William Cowper- Collected Poetical Works

by William Cowper

  At large his commendation from the lips

  Of Nestor, through the assembled Greeks return’d.

  He next proposed, not lightly to be won, 815

  The boxer’s prize. He tether’d down a mule,

  Untamed and hard to tame, but strong to toil,

  And in her prime of vigor, in the midst;

  A goblet to the vanquish’d he assign’d,

  Then stood erect and to the Greeks exclaim’d. 820

  Atridæ! and ye Argives brazen-greaved!

  I call for two bold combatants expert

  To wage fierce strife for these, with lifted fists

  578 Smiting each other. He, who by the aid

  Of Phœbus shall o’ertome, and whom the Greeks 825

  Shall all pronounce victorious, leads the mule

  Hence to his tent; the vanquish’d takes the cup.

  He spake, and at his word a Greek arose

  Big, bold, and skillful in the boxer’s art,

  Epeüs, son of Panopeus; his hand 830

  He on the mule imposed, and thus he said.

  Approach the man ambitious of the cup!

  For no Achaian here shall with his fist

  Me foiling, win the mule. I boast myself

  To all superior. May it not suffice 835

  That I to no pre-eminence pretend

  In battle? To attain to foremost praise

  Alike in every art is not for one.

  But this I promise, and will well perform —

  My blows shall lay him open, split him, crush 840

  His bones to splinters, and let all his friends,

  Attendant on him, wait to bear him hence,

  Vanquish’d by my superior force in fight.

  He ended, and his speech found no reply.

  One godlike Chief alone, Euryalus, 845

  Son of the King Mecisteus, who, himself,

  Sprang from Talaion, opposite arose.

  He, on the death of Oedipus, at Thebes

  Contending in the games held at his tomb,

  Had overcome the whole Cadmean race. 850

  Him Diomede spear-famed for fight prepared,

  Giving him all encouragement, for much

  He wish’d him victory. First then he threw

  His cincture to him; next, he gave him thongs

  Cut from the hide of a wild buffalo. 855

  Both girt around, into the midst they moved.

  Then, lifting high their brawny arms, and fists

  Mingling with fists, to furious fight they fell;

  Dire was the crash of jaws, and the sweat stream’d

  579 From every limb. Epeüs fierce advanced, 860

  And while Euryalus with cautious eye

  Watch’d his advantage, pash’d him on the cheek

  He stood no longer, but, his shapely limbs,

  Unequal to his weight, sinking, he fell.

  As by the rising north-wind driven ashore 865

  A huge fish flounces on the weedy beach,

  Which soon the sable flood covers again,

  So, beaten down, he bounded. But Epeüs,

  Heroic chief, upraised him by his hand,

  And his own comrades from the circus forth 870

  Led him, step dragging after step, the blood

  Ejecting grumous, and at every pace

  Rolling his head languid from side to side.

  They placed him all unconscious on his seat

  In his own band, then fetch’d his prize, the cup. 875

  Still other prizes, then, Achilles placed

  In view of all, the sturdy wrestler’s meed.

  A large hearth-tripod, valued by the Greeks

  At twice six beeves, should pay the victor’s toil;

  But for the vanquish’d, in the midst he set 880

  A damsel in variety expert

  Of arts domestic, valued at four beeves.

  He rose erect, and to the Greeks he cried.

  Arise ye, now, who shall this prize dispute.

  So spake the son of Peleus; then arose 885

  Huge Telamonian Ajax, and upstood

  Ulysses also, in all wiles adept.

  Both girt around, into the midst they moved.

  With vigorous gripe each lock’d the other fast,

  Like rafters, standing, of some mansion built 890

  By a prime artist proof against all winds.

  Their backs, tugg’d vehemently, creak’d, the sweat

  Trickled, and on their flanks and shoulders, red

  The whelks arose; they bearing still in mind

  580 The tripod, ceased not struggling for the prize. 895

  Nor could Ulysses from his station move

  And cast down Ajax, nor could Ajax him

  Unsettle, fixt so firm Ulysses stood.

  But when, long time expectant, all the Greeks

  Grew weary, then, huge Ajax him bespake. 900

  Laertes’ noble son, for wiles renown’d!

  Lift, or be lifted, and let Jove decide.

  He said, and heaved Ulysses. Then, his wiles

  Forgat not he, but on the ham behind

  Chopp’d him; the limbs of Ajax at the stroke 905

  Disabled sank; he fell supine, and bore

  Ulysses close adhering to his chest

  Down with him. Wonder riveted all eyes.

  Then brave Ulysses from the ground awhile

  Him lifted in his turn, but ere he stood, 910

  Inserting his own knee the knees between

  Of Ajax, threw him. To the earth they fell

  Both, and with dust defiled lay side by side.

  And now, arising to a third essay,

  They should have wrestled yet again, had not 915

  Achilles, interfering, them restrain’d.

  Strive not together more; cease to exhaust

  Each other’s force; ye both have earn’d the prize

  Depart alike requited, and give place

  To other Grecians who shall next contend. 920

  He spake; they glad complied, and wiping off

  The dust, put on their tunics. Then again

  Achilles other prizes yet proposed,

  The rapid runner’s meed. First, he produced

  A silver goblet of six measures; earth 925

  Own’d not its like for elegance of form.

  Skilful Sidonian artists had around

  Embellish’d it, and o’er the sable deep

  581 Phœnician merchants into Lemnos’ port

  Had borne it, and the boon to Thoas given; 930

  But Jason’s son, Euneüs, in exchange

  For Priam’s son Lycaon, to the hand

  Had pass’d it of Patroclus famed in arms.

  Achilles this, in honor of his friend,

  Set forth, the swiftest runner’s recompense. 935

  The second should a fatted ox receive

  Of largest size, and he assign’d of gold

  A just half-talent to the worst and last.

  He stood erect, and to the Greeks he cried.

  Now stand ye forth who shall this prize dispute. 940

  He said, and at his word instant arose

  Swift Ajax Oïliades; upsprang

  The shrewd Ulysses next, and after him

  Brave Nestor’s son Antilochus, with whom

  None vied in speed of all the youths of Greece. 945

  They stood prepared. Achilles show’d the goal.

  At once all started. Oïliades

  Led swift the course, and closely at his heels

  Ulysses ran. Near as some cinctured maid

  Industrious holds the distaff to her breast, 950

  While to and fro with practised finger neat

  She tends the flax drawing it to a thread,

  So near Ulysses follow’d him, and press’d

  His footsteps, ere the dust fill’d them again,

  Pouring his breath into his neck behind, 955

  And never slackening pace. His ardent thirs
t

  Of victory with universal shouts

  All seconded, and, eager, bade him on.

  And now the contest shortening to a close,

  Ulysses his request silent and brief 960

  To azure-eyed Minerva thus preferr’d.

  Oh Goddess hear, prosper me in the race!

  Such was his prayer, with which Minerva pleased,

  Freshen’d his limbs, and made him light to run.

  582 And now, when in one moment they should both 965

  Have darted on the prize, then Ajax’ foot

  Sliding, he fell; for where the dung of beeves

  Slain by Achilles for his friend, had spread

  The soil, there Pallas tripp’d him. Ordure foul

  His mouth, and ordure foul his nostrils fill’d. 970

  Then brave Ulysses, first arriving, seized

  The cup, and Ajax took his prize, the ox.

  He grasp’d his horn, and sputtering as he stood

  The ordure forth, the Argives thus bespake.

  Ah — Pallas tripp’d my footsteps; she attends 975

  Ulysses ever with a mother’s care.

  Loud laugh’d the Grecians. Then, the remnant prize

  Antilochus receiving, smiled and said.

  Ye need not, fellow-warriors, to be taught

  That now, as ever, the immortal Gods 980

  Honor on seniority bestow.

  Ajax is elder, yet not much, than I.

  But Laertiades was born in times

  Long past, a chief coëval with our sires,

  Not young, but vigorous; and of the Greeks, 985

  Achilles may alone with him contend.

  So saying, the merit of superior speed

  To Peleus’ son he gave, who thus replied.

  Antilochus! thy praise of me shall prove

  Nor vain nor unproductive to thyself, 990

  For the half-talent doubled shall be thine.

  He spake, and, doubling it, the talent placed

  Whole in his hand. He glad the gift received.

  Achilles, then Sarpedon’s arms produced,

  Stripp’d from him by Patroclus, his long spear, 995

  Helmet and shield, which in the midst he placed.

  He stood erect, and to the Greeks he cried.

  I call for two brave warriors arm’d to prove

  Each other’s skill with weapons keen, this prize

  Disputing, next, in presence of us all. 1000

  583 Who first shall through his armor reach the skin

  Of his antagonist, and shall draw his blood,

  To him this silver-studded falchion bright

  I give; the blade is Thracian, and of late

  Asteropæus wore it, whom I slew. 1005

  These other arms shall be their common meed,

  And I will banquet both within my tent.

  He said, then Telamonian Ajax huge

  Arose, and opposite the son arose

  Of warlike Tydeus, Diomede the brave. 1010

  Apart from all the people each put on

  His arms, then moved into the middle space,

  Lowering terrific, and on fire to fight.

  The host look’d on amazed. Approaching each

  The other, thrice they sprang to the assault, 1015

  And thrice struck hand to hand. Ajax the shield

  Pierced of his adversary, but the flesh

  Attain’d not, baffled by his mail within.

  Then Tydeus’ son, sheer o’er the ample disk

  Of Ajax, thrust a lance home to his neck, 1020

  And the Achaians for the life appall’d

  Of Ajax, bade them, ceasing, share the prize.

  But the huge falchion with its sheath and belt —

  Achilles them on Diomede bestow’d.

  The hero, next, an iron clod produced 1025

  Rough from the forge, and wont to task the might

  Of King Eëtion; but, when him he slew,

  Pelides, glorious chief, with other spoils

  From Thebes convey’d it in his fleet to Troy.

  He stood erect, and to the Greeks he cried. 1030

  Come forth who also shall this prize dispute!

  How far soe’er remote the winner’s fields,

  This lump shall serve his wants five circling years;

  His shepherd shall not, or his plower, need

  In quest of iron seek the distant town, 1035

  But hence he shall himself their wants supply.

