The Iliad and the Odyssey (Classics of World Literature) (30 page)

To just protection of the Greeks, that anger tomb not all

In Troy’s foul gulf of perjury, and let them stand should fall.’

‘Grieve not,’ said Jove, ‘at all done yet: for if thy fair eyes please,

This next red morning they shall see the great Saturnides

Bring more destruction to the Greeks; and Hector shall not cease

Till he have roused from the fleet swift-foot Aeacides,

In that day when before their ships, for his Patroclus slain,

The Greeks in great distress shall fight, for so the Fates ordain.

I weigh not thy displeased spleen, though to th’ extremest bounds

Of earth and seas it carry thee, where endless night confounds

Japet, and my dejected sire, who sit so far beneath,

They never see the flying sun, nor hear the winds that breathe,

Near to profoundest Tartarus: nor thither if thou went,

Would I take pity of thy moods, since none more impudent.’

To this she nothing did reply. And now Sol’s glorious light

Fell to the sea, and to the land drew up the drowsy night.

The Trojans griev’d at Phoebus’ fall, which all the Greeks desir’d:

And sable night (so often wish’d) to earth’s firm throne aspir’d.

Hector intending to consult, near to the gulfy flood,

Far from the fleet, led to a place pure and exempt from blood,

The Trojans’ forces: from their horse all lighted, and did hear

Th’ oration Jove-lov’d Hector made; who held a goodly spear,

Eleven full cubits long; the head was brass, and did reflect

A wanton light before him still; it round about was deck’d

With strong hoops of new-burnish’d gold. On this he lean’d, and said:

‘Hear me, my worthy friends of Troy, and you our honour’d aid:

A little since I had conceit we should have made retreat,

By light of the inflamed fleet, with all the Greeks’ escheat;

But darkness hath prevented us, and sav’d, with special grace,

These Achives and their shore-hal’d fleet. Let us then render place

To sacred Night, our suppers dress, and from our chariot free

Our fair-man’d horse, and meat them well: then let there convoy’d be,

From forth the city presently, oxen and well-fed sheep,

Sweet wine, and bread. And fell much wood, that all night we may keep

Plenty of fires, even till the light bring forth the lovely morn;

And let their brightness glaze the skies, that night may not suborn

The Greeks’ escape, if they for flight the sea’s broad back would take:

At least they may not part with ease, but as retreat they make,

Each man may bear a wound with him, to cure when he comes home,

Made with a shaft or sharp’ned spear, and others fear to come,

With charge of lamentable war, ’gainst soldiers bred in Troy.

Then let our heralds through the town their offices employ,

To warn the youth yet short of war, and time-white fathers, past,

That in our god-built tow’rs they see strong courts of guard be plac’d

About the walls; and let our dames, yet flourishing in years,

That, having beauties to keep pure, are most inclin’d to fears –

Since darkness in distressful times more dreadful is than light –

Make lofty fires in every house: and thus, the dangerous night

Held with strong watch, if th’ enemy have ambuscadoes laid

Near to our walls, and therefore seem in flight the more dismay’d,

Intending a surprise, while we are all without the town,

They every way shall be impugn’d to every man’s renown.

Perform all this, brave Trojan friends: what now I have to say

Is all express’d; the cheerful morn shall other things display.

It is my glory (putting trust in Jove and other gods)

That I shall now expulse these dogs, fates sent to our abodes,

Who bring ostents of destiny, and black their threat’ning fleet.

But this night let us hold strong guards: to-morrow we will meet

(With fierce-made war) before their ships; and I’ll make known to all

If strong Tydides from their ships can drive me to their wall,

Or I can pierce him with my sword, and force his bloody spoil.

The wished morn shall show his power, if he can shun his foil,

I running on him with my lance. I think when day ascends,

He shall lie wounded with the first, and by him many friends.

O that I were as sure to live immortal, and sustain

No frailties with increasing years, but evermore remain

Ador’d like Pallas, or the Sun, as all doubts die in me,

That heav’n’s next light shall be the last the Greeks shall ever see.’

