Priam the sire, much mourn'd, to him unknown

That still his son, on pinions borne, surviv'd:

While Hector and his brethren round the tomb,

A name alone possessing, empty rites

Perform'd. Save Paris, from the solemn scene

None absent were; he with the ravish'd wife

Brought to his shores a long protracted war.

Quick was he follow'd by confederate ships

Ten hundred, and the whole Pelasgian race.

Nor had their vengeance borne so long delay,

But adverse raging tempests made the main

Impassable; and on Boeotia's shores,

In Aulis' port th' impatient vessels bound.

Here, while the Greeks the rites of Jove prepare,

Their country's custom, as the altar blaz'd,

They saw an azure serpent writhe around

A plane, which near the altar rear'd its boughs.

Its lofty summit held a nest; within

Eight callow birds were lodg'd; on these he seiz'd,

And seiz'd the mother, who, with trembling wings,

Hover'd around her loss, all burying deep

Within his greedy maw. All stare with dread.

But Thestor's son, prophetic truths who still

Beheld, exclaim'd--"Rejoice! O Greeks, rejoice!

"Conquest is ours, and lofty Troy must fall.

"But great our toil, and tedious our delay."

Then shew'd the birds a nine years' war foretold.

The snake, entwining 'mid the virid boughs,

Hard stone becomes, but keeps his serpent's form.

But still th' Aoenian waves in violent swell

Were lash'd by Neptune, nor their vessels bore;

And many deem'd that Troy he wish'd to spare,

Whose walls his labor rais'd. Not so the son

Of Thestor thought: neither he knew hot so,

Nor what he knew conceal'd:--a victim dire

The virgin-goddess claim'd; a virgin's blood!

When o'er affection public weal prevail'd,

The king o'ercame the father; and before

The altar Iphigenia stood, prepar'd

Her spotless blood to shed, as tears gush'd forth

Even from the sacrificial 'tendants. Then

"Was Dian' mov'd, and threw before their sight

A cloud opaque, and (so tradition tells)

The maid Thycenian to an hind was chang'd,

Amid the priests, the pious crowd and all

Who deprecating heard her doom. This done,

Dian' by such a sacrifice appeas'd

As Dian' best became; and sooth'd her ire,

The angry aspect of the seas was smooth'd;

And all the thousand vessels felt the breeze

Abaft, and bore the long impatient crowd

To Phrygia's shores. A spot there lies, whose seat

Midst of created space, 'twixt earth, and sea,

And heavenly regions, on the confines rests

Of the three-sever'd world; whence are beheld

All objects and all actions though remote,

And every sound by tending ears is heard.

Here Fame resides; and in the loftiest towers

Her dwelling chuses; and some thousand ways,

And thousand portals to the dwelling makes:

No portal clos'd with gates. By day, by night,

Open they stand; of sounding brass all form'd;

All echoing sound; all back the voice rebound:

And all reit'rate every word they hear.

No rest within, no silence there is found,

Yet clamor is not, but a murmur low;

Such as the billows wont to make when heard

From far, or such as distant thunder sends,

When Jove the dark clouds rends and drives aloof.

Crowds fill the halls: the trifling vulgar come

And issue forth. Ten thousand rumors vague

With truth commingled to and fro are heard.

Words in confusion fly. Amid the throng

These preach their words to vacant air, and those

To others tales narrate; the measure still

Of every fiction in narration grows;

And every author adds to what he hears.

Here lives credulity; and here abides

Rash error; transports vain; astonied fear;

Sedition sudden; and, uncertain whence,

Dark whisperings. Fame herself sits high aloft,

And views what deeds in heaven, and earth, and sea

Are done, and searches all creation round.

The news she spreads, that now the Grecian barks

Approach with valiant force; nor did the foe

Unlook'd-for threat the realm. All Troy impedes

Their landing, and the shores defends. Thou first,

Protesilaues! by great Hector's spear

Unluckily wast slain. The war begun,

Their valiant souls, ere yet they Hector knew,

Dear cost the Greeks. Nor small the blood which flow'd

From Phrygia's sons, by Grecia's valor spill'd.

Now blush'd Sigaeum's shores with spouting blood,

Where Cygnus, Neptune's offspring, gave to death

Whole crowds. Achilles in his chariot stood,

And with his forceful Pelian spear o'erthrew

Thick ranks of Trojans; and as through the fights

Cygnus or Hector to engage he sought,

Cygnus he met: delay'd was Hector's fate

To the tenth year. Then to his white-neck'd steeds,

Press'd by the yoke, with cheering shouts he spoke;

And full against the foe his chariot drove.

His quivering lance well-pois'd he shook, and call'd,

"Whoe'er thou art, O youth! this comfort learn

"In death, that by Achilles' arm thou dy'st."

Thus far Pelides; and his massive spear

Close follow'd on his words. With truth it fled;

Yet did the steely point, unerring hurl'd,

Fall harmless: with a deaden'd point his breast

Was struck. Then he;--"O goddess-born! (for fame

"Thy race to me has long before made known)

"Why wonder'st thou that I unwounded stand?"

(For wondering stood Pelides.) "Not this helm,

"Which thou behold'st, gay with the courser's mane.

"Nor the curv'd buckler by my arm sustain'd,

"For aid are worn. For comely grace alone

"They deck me. Thus is Mars himself adorn'd.

"Thrown every guard far from my limbs, my limbs

"Unwounded would remain. Sure I may boast!

"Sprung not from Nereus' daughter, but from him

"Who rules o'er Nereus; o'er his daughter rules;

"And all th' extent of ocean." Cygnus spoke:

And at Pelides launch'd his spear to pierce

His orbed shield; its brazen front it pierc'd,

And nine bull-hides beneath; stay'd at the tenth,

The warrior shook it forth; with strenuous arm

The quivering weapon hostile back return'd:

Cygnus again unwounded felt the blow.

Nor felt his naked bosom, to the force

Of the third weapon vauntingly expos'd,

Aught harm'd. Less fiercely in the Circus wide

Rages the bull not, when the scarlet vests

To urge his fury fixt, with furious horn

To gore attempting, finds elusion still,

The unhurt limbs invading. Seeks he now

If fall'n the metal from his weapon's point:

Fast to the wood the metal still appears;

And cries he;--"Weak is then my hand? and spent

"On one, is all the strength I once could boast?

"For surely strength that arm could boast, which erst

"Lyrnessus' wall o'erthrew, and when with gore

"It Tenedos, and Thebes made stream; or when

"Caycus purple flow'd, stain'd with their blood

"Who on its banks had dwelt; and when twice prov'd

"By Telephus, the virtue of my spear.

"This nervous arm has here too shewn its force

"In hills of slain by me up-heap'd; these shores

"Attest it." Speaking so, his spear he sent

Against Menoetes 'mid the Lycian crowd,

As doubting faintly deeds perform'd before:

And pierc'd at once his corslet and his breast.

From the hot smoking wound as forth he drew

The dart,--as with his dying head was struck

The solid ground, he spoke:--"This is the hand,

"And this the spear which conquest knew before:

"This will I 'gainst him use. May it, when sent,

"The same success attend."--Ere ceas'd his words

Cygnus again with aim he sought, nor swerv'd

His ashen weapon whence he aim'd, but rung,

Unshrunk from, on the shoulder: thence repell'd,

As from a wall or rugged rock it fell:

Yet where the blow was felt, did Cygnus seem

With blood distain'd. Achilles' joy was vain,

For wound was not. Menoetes' blood was there.

Then furious from his lofty car he sprung,

And close at hand his braving foe assail'd

With glittering falchion; by the falchion broke,

The helm and shield he saw, but the keen edge

His stubborn body blunted. More the son

Of Peleus bore not, but the warrior's face

With furious buffets from his shield, unclaspt

First from his arm, he smote, and with his hilt

Heavy his temples; and with headstrong rage

Bore on him: nor to his astounded soul

Respite allow'd. Dread through his bosom spread;

Before his eyes swam darkness: when amidst

The plain, a stone his retrogressive feet

Oppos'd. Pelides, with his mightiest strength,

Struck Cygnus against it, and to earth

Hard forc'd him, thrown supine. Pent with his shield,

And nervous knees upon his bosom prest

Tight, he the lacing of the helmet drew,

Which 'neath his chin was ty'd; close press'd his throat,

His breathing passage and his life at once

Destroy'd he. When his conquer'd foe to spoil

Of all his arms he went, the arms he found

Vacant. The ocean-god had to a bird

Of snowy plumage chang'd his offspring's form:

A bird which still the name of Cygnus bears.

