William Cowper- Collected Poetical Works

by William Cowper

  Take this, and to the Sire of all perform

  Libation, praying him a safe return

  From hostile hands, since thou art urged to seek

  The Grecian camp, though not by my desire.

  Pray also to Idæan Jove cloud-girt, 370

  Who oversees all Ilium, that he send

  His messenger or ere thou go, the bird

  His favorite most, surpassing all in strength,

  At thy right hand; him seeing, thou shalt tend

  With better hope toward the fleet of Greece. 375

  But should loud-thundering Jove his lieger swift

  Withhold, from me far be it to advise

  This journey, howsoe’er thou wish to go.

  To whom the godlike Priam thus replied.

  600 This exhortation will I not refuse, 380

  O Queen! for, lifting to the Gods his hands

  In prayer for their compassion, none can err.

  So saying, he bade the maiden o’er the rest,

  Chief in authority, pour on his hands

  Pure water, for the maiden at his side 385

  With ewer charged and laver, stood prepared.

  He laved his hands; then, taking from the Queen

  The goblet, in his middle area stood

  Pouring libation with his eyes upturn’d

  Heaven-ward devout, and thus his prayer preferr’d. 390

  Jove, great and glorious above all, who rulest,

  On Ida’s summit seated, all below!

  Grant me arrived within Achilles’ tent

  Kindness to meet and pity, and oh send

  Thy messenger or ere I go, the bird 395

  Thy favorite most, surpassing all in strength,

  At my right hand, which seeing, I shall tend

  With better hope toward the fleet of Greece.

  He ended, at whose prayer, incontinent,

  Jove sent his eagle, surest of all signs, 400

  The black-plumed bird voracious, Morphnos named,

  And Percnos. Wide as the well-guarded door

  Of some rich potentate his vans he spread

  On either side; they saw him on the right,

  Skimming the towers of Troy; glad they beheld 405

  That omen, and all felt their hearts consoled.

  Delay’d not then the hoary King, but quick

  Ascending to his seat, his coursers urged

  Through vestibule and sounding porch abroad.

  The four-wheel’d litter led, drawn by the mules 410

  Which sage Idæus managed, behind whom

  Went Priam, plying with the scourge his steeds

  Continual through the town, while all his friends,

  Following their sovereign with dejected hearts,

  Lamented him as going to his death. 415

  But when from Ilium’s gate into the plain

  601 They had descended, then the sons-in-law

  Of Priam, and his sons, to Troy return’d.

  Nor they, now traversing the plain, the note

  Escaped of Jove the Thunderer; he beheld 420

  Compassionate the venerable King,

  And thus his own son Mercury bespake.

  Mercury! (for above all others thou

  Delightest to associate with mankind

  Familiar, whom thou wilt winning with ease 425

  To converse free) go thou, and so conduct

  Priam into the Grecian camp, that none

  Of all the numerous Danaï may see

  Or mark him, till he reach Achilles’ tent.

  He spake, nor the ambassador of heaven 430

  The Argicide delay’d, but bound in haste

  His undecaying sandals to his feet,

  Golden, divine, which waft him o’er the floods

  Swift as the wind, and o’er the boundless earth.

  He took his rod with which he charms to sleep 435

  All eyes, and theirs who sleep opens again.

  Arm’d with that rod, forth flew the Argicide.

  At Ilium and the Hellespontic shores

  Arriving sudden, a king’s son he seem’d,

  Now clothing first his ruddy cheek with down, 440

  Which is youth’s loveliest season; so disguised,

  His progress he began. They now (the tomb

  Magnificent of Ilus past) beside

  The river stay’d the mules and steeds to drink,

  For twilight dimm’d the fields. Idæus first 445

  Perceived him near, and Priam thus bespake.

  Think, son of Dardanus! for we have need

  Of our best thought. I see a warrior. Now,

  Now we shall die; I know it. Turn we quick

  Our steeds to flight; or let us clasp his knees 450

  And his compassion suppliant essay.

  Terror and consternation at that sound

  The mind of Priam felt; erect the hair

  Bristled his limbs, and with amaze he stood

  602 Motionless. But the God, meantime, approach’d, 455

  And, seizing ancient Priam’s hand, inquired.

  Whither, my father! in the dewy night

  Drivest thou thy mules and steeds, while others sleep?

  And fear’st thou not the fiery host of Greece,

  Thy foes implacable, so nigh at hand? 460

  Of whom should any, through the shadow dun

  Of flitting night, discern thee bearing forth

  So rich a charge, then what wouldst thou expect?

  Thou art not young thyself, nor with the aid

  Of this thine ancient servant, strong enough 465

  Force to repulse, should any threaten force.

  But injury fear none or harm from me;

  I rather much from harm by other hands

  Would save thee, thou resemblest so my sire.

  Whom answer’d godlike Priam, hoar with age. 470

  My son! well spoken. Thou hast judged aright.

  Yet even me some Deity protects

  Thus far; to whom I owe it that I meet

  So seasonably one like thee, in form

  So admirable, and in mind discreet 475

  As thou art beautiful. Blest parents, thine!

