William Cowper- Collected Poetical Works

by William Cowper

Then Nestor thus the Argive host bespake. 140

  Great wo, ye Gods! hath on Achaia fallen.

  Now may the warlike Pelaus, hoary Chief,

  Who both with eloquence and wisdom rules

  The Myrmidons, our foul disgrace deplore.

  With him discoursing, erst, of ancient times, 145

  When all your pedigrees I traced, I made

  His heart bound in him at the proud report.

  But now, when he shall learn how here we sat

  Cowering at the foot of Hector, he shall oft

  His hands uplift to the immortal Gods, 150

  Praying a swift release into the shades.

  Jove! Pallas! Phœbus! Oh that I were young

  As when the Pylians in fierce fight engaged

  The Arcadians spear-expert, beside the stream

  Of rapid Celadon! Beneath the walls 155

  We fought of Pheia, where the Jardan rolls.

  There Ereuthalion, Chief of godlike form,

  Stood forth before his van, and with loud voice

  Defied the Pylians. Arm’d he was in steel

  By royal Areïthous whilom worn; 160

  Brave Areïthous, Corynetes named

  By every tongue; for that in bow and spear

  Nought trusted he, but with an iron mace

  The close-embattled phalanx shatter’d wide.

  Him by address, not by superior force, 165

  Lycurgus vanquish’d, in a narrow pass,

  Where him his iron whirl-bat nought avail’d.

  Lycurgus stealing on him, with his lance

  170 Transpierced and fix’d him to the soil supine.

  Him of his arms, bright gift of brazen Mars, 170

  He stripp’d, which after, in the embattled field

  Lycurgus wore himself, but, growing old,

  Surrender’d them to Ereuthalion’s use

  His armor-bearer, high in his esteem,

  And Ereuthalion wore them on the day 175

  When he defied our best. All hung their heads

  And trembled; none dared meet him; till at last

  With inborn courage warm’d, and nought dismayed,

  Though youngest of them all, I undertook

  That contest, and, by Pallas’ aid, prevail’d. 180

  I slew the man in height and bulk all men

  Surpassing, and much soil he cover’d slain.

  Oh for the vigor of those better days!

  Then should not Hector want a champion long,

  Whose call to combat, ye, although the prime 185

  And pride of all our land, seem slow to hear.

  He spake reproachful, when at once arose

  Nine heroes. Agamemnon, King of men,

  Foremost arose; then Tydeus’ mighty son,

  With either Ajax in fierce prowess clad; 190

  The Cretan next, Idomeneus, with whom

  Uprose Meriones his friend approved,

  Terrible as the man-destroyer Mars.

  Evæmon’s noble offspring next appear’d

  Eurypylus; Andræmon’s son the next 195

  Thoas; and last, Ulysses, glorious Chief.

  All these stood ready to engage in arms

  With warlike Hector, when the ancient King,

  Gerenian Nestor, thus his speech resumed.

  Now cast the lot for all. Who wins the chance 200

  Shall yield Achaia service, and himself

  Serve also, if successful he escape

  This brunt of hostile hardiment severe.

  So Nestor. They, inscribing each his lot,

  Into the helmet cast it of the son 205

  Of Atreus, Agamemnon. Then the host

  171 Pray’d all, their hands uplifting, and with eyes

  To the wide heavens directed, many said —

  Eternal sire! choose Ajax, or the son

  Of Tydeus, or the King himself who sways 210

  The sceptre in Mycenæ wealth-renown’d!

  Such prayer the people made; then Nestor shook

  The helmet, and forth leaped, whose most they wished,

  The lot of Ajax. Throughout all the host

  To every chief and potentate of Greece, 215

  From right to left the herald bore the lot

  By all disown’d; but when at length he reach’d

  The inscriber of the lot, who cast it in,

  Illustrious Ajax, in his open palm

  The herald placed it, standing at his side. 220

  He, conscious, with heroic joy the lot

  Cast at his foot, and thus exclaim’d aloud.

  My friends! the lot is mine, and my own heart

  Rejoices also; for I nothing doubt

  That noble Hector shall be foil’d by me. 225

  But while I put mine armor on, pray all

  In silence to the King Saturnian Jove,

  Lest, while ye pray, the Trojans overhear.

  Or pray aloud, for whom have we to dread?

  No man shall my firm standing by his strength 230

  Unsettle, or for ignorance of mine

  Me vanquish, who, I hope, brought forth and train’d

  In Salamis, have, now, not much to learn.

  He ended. They with heaven-directed eyes

  The King in prayer address’d, Saturnian Jove. 235

  Jove! glorious father! who from Ida’s height

  Controlest all below, let Ajax prove

  Victorious; make the honor all his own!

  Or, if not less than Ajax, Hector share

  172 Thy love and thy regard, divide the prize 240

  Of glory, and let each achieve renown!

