William Cowper- Collected Poetical Works

by William Cowper

  For ever, and reproach, should dogs devour 670

  442 The faithful friend of Peleus’ noble son

  Under Troy’s battlements; but stand, thyself,

  Undaunted, and encourage all the host.

  To whom the son of Atreus bold in arms.

  Ah, Phœnix, friend revered, ancient and sage! 675

  Would Pallas give me might and from the dint

  Shield me of dart and spear, with willing mind

  I would defend Patroclus, for his death

  Hath touch’d me deep. But Hector with the rage

  Burns of consuming fire, nor to his spear 680

  Gives pause, for him Jove leads to victory.

  He ceased, whom Pallas, Goddess azure-eyed

  Hearing, rejoiced that of the heavenly powers

  He had invoked her foremost to his aid.

  His shoulders with new might, and limbs she fill’d, 685

  And persevering boldness to his breast

  Imparted, such as prompts the fly, which oft

  From flesh of man repulsed, her purpose yet

  To bite holds fast, resolved on human blood.

  His stormy bosom with such courage fill’d 690

  By Pallas, to Patroclus he approach’d

  And hurl’d, incontinent, his glittering spear.

  There was a Trojan Chief, Podes by name,

  Son of Eëtion, valorous and rich;

  Of all Troy’s citizens him Hector most 695

  Respected, in convivial pleasures sweet

  His chosen companion. As he sprang to flight,

  The hero of the golden locks his belt

  Struck with full force and sent the weapon through.

  Sounding he fell, and from the Trojan ranks 700

  Atrides dragg’d the body to his own.

  Then drew Apollo near to Hector’s side,

  And in the form of Phœnops, Asius’ son,

  Of all the foreign guests at Hector’s board

  His favorite most, the hero thus address’d. 705

  What Chief of all the Grecians shall henceforth

  Fear Hector, who from Menelaus shrinks

  Once deem’d effeminate, but dragging now

  443 The body of thy valiant friend approved

  Whom he hath slain, Podes, Eëtion’s son? 710

  He spake, and at his words grief like a cloud

  Involved the mind of Hector dark around;

  Right through the foremost combatants he rush’d

  All clad in dazzling brass. Then, lifting high

  His tassel’d Ægis radiant, Jove with storms 715

  Enveloped Ida; flash’d his lightnings, roar’d

  His thunders, and the mountain shook throughout.

  Troy’s host he prosper’d, and the Greeks dispersed.

  First fled Peneleus, the Bœotian Chief,

  Whom facing firm the foe Polydamas 720

  Struck on his shoulder’s summit with a lance

  Hurl’d nigh at hand, which slight inscribed the bone.

  Leïtus also, son of the renown’d

  Alectryon, pierced by Hector in the wrist,

  Disabled left the fight; trembling he fled 725

  And peering narrowly around, nor hoped

  To lift a spear against the Trojans more.

  Hector, pursuing Leïtus, the point

  Encounter’d of the brave Idomeneus

  Full on his chest; but in his mail the lance 730

  Snapp’d, and the Trojans shouted to the skies.

  He, in his turn, cast at Deucalion’s son

  Idomeneus, who in that moment gain’d

  A chariot-seat; but him the erring spear

  Attain’d not, piercing Cœranus instead 735

  The friend and follower of Meriones

  From wealthy Lyctus, and his charioteer.

  For when he left, that day, the gallant barks

  444 Idomeneus had sought the field on foot,

  And triumph proud, full sure, to Ilium’s host 740

  Had yielded now, but that with rapid haste

  Cœranus drove to his relief, from him

  The fate averting which himself incurr’d

  Victim of Hector’s homicidal arm.

  Him Hector smiting between ear and jaw 745

  Push’d from their sockets with the lance’s point

  His firm-set teeth, and sever’d sheer his tongue.

  Dismounted down he fell, and from his hand

  Let slide the flowing reins, which, to the earth

  Stooping, Meriones in haste resumed, 750

  And briefly thus Idomeneus address’d.

