William Cowper- Collected Poetical Works

by William Cowper

  To help the Achaians, whatsoe’er thy will;

  When Hector at your heels shall mow you down:

  The Hero-slaughtering Hector! Then thy soul,

  Vexation-stung, shall tear thee with remorse, 305

  That thou hast scorn’d, as he were nothing worth,

  A Chief, the soul and bulwark of your cause.

  So saying, he cast his sceptre on the ground

  Studded with gold, and sat. On the other side

  The son of Atreus all impassion’d stood, 310

  When the harmonious orator arose

  Nestor, the Pylian oracle, whose lips

  Dropped eloquence — the honey not so sweet.

  Two generations past of mortals born

  In Pylus, coëtaneous with himself, 315

  He govern’d now the third — amid them all

  He stood, and thus, benevolent, began.

  Ah! what calamity hath fall’n on Greece!

  Now Priam and his sons may well exult,

  Now all in Ilium shall have joy of heart 320

  Abundant, hearing of this broil, the prime

  Of Greece between, in council and in arms.

  But be persuaded; ye are younger both

  Than I, and I was conversant of old

  With Princes your superiors, yet from them 325

  No disrespect at any time received.

  Their equals saw I never; never shall;

  Exadius, Cœneus, and the Godlike son

  Of Ægeus, mighty Theseus; men renown’d

  For force superior to the race of man, 330

  Brave Chiefs they were, and with brave foes they fought,

  With the rude dwellers on the mountain-heights

  The Centaurs, whom with havoc such as fame

  015 Shall never cease to celebrate, they slew.

  With these men I consorted erst, what time 335

  From Pylus, though a land from theirs remote,

  They called me forth, and such as was my strength,

  With all that strength I served them. Who is he?

  What Prince or Chief of the degenerate race

  Now seen on earth who might with these compare? 340

  Yet even these would listen and conform

  To my advice in consultation given,

  Which hear ye also; for compliance proves

  Oft times the safer and the manlier course.

  Thou, Agamemnon! valiant as thou art, 345

  Seize not the maid, his portion from the Greeks,

  But leave her his; nor thou, Achilles, strive

  With our imperial Chief; for never King

  Had equal honor at the hands of Jove

  With Agamemnon, or was throned so high. 350

  Say thou art stronger, and art Goddess-born,

  How then? His territory passes thine,

  And he is Lord of thousands more than thou.

  Cease, therefore, Agamemnon; calm thy wrath;

  And it shall be mine office to entreat 355

  Achilles also to a calm, whose might

  The chief munition is of all our host.

  To whom the sovereign of the Greeks replied,

  The son of Atreus. Thou hast spoken well,

  Old Chief, and wisely. But this wrangler here — 360

  Nought will suffice him but the highest place:

  He must control us all, reign over all,

  Dictate to all; but he shall find at least

  One here, disposed to question his commands.

  If the eternal Gods have made him brave, 365

  Derives he thence a privilege to rail?

  Whom thus Achilles interrupted fierce.

  Could I be found so abject as to take

  The measure of my doings at thy lips,

  Well might they call me coward through the camp, 370

  A vassal, and a fellow of no worth.

  016 Give law to others. Think not to control

  Me, subject to thy proud commands no more.

  Hear yet again! And weigh what thou shalt hear.

  I will not strive with thee in such a cause, 375

  Nor yet with any man; I scorn to fight

  For her, whom having given, ye take away.

  But I have other precious things on board;

  Of those take none away without my leave.

  Or if it please thee, put me to the proof 380

  Before this whole assembly, and my spear

  Shall stream that moment, purpled with thy blood.

  Thus they long time in opposition fierce

  Maintained the war of words; and now, at length,

  (The grand consult dissolved,) Achilles walked 385

  (Patroclus and the Myrmidons his steps

  Attending) to his camp and to his fleet.

  But Agamemnon order’d forth a bark,

  A swift one, manned with twice ten lusty rowers;

  He sent on board the Hecatomb: he placed 390

  Chrysëis with the blooming cheeks, himself,

  And to Ulysses gave the freight in charge.

  So all embarked, and plow’d their watery way.

  Atrides, next, bade purify the host;

  The host was purified, as he enjoin’d, 395

  And the ablution cast into the sea.

  Then to Apollo, on the shore they slew,

  Of the untillable and barren deep,

  Whole Hecatombs of bulls and goats, whose steam

  Slowly in smoky volumes climbed the skies. 400

  Thus was the camp employed; nor ceased the while

  The son of Atreus from his threats denounced

  At first against Achilles, but command

  Gave to Talthybius and Eurybates

  His heralds, ever faithful to his will. 405

  Haste — Seek ye both the tent of Peleus’ son

  Achilles. Thence lead hither by the hand

  017 Blooming Brisëis, whom if he withhold,

  Not her alone, but other spoil myself

  Will take in person — He shall rue the hour. 410

  With such harsh message charged he them dismissed

  They, sad and slow, beside the barren waste

  Of Ocean, to the galleys and the tents

  Moved of the Myrmidons. Him there they found

  Beneath the shadow of his bark reclined, 415

  Nor glad at their approach. Trembling they stood,

  In presence of the royal Chief, awe-struck,

  Nor questioned him or spake. He not the less

  Knew well their embassy, and thus began.

