The Iliad and the Odyssey (Classics of World Literature) (33 page)

Ulysses first. Patroclus then the men and maids requir’d

To make grave Phoenix’ bed with speed, and see he nothing lacks.

They straight obey’d, and thereon laid the subtile fruit of flax,

And warm sheep-fells for covering: and there the old man slept,

Attending till the golden Morn her usual station kept.

Achilles lay in th’ inner room of his tent richly wrought,

And that fair lady by his side that he from Lesbos brought,

Bright Diomeda, Phorbas’ seed. Patroclus did embrace

The beauteous Iphis, given to him when his bold friend did raze

The lofty Syrus, that was kept in Enyeius’ hold.

Now at the tent of Atreus’ son, each man with cups of gold

Receiv’d th’ ambassadors return’d; all cluster’d near to know

What news they brought, which first the king would have Ulysses show:

‘Say, most praiseworthy Ithacus, the Grecians’ great renown,

Will he defend us? Or not yet will his proud stomach down?’

Ulysses made reply: ‘Not yet will he appeased be,

But grows more wrathful, prizing light thy offer’d gifts and thee;

And wills thee to consult with us, and take some other course

To save our army and our fleet; and says, with all his force,

The morn shall light him on his way to Phthia’s wished soil,

For never shall high-seated Troy be sack’d with all our toil:

Jove holds his hand ’twixt us and it, the soldiers gather heart.’

Thus he replies, which Ajax here can equally impart,

And both these heralds. Phoenix stays, for so was his desire,

To go with him, if he thought good; if not, he might retire.’

All wond’red he should be so stern; at last bold Diomed spake:

‘Would god, Atrides, thy request were yet to undertake,

And all thy gifts unoffer’d him; he’s proud enough beside,

But this ambassage thou hast sent will make him burst with pride.

But let us suffer him to stay or go at his desire,

Fight when his stomach serves him best, or when Jove shall inspire.

Meanwhile our watch being strongly held, let us a little rest

After our food: strength lives by both, and virtue is their guest.

Then when the rosy-finger’d Morn holds out her silver light,

Bring forth thy host, encourage all, and be thou first in fight.’

The kings admir’d the fortitude that so divinely mov’d

The skilful horseman Diomed, and his advice approv’d.

Then with their nightly sacrifice each took his several tent,

Where all receiv’d the sov’reign gifts soft Somnus did present.

The end of the ninth book

Book 10

The Argument

Th’ Atrides watching, wake the other peers:

And (in the fort, consulting of their fears)

Two kings they send, most stout, and honour’d most,

For royal scouts, into the Trojan host:

Who meeting Dolon (Hector’s bribed spy)

Take him, and learn how all the quarters lie.

He told them, in the Thracian regiment,

Of rich king Rhesus and his royal tent,

Striving for safety; but they end his strife,

And rid poor Dolon of a dangerous life.

Then with digressive wiles, they use their force

On Rhesus’ life, and take his snowy horse.

Another Argument

Kappa
the night exploits applies:

Rhesus’ and Dolon’s tragedies.

Book 10

The other princes at their ships soft-finger’d Sleep did bind,

But not the general; Somnus’ silks bound not his labouring mind,

That turn’d, and return’d, many thoughts. And as quick lightnings fly

From well-deck’d Juno’s sovereign, out of the thick’ned sky,

Preparing some exceeding rain, or hail, the fruit of cold,

Or down-like snow, that suddenly makes all the fields look old,

Or opes the gulfy mouth of war, with his ensulphur’d hand

In dazzling flashes, pour’d from clouds, on any punish’d land:

So from Atrides’ troubled heart, through his dark sorrows, flew

Redoubled sighs; his entrails shook, as often as his view

Admir’d the multitude of fires that gilt the Phrygian shade,

And heard the sounds of fifes and shawms, and tumults soldiers made.

But when he saw his fleet and host kneel to his care and love,

He rent his hair up by the roots, as sacrifice to Jove,

Burnt in his fiery sighs, still breath’d out of his royal heart,

And first thought good to Nestor’s care his sorrows to impart,

To try if royal diligence, with his approv’d advice,

Might fashion counsels to prevent their threat’ned miseries.

So up he rose, attir’d himself, and to his strong feet tied

Rich shoes, and cast upon his back a ruddy lion’s hide,

So ample, it his ankles reach’d: then took his royal spear.

Like him was Menelaus pierc’d with an industrious fear,

Nor sat sweet slumber on his eyes, lest bitter fates should quite

The Greeks’ high favours, that for him resolv’d such endless fight.

And first a freckled panther’s hide hid his broad back athwart;

His head his brazen helm did arm, his able hand his dart;

Then made he all his haste to raise his brother’s head as rare,

That he who most excell’d in rule might help t’ effect his care.

He found him at his ship’s crook’d stern, adorning him with arms,

Who joy’d to see his brother’s spirits awak’d without alarms,

Well weighing th’ importance of the time. And first the younger spake:

‘Why, brother, are ye arming thus? Is it to undertake

The sending of some vent’rous Greek t’ explore the foe’s intent?

