The Poetry Corner

The Iliad Of Homer: Translated Into English Blank Verse: Book VII.

By William Cowper

Argument Of The Seventh Book. Ajax and Hector engage in single combat. The Grecians fortify their camp. So saying, illustrious Hector through the gates To battle rush'd, with Paris at his side, And both were bent on deeds of high renown. As when the Gods vouchsafe propitious gales To longing mariners, who with smooth oars Threshing the waves have all their strength consumed, So them the longing Trojans glad received. At once each slew a Grecian. Paris slew Menesthius who in Arna dwelt, the son Of Areithos, club-bearing chief, And of Philomedusa radiant-eyed. But Hector wounded with his glittering spear Eoneus; he pierced his neck beneath His brazen morion's verge, and dead he fell. Then Glaucus, leader of the Lycian host, Son of Hippolochus, in furious fight Iphinos son of Dexias assail'd, Mounting his rapid mares, and with his lance His shoulder pierced; unhorsed he fell and died. Such slaughter of the Grecians in fierce fight Minerva noting, from the Olympian hills Flew down to sacred Ilium; whose approach Marking from Pergamus, Apollo flew To meet her, ardent on the part of Troy. Beneath the beech they join'd, when first the King, The son of Jove, Apollo thus began. Daughter of Jove supreme! why hast thou left Olympus, and with such impetuous speed? Comest thou to give the Dana success Decisive? For I know that pity none Thou feel'st for Trojans, perish as they may But if advice of mine can influence thee To that which shall be best, let us compose This day the furious fight which shall again Hereafter rage, till Ilium be destroy'd. Since such is Juno's pleasure and thy own. Him answer'd then Pallas crulean-eyed. Celestial archer! be it so. I came Myself so purposing into the field From the Olympian heights. But by what means Wilt thou induce the warriors to a pause? To whom the King, the son of Jove, replied. The courage of equestrian Hector bold Let us excite, that he may challenge forth To single conflict terrible some chief Achaian. The Achaians brazen-mail'd Indignant, will supply a champion soon To combat with the noble Chief of Troy. So spake Apollo, and his counsel pleased Minerva; which when Helenus the seer, Priam's own son, in his prophetic soul Perceived, approaching Hector, thus he spake. Jove's peer in wisdom, Hector, Priam's son! I am thy brother. Wilt thou list to me? Bid cease the battle. Bid both armies sit. Call first, thyself, the mightiest of the Greeks To single conflict. I have heard the voice Of the Eternal Gods, and well-assured Foretell thee that thy death not now impends. He spake, whom Hector heard with joy elate. Before his van striding into the space Both hosts between, he with his spear transverse[1] Press'd back the Trojans, and they sat. Down sat The well-greaved Grecians also at command Of Agamemnon; and in shape assumed Of vultures, Pallas and Apollo perch'd High on the lofty beech sacred to Jove The father gis-arm'd; delighted thence They view'd the peopled plain horrent around With shields and helms and glittering spears erect. As when fresh-blowing Zephyrus the flood Sweeps first, the ocean blackens at the blast, Such seem'd the plain whereon the Achaians sat And Trojans, whom between thus Hector spake. Ye Trojans and Achaians brazen-greaved, Attend while I shall speak! Jove high-enthroned Hath not fulfill'd the truce, but evil plans Against both hosts, till either ye shall take Troy's lofty towers, or shall yourselves in flight Fall vanquish'd at your billow-cleaving barks. With you is all the flower of Greece.[2] Let him Whose heart shall move him to encounter sole Illustrious Hector, from among you all Stand forth, and Jove be witness to us both. If he, with his long-pointed lance, of life Shall me bereave, my armor is his prize, Which he shall hence into your fleet convey; Not so my body; that he shall resign For burial to the men and wives of Troy. But if Apollo make the glory mine, And he fall vanquish'd, him will I despoil, And hence conveying into sacred Troy His arms, will in the temple hang them high[3] Of the bow-bender God, but I will send His body to the fleet, that him the Greeks May grace with rights funereal. On the banks Of wide-spread Hellespont ye shall upraise His tomb, and as they cleave with oary barks The sable deep, posterity shall say-- "It is a warrior's tomb; in ancient days The Hero died; him warlike Hector slew." So men shall speak hereafter, and my fame Who slew him, and my praise, shall never die. He ceased, and all sat mute. His challenge bold None dared accept, which yet they blush'd to shun, Till Menelaus, at the last, arose Groaning profound, and thus reproach'd the Greeks. Ah boasters! henceforth women--men no more-- Eternal shame, shame infinite is ours, If none of all the Grecians dares contend With Hector. Dastards--deaf to