William Cowper- Collected Poetical Works

by William Cowper

  In aspect dread as homicidal Mars,

  Euryalus, and for his graceful form 140

  (After Laodamas) distinguish’d most

  Of all Phæacia’s sons, Naubolides.

  Three also from Alcinoüs sprung, arose,

  Laodamas, his eldest; Halius, next,

  His second-born; and godlike Clytoneus.

  Of these, some started for the runner’s prize.

  They gave the race its limits. All at once

  Along the dusty champaign swift they flew.

  But Clytoneus, illustrious youth, outstripp’d

  All competition; far as mules surpass 150

  Slow oxen furrowing the fallow ground,

  So far before all others he arrived

  Victorious, where the throng’d spectators stood.

  Some tried the wrestler’s toil severe, in which

  Euryalus superior proved to all.

  In the long leap Amphialus prevail’d;

  Elatreus most successful hurled the quoit,

  And at the cestus, last, the noble son

  Of Scheria’s King, Laodamas excell’d.

  When thus with contemplation of the games 160

  All had been gratified, Alcinoüs’ son

  Laodamas, arising, then address’d.

  Friends! ask we now the stranger, if he boast

  Proficiency in aught. His figure seems

  Not ill; in thighs, and legs, and arms he shews

  Much strength, and in his brawny neck; nor youth

  Hath left him yet, though batter’d he appears

  With num’rous troubles, and misfortune-flaw’d.

  Nor know I hardships in the world so sure

  To break the strongest down, as those by sea. 170

  Then answer thus Euryalus return’d.

  Thou hast well said, Laodamas; thyself

  Approaching, speak to him, and call him forth.

  Which when Alcinoüs’ noble offspring heard,

  Advancing from his seat, amid them all

  He stood, and to Ulysses thus began.

  Stand forth, oh guest, thou also; prove thy skill

  (If any such thou hast) in games like ours,

  Which, likeliest, thou hast learn’d; for greater praise

  Hath no man, while he lives, than that he know 180

  His feet to exercise and hands aright.

  Come then; make trial; scatter wide thy cares,

  We will not hold thee long; the ship is launch’d

  Already, and the crew stand all prepared.

  To whom replied the wily Chief renown’d

  Wherefore, as in derision, have ye call’d

  Me forth, Laodamas, to these exploits?

  No games have I, but many a grief, at heart,

  And with far other struggles worn, here sit

  Desirous only of conveyance home, 190

  For which both King and people I implore.

  Then him Euryalus aloud reproach’d.

  I well believ’d it, friend! in thee the guise

  I see not of a man expert in feats

  Athletic, of which various are perform’d

  In ev’ry land; thou rather seem’st with ships

  Familiar; one, accustom’d to controul

  Some crew of trading mariners; well-learn’d

  In stowage, pilotage, and wealth acquired

  By rapine, but of no gymnastic pow’rs. 200

  To whom Ulysses, frowning dark, replied.

  Thou hast ill spoken, sir, and like a man

  Regardless whom he wrongs. Therefore the Gods

  Give not endowments graceful in each kind,

  Of body, mind, and utt’rance, all to one.

  This man in figure less excels, yet Jove

  Crowns him with eloquence; his hearers charm’d

  Behold him, while with modest confidence

  He bears the prize of fluent speech from all,

  And in the streets is gazed on as a God! 210

  Another, in his form the Pow’rs above

  Resembles, but no grace around his words

  Twines itself elegant. So, thou in form

  Hast excellence to boast; a God, employ’d

  To make a master-piece in human shape,

  Could but produce proportions such as thine;

  Yet hast thou an untutor’d intellect.

  Thou much hast moved me; thy unhandsome phrase

  Hath roused my wrath; I am not, as thou say’st,

  A novice in these sports, but took the lead 220

  In all, while youth and strength were on my side.

  But I am now in bands of sorrow held,

  And of misfortune, having much endured

  In war, and buffeting the boist’rous waves.

