William Cowper- Collected Poetical Works

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William Cowper- Collected Poetical Works Page 104

by William Cowper


  He spake, and thus encouraged next his steeds.

  Xanthus! Podargus! and ye generous pair

  Æthon and glossy Lampus! now requite

  Mine, and the bounty of Andromache,

  Far-famed Eëtion’s daughter; she your bowl 215

  With corn fresh-flavor’d and with wine full oft

  Hath mingled, your refreshment seeking first

  Ere mine, who have a youthful husband’s claim.

  Now follow! now be swift; that we may seize

  The shield of Nestor, bruited to the skies 220

  As golden all, trappings and disk alike.

  Now from the shoulders of the equestrian Chief

  Tydides tear we off his splendid mail,

  The work of Vulcan. May we take but these,

  192 I have good hope that, ere this night be spent, 225

  The Greeks shall climb their galleys and away.

  So vaunted he, but Juno with disdain

  His proud boast heard, and shuddering in her throne,

  Rock’d the Olympian; turning then toward

  The Ocean’s mighty sovereign, thus she spake. 230

  Alas! earth-shaking sovereign of the waves,

  Feel’st thou no pity of the perishing Greeks?

  Yet Greece, in Helice, with gifts nor few

  Nor sordid, and in Ægæ, honors thee,

  Whom therefore thou shouldst prosper. Would we all 235

  Who favor Greece associate to repulse

  The Trojans, and to check loud-thundering Jove,

  On Ida seated he might lour alone.

  To whom the Sovereign, Shaker of the Shores,

  Indignant. Juno! rash in speech! what word 240

  Hath ‘scaped thy lips? never, with my consent,

  Shall we, the powers subordinate, in arms

  With Jove contend. He far excels us all.

  So they. Meantime, the trench and wall between,

  The narrow interval with steeds was fill’d 245

  Close throng’d and shielded warriors. There immew’d

  By Priameian Hector, fierce as Mars,

  They stood, for Hector had the help of Jove.

  And now with blazing fire their gallant barks

  He had consumed, but Juno moved the mind 250

  Of Agamemnon, vigilant himself,

  To exhortation of Achaia’s host.

  Through camp and fleet the monarch took his way,

  And, his wide robe imperial in his hand,

  High on Ulysses’ huge black galley stood, 255

  The central ship conspicuous; thence his voice

  Might reach the most remote of all the line

  At each extreme, where Ajax had his tent

  193 Pitch’d, and Achilles, fearless of surprise.

  Thence, with loud voice, the Grecians thus he hail’d. 260

  Oh shame to Greece! Warriors in show alone!

  Where is your boasted prowess? Ye profess’d

  Vain-glorious erst in Lemnos, while ye fed

  Plenteously on the flesh of beeves full-grown,

  And crown’d your beakers high, that ye would face 265

  Each man a hundred Trojans in the field —

  Ay, twice a hundred — yet are all too few

  To face one Hector now; nor doubt I aught

  But he shall soon fire the whole fleet of Greece.

  Jove! Father! what great sovereign ever felt 270

  Thy frowns as I? Whom hast thou shamed as me?

  Yet I neglected not, through all the course

  Of our disasterous voyage (in the hope

  That we should vanquish Troy) thy sacred rites,

  But where I found thine altar, piled it high 275

  With fat and flesh of bulls, on every shore.

  But oh, vouchsafe to us, that we at least

  Ourselves, deliver’d, may escape the sword,

  Nor let their foes thus tread the Grecians down!

  He said. The eternal father pitying saw 280

  His tears, and for the monarch’s sake preserved

  The people. Instant, surest of all signs,

  He sent his eagle; in his pounces strong

  A fawn he bore, fruit of the nimble hind,

  Which fast beside the beauteous altar raised 285

  To Panomphæan Jove sudden he dropp’d.