Here stay'd the toil, here did the battle gain

Of numerous days a respite, either power

Resting on arms unhostile. Then, while guards,

Watchful, the Trojan walls protective kept;

And sentries equal wakeful o'er the trench

Form'd by the Argives watch'd, a feast was held,

Where Cygnus' victor, stout Achilles, gave

An heifer ribbon-bound to Athen's maid.

The sever'd flesh was on the altar plac'd,

Whose smoking fragrance, grateful to the gods,

High to th' ethereal regions mounted. Part,

Their due, th' official sacrificers took;

To swell the feast the rest was given. Outstretch'd

On couches, laid the noble guests, and fill'd

With the drest meat their hunger; and with wine

At once their thirst and all their cares assuag'd.

No lyre them sooth'd; no sound of vocal song;

Nor long extended boxen pipe with holes

Multiferous pierc'd: but all night long, discourse

Protracted; valiant deeds alone the theme.

Alike the valiant acts their foes perform'd,

And those their own they speak. Much they enjoy

To tell by turns what hazards they o'ercame;

And what they oft successless try'd. What else

Could e'er Achilles' speech employ? What else

By great Achilles could with joy be heard?

Chief in the converse, was the conquest late

O'er Cygnus gain'd, the topic. Strange to all

Seem'd it; the youth, from every weapon safe

By wound unconquerable, and with skin

Blunting the keenest steel. Wonder the Greeks,

And wonders ev'n Pelides: when in words

Like these, old Nestor hail'd them. "Cygnus, proof

"'Gainst steel,--unpierceable by furious blows

"Your age alone has known. These eyes have seen

"Perrhaebian Caeneus bear ten thousand strokes

"Unhurt. He, fam'd for warlike actions, dwelt

"On Othrys, and more strange those warlike deeds,

"Since female was he born." The wondering crowd,

Mov'd with the novel prodigy, beseech

(Their spokesman was Achilles) that the tale

Nestor would give them. "Eloquent old man!

"Of all our age most prudent, tell, for all

"The same desire prevails o'er, who was he,

"This Caeneus? why was chang'd his sex? what wars

"Of fierce encounter made him known to thee?

"And if by any conquer'd, tell the name."

Then thus the senior: "Though decrepid age

"Weighs heavy on me, and the deeds beheld

"In prime of youth, in numbers 'scape my mind;

"Yet than those facts, 'mid all of peace and war,

"Nought on my bosom made a deeper print.

"Yet may extended age of all beheld

"Part of the numerous acts and objects seen

"Relate,--I twice one hundred years have pass'd;

"Now in the third I breathe. Caenis, a nymph

"Sprung from Elateus, fam'd was all around

"For brightest beauty; fairest of the maids

"Who Thessaly adorn; theme of vain hopes

"To crowds of wooers through the neighbouring towns;

"And ev'n through thine, Achilles; for the land

"Thou claim'st produc'd her. Nay, her nuptial couch,

"Peleus perchance had sought, save that the rites

"Already with thy mother were compleat,

"Or were in promise ready. Nuptial couch

"She never press'd, for on the lonely shore

"Strolling, so fame declares, the vigorous clasp

"Of Ocean's god she felt. The charms possest

"Of his new object, Neptune said--whate'er

"Thou wishest, chuse, secure of no repulse.--

"This too does fame report, that Caenis cry'd--

"Wrongs such as mine no trivial gift deserve,

"That ne'er such shame again I suffer, grant

"I woman be no longer; that will all

"Favors comprize.--Her closing words betray'd

"A graver sound; manly appear'd her voice:

"And masculine it was. Deep ocean's god

"Acceded to her wish, and granted, more,

"That wounds should never harm her, nor by steel

"Should she e'er fall. Joy'd at the gift, the god

"Atracia's hero leaves--employs his age

"In studies warlike; and among the fields,

"Where fertilizing Peneus wanders, roams.

"Now bold Ixion's son had gain'd the hand

"Of Hippodamia; and the fierce-soul'd crowd

"Cloud-born, had bidden to attend the boards,

"In order rang'd within a cavern's mouth,

"By trees thick-shaded. All the princes round

"Of Thessaly attended: I, myself

"Amongst them went. Loud rung the regal feast

"With the mixt concourse; all most joyful sung

"O Hymen! Ioe Hymen! and each hall

"Blaz'd bright with fires. The virgin then approach'd

"Pre-excellent in fairness, with a band

"Of matrons and unwedded nymphs begirt.

"Most blest, we all exclaim'd, in such a spouse

"Must be Pirithoues--but such boding hopes

"Well nigh deceiv'd us. For when drunken lust

"O'er thee, Eurytus! govern'd, of the blood

"Of savage Centaurs, far most savage, fir'd

"Whether by wine, or by the virgin's charms

"Thou saw'st, thy breast. Instant, the board o'erturn'd,

"Routed the guests convivial, and the bride

"Caught by her locks, was forceful dragg'd away.

"Eurytus Hippodamia seiz'd; the rest

"Grasp'd such as pleas'd them, or whoe'er they met.

"It show'd the image of a captur'd town.

"With female shrieks the place resounded; swift

"We start, and Theseus foremost thus exclaims:--

"What frenzy, O Eurytus! thee impels

"Pirithoues thus to wrong me still in life!

"Ign'rant that two thou wound'st in one?--Nor vain

"The chief magnanimous his threat'nings spoke:

"Th' aggressors back repell'd; and, while they rag'd,

"The ravish'd bride recover'd. Nought he said,

"Nor could such acts defence by words allow;

"But with rude inconsiderate hands he press'd

"Full on her champion's face; his valiant breast

"Assaulting. Near by chance a cup there stood,

"Of mould antique, and rough with rising forms:

"Mighty it was, but Theseus, mightier still,

"Seiz'd it, and full against his hostile face

"It dash'd; he vomits forth, with clots of gore,

"His brains, and wine; these issuing from the wound;

"That from his mouth; and on the soaking sand

"Supine he sprawls. With rage the two-form'd race

"Burn for their brother's slaughter; all with voice

"United, eager call--to arms! to arms!

"Wine gave them courage, and the primal fight

"Was goblets, fragile casks, and hollow jars,

"Dash'd on: once instruments to feasts alone

"Pertaining; now for slaughter us'd and blood.

"First Amycus, of Ophion son, not fear'd

"To rob the sacred chambers of their spoils;

"And from its cord suspensive, tore away,

"As from the roof it hung, a glittering lamp;

"And hurl'd it, lofty-pois'd, full in the front

"Of Lapithaean Celadon. So falls

"On the white neck the victim bull presents,

"The sacrificial axe, and all his bones

"Were shatter'd left; one all confounded wound.

"His eyes sprang forth; his palate bones displac'd,

"His nose driv'n back within his palate falls.

"Him Belates Pellaean with a foot

"Torn from a maple table, on the ground

"Stretch'd prone; his chin forc'd downward on his breast;

"And sputtering teeth, with blackest gore commixt,

"Sent by a second blow to Stygia's shades.

"As next he stood, and with tremendous brow

"The flaming altar view'd, Gryneus exclaim'd--

"Why use we this not? and the ponderous load

"With all its fires he seiz'd, and 'mid the crowd

"Of Lapithaeans flung: two low it press'd;

"Broteas and bold Orion. From her sphere

"Orion's mother Mycale, by charms

"The moon to drag to earth has oft been known.

"Loud cry'd Exodius:--Were but weapons found

"That death impunity would boast not. Horns

"An ancient stag once brandish'd, on a pine

"Hung lofty, serv'd for arms; the forky branch

"Hurl'd in his face deep dug out either eye.

"Part to the horns adhere; part flowing down

"His beard, thence hang in ropes of clotted gore.