  Yet, though with mis’ry worn, I will essay

  My strength among you; for thy words had teeth

  Whose bite hath pinch’d and pain’d me to the proof.

  He said; and mantled as he was, a quoit

  Upstarting, seized, in bulk and weight all those

  Transcending far, by the Phæacians used. 230

  Swiftly he swung, and from his vig’rous hand

  Sent it. Loud sang the stone, and as it flew

  The maritime Phæacians low inclined

  Their heads beneath it; over all the marks,

  And far beyond them, sped the flying rock.

  Minerva, in a human form, the cast

  Prodigious measur’d, and aloud exclaim’d.

  Stranger! the blind himself might with his hands

  Feel out the ‘vantage here. Thy quoit disdains

  Fellowship with a crowd, borne far beyond. 240

  Fear not a losing game; Phæacian none

  Will reach thy measure, much less overcast.

  She ceased; Ulysses, hardy Chief, rejoiced

  That in the circus he had found a judge

  So favorable, and with brisker tone,

  As less in wrath, the multitude address’d.

  Young men, reach this, and I will quickly heave

  Another such, or yet a heavier quoit.

  Then, come the man whose courage prompts him forth

  To box, to wrestle with me, or to run; 250

  For ye have chafed me much, and I decline

  No strife with any here, but challenge all

  Phæacia, save Laodamas alone.

  He is mine host. Who combats with his friend?

  To call to proof of hardiment the man

  Who entertains him in a foreign land,

  Would but evince the challenger a fool,

  Who, so, would cripple his own interest there.

  As for the rest, I none refuse, scorn none,

  But wish for trial of you, and to match 260

  In opposition fair my force with yours.

  There is no game athletic in the use

  Of all mankind, too difficult for me;

  I handle well the polish’d bow, and first

  Amid a thousand foes strike whom I mark,

  Although a throng of warriors at my side

  Imbattled, speed their shafts at the same time.

  Of all Achaia’s sons who erst at Troy

  Drew bow, the sole who bore the prize from me

  Was Philoctetes; I resign it else 270

  To none now nourish’d with the fruits of earth.

  Yet mean I no comparison of myself

  With men of antient times, with Hercules,

  Or with Oechalian Eurytus, who, both,

  The Gods themselves in archery defied.

  Soon, therefore, died huge Eurytus, ere yet

  Old age he reach’d; him, angry to be call’d

  To proof of archership, Apollo slew.

  But if ye name the spear, mine flies a length

  By no man’s arrow reach’d; I fear no foil 280

  From the Phæacians, save in speed alone;

  For I have suffer’d hardships, dash’d and drench’d

  By many a wave, nor
had I food on board

  At all times, therefore I am much unstrung.

  He spake; and silent the Phæacians sat,

  Of whom alone Alcinoüs thus replied.

  Since, stranger, not ungraceful is thy speech,

  Who hast but vindicated in our ears

  Thy question’d prowess, angry that this youth

  Reproach’d thee in the presence of us all, 290

  That no man qualified to give his voice

  In public, might affront thy courage more;

  Now mark me, therefore, that in time to come,

  While feasting with thy children and thy spouse,

  Thou may’st inform the Heroes of thy land

  Even of our proficiency in arts

  By Jove enjoin’d us in our father’s days.

  We boast not much the boxer’s skill, nor yet

  The wrestler’s; but light-footed in the race

  Are we, and navigators well-inform’d. 300

  Our pleasures are the feast, the harp, the dance,

  Garments for change; the tepid bath; the bed.

  Come, ye Phæacians, beyond others skill’d

  To tread the circus with harmonious steps,

  Come, play before us; that our guest, arrived

  In his own country, may inform his friends

  How far in seamanship we all excel,

  In running, in the dance, and in the song.

