Of burnish’d gold in silver trappings hung: —
They with well-tutor’d step, now nimbly ran
The circle, swift, as when, before his wheel 745
Seated, the potter twirls it with both hands
For trial of its speed, now, crossing quick
They pass’d at once into each other’s place.
On either side spectators numerous stood
Delighted, and two tumblers roll’d themselves 750
Between the dancers, singing as they roll’d.
Last, with the might of ocean’s boundless flood
He fill’d the border of the wondrous shield.
When thus the massy shield magnificent
He had accomplish’d, for the hero next 755
He forged, more ardent than the blaze of fire,
A corselet; then, a ponderous helmet bright
Well fitted to his brows, crested with gold,
And with laborious art divine adorn’d.
He also made him greaves of molten tin. 760
The armor finish’d, bearing in his hand
The whole, he set it down at Thetis’ feet.
She, like a falcon from the snowy top
Stoop’d of Olympus, bearing to the earth
The dazzling wonder, fresh from Vulcan’s hand. 765
ARGUMENT OF THE NINETEENTH BOOK.
Achilles is reconciled to Agamemnon, and clothed in new armor forged by Vulcan, leads out the Myrmidons to battle.
BOOK XIX.
Now rose the morn in saffron vest attired
From ocean, with new day for Gods and men,
When Thetis at the fleet of Greece arrived,
Bearing that gift divine. She found her son
All tears, and close enfolding in his arms 5
Patroclus, while his Myrmidons around
Wept also; she amid them, graceful, stood,
And seizing fast his hand, him thus bespake.
Although our loss be great, yet, oh my son!
Leave we Patroclus lying on the bier 10
To which the Gods ordain’d him from the first.
Receive from Vulcan’s hands these glorious arms,
Such as no mortal shoulders ever bore.
So saying, she placed the armor on the ground
Before him, and the whole bright treasure rang. 15
A tremor shook the Myrmidons; none dared
Look on it, but all fled. Not so himself.
In him fresh vengeance kindled at the view,
And, while he gazed, a splendor as of fire
Flash’d from his eyes. Delighted, in his hand 20
He held the glorious bounty of the God,
And, wondering at those strokes of art divine,
476 His eager speech thus to his mother turn’d.
The God, my mother! hath bestow’d in truth
Such armor on me as demanded skill 25
Like his, surpassing far all power of man.
Now, therefore, I will arm. But anxious fears
Trouble me, lest intrusive flies, meantime,
Breed worms within the spear-inflicted wounds
Of Menœtiades, and fill with taint 30
Of putrefaction his whole breathless form.
But him the silver-footed Goddess fair
Thus answer’d. Oh, my son! chase from thy mind
All such concern. I will, myself, essay
To drive the noisome swarms which on the slain 35
In battle feed voracious. Should he lie
The year complete, his flesh shall yet be found
Untainted, and, it may be, fragrant too.
But thou the heroes of Achaia’s host
Convening, in their ears thy wrath renounce 40
Against the King of men, then, instant, arm
For battle, and put on thy glorious might.
So saying, the Goddess raised his courage high.
Then, through the nostrils of the dead she pour’d
Ambrosia, and the ruddy juice divine 45
Of nectar, antidotes against decay.
And now forth went Achilles by the side
Of ocean, calling with a dreadful shout
To council all the heroes of the host.
Then, even they who in the fleet before 50
Constant abode, helmsmen and those who held
In stewardship the food and public stores,
477 All flock’d to council, for that now at length
After long abstinence from dread exploits
Of war, Achilles had once more appear’d. 55
Two went together, halting on the spear,
(For still they felt the anguish of their wounds)
Noble Ulysses and brave Diomede,
And took an early seat; whom follow’d last
The King of men, by Coön in the field 60
Of furious battle wounded with a lance.
The Grecians all assembled, in the midst
Upstood the swift Achilles, and began.
Atrides! we had doubtless better sped
Both thou and I, thus doing, when at first 65
With cruel rage we burn’d, a girl the cause.
I would that Dian’s shaft had in the fleet
Slain her that self-same day when I destroy’d
Lyrnessus, and by conquest made her mine!
Then had not many a Grecian, lifeless now, 70
Clench’d with his teeth the ground, victim, alas!
Of my revenge; whence triumph hath accrued
To Hector and his host, while ours have cause
For long remembrance of our mutual strife.
But evils past let pass, yielding perforce 75
To sad necessity. My wrath shall cease
Now; I resign it; it hath burn’d too long.
Thou therefore summon forth the host to fight,
That I may learn meeting them in the field,
If still the Trojans purpose at our fleet 80
To watch us this night also. But I judge
That driven by my spear to rapid flight,
They shall escape with weary limbs at least.
