The Poetry Corner

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

By William Cowper

Argument Of The Twentieth Book. By permission of Jupiter the Gods descend into the battle, and range themselves on either side respectively. Neptune rescues neas from death by the hand of Achilles, from whom Apollo, soon after, rescues Hector. Achilles slays many Trojans. The Grecians, thus, before their lofty ships Stood arm'd around Achilles, glorious Chief Insatiable with war, and opposite The Trojans on the rising-ground appear'd.[1] Meantime, Jove order'd Themis, from the head Of the deep-fork'd Olympian to convene The Gods in council. She to every part Proceeding, bade them to the courts of Jove.[2] Nor of the Floods was any absent thence Oceanus except, or of the Nymphs Who haunt the pleasant groves, or dwell beside Stream-feeding fountains, or in meadows green. Within the courts of cloud-assembler Jove Arrived, on pillar'd thrones radiant they sat, With ingenuity divine contrived By Vulcan for the mighty Sire of all. Thus they within the Thunderer's palace sat Assembled; nor was Neptune slow to hear The voice of Themis, but (the billows left) Came also; in the midst his seat he took, And ask'd, incontinent, the mind of Jove.[3] King of the lightnings! wherefore hast thou call'd The Gods to council? Hast thou aught at heart Important to the hosts of Greece and Troy? For on the battle's fiery edge they stand. To whom replied Jove, Sovereign of the storms, Thou know'st my council, Shaker of the shores! And wherefore ye are call'd. Although ordain'd So soon to die, they interest me still. Myself, here seated on Olympus' top, With contemplation will my mind indulge Of yon great spectacle; but ye, the rest, Descend into the field, Trojan or Greek Each to assist, as each shall most incline. For should Achilles in the field no foe Find save the Trojans, quickly should they fly Before the rapid force of Peleus' son. They trembled ever at his look, and since Such fury for his friend hath fired his heart, I fear lest he anticipate the will Of Fate, and Ilium perish premature. So spake the son of Saturn kindling war Inevitable, and the Gods to fight 'Gan move with minds discordant. Juno sought And Pallas, with the earth-encircling Power Neptune, the Grecian fleet, with whom were join'd Mercury, teacher of all useful arts, And Vulcan, rolling on all sides his eyes Tremendous, but on disproportion'd legs, Not without labor hard, halting uncouth. Mars, warrior-God, on Ilium's part appear'd With Phoebus never-shorn, Dian shaft-arm'd, Xanthus, Latona, and the Queen of smiles, Venus. So long as the immortal Gods Mixed not with either host, Achaia's sons Exulted, seeing, after tedious pause, Achilles in the field, and terror shook The knees of every Trojan, at the sight Of swift Achilles like another Mars Panting for blood, and bright in arms again. But when the Olympian Powers had enter'd once The multitude, then Discord, at whose voice The million maddens, vehement arose; Then, Pallas at the trench without the wall By turns stood shouting, and by turns a shout Sent terrible along the sounding shore, While, gloomy as a tempest, opposite, Mars from the lofty citadel of Troy Now yell'd aloud, now running o'er the hill Callicolone, on the Simois' side. Thus the Immortals, ever-blest, impell'd Both hosts to battle, and dire inroad caused Of strife among them. Sudden from on high The Sire of Gods and men thunder'd; meantime, Neptune the earth and the high mountains shook; Through all her base and to her topmost peak Ida spring-fed the agitation felt Reeling, all Ilium and the fleet of Greece. Upstarted from his throne, appall'd, the King Of Erebus, and with a cry his fears Through hell proclaim'd, lest Neptune, o'er his head Shattering the vaulted earth, should wide disclose To mortal and immortal eyes his realm Terrible, squalid, to the Gods themselves A dreaded spectacle; with such a sound The Powers eternal into battle rush'd.