  Haste! bring ye to Demodocus his lyre

  Clear-toned, left somewhere in our hall at home. 310

  So spake the godlike King, at whose command

  The herald to the palace quick return’d

  To seek the charming lyre. Meantime arose

  Nine arbiters, appointed to intend

  The whole arrangement of the public games,

  To smooth the circus floor, and give the ring

  Its compass, widening the attentive throng.

  Ere long the herald came, bearing the harp,

  With which Demodocus supplied, advanced

  Into the middle area, around whom 320

  Stood blooming youths, all skilful in the dance.

  With footsteps justly timed all smote at once

  The sacred floor; Ulysses wonder-fixt,

  The ceaseless play of twinkling feet admired.

  Then, tuning his sweet chords, Demodocus

  A jocund strain began, his theme, the loves

  Of Mars and Cytherea chaplet-crown’d;

  How first, clandestine, they embraced beneath

  The roof of Vulcan, her, by many a gift

  Seduced, Mars won, and with adult’rous lust 330

  The bed dishonour’d of the King of fire.

  The sun, a witness of their amorous sport,

  Bore swift the tale to Vulcan; he, apprized

  Of that foul deed, at once his smithy sought,

  In secret darkness of his inmost soul

  Contriving vengeance; to the stock he heav’d

  His anvil huge, on which he forged a snare

  Of bands indissoluble, by no art

  To be untied, durance for ever firm.

  The net prepared, he bore it, fiery-wroth, 340

  To his own chamber and his nuptial couch,

  Where, stretching them from post to post, he wrapp’d

  With those fine meshes all his bed around,

  And hung them num’rous from the roof, diffused

  Like spiders’ filaments, which not the Gods

  Themselves could see, so subtle were the toils.

  When thus he had encircled all his bed

  On ev’ry side, he feign’d a journey thence

  To Lemnos, of all cities that adorn

  The earth, the city that he favours most. 350

  Nor kept the God of the resplendent reins

  Mars, drowsy watch, but seeing that the famed

  Artificer of heav’n had left his home,

  Flew to the house of Vulcan, hot to enjoy

  The Goddess with the wreath-encircled brows.

  She, newly from her potent Sire return’d

  The son of Saturn, sat. Mars, ent’ring, seiz’d

  Her hand, hung on it, and thus urg’d his suit.

  To bed, my fair, and let us love! for lo!

  Thine husband is from home, to Lemnos gone, 360

  And to the Sintians, men of barb’rous speech.

  He spake, nor she was loth, but bedward too

  Like him inclined; so then, to bed they went,

  And as they lay’d them down, down stream’d the net

  Around them, labour exquisite of hands

  By ingenuity divine inform’d.

  Small room they found, so prison’d; not a limb

  Could either lift, or move, but felt at once

  Entanglement from which was no escape.

  And now the glorious artist, ere he yet 370

  Had reach’d the Lemnian isle, limping, return’d

  From his feign’d journey, for his spy the sun

  Had told him all. With aching heart he sought

  His home, and, standing in the vestibule,

  Frantic with indignation roar’d to heav’n,

  And roar’d again, summoning all the Gods. —

  Oh Jove! and all ye Pow’rs for ever blest!

  Here; hither look, that ye may view a sight

  Ludicrous, yet too monstrous to be borne,

  How Venus always with dishonour loads 380

  Her cripple spouse, doating on fiery Mars!

  And wherefore? for that he is fair in form

  And sound of foot, I ricket-boned and weak.

  Whose fault is this? Their fault, and theirs alone

  Who gave me being; ill-employ’d were they

  Begetting me, one, better far unborn.

  See where they couch together on my bed

  Lascivious! ah, sight hateful to my eyes!

  Yet cooler wishes will they feel, I ween,

  To press my bed hereafter; here to sleep 390

  Will little please them, fondly as they love.

  But these my toils and tangles will suffice

  To hold them here, till Jove shall yield me back

  Complete, the sum of all my nuptial gifts

  Paid to him for the shameless strumpet’s sake

  His daughter, as incontinent as fair.

