William Cowper- Collected Poetical Works

by William Cowper

  Beneath his ear; the whole blade entering sank

  Into his neck, and Lycon with his head

  Depending by the skin alone, expired. 410

  401 Meriones o’ertaking Acamas

  Ere yet he could ascend his chariot, thrust

  A lance into his shoulder; down he fell

  In dreary death’s eternal darkness whelm’d.

  Idomeneus his ruthless spear enforced 415

  Into the mouth of Erymas. The point

  Stay’d not, but gliding close beneath the brain,

  Transpierced his spine, and started forth beyond.

  It wrench’d his teeth, and fill’d his eyes with blood;

  Blood also blowing through his open mouth 420

  And nostrils, to the realms of death he pass’d.

  Thus slew these Grecian leaders, each, a foe.

  Sudden as hungry wolves the kids purloin

  Or lambs, which haply some unheeding swain

  Hath left to roam at large the mountains wild; 425

  They, seeing, snatch them from beside the dams,

  And rend incontinent the feeble prey,

  So swift the Danaï the host assail’d

  Of Ilium; they, into tumultuous flight

  Together driven, all hope, all courage lost. 430

  Huge Ajax ceaseless sought his spear to cast

  At Hector brazen-mail’d, who, not untaught

  The warrior’s art, with bull-hide buckler stood

  Sheltering his ample shoulders, while he mark’d

  The hiss of flying shafts and crash of spears. 435

  Full sure he saw the shifting course of war

  Now turn’d, but scorning flight, bent all his thoughts

  To rescue yet the remnant of his friends.

  As when the Thunderer spreads a sable storm

  O’er ether, late serene, the cloud that wrapp’d 440

  Olympus’ head escapes into the skies,

  So fled the Trojans from the fleet of Greece

  Clamoring in their flight, nor pass’d the trench

  In fair array; the coursers fleet indeed

  Of Hector, him bore safe with all his arms 445

  Right through, but in the foss entangled foul

  402 He left his host, and struggling to escape.

  Then many a chariot-whirling steed, the pole

  Broken at its extremity, forsook

  His driver, while Patroclus with the shout 450

  Of battle calling his Achaians on,

  Destruction purposed to the powers of Troy.

  They, once dispersed, with clamor and with flight

  Fill’d all the ways, the dust beneath the clouds

  Hung like a tempest, and the steeds firm-hoof’d 455

  Whirl’d off at stretch the chariots to the town.

  He, wheresoe’er most troubled he perceived

  The routed host, loud-threatening thither drove,

  While under his own axle many a Chief

  Fell prone, and the o’ertumbled chariots rang. 460

  Right o’er the hollow foss the coursers leap’d

  Immortal, by the Gods to Peleus given,

  Impatient for the plain, nor less desire

  Felt he who drove to smite the Trojan Chief,

  But him his fiery steeds caught swift away. 465

  As when a tempest from autumnal skies

  Floats all the fields, what time Jove heaviest pours

  Impetuous rain, token of wrath divine

  Against perverters of the laws by force,

  Who drive forth justice, reckless of the Gods; 470

  The rivers and the torrents, where they dwell,

  Sweep many a green declivity away,

  And plunge at length, groaning, into the Deep

  From the hills headlong, leaving where they pass’d

  No traces of the pleasant works of man, 475

  So, in their flight, loud groan’d the steeds of Troy.

  And now, their foremost intercepted all,

  Patroclus back again toward the fleet

  Drove them precipitate, nor the ascent

  Permitted them to Troy for which they strove, 480

  But in the midway space between the ships

  The river and the lofty Trojan wall

  Pursued them ardent, slaughtering whom he reached,

  And vengeance took for many a Grecian slain.

  403 First then, with glittering spear the breast he pierced 485

  Of Pronöus, undefended by his shield,

  And stretch’d him dead; loud rang his batter’d arms.

  The son of Enops, Thestor next he smote.