"Lo! Rhaetus snatches from the altar's height

"A burning torch of size immense, and through

"Charaxus' dexter temple, with bright hair

"Shaded, he drives it. Like the arid corn

"Caught by the rapid flame, the tresses burn;

"And the scorch'd blood the wound sent forth, a sound

"Of horrid crackling gave. Oft whizzes steel

"So, drawn forth glowing from the fire, with tongs

"Bent, and in cooling waters frequent plung'd;

"And crackling sounds, immers'd in tepid waves.

"The wounded hero from his tresses shook

"The greedy flames, and in his arms upheav'd,

"Tom from the earth, a mighty threshold stone,

"A waggon's burthen; but the ponderous load

"Forbade his strength to hurl it on the foe:

"And on Cometes, who beside him stood,

"Dropp'd the huge bulk. Nor Rhaetus then his joy

"Disguis'd, exclaiming:--Such may be the aid

"That all your friends receive!--Then with his brand

"Half burnt, his blows redoubling, burst the skull

"With the strong force; and on the pulpy brain

"By frequent strokes the bones beat down. From thence

"Victor, Evagrus, Corythus, he met

"And Dryas. Corythus o'erthrown, whose cheeks

"The first down shaded; loud Evagrus cry'd:--

"What glory thine, thus a weak boy to slay?--

"No more to utter Rhaetus gave, but fierce

"Plung'd the red-flaming weapon in his mouth,

"Thus speaking; and deep forc'd it down his throat.

"Thee also, furious Dryas! with the brand,

"Whirl'd round and round his head, he next assails.

"But thee the same sad fortune not befel:

"Him, proud triumphing from increas'd success

"In blood, thou piercest with an harden'd stake,

"Where the neck meets the shoulder. Rhaetus groan'd:

"And from the hard bone scarce the wood could draw;

"As drench'd in blood his own, by flight he scap'd.

"With him fled Lycabas; and Orneus fled;

"Thaumas; Pisenor; Medon, who was struck

"'Neath the right shoulder; Mermeros, who late

"In rapid race all else surpass'd, but now

"Mov'd halting with his wound; Abas, of boars

"The spoiler; Pholus, and Melaneus too;

"With Astylos the seer, who from the war

"Dissuaded, but in vain, his brethren crowd.

"Nay more, to Nessus, fearing wounds, he cry'd--

"Fly not!--thou'lt for Alcides' bow be sav'd.

"Euronymus, nor Lycidas, their fate,

"Areos, nor Imbreos fled; whom face to face

"Confronting, Dryas' hand smote down. Thou too,

"Crenaeus! felt thy death in front, though turn'd

"For flight thy feet; for looking back thou caught'st

"Betwixt thine eyes the massy steel; where joins

"The nose's basement to the forehead bones.

"With endless draughts of stupefactive wine

"Aphidas lay, 'mid all the raging noise

"Unrous'd; and grasping in his languid hand

"A ready-mingled bowl: stretch'd was he seen,

"On a rough bear-skin, brought from Ossa's hill.

"Him from afar, as Phorbas saw, no arms

"Dreading, he fix'd his fingers in the thongs,

"And said--with Stygian waters mixt, thy wine

"Now drink;--and instant round his javelin twin'd

"The youth: for as supinely stietch'd he lay

"The ash-form'd javelin through his throat was driv'n.

"No sense of death he felt; his dark brown gore

"Flow'd in full stream upon the couch, and flow'd

"In his grasp'd goblet. I, Petraeus saw,

"An acorn-loaded oak from earth to rend

"Endeavoring; which while compass'd with both arms

"He strains, now this way, now the other, shook

"Appear'd the tottering tree. Pirithous' dart

"Driv'n through the ribs, Petraeus' straining breast

"Nail'd to the rigid wood. Pirithous' arm

"Lycus o'erthrew; and 'neath Pirithous' force

"Fell Chromis,--so they tell. But less of fame

"The conqueror gain'd from these, than from the death

"Of Helops, and of Dictys. Helops felt

"The dart through both his temples; swift it whizz'd

"His right ear enter'd, shewing at his left.

"But Dictys, from a dangerous mountain's brow

"As flying, trembling from Ixion's son

"Close following, he descended, headlong down

"He tumbled; with his ponderous fall he broke

"A mighty ash; within his riven side

"The stumps his bowels tore. Aphareus fierce,

"Came on for vengeance; and a massive rock,

"Torn from the hill, upheav'd to throw--to throw

"Attempted. Theseus with an oaken club

"Prevented, and his mighty elbow broke:

"Nor now his leisure suits, nor cares he now

"A foe disabled to dispatch to hell:

"But on Biamor's lofty back he springs,

"Unwont to bear, except himself, before:

"Press'd with his knees his ribs, and grasping firm,

"With his left hand his locks, he bruis'd his face,

"His frowning forehead, and his harden'd skull,

"With the rough club. With the same club he lays

"Nidymnus prostrate; and Lycotas, skill'd

"To fling the javelin; Hippasus, whose beard

"Immense, his breast o'ershaded; Ripheus sprung

"From lofty woods; and Tereus wont to drag

"Home furious bears still living, on the hills

"Thessalian, caught. Nor longer in the fight

"Raging with such success, Demoleon bore

"Theseus to see, but from a crowded wood,

"With giant efforts strove a pine to rend,

"Of ancient growth, up by the roots, but foil'd

"He flung the broken fragment 'mid the foe.

"Warn'd by Minerva, from the flying wood

"Theseus withdrew; so would he we believe.

"Yet harmless fell the tree not; from the breast

"And shoulder of great Crantor, was the neck

"Sever'd. The faithful follower of thy sire

"Was he, Achilles. Him, Amyntor, king

"Of all Dolopia, in the warlike strife

"O'ercome, as pledge of peace and faithful words

"Gave to AEaecides. Him mangled so

"With cruel wound, Peleus far distant saw;

"And thus exclaim'd,--O, Crantor! dearest youth!

"Thy funeral obsequies behold.--He said,

"And hurl'd his ashen spear with vigorous arm,

"And with a spirit not less vigorous, forth,

"Full on Demoleon: tearing through the fence

"Of his strong chest, it quiver'd in the bones.

"The pointless wood his hand dragg'd out; the wood

"With difficulty dragg'd he: in his lungs

"Deep was the steel retain'd. To his fierce soul

"Fresh vigor gave the smart. Hurt as he was

"He rear'd against the foe, and with his hoofs

"Trampled thy sire. He, with his helm and shield,

"Wards off the sounding blows; his shoulders guards;

"Holds his protended steel, and his foe's chest

"Full 'twixt the shoulders; one strong blow transpierc'd.

"Yet had he slain by distant darts before

"Both Hylis and Phlegraeus; and in fight

"More close, had Clanis and Hipponous fall'n.

"To these must Dorilas be added, he

"A wolf skin round his forehead wore; and, bent,

"A double wound presenting, o'er his brows

"He bore the weapons of a savage bull;

"With streaming gore deep blushing. Loud I cry'd,

"While courage gave me strength--see how my steel

"Thy horns surpasses--and my dart I flung.

"My dart to 'scape unable, o'er his brow

"To ward the blow, his hand he held; his hand

"Was to his forehead nail'd. Loud shouts were heard,

"And Peleus at him, wounded thus, rush'd on,

"(He nearer stood) and with a furious blow

"Mid belly plac'd, dispatch'd him. High he sprung

"On earth his entrails dragging;--as they dragg'd

"Madly he trampled;--what he trampled tore:

"These round his legs entwining, down he falls;

"And with an empty'd body sinks to death.

"Nor could thy beauty, Cyllarus, avail

"Aught in the contest! if to forms like thine

"Beauty we grant. His beard to sprout began,

"His beard of golden hue; golden the locks

"That down his neck, and o'er his shoulders flow'd.

"Cheerful his face; his shoulders, neck, and arms,

"Approach'd the models which the artists praise.

"Thus all that man resembled. Nor fell short

"The horse's portion: beauteous for a beast.

"A neck and head supply'd, a steed were form'd,

"Of Castor worthy: so was for the seat

"Fitted his back; so full outstood his chest:

"His coat all blacker than the darkest pitch;

"Save his white legs, and ample flowing tail.

