Complete Works of Henry Howard, Earl of Surrey

by Henry Howard

  No, though Hector my son were here again.

  Come hither; this altar shall save us all:

  Or we shall die together.’ Thus she said.

  Wherewith she drew him back to her, and set

  The aged man down in the holy seat. 680

  But lo! Polites, one of Priam’s sons,

  Escaped from the slaughter of Pyrrhus,

  Comes fleeing through the weapons of his foes,

  Searching, all wounded, the long galleries

  And the void courts; whom Pyrrhus all in rage 685

  Followed fast to reach a mortal wound;

  And now in hand, well near strikes with his spear.

  Who fleeing forth till he came now in sight

  Of his parents, before their face fell down

  Yielding the ghost with flowing streams of blood. 690

  Priamus then, although he were half dead,

  Might not keep in his wrath, nor yet his words;

  But crieth out: ‘For this thy wicked work,

  And boldness eke such thing to enterprise,

  If in the heavens any justice be, 695

  That of such things takes any care or keep,

  According thanks the Gods may yield to thee;

  And send thee eke thy just deserved hire,

  That made me see the slaughter of my child,

  And with his blood defile the father’s face. 700

  But he, by whom thou feign’st thyself begot,

  Achilles, was to Priam not so stern.

  For, lo! he tend’ring my most humble suit,

  The right, and faith, my Hector’s bloodless corpse

  Render’d, for to be laid in sepulture; 705

  And sent me to my kingdom home again.’

  Thus said the aged man, and therewithal,

  Forceless he cast his weak unwieldy dart.

  Which repuls’d from the brass where it gave dint,

  Without sound, hung vainly in the shield’s boss. 710

  Quod Pyrrhus: ‘Then thou shalt this thing report:

  On message to Pelide my father go:

  Shew unto him my cruel deeds, and how

  Neoptolem is swerved out of kind.

  Now shalt thou die,’ quod he. And with that word 715

  At the altar him trembling ‘gan he draw

  Wallowing through the bloodshed of his son:

  And his left hand all clapsed in his hair,

  With his right arm drew forth his shining sword,

  Which in his side he thrust up to the hilts. 720

  Of Priamus this was the fatal fine,

  The woful end that was allotted him,

  When he had seen his palace all on flame,

  With ruin of his Troyan turrets eke.

  That royal prince of Asia, which of late 725

  Reign’d over so many peoples and realms,

  Like a great stock now lieth on the shore;

  His head and shoulders parted been in twain:

  A body now without renown and fame.

  Then first in me enter’d the grisly fear: 730

  Dismay’d I was. Wherewith came to my mind

  The image eke of my dear father, when

  I thus beheld the king of equal age,

  Yield up the spirit with wounds so cruelly.

  Then thought I of Creusa left alone; 735

  And of my house in danger of the spoil,

  And the estate of young Iulus eke.

  I looked back to seek what number then

  I might discern about me of my feres:

  But wearied they had left me all alone. 740

  Some to the ground were lopen from above,

  Some in the flame their irked bodies cast.

  There was no mo’ but I left of them all,

  When that I saw in Vesta’s temple sit,

  Dame Helen, lurking in a secret place; 745

  Such light the flame did give as I went by

  While here and there I cast mine eyen about:

  For she in dread lest that the Troians should

  Revenge on her the ruin of their walls;

  And of the Greeks the cruel wreaks also; 750

  The fury eke of her forsaken make,

  The common bane of Troy, and eke of Greece!

  Hateful she sat beside the altars hid.

  Then boil’d my breast with flame, and burning wrath,

  To revenge my town, unto such ruin brought; 755

  With worthy pains on her to work my will.

  Thought I: “Shall she pass to the land of Sparte

  All safe, and see Mycene her native land,

  And like a queen return with victory

  Home to her spouse, her parents, and children, 760

  Followed with a train of Troyan maids,

  And served with a band of Phrygian slaves;

  And Priam eke with iron murder’d thus,

  And Troyè town consumed all with flame,

  Whose shore hath been so oft for-bathed in blood? 765

  No! no! for though on women the revenge

  Unseemly is; such conquest hath no fame:

  To give an end unto such mischief yet

  My just revenge shall merit worthy praise;

  And quiet eke my mind, for to be wroke 770

  On her which was the causer of this flame,

  And satisfy the cinder of my feres.’

  With furious mind while I did argue thus,

  My blessed mother then appear’d to me,

  Whom erst so bright mine eyes had never seen, 775

  And with pure light she glistred in the night,

  Disclosing her in form a goddess like,

  As she doth seem to such as dwell in heaven.

  My right hand then she took, and held it fast,

  And with her rosy lips thus did she say: 780

  ‘Son! what fury hath thus provoked thee

  To such untamed wrath? what ragest thou?

  Or where is now become the care of us?

  Wilt thou not first go see where thou hast left

  Anchises, thy father fordone with age? 785

  Doth Creusa live, and Ascanius thy son?

  Whom now the Greekish bands have round beset:

  And were they not defenced by my cure,

  Flame had them raught, and en’mies’ sword ere this.