He ended, and the Grecians brazen-greaved
Rejoiced that Peleus’ mighty son had cast 85
His wrath aside. Then not into the midst
Proceeding, but at his own seat, upstood
King Agamemnon, and them thus bespake.
478 Friends! Grecian heroes! Ministers of Mars!
Arise who may to speak, he claims your ear; 90
All interruption wrongs him, and distracts,
Howe’er expert the speaker. Who can hear
Amid the roar of tumult, or who speak?
The clearest voice, best utterance, both are vain
I shall address Achilles. Hear my speech 95
Ye Argives, and with understanding mark.
I hear not now the voice of your reproach
First; ye have oft condemn’d me. Yet the blame
Rests not with me; Jove, Destiny, and she
Who roams the shades, Erynnis, caused the offence. 100
She fill’d my soul with fury on that day
In council, when I seized Achilles’ prize.
For what could I? All things obey the Gods.
Ate, pernicious Power, daughter of Jove,
By whom all suffer, challenges from all 105
Reverence and fear. Delicate are her feet
Which scorn the ground, and over human heads
She glides, injurious to the race of man,
Of two who strive, at least entangling one.
She injured, on a day, dread Jove himself 110
Most excellent of all in earth or heaven,
When Juno, although female, him deceived,
What time Alcmena should have brought to light
In bulwark’d Thebes the force of Hercules.
Then Jove, among the gods glorying, spake. 115
Hear all! both Gods and Goddesses, attend!
/> That I may make my purpose known. This day
Birth-pang-dispensing Ilithya brings
An hero forth to light, who, sprung from those
That sprang from me, his empire shall extend 120
Over all kingdoms bordering on his own.
To whom, designing fraud, Juno replied.
Thou wilt be found false, and this word of thine
Shall want performance. But Olympian Jove!
479 Swear now the inviolable oath, that he 125
Who shall, this day, fall from between the feet
Of woman, drawing his descent from thee,
Shall rule all kingdoms bordering on his own.
She said, and Jove, suspecting nought her wiles,
The great oath swore, to his own grief and wrong. 130
At once from the Olympian summit flew
Juno, and to Achaian Argos borne,
There sought the noble wife of Sthenelus,
Offspring of Perseus. Pregnant with a son
Six months, she now the seventh saw at hand, 135
But him the Goddess premature produced,
And check’d Alcmena’s pangs already due.
Then joyful to have so prevail’d, she bore
Herself the tidings to Saturnian Jove.
Lord of the candent lightnings! Sire of all! 140
I bring thee tidings. The great prince, ordain’d
To rule the Argive race, this day is born,
Eurystheus, son of Sthenelus, the son
Of Perseus; therefore he derives from thee,
Nor shall the throne of Argos shame his birth. 145
She spake; then anguish stung the heart of Jove
Deeply, and seizing by her glossy locks
The Goddess Ate, in his wrath he swore
That never to the starry skies again
And the Olympian heights he would permit 150
The universal mischief to return.
Then, whirling her around, he cast her down
To earth. She, mingling with all works of men,
Caused many a pang to Jove, who saw his son
Laborious tasks servile, and of his birth 155
Unworthy, at Eurystheus’ will enjoin’d.
So when the hero Hector at our ships
Slew us, I then regretted my offence
Which Ate first impell’d me to commit.
But since, infatuated by the Gods 160
I err’d, behold me ready to appease
480 With gifts of price immense whom I have wrong’d.
Thou, then, arise to battle, and the host
Rouse also. Not a promise yesternight
Was made thee by Ulysses in thy tent 165
On my behalf, but shall be well perform’d.
Or if it please thee, though impatient, wait
Short season, and my train shall bring the gifts
Even now; that thou may’st understand and know
That my peace-offerings are indeed sincere. 170
To whom Achilles, swiftest of the swift.
Atrides! Agamemnon! passing all
In glory! King of men! recompense just
By gifts to make me, or to make me none,
That rests with thee. But let us to the fight 175
Incontinent. It is no time to play
The game of rhetoric, and to waste the hours
In speeches. Much remains yet unperform’d.
Achilles must go forth. He must be seen
Once more in front of battle, wasting wide 180
With brazen spear, the crowded ranks of Troy.
Mark him — and as he fights, fight also ye.
To whom Ulysses ever-wise replied.
Nay — urge not, valiant as thou art thyself,
Achaia’s sons up to the battlements 185
Of Ilium, by repast yet unrefresh’d,
Godlike Achilles! — For when phalanx once
Shall clash with phalanx, and the Gods with rage
Both hosts inspire, the contest shall not then
Prove short. Bid rather the Achaians take 190
Both food and wine, for they are strength and might.
To stand all day till sunset to a foe
Opposed in battle, fasting, were a task
Might foil the best; for though his will be prompt
To combat, yet the power must by degrees 195
Forsake him; thirst and hunger he must feel,
And his limbs failing him at every step.