"Crowds of his race him lov'd; but one alone,

"Hylonome, could charm him; fairest nymph

"Of all the two-form'd race that roam'd the groves.

"She sole enraptur'd Cyllarus, with words

"Of blandishment; beloved, and her love

"For him confessing. Grace in all her limbs

"And dress, for him was studied; smooth her hair

"For him was comb'd; with rosemary now bound;

"Now with the violet; with fresh roses now;

"And oft the snow-white lily wore she; twice

"Daily she bath'd her features in the stream,

"That from Pagasis' woody summit falls;

"Twice daily in the current lav'd her limbs.

"Nor cloth'd she e'er her shoulders, or her side,

"Save with the chosen spoils of beasts which best

"Her form became. Most equal was their love:

"As one they o'er the mountains stray'd; as one

"The caves they sought; and both together then

"The Lapithaean roof had enter'd; both

"Now wag'd the furious war. By whom unknown,

"From the left side a javelin came, and pierc'd

"Thee deep, O Cyllarus! 'neath where thy chest

"Joins to thy neck. Drawn from the small-form'd wound,

"The weapon,--with the mangled heart, the limbs

"Grew rigid all. Hylonome supports

"His dying body, and her aiding hand

"Presses against the wound; leans face to face,

"And tries his fleeting life awhile to stay.

"When fled she saw it, with laments which noise

"Drown'd ere my ears they reach'd, full on the dart

"Which through him stuck she fell; and clasp'd in death

"Her dear-lov'd husband's form. Before my eyes

"Still stands Phaeoecomes, whom, closely-join'd,

"Six lions' hides protected; man and horse

"Equal the covering shar'd. Phonoleus' son

"Fierce on the skull he smote, with stump immense,

"Huge as four oxen might with labor move.

"Crush'd was the rounding broadness of the head;

"And the soft brain gush'd forth at both his ears;

"His mouth, his hollow nostrils, and his eyes.

"So through the straining oaken twigs appears,

"Coagulated milk: so liquid flows

"Through the fine sieve, by supercumbent weights

"Prest down, the thick curd at the small-form'd holes.

"Deep in his lowest flank the foe I pierc'd,

"As from our fallen friend the arms to strip

"Prepar'd, he stoop'd. Thy father saw the deed.

"Chthonius too fell beneath my sword, and fell

"Teleboas. Chthonius bore a forky bough;

"A javelin arm'd the other; with its steel

"He pierc'd me. Lo! the mark the wound has left:--

"Still the old scar appears. Then was the time

"They should have sent me to the siege of Troy:

"Then had I power great Hector's arm to stay;

"To check, if not to conquer. Hector then

"Was born not, or a boy. Now age me robs

"Of all my force. Why should I say how fell

"Two-form'd Pyretus, by the strength o'erthrown

"Of Periphantes? Why of Amphyx tell,

"Who in Oeclus' hostile front deep sunk,

"(Oeclus centaur-born) a pointless spear?

"Macareus, Erigdupus, (near the hill

"Of Pelethronus born, against his chest

"Full-bearing,) prostrate laid. Nor should I pass,

"How I the spear beheld, by Nessus' hands

"Launch'd forth, and bury'd in Cymelus' groin.

"Nor think you Mopsus, Amphyx' son, excell'd

"Alone to teach the future. By the dart

"Of Mopsus, fell Odites double-form'd.

"To speak in vain he strove, for tongue to chin,

"And chin to throat were by the javelin nail'd.

"Caeneus ere this had five to death dispatch'd

"Bromius, Antimachus with hatchet arm'd;

"Pyracmon, Stiphelus, and Helimus.

"What wounds them slew I know not; well their names,

"And numbers I remember. Latreus big

"In body and in limbs, sprung forth adorn'd

"In the gay arms Halesus once had own'd;

"Halesus of Thessalia by him slain:

"'Twixt strong virility and age his years,

"Still strong virility his arm could boast;

"Gray hairs his temples sprinkled. Lofty seen

"In helm and shield, and Macedonian spear,

"Proudly between the adverse ranks he rode;

"And clash'd his arms, and circling scower'd along.

"These boasting words to the resounding air

"Brave issuing--Caenis, shall I bear thee so?

"Still will I think thee Caenis;--female still

"By me thou'lt be consider'd. 'Bates it nought

"Thy valor, when thy origin thy soul

"Reflects on? When thy mind allows to own

"What deed the grant obtained? What price was paid

"To gain the false resemblance of a man?

"What thou was born, remember: mark as well

"Who has embrac'd thee. Go, the distaff take,

"And carding basket. With thy fingers twirl

"The flax, and martial contests leave to men.

"The spear which Caeneus hurl'd, deep in his side

"Bare as he cours'd, expos'd the blow to meet,

"Pierc'd him when boasting thus, just where the man

"Join'd the four-footed form. With smart he rag'd,

"And to the Phyllian warrior's face his spear

"Presented. Back the spear rebounded: so

"Bound the hard hailstones from the roof; so leap

"The paltry pebbles on the hollow drum.

"Now hand to hand he rushes to engage,

"And in his harden'd sides attempts to plunge

"His weapon deep. Pervious his weapon finds

"No spot. Then cry'd he,--still thou shalt not 'scape:

"Though blunted is my point my edge shall slay;--

"And aim'd a blow oblique, to ope his side,

"While round his flank was grasp'd his forceful arm.

"Sounded the stroke as marble struck would sound;

"The shiver'd steel rebounding from his neck.

"His limbs unwounded, to the wondering foe

"Thus long expos'd, loud Caeneus call'd;--Now try

"Our arms thy limbs to pierce!--Up to the hilt

"His deadly weapon 'twixt his shoulders plung'd;

"Then thrust and dug with blows unseeing 'mid

"His entrails deep; thus forming wounds on wounds.

"Now all the furious crowd of double forms

"Rush raging round him; all their weapons hurl;

"And all assail with blows this single foe.

"Blunted their weapons fall, and Caeneus stands

"Unpierc'd, unbleeding, from ten thousand strokes:

"Astonish'd at the miracle they gaze;

"But Monychus exclaims;--What blasting shame

"A race o'erthrown by one; that one a man,

"But dubious. Grant him man, our coward deeds

"Prove us but what he has been. What avail

"Our giant limbs? What boots our double strength;

"Strength of created forms the mightiest two,

"In us conjoin'd? A goddess-mother we

"Assur'dly should not boast; nor boast for sire

"Ixion, whose great daring soul him mov'd

"To clasp the lofty Juno in his arms.

"Now vanquish'd by a foe half-male. Him whelm

"With trees, with rocks: whole mountains heap'd on high,

"Whole falling forests, let that stubborn soul

"Crush out. The woods upon his throat shall press,

"And weight for wounds shall serve.--The centaur spoke,

"Seizing a tree which lay by chance uptorn

"By raging Auster; on his valiant foe

"The bulk he hurl'd. All in like efforts join'd:

"And quickly Othrys of his woods was stript:

"Nor Pelion shade retain'd. Caeneus opprest

"Beneath the pile immense--the woody load,--

"Hot pants, and with his forceful shoulders bears,

"To heave th' unwieldy weight: but soon the heap

"Reaches his face, and then o'ertops his head:

"Nor breath is left his spirit can inhale.

"Now faint he sinks, and struggles now in vain

"To lift his head to air, and from him heave

"The heap'd-up forests: then the pile but shakes,

"As shakes the lofty Ida you behold,

"When by an earthquake stirr'd. Doubtful his end.

"His body, by the sylvan load down prest,

"Some thought that shadowy Tartarus receiv'd.

"But Mopsus this deny'd, who spy'd a bird

"From 'mid the pile ascend, and mount the skies

"On yellow pinions. I the bird beheld,

"Then first, then last. As wide on buoyant wing

"Our force surveying, Mopsus saw him fly,

"And rustling round with mighty noise, his eyes

"And soul close mark'd him, and he loud exclaim'd,--

"Hail, Caeneus! of the Lapithaean race

"The glory! once of men the first, and now

"Bird of thy kind unique!--The seer's belief

"Made credible the fact. Grief spurr'd our rage.

