My rage rekindles and my soul’s on flame; 760
‘T is just resentment, and becomes the brave;
Disgraced, dishonour’d, like the vilest slave!
Return then, Heroes! and our answer bear,
The glorious combat is no more my care;
Not till amidst yon sinking navy slain, 765
The blood of Greeks shall dye the sable main;
Not till the flames, by Hector’s fury thrown,
Consume your vessels, and approach my own;
Just there, th’ impetuous homicide shall stand,
There cease his battle, and there feel our hand.’ 770
This said, each Prince a double goblet crown’d,
And cast a large libation on the ground:
Then to their vessels, thro’ the gloomy shades,
The Chiefs return; divine Ulysses leads.
Meantime Achilles’ slaves prepared a bed, 775
With fleeces, carpets, and soft linen spread:
There, till the sacred morn restor’d the day,
In slumbers sweet the rev’rend Phœnix lay,
But in his inner tent, an ampler space,
Achilles slept: and in his warm embrace 780
Fair Diomede of the Lesbian race.
Last, for Patroclus was the couch prepared,
Whose nightly joys the beauteous Iphis shared:
Achilles to his friend consign’d her charms,
When Scyros fell before his conquering arms. 785
And now th’ elected Chiefs, whom Greece had sent,
Pass’d thro’ the hosts, and reach’d the royal tent.
Then rising all, with goblets in their hands,
The peers, and leaders of th’ Achaian bands,
Hail’d their return: Atrides first begun: 790
‘Say, what success? divine Laërtes’ son!
Achilles’ high resolves declare to all:
Returns the Chief, or must our navy fall?’
‘Great King of Nations!’ (Ithacus replied)
‘Fix’d is his wrath, unconquer’d is his pride; 795
He slights thy friendship, thy proposals scorns,
And, thus implor’d, with fiercer fury burns.
To save our army, and our fleets to free,
Is not his care; but left to Greece and thee.
Your eyes shall view, when morning paints the sky, 800
Beneath his oars the whitening billows fly.
Us too he bids our oars and sails employ,
Nor hope the fall of Heav’n-protected Troy;
For Jove o’ershades her with his arm divine,
Inspires her war, and bids her glory shine. 805
Such was his word: what farther he declared,
These sacred heralds and great Ajax heard.
But Phœnix in his tent the Chief retains,
Safe to transport him to his native plains,
When morning dawns; if other he decree, 810
His age is sacred, and his choice is free.’
Ulysses ceas’d: the great Achaian host,
With sorrow seiz’d, in consternation lost,
Attend the stern reply. Tydides broke
The gen’ral silence, and undaunted spoke: 815
‘Why should we gifts to proud Achilles send?
Or strive with prayers his haughty soul to bend?
His country’s woes he glories to deride,
And prayers will burst that swelling heart with pride.
Be the fierce impulse of his rage obey’d; 820
Our battles let him or desert or aid;
Then let him arm when Jove or he think fit;
That, to his madness, or to Heav’n, commit:
What for ourselves we can, is always ours:
This night, let due repast refresh our powers; 825
(For strength consists in spirits and in blood,
And those are owed to gen’rous wine and food);
But when the rosy Messenger of Day
Strikes the blue mountains with her golden ray,
Ranged at the ships let all our squadrons shine, 830
In flaming arms, a long extended line:
In the dread front let great Atrides stand,
The first in danger, as in high command.’
Shouts of acclaim the list’ning heroes raise,
Then each to Heav’n the due libations pays; 835
Till sleep, descending o’er the tents, bestows
The grateful blessings of desired repose.
Iliad Book X. The Night Adventure of Diomede and Ulysses
THE ARGUMENT
Upon the refusal of Achilles to return to the army, the distress of Agamemnon is described in the most lively manner. He takes no rest that night, but passes through the camp, awaking the leaders, and contriving all possible methods for the public safety. Menelaus, Nestor, Ulysses, and Diomede, are employed in raising the rest of the captains. They call a council of war, and determine to send scouts into the enemy’s camp, to learn their posture, and discover their intentions. Diomede undertakes this hazardous enterprise, and makes choice of Ulysses for his companion. In their passage they surprise Dolon, whom Hector had sent on a like design to the camp of the Grecians. From him they are informed of the situation of the Trojan and auxiliary forces, and particularly of Rhesus, and the Thracians, who were lately arrived. They pass on with success; kill Rhesus with several of his officers, and seize the famous horses of that Prince, with which they return in triumph to the camp.
The same night continues; the scene lies in the two camps.
ALL night the Chiefs before their vessels lay,
And lost in sleep the labours of the day:
All but the King; with various thoughts oppress’d,
His country’s cares lay rolling in his breast.
As when by lightnings Jove’s ethereal Power 5
Foretells the rattling hail, or weighty shower,
Or sends soft snows to whiten all the shore,
Or bids the brazen throat of war to roar;
By fits one flash succeeds as one expires,
And Heav’n flames thick with momentary fires: 10
So bursting frequent from Atrides’ breast,
Sighs foll’wing sighs his inward fears confess’d.
