William Cowper- Collected Poetical Works

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by William Cowper


  To rend in Phylace her bleeding cheeks,

  And an unfinish’d mansion. First he died

  Of all the Greeks; for as he leap’d to land 860

  Foremost by far, a Dardan struck him dead.

  Nor had his troops, though filled with deep regret,

  No leader; them Podarces led, a Chief

  Like Mars in battle, brother of the slain,

  But younger born, and from Iphiclus sprung 865

  Who sprang from Phylacus the rich in flocks.

  But him Protesilaüs, as in years,

  So also in desert of arms excell’d

  Heroic, whom his host, although they saw

  Podarces at their head, still justly mourn’d; 870

  For he was fierce in battle, and at Troy

  With forty sable-sided ships arrived.

  Eleven galleys, Pheræ on the lake,

  And Boebe, and Iölchus, and the vale

  Of Glaphyræ supplied with crews robust 875

  Under Eumelus; him Alcestis, praised

  057 For beauty above all her sisters fair,

  In Thessaly to King Admetus bore.

  Methone, and Olizon’s craggy coast,

  With Melibœa and Thaumasia sent 880

  Seven ships; their rowers were good archers all,

  And every vessel dipped into the wave

  Her fifty oars. Them Philoctetes, skill’d

  To draw with sinewy arm the stubborn bow,

  Commanded; but he suffering anguish keen 885

  Inflicted by a serpent’s venom’d tooth,

  Lay sick in Lemnos; him the Grecians there

  Had left sore-wounded, but were destined soon

  To call to dear remembrance whom they left.

  Meantime, though sorrowing for his sake, his troops 890

  Yet wanted not a chief; them Medon ruled,

  Whom Rhena to the far-famed conqueror bore

  Oïleus, fruit of their unsanction’d loves.

  From Tricca, from Ithome rough and rude

  With rocks and glens, and from Oechalia, town 895

  Of Eurytus Oechalian-born, came forth

  Their warlike youth by Podalirius led

  And by Machaon, healers both expert

  Of all disease, and thirty ships were theirs.

  The men of Ormenus, and from beside 900

  The fountain Hypereia, from the tops

  Of chalky Titan, and Asteria’s band;

  Them ruled Eurypylus, Evæmon’s son

  Illustrious, whom twice twenty ships obeyed.

  Orthe, Gyrtone, Oloösson white, 905

  Argissa and Helone; they their youth

  Gave to control of Polypœtes, son

  Undaunted of Pirithoüs, son of Jove.

  Him, to Pirithoüs, (on the self-same day

  When he the Centaurs punish’d and pursued 910

  Sheer to Æthicæ driven from Pelion’s heights

  The shaggy race) Hippodamia bore.

  Nor he alone them led. With him was join’d

  Leonteus dauntless warrior, from the bold

  058 Coronus sprung, who Cæneus call’d his sire. 915

  Twice twenty ships awaited their command.

  Guneus from Cyphus twenty and two ships

  Led forth; the Enienes him obey’d,

  And the robust Perœbi, warriors bold,

  And dwellers on Dodona’s wintry brow. 920

  To these were join’d who till the pleasant fields

  Where Titaresius winds; the gentle flood

  Pours into Peneus all his limpid stores,

  But with the silver-eddied Peneus flows

  Unmixt as oil; for Stygian is his stream, 925

  And Styx is the inviolable oath.

  Last with his forty ships, Tenthredon’s son,

  The active Prothoüs came. From the green banks

  Of Peneus his Magnesians far and near

  He gather’d, and from Pelion forest-crown’d. 930

  These were the princes and the Chiefs of Greece.

  Say, Muse, who most in personal desert

  Excell’d, and whose were the most warlike steeds

  And of the noblest strain. Their hue, their age,

  Their height the same, swift as the winds of heaven 935

  And passing far all others, were the mares

  Which drew Eumelus; on Pierian hills

  The heavenly Archer of the silver bow,

  Apollo, bred them. But of men, the chief

  Was Telamonian Ajax, while wrath-bound 940

  Achilles lay; for he was worthier far,

  And more illustrious were the steeds which bore

  The noble son of Peleus; but revenge

  On Agamemnon leader of the host

  Was all his thought, while in his gallant ships 945

  Sharp-keel’d to cut the foaming flood, he lay.

