William Cowper- Collected Poetical Works

by William Cowper

Again led on by Ajax, who in form

  And in exploits all others far excell’d.

  Peerless Æacides alone except.

  Right through the foremost combatants he rush’d,

  In force resembling most some savage boar 340

  That in the mountains bursting through the brakes,

  The swains disperses and their hounds with ease;

  Like him, illustrious Ajax, mighty son

  Of Telamon, at his assault dispersed

  With ease the close imbattled ranks who fought 345

  Around Patroclus’ body, strong in hope

  To achieve it, and to make the glory theirs.

  Hippothoüs, a youth of high renown,

  Son of Pelasgian Lethus, by a noose

  Around his ancle cast dragg’d through the fight 350

  433 Patroclus, so to gratify the host

  Of Ilium and their Chief; but evil him

  Reached suddenly, by none of all his friends

  (Though numerous wish’d to save him) turn’d aside.

  For swift advancing on him through the crowd 355

  The son of Telamon pierced, spear in hand,

  His helmet brazen-cheek’d; the crested casque,

  So smitten, open’d wide, for huge the hand

  And ponderous was the spear that gave the blow

  And all around its neck, mingled with blood 360

  Gush’d forth the brain. There, lifeless, down he sank,

  Let fall the hero’s foot, and fell himself

  Prone on the dead, never to see again?

  Deep-soil’d Larissa, never to require

  Their kind solicitudes who gave him birth, 365

  In bloom of life by dauntless Ajax slain.

  Then Hector hurl’d at Ajax his bright spear,

  But he, forewarn’d of its approach, escaped

  Narrowly, and it pierced Schedius instead,

  Brave son of Iphitus; he, noblest Chief 370

  Of the Phocensians, over many reign’d,

  Dwelling in Panopeus the far-renown’d.

  Entering beneath the clavicle the point

  Right through his shoulder’s summit pass’d behind,

  And on his loud-resounding arms he fell. 375

  But Ajax at his waist wounded the son

  Of Phœnops, valiant Phorcys, while he stood

  Guarding Hippothöus; through his hollow mail

  Enforced the weapon drank his inmost life,

  And in his palm, supine, he clench’d the dust. 380

  Then, Hector with the foremost Chiefs of Troy

  Fell back; the Argives sent a shout to heaven,

  And dragging Phorcys and Hippothöus thence

  Stripp’d both. In that bright moment Ilium’s host

  Fear-quell’d before Achaia’s warlike sons 385

  Had Troy re-enter’d, and the host of Greece

  By matchless might and fortitude their own

  434 Had snatch’d a victory from the grasp of fate,

  But that, himself, the King of radiant shafts

  Æneas roused; Epytis’ son he seem’d 390

  Periphas, ancient in the service grown

  Of old Anchises whom he dearly loved;

  His form assumed, Apollo thus began.

  How could ye save, Æneas, were the Gods

  Your enemies, the towers of lofty Troy? 395

  As I have others seen, warriors who would,

  Men fill’d with might and valor, firm themselves

  And Chiefs of multitudes disdaining fear.

  But Jove to us the victory far more

  Than to the Grecians wills; therefore the fault 400

  Is yours, who tremble and refuse the fight.

  He ended, whom Æneas marking, knew

  At once the glorious Archer of the skies,

  And thus to distant Hector call’d aloud.

  Oh, Hector, and ye other Chiefs of Troy 405

  And of her brave confederates! Shame it were

  Should we re-enter Ilium, driven to flight

  By dastard fear before the host of Greece.

  A God assured me even now, that Jove,

  Supreme in battle, gives his aid to Troy. 410

  Rush, therefore, on the Danaï direct,

  Nor let them, safe at least and unannoy’d,

  Bear hence Patroclus’ body to the fleet.