Alas! I greatly fear, not one will give that work consent,

Expos’d alone to all the fears that flow in gloomy night:

He that doth this must know death well, in which ends every fright.’

‘Brother,’ said he, ‘in these affairs we both must use advice;

Jove is against us, and accepts great Hector’s sacrifice,

For I have never seen nor heard, in one day, and by one,

So many high attempts well urg’d, as Hector’s pow’r hath done

Against the hapless sons of Greece, being chiefly dear to Jove –

And without cause, being neither fruit of any goddess’ love,

Nor helpful god: and yet I fear the deepness of his hand,

Ere it be ’ras’d out of our thoughts, will many years withstand.

But, brother, hie thee to thy ships, and Idomen dis-ease

With warlike Ajax: I will haste to grave Neleides,

Exhorting him to rise, and give the sacred watch command,

For they will specially embrace incitement at his hand;

And now his son their captain is, and Idomen’s good friend

Bold Merion, to whose discharge we did that charge commend.’

‘Command’st thou then,’ his brother ask’d, ‘that I shall tarry here

Attending thy resolv’d approach, or else the message bear,

And quickly make return to thee?’ He answer’d: ‘Rather stay,

Lest otherwise we fail to meet: for many a different way

Lies through our labyrinthian host; speak ever as you go,

Command strong watch, from sire to son, urge all t’ observe the foe,

Familiarly, and with their praise, exciting every eye,

Not with unseason’d violence of proud authority:

We must our patience exercise, and work ourselves with them,

,Jove in our births combin’d such care to either’s diadem.’

Thus he dismiss’d him, knowing well his charge, before he went

Himself to Nestor, whom he found in bed within his tent:

By him his damask curets hung, his shield, a pair of darts,

His shining casque, his arming waist: in these he led the hearts

Of his apt soldiers to sharp war, not yielding to his years.

He quickly started from his bed, when to his watchful ears

Untimely feet told some approach: he took his lance in hand,

And spake to him: ‘Ho, what art thou that walk’st at midnight? Stand.

Is any wanting at the guards? Or lack’st thou any peer?

Speak, come not silent towards me, say what intend’st thou here.’

He answer’d, ‘O Neleides, grave honour of our host,

’Tis Agamemnon thou mayst know, whom Jove afflicteth most

Of all the wretched men that live, and will, whilst any breath

Gives motion to my toiled limbs, and bears me up from death.

I walk the round thus, since sweet sleep cannot inclose mine eyes,

Nor shut those organs care breaks ope, for our calamities.

My fear is vehement for the Greeks: my heart (the fount of heat)

With his extreme affects made cold, without my breast doth beat:

And therefore are my sinews struck with trembling: every part

Of what my friends may feel hath act in my dispersed heart.

But if thou think’st of any course may to our good redound,

(Since neither thou thyself canst sleep) come, walk with me the round.

In way whereof we may confer, and look to every guard,

Lest watching long, and weariness, with labouring so hard,

Drown their oppressed memories of what they have in charge.

The liberty we give the foe, alas, is over large,

Their camp is almost mix’d with ours, and we have forth no spies

To learn their drifts, who may perchance this night intend surprise.’

Grave Nestor answer’d: ‘Worthy king, let good hearts bear our ill.

Jove is not bound to perfect all this busy Hector’s will;

But I am confidently giv’n, his thoughts are much dismay’d

With fear, lest our distress incite Achilles to our aid,

And therefore will not tempt his fate, nor ours with further pride.

But I will gladly follow thee, and stir up more beside:

Tydides, famous for his lance, Ulysses, Telamon,

And bold Phyleus’ valiant heir: or else if any one

Would haste to call king Idomen, and Ajax, since their sail

Lie so remov’d, with much good speed, it might our haste avail.

But, though he be our honour’d friend, thy brother I will blame,

Not fearing if I anger thee: it is his utter shame

He should commit all pains to thee, that should himself employ,

Past all our princes, in the care and cure of our annoy;

And be so far from needing spurs, to these his due respects,

He should apply our spirits himself, with pray’rs and urg’d affects.

Necessity (a law to laws, and not to be endur’d)

Makes proof of all his faculties; not sound, if not enur’d.’

‘Good father,’ said the king, ‘sometimes you know I have desir’d

You would improve his negligence, too oft to ease retir’d:

Nor is it for defect of spirit, or compass of his brain,

But with observing my estate, he thinks he should abstain

Till I commanded, knowing my place, unwilling to assume,

For being my brother, anything might prove he did presume.

But now he rose before me far, and came t’ avoid delays:

And I have sent him for the men yourself desir’d to raise.

Come, we shall find them at the guards we plac’d before the fort,

For thither my direction was they should with speed resort.’

‘Why now,’ said Nestor, ‘none will grudge, nor his just rule withstand;

Examples make excitements strong, and sweeten a command.’

Thus put he on his arming truss, fair shoes upon his feet,

About him a mandilion, that did with buttons meet,

Of purple, large, and full of folds, curl’d with a warmful nap,

A garment that ’gainst cold in nights did soldiers use to wrap:

Then took he his strong lance in hand, made sharp with proved steel,

And went along the Grecian fleet. First at Ulysses’ keel

He call’d, to break the silken fumes that did his senses bind;

The voice through th’ organs of his ears straight rung about his mind.

Forth came Ulysses, asking him: ‘Why stir ye thus so late?

Sustain we such enforcive cause?’ He answer’d, ‘Our estate

Doth force this perturbation; vouchsafe it, worthy friend,

And come, let us excite one more to counsel of some end

To our extremes, by fight or flight.’ He back, and took his shield,

And both took course to Diomed; they found him laid in field,

Far from his tent: his armour by, about him was dispread

A ring of soldiers, every man his shield beneath his head,

His spear fix’d by him as he slept, the great end in the ground;

The point, that bristled the dark earth, cast a reflection round

Like pallid lightnings thrown from Jove; thus this heroë lay,

And under him a big ox-hide: his royal head had stay

On arras hangings, rolled up: whereon he slept so fast,

That Nestor stirr’d him with his foot, and chid to see him cast

In such deep sleep, in such deep woes, and ask’d him why he spent

All night in sleep, or did not hear the Trojans near his tent,

Their camp drawn close upon their dike, small space ’twixt foes and foes.

He, starting up, said, ‘Strange old man, that never tak’st repose;

Thou art too patient of our toil, have we not men more young,

To be employ’d from king to king? Thine age hath too much wrong.’

‘Said like a king,’ replied the sire: ‘for I have sons renown’d,

As there are many other men might go this toilsome round;

But you must see, imperious Need hath all at her command:

Now on the eager razor’s edge, for life or death we stand.

Then go (thou art the younger man), and if thou love my ease,

Call swift-foot Ajax up thyself, and young Phyleides.’

This said, he on his shoulders cast a yellow lion’s hide,

Big, and reach’d earth, then took his spear, and Nestor’s will applied:

Rais’d the heroës, brought them both. All met, the round they went,

And found not any captain there asleep or negligent,

But waking, and in arms, give ear to every lowest sound.

And as keen dogs keep sheep in cotes, or folds of hurdles bound,

And grin at every breach of air, envious of all that moves,

Still list’ning when the ravenous beast stalks through the hilly groves;

Then men and dogs stand on their guards, and mighty tumults make,

Sleep wanting weight to close one wink: so did the captains wake,

That kept the watch the whole sad night, all with intentive ear

Converted to the enemies’ tents, that they might timely hear

If they were stirring to surprise: which Nestor joy’d to see.

‘Why so, dear sons, maintain your watch, sleep not a wink,’ said he,

‘Rather than make your fames the scorn of Trojan perjury.’

This said, he foremost pass’d the dike, the others seconded,

Ev’n all the kings that had been call’d to counsel from the bed:

And with them went Meriones, and Nestor’s famous son,

For both were call’d by all the kings to consultation.

Beyond the dike they chose a place, near as they could from blood,

Where yet appear’d the falls of some, and whence (the crimson flood

Of Grecian lives being pour’d on earth by Hector’s furious chace)

He made retreat, when night repour’d grim darkness in his face.

There sat they down, and Nestor spake: ‘O friends, remains not one

That will rely on his bold mind, and view the camp alone

Of the proud Trojans, to approve if any straggling mate

He can surprise near th’ utmost tents, or learn the brief estate

Of their intentions for the time, and mix like one of them

With their outguards, expiscating, if the renown’d extreme

They force on us, will serve their turns, with glory to retire,

Or still encamp thus far from Troy? This may he well inquire,

And make a brave retreat untouch’d; and this would win him fame

Of all men canopied with heav’n, and every man of name

In all this host shall honour him with an enriching meed:

A black ewe and her sucking lamb (rewards that now exceed

All other best possessions, in all men’s choice requests) –

And still be bidden by our kings to kind and royal feasts.’

All reverenc’d one another’s worth; and none would silence break,

Lest worst should take best place of speech: at last did Diomed speak:

‘Nestor, thou ask’st if no man here have heart so well inclin’d

To work this stratagem on Troy: yes, I have such a mind.

Yet if some other prince would join, more probable will be

The strengthen’d hope of our exploit: two may together see

(One going before another still) sly danger every way;

One spirit upon another works, and takes with firmer stay

The benefit of all his pow’rs: for though one knew his course,

Yet might he well distrust himself, which th’ other might enforce.’

This offer every man assum’d; all would with Diomed go:

The two Ajaces, Merion, and Menelaus too,

But Nestor’s son enforc’d it much, and hardy Ithacus,

Who had to every vent’rous deed a mind as venturous.

Amongst all these thus spake the king: ‘Tydides, most belov’d,

Choose thy associate worthily: a man the most approv’d

For use and strength in these extremes. Many thou seest stand forth:

But choose not thou by height of place, but by regard of worth,

Lest with thy nice respect of right to any man’s degree,