by Homer
From whose joy all our woes proceed. He princely undertakes
That all the wealth he brought from Greece (would he had died before!)
He will, with other added wealth, for your amends restore;
But famous Menelaus' wife he still means to enjoy,
Though he be urged the contrary by all the peers of Troy.
And this besides I have in charge, that, if it please you all,
They wish both sides may cease from war, that rites of funeral
May on their bodies be performed that in the fields lie slain;
And after, to the will of Fate, renew the fight again."
All silence held at first; at last Tydides made reply :
“Let no man take the wealth, or dame; for now a child's weak eye
May see the imminent black end of Priam's empery."
This sentence, quick and briefly given, the Greeks did all admire.
Then said the king: " Herald, thou hear'st in him the voice entire
Of all our peers, to answer thee, for that of Priam's son.
But, for our burning of the dead, by all means I am won
To satisfy thy king therein, without the slender'st gain
Made of their spoiled carcasses; but freely, being slain,
They shall be all consumed with fire. To witness which I cite
High thund'ring Jove, that is the king of' Juno's bed's delight."
With this, he held his sceptre up to all the sky-throned Powers;
And grave Idfeus did return to sacred Ilion's towers,
Where Ilians and Dardanians did still their counsels ply,
Expecting his return. He came, and told his legacy.
All, whirlwind-like, assembled then, some bodies to transport,
Some to hew trees. On th' other part, th' Argives did exhort
Their soldiers to the same affairs. Then did the new-fired sun
Smite the broad fields, ascending heaven, and th' ocean smooth did run;
When Greece and Troy mixed in such peace, you scarce could either know.
Then washed they off their blood and dust, and did warm tears bestow
Upon the slaughtered, and in cars conveyed them from the field.
Priam commanded none should mourn, but in still silence yield.
Their honoured carcasses to fire* and only grieve in heart.
All burned, to Troy Troy's friends retire, to fleet the Grecian part.
Yet doubtful night obscured the earth, the day did not appear,
When round about the funeral pile the Grecians gathered were.
The pile they circled with a tomb, and by it raised a wall,
High tow'rs, to guard the fleet and them; and in the midst of all
They built strong gates, through which the horse and chariots passage had;
Without the rampire a broad dike, long and profound they made,
On which they pallisadoes pitched; and thus the Grecians wrought.
Their huge works in so little time were to perfection brought,
That all Gods, by the Lightner set, the frame thereof admired.
'Mongst whom the Earthquake-making God this of their king inquired:
“Father of Gods, will any man, of all earth's grassy sphere,
Ask any of the Gods' consent to any actions there,
If thou wilt see the shag-haired Greeks with headstrong labours frame
So huge a work, and not to us due off'rings first enflame?
As far as white Aurora's dews are sprinkled through the air,
Fame will renown the hands of Greece for this divine affair,
Men will forget the sacred work the Sun and I did raise
For king Laomedon, (bright Troy), and this will bear the praise."
Jove was extremely moved with him, and said : " What words are these,
Thou mighty Shaker of the earth, thou Lord of all the seas 1
Some other God, of far less power, might hold conceits, dismayed
With this rare Grecian stratagem, and thou rest well apaid;
For it will glorify thy name as far as light extends;
Since, when these Greeks shall see again their native soil and friends;
The bulwark battered, thou mayst quite devour it with thy waves,
And cover with thy fruitless sands this fatal shore of graves;
That, what their fiery industries have so divinely wrought
In raising it, in razing it thy power will prove it nought."
Thus spake the Gods among themselves. Set was the fervent sun;
And now the great work of the Greeks was absolutely done.
Then slew they oxen in their tents, and strength with food revived,
When out of Lemnos a great fleet of od'rous wine arrived,
Sent by Euneus, Jason's son, born of Hypsipyle.
The fleet contained a thousand tun, which must transported be
To Atreus' sons, as he gave charge, whose merchandise it was.
The Greeks bought wine for shining steel, and some for sounding brass,
Some for ox-hides, for oxen some, and some for prisoners.
A sumptuous banquet was prepared; and all that night the peers
And fair-haired Greeks consumed in feast. So Trojans, and their aid.
And all the night Jove thundered loud; pale fear all thoughts dismayed.
While they were gluttonous in earth, Jove wrought their banes in heaven.
They poured full cups upon the ground, and were to offerings driven
Instead of quaffings; and to drink none durst attempt, before
In solemn sacrifice they did almighty Jove adore.
Then to their rests they all repaired; bold zeal their fear bereaved;
And sudden sleep's refreshing gift securely they received.
BOOK VIII.
ARGUMENT.
When Jove to all the Gods had given command,
That none to either host should helpful stand,
To Ida he descends; and sees from, thence
Juno and Pallas haste the Greeks' defence;
Whose purpose, his command, by Iris given,
Doth intervent. Then came the silent even,
When Hector charged fires should consume the night,
Lest Greeks in darlcness took suspected flight.