  Meantime, along the margin of the deep

  His soldiers hurled the disk, or bent the bow.

  059 Or to its mark dispatch’d the quivering lance.

  Beside the chariots stood the unharness’d steeds 950

  Cropping the lotus, or at leisure browsed

  On celery wild, from watery freshes gleaned.

  Beneath the shadow of the sheltering tent

  The chariot stood, while they, the charioteers

  Roam’d here and there the camp, their warlike lord 955

  Regretting sad, and idle for his sake.

  As if a fire had burnt along the ground,

  Such seem’d their march; earth groan’d their steps beneath;

  As when in Arimi, where fame reports

  Typhoëus stretch’d, the fires of angry Jove 960

  Down darted, lash the ground, so groan’d the earth

  Beneath them, for they traversed swift the plain.

  And now from Jove, with heavy tidings charged,

  Wind-footed Iris to the Trojans came.

  It was the time of council, when the throng 965

  At Priam’s gate assembled, young and old:

  Them, standing nigh, the messenger of heaven

  Accosted with the voice of Priam’s son,

  Polites. He, confiding in his speed

  For sure deliverance, posted was abroad 970

  On Æsyeta’s tomb, intent to watch

  When the Achaian host should leave the fleet.

  The Goddess in his form thus them address’d.

  Oh, ancient Monarch! Ever, evermore

  Speaking, debating, as if all were peace; 975

  I have seen many a bright-embattled field,

  But never one so throng’d as this to-day.

  For like the leaves, or like the sands they come

  Swept by the winds, to gird the city round.

  But Hector! chiefly thee I shall exhort. 980

  In Priam’s spacious city are allies

  060 Collected numerous, and of nations wide

  Disseminated various are the tongues.

  Let every Chief his proper troop command,

  And marshal his own citizens to war. 985

  She ceased; her Hector heard intelligent,

  And quick dissolved the council. All took arms.

  Wide flew the gates; forth rush’d the multitude,

  Horsemen and foot, and boisterous stir arose.

  In front of Ilium, distant on the plain, 990

  Clear all around from all obstruction, stands

  An eminence high-raised, by mortal men

  Call’d Bateia, but the Gods the tomb

  Have named it of Myrinna swift in fight.

  Troy and her aids there set the battle forth. 995

  Huge Priameian Hector, fierce in arms,

  Led on the Trojans; with whom march’d the most

  And the most valiant, dexterous at the spear.

  Æneas, (on the hills of Ida him

  The lovely Venus to Anchises bore, 1000

  A Goddess by a mortal man embraced)

  Led the Dardanians;
but not he alone;

  Archilochus with him and Acamas

  Stood forth, the offspring of Antenor, each,

  And well instructed in all forms of war. 1005

  Fast by the foot of Ida, where they drank

  The limpid waters of Æsepus, dwelt

  The Trojans of Zeleia. Rich were they

  And led by Pandarus, Lycaon’s son,

  Whom Phœbus self graced with the bow he bore. 1010

  Apæsus, Adrastea, Terie steep,

  And Pitueia — them, Amphius clad

  In mail thick-woven, and Adrastus, ruled.

  They were the sons of the Percosian seer

  Merops, expert in the soothsayers’ art 1015

  Above all other; he his sons forbad

  The bloody fight, but disobedient they

  Still sought it, for their destiny prevailed.

  The warriors of Percote, and who dwelt

  061 In Practius, in Arisba, city fair, 1020

  In Sestus, in Abydus, march’d behind

  Princely Hyrtacides; his tawny steeds,

  Strong-built and tall, from Sellcentes’ bank

  And from Arisba, had him borne to Troy.