  Ye heralds, messengers of Gods and men, 420

  Hail, and draw near! I bid you welcome both.

  I blame not you; the fault is his alone

  Who sends you to conduct the damsel hence

  Brisëis. Go, Patroclus, generous friend!

  Lead forth, and to their guidance give the maid. 425

  But be themselves my witnesses before

  The blessed Gods, before mankind, before

  The ruthless king, should want of me be felt

  To save the host from havoc — Oh, his thoughts

  Are madness all; intelligence or skill, 430

  Forecast or retrospect, how best the camp

  May be secured from inroad, none hath he.

  He ended, nor Patroclus disobey’d,

  But leading beautiful Brisëis forth

  Into their guidance gave her; loth she went 435

  From whom she loved, and looking oft behind.

  Then wept Achilles, and apart from all,

  With eyes directed to the gloomy Deep

  And arms outstretch’d, his mother suppliant sought.

  Since, mother, though ordain’d so soon to die, 440

  I am thy son, I might with cause expect

  Some honor at the Thunderer’s hands, but none

  To me he shows, whom Agamemnon, Chief

  018 Of the Achaians, hath himself disgraced,

  Seizing by violence my just reward. 445 />
  So prayed he weeping, whom his mother heard

  Within the gulfs of Ocean where she sat

  Beside her ancient sire. From the gray flood

  Ascending sudden, like a mist she came,

  Sat down before him, stroked his face, and said. 450

  Why weeps my son? and what is thy distress?

  Hide not a sorrow that I wish to share.

  To whom Achilles, sighing deep, replied.

  Why tell thee woes to thee already known?

  At Thebes, Eëtion’s city we arrived, 455

  Smote, sack’d it, and brought all the spoil away.

  Just distribution made among the Greeks,

  The son of Atreus for his lot received

  Blooming Chrysëis. Her, Apollo’s priest

  Old Chryses followed to Achaia’s camp, 460

  That he might loose his daughter. Ransom rich

  He brought, and in his hands the hallow’d wreath

  And golden sceptre of the Archer God

  Apollo, bore; to the whole Grecian host,

  But chiefly to the foremost in command 465

  He sued, the sons of Atreus; then, the rest

  All recommended reverence of the Seer,

  And prompt acceptance of his costly gifts.

  But Agamemnon might not so be pleased,

  Who gave him rude dismission; he in wrath 470

  Returning, prayed, whose prayer Apollo heard,

  For much he loved him. A pestiferous shaft

  He instant shot into the Grecian host,

  And heap’d the people died. His arrows swept

  The whole wide camp of Greece, ‘till at the last 475

  A Seer, by Phœbus taught, explain’d the cause.

  I first advised propitiation. Rage

  Fired Agamemnon. Rising, he denounced

  Vengeance, and hath fulfilled it. She, in truth,

  Is gone to Chrysa, and with her we send 480

  Propitiation also to the King

  019 Shaft-arm’d Apollo. But my beauteous prize

  Brisëis, mine by the award of all,

  His heralds, at this moment, lead away.

  But thou, wherein thou canst, aid thy own son! 485

  Haste hence to Heaven, and if thy word or deed

  Hath ever gratified the heart of Jove,

  With earnest suit press him on my behalf.

  For I, not seldom, in my father’s hall

  Have heard thee boasting, how when once the Gods, 490

  With Juno, Neptune, Pallas at their head,

  Conspired to bind the Thunderer, thou didst loose

  His bands, O Goddess! calling to his aid

  The Hundred-handed warrior, by the Gods

  Briareus, but by men, Ægeon named. 495

  For he in prowess and in might surpassed

  020 His father Neptune, who, enthroned sublime,

  Sits second only to Saturnian Jove,

  Elate with glory and joy. Him all the Gods

  Fearing from that bold enterprise abstained. 500

  Now, therefore, of these things reminding Jove,

  Embrace his knees; entreat him that he give

  The host of Troy his succor, and shut fast

  The routed Grecians, prisoners in the fleet,

  That all may find much solace in their King, 505

  And that the mighty sovereign o’er them all,

  Their Agamemnon, may himself be taught

  His rashness, who hath thus dishonor’d foul

  The life itself, and bulwark of his cause.

  To him, with streaming eyes, Thetis replied. 510

  Born as thou wast to sorrow, ah, my son!

  Why have I rear’d thee! Would that without tears,

  Or cause for tears (transient as is thy life,

  A little span) thy days might pass at Troy!

  But short and sorrowful the fates ordain 515

  Thy life, peculiar trouble must be thine,

  Whom, therefore, oh that I had never borne!

  But seeking the Olympian hill snow-crown’d,

  I will myself plead for thee in the ear

  Of Jove, the Thunderer. Meantime at thy fleet 520

  Abiding, let thy wrath against the Greeks

  Still burn, and altogether cease from war.

