William Cowper- Collected Poetical Works

by William Cowper

  Hath succor’d many a time. Therefore arise!

  Instant bid drive thy numerous charioteers 320

  Their rapid steeds full on the Grecian fleet;

  I, marching at their head, will smooth, myself,

  The way before them, and will turn again

  To flight the heroes of the host of Greece.

  He said and with new strength the Chief inspired. 325

  As some stall’d horse high pamper’d, snapping short

  His cord, beats under foot the sounding soil,

  Accustom’d in smooth-sliding streams to lave

  Exulting; high he bears his head, his mane

  Wantons around his shoulders; pleased, he eyes 330

  His glossy sides, and borne on pliant knees

  Soon finds the haunts where all his fellows graze;

  So bounded Hector, and his agile joints

  Plied lightly, quicken’d by the voice divine,

  And gather’d fast his charioteers to battle. 335

  But as when hounds and hunters through the woods

  Rush in pursuit of stag or of wild goat,

  He, in some cave with tangled boughs o’erhung,

  Lies safe conceal’d, no destined prey of theirs,

  371 Till by their clamors roused, a lion grim 340

  Starts forth to meet them; then, the boldest fly;

  Such hot pursuit the Danaï, with swords

  And spears of double edge long time maintain’d.

  But seeing Hector in his ranks again

  Occupied, felt at once their courage fall’n. 345

  Then, Thoas them, Andræmon’s son, address’d,

  Foremost of the Ætolians, at the spear

  Skilful, in stationary combat bold,

  And when the sons of Greece held in dispute

  The prize of eloquence, excell’d by few. 350

  Prudent advising them, he thus began.

  Ye Gods! what prodigy do I behold?

  Hath Hector, ‘scaping death, risen again?

  For him, with confident persuasion all

  Believed by Telamonian Ajax slain. 355

  But some Divinity hath interposed

  To rescue and save Hector, who the joints

  Hath stiffen’d of full many a valiant Greek,

  As surely now he shall; for, not without

  The Thunderer’s aid, he flames in front again. 360

  But take ye all my counsel. Send we back

  The multitude into the fleet, and first

  Let us, who boast ourselves bravest in fight,

  Stand, that encountering him with lifted spears,

  We may attempt to give his rage a check. 365

  To thrust himself into a band like ours

  Will, doubtless, even in Hector move a fear.

  He ceased, with whose advice all, glad, complied.

  Then Ajax with Idomeneus of Crete,

  Teucer, Meriones, and Meges fierce 370

  As Mars in battle, summoning aloud

  The noblest Greeks, in opposition firm

  To Hector and his host their bands prepared,

  While others all into the fleet retired.

  Troy’s crowded host struck first. With awful strides 375

  372 Came Hector foremost; him Apollo led,

  His shoulders wrapt in clouds, and, on his arm,

  The Ægis shagg’d terrific all around,

  Tempestuous, dazzling-bright; it was a gift

  To Jove from Vulcan, and design’d to appall, 380

  And drive to flight the armies of the earth.

  Arm’d with that shield Apollo led them on.

  Firm stood the embodied Greeks; from either host

  Shrill cries arose; the arrows from the nerve

  Leap’d, and, by vigorous arms dismiss’d, the spears 385

  Flew frequent; in the flesh some stood infixt

  Of warlike youths, but many, ere they reach’d

  The mark they coveted, unsated fell

  Between the hosts, and rested in the soil.

  Long as the God unagitated held 390

  The dreadful disk, so long the vollied darts

  Made mutual slaughter, and the people fell;

  But when he look’d the Grecian charioteers

  Full in the face and shook it, raising high

  Himself the shout of battle, then he quell’d 395

  Their spirits, then he struck from every mind

  At once all memory of their might in arms.

  As when two lions in the still, dark night

  A herd of beeves scatter or numerous flock

  Suddenly, in the absence of the guard, 400

  So fled the heartless Greeks, for Phœbus sent

  Terrors among them, but renown conferr’d

  And triumph proud on Hector and his host.