But he who hath his vigor to the full
Fed with due nourishment, although he fight
481 All day, yet feels his courage unimpair’d, 200
Nor weariness perceives till all retire.
Come then — dismiss the people with command
That each prepare replenishment. Meantime
Let Agamemnon, King of men, his gifts
In presence here of the assembled Greeks 205
Produce, that all may view them, and that thou
May’st feel thine own heart gladden’d at the sight.
Let the King also, standing in the midst,
Swear to thee, that he renders back the maid
A virgin still, and strange to his embrace, 210
And let thy own composure prove, the while,
That thou art satisfied. Last, let him spread
A princely banquet for thee in his tent,
That thou may’st want no part of just amends.
Thou too, Atrides, shalt hereafter prove 215
More just to others; for himself, a King,
Stoops not too low, soothing whom he hath wrong’d.
Him Agamemnon answer’d, King of men.
Thou hast arranged wisely the whole concern,
O Läertiades, and I have heard 220
Thy speech, both words and method with delight.
Willing I am, yea more, I wish to swear
As thou hast said, for by the Gods I can
Most truly. Let Achilles, though of pause
Impatient, suffer yet a short delay 225
With all assembled here, till from my tent
The gifts arrive, and oaths of peace be sworn.
To thee I give it in peculiar charge
That choosing forth the most illustrious youths
Of all Achaia, thou produce the gifts 230
from my own ship, all those which yesternight
We promised, nor the women leave behind.
And let Talthybius throughout all the camp
Of the Achaians, instant, seek a boar
For sacrifice to Jove and to the Sun. 235
Then thus Achilles matchless in the race.
Atrides! most illustrious! King of men!
482 Expedience bids us to these cares attend
Hereafter, when some pause, perchance, of fight
Shall happen, and the martial rage which fires 240
My bosom now, shall somewhat less be felt.
Our friends by Priameian Hector slain,
Now strew the field mangled, for him hath Jove
Exalted high, and given him great renown.
But haste, now take refreshment; though, in truth 245
Might I direct, the host should by all means
Unfed to battle, and at set of sun
All sup together, this affront revenged.
But as for me, no drop shall pass my lips
Or morsel, whose companion lies with feet 250
Turn’d to the vestibule, pierced by the spear,
And compass’d by my weeping train around.
No want of food feel I. My wishes call
For carnage, blood, and agonies and groans.
But him, excelling in all wisdom, thus 255
Ulysses answer’d. Oh Achilles! son
Of Peleus! bravest far of all our host!
Me, in no scanty measure, thou excell’st
Wielding the spear, and thee in prudence, I
Not less. For I am elder, and have learn’d
260
What thou hast yet to learn. Bid then thine heart
Endure with patience to be taught by me.
Men, satiate soon with battle, loathe the field
On which the most abundant harvest falls,
Reap’d by the sword; and when the hand of Jove 265
Dispenser of the great events of war,
Turns once the scale, then, farewell every hope
Of more than scanty gleanings. Shall the Greeks
Abstain from sustenance for all who die?
That were indeed severe, since day by day 270
No few expire, and respite could be none.
The dead, die whoso may, should be inhumed.
This, duty bids, but bids us also deem
One day sufficient for our sighs and tears.
Ourselves, all we who still survive the war, 275
483 Have need of sustenance, that we may bear
The lengthen’d conflict with recruited might,
Case in enduring brass. — Ye all have heard
Your call to battle; let none lingering stand
In expectation of a farther call, 280
Which if it sound, shall thunder prove to him
Who lurks among the ships. No. Rush we all
Together forth, for contest sharp prepared,
And persevering with the host of Troy.
So saying, the sons of Nestor, glorious Chief, 285
He chose, with Meges Phyleus’ noble son,
Thoas, Meriones, and Melanippus
And Lycomedes. These, together, sought
The tent of Agamemnon, King of men.
They ask’d, and they received. Soon they produced 290
The seven promised tripods from the tent,
Twice ten bright caldrons, twelve high-mettled steeds,
Seven lovely captives skill’d alike in arts
Domestic, of unblemish’d beauty rare,
And last, Brisëis with the blooming cheeks. 295
Before them went Ulysses, bearing weigh’d
Ten golden talents, whom the chosen Greeks
Attended laden with the remnant gifts.
Full in the midst they placed them. Then arose
King Agamemnon, and Talthybius 300
The herald, clear in utterance as a God,
Beside him stood, holding the victim boar.
Atrides, drawing forth his dagger bright,
Appendant ever to his sword’s huge sheath,
Sever’d the bristly forelock of the boar, 305
A previous offering. Next, with lifted hands
William Cowper- Collected Poetical Works Page 131