Of that bold Chief who slew thee, to my tent.
I also will smite off, before thy pile, 415
The heads of twelve illustrious sons of Troy,
Resentful of thy death. Meantime, among
My lofty galleys thou shalt lie, with tears
Mourn’d day and night by Trojan captives fair
And Dardan compassing thy bier around, 420
463 Whom we, at price of labor hard, ourselves
With massy spears toiling in battle took
From many an opulent city, now no more.
So saying, he bade his train surround with fire
A tripod huge, that they might quickly cleanse 425
Patroclus from all stain of clotted gore.
They on the blazing hearth a tripod placed
Capacious, fill’d with water its wide womb,
And thrust dry wood beneath, till, fierce, the flames
Embraced it round, and warm’d the flood within. 430
Soon as the water in the singing brass
Simmer’d, they bathed him, and with limpid oil
Anointed; filling, next, his ruddy wounds
With unguent mellow’d by nine circling years,
They stretch’d him on his bed, then cover’d him 435
From head to feet with linen texture light,
And with a wide unsullied mantle, last.
All night the Myrmidons around the swift
Achilles stood, deploring loud his friend,
And Jove his spouse and sister thus bespake. 440
So then, Imperial Juno! not in vain
Thou hast the swift Achilles sought to rouse
Again to battle; the Achaians, sure,
Are thy own children, thou hast borne them all.
To whom the awful Goddess ample-eyed. 445
What word hath pass’d thy lips, Jove, most severe?
A man, though mortal merely, and to me
Inferior in device, might have achieved
That labor easily. Can I who boast
Myself the chief of Goddesses, and such 450
Not by birth only, but as thine espoused,
Who art thyself sovereign of all the Gods,
Can I with anger burn against the house
Of Priam, and want means of just revenge?
464 Thus they in heaven their mutual conference 455
Meantime, the silver-footed Thetis reach’d
The starr’d abode eternal, brazen wall’d
Of Vulcan, by the builder lame himself
Uprear’d, a wonder even in eyes divine.
She found him sweating, at his bellows huge 460
Toiling industrious; tripods bright he form’d
Twenty at once, his palace-wall to grace
Ranged in harmonious order. Under each
Two golden wheels he set, on which (a sight
Marvellous!) into council they should roll 465
Self-moved, and to his house, self-moved, return.
Thus far the work was finish’d, but not yet
Their ears of exquisite design affixt,
For them he stood fashioning, and prepared
The rivets. While he thus his matchless skill 470
Employ’d laborious, to his palace-gate
The silver-footed Thetis now advanced,
Whom Charis, Vulcan’s well-attired spouse,
Beholding from the palace portal, flew
To seize the Goddess’ hand, and thus inquired. 475
Why, Thetis! worthy of all reverence
And of all love, comest thou to our abode,
Unfrequent here? But enter, and accept
Such welcome as to such a guest is due.
So saying, she introduced and to a seat 480
Led her with argent studs border’d around
And foot-stool’d sumptuously; then, calling forth
Her spouse, the glorious artist, thus she said.
Haste, Vulcan! Thetis wants thee; linger not.
To whom the artist of the skies replied. 485
A Goddess then, whom with much cause I love
And venerate is here, who when I fell
Saved me, what time my shameless mother sought
To cast me, because lame, out of all sight;
465 Then had I been indeed forlorn, had not 490
Eurynome the daughter of the Deep
And Thetis in their laps received me fallen.
Nine years with them residing, for their use
I form’d nice trinkets, clasps, rings, pipes, and chains,
While loud around our hollow cavern roar’d 495
The surge of the vast deep, nor God nor man,
Save Thetis and Eurynome, my life’s
Preservers, knew where I was kept conceal’d.
Since, therefore, she is come, I cannot less
Than recompense to Thetis amber-hair’d 500
With readiness the boon of life preserved.
Haste, then, and hospitably spread the board
For her regale, while with my best dispatch
I lay my bellows and my tools aside.
He spake, and vast in bulk and hot with toil 505
Rose limping from beside his anvil-stock
Upborne, with pain on legs tortuous and weak.
First, from the forge dislodged he thrust apart
His bellows, and his tools collecting all
Bestow’d them, careful, in a silver chest, 510
Then all around with a wet sponge he wiped
His visage, and his arms and brawny neck
Purified, and his shaggy breast from smutch;
Last, putting on his vest, he took in hand
His sturdy staff, and shuffled through the door. 515
Beside the King of fire two golden forms
Majestic moved, that served him in the place
Of handmaids; young they seem’d, and seem’d alive,
Nor want they intellect, or speech, or force,
Or prompt dexterity by the Gods inspired. 520
These his supporters were, and at his side
Attendant diligent, while he, with gait
Uncouth, approaching Thetis where she sat
On a bright throne, seized fast her hand and said,
Why, Thetis! worthy as thou art of love 525
And of all reverence, hast thou arrived,
Unfrequent here? Speak — tell me thy desire,
466 Nor doubt my services, if thou demand
Things possible, and possible to me.