  They, conscious, soon, that sent from Jove he came,

  More ardent sprang to fight. Then none of all

  Those numerous Chiefs could boast that he outstripp’d

  Tydides, urging forth beyond the foss 290

  194 His rapid steeds, and rushing to the war.

  He, foremost far, a Trojan slew, the son

  Of Phradmon, Ageläus; as he turn’d

  His steeds to flight, him turning with his spear

  Through back and bosom Diomede transpierced. 295

  And with loud clangor of his arms he fell.

  Then, royal Agamemnon pass’d the trench

  And Menelaus; either Ajax, then,

  Clad with fresh prowess both; them follow’d, next,

  Idomeneus, with his heroic friend 300

  In battle dread as homicidal Mars,

  Meriones; Evæmon’s son renown’d

  Succeeded, bold Eurypylus; and ninth

  Teucer, wide-straining his impatient bow.

  He under covert fought of the broad shield 305

  Of Telamonian Ajax; Ajax high

  Upraised his shield; the hero from beneath

  Took aim, and whom his arrow struck, he fell;

  Then close as to his mother’s side a child

  For safety creeps, Teucer to Ajax’ side 310

  Retired, and Ajax shielded him again.

  Whom then slew Teucer first, illustrious Chief?

  Orsilochus, and Ophelestes, first,

  And Ormenus he slew, then Dætor died,

  Chromius and Lycophontes brave in fight 315

  With Amopaon Polyæmon’s son,

  And Melanippus. These, together heap’d,

  All fell by Teucer on the plain of Troy.

  The Trojan ranks thinn’d by his mighty bow

  The King of armies Agamemnon saw 320

  Well-pleased, and him approaching, thus began.

  Brave Telamonian Teucer, oh, my friend,

  Thus shoot, that light may visit once again

  The Danaï, and Telamon rejoice!

  Thee Telamon within his own abode 325

  Rear’d although spurious; mount him, in return,

  Although remote, on glory’s heights again.

  I tell thee, and the effect shall follow sure,

  195 Let but the Thunderer and Minerva grant

  The pillage of fair Ilium to the Greeks, 330

  And I will give to thy victorious hand,

  After my own, the noblest recompense,

  A tripod or a chariot with its steeds,

  Or some fair captive to partake thy bed.

  To whom the generous Teucer thus replied. 335

  Atrides! glorious monarch! wherefore me

  Exhortest thou to battle? who myself

  Glow with sufficient ardor, and such strength

  As heaven affords me spare not to employ.

  Since first we drove them back, with watchful eye 340

  Their warriors I have mark’d; eight shafts my bow

  Hath sent long-barb’d, and every shaft, well-aim’d.

  The body of some Trojan youth robust

  Hath pierced, but still you ravening wolf escapes.

  He said, and from the nerve another shaft 345

  Impatient sent at Hector; but it flew

  Devious, and brave Gorgythion struck instead.

  Him beautiful Castianira, brought

  By Priam from Æsyma, nymph of form

  Celestial, to the King of Ilium bore. 350

  As in the garden, with the weight surcharged

  Of its own fruit, and drench’d by vernal rains

  The poppy falls oblique,
so he his head

  Hung languid, by his helmet’s weight depress’d.

  Then Teucer yet an arrow from the nerve 355

  Dispatch’d at Hector, with impatience fired

  To pierce him; but again his weapon err’d

  Turn’d by Apollo, and the bosom struck

  Of Archeptolemus, his rapid steeds

  To battle urging, Hector’s charioteer. 360

  He fell, his fiery coursers at the sound

  Recoil’d, and lifeless where he fell he lay.

  Deep sorrow for his charioteer the mind

  196 O’erwhelm’d of Hector, yet he left the slain,

  And seeing his own brother nigh at hand, 365

  Cebriones, him summon’d to the reins,

  Who with alacrity that charge received.

  Then Hector, leaping with a dreadful shout

  From his resplendent chariot, grasp’d a stone,

  And rush’d on Teucer, vengeance in his heart. 370

  Teucer had newly fitted to the nerve

  An arrow keen selected from the rest,

  And warlike Hector, while he stood the cord

  Retracting, smote him with that rugged rock

  Just where the key-bone interposed divides 375

  The neck and bosom, a most mortal part.