  He on his chariot-seat magnificent

  Low-cowering sat, a fear-distracted form, 490

  And from his palsied grasp the reins had fallen.

  Then came Patroclus nigh, and through his cheek

  His teeth transpiercing, drew him by his lance

  Sheer o’er the chariot front. As when a man

  On some projecting rock seated, with line 495

  And splendid hook draws forth a sea-fish huge,

  So him wide-gaping from his seat he drew

  At his spear-point, then shook him to the ground

  Prone on his face, where gasping he expired.

  At Eryalus, next, advancing swift 500

  He hurl’d a rock; full on the middle front

  He smote him, and within the ponderous casque

  His whole head open’d into equal halves.

  With deadliest night surrounded, prone he fell.

  Epaltes, Erymas, Amphoterus, 505

  Echius, Tlepolemus Damastor’s son,

  Evippus, Ipheus, Pyres, Polymelus,

  All these he on the champain, corse on corse

  Promiscuous flung. Sarpedon, when he saw

  Such havoc made of his uncinctured friends 510

  By Menœtiades, with sharp rebuke

  His band of godlike Lycians loud address’d.

  Shame on you, Lycians! whither would ye fly?

  Now are ye swift indeed! I will oppose

  Myself this conqueror, that I may learn 515

  Who thus afflicts the Trojan host, of life

  Bereaving numerous of their warriors bold.

  He said, and with his arms leap’d to the ground.

  404 On the other side, Patroclus at that sight

  Sprang from his chariot. As two vultures clash 520

  Bow-beak’d, crook-talon’d, on some lofty rock

  Clamoring both, so they together rush’d

  With clamors loud; whom when the son observed

  Of wily Saturn, with compassion moved

  His sister and his spouse he thus bespake. 525

  Alas, he falls! my most beloved of men

  Sarpedon, vanquished by Patroclus, falls!

  So will the Fates. Yet, doubtful, much I muse

  Whether to place him, snatch’d from furious fight

  In Lycia’s wealthy realm, or to permit 530

  His death by valiant Menœtiades.

  To whom his awful spouse, displeased, replied.

  How speaks the terrible Saturnian Jove!

  Wouldst thou again from pangs of death exempt

  A mortal man, destined long since to die? 535

  Do it. But small thy praise shall be in heaven,

  Mark thou my words, and in thy inmost breast

  Treasure them. If thou send Sarpedon safe

  To his own home, how many Gods their sons

  May also send from battle? Weigh it well. 540

  For under yon great city fight no few

  Sprung from Immortals whom thou shalt provoke.

  But if thou love him, and thine heart his lot

  Commiserate, leave him by the hands to fall

  Of Menœtiades in conflict dire; 545

  But give command to Death and gentle Sleep

  That him of life bereft at once they bear

  To Lycia’s ample realm, where, with due rites
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  Funereal, his next kindred and his friends

  Shall honor him, a pillar and a tomb 550

  405 (The dead man’s portion) rearing to his name.

  She said, from whom the Sire of Gods and men

  Dissented not, but on the earth distill’d

  A sanguine shower in honor of a son

  Dear to him, whom Patroclus on the field 555

  Of fruitful Troy should slay, far from his home.

  Opposite now, small interval between,

  Those heroes stood. Patroclus at his waist

  Pierced Thrasymelus the illustrious friend

  Of King Sarpedon, and his charioteer. 560

  Spear’d through the lower bowels, dead he fell.

  Then hurl’d Sarpedon in his turn a lance,

  But miss’d Patroclus and the shoulder pierced

  Of Pedasus the horse; he groaning heaved

  His spirit forth, and fallen on the field 565

  In long loud moanings sorrowful expired.

  Wide started the immortal pair; the yoke

  Creak’d, and entanglement of reins ensued

  To both, their fellow slaughter’d at their side.