  Now drive, and cease not, to the fleet of Greece!

  Thyself see’st victory no longer ours.

  He said; Idomeneus whom, now, dismay

  Seized also, with his lash plying severe 755

  The coursers ample-maned, flew to the fleet.

  Nor Ajax, dauntless hero, not perceived,

  Nor Menelaus, by the sway of Jove

  The victory inclining fast to Troy,

  And thus the Telamonian Chief began. 760

  Ah! who can be so blind as not to see

  The eternal Father, now, with his own hand

  Awarding glory to the Trojan host,

  Whose every spear flies, instant, to the mark

  Sent forth by brave or base? Jove guides them all, 765

  While, ineffectual, ours fall to the ground.

  But haste, devise we of ourselves the means

  How likeliest we may bear Patroclus hence,

  And gladden, safe returning, all our friends,

  Who, hither looking anxious, hope have none 770

  That we shall longer check the unconquer’d force

  Of hero-slaughtering Hector, but expect

  To see him soon amid the fleet of Greece.

  445 Oh for some Grecian now to carry swift

  The tidings to Achilles’ ear, untaught, 775

  As I conjecture, yet the doleful news

  Of his Patroclus slain! but no such Greek

  May I discern, such universal gloom

  Both men and steeds envelops all around.

  Father of heaven and earth! deliver thou 780

  Achaia’s host from darkness; clear the skies;

  Give day; and (since thy sovereign will is such)

  Destruction with it — but oh give us day!

  He spake, whose tears Jove saw with pity moved,

  And chased the untimely shades; bright beam’d the sun 785

  And the whole battle was display’d. Then spake

  The hero thus to Atreus’ mighty son.

  Now noble Menelaus! looking forth,

  See if Antilochus be yet alive,

  Brave son of Nestor, whom exhort to fly 790

  With tidings to Achilles, of the friend

  Whom most he loved, of his Patroclus slain.

  He ceased, nor Menelaus, dauntless Chief,

  That task refused, but went; yet neither swift

  Nor willing. As a lion leaves the stalls 795

  Wearied himself with harassing the guard,

  Who, interdicting him his purposed prey,

  Watch all the night; he famish’d, yet again

  Comes furious on, but speeds not, kept aloof

  By spears from daring hands dismissed, but more 800

  By flash of torches which, though fierce, he dreads,

  Till at the dawn, sullen he stalks away;

  So from Patroclus Menelaus went

  Heroic Chief! reluctant; for he fear’d

  Lest the Achaians should resign the dead, 805

  Through consternation, to the host of Troy.

  Departing, therefore, he admonish’d oft

  446 Meriones and the Ajaces, thus.

  Ye two brave leaders of the Argive host,

  And thou, Meriones! now recollect 810

  The gentle manners of Patroclus fallen

  Hapless in battle, who by carriage mild

&
nbsp; Well understood, while yet he lived, to engage

  All hearts, through prisoner now of death and fate.

  So saying, the hero amber-hair’d his steps 815

  Turn’d thence, the field exploring with an eye

  Sharp as the eagle’s, of all fowls beneath

  The azure heavens for keenest sight renown’d,

  Whom, though he soar sublime, the leveret

  By broadest leaves conceal’d ‘scapes not, but swift 820

  Descending, even her he makes his prey;

  So, noble Menelaus! were thine eyes

  Turn’d into every quarter of the host

  In search of Nestor’s son, if still he lived.

  Him, soon, encouraging his band to fight, 825

  He noticed on the left of all the field,

  And sudden standing at his side, began.

  Antilochus! oh hear me, noble friend!

  And thou shalt learn tidings of such a deed

  As best had never been. Thou know’st, I judge, 830

  And hast already seen, how Jove exalts

  To victory the Trojan host, and rolls

  Distress on ours; but ah! Patroclus lies,

  Our chief Achaian, slain, whose loss the Greeks

  Fills with regret. Haste, therefore, to the fleet, 835

  Inform Achilles; bid him haste to save,

  If save he can, the body of his friend;

  He can no more, for Hector hath his arms.

