by Homer
To whom the merry pipe and harp their spritely sounds advanced,
The matrons standing in their doors admiring. Otherwhere
A solemn court of law was kept, where throngs of people were.
The case in question was a fine imposed on one that slew
The friend of him that followed it, and for the fine did sue,
Which th' other pleaded he had paid. Th' adverse part denied,
And openly affirmed he had no penny satisfied.
Both put it to arbitrament. The people cried 'twas best
For both parts, and th' assistants too gave their dooms like the rest.
The heralds made the people peace. The seniors then did bear
The voiceful heralds' sceptres, sat within a sacred sphere,
On polished stones, and gave by turns their sentence. In the court
Two talents' gold were cast, for him that judged in justest sort.
The other city other wars employed as busily,
Two armies glittering in arms, of one confederacy,
Besieged it, and a parley and with those within the town.
Two ways they stood resolved; to see the city overthrown,
Or that the citizens should heap in two parts all their wealth,
And give them half. They neither liked, but armed themselves by stealth.
Left all their old men, wives, and boys, behind to man their walls,
And stole out to their enemy's town. The Queen of martials
And Mars himself conducted them; both which, being forged of gold,
Must needs have golden furniture, and men might so behold
They were presented Deities. The people. Yulcan forged
Of meaner metal. When they came where that was to be urged
For which they went, within a vale close to a flood, whose stream
Used to give all their cattle drink, they there enambushed them,
And sent two scouts out to descry when th' enemy's herds and sheep
Were setting out. They straight came forth, with two that used to keep
Their passage always; both which piped, and went on merrily,
Nor dreamed of ambuscadoes there. The ambush then let fly,
Slew all their white-fleeced sheep, and neat, and by them laid their guard.
When those in siege before the town so strange an uproar heard,
Behind, amongst their flocks and herds (being then in counsel set)
They then start up, took horse, and soon their subtle enemy met,
Fought with them on the river's shore, where both gave mutual blows
With well-piled darts. Amongst them ajl perverse Contention rose,
Amongst them Tumult was enraged, amongst them ruinous Fate
Had her red-finger; some they took in an unhurt estate,
Some hurt yet living, some quite slain, and those they tugged to them
By both the feet, stripped off and took their weeds, with all the stream
Of blood upon them that their steels had manfully let out.
They fared as men alive indeed drew dead indeed about.
To these the fiery Artizan did add a new-eared field,
Large and thrice ploughed, the soil being soft, and of a wealthy yield;
And many men at plough he made, that drave earth here and there,
And turned up stitches orderly, at whose end when they were,
A fellow ever gave their hands full cups of luscious wine;
Which emptied, for another stitch, the earth they undermine,
And long till th' utmost hound he reached of all the ample close.
The soil turned up behind the plough all black like earth arose,
Though forged of nothing else but gold, and lay in show as light
As if it had been ploughed indeed, miraculous to sight.
There grew by this a field of corn, high, ripe, where reapers wrought,
And let thick handfuls fall to earth, for which some other brought
Bands, and made sheaves. Three binders stood, and took the handfuls reaped
From boys that gathered quickly up, and by them armfuls heaped.
Amongst these at a furrow's end the king stood pleased at heart,
Said no word, but his sceptre showed. And from him, much apart,
His harvest-bailiffs underneath an oak a feast prepared,
And having killed a mighty ox, stood there to see him shared,
Which women for their harvest folks (then come to sup) had dressed,
And many white wheat-cakes bestowed, to make it up a feast.
He set near this a vine of gold, that cracked beneath the weight
Of bunches black with being ripe; to keep which at the height,
A silver rail ran all along, and round about it flowed
An azure moat, and to this guard a quickset was bestowed
Of tin, one only path to all, by which the pressmen came
In time of vintage. Youths and maids, that bore not yet the flame
Of manly Hymen, baskets bore of grapes and mellow fruit.
A lad that sweetly touched a harp, to which his voice did suit,
Centered the circles of that youth, all whose skill could not do
The wanton's pleasure to their minds, that danced, sung, whistled too.
A herd of oxen then he carved, with high raised heads, forged all
Of gold and tin, for colour mixed, and bellowing from their stall
Rushed to their pastures at a flood that echoed all their throats,
Exceeding swift, and full of reeds; and all in yellow coats
Four herdsmen followed; after whom nine mastiffs went. In head
Of all the herd, upon a bull, that deadly bellowed,
Two horrid lions rampt, and seized, and tugged off bellowing still;
Both men and dogs came; yet they tore the hide, and lapped their fill
Of black blood, and the entrails ate. In vain the men assayed
To set their dogs on; none durst pinch, but cur-like stood and bayed
In both the faces of their kings, and all their onsets fled.