Then Thetis, weeping plenteously, replied. 530
Oh Vulcan! Is there on Olympius’ heights
A Goddess with such load of sorrow press’d
As, in peculiar, Jove assigns to me?
Me only, of all ocean-nymphs, he made
Spouse to a man, Peleus Æacides, 535
Whose bed, although reluctant and perforce,
I yet endured to share. He now, the prey
Of cheerless age, decrepid lies, and Jove
Still other woes heaps on my wretched head.
He gave me to bring forth, gave me to rear 540
A son illustrious, valiant, and the chief
Of heroes; he, like a luxuriant plant
Upran to manhood, while his lusty growth
I nourish’d as the husbandman his vine
Set in a fruitful field, and being grown 545
I 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,
Beneath the roof of Peleus, never more,
And while he lives and on the sun his eyes 550
Opens, affliction is his certain doom,
Nor aid resides or remedy in me.
The virgin, his own portion of the spoils,
Allotted to him by the Grecians — her
Atrides, King of men, resumed, and grief 555
Devour’d Achilles’ spirit for her sake
.
Meantime, the Trojans shutting close within
Their camp the Grecians, have forbidden them
All egress, and the senators of Greece
Have sought with splendid gifts to soothe my son. 560
He, indisposed to rescue them himself
From ruin, sent, instead, Patroclus forth,
Clad in his own resplendent armor, Chief
Of the whole host of Myrmidons. Before
467 The Scæan gate from morn to eve they fought, 565
And on that self-same day had Ilium fallen,
But that Apollo, to advance the fame
Of Hector, slew Menœtius’ noble son
Full-flush’d with victory. Therefore at thy knees
Suppliant I fall, imploring from thine art 570
A shield and helmet, greaves of shapely form
With clasps secured, and corselet for my son.
For those, once his, his faithful friend hath lost,
Slain by the Trojans, and Achilles lies,
Himself, extended mournful on the ground. 575
Her answer’d then the artist of the skies.
Courage! Perplex not with these cares thy soul.
I would that when his fatal hour shall come,
I could as sure secrete him from the stroke
Of destiny, as he shall soon have arms 580
Illustrious, such as each particular man
Of thousands, seeing them, shall wish his own.
He said, and to his bellows quick repair’d,
Which turning to the fire he bade them heave.
Full twenty bellows working all at once 595
Breathed on the furnace, blowing easy and free
The managed winds, now forcible, as best
Suited dispatch, now gentle, if the will
Of Vulcan and his labor so required.
Impenetrable brass, tin, silver, gold, 590
He cast into the forge, then, settling firm
His ponderous anvil on the block, one hand
With his huge hammer fill’d, one with the tongs.
He fashion’d first a shield massy and broad
468 Of labor exquisite, for which he form’d 595
A triple border beauteous, dazzling bright,
And loop’d it with a silver brace behind.
The shield itself with five strong folds he forged,
And with devices multiform the disk
Capacious charged, toiling with skill divine. 600
There he described the earth, the heaven, the sea,
The sun that rests not, and the moon full-orb’d.
There also, all the stars which round about
As with a radiant frontlet bind the skies,
The Pleiads and the Hyads, and the might 605
Of huge Orion, with him Ursa call’d,
Known also by his popular name, the Wain,
That spins around the pole looking toward
Orion, only star of these denied
To slake his beams in ocean’s briny baths. 610
Two splendid cities also there he form’d
Such as men build. In one were to be seen
Rites matrimonial solemnized with pomp
Of sumptuous banquets; from their chambers forth
Leading the brides they usher’d them along 615
With torches through the streets, and sweet was heard
The voice around of Hymenæal song.
Here striplings danced in circles to the sound
Of pipe and harp, while in the portals stood
Women, admiring, all, the gallant show. 620
Elsewhere was to be seen in council met
The close-throng’d multitude. There strife arose.
Two citizens contended for a mulct
The price of blood. This man affirm’d the fine
All paid, haranguing vehement the crowd, 625
That man denied that he had aught received,
And to the judges each made his appeal
Eager for their award. Meantime the people,
469 As favor sway’d them, clamor’d loud for each.
The heralds quell’d the tumult; reverend sat 630
On polish’d stones the elders in a ring,
Each with a herald’s sceptre in his hand,
Which holding they arose, and all in turn
Gave sentence. In the midst two talents lay
Of gold, his destined recompense whose voice 635
Decisive should pronounce the best award.