  Then, in that foul disorder of the field,

  Man singled man. Arcesilaüs died 405

  By Hector’s arm, and Stichius; one, a Chief

  Of the Bœotians brazen-mail’d, and one,

  Menestheus’ faithful follower to the fight.

  Æneas Medon and Iäsus slew.

  Medon was spurious offspring of divine 410

  Oïleus Ajax’ father, and abode

  In Phylace; for he had slain a Chief

  373 Brother of Eriopis the espoused

  Of brave Oïleus; but Iäsus led

  A phalanx of Athenians, and the son 415

  Of Sphelus, son of Bucolus was deem’d.

  Pierced by Polydamas Mecisteus fell,

  Polites, in the van of battle, slew

  Echion, and Agenor Clonius;

  But Paris, while Deïochus to flight 420

  Turn’d with the routed van, pierced him beneath

  His shoulder-blade, and urged the weapon through.

  While them the Trojans spoil’d, meantime the Greeks,

  Entangled in the piles of the deep foss,

  Fled every way, and through necessity 425

  Repass’d the wall. Then Hector with a voice

  Of loud command bade every Trojan cease

  From spoil, and rush impetuous on the fleet.

  And whom I find far lingering from the ships

  Wherever, there he dies; no funeral fires 430

  Brother on him, or sister, shall bestow,

  But dogs shall rend him in the sight of Troy.

  So saying, he lash’d the shoulders of his steeds,

  And through the ranks vociferating, call’d

  His Trojans on; they, clamorous as he, 435

  All lash’d their steeds, and menacing, advanced.

  Before them with his feet Apollo push’d

  The banks into the foss, bridging the gulf

  With pass commodious, both in length and breadth

  A lance’s flight, for proof of vigor hurl’d. 440

  There, phalanx after phalanx, they their host

  Pour’d dense along, while Phœbus in the van

  Display’d the awful ægis, and the wall

  Levell’d with ease divine. As, on the shore

  Some wanton boy with sand builds plaything walls, 445

  Then, sportive spreads them with his feet abroad,

  So thou, shaft-arm’d Apollo! that huge work

  Laborious of the Greeks didst turn with ease

  374 To ruin, and themselves drovest all to flight.

  They, thus enforced into the fleet, again 450

  Stood fast, with mutual exhortation each

  His friend encouraging, and all the Gods

  With lifted hands soliciting aloud.

  But, more than all, Gerenian Nestor pray’d

  Fervent, Achaia’s guardian, and with arms 455

  Outstretch’d toward the starry skies, exclaim’d.

  Jove, Father! if in corn-clad Argos, one,

  One Greek hath ever, burning at thy shrine

  Fat thighs of sheep or oxen, ask’d from thee

  A safe return, whom thou hast gracious heard, 4
60

  Olympian King! and promised what he sought,

  Now, in remembrance of it, give us help

  In this disastrous day, nor thus permit

  Their Trojan foes to tread the Grecians down!

  So Nestor pray’d, and Jove thunder’d aloud 465

  Responsive to the old Neleïan’s prayer.

  But when that voice of Ægis-bearing Jove

  The Trojans heard, more furious on the Greeks

  They sprang, all mindful of the fight. As when

  A turgid billow of some spacious sea, 470

  While the wind blow that heaves its highest, borne

  Sheer o’er the vessel’s side, rolls into her,

  With such loud roar the Trojans pass’d the wall;

  In rush’d the steeds, and at the ships they waged

  Fierce battle hand to hand, from chariots, these, 475

  With spears of double edge, those, from the decks

  Of many a sable bark, with naval poles

  Long, ponderous, shod with steel; for every ship

  Had such, for conflict maritime prepared.