"Nor bore we calmly that a single youth

"By hosts of foes should fall. Nor ceas'd our swords

"In gore to rage 'till most to death were given:

"The rest by favoring darkness say'd in flight."

While thus the Pylian sage, the wars narrates

Wag'd by the Lapithaean race, and foe

Centaurs half-human; his splenetic ire

Tlepolemus could hide not, when he found

Alcides' deeds past o'er; but angry spoke.--

"Old sire, astonish'd, I perceive the praise

"The deeds of Hercules demand, has 'scap'd

"Your mind. My father has been wont to tell

"Whom, he of cloud-begotten race o'erthrew:

"Oft have I heard him." Nestor sad reply'd;

"Why force me thus my miseries to recal

"To recollection; freshening up the woes

"Long years have blunted; and confess the hate

"I bear thy sire for injuries receiv'd.

"He, (O, ye gods!) has deeds atchiev'd which far

"All faith surpass; and has the wide world fill'd

"With his high fame. Would I could this deny!

"For praise we e'er Deiphobus? or praise

"Give we Polydamas, or Hector's self?

"Who can a foe applaud? This sire of thine

"Messenia's walls laid prostrate, and destroy'd

"Elis and Pylos, unoffending towns;

"Rushing with fire and sword in our abode.

"To pass the rest who 'neath his fury fell,--

"Twice six of Neleus' sons were we beheld;

"Twice six save me beneath Alcides' arm,

"There dy'd. With ease were conquer'd all but one;

"Strange was of Periclymenos the death;

"Whom Neptune, founder of our line, had given,

"What form he will'd to take; that form thrown off.

"His own again resume. When vainly chang'd

"To multifarious shapes; he to the bird

"Most dear to heaven's high sovereign, whose curv'd claws

"The thunders bear, himself transform'd; the strength

"That bird possesses, using, with bow'd wings,

"His crooked beak and talons pounc'd his face.

"'Gainst him Tyrinthius his unerring bow

"Bent, and as high amid the clouds he tower'd,

"And poising hung, pierc'd where his side and wing

"Just met: nor deep the hurt; the sinew torn

"Still him disabled, and deny'd the power

"To move his wing, or strength to urge his flight.

"To earth he fell; his pinions unendow'd

"With power to gather air: and the light dart

"Fixt superficial in the wing, his fall

"Deep in his body pierc'd; out his left side,

"Close by his throat the pointed mischief stood.

"Now, valiant leader of the Rhodian fleet,

"Judge what from me the great Alcides' deeds

"Of blazonry can claim? Yet the revenge

"I give my brethren, is on his brave acts

"Silent to rest: to thee still firm ally'd

"In friendship." Thus his eloquent discourse

The son of Neleus ended, and the gift

Of Bacchus, oft repeated, circled round

To the old senior's words; then from the board

They rose, and night's remainder gave to sleep.

But now the deity, whose trident rules

The ocean waters, with a father's grief

Mourns for his offspring to a bird transform'd.

Savage 'gainst fierce Achilles, he pursues

His well-remember'd ire with hostile rage.

And now the war near twice ten years had seen,

When long-hair'd Phoebus, thus the god address'd;

"O power! to me most dear, of all the sons

"My brother boasts! whose hands with mine uprear'd

"In vain the walls of Troy! griev'st thou not now

"Those towers beholding as they ruin'd fall?

"Griev'st thou not now such thousands to behold

"Slain, those high towers attempting to defend?

"Griev'st thou not (more I need not speak) to think

"Of Hector's body round his own Troy dragg'd,

"When still the fierce Achilles, ev'n than war

"More ruthless, of our works destroyer, lives?

"Would it to me were given--my trident's power,

"Well know I, he should prove; but since deny'd

"To rush, and hand to hand this foe engage,

"Slay him with unsuspected secret dart."

The Delian god consented, and at once

His uncle's vengeance and his own indulg'd.

Veil'd in a cloud amid the Ilian host

He darts, and 'mid a slaughter'd crowd beholds

Where Paris, on plebeian foes his shafts

Unerring hurls: to him confess'd, the god

Exclaims;--"Why wast'st thou in ignoble blood

"Thy weapons? If thy friends employ thy care,

"Turn on Pelides every dart, revenge

"Thy murder'd brothers."--Phoebus spoke, and shew'd

Where with his steel Achilles ranks on ranks

Of Troy o'erthrew. On him the bow he turns;

To him he guides the sure, the deadly dart.

Now may old Priam joy for Hector slain;

For thou, Achilles, victor o'er such hosts,

Fall'st by the coward's hand, who stole from Greece

The ravish'd wife. O! if foredoom'd thy lot

By woman-warrior to be slain, to fall

By Amazonian weapon had'st thou chos'n.

Now burns AEaecides, the Phrygians' dread;

The pride, the guardian of the Grecian name;

The chief in war unconquer'd: and the god

Who arm'd him once, consumes him. Ashes now;

Nought of the great Pelides can be found,

Save what with ease a little urn contains.

But still his glory lives, and fills all earth:

Such bounds alone the hero suit; his fame

Equals himself, nor sinks he to the shades.

His shield itself, as conscious whose the shield,

Fomented wars; and quarrels for his arms

Arose. Tydides fear'd to urge his claim;

Ajax, Oileus' son; Atrides' each,

Him youngest, and the monarch who surpass'd

In age and warlike skill; and all the crowd.

Laertes' son, and Telamon's alone

Try'd the bold glorious contest. From himself

All blame invidious Agamemnon mov'd:

The Grecian chiefs amid the camp he plac'd,

And bade the host around the cause decide.

*The Thirteenth Book.*

Contest of Ajax and Ulysses for the arms of Achilles. Success of

Ulysses and death of Ajax. Sack of Troy. Sacrifice of Polyxena to

the ghost of Achilles. Lamentation of Hecuba. She tears out the

eyes of Polymnestor, and is changed into a bitch. Birds arise

from the funeral pile of Memnon, and kill each other. Escape of

AEneas from Troy, and voyage to Delos. The daughters of Anius

transformed to doves. Voyage to Crete and Italy. Story of Acis

and Galatea. Love of Glaucus for Scylla.

THE *Thirteenth Book* OF THE METAMORPHOSES OF OVID.

The princes sate; the common troops in crowds

Circled them round; when Ajax in the midst,

Lord of the seven-fold shield, arose, with rage

Uncurb'd. Sigaeum's shores he fiercely view'd;

And ship-clad beach, while with extended arms,

"O, Jupiter!" he cry'd, "before this fleet

"Must then our cause be try'd? With me contends

"Ulysses? He who yielded all a prey

"To Hector's fires; whom I alone repell'd?

"Fires which I from that fleet drove far? More safe

"'Tis sure with artful language to contend,

"Than battle hand to hand. Hard 'tis for me

"To speak; for him 'tis no less hard to fight.

"And much as I in keen-urg'd blows excel,

"And arduous contest, such in words is he.

"My deeds, O Grecians! to rehearse what need?

"Have you not seen them? Let Ulysses tell

"His actions, feats without a witness done;

"Night only privy. Mighty is the prize,

"I own; but Ajax' glory suffers much,

"Striving with such a rival. Granted, great

"Its value; where the boast to have obtain'd

"What this Ulysses hop'd for? He ev'n now

"Enjoys th' advantage of the contest. Foil'd,

"His pride will be to boast with me he strove.

"But I, if doubtful is my valor deem'd,

"Have claims most potent in my noble race:

"Sprung from great Telamon, who Troy's proud town,

"'Neath brave Alcides captur'd; and explor'd

"The shores of Colchis in th' Haemonian bark.

"His sire was AEaecus, who equal law

"Dispenses 'mid the silent shades; where toils

"AEoelian Sisyphus beneath his stone.

"Well mighty Jove knows AEaecus, and owns

"Him son. Thus Ajax ranks but third from Jove.

"Nor yet, O, Greeks! should this descent my cause

"Assist, save that Achilles claim'd the same.

"Of brothers born, a kinsman's right I ask.

