William Cowper- Collected Poetical Works

by William Cowper

  Of burnish’d gold in silver trappings hung: —

  They with well-tutor’d step, now nimbly ran

  The circle, swift, as when, before his wheel 745

  Seated, the potter twirls it with both hands

  For trial of its speed, now, crossing quick

  They pass’d at once into each other’s place.

  On either side spectators numerous stood

  Delighted, and two tumblers roll’d themselves 750

  Between the dancers, singing as they roll’d.

  Last, with the might of ocean’s boundless flood

  He fill’d the border of the wondrous shield.

  When thus the massy shield magnificent

  He had accomplish’d, for the hero next 755

  He forged, more ardent than the blaze of fire,

  A corselet; then, a ponderous helmet bright

  Well fitted to his brows, crested with gold,

  And with laborious art divine adorn’d.

  He also made him greaves of molten tin. 760

  The armor finish’d, bearing in his hand

  The whole, he set it down at Thetis’ feet.

  She, like a falcon from the snowy top

  Stoop’d of Olympus, bearing to the earth

  The dazzling wonder, fresh from Vulcan’s hand. 765

  ARGUMENT OF THE NINETEENTH BOOK.

  Achilles is reconciled to Agamemnon, and clothed in new armor forged by Vulcan, leads out the Myrmidons to battle.

  BOOK XIX.

  Now rose the morn in saffron vest attired

  From ocean, with new day for Gods and men,

  When Thetis at the fleet of Greece arrived,

  Bearing that gift divine. She found her son

  All tears, and close enfolding in his arms 5

  Patroclus, while his Myrmidons around

  Wept also; she amid them, graceful, stood,

  And seizing fast his hand, him thus bespake.

  Although our loss be great, yet, oh my son!

  Leave we Patroclus lying on the bier 10

  To which the Gods ordain’d him from the first.

  Receive from Vulcan’s hands these glorious arms,

  Such as no mortal shoulders ever bore.

  So saying, she placed the armor on the ground

  Before him, and the whole bright treasure rang. 15

  A tremor shook the Myrmidons; none dared

  Look on it, but all fled. Not so himself.

  In him fresh vengeance kindled at the view,

  And, while he gazed, a splendor as of fire

  Flash’d from his eyes. Delighted, in his hand 20

  He held the glorious bounty of the God,

  And, wondering at those strokes of art divine,

  476 His eager speech thus to his mother turn’d.

  The God, my mother! hath bestow’d in truth

  Such armor on me as demanded skill 25

  Like his, surpassing far all power of man.

  Now, therefore, I will arm. But anxious fears

  Trouble me, lest intrusive flies, meantime,

  Breed worms within the spear-inflicted wounds

  Of Menœtiades, and fill with taint 30

  Of putrefaction his whole breathless form.

  But him the silver-footed Goddess fair

  Thus answer’d. Oh, my son! chase from thy mind

  All such concern. I will, myself, essay

  To drive the noisome swarms which on the slain 35

  In battle feed voracious. Should he lie

  The year complete, his flesh shall yet be found

  Untainted, and, it may be, fragrant too.

  But thou the heroes of Achaia’s host

  Convening, in their ears thy wrath renounce 40

  Against the King of men, then, instant, arm

  For battle, and put on thy glorious might.

  So saying, the Goddess raised his courage high.

  Then, through the nostrils of the dead she pour’d

  Ambrosia, and the ruddy juice divine 45

  Of nectar, antidotes against decay.

  And now forth went Achilles by the side

  Of ocean, calling with a dreadful shout

  To council all the heroes of the host.

  Then, even they who in the fleet before 50

  Constant abode, helmsmen and those who held

  In stewardship the food and public stores,

  477 All flock’d to council, for that now at length

  After long abstinence from dread exploits

  Of war, Achilles had once more appear’d. 55

  Two went together, halting on the spear,

  (For still they felt the anguish of their wounds)

  Noble Ulysses and brave Diomede,

  And took an early seat; whom follow’d last

  The King of men, by Coön in the field 60

  Of furious battle wounded with a lance.

  The Grecians all assembled, in the midst

  Upstood the swift Achilles, and began.

  Atrides! we had doubtless better sped

  Both thou and I, thus doing, when at first 65

  With cruel rage we burn’d, a girl the cause.

  I would that Dian’s shaft had in the fleet

  Slain her that self-same day when I destroy’d

  Lyrnessus, and by conquest made her mine!

  Then had not many a Grecian, lifeless now, 70

  Clench’d with his teeth the ground, victim, alas!

  Of my revenge; whence triumph hath accrued

  To Hector and his host, while ours have cause

  For long remembrance of our mutual strife.

  But evils past let pass, yielding perforce 75

  To sad necessity. My wrath shall cease

  Now; I resign it; it hath burn’d too long.

  Thou therefore summon forth the host to fight,

  That I may learn meeting them in the field,

  If still the Trojans purpose at our fleet 80

  To watch us this night also. But I judge

  That driven by my spear to rapid flight,

  They shall escape with weary limbs at least.