  Hippothous and Pilmus, branch of Mars, 1025

  Both sons of Lethus the Pelasgian, they,

  Forth from Larissa for her fertile soil

  Far-famed, the spear-expert Pelasgians brought.

  The Thracians (all whom Hellespont includes

  Within the banks of his swift-racing tide) 1030

  Heroic Acamas and Pirous led.

  Euphemus, offspring of Trœzenus, son

  Of Jove-protected Ceas, was the Chief

  Whom the spear-arm’d Ciconian band obey’d.

  Pæonia’s archers follow’d to the field 1035

  Pyræchmes; they from Amydon remote

  Were drawn, where Axius winds; broad Axius, stream

  Diffused delightful over all the vale.

  Pylæmenes, a Chief of giant might

  From the Eneti for forest-mules renowned 1040

  March’d with his Paphlagonians; dwellers they

  In Sesamus and in Cytorus were,

  And by the stream Parthenius; Cromna these

  Sent forth, and those Ægialus on the lip

  And margin of the land, and some, the heights 1045

  Of Erythini, rugged and abrupt.

  Epistrophus and Odius from the land

  Of Alybe, a region far remote,

  Where veins of silver wind, led to the field

  The Halizonians. With the Mysians came 1050

  Chromis their Chief, and Ennomus; him skill’d

  In augury, but skill’d in vain, his art

  Saved not, but by Æacides the swift,

  With others in the Xanthus slain, he died.

  062 Ascanius, lovely youth, and Phorcis, led 1055

  The Phrygians from Ascania far remote,

  Ardent for battle. The Mœonian race,

  (All those who at the foot of Tmolus dwelt,)

  Mesthles and Antiphus, fraternal pair,

  Sons of Pylæmenes commanded, both 1060

  Of the Gygæan lake in Lydia born.

  Amphimachus and Nastes led to fight

  The Carians, people of a barbarous speech,

  With the Milesians, and the mountain-race

  Of wood-crown’d Phthira, and who dwelt beside 1065

  Mæander, or on Mycale sublime.

  Them led Amphimachus and Nastes, sons

  Renown’d of Nomion. Like a simple girl

  Came forth Amphimachus with gold bedight,

  But him his trappings from a woful death 1070

  Saved not, when whirled beneath the bloody tide

  To Peleus’ stormy son his spoils he left.

  Sarpedon with the noble Glaucus led

  Their warriors forth from farthest Lycia, where

  Xanthus deep-dimpled rolls his oozy tide. 1075

  ARGUMENT OF THE THIRD BOOK.

  The armies meet. Paris throws out a challenge to the Grecian Princes. Menelaus accepts it. The terms of the combat are adjusted solemnly by Agamemnon on the part of Greece, and by Priam on the part of Troy. The combat ensues, in which Paris is vanquished, whom yet Venus rescues. Agamemnon demands from the Trojans a performance of the covenant.

  BOOK III.

  Now marshall’d all beneath their several chiefs,

  With deafening shouts, and with the clang of arms,

  The host of Troy advanced. Such clang is heard

  Along the skies, when from incessant showers

  Escaping, and from winter’s cold, the cranes 5

  Take wing, and over Ocean speed away;

  Wo to the land of dwarfs! prepared they fly

  For slaughter of the small Pygmæan race.

  Not so the Greeks; they breathing valor came,

  But silent all, and all with faithful hearts 10

  On succor mutual to the last, resolved.

  As when the south wind wraps the mountain top

  In mist the shepherd’s dread, but to the thief

  Than night itself more welcome, and the eye

  Is bounded in its ken to a stone’s cast, 15

  Such from beneath their footsteps dun and dense

  Uprose the dust, for swift they cross the plain.

  066 When, host to host opposed, full nigh they stood,

  Then Alexander in the Trojan van

  Advanced was seen, all beauteous as a God; 20

  His leopard’s skin, his falchion and his bow

  Hung from his shoulder; bright with heads of brass

  He shook two spears, and challenged to the fight

  The bravest Argives there, defying all.