  He ceased. Antilochus with horror heard

  Those tidings; mute long time he stood, his eyes 840

  Swam tearful, and his voice, sonorous erst,

  Found utterance none. Yet even so distress’d,

  He not the more neglected the command

  Of Menelaus. Setting forth to run,

  He gave his armor to his noble friend 845

  447 Laodocus, who thither turn’d his steeds,

  And weeping as he went, on rapid feet

  Sped to Achilles with that tale of wo.

  Nor could the noble Menelaus stay

  To give the weary Pylian band, bereft 850

  Of their beloved Antilochus, his aid,

  But leaving them to Thrasymedes’ care,

  He flew to Menœtiades again,

  And the Ajaces, thus, instant bespake.

  He goes. I have dispatch’d him to the fleet 855

  To seek Achilles; but his coming naught

  Expect I now, although with rage he burn

  Against illustrious Hector; for what fight

  Can he, unarm’d, against the Trojans wage?

  Deliberating, therefore, frame we means 860

  How best to save Patroclus, and to ‘scape

  Ourselves unslain from this disastrous field.

  Whom answer’d the vast son of Telamon.

  Most noble Menelaus! good is all

  Which thou hast spoken. Lift ye from the earth 865

  Thou and Meriones, at once, and bear

  The dead Patroclus from the bloody field.

  To cope meantime with Hector and his host

  Shall be our task, who, one in name, nor less

  In spirit one, already have the brunt 870

  Of much sharp conflict, side by side, sustain’d.

  He ended; they enfolding in their arms

  The dead, upbore him high above the ground

  With force united; after whom the host

  Of Troy, seeing the body borne away, 875

  Shouted, and with impetuous onset all

  Follow’d them. As the hounds, urged from behind

  By youthful hunters, on the wounded boar

  Make fierce assault; awhile at utmost speed

  They stretch toward him hungering, for the prey, 880

  But oft as, turning sudden, the stout brawn

  Faces them, scatter’d on all sides escape;

  The Trojans so, thick thronging in the rear,

  448 Ceaseless with falchions and spears double-edged

  Annoy’d them sore, but oft as in retreat 885

  The dauntless heroes, the Ajaces turn’d

  To face them, deadly wan grew every cheek,

  And not a Trojan dared with onset rude

  Molest them more in conflict for the dead.

  Thus they, laborious, forth from battle bore 890

  Patroclus to the fleet, tempestuous war

  Their steps attending, rapid as the flames

  Which, kindled suddenly, some city waste;

  Consumed amid the blaze house after house

  Sinks, and the wind, meantime, roars through the fire; 895

  So them a deafening tumult as they went

  Pursued, of horses and of men spear-arm’d.

  And as two mules with strength for toil endued,

  Draw through rough ways down from the distant hills

  Huge timber, beam or mast; sweating they go, 900

  And overlabor’d to faint weariness;

  So they the body bore, while, turning oft,

  The Ajaces check’d the Trojans. As a mound

  Planted with trees and stretch’d athwart the mead

  Repels an overflow; the torrents loud 905

  Baffling, it sends them far away to float

  The level land, nor can they with the force

  Of all their waters burst a passage through;

  So the Ajaces, constant, in the rear

  Repress’d the Trojans; but the Trojans them 910

  Attended still, of whom Æneas most

  Troubled them, and the glorious Chief of Troy.

  They as a cloud of starlings or of daws

  Fly screaming shrill, warn’d timely of the kite

  Or hawk, devourers of the smaller kinds, 915

  So they shrill-clamoring toward the fleet,

  Hasted before Æneas and the might

  Of Hector, nor the battle heeded more.

  Much radiant armor round about the foss

  Fell of the flying Grecians, or within 920

  Lay scatter’d, and no pause of war they found.

