Now feel the furies of thy mother’s ire 485
Who hates thee for thy treachery to the Greeks,
And for thy succor given to faithless Troy.
She said, and turn’d from Mars her glorious eyes.
But him deep-groaning and his torpid powers
Recovering slow, Venus conducted thence 490
Daughter of Jove, whom soon as Juno mark’d,
In accents wing’d to Pallas thus she spake.
Daughter invincible of glorious Jove!
Haste — follow her — Ah shameless! how she leads
Gore-tainted Mars through all the host of heaven. 495
527 So she, whom Pallas with delight obey’d;
To Venus swift she flew, and on the breast
With such force smote her that of sense bereft
The fainting Goddess fell. There Venus lay
And Mars extended on the fruitful glebe, 500
And Pallas thus in accents wing’d exclaim’d.
I would that all who on the part of Troy
Oppose in fight Achaia’s valiant sons,
Were firm and bold as Venus in defence
Of Mars, for whom she dared my power defy! 505
So had dissension (Ilium overthrown
And desolated) ceased long since in heaven.
So Pallas, and approving Juno smiled.
Then the imperial Shaker of the shores
Thus to Apollo. Phœbus! wherefore stand 510
We thus aloof? Since others have begun,
Begin we also; shame it were to both
Should we, no combat waged, ascend again
Olympus and the brass-built hall of Jove.
Begin, for thou art younger; me, whose years 515
Alike and knowledge thine surpass so far,
It suits not. Oh stupidity! how gross
Art thou and senseless! Are no traces left
In thy remembrance of our numerous wrongs
Sustain’d at Ilium, when, of all the Gods 520
Ourselves alone, by Jove’s commandment, served
For stipulated hire, a year complete,
Our task-master the proud Laomedon?
Myself a bulwark’d town, spacious, secure
Against assault, and beautiful as strong 525
Built for the Trojans, and thine office was
To feed for King Laomedon his herds
Among the groves of Ida many-valed.
But when the gladsome hours the season brought
Of payment, then the unjust King of Troy 530
Dismiss’d us of our whole reward amerced
By violence, and added threats beside.
Thee into distant isles, bound hand and foot,
528 To sell he threatened, and to amputate
The ears of both; we, therefore, hasted thence 535
Resenting deep our promised hire withheld.
Aid’st thou for this the Trojans? Canst thou less
Than seek, with us, to exterminate the whole
Perfidious race, wives, children, husbands, all?
To whom the King of radiant shafts Apollo. 540
Me, Neptune, thou wouldst deem, thyself, unwise
Contending for the sake of mortal men
With thee; a wretched race, who like the leaves
Now flourish rank, by fruits of earth sustain’d,
Now sapless fall. Here, therefore, us between 545
Let all strife cease, far better left to them.
He said, and turn’d away, fearing to lift
His hand against the brother of his sire.
But him Diana of the woods with sharp
Rebuke, his huntress sister, thus reproved. 550
Fly’st thou, Apollo! and to Neptune yield’st
An unearn’d victory, the prize of fame
Resigning patient and with no dispute?
Fool! wherefore bearest thou the bow in vain?
Ah, let me never in my father’s courts 555
Hear thee among the immortals vaunting more
That thou wouldst Neptune’s self confront in arms.
So she, to whom Apollo nought replied.
But thus the consort of the Thunderer, fired
With wrath, reproved the Archeress of heaven. 560
How hast thou dared, impudent, to oppose
My will? Bow-practised as thou art, the task
To match my force were difficult to thee.
Is it, because by ordinance of Jove
Thou art a lioness to womankind, 565
Killing them at thy pleasure? Ah beware —
Far easier is it, on the mountain-heights
529 To slay wild beasts and chase the roving hind,
Than to conflict with mightier than ourselves.
But, if thou wish a lesson on that theme, 570
Approach — thou shalt be taught with good effect
How far my force in combat passes thine.
She said, and with her left hand seizing both
Diana’s wrists, snatch’d suddenly the bow
Suspended on her shoulder with the right, 575
And, smiling, smote her with it on the ears.
She, writhing oft and struggling, to the ground
Shook forth her rapid shafts, then, weeping, fled
As to her cavern in some hollow rock
The dove, not destined to his talons, flies 580
The hawk’s pursuit, and left her arms behind.
Then, messenger of heaven, the Argicide
Address’d Latona. Combat none with thee,
Latona, will I wage. Unsafe it were
To cope in battle with a spouse of Jove. 585
Go, therefore, loudly as thou wilt, proclaim
To all the Gods that thou hast vanquish’d me.
Collecting, then, the bow and arrows fallen
In wild disorder on the dusty plain,
Latona with the sacred charge withdrew 590
Following her daughter; she, in the abode
Brass-built arriving of Olympian Jove,
Sat on his knees, weeping till all her robe
Ambrosial shook. The mighty Father smiled,
And to his bosom straining her, inquired. 595
Daughter beloved! who, which of all the Gods
Hath raised his hand, presumptuous, against thee,
As if convicted of some open wrong?