glory's call-- Rot where ye sit! I will myself take arms Against him, for the gods alone dispose, At their own pleasure, the events of war. He ended, and put on his radiant arms. Then, Menelaus, manifest appear'd Thy death approaching by the dreadful hands Of Hector, mightier far in arms than thou, But that the Chiefs of the Achaians all Upstarting stay'd thee, and himself the King, The son of Atreus, on thy better hand Seizing affectionate, thee thus address'd. Thou ravest, my royal brother! and art seized With needless frenzy. But, however chafed, Restrain thy wrath, nor covet to contend With Priameian Hector, whom in fight All dread, a warrior thy superior far. Not even Achilles, in the glorious field (Though stronger far than thou) this hero meets Undaunted. Go then, and thy seat resume In thy own band; the Achaians shall for him, Doubtless, some fitter champion furnish forth. Brave though he be, and with the toils of war Insatiable, he shall be willing yet, Seated on his bent knees, to breathe a while, Should he escape the arduous brunt severe. So saying, the hero by his counsel wise His brother's purpose alter'd; he complied, And his glad servants eased him of his arms. Then Nestor thus the Argive host bespake. Great wo, ye Gods! hath on Achaia fallen. Now may the warlike Pelaus, hoary Chief, Who both with eloquence and wisdom rules The Myrmidons, our foul disgrace deplore. With him discoursing, erst, of ancient times, When all your pedigrees I traced, I made His heart bound in him at the proud report. But now, when he shall learn how here we sat Cowering at the foot of Hector, he shall oft His hands uplift to the immortal Gods, Praying a swift release into the shades. Jove! Pallas! Phoebus! Oh that I were young As when the Pylians in fierce fight engaged The Arcadians spear-expert, beside the stream Of rapid Celadon! Beneath the walls We fought of Pheia, where the Jardan rolls. There Ereuthalion, Chief of godlike form, Stood forth before his van, and with loud voice Defied the Pylians. Arm'd he was in steel By royal Arethous whilom worn; Brave Arethous, Corynetes[4] named By every tongue; for that in bow and spear Nought trusted he, but with an iron mace The close-embattled phalanx shatter'd wide. Him by address, not by superior force, Lycurgus vanquish'd, in a narrow pass, Where him his iron whirl-bat[5] nought avail'd. Lycurgus stealing on him, with his lance Transpierced and fix'd him to the soil supine. Him of his arms, bright gift of brazen Mars, He stripp'd, which after, in the embattled field Lycurgus wore himself, but, growing old, Surrender'd them to Ereuthalion's use His armor-bearer, high in his esteem, And Ereuthalion wore them on the day When he defied our best. All hung their heads And trembled; none dared meet him; till at last With inborn courage warm'd, and nought dismayed, Though youngest of them all, I undertook That contest, and, by Pallas' aid, prevail'd. I slew the man in height and bulk all men Surpassing, and much soil he cover'd slain. Oh for the vigor of those better days! Then should not Hector want a champion long, Whose call to combat, ye, although the prime And pride of all our land, seem slow to hear. He spake reproachful, when at once arose Nine heroes. Agamemnon, King of men, Foremost arose; then Tydeus' mighty son, With either Ajax in fierce prowess clad; The Cretan next, Idomeneus, with whom Uprose Meriones his friend approved, Terrible as the man-destroyer Mars. Evmon's noble offspring next appear'd Eurypylus; Andrmon's son the next Thoas; and last, Ulysses, glorious Chief. All these stood ready to engage in arms With warlike Hector, when the ancient King, Gerenian Nestor, thus his speech resumed. Now cast the lot for all. Who wins the chance Shall yield Achaia service, and himself Serve also, if successful he escape This brunt of hostile hardiment severe. So Nestor. They, inscribing each his lot, Into the helmet cast it of the son Of Atreus, Agamemnon. Then the host Pray'd all, their hands uplifting, and with eyes To the wide heavens directed, many said[6]-- Eternal sire! choose Ajax, or the son Of Tydeus, or the King himself[7] who sways The sceptre in Mycen wealth-renown'd! Such prayer the people made; then Nestor shook The helmet, and forth leaped, whose most they wished, The lot of Ajax. Throughout all the host To every chief and potentate of Greece, From right to left the herald bore the lot By all disown'd; but when at length he reach'd The inscriber of the lot, who cast it in, Illustrious Ajax, in his open palm The herald placed it, standing at his side. He, conscious, with heroic joy the lot Cast at his foot, and thus exclaim'd aloud. My friends! the lot is mine,[8] and my own heart Rejoices also; for I nothing doubt That noble Hector shall be foil'd by me. But while I put mine armor on, pray all In silence to the King Saturnian Jove, Lest, while ye pray, the Trojans overhear. Or pray aloud, for whom have we to dread? No man shall my firm standing by his strength Unsettle, or for ignorance of mine Me vanquish, who, I hope, brought forth and train'd In Salamis, have, now, not much to learn. He ended. They with heaven-directed eyes The King in prayer address'd, Saturnian Jove. Jove! glorious father! who from Ida's height Controlest all below, let Ajax prove Victorious; make the honor all his own! Or, if not less than Ajax, Hector share Thy love and thy regard, divide the prize Of glory, and let each achieve renown! Then Ajax put his radiant armor on, And, arm'd complete, rush'd forward. As huge Mars To battle moves the sons of men between Whom Jove with heart-devouring thirst inspires Of war, so moved huge Ajax to the fight, Tower of the Greeks, dilating with a smile His martial features terrible; on feet, Firm-planted, to the combat he advanced Stride after stride, and shook his quivering spear. Him viewing, Argos' universal host Exulted, while a panic loosed the knees Of every Trojan; even Hector's heart Beat double, but escape for him remain'd None now, or to retreat into his ranks Again, from whom himself had challenged forth. Ajax advancing like a tower his shield Sevenfold, approach'd. It was the labor'd work Of Tychius, armorer of matchless skill, Who dwelt in Hyla; coated with the hides Of seven high-pamper'd bulls that shield he framed For Ajax, and the disk plated with brass. Advancing it before his breast, the son Of Telamon approach'd the Trojan Chief, And face to face, him threatening, thus began. Now, Hector, prove, by me alone opposed, What Chiefs the Dana can furnish forth In absence of the lion-hearted prince Achilles, breaker of the ranks of war. He, in his billow-cleaving barks incensed Against our leader Agamemnon, lies; But warriors of my measure, who may serve To cope with thee, we want not; numerous such Are found amongst us. But begin the fight. To whom majestic Hector fierce in arms. Ajax! heroic leader of the Greeks! Offspring of Telamon! essay not me With words to terrify, as I were boy. Or girl unskill'd in war;[9] I am a man Well exercised in battle, who have shed The blood of many a warrior, and have learn'd, From hand to hand shifting my shield, to fight Unwearied; I can make a sport of war, In standing fight adjusting all my steps To martial measures sweet, or vaulting light Into my chariot, thence can urge the foe. Yet in contention with a Chief like thee I will employ no stratagem, or seek To smite thee privily, but with a stroke (If I may reach thee) visible to all. So saying, he shook, then hurl'd his massy spear At Ajax, and his broad shield sevenfold On its eighth surface of resplendent brass Smote full; six hides the unblunted weapon pierced, But in the seventh stood rooted. Ajax, next, Heroic Chief, hurl'd his long shadow'd spear And struck the oval shield of Priam's son. Through his bright disk the weapon tempest-driven Glided, and in his hauberk-rings infixt At his soft flank, ripp'd wide his vest within. Inclined oblique he 'scaped the dreadful doom Then each from other's shield his massy spear Recovering quick, like lions hunger-pinch'd Or wild boars irresistible in force, They fell to close encounter. Priam's son The shield of Ajax at its centre smote, But fail'd to pierce it, for he bent his point. Sprang Ajax then, and meeting full the targe Of Hector, shock'd him; through it and beyond He urged the weapon with its sliding edge Athwart his neck, and blood was seen to start. But still, for no such cause, from battle ceased Crest-tossing Hector, but retiring, seized A huge stone angled sharp and black with age That on the champain lay. The bull-hide guard Sevenfold of Ajax with that stone he smote Full on its centre; sang the circling brass. Then Ajax far a heavier stone upheaved; He whirled it, and with might immeasurable Dismiss'd the mass, which with a mill-stone weight Sank through the shield of Hector, and his knees Disabled; with his shield supine he fell, But by Apollo raised, stood soon again. And now, with swords they had each other hewn, Had not the messengers of Gods and men The heralds wise, Idus on the part Of Ilium, and Talthybius for the Greeks, Advancing interposed. His sceptre each Between them held, and thus Idus spake.[10] My children, cease! prolong not still the fight. Ye both are dear to cloud-assembler Jove, Both valiant, and all know it. But the Night Hath fallen, and Night's command must be obeyed. To him the son of Telamon replied. Idus! bid thy master speak as thou. He is the challenger. If such his choice, Mine differs not; I wait but to comply. Him answer'd then heroic Hector huge. Since, Ajax, the immortal powers on thee Have bulk pre-eminent and strength bestow'd, With such address in battle, that the host Of Greece hath not thine equal at the spear, Now let the combat cease. We shall not want More fair occasion; on some future day We will not part till all-disposing heaven Shall give thee victory, or shall make her mine. But Night hath fallen, and Night must be obey'd, That them may'st gratify with thy return The Achaians, and especially thy friends And thy own countrymen. I go, no less To exhilarate in Priam's royal town Men and robed matrons, who shall seek the Gods For me, with pious ceremonial due. But come. We will exchange, or ere we part, Some princely gift, that Greece and Troy may say Hereafter, with soul-wasting rage they fought, But parted with the gentleness of friends. So saying, he with his sheath and belt a sword Presented bright-emboss'd, and a bright belt Purpureal[11] took from Ajax in return. Thus separated, one the Grecians sought, And one the Trojans; they when him they saw From the unconquer'd hands return'd alive Of Ajax, with delight their Chief received, And to the city led him, double joy Conceiving all at his unhoped escape. On the other side, the Grecians brazen-mail'd To noble Agamemnon introduced Exulting Ajax, and the King of men In honor of the conqueror slew an ox Of the fifth year to Jove omnipotent. Him flaying first, they carved him next and spread The whole abroad, then, scoring deep the flesh, They pierced it with the spits, and from the spits (Once roasted well) withdrew it all again. Their labor thus accomplish'd, and the board Furnish'd with plenteous cheer, they feasted all Till all were satisfied; nor Ajax miss'd The conqueror's meed, to whom the hero-king Wide-ruling Agamemnon, gave the chine[12] Perpetual,[13] his distinguish'd portion due. The calls of hunger and of thirst at length Both well sufficed, thus, foremost of them all The ancient Nestor, whose advice had oft Proved salutary, prudent thus began. Chiefs of Achaia, and thou, chief of all, Great Agamemnon! Many of our host Lie slain, whose blood sprinkles, in battle shed, The banks of smooth Scamander, and their souls Have journey'd down into the realms of death. To-morrow, therefore, let the battle pause As need requires, and at the peep of day With mules and oxen, wheel ye from all parts The dead, that we may burn them near the fleet. So, home to Greece returning, will we give The fathers' ashes to the children's care. Accumulating next, the pile around, One common tomb for all, with brisk dispatch We will upbuild for more secure defence Of us and of our fleet, strong towers and tall Adjoining to the tomb, and every tower Shall have its ponderous gate, commodious pass Affording to the mounted charioteer. And last, without those towers and at their foot, Dig we a trench, which compassing around Our camp, both steeds and warriors shall exclude, And all fierce inroad of the haughty foe. So counsell'd he, whom every Chief approved. In Troy meantime, at Priam's gate beside The lofty citadel, debate began The assembled senators between, confused, Clamorous, and with furious heat pursued, When them Antenor, prudent, thus bespake. Ye Trojans, Dardans, and allies of Troy, My counsel hear! Delay not. Instant yield To the Atrid, hence to be convey'd, Helen of Greece with all that is her own. For charged with violated oaths we fight, And hope I none conceive that aught by us Design'd shall prosper, unless so be done. He spake and sat; when from his seat arose Paris, fair Helen's noble paramour, Who thus with speech impassion'd quick replied. Antenor! me thy counsel hath not pleased; Thou could'st have framed far better; but if this Be thy deliberate judgment, then the Gods Make thy deliberate judgment nothing worth. But I will speak myself. Ye Chiefs of Troy, I tell you plain. I will not yield my spouse. But all her treasures to our house convey'd From Argos, those will I resign, and add Still other compensation from my own. Thus Paris said and sat; when like the Gods Themselves in wisdom, from his seat uprose Dardanian Priam, who them thus address'd. Trojans, Dardanians, and allies of Troy! I shall declare my sentence; hear ye me. Now let the legions, as at other times, Take due refreshment; let the watch be set, And keep ye vigilant guard. At early dawn We will dispatch Idus to the fleet, Who shall inform the Atrid of this last Resolve of Paris, author of the war. Discreet Idus also shall propose A respite (if the Atrid so incline) From war's dread clamor, while we burn the dead. Then will we clash again, till heaven at length Shall part us, and the doubtful strife decide. He ceased, whose voice the assembly pleased, obey'd. Then, troop by troop, the army took repast, And at the dawn Idus sought the fleet. He found the Dana, servants of Mars, Beside the stern of Agamemnon's ship Consulting; and amid the assembled Chiefs Arrived, with utterance clear them thus address'd. Ye sons of Atreus, and ye Chiefs, the flower Of all Achaia! Priam and the Chiefs Of Ilium, bade me to your ear impart (If chance such