ANOTHER ARGUMENT.
In Theta, Gods a Council have.
Troy's conquest. Glorious Hector's brave,
THE cheerful Lady of the light, decked in her saffron robe,
Dispersed her beams through every part of this enflow'red
globe,
When thund'ring Jove a Court of Gods assembled by his will
. In top of all the topful heights that crown th' Olympian hill.
He spake, and all the Gods gave ear: " Hear how I stand
inclined,
That God nor Goddess may attempt t' infringe my sovereign mind,
But all give suffrage that with speed I may these discords end.
What God soever I shall find endeavour to defend
Or Troy or Greece, with wounds to heaven he, shamed, shall reascend;
Or, taking him with his offence, I'll cast him down as deep
As Tartarus, the brood of night, where Barathrum doth steep
Torment in his profoundest sinks, where is the floor of brass,
And gates of iron; the place, for depth, as far doth hell surpass,
As heaven, for height, exceeds the earth; then shall he know from thence
How much my power, past all the Gods, hath sovereign eminence.
Endanger it the whiles and see. Let down our golden chain,
And at it let all Deities their utmost strengths constrain,
To draw me to the earth from heaven; you never shall prevail,
Though, with your most contention, ye dare my state assail.
But when my will shall be disposed to draw you all to me,
Even with the earth itself, and seas, ye shall enforced be;
Then will I to Olympus' top our virtuous engine bind,
And by it everything shall hang, by my command inclined.
So much I am supreme to Gods, to men supreme as much."
The Gods sat silent, and admired, his dreadful speech was such.
At last his blue-eyed daughter spake : " O great Saturnides!
O father, O heaven's highest king, well know we the excess
Of thy great power, compared with all; yet the bold Greeks' estate
We needs must mourn, since they must fall beneath so hard a fate;
For, if thy grave command enjoin, we will abstain from fight.
But to afford them such advice as may relieve their plight
We will, with thy consent, be bold; that all may not sustain
The fearful burthen of thy wrath, and with their shames be slain."
He smiled, and said : " Be confident, thou art beloved of me;
1 speak not this with serious thoughts, but will be kind to thee."
This said, his brass-hooved winged horse he did to chariot bind,
Whose crests were fringed with manes of gold; and golden garments shined
On his rich shoulders; in his hand he took a golden scourge,
Divinely fashioned, and with blows their willing speed did urge
Midway betwixt the earth and heaven. -To Ida then he came,
Abounding in delicious springs, and nurse of beasts untame,
Where, on the mountain Gargarus, men did a fane erect
To his high name, and altars sweet; and there his horse he checked
Dissolved them from his chariot, and in a cloud of jet
He covered them, and on the top took his triumphant seat,
Beholding Priam's famous town, and all the fleet of Greece.
The Greeks took breakfast speedily, and armed at every piece.
So Trojans; who though fewer far, yet all to fight took arms,
Dire need enforced them to avert their wives' and children's harms.
All gates flew open; all the host did issue, foot and horse,
In mighty tumult; straight one place adjoined each adverse force.
Then shields with shields met, darts with darts, strength against strength opposed;
The boss-piked targets were thrust on, and thundered as they closed
In mighty tumult; groan for groan, and breath for breath did breathe,
Of men then slain, and to be slain; earth flowed with fruits of death.
While the fair morning's beauty held, and day increased in height,
Their javelins mutually made death transport an equal freight,
But when the hot meridian point bright Phoebus did ascend,
Then Jove his golden balances did equally extend,
And of long-rest-conferring death put in two bitter fates
For Troy and Greece; he held the midst; the day of final dates
Fell on the Greeks; the Greeks' hard lot sunk to the flowery ground,
The Trojans' leapt as high as heaven. Then did the claps resound
Of his fierce thunder; lightning leapt amongst each Grecian troop;
The sight amazed them; pallid fear made boldest stomachs stoop.
Then Idomen durst not abide, Atrides went his way,
And both th' Ajaces; Nestor yet against his will did stay,
That grave protector of the Greeks, for Paris with a dart
Enraged one of his chariot horse; he smote the upper part
Of all his skull, even where the hair, that made his foretop, sprung.
The hurt was deadly, and the pain so sore tbe courser stung,
Pierced to the brain, he stamped and plunged. One on another bears,
Entangled round about the beam; then Nestor cut the gears
With his new-drawn authentic sword. Meanwhile the fiery horse
Of Hector brake into the press, with their bold rulers' force;
Then good old Nestor had been slain, had Diomed not espied,
Who to Ulysses, as he fled, importunately cried :
“Thou that in counsels dost abound, O Laertiades,
Why fliest thou? Why thus, coward-like, shunn'st thou the honoured prease?
Take heed thy back take not a dart. Stay, let us both intend,
To drive this cruel enemy from our dear aged friend."