  While yet the battle raged only without 480

  The wall, and from the ships apart, so long

  Patroclus quiet in the tent and calm

  Sat of Eurypylus, his generous friend

  Consoling with sweet converse, and his wound

  Sprinkling with drugs assuasive of his pains. 485

  But soon as through the broken rampart borne

  375 He saw the Trojans, and the clamor heard

  And tumult of the flying Greeks, a voice

  Of loud lament uttering, with open palms

  His thighs he smote, and, sorrowful, exclaim’d. 490

  Eurypylus! although thy need be great,

  No longer may I now sit at thy side,

  Such contest hath arisen; thy servant’s voice

  Must soothe thee now, for I will to the tent

  Haste of Achilles, and exhort him forth; 495

  Who knows? if such the pleasure of the Gods,

  I may prevail; friends rarely plead in vain.

  So saying, he went. Meantime the Greeks endured

  The Trojan onset, firm, yet from the ships

  Repulsed them not, though fewer than themselves, 500

  Nor could the host of Troy, breaking the ranks

  Of Greece, mix either with the camp or fleet;

  But as the line divides the plank aright,

  Stretch’d by some naval architect, whose hand

  Minerva hath accomplish’d in his art, 505

  So stretch’d on them the cord of battle lay.

  Others at other ships the conflict waged,

  But Hector to the ship advanced direct

  Of glorious Ajax; for one ship they strove;

  Nor Hector, him dislodging thence, could fire 510

  The fleet, nor Ajax from the fleet repulse

  Hector, conducted thither by the Gods.

  Then, noble Ajax with a spear the breast

  Pierced of Caletor, son of Clytius, arm’d

  With fire to burn his bark; sounding he fell, 515

  And from his loosen’d grasp down dropp’d the brand.

  But Hector seeing his own kinsman fallen

  Beneath the sable bark, with mighty voice

  Call’d on the hosts of Lycia and of Troy.

  Trojans and Lycians, and close-fighting sons 520

  Of Dardanus, within this narrow pass

  Stand firm, retreat not, but redeem the son

  Of Clytius, lest the Grecians of his arms

  Despoil him slain in battle at the ships.

  376 So saying, at Ajax his bright spear he cast 525

  Him pierced he not, but Lycophron the son

  Of Mastor, a Cytherian, who had left

  Cytheras, fugitive for blood, and dwelt

  With Ajax. Him standing at Ajax’ side,

  He pierced above his ear; down from the stern 530

  Supine he fell, and in the dust expired.

  Then, shuddering, Ajax to his brother spake.

  Alas, my Teucer! we have lost our friend;

  Mastorides is slain, whom we received

  An inmate from Cytheræ, and with love 535

  And reverence even filia,, entertain’d;

  B9 Hector pierced, he dies. Where are thy shafts

  Death-wing’d, and bow, by gift from Phœbus thine?

  He said, whom Teucer hearing, instant ran

  With bow and well-stored quiver to his side, 540

  Whence soon his arrows sought the Trojan host.

  He struck Pisenor’s son Clytus, the friend

  And charioteer of brave Polydamas,

  Offspring of Panthus, toiling with both hands

  To rule his fiery steeds; for more to please 545

  The Trojans and their Chief, where stormy most

  He saw the battle, thither he had driven.

  But sudden mischief, valiant as he was,

  Found him, and such as none could waft aside,

  For right into his neck the arrow plunged, 550

  And down he fell; his startled coursers shook

  Their trappings, and the empty chariot rang.

  That sound alarm’d Polydamas; he turn’d,

  And flying to their heads, consign’d them o’er

  To Protiaön’s son, Astynoüs, 555

  Whom he enjoin’d to keep them in his view;

  Then, turning, mingled with the van again.

  But Teucer still another shaft produced

  Design’d for valiant Hector, whose exploits

  (Had that shaft reach’d him) at the ships of Greece 560

  Had ceased for ever. But the eye of Jove,

  Guardian of Hector’s life, slept not; he took

  377 From Telamonian Te5cer that renown,

  And while he stood straining the twisted nerve

  Against the Trojan, snapp’d it. Devious flew 565

  The steel-charged arrow, and he dropp’d his bow.