  He spake, and starting far into the van

  Stood foremost forth; they, wheeling, faced the Greeks. 415

  Then, spear in hand, Æneas smote the friend

  Of Lycomedes, brave Leocritus,

  Son of Arisbas. Lycomedes saw

  Compassionate his death, and drawing nigh

  First stood, then hurling his resplendent lance, 420

  Right through the liver Apisaon pierced

  Offspring of Hippasus, his chest beneath,

  And, lifeless, instant, on the field he fell.

  He from Pæonia the deep soil’d to Troy

  Came forth, Asteropæus sole except, 425

  435 Bravest of all Pæonia’s band in arms.

  Asteropæus saw, and to the van

  Sprang forth for furious combat well prepared,

  But room for fight found none, so thick a fence

  Of shields and ported spears fronted secure 430

  The phalanx guarding Menœtiades.

  For Ajax ranging all the ranks, aloud

  Admonish’d them that no man yielding ground

  Should leave Patroclus, or advance before

  The rest, but all alike fight and stand fast. 435

  Such order gave huge Ajax; purple gore

  Drench’d all the ground; in slaughter’d heaps they fell

  Trojans and Trojan aids of dauntless hearts

  And Grecians; for not even they the fight

  Waged bloodless, though with far less cost of blood, 440

  Each mindful to avert his fellow’s fate.

  Thus burn’d the battle; neither hadst thou deem’d

  The sun himself in heaven unquench’d, or moon,

  Beneath a cope so dense of darkness strove

  Unceasing all the most renown’d in arms 445

  For Menœtiades. Meantime the war,

  Wherever else, the bright-arm’d Grecians waged

  And Trojans under skies serene. The sun

  On them his radiance darted; not a cloud,

  From mountain or from vale rising, allay’d 450

  His fervor; there at distance due they fought

  And paused by turns, and shunn’d the cruel dart.

  But in the middle field not war alone

  They suffer’d, but night also; ruthless raged

  The iron storm, and all the mightiest bled. 455

  Two glorious Chiefs, the while, Antilochus

  And Thrasymedes, had no tidings heard

  Of brave Patroclus slain, but deem’d him still

  Living, and troubling still the host of Troy;

  For watchful only to prevent the flight 460

  Or slaughter of their fellow-warriors, they

  436 Maintain’d a distant station, so enjoin’d

  By Nestor when he sent them to the field.

  But fiery conflict arduous employ’d

  The rest all day continual; knees and legs, 465

  Feet, hands, and eyes of those who fought to guard

  The valiant friend of swift Æacides

  Sweat gather’d foul and dust. As when a man

  A huge ox-hide drunken with slippery lard

  Gives to be stretch’d, his servants all around 470

  Disposed, just intervals between, the task

  Ply strenuous, and while many straining hard

  Extend it equal on all sides, it sweats

  The moisture out, and drinks the unction in,

  So they, in narrow space struggling, the dead 475

  Dragg’d every way, warm hope conceiving, these

  To drag him thence to Troy, those, to the ships.

&nb
sp; Wild tumult raged around him; neither Mars,

  Gatherer of hosts to battle, nor herself

  Pallas, however angry, had beheld 480

  That conflict with disdain, Jove to such length

  Protracted on that day the bloody toil

  Of steeds and men for Menœtiades.

  Nor knew divine Achilles or had aught

  Heard of Patroclus slain, for from the ships 485

  Remote they fought, beneath the walls of Troy.

  He, therefore, fear’d not for his death, but hope

  Indulged much rather, that, the battle push’d

  To Ilium’s gates, he should return alive.

  For that his friend, unaided by himself 490

  437 Or ever aided, should prevail to lay

  Troy waste, he nought supposed; by Thetis warn’d

  In secret conference oft, he better knew

  Jove’s purpose; yet not even she had borne

  Those dreadful tidings to his ear, the loss 495

  Immeasurable of his dearest friend.

  They all around the dead fought spear in hand

  With mutual slaughter ceaseless, and amid

  Achaia’s host thus spake a Chief mail-arm’d.

