William Cowper- Collected Poetical Works

by William Cowper

  To Jove he pray’d, while, all around, the Greeks

  Sat listening silent to the Sovereign’s voice.

  He look’d to the wide heaven, and thus he pray’d.

  First, Jove be witness! of all Powers above 310

  Best and supreme; Earth next, and next the Sun!

  And last, who under Earth the guilt avenge

  Of oaths sworn falsely, let the Furies hear!

  484 For no respect of amorous desire

  Or other purpose, have I laid mine hand 315

  On fair Brisëis, but within my tent

  Untouch’d, immaculate she hath remain’d.

  And if I falsely swear, then may the Gods

  The many woes with which they mark the crime

  Of men forsworn, pour also down on me! 320

  So saying, he pierced the victim in his throat

  And, whirling him around, Talthybius, next,

  Cast him into the ocean, fishes’ food.

  Then, in the centre of Achaia’s sons

  Uprose Achilles, and thus spake again. 325

  Jove! Father! dire calamities, effects

  Of thy appointment, fall on human-kind.

  Never had Agamemnon in my breast

  Such anger kindled, never had he seized,

  Blinded by wrath, and torn my prize away, 330

  But that the slaughter of our numerous friends

  Which thence ensued, thou hadst, thyself, ordained.

  Now go, ye Grecians, eat, and then to battle.

  So saying, Achilles suddenly dissolved

  The hasty council, and all flew dispersed 335

  To their own ships. Then took the Myrmidons

  Those splendid gifts which in the tent they lodged

  Of swift Achilles, and the damsels led

  Each to a seat, while others of his train

  Drove forth the steeds to pasture with his herd. 340

  But when Brisëis, bright as Venus, saw

  Patroclus lying mangled by the spear,

  Enfolding him around, she shriek’d and tore

  Her bosom, her smooth neck and beauteous cheeks.

  Then thus, divinely fair, with tears she said. 345

  Ah, my Patroclus! dearest friend of all

  To hapless me, departing from this tent

  I left thee living, and now, generous Chief!

  Restored to it again, here find thee dead.

  485 How rapid in succession are my woes! 350

  I saw, myself, the valiant prince to whom

  My parents had betroth’d me, slain before

  Our city walls; and my three brothers, sons

  Of my own mother, whom with long regret

  I mourn, fell also in that dreadful field. 355

  But when the swift Achilles slew the prince

  Design’d my spouse, and the fair city sack’d

  Of noble Mynes, thou by every art

  Of tender friendship didst forbid my tears,

  Promising oft that thou would’st make me bride 360

  Of Peleus’ godlike son, that thy own ship

  Should waft me hence to Phthia, and that thyself

  Would’st furnish forth among the Myrmidons

  Our nuptial feast. Therefore thy death I mourn

  Ceaseless, for thou wast ever kind to me. 365

  She spake, and all her fellow-captives heaved

  Responsive sighs, deploring each, in show,

  The dead Patroclus, but, in truth, herself.

  Then the Achaian Chiefs gather’d around

  Achilles, wooing him to eat, but he 370

  Groan’d and still resolute, their suit refused —

  If I have here a friend on whom by prayers

  I may prevail, I pray that ye desist,

  Nor longer press me, mourner as I am,

  To eat or drink, for till the sun go down 375

  I am inflexible, and will abstain.

  So saying, the other princes he dismiss’d

  Impatient, but the sons of Atreus both,

  Ulysses, Nestor and Idomeneus,

  With Phœnix, hoary warrior, in his tent 380

  Abiding still, with cheerful converse kind

  Essay’d to soothe him, whose afflicted soul

  All soothing scorn’d till he should once again

  486 Rush on the ravening edge of bloody war.

  Then, mindful of his friend, groaning he said 385

  Time was, unhappiest, dearest of my friends!