  To whom the messenger of heaven again,

  The Argicide. Oh ancient and revered!

  Thou hast well spoken all. Yet this declare,

  And with sincerity; bear’st thou away 480

  Into some foreign country, for the sake

  Of safer custody, this precious charge?

  Or, urged by fear, forsake ye all alike

  Troy’s sacred towers! since he whom thou hast lost,

  Thy noble son, was of excelling worth 485

  In arms, and nought inferior to the Greeks.

  Then thus the godlike Priam, hoary King.

  But tell me first who Thou art, and from whom

  Descended, loveliest youth! who hast the fate

  So well of my unhappy son rehearsed? 490

  To whom the herald Mercury replied.

  Thy questions, venerable sire! proposed

  603 Concerning noble Hector, are design’d

  To prove me. Him, not seldom, with these eyes

  In man-ennobling fight I have beheld 495

  Most active; saw him when he thinn’d the Greeks

  With his sharp spear, and drove them to the ships.

  Amazed we stood to notice him; for us,

  Incensed against the ruler of our host,

  Achilles suffer’d not to share the fight. 500

  I serve Achilles; the same gallant bark

  Brought us, and of the Myrmidons am I,

  Son of Polyctor; wealthy is my sire,

  And such in years as thou; six sons he hath,

  Beside myself the seventh, and (the lots cast 505

  Among us all) mine sent me to the wars.

  That I have left the ships, seeking the plain,

  The cause is this; the Greeks, at break of day,

  Will compass, arm’d,
the city, for they loathe

  To sit inactive, neither can the chiefs 510

  Restrain the hot impatience of the host.

  Then godlike Priam answer thus return’d.

  If of the band thou be of Peleus’ son,

  Achilles, tell me undisguised the truth.

  My son, subsists he still, or hath thy chief 515

  Limb after limb given him to his dogs?

  Him answer’d then the herald of the skies.

  Oh venerable sir! him neither dogs

  Have eaten yet, nor fowls, but at the ships

  His body, and within Achilles’ tent 520

  Neglected lies. Twelve days he so hath lain;

  Yet neither worm which diets on the brave

  In battle fallen, hath eaten him, or taint

  Invaded. He around Patroclus’ tomb

  Drags him indeed pitiless, oft as day 525

  Reddens the east, yet safe from blemish still

  His corse remains. Thou wouldst, thyself, admire

  Seeing how fresh the dew-drops, as he lies,

  Rest on him, and his blood is cleansed away

  That not a stain is left. Even his wounds 530

  604 (For many a wound they gave him) all are closed,

  Such care the blessed Gods have of thy son,

  Dead as he is, whom living much they loved.

  So he; then, glad, the ancient King replied.

  Good is it, oh my son! to yield the Gods 535

  Their just demands. My boy, while yet he lived,

  Lived not unmindful of the worship due

  To the Olympian powers, who, therefore, him

  Remember, even in the bands of death.

  Come then — this beauteous cup take at my hand — 540

  Be thou my guard, and, if the Gods permit,

  My guide, till to Achilles’ tent I come.

  Whom answer’d then the messenger of heaven.

  Sir! thou perceivest me young, and art disposed

  To try my virtue; but it shall not fail. 545

  Thou bidd’st me at thine hand a gift accept,

  Whereof Achilles knows not; but I fear

  Achilles, and on no account should dare

  Defraud him, lest some evil find me next.

  But thee I would with pleasure hence conduct 550

  Even to glorious Argos, over sea

  Or over land, nor any, through contempt

  Of such a guard, should dare to do thee wrong.

  So Mercury, and to the chariot seat

  Upspringing, seized at once the lash and reins, 555

  And with fresh vigor mules and steeds inspired.

  Arriving at the foss and towers, they found

  The guard preparing now their evening cheer,

  All whom the Argicide with sudden sleep

  Oppress’d, then oped the gates, thrust back the bars, 560

  And introduced, with all his litter-load

  Of costly gifts, the venerable King.

  But when they reached the tent for Peleus’ son

  Raised by the Myrmidons (with trunks of pine

  They built it, lopping smooth the boughs away, 555

  Then spread with shaggy mowings of the mead

  Its lofty roof, and with a spacious court

  Surrounded it, all fenced with driven stakes;

  605 One bar alone of pine secured the door,

  Which ask’d three Grecians with united force 570

  To thrust it to its place, and three again

  To thrust it back, although Achilles oft

  Would heave it to the door himself alone;)

  Then Hermes, benefactor of mankind,

  That bar displacing for the King of Troy, 575

  Gave entrance to himself and to his gifts

  For Peleus’ son design’d, and from the seat

  Alighting, thus his speech to Priam turn’d.

  Oh ancient Priam! an immortal God

  Attends thee; I am Hermes, by command 580

  Of Jove my father thy appointed guide.

  But I return. I will not, entering here,

  Stand in Achilles’ sight; immortal Powers

  May not so unreservedly indulge

  Creatures of mortal kind. But enter thou, 585

  Embrace his knees, and by his father both

  And by his Goddess mother sue to him,

  And by his son, that his whole heart may melt.

