William Cowper- Collected Poetical Works
Page 138
But him though dead, Achilles thus bespake.
Die thou. My death shall find me at what hour
Jove gives commandment, and the Gods above.
He spake, and from the dead drawing away 425
His brazen spear, placed it apart, then stripp’d
His arms gore-stain’d. Meantime the other sons
Of the Achaians, gathering fast around,
The bulk admired, and the proportion just
Of Hector; neither stood a Grecian there 430
Who pierced him not, and thus the soldier spake.
Ye Gods! how far more patient of the touch
Is Hector now, than when he fired the fleet!
Thus would they speak, then give him each a stab.
And now, the body stripp’d, their noble Chief 435
The swift Achilles standing in the midst,
The Grecians in wing’d accents thus address’d.
Friends, Chiefs and Senators of Argos’ host!
Since, by the will of heaven, this man is slain
Who harm’d us more than all our foes beside, 440
Essay we next the city, so to learn
The Trojan purpose, whether (Hector slain)
They will forsake the citadel, or still
548 Defend it, even though of him deprived.
But wherefore speak I thus? still undeplored, 445
Unburied in my fleet Patroclus lies;
Him never, while alive myself, I mix
With living men and move, will I forget.
In Ades, haply, they forget the dead,
Yet will not I Patroclus, even there. 450
Now chanting pæans, ye Achaian youths!
Return we to the fleet with this our prize;
We have achieved great glory, we have slain
Illustrious Hector, him whom Ilium praised
In all her gates, and as a God revered. 455
He said; then purposing dishonor foul
To noble Hector, both his feet he bored
From heel to ancle, and, inserting thongs,
Them tied behind his chariot, but his head
Left unsustain’d to trail along the ground. 460
Ascending next, the armor at his side
He placed, then lash’d the steeds; they willing flew
Thick dust around the body dragg’d arose,
His sable locks all swept the plain, and all
His head, so graceful once, now track’d the dust, 465
For Jove had given it into hostile hands
That they might shame it in his native soil.
Thus, whelm’d in dust, it went. The mother Queen
Her son beholding, pluck’d her hair away,
Cast far aside her lucid veil, and fill’d 470
With shrieks the air. His father wept aloud,
And, all around, long, long complaints were heard
And lamentations in the streets of Troy,
Not fewer or less piercing, than if flames
549 Had wrapt all Ilium to her topmost towers. 475
His people scarce detain’d the ancient King
Grief-stung, and resolute to issue forth
Through the Dardanian gates; to all he kneel’d
In turn, then roll’d himself in dust, and each
By name solicited to give him way. 480
Stand off, my fellow mourners! I would pass
The gates, would seek, alone, the Grecian fleet.
I go to supplicate the bloody man,
Yon ravager; he may respect, perchance,
My years, may feel some pity of my age; 485
For, such as I am, his own father is,
Peleus, who rear’d him for a curse to Troy,
But chiefly rear’d him to myself a curse,
So numerous have my sons in prime of youth
Fall’n by his hand, all whom I less deplore 490
(Though mourning all) than one; my agonies
For Hector soon shall send me to the shades.
Oh had he but within these arms expired,
The hapless Queen who bore him, and myself
Had wept him, then, till sorrow could no more! 495
So spake he weeping, and the citizens
All sigh’d around; next, Hecuba began
Amid the women, thus, her sad complaint.
Ah wherefore, oh my son! wretch that I am,
Breathe I forlorn of thee? Thou, night and day, 500
My glory wast in Ilium, thee her sons
And daughters, both, hail’d as their guardian God,
Conscious of benefits from thee received,
Whose life prolong’d should have advanced them all
To high renown. Vain boast! thou art no more. 505
So mourn’d the Queen. But fair Andromache
Nought yet had heard, nor knew by sure report
Hector’s delay without the city gates.
She in a closet of her palace sat,
A twofold web weaving magnificent, 510
With sprinkled flowers inwrought of various hues,
And to her maidens had commandment given
550 Through all her house, that compassing with fire
An ample tripod, they should warm a bath
For noble Hector from the fight return’d. 515
Tenderness ill-inform’d! she little knew
That in the field, from such refreshments far,
Pallas had slain him by Achilles’ hand.
She heard a cry of sorrow from the tower;
Her limbs shook under her, her shuttle fell, 520
And to her bright-hair’d train, alarm’d, she cried.
Attend me two of you, that I may learn
What hath befallen. I have heard the voice
Of the Queen-mother; my rebounding heart
Chokes me, and I seem fetter’d by a frost. 525
Some mischief sure o’er Priam’s sons impends.
Far be such tidings from me! but I fear
Horribly, lest Achilles, cutting off
My dauntless Hector from the gates alone,
Enforce him to the field, and quell perhaps 530
The might, this moment, of that dreadful arm
His hinderance long; for Hector ne’er was wont
To seek his safety in the ranks, but flew
First into battle, yielding place to none.