  It snapp’d the bow-string, and with numbing force

  Struck dead his hand; low on his knees he dropp’d,

  And from his opening grasp let fall the bow.

  Then not unmindful of a brother fallen 380

  Was Ajax, but, advancing rapid, stalk’d

  Around him, and his broad shield interposed,

  Till brave Alaster and Mecisteus, son

  Of Echius, friends of Teucer, from the earth

  Upraised and bore him groaning to the fleet. 385

  And now again fresh force Olympian Jove

  Gave to the Trojans; right toward the foss

  They drove the Greeks, while Hector in the van

  Advanced, death menacing in every look.

  As some fleet hound close-threatening flank or haunch 390

  Of boar or lion, oft as he his head

  Turns flying, marks him with a steadfast eye,

  So Hector chased the Grecians, slaying still

  The hindmost of the scatter’d multitude.

  But when, at length, both piles and hollow foss 395

  They had surmounted, and no few had fallen

  By Trojan hands, within their fleet they stood

  Imprison’d, calling each to each, and prayer

  With lifted hands, loud offering to the Gods.

  With Gorgon looks, meantime, and eyes of Mars, 400

  Hector impetuous his mane-tossing steeds

  197 From side to side before the rampart drove,

  When white-arm’d Juno pitying the Greeks,

  In accents wing’d her speech to Pallas turn’d.

  Alas, Jove’s daughter! shall not we at least 405

  In this extremity of their distress

  Care for the Grecians by the fatal force

  Of this one Chief destroy’d? I can endure

  The rage of Priameïan Hector now

  No longer; such dire mischiefs he hath wrought. 410

  Whom answer’d thus Pallas, cærulean-eyed.

  — And Hector had himself long since his life

  Resign’d and rage together, by the Greeks

  Slain under Ilium’s walls, but Jove, my sire,

  Mad counsels executing and perverse, 415

  Me counterworks in all that I attempt,

  Nor aught remembers how I saved ofttimes

  His son enjoin’d full many a task severe

  By King Eurystheus; to the Gods he wept,

  And me Jove sent in haste to his relief. 420

  But had I then foreseen what now I know,

  When through the adamantine gates he pass’d

  To bind the dog of hell, by the deep floods

  Hemm’d in of Styx, he had return’d no more.

  But Thetis wins him now; her will prevails, 425

  And mine he hates; for she hath kiss’d his knees

  And grasp’d his beard, and him in prayer implored

  That he would honor her heroic son

  Achilles, city-waster prince renown’d.

  ’Tis well — the day shall come when Jove again 430

  Shall call me darling, and his blue-eyed maid

  As heretofore; — but thou thy steeds prepare,

  While I, my father’s mansion entering, arm

  For battle. I would learn by trial sure,

  If Hector, Priam’s offspring famed in fight 435

  (Ourselves appearing in the walks of war)

  Will greet us gladly. Doubtless at the fleet

  Some Trojan also, shall to dogs resign

  His flesh for food, and to the fowls of heaven.

  198 So counsell’d Pallas, nor the daughter dread 440

  Of mighty Saturn, Juno, disapproved,

  But busily and with dispatch prepared

  The trappings of her coursers golden-rein’d.

  Meantime, Minerva progeny of Jove,

  On the adamantine floor of his abode 445

  Let fall profuse her variegated robe,

  Labor of her own hands. She first put on

  The corslet of the cloud-assembler God,

  Then arm’d her for the field of wo, complete.

  Mounting the fiery chariot, next she seized 450

  Her ponderous spear, huge, irresistible,

  With which Jove’s awful daughter levels ranks

  Of heroes against whom her anger burns.

  Juno with lifted lash urged on the steeds.