[4] Opposed to Neptune, King of the vast Deep, Apollo stood with his wing'd arrows arm'd; Pallas to Mars; Diana shaft-expert, Sister of Phoebus, in her golden bow Rejoicing, with whose shouts the forests ring To Juno; Mercury, for useful arts Famed, to Latona; and to Vulcan's force The eddied River broad by mortal men Scamander call'd, but Xanthus by the Gods. So Gods encounter'd Gods. But most desire Achilles felt, breaking the ranks, to rush On Priameian Hector, with whose blood Chiefly his fury prompted him to sate The indefatigable God of war. But, the encourager of Ilium's host Apollo, urged neas to assail The son of Peleus, with heroic might Inspiring his bold heart. He feign'd the voice Of Priam's son Lycaon, and his form Assuming, thus the Trojan Chief address'd. neas! Trojan leader! where are now Thy vaunts, which, banqueting erewhile among Our princes, o'er thy brimming cups thou mad'st, That thou would'st fight, thyself, with Peleus' son? To whom neas answer thus returned. Offspring of Priam! why enjoin'st thou me Not so inclined, that arduous task, to cope With the unmatch'd Achilles? I have proved His force already, when he chased me down From Ida with his spear, what time he made Seizure of all our cattle, and destroy'd Pedasus and Lyrnessus; but I 'scaped Unslain, by Jove himself empower'd to fly, Else had I fallen by Achilles' hand, And by the hand of Pallas, who his steps Conducted, and exhorted him to slay Us and the Leleges.[5] Vain, therefore, proves All mortal force to Peleus' son opposed; For one, at least, of the Immortals stands Ever beside him, guardian of his life, And, of himself, he hath an arm that sends His rapid spear unerring to the mark. Yet, would the Gods more equal sway the scales Of battle, not with ease should he subdue Me, though he boast a panoply of brass. Him, then, Apollo answer'd, son of Jove. Hero! prefer to the immortal Gods Thy Prayer, for thee men rumor Venus' son Daughter of Jove; and Peleus' son his birth Drew from a Goddess of inferior note. Thy mother is from Jove; the offspring, his, Less noble of the hoary Ocean old. Go, therefore, and thy conquering spear uplift Against him, nor let aught his sounding words Appal thee, or his threats turn thee away. So saying, with martial force the Chief he fill'd, Who through the foremost combatants advanced Radiant in arms. Nor pass'd Anchises' son Unseen of Juno, through the crowded ranks Seeking Achilles, but the Powers of heaven Convened by her command, she thus address'd. Neptune, and thou, Minerva! with mature Deliberation, ponder the event. Yon Chief, neas, dazzling bright in arms; Goes to withstand Achilles, and he goes Sent by Apollo; in despite of whom Be it our task to give him quick repulse, Or, of ourselves, let some propitious Power Strengthen Achilles with a mind exempt From terror, and with force invincible. So shall he know that of the Gods above The mightiest are his friends, with whom compared The favorers of Ilium in time past, Who stood her guardians in the bloody strife, Are empty boasters all, and nothing worth. For therefore came we down, that we may share This fight, and that Achilles suffer nought Fatal to-day, though suffer all he must Hereafter, with his thread of life entwined By Destiny, the day when he was born. But should Achilles unapprized remain Of such advantage by a voice divine, When he shall meet some Deity in the field, Fear then will seize him, for celestial forms Unveil'd are terrible to mortal eyes. To whom replied the Shaker of the shores. Juno! thy hot impatience needs control; It ill befits thee. No desire I feel To force into contention with ourselves Gods, our inferiors. No. Let us, retired To yonder hill, distant from all resort, There sit, while these the battle wage alone. But if Apollo, or if Mars the fight Entering, begin, themselves, to interfere Against Achilles, then will we at once To battle also; and, I much misdeem, Or glad they shall be soon to mix again Among the Gods on the Olympian heights, By strong coercion of our arms subdued. So saying, the God of Ocean azure-hair'd Moved foremost to the lofty mound earth-built Of noble Hercules, by Pallas raised And by the Trojans for his safe escape, What time the monster of the deep pursued The hero from the sea-bank o'er the plain. There Neptune sat, and his confederate Gods, Their shoulders with impenetrable clouds O'ermantled, while the city-spoiler Mars Sat with Apollo opposite on the hill Callicolone, with their aids divine. So, Gods to Gods in opposite aspect Sat ruminating, and alike the work All fearing to begin of arduous war, While from his seat sublime Jove urged them on. The champain all was fill'd, and with the blaze Illumined wide of men and steeds brass-arm'd, And the incumber'd earth jarr'd under