William Cowper- Collected Poetical Works

by William Cowper

  Our fleet with fire; but even we have hearts

  Prepared to guard it, and your populous Troy,

  By us dismantled and to pillage given,

  Shall perish sooner far. Know this thyself

  Also; the hour is nigh when thou shalt ask 990

  In prayer to Jove and all the Gods of heaven,

  That speed more rapid than the falcon’s flight

  May wing thy coursers, while, exciting dense

  The dusty plain, they whirl thee back to Troy.

  While thus he spake, sublime on the right-hand 995

  An eagle soar’d; confident in the sign

  The whole Achaian host with loud acclaim

  Hail’d it. Then glorious Hector thus replied.

  Brainless and big, what means this boast of thine,

  Earth-cumberer Ajax? Would I were the son 1000

  As sure, for ever, of almighty Jove

  And Juno, and such honor might receive

  Henceforth as Pallas and Apollo share,

  As comes this day with universal wo

  Fraught for the Grecians, among whom thyself 1005

  Shalt also perish if thou dare abide

  My massy spear, which shall thy pamper’d flesh

  Disfigure, and amid the barks of Greece

  Falling, thou shalt the vultures with thy bulk

  Enormous satiate, and the dogs of Troy. 1010

  He spake, and led his host; with clamor loud

  They follow’d him, and all the distant rear

  Came shouting on. On the other side the Greeks

  Re-echoed shout for shout, all undismay’d,

  And waiting firm the bravest of their foes. 1015

  Upwent the double roar into the heights

  Ethereal, and among the beams of Jove.

  ARGUMENT OF THE FOURTEENTH BOOK.

  Agamemnon and the other wounded Chiefs taking Nestor with them, visit the battle. Juno having borrowed the Cestus of Venus, first engages the assistance of Sleep, then hastens to Ida to inveigle Jove. She prevails. Jove sleeps; and Neptune takes that opportunity to succor the Grecians.

  BOOK XIV.

  Nor was that cry by Nestor unperceived

  Though drinking, who in words wing’d with surprise

  The son of Æsculapius thus address’d.

  Divine Machaon! think what this may bode.

  The cry of our young warriors at the ships 5

  Grows louder; sitting here, the sable wine

  Quaff thou, while bright-hair’d Hecamede warms

  A bath, to cleanse thy crimson stains away.

  I from yon eminence will learn the cause.

  So saying, he took a shield radiant with brass 10

  There lying in the tent, the shield well-forged

  Of valiant Thrasymedes, his own son

  (For he had borne to fight his father’s shield)

  And arming next his hand with a keen lance

  Stood forth before the tent. Thence soon he saw 15

  Foul deeds and strange, the Grecian host confused,

  Their broken ranks flying before the host

  Of Ilium, and the rampart overthrown.

  As when the wide sea, darken’d over all

  Its silent flood, forebodes shrill winds to blow, 20

  The doubtful waves roll yet to neither side,

  Till swept at length by a decisive gale;

  342 So stood the senior, with distressful doubts

  Conflicting anxious, whether first to seek

  The Grecian host, or Agamemnon’s self 25

  The sovereign, and at length that course preferr’d.

  Meantime with mutual carnage they the field

  Spread far and wide, and by spears double-edged

  Smitten, and by the sword their corselets rang.

  The royal Chiefs ascending from the fleet, 30

  Ulysses, Diomede, and Atreus’ son

  Imperial Agamemnon, who had each

  Bled in the battle, met him on his way.

  For from the war remote they had updrawn

  Their galleys on the shore of the gray Deep, 35

  The foremost to the plain, and at the sterns

  Of that exterior line had built the wall.

  For, spacious though it were, the shore alone

  That fleet sufficed not, incommoding much

  The people; wherefore they had ranged the ships 40

  Line above line gradual, and the bay

  Between both promontories, all was fill’d.

  They, therefore, curious to survey the fight,

  Came forth together, leaning on the spear,

  When Nestor met them; heavy were their hearts, 45

  And at the sight of him still more alarm’d,

  Whom royal Agamemnon thus bespake.

  Neleian Nestor, glory of the Greeks!

  What moved thee to forsake yon bloody field,

  And urged thee hither? Cause I see of fear, 50

  Lest furious Hector even now his threat

  Among the Trojans publish’d, verify,

  That he would never enter Ilium more

  Till he had burn’d our fleet, and slain ourselves.

  So threaten’d Hector, and shall now perform. 55

  Alas! alas! the Achaians brazen-greaved

  All, like Achilles, have deserted me

  Resentful, and decline their fleet’s defence.

  To whom Gerenian Nestor thus replied.

  Those threats are verified; nor Jove himself 60

  343 The Thunderer can disappoint them now;

  For our chief strength in which we trusted most

  That it should guard impregnably secure

  Our navy and ourselves, the wall hath fallen.

  Hence all this conflict by our host sustain’d 65

  Among the ships; nor could thy keenest sight

  Inform thee where in the Achaian camp

  Confusion most prevails, such deaths are dealt

  Promiscuous, and the cry ascends to heaven.

