The Iliad Part 31

"O son of Neleus, (thus the king rejoin'd,) Pride of the Greeks, and glory of thy kind!

Lo, here the wretched Agamemnon stands, The unhappy general of the Grecian bands, Whom Jove decrees with daily cares to bend, And woes, that only with his life shall end!

Scarce can my knees these trembling limbs sustain, And scarce my heart support its load of pain.

No taste of sleep these heavy eyes have known, Confused, and sad, I wander thus alone, With fears distracted, with no fix'd design; And all my people's miseries are mine.

If aught of use thy waking thoughts suggest, (Since cares, like mine, deprive thy soul of rest,) Impart thy counsel, and a.s.sist thy friend; Now let us jointly to the trench descend, At every gate the fainting guard excite, Tired with the toils of day and watch of night; Else may the sudden foe our works invade, So near, and favour'd by the gloomy shade."

To him thus Nestor: "Trust the powers above, Nor think proud Hector's hopes confirm'd by Jove: How ill agree the views of vain mankind, And the wise counsels of the eternal mind!

Audacious Hector, if the G.o.ds ordain That great Achilles rise and rage again, What toils attend thee, and what woes remain!

Lo, faithful Nestor thy command obeys; The care is next our other chiefs to raise: Ulysses, Diomed, we chiefly need; Meges for strength, Oileus famed for speed.

Some other be despatch'd of nimbler feet, To those tall s.h.i.+ps, remotest of the fleet, Where lie great Ajax and the king of Crete.(216) To rouse the Spartan I myself decree; Dear as he is to us, and dear to thee, Yet must I tax his sloth, that claims no share With his great brother in his martial care: Him it behoved to every chief to sue, Preventing every part perform'd by you; For strong necessity our toils demands, Claims all our hearts, and urges all our hands."

To whom the king: "With reverence we allow Thy just rebukes, yet learn to spare them now: My generous brother is of gentle kind, He seems remiss, but bears a valiant mind; Through too much deference to our sovereign sway, Content to follow when we lead the way: But now, our ills industrious to prevent, Long ere the rest he rose, and sought my tent.

The chiefs you named, already at his call, Prepare to meet us near the navy-wall; a.s.sembling there, between the trench and gates, Near the night-guards, our chosen council waits."

"Then none (said Nestor) shall his rule withstand, For great examples justify command."

With that, the venerable warrior rose; The s.h.i.+ning greaves his manly legs enclose; His purple mantle golden buckles join'd, Warm with the softest wool, and doubly lined.

Then rus.h.i.+ng from his tent, he s.n.a.t.c.h'd in haste His steely lance, that lighten'd as he pa.s.s'd.

The camp he traversed through the sleeping crowd, Stopp'd at Ulysses' tent, and call'd aloud.

Ulysses, sudden as the voice was sent, Awakes, starts up, and issues from his tent.

"What new distress, what sudden cause of fright, Thus leads you wandering in the silent night?"

"O prudent chief! (the Pylian sage replied) Wise as thou art, be now thy wisdom tried: Whatever means of safety can be sought, Whatever counsels can inspire our thought, Whatever methods, or to fly or fight; All, all depend on this important night!"

He heard, return'd, and took his painted s.h.i.+eld; Then join'd the chiefs, and follow'd through the field.

Without his tent, bold Diomed they found, All sheathed in arms, his brave companions round: Each sunk in sleep, extended on the field, His head reclining on his bossy s.h.i.+eld.

A wood of spears stood by, that, fix'd upright, Shot from their flas.h.i.+ng points a quivering light.

A bull's black hide composed the hero's bed; A splendid carpet roll'd beneath his head.

Then, with his foot, old Nestor gently shakes The slumbering chief, and in these words awakes:

"Rise, son of Tydeus! to the brave and strong Rest seems inglorious, and the night too long.

But sleep'st thou now, when from yon hill the foe Hangs o'er the fleet, and shades our walls below?"