To whom the clear-voiced Huntress crescent-crown’d.
My Father! Juno, thy own consort fair 600
My sorrow caused, from whom dispute and strife
Perpetual, threaten the immortal Powers.
Thus they in heaven mutual conferr’d. Meantime
Apollo into sacred Troy return’d
Mindful to guard her bulwarks, lest the Greeks 605
530 Too soon for Fate should desolate the town.
The other Gods, some angry, some elate
With victory, the Olympian heights regain’d,
And sat beside the Thunderer. But the son
Of Peleus — He both Trojans slew and steeds. 610
As when in volumes slow smoke climbs the skies
From some great city which the Gods have fired
Vindictive, sorrow thence to many ensues
With mischief, and to all labor severe,
So caused Achilles labor on that day, 615
Severe, and mischief to the men of Troy.
But ancient Priam from a sacred tower
Stood looking forth, whence soon he noticed vast
Achilles, before whom the Trojans fled
All courage lost. Descending from the tower 620
With mournful cries and hasting to the wall
He thus enjoin’d the keepers of the gates.
Hold wide the portals till the flying host
Re-enter, for himself is nigh, himself
Achilles drives them home. Now, wo to Troy! 625
But soon as safe within the walls received
They breathe ag
ain, shut fast the ponderous gates
At once, lest that destroyer also pass.
He said; they, shooting back the bars, threw wide
The gates and saved the people, whom to aid 630
Apollo also sprang into the field,
They, parch’d with drought and whiten’d all with dust,
Flew right toward the town, while, spear in hand,
Achilles press’d them, vengeance in his heart
And all on fire for glory. Then, full sure, 635
Ilium, the city of lofty gates, had fallen
Won by the Grecians, had not Phœbus roused
Antenor’s valiant son, the noble Chief
Agenor; him with dauntless might he fill’d,
And shielding him against the stroke of fate 640
Beside him stood himself, by the broad beech
Cover’d and wrapt in clouds. Agenor then,
Seeing the city-waster hero nigh
531 Achilles, stood, but standing, felt his mind
Troubled with doubts; he groan’d, and thus he mused. 645
Alas! if following the tumultuous flight
Of these, I shun Achilles, swifter far
He soon will lop my ignominious head.
But if, these leaving to be thus dispersed
Before him, from the city-wall I fly 650
Across the plain of Troy into the groves
Of Ida, and in Ida’s thickets lurk,
I may, at evening, to the town return
Bathed and refresh’d. But whither tend my thoughts?
Should he my flight into the plain observe 655
And swift pursuing seize me, then, farewell
All hope to scape a miserable death,
For he hath strength passing the strength of man.
How then — shall I withstand him here before
The city? He hath also flesh to steel 660
Pervious, within it but a single life,
And men report him mortal, howsoe’er
Saturnian Jove lift him to glory now.
So saying, he turn’d and stood, his dauntless heart
Beating for battle. As the pard springs forth 665
To meet the hunter from her gloomy lair,
Nor, hearing loud the hounds, fears or retires,
But whether from afar or nigh at hand
He pierce her first, although transfixt, the fight
Still tries, and combats desperate till she fall, 670
So, brave Antenor’s son fled not, or shrank,
Till he had proved Achilles, but his breast
O’ershadowing with his buckler and his spear
Aiming well-poised against him, loud exclaim’d.
Renown’d Achilles! Thou art high in hope 675
Doubtless, that thou shalt this day overthrow
The city of the glorious sons of Troy.
Fool! ye must labor yet ere she be won,
532 For numerous are her citizens and bold,
And we will guard her for our parents’ sake 680
Our wives and little ones. But here thou diest
Terrible Chief and dauntless as thou art.
He said, and with full force hurling his lance
Smote, and err’d not, his greave beneath his knee
The glittering tin, forged newly, at the stroke 685
Tremendous rang, but quick recoil’d and vain
The weapon, weak against that guard divine.
Then sprang Achilles in his turn to assail
Godlike Agenor, but Apollo took
That glory from him, snatching wrapt in clouds 690
Agenor thence, whom calm he sent away.
Then Phœbus from pursuit of Ilium’s host
By art averted Peleus’ son; the form
Assuming of Agenor, swift he fled
Before him, and Achilles swift pursued. 695
While him Apollo thus lured to the chase
Wide o’er the fruitful plain, inclining still
Toward Scamander’s dizzy stream his course
Nor flying far before, but with false hope
Always beguiling him, the scatter’d host 700
Meantime, in joyful throngs, regain’d the town.
