William Cowper- Collected Poetical Works

by William Cowper

Already in the school of thy commands

  That wisdom. I forget not yet the day 295

  When, Troy laid waste, that valiant son of his

  Sail’d homeward: then my influence I diffused

  Soft o’er the sovereign intellect of Jove;

  While thou, against the Hero plotting harm,

  Didst rouse the billows with tempestuous blasts, 300

  And separating him from all his friend,

  Brought’st him to populous Cos. Then Jove awoke,

  And, hurling in his wrath the Gods about,

  Sought chiefly me, whom far below all ken

  He had from heaven cast down into the Deep, 305

  But Night, resistless vanquisher of all,

  Both Gods and men, preserved me; for to her

  I fled for refuge. So the Thunderer cool’d,

  Though sore displeased, and spared me through a fear

  To violate the peaceful sway of Night. 310

  And thou wouldst now embroil me yet again!

  To whom majestic Juno thus replied.

  Ah, wherefore, Sleep! shouldst thou indulge a fear

  So groundless? Chase it from thy mind afar.

  Think’st thou the Thunderer as intent to serve 315

  The Trojans, and as jealous in their cause

  As erst for Hercules, his genuine son?

  Come then, and I will bless thee with a bride;

  350 One of the younger Graces shall be thine,

  Pasithea, day by day still thy desire. 320

  She spake; Sleep heard delighted, and replied.

  By the inviolable Stygian flood

  Swear to me; lay thy right hand on the glebe

  All-teeming, lay thy other on the face

  Of the flat sea, that all the Immortal Powers 325

  Who compass Saturn in the nether realms

  May witness, that thou givest me for a bride

  The younger Grace whom thou hast named, divine

  Pasithea, day by day still my desire.

  He said, nor beauteous Juno not complied, 330

  But sware, by name invoking all the powers

  Titanian call’d who in the lowest gulf

  Dwell under Tartarus, omitting none.

  Her oath with solemn ceremonial sworn,

  Together forth they went; Lemnos they left 335

  And Imbrus, city of Thrace, and in dark clouds

  Mantled, with gliding ease swam through the air

  To Ida’s mount with rilling waters vein’d,

  Parent of savage beasts; at Lectos first

  They quitted Ocean, overpassing high 340

  The dry land, while beneath their feet the woods

  Their spiry summits waved. There, unperceived

  By Jove, Sleep mounted Ida’s loftiest pine

  Of growth that pierced the sky, and hidden sat

  Secure by its expanded boughs, the bird 345

  Shrill-voiced resembling in the mountains seen,

  Chalcis in heaven, on earth Cymindis named.

  But Juno swift to Gargarus the top

  Of Ida, soar’d, and there Jove saw his spouse.

  — Saw her — and in his breast the same love felt 350

  Rekindled vehement, which had of old

  Join’d them, when, by their parents unperceived,

  They stole aside, and snatch’d their first embrace.

  Soon he accosted her, and thus inquired.

  351 Juno! what region seeking hast thou left 355

  The Olympian summit, and hast here arrived

  With neither steed nor chariot in thy train?

  To whom majestic Juno thus replied

  Dissembling. To the green earth’s end I go,

  To visit there the parent of the Gods 360

  Oceanus, and Tethys his espoused,

  Mother of all. They kindly from the hands

  Of Rhea took, and with parental care

  Sustain’d and cherish’d me; to them I haste

  Their feuds innumerable to compose, 365

  Who disunited by intestine strife

  Long time, from conjugal embrace abstain.

  My steeds, that lightly over dank and dry

  Shall bear me, at the rooted base I left

  Of Ida river-vein’d. But for thy sake 370

  From the Olympian summit I arrive,

  Lest journeying remote to the abode

  Of Ocean, and with no consent of thine

  Entreated first, I should, perchance, offend.

  To whom the cloud-assembler God replied. 375

  Juno! thy journey thither may be made

  Hereafter. Let us turn to dalliance now.