foot Of the encountering hosts. Then, two, the rest Surpassing far, into the midst advanced Impatient for the fight, Anchises' son neas and Achilles, glorious Chief! neas first, under his ponderous casque Nodding and menacing, advanced; before His breast he held the well-conducted orb Of his broad shield, and shook his brazen spear. On the other side, Achilles to the fight Flew like a ravening lion, on whose death Resolved, the peasants from all quarters meet; He, viewing with disdain the foremost, stalks Right on, but smitten by some dauntless youth Writhes himself, and discloses his huge fangs Hung with white foam; then, growling for revenge, Lashes himself to battle with his tail, Till with a burning eye and a bold heart He springs to slaughter, or himself is slain; So, by his valor and his noble mind Impell'd, renown'd Achilles moved toward neas, and, small interval between, Thus spake the hero matchless in the race. Why stand'st thou here, neas! thy own band Left at such distance? Is it that thine heart Glows with ambition to contend with me In hope of Priam's honors, and to fill His throne hereafter in Troy steed-renown'd? But shouldst thou slay me, not for that exploit Would Priam such large recompense bestow, For he hath sons, and hath, beside, a mind And disposition not so lightly changed. Or have the Trojans of their richest soil For vineyard apt or plow assign'd thee part If thou shalt slay me? Difficult, I hope, At least, thou shalt experience that emprize. For, as I think, I have already chased Thee with my spear. Forgettest thou the day When, finding thee alone, I drove thee down Headlong from Ida, and, thy cattle left Afar, thou didst not dare in all thy flight Turn once, till at Lyrnessus safe arrived, Which city by Jove's aid and by the aid Of Pallas I destroy'd, and captive led Their women? Thee, indeed, the Gods preserved But they shall not preserve thee, as thou dream'st Now also. Back into thy host again; Hence, I command thee, nor oppose in fight My force, lest evil find thee. To be taught By suffering only is the part of fools. To whom neas answer thus return'd. Pelides! hope not, as I were a boy, With words to scare me. I have also taunts At my command, and could be sharp as thou. By such reports as from the lips of men We oft have heard, each other's birth we know And parents; but my parents to behold Was ne'er thy lot, nor have I thine beheld. Thee men proclaim from noble Peleus sprung And Thetis, bright hair'd Goddess of the Deep; I boast myself of lovely Venus born To brave Anchises; and his son this day In battle slain thy sire shall mourn, or mine; For I expect not that we shall depart Like children, satisfied with words alone. But if it please thee more at large to learn My lineage (thousands can attest it true) Know this. Jove, Sovereign of the storms, begat Dardanus, and ere yet the sacred walls Of Ilium rose, the glory of this plain, He built Dardania; for at Ida's foot Dwelt our progenitors in ancient days. Dardanus was the father of a son, King Ericthonius, wealthiest of mankind. Three thousand mares of his the marish grazed, Each suckling with delight her tender foal. Boreas, enamor'd of no few of these, The pasture sought, and cover'd them in form Of a steed azure-maned. They, pregnant thence, Twelve foals produced, and all so light of foot, That when they wanton'd in the fruitful field They swept, and snapp'd it not, the golden ear; And when they wanton'd on the boundless deep, They skimm'd the green wave's frothy ridge, secure. From Ericthonius sprang Tros, King of Troy, And Tros was father of three famous sons, Ilus, Assaracus, and Ganymede Loveliest of human kind, whom for his charms The Gods caught up to heaven, there to abide With the immortals, cup-bearer of Jove. Ilus begat Laomedon, and he Five sons, Tithonus, Priam, Clytius, Lampus, and Hicetaon, branch of Mars. Assaracus a son begat, by name Capys, and Capys in due time his son Warlike Anchises, and Anchises me. But Priam is the noble Hector's sire.