  He ended, and the Grecians brazen-greaved

  Rejoiced that Peleus’ mighty son had cast 85

  His wrath aside. Then not into the midst

  Proceeding, but at his own seat, upstood

  King Agamemnon, and them thus bespake.

  478 Friends! Grecian heroes! Ministers of Mars!

  Arise who may to speak, he claims your ear; 90

  All interruption wrongs him, and distracts,

  Howe’er expert the speaker. Who can hear

  Amid the roar of tumult, or who speak?

  The clearest voice, best utterance, both are vain

  I shall address Achilles. Hear my speech 95

  Ye Argives, and with understanding mark.

  I hear not now the voice of your reproach

  First; ye have oft condemn’d me. Yet the blame

  Rests not with me; Jove, Destiny, and she

  Who roams the shades, Erynnis, caused the offence. 100

  She fill’d my soul with fury on that day

  In council, when I seized Achilles’ prize.

  For what could I? All things obey the Gods.

  Ate, pernicious Power, daughter of Jove,

  By whom all suffer, challenges from all 105

  Reverence and fear. Delicate are her feet

  Which scorn the ground, and over human heads

  She glides, injurious to the race of man,

  Of two who strive, at least entangling one.

  She injured, on a day, dread Jove himself 110

  Most excellent of all in earth or heaven,

  When Juno, although female, him deceived,

  What time Alcmena should have brought to light

  In bulwark’d Thebes the force of Hercules.

  Then Jove, among the gods glorying, spake. 115

  Hear all! both Gods and Goddesses, attend!

/>   That I may make my purpose known. This day

  Birth-pang-dispensing Ilithya brings

  An hero forth to light, who, sprung from those

  That sprang from me, his empire shall extend 120

  Over all kingdoms bordering on his own.

  To whom, designing fraud, Juno replied.

  Thou wilt be found false, and this word of thine

  Shall want performance. But Olympian Jove!

  479 Swear now the inviolable oath, that he 125

  Who shall, this day, fall from between the feet

  Of woman, drawing his descent from thee,

  Shall rule all kingdoms bordering on his own.

  She said, and Jove, suspecting nought her wiles,

  The great oath swore, to his own grief and wrong. 130

  At once from the Olympian summit flew

  Juno, and to Achaian Argos borne,

  There sought the noble wife of Sthenelus,

  Offspring of Perseus. Pregnant with a son

  Six months, she now the seventh saw at hand, 135

  But him the Goddess premature produced,

  And check’d Alcmena’s pangs already due.

  Then joyful to have so prevail’d, she bore

  Herself the tidings to Saturnian Jove.

  Lord of the candent lightnings! Sire of all! 140

  I bring thee tidings. The great prince, ordain’d

  To rule the Argive race, this day is born,

  Eurystheus, son of Sthenelus, the son

  Of Perseus; therefore he derives from thee,

  Nor shall the throne of Argos shame his birth. 145

  She spake; then anguish stung the heart of Jove

  Deeply, and seizing by her glossy locks

  The Goddess Ate, in his wrath he swore

  That never to the starry skies again

  And the Olympian heights he would permit 150

  The universal mischief to return.

  Then, whirling her around, he cast her down

  To earth. She, mingling with all works of men,

  Caused many a pang to Jove, who saw his son

  Laborious tasks servile, and of his birth 155

  Unworthy, at Eurystheus’ will enjoin’d.

  So when the hero Hector at our ships

  Slew us, I then regretted my offence

  Which Ate first impell’d me to commit.

  But since, infatuated by the Gods 160

  I err’d, behold me ready to appease

  480 With gifts of price immense whom I have wrong’d.

  Thou, then, arise to battle, and the host

  Rouse also. Not a promise yesternight

  Was made thee by Ulysses in thy tent 165

  On my behalf, but shall be well perform’d.

  Or if it please thee, though impatient, wait

  Short season, and my train shall bring the gifts

  Even now; that thou may’st understand and know

  That my peace-offerings are indeed sincere. 170

  To whom Achilles, swiftest of the swift.

  Atrides! Agamemnon! passing all

  In glory! King of men! recompense just

  By gifts to make me, or to make me none,

  That rests with thee. But let us to the fight 175

  Incontinent. It is no time to play

  The game of rhetoric, and to waste the hours

  In speeches. Much remains yet unperform’d.

  Achilles must go forth. He must be seen

  Once more in front of battle, wasting wide 180

  With brazen spear, the crowded ranks of Troy.

  Mark him — and as he fights, fight also ye.

  To whom Ulysses ever-wise replied.

  Nay — urge not, valiant as thou art thyself,

  Achaia’s sons up to the battlements 185

  Of Ilium, by repast yet unrefresh’d,

  Godlike Achilles! — For when phalanx once

  Shall clash with phalanx, and the Gods with rage

  Both hosts inspire, the contest shall not then

  Prove short. Bid rather the Achaians take 190

  Both food and wine, for they are strength and might.