  But come — consult we on the sum of all, 70

  If counsel yet may profit. As for you,

  Ye shall have exhortation none from me

  To seek the fight; the wounded have excuse.

  Whom Agamemnon answer’d, King of men.

  Ah Nestor! if beneath our very sterns 75

  The battle rage, if neither trench nor wall

  Constructed with such labor, and supposed

  Of strength to guard impregnably secure

  Our navy and ourselves, avail us aught,

  It is because almighty Jove hath will’d 80

  That the Achaian host should perish here

  Inglorious, from their country far remote.

  When he vouchsafed assistance to the Greeks,

  I knew it well; and now, not less I know

  That high as the immortal Gods he lifts 85

  Our foes to glory, and depresses us.

  Haste therefore all, and act as I advise.

  Our ships — all those that nearest skirt the Deep,

  Launch we into the sacred flood, and moor

  With anchors safely, till o’ershadowing night 90

  (If night itself may save us) shall arrive.

  Then may we launch the rest; for I no shame

  Account it, even by ‘vantage of the night

  To fly destruction. Wiser him I deem

  Who ‘scapes his foe, than whom his foe enthralls. 95

  But him Ulysses, frowning stern, reproved.

  What word, Atrides, now hath pass’d thy lips?

  Counsellor of despair! thou should’st command

  344 (And would to heaven thou didst) a different host,

  Some dastard race, not ours; whom Jove ordains 100

  From youth to hoary age to weave the web

  Of toilsome warfare, till we perish all.

  Wilt thou the spacious city thus renounce

  For which such numerous woes we have endured?

  Hush! l
est some other hear; it is a word 105

  Which no man qualified by years mature

  To speak discreetly, no man bearing rule

  O’er such a people as confess thy sway,

  Should suffer to contaminate his lips.

  I from my soul condemn thee, and condemn 110

  Thy counsel, who persuad’st us in the heat

  Of battle terrible as this, to launch

  Our fleet into the waves, that we may give

  Our too successful foes their full desire,

  And that our own prepondering scale 115

  May plunge us past all hope; for while they draw

  Their galleys down, the Grecians shall but ill

  Sustain the fight, seaward will cast their eyes

  And shun the battle, bent on flight alone.

  Then, shall they rue thy counsel, King of men! 120

  To whom the imperial leader of the Greeks.

  Thy sharp reproof, Ulysses, hath my soul

  Pierced deeply. Yet I gave no such command

  That the Achaians should their galleys launch,

  Would they, or would they not. No. I desire 125

  That young or old, some other may advice

  More prudent give, and he shall please me well.

  Then thus the gallant Diomede replied.

  That man is near, and may ye but be found

  Tractable, our inquiry shall be short. 130

  Be patient each, nor chide me nor reproach

  Because I am of greener years than ye,

  For I am sprung from an illustrious Sire,

  From Tydeus, who beneath his hill of earth

  Lies now entomb’d at Thebes. Three noble sons 135

  Were born to Portheus, who in Pleuro dwelt,

  345 And on the heights of Calydon; the first

  Agrius; the second Melas; and the third

  Brave Oeneus, father of my father, famed

  For virtuous qualities above the rest. 140

  Oeneus still dwelt at home; but wandering thence

  My father dwelt in Argos; so the will

  Of Jove appointed, and of all the Gods.

  There he espoused the daughter of the King

  Adrastus, occupied a mansion rich 145

  In all abundance; many a field possess’d

  Of wheat, well-planted gardens, numerous flocks,

  And was expert in spearmanship esteem’d

  Past all the Grecians. I esteem’d it right

  That ye should hear these things, for they are true. 150

  Ye will not, therefore, as I were obscure

  And of ignoble origin, reject

  What I shall well advise. Expedience bids

  That, wounded as we are, we join the host.

  We will preserve due distance from the range 155

  Of spears and arrows, lest already gall’d,

  We suffer worse; but we will others urge

  To combat, who have stood too long aloof,

  Attentive only to their own repose.

  He spake, whom all approved, and forth they went, 160

  Imperial Agamemnon at their head.

  Nor watch’d the glorious Shaker of the shores

  In vain, but like a man time-worn approach’d,

  And, seizing Agamemnon’s better hand,

  In accents wing’d the monarch thus address’d. 165

  Atrides! now exults the vengeful heart

  Of fierce Achilles, viewing at his ease

  The flight and slaughter of Achaia’s host;

  For he is mad, and let him perish such,

  And may his portion from the Gods be shame! 170

  But as for thee, not yet the powers of heaven

  Thee hate implacable; the Chiefs of Troy

  Shall cover yet with cloudy dust the breadth

  Of all the plain, and backward from the camp

  346 To Ilium’s gates thyself shalt see them driven. 175

  He ceased, and shouting traversed swift the field.

  Loud as nine thousand or ten thousand shout

  In furious battle mingled, Neptune sent

  His voice abroad, force irresistible

  Infusing into every Grecian heart, 180

  And thirst of battle not to be assuaged.