[6] Such is my lineage, and such blood I boast; But valor is from Jove; he, as he wills, Increases or reduces it in man, For he is lord of all. Therefore enough-- Too long like children we have stood, the time Consuming here, while battle roars around. Reproach is cheap. Easily might we cast Gibes at each other, till a ship that asks A hundred oars should sink beneath the load. The tongue of man is voluble, hath words For every theme, nor wants wide field and long, And as he speaks so shall he hear again. But we--why should we wrangle, and with taunts Assail each other, as the practice is Of women, who with heart-devouring strife On fire, start forth into the public way To mock each other, uttering, as may chance, Much truth, much falsehood, as their anger bids? The ardor of my courage will not slack For all thy speeches; we must combat first; Now, therefore, without more delay, begin, That we may taste each other's force in arms.[7] So spake neas, and his brazen lance Hurl'd with full force against the dreadful shield. Loud roar'd its ample concave at the blow. Not unalarm'd, Pelides his broad disk Thrust farther from him, deeming that the force Of such an arm should pierce his guard with ease. Vain fear! he recollected not that arms Glorious as his, gifts of the immortal Gods, Yield not so quickly to the force of man. The stormy spear by brave neas sent, No passage found; the golden plate divine Repress'd its vehemence; two folds it pierced, But three were still behind, for with five folds Vulcan had fortified it; two were brass; The two interior, tin; the midmost, gold; And at the golden one the weapon stood.[8] Achilles next, hurl'd his long shadow'd spear, And struck neas on the utmost verge Of his broad shield, where thinnest lay the brass, And thinnest the ox-hide. The Pelian ash Started right through the buckler, and it rang. neas crouch'd terrified, and his shield Thrust farther from him; but the rapid beam Bursting both borders of the ample disk, Glanced o'er his back, and plunged into the soil. He 'scaped it, and he stood; but, as he stood, With horror infinite the weapon saw Planted so near him. Then, Achilles drew His falchion keen, and with a deafening shout Sprang on him; but neas seized a stone Heavy and huge, a weight to overcharge Two men (such men as are accounted strong Now) but he wielded it with ease, alone. Then had neas, as Achilles came Impetuous on, smitten, although in vain, His helmet or his shield, and Peleus' son Had with his falchion him stretch'd at his feet, But that the God of Ocean quick perceived His peril, and the Immortals thus bespake. I pity brave neas, who shall soon, Slain by Achilles, see the realms below, By smooth suggestions of Apollo lured To danger, such as he can ne'er avert. But wherefore should the Chief, guiltless himself, Die for the fault of others? at no time His gifts have fail'd, grateful to all in heaven. Come, therefore, and let us from death ourselves Rescue him, lest if by Achilles' arm This hero perish, Jove himself be wroth; For he is destined to survive, lest all The house of Dardanus (whom Jove beyond All others loved, his sons of woman born) Fail with neas, and be found no more. Saturnian Jove hath hated now long time The family of Priam, and henceforth neas and his son, and his sons' sons, Shall sway the sceptre o'er the race of Troy. To whom, majestic thus the spouse of Jove. Neptune! deliberate thyself, and choose Whether to save neas, or to leave The hero victim of Achilles' ire. For Pallas and myself ofttimes have sworn In full assembly of the Gods, to aid Troy never, never to avert the day Of her distress, not even when the flames Kindled by the heroic sons of Greece, Shall climb with fury to her topmost towers. She spake; then Neptune, instant, through the throng Of battle flying, and the clash of spears, Came where Achilles and neas fought. At once with shadows dim he blurr'd the sight Of Peleus' son, and from the shield, himself, Of brave neas the bright-pointed ash Retracting, placed it at Achilles' feet. Then, lifting high neas from the ground, He heaved him far remote; o'er many a rank Of heroes and of bounding steeds he flew, Launch'd into air from the expanded palm Of Neptune, and alighted in the rear Of all the battle where the Caucons stood. Neptune approach'd him there, and at his side Standing, in accents wing'd, him thus bespake. What God, neas! tempted thee to cope Thus inconsiderately with the son Of Peleus, both more excellent in fight Than thou, and more the favorite of the skies? From him retire hereafter, or expect A premature descent into the shades. But when Achilles shall have once fulfill'd His destiny, in battle slain, then fight Fearless, for thou canst fall by none