At this, soft slumber from his eyelids fled; The warrior saw the h.o.a.ry chief, and said: "Wondrous old man! whose soul no respite knows, Though years and honours bid thee seek repose, Let younger Greeks our sleeping warriors wake; Ill fits thy age these toils to undertake."

"My friend, (he answered,) generous is thy care; These toils, my subjects and my sons might bear; Their loyal thoughts and pious love conspire To ease a sovereign and relieve a sire: But now the last despair surrounds our host; No hour must pa.s.s, no moment must be lost; Each single Greek, in this conclusive strife, Stands on the sharpest edge of death or life: Yet, if my years thy kind regard engage, Employ thy youth as I employ my age; Succeed to these my cares, and rouse the rest; He serves me most, who serves his country best."

This said, the hero o'er his shoulders flung A lion's spoils, that to his ankles hung; Then seized his ponderous lance, and strode along.

Meges the bold, with Ajax famed for speed, The warrior roused, and to the entrenchments lead.

And now the chiefs approach the nightly guard; A wakeful squadron, each in arms prepared: The unwearied watch their listening leaders keep, And, couching close, repel invading sleep.

So faithful dogs their fleecy charge maintain, With toil protected from the prowling train; When the gaunt lioness, with hunger bold, Springs from the mountains toward the guarded fold: Through breaking woods her rustling course they hear; Loud, and more loud, the clamours strike their ear Of hounds and men: they start, they gaze around, Watch every side, and turn to every sound.

Thus watch'd the Grecians, cautious of surprise, Each voice, each motion, drew their ears and eyes: Each step of pa.s.sing feet increased the affright; And hostile Troy was ever full in sight.

Nestor with joy the wakeful band survey'd, And thus accosted through the gloomy shade.

"'Tis well, my sons! your nightly cares employ; Else must our host become the scorn of Troy.

Watch thus, and Greece shall live." The hero said; Then o'er the trench the following chieftains led.

His son, and G.o.dlike Merion, march'd behind (For these the princes to their council join'd).

The trenches pa.s.s'd, the a.s.sembled kings around In silent state the consistory crown'd.

A place there was, yet undefiled with gore, The spot where Hector stopp'd his rage before; When night descending, from his vengeful hand Reprieved the relics of the Grecian band: (The plain beside with mangled corps was spread, And all his progress mark'd by heaps of dead:) There sat the mournful kings: when Neleus' son, The council opening, in these words begun:

"Is there (said he) a chief so greatly brave, His life to hazard, and his country save?

Lives there a man, who singly dares to go To yonder camp, or seize some straggling foe?

Or favour'd by the night approach so near, Their speech, their counsels, and designs to hear?

If to besiege our navies they prepare, Or Troy once more must be the seat of war?

This could he learn, and to our peers recite, And pa.s.s unharm'd the dangers of the night; What fame were his through all succeeding days, While Phoebus s.h.i.+nes, or men have tongues to praise!

What gifts his grateful country would bestow!

What must not Greece to her deliverer owe?

A sable ewe each leader should provide, With each a sable lambkin by her side; At every rite his share should be increased, And his the foremost honours of the feast."

Fear held them mute: alone, untaught to fear, Tydides spoke--"The man you seek is here.

Through yon black camps to bend my dangerous way, Some G.o.d within commands, and I obey.

But let some other chosen warrior join, To raise my hopes, and second my design.

By mutual confidence and mutual aid, Great deeds are done, and great discoveries made; The wise new prudence from the wise acquire, And one brave hero fans another's fire."

Contending leaders at the word arose; Each generous breast with emulation glows; So brave a task each Ajax strove to share, Bold Merion strove, and Nestor's valiant heir; The Spartan wish'd the second place to gain, And great Ulysses wish'd, nor wish'd in vain.

Then thus the king of men the contest ends: "Thou first of warriors, and thou best of friends, Undaunted Diomed! what chief to join In this great enterprise, is only thine.