So saying, she rush’d with palpitating heart 535
And frantic air abroad, by her two maids
Attended; soon arriving at the tower,
And at the throng of men, awhile she stood
Down-looking wistful from the city-wall,
And, seeing him in front of Ilium, dragg’d 540
So cruelly toward the fleet of Greece,
O’erwhelm’d with sudden darkness at the view
Fell backward, with a sigh heard all around.
Far distant flew dispersed her head-attire,
Twist, frontlet, diadem, and even the veil 545
By golden Venus given her on the day
When Hector led her from Eëtion’s house
Enrich’d with nuptial presents to his home.
Around her throng’d her sisters of the house
Of Priam, numerous, who within their arms 550
551 Fast held her loathing life; but she, her breath
At length and sense recovering, her complaint
Broken with sighs amid them thus began.
Hector! I am undone; we both were born
To misery, thou in Priam’s house in Troy, 555
And I in Hypoplacian Thebes wood-crown’d
Beneath Eëtion’s roof. He, doom’d himself
To sorrow, me more sorrowfully doom’d,
Sustain’d in helpless infancy, whom oh
That he had ne’er begotten! thou descend’st 560
To Pluto’s subterraneous dwelling drear,
Leaving myself destitute, and thy boy,
Fruit of our hapless loves, an infant yet,
Nor love of thine to share or kindness more. 565
For should he safe survive this cruel war,
With the Achaians penury and toil
Must be his lot, since strangers will remove
At will his landmarks, and possess his fields.
Thee lost, he loses all, of father, both, 570
And equal playmate in one day deprived,
To sad looks doom’d, and never-ceasing-tears.
He seeks, necessitous his father’s friends,
One by his mantle pulls, one by his vest,
Whose utmost pity yields to his parch’d lips 575
A thirst-provoking drop, and grudges more;
Some happier child, as yet untaught to mourn
A parent’s loss, shoves rudely from the board
My son, and, smiting him, reproachful cries —
Away — thy father is no guest of ours — 580
Then, weeping, to his widow’d mother comes
Astyanax, who on his father’s lap
Ate marrow only, once, and fat of lambs,
552 And when sleep took him, and his crying fit
Had ceased, slept ever on the softest bed, 585
Warm in his nurse’s arms, fed to his fill
With delicacies, and his heart at rest.
But now, Astyanax (so named in Troy
For thy sake, guardian of her gates and towers)
His father lost, must many a pang endure. 590
And as for thee, cast naked forth among
Yon galleys, where no parent’s eye of thine
Shall find thee, when the dogs have torn thee once
Till they are sated, worms shall eat thee next.
Meantime, thy graceful raiment rich, prepared 595
By our own maidens, in thy palace lies;
But I will burn it, burn it all, because
Useless to thee, who never, so adorn’d,
Shalt slumber more; yet every eye in Troy
Shall see, how glorious once was thy attire. 600
So, weeping, she; to whom the multitude
Of Trojan dames responsive sigh’d around.
ARGUMENT OF THE TWENTY-THIRD BOOK.
The body of Patroclus is burned, and the funeral games ensue.
BOOK XXIII.
Such mourning was in Troy; meantime the Greeks
Their galleys and the shores of Hellespont
Regaining, each to his own ship retired.
But not the Myrmidons; Achilles them
Close rank’d in martial order still detain’d, 5
And thus his fellow-warriors brave address’d.
Ye swift-horsed Myrmidons, associates dear!
Release not from your chariots yet your steeds
Firm-hoof’d, but steeds and chariots driving near,
Bewail Patroclus, as the rites demand 10
Of burial; then, satiate with grief and tears,
We will release our steeds, and take repast.
He ended, and, himself leading the way,
His numerous band all mourn’d at once the dead.
Around the body thrice their glossy steeds, 15
Mourning they drove, while Thetis in their hearts
The thirst of sorrow kindled; they with tears
The sands bedew’d, with tears their radiant arms,
Such deep regret of one so brave they felt.
Then, placing on the bosom of his friend 20
His homicidal hands, Achilles thus
The shade of his Patroclus, sad, bespake.
Hail, oh Patroclus, even in Ades hail!
For I will now accomplish to the full
My promise pledged to thee, that I would give 25
Hector dragg’d hither to be torn by dogs
556 Piecemeal, and would before thy funeral pile
The necks dissever of twelve Trojan youths
Of noblest rank, resentful of thy death.
He said, and meditating foul disgrace 30
To noble Hector, stretch’d him prone in dust
Beside the bier of Menœtiades.
Then all the Myrmidons their radiant arms
Put off, and their shrill-neighing steeds released.
A numerous band beside the bark they sat 35
Of swift Æacides, who furnish’d forth
Himself a feast funereal for them all.