  Not Helen’s beauty hateful unto thee, 790

  Nor blamed Paris yet, but the Gods’ wrath

  Reft you this wealth, and overthrew your town.

  Behold! and I shall now the cloud remove,

  Which overcast thy mortal sight doth dim;

  Whose moisture doth obscure all things about: 795

  And fear not thou to do thy mother’s will,

  Nor her advice refuse thou to perform.

  Here, where thou see’st the turrets overthrown,

  Stone beat from stone, smoke rising mixt with dust,

  Neptunus there shakes with his mace the walls, 800

  And eke the loose foundations of the same,

  And overwhelms the whole town from his seat:

  And cruel Juno with the foremost here

  Doth keep the gate that Scea cleped is,

  Near woode for wrath, whereas she stands, and calls 805

  In harness bright the Greeks out of their ships:

  And in the turrets high behold where stands

  Bright shining Pallas, all in warlike weed,

  And with her shield, where Gorgon’s head appears

  And Jupiter, my father, distributes 810

  Availing strength, and courage to the Greeks;

  Yet overmore, against the Troyan power

  He doth provoke the rest of all the Gods.

  Flee then, my son, and give this travail end;

  Ne shall I thee forsake, in safeguard till 815

  I have thee brought unto thy father’s gate.’

  This did she say: and therewith gan she hide

  Herself, in shadow of the close night.

  Then dr
eadful figures gan appear to me,

  And great Gods eke aggrieved with our town. 820

  I saw Troyè fall down in burning gledes;

  Neptunus town, clean razed from the soil.

  Like as the elm forgrown in mountains high,

  Hound hewen with axe, that husbandmen

  With thick assaults strive to tear up, doth threat; 825

  And hack’d beneath trembling doth bend his top,

  Till yold with strokes, giving the latter crack,

  Rent from the height, with ruin it doth fall.

  With this I went, and guided by a God

  I passed through my foes, and eke the flame: 830

  Their weapons and the fire eke gave me place.

  And when that I was come before the gates,

  And ancient building of my father’s house;

  My father, whom I hoped to convey

  To the next hills, and did him thereto ‘treat, 835

  Refused either to prolong his life,

  Or bide exile after the fall of Troy.

  ‘All ye,’ quod he, ‘in whom young blood is fresh,

  Whose strength remains entire and in full power,

  Take ye your flight. 840

  For if the Gods my life would have prorogued,

  They had reserved for me this wonning place.

  It was enough, alas! and eke too much,

  To see the town of Troy thus razed once;

  To have lived after the city taken. 845

  When ye have said, this corpse laid out forsake;

  My hand shall seek my death, and pity shall

  Mine en’mies move, or else hope of my spoil.

  As for my grave, I weigh the loss but light:

  For I my years, disdainful to the Gods, 850

  Have lingered forth, unable to all needs,

  Since that the Sire of Gods and king of men

  Strake me with thunder, and with levening blast.’

  Such things he ‘gan rehearse, thus firmly bent:

  But we besprent with tears, my tender son, 855

  And eke my sweet Creusa, with the rest

  Of the household, my father ‘gan beseech,

  Not so with him to perish all at once,

  Nor so to yield unto the cruel fate:

  Which he refused, and stack to his intent. 860

  Driven I was to harness then again,

  Miserably my death for to desire.

  For what advice, or other hope was left?

  ‘Father! thought’st thou that I may once remove,’

  Quod I, ‘a foot, and leave thee here behind? 865

  May such a wrong pass from a father’s mouth?

  If God’s will be, that nothing here be saved

  Of this great town, and thy mind bent to join

  Both thee and thine to ruin of this town:

  The way is plain this death for to attain. 870

  Pyrrhus shall come besprent with Priam’s blood,

  That gor’d the son before the father’s face,

  And slew the father at the altar eke.

  O sacred Mother! was it then for this

  That you me led through flame, and weapons sharp, 875

  That I might in my secret chamber see

  Mine en’mies; and Ascanius my son,

  My father, with Creusa my sweet wife,

  Murder’d, alas! the one in th’ others’ blood?

  Why, servants! then, bring me my arms again. 880

  The latter day us vanquished doth call.

  Render me now to the Greeks’ sight again:

  And let me see the fight begun of new:

  We shall not all unwroken die this day.’

  About me then I girt my sword again, 885

  And eke my shield on my left shoulder cast,

  And bent me so to rush out of the house.

  Lo! in my gate my spouse, clasping my feet,

  For against his father young Iulus set.

  ‘If thou wilt go,’ quod she, ‘and spill thyself, 890

  Take us with thee in all that may betide.

  But as expert if thou in arms have set

  Yet any hope, then first this house defend,

  Whereas thy son, and eke thy father dear,

  And I, sometime thine own dear wife, are left.’ 895

  Her shrill loud voice with plaint thus fill’d the house;

  When that a sudden monstrous marvel fell:

  For in their sight, and woful parents’ arms,

  Behold a light out of the button sprang

  That in tip of Iulus cap did stand; 900

  With gentle touch whose harmless flame did shine

  Upon his hair, about his temples spread.