  Shame were it, Grecians! should we seek by flight 500

  Our galleys now; yawn earth our feet beneath

  And here ingulf us rather! Better far

  Than to permit the steed-famed host of Troy

  To drag Patroclus hence into the town,

  And make the glory of this conflict theirs. 505

  Thus also of the dauntless Trojans spake

  A certain warrior. Oh, my friends! although

  The Fates ordain us, one and all, to die

  Around this body, stand! quit not the field.

  So spake the warrior prompting into act 510

  The courage of his friends, and such they strove

  On both sides; high into the vault of heaven

  The iron din pass’d through the desart air.

  Meantime the horses of Æacides

  From fight withdrawn, soon as they understood 515

  Their charioteer fallen in the dust beneath

  The arm of homicidal Hector, wept.

  Them oft with hasty lash Diores’ son

  Automedon impatient smote, full oft

  He stroked them gently, and as oft he chode; 520

  Yet neither to the fleet ranged on the shore

  Of spacious Hellespont would they return,

  Nor with the Grecians seek the fight, but stood

  As a sepulchral pillar stands, unmoved

  Between their traces; to the earth they hung 525

  438 Their heads, with plenteous tears their driver mourn’d,

  And mingled their dishevell’d manes with dust.

  Jove saw their grief with pity, and his brows

  Shaking, within himself thus, pensive, said.

  Ah hapless pair! Wherefore by gift divine 530

  Were ye to Peleus given, a mortal king,

  Yourselves immortal and from age exempt?

  Was it that ye might share in human woes?

  For, of all things that breathe or creep the earth,

  No creature lives so mere a wretch as man. 535

  Yet shall not Priameian Hector ride

  Triumphant, drawn by you. Myself forbid.

  Suffice it that he boasts vain-gloriously

  Those arms his own. Your spirit and your limbs

  I will invigorate, that ye may bear 540

  Safe hence Automedon into the fleet.

  For I ordain the Trojans still to spread

  Carnage around victorious, till they reach

  The gallant barks, and till the sun at length

  Descending, sacred darkness cover all. 545

  He said, and with new might the steeds inspired.

  They, shaking from their hair profuse the dust,

  Between the van of either army whirl’d

  The rapid chariot. Fighting as he pass’d,

  Though fill’d with sorrow for his slaughter’d friend, 550

  Automedon high-mounted swept the field

  Impetuous as a vulture scattering geese;

  Now would he vanish, and now, turn’d again,

  Chase through a multitude his trembling foe;

  But whomsoe’er he follow’d, none he slew, 555

  Nor was the task possible to a Chief

  Sole in the sacred chariot, both to aim

  The spear aright and guide the fiery steeds.

  439 At length Alcimedon, his friend in arms,

  Son of Laerceus son of Æmon, him 560

  Observing, from behind the chariot hail’d

  The flying warrior, whom he thus bespake.

  What power, Automedon! hath ta’en away

  Thy better judgment, and thy breast inspired

  With this vain purpose to assail alone 565

  The Trojan van? Thy partner in the fight

  Is slain, and Hector on his shoulders bears,

  Elate, the armor of Æacides.

  Then, answer thus Automedon return’d,

  Son of Diores. Who of all our host 570

  Was ever skill’d, Alcimedon! as thou

  To rule the fire of these immortal steeds,

  Save only while he lived, peer of the Gods

  In that great art, Patroclus, now no more?

  Thou, therefore, the resplendent reins receive 575

  And scourge, while I, dismounting, wage the fight.

  He ceased; Alcimedon without delay

  The battle-chariot mounting, seized at once

  The lash and reins, and from his seat down leap’d

  Automedon. Them noble Hector mark’d, 580

  And to Æneas at his side began.