  For never Goddess pour’d, nor woman yet

  So full a tide of love into my breast;

  I never loved Ixion’s consort thus 380

  Who bore Pirithoüs, wise as we in heaven;

  Nor sweet Acrisian Danäe, from whom

  Sprang Perseus, noblest of the race of man;

  Nor Phœnix’ daughter fair, of whom were born

  Minos unmatch’d but by the powers above, 385

  And Rhadamanthus; nor yet Semele,

  Nor yet Alcmena, who in Thebes produced

  The valiant Hercules; and though my son

  By Semele were Bacchus, joy of man;

  352 Nor Ceres golden-hair’d, nor high-enthroned 390

  Latona in the skies, no — nor thyself

  As now I love thee, and my soul perceive

  O’erwhelm’d with sweetness of intense desire.

  Then thus majestic Juno her reply

  Framed artful. Oh unreasonable haste! 395

  What speaks the Thunderer? If on Ida’s heights.

  Where all is open and to view exposed

  Thou wilt that we embrace, what must betide,

  Should any of the everlasting Gods

  Observe us, and declare it to the rest? 400

  Never could I, arising, seek again,

  Thy mansion, so unseemly were the deed.

  But if thy inclinations that way tend,

  Thou hast a chamber; it is Vulcan’s work,

  Our son’s; he framed and fitted to its posts 405

  The solid portal; thither let us his,

  And there repose, since such thy pleasure seems.

  To whom the cloud-assembler Deity.

  Fear thou not, Juno, lest the eye of man

  Or of a God discern us; at my word 410

  A golden cloud shall fold us so around,

  That not the Sun himself shall through that veil

  Discover aught, though keenest-eyed of all.

  So spake the son of Saturn, and his spouse

  Fast lock’d within his arms. Beneath them earth 415

  With sudden herbage teem’d; at once upsprang

  The crocus soft, the lotus bathed in dew,

  And the crisp hyacinth with clustering bells;

  Thick was their growth, and high above the ground

  Upbore them. On that flowery couch they lay, 420

  Invested with a golden cloud that shed

  Bright dew-drops all around. His heart at ease,

  There lay the Sire of all, by Sleep and Love

  Vanquish’d on lofty Gargarus, his spouse

  Constraining still with amorous embrace. 425

  Then, gentle Sleep to the Achaian camp

  353 Sped swift away, with tidings for the ear

  Of earth-encircler Neptune charged; him soon

  He found, and in wing’d accents thus began.

  Now Neptune, yield the Greeks effectual aid, 430

  And, while the moment lasts of Jove’s repose,

  Make victory theirs; for him in slumbers soft

  I have involved, while Juno by deceit

  Prevailing, lured him with the bait of love.

  He said, and swift departed to his task 435

  Among the nations; but his tidings urged

  Neptune with still more ardor to assist

  The Danaï; he
leap’d into the van

  Afar, and thus exhorted them aloud.

  Oh Argives! yield we yet again the day 440

  To Priameian Hector? Shall he seize

  Our ships, and make the glory all his own?

  Such is his expectation, so he vaunts,

  For that Achilles leaves not yet his camp,

  Resentful; but of him small need, I judge, 445

  Should here be felt, could once the rest be roused

  To mutual aid. Act, then, as I advise.

  The best and broadest bucklers of the host,

  And brightest helmets put we on, and arm’d

  With longest spears, advance; myself will lead; 450

  And trust me, furious though he be, the son

  Of Priam flies. Ye then who feel your hearts

  Undaunted, but are arm’d with smaller shields,

  Them give to those who fear, and in exchange

  Their stronger shields and broader take yourselves. 455

  So he, whom, unreluctant, all obey’d.

  Then, wounded as they were, themselves the Kings,

  Tydides, Agamemnon and Ulysses

  Marshall’d the warriors, and from rank to rank

  Made just exchange of arms, giving the best 460

  To the best warriors, to the worse, the worst.