  Then shuddering, to his brother thus he spake.

  Ah! it is evident. Some Power divine

  Makes fruitless all our efforts, who hath struck

  My bow out of my hand, and snapt the cord 570

  With which I strung it new at dawn of day,

  That it might bear the bound of many a shaft.

  To whom the towering son of Telamon.

  Leave then thy bow, and let thine arrows rest,

  Which, envious of the Greeks, some God confounds, 575

  That thou may’st fight with spear and buckler arm’d,

  And animate the rest. Such be our deeds

  That, should they conquer us, our foes may find

  Our ships, at least a prize not lightly won.

  So Ajax spake; then Teucer, in his tent 580

  The bow replacing, slung his fourfold shield,

  Settled on his illustrious brows his casque

  With hair high-crested, waving, as he moved,

  Terrible from above, took forth a spear

  Tough-grain’d, acuminated sharp with brass, 585

  And stood, incontinent, at Ajax’ side.

  Hector perceived the change, and of the cause

  Conscious, with echoing voice call’d to his host.

  Trojans and Lycians and close-fighting sons

  Of Dardanus, oh now, my friends, be men; 590

  Now, wheresoever through the fleet dispersed,

  Call into mind the fury of your might!

  For I have seen, myself, Jove rendering vain

  The arrows of their mightiest. Man may know

  With ease the hand of interposing Jove, 595

  Both whom to glory he ordains, and whom

  He weakens and aids not; so now he leaves

  378 The Grecians, but propitious smiles on us.

  Therefore stand fast, and whosoever gall’d

  By arrow or by spear, dies — let him die; 600

  It shall not shame him tha
t he died to serve

  His country, but his children, wife and home,

  With all his heritage, shall be secure,

  Drive but the Grecians from the shores of Troy.

  So saying, he animated each. Meantime, 605

  Ajax his fellow-warriors thus address’d.

  Shame on you all! Now, Grecians, either die,

  Or save at once your galley and yourselves.

  Hope ye, that should your ships become the prize

  Of warlike Hector, ye shall yet return 610

  On foot? Or hear ye not the Chief aloud

  Summoning all his host, and publishing

  His own heart’s wish to burn your fleet with fire?

  Not to a dance, believe me, but to fight

  He calls them; therefore wiser course for us 615

  Is none, than that we mingle hands with hands

  In contest obstinate, and force with force.

  Better at once to perish, or at once

  To rescue life, than to consume the time

  Hour after hour in lingering conflict vain 620

  Here at the ships, with an inferior foe.

  He said, and by his words into all hearts

  Fresh confidence infused. Then Hector smote

  Schedius, a Chief of the Phocensian powers

  And son of Perimedes; Ajax slew, 625

  Meantime, a Chief of Trojan infantry,

  379 Laodamas, Antenor’s noble son

  While by Polydamas, a leader bold

  Of the Epeans, and Phylides’ friend,

  Cyllenian Otus died. Meges that sight 630

  Viewing indignant on the conqueror sprang,

  But, starting wide, Polydamas escaped,

  Saved by Apollo, and his spear transpierced

  The breast of Cræsmus; on his sounding shield

  Prostrate he fell, and Meges stripp’d his arms. 635

  Him so employ’d Dolops assail’d, brave son

  Of Lampus, best of men and bold in fight,

  Offspring of King Laomedon; he stood

  Full near, and through his middle buckler struck

  The son of Phyleus, but his corselet thick 640

  With plates of scaly brass his life secured.

  That corselet Phyleus on a time brought home

  From Ephyre, where the Selleïs winds,

  And it was given him for his life’s defence

  In furious battle by the King of men, 645

  Euphetes. Many a time had it preserved

  Unharm’d the sire, and now it saved the son.

  Then Meges, rising, with his pointed lance

  The bushy crest of Dolops’ helmet drove