  Then Ajax put his radiant armor on,

  And, arm’d complete, rush’d forward. As huge Mars

  To battle moves the sons of men between

  Whom Jove with heart-devouring thirst inspires 245

  Of war, so moved huge Ajax to the fight,

  Tower of the Greeks, dilating with a smile

  His martial features terrible; on feet,

  Firm-planted, to the combat he advanced

  Stride after stride, and shook his quivering spear. 250

  Him viewing, Argos’ universal host

  Exulted, while a panic loosed the knees

  Of every Trojan; even Hector’s heart

  Beat double, but escape for him remain’d

  None now, or to retreat into his ranks 255

  Again, from whom himself had challenged forth.

  Ajax advancing like a tower his shield

  Sevenfold, approach’d. It was the labor’d work

  Of Tychius, armorer of matchless skill,

  Who dwelt in Hyla; coated with the hides 260

  Of seven high-pamper’d bulls that shield he framed

  For Ajax, and the disk plated with brass.

  Advancing it before his breast, the son

  Of Telamon approach’d the Trojan Chief,

  And face to face, him threatening, thus began. 265

  Now, Hector, prove, by me alone opposed,

  What Chiefs the Danaï can furnish forth

  In absence of the lion-hearted prince

  Achilles, breaker of the ranks of war.

  He, in his billow-cleaving barks incensed 270

  Against our leader Agamemnon, lies;

  But warriors of my measure, who may serve

  To cope with thee, we want not; numerous such

  Are found amongst us. But begin the fight.

  To whom majestic Hector fierce in arms. 275

  Ajax! heroic leader of the Greeks!

  Offspring of Telamon! essay not me

  173 With words to terrify, as I were boy.

  Or girl unskill’d in war; I am a man

  Well exercised in battle, who have shed 280

  The blood of many a warrior, and have learn’d,

  From hand to hand shifting my shield, to fight

  Unwearied; I can make a sport of war,

  In standing fight adjusting all my steps

>   To martial measures sweet, or vaulting light 285

  Into my chariot, thence can urge the foe.

  Yet in contention with a Chief like thee

  I will employ no stratagem, or seek

  To smite thee privily, but with a stroke

  (If I may reach thee) visible to all. 290

  So saying, he shook, then hurl’d his massy spear

  At Ajax, and his broad shield sevenfold

  On its eighth surface of resplendent brass

  Smote full; six hides the unblunted weapon pierced,

  But in the seventh stood rooted. Ajax, next, 295

  Heroic Chief, hurl’d his long shadow’d spear

  And struck the oval shield of Priam’s son.

  Through his bright disk the weapon tempest-driven

  Glided, and in his hauberk-rings infixt

  At his soft flank, ripp’d wide his vest within. 300

  Inclined oblique he ‘scaped the dreadful doom

  Then each from other’s shield his massy spear

  Recovering quick, like lions hunger-pinch’d

  Or wild boars irresistible in force,

  They fell to close encounter. Priam’s son 305

  The shield of Ajax at its centre smote,

  But fail’d to pierce it, for he bent his point.

  Sprang Ajax then, and meeting full the targe

  Of Hector, shock’d him; through it and beyond

  He urged the weapon with its sliding edge 310

  Athwart his neck, and blood was seen to start.

  But still, for no such cause, from battle ceased

  Crest-tossing Hector, but retiring, seized

  174 A huge stone angled sharp and black with age

  That on the champain lay. The bull-hide guard 315

  Sevenfold of Ajax with that stone he smote

  Full on its centre; sang the circling brass.

  Then Ajax far a heavier stone upheaved;

  He whirled it, and with might immeasurable

  Dismiss’d the mass, which with a mill-stone weight 320

  Sank through the shield of Hector, and his knees

  Disabled; with his shield supine he fell,

  But by Apollo raised, stood soon again.

  And now, with swords they had each other hewn,

  Had not the messengers of Gods and men 325

  The heralds wise, Idæus on the part

  Of Ilium, and Talthybius for the Greeks,

  Advancing interposed. His sceptre each

  Between them held, and thus Idæus spake.

  My children, cease! prolong not still the fight. 330

  Ye both are dear to cloud-assembler Jove,

  Both valiant, and all know it. But the Night

  Hath fallen, and Night’s command must be obeyed.

  To him the son of Telamon replied.

  Idæus! bid thy master speak as thou. 335

  He is the challenger. If such his choice,

  Mine differs not; I wait but to comply.

  Him answer’d then heroic Hector huge.

  Since, Ajax, the immortal powers on thee

  Have bulk pre-eminent and strength bestow’d, 340

  With such address in battle, that the host

  Of Greece hath not thine equal at the spear,

  Now let the combat cease. We shall not want

  More fair occasion; on some future day

  We will not part till all-disposing heaven 345

  Shall give thee victory, or shall make her mine.

  175 But Night hath fallen, and Night must be obey’d,

  That them may’st gratify with thy return

  The Achaians, and especially thy friends

  And thy own countrymen. I go, no less 350

  To exhilarate in Priam’s royal town

  Men and robed matrons, who shall seek the Gods

  For me, with pious ceremonial due.

  But come. We will exchange, or ere we part,

  Some princely gift, that Greece and Troy may say 355

  Hereafter, with soul-wasting rage they fought,

  But parted with the gentleness of friends.