  So Hermes spake, and to the skies again

  Ascended. Then leap’d Priam to the ground, 590

  Leaving Idæus; he, the mules and steeds

  Watch’d, while the ancient King into the tent

  Proceeded of Achilles dear to Jove.

  Him there he found, and sitting found apart

  His fellow-warriors, of whom two alone 595

  Served at his side, Alcimus, branch of Mars

  And brave Automedon; he had himself

  Supp’d newly, and the board stood unremoved.

  Unseen of all huge Priam enter’d, stood

  Near to Achilles, clasp’d his knees, and kiss’d 600

  Those terrible and homicidal hands

  That had destroy’d so many of his sons.

  As when a fugitive for blood the house

  Of some chief enters in a foreign land,

  All gaze, astonish’d at the sudden guest, 605

  So gazed Achilles seeing Priam there,

  606 And so stood all astonish’d, each his eyes

  In silence fastening on his fellow’s face.

  But Priam kneel’d, and suppliant thus began.

  Think, oh Achilles, semblance of the Gods! 610

  On thy own father full of days like me,

  And trembling on the gloomy verge of life.

  Some neighbor chief, it may be, even now

  Oppresses him, and there is none at hand,

  No friend to suocor him in his distress. 615

  Yet, doubtless, hearing that Achilles lives,

  He still rejoices, hoping, day by day,

  That one day he shall see the face again

  Of his own son from distant Troy return’d.

  But me no comfort cheers, whose bravest sons, 620

  So late the flower of Ilium, all are slain.

  When Greece came hither, I had fifty sons;

  Nineteen were children of one bed, the rest

  Born of my concubines. A numerous house!

  But fiery Mars hath thinn’d it. One I had, 625

  One, more than all my sons the strength of Troy,

  Whom standing for his country thou hast slain —

  Hector — his body to redeem I come

  Into Achaia’s fleet, bringing, myself,

  Ransom inestimable to thy tent. 630

  Reverence the Gods, Achilles! recollect

  Thy father; for his sake compassion show

  To me more pitiable still, who draw

  Home to my lips (humiliation yet

  Unseen on earth) his hand who slew my son. 635

  So saying, he waken’d in his soul regret

  Of his own sire; softly he placed his hand

  On Priam’s hand, and push’d him gently away.

  607 Remembrance melted both. Rolling before

  Achilles’ feet, Priam his son deplored 640

  Wide-slaughtering Hector, and Achilles wept

  By turns his father, and by turns his friend

  Patroclus; sounds of sorrow fill’d the tent.

  But when, at length satiate, Achilles felt

  His heart from grief, and all his frame relieved, 645

  Upstarting from his seat, with pity moved

  Of Priam’s silver locks and silver beard,

  He raised the ancient father by his hand,

  Whom in wing’d accents kind he thus bespake.

  Wretched indeed! ah what must thou have felt! 650

  How hast thou dared to seek alone the fleet

  Of the Achaians, and his face by whom

  So many of
thy valiant sons have fallen?

  Thou hast a heart of iron, terror-proof.

  Come — sit beside me — let us, if we may, 665

  Great mourners both, bid sorrow sleep awhile.

  There is no profit of our sighs and tears;

  For thus, exempt from care themselves, the Gods

  Ordain man’s miserable race to mourn.

  Fast by the threshold of Jove’s courts are placed 660

  Two casks, one stored with evil, one with good,

  From which the God dispenses as he wills.

  For whom the glorious Thunderer mingles both,

  He leads a life checker’d with good and ill

  Alternate; but to whom he gives unmixt 665

  The bitter cup, he makes that man a curse,

  His name becomes a by-word of reproach,

  His strength is hunger-bitten, and he walks

  The blessed earth, unblest, go where he may.

  So was my father Peleus at his birth 670

  Nobly endow’d with plenty and with wealth

  Distinguish’d by the Gods past all mankind,

  Lord of the Myrmidons, and, though a man,

  Yet match’d from heaven with an immortal bride.

  But even him the Gods afflict, a son 675

  Refusing him, who might possess his throne

  608 Hereafter; for myself, his only heir,

  Pass as a dream, and while I live, instead

  Of solacing his age, here sit, before

  Your distant walls, the scourge of thee and thine. 680

  Thee also, ancient Priam, we have heard

  Reported, once possessor of such wealth

  As neither Lesbos, seat of Macar, owns,

  Nor eastern Phrygia, nor yet all the ports

  Of Hellespont, but thou didst pass them all 685

  In riches, and in number of thy sons.

  But since the Powers of heaven brought on thy land

  This fatal war, battle and deeds of death

  Always surround the city where thou reign’st.

  Cease, therefore, from unprofitable tears, 690

  Which, ere they raise thy son to life again

  Shall, doubtless, find fresh cause for which to flow.

  To whom the ancient King godlike replied.

  Hero, forbear. No seat is here for me,

  While Hector lies unburied in your camp. 695

  Loose him, and loose him now, that with these eyes

  I may behold my son; accept a price

  Magnificent, which may’st thou long enjoy,

  And, since my life was precious in thy sight,