Many a white ox under the ruthless steel
Lay bleeding, many a sheep and blatant goat,
With many a saginated boar bright-tusk’d, 40
Amid fierce flames Vulcanian stretch’d to roast.
Copious the blood ran all around the dead.
And now the Kings of Greece conducted thence
To Agamemnon’s tent the royal son
Of Peleus, loth to go, and won at last 45
With difficulty, such his anger was
And deep resentment of his slaughter’d friend.
Soon then as Agamemnon’s tent they reach’d,
The sovereign bade his heralds kindle fire
Around an ample vase, with purpose kind 50
Moving Achilles from his limbs to cleanse
The stains of battle; but he firm refused
That suit, and bound refusal with an oath —
No; by the highest and the best of all,
By Jove I will not. Never may it be 55
That brazen bath approach this head of mine,
Till I shall first Patroclus’ body give
To his last fires, till I shall pile his tomb,
And sheer my locks in honor of my friend;
For, like to this, no second wo shall e’er 60
My heart invade, while vital breath I draw.
But, all unwelcome as it is, repast
Now calls us. Agamemnon, King of men!
Give thou command that at the dawn they bring
557 Wood hither, such large portion as beseems 65
The dead, descending to the shades, to share,
That hungry flames consuming out of sight
His body soon, the host may war again.
He spake; they, hearing, readily obey’d.
Then, each his food preparing with dispatch, 70
They ate, nor wanted any of the guests
Due portion, and their appetites sufficed
To food and wine, all to their tents repair’d
Seeking repose; but on the sands beside
The billowy deep Achilles groaning lay 75
Amidst his Myrmidons, where space he found
With blood unstain’d beside the dashing wave.
There, soon as sleep, deliverer of the mind,
Wrapp’d him around (for much his noble limbs
With chase of Hector round the battlements 80
Of wind-swept Ilium wearied were and spent)
The soul came to him of his hapless friend,
In bulk resembling, in expressive eyes
And voice Patroclus, and so clad as he.
Him, hovering o’er his head, the form address’d. 85
Sleep’st thou, Achilles! of thy friend become
Heedless? Him living thou didst not neglect
Whom thou neglectest dead. Give me a tomb
Instant, that I may pass the infernal gates.
For now, the shades and spirits of the dead 90
Drive me afar, denying me my wish
To mingle with them on the farthest shore,
And in wide-portal’d Ades sole I roam.
Give me thine hand, I pray thee, for the earth
I visit never more, once burnt with fire; 95
We never shall again close council hold
As we were wont, for me my fate severe,
Mine even from my birth, hath deep absorb’d.
And oh Achilles, semblance of the Gods!
Thou too predestined art beneath the wall 100
558 To perish of the high-born Trojan race.
But hear my las
t injunction! ah, my friend!
My bones sepulchre not from thine apart,
But as, together we were nourish’d both
Beneath thy roof (what time from Opoëis 105
Menœtius led me to thy father’s house,
Although a child, yet fugitive for blood,
Which, in a quarrel at the dice, I spilt,
Killing my playmate by a casual blow,
The offspring of Amphidamas, when, like 110
A father, Peleus with all tenderness
Received and cherish’d me, and call’d me thine)
So, let one vase inclose, at last, our bones,
The golden vase, thy Goddess mother’s gift.
To whom Achilles, matchless in the race. 115
Ah, loved and honor’d! wherefore hast thou come!
Why thus enjoin’d me? I will all perform
With diligence that thou hast now desired.
But nearer stand, that we may mutual clasp
Each other, though but with a short embrace, 120
And sad satiety of grief enjoy.
He said, and stretch’d his arms toward the shade,
But him seized not; shrill-clamoring and light
As smoke, the spirit pass’d into the earth.
Amazed, upsprang Achilles, clash’d aloud 125
His palms together, and thus, sad, exclaim’d.
Ah then, ye Gods! there doubtless are below
The soul and semblance both, but empty forms;
For all night long, mourning, disconsolate,
The soul of my Patroclus, hapless friend! 130
Hath hover’d o’er me, giving me in charge
His last requests, just image of himself.
So saying, he call’d anew their sorrow forth,
559 And rosy-palm’d Aurora found them all
Mourning afresh the pitiable dead. 135
Then royal Agamemnon call’d abroad
Mules and mule-drivers from the tents in haste
To gather wood. Uprose a valiant man,
Friend of the virtuous Chief Idomeneus,
Meriones, who led them to the task. 140
They, bearing each in hand his sharpen’d axe
And twisted cord, thence journey’d forth, the mules
Driving before them; much uneven space
They measured, hill and dale, right onward now,
And now circuitous; but at the groves 145
Arrived at length, of Ida fountain-fed,
Their keen-edged axes to the towering oaks