  But Juno of the golden throne stood forth

  On the Olympian summit, viewing thence

  The field, where clear distinguishing the God

  Of ocean, her own brother, sole engaged 185

  Amid the glorious battle, glad was she.

  Seeing Jove also on the topmost point

  Of spring-fed Ida seated, she conceived

  Hatred against him, and thenceforth began

  Deliberate how best she might deceive 190

  The Thunderer, and thus at last resolved;

  Attired with skill celestial to descend

  On Ida, with a hope to allure him first

  Won by her beauty to a fond embrace,

  Then closing fast in balmy sleep profound 195

  His eyes, to elude his vigilance, secure.

  She sought her chamber; Vulcan her own son

  That chamber built. He framed the solid doors,

  And to the posts fast closed them with a key

  Mysterious, which, herself except, in heaven 200

  None understood. Entering she secured

  The splendid portal. First, she laved all o’er

  Her beauteous body with ambrosial lymph,

  Then polish’d it with richest oil divine

  Of boundless fragrance; oil that in the courts 205

  Eternal only shaken, through the skies

  Breathed odors, and through all the distant earth.

  Her whole fair body with those sweets bedew’d,

  She passed the comb through her ambrosial hair,

  347 And braided her bright locks streaming profuse 210

  From her immortal brows; with golden studs

  She made her gorgeous mantle fast before,

  Ethereal texture, labor of the hands

  Of Pallas beautified with various art,

  And braced it with a zone fringed all around 215

  A hundred fold; her pendants triple-gemm’d

  Luminous, graceful, in her ears she hung,

  And covering all her glories with a veil

  Sun-bright, new-woven, bound to her fair feet

  Her sandals elegant. Thus full attired, 220

  In all her ornaments, she issued forth,

  And beckoning Venus from the other powers

  Of heaven apart, the Goddess thus bespake.

  Daughter beloved! shall I obtain my suit,

  Or wilt thou thwart me, angry that I aid 225

  The Grecians, while thine aid is given to Troy?

  To whom Jove’s daughter Venus thus replied.

  What would majestic Juno, daughter dread

  Of Saturn, sire of Jove? I feel a mind

  Disposed to gratify thee, if thou ask 230

  Things possible, and possible to me.

  Then thus with wiles veiling her deep design

  Imperial Juno. Give me those desires,

  That love-enkindling power by which thou sway’st

  Immortal hearts and mortal, all alike; 235

  For to the green earth’s utmost bounds I go,

  To visit there the parent of the Gods,

  Oceanus, and Tethys his espoused,

  Mother of all. They kindly from the hands

  Of Rhea took, and with parental care 240

  Sustain’d and cherish’d me, what time from heaven

  The Thunderer hurled down Saturn, and beneath

  The earth fast bound him and the barren Deep.

  Them go I now to visit, and their feuds

  Innumerable to compose; for long 245

  They have from conjugal embrace abstain’d

  Through mutual wrath, whom by persuasive speech

  348 Might I restore into each other’s arms,

  They would fo
r ever love me and revere.

  Her, foam-born Venus then, Goddess of smiles, 250

  Thus answer’d. Thy request, who in the arms

  Of Jove reposest the omnipotent,

  Nor just it were nor seemly to refuse.

  So saying, the cincture from her breast she loosed

  Embroider’d, various, her all-charming zone. 255

  It was an ambush of sweet snares, replete

  With love, desire, soft intercourse of hearts,

  And music of resistless whisper’d sounds

  That from the wisest steal their best resolves;

  She placed it in her hands and thus she said. 260

  Take this — this girdle fraught with every charm.

  Hide this within thy bosom, and return,

  Whate’er thy purpose, mistress of it all.

  She spake; imperial Juno smiled, and still

  Smiling complacent, bosom’d safe the zone. 265

  Then Venus to her father’s court return’d,

  And Juno, starting from the Olympian height,

  O’erflew Pieria and the lovely plains

  Of broad Emathia; soaring thence she swept

  The snow-clad summits of the Thracian hills 270

  Steed-famed, nor printed, as she passed, the soil.

  From Athos o’er the foaming billows borne

  She came to Lemnos, city and abode

  Of noble Thoas, and there meeting Sleep,

  Brother of Death, she press’d his hand, and said, 275

  Sleep, over all, both Gods and men, supreme!

  If ever thou hast heard, hear also now

  My suit; I will be grateful evermore.

  Seal for me fast the radiant eyes of Jove

  In the instant of his gratified desire. 280

  Thy recompense shall be a throne of gold,

  Bright, incorruptible; my limping son,

  Vulcan, shall fashion it himself with art

  Laborious, and, beneath, shall place a stool

  349 For thy fair feet, at the convivial board. 285

  Then answer thus the tranquil Sleep returned

  Great Saturn’s daughter, awe-inspiring Queen!

  All other of the everlasting Gods

  I could with ease make slumber, even the streams

  Of Ocean, Sire of all. Not so the King 290

  The son of Saturn: him, unless himself

  Give me command, I dare not lull to rest,

  Or even approach him, taught as I have been