Now, o’er the fields, dejected, he surveys
From thousand Trojan fires the mounting blaze;
Hears in the passing wind their music blow, 15
And marks distinct the voices of the foe.
Now, looking backwards to the fleet and coast,
Anxious he sorrows for th’ endanger’d host.
He rends his hairs, in sacrifice to Jove,
And sues to him that ever lives above: 20
Inly he groans; while glory and despair
Divide his heart, and wage a doubtful war.
A thousand cares his lab’ring breast revolves;
To seek sage Nestor now the Chief resolves,
With him, in wholesome counsels, to debate 25
What yet remains to save th’ afflicted state.
He rose, and first he cast his mantle round,
Next on his feet the shining sandals bound;
A lion’s yellow spoils his back conceal’d;
His warlike hand a pointed jav’lin held. 30
Meanwhile his brother, press’d with equal woes,
Alike denied the gift of soft repose,
Laments for Greece; that in his cause before
So much had suffer’d, and must suffer more.
A leopard’s spotted hide his shoulders spread; 35
A brazen helmet glitter’d on his head:
Thus (with a jav’lin in his hand) he went
To wake Atrides in the royal tent.
Already waked, Atrides he descried
His armour buckling at his vessel’s side. 40
Joyful they met; the Spartan thus begun:
‘Why puts my brother this bright armour on?
Sends he
some spy, amidst these silent hours,
To try yon camp, and watch the Trojan powers?
But say, what hero shall sustain the task? 45
Such bold exploits uncommon courage ask,
Guideless, alone, thro’ night’s dark shade to go,
And ‘midst a hostile camp explore the foe.’
To whom the King: ‘In such distress we stand,
No vulgar counsels our affairs demand; 50
Greece to preserve is now no easy part,
But asks high wisdom, deep design, and art.
For Jove averse our humble prayer denies,
And bows his head to Hector’s sacrifice.
What eye has witness’d, or what ear believ’d, 55
In one great day, by one great arm achiev’d,
Such wondrous deeds as Hector’s hand has done,
And we beheld, the last revolving sun?
What honours the belov’d of Jove adorn!
Sprung from no God, and of no Goddess born, 60
Yet such his acts, as Greeks unborn shall tell,
And curse the battle where their fathers fell.
Now speed thy hasty course along the fleet,
There call great Ajax, and the Prince of Crete;
Ourself to hoary Nestor will repair; 65
To keep the guards on duty, be his care:
(For Nestor’s influence best that quarter guides,
Whose son, with Merion, o’er the watch presides.’)
To whom the Spartan: ‘These thy orders borne,
Say, shall I stay, or with despatch return?’ 70
‘There shalt thou stay (the King of Men replied),
Else may we miss to meet without a guide,
The paths so many, and the camp so wide.
Still, with your voice, the slothful soldiers raise,
Urge by their fathers’ fame, their future praise. 75
Forget we now our state and lofty birth;
Not titles here, but works, must prove our worth.
To labour is the lot of man below;
And when Jove gave us life, he gave us woe.’
This said, each parted to his sev’ral cares; 80
The King to Nestor’s sable ship repairs;
The sage protector of the Greeks he found
Stretch’d in his bed, with all his arms around;
The various-colour’d scarf, the shield he rears,
The shining helmet, and the pointed spears; 85
The dreadful weapons of the warrior’s rage,
That, old in arms, disdain’d the peace of age.
Then, leaning on his hand his watchful head,
The hoary Monarch rais’d his eyes, and said:
‘What art thou, speak, that on designs unknown, 90
While others sleep, thus range the camp alone?
Seek’st thou some friend, or nightly sentinel?
Stand off, approach not, but thy purpose tell.’
‘O son of Neleus! (thus the King rejoin’d)
Pride of the Greeks, and glory of thy kind! 95
Lo here the wretched Agamemnon stands,
Th’ unhappy Gen’ral of the Grecian bands;
Whom Jove decrees with daily cares to bend,
And woes, that only with his life shall end!
Scarce can my knees these trembling limbs sustain, 100
And scarce my heart support its load of pain.
No taste of sleep these heavy eyes have known;
Confused, and sad, I wander thus alone,
With fears distracted, with no fix’d design;
And all my people’s miseries are mine. 105
If aught of use thy walking thought suggest,
(Since cares, like mine, deprive thy soul of rest,
Impart thy counsel, and assist thy friend:
Now let us jointly to the trench descend,
At every gate the fainting guard excite, 110
Tired with the toils of day, and watch of night:
Else may the sudden foe our works invade,
So near, and favour’d by the gloomy shade.’
To him thus Nestor: ‘Trust the Powers above,
Nor think proud Hector’s hopes confirm’d by Jove: 115
How ill agree the views of vain mankind,
And the wise counsels of th’ eternal mind!
Audacious Hector, if the Gods, ordain
That great Achilles rise and rage again,
What toils attend thee, and what woes remain! 120
Lo! faithful Nestor thy command obeys;
The care is next our other Chiefs to raise:
Ulysses, Diomed, we chiefly need;
Meges for strength, Oïleus famed for speed,
Some other be despatch’d of nimbler feet, 125
To those tall ships, remotest of the fleet,
Where lie great Ajax, and the King of Crete.
