William Cowper- Collected Poetical Works

by William Cowper

  Of that bold Chief who slew thee, to my tent.

  I also will smite off, before thy pile, 415

  The heads of twelve illustrious sons of Troy,

  Resentful of thy death. Meantime, among

  My lofty galleys thou shalt lie, with tears

  Mourn’d day and night by Trojan captives fair

  And Dardan compassing thy bier around, 420

  463 Whom we, at price of labor hard, ourselves

  With massy spears toiling in battle took

  From many an opulent city, now no more.

  So saying, he bade his train surround with fire

  A tripod huge, that they might quickly cleanse 425

  Patroclus from all stain of clotted gore.

  They on the blazing hearth a tripod placed

  Capacious, fill’d with water its wide womb,

  And thrust dry wood beneath, till, fierce, the flames

  Embraced it round, and warm’d the flood within. 430

  Soon as the water in the singing brass

  Simmer’d, they bathed him, and with limpid oil

  Anointed; filling, next, his ruddy wounds

  With unguent mellow’d by nine circling years,

  They stretch’d him on his bed, then cover’d him 435

  From head to feet with linen texture light,

  And with a wide unsullied mantle, last.

  All night the Myrmidons around the swift

  Achilles stood, deploring loud his friend,

  And Jove his spouse and sister thus bespake. 440

  So then, Imperial Juno! not in vain

  Thou hast the swift Achilles sought to rouse

  Again to battle; the Achaians, sure,

  Are thy own children, thou hast borne them all.

  To whom the awful Goddess ample-eyed. 445

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

  A man, though mortal merely, and to me

  Inferior in device, might have achieved

  That labor easily. Can I who boast

  Myself the chief of Goddesses, and such 450

  Not by birth only, but as thine espoused,

  Who art thyself sovereign of all the Gods,

  Can I with anger burn against the house

  Of Priam, and want means of just revenge?

  464 Thus they in heaven their mutual conference 455

  Meantime, the silver-footed Thetis reach’d

  The starr’d abode eternal, brazen wall’d

  Of Vulcan, by the builder lame himself

  Uprear’d, a wonder even in eyes divine.

  She found him sweating, at his bellows huge 460

  Toiling industrious; tripods bright he form’d

  Twenty at once, his palace-wall to grace

  Ranged in harmonious order. Under each

  Two golden wheels he set, on which (a sight

  Marvellous!) into council they should roll 465

  Self-moved, and to his house, self-moved, return.

  Thus far the work was finish’d, but not yet

  Their ears of exquisite design affixt,

  For them he stood fashioning, and prepared

  The rivets. While he thus his matchless skill 470

  Employ’d laborious, to his palace-gate

  The silver-footed Thetis now advanced,

  Whom Charis, Vulcan’s well-attired spouse,

  Beholding from the palace portal, flew

  To seize the Goddess’ hand, and thus inquired. 475

  Why, Thetis! worthy of all reverence

  And of all love, comest thou to our abode,

  Unfrequent here? But enter, and accept

  Such welcome as to such a guest is due.

  So saying, she introduced and to a seat 480

  Led her with argent studs border’d around

  And foot-stool’d sumptuously; then, calling forth

  Her spouse, the glorious artist, thus she said.

  Haste, Vulcan! Thetis wants thee; linger not.

  To whom the artist of the skies replied. 485

  A Goddess then, whom with much cause I love

  And venerate is here, who when I fell

  Saved me, what time my shameless mother sought

  To cast me, because lame, out of all sight;

  465 Then had I been indeed forlorn, had not 490

  Eurynome the daughter of the Deep

  And Thetis in their laps received me fallen.

  Nine years with them residing, for their use

  I form’d nice trinkets, clasps, rings, pipes, and chains,

  While loud around our hollow cavern roar’d 495

  The surge of the vast deep, nor God nor man,

  Save Thetis and Eurynome, my life’s

  Preservers, knew where I was kept conceal’d.

  Since, therefore, she is come, I cannot less

  Than recompense to Thetis amber-hair’d 500

  With readiness the boon of life preserved.

  Haste, then, and hospitably spread the board

  For her regale, while with my best dispatch

  I lay my bellows and my tools aside.

  He spake, and vast in bulk and hot with toil 505

  Rose limping from beside his anvil-stock

  Upborne, with pain on legs tortuous and weak.

  First, from the forge dislodged he thrust apart

  His bellows, and his tools collecting all

  Bestow’d them, careful, in a silver chest, 510

  Then all around with a wet sponge he wiped

  His visage, and his arms and brawny neck

  Purified, and his shaggy breast from smutch;

  Last, putting on his vest, he took in hand

  His sturdy staff, and shuffled through the door. 515

  Beside the King of fire two golden forms

  Majestic moved, that served him in the place

  Of handmaids; young they seem’d, and seem’d alive,

  Nor want they intellect, or speech, or force,

  Or prompt dexterity by the Gods inspired. 520

  These his supporters were, and at his side

  Attendant diligent, while he, with gait

  Uncouth, approaching Thetis where she sat

  On a bright throne, seized fast her hand and said,

  Why, Thetis! worthy as thou art of love 525

  And of all reverence, hast thou arrived,

  Unfrequent here? Speak — tell me thy desire,

  466 Nor doubt my services, if thou demand

  Things possible, and possible to me.