Then in a passing pleasant vale the famous Artsman fed,
Upon a goodly pasture ground, rich flocks of white-fleeced sheep,
Built stables, cottages, and cotes that did the shepherds keep
Q Q
From wind and weather. Next to these he cut a dancing place,
All full of turnings, that was like the admirable maze
For fair-haired Ariadne made by cunning Dasdalus;
And in it youths and virgins danced, all young and beauteous,
And glued in another's palms. Weeds that the wind did toss
The virgins wore; the youths woven coats, that cast a faint dim gloss
Like that of oil. Fresh garlands too the virgins' temples crowned;
The youths gilt swords wore at their thighs, with silver bawdricks bound.
Sometimes all wound close in a ring, to which as fast they spun,
As any wheel a turner makes, being tried how it will run,
While he is set; and out again as full of speed they wound,
Not one left fast, or breaking hands. A multitude stood round,
Delighted with their nimble sport; to end which two begun,
Mids all, a song, and turning sung the sport's conclusion.
All this he circled in the shield, with pouring round about,
In all his rage, the Ocean, that it might never out.
This shield thus done, he forged for him such curets as outshined
The blaze of fire. A helmet then (through which no steel could find
Forced passage) he composed, whose hue a hundred colours took,
And in the crest a plume of gold, that each breath stirred, he stuck.
All done, he all to Thetis brought, and held all up to her.
She took them all, and, like t' the hawk surnamed the ospringer.
From Yulcan to her mighty son, with that so glorious show
,
Stooped from the steep Olympian hill hid in eternal snow.
BOOK XIX.
ARGUMENT.
Thetis presenting armour to her son,
He calls a court, with full reflection
Of all his lorath; takes of the Icing of men
Free-offered gifts. All take their breakfast then;
He only fasting, arms, and brings abroad
The Grecian host, and (hearing the abode
Of his near death by Xanthus prophesied)
The horse, for his so bold presage, doth chide.
ANOTHER ARGUMENT.
Tau gives the anger period,
And great Achilles comes abroad.
THE moon arose, and from the ocean, in her saffron robe,
Gave light to all, as well to Gods as men of th' under globe.
Thetis stooped home, and found the prostrate person of her son
About his friend, still pouring out himself in passion;
A number more being heavy consorts to him in his cares.
Amongst them all Thetis appeared and, sacred comforters,
Made these short words : " Though we must grieve, yet bear it thus, my son,
It was no man that prostrated in this sad fashion
Thy dearest friend, it was a God that first laid on his hand,
Whose will is law. The Gods' decrees no human must withstand, j
Do thou embrace this fabric of a God, whose hand before
Ne'er forged the like, and such as yet no human shoulder wore."
Thus, setting down, the precious metal of the arms was such
That all the room rung with the weight of every slend'rest touch.
Cold tremblings took the Myrmidons; none durst sustain, all feared
T' oppose their eyes; Achilles yet, as soon as they appeared,
Stern Anger entered. From his eyes, as if the day-star rose,
A radiance terrifying men did all the state enclose.
At length he took into his hands the rich gift of the God,
And, much pleased to behold the art that in the shield he showed,
He brake forth iuto this applause : " O mother, these right well
Show an immortal finger's touch; man's hand must never deal
VY ith arms again. Now I will arm; yet, that no honour make
My friend forgotten, I much fear lest with the blows of flies
His brass-inflicted wounds are filed; life gone, his person lies
All apt to putrefaction." She bade him doubt no harm
Of those offences; she would care to keep the petulant swarm
Of flies, that usually taint the bodies of the slain,
From his friend's person. Though a year the earth's top should sustain
His slaughtered body, it should still rest sound, and rather hold
A better state than worse, since time that death first made him cold.
And so bade call a council, to dispose of new alarms,
Where, to the king, that was the pastor of that flock in arms,
He should depose all anger, and put on a fortitude
Fit for his arms. All this his pow'rs with dreadful strength indued.
She, with her fair hand, stilled into the nostrils of his friend
Red nectar and ambrosia, with which she did defend
The corse from putrefaction. He trod along the shore,
And summoned all th' heroic Greeks, with all that spent before
The time in exercise with him, the masters, pilots too,
Yiet'lers, and all. All, when they saw Achilles summon so,
Swarmed to the council, having long left the laborious wars.
To all these came two halting kings, true servitors of Mars,
Tydides and wise Ithacus, both leaning on their spears,
Their wounds still painful; and both these sat first of all the peers.
The last come was the king of men, sore wounded with the lance
Of Coon Antenorides. All set, the first in utterance
Was Thetis' son, who rose and said : " Atrides, had not this
Conferred most profit to us both, when both our enmities
Consumed us so, and for a weuch, whom, when I chose for prize,
In laying Lyrnessus' ruined walls amongst our victories,
I would to heaven, as first she set her dainty foot aboard,
Diana's haud had tumbled off, and with a javelin gored!