  And we afraid, trembling for dreadful fear,

  Bet out the fire from his blazing tress,

  And with water ‘gan quench the sucred flame. 905

  Anchises glad his eyen lift to the stars;

  With hands his voice to heaven thus he bent.

  ‘If by prayer, almighty Jupiter,

  Inclined thou mayst be, behold us then

  Of ruth at least, if we so much deserve. 910

  Grant eke thine aid, Father! confirm this thing.’

  Scarce had the old man said, when that the heavens

  With sudden noise thunder’d on the left hand:

  Out of the sky, by the dark night there fell

  A blazing star, dragging a brand or flame, 915

  Which with much light gliding on the house top,

  In the forest of Ida hid her beams;

  The which full bright cendleing a furrow, shone,

  By a long tract appointing us the way:

  And round about of brimstone rose a fume. 920

  My father vanquish’d then, beheld the skies,

  Spake to the Gods, and th’ holy star adored:

  ‘Now, now,’ quod he, ‘no longer I abide:

  Follow I shall where ye me guide at hand.

  O native Gods! your family defend; 925

  Preserve your line, this warning comes of you,

  And Troyè stands in your protection now.

  Now give I place, and whereso that thou go,

  Refuse I not, my son, to be thy fere.’

  This did he say; and by that time more clear 930

  The cracking flame was heard throughout the walls,

  And more and more the burning heat drew near.

  ‘Why then! have done, my father dear,’ quod I,

  ‘Bestride my neck forthwith, and sit thereon,

  And I shall with my shoulders thee sustain, 935

  Ne shall this labour do me any dere.

  What so betide, come peril, come welfare,

  Like to us both and common there shall be.

  Young Iulus shall bear me company;

  And my wife shall follow far off my steps. 940

  Now ye, my servants, mark well what I say:

  Without the town ye shall find, on a hill,

  An old temple there stands, whereas some time

  Worship was done to Ceres the Goddess;

  Beside which grows an aged cypress tree, 945

  Preserved long by our forfathers’ zeal:

  Behind which place let us together meet.

  And thou, Father, receive into thy hands

  The reliques all, and the Gods of the land:

  The which it were not lawful I should touch, 950

  That come but late from slaughter and bloodshed,

  Till I be washed in the running flood.’

  When I had said these words, my shoulders broad,

  And laied neck with garments ‘gan I spread,

  And thereon cast a yellow lion’s skin; 955

  And thereupon my burden I receive.

  Young Iulus clasped in my right hand,

  Followeth me fast with unegal pace;

  And at my back my wife. Thus did we pass

  By places shadowed most with the night. 960

  And me, whom late the dart which enemies th
rew

  Nor press of Argive routs could make amaz’d,

  Each whisp’ring wind hath power now to fray,

  And every sound to move my doubtful mind:

  So much I dread my burden, and my fere. 965

  And now we ‘gan draw near unto the gate,

  Right well escap’d the danger, as me thought,

  When that at hand a sound of feet we heard.

  My father then, gazing throughout the dark,

  Cried on me, ‘Flee, son! they are at hand.’ 970

  With that bright shields, and shene armours I saw.

  But then, I know not what unfriendly God

  My troubled wit from me bereft for fear:

  For while I ran by the most secret streets,

  Eschewing still the common haunted track, 975

  From me catiff, alas! bereaved was

  Creusa then, my spouse, I wot not how;

  Whether by fate, or missing of the way,

  Or that she was by weariness retain’d:

  But never sith these eyes might her behold; 980

  Nor did I yet perceive that she was lost,

  Ne never backward turned I my mind,

  Till we came to the hill, whereas there stood

  The old temple dedicate to Ceres.

  And when that we were there assembled all, 985

  She was only away, deceiving us

  Her spouse, her son, and all her company.

  What God or man did I not then accuse,

  Near woode for ire? or what more cruel chance

  Did hap to me, in all Troy’s overthrow? 990

  Ascanius to my feres I then betook,

  With Anchises, and eke the Troyan Gods.

  And left them hid within a valley deep.

  And to the town I ‘gan me hie again,

  Clad in bright arms, and bent for to renew 995

  Aventures past, to search throughout the town,

  And yield my head to perils once again.

  And first the walls and dark entry I sought

  Of the same gate whereat I issued out;

  Holding backward the steps where we had come 1000

  In the dark night, looking all round about:

  In every place the ugsome sights I saw;

  The silence self of night aghast my sprite.

  From hence again I pass’d unto our house,

  If she by chance had been returned home. 1005

  The Greeks were there, and had it all beset:

  The wasting fire, blown up by drift of wind,

  Above the roofs the blazing flame sprang up;

  The sound whereof with fury pierc’d the skies.

  To Priam’s palace, and the castle then 1010

  I made; and there at Juno’s sanctuair,

  In the void porches, Phenix, Ulysses eke

  Stern guardians stood, watching of the spoil.

  The riches here were set, reft from the brent

  Temples of Troy: the tables of the Gods, 1015