"Why should one sprung of Sisyphaean blood,

"Like his progenitor in theft and fraud,

"Ingraft an alien name upon the stock

"Of AEaecus? Am I the arms refus'd

"That first I join'd the warriors? join'd your host

"Betray'd not by informers? Worthier he,

"That last his arms he took? with madness feign'd

"Shunning the warfare; till more crafty came

"Naupliades, though luckless for himself;--

"Who shew'd his coward soul's devices plain;

"And hither dragg'd him to the hated wars?

"Now let him arms most glorious take, who arms

"To wear refus'd. Let me unhonor'd go,

"Robb'd of my kindred right, who first arriv'd

"To face the perils. Would, ye gods! that true,

"Or thought so, his insanity had been.

"Then, counsellor of cruel deeds, he ne'er

"Had join'd our camp before the Phrygian walls.

"Then thou, O Paeaen's son! had Lemnos ne'er

"Known--to our shame abandon'd on the shore.

"Thou now, so fame reports, in woody caves

"Shelter'd, ev'n rocks mov'st with thy rending groans;

"Pray'st that Laertes' son his justest meeds

"May gain. Ye gods! ye gods! grant ye his prayers

"A favoring ear! Now he, by oath combin'd

"With us in war;--O, heavens! a leader too!

"Heir to employ Alcides' faithful darts,

"Sinks both by famine and disease opprest:

"By birds sustain'd, and cloth'd by birds, he spends

"Upon his feather'd prey, the darts design'd

"To end the fate of Troy. Yet still he lives:

"For here he never with Ulysses came.

"Content had hapless Palamedes been

"Deserted so. Life might he have enjoy'd

"Perchance; and blameless sure to death had sunk.

"He whom this wretch, too mindful of the time

"His counterfeited madness was expos'd,

"Feign'd had betray'd the Greeks; and prov'd the crime

"By forg'd assistance: shewing forth the gold

"First bury'd by himself. Thus he destroys

"The strength of Greece, by exile or by death.

"Thus fights Ulysses; thus must he be fear'd

"Who, though old faithful Nestor he surpass'd

"In eloquence, not all would e'er avail,

"To prove deserting Nestor was no shame:

"Who press'd with age, and with a wounded horse

"Delay'd, Ulysses' aid besought: behind

"His coward comrade left him. Well, this deed

"Tydides can declare, by me not feign'd,

"Who oft him reprimanded by his name,

"And curs'd the flying of his trembling friend.

"Gods with just eyes all mortal actions view.

"Lo! he who aid would give not, aid requires!

"Who Nestor left, deserted was himself:

"Himself prescrib'd the treatment which he found.

"Loud call'd he to his friends. I come, I see,

"Pale trembling, where he lies, with dread to view

"Impending death. My mighty shield I fling;

"Beneath it shade him, and his coward breast

"(My smallest claim to glory) I protect.

"If still persisting, thou the strife wilt urge,

"Thither again return. Recal the foe;

"Thy wound; thy wonted terror; and lie hid

"Beneath my shield. 'Neath that with me contend.

"Lo! him I snatch'd from death, whose wounds refus'd

"Ev'n power to stand; retarded not by wounds,

"In agile flight sped on. Now Hector comes,

"Whom in the fight the deities attend.

"Where'er he swept, not thou Ulysses sole

"Wast struck with dread; the bravest of our host

"Shrunk, such the terror which then fill'd the field.

"When hand to hand engag'd, him prone I laid,

"Proud of his slaughter, on th' ensanguin'd plain,

"With a huge stone. I singly him oppos'd,

"All single challeng'd; all the Greeks to me

"Pray'd for the lot: nor vain your prayers were found.

"Enquire ye, what the fortune of the fight?

"I stood, by him unconquer'd, when all Troy

"Rush'd on the fleet of Greece, with fire, with sword,

"And aiding Jove: Where was Ulysses then?

"The eloquent Ulysses? I alone,

"A thousand ships, the hopes of your return,

"Defended with my breast: this crowd of ships

"Deserves those arms. Nay, if with truth to speak

"You grant, those arms more glory gain from me

"Than I from them; our honor is conjoin'd.

"Ajax the arms demand, not Ajax arms.

"Let Ithacus compare his Rhaesus slain;

"And slain unwarlike Dolon; and trepann'd

"Helenus, Priam's son; and Pallas' form.

"In open day nought done, and nought perform'd,

"Save Diomed' assisted. Grant for once,

"Such paltry service could the armour claim;

"Divide the prize, and lo! the largest share

"Tydides must demand. But why this prize

"Seeks Ithacus? who all his deeds performs

"In private; traversing unarm'd; the foe,

"While unsuspecting, conquering by deceit.

"This helmet's radiance from the glittering gold

"Darting, would shew his plots, and open lay

"The latent spy. But his Dulichian head,

"Cas'd in Achilles' casque, the weight would 'whelm,

"And for his languid arms, the Pelian spear

"Too weighty would be found. That shield engrav'd,

"With all earth's various scenes, but ill would grace

"His arm, for stealthy deeds alone design'd.

"Presumptuous fool! to seek a prize, which gain'd

"Would only mar thy power. By erring votes

"Of Grecians giv'n to thee, cause would it be

"The foe would strip thee; not thy prowess fear.

"And flight, in which, O trembler! erst alone

"Thou all surpass'd, slow would'st thou then pursue;

"Such ponderous armor dragging. Those, thy shield

"Which bears so rare the brunt of battle, shines

"Yet whole: a new successor mine demands,

"Which gash'd by weapons, shews a thousand rents.

"To end, what need of words? let actions shew

"Each one's deserts. Amid the foe be thrown

"The valiant warrior's arms. Thence bid us bring

"The prize;--who brings it, let him wear the spoil."

So spake the Telamonian warrior; round

A murmur follow'd from the circling crowd.

Till up the chief of Ithaca arose;

His eyes (awhile cast down) rais'd from the earth;

The chiefs with anxious look'd-for sounds address'd:

Nor grace was wanting to persuasive words.

"O Grecians! had your prayers and mine been heard,

"Owner of what such cause of strife affords

"Were now not dubious: thou, Pelides, still

"These arms possessing, we possessing thee.

"But since unpitying fate, to you, to me,

"Denies him"--(here as weeping, o'er his eyes

His hand he draws)--"who with so just a right

"Can great Achilles now succeed, as he

"Who great Achilles brought the Greeks to join?

"Let it not aid his cause, that fool he seems,

"Or stupid is indeed; nor aught let harm

"The ingenuity I claim, to mine:

"Which, O, ye Argives! still has aided you.

"Let not my eloquence, if such I boast,

"And words, whose 'vantage often you have prov'd,

"Now for their author, move invidious thoughts:

"Nor what each claims his proper gift, refuse.

"Scarce can we call our ancestry, our race,

"Or deeds by them perform'd, merits our own:

"Yet since of grandsire Jove this Ajax boasts,

"I too, can boast him author of my line:

"Nor more degrees remov'd. My sire was nam'd

"Laertes; his Arcesius; and from Jove

"Arcesius came direct: nor in this line,

"E'er any exil'd or condemn'd appear'd.

"Cyllenius too, his noble lineage adds

"Through my maternal stock. Each parent boasts

"A god-descended race. Yet claim I not

"The arms contested, merely that I spring

"Maternally more noble; nor them claim

"That from a brother's blood my sire is free:

"By merits solely you the cause adjudge.

"These only none to Ajax, that his sire,

"And Peleus brethren were, e'er grant. The prize

"Desert, and not propinquity of blood,

"Should gain. If kindred, then the hero's heir

"Demands it: Peleus still survives, his sire;

"And Pyrrhus is his son. Where Ajax' right?

"To Phthia, or to Scyros be it borne.

"Nor less is Teucer cousin than himself;

"Yet does he ask, or does he hope the arms?

"But since the obvious contest is by deeds

"Perform'd, though mine outnumber far what words

"Can easy compass; yet will I relate

"In order some:--

"The Nereid mother knew

"His future fate; her offspring's dress disguis'd;

"And all, ev'n Ajax, the fallacious robes

"Deceiv'd. With female wares I mingled arms,

"Which stir the martial soul. Nor had the youth

"Disrob'd him of his virgin dress, when grasp'd

"As in his hand the shield and lance he held,

"I cry'd'--O, goddess-born! reserv'd for thee

"Is Ilium's fate. The mighty Trojan walls

"Why to o'erthrow demur'st thou?--Him I seiz'd.

