All-dazzling, and he grasp’d two quivering spears. 565
Him entering with a leap the gates, no force
Whate’er of opposition had repress’d,
Save of the Gods alone. Fire fill’d his eyes;
Turning, he bade the multitude without
Ascend the rampart; they his voice obey’d; 570
Part climb’d the wall, part pour’d into the gate;
The Grecians to their hollow galleys flew
Scatter’d, and tumult infinite arose.
ARGUMENT OF THE THIRTEENTH BOOK.
Neptune engages on the part of the Grecians. The battle proceeds. Deiphobus advances to combat, but is repulsed by Meriones, who losing his spear, repairs to his tent for another. Teucer slays Imbrius, and Hector Amphimachus. Neptune, under the similitude of Thoas, exhorts Idomeneus. Idomeneus having armed himself in his tent, and going forth to battle, meets Meriones. After discourse held with each other, Idomeneus accommodates Meriones with a spear, and they proceed to battle. Idomeneus slays Othryoneus, and Asius. Deiphobus assails Idomeneus, but, his spear glancing over him, kills Hypsenor. Idomeneus slays Alcathoüs, son-in-law of Anchises. Deiphobus and Idomeneus respectively summon their friends to their assistance, and a contest ensues for the body of Alcathoüs.
BOOK XIII.
When Jove to Hector and his host had given
Such entrance to the fleet, to all the woes
And toils of unremitting battle there
He them abandon’d, and his glorious eyes
Averting, on the land look’d down remote 5
Of the horse-breeding Thracians, of the bold
Close-fighting Mysian race, and where abide
On milk sustain’d, and blest with length of days,
The Hippemolgi, justest of mankind.
No longer now on Troy his eyes he turn’d, 10
For expectation none within his breast
Survived, that God or Goddess would the Greeks
Approach with succor, or the Trojans more.
Nor Neptune, sovereign of the boundless Deep,
Look’d forth in vain; he on the summit sat 15
Of Samothracia forest-crown’d, the stir
Admiring thence and tempest of the field;
312 For thence appear’d all Ida, thence the towers
Of lofty Ilium, and the fleet of Greece.
There sitting from the deeps uprisen, he mourn’d 20
The vanquished Grecians, and resentment fierce
Conceived and wrath against all-ruling Jove.
Arising sudden, down the rugged steep
With rapid strides he came; the mountains huge
And forests under the immortal feet 25
Trembled of Ocean’s Sovereign as he strode.
Three strides he made, the fourth convey’d him home
To Ægæ. At the bottom of the abyss,
There stands magnificent his golden fane,
A dazzling, incorruptible abode. 30
Arrived, he to his chariot join’d his steeds
Swift, brazen-hoof’d, and maned with wavy gold;
Himself attiring next in gold, he seized
His golden scourge, and to his seat sublime
Ascending, o’er the billows drove; the whales 35
Leaving their caverns, gambol’d on all sides
Around him, not unconscious of their King;
He swept the surge that tinged not as he pass’d
His axle, and the sea parted for joy.
His bounding coursers to the Grecian fleet 40
Convey’d him swift. There is a spacious cave
Deep in the bottom of the flood, the rocks
Of Imbrus rude and Tenedos between;
There Neptune, Shaker of the Shores, his steeds
Station’d secure; he loosed them from the yoke, 45
Gave them ambrosial food, and bound their feet
With golden tethers not to be untied
Or broken, that unwandering they might wait
Their Lord’s return, then sought the Grecian host.
The Trojans, tempest-like or like a flame, 50
Now, following Priameïan Hector, all
Came furious on and shouting to the skies.
Their hope was to possess the fleet, and leave
Not an Achaian of the host unslain.
But earth-encircler Neptune from the gulf 55
313 Emerging, in the form and with the voice
Loud-toned of Calchas, roused the Argive ranks
To battle — and his exhortation first
To either Ajax turn’d, themselves prepared.
Ye heroes Ajax! your accustomed force 60
Exert, oh! think not of disastrous flight,
And ye shall save the people. Nought I fear
Fatal elsewhere, although Troy’s haughty sons
Have pass’d the barrier with so fierce a throng
Tumultuous; for the Grecians brazen-greaved 65
Will check them there. Here only I expect
And with much dread some dire event forebode,
Where Hector, terrible as fire, and loud
Vaunting his glorious origin from Jove,
Leads on the Trojans. Oh that from on high 70
Some God would form the purpose in your hearts
To stand yourselves firmly, and to exhort
The rest to stand! so should ye chase him hence
All ardent as he is, and even although
Olympian Jove himself his rage inspire. 75
So Neptune spake, compasser of the earth,
And, with his sceptre smiting both, their hearts
Fill’d with fresh fortitude; their limbs the touch
Made agile, wing’d their feet and nerved their arms.
Then, swift as stoops a falcon from the point 80
Of some rude rock sublime, when he would chase
A fowl of other wing along the meads,
So started Neptune thence, and disappear’d.