The other city by two glittering hosts
Invested stood, and a dispute arose
Between the hosts, whether to burn the town
And lay all waste, or to divide the spoil. 640
Meantime, the citizens, still undismay’d,
Surrender’d not the town, but taking arms
Secretly, set the ambush in array,
And on the walls their wives and children kept
Vigilant guard, with all the ancient men. 645
They sallied; at their head Pallas and Mars
Both golden and in golden vests attired
Advanced, proportion each showing divine,
Large, prominent, and such as Gods beseem’d.
Not such the people, but of humbler size. 650
Arriving at the spot for ambush chosen,
A river’s side, where cattle of each kind
Drank, down they sat, all arm’d in dazzling brass.
Apart from all the rest sat also down
Two spies, both looking for the flocks and herds. 655
Soon they appear’d, and at their side were seen
Two shepherd swains, each playing on his pipe
Careless, and of the danger nought apprized,
Swift ran the spies, perceiving their approach,
And intercepting suddenly the herds 660
And flocks of silver fleece, slew also those
Who fed them. The besiegers, at that time
In council, by the sound alarm’d, their steeds
Mounted, and hasted, instant, to the place;
Then, standing on the river’s brink they fought 665
And push’d each other with the brazen lance.
470 There Discord raged, there Tumult, and the force
Of ruthless Destiny; she now a Chief
Seized newly wounded, and now captive held
Another yet unhurt, and now a third 670
Dragg’d breathless through the battle by his feet
And all her garb was dappled thick with blood
Like living men they traversed and they strove,
And dragg’d by turns the bodies of the slain.
He also graved on it a fallow field 675
Rich, spacious, and well-till’d. Plowers not few,
There driving to and fro their sturdy teams,
Labor’d the land; and oft as in their course
They came to the field’s bourn, so oft a man
Met them, who in their hands a goblet placed 680
Charged with delicious wine. They, turning, wrought
Each his own furrow, and impatient seem’d
To reach the border of the tilth, which black
Appear’d behind them as a glebe new-turn’d,
Though golden. Sight to be admired by all! 685
There too he form’d the likeness of a field
Crowded with corn, in which the reapers toil’d
Each with a sharp-tooth’d sickle in his hand.
Along the furrow here, the harvest fell
In frequent handfuls, there, they bound the sheaves. 690
Three binders of the sheaves their sultry task
All plied industrious, and behind them boys
Attended, filling with the corn their arms
And offering still their bundles to be bound.
Amid them, staff in hand, the master stood 695
Silent exulting, while beneath an oak
Apart, his heralds bus
ily prepared
The banquet, dressing a well-thriven ox
New slain, and the attendant maidens mix’d
Large supper for the hinds of whitest flour. 700
There also, laden with its fruit he form’d
A vineyard all of gold; purple he made
The clusters, and the vines supported stood
By poles of silver set in even rows.
471 The trench he color’d sable, and around 705
Fenced it with tin. One only path it show’d
By which the gatherers when they stripp’d the vines
Pass’d and repass’d. There, youths and maidens blithe
In frails of wicker bore the luscious fruit,
While, in the midst, a boy on his shrill harp 710
Harmonious play’d, still as he struck the chord
Carolling to it with a slender voice.
They smote the ground together, and with song
And sprightly reed came dancing on behind.
There too a herd he fashion’d of tall beeves 715
Part gold, part tin. They, lowing, from the stalls
Rush’d forth to pasture by a river-side
Rapid, sonorous, fringed with whispering reeds.
Four golden herdsmen drove the kine a-field
By nine swift dogs attended. Dreadful sprang 720
Two lions forth, and of the foremost herd
Seized fast a bull. Him bellowing they dragg’d,
While dogs and peasants all flew to his aid.
The lions tore the hide of the huge prey
And lapp’d his entrails and his blood. Meantime 725
The herdsmen, troubling them in vain, their hounds
Encouraged; but no tooth for lions’ flesh
Found they, and therefore stood aside and bark’d.
There also, the illustrious smith divine
Amidst a pleasant grove a pasture form’d 730
Spacious, and sprinkled o’er with silver sheep
Numerous, and stalls and huts and shepherds’ tents.
To these the glorious artist added next,
With various skill delineated exact,
A labyrinth for the dance, such as of old 735
In Crete’s broad island Dædalus composed
472 For bright-hair’d Ariadne. There the youths
And youth-alluring maidens, hand in hand,
Danced jocund, every maiden neat-attired
In finest linen, and the youths in vests 740
Well-woven, glossy as the glaze of oil.
These all wore garlands, and bright falchions, those,
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