"Sent the brave youth, brave actions to atchieve:

"And all his actions as my own I claim.

"My spear then conquer'd Telephus in fight;

"And after heal'd the suppliant vanquish'd foe.

"Thebes low by me was laid. I, you must own,

"Lesbos, and Tenedos, and Scyros took;

"Chrysa, and Cylla, bright Apollo's towns.

"My arm Lyrnessus' walls shook, and laid low.

"But other deeds I well may pass: since I

"Gave to the host what dreadful Hector slew;

"By me renowned Hector fell. Those arms

"I claim, who gave those arms, which to the Greeks

"Achilles found. Living, those arms I gave;

"Him dead, those arms I gave, again demand.

"The wrongs of one through every Grecian breast

"Spread wide; a thousand ships th' Euboean port

"Of Aulis fill'd. The long-expected gales

"Or came not, or blew adverse to the fleet.

"The rigid oracle Atrides bade

"His guiltless daughter sacrifice to calm

"Ruthless Diana. Stern the sire deny'd,

"And rag'd against the gods: the sovereign all

"Lost in the father. I with soothing words

"The parent's bosom mollify'd, and turn'd

"To thoughts of public good. Still, I confess,

"(And such confession will the king excuse;)

"An arduous cause I pleaded, where my judge

"Was by affection warp'd. The people's weal,

"His brother, and the lofty rank he held

"Mov'd him at length; and glory with his blood

"He bought. Then to the mother was I sent,

"Where reasoning had no force, but subtle craft.

"There had you sent the son of Telamon,

"Still had jour sails the needful breezes lack'd.

"Sent was I also to the Ilian towers,

"A daring envoy. Troy's fam'd court I saw;

"Troy's court I enter'd, then with heroes fill'd.

"There undismay'd, I pleaded all that Greece

"Bade for their common cause; Paris accus'd;

"Helen demanded, and the stolen spoil;

"And Priam and Antenor both convinc'd.

"But Paris, Paris' brethren, and the crowd

"Who aided in the rape, their impious hands

"Could scarce withhold. (Thou, Menelaues, know'st,

"Who then with me the dawning of the war

"Didst prove in danger.) Long the tale, to speak

"Of all my deeds have done, the public cause

"To aid; since first the lengthen'd war began:

"By counsel or by valor. Wag'd the first

"Rough skirmish, long our foes within their walls

"Protected lay; no scope for open war:

"But in the tenth year now we fight again.

"In all that period what hast thou, who know'st

"But fighting, done? Where was thy service then?

"I, if my deeds thou seek'st, the foe betray'd

"By subtilty; girt us with trenches round;

"Inspirited our soldiers; made them bear,

"With mind unmurmuring, all the tedious war;

"Taught where to find the means to gain supplies

"Of food and arms; wherever need me call'd,

"There always was I sent. Lo! when the king,

"From Jove's deceptive dream, gave word to quit

"Th' unfinish'd war, he might the deed defend

"Through him who bade. But Ajax disapproves

"The flight; insists Troy shall in ruins lie,

"Asserts our power may do it! No! our troops

"Embarking, he not stay'd. Why seiz'd he not

"His arms? Why somewhat to the wavering crowd

"Said not, to fix? no weighty task to him

"Who ne'er harangues, except on mighty themes.

"Why? but that Ajax fled himself! I saw,

"But blush'd to see thee, when thy back thou turn'dst

"Hasting, thy coward sails to hoist; I spoke

"Instant--O fellow soldiers! whither now?

"What voice insane now urges you to leave

"Already-captur'd Troy? What will you bear

"Homeward, a lengthen'd ten years' shame besides?--

"With words like these back from the flying fleet

"I brought them; eloquence had sorrow's aid.

"Atrides call'd the council, all with dread

"Trembling were dumb; nor there dar'd Ajax gape:

"But there Thersites durst with galling words

"The king provoke; vengeance he met from me.

"I rose, our panic-stricken friends, once more

"Rous'd 'gainst the foe: I, by my words recall'd

"Departed valor. Hence, whoever boasts

"Since then of valiant deeds, those deeds are mine,

"Who back recall'd him, as he turn'd for flight.

"Last, tell me which of all the Greeks applauds,

"Or as a comrade seeks thee. All his acts

"With me Tydides shares, allows me praise:

"Ulysses still his confidential friend.

"Sure from such thousands of the Argive ranks

"By Diomed' selected, I may boast.

"Nor lot me bade to go, when void of fear,

"Through double danger of the foe and night,

"I went; and Phrygian Dolon slew, who dar'd

"On our adventure come; but slew him not

"Till made to utter all; the wiles betray

"Perfidious Troy intended. All I learnt;

"Nor ought for further search remain'd. Now I,

"The camp with fame sufficient might have gain'd;

"But not content, for Rhesus' tents I push;

"Him, and his guard surrounding, in his camp

"I slay. Victorious so, possess'd of all

"My hopes design'd, the car I mount, and proud

"A glad triumpher ride. Now me deny

"The arms of him, whose steeds the spy had hop'd

"Meed of his bold excursion. Ajax say

"More worthy. Why Sarpedon's Lycian troop

"Vanquish'd, should I with boastful tongue relate?

"I vanquish'd Ceranos, Iphitus' son;

"Alastor, Chromius, and Alcander stout;

"Halius, Noemon, Prytanis, with crowds

"Slaughter'd beside. Thooen to hell I sent,

"Chersidamas, and Charops; and to fates

"Unpitying, Ennomus dispatch'd: with these

"Beneath yon' walls whole heaps of meaner rank

"This hand has slain. And, fellow soldiers, lo!

"My wounds are honorable all in place:

"Believe not empty words, yourselves behold."--

Then stript his robe, exclaiming--"Here the breast

"Still for your good employ'd. No drop of blood

"Has Ajax shed since first our host he join'd:

"In all these years, his body still remains

"Unwounded. Yet on this why should I dwell,

"If he must boast, that for the Argive fleet

"He fought alone 'gainst Jupiter and Troy?

"He fought, I grant it; no malignant spite

"Shall move detraction from his valiant deeds.

"But let him not the common rites of more

"Monopolize; let him to each allow

"The honor which they claim. Patroclus, fear'd

"In great Pelides' semblance, backward drove

"All Troy and Troy's protector from the ships,

"Then burning. Next his vanity would boast

"He only in the field of Mars durst strive

"With Hector; of the king, the chiefs, and me

"Forgetful; in the list the ninth alone,

"Solely by lot preferr'd. Yet, warrior brave,

"What was the issue of this daring fight?

"Hector unwounded left you. Mournful theme!

"With what deep sorrow I the time recal,

"When, bulwark of the Greeks, Achilles fell!

"Nor tears, vain lamentations, nor pale fear

"Me check'd; the prostrate body from the ground

"I rais'd. Upon those shoulders--yes, I swear,

"These very shoulders, I Pelides bore,

"With all his arms. The arms I now require.

"Strength I must have to bear with such a load:

"As sure your votes will meet a grateful mind.

"Was it because the bright celestial gift

"Might clothe the limbs of one without a soul,

"Stupidly dull, that all her anxious care

"The green-hair'd mother on her son employ'd;

"Arms wrought with art so great? Knows he the least

"The shield's engravings? Ocean, or the land:

"The lofty sky; the planets; Pleiaeds bright;

"Hyaeds; the bear, ne'er plung'd beneath the main;

"Orion's glittering sword, or various towns?

"Arms he demands he cannot understand.

"But how asserts he I the toils of war

"Evaded; joining late the fighting host,

"Nor sees he scandalizes too the fame

"Of great Pelides? If indeed a crime

"Dissembling must be call'd,--dissembled both.

"If faulty all delay, the first I came.

"A tender wife me kept; a tender tie,

"A mother, kept Achilles. Our life's spring

"To them was given, the rest reserv'd for you.