  Illustrious Chief of Trojans brazen-mail’d

  Æneas! I have noticed yonder steeds

  Of swift Achilles rushing into fight

  Conspicuous, but under sway of hands 585

  Unskilful; whence arises a fair hope

  That we might seize them, wert thou so inclined;

  For never would those two dare to oppose

  In battle an assault dreadful as ours.

  He ended, nor the valiant son refused 590

  Of old Anchises, but with targets firm

  Of season’d hide brass-plated thrown athwart

  Their shoulders, both advanced direct, with whom

  Of godlike form Aretus also went

  And Chromius. Ardent hope they all conceived 595

  To slay those Chiefs, and from the field to drive

  440 Achilles’ lofty steeds. Vain hope! for them

  No bloodless strife awaited with the force

  Of brave Automedon; he, prayer to Jove

  First offering, felt his angry soul with might 600

  Heroic fill’d, and thus his faithful friend

  Alcimedon, incontinent, address’d.

  Alcimedon! hold not the steeds remote

  But breathing on my back; for I expect

  That never Priameïan Hector’s rage 605

  Shall limit know, or pause, till, slaying us,

  He shall himself the coursers ample-maned

  Mount of Achilles, and to flight compel

  The Argive host, or perish in the van.

  So saying, he call’d aloud on Menelaus 610

  With either Ajax. Oh, illustrious Chiefs

  Of Argos, Menelaus, and ye bold

  Ajaces! leaving all your best to cope

  With Ilium’s powers and to protect the dead,

  From friends still living ward the bitter day. 615

  For hither borne, two Chiefs, bravest of all

  The Trojans, Hector and Æneas rush

  Right through the battle. The events of war

  Heaven orders; therefore even I will give

  My spear its flight, and Jove dispose the rest! 620

  He said, and brandishing his massy spear

  Dismiss’d it at A
retus; full he smote

  His ample shield, nor stay’d the pointed brass,

  But penetrating sheer the disk, his belt

  Pierced also, and stood planted in his waist. 625

  As when some vigorous youth with sharpen’d axe

  A pastured bullock smites behind the horns

  And hews the muscle through; he, at the stroke

  Springs forth and falls, so sprang Aretus forth,

  Then fell supine, and in his bowels stood 630

  The keen-edged lance still quivering till he died.

  Then Hector, in return, his radiant spear

  441 Hurl’d at Automedon, who of its flight

  Forewarn’d his body bowing prone, the stroke

  Eluded, and the spear piercing the soil 635

  Behind him, shook to its superior end,

  Till, spent by slow degrees, its fury slept.

  And now, with hand to hilt, for closer war

  Both stood prepared, when through the multitude

  Advancing at their fellow-warrior’s call, 640

  The Ajaces suddenly their combat fierce

  Prevented. Awed at once by their approach

  Hector retired, with whom Æneas went

  Also and godlike Chromius, leaving there

  Aretus with his vitals torn, whose arms, 645

  Fierce as the God of war Automedon

  Stripp’d off, and thus exulted o’er the slain.

  My soul some portion of her grief resigns

  Consoled, although by slaughter of a worse,

  For loss of valiant Menœtiades. 650

  So saying, within his chariot he disposed

  The gory spoils, then mounted it himself

  With hands and feet purpled, as from a bull

  His bloody prey, some lion newly-gorged.

  And now around Patroclus raged again 655

  Dread strife deplorable! for from the skies

  Descending at the Thunderer’s command

  Whose purpose now was to assist the Greeks,

  Pallas enhanced the fury of the fight.

  As when from heaven, in view of mortals, Jove 660

  Exhibits bright his bow, a sign ordain’d

  Of war, or numbing frost which all the works

  Suspends of man and saddens all the flocks;

  So she, all mantled with a radiant cloud

  Entering Achaia’s host, fired every breast. 665

  But meeting Menelaus first, brave son

  Of Atreus, in the form and with the voice

  Robust of Phœnix, him she thus bespake.

  Shame, Menelaus, shall to thee redound