For then th' unmeasurable earth had not so thick been gnawn,
In death's convulsions, by our friends, since my affects were drawn
To such distemper. To our foe, and to our foe's chief friend,
Our jar brought profit, but the Greeks will never give an end
To thought of what it prejudiced them. Past things yet past our aid;
Fit grief for what wrath ruled in them must make th' amends repaid
With that necessity of love that now forbids our ire,
Which I with free affects obey. 'Tis for the senseless fire
Still to be burning, having stuff; but men must curb rage still,
Being framed with voluntary pow'rs as well to check the will
As give it reins. Give you then charge, that for our instant fight
The Greeks may follow me to field, to try if still the night
Will bear out Trojans at our ships. I hope there is some one
Amongst their chief encouragers will thank me to be gone,
And bring his heart down to his knees in that submission."
The Greeks rejoiced to hear the heart of Peleus' mighty son
So qualified. And then the king, not rising from his throne
For his late hurt, to get good ear, thus ordered his reply :
“Princes of Greece, your states shall suffer no indignity,
If, being far off, ye stand and hear; nor fits it such as stand
At greater distance to disturb the council now in hand
By uproar, in their too much care of hearing. Some, of force,
Must lose some words; for hard it is, in such a great concourse
(Though hearers' ears be ne'er so sharp) to touch at all things spoke;
And in assemblies of such trust, how can a man provoke
Fit pow'r to hear, or leave to speak? Best auditors may there
Lose fittest words, and the most vocal orator fit ear.
My main end then, to satisfy Pelides with reply,
My words shall prosecute, to him my speech especially
Shall bear direction. Yet I wish the court in general
Would give fit ear; my speech shall need attention of all.
“Oft have our peers of Greece much blamed my forcing of the prize
Due to Achilles; of which act, not I, but destinies,
And Jove himself and black Erinnys (that casts false mists still
Betwixt us and our actions done, both by her pow'r and will)
Are authors. What could I do then? The very day and hour
Of our debate, that Fury stole in that act on my pow'r.
And more; all things are done by strife; that ancient seed of Jove,
Ate, that hurts all, perfects all: her feet are soft, and move
Not on the earth, they bear her still aloft men's heads, and there
The harmful hurts them. Nor was I alone her prisoner.
Jove, best of men and Gods, hath been; not he himself hath gone
Beyond her fetters; no, she made a woman put them on;
'For when Alcmena was to vent the force of Hercules
In well-walled Thebes, thus Jove triumphed : ' Hear, Gods and Goddesses,
The words my joys urged : In this day, Lucina, bringing pain
To labouring women, shall produce into the light of men
A man that all his neighbour kings shall in his empire hold,
And vaunt that more than manly race whose honoured veins enfold
My eminent blood.' Saturnia conceived a present sleight,
And urged con
firmance of his vaunt t' infringe it, her conceit
In this sort urged: ' Thou wilt not hold thy word with this rare man,
Or, if thou wilt, confirm it with the oath Olympian,
That whosoever falls this day betwixt a woman's knees,
Of those men's stocks that from thy blood derive their pedigrees,
Shall all his neighbour towns command.' Jove, ignorant of fraud,
Took that great oath, which his great ill gave little cause t' applaud.
Down from Olj-mpus' top she stooped, and quickly reached the place
In Argos where the famous wife of Sthenelus, whose race
He fetched from Jove by Perseus, dwelt. She was but seven months gone
With issue, yet she brought it forth; Alcmena's matchless son
Delayed from light; Saturnia repressed the teeming throes
Of his great mother. Up to heaven she mounts again, and shows,
In glory, her deceit to Jove. ' Bright-light'ning Jove,' said she,
' Now th' Argives have an emperor; a son derived from thee
Is born to Persean Sthenelus, Eurystheus his name,
Noble and worthy of the rule thou swor'st to him.' This came
Close to the heart of Jupiter, and Ate, that had wrought
This anger by Saturnia, by her bright hair he caught,
Held down her head, and over her made this infallible vow :
' That never to the cope of stars should reascend that brow,
Being so infortunate to all.' Thus, swinging her about,
He cast her from the fiery heaven, who ever since thrust out
Her forked sting in th' affairs of men. Jove ever since did grieve,
Since his dear issue Hercules did by his vow achieve
The unjust toils of Eurystheus. Thus fares it now with me,
Since under Hector's violence the Grecian progeny
Fell so unfitly by my spleen, whose falls will ever stick
In my grieved thoughts, my weakness yet (Saturnius making sick
The state my mind held) now recured, th' amends shall make even weight
With my offence. And therefore rouse thy spirits to the fight
With all thy forces; all the gifts proposed thee at thy tent
Last day by royal Ithacus my officers shall present.
And, if it like thee, strike no stroke, though never so on thorns
Thy mind stands to thy friend's revenge, till my command adorns
Thy tents and coffers with such gifts as well may let thee know
How much I wish thee satisfied." He answered : " Let thy vow,