  When even thou, with diligent dispatch,

  Thyself, hast spread a table in my tent,

  The hour of battle drawing nigh between

  The Greeks and warlike Trojans. But there lies 390

  Thy body now, gored by the ruthless steel,

  And for thy sake I neither eat nor drink,

  Though dearth be none, conscious that other wo

  Surpassing this I can have none to fear.

  No, not if tidings of my father’s death 395

  Should reach me, who, this moment, weeps, perhaps,

  In Phthia tears of tenderest regret

  For such a son; while I, remote from home

  Fight for detested Helen under Troy.

  Nor even were he dead, whom, if he live, 400

  I rear in Scyros, my own darling son,

  My Neoptolemus of form divine.

  For still this hope I cherish’d in my breast

  Till now, that, of us two, myself alone

  Should fall at Ilium, and that thou, restored 405

  To Phthia, should’st have wafted o’er the waves

  My son from Scyros to his native home,

  That thou might’st show him all his heritage,

  My train of menials, and my fair abode.

  For either dead already I account 410

  Peleus, or doubt not that his residue

  Of miserable life shall soon be spent,

  Through stress of age and expectation sad

  That tidings of my death shall, next, arrive.

  So spake Achilles weeping, around whom 415

  The Chiefs all sigh’d, each with remembrance pain’d

  Of some loved object left at home. Meantime

  Jove, with compassion moved, their sorrow saw,

  And in wing’d accents thus to Pallas spake.

  487 Daughter! thou hast abandon’d, as it seems, 420

  Yon virtuous Chief for ever; shall no care

  Thy mind engage of brave Achilles more?

  Before his gallant fleet mourning he sits

  His friend, disconsolate; the other Greeks

  Sat and are satisfied; he only fasts. 425

  Go then — instil nectar into his breast,

  And sweets ambrosial, that he hunger not.

  So saying, he urged Minerva prompt before.

  In form a shrill-voiced Harpy of long wing

  Through ether down she darted, while the Greeks 430

  In all their camp for instant battle arm’d.

  Ambrosial sweets and nectar she instill’d

  Into his breast, lest he should suffer loss

  Of strength through abstinence, then soar’d again

  To her great Sire’s unperishing abode. 435

  And now the Grecians from their gallant fleet

  All pour’d themselves abroad. As when thick snow

  From Jove descends, driven by impetuous gusts

  Of the cloud-scattering North, so frequent shone

  Issuing from the fleet the dazzling casques, 440

  Boss’d bucklers, hauberks strong, and ashen spears.

  Upwent the flash to heaven; wide all around

  The champain laugh’d with beamy brass illumed,

  And tramplings of the warriors on all sides

  Resounded, amidst whom Achilles arm’d. 445

  He gnash’d his teeth, fire glimmer’d in his eyes,

  Anguish intolerable wrung his heart

  And fury against Troy, while he put on

  His glorious a
rms, the labor of a God.

  First, to his legs his polish’d greaves he clasp’d 450

  Studded with silver, then his corselet bright

  Braced to his bosom, his huge sword of brass

  Athwart his shoulder slung, and his broad shield

  Uplifted last, luminous as the moon.

  Such as to mariners a fire appears, 455

  Kindled by shepherds on the distant top

  Of some lone hill; they, driven by stormy winds,

  488 Reluctant roam far off the fishy deep,

  Such from Achilles’ burning shield divine

  A lustre struck the skies; his ponderous helm 460

  He lifted to his brows; starlike it shone,

  And shook its curling crest of bushy gold,

  By Vulcan taught to wave profuse around.

  So clad, godlike Achilles trial made

  If his arms fitted him, and gave free scope 465

  To his proportion’d limbs; buoyant they proved

  As wings, and high upbore his airy tread.

  He drew his father’s spear forth from his case,

  Heavy and huge and long. That spear, of all

  Achaia’s sons, none else had power to wield; 470

  Achilles only could the Pelian spear

  Brandish, by Chiron for his father hewn

  From Pelion’s top for slaughter of the brave.