"Nor should I fear, even were this crime, I share

"With such a man, of all defence deny'd.

"Yet his disguise Ulysses' cunning found:

"Ajax ne'er found Ulysses. Needs surprize

"To hear th' abusing of his booby tongue,

"When with like guilt he stigmatizes you?

"Shames most that I this Palamedes brought,

"Falsely accus'd your sentence to receive,

"Or that you doom'd him so accus'd to die?

"But Nauplius' son not ev'n defence could urge,

"So plain his crime appear'd; nor did you trust

"The accusation heard: obvious you saw

"The bribe for which you doom'd him. Nor of blame

"Deserve I ought, that Philoctetes stays

"In Vulcan's Lemnos. You the deed excuse:

"All to the deed assented. Yet my voice,

"Persuasive, will I not deny, I us'd;

"That spar'd from travel, and from war's fatigue,

"In rest he might his cruel pains assuage:

"He lik'd my words, and lives. My counsel here

"Not merely faithful (though our faith the whole

"Our promise can insure) but happy prov'd.

"His presence since the seers prophetic ask

"T' atchieve the fall of Troy, dispatch not me;

"Ajax will better go, will better soothe

"With eloquence of tongue, a man who burns

"With raging choler, and with smarting pains:

"Or with some stratagem him thence allure.

"But Simois' stream shall sooner backward flow;

"Ida unwooded stand: Achaia aid

"The Trojan power, than Ajax' stupid soul

"Shall help the Greeks, when first my anxious mind

"Striving to aid you, has been found to fail.

"O, stubborn Philoctetes! though enrag'd

"Against thy comrades, 'gainst the king, and me;

"Though thou may'st curse me, and my head devote

"Through endless days; though in thy grief thou ask'st

"To meet me, and to glut thee with my blood,

"Still will I try thee, and if fortune smiles,

"So will I gain thy arrows, as I gain'd

"The Trojan prophet, whom I captive made;

"As I the oracles of heaven laid ope;

"And all the fate of Troy: as from its room

"Close-hidden, I the form of Pallas brought,

"The charm of Troy, through ranks of hostile foes.

"Mates Ajax here with me? Fate had deny'd

"Of Troy the capture till that prize obtain'd.

"Where then the mighty Ajax? Where the boasts

"Of this brave hero? Why this risk evade?

"Why dar'd Ulysses through the watchful guards

"Steal 'mid the darkling night? and find his way,

"Not merely past the Trojan walls, but high

"Through raging swords their loftiest turrets scale;

"Bear off the goddess from her sacred fane,

"And with the prize again repass the foe?

"This deed not done, Ajax had bore in vain

"On his huge arm the sevenfold oxen hide.

"From that night's deeds I Ilium's conquest share.

"Then Troy I conquer'd, when the fact was done,

"Which made Troy vincible. Cease thou to mark

"With looks and mutterings Diomed' my friend;

"His share in all was glorious. Nor wast thou

"Single, when with thy buckler thou didst guard

"The general fleet; crowds aided, I was one.

"He, but he knows too well that less esteem

"Valor demands than wisdom; that the prize,

"A mere unconquer'd arm not justly claims,

"Had also sought: thy milder namesake too;

"Or fierce Eurypilus; or Thoas, son

"Of bold Andraemon. Equal right to hope,

"Idomeneus, Meriones, might boast,

"Each Cretan born; and who the sovereign king

"His brother claims; but all their valorous breasts

"(Nor does their martial prowess stoop to thine)

"Yield to my wisdom. In the fight thy arm

"Is mighty; prudence boast I, which that arm

"Directs. To thee a force immense is given,

"Without a brain; foresight is given to me.

"Well, thou canst wage the war; the time that war

"To wage, Atrides oft with me resolves.

"Thou aidest with thy body, I with mind:

"And as the guider of the ship transcends

"Him who but plies the oar: as soars above

"The soldier, he who leads him, so must I

"Thee far surpass; for far the mental powers

"In me surpass the merits of my arm:

"In mind my vigor lies. Ye nobles, speak;

"Give to your watchful guardian this reward,

"For the long annual care with anxious mind

"He gave you. This reward at length bestow,

"To his deserts but due: his labor done.

"Th' obstructing destinies by me remov'd,

"High Troy by me is captur'd; since by me

"The means high Troy to overthrow are given.

"Now beg I by our hopes conjoin'd; the walls

"Of Troy already tottering; by the gods

"Gain'd from the foe so lately; by what more

"Through wisdom may be done, if aught remains;

"Or aught of boldness, which through peril sought,

"Wanting, you still may deem to fill Troy's fate.

"If mindful of my merits you would rest,

"The arms award to this, if not to me:"

And pointed to Minerva's fateful form.

Mov'd were the band of nobles. Plainly shewn

What eloquence could do:--persuasion gain'd

The valiant warrior's arms. Then he who stood

'Gainst steel, and fire, and the whole force of Jove,

So oft, his own vexation now o'ercame:

Grief conquer'd his unconquerable soul.

He seiz'd his sword,--"And surely this"--he cry'd--

"Still is my own! or claims Ulysses this?

"Against myself this steel must now be us'd:

"This stain'd so oft with Phrygian blood, be stain'd

"With his who owns it; lest another hand

"Than Ajax' own should Ajax overcome."--

No more; but where his breast unguarded lay,

Pervious at length to wounds, his deadly blade

He plung'd, nor could his hand the blade withdraw;

The gushing blood expell'd it. Straight there sprung

Through the green turf, form'd by the blood-soak'd earth,

A purple flower, like that which sprung before

From Hyaecinthus' wound. Amid the leaves

Of each the self-same letters are inscrib'd;

The boy's complainings, and the hero's name.

Victorious Ithacus his sails unfurls,

To seek the land Hypsipyle once rul'd,

And Thoaes fam'd. An isle of old disgrac'd

By slaughter of its males, to bring the darts,

The weapons of Tyrinthius. These obtain'd

To Greece, and with their owner brought, at length

The furious war was finish'd. Priam falls

With Troy; and Priam's more unhappy spouse,

To crown her losses, loses human shape;

With new-heard barkings shaking foreign climes.

Where the long Hellespont's contracted bounds

Are seen, Troy blaz'd: nor yet the fires were quench'd.

The scanty drops of blood Jove's altar soak'd,

Which flow'd from aged Priam. By her locks

Dragg'd on, Apollo's priestess vainly stretch'd

To lofty heaven her arms. The victor Greeks

Tear off the Trojan mothers as they clasp

Their country's imag'd gods; and as they cling

To flaming temples--an invidious prey.

Astyaenax is from those turrets flung,

Whence erst he wont to view his sire, whose arm

Him guarding, and his ancestorial realm

In fight, his mother shew'd. And Boreas now

Departure urg'd. Swol'n by a favoring breeze

The rattling canvas warn'd the sailor crew.

"O, Troy! farewel!"--The Trojan matrons cry--

"Hence are we borne."--They kiss their natal soil;

And leave the smoking ruins of their domes.

Last--mournful object! Hecuba, descry'd

Amid her children's graves, the bark ascends.

Ulysses' hand her dragg'd, as close she grasp'd

Their tombs, and kiss'd their bones which still remain'd.

Yet snatch'd she hastily, and bore away

Of Hector's ashes some, and in her breast

Hugg'd them; and on the top of Hector's tomb

Left her grey hairs; her hairs, and flowing tears.

Oblation fruitless to his last remains.

Oppos'd to Phrygia, where Troy once was seen,

A country stands, where live Bistonia's race:

Where Polymnestor, wealthy monarch, rul'd,

To whom, O, Polydore! thy cautious sire

Thee sent; from Iliuem's battles far remov'd,

For safe protection. Wisdom sway'd the king;

Save that he sent him store of treasure too,

Reward of wickedness; and tempting much

His greedy soul. Soon as Troy's fortune sank,

Impious the Thracian monarch plung'd his sword

In his young charge's throat: as if his crime

And body from his sight at once 'twere given

To move, he flung him in the dashing main.

Now on the Thracian coast, Atrides moor'd

His fleet, till placid were the waves again,

And favoring more, the winds. Achilