s: This, instant, sends thee down to Pluto’s coast;


s: Mine is the glory, his thy parting ghost."


s: "O friend (Menoetius’ son this answer gave)


s: With words to combat, ill befits the brave;


s: Not empty boasts the sons of Troy repel,


s: Your swords must plunge them to the shades of hell.


s: To speak, beseems the council; but to dare


s: In glorious action, is the task of war."


s: This said, Patroclus to the battle flies;


s: Great Merion follows, and new shouts arise:


s: Shields, helmets rattle, as the warriors close;


s: And thick and heavy sounds the storm of blows.


s: As through the shrilling vale, or mountain ground,


s: The labours of the woodman’s axe resound;


s: Blows following blows are heard re-echoing wide,


s: While crackling forests fall on every side:


s: Thus echoed all the fields with loud alarms,


s: So fell the warriors, and so rung their arms.


s: His heavenly form defaced with dust and gore,


s: And stuck with darts by warring heroes shed,


s: Lies undistinguish’d from the vulgar dead.


s: His long-disputed corse the chiefs enclose,


s: Thick as beneath some shepherd’s thatch’d abode


s: (The pails high foaming with a milky flood)


s: Incessant swarm, and chased return again.


s: Jove view’d the combat with a stern survey,


s: Fix’d on the field his sight, his breast debates


s: The vengeance due, and meditates the fates:


s: Whether to urge their prompt effect, and call


s: This instant see his short-lived trophies won,


s: And stretch him breathless on his slaughter’d son;


s: Or yet, with many a soul’s untimely flight,


s: Augment the fame and horror of the fight.


s: To crown Achilles’ valiant friend with praise


s: At length he dooms; and, that his last of days


s: Shall set in glory, bids him drive the foe;


s: Then Hector’s mind he fills with dire dismay;


s: He mounts his car, and calls his hosts away;


s: Sunk with Troy’s heavy fates, he sees decline


s: The scales of Jove, and pants with awe divine.


s: Then, nor before, the hardy Lycians fled,


s: And left their monarch with the common dead:


s: Around, in heaps on heaps, a dreadful wall


s: (So Jove decreed!) At length the Greeks obtain


s: The prize contested, and despoil the slain.


s: The radiant arms are by Patroclus borne;


s: Patroclus’ ships the glorious spoils adorn.


s: Then thus to Phoebus, in the realms above,


s: Spoke from his throne the cloud-compelling Jove:


s: "Descend, my Phoebus! on the Phrygian plain,


s: And from the fight convey Sarpedon slain;


s: Then bathe his body in the crystal flood,


s: With dust dishonour’d, and deform’d with blood;


s: O’er all his limbs ambrosial odours shed,


s: And with celestial robes adorn the dead.


s: Those rites discharged, his sacred corse bequeath


s: To the soft arms of silent Sleep and Death.


s: They to his friends the immortal charge shall bear;


s: His friends a tomb and pyramid shall rear:


s: What honour mortals after death receive,


s: Apollo bows, and from mount Ida’s height,


s: Swift to the field precipitates his flight;


s: Thence from the war the breathless hero bore,


s: Veil’d in a cloud, to silver Simois’ shore;


s: There bathed his honourable wounds, and dress’d


s: And with perfumes of sweet ambrosial dews


s: Restores his freshness, and his form renews.


s: Then Sleep and Death, two twins of winged race,


s: Of matchless swiftness, but of silent pace,


s: Received Sarpedon, at the god’s command,


s: And in a moment reach’d the Lycian land;


s: The corse amidst his weeping friends they laid,


s: Where endless honours wait the sacred shade.


s: Meanwhile Patroclus pours along the plains,


s: With foaming coursers, and with loosen’d reins.


s: Fierce on the Trojan and the Lycian crew,


s: Ah blind to fate! thy headlong fury flew


s: Against what fate and powerful Jove ordain,


s: Vain was thy friend’s command, thy courage vain.


s: For he, the god, whose counsels uncontroll’d


s: Dismay the mighty, and confound the bold;


s: The god who gives, resumes, and orders all,


s: He urged thee on, and urged thee on to fall.


s: Who first, brave hero! by that arm was slain,


s: Who last beneath thy vengeance press’d the plain;


s: And call’d to fill the number of the dead?


s: Echeclus follows; next young Megas bleeds,


s: The slaughter, Elasus and Mulius crown’d:


s: The rest, dispersing, trust their fates to flight.


s: Now Troy had stoop’d beneath his matchless power,


s: But flaming Phoebus kept the sacred tower


s: Thrice at the battlements Patroclus strook;(246)


s: He tried the fourth; when, bursting from the cloud,


s: A more than mortal voice was heard aloud.


s: "Patroclus! cease; this heaven-defended wall


s: Defies thy lance; not fated yet to fall;


s: Thy friend, thy greater far, it shall withstand,


s: Troy shall not stoop even to Achilles’ hand."


s: So spoke the god who darts celestial fires;


s: The Greek obeys him, and with awe retires.


s: While Hector, checking at the Scaean gates


s: His panting coursers, in his breast debates,


s: Or draw the troops within the walls of Troy.


s: Thus while he thought, beside him Phoebus stood,


s: In Asius’ shape, who reigned by Sangar’s flood;


s: (Thy brother, Hecuba! from Dymas sprung,


s: A valiant warrior, haughty, bold, and young;)


s: Thus he accosts him. "What a shameful sight!


s: God! is it Hector that forbears the fight?


s: Were thine my vigour this successful spear


s: Should soon convince thee of so false a fear.


s: Turn thee, ah turn thee to the field of fame,


s: And in Patroclus’ blood efface thy shame.


s: And heaven ordains him by thy lance to bleed."


s: So spoke the inspiring god; then took his flight,


s: And plunged amidst the tumult of the fight.


s: The lash resounds, the coursers rush to war.


s: The god the Grecians’ sinking souls depress’d,


s: And pour’d swift spirits through each Trojan breast.


s: Patroclus lights, impatient for the fight;


s: A spear his left, a stone employs his right:


s: With all his nerves he drives it at the foe.


s: Pointed above, and rough and gross below:


s: The falling ruin crush’d Cebrion’s head,


s: The lawless offspring of king Priam’s bed;


s: His front, brows, eyes, one undistinguish’d wound:


s: The bursting balls drop sightless to the ground.


s: The charioteer, while yet he held the rein,


s: Struck from the car, falls headlong on the plain.


s: To the dark shades the soul unwilling glides,


s: While the proud victor thus his fall derides.


s: "Good heaven! what active feats yon artist shows!


s: What skilful divers are our Phrygian foes!


s: Mark with what ease they sink into the sand!


s: Pity that all their practice is by land!"


s: Then rushing sudden on his prostrate prize,


s: To spoil the carcase fierce Patroclus flies:


s: That sweeps the field, depopulates the fold;


s: Pierced through the dauntless heart, then tumbles slain,


s: And from his fatal courage finds his bane.


s: At once bold Hector leaping from his car,


s: Thus for some slaughter’d hind, with equal rage,


s: Stung with fierce hunger, each the prey invades,


s: And echoing roars rebellow through the shades.


s: Stern Hector fastens on the warrior’s head,


s: And by the foot Patroclus drags the dead:


s: While all around, confusion, rage, and fright,


s: Mix the contending hosts in mortal fight.


s: So pent by hills, the wild winds roar aloud


s: Leaves, arms, and trees, aloft in air are blown,


s: The broad oaks crackle, and the Sylvans groan;


s: This way and that, the rattling thicket bends,


s: And the whole forest in one crash descends.


s: Not with less noise, with less tumultuous rage,


s: In dreadful shock the mingled hosts engage.


s: Darts shower’d on darts, now round the carcase ring;


s: Now flights of arrows bounding from the string:


s: Stones follow stones; some clatter on the fields,


s: Some hard, and heavy, shake the sounding shields.


s: But where the rising whirlwind clouds the plains,


s: Sunk in soft dust the mighty chief remains,


s: And, stretch’d in death, forgets the guiding reins!


s: Now flaming from the zenith, Sol had driven


s: His fervid orb through half the vault of heaven;


s: While on each host with equal tempests fell


s: The showering darts, and numbers sank to hell.


s: But when his evening wheels o’erhung the main,


s: Glad conquest rested on the Grecian train.


s: They draw the conquer’d corse and radiant arms.


s: Then rash Patroclus with new fury glows,


s: And breathing slaughter, pours amid the foes.


s: Thrice on the press like Mars himself he flew,


s: And thrice three heroes at each onset slew.


s: There ends thy glory! there the Fates untwine


s: The last, black remnant of so bright a line:


s: Death calls, and heaven allows no longer day!


s: For lo! the god in dusky clouds enshrined,


s: Approaching dealt a staggering blow behind.


s: The weighty shock his neck and shoulders feel;


s: His eyes flash sparkles, his stunn’d senses reel


s: In giddy darkness; far to distance flung,


s: His bounding helmet on the champaign rung.


s: Achilles’ plume is stain’d with dust and gore;


s: That plume which never stoop’d to earth before;


s: Long used, untouch’d, in fighting fields to shine,


s: And shade the temples of the mad divine.


s: Jove dooms it now on Hector’s helm to nod;


s: Not long—for fate pursues him, and the god.


s: His spear in shivers falls; his ample shield


s: Drops from his arm: his baldric strows the field:


s: The corslet his astonish’d breast forsakes:


s: Loose is each joint; each nerve with horror shakes;


s: Stupid he stares, and all-assistless stands:


s: Such is the force of more than mortal hands!


s: A Dardan youth there was, well known to fame,


s: From Panthus sprung, Euphorbus was his name;


s: Famed for the manage of the foaming horse,


s: Skill’d in the dart, and matchless in the course:


s: Full twenty knights he tumbled from the car,


s: While yet he learn’d his rudiments of war.


s: His venturous spear first drew the hero’s gore;


s: He struck, he wounded, but he durst no more.


s: Nor, though disarm’d, Patroclus’ fury stood:


s: But swift withdrew the long-protended wood.


s: And turn’d him short, and herded in the crowd.


s: Thus, by an arm divine, and mortal spear,


s: Wounded, at once, Patroclus yields to fear,


s: Retires for succour to his social train,


s: And flies the fate, which heaven decreed, in vain.


s: Stern Hector, as the bleeding chief he views,


s: Breaks through the ranks, and his retreat pursues:


s: The lance arrests him with a mortal wound;


s: He falls, earth thunders, and his arms resound.


s: With him all Greece was sunk; that moment all


s: Her yet-surviving heroes seem’d to fall.


s: So, scorch’d with heat, along the desert score,


s: Fast by the spring; they both dispute the flood,


s: With flaming eyes, and jaws besmear’d with blood;


s: At length the sovereign savage wins the strife;


s: And the torn boar resigns his thirst and life.


s: Patroclus thus, so many chiefs o’erthrown,


s: He sternly views him, and triumphant cries:


s: "Lie there, Patroclus! and with thee, the joy


s: Thy pride once promised, of subverting Troy;


s: The fancied scenes of Ilion wrapt in flames,


s: And thy soft pleasures served with captive dames.


s: Unthinking man! I fought those towers to free,


s: And guard that beauteous race from lords like thee:


s: But thou a prey to vultures shalt be made;


s: Though much at parting that great chief might say,


s: And much enjoin thee, this important day.


s: ’Return not, my brave friend (perhaps he said),


s: Without the bloody arms of Hector dead.’


s: He spoke, Patroclus march’d, and thus he sped."


s: With faint, expiring breath, the chief replies:


s: "Vain boaster! cease, and know the powers divine!


s: Jove’s and Apollo’s is this deed, not thine;


s: To heaven is owed whate’er your own you call,


s: And heaven itself disarm’d me ere my fall.


s: Had twenty mortals, each thy match in might,


s: Opposed me fairly, they had sunk in fight:


s: By fate and Phoebus was I first o’erthrown,


s: Euphorbus next; the third mean part thy own.


s: But thou, imperious! hear my latest breath;


s: The gods inspire it, and it sounds thy death:


s: Black fate o’erhangs thee, and thy hour draws nigh;


s: Even now on life’s last verge I see thee stand,


s: I see thee fall, and by Achilles’ hand."


s: He faints: the soul unwilling wings her way,


s: (The beauteous body left a load of clay)


s: On the pale carcase, thus address’d the dead:


s: "From whence this boding speech, the stern decree


s: Of death denounced, or why denounced to me?


s: To Hector’s lance? Who knows the will of heaven?"


s: Pensive he said; then pressing as he lay


s: His breathless bosom, tore the lance away;


s: And upwards cast the corse: the reeking spear


s: He shakes, and charges the bold charioteer.


s: Rapt in the chariot o’er the distant plains,


s: Far from his rage the immortal coursers drove;


s: The immortal coursers were the gift of Jove.


s: On the cold earth divine Patroclus spread,


s: Lies pierced with wounds among the vulgar dead.


s: Great Menelaus, touch’d with generous woe,


s: Springs to the front, and guards him from the foe.


s: Thus round her new-fallen young the heifer moves,


s: Fruit of her throes, and first-born of her loves;


s: And anxious (helpless as he lies, and bare)


s: Turns, and re-turns her, with a mother’s care,


s: Opposed to each that near the carcase came,


s: His broad shield glimmers, and his lances flame.


s: The son of Panthus, skill’d the dart to send,


s: Eyes the dead hero, and insults the friend.


s: "This hand, Atrides, laid Patroclus low;


s: Warrior! desist, nor tempt an equal blow:


s: To me the spoils my prowess won, resign:


s: Depart with life, and leave the glory mine"


s: The Trojan thus: the Spartan monarch burn’d


s: With generous anguish, and in scorn return’d:


s: "Laugh’st thou not, Jove! from thy superior throne,


s: When mortals boast of prowess not their own?


s: Nor panther braves his spotted foe in fight,


s: Nor thus the boar (those terrors of the plain;)


s: Man only vaunts his force, and vaunts in vain.


s: But far the vainest of the boastful kind,


s: These sons of Panthus vent their haughty mind.


s: Yet ’twas but late, beneath my conquering steel


s: This boaster’s brother, Hyperenor, fell;


s: Vain was his vigour, and as vain his pride.


s: These eyes beheld him on the dust expire,


s: No more to cheer his spouse, or glad his sire.


s: Presumptuous youth! like his shall be thy doom,


s: Go, wait thy brother to the Stygian gloom;


s: Or, while thou may’st, avoid the threaten’d fate;


s: Fools stay to feel it, and are wise too late."


s: Unmoved, Euphorbus thus: "That action known,


s: Come, for my brother’s blood repay thy own.


s: His weeping father claims thy destined head,


s: On these thy conquer’d spoils I shall bestow,


s: To soothe a consort’s and a parent’s woe.


s: No longer then defer the glorious strife,


s: Let heaven decide our fortune, fame, and life."


s: Swift as the word the missile lance he flings;


s: The well-aim’d weapon on the buckler rings,


s: But blunted by the brass, innoxious falls.


s: Nor flies the javelin from his arm in vain,


s: It pierced his throat, and bent him to the plain;


s: Wide through the neck appears the grisly wound,


s: Prone sinks the warrior, and his arms resound.


s: The shining circlets of his golden hair,


s: Which even the Graces might be proud to wear,


s: Instarr’d with gems and gold, bestrow the shore,


s: With dust dishonour’d, and deform’d with gore.


s: As the young olive, in some sylvan scene,


s: Crown’d by fresh fountains with eternal green,


s: Lifts the gay head, in snowy flowerets fair,


s: When lo! a whirlwind from high heaven invades


s: The tender plant, and withers all its shades;


s: Thus young, thus beautiful, Euphorbus lay,


s: While the fierce Spartan tore his arms away.


s: Proud of his deed, and glorious in the prize,


s: Affrighted Troy the towering victor flies:


s: Flies, as before some mountain lion’s ire


s: The village curs and trembling swains retire,


s: When o’er the slaughter’d bull they hear him roar,


s: And see his jaws distil with smoking gore:


s: All pale with fear, at distance scatter’d round,


s: They shout incessant, and the vales resound.


s: Meanwhile Apollo view’d with envious eyes,


s: And urged great Hector to dispute the prize;


s: (In Mentes’ shape, beneath whose martial care


s: The rough Ciconians learn’d the trade of war;)(247)


s: "Forbear (he cried) with fruitless speed to chase


s: They stoop not, these, to mortal man’s command,


s: Or stoop to none but great Achilles’ hand.


s: Turn, and behold the brave Euphorbus slain;


s: By Sparta slain! for ever now suppress’d


s: The fire which burn’d in that undaunted breast!"


s: Thus having spoke, Apollo wing’d his flight,


s: And mix’d with mortals in the toils of fight:


s: Deep in great Hector’s soul: through all the war


s: He darts his anxious eye; and, instant, view’d


s: The breathless hero in his blood imbued,


s: (Forth welling from the wound, as prone he lay)


s: And in the victor’s hands the shining prey.


s: Sheath’d in bright arms, through cleaving ranks he flies,


s: And sends his voice in thunder to the skies:


s: Fierce as a flood of flame by Vulcan sent,


s: It flew, and fired the nations as it went.


s: Atrides from the voice the storm divined,


s: And thus explored his own unconquer’d mind:


s: "Then shall I quit Patroclus on the plain,


s: Slain in my cause, and for my honour slain!


s: Desert the arms, the relics, of my friend?


s: Or singly, Hector and his troops attend?


s: Sure where such partial favour heaven bestow’d,


s: To brave the hero were to brave the god:


s: Forgive me, Greece, if once I quit the field;


s: ’Tis not to Hector, but to heaven I yield.


s: Yet, nor the god, nor heaven, should give me fear,


s: Still would we turn, still battle on the plains,


s: Of his and our Patroclus—" This, no more


s: The time allow’d: Troy thicken’d on the shore.


s: Slow he recedes, and sighing quits the dead.


s: So from the fold the unwilling lion parts,


s: Forced by loud clamours, and a storm of darts;


s: He flies indeed, but threatens as he flies,


s: Now enter’d in the Spartan ranks, he turn’d


s: His manly breast, and with new fury burn’d;


s: O’er all the black battalions sent his view,


s: And through the cloud the godlike Ajax knew;


s: Where labouring on the left the warrior stood,


s: All grim in arms, and cover’d o’er with blood;


s: There breathing courage, where the god of day


s: Had sunk each heart with terror and dismay.


s: To him the king: "Oh Ajax, oh my friend!


s: Haste, and Patroclus’ loved remains defend:


s: For naked now, despoiled of arms, he lies;


s: And Hector glories in the dazzling prize."


s: He said, and touch’d his heart. The raging pair


s: Pierced the thick battle, and provoke the war.


s: Already had stern Hector seized his head,


s: And doom’d to Trojan gods the unhappy dead;


s: But soon as Ajax rear’d his tower-like shield,


s: Sprung to his car, and measured back the field,


s: His train to Troy the radiant armour bear,


s: Meanwhile great Ajax (his broad shield display’d)


s: Guards the dead hero with the dreadful shade;


s: And now before, and now behind he stood:


s: Her tawny young, beset by men and hounds;


s: Elate her heart, and rousing all her powers,


s: Dark o’er the fiery balls each hanging eyebrow lours.


s: Fast by his side the generous Spartan glows


s: With great revenge, and feeds his inward woes.


s: On Hector frowning, thus his flight upbraids:


s: "Where now in Hector shall we Hector find?


s: Is this, O chief! a hero’s boasted fame?


s: How vain, without the merit, is the name!


s: Since battle is renounced, thy thoughts employ


s: What other methods may preserve thy Troy:


s: ’Tis time to try if Ilion’s state can stand


s: Mean, empty boast! but shall the Lycians stake


s: Their lives for you? those Lycians you forsake?


s: What from thy thankless arms can we expect?


s: Thy friend Sarpedon proves thy base neglect;


s: Say, shall our slaughter’d bodies guard your walls,


s: While unreveng’d the great Sarpedon falls?


s: Even where he died for Troy, you left him there,


s: A feast for dogs, and all the fowls of air.


s: Hence let him march, and give up Troy to fate.


s: (Such as should burn in every soul that draws


s: The sword for glory, and his country’s cause)


s: Even yet our mutual arms we might employ,


s: And drag yon carcase to the walls of Troy.


s: Oh! were Patroclus ours, we might obtain


s: Sarpedon’s arms and honour’d corse again!


s: Greece with Achilles’ friend should be repaid,


s: And thus due honours purchased to his shade.


s: But words are vain—Let Ajax once appear,


s: And Hector trembles and recedes with fear;


s: Thou dar’st not meet the terrors of his eye;


s: The Trojan chief with fix’d resentment eyed


s: "Say, is it just, my friend, that Hector’s ear


s: From such a warrior such a speech should hear?


s: I deem’d thee once the wisest of thy kind,


s: But ill this insult suits a prudent mind.


s: ’Tis mine to prove the rash assertion vain;


s: I joy to mingle where the battle bleeds,


s: And hear the thunder of the sounding steeds.


s: But Jove’s high will is ever uncontroll’d,


s: The strong he withers, and confounds the bold;


s: Now crowns with fame the mighty man, and now


s: Strikes the fresh garland from the victor’s brow!


s: Come, through yon squadrons let us hew the way,


s: If yet a Greek the sight of Hector dread,


s: Or yet their hero dare defend the dead."


s: Then turning to the martial hosts, he cries:


s: "Ye Trojans, Dardans, Lycians, and allies!


s: Be men, my friends, in action as in name,


s: And yet be mindful of your ancient fame.


s: Hector in proud Achilles’ arms shall shine,


s: Torn from his friend, by right of conquest mine."


s: He strode along the field, as thus he said:


s: (The sable plumage nodded o’er his head:)


s: Swift through the spacious plain he sent a look;


s: The distant band, that on the sandy shore


s: The radiant spoils to sacred Ilion bore.


s: There his own mail unbraced the field bestrow’d;


s: His train to Troy convey’d the massy load.


s: Now blazing in the immortal arms he stands;


s: The work and present of celestial hands;


s: As first to Peleus by the court of heaven:


s: His father’s arms not long Achilles wears,


s: Forbid by fate to reach his father’s years.


s: Him, proud in triumph, glittering from afar,


s: The god whose thunder rends the troubled air


s: And, conscious, look’d through all the scene of fate.


s: He shook the sacred honours of his head;


s: "Ah, wretched man! unmindful of thy end!


s: A moment’s glory; and what fates attend!


s: Thou stand’st, and armies tremble at thy sight,


s: Lies slain the great Achilles’ dearer part.


s: Thou from the mighty dead those arms hast torn,


s: Which once the greatest of mankind had worn.


s: Yet live! I give thee one illustrious day,


s: With joyful tears to welcome Hector home;


s: No more officious, with endearing charms,


s: From thy tired limbs unbrace Pelides’ arms!"


s: Then with his sable brow he gave the nod


s: That seals his word; the sanction of the god.


s: The stubborn arms (by Jove’s command disposed)


s: Conform’d spontaneous, and around him closed:


s: Fill’d with the god, enlarged his members grew,


s: Through all his veins a sudden vigour flew,


s: The blood in brisker tides began to roll,


s: And Mars himself came rushing on his soul.


s: Exhorting loud through all the field he strode,


s: And look’d, and moved, Achilles, or a god.


s: Now Mesthles, Glaucus, Medon, he inspires,


s: Now Phorcys, Chromius, and Hippothous fires;


s: "Hear, all ye hosts, and hear, unnumber’d bands


s: Of neighbouring nations, or of distant lands!


s: ’Twas not for state we summon’d you so far,


s: To boast our numbers, and the pomp of war:


s: Ye came to fight; a valiant foe to chase,


s: To save our present, and our future race.


s: Tor this, our wealth, our products, you enjoy,


s: Whatever hand shall win Patroclus slain,


s: Whoe’er shall drag him to the Trojan train,


s: With Hector’s self shall equal honours claim;


s: With Hector part the spoil, and share the fame."


s: Fired by his words, the troops dismiss their fears,


s: They join, they thicken, they protend their spears;


s: Full on the Greeks they drive in firm array,


s: And each from Ajax hopes the glorious prey:


s: Vain hope! what numbers shall the field o’erspread,


s: What victims perish round the mighty dead!


s: Great Ajax mark’d the growing storm from far,


s: And thus bespoke his brother of the war:


s: "Our fatal day, alas! is come, my friend;


s: ’Tis not this corse alone we guard in vain,


s: Condemn’d to vultures on the Trojan plain;


s: We too must yield: the same sad fate must fall


s: On thee, on me, perhaps, my friend, on all.


s: See what a tempest direful Hector spreads,


s: And lo! it bursts, it thunders on our heads!


s: Call on our Greeks, if any hear the call,


s: The bravest Greeks: this hour demands them all."


s: The warrior raised his voice, and wide around


s: The field re-echoed the distressful sound.


s: "O chiefs! O princes, to whose hand is given


s: The rule of men; whose glory is from heaven!


s: Whom with due honours both Atrides grace:


s: Ye guides and guardians of our Argive race!


s: All, whom this well-known voice shall reach from far,


s: All, whom I see not through this cloud of war;


s: Come all! let generous rage your arms employ,


s: And save Patroclus from the dogs of Troy."


s: Swift was his pace, and ready was his aid:


s: The long-succeeding numbers who can name?


s: But all were Greeks, and eager all for fame.


s: Fierce to the charge great Hector led the throng;


s: Whole Troy embodied rush’d with shouts along.


s: Thus, when a mountain billow foams and raves,


s: Where some swoln river disembogues his waves,


s: Full in the mouth is stopp’d the rushing tide,


s: The boiling ocean works from side to side,


s: And distant rocks re-bellow to the roar.


s: Nor less resolved, the firm Achaian band


s: With brazen shields in horrid circle stand.


s: Jove, pouring darkness o’er the mingled fight,


s: Conceals the warriors’ shining helms in night:


s: To him, the chief for whom the hosts contend


s: Had lived not hateful, for he lived a friend:


s: Dead he protects him with superior care.


s: Nor dooms his carcase to the birds of air.


s: The first attack the Grecians scarce sustain,


s: Repulsed, they yield; the Trojans seize the slain.


s: Then fierce they rally, to revenge led on


s: In graceful stature next, and next in fame)


s: With headlong force the foremost ranks he tore;


s: So through the thicket bursts the mountain boar,


s: And rudely scatters, for a distance round,


s: The frighted hunter and the baying hound.


s: The son of Lethus, brave Pelasgus’ heir,


s: Hippothous, dragg’d the carcase through the war;


s: The sinewy ankles bored, the feet he bound


s: With thongs inserted through the double wound:


s: Doom’d by great Ajax’ vengeful lance to bleed:


s: It cleft the helmet’s brazen cheeks in twain;


s: The shatter’d crest and horse-hair strow the plain:


s: With nerves relax’d he tumbles to the ground:


s: The brain comes gushing through the ghastly wound:


s: He drops Patroclus’ foot, and o’er him spread,


s: And ill requites his parents’ tender care.


s: Lamented youth! in life’s first bloom he fell,


s: Sent by great Ajax to the shades of hell.


s: Once more at Ajax Hector’s javelin flies;


s: The Grecian marking, as it cut the skies,


s: Shunn’d the descending death; which hissing on,


s: Stretch’d in the dust the great Iphytus’ son,


s: Schedius the brave, of all the Phocian kind


s: The boldest warrior and the noblest mind:


s: In little Panope, for strength renown’d,


s: He held his seat, and ruled the realms around.


s: Plunged in his throat, the weapon drank his blood,


s: And deep transpiercing through the shoulder stood;


s: The fields resounded with his weighty fall.


s: Phorcys, as slain Hippothous he defends,


s: The hollow armour burst before the stroke,


s: And through the wound the rushing entrails broke:


s: In strong convulsions panting on the sands


s: He lies, and grasps the dust with dying hands.


s: Struck at the sight, recede the Trojan train:


s: The shouting Argives strip the heroes slain.


s: And now had Troy, by Greece compell’d to yield,


s: Fled to her ramparts, and resign’d the field;


s: With Jove averse, had turn’d the scale of fate:


s: Revered for prudence, and with prudence bold.)


s: Thus he—"What methods yet, O chief! remain,


s: To save your Troy, though heaven its fall ordain?


s: There have been heroes, who, by virtuous care,


s: Have forced the powers to spare a sinking state,


s: And gain’d at length the glorious odds of fate:


s: But you, when fortune smiles, when Jove declares


s: His partial favour, and assists your wars,


s: Your shameful efforts ’gainst yourselves employ,


s: And force the unwilling god to ruin Troy."


s: The power conceal’d, and thus to Hector cries:


s: "Oh lasting shame! to our own fears a prey,


s: We seek our ramparts, and desert the day.


s: And tells me, Jove asserts the Trojan arms."


s: He spoke, and foremost to the combat flew:


s: Then, first, Leocritus beneath him bled,


s: Who view’d his fall, and, grieving at the chance,


s: Swift to revenge it sent his angry lance;


s: The whirling lance, with vigorous force address’d,


s: Descends, and pants in Apisaon’s breast;


s: From rich Paeonia’s vales the warrior came,


s: Next thee, Asteropeus! in place and fame.


s: And rush’d to combat, but he rush’d in vain:


s: Rank within rank, on buckler buckler spread,


s: And hemm’d with bristled spears, the Grecians stood,


s: Great Ajax eyes them with incessant care,


s: And in an orb contracts the crowded war,


s: Close in their ranks commands to fight or fall,


s: And stands the centre and the soul of all:


s: Fix’d on the spot they war, and wounded, wound


s: A sanguine torrent steeps the reeking ground:


s: On heaps the Greeks, on heaps the Trojans bled,


s: And, thickening round them, rise the hills of dead.


s: Greece, in close order, and collected might,


s: Yet suffers least, and sways the wavering fight;


s: Fierce as conflicting fires the combat burns,


s: And now it rises, now it sinks by turns.


s: In one thick darkness all the fight was lost;


s: The sun, the moon, and all the ethereal host


s: Seem’d as extinct: day ravish’d from their eyes,


s: And all heaven’s splendours blotted from the skies.


s: Such o’er Patroclus’ body hung the night,


s: The rest in sunshine fought, and open light;


s: Unclouded there, the aerial azure spread,


s: No vapour rested on the mountain’s head,


s: The golden sun pour’d forth a stronger ray,


s: And all the broad expansion flamed with day.


s: Dispersed around the plain, by fits they fight,


s: And here and there their scatter’d arrows light:


s: But death and darkness o’er the carcase spread,


s: There burn’d the war, and there the mighty bled.


s: Meanwhile the sons of Nestor, in the rear,


s: (Their fellows routed,) toss the distant spear,


s: And skirmish wide: so Nestor gave command,


s: When from the ships he sent the Pylian band.


s: The youthful brothers thus for fame contend,


s: Nor knew the fortune of Achilles’ friend;


s: In thought they view’d him still, with martial joy,


s: Glorious in arms, and dealing death to Troy.


s: But round the corse the heroes pant for breath,


s: And thick and heavy grows the work of death:


s: O’erlabour’d now, with dust, and sweat, and gore,


s: Their knees, their legs, their feet, are covered o’er;


s: Drops follow drops, the clouds on clouds arise,


s: And carnage clogs their hands, and darkness fills their eyes.


s: As when a slaughter’d bull’s yet reeking hide,


s: Strain’d with full force, and tugg’d from side to side,


s: The brawny curriers stretch; and labour o’er


s: The extended surface, drunk with fat and gore:


s: So tugging round the corse both armies stood;


s: The mangled body bathed in sweat and blood;


s: While Greeks and Ilians equal strength employ,


s: Now to the ships to force it, now to Troy.


s: Not Pallas’ self, her breast when fury warms,


s: Nor he whose anger sets the world in arms,


s: Could blame this scene; such rage, such horror reign’d;


s: Such, Jove to honour the great dead ordain’d.


s: Expects him glorious from the conquered plain,


s: And for his wish’d return prepares in vain;


s: Though well he knew, to make proud Ilion bend


s: Was more than heaven had destined to his friend.


s: Perhaps to him: this Thetis had reveal’d;


s: The rest, in pity to her son, conceal’d.


s: Still raged the conflict round the hero dead,


s: And heaps on heaps by mutual wounds they bled.


s: "Cursed be the man (even private Greeks would say)


s: Who dares desert this well-disputed day!


s: First may the cleaving earth before our eyes


s: Gape wide, and drink our blood for sacrifice;


s: First perish all, ere haughty Troy shall boast


s: Thus they: while with one voice the Trojans said,


s: "Grant this day, Jove! or heap us on the dead!"


s: Then clash their sounding arms; the clangours rise,


s: And shake the brazen concave of the skies.


s: Meantime, at distance from the scene of blood,


s: The pensive steeds of great Achilles stood:


s: Their godlike master slain before their eyes,


s: They wept, and shared in human miseries.(248)


s: Now plies the lash, and soothes and threats in vain;


s: Nor to the fight nor Hellespont they go,


s: Restive they stood, and obstinate in woe:


s: Still as a tombstone, never to be moved,


s: Lays its eternal weight; or fix’d, as stands


s: A marble courser by the sculptor’s hands,


s: Placed on the hero’s grave. Along their face


s: The big round drops coursed down with silent pace,


s: Conglobing on the dust. Their manes, that late


s: Circled their arched necks, and waved in state,


s: Trail’d on the dust beneath the yoke were spread,


s: And prone to earth was hung their languid head:


s: Nor Jove disdain’d to cast a pitying look,


s: While thus relenting to the steeds he spoke:


s: Exempt from age, and deathless, now in vain;


s: For ah! what is there of inferior birth,


s: That breathes or creeps upon the dust of earth;


s: What wretched creature of what wretched kind,


s: Than man more weak, calamitous, and blind?


s: For not by you shall Priam’s son be borne


s: High on the splendid car: one glorious prize


s: He rashly boasts: the rest our will denies.


s: Ourself will swiftness to your nerves impart,


s: Ourself with rising spirits swell your heart.


s: Safe to the navy through the storm of war.


s: For yet ’tis given to Troy to ravage o’er


s: The field, and spread her slaughters to the shore;


s: The sun shall see her conquer, till his fall


s: With sacred darkness shades the face of all."


s: He said; and breathing in the immortal horse


s: Excessive spirit, urged them to the course;


s: From their high manes they shake the dust, and bear


s: The kindling chariot through the parted war:


s: So flies a vulture through the clamorous train


s: Of geese, that scream, and scatter round the plain.


s: From danger now with swiftest speed they flew,


s: And now to conquest with like speed pursue;


s: Sole in the seat the charioteer remains,


s: Now plies the javelin, now directs the reins:


s: Approach’d the chariot, and the chief address’d:


s: "What god provokes thee rashly thus to dare,


s: Alas! thy friend is slain, and Hector wields


s: Achilles’ arms triumphant in the fields."


s: No Greek like him the heavenly steeds restrains,


s: Patroclus, while he lived, their rage could tame,


s: To thee I yield the seat, to thee resign


s: The ruling charge: the task of fight be mine."


s: Snatches the reins, and vaults into the seat.


s: His friend descends. The chief of Troy descried,


s: And call’d Æneas fighting near his side.


s: "Lo, to my sight, beyond our hope restored,


s: The glorious steeds our ready arms invite,


s: Scarce their weak drivers guide them through the fight.


s: Can such opponents stand when we assail?


s: Unite thy force, my friend, and we prevail."


s: Then o’er their backs they spread their solid shields:


s: With brass refulgent the broad surface shined,


s: And thick bull-hides the spacious concave lined.


s: Each hopes the conquest of the lofty steeds:


s: In vain, brave youths, with glorious hopes ye burn,


s: Implores the Eternal, and collects his might.


s: Then turning to his friend, with dauntless mind:


s: "Oh keep the foaming coursers close behind!


s: Full on my shoulders let their nostrils blow,


s: For hard the fight, determined is the foe;


s: ’Tis Hector comes: and when he seeks the prize,


s: War knows no mean; he wins it or he dies."


s: Then through the field he sends his voice aloud,


s: And calls the Ajaces from the warring crowd,


s: With great Atrides. "Hither turn, (he said,)


s: Turn where distress demands immediate aid;


s: The dead, encircled by his friends, forego,


s: Yet mighty as they are, my force to prove


s: Is only mine: the event belongs to Jove."


s: He spoke, and high the sounding javelin flung,


s: Which pass’d the shield of Aretus the young:


s: It pierced his belt, emboss’d with curious art,


s: Then in the lower belly struck the dart.


s: As when a ponderous axe, descending full,


s: Cleaves the broad forehead of some brawny bull:(249)


s: Struck ’twixt the horns, he springs with many a bound,


s: Then tumbling rolls enormous on the ground:


s: Thus fell the youth; the air his soul received,


s: And the spear trembled as his entrails heaved.


s: Discharged his lance; the meditated blow,


s: Stooping, he shunn’d; the javelin idly fled,


s: And hiss’d innoxious o’er the hero’s head;


s: Deep rooted in the ground, the forceful spear


s: In long vibrations spent its fury there.


s: With clashing falchions now the chiefs had closed,


s: But each brave Ajax heard, and interposed;


s: Nor longer Hector with his Trojans stood,


s: But left their slain companion in his blood:


s: "Accept, Patroclus, this mean sacrifice:


s: Thus have I soothed my griefs, and thus have paid,


s: Poor as it is, some offering to thy shade."


s: All grim with rage, and horrible with gore;


s: High on the chariot at one bound he sprung,


s: And o’er his seat the bloody trophies hung.


s: For, pleased at length the Grecian arms to aid,


s: The lord of thunders sent the blue-eyed maid.


s: As when high Jove denouncing future woe,


s: O’er the dark clouds extends his purple bow,


s: (In sign of tempests from the troubled air,


s: Or from the rage of man, destructive war,)


s: The drooping cattle dread the impending skies,


s: And from his half-till’d field the labourer flies:


s: In such a form the goddess round her drew


s: Assuming Phoenix’ shape on earth she falls,


s: And in his well-known voice to Sparta calls:


s: "And lies Achilles’ friend, beloved by all,


s: What shame ’o Greece for future times to tell,


s: To thee the greatest in whose cause he fell!"


s: "O chief, O father! (Atreus’ son replies)


s: O full of days! by long experience wise!


s: What more desires my soul, than here unmoved


s: Ah, would Minerva send me strength to rear


s: This wearied arm, and ward the storm of war!


s: But Hector, like the rage of fire, we dread,


s: And Jove’s own glories blaze around his head!"


s: Pleased to be first of all the powers address’d,


s: She breathes new vigour in her hero’s breast,


s: And fills with keen revenge, with fell despite,


s: Desire of blood, and rage, and lust of fight.


s: So burns the vengeful hornet (soul all o’er),


s: Repulsed in vain, and thirsty still of gore;


s: (Bold son of air and heat) on angry wings


s: Untamed, untired, he turns, attacks, and stings.


s: Fired with like ardour fierce Atrides flew,


s: And sent his soul with every lance he threw.


s: There stood a Trojan, not unknown to fame,


s: With riches honour’d, and with courage bless’d,


s: By Hector loved, his comrade, and his guest;


s: Through his broad belt the spear a passage found,


s: And, ponderous as he falls, his arms resound.


s: Like Phaenops, Asius’ son, appear’d the god;


s: (Asius the great, who held his wealthy reign


s: "Oh prince! (he cried) Oh foremost once in fame!


s: What Grecian now shall tremble at thy name?


s: A chief once thought no terror of the field?


s: Yet singly, now, the long-disputed prize


s: He bears victorious, while our army flies:


s: The friend of Hector, unrevenged, is dead!"


s: This heard, o’er Hector spreads a cloud of woe,


s: Rage lifts his lance, and drives him on the foe.


s: But now the Eternal shook his sable shield,


s: That shaded Ide and all the subject field


s: Beneath its ample verge. A rolling cloud


s: Involved the mount; the thunder roar’d aloud;


s: The affrighted hills from their foundations nod,


s: And blaze beneath the lightnings of the god:


s: The vanquish’d triumph, and the victors fly.


s: Then trembled Greece: the flight Peneleus led;


s: For as the brave Boeotian turn’d his head


s: And razed his shoulder with a shorten’d spear:


s: By Hector wounded, Leitus quits the plain,


s: Pierced through the wrist; and raging with the pain,


s: Grasps his once formidable lance in vain.


s: The flaming javelin to his manly breast;


s: The brittle point before his corslet yields;


s: Exulting Troy with clamour fills the fields:


s: The son of Priam whirl’d the massive wood.


s: But erring from its aim, the impetuous spear


s: Struck to the dust the squire and charioteer


s: Who left fair Lyctus for the fields of fame.


s: On foot bold Merion fought; and now laid low,


s: Had graced the triumphs of his Trojan foe,


s: But the brave squire the ready coursers brought,


s: And with his life his master’s safety bought.


s: Between his cheek and ear the weapon went,


s: The teeth it shatter’d, and the tongue it rent.


s: Prone from the seat he tumbles to the plain;


s: His dying hand forgets the falling rein:


s: This Merion reaches, bending from the car,


s: And the swift chariot to the navy flies.


s: Not Ajax less the will of heaven descried,


s: And conquest shifting to the Trojan side,


s: Turn’d by the hand of Jove. Then thus begun,


s: "Alas! who sees not Jove’s almighty hand


s: Whether the weak or strong discharge the dart,


s: He guides each arrow to a Grecian heart:


s: Not so our spears; incessant though they rain,


s: What human strength and prudence can supply;


s: If yet this honour’d corse, in triumph borne,


s: May glad the fleets that hope not our return,


s: Who tremble yet, scarce rescued from their fates,


s: And still hear Hector thundering at their gates.


s: Some hero too must be despatch’d to bear


s: For sure he knows not, distant on the shore,


s: His friend, his loved Patroclus, is no more.


s: But such a chief I spy not through the host:


s: The men, the steeds, the armies, all are lost


s: In general darkness—Lord of earth and air!


s: Oh king! Oh father! hear my humble prayer:


s: Dispel this cloud, the light of heaven restore;


s: If Greece must perish, we thy will obey,


s: With tears the hero spoke, and at his prayer


s: The god relenting clear’d the clouded air;


s: Forth burst the sun with all-enlightening ray;


s: The blaze of armour flash’d against the day.


s: "Now, now, Atrides! cast around thy sight;


s: So turns the lion from the nightly fold,


s: Though high in courage, and with hunger bold,


s: Long gall’d by herdsmen, and long vex’d by hounds,


s: Stiff with fatigue, and fretted sore with wounds;


s: The darts fly round him from a hundred hands,


s: And the red terrors of the blazing brands:


s: Till late, reluctant, at the dawn of day


s: Sour he departs, and quits the untasted prey,


s: So moved Atrides from his dangerous place


s: With weary limbs, but with unwilling pace;


s: The foe, he fear’d, might yet Patroclus gain,


s: And much admonish’d, much adjured his train:


s: "O guard these relics to your charge consign’d,


s: And bear the merits of the dead in mind;


s: How skill’d he was in each obliging art;


s: The mildest manners, and the gentlest heart:


s: So parts the chief; from rank to rank he flew,


s: And round on all sides sent his piercing view.


s: As the bold bird, endued with sharpest eye


s: Looks down, and sees the distant thicket move;


s: Then stoops, and sousing on the quivering hare,


s: Snatches his life amid the clouds of air.


s: Not with less quickness, his exerted sight


s: Pass’d this and that way, through the ranks of fight:


s: Till on the left the chief he sought, he found,


s: Cheering his men, and spreading deaths around:


s: To him the king: "Beloved of Jove! draw near,


s: For sadder tidings never touch’d thy ear;


s: Thy eyes have witness’d what a fatal turn!


s: How Ilion triumphs, and the Achaians mourn.


s: This is not all: Patroclus, on the shore


s: Now pale and dead, shall succour Greece no more.


s: Fly to the fleet, this instant fly, and tell


s: The sad Achilles, how his loved-one fell:


s: He too may haste the naked corse to gain:


s: The arms are Hector’s, who despoil’d the slain."


s: The youthful warrior heard with silent woe,


s: From his fair eyes the tears began to flow:


s: Big with the mighty grief, he strove to say


s: What sorrow dictates, but no word found way.


s: Who, near him wheeling, drove his steeds along;


s: Then ran the mournful message to impart,


s: With tearful eyes, and with dejected heart.


s: Swift fled the youth: nor Menelaus stands


s: (Though sore distress’d) to aid the Pylian bands;


s: But bids bold Thrasymede those troops sustain;


s: But hope not, warriors, for Achilles’ aid:


s: Though fierce his rage, unbounded be his woe,


s: Unarm’d, he fights not with the Trojan foe.


s: ’Tis in our hands alone our hopes remain,


s: ’Tis our own vigour must the dead regain,


s: And save ourselves, while with impetuous hate


s: Troy pours along, and this way rolls our fate."


s: "’Tis well (said Ajax), be it then thy care,


s: With Merion’s aid, the weighty corse to rear;


s: Myself, and my bold brother will sustain


s: The shock of Hector and his charging train:


s: Nor fear we armies, fighting side by side;


s: What Troy can dare, we have already tried,


s: Have tried it, and have stood." The hero said.


s: High from the ground the warriors heave the dead.


s: Loud shout the Trojans, and renew the fight.


s: With rage insatiate, and with thirst of blood,


s: Voracious hounds, that many a length before


s: Their furious hunters, drive the wounded boar;


s: But if the savage turns his glaring eye,


s: They howl aloof, and round the forest fly.


s: Thus on retreating Greece the Trojans pour,


s: Wave their thick falchions, and their javelins shower:


s: But Ajax turning, to their fears they yield,


s: All pale they tremble and forsake the field.


s: While thus aloft the hero’s corse they bear,


s: Confusion, tumult, horror, o’er the throng


s: Of men, steeds, chariots, urged the rout along:


s: Less fierce the winds with rising flames conspire


s: Now sink in gloomy clouds the proud abodes,


s: Now crack the blazing temples of the gods;


s: The rumbling torrent through the ruin rolls,


s: And sheets of smoke mount heavy to the poles.


s: The heroes sweat beneath their honour’d load:


s: As when two mules, along the rugged road,


s: From the steep mountain with exerted strength


s: Drag some vast beam, or mast’s unwieldy length;


s: Inly they groan, big drops of sweat distil,


s: The enormous timber lumbering down the hill:


s: So these—Behind, the bulk of Ajax stands,


s: And breaks the torrent of the rushing bands.


s: Thus when a river swell’d with sudden rains


s: Spreads his broad waters o’er the level plains,


s: Some interposing hill the stream divides.


s: And breaks its force, and turns the winding tides.


s: Still close they follow, close the rear engage;


s: Aeneas storms, and Hector foams with rage:


s: While Greece a heavy, thick retreat maintains,


s: Wedged in one body, like a flight of cranes,


s: That shriek incessant, while the falcon, hung


s: High on poised pinions, threats their callow young.


s: So from the Trojan chiefs the Grecians fly,


s: Such the wild terror, and the mingled cry:


s: Within, without the trench, and all the way,


s: Strow’d in bright heaps, their arms and armour lay;


s: Such horror Jove impress’d! yet still proceeds


s: The work of death, and still the battle bleeds.


s: Thus like the rage of fire the combat burns,(250)


s: And now it rises, now it sinks by turns.


s: Meanwhile, where Hellespont’s broad waters flow,


s: Stood Nestor’s son, the messenger of woe:


s: There sat Achilles, shaded by his sails,


s: Pensive he sat; for all that fate design’d


s: Rose in sad prospect to his boding mind.


s: Thus to his soul he said: "Ah! what constrains


s: The Greeks, late victors, now to quit the plains?


s: Is this the day, which heaven so long ago


s: Ordain’d, to sink me with the weight of woe?


s: (So Thetis warn’d;) when by a Trojan hand


s: Should lose the light! Fulfilled is that decree;


s: Fallen is the warrior, and Patroclus he!


s: In vain I charged him soon to quit the plain,


s: And warn’d to shun Hectorean force in vain!"


s: Thus while he thinks, Antilochus appears,


s: And tells the melancholy tale with tears.


s: "Sad tidings, son of Peleus! thou must hear;


s: And wretched I, the unwilling messenger!


s: Dead is Patroclus! For his corse they fight;


s: His naked corse: his arms are Hector’s right."


s: A sudden horror shot through all the chief,


s: And wrapp’d his senses in the cloud of grief;


s: Cast on the ground, with furious hands he spread


s: The scorching ashes o’er his graceful head;


s: His purple garments, and his golden hairs,


s: Those he deforms with dust, and these he tears;


s: On the hard soil his groaning breast he threw,


s: And roll’d and grovell’d, as to earth he grew.


s: The virgin captives, with disorder’d charms,


s: (Won by his own, or by Patroclus’ arms,)


s: Rush’d from their tents with cries; and gathering round,


s: Beat their white breasts, and fainted on the ground:


s: While Nestor’s son sustains a manlier part,


s: And mourns the warrior with a warrior’s heart;


s: Hangs on his arms, amidst his frantic woe,


s: Far in the deep abysses of the main,(251)


s: With hoary Nereus, and the watery train,


s: The mother-goddess from her crystal throne


s: Heard his loud cries, and answer’d groan for groan.


s: The circling Nereids with their mistress weep,


s: And all the sea-green sisters of the deep.


s: And the blue languish of soft Alia’s eye.


s: All these, and all that deep in ocean held


s: Their sacred seats, the glimmering grotto fill’d;


s: Each beat her ivory breast with silent woe,


s: Till Thetis’ sorrows thus began to flow:


s: "Hear me, and judge, ye sisters of the main!


s: How just a cause has Thetis to complain!


s: How wretched, were I mortal, were my fate!


s: How more than wretched in the immortal state!


s: The bravest far that ever bore the name;


s: Like some fair olive, by my careful hand


s: He grew, he flourish’d and adorn’d the land


s: To Troy I sent him: but the fates ordain


s: So short a space the light of heaven to view,


s: So short, alas! and fill’d with anguish too!


s: Hear how his sorrows echo through the shore!


s: And mourn my loved-one with a mother’s heart."


s: She said, and left the caverns of the main,


s: All bathed in tears; the melancholy train


s: Attend her way. Wide-opening part the tides,


s: While the long pomp the silver wave divides.


s: Approaching now, they touch’d the Trojan land;


s: Then, two by two, ascended up the strand.


s: The immortal mother, standing close beside


s: Her mournful offspring, to his sighs replied;


s: Along the coast their mingled clamours ran,


s: "Why mourns my son? thy late preferr’d request


s: The god has granted, and the Greeks distress’d:


s: Why mourns my son? thy anguish let me share,


s: Reveal the cause, and trust a parent’s care."


s: He, deeply groaning—"To this cureless grief,


s: Not even the Thunderer’s favour brings relief.


s: Patroclus, loved of all my martial train,


s: Lost are those arms the gods themselves bestow’d


s: On Peleus; Hector bears the glorious load.


s: Cursed be that day, when all the powers above


s: O hadst thou still, a sister of the main,


s: Pursued the pleasures of the watery reign:


s: Had caused such sorrows past, and woes to come.


s: For soon, alas! that wretched offspring slain,


s: New woes, new sorrows, shall create again.


s: ’Tis not in fate the alternate now to give;


s: Let me revenge it on proud Hector’s heart,


s: On these conditions will I breathe: till then,


s: A flood of tears, at this, the goddess shed:


s: "Ah then, I see thee dying, see thee dead!


s: When Hector falls, thou diest."—"Let Hector die,


s: Far lies Patroclus from his native plain!


s: He fell, and falling, wish’d my aid in vain.


s: Since, unrevenged, a hundred ghosts demand


s: Since here, for brutal courage far renown’d,


s: (Others in council famed for nobler skill,


s: More useful to preserve, than I to kill,)


s: Let me—But oh! ye gracious powers above!


s: Wrath and revenge from men and gods remove:


s: Far, far too dear to every mortal breast,


s: Sweet to the soul, as honey to the taste:


s: Gathering like vapours of a noxious kind


s: From fiery blood, and darkening all the mind.


s: Yes—I will meet the murderer of my friend;


s: The stroke of fate the strongest cannot shun:


s: The great Alcides, Jove’s unequall’d son,


s: To Juno’s hate, at length resign’d his breath,


s: And sunk the victim of all-conquering death.


s: So shall Achilles fall! stretch’d pale and dead,


s: No more the Grecian hope, or Trojan dread!


s: Let me, this instant, rush into the fields,


s: And reap what glory life’s short harvest yields.


s: Shall I not force some widow’d dame to tear


s: With frantic hands her long dishevell’d hair?


s: Shall I not force her breast to heave with sighs,


s: And the soft tears to trickle from her eyes?


s: Yes, I shall give the fair those mournful charms—


s: In vain you hold me—Hence! my arms! my arms!—


s: Soon shall the sanguine torrent spread so wide,


s: That all shall know Achilles swells the tide."


s: The host to succour, and thy friends to save,


s: But canst thou, naked, issue to the plains?


s: Thy radiant arms the Trojan foe detains.


s: Insulting Hector bears the spoils on high,


s: But vainly glories, for his fate is nigh.


s: Yet, yet awhile thy generous ardour stay;


s: Assured, I meet thee at the dawn of day,


s: Charged with refulgent arms (a glorious load),


s: Then turning to the daughters of the main,


s: The goddess thus dismiss’d her azure train:


s: "Ye sister Nereids! to your deeps descend;


s: Haste, and our father’s sacred seat attend;


s: Where vast Olympus’ starry summits shine:


s: So tell our hoary sire"—This charge she gave:


s: The sea-green sisters plunge beneath the wave:


s: Thetis once more ascends the bless’d abodes,


s: And treads the brazen threshold of the gods.


s: And now the Greeks from furious Hector’s force,


s: Urge to broad Hellespont their headlong course;


s: Nor yet their chiefs Patroclus’ body bore


s: Safe through the tempest to the tented shore.


s: The horse, the foot, with equal fury join’d,


s: Pour’d on the rear, and thunder’d close behind:


s: And like a flame through fields of ripen’d corn,


s: The rage of Hector o’er the ranks was borne.


s: Thrice the slain hero by the foot he drew;


s: Thrice to the skies the Trojan clamours flew:


s: But check’d, he turns; repuls’d, attacks again.


s: With fiercer shouts his lingering troops he fires,


s: Nor yields a step, nor from his post retires:


s: So watchful shepherds strive to force, in vain,


s: And all the glories of the extended day,


s: Had not high Juno from the realms of air,


s: Secret, despatch’d her trusty messenger.


s: To great Achilles at his ships she came,


s: "Rise, son of Peleus! rise, divinely brave!


s: For him the slaughter to the fleet they spread,


s: And fall by mutual wounds around the dead.


s: To drag him back to Troy the foe contends:


s: Nor with his death the rage of Hector ends:


s: A prey to dogs he dooms the corse to lie,


s: And marks the place to fix his head on high.


s: Rise, and prevent (if yet you think of fame)


s: Thy friend’s disgrace, thy own eternal shame!"


s: "Who sends thee, goddess, from the ethereal skies?"


s: "I come, Pelides! from the queen of Jove,


s: The immortal empress of the realms above;


s: "Thou comest in vain (he cries, with fury warm’d);


s: Arms I have none, and can I fight unarm’d?


s: That, in my friend’s defence, has Ajax spread,


s: While his strong lance around him heaps the dead:


s: The gallant chief defends Menoetius’ son,


s: And does what his Achilles should have done."


s: "Thy want of arms (said Iris) well we know;


s: But though unarm’d, yet clad in terrors, go!


s: Let but Achilles o’er yon trench appear,


s: Proud Troy shall tremble, and consent to fear;


s: Greece from one glance of that tremendous eye


s: Shall take new courage, and disdain to fly."


s: She spoke, and pass’d in air. The hero rose:


s: Her aegis Pallas o’er his shoulder throws;


s: Around his brows a golden cloud she spread;


s: A stream of glory flamed above his head.


s: As when from some beleaguer’d town arise


s: The smokes, high curling to the shaded skies;


s: (Seen from some island, o’er the main afar,


s: When men distress’d hang out the sign of war;)


s: Soon as the sun in ocean hides his rays,


s: Thick on the hills the flaming beacons blaze;


s: With long-projected beams the seas are bright,


s: And heaven’s high arch reflects the ruddy light:


s: So from Achilles’ head the splendours rise,


s: Reflecting blaze on blaze against the skies.


s: Forth march’d the chief, and distant from the crowd,


s: High on the rampart raised his voice aloud;


s: With her own shout Minerva swells the sound;


s: Troy starts astonish’d, and the shores rebound.


s: As the loud trumpet’s brazen mouth from far


s: With shrilling clangour sounds the alarm of war,


s: Struck from the walls, the echoes float on high,


s: And the round bulwarks and thick towers reply;


s: So high his brazen voice the hero rear’d:


s: Hosts dropp’d their arms, and trembled as they heard:


s: And back the chariots roll, and coursers bound,


s: And steeds and men lie mingled on the ground.


s: Aghast they see the living lightnings play,


s: And turn their eyeballs from the flashing ray.


s: Thrice from the trench his dreadful voice he raised,


s: And thrice they fled, confounded and amazed.


s: Twelve in the tumult wedged, untimely rush’d


s: On their own spears, by their own chariots crush’d:


s: While, shielded from the darts, the Greeks obtain


s: The long-contended carcase of the slain.


s: A lofty bier the breathless warrior bears:


s: Around, his sad companions melt in tears.


s: But chief Achilles, bending down his head,


s: Whom late triumphant, with his steeds and car,


s: (Unhappy change!) now senseless, pale, he found,


s: Stretch’d forth, and gash’d with many a gaping wound.


s: Meantime, unwearied with his heavenly way,


s: In ocean’s waves the unwilling light of day


s: Quench’d his red orb, at Juno’s high command,


s: And from their labours eased the Achaian band.


s: The frighted Trojans (panting from the war,


s: Their steeds unharness’d from the weary car)


s: A sudden council call’d: each chief appear’d


s: In haste, and standing; for to sit they fear’d.


s: ’Twas now no season for prolong’d debate;


s: They saw Achilles, and in him their fate.


s: Skill’d to discern the future by the past,


s: The son of Panthus, thus express’d his fears


s: (The friend of Hector, and of equal years;


s: The self-same night to both a being gave,


s: One wise in council, one in action brave):


s: "In free debate, my friends, your sentence speak;


s: For me, I move, before the morning break,


s: To raise our camp: too dangerous here our post,


s: Far from Troy walls, and on a naked coast.


s: I deem’d not Greece so dreadful, while engaged


s: In mutual feuds her king and hero raged;


s: Then, while we hoped our armies might prevail


s: We boldly camp’d beside a thousand sail.


s: Not long continues to the shores confined,


s: Nor to the fields, where long in equal fray


s: Contending nations won and lost the day;


s: For Troy, for Troy, shall henceforth be the strife,


s: And the hard contest not for fame, but life.


s: Haste then to Ilion, while the favouring night


s: Detains these terrors, keeps that arm from fight.


s: That arm, those terrors, we shall feel, not fear;


s: And hearts that now disdain, shall leap with joy,


s: If heaven permit them then to enter Troy.


s: What force of thought and reason can supply;


s: The town her gates and bulwarks shall defend.


s: When morning dawns, our well-appointed powers,


s: Array’d in arms, shall line the lofty towers.


s: Let the fierce hero, then, when fury calls,


s: Vent his mad vengeance on our rocky walls,


s: Or fetch a thousand circles round the plain,


s: Till his spent coursers seek the fleet again:


s: So may his rage be tired, and labour’d down!


s: And dogs shall tear him ere he sack the town."


s: "Return! (said Hector, fired with stern disdain)


s: What! coop whole armies in our walls again?


s: Was’t not enough, ye valiant warriors, say,


s: Nine years imprison’d in those towers ye lay?


s: Wide o’er the world was Ilion famed of old


s: For brass exhaustless, and for mines of gold:


s: But while inglorious in her walls we stay’d,


s: Sunk were her treasures, and her stores decay’d;


s: The Phrygians now her scatter’d spoils enjoy,


s: And proud Maeonia wastes the fruits of Troy.


s: Great Jove at length my arms to conquest calls,


s: And shuts the Grecians in their wooden walls,


s: Darest thou dispirit whom the gods incite?


s: Flies any Trojan? I shall stop his flight.


s: Take due refreshment, and the watch attend.


s: If there be one whose riches cost him care,


s: Forth let him bring them for the troops to share;


s: ’Tis better generously bestow’d on those,


s: Than left the plunder of our country’s foes.


s: Soon as the morn the purple orient warms,


s: Fierce on yon navy will we pour our arms.


s: If great Achilles rise in all his might,


s: His be the danger: I shall stand the fight.


s: Honour, ye gods! or let me gain or give;


s: And live he glorious, whosoe’er shall live!


s: And oft the victor triumphs, but to fall."


s: The shouting host in loud applauses join’d;


s: So Pallas robb’d the many of their mind;


s: To their own sense condemn’d, and left to choose


s: While the long night extends her sable reign,


s: Around Patroclus mourn’d the Grecian train.


s: Those slaughtering arms, so used to bathe in blood,


s: Now clasp his clay-cold limbs: then gushing start


s: The tears, and sighs burst from his swelling heart.


s: The lion thus, with dreadful anguish stung,


s: Roars through the desert, and demands his young;


s: Too late returning, snuffs the track of men,


s: And o’er the vales and o’er the forest bounds;


s: His clamorous grief the bellowing wood resounds.


s: So grieves Achilles; and, impetuous, vents


s: "In what vain promise, gods! did I engage,


s: I vowed his much-loved offspring to restore,


s: Charged with rich spoils, to fair Opuntia’s shore?(252)


s: But mighty Jove cuts short, with just disdain,


s: The long, long views of poor designing man!


s: One fate the warrior and the friend shall strike,


s: And Troy’s black sands must drink our blood alike:


s: Then swift pursue thee on the darksome way.


s: Ere thy dear relics in the grave are laid,


s: Shall Hector’s head be offer’d to thy shade;


s: That, with his arms, shall hang before thy shrine;


s: And twelve, the noblest of the Trojan line,


s: Sacred to vengeance, by this hand expire;


s: Their lives effused around thy flaming pyre.


s: Thus let me lie till then! thus, closely press’d,


s: Bathe thy cold face, and sob upon thy breast!


s: While Trojan captives here thy mourners stay,


s: Weep all the night and murmur all the day:


s: Spoils of my arms, and thine; when, wasting wide,


s: Our swords kept time, and conquer’d side by side."


s: He spoke, and bade the sad attendants round


s: Cleanse the pale corse, and wash each honour’d wound.


s: They brought, and placed it o’er the rising flame:


s: Then heap’d the lighted wood; the flame divides


s: Beneath the vase, and climbs around the sides:


s: In its wide womb they pour the rushing stream;


s: The body then they bathe with pious toil,


s: Embalm the wounds, anoint the limbs with oil,


s: Last o’er the dead the milk-white veil they threw;


s: That done, their sorrows and their sighs renew.


s: (His wife and sister,) spoke almighty Jove.


s: "At last thy will prevails: great Peleus’ son


s: Rises in arms: such grace thy Greeks have won.


s: Say (for I know not), is their race divine,


s: And thou the mother of that martial line?"


s: "What words are these? (the imperial dame replies,


s: While anger flash’d from her majestic eyes)


s: Succour like this a mortal arm might lend,


s: And shall not I, the second power above,


s: Heaven’s queen, and consort of the thundering Jove,


s: Say, shall not I one nation’s fate command,


s: Not wreak my vengeance on one guilty land?"


s: So they. Meanwhile the silver-footed dame


s: Reach’d the Vulcanian dome, eternal frame!


s: Where heaven’s far-beaming brazen mansions shine.


s: There the lame architect the goddess found,


s: Obscure in smoke, his forges flaming round,


s: While bathed in sweat from fire to fire he flew;


s: And puffing loud, the roaring billows blew.


s: That day no common task his labour claim’d:


s: Full twenty tripods for his hall he framed,


s: That placed on living wheels of massy gold,


s: (Wondrous to tell,) instinct with spirit roll’d


s: From place to place, around the bless’d abodes


s: Self-moved, obedient to the beck of gods:


s: For their fair handles now, o’erwrought with flowers,


s: In moulds prepared, the glowing ore he pours.


s: Just as responsive to his thought the frame


s: Stood prompt to move, the azure goddess came:


s: Charis, his spouse, a grace divinely fair,


s: (With purple fillets round her braided hair,)


s: Observed her entering; her soft hand she press’d,


s: And, smiling, thus the watery queen address’d:


s: "What, goddess! this unusual favour draws?


s: All hail, and welcome! whatsoe’er the cause;


s: Approach, and taste the dainties of the bower."


s: High on a throne, with stars of silver graced,


s: And various artifice, the queen she placed;


s: A footstool at her feet: then calling, said,


s: "Vulcan, draw near, ’tis Thetis asks your aid."


s: "Thetis (replied the god) our powers may claim,


s: When my proud mother hurl’d me from the sky,


s: (My awkward form, it seems, displeased her eye,)


s: And soft received me on their silver breast.


s: Even then these arts employ’d my infant thought:


s: Chains, bracelets, pendants, all their toys, I wrought.


s: Nine years kept secret in the dark abode,


s: Secure I lay, conceal’d from man and god:


s: Deep in a cavern’d rock my days were led;


s: The rushing ocean murmur’d o’er my head.


s: Now, since her presence glads our mansion, say,


s: Vouchsafe, O Thetis! at our board to share


s: While I the labours of the forge forego,


s: And bid the roaring bellows cease to blow."


s: Then from his anvil the lame artist rose;


s: Wide with distorted legs oblique he goes,


s: And stills the bellows, and (in order laid)


s: Locks in their chests his instruments of trade.


s: Then with a sponge the sooty workman dress’d


s: His brawny arms embrown’d, and hairy breast.


s: With his huge sceptre graced, and red attire,


s: Came halting forth the sovereign of the fire:


s: The monarch’s steps two female forms uphold,


s: That moved and breathed in animated gold;


s: To whom was voice, and sense, and science given


s: Of works divine (such wonders are in heaven!)


s: He reach’d the throne where pensive Thetis sate;


s: There placed beside her on the shining frame,


s: He thus address’d the silver-footed dame:


s: "Thee, welcome, goddess! what occasion calls


s: (So long a stranger) to these honour’d walls?


s: ’Tis thine, fair Thetis, the command to lay,


s: To whom the mournful mother thus replies:


s: (The crystal drops stood trembling in her eyes:)


s: So pierced with sorrows, so o’erwhelm’d as mine?


s: Who, sinking now with age and sorrow, pays


s: The mighty fine imposed on length of days.


s: Sprung from my bed, a godlike hero came,


s: The bravest sure that ever bore the name;


s: Like some fair plant beneath my careful hand


s: He grew, he flourish’d, and he graced the land:


s: To Troy I sent him! but his native shore


s: Never, ah never, shall receive him more;


s: (Even while he lives, he wastes with secret woe;)


s: Robb’d of the prize the Grecian suffrage gave,


s: The king of nations forced his royal slave:


s: For this he grieved; and, till the Greeks oppress’d


s: Required his arm, he sorrow’d unredress’d.


s: Large gifts they promise, and their elders send;


s: In vain—he arms not, but permits his friend


s: His arms, his steeds, his forces to employ:


s: He marches, combats, almost conquers Troy:


s: Then slain by Phoebus (Hector had the name)


s: At once resigns his armour, life, and fame.


s: Grace with immortal arms this short-lived son,


s: And to the field in martial pomp restore,


s: To shine with glory, till he shines no more!"


s: To her the artist-god: "Thy griefs resign,


s: O could I hide him from the Fates, as well,


s: Or with these hands the cruel stroke repel,


s: As I shall forge most envied arms, the gaze


s: Of wondering ages, and the world’s amaze!"


s: Thus having said, the father of the fires


s: To the black labours of his forge retires.


s: Soon as he bade them blow, the bellows turn’d


s: Their iron mouths; and where the furnace burn’d,


s: Resounding breathed: at once the blast expires,


s: And twenty forges catch at once the fires;


s: Just as the god directs, now loud, now low,


s: They raise a tempest, or they gently blow;


s: In hissing flames huge silver bars are roll’d,


s: And stubborn brass, and tin, and solid gold;


s: Before, deep fix’d, the eternal anvils stand;


s: The ponderous hammer loads his better hand,


s: His left with tongs turns the vex’d metal round,


s: And thick, strong strokes, the doubling vaults rebound.


s: Then first he form’d the immense and solid shield;


s: Rich various artifice emblazed the field;


s: Its utmost verge a threefold circle bound;(253)


s: A silver chain suspends the massy round;


s: Five ample plates the broad expanse compose,


s: And godlike labours on the surface rose.


s: There shone the image of the master-mind:


s: There earth, there heaven, there ocean he design’d;


s: The unwearied sun, the moon completely round;


s: The starry lights that heaven’s high convex crown’d;


s: The Pleiads, Hyads, with the northern team;


s: The Bear, revolving, points his golden eye,


s: Still shines exalted on the ethereal plain,


s: Nor bathes his blazing forehead in the main.


s: Two cities radiant on the shield appear,


s: Here sacred pomp and genial feast delight,


s: Along the street the new-made brides are led,


s: With torches flaming, to the nuptial bed:


s: To the soft flute, and cithern’s silver sound:


s: Through the fair streets the matrons in a row


s: Stand in their porches, and enjoy the show.


s: There in the forum swarm a numerous train;


s: The subject of debate, a townsman slain:


s: One pleads the fine discharged, which one denied,


s: And bade the public and the laws decide:


s: For this, or that, the partial people stand:


s: The appointed heralds still the noisy bands,


s: And form a ring, with sceptres in their hands:


s: On seats of stone, within the sacred place,(254)


s: The reverend elders nodded o’er the case;


s: Alternate, each the attesting sceptre took,


s: And rising solemn, each his sentence spoke


s: Two golden talents lay amidst, in sight,


s: The prize of him who best adjudged the right.


s: Another part (a prospect differing far)(255)


s: Glow’d with refulgent arms, and horrid war.


s: Two mighty hosts a leaguer’d town embrace,


s: And one would pillage, one would burn the place.


s: Meantime the townsmen, arm’d with silent care,


s: Their wives, their children, and the watchful band


s: Of trembling parents, on the turrets stand.


s: They march; by Pallas and by Mars made bold:


s: Gold were the gods, their radiant garments gold,


s: And gold their armour: these the squadron led,


s: A place for ambush fit they found, and stood,


s: Cover’d with shields, beside a silver flood.


s: Two spies at distance lurk, and watchful seem


s: If sheep or oxen seek the winding stream.


s: Soon the white flocks proceeded o’er the plains,


s: And steers slow-moving, and two shepherd swains;


s: Behind them piping on their reeds they go,


s: In arms the glittering squadron rising round


s: Rush sudden; hills of slaughter heap the ground;


s: Whole flocks and herds lie bleeding on the plains,


s: And, all amidst them, dead, the shepherd swains!


s: They rise, take horse, approach, and meet the war,


s: They fight, they fall, beside the silver flood;


s: The waving silver seem’d to blush with blood.


s: There Tumult, there Contention stood confess’d;


s: One rear’d a dagger at a captive’s breast;


s: One held a living foe, that freshly bled


s: With new-made wounds; another dragg’d a dead;


s: Now here, now there, the carcases they tore:


s: Fate stalk’d amidst them, grim with human gore.


s: And the whole war came out, and met the eye;


s: And each bold figure seem’d to live or die.


s: A field deep furrow’d next the god design’d,(256)


s: The third time labour’d by the sweating hind;


s: The shining shares full many ploughmen guide,


s: And turn their crooked yokes on every side.


s: Still as at either end they wheel around,


s: The master meets them with his goblet crown’d;


s: The hearty draught rewards, renews their toil,


s: Then back the turning ploughshares cleave the soil:


s: Behind, the rising earth in ridges roll’d;


s: And sable look’d, though form’d of molten gold.


s: Another field rose high with waving grain;


s: With bended sickles stand the reaper train:


s: Here stretched in ranks the levell’d swarths are found,


s: Sheaves heap’d on sheaves here thicken up the ground.


s: With sweeping stroke the mowers strow the lands;


s: The gatherers follow, and collect in bands;


s: And last the children, in whose arms are borne


s: (Too short to gripe them) the brown sheaves of corn.


s: The rustic monarch of the field descries,


s: With silent glee, the heaps around him rise.


s: The reaper’s due repast, the woman’s care.


s: Next, ripe in yellow gold, a vineyard shines,


s: Bent with the ponderous harvest of its vines;


s: A deeper dye the dangling clusters show,


s: And curl’d on silver props, in order glow:


s: A darker metal mix’d intrench’d the place;


s: And pales of glittering tin the inclosure grace.


s: To this, one pathway gently winding leads,


s: Where march a train with baskets on their heads,


s: (Fair maids and blooming youths,) that smiling bear


s: The purple product of the autumnal year.


s: To these a youth awakes the warbling strings,


s: Whose tender lay the fate of Linus sings;


s: In measured dance behind him move the train,


s: Tune soft the voice, and answer to the strain.


s: Here herds of oxen march, erect and bold,


s: Rear high their horns, and seem to low in gold,


s: And speed to meadows on whose sounding shores


s: A rapid torrent through the rushes roars:


s: Four golden herdsmen as their guardians stand,


s: And nine sour dogs complete the rustic band.


s: Two lions rushing from the wood appear’d;


s: And seized a bull, the master of the herd:


s: He roar’d: in vain the dogs, the men withstood;


s: They tore his flesh, and drank his sable blood.


s: The dogs (oft cheer’d in vain) desert the prey,


s: Dread the grim terrors, and at distance bay.


s: Next this, the eye the art of Vulcan leads


s: Deep through fair forests, and a length of meads,


s: And stalls, and folds, and scatter’d cots between;


s: And fleecy flocks, that whiten all the scene.


s: A figured dance succeeds; such once was seen


s: Of youths and maidens, bounding hand in hand.


s: The maids in soft simars of linen dress’d;


s: The youths all graceful in the glossy vest:


s: Of those the locks with flowery wreath inroll’d;


s: Of these the sides adorn’d with swords of gold,


s: That glittering gay, from silver belts depend.


s: Now all at once they rise, at once descend,


s: With well-taught feet: now shape in oblique ways,


s: Now forth at once, too swift for sight, they spring,


s: And undistinguish’d blend the flying ring:


s: So whirls a wheel, in giddy circle toss’d,


s: And, rapid as it runs, the single spokes are lost.


s: Two active tumblers in the centre bound;


s: Now high, now low, their pliant limbs they bend:


s: And general songs the sprightly revel end.


s: Thus the broad shield complete the artist crown’d


s: With his last hand, and pour’d the ocean round:


s: In living silver seem’d the waves to roll,


s: And beat the buckler’s verge, and bound the whole.


s: This done, whate’er a warrior’s use requires


s: He forged; the cuirass that outshone the fires,


s: The greaves of ductile tin, the helm impress’d


s: With various sculpture, and the golden crest.


s: At Thetis’ feet the finished labour lay:


s: And bears the blazing present through the skies.(257)


s: The thirteenth day. The scene is on the sea-shore.


s: Above the waves, that blush’d with early red,


s: (With new-born day to gladden mortal sight,


s: And gild the courts of heaven with sacred light,)


s: The immortal arms the goddess-mother bears


s: Swift to her son: her son she finds in tears


s: Stretch’d o’er Patroclus’ corse; while all the rest


s: Their sovereign’s sorrows in their own express’d.


s: A ray divine her heavenly presence shed,


s: And thus, his hand soft touching, Thetis said:


s: "Suppress, my son, this rage of grief, and know


s: It was not man, but heaven, that gave the blow;


s: Behold what arms by Vulcan are bestow’d,


s: Arms worthy thee, or fit to grace a god."


s: Then drops the radiant burden on the ground;


s: Clang the strong arms, and ring the shores around;


s: Back shrink the Myrmidons with dread surprise,


s: And from the broad effulgence turn their eyes.


s: And feels with rage divine his bosom glow;


s: From his fierce eyeballs living flames expire,


s: And flash incessant like a stream of fire:


s: He turns the radiant gift: and feeds his mind


s: On all the immortal artist had design’d.


s: "Goddess! (he cried,) these glorious arms, that shine


s: With matchless art, confess the hand divine.


s: But ah! the relics of my slaughter’d friend!


s: In those wide wounds through which his spirit fled,


s: Shall flies, and worms obscene, pollute the dead?"


s: Whole years untouch’d, uninjured shall remain,


s: Fresh as in life, the carcase of the slain.


s: Before the Grecian peers renounce thine ire:


s: Then uncontroll’d in boundless war engage,


s: And heaven with strength supply the mighty rage!"


s: Then in the nostrils of the slain she pour’d


s: Nectareous drops, and rich ambrosia shower’d


s: O’er all the corse. The flies forbid their prey,


s: Untouch’d it rests, and sacred from decay.


s: The shores resounded with the voice he sent.


s: The heroes heard, and all the naval train


s: That tend the ships, or guide them o’er the main,


s: Alarm’d, transported, at the well-known sound,


s: Frequent and full, the great assembly crown’d;


s: Studious to see the terror of the plain,


s: Long lost to battle, shine in arms again.


s: Lame with their wounds, and leaning on the spear;


s: These on the sacred seats of council placed,


s: The king of men, Atrides, came the last:


s: "O monarch! better far had been the fate


s: Of thee, of me, of all the Grecian state,


s: If (ere the day when by mad passion sway’d,


s: Rash we contended for the black-eyed maid)


s: Preventing Dian had despatch’d her dart,


s: And shot the shining mischief to the heart!


s: Then many a hero had not press’d the shore,


s: Nor Troy’s glad fields been fatten’d with our gore.


s: Long, long shall Greece the woes we caused bewail,


s: But this, no more the subject of debate,


s: Is past, forgotten, and resign’d to fate.


s: Here then my anger ends: let war succeed,


s: And even as Greece has bled, let Ilion bleed.


s: Now call the hosts, and try if in our sight


s: Troy yet shall dare to camp a second night!


s: I deem, their mightiest, when this arm he knows,


s: Shall ’scape with transport, and with joy repose."


s: He said: his finish’d wrath with loud acclaim


s: The Greeks accept, and shout Pelides’ name.


s: When thus, not rising from his lofty throne,


s: In state unmoved, the king of men begun:


s: "Hear me, ye sons of Greece! with silence hear!


s: And grant your monarch an impartial ear:


s: And let your rash, injurious clamours end:


s: Wrong the best speaker, and the justest cause.


s: Nor charge on me, ye Greeks, the dire debate:


s: Know, angry Jove, and all-compelling Fate,


s: With fell Erinnys, urged my wrath that day


s: When from Achilles’ arms I forced the prey.


s: What then could I against the will of heaven?


s: She, Jove’s dread daughter, fated to infest


s: The race of mortals, enter’d in my breast.


s: Not on the ground that haughty fury treads,


s: But prints her lofty footsteps on the heads


s: Long-festering wounds, inextricable woes!


s: Of old, she stalk’d amid the bright abodes;


s: And Jove himself, the sire of men and gods,


s: The world’s great ruler, felt her venom’d dart;


s: Deceived by Juno’s wiles, and female art:


s: For when Alcmena’s nine long months were run,


s: He show’d, and vaunted of his matchless boy:


s: ’From us, (he said) this day an infant springs,


s: Fated to rule, and born a king of kings.’


s: Saturnia ask’d an oath, to vouch the truth,


s: The Thunderer, unsuspicious of the fraud,


s: Pronounced those solemn words that bind a god.


s: The joyful goddess, from Olympus’ height,


s: Scarce seven moons gone, lay Sthenelus’s wife;


s: She push’d her lingering infant into life:


s: Her charms Alcmena’s coming labours stay,


s: And stop the babe, just issuing to the day.


s: Then bids Saturnius bear his oath in mind;


s: ’A youth (said she) of Jove’s immortal kind


s: Is this day born: from Sthenelus he springs,


s: And claims thy promise to be king of kings.’


s: Grief seized the Thunderer, by his oath engaged;


s: Stung to the soul, he sorrow’d, and he raged.


s: From his ambrosial head, where perch’d she sate,


s: The dread, the irrevocable oath he swore,


s: The immortal seats should ne’er behold her more;


s: And whirl’d her headlong down, for ever driven


s: From bright Olympus and the starry heaven:


s: Thence on the nether world the fury fell;


s: Ordain’d with man’s contentious race to dwell.


s: Full oft the god his son’s hard toils bemoan’d,


s: Cursed the dire fury, and in secret groan’d.(258)


s: Even thus, like Jove himself, was I misled,


s: While raging Hector heap’d our camps with dead.


s: My martial troops, my treasures are thy own:


s: This instant from the navy shall be sent


s: But thou! appeased, propitious to our prayer,


s: Resume thy arms, and shine again in war."


s: " O king of nations! whose superior sway


s: To keep or send the presents, be thy care;


s: While yet we talk, or but an instant shun


s: The fight, our glorious work remains undone.


s: Let every Greek, who sees my spear confound


s: The Trojan ranks, and deal destruction round,


s: And learn from thence the business of the day.


s: The son of Peleus thus; and thus replies


s: The great in councils, Ithacus the wise:


s: "Though, godlike, thou art by no toils oppress’d,


s: At least our armies claim repast and rest:


s: When by the gods inspired, and led by thee.


s: Strength is derived from spirits and from blood,


s: And those augment by generous wine and food:


s: What boastful son of war, without that stay,


s: Courage may prompt; but, ebbing out his strength,


s: Mere unsupported man must yield at length;


s: Shrunk with dry famine, and with toils declined,


s: But built anew with strength-conferring fare,


s: With limbs and soul untamed, he tires a war.


s: Dismiss the people, then, and give command.


s: With strong repast to hearten every band;


s: The king of men shall rise in public sight,


s: And solemn swear (observant of the rite)


s: That, spotless, as she came, the maid removes,


s: Pure from his arms, and guiltless of his loves.


s: That done, a sumptuous banquet shall be made,


s: And the full price of injured honour paid.


s: Stretch not henceforth, O prince.! thy sovereign might


s: Beyond the bounds of reason and of right;


s: ’Tis the chief praise that e’er to kings belong’d,


s: To right with justice whom with power they wrong’d."


s: To him the monarch: "Just is thy decree,


s: Thy words give joy, and wisdom breathes in thee.


s: Here then awhile let Greece assembled stay,


s: Nor great Achilles grudge this short delay.


s: Till from the fleet our presents be convey’d,


s: And Jove attesting, the firm compact made.


s: A train of noble youths the charge shall bear;


s: In order rank’d let all our gifts appear,


s: And the fair train of captives close the rear:


s: Talthybius shall the victim boar convey,


s: Sacred to Jove, and yon bright orb of day."


s: And wrath, extinguish’d, burns my breast no more.


s: By Hector slain, their faces to the sky,


s: All grim with gaping wounds, our heroes lie:


s: Those call to war! and might my voice incite,


s: Now, now, this instant, shall commence the fight:


s: Then, when the day’s complete, let generous bowls,


s: And copious banquets, glad your weary souls.


s: Let not my palate know the taste of food,


s: Till my insatiate rage be cloy’d with blood:


s: Pale lies my friend, with wounds disfigured o’er,


s: And his cold feet are pointed to the door.


s: Interest, or thought, has room to harbour there;


s: Destruction be my feast, and mortal wounds,


s: And scenes of blood, and agonizing sounds."


s: "O first of Greeks, (Ulysses thus rejoin’d,)


s: The best and bravest of the warrior kind!


s: Thy praise it is in dreadful camps to shine,


s: But old experience and calm wisdom mine.


s: Then hear my counsel, and to reason yield,


s: The bravest soon are satiate of the field;


s: Though vast the heaps that strow the crimson plain,


s: The bloody harvest brings but little gain:


s: The scale of conquest ever wavering lies,


s: Great Jove but turns it, and the victor dies!


s: The great, the bold, by thousands daily fall,


s: And endless were the grief, to weep for all.


s: Greece honours not with solemn fasts the dead:


s: Enough, when death demands the brave, to pay


s: One chief with patience to the grave resign’d,


s: Our care devolves on others left behind.


s: Let generous food supplies of strength produce,


s: Let rising spirits flow from sprightly juice,


s: Let their warm heads with scenes of battle glow,


s: Yet a short interval, and none shall dare


s: Who waits for that, the dire effects shall find,


s: If trembling in the ships he lags behind.


s: And all at once on haughty Troy descend."


s: To bear the presents from the royal tent:


s: The sons of Nestor, Phyleus’ valiant heir,


s: And Melanippus, form’d the chosen train.


s: Swift as the word was given, the youths obey’d:


s: Twice ten bright vases in the midst they laid;


s: A row of six fair tripods then succeeds;


s: And twice the number of high-bounding steeds:


s: Seven captives next a lovely line compose;


s: The eighth Briseis, like the blooming rose,


s: Closed the bright band: great Ithacus, before,


s: First of the train, the golden talents bore:


s: The rest in public view the chiefs dispose,


s: The boar Talthybius held: the Grecian lord


s: Drew the broad cutlass sheath’d beside his sword:


s: The stubborn bristles from the victim’s brow


s: He crops, and offering meditates his vow.


s: His hands uplifted to the attesting skies,


s: On heaven’s broad marble roof were fixed his eyes.


s: And Greece around sat thrill’d with sacred awe.


s: "Witness thou first! thou greatest power above,


s: All-good, all-wise, and all-surveying Jove!


s: And mother-earth, and heaven’s revolving light,


s: And ye, fell furies of the realms of night,


s: Who rule the dead, and horrid woes prepare


s: For perjured kings, and all who falsely swear!


s: If this be false, heaven all its vengeance shed,


s: And levell’d thunder strike my guilty head!"


s: With that, his weapon deep inflicts the wound;


s: The bleeding savage tumbles to the ground;


s: The sacred herald rolls the victim slain


s: (A feast for fish) into the foaming main.


s: Then thus Achilles: "Hear, ye Greeks! and know


s: Whate’er we feel, ’tis Jove inflicts the woe;


s: Not else Atrides could our rage inflame,


s: Nor from my arms, unwilling, force the dame.


s: ’Twas Jove’s high will alone, o’erruling all,


s: That doom’d our strife, and doom’d the Greeks to fall.


s: Go then, ye chiefs! indulge the genial rite;


s: Achilles waits ye, and expects the fight."


s: The speedy council at his word adjourn’d:


s: To their black vessels all the Greeks return’d.


s: Achilles sought his tent. His train before


s: March’d onward, bending with the gifts they bore.


s: Those in the tents the squires industrious spread:


s: The foaming coursers to the stalls they led;


s: To their new seats the female captives move


s: Slow as she pass’d, beheld with sad survey


s: Where, gash’d with cruel wounds, Patroclus lay.


s: Prone on the body fell the heavenly fair,


s: Beat her sad breast, and tore her golden hair;


s: Shining with tears she lifts, and thus she cries:


s: "Ah, youth for ever dear, for ever kind,


s: Once tender friend of my distracted mind!


s: I left thee fresh in life, in beauty gay;


s: What woes my wretched race of life attend!


s: Sorrows on sorrows, never doom’d to end!


s: The first loved consort of my virgin bed


s: My three brave brothers in one mournful day


s: Thy friendly hand uprear’d me from the plain,


s: And dried my sorrows for a husband slain;


s: Achilles’ care you promised I should prove,


s: The first, the dearest partner of his love;


s: That rites divine should ratify the band,


s: Accept these grateful tears! for thee they flow,


s: For thee, that ever felt another’s woe!"


s: Her sister captives echoed groan for groan,


s: Nor mourn’d Patroclus’ fortunes, but their own.


s: The leaders press’d the chief on every side;


s: Unmoved he heard them, and with sighs denied.


s: "If yet Achilles have a friend, whose care


s: Is bent to please him, this request forbear;


s: To grief and anguish one abstemious day."


s: He spoke, and from the warriors turn’d his face:


s: Yet still the brother-kings of Atreus’ race,


s: And Phoenix, strive to calm his grief and rage:


s: His rage they calm not, nor his grief control;


s: He groans, he raves, he sorrows from his soul.


s: "Thou too, Patroclus! (thus his heart he vents)


s: Once spread the inviting banquet in our tents:


s: Once stay’d Achilles, rushing to the war.


s: But now, alas! to death’s cold arms resign’d,


s: What banquet but revenge can glad my mind?


s: What greater sorrow could afflict my breast,


s: What more if hoary Peleus were deceased?


s: Who now, perhaps, in Phthia dreads to hear


s: His son’s sad fate, and drops a tender tear.


s: What more, should Neoptolemus the brave,


s: If yet that offspring lives; (I distant far,


s: I could not this, this cruel stroke attend;


s: Fate claim’d Achilles, but might spare his friend.


s: I hoped Patroclus might survive, to rear


s: From Scyros’ isle conduct him o’er the main,


s: And glad his eyes with his paternal reign,


s: For Peleus breathes no more the vital air;


s: Or drags a wretched life of age and care,


s: But till the news of my sad fate invades


s: His hastening soul, and sinks him to the shades."


s: Sighing he said: his grief the heroes join’d,


s: Each stole a tear for what he left behind.


s: Their mingled grief the sire of heaven survey’d,


s: And thus with pity to his blue-eyed maid:


s: And dost thou thus desert the great in war?


s: Lo, where yon sails their canvas wings extend,


s: All comfortless he sits, and wails his friend:


s: Ere thirst and want his forces have oppress’d,


s: Haste and infuse ambrosia in his breast."


s: He spoke; and sudden, at the word of Jove,


s: So swift through ether the shrill harpy springs,


s: The wide air floating to her ample wings,


s: To great Achilles she her flight address’d,


s: And pour’d divine ambrosia in his breast,(259)


s: With nectar sweet, (refection of the gods!)


s: Then, swift ascending, sought the bright abodes.


s: Now issued from the ships the warrior-train,


s: And like a deluge pour’d upon the plain.


s: As when the piercing blasts of Boreas blow,


s: And scatter o’er the fields the driving snow;


s: From dusky clouds the fleecy winter flies,


s: Whose dazzling lustre whitens all the skies:


s: So helms succeeding helms, so shields from shields,


s: Catch the quick beams, and brighten all the fields;


s: Broad glittering breastplates, spears with pointed rays,


s: Mix in one stream, reflecting blaze on blaze;


s: Thick beats the centre as the coursers bound;


s: With splendour flame the skies, and laugh the fields around,


s: Full in the midst, high-towering o’er the rest,


s: His limbs in arms divine Achilles dress’d;


s: Arms which the father of the fire bestow’d,


s: Forged on the eternal anvils of the god.


s: Grief and revenge his furious heart inspire,


s: His glowing eyeballs roll with living fire;


s: He grinds his teeth, and furious with delay


s: O’erlooks the embattled host, and hopes the bloody day.


s: The silver cuishes first his thighs infold;


s: Then o’er his breast was braced the hollow gold;


s: The brazen sword a various baldric tied,


s: That, starr’d with gems, hung glittering at his side;


s: And, like the moon, the broad refulgent shield


s: Blazed with long rays, and gleam’d athwart the field.


s: So to night-wandering sailors, pale with fears,


s: Wide o’er the watery waste, a light appears,


s: Which on the far-seen mountain blazing high,


s: Streams from some lonely watch-tower to the sky:


s: With mournful eyes they gaze, and gaze again;


s: Loud howls the storm, and drives them o’er the main.


s: Next, his high head the helmet graced; behind


s: The sweepy crest hung floating in the wind:


s: Like the red star, that from his flaming hair


s: Shakes down diseases, pestilence, and war;


s: So stream’d the golden honours from his head,


s: Trembled the sparkling plumes, and the loose glories shed.


s: The chief beholds himself with wondering eyes;


s: His arms he poises, and his motions tries;


s: Buoy’d by some inward force, he seems to swim,


s: And now he shakes his great paternal spear,


s: Ponderous and huge, which not a Greek could rear,


s: Old Chiron fell’d, and shaped it for his sire;


s: A spear which stern Achilles only wields,


s: The death of heroes, and the dread of fields.


s: The immortal coursers, and the radiant car;


s: (The silver traces sweeping at their side;)


s: Their fiery mouths resplendent bridles tied;


s: The ivory-studded reins, return’d behind,


s: Waved o’er their backs, and to the chariot join’d.


s: The charioteer then whirl’d the lash around,


s: All bright in heavenly arms, above his squire


s: Achilles mounts, and sets the field on fire;


s: Not brighter Phoebus in the ethereal way


s: Flames from his chariot, and restores the day.


s: High o’er the host, all terrible he stands,


s: And thunders to his steeds these dread commands:


s: "Xanthus and Balius! of Podarges’ strain,


s: (Unless ye boast that heavenly race in vain,)


s: Be swift, be mindful of the load ye bear,


s: And learn to make your master more your care:


s: Through falling squadrons bear my slaughtering sword,


s: Nor, as ye left Patroclus, leave your lord."


s: The generous Xanthus, as the words he said,


s: Seem’d sensible of woe, and droop’d his head:


s: Trembling he stood before the golden wain,


s: And bow’d to dust the honours of his mane.


s: When, strange to tell! (so Juno will’d) he broke


s: "Achilles! yes! this day at least we bear


s: Thy rage in safety through the files of war:


s: But come it will, the fatal time must come,


s: Not ours the fault, but God decrees thy doom.


s: Not through our crime, or slowness in the course,


s: Fell thy Patroclus, but by heavenly force;


s: The bright far-shooting god who gilds the day


s: (Confess’d we saw him) tore his arms way.


s: No—could our swiftness o’er the winds prevail,


s: Or beat the pinions of the western gale,


s: All were in vain—the Fates thy death demand,


s: Then ceased for ever, by the Furies tied,


s: His fateful voice. The intrepid chief replied


s: My much-loved parents, and my native shore—


s: Enough—when heaven ordains, I sink in night:


s: Now perish Troy!" He said, and rush’d to fight.


s: The same day continues. The scene is in the field before Troy.


s: Thus round Pelides breathing war and blood


s: Greece, sheathed in arms, beside her vessels stood;


s: While near impending from a neighbouring height,


s: Troy’s black battalions wait the shock of fight.


s: Then Jove to Themis gives command, to call


s: Swift o’er Olympus’ hundred hills she flies,


s: And summons all the senate of the skies.


s: These shining on, in long procession come


s: That haunts the verdant gloom, or rosy bower;


s: Each fair-hair’d dryad of the shady wood,


s: All but old Ocean, hoary sire! who keeps


s: His ancient seat beneath the sacred deeps.


s: On marble thrones, with lucid columns crown’d,


s: (The work of Vulcan,) sat the powers around.