  That mischief soon Automedon redress’d. 570

  He rose, and from beside his sturdy thigh

  Drawing his falchion, with effectual stroke

  Cut loose the side-horse; then the pair reduced

  To order, in their traces stood composed,

  And the two heroes fierce engaged again. 575

  Again his radiant spear Sarpedon hurl’d,

  But miss’d Patroclus; the innocuous point,

  O’erflying his left shoulder, pass’d beyond.

  Then with bright lance Patroclus in his turn

  Assail’d Sarpedon, nor with erring course 580

  The weapon sped or vain, but pierced profound

  His chest, enclosure of the guarded heart.

  As falls an oak, poplar, or lofty pine

  With new-edged axes on the mountains hewn

  Right through, for structure of some gallant bark, 585

  So fell Sarpedon stretch’d his steeds before

  And gnash’d his teeth and clutch’d the bloody dust,

  And as a lion slays a tawny bull

  406 Leader magnanimous of all the herd;

  Beneath the lion’s jaws groaning he dies; 590

  So, leader of the shielded Lycians groan’d

  Indignant, by Patroclus slain, the bold

  Sarpedon, and his friend thus, sad, bespake.

  Glaucus, my friend, among these warring Chiefs

  Thyself a Chief illustrious! thou hast need 595

  Of all thy valor now; now strenuous fight,

  And, if thou bear within thee a brave mind,

  Now make the war’s calamities thy joy.

  First, marching through the host of Lycia, rouse

  Our Chiefs to combat for Sarpedon slain, 600

  Then haste, thyself, to battle for thy friend.

  For shame and foul dishonor which no time

  Shall e’er obliterate, I must prove to thee,

  Should the Achaians of my glorious arms

  Despoil me in full prospect of the fleet. 605

  Fight, therefore, thou, and others urge to fight.

  He said, and cover’d by the night of death,

  Nor look’d nor breath’d again; for on his chest

  Implanting firm his heel, Patroclus drew

  The spear enfolded with his vitals forth, 610

  Weapon and life at once. Meantime his steeds

  407 Snorted, by Myrmidons detain’d, and, loosed

  From their own master’s chariot, foam’d to fly.

  Terrible was the grief by Glaucus felt,

  Hearing that charge, and troubled was his heart 615

  That all power fail’d him to protect the dead.

  Compressing his own arm he stood, with pain

  Extreme tormented which the shaft had caused

  Of Teucer, who while Glaucus climb’d the wall,

  Had pierced him from it, in the fleet’s defence. 620

  Then, thus, to Phœbus, King shaft-arm’d, he pray’d.

  Hear now, O King! For whether in the land

  Of wealthy Lycia dwelling, or in Troy,

  Thou hear’st in every place alike the prayer

  Of the afflicted heart, and such is mine; 625

  Behold my wound; it fills my useless hand

  With anguish, neither can my blood be stay’d,

  And all my shoulder suffers. I can grasp

  A spear, or rush to conflict with the Greeks

  No longer now; and we have also lost 630

  Our noblest Chief, Sarpedon, son of Jove,

  Who guards not his own son. But thou, O King!

  Heal me, assuage my anguish, give me strength,

  That I may animate the Lycian host

  To fight, and may, myself, defend the dead! 635

  Such prayer he offer’d, whom Apollo heard;

  He eased at once his pain, the sable blood

  Staunch’d, and his soul with vigor new inspired.

  Then Glaucus in his heart that prayer perceived

  Granted, and joyful for the sudden aid 640

  Vouchsafed to him by Phœbus, first the lines

  Of Lycia ranged, summoning every Chief

  To fight for slain Sarpedon; striding next

  With eager haste into the ranks of Troy,

  Renown’d Agenor and the son he call’d 645

  Of Panthus, brave Polydamas, with whom

  Æneas also, and approaching last

  To Hector brazen-mail’d him thus bespake.

  Now, Hector! now, thou hast indeed resign’d

  408 All care of thy allies, who, for thy sake, 650

  Lost both to friends and country, on these plains

  Perish, unaided and unmiss’d by thee.