  584 Then Polypœtes brave in fight arose,

  Arose Leonteus also, godlike chief,

  With Ajax son of Telamon. Each took

  His station, and Epeüs seized the clod. 1040

  He swung, he cast it, and the Grecians laugh’d.

  Leonteus, branch of Mars, quoited it next.

  Huge Telamonian Ajax with strong arm

  Dismiss’d it third, and overpitch’d them both.

  But when brave Polypœtes seized the mass 1045

  Far as the vigorous herdsman flings his staff

  That twirling flies his numerous beeves between,

  So far his cast outmeasured all beside,

  And the host shouted. Then the friends arose

  Of Polypœtes valiant chief, and bore 1050

  His ponderous acquisition to the ships.

  The archers’ prize Achilles next proposed,

  Ten double and ten single axes, form’d

  Of steel convertible to arrow-points.

  He fix’d, far distant on the sands, the mast 1055

  Of a brave bark cerulean-prow’d, to which

  With small cord fasten’d by the foot he tied

  A timorous dove, their mark at which to aim.

  Who strikes the dove, he conquers, and shall bear

  These double axes all into his tent. 1060

  But who the cord alone, missing the bird,

  Successful less, he wins the single blades.

  The might of royal Teucer then arose,

  And, fellow-warrior of the King of Crete,

  Valiant Meriones. A brazen casque 1065

  Received the lots; they shook them, and the lot

  585 Fell first to Teucer. He, at once, a shaft

  Sent smartly forth, but vow’d not to the King

  A hecatomb, all firstlings of the flock.

  He therefore (for Apollo greater praise 1070

  Denied him) miss’d the dove, but struck the cord

  That tied her, at small distance from the knot,

  And with his arrow sever’d it. Upsprang

  The bird into the air, and to the ground

  Depending fell the cord. Shouts rent the skies. 1075

  Then, all in haste, Meriones the bow

  Caught from his hand holding a shaft the while

  Already aim’d, and to Apollo vow’d

  A hecatomb, all firstlings of the flock.

  He eyed the dove aloft, under a cloud, 1080

  And, while she wheel’d around, struck her beneath

  The pinion; through her and beyond her pass’d

  The arrow, and, returning, pierced the soil

  Fast by the foot of brave Meriones.

  She, perching on the mast again, her head 1085

  Reclined, and hung her wide-unfolded wing,

  But, soon expiring, dropp’d and fell remote.

  Amazement seized the people. To his tent

  Meriones the ten best axes bore,

  And Teucer the inferior ten to his. 1090

  Then, last, Achilles in the circus placed

  A ponderous spear and caldron yet unfired,

  Emboss’d with flowers around, its worth an ox.

  Upstood the spear-expert; Atrides first,

  Wide-ruling Agamemnon, King of men, 1095

  And next, brave fellow-warrior of the King

  Of Crete, Meriones; when thus his speech

  Achilles to the royal chief address’d.

  Atrides! (for we know thy skill and force
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  Matchless! that none can hurl the spear as thou) 1100

  586 This prize is thine, order it to thy ship;

  And if it please thee, as I would it might,

  Let brave Meriones the spear receive.

  He said; nor Agamemnon not complied,

  But to Meriones the brazen spear

  Presenting, to Talthybius gave in charge

  The caldron, next, his own illustrious prize.

  ARGUMENT OF THE TWENTY-FOURTH BOOK.

  Priam, by command of Jupiter, and under conduct of Mercury, seeks Achilles in his tent, who admonished previously by Thetis, consents to accept ransom for the body of Hector. Hector is mourned, and the manner of his funeral, circumstantially described, concludes the poem.

  BOOK XXIV.

  The games all closed, the people went dispersed

  Each to his ship; they, mindful of repast,

  And to enjoy repose; but other thoughts

  Achilles’ mind employ’d: he still deplored

  With tears his loved Patroclus, nor the force 5

  Felt of all-conquering sleep, but turn’d and turn’d

  Restless from side to side, mourning the loss

  Of such a friend, so manly, and so brave.

  Their fellowship in toil; their hardships oft

  Sustain’d in fight laborious, or o’ercome 10

  With difficulty on the perilous deep —

  Remembrance busily retracing themes

  Like these, drew down his cheeks continual tears.

  Now on his side he lay, now lay supine,

  Now prone, then starting from his couch he roam’d 15

  Forlorn the beach, nor did the rising morn

  On seas and shores escape his watchful eye,

  But joining to his chariot his swift steeds,

  He fasten’d Hector to be dragg’d behind.

  Around the tomb of Menœtiades 20

  Him thrice he dragg’d; then rested in his tent,

  Leaving him at his length stretch’d in the dust.

  Meantime Apollo with compassion touch’d

  Even of the lifeless Hector, from all taint

  Saved him, and with the golden ægis broad 25

  Covering, preserved him, although dragg’d, untorn.

  590 While he, indulging thus his wrath, disgraced

  Brave Hector, the immortals at that sight

  With pity moved, exhorted Mercury

  The watchful Argicide, to steal him thence. 30