This speech all Trojans did applaud; who from their traces loos’d

Their sweating horse, which severally with headstals they repos’d,

And fast’ned by their chariots; when others brought from town

Fat sheep and oxen instantly; bread, wine; and hewed down

Huge store of wood: the winds transferr’d into the friendly sky

Their supper’s savour, to the which they sat delightfully,

And spent all night in open field; fires round about them shin’d –

As when about the silver moon, when air is free from wind,

And stars shine clear, to whose sweet beams high prospects, and the brows

Of all steep hills and pinnacles, thrust up themselves for shows,

And ev’n the lowly valleys joy to glitter in their sight,

When the unmeasur’d firmament bursts to disclose her light,

And all the signs in heav’n are seen that glad the shepherd’s heart:

So many fires disclos’d their beams, made by the Trojan part,

Before the face of Ilion, and her bright turrets show’d.

A thousand courts of guard kept fires, and every guard allow’d

Fifty stout men, by whom their horse ate oats and hard white corn,

And all did wilfully expect the silver-throned morn:

The end of the eighth book

Book 9

The Argument

To Agamemnon, urging hopeless flight,

Stand Diomed and Nestor opposite:

By Nestor’s counsel, legates are dismiss’d

To Thetis’ son, who still denies t’ assist.

Another Argument

Iota
sings the embassy,

And great Achilles’ stern reply.

Book 9

So held the Trojans sleepless guard; the Greeks to flight were giv’n,

The feeble consort of cold fear (strangely infus’d from heav’n).

Grief, not to be endur’d, did wound all Greeks of greatest worth.

And as two lateral-sited winds – the west wind and the north –

Meet at the Thracian sea’s black breast, join in a sudden blore,

Tumble together the dark waves, and pour upon the shore

A mighty deal of froth and weed, with which men manure ground:

So Jove and Troy did drive the Greeks, and all their minds confound.

But Agamemnon most of all was tortur’d at his heart;

Who to the voiceful heralds went, and bad them cite, apart,

Each Grecian leader severally (not openly proclaim);

In which he labour’d with the first, and all together came.

They sadly sate. The king arose, and pour’d out tears as fast

As from a lofty rock a spring doth his black waters cast;

And deeply sighing, thus bespake the Achives: ‘O my friends,

Princes and leaders of the Greeks, heav’n’s adverse king extends

His wrath with too much detriment to my so just design,

Since he hath often promis’d me, and bound it with the sign

Of his bent forehead, that this Troy our vengeful hands should race,

And safe return: yet now, engag’d, he plagues us with disgrace,

When all our trust to him hath drawn so much blood from our friends.

My glory, nor my brother’s wreak, were the proposed ends

For which he drew you to these toils, but your whole country’s shame,

Which had been huge, to bear the rape of so divine a dame,

Made in despite of our revenge. And yet not that had mov’d

Our pow’rs to these designs, if Jove had not our drifts approv’d;

Which since we see he did for blood, ’tis desperate fight in us

To strive with him; then let us fly: ’tis flight he urgeth thus.

Long time still silence held them all; at last did Diomed rise:

‘Atrides, I am first must cross thy indiscreet advice,

As may become me, being a king, in this our martial court.

Be not displeas’d then, for thyself didst broadly misreport

In open field my fortitude, and call’d me faint and weak;

Yet I was silent, knowing the time, loath any rites to break

That appertain’d thy public rule: yet all the Greeks knew well

(Of every age) thou didst me wrong. As thou then didst refel

My valour first of all the host, as of a man dismay’d,

So now, with fit occasion giv’n, I first blame thee – afraid.

Inconstant Saturn’s son hath giv’n inconstant spirits to thee,

And with a sceptre over all, an eminent degree.

But with a sceptre’s sovereign grace, the chief pow’r, fortitude,

To bridle thee, he thought not best thy breast should be endu’d.

Unhappy king, think’st thou the Greeks are such a silly sort,

And so excessive impotent, as thy weak words import?

If thy mind move thee to be gone, the way is open; go:

Mycenian ships enow ride near, that brought thee to this woe.

The rest of Greece will stay, nor stir till Troy be overcome,

With full eversion; or if not, but – doters of their home –

Will put on wings to fly with thee, myself and Sthenelus

Will fight, till (trusting favouring Jove) we bring home Troy with us.’

This all applauded, and admir’d the spirit of Diomed;

When Nestor, rising from the rest, his speech thus seconded:

‘Tydides, thou art questionless our strongest Greek in war,

And gravest in thy counsels too, of all that equal are

In place with thee, and stand on strength; nor is there any one

Can blame or contradict thy speech: and yet thou hast not gone

So far, but we must further go. Thou’rt young, and well mightst be

My youngest son, though still I yield thy words have high degree

Of wisdom in them to our king, since well they did become

Their right in question, and refute inglorious going home.