They fill’d and shut it fast, nor dared to wait
Each other in the field, or to inquire
Who lived and who had fallen, but all, whom flight
Had rescued, like a flood pour’d into Troy. 705
The Trojans being now within the city, excepting Hector, the field is cleared for the most important and decisive action in the poem; that is, the battle between Achilles and Hector, and the death of the latter. This part of the story is managed with singular skill. It seems as if the poet, feeling the importance of the catastrophe, wished to withdraw from view the personages of less consequence, and to concentrate our attention upon those two alone. The poetic action and description are narrowed in extent, but deepened in interest. The fate of Troy is impending; the irreversible decree of Jupiter is about to be executed; the heroes, whose bravery is to be the instrument of bringing about this consummation, are left together on the plain. — Felton.
ARGUMENT OF THE TWENTY-SECOND BOOK.
Achilles slays Hector.
BOOK XXII.
Thus they, throughout all Troy, like hunted fawns
Dispersed, their trickling limbs at leisure cool’d,
And, drinking, slaked their fiery thirst, reclined
Against the battlements. Meantime, the Greeks
Sloping their shields, approach’d the walls of Troy, 5
And Hector, by his adverse fate ensnared,
Still stood exposed before the Scæan gate.
Then spake Apollo thus to Peleus’ son.
Wherefore, thyself mortal, pursuest thou me
Immortal? oh Achilles! blind with rage, 10
Thou know’st not yet, that thou pursuest a God.
Unmindful of thy proper task, to press
The flying Trojans, thou hast hither turn’d
Devious, and they are all now safe in Troy;
Yet hope me not to slay; I cannot die. 15
To whom Achilles swiftest of the swift,
Indignant. Oh, of all the Powers above
To me most adverse, Archer of the skies!
Thou hast beguiled me, leading me away
From Ilium far, whence intercepted, else, 20
No few had at this moment gnaw’d the glebe.
Thou hast defrauded me of great renown,
And, safe thyself, hast rescued them with ease.
Ah — had I power, I would requite thee well.
So saying, incensed he turned toward the town 25
His rapid course, like some victorious steed
536 That whirls, at stretch, a chariot to the goal.
Such seem’d Achilles, coursing light the field.
Him, first, the ancient King of Troy perceived
Scouring the plain, resplendent as the star 30
Autumnal, of all stars in dead of night
Conspicous most, and named Orion’s dog;
Brightest it shines, but ominous, and dire
Disease portends to miserable man;
So beam’d Achilles’ armor as he flew. 35
Loud wail’d the hoary King; with lifted hands
His head he smote, and, uttering doleful cries
Of supplication, sued to his own son.
He, fixt before the gate, desirous stood
Of combat with Achilles, when his sire 40
With arms outstretch’d toward him, thus began.
My Hector! wait not, oh my son! the approach
Of this dread Chief, alone, lest premature
Thou die, this moment by Achilles slain,
For he is strongest far. Oh that the Gods 45
Him loved as I! then, soon should vultures rend
And dogs his carcase, and my grief should cease.
He hath unchilded me of many a son,
Al
l valiant youths, whom he hath slain or sold
To distant isles, and even now, I miss 50
Two sons, whom since the shutting of the gates
I find not, Polydorus and Lycaon,
My children by Laothöe the fair.
If they survive prisoners in yonder camp,
I will redeem them with gold and brass 55
By noble Eltes to his daughter given,
Large store, and still reserved. But should they both,
Already slain, have journey’d to the shades,
We, then, from whom they sprang have cause to mourn
537 And mourn them long, but shorter shall the grief 60
Of Ilium prove, if thou escape and live.
Come then, my son! enter the city-gate
That thou may’st save us all, nor in thy bloom
Of life cut off, enhance Achilles’ fame.
Commiserate also thy unhappy sire 65
Ere yet distracted, whom Saturnian Jove
Ordains to a sad death, and ere I die
To woes innumerable; to behold
Sons slaughter’d, daughters ravish’d, torn and stripp’d
The matrimonial chamber, infants dash’d 70
Against the ground in dire hostility,
And matrons dragg’d by ruthless Grecian hands.
Me, haply, last of all, dogs shall devour
In my own vestibule, when once the spear
Or falchion of some Greek hath laid me low. 75
The very dogs fed at my table-side,
My portal-guards, drinking their master’s blood
To drunkenness, shall wallow in my courts.
Fair falls the warlike youth in battle slain,
And when he lies torn by the pointed steel, 80
His death becomes him well; he is secure,
Though dead, from shame, whatever next befalls:
But when the silver locks and silver beard
Of an old man slain by the sword, from dogs
Receive dishonor, of all ills that wait 85
On miserable man, that sure is worst.
So spake the ancient King, and his grey hairs
Pluck’d with both hands, but Hector firm endured.
On the other side all tears his mother stood,
And lamentation; with one hand she bared, 90
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