embassy might please your ear) The mind of Paris, author of the war. The treasures which on board his ships he brought From Argos home (oh, had he perish'd first!) He yields them with addition from his own. Not so the consort of the glorious prince Brave Menelaus; her (although in Troy All counsel otherwise) he still detains. Thus too I have in charge. Are ye inclined That the dread sounding clamors of the field Be caused to cease till we shall burn the dead? Then will we clash again, 'till heaven at length Shall part us, and the doubtful strife decide. So spake Idus, and all silent sat; Till at the last brave Diomede replied. No. We will none of Paris' treasures now, Nor even Helen's self. A child may see Destruction winging swift her course to Troy. He said. The admiring Greeks with loud applause All praised the speech of warlike Diomede, And answer thus the King of men return'd. Idus! thou hast witness'd the resolve Of the Achaian Chiefs, whose choice is mine. But for the slain, I shall not envy them A funeral pile; the spirit fled, delay Suits not. Last rites can not too soon be paid. Burn them. And let high-thundering Jove attest Himself mine oath, that war shall cease the while. So saying, he to all the Gods upraised His sceptre, and Idus homeward sped To sacred Ilium. The Dardanians there And Trojans, all assembled, his return Expected anxious. He amid them told Distinct his errand, when, at once dissolved, The whole assembly rose, these to collect The scatter'd bodies, those to gather wood; While on the other side, the Greeks arose As sudden, and all issuing from the fleet Sought fuel, some, and some, the scatter'd dead. Now from the gently-swelling flood profound The sun arising, with his earliest rays In his ascent to heaven smote on the fields. When Greeks and Trojans met. Scarce could the slain Be clear distinguish'd, but they cleansed from each His clotted gore with water, and warm tears Distilling copious, heaved them to the wains. But wailing none was heard, for such command Had Priam issued; therefore heaping high The bodies, silent and with sorrowing hearts They burn'd them, and to sacred Troy return'd. The Grecians also, on the funeral pile The bodies heaping sad, burn'd them with fire Together, and return'd into the fleet. Then, ere the peep of dawn, and while the veil Of night, though thinner, still o'erhung the earth, Achaians, chosen from the rest, the pile Encompass'd. With a tomb (one tomb for all) They crown'd the spot adust, and to the tomb (For safety of their fleet and of themselves) Strong fortress added of high wall and tower, With solid gates affording egress thence Commodious to the mounted charioteer; Deep foss and broad they also dug without, And planted it with piles. So toil'd the Greeks. The Gods, that mighty labor, from beside The Thunderer's throne with admiration view'd, When Neptune, shaker of the shores, began. Eternal father! is there on the face Of all the boundless earth one mortal man Who will, in times to come, consult with heaven? See'st thou yon height of wall, and yon deep trench With which the Grecians have their fleet inclosed, And, careless of our blessing, hecatomb Or invocation have presented none? Far as the day-spring shoots herself abroad, So far the glory of this work shall spread, While Phoebus and myself, who, toiling hard, Built walls for king Laomedon, shall see Forgotten all the labor of our hands. To whom, indignant, thus high-thundering Jove. Oh thou, who shakest the solid earth at will, What hast thou spoken? An inferior power, A god of less sufficiency than thou, Might be allowed some fear from such a cause. Fear not. Where'er the morning shoots her beams, Thy glory shall be known; and when the Greeks Shall seek their country through the waves again, Then break this bulwark down, submerge it whole, And spreading deep with sand the spacious shore As at the first, leave not a trace behind. Such conference held the Gods; and now the sun Went down, and, that great work perform'd, the Greeks From tent to tent slaughter'd the fatted ox And ate their evening cheer. Meantime arrived Large fleet with Lemnian wine; Euneus, son Of Jason and Hypsipile, that fleet From Lemnos freighted, and had stow'd on board A thousand measures from the rest apart For the Atrid; but the host at large By traffic were supplied; some barter'd brass, Others bright steel; some purchased wine with hides, These with their cattle, with their captives those, And the whole host prepared a glad regale. All night the Grecians feasted, and the host Of Ilium, and all night deep-planning Jove Portended dire calamities to both, Thundering tremendous!--Pale was every cheek; Each pour'd his goblet on the ground, nor dared The hardiest drink, 'till he had first perform'd Libation meet to the Saturnian King Omnipotent; then, all retiring, sought Their couches, and partook the gift of sleep.