But I, well known thy senior far, will speak, and handle all

Yet to propose which none shall check – no, not our general.

A hater of society, unjust and wild, is he

That loves intestine war, being stuf
f
’d with manless cruelty:

And therefore in persuading peace, and home-flight, we the less

May blame our gen’ral, as one loath to wrap in more distress

His loved soldiers. But because they bravely are resolv’d

To cast lives after toils, before they part in shame involv’d,

Provide we for our honour’d stay: obey black night, and fall

Now to our suppers, then appoint our guards without the wall,

And in the bottom of the dike; which guards I wish may stand

Of our brave youth. And, Atreus’ son, since thou art in command

Before our other kings, be first in thy command’s effect:

It well becomes thee, since ’tis both what all thy peers expect,

And in the royal right of things is no impair to thee.

Nor shall it stand with less than right, that they invited be

To supper by thee; all thy tents are amply stor’d with wine,

Brought daily in Greek ships from Thrace; and to this grace of thine

All necessaries thou hast fit, and store of men to wait:

And many meeting there, thou mayst hear every man’s conceit,

And take the best. It much concerns all Greeks to use advice

Of gravest nature, since so near our ships our enemies

Have lighted such a sort of fires: with which what man is joy’d?

Look how all bear themselves this night: so live, or be destroy’d.’

All heard, and follow’d his advice. There was appointed then

Seven captains of the watch, who forth did march with all their men.

The first was famous Thrasymed, adviceful Nestor’s son;

Ascalaphus, and Ialmen, and mighty Merion,

Alphareus, and Deipyrus, and lovely Lycomed,

Old Creon’s joy. These sev’n bold lords an hundred soldiers led,

In every sever’d company, and every man his pike.

Some placed on the rampire’s top, and some amidst the dike,

All fires made, and their suppers took. Atrides to his tent

Invited all the peers of Greece, and food sufficient

Appos’d before them, and the peers appos’d their hands to it.

Hunger and thirst being quickly quench’d, to counsel still they sit.

And first spake Nestor, who they thought of late advis’d so well,

A father grave, and rightly wise, who thus his tale did tell:

‘Most high Atrides, since in thee I have intent to end,

From thee will I begin my speech, to whom Jove doth commend

The empire of so many men, and puts into thy hand

A sceptre, and establish’d laws, that thou mayst well command,

And counsel all men under thee. It therefore doth behove

Thyself to speak most, since of all thy speeches most will move –

And yet to hear as well as speak, and then perform as well

A free just counsel; in thee still must stick, what others tell.

For me, what in my judgment stands the most convenient

I will advise; and am assur’d, advice more competent

Shall not be given; the general proof that hath before been made

Of what I speak, confirms me still, and now may well persuade,

Because I could not then, yet ought, when thou, most royal king,

Ev’n from the tent Achilles’ love didst violently bring,

Against my counsel urging thee by all means to relent.

But you, obeying your high mind, would venture the event,

Dishonouring our ablest Greek, a man th’ immortals grace:

Again yet let’s deliberate, to make him now embrace

Affection to our general good, and bring his force to field:

Both which, kind words and pleasing gifts must make his virtues yield.’

‘O father,’ answered the king, ‘my wrongs thou tell’st me right;

Mine own offence mine own tongue grants; one man must stand in fight

For our whole army; him I wrong’d, him Jove loves from his heart:

He shows it in thus honouring him; who living thus apart,

Proves us but number: for his want makes all our weakness seen.

Yet after my confess’d offence, soothing my hum’rous spleen,

I’ll sweeten his affects again with presents infinite:

Which, to approve my firm intent, I’ll openly recite:

Seven sacred tripods free from fire, ten talents of fine gold,

Twenty bright cauldrons, twelve young horse, well shap’d and well controll’d,

And victors too; for they have won the prize at many a race.

That man should not be poor, that had but what their winged pace

Hath added to my treasury, nor feel sweet gold’s defect.