beside. So saying, he left the well-admonish'd Chief, And from Achilles' eyes scatter'd the gloom Shed o'er them by himself. The hero saw Clearly, and with his noble heart incensed By disappointment, thus conferring, said. Gods! I behold a prodigy. My spear Lies at my foot, and he at whom I cast The weapon with such deadly force, is gone! neas therefore, as it seems, himself Interests the immortal Gods, although I deem'd his boast of their protection vain. I reck not. Let him go. So gladly 'scaped From slaughter now, he shall not soon again Feel an ambition to contend with me. Now will I rouse the Dana, and prove The force in fight of many a Trojan more. He said, and sprang to battle with loud voice, Calling the Grecians after him.--Ye sons Of the Achaians! stand not now aloof, My noble friends! but foot to foot let each Fall on courageous, and desire the fight. The task were difficult for me alone, Brave as I boast myself, to chase a foe So numerous, and to combat with them all. Not Mars himself, immortal though he be, Nor Pallas, could with all the ranks contend Of this vast multitude, and drive the whole. With hands, with feet, with spirit and with might, All that I can I will; right through I go, And not a Trojan who shall chance within Spear's reach of me, shall, as I judge, rejoice. Thus he the Greeks exhorted. Opposite, Meantime, illustrious Hector to his host Vociferated, his design to oppose Achilles publishing in every ear. Fear not, ye valiant men of Troy! fear not The son of Peleus. In a war of words I could, myself, cope even with the Gods; But not with spears; there they excel us all. Nor shall Achilles full performance give To all his vaunts, but, if he some fulfil, Shall others leave mutilate in the midst. I will encounter him, though his hands be fire, Though fire his hands, and his heart hammer'd steel. So spake he them exhorting. At his word Uprose the Trojan spears, thick intermixt The battle join'd, and clamor loud began. Then thus, approaching Hector, Phoebus spake. Henceforth, advance not Hector! in the front Seeking Achilles, but retired within The stormy multitude his coming wait, Lest his spear reach thee, or his glittering sword. He said, and Hector far into his host Withdrew, admonish'd by the voice divine. Then, shouting terrible, and clothed with might, Achilles sprang to battle. First, he slew The valiant Chief Iphition, whom a band Numerous obey'd. Otrynteus was his sire. Him to Otrynteus, city-waster Chief, A Naiad under snowy Tmolus bore In fruitful Hyda.[9] Right into his front As he advanced, Achilles drove his spear, And rived his skull; with thundering sound he fell, And thus the conqueror gloried in his fall. Ah Otryntides! thou art slain. Here lies The terrible in arms, who born beside The broad Gygan lake, where Hyllus flows And Hermus, call'd the fertile soil his own. Thus gloried he. Meantime the shades of death Cover'd Iphition, and Achaian wheels And horses ground his body in the van. Demoleon next, Antenor's son, a brave Defender of the walls of Troy, he slew. Into his temples through his brazen casque He thrust the Pelian ash, nor could the brass Such force resist, but the huge weapon drove The shatter'd bone into his inmost brain, And his fierce onset at a stroke repress'd. Hippodamas his weapon next received Within his spine, while with a leap he left His steeds and fled. He, panting forth his life, Moan'd like a bull, by consecrated youths Dragg'd round the Heliconian King,[10] who views That victim with delight. So, with loud moans The noble warrior sigh'd his soul away. Then, spear in hand, against the godlike son Of Priam, Polydorus, he advanced. Not yet his father had to him indulged A warrior's place, for that of all his sons He was the youngest-born, his hoary sire's Chief darling, and in speed surpass'd them all. Then also, in the vanity of youth, For show of nimbleness, he started oft Into the vanward, till at last he fell. Him gliding swiftly by, swifter than he Achilles with a javelin reach'd; he struck His belt behind him, where the golden clasps Met, and the double hauberk interposed. The point transpierced his bowels, and sprang through His navel; screaming, on his knees he fell, Death-shadows dimm'd his eyes, and with both hands, Stooping, he press'd his gather'd bowels back. But noble Hector, soon as he beheld His brother Polydorus to the earth