  His coursers, then, Automedon prepared

  And Alcimus, adjusting diligent 475

  The fair caparisons; they thrust the bits

  Into their mouths, and to the chariot seat

  Extended and made fast the reins behind.

  The splendid scourge commodious to the grasp

  Seizing, at once Automedon upsprang 480

  Into his place; behind him, arm’d complete

  Achilles mounted, as the orient sun

  All dazzling, and with awful tone his speech

  Directed to the coursers of his Sire.

  Xanthus, and Balius of Podarges’ blood 485

  Illustrious! see ye that, the battle done,

  Ye bring whom now ye bear back to the host

  Of the Achaians in far other sort,

  Nor leave him, as ye left Patroclus, dead.

  Him then his steed unconquer’d in the race, 490

  489 Xanthus answer’d from beneath his yoke,

  But, hanging low his head, and with his mane

  Dishevell’d all, and streaming to the ground.

  Him Juno vocal made, Goddess white-arm’d.

  And doubtless so we will. This day at least 495

  We bear thee safe from battle, stormy Chief!

  But thee the hour of thy destruction swift

  Approaches, hasten’d by no fault of ours,

  But by the force of fate and power divine.

  For not through sloth or tardiness on us 500

  Aught chargeable, have Ilium’s sons thine arms

  Stript from Patroclus’ shoulders, but a God

  Matchless in battle, offspring of bright-hair’d

  Latona, him contending in the van

  Slew, for the glory of the Chief of Troy. 505

  We, Zephyrus himself, though by report

  Swiftest of all the winds of heaven, in speed

  Could equal, but the Fates thee also doom

  By human hands to fall, and hands divine.

  The interposing Furies at that word 510

  Suppress’d his utterance, and indignant, thus,

  Achilles, swiftest of the swift, replied.

  Why, Xanthus, propheciest thou my death?

  It ill beseems thee. I already know

  That from my parents far remote my doom 515

  Appoints me here to die; yet not the more

  Cease I from feats if arms, till Ilium’s host

  Shall have received, at length, their fill of war.

  He said, and with a shout drove forth to battle.

  ARGUMENT OF THE TWENTIETH BOOK.

  By permission of Jupiter the Gods descend into the battle, and range themselves on either side respectively. Neptune rescues Æneas from death by the hand of Achilles, from whom Apollo, soon after, rescues Hector. Achilles slays many Trojans.

  BOOK XX.

  The Grecians, thus, before their lofty ships

  Stood arm’d around Achilles, glorious Chief

  Insatiable with war, and opposite

  The Trojans on the rising-ground appear’d.

  Meantime, Jove order’d Themis, from the head 5

  Of the deep-fork’d Olympian to convene

  The Gods in council. She to every part

  Proceeding, bade them to the courts of Jove.

  Nor of the Floods was any absent thence

  Oceanus except, or of the Nymphs 10

  Who haunt the pleasant groves, or dwell beside

  Stream-feeding fountains, or in meadows green.

  Within the courts of cloud-assembler Jove

  Arrived, on pillar’d thrones radiant they sat,

  With ingenuity divine contrived 15

  By Vulcan for the mighty Sire of all.

  Thus they within the Thunderer’s palace sat

  Assembled; nor was Neptune slow to hear

  494 The voice of Themis, but (the billows left)

  Came also; in the midst his seat he took, 20

  And ask’d, incontinent, the mind of Jove.

  King of the lightnings! wherefore hast thou call’d

  The Gods to council? Hast thou aught at heart

  Important to the hosts of Greece and Troy?

  For on the battle’s fiery edge they stand. 25

  To whom replied Jove, Sovereign of the storms,

  Thou know’st my council, Shaker of the shores!

  And wherefore ye are call’d. Although ordain’d

  So soon to die, they interest me still.

  Myself, here seated on Olympus’ top, 30

  With contemplation will my mind indulge

  Of yon great spectacle; but ye, the rest,

  Descend into the field, Trojan or Greek

  Each to assist, as each shall most incline.