  Sarpedon breathless lies, who led to fight

  Our shielded bands, and from whose just control

  And courage Lycia drew her chief defence. 655

  Him brazen Mars hath by the spear subdued

  Of Menœtiades. But stand ye firm!

  Let indignation fire you, O my friends!

  Lest, stripping him of his resplendent arms,

  The Myrmidons with foul dishonor shame 660

  His body, through resentment of the deaths

  Of numerous Grecians slain by spears of ours.

  He ceased; then sorrow every Trojan heart

  Seized insupportable and that disdain’d

  All bounds, for that, although a stranger born, 665

  Sarpedon ever had a bulwark proved

  To Troy, the leader of a numerous host,

  And of that host by none in fight excell’d.

  Right on toward the Danaï they moved

  Ardent for battle all, and at their head 670

  Enraged for slain Sarpedon, Hector came.

  Meantime, stout-hearted Chief, Patroclus roused

  The Grecians, and exhorting first (themselves

  Already prompt) the Ajaces, thus began.

  Heroic pair! now make it all your joy 675

  To chase the Trojan host, and such to prove

  As erst, or even bolder, if ye may.

  The Chief lies breathless who ascended first

  Our wall, Sarpedon. Let us bear him hence,

  Strip and dishonor him, and in the blood 680

  Of his protectors drench the ruthless spear.

  So Menœtiades his warriors urged,

  Themselves courageous. Then the Lycian host

  And Trojan here, and there the Myrmidons

  With all the host of Greece, closing the ranks 685

  Rush’d into furious contest for the dead,

  409 Shouting tremendous; clang’d their brazen arms,

  And Jove with Night’s pernicious shades o’erhung

  The bloody field, so to enhance the more

  Their toilsome strife fo
r his own son. First then 690

  The Trojans from their place and order shock’d

  The bright-eyed Grecians, slaying not the least

  Nor worst among the Myrmidons, the brave

  Epigeus from renown’d Agacles sprung.

  He, erst, in populous Budeum ruled, 695

  But for a valiant kinsman of his own

  Whom there he slew, had thence to Peleus fled

  And to his silver-footed spouse divine,

  Who with Achilles, phalanx-breaker Chief,

  Sent him to fight beneath the walls of Troy. 700

  Him seizing fast the body, with a stone

  Illustrious Hector smote full on the front,

  And his whole skull within the ponderous casque

  Split sheer; he prostrate on the body fell

  In shades of soul-divorcing death involved. 705

  Patroclus, grieving for his slaughter’d friend,

  Rush’d through the foremost warriors. As the hawk

  Swift-wing’d before him starlings drives or daws,

  So thou, Patroclus, of equestrian fame!

  Full on the Lycian ranks and Trojan drov’st, 710

  Resentful of thy fellow-warrior’s fall.

  At Sthenelaüs a huge stone he cast,

  Son of Ithæmenes, whom on the neck

  He smote and burst the tendons; then the van

  Of Ilium’s host, with Hector, all retired. 715

  Far as the slender javelin cuts the air

  Hurl’d with collected force, or in the games,

  Or even in battle at a desperate foe,

  So far the Greeks repulsed the host of Troy.

  Then Glaucus first, Chief of the shielded bands 720

  Of Lycia, slew Bathycles, valiant son

  Of Calchon; Hellas was his home, and far

  410 He pass’d in riches all the Myrmidons.

  Him chasing Glaucus whom he now attain’d,

  The Lycian, turning sudden, with his lance 725

  Pierced through the breast, and, sounding, down he fell

  Grief fill’d Achaia’s sons for such a Chief

  So slain, but joy the Trojans; thick they throng’d

  The conqueror around, nor yet the Greeks

  Forgat their force, but resolute advanced. 730

  Then, by Meriones a Trojan died

  Of noble rank, Laogonus, the son

  Undaunted of Onetor great in Troy,

  Priest of Idæan Jove. The ear and jaw

  Between, he pierced him with a mortal force; 735

  Swift flew the life, and darkness veil’d his eyes.

  Æneas, in return, his brazen spear