Just be thy choice, without affection made; To birth, or office, no respect be paid; Let worth determine here." The monarch spake, And inly trembled for his brother's sake.

"Then thus (the G.o.dlike Diomed rejoin'd) My choice declares the impulse of my mind.

How can I doubt, while great Ulysses stands To lend his counsels and a.s.sist our hands?

A chief, whose safety is Minerva's care; So famed, so dreadful, in the works of war: Bless'd in his conduct, I no aid require; Wisdom like his might pa.s.s through flames of fire."

"It fits thee not, before these chiefs of fame, (Replied the sage,) to praise me, or to blame: Praise from a friend, or censure from a foe, Are lost on hearers that our merits know.

But let us haste--Night rolls the hours away, The reddening orient shows the coming day, The stars s.h.i.+ne fainter on the ethereal plains, And of night's empire but a third remains."

Thus having spoke, with generous ardour press'd, In arms terrific their huge limbs they dress'd.

A two-edged falchion Thrasymed the brave, And ample buckler, to Tydides gave: Then in a leathern helm he cased his head, Short of its crest, and with no plume o'erspread: (Such as by youths unused to arms are worn:) No spoils enrich it, and no studs adorn.

Next him Ulysses took a s.h.i.+ning sword, A bow and quiver, with bright arrows stored: A well-proved casque, with leather braces bound, (Thy gift, Meriones,) his temples crown'd; Soft wool within; without, in order spread,(217) A boar's white teeth grinn'd horrid o'er his head.

This from Amyntor, rich Ormenus' son, Autolycus by fraudful rapine won, And gave Amphidamas; from him the prize Molus received, the pledge of social ties; The helmet next by Merion was possess'd, And now Ulysses' thoughtful temples press'd.

Thus sheathed in arms, the council they forsake, And dark through paths oblique their progress take.

Just then, in sign she favour'd their intent, A long-wing'd heron great Minerva sent: This, though surrounding shades obscured their view.

By the shrill clang and whistling wings they knew.

As from the right she soar'd, Ulysses pray'd, Hail'd the glad omen, and address'd the maid:

"O daughter of that G.o.d whose arm can wield The avenging bolt, and shake the dreadful s.h.i.+eld!

O thou! for ever present in my way, Who all my motions, all my toils survey!

Safe may we pa.s.s beneath the gloomy shade, Safe by thy succour to our s.h.i.+ps convey'd, And let some deed this signal night adorn, To claim the tears of Trojans yet unborn."

Then G.o.dlike Diomed preferr'd his prayer: "Daughter of Jove, unconquer'd Pallas! hear.

Great queen of arms, whose favour Tydeus won, As thou defend'st the sire, defend the son.

When on aesopus' banks the banded powers Of Greece he left, and sought the Theban towers, Peace was his charge; received with peaceful show, He went a legate, but return'd a foe: Then help'd by thee, and cover'd by thy s.h.i.+eld, He fought with numbers, and made numbers yield.

So now be present, O celestial maid!

So still continue to the race thine aid!

A youthful steer shall fall beneath the stroke, Untamed, unconscious of the galling yoke, With ample forehead, and with spreading horns, Whose taper tops refulgent gold adorns."

The heroes pray'd, and Pallas from the skies Accords their vow, succeeds their enterprise.

Now, like two lions panting for the prey, With dreadful thoughts they trace the dreary way, Through the black horrors of the ensanguined plain, Through dust, through blood, o'er arms, and hills of slain.

Nor less bold Hector, and the sons of Troy, On high designs the wakeful hours employ; The a.s.sembled peers their lofty chief enclosed; Who thus the counsels of his breast proposed:

"What glorious man, for high attempts prepared, Dares greatly venture for a rich reward?

Of yonder fleet a bold discovery make, What watch they keep, and what resolves they take?

If now subdued they meditate their flight, And, spent with toil, neglect the watch of night?

His be the chariot that shall please him most, Of all the plunder of the vanquish'd host; His the fair steeds that all the rest excel, And his the glory to have served so well."