To rouse the Spartan I myself decree;
Dear as he is to us, and dear to thee,
Yet must I tax his sloth, that claims no share, 130
With his great brother, in this martial care:
Him it behoved to ev’ry Chief to sue,
Preventing ev’ry part perform’d by you;
For strong necessity our toils demands,
Claims all our hearts, and urges all our hands.’ 135
To whom the King: ‘With rev’rence we allow
Thy just rebukes, yet learn to spare them now.
My gen’rous brother is of gentle kind,
He seems remiss, but bears a valiant mind;
Thro’ too much def’rence to our sov’reign sway, 140
Content to follow when we lead the way.
But now, our ills industrious to prevent,
Long ere the rest he rose, and sought my tent.
The Chiefs you named, already, at his call,
Prepare to meet us at the navy-wall; 145
Assembling there, between the trench and gates,
Near the night-guards our chosen council waits.’
‘Then none (said Nestor) shall his rule withstand,
For great examples justify command.’
With that, the venerable warrior rose; 150
The shining greaves his manly legs enclose;
His purple mantle golden buckles join’d,
Warm with the softest wool, and doubly lin’d.
Then, rushing from his tent, he snatch’d in haste
His steely lance, that lighten’d as he pass’d. 155
The camp he travers’d thro’ the sleeping crowd,
Stopp’d at Ulysses’ tent, and call’d aloud.
Ulysses, sudden as the voice was sent,
Awakes, starts up, and issues from his tent:
‘What new distress, what sudden cause of fright, 160
Thus leads you wand’ring in the silent night?’
‘O prudent Chief! (the Pylian Chief replied)
Wise as thou art, be now thy wisdom tried:
Whatever means of safety can be sought,
Whatever counsels can inspire our thought, 165
Whatever methods, or to fly or fight;
All, all depend on this important night!’
He heard, return’d, and took his painted shield:
Then join’d the Chiefs, and follow’d thro’ the field.
Without his tent, bold Diomed they found, 170
All sheath’d in arms, his brave companions round:
Each sunk in sleep, extended on the field,
His head reclining on his bossy shield:
A wood of spears stood by, that, fix’d upright,
Shot from their flashing points a quiv’ring light. 175
A bull’s black hide composed the hero’s bed;
A splendid carpet roll’d beneath his head.
Then, with his foot, old Nestor gently shakes
The slumb’ring Chief, and in these words awakes:
‘Rise, son of Tydeus! to the brave and strong 180
Rest se
ems inglorious, and the night too long.
But sleep’st thou now? when from yon hill the foe
Hangs o’er the fleet, and shades our walls below?’
At this, soft slumber from his eyelids fled;
The warrior saw the hoary Chief, and said: 185
‘Wondrous old man! whose soul no respite knows,
Tho’ years and honours bid thee seek repose.
Let younger Greeks our sleeping warriors wake;
Ill fits thy age these toils to undertake.’
‘My friend’ (he answer’d), ‘gen’rous is thy care, 190
These toils, my subjects and my sons might bear,
Their loyal thoughts and pious loves conspire
To ease a Sov’reign, and relieve a Sire.
But now the last despair surrounds our host;
No hour must pass, no moment must be lost; 195
Each single Greek, in this conclusive strife,
Stands on the sharpest edge of death or life:
Yet if my years thy kind regard engage,
Employ thy youth as I employ my age;
Succeed to these my cares, and rouse the rest; 200
He serves me most, who serves his country best.’
This said, the Hero o’er his shoulder flung
A lion’s spoils, that to his ankles hung;
Then seiz’d his pond’rous lance, and strode along.
Meges the bold, with Ajax famed for speed, 205
The warrior rous’d, and to th’ entrenchments led.
And now the Chiefs approach the nightly guard;
A wakeful squadron, each in arms prepared:
Th’ unwearied watch their list’ning leaders keep,
And, couching close, repel invading sleep. 210
So faithful dogs their fleecy charge maintain,
With toil protected from the prowling train;
When the gaunt lioness, with hunger bold,
Springs from the mountains tow’rd the guarded fold:
Thro’ breaking woods her rustling course they hear; 215
Loud, and more loud, the clamours strike their ear
Of hounds, and men; they start, they gaze around;
Watch ev’ry side, and turn to ev’ry sound.
Thus watch’d the Grecians, cautious of surprise,
Each voice, each motion, drew their ears and eyes; 220
Each step of passing feet increas’d th’ affright;
And hostile Troy was ever full in sight.
Nestor with joy the wakeful band survey’d,
And thus accosted thro’ the gloomy shade:
‘‘T is well, my sons! your nightly cares employ, 225
Else must our host become the scorn of Troy.
‘Watch thus, and Greece shall live.’ The hero said;
Then o’er the trench the foll’wing Chieftains led.
Alexander Pope - Delphi Poets Series Page 85