Seven Lesbian ladies he shall have, that were the most select,

And in their needles rarely skill’d: whom, when he took the town

Of famous Lesbos, I did choose; who won the chief renown

For beauty from their whole fair sex, amongst whom I’ll resign

Fair Brysis; and I deeply swear (for any fact of mine

That may discourage her receipt) she is untouch’d, and rests

As he resign’d her. To these gifts, if Jove to our requests

Vouchsafe performance, and afford the work for which we wait,

Of winning Troy, with brass and gold he shall his navy freight;

And (ent’ring when we be at spoil) that princely hand of his

Shall choose him twenty Trojan dames, excepting Tyndaris,

The fairest Pergamus enfolds; and if we make retreat

To Argos (call’d of all the world the Navel, or chief seat)

He shall become my son-in-law, and I will honour him

Ev’n as Orestes, my sole son, that doth in honours swim.

Three daughters in my well-built court unmarried are, and fair:

Laodice, Chrysothemis that hath the golden hair,

And Iphianassa; of all three the worthiest let him take,

All jointureless to Peleus’ court: I will her jointure make –

And that so great as never yet did any maid prefer.

Seven cities right magnificent I will bestow on her:

Enope, and Cardamile, Hyra for herbs renown’d,

The fair Aepaea, Pedasus that doth with grapes abound,

Antaea girded with green meads, Phera surnam’d Divine:

All whose bright turrets on the seas in sandy Pylos shine.

Th’ inhabitants in flocks and herds are wondrous confluent,

Who like a god will honour him, and him with gifts present,

And to his throne will contribute what tribute he will rate.

All this I gladly will perform, to pacify his hate.

Let him be mild and tractable: ’tis for the god of ghosts

To be unrul’d, implacable, and seek the blood of hosts,

Whom therefore men do much abhor: then let him yield to me;

I am his greater, being a king, and more in years than he.’

‘Brave king,’ said Nestor, ‘these rich gifts must make him needs relent:

Choose then fit legates instantly, to greet him at his tent.

But stay; admit my choice of them, and let them straight be gone:

Jove-loved Phoenix shall be chief, then Ajax Telamon,

And prince Ulysses; and on them let these two heralds wait,

Grave Odius and Euribates. Come, lords, take water straight,

Make pure your hands, and with sweet words appease Achilles’ mind,

Which we will pray the king of gods may gently make inclin’d.’

All lik’d his speech, and on their hands the heralds water shed:

The youths crown’d cups of sacred wine to all distributed.

But having sacrific’d and drunk to every man’s content

(With many notes by Nestor given), the legates forward went.

With courtship in fit gestures us’d he did prepare them well,

But most Ulysses, for his grace did not so much excel.

Such rites beseem ambassadors; and Nestor urged these,

That their most honours might reflect enrag’d Aeacides.

They went along the shore, and pray’d the god that earth doth bind

In brackish chains, they might not fail, but bow his mighty mind.

The quarter of the Myrmidons they reach’d, and found him set

Delighted with his solemn harp, which curiously was fret

With works conceited; through the verge the bawdrick that embrac’d

His lofty neck was silver twist; this, when his hand laid waste

Aëtion’s city, he did choose as his especial prize;

And, loving sacred music well, made it his exercise.

To it he sung the glorious deeds of great heroës dead,

And his true mind, that practice fail’d, sweet contemplation fed.

With him alone, and opposite, all silent sat his friend,

Attentive, and beholding him who now his song did end.

Th’ ambassadors did forwards press, renown’d Ulysses led,

And stood in view: their sudden sight his admiration bred,

Who with his harp and all arose: so did Menoetius’ son

When he beheld them; their receipt Achilles thus begun:

‘Health to my lords! Right welcome men assure yourselves you be,

Though some necessity I know doth make you visit me,

Incens’d with just cause ’gainst the Greeks.’ This said, a several seat

With purple cushions he set forth, and did their ease intreat;

And said: ‘Now, friend, our greatest bowl, with wine unmix’d and neat,

Appose these lords; and of the depth let every man make proof:

These are my best-esteemed friends, and underneath my roof.

Patroclus did his dear friend’s will; and he that did desire

To cheer the lords (come faint from fight), set on a blazing fire

A great brass pot, and into it a chine of mutton put,

And fat goat’s flesh: Automedon held, while he pieces cut

To roast and boil; right cunningly then of a well-fed swine

A huge fat shoulder he cuts out, and spits it wondrous fine;

His good friend made a goodly fire, of which the force once past,