  Then Thetis, weeping plenteously, replied. 530

  Oh Vulcan! Is there on Olympius’ heights

  A Goddess with such load of sorrow press’d

  As, in peculiar, Jove assigns to me?

  Me only, of all ocean-nymphs, he made

  Spouse to a man, Peleus Æacides, 535

  Whose bed, although reluctant and perforce,

  I yet endured to share. He now, the prey

  Of cheerless age, decrepid lies, and Jove

  Still other woes heaps on my wretched head.

  He gave me to bring forth, gave me to rear 540

  A son illustrious, valiant, and the chief

  Of heroes; he, like a luxuriant plant

  Upran to manhood, while his lusty growth

  I nourish’d as the husbandman his vine

  Set in a fruitful field, and being grown 545

  I sent him early in his gallant fleet

  Embark’d, to combat with the sons of Troy;

  But him from fight return’d I shall receive,

  Beneath the roof of Peleus, never more,

  And while he lives and on the sun his eyes 550

  Opens, affliction is his certain doom,

  Nor aid resides or remedy in me.

  The virgin, his own portion of the spoils,

  Allotted to him by the Grecians — her

  Atrides, King of men, resumed, and grief 555

  Devour’d Achilles’ spirit for her sake
.

  Meantime, the Trojans shutting close within

  Their camp the Grecians, have forbidden them

  All egress, and the senators of Greece

  Have sought with splendid gifts to soothe my son. 560

  He, indisposed to rescue them himself

  From ruin, sent, instead, Patroclus forth,

  Clad in his own resplendent armor, Chief

  Of the whole host of Myrmidons. Before

  467 The Scæan gate from morn to eve they fought, 565

  And on that self-same day had Ilium fallen,

  But that Apollo, to advance the fame

  Of Hector, slew Menœtius’ noble son

  Full-flush’d with victory. Therefore at thy knees

  Suppliant I fall, imploring from thine art 570

  A shield and helmet, greaves of shapely form

  With clasps secured, and corselet for my son.

  For those, once his, his faithful friend hath lost,

  Slain by the Trojans, and Achilles lies,

  Himself, extended mournful on the ground. 575

  Her answer’d then the artist of the skies.

  Courage! Perplex not with these cares thy soul.

  I would that when his fatal hour shall come,

  I could as sure secrete him from the stroke

  Of destiny, as he shall soon have arms 580

  Illustrious, such as each particular man

  Of thousands, seeing them, shall wish his own.

  He said, and to his bellows quick repair’d,

  Which turning to the fire he bade them heave.

  Full twenty bellows working all at once 595

  Breathed on the furnace, blowing easy and free

  The managed winds, now forcible, as best

  Suited dispatch, now gentle, if the will

  Of Vulcan and his labor so required.

  Impenetrable brass, tin, silver, gold, 590

  He cast into the forge, then, settling firm

  His ponderous anvil on the block, one hand

  With his huge hammer fill’d, one with the tongs.

  He fashion’d first a shield massy and broad

  468 Of labor exquisite, for which he form’d 595

  A triple border beauteous, dazzling bright,

  And loop’d it with a silver brace behind.

  The shield itself with five strong folds he forged,

  And with devices multiform the disk

  Capacious charged, toiling with skill divine. 600

  There he described the earth, the heaven, the sea,

  The sun that rests not, and the moon full-orb’d.

  There also, all the stars which round about

  As with a radiant frontlet bind the skies,

  The Pleiads and the Hyads, and the might 605

  Of huge Orion, with him Ursa call’d,

  Known also by his popular name, the Wain,

  That spins around the pole looking toward

  Orion, only star of these denied

  To slake his beams in ocean’s briny baths. 610

  Two splendid cities also there he form’d

  Such as men build. In one were to be seen

  Rites matrimonial solemnized with pomp

  Of sumptuous banquets; from their chambers forth

  Leading the brides they usher’d them along 615

  With torches through the streets, and sweet was heard

  The voice around of Hymenæal song.

  Here striplings danced in circles to the sound

  Of pipe and harp, while in the portals stood

  Women, admiring, all, the gallant show. 620

  Elsewhere was to be seen in council met

  The close-throng’d multitude. There strife arose.

  Two citizens contended for a mulct

  The price of blood. This man affirm’d the fine

  All paid, haranguing vehement the crowd, 625

  That man denied that he had aught received,

  And to the judges each made his appeal

  Eager for their award. Meantime the people,

  469 As favor sway’d them, clamor’d loud for each.

  The heralds quell’d the tumult; reverend sat 630

  On polish’d stones the elders in a ring,

  Each with a herald’s sceptre in his hand,

  Which holding they arose, and all in turn

  Gave sentence. In the midst two talents lay

  Of gold, his destined recompense whose voice 635

  Decisive should pronounce the best award.

