —

  No dastards are the potentates who rule

  The bright-arm’d Lycians; on the fatted flock 385

  They banquet, and they drink the richest wines;

  But they are also valiant, and the fight

  Wage dauntless in the vanward of us all.

  Oh Glaucus, if escaping safe the death

  That threats us here, we also could escape 390

  Old age, and to ourselves secure a life

  Immortal, I would neither in the van

  Myself expose, nor would encourage thee

  To tempt the perils of the glorious field.

  But since a thousand messengers of fate 395

  Pursue us close, and man is born to die —

  304 E’en let us on; the prize of glory yield,

  If yield we must, or wrest it from the foe.

  He said, nor cold refusal in return

  Received from Glaucus, but toward the wall 400

  Their numerous Lycian host both led direct.

  Menestheus, son of Peteos, saw appall’d

  Their dread approach, for to his tower they bent;

  Their threatening march. An eager look he cast,

  On the embodied Greeks, seeking some Chief 405

  Whose aid might turn the battle from his van:

  He saw, where never sated with exploits

  Of war, each Ajax fought, near whom his eye

  Kenn’d Teucer also, newly from his tent;

  But vain his efforts were with loudest call 410

  To reach their ears, such was the deafening din

  Upsent to heaven, of shields and crested helms,

  And of the batter’d gates; for at each gate

  They thundering’ stood, and urged alike at each

  Their fierce attempt by force to burst the bars. 415

  To Ajax therefore he at once dispatch’d

  A herald, and Thöotes thus enjoin’d.

  My noble friend, Thöotes! with all speed

  Call either Ajax; bid them hither both;

  Far better so; for havoc is at hand. 420

  The Lycian leaders, ever in assault

  Tempestuous, bend their force against this tower

  My station. But if also there they find

  Laborious conflict pressing them severe,

  At least let Telamonian Ajax come, 425

  And Teucer with his death-dispensing bow.

  He spake, nor was Thöotes slow to hear;

  Beside the rampart of the mail-clad Greeks

  Rapid he flew, and, at their side arrived,

  To either Ajax, eager, thus began. 430

  Ye leaders of the well-appointed Greeks,

  The son of noble Peteos calls; he begs

  With instant suit, that ye would share his toils,

  However short your stay; the aid of both

  305 Will serve him best, for havoc threatens there 435

  The Lycian leaders, ever in assault

  Tempestuous, bend their force toward the tower

  His station. But if also here ye find

  Laborious conflict pressing you severe,

  At least let Telamonian Ajax come, 440

  And Teucer with his death-dispensing bow.

  He spake, nor his request the towering son

  Of Telamon denied, but quick his speech

  To Ajax Oïliades address’d.

  Ajax! abiding here, exhort ye both 445

  (Heroic Lycomedes and thyself)

  The Greeks to battle. Thither I depart

  To aid our friends, which service once perform’d

  Duly, I will incontinent return.

  So saying, the Telamonian Chief withdrew 450

  With whom went Teucer, son of the same sire,

  Pandion also, bearing Teucer’s bow.

  Arriving at the turret given in charge

  To the bold Chief Menestheus, and the wall

  Entering, they found their friends all sharply tried. 455

  Black as a storm the senators renown’d

  And leaders of the Lycian host assail’d

  Buttress and tower, while opposite the Greeks

  Withstood them, and the battle-shout began.

  First, Ajax, son of Telamon, a friend 460

  And fellow-warrior of Sarpedon slew,

  Epicles. With a marble fragment huge

  That crown’d the battlement’s interior side,

  He smote him. No man of our puny race,

  Although in prime of youth, had with both hands 465

  That weight sustain’d; but he the cumberous mass

  Uplifted high, and hurl’d it on his head.

  It burst his helmet, and his batter’d skull

  Dash’d from all form. He from the lofty tower

  Dropp’d downright, with a diver’s plunge, and died. 470

  But Teucer wounded Glaucus with a shaft

  Son of Hippolochus; he, climbing, bared

  306 His arm, which Teucer, marking, from the wall

  Transfix’d it, and his onset fierce repress’d;

  For with a backward leap Glaucus withdrew 475

  Sudden and silent, cautious lest the Greeks

  Seeing him wounded should insult his pain.