  Him, striding haughtily his host before 25

  When Menelaus saw, such joy he felt

  As hunger-pinch’d the lion feels, by chance

  Conducted to some carcase huge, wild goat,

  Or antler’d stag; huntsmen and baying hounds

  Disturb not him, he gorges in their sight. 30

  So Menelaus at the view rejoiced

  Of lovely Alexander, for he hoped

  His punishment at hand. At once, all armed,

  Down from his chariot to the ground he leap’d

  When godlike Paris him in front beheld 35

  Conspicuous, his heart smote him, and his fate

  Avoiding, far within the lines he shrank.

  As one, who in some woodland height descrying

  A serpent huge, with sudden start recoils,

  His limbs shake under him; with cautious step 40

  He slow retires; fear blanches cold his cheeks;

  So beauteous Alexander at the sight

  Of Atreus’ son dishearten’d sore, the ranks

  Of haughty Trojans enter’d deep again:

  Him Hector eyed, and thus rebuked severe. 45

  Curst Paris! Fair deceiver! Woman-mad!

  I would to all in heaven that thou hadst died

  Unborn, at least unmated! happier far

  067 Than here to have incurr’d this public shame!

  Well may the Grecians taunt, and laughing loud, 50

  Applaud the champion, slow indeed to fight

  And pusillanimous, but wondrous fair.

  Wast thou as timid, tell me, when with those

  Thy loved companions in that famed exploit,

  Thou didst consort with strangers, and convey 55

  From distant lands a warrior’s beauteous bride

  To be thy father’s and his people’s curse,

  Joy to our foes, but to thyself reproach?

  Behold her husband! Darest thou not to face

  The warlike prince? Now learn how brave a Chief 60

  Thou hast defrauded of his blooming spouse.

  Thy lyre, thy locks, thy person, specious gifts

  Of partial Venus, will avail thee nought,

  Once mixt by Menelaus with the dust.

  But we are base ourselves, or long a
go, 65

  For all thy numerous mischiefs, thou hadst slept

  Secure beneath a coverlet of stone.

  Then godlike Alexander thus replied.

  Oh Hector, true in temper as the axe

  Which in the shipwright’s hand the naval plank 70

  Divides resistless, doubling all his force,

  Such is thy dauntless spirit whose reproach

  Perforce I own, nor causeless nor unjust.

  Yet let the gracious gifts uncensured pass

  Of golden Venus; man may not reject 75

  The glorious bounty by the Gods bestow’d,

  Nor follows their beneficence our choice.

  But if thy pleasure be that I engage

  With Menelaus in decision fierce

  Of desperate combat bid the host of Troy 80

  And bid the Grecians sit; then face to face

  Commit us, in the vacant field between,

  To fight for Helen and for all her wealth.

  068 Who strongest proves, and conquers, he, of her

  And hers possess’d shall bear them safe away; 85

  While ye (peace sworn and firm accord) shall dwell

  At Troy, and these to Argos shall return

  And to Achaia praised for women fair.

  He ceased, whom Hector heard with joy; he moved

  Into the middle space, and with his spear 90

  Advanced athwart push’d back the Trojan van,

  And all stood fast. Meantime at him the Greeks

  Discharged full volley, showering thick around

  From bow and sling; when with a mighty voice

  Thus Agamemnon, leader of the host. 95

  Argives! Be still — shoot not, ye sons of Greece!

  Hector bespeaks attention. Hear the Chief!

  He said, at once the Grecians ceased to shoot,

  And all sat silent. Hector then began.

  Hear me, ye Trojans, and ye Greeks mail-arm’d, 100

  While I shall publish in your ears the words

  Of Alexander, author of our strife.

  Trojans, he bids, and Grecians on the field

  Their arms dispose; while he, the hosts between,

  With warlike Menelaus shall in fight 105

  Contend for Helen, and for all her wealth.

  Who strongest proves, and conquers, he, of her

  And hers possess’d, shall bear them safe away,

 

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