  For to the banks of the Oceanus,

  Where Æthiopia holds a feast to Jove,

  021 He journey’d yesterday, with whom the Gods 525

  Went also, and the twelfth day brings them home.

  Then will I to his brazen-floor’d abode,

  That I may clasp his knees, and much misdeem

  Of my endeavor, or my prayer shall speed.

  So saying, she went; but him she left enraged 530

  For fair Brisëis’ sake, forced from his arms

  By stress of power. Meantime Ulysses came

  To Chrysa with the Hecatomb in charge.

  Arrived within the haven deep, their sails

  Furling, they stowed them in the bark below. 535

  Then by its tackle lowering swift the mast

  Into its crutch, they briskly push’d to land,

  Heaved anchors out, and moor’d the vessel fast.

  Forth came the mariners, and trod the beach;

  Forth came the victims of Apollo next, 540

  And, last, Chrysëis. Her Ulysses led

  Toward the altar, gave her to the arms

  Of her own father, and him thus address’d.

  O Chryses! Agamemnon, King of men,

  Hath sent thy daughter home, with whom we bring 545

  A Hecatomb on all our host’s behalf

  To Phœbus, hoping to appease the God

  022 By whose dread shafts the Argives now expire.

  So saying, he gave her to him, who with joy

  Received his daughter. Then, before the shrine 550

  Magnificent in order due they ranged

  The noble Hecatomb. Each laved his hands

  And took the salted meal, and Chryses made

  His fervent prayer with hands upraised on high.

  God of the silver bow, who with thy power 555

  Encirclest Chrysa, and who reign’st supreme

  In Tenedos, and Cilla the divine!

  Thou prov’dst propitious to my first request,

  Hast honor’d me, and punish’d sore the Greeks;

  Hear yet thy servant’s prayer; take from their host 560

  At once the loathsome pestilence away!

  So Chryses prayed, whom Phœbus heard well-pleased;

  Then prayed the Grecians also, and with meal

  Sprinkling the victims, their retracted necks

  First pierced, then flay’d them; the disjointed thighs 565

  They, next, invested with the double caul,

  Which with crude slices thin they overspread.

  The priest burned incense, and libation poured

  Large on the hissing brands, while, him beside,

  Busy with spit and prong, stood many a youth 570

  Trained to the task. The thighs with fire consumed,

  They gave to each his portion of the maw,

  Then slashed the remnant, pierced it with the spits,

  And managing with culinary skill

  The roast, withdrew it from the spits again. 575

  Their whole task thus accomplish’d, and the board

  023 Set forth, they feasted, and were all sufficed.

  When neither hunger more nor thirst remained

  Unsatisfied, boys crown’d the beakers high

  With wine delicious, and from right to left 580

  Distributing the cups, served every guest.

  Thenceforth the youths of the Achaian race

  To song propitiatory gave the day,

  Pæans to Phœbus, Archer of the skies,

  Chaunting melodious. Pleased, Apollo heard. 585

  But, when, the sun descending, darkness fell,

  They on the beach beside their hawsers sl
ept;

  And, when the day-spring’s daughter rosy-palm’d

  Aurora look’d abroad, then back they steer’d

  To the vast camp. Fair wind, and blowing fresh, 590

  Apollo sent them; quick they rear’d the mast,

  Then spread the unsullied canvas to the gale,

  And the wind filled it. Roared the sable flood

  Around the bark, that ever as she went

  Dash’d wide the brine, and scudded swift away. 595

  Thus reaching soon the spacious camp of Greece,

  Their galley they updrew sheer o’er the sands

  From the rude surge remote, then propp’d her sides

  With scantlings long, and sought their several tents.

  But Peleus’ noble son, the speed-renown’d 600

  Achilles, he, his well-built bark beside,

  Consumed his hours, nor would in council more,

  Where wise men win distinction, or in fight

  Appear, to sorrow and heart-withering wo

  Abandon’d; though for battle, ardent, still 605

  He panted, and the shout-resounding field.

  But when the twelfth fair morrow streak’d the East,

  024 Then all the everlasting Gods to Heaven

  Resorted, with the Thunderer at their head,

  And Thetis, not unmindful of her son, 610

  Prom the salt flood emerged, seeking betimes

  Olympus and the boundless fields of heaven.

  High, on the topmost eminence sublime

  Of the deep-fork’d Olympian she perceived

  The Thunderer seated, from the Gods apart. 615

  She sat before him, clasp’d with her left hand

  His knees, her right beneath his chin she placed,

  And thus the King, Saturnian Jove, implored.

  Father of all, by all that I have done

  Or said that ever pleased thee, grant my suit. 620

  Exalt my son, by destiny short-lived

  Beyond the lot of others. Him with shame

  The King of men hath overwhelm’d, by force

  Usurping his just meed; thou, therefore, Jove,

  Supreme in wisdom, honor him, and give 625

  Success to Troy, till all Achaia’s sons

  Shall yield him honor more than he hath lost!

  She spake, to whom the Thunderer nought replied,

  But silent sat long time. She, as her hand

  Had grown there, still importunate, his knees 630

  Clasp’d as at first, and thus her suit renew’d.

  Or grant my prayer, and ratify the grant,