  He said, and in the brazen-floor’d abode

  Of Jove the Gods assembled. Neptune came

  Earth-circling Pow’r; came Hermes friend of man,

  And, regent of the far-commanding bow, 400

  Apollo also came; but chaste reserve

  Bashful kept all the Goddesses at home.

  The Gods, by whose beneficence all live,

  Stood in the portal; infinite arose

  The laugh of heav’n, all looking down intent

  On that shrewd project of the smith divine,

  And, turning to each other, thus they said.

  Bad works speed ill. The slow o’ertakes the swift.

  So Vulcan, tardy as he is, by craft

  Hath outstript Mars, although the fleetest far 410

  Of all who dwell in heav’n, and the light-heel’d

  Must pay the adult’rer’s forfeit to the lame.

  So spake the Pow’rs immortal; then the King

  Of radiant shafts thus question’d Mercury.

  Jove’s son, heaven’s herald, Hermes, bounteous God!

  Would’st thou such stricture close of bands endure

  For golden Venus lying at thy side?

  Whom answer’d thus the messenger of heav’n

  Archer divine! yea, and with all my heart;

  And be the bands which wind us round about 420

  Thrice these innumerable, and let all

  The Gods and Goddesses in heav’n look on,

  So I may clasp Vulcan’s fair spouse the while.

  He spake; then laugh’d the Immortal Pow’rs again.

  But not so Neptune; he with earnest suit


  The glorious artist urged to the release

  Of Mars, and thus in accents wing’d he said.

  Loose him; accept my promise; he shall pay

  Full recompense in presence of us all.

  Then thus the limping smith far-famed replied. 430

  Earth-circler Neptune, spare me that request.

  Lame suitor, lame security. What bands

  Could I devise for thee among the Gods,

  Should Mars, emancipated once, escape,

  Leaving both debt and durance, far behind?

  Him answer’d then the Shaker of the shores.

  I tell thee, Vulcan, that if Mars by flight

  Shun payment, I will pay, myself, the fine.

  To whom the glorious artist of the skies.

  Thou must not, canst not, shalt not be refused. 440

  So saying, the might of Vulcan loos’d the snare,

  And they, detain’d by those coercive bands

  No longer, from the couch upstarting, flew,

  Mars into Thrace, and to her Paphian home

  The Queen of smiles, where deep in myrtle groves

  Her incense-breathing altar stands embow’r’d.

  Her there, the Graces laved, and oils diffused

  O’er all her form, ambrosial, such as add

  Fresh beauty to the Gods for ever young,

  And cloath’d her in the loveliest robes of heav’n. 450

  Such was the theme of the illustrious bard.

  Ulysses with delight that song, and all

  The maritime Phæacian concourse heard.

  Alcinoüs, then, (for in the dance they pass’d

  All others) call’d his sons to dance alone,

  Halius and Laodamas; they gave

  The purple ball into their hands, the work

  Exact of Polybus; one, re-supine,

  Upcast it high toward the dusky clouds,

  The other, springing into air, with ease 460

  Received it, ere he sank to earth again.

  When thus they oft had sported with the ball

  Thrown upward, next, with nimble interchange

  They pass’d it to each other many a time,

  Footing the plain, while ev’ry youth of all

  The circus clapp’d his hands, and from beneath

  The din of stamping feet fill’d all the air.

  Then, turning to Alcinoüs, thus the wise

  Ulysses spake: Alcinoüs! mighty King!

  Illustrious above all Phæacia’s sons! 470

  Incomparable are ye in the dance,

  Ev’n as thou said’st. Amazement-fixt I stand!

  So he, whom hearing, the imperial might

  Exulted of Alcinoüs, and aloud

  To his oar-skill’d Phæacians thus he spake.

  Phæacian Chiefs and Senators, attend!

  Wisdom beyond the common stint I mark

  In this our guest; good cause in my account,

  For which we should present him with a pledge