  And now in brazen armor all array’d

  Refulgent on they moved, by Neptune led

  With firm hand grasping his long-bladed sword

  354 Keen as Jove’s bolt; with him may none contend 465

  In dreadful fight; but fear chains every arm.

  Opposite, Priameian Hector ranged

  His Trojans; then they stretch’d the bloody cord

  Of conflict tight, Neptune cœrulean-hair’d,

  And Hector, pride of Ilium; one, the Greeks 470

  Supporting firm, and one, the powers of Troy;

  A sea-flood dash’d the galleys, and the hosts

  Join’d clamorous. Not so the billows roar

  The shores among, when Boreas’ roughest blast

  Sweeps landward from the main the towering surge; 475

  Not so, devouring fire among the trees

  That clothe the mountain, when the sheeted flames

  Ascending wrap the forest in a blaze;

  Nor howl the winds through leafy boughs of oaks

  Upgrown aloft (though loudest there they rave) 480

  With sounds so awful as were heard of Greeks

  And Trojans shouting when the clash began.

  At Ajax, first (for face to face they stood)

  Illustrious Hector threw a spear well-aim’d,

  But smote him where the belts that bore his shield 485

  And falchion cross’d each other on his breast.

  The double guard preserved him unannoy’d.

  Indignant that his spear had bootless flown,

  Yet fearing death at hand, the Trojan Chief

  Toward the phalanx of his friends retired. 490

  But, as he went, huge Ajax with a stone

  Of those which propp’d the ships (for numerous such

  Lay rolling at the feet of those who fought)

  Assail’d him. Twirling like a top it pass’d

  The shield of Hector, near the neck his breast 495

  Struck full, then plough’d circuitous the dust.

  As when Jove’s arm omnipotent an oak

  Prostrates uprooted on the plain, a fume

  Rises sulphureous from the riven trunk,

  And if, perchance, some traveller nigh at hand 500

  See it, he trembles at the bolt of Jove,

  So fell the might of Hector, to the earth

  355 Smitten at once. Down dropp’d his idle spear,

  And with his helmet and his shield himself

  Also; loud thunder’d all his gorgeous arms. 505

  Swift flew the Grecians shouting to the skies,

  And showering darts, to drag his body thence,

  But neither spear of theirs nor shaft could harm

  The fallen leader, with such instant aid

  His princely friends encircled him around, 510

  Sarpedon, Lycian Chief, Glaucus the brave,

  Polydamas, Æneas, and renown’d

  Agenor; neither tardy were the rest,

  But with round shields all shelter’d Hector fallen.

  Him soon uplifted from the plain his friends 515

  Bore thence, till where his fiery coursers stood,

  And splendid chariot in the rear, they came,

  Then Troy-ward drove him groaning as he went.

  Ere long arriving at the pleasant stream

  Of eddied Xanthus, progeny of Jove, 520

  They laid him on the bank, and on his face

  Pour’d water; he, reviving, upward gazed,

  And seated on his hams black blood disgorged

  Coagulate, but soon relapsing, fell

  Supine, his eyes with pitchy darkness veil’d, 525

  And all his powers still torpid by the blow.

  Then, seeing Hector borne away, the Greeks

  Rush’d fiercer on, all mindful of the fight,

  And far before the rest, Ajax the swift,

  The Oïlean Chief, with pointed spear 530

  On Satnius springing, pierced him. Him a nymph

  A Naiad, bore to Enops, while his herd

  Feeding, on Satnio’s grassy verge he stray’d.

  But Oïliades the spear-renown’d

  Approaching, pierced his flank; supine he fell, 535

  And fiery contest for the dead arose.

  In vengeance of his fall, spear-shaking Chief

  The son of Panthus into fight advanced

  Polydamas, who Prothöenor pierced

  Offspring of Areïlocus, and urged 540

  356 Through his right shoulder sheer the stormy lance.

  He, prostrate, clench’d the dust, and with loud voice

  Polydamas exulted at his fall.