  At their approach, spontaneous roar’d the wide- 455

  Unfolding gates of heaven; the heavenly gates

  Kept by the watchful Hours, to whom the charge

  Of the Olympian summit appertains,

  And of the boundless ether, back to roll,

  And to replace the cloudy barrier dense. 460

  Spurr’d through the portal flew the rapid steeds:

  Which when the Eternal Father from the heights

  Of Ida saw, kindling with instant ire

  To golden-pinion’d Iris thus he spake.

  Haste, Iris, turn them thither whence they came; 465

  Me let them not encounter; honor small

  To them, to me, should from that strife accrue.

  Tell them, and the effect shall sure ensue,

  That I will smite their steeds, and they shall halt

  Disabled; break their chariot, dash themselves 470

  Headlong, and ten whole years shall not efface

  The wounds by my avenging bolts impress’d.

  So shall my blue-eyed daughter learn to dread

  A father’s anger; but for the offence

  Of Juno, I resent it less; for she 475

  Clashes with all my counsels from of old.

  199 He ended; Iris with a tempest’s speed

  From the Idæan summit soar’d at once

  To the Olympian; at the open gates

  Exterior of the mountain many-valed 480

  She stayed them, and her coming thus declared.

  Whither, and for what cause? What rage is this?

  Ye may not aid the Grecians; Jove forbids;

  The son of Saturn threatens, if ye force

  His wrath by perseverance into act, 485

  That he will smite your steeds, and they shall halt

  Disabled; break your chariot, dash yourselves

  Headlong, and ten whole years shall not efface

  The wounds by his avenging bolts impress’d.

  So shall his blue-eyed daughter learn to dread 490

  A father’s anger; but for the offence

  Of Juno, he resents it less; for she

  Clashes with all his counsels from of old.

  But thou, Minerva, if thou dare indeed

  Lift thy vast spear against t
he breast of Jove, 495

  Incorrigible art and dead to shame.

  So saying, the rapid Iris disappear’d,

  And thus her speech to Pallas Juno turn’d.

  Ah Pallas, progeny of Jove! henceforth

  No longer, in the cause of mortal men, 500

  Contend we against Jove. Perish or live

  Grecians or Trojans as he wills; let him

  Dispose the order of his own concerns,

  And judge between them, as of right he may.

  So saying, she turn’d the coursers; them the Hours 505

  Released, and to ambrosial mangers bound,

  Then thrust their chariot to the luminous wall.

  They, mingling with the Gods, on golden thrones

  Dejected sat, and Jove from Ida borne

  Reach’d the Olympian heights, seat of the Gods. 510

  His steeds the glorious King of Ocean loosed,

  And thrust the chariot, with its veil o’erspread.

  Into its station at the altar’s side.

  Then sat the Thunderer on his throne of gold

  200 Himself, and the huge mountain shook. Meantime 515

  Juno and Pallas, seated both apart,

  Spake not or question’d him. Their mute reserve

  He noticed, conscious of the cause, and said.

  Juno and Pallas, wherefore sit ye sad?

  Not through fatigue by glorious fight incurr’d 520

  And slaughter of the Trojans whom ye hate.

  Mark now the difference. Not the Gods combined

  Should have constrain’d me back, till all my force,

  Superior as it is, had fail’d, and all

  My fortitude. But ye, ere ye beheld 525

  The wonders of the field, trembling retired.

  And ye did well — Hear what had else befallen.

  My bolts had found you both, and ye had reach’d,

  In your own chariot borne, the Olympian height,

  Seat of the blest Immortals, never more. 530

  He ended; Juno and Minerva heard

  Low murmuring deep disgust, and side by side

  Devising sat calamity to Troy.

  Minerva, through displeasure against Jove,

  Nought utter’d, for her bosom boil’d with rage; 535

  But Juno check’d not hers, who thus replied.

  What word hath pass’d thy lips, Jove most severe?

  We know thy force resistless; yet our hearts

  Feel not the less when we behold the Greeks

  Exhausting all the sorrows of their lot. 540

  If thou command, we doubtless will abstain

 

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