Him, as he went, swift Oïliades
First recognized, and, instant, thus his speech 85
To Ajax, son of Telamon, address’d.
Since, Ajax, some inhabitant of heaven
Exhorts us, in the prophet’s form to fight
(For prophet none or augur we have seen;
This was not Calchas; as he went I mark’d 90
His steps and knew him; Gods are known with ease)
I feel my spirit in my bosom fired
Afresh for battle; lightness in my limbs,
314 In hands and feet a glow unfelt before.
To whom the son of Telamon replied. 95
I also with invigorated hands
More firmly grasp my spear; my courage mounts,
A buoyant animation in my feet
Bears me along, and I am all on fire
To cope with Priam’s furious son, alone. 100
Thus they, with martial transport to their souls
Imparted by the God, conferr’d elate.
Meantime the King of Ocean roused the Greeks,
Who in the rear, beside their gallant barks
Some respite sought. They, spent with arduous toil, 105
Felt not alone their weary limbs unapt
To battle, but their hearts with grief oppress’d,
Seeing the numerous multitude of Troy
Within the mighty barrier; sad they view’d
That sight, and bathed their cheeks with many a tear, 110
Despairing of escape. But Ocean’s Lord
Entering among them, soon the spirit stirr’d
Of every valiant phalanx to the fight.
Teucer and Leïtus, and famed in arms
Peneleus, Thoas and Deipyrus, 115
Meriones, and his compeer renown’d,
Antilochus; all these in accents wing’d
With fierce alacrity the God address’d.
Oh shame, ye Grecians! vigorous as ye are
And in life’s
prime, to your exertions most 120
I trusted for the safety of our ships.
If ye renounce the labors of the field,
Then hath the day arisen of our defeat
And final ruin by the powers of Troy.
Oh! I behold a prodigy, a sight 125
Tremendous, deem’d impossible by me,
The Trojans at our ships! the dastard race
Fled once like fleetest hinds the destined prey
Of lynxes, leopards, wolves; feeble and slight
And of a nature indisposed to war 130
They rove uncertain; so the Trojans erst
315 Stood not, nor to Achaian prowess dared
The hindrance of a moment’s strife oppose.
But now, Troy left afar, even at our ships
They give us battle, through our leader’s fault 135
And through the people’s negligence, who fill’d
With fierce displeasure against him, prefer
Death at their ships, to war in their defence.
But if the son of Atreus, our supreme,
If Agamemnon, have indeed transgress’d 140
Past all excuse, dishonoring the swift
Achilles, ye at least the fight decline
Blame-worthy, and with no sufficient plea.
But heal we speedily the breach; brave minds
Easily coalesce. It is not well 145
That thus your fury slumbers, for the host
Hath none illustrious as yourselves in arms.
I can excuse the timid if he shrink,
But am incensed at you. My friends, beware!
Your tardiness will prove ere long the cause 150
Of some worse evil. Let the dread of shame
Affect your hearts; oh tremble at the thought
Of infamy! Fierce conflict hath arisen;
Loud shouting Hector combats at the ships
Nobly, hath forced the gates and burst the bar. 155
With such encouragement those Grecian chiefs
The King of Ocean roused. Then, circled soon
By many a phalanx either Ajax stood,
Whose order Mars himself arriving there
Had praised, or Pallas, patroness of arms. 160
For there the flower of all expected firm
Bold Hector and his host; spear crowded spear,
Shield, helmet, man, press’d helmet, man and shield;
The hairy crests of their resplendent casques
Kiss’d close at every nod, so wedged they stood; 165
No spear was seen but in the manly grasp
It quiver’d, and their every wish was war.
The powers of Ilium gave the first assault
316 Embattled close; them Hector led himself
Right on, impetuous as a rolling rock 170
Destructive; torn by torrent waters off
From its old lodgment on the mountain’s brow,
It bounds, it shoots away; the crashing wood
Falls under it; impediment or check
None stays its fury, till the level found, 175
There, settling by degrees, it rolls no more;
So after many a threat that he would pass
Easily through the Grecian camp and fleet
And slay to the sea-brink, when Hector once
Had fallen on those firm ranks, standing, he bore 180
Vehement on them; but by many a spear
Urged and bright falchion, soon, reeling, retired,
And call’d vociferous on the host of Troy.
Trojans, and Lycians, and close-fighting sons
Of Dardanus, oh stand! not long the Greeks 185
Will me confront, although embodied close
In solid phalanx; doubt it not; my spear
Shall chase and scatter them, if Jove, in truth,
High-thundering mate of Juno, bid me on.
So saying he roused the courage of them all 190
Foremost of whom advanced, of Priam’s race
Deiphobus, ambitious of renown.