Inclined, and with his bowels in his hands, Sightless well-nigh with anguish could endure No longer to remain aloof; flame-like He burst abroad,[11] and shaking his sharp spear, Advanced to meet Achilles, whose approach Seeing, Achilles bounded with delight, And thus, exulting, to himself he said. Ah! he approaches, who hath stung my soul Deepest, the slayer of whom most I loved! Behold, we meet! Caution is at an end, And timid skulking in the walks of war. He ceased, and with a brow knit into frowns, Call'd to illustrious Hector. Haste, approach, That I may quick dispatch thee to the shades. Whom answer'd warlike Hector, nought appall'd. Pelides! hope not, as I were a boy, With words to scare me. I have also taunts At my command, and can be sharp as thou. I know thee valiant, and myself I know Inferior far; yet, whether thou shalt slay Me, or, inferior as I am, be slain By me, is at the pleasure of the Gods, For I wield also not a pointless beam. He said, and, brandishing it, hurl'd his spear, Which Pallas, breathing softly, wafted back From the renown'd Achilles, and it fell Successless at illustrious Hector's feet. Then, all on fire to slay him, with a shout That rent the air Achilles rapid flew Toward him; but him wrapt in clouds opaque Apollo caught with ease divine away. Thrice, swift Achilles sprang to the assault Impetuous, thrice the pitchy cloud he smote, And at his fourth assault, godlike in act, And terrible in utterance, thus exclaim'd. Dog! thou art safe, and hast escaped again; But narrowly, and by the aid once more Of Phoebus, without previous suit to whom Thou venturest never where the javelin sings. But when we next encounter, then expect, If one of all in heaven aid also me, To close thy proud career. Meantime I seek Some other, and assail e'en whom I may. So saying, he pierced the neck of Dryops through, And at his feet he fell. Him there he left, And turning on a valiant warrior huge, Philetor's son, Demuchus, in the knee Pierced, and detain'd him by the planted spear, Till with his sword he smote him, and he died. Laogonus and Dardanus he next Assaulted, sons of Bias; to the ground Dismounting both, one with his spear he slew, The other with his falchion at a blow. Tros too, Alastor's son--he suppliant clasp'd Achilles' knees, and for his pity sued, Pleading equality of years, in hope That he would spare, and send him thence alive. Ah dreamer! ignorant how much in vain That suit he urged; for not of milky mind, Or placable in temper was the Chief To whom he sued, but fiery. With both hands His knees he clasp'd importunate, and he Fast by the liver gash'd him with his sword. His liver falling forth, with sable blood His bosom fill'd, and darkness veil'd his eyes. Then, drawing close to Mulius, in his ear He set the pointed brass, and at a thrust Sent it, next moment, through his ear beyond. Then, through the forehead of Agenor's son Echechlus, his huge-hafted blade he drove, And death and fate forever veil'd his eyes. Next, where the tendons of the elbow meet, Striking Deucalion, through his wrist he urged The brazen point; he all defenceless stood, Expecting death; down came Achilles' blade Full on his neck; away went head and casque Together; from his spine the marrow sprang, And at his length outstretch'd he press'd the plain. From him to Rhigmus, Pireus' noble son, He flew, a warrior from the fields of Thrace. Him through the loins he pierced, and with the beam Fixt in his bowels, to the earth he fell; Then piercing, as he turn'd to flight, the spine Of Areithus his charioteer, He thrust him from his seat; wild with dismay Back flew the fiery coursers at his fall. As a devouring fire within the glens Of some dry mountain ravages the trees, While, blown around, the flames roll to all sides, So, on all sides, terrible as a God, Achilles drove the death-devoted host Of Ilium, and the champain ran with blood. As when the peasant his yoked steers employs To tread his barley, the broad-fronted pair With ponderous hoofs trample it out with ease, So, by magnanimous Achilles driven, His coursers solid-hoof'd stamp'd as they ran The shields, at once, and bodies of the slain; Blood spatter'd all his axle, and with blood From the horse-hoofs and from the fellied wheels His chariot redden'd, while himself, athirst For glory, his unconquerable hands Defiled with mingled carnage, sweat, and dust.