  Yon spear, methinks, hurl’d from the warlike hand

  Of Panthus’ noble son, flew not in vain, 545

  But some Greek hath it, purposing, I judge,

  To lean on it in his descent to hell.

  So he, whose vaunt the Greeks indignant heard.

  But most indignant, Ajax, offspring bold

  Of Telamon, to whom he nearest fell. 550

  He, quick, at the retiring conqueror cast

  His radiant spear; Polydamas the stroke

  Shunn’d, starting sideward; but Antenor’s son

  Archilochus the mortal dint received,

  Death-destined by the Gods; where neck and spine 555

  Unite, both tendons he dissever’d wide,

  And, ere his knees, his nostrils met the ground.

  Then Ajax in his turn vaunting aloud

  Against renown’d Polydamas, exclaim’d.

  Speak now the truth, Polydamas, and weigh 560

  My question well. His life whom I have slain

  Makes it not compensation for the loss

  Of Prothöenor’s life! To me he seems

  Nor base himself; nor yet of base descent,

  But brother of Atenor steed-renown’d, 565

  Or else perchance his son; for in my eyes

  Antenor’s lineage he resembles most.

  So he, well knowing him, and sorrow seized

  Each Trojan heart. Then Acamas around

  His brother stalking, wounded with his spear 570

  Bœotian Promachus, who by the feet

  Dragg’d off the slain. Acamas in his fall

  Aloud exulted with a boundless joy.

  Vain-glorious Argives, archers inexpert!

  War’s toil and trouble are not ours alone, 575

  But ye shall perish also; mark the man —

  How sound he sleeps tamed by my conquering arm,

  Your fellow-warrior Promachus! the debt

  357 Of vengeance on my brother’s dear behalf

  Demanded
quick discharge; well may the wish 580

  Of every dying warrior be to leave

  A brother living to avenge his fall.

  He ended, whom the Greeks indignant heard,

  But chiefly brave Peneleus; swift he rush’d

  On Acamas; but from before the force 585

  Of King Peneleus Acamas retired,

  And, in his stead, Ilioneus he pierced,

  Offspring of Phorbas, rich in flocks; and blest

  By Mercury with such abundant wealth

  As other Trojan none, nor child to him 590

  His spouse had borne, Ilioneus except.

  Him close beneath the brow to his eye-roots

  Piercing, he push’d the pupil from its seat,

  And through his eye and through his poll the spear

  Urged furious. He down-sitting on the earth 595

  Both hands extended; but, his glittering blade

  Forth-drawn, Peneleus through his middle neck

  Enforced it; head and helmet to the ground

  He lopp’d together, with the lance infixt

  Still in his eye; then like a poppy’s head 600

  The crimson trophy lifting, in the ears

  He vaunted loud of Ilium’s host, and cried.

  Go, Trojans! be my messengers! Inform

  The parents of Ilioneus the brave

  That they may mourn their son through all their house, 605

  For so the wife of Alegenor’s son

  Bœotian Promachus must him bewail,

  Nor shall she welcome his return with smiles

  Of joy affectionate, when from the shores

  Of Troy the fleet shall bear us Grecians home. 610

  He said; fear whiten’d every Trojan cheek,

  And every Trojan eye with earnest look

  Inquired a refuge from impending fate.

  Say now, ye Muses, blest inhabitants

  Of the Olympian realms! what Grecian first 615

  Fill’d his victorious hand with armor stript

  358 From slaughter’d Trojans, after Ocean’s God

  Had, interposing, changed the battle’s course?

  First, Telamonian Ajax Hyrtius slew,

  Undaunted leader of the Mysian band. 620

  Phalces and Mermerus their arms resign’d

  To young Antilochus; Hyppotion fell

  And Morys by Meriones; the shafts

  Right-aim’d of Teucer to the shades dismiss’d

  Prothöus and Periphetes, and the prince 625

  Of Sparta, Menelaus, in his flank