  Grief seized, at sight of his retiring friend,

  Sarpedon, who forgat not yet the fight,

  But piercing with his lance Alcmaon, son 480

  Of Thestor, suddenly reversed the beam,

  Which following, Alcmaon to the earth

  Fell prone, with clangor of his brazen arms.

  Sarpedon, then, strenuous with both hands

  Tugg’d, and down fell the battlement entire; 485

  The wall, dismantled at the summit, stood

  A ruin, and wide chasm was open’d through.

  Then Ajax him and Teucer at one time

  Struck both; an arrow struck from Teucer’s bow

  The belt that cross’d his bosom, by which hung 490

  His ample shield; yet lest his son should fall

  Among the ships, Jove turn’d the death aside.

  But Ajax, springing to his thrust, a spear

  Drove through his shield. Sarpedon at the shock

  With backward step short interval recoil’d, 495

  But not retired, for in his bosom lived

  The hope of glory still, and, looking back

  On all his godlike Lycians, he exclaim’d,

  Oh Lycians! where is your heroic might?

  Brave as I boast myself, I feel the task 500

  Arduous, through the breach made by myself

  To win a passage to the ships, alone.

  Follow me all — Most laborers, most dispatch.

  So he; at whose sharp reprimand abash’d

  The embattled host to closer conflict moved, 505

  Obedient to their counsellor and King.

  On the other side the Greeks within the wall

  Made firm the phalanx, seeing urgent need;

  307 Nor could the valiant Lycians through the breach

  Admittance to the Grecian fleet obtain, 510

  Nor since they first approach’d it, had the Greeks

  With all their efforts, thrust the Lycians back.

  But as two claimants of one common field,

  Each with his rod of measurement in hand,

  Dispute the boundaries, litigating warm 515

  Their right in some small portion of the soil,

  So the
y, divided by the barrier, struck

  With hostile rage the bull-hide bucklers round,

  And the light targets on each other’s breast.

  Then many a wound the ruthless weapons made. 520

  Pierced through the unarm’d back, if any turn’d,

  He died, and numerous even through the shield.

  The battlements from end to end with blood

  Of Grecians and of Trojans on both sides

  Were sprinkled; yet no violence could move 525

  The stubborn Greeks, or turn their powers to flight.

  So hung the war in balance, as the scales

  Held by some woman scrupulously just,

  A spinner; wool and weight she poises nice,

  Hard-earning slender pittance for her babes, 530

  Such was the poise in which the battle hung

  Till Jove himself superior fame, at length,

  To Priamëian Hector gave, who sprang

  First through the wall. In lofty sounds that reach’d

  Their utmost ranks, he call’d on all his host. 535

  Now press them, now ye Trojans steed-renown’d

  Rush on! break through the Grecian rampart, hurl

  At once devouring flames into the fleet.

  Such was his exhortation; they his voice

  All hearing, with close-order’d ranks direct 540

  Bore on the barrier, and up-swarming show’d

  On the high battlement their glittering spears.

  308 But Hector seized a stone; of ample base

  But tapering to a point, before the gate

  It stood. No two men, mightiest of a land 545

  (Such men as now are mighty) could with ease

  Have heaved it from the earth up to a wain;

  He swung it easily alone; so light

  The son of Saturn made it in his hand.

  As in one hand with ease the shepherd bears 550

  A ram’s fleece home, nor toils beneath the weight,

  So Hector, right toward the planks of those

  Majestic folding-gates, close-jointed, firm

  And solid, bore the stone. Two bars within

  Their corresponding force combined transvere 555

  To guard them, and one bolt secured the bars.

  He stood fast by them, parting wide his feet

  For ‘vantage sake, and smote them in the midst.

  He burst both hinges; inward fell the rock

  Ponderous, and the portals roar’d; the bars 560

  Endured not, and the planks, riven by the force

  Of that huge mass, flew scatter’d on all sides.

  In leap’d the godlike Hero at the breach,

  Gloomy as night in aspect, but in arms