  ARGUMENT OF THE EIGHTEENTH BOOK.

  Achilles, by command of Juno, shows himself to the Trojans, who fly at his appearance; Vulcan, at the insistence of Thetis, forges for him a suit of armor.

  BOOK XVIII.

  Thus burn’d the battle like devouring fire.

  Meantime, Antilochus with rapid steps

  Came to Achilles. Him he found before

  His lofty barks, occupied, as he stood,

  With boding fears of all that had befall’n. 5

  He groan’d, and to his noble self he said.

  Ah! wo is me — why falls Achaia’s host,

  With such disorder foul, back on the fleet?

  I tremble lest the Gods my anxious thoughts

  Accomplish and my mother’s words, who erst 10

  Hath warn’d me, that the bravest and the best

  Of all my Myrmidons, while yet I live,

  Slain under Troy, must view the sun no more.

  Brave Menœtiades is, doubtless, slain.

  Unhappy friend! I bade thee oft, our barks 15

  Deliver’d once from hostile fires, not seek

  To cope in arms with Hector, but return.

  While musing thus he stood, the son approach’d

  Of noble Nestor, and with tears his cheeks

  Bedewing copious, his sad message told. 20

  Oh son of warlike Peleus! thou shalt hear

  Tidings of deeds which best had never been.

  Patroclus is no more. The Grecians fight

  For his bare corse, and Hector hath his arms.

  452 Then clouds of sorrow fell on Peleus’ son, 25

  And, grasping with both hands the ashes, down

  He pour’d them on his head, his graceful brows

  Dishonoring, and thick the sooty shower

  Descending settled on his fragrant vest.

  Then, stretch’d in ashes, at the vast extent 30

  Of his whole lengt
h he lay, disordering wild

  With his own hands, and rending off his hair.

  The maidens, captived by himself in war

  And by Patroclus, shrieking from the tent

  Ran forth, and hemm’d the glorious Chief around. 35

  All smote their bosoms, and all, fainting, fell.

  On the other side, Antilochus the hands

  Held of Achilles, mourning and deep groans

  Uttering from his noble heart, through fear

  Lest Peleus’ son should perish self-destroy’d. 40

  Loud groan’d the hero, whose loud groans within

  The gulfs of ocean, where she sat beside

  Her ancient sire, his Goddess-mother heard,

  And hearing shriek’d; around her at the voice

  Assembled all the Nereids of the deep 45

  Cymodoce, Thalia, Glauca came,

  Nisæa, Spio, Thoa, and with eyes

  Protuberant beauteous Halia; came with these

  Cymothöe, and Actæa, and the nymph

  Of marshes, Limnorea, nor delay’d 50

  Agave, nor Amphithöe the swift,

  Iæra, Doto, Melita, nor thence

  Was absent Proto or Dynamene,

  Callianira, Doris, Panope,

  Pherusa or Amphinome, or fair 55

  Dexamene, or Galatea praised

  For matchless form divine; Nemertes pure

  453 Came also, with Apseudes crystal-bright,

  Callianassa, Mæra, Clymene,

  Janeira and Janassa, sister pair, 60

  And Orithya and with azure locks

  Luxuriant, Amathea; nor alone

  Came these, but every ocean-nymph beside,

  The silver cave was fill’d; each smote her breast,

  And Thetis, loud lamenting, thus began. 65

  Ye sister Nereids, hear! that ye may all

  From my own lips my boundless sorrow learn.

  Ah me forlorn! ah me, parent in vain

  Of an illustrious birth! who, having borne

  A noble son magnanimous, the chief 70

  Of heroes, saw him like a thriving plant

  Shoot vigorous under my maternal care,

  And sent him early in his gallant fleet

  Embark’d, to combat with the sons of Troy.

  But him from fight return’d I shall receive 75

  Beneath the roof of Peleus, never more;

  And while he lives, and on the sun his eyes

  Opens, he mourns, nor, going, can I aught

  Assist him; yet I go, that I may see