  So saying, he with his sheath and belt a sword

  Presented bright-emboss’d, and a bright belt

  Purpureal took from Ajax in return. 360

  Thus separated, one the Grecians sought,

  And one the Trojans; they when him they saw

  From the unconquer’d hands return’d alive

  Of Ajax, with delight their Chief received,

  And to the city led him, double joy 365

  Conceiving all at his unhoped escape.

  On the other side, the Grecians brazen-mail’d

  To noble Agamemnon introduced

  Exulting Ajax, and the King of men

  In honor of the conqueror slew an ox 370

  Of the fifth year to Jove omnipotent.

  Him flaying first, they carved him next and spread

  The whole abroad, then, scoring deep the flesh,

  They pierced it with the spits, and from the spits

  (Once roasted well) withdrew it all again. 375

  Their labor thus accomplish’d, and the board

  Furnish’d with plenteous cheer, they feasted all

  Till all were satisfied; nor Ajax miss’d

  The conqueror’s meed, to whom the hero-king

  Wide-ruling Agamemnon, gave the chine 380

  176 Perpetual, his distinguish’d portion due.

  The calls of hunger and of thirst at length

  Both well sufficed, thus, foremost of them all

  The ancient Nestor, whose advice had oft

  Proved salutary, prudent thus began. 385

  Chiefs of Achaia, and thou, chief of all,

  Great Agamemnon! Many of our host

  Lie slain, whose blood sprinkles, in battle shed,

  The banks of smooth Scamander, and their souls

  Have journey’d down into the realms of death. 390

  To-morrow, therefore, let the battle pause

  As need requires, and at the peep of day

  With mules and oxen, wheel ye from all parts

  The dead, that we may burn them near the fleet.

  So, home to Greece returning, will we give 395

  The fathers’ ashes to the children’s care.

  Accumulating next, the pile around,

  One common tomb for all, with brisk dispatch

  We will upbuild for more secure defence

  Of us and of our fleet, strong towers and tall 400

  Adjoining to the tomb, and every tower

  Shall have its ponderous gate, commodious pass

  Affording to the mounted charioteer.

  And last, without those towers and at their foot,

  Dig we a trench, which compassing around 405

  Our camp, both steeds and warriors shall exclude,

  And all fierce inroad of the haughty foe.

  So counsell’d he, whom every Chief approved.

  177 In Troy meantime, at Priam’s gate beside

  The lofty citadel, debate began 410

  The assembled senators between, confused,

  Clamorous, and with furious heat pursued,

  When them Antenor, prudent, thus bespake.

  Ye Trojans, Dardans, and allies of Troy,

  My counsel hear! Delay not. Instant yield 415

  To the Atridæ, hence to be convey’d,

  Helen of Greece with all that is her own.

  For charged with violated oaths we fight,

  And hope I none conceive that aught by us

  Design’d shall prosper, unless so be done. 420

  He spake and sat; when from his seat arose

  Paris, fair Helen’s noble paramour,

  Who thus with speech impassion’d quick replied.

  Antenor! me thy counsel hath not pleased;

  Thou could’st have framed far better; but if this 425

  Be thy deliberate judgment, then the Gods

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  But I will speak myself. Ye Chiefs of Troy,

  I tell you plain. I will not yield my spouse.

  But all her treasures to our house convey’d 430

  From Argos, those will I resign, and add

  Still other compensation from my own.

  Thus Paris said and sat; when like the Gods

  Themselves in wisdom, from his seat uprose

  Dardanian Priam, who them thus address’d. 435

  Trojans, Dardanians, and allies of Troy!

  I shall declare my sentence; hear ye me.

  Now let the legions, as at other times,

  Take due refreshment; let the watch be set,

  And keep ye vigilant guard. At early dawn 440

  We will dispatch Idæus to the fleet,

  Who shall inform the Atridæ of this last

  Resolve of Paris, author of the war.

  Discreet Idæus also shall propose

  A respite (if the Atridæ so incline) 445

  From war’s dread clamor, while we burn the dead.

  178 Then will we clash again, till heaven at length

  Shall part us, and the doubtful strife decide.

  He ceased, whose voice the assembly pleased, obey’d.

  Then, troop by troop, the army took repast, 450

  And at the dawn Idæus sought the fleet.

  He found the Danaï, servants of Mars,

  Beside the stern of Agamemnon’s ship

  Consulting; and amid the assembled Chiefs

  Arrived, with utterance clear them thus address’d. 455

  Ye sons of Atreus, and ye Chiefs, the flower

  Of all Achaia! Priam and the Chiefs

  Of Ilium, bade me to your ear impart

  (If chance such embassy might please your ear)

  The mind of Paris, author of the war. 460

  The treasures which on board his ships he brought

  From Argos home (oh, had he perish’d first!)

  He yields them with addition from his own.

  Not so the consort of the glorious prince

  Brave Menelaus; her (although in Troy 465

  All counsel otherwise) he still detains.

  Thus too I have in charge. Are ye inclined

  That the dread sounding clamors of the field

  Be caused to cease till we shall burn the dead?

  Then will we clash again, ‘till heaven at length 470

  Shall part us, and the doubtful strife decide.

  So spake Idæus, and all silent sat;