He spake, but wary Ithacus would find no patient ear,
But fled forthright, even to the fleet. Yet though he single were,
Brave Diomed mixed amongst the fight, and stood before the steeds
Of old Neleides, whose estate thus kingly he areeds :
“O father, with these youths in fight thou art unequal placed,
Thy willing sinews are unknit, grave age pursues thee fast,
And thy unruly horse are slow; my chariot therefore use
And try how ready Trojan horse can fly him that pursues,
Pursue the flier, and every way perform the varied fight;
I forced them from Anchises' son, well skilled in cause of flight.
Then let my squire lead hence thy horse; mine thou shalt guard, whilst I,
By thee advanced, assay the fight, that Hector's self may try
If my lance dote with the defects that fail best minds in age,
Or find the palsy in my hands, that doth thy life engage."
This noble Nestor did accept, and Diomed's two friends,
Eurymedon that valour loves, and Sthenelus, ascends
Old Nestor's coach. Of Diomed's horse Nestor the charge sustains,
And Tydeus' son took place of fight. Neleides held the reins,
And scourged the horse, who swiftly ran direct in Hector's face,
Whom fierce Tydides bravely charged, but, he turned from the chase,
His javelin Eniopeus smit, mighty Thebseus' son,
And was great Hector's charioteer; it through his breast did run,
Near to his pap; he fell to earth, back flew his frighted horse,
His strength and soul were both dissolved. Hector had deep remorse
Of his mishap, yet left he him, and for another1 sought;
Nor long his steeds did want a guide, for straight good fortune brought
Bold Archeptolemus, whose life did from Iphitis spring;
He made him take the reins and mount. Then souls were set on wing;
Then high exploits were undergone; then Trojans in their walls
Had been enfolded like meek lambs, had Jove winked at their falls,
Who hurled his horrid thunder forth, and made pale lightnings fly
Into the earth, before the horse that Nestor did apply.
A dreadful flash burnt through the air, that savoured sulphur-like,
Which down before the chariot the dazzled horse did strike.
The fair reins fell from Nestor's hand, who did in fear entreat
Renowned Tydides into flight to turn his fury's heat :
“For know'st thou not," said he, " our aid is not supplied from Jove!
This day he will give fame to Troy, which when it fits his love
We shall enjoy. Let no man tempt his unresisted will,
Though he exceed in gifts of strength, for he exceeds him still."
“Father," replied the king, " 'tis true; but both my heart and soul
Are most extremely grieved to think how Hector will control
My valour with his vaunts in Troy, that I was terror-sick
With his approach; which when he boasts, let earth devour me quick."
“Ah! warlike Tydeus' son," said he, " what needless words are these?
Though Hector should report thee faint, and amorous of thy ease,
The Trojans, nor the Trojan wives, would never give him trust,
Whose youthful husbands thy free hand hath smothered so in dust."
This said, he turned his one-hooved horse to flight, and troop did take,
When Hector, and his men, with shouts, did greedy pursuit make,
And poured on darts that made
air sigh. Then Hector did exclaim :
“O Tydeus' son, the kings of Greece do most renown thy name
With highest place, feasts, and full cups; who now will do thee shame;
Thou shalt be like a woman used, and they will say: ' Depart,
Immartial minion, since to stand Hector thou hast no heart.'
Nor canst thou scale our turrets' tops, nor lead the wives to fleet
Of valiant men, that wife-like fear'st my adverse charge to meet."
This two ways moved him, — still to fly, or turn his horse and fight.
Thrice thrust he forward to assault, and every time the fright
Of Jove's fell thunder drave him back, which he proposed for sign
(To show the change of victory) Trojans should victors shine.
Then Hector comforted his men : " All my adventurous friends,
Be men, and of your famous strength think of the honoured ends.
I know benevolent Jupiter did by his beck profess
Conquest and high renown to me, and to the Greeks distress.
O fools, to raise such silly forts, not worth the least account,
Nor able to resist our force! With ease our horse may mount
Quite over all their hollow- dike. But, when their fleet I reach,
Let Memory to all the world a famous bonfire teach,
For I will all their ships inflame, with whose infestive smoke,
Fear-shrunk, and hidden near their keels, the conquered Greeks shall choke."
Then cherished he his famous horse : " O Xanthus, now," said he,
“And thou, Podargus, iEthon too, and Lampus, dear to me,
Make me some worthy recompense for so much choice of meat,
Given you by fair Andromache; bread of the purest wheat,
And with it, for your drink, mixed wine, to make ye wished cheer,
Still serving you before myself, her husband young and dear.
Pursue and use your swiftest speed, that we may take for prize
The shield of old Neleides, which Fame lifts to the skies,
Even to the handles telling it to be of massy gold.
And from the shoulders let us take, of Diomed the bold,
The royal curace Yulcan wrought with art so exquisite.
These if we make our sacred spoil, I doubt not, but this night,
Even to their navy to enforce the Greeks' unturned flight."
This Juno took in high disdain, and made Olympus shake
As she but stirred within her throne, and thus to Neptune spake:
“O Neptune! what a spite is this? Thou God so huge in power,