  To stand all day till sunset to a foe

  Opposed in battle, fasting, were a task

  Might foil the best; for though his will be prompt

  To combat, yet the power must by degrees 195

  Forsake him; thirst and hunger he must feel,

  And his limbs failing him at every step.

  But he who hath his vigor to the full

  Fed with due nourishment, although he fight

  481 All day, yet feels his courage unimpair’d, 200

  Nor weariness perceives till all retire.

  Come then — dismiss the people with command

  That each prepare replenishment. Meantime

  Let Agamemnon, King of men, his gifts

  In presence here of the assembled Greeks 205

  Produce, that all may view them, and that thou

  May’st feel thine own heart gladden’d at the sight.

  Let the King also, standing in the midst,

  Swear to thee, that he renders back the maid

  A virgin still, and strange to his embrace, 210

  And let thy own composure prove, the while,

  That thou art satisfied. Last, let him spread

  A princely banquet for thee in his tent,

  That thou may’st want no part of just amends.

  Thou too, Atrides, shalt hereafter prove 215

  More just to others; for himself, a King,

  Stoops not too low, soothing whom he hath wrong’d.

  Him Agamemnon answer’d, King of men.

  Thou hast arranged wisely the whole concern,

  O Läertiades, and I have heard 220

  Thy speech, both words and method with delight.

  Willing I am, yea more, I wish to swear

  As thou hast said, for by the Gods I can

  Most truly. Let Achilles, though of pause

  Impatient, suffer yet a short delay 225

  With all assembled here, till from my tent

  The gifts arrive, and oaths of peace be sworn.

  To thee I give it in peculiar charge

  That choosing forth the most illustrious youths

  Of all Achaia, thou produce the gifts 230

  from my own ship, all those which yesternight

  We promised, nor the women leave behind.

  And let Talthybius throughout all the camp

  Of the Achaians, instant, seek a boar

  For sacrifice to Jove and to the Sun. 235

  Then thus Achilles matchless in the race.

  Atrides! most illustrious! King of men!

  482 Expedience bids us to these cares attend

  Hereafter, when some pause, perchance, of fight

  Shall happen, and the martial rage which fires 240

  My bosom now, shall somewhat less be felt.

  Our friends by Priameian Hector slain,

  Now strew the field mangled, for him hath Jove

  Exalted high, and given him great renown.

  But haste, now take refreshment; though, in truth 245

  Might I direct, the host should by all means

  Unfed to battle, and at set of sun

  All sup together, this affront revenged.

  But as for me, no drop shall pass my lips

  Or morsel, whose companion lies with feet 250

  Turn’d to the vestibule, pierced by the spear,

  And compass’d by my weeping train around.

  No want of food feel I. My wishes call

  For carnage, blood, and agonies and groans.

  But him, excelling in all wisdom, thus 255

  Ulysses answer’d. Oh Achilles! son

  Of Peleus! bravest far of all our host!

  Me, in no scanty measure, thou excell’st

  Wielding the spear, and thee in prudence, I

  Not less. For I am elder, and have learn’d
260

  What thou hast yet to learn. Bid then thine heart

  Endure with patience to be taught by me.

  Men, satiate soon with battle, loathe the field

  On which the most abundant harvest falls,

  Reap’d by the sword; and when the hand of Jove 265

  Dispenser of the great events of war,

  Turns once the scale, then, farewell every hope

  Of more than scanty gleanings. Shall the Greeks

  Abstain from sustenance for all who die?

  That were indeed severe, since day by day 270

  No few expire, and respite could be none.

  The dead, die whoso may, should be inhumed.

  This, duty bids, but bids us also deem

  One day sufficient for our sighs and tears.

  Ourselves, all we who still survive the war, 275

  483 Have need of sustenance, that we may bear

  The lengthen’d conflict with recruited might,

  Case in enduring brass. — Ye all have heard

  Your call to battle; let none lingering stand

  In expectation of a farther call, 280

  Which if it sound, shall thunder prove to him

  Who lurks among the ships. No. Rush we all

  Together forth, for contest sharp prepared,

  And persevering with the host of Troy.

  So saying, the sons of Nestor, glorious Chief, 285

  He chose, with Meges Phyleus’ noble son,

  Thoas, Meriones, and Melanippus

  And Lycomedes. These, together, sought

  The tent of Agamemnon, King of men.

  They ask’d, and they received. Soon they produced 290

  The seven promised tripods from the tent,

  Twice ten bright caldrons, twelve high-mettled steeds,

  Seven lovely captives skill’d alike in arts

  Domestic, of unblemish’d beauty rare,

  And last, Brisëis with the blooming cheeks. 295

  Before them went Ulysses, bearing weigh’d

  Ten golden talents, whom the chosen Greeks

  Attended laden with the remnant gifts.

  Full in the midst they placed them. Then arose

  King Agamemnon, and Talthybius 300

  The herald, clear in utterance as a God,

  Beside him stood, holding the victim boar.

  Atrides, drawing forth his dagger bright,

  Appendant ever to his sword’s huge sheath,

  Sever’d the bristly forelock of the boar, 305

  A previous offering. Next, with lifted hands