William Cowper- Collected Poetical Works

by William Cowper

  For, first, she perish’d by Diana’s shafts

  In Dia, Bacchus witnessing her crime.

  Mæra and Clymene I saw beside,

  And odious Eriphyle, who received

  The price in gold of her own husband’s life.

  But all the wives of Heroes whom I saw,

  And all their daughters can I not relate;

  Night, first, would fail; and even now the hour

  Calls me to rest either on board my bark, 400

  Or here; meantime, I in yourselves confide,

  And in the Gods to shape my conduct home.

  He ceased; the whole assembly silent sat,

  Charm’d into ecstacy by his discourse

  Throughout the twilight hall, till, at the last,

  Areta iv’ry arm’d them thus bespake.

  Phæacians! how appears he in your eyes

  This stranger, graceful as he is in port,

  In stature noble, and in mind discrete?

  My guest he is, but ye all share with me 410

  That honour; him dismiss not, therefore, hence

  With haste, nor from such indigence withhold

  Supplies gratuitous; for ye are rich,

  And by kind heav’n with rare possessions blest.

  The Hero, next, Echeneus spake, a Chief

  Now ancient, eldest of Phæacia’s sons.

  Your prudent Queen, my friends, speaks not beside

  Her proper scope, but as beseems her well.

  Her voice obey; yet the effect of all

  Must on Alcinoüs himself depend. 420

  To whom Alcinoüs, thus, the King, replied.

  I ratify the word. So shall be done,

  As surely as myself shall live supreme

  O’er all Phæacia’s maritime domain.

  Then let the guest, though anxious to depart,

  Wait till the morrow, that I may complete

  The whole donation. His safe conduct home

  Shall be the gen’ral care, but mine in Chief,

  To whom dominion o’er the rest belongs.

  Him answer’d, then, Ulysses ever-wise. 430

  Alcinoüs! Prince! exalted high o’er all

  Phæacia’s sons! should ye solicit, kind,

  My stay throughout the year, preparing still

  My conduct home, and with illustrious gifts

  Enriching me the while, ev’n that request

  Should please me well; the wealthier I return’d,

  The happier my condition; welcome more

  And more respectable I should appear

  In ev’ry eye to Ithaca restored.

  To whom Alcinoüs answer thus return’d. 440

  Ulysses! viewing thee, no fears we feel

  Lest thou, at length, some false pretender prove,

  Or subtle hypocrite, of whom no few

  Disseminated o’er its face the earth

  Sustains, adepts in fiction, and who frame

  Fables, where fables could be least surmised.

  Thy phrase well turn’d, and thy ingenuous mind

  Proclaim thee diff’rent far, who hast in strains

  Musical as a poet’s voice, the woes

  Rehears’d of all thy Greecians, and thy own. 450

  But say, and tell me true. Beheld’st thou there

  None of thy followers to the walls of Troy

  Slain in that warfare? Lo! the night is long —

  A night of utmost length; nor yet the hour

  Invites to sleep. Tell me thy wond’rous deeds,

  For I could watch till sacred dawn, could’st thou

  So long endure to tell me of thy toils.

  Then thus Ulysses, ever-wise, replied.

  Alcinoüs! high exalted over all

  Phæacia’s sons! the time suffices yet 460

  For converse both and sleep, and if thou wish

  To hear still more, I shall not spare to unfold

  More pitiable woes than these, sustain’d

  By my companions, in the end destroy’d;

  Who, saved from perils of disast’rous war

  At Ilium, perish’d yet in their return,

  Victims of a pernicious woman’s crime.

  Now, when chaste Proserpine had wide dispers’d

  Those female shades, the spirit sore distress’d

  Of Agamemnon, Atreus’ son, appear’d; 470

  Encircled by a throng, he came; by all

  Who with himself beneath Ægisthus’ roof

  Their fate fulfill’d, perishing by the sword.

  He drank the blood, and knew me; shrill he wail’d

  And querulous; tears trickling bathed his cheeks,

  And with spread palms, through ardour of desire

  He sought to enfold me fast, but vigour none,

  Or force, as erst, his agile limbs inform’d.