  For should Achilles in the field no foe 35

  Find save the Trojans, quickly should they fly

  Before the rapid force of Peleus’ son.

  They trembled ever at his look, and since

  Such fury for his friend hath fired his heart,

  I fear lest he anticipate the will 40

  Of Fate, and Ilium perish premature.

  So spake the son of Saturn kindling war

  Inevitable, and the Gods to fight

  ‘Gan move with minds discordant. Juno sought

  And Pallas, with the earth-encircling Power 45

  Neptune, the Grecian fleet, with whom were join’d

  Mercury, teacher of all useful arts,

  And Vulcan, rolling on all sides his eyes

  Tremendous, but on disproportion’d legs,

  Not without labor hard, halting uncouth. 50

  Mars, warrior-God, on Ilium’s part appear’d

  With Phœbus never-shorn, Dian shaft-arm’d,

  Xanthus, Latona, and the Queen of smiles,

  495 Venus. So long as the immortal Gods

  Mixed not with either host, Achaia’s sons 55

  Exulted, seeing, after tedious pause,

  Achilles in the field, and terror shook

  The knees of every Trojan, at the sight

  Of swift Achilles like another Mars

  Panting for blood, and bright in arms again. 60

  But when the Olympian Powers had enter’d once

  The multitude, then Discord, at whose voice

  The million maddens, vehement arose;

  Then, Pallas at the trench without the wall

  By turns stood shouting, and by turns a shout 65

  Sent terrible along the sounding shore,

  While, gloomy as a tempest, opposite,

  Mars from the lofty citadel of Troy

&
nbsp; Now yell’d aloud, now running o’er the hill

  Callicolone, on the Simois’ side. 70

  Thus the Immortals, ever-blest, impell’d

  Both hosts to battle, and dire inroad caused

  Of strife among them. Sudden from on high

  The Sire of Gods and men thunder’d; meantime,

  Neptune the earth and the high mountains shook; 75

  Through all her base and to her topmost peak

  Ida spring-fed the agitation felt

  Reeling, all Ilium and the fleet of Greece.

  Upstarted from his throne, appall’d, the King

  Of Erebus, and with a cry his fears 80

  Through hell proclaim’d, lest Neptune, o’er his head

  Shattering the vaulted earth, should wide disclose

  To mortal and immortal eyes his realm

  Terrible, squalid, to the Gods themselves

  A dreaded spectacle; with such a sound 85

  The Powers eternal into battle rush’d.

  496 Opposed to Neptune, King of the vast Deep,

  Apollo stood with his wing’d arrows arm’d;

  Pallas to Mars; Diana shaft-expert,

  Sister of Phœbus, in her golden bow 90

  Rejoicing, with whose shouts the forests ring

  To Juno; Mercury, for useful arts

  Famed, to Latona; and to Vulcan’s force

  The eddied River broad by mortal men

  Scamander call’d, but Xanthus by the Gods. 95

  So Gods encounter’d Gods. But most desire

  Achilles felt, breaking the ranks, to rush

  On Priameian Hector, with whose blood

  Chiefly his fury prompted him to sate

  The indefatigable God of war. 100

  But, the encourager of Ilium’s host

  Apollo, urged Æneas to assail

  The son of Peleus, with heroic might

  Inspiring his bold heart. He feign’d the voice

  Of Priam’s son Lycaon, and his form 105

  Assuming, thus the Trojan Chief address’d.

  Æneas! Trojan leader! where are now

  Thy vaunts, which, banqueting erewhile among

  Our princes, o’er thy brimming cups thou mad’st,

  That thou would’st fight, thyself, with Peleus’ son? 110

  To whom Æneas answer thus returned.

  Offspring of Priam! why enjoin’st thou me

  Not so inclined, that arduous task, to cope

  With the unmatch’d Achilles? I have proved