Tripping he came with shorten’d steps, his feet
Sheltering behind his buckler; but at him
Aiming, Meriones his splendid lance 195
Dismiss’d, nor err’d; his bull-hide targe he struck
But ineffectual; where the hollow wood
Receives the inserted brass, the quivering beam
Snapp’d; then, Deiphobus his shield afar
Advanced before him, trembling at a spear 200
Hurl’d by Meriones. He, moved alike
With indignation for the victory lost
And for his broken spear, into his band
317 At first retired, but soon set forth again
In prowess through the Achaian camp, to fetch 205
Its fellow-spear within his tent reserved.
The rest all fought, and dread the shouts arose
On all sides. Telamonian Teucer, first,
Slew valiant Imbrius, son of Mentor, rich
In herds of sprightly steeds. He ere the Greeks 210
Arrived at Ilium, in Pedæus dwelt,
And Priam’s spurious daughter had espoused
Medesicasta. But the barks well-oar’d
Of Greece arriving, he return’d to Troy,
Where he excell’d the noblest, and abode 215
With Priam, loved and honor’d as his own.
Him Teucer pierced beneath his ear, and pluck’d
His weapon home; he fell as falls an ash
Which on some mountain visible afar,
Hewn from its bottom by the woodman’s axe, 220
With all its tender foliage meets the ground
So Imbrius fell; loud rang his armor bright
With ornamental brass, and Teucer flew
To seize his arms, whom hasting to the spoil
Hector with his resplendent spear assail’d; 225
He, marking opposite its rapid flight,
Declined it narrowly and it pierced the breast,
As he advanced to battle, of the son
Of Cteatus of the Actorian race,
Amphimachus; he, sounding, smote the plain, 230
And all his batter’d armor rang aloud.
Then Hector swift approaching, would have torn
The well-forged helmet from the brows away
Of brave Amphimachus; but Ajax hurl’d
Right forth at Hector hasting to the spoil 235
His radiant spear; no wound the spear impress’d,
For he was arm’d complete in burnish’d brass
Terrific; but the solid boss it pierced
Of Hector’s shield, and with enormous force
So shock’d him, that retiring he resign’d 240
318 Both bodies, which the Grecians dragg’d away.
Stichius and Menestheus, leaders both
Of the Athenians, to the host of Greece
Bore off Amphimachus, and, fierce in arms
The Ajaces, Imbrius. As two lions bear 245
Through thick entanglement of boughs and brakes
A goat snatch’d newly from the peasants’ cogs,
Upholding high their prey above the ground,
So either Ajax terrible in fight,
Upholding Imbrius high, his brazen arms 250
Tore off, and Oïliades his head
From his smooth neck dissevering in revenge
For slain Amphimachus, through all the host
Sent it with swift rotation like a globe,
Till in the dust at Hector’s feet it fell. 255
Then anger fill’d the heart of Ocean’s King,
His grandson slain in battle; forth he pass’d
Through the Achaian camp and fleet, the Greeks
Rousing, and meditating wo to Troy.
It chanced that brave Idomeneus return’d 260
That moment from a Cretan at the knee
Wounded, and newly borne into his tent;
His friends had borne him off,
and when the Chief
Had given him into skilful hands, he sought
The field again, still coveting renown. 265
Him therefore, meeting him on his return,
Neptune bespake, but with the borrow’d voice
Of Thoas, offspring of Andræmon, King
In Pleuro and in lofty Calydon,
And honor’d by the Ætolians as a God. 270
Oh counsellor of Crete! our threats denounced
Against the towers of Troy, where are they now?
To whom the leader of the Cretans, thus,
Idomeneus. For aught that I perceive
Thoas! no Grecian is this day in fault! 275
For we are all intelligent in arms,
319 None yields by fear oppress’d, none lull’d by sloth
From battle shrinks; but such the pleasure seems
Of Jove himself, that we should perish here
Inglorious, from our country far remote 280
But, Thoas! (for thine heart was ever firm
In battle, and thyself art wont to rouse
Whom thou observ’st remiss) now also fight
As erst, and urge each leader of the host.
Him answered, then, the Sovereign of the Deep. 285
Return that Grecian never from the shores
Of Troy, Idomeneus! but may the dogs
Feast on him, who shall this day intermit
Through wilful negligence his force in fight!
But haste, take arms and come; we must exert 290
All diligence, that, being only two,
We yet may yield some service. Union much
Emboldens even the weakest, and our might
Hath oft been proved on warriors of renown.
So Neptune spake, and, turning, sought again 295
The toilsome field. Ere long, Idomeneus
Arriving in his spacious tent, put on
His radiant armor, and, two spears in hand,
Set forth like lightning which Saturnian Jove
From bright Olympus shakes into the air, 300
A sign to mortal men, dazzling all eyes;
So beam’d the Hero’s armor as he ran.
But him not yet far distant from his tent
Meriones, his fellow-warrior met,
For he had left the fight, seeking a spear, 305
When thus the brave Idomeneus began.
Swift son of Molus! chosen companion dear!
Wherefore, Meriones, hast thou the field
Abandon’d? Art thou wounded? Bring’st thou home
Some pointed mischief in thy flesh infixt? 310
William Cowper- Collected Poetical Works Page 115