  I, pity-moved, wept at the sight, and him,

  In accents wing’d by friendship, thus address’d. 480

  Ah glorious son of Atreus, King of men!

  What hand inflicted the all-numbing stroke

  Of death on thee? Say, didst thou perish sunk

  By howling tempests irresistible

  Which Neptune raised, or on dry land by force

  Of hostile multitudes, while cutting off

  Beeves from the herd, or driving flocks away,

  Or fighting for Achaia’s daughters, shut

  Within some city’s bulwarks close besieged?

  I ceased, when Agamemnon thus replied. 490

  Ulysses, noble Chief, Laertes’ son

  For wisdom famed! I neither perish’d sunk

  By howling tempests irresistible

  Which Neptune raised, nor on dry land received

  From hostile multitudes the fatal blow,

  But me Ægisthus slew; my woeful death

  Confed’rate with my own pernicious wife

  He plotted, with a show of love sincere

  Bidding me to his board, where as the ox

  Is slaughter’d at his crib, he slaughter’d me. 500

  Such was my dreadful death; carnage ensued

  Continual of my friends slain all around,

  Num’rous as boars bright-tusk’d at nuptial feast,

  Or feast convivial of some wealthy Chief.

  Thou hast already witness’d many a field

  With warriors overspread, slain one by one,

  But that dire scene had most thy pity moved,

  For we, with brimming beakers at our side,

  And underneath full tables bleeding lay.

  Blood floated all the pavement. Then the cries 510

  Of Priam’s daughter sounded in my ears

  Most pitiable of all. Cassandra’s cries,

  Whom Clytemnestra close beside me slew.

  Expiring as I lay, I yet essay’d

  To grasp my faulchion, but the trayt’ress quick

  Withdrew herself, nor would vouchsafe to close

  My languid eyes, or prop my drooping chin

  Ev’n in the moment when I sought the shades.

  So that the thing breathes not, ruthless and fell

  As woman once resolv’d on such a deed 520

  Detestable, as my base wife contrived,

  The murther of the husband of her youth.

  I thought to have return’d welcome to all,

  To my own children and domestic train;

  But she, past measure profligate, hath poured

  Shame on herself, on women yet unborn,

  And even on the virtuous of her sex.

  He ceas’d, to whom, thus, answer I return’d.

  Gods! how severely hath the thund’rer plagued

  The house of Atreus even from the first, 530

  By female counsels! we for Helen’s sake

  Have num’rous died, and Clytemnestra framed,

  While thou wast far remote, this snare for thee!

  So I, to whom Atrides thus replied.

  Thou, therefore, be not pliant overm
uch

  To woman; trust her not with all thy mind,

  But half disclose to her, and half conceal.

  Yet, from thy consort’s hand no bloody death,

  My friend, hast thou to fear; for passing wise

  Icarius’ daughter is, far other thoughts, 540

  Intelligent, and other plans, to frame.

  Her, going to the wars we left a bride

  New-wedded, and thy boy hung at her breast,

  Who, man himself, consorts ere now with men

  A prosp’rous youth; his father, safe restored

  To his own Ithaca, shall see him soon,

  And he shall clasp his father in his arms

  As nature bids; but me, my cruel one

  Indulged not with the dear delight to gaze

  On my Orestes, for she slew me first. 550

  But listen; treasure what I now impart.

  Steer secret to thy native isle; avoid

  Notice; for woman merits trust no more.

  Now tell me truth. Hear ye in whose abode

  My son resides? dwells he in Pylus, say,

  Or in Orchomenos, or else beneath

  My brother’s roof in Sparta’s wide domain?

  For my Orestes is not yet a shade.

  So he, to whom I answer thus return’d.

  Atrides, ask not me. Whether he live, 560

  Or have already died, I nothing know;

  Mere words are vanity, and better spared.