  The other city by two glittering hosts

  Invested stood, and a dispute arose

  Between the hosts, whether to burn the town

  And lay all waste, or to divide the spoil. 640

  Meantime, the citizens, still undismay’d,

  Surrender’d not the town, but taking arms

  Secretly, set the ambush in array,

  And on the walls their wives and children kept

  Vigilant guard, with all the ancient men. 645

  They sallied; at their head Pallas and Mars

  Both golden and in golden vests attired

  Advanced, proportion each showing divine,

  Large, prominent, and such as Gods beseem’d.

  Not such the people, but of humbler size. 650

  Arriving at the spot for ambush chosen,

  A river’s side, where cattle of each kind

  Drank, down they sat, all arm’d in dazzling brass.

  Apart from all the rest sat also down

  Two spies, both looking for the flocks and herds. 655

  Soon they appear’d, and at their side were seen

  Two shepherd swains, each playing on his pipe

  Careless, and of the danger nought apprized,

  Swift ran the spies, perceiving their approach,

  And intercepting suddenly the herds 660

  And flocks of silver fleece, slew also those

  Who fed them. The besiegers, at that time

  In council, by the sound alarm’d, their steeds

  Mounted, and hasted, instant, to the place;

  Then, standing on the river’s brink they fought 665

  And push’d each other with the brazen lance.

  470 There Discord raged, there Tumult, and the force

  Of ruthless Destiny; she now a Chief

  Seized newly wounded, and now captive held

  Another yet unhurt, and now a third 670

  Dragg’d breathless through the battle by his feet

  And all her garb was dappled thick with blood

  Like living men they traversed and they strove,

  And dragg’d by turns the bodies of the slain.

  He also graved on it a fallow field 675

  Rich, spacious, and well-till’d. Plowers not few,

  There driving to and fro their sturdy teams,

  Labor’d the land; and oft as in their course

  They came to the field’s bourn, so oft a man

  Met them, who in their hands a goblet placed 680

  Charged with delicious wine. They, turning, wrought

  Each his own furrow, and impatient seem’d

  To reach the border of the tilth, which black

  Appear’d behind them as a glebe new-turn’d,

  Though golden. Sight to be admired by all! 685

  There too he form’d the likeness of a field

  Crowded with corn, in which the reapers toil’d

  Each with a sharp-tooth’d sickle in his hand.

  Along the furrow here, the harvest fell

  In frequent handfuls, there, they bound the sheaves. 690

  Three binders of the sheaves their sultry task

  All plied industrious, and behind them boys

  Attended, filling with the corn their arms

  And offering still their bundles to be bound.

  Amid them, staff in hand, the master stood 695

  Silent exulting, while beneath an oak

  Apart, his heralds bus
ily prepared

  The banquet, dressing a well-thriven ox

  New slain, and the attendant maidens mix’d

  Large supper for the hinds of whitest flour. 700

  There also, laden with its fruit he form’d

  A vineyard all of gold; purple he made

  The clusters, and the vines supported stood

  By poles of silver set in even rows.

  471 The trench he color’d sable, and around 705

  Fenced it with tin. One only path it show’d

  By which the gatherers when they stripp’d the vines

  Pass’d and repass’d. There, youths and maidens blithe

  In frails of wicker bore the luscious fruit,

  While, in the midst, a boy on his shrill harp 710

  Harmonious play’d, still as he struck the chord

  Carolling to it with a slender voice.

  They smote the ground together, and with song

  And sprightly reed came dancing on behind.

  There too a herd he fashion’d of tall beeves 715

  Part gold, part tin. They, lowing, from the stalls

  Rush’d forth to pasture by a river-side

  Rapid, sonorous, fringed with whispering reeds.

  Four golden herdsmen drove the kine a-field

  By nine swift dogs attended. Dreadful sprang 720

  Two lions forth, and of the foremost herd

  Seized fast a bull. Him bellowing they dragg’d,

  While dogs and peasants all flew to his aid.

  The lions tore the hide of the huge prey

  And lapp’d his entrails and his blood. Meantime 725

  The herdsmen, troubling them in vain, their hounds

  Encouraged; but no tooth for lions’ flesh

  Found they, and therefore stood aside and bark’d.

  There also, the illustrious smith divine

  Amidst a pleasant grove a pasture form’d 730

  Spacious, and sprinkled o’er with silver sheep

  Numerous, and stalls and huts and shepherds’ tents.

  To these the glorious artist added next,

  With various skill delineated exact,

  A labyrinth for the dance, such as of old 735

  In Crete’s broad island Dædalus composed

  472 For bright-hair’d Ariadne. There the youths

  And youth-alluring maidens, hand in hand,

  Danced jocund, every maiden neat-attired

  In finest linen, and the youths in vests 740

  Well-woven, glossy as the glaze of oil.

  These all wore garlands, and bright falchions, those,