  Thus we discoursing mutual stood, and tears

  Shedding disconsolate. The shade, meantime,

  Came of Achilles, Peleus’ mighty son;

  Patroclus also, and Antilochus

  Appear’d, with Ajax, for proportion just

  And stature tall, (Pelides sole except)

  Distinguish’d above all Achaia’s sons.

  The soul of swift Æacides at once 570

  Knew me, and in wing’d accents thus began.

  Brave Laertiades, for wiles renown’d!

  What mightier enterprise than all the past

  Hath made thee here a guest? rash as thou art!

  How hast thou dared to penetrate the gloom

  Of Ades, dwelling of the shadowy dead,

  Semblances only of what once they were?

  He spake, to whom I, answ’ring, thus replied.

  O Peleus’ son! Achilles! bravest far

  Of all Achaia’s race! I here arrived 580

  Seeking Tiresias, from his lips to learn,

  Perchance, how I might safe regain the coast

  Of craggy Ithaca; for tempest-toss’d

  Perpetual, I have neither yet approach’d

  Achaia’s shore, or landed on my own.

  But as for thee, Achilles! never man

  Hath known felicity like thine, or shall,

  Whom living we all honour’d as a God,

  And who maintain’st, here resident, supreme

  Controul among the dead; indulge not then, 590

  Achilles, causeless grief that thou hast died.

  I ceased, and answer thus instant received.

  Renown’d Ulysses! think not death a theme

  Of consolation; I had rather live

  The servile hind for hire, and eat the bread

  Of some man scantily himself sustain’d,

  Than sov’reign empire hold o’er all the shades.

  But come — speak to me of my noble boy;

  Proceeds he, as he promis’d, brave in arms,

  Or shuns he war? Say also, hast thou heard 600

  Of royal Peleus? shares he still respect

  Among his num’rous Myrmidons, or scorn

  In Hellas and in Phthia, for that age

  Predominates in his enfeebled limbs?

  For help is none in me; the glorious sun

  No longer sees me such, as when in aid

  Of the Achaians I o’erspread the field

  Of spacious Troy with all their bravest slain.

  Oh might I, vigorous as then, repair

  For one short moment to my father’s house, 610

  They all should tremble; I would shew an arm,

  Such as should daunt the fiercest who presumes

  To injure him, or to despise his age.

  Achilles spake, to whom I thus replied.

  Of noble Peleus have I nothing heard;

  But I will tell thee, as thou bidd’st, the truth

  Unfeign’d of Neoptolemus thy son;

  For him, myself, on board my hollow bark

  From Scyros to Achaia’s host convey’d.

  Oft as in council under Ilium’s walls 620

  We met, he ever foremost was in speech,

  Nor spake erroneous; Nestor and myself

  Except, no Greecian could with him compare.

  Oft, too, as we with battle hemm’d around

  Troy’s bulwarks, from among the mingled crowd

  Thy son sprang foremost into martial act,

  Inferior in heroic worth to none.

  Beneath him num’rous fell the sons of Troy

  In dreadful fight, nor have I pow’r to name

  Distinctly all, who by his glorious arm 630

  Exerted in the cause of Greece, expired.

  Yet will I name Eurypylus, the son

  Of Telephus, an Hero whom his sword

  Of life bereaved, and all around him strew’d

  The plain with his Cetean warriors, won

  To Ilium’s side by bribes to women giv’n.

  Save noble Memnon only, I beheld

  No Chief at Ilium beautiful as he.

  Again, when we within the horse of wood

  Framed by Epeüs sat, an ambush chos’n 640

  Of all the bravest Greeks, and I in trust

  Was placed to open or to keep fast-closed

  The hollow fraud; then, ev’ry Chieftain there

  And Senator of Greece wiped from his cheeks

  The tears, and tremors felt in ev’ry limb;

  But never saw I changed to terror’s hue

  His ruddy cheek, no tears wiped he away,

  But oft he press’d me to go forth, his suit

  With pray’rs enforcing, griping hard his hilt

  And his brass-burthen’d spear, and dire revenge 650

  Denouncing, ardent, on the race of Troy.

  At length, when we had sack’d the lofty town

  Of Priam, laden with abundant spoils

  He safe embark’d, neither by spear or shaft

  Aught hurt, or in close fight by faulchion’s edge,

  As oft in war befalls, where wounds are dealt

  Promiscuous at the will of fiery Mars.

  So I; then striding large, the spirit thence

  Withdrew of swift Æacides, along

  The hoary mead pacing, with joy elate 660

  That I had blazon’d bright his son’s renown.

  The other souls of men by death dismiss’d

  Stood mournful by, sad uttering each his woes;

  The soul alone I saw standing remote

  Of Telamonian Ajax, still incensed

  That in our public contest for the arms

  Worn by Achilles, and by Thetis thrown

  Into dispute, my claim had strongest proved,

  Troy and Minerva judges of the cause.

  Disastrous victory! which I could wish 670

  Not to have won, since for that armour’s sake

  The earth hath cover’d Ajax, in his form

  And martial deeds superior far to all

  The Greecians, Peleus’ matchless son except.

  I, seeking to appease him, thus began.

  O Ajax, son of glorious Telamon!

  Canst thou remember, even after death,

  Thy wrath against me, kindled for the sake

  Of those pernicious arms? arms which the Gods

  Ordain’d of such dire consequence to Greece, 680

  Which caused thy death, our bulwark! Thee we mourn

  With grief perpetual, no
r the death lament

  Of Peleus’ son, Achilles, more than thine.

  Yet none is blameable; Jove evermore

  With bitt’rest hate pursued Achaia’s host,

  And he ordain’d thy death. Hero! approach,

  That thou may’st hear the words with which I seek

  To sooth thee; let thy long displeasure cease!

  Quell all resentment in thy gen’rous breast!

  I spake; nought answer’d he, but sullen join’d 690

  His fellow-ghosts; yet, angry as he was,

  I had prevail’d even on him to speak,

  Or had, at least, accosted him again,

  But that my bosom teem’d with strong desire

  Urgent, to see yet others of the dead.

  There saw I Minos, offspring famed of Jove;

  His golden sceptre in his hand, he sat

  Judge of the dead; they, pleading each in turn,

  His cause, some stood, some sat, filling the house

  Whose spacious folding-gates are never closed. 700

  Orion next, huge ghost, engaged my view,

  Droves urging o’er the grassy mead, of beasts

  Which he had slain, himself, on the wild hills,

  With strong club arm’d of ever-during brass.

  There also Tityus on the ground I saw

  Extended, offspring of the glorious earth;

  Nine acres he o’erspread, and, at his side

  Station’d, two vultures on his liver prey’d,

  Scooping his entrails; nor sufficed his hands

  To fray them thence; for he had sought to force 710

  Latona, illustrious concubine of Jove,

  What time the Goddess journey’d o’er the rocks

  Of Pytho into pleasant Panopeus.

  Next, suff’ring grievous torments, I beheld

  Tantalus; in a pool he stood, his chin

  Wash’d by the wave; thirst-parch’d he seem’d, but found

  Nought to assuage his thirst; for when he bow’d

  His hoary head, ardent to quaff, the flood

  Vanish’d absorb’d, and, at his feet, adust

  The soil appear’d, dried, instant, by the Gods. 720

  Tall trees, fruit-laden, with inflected heads

  Stoop’d to him, pomegranates, apples bright,

  The luscious fig, and unctuous olive smooth;

  Which when with sudden grasp he would have seized,

  Winds hurl’d them high into the dusky clouds.

  There, too, the hard-task’d Sisyphus I saw,

  Thrusting before him, strenuous, a vast rock.

  With hands and feet struggling, he shoved the stone

  Up to a hill-top; but the steep well-nigh

  Vanquish’d, by some great force repulsed, the mass 730

  Rush’d again, obstinate, down to the plain.

  Again, stretch’d prone, severe he toiled, the sweat

  Bathed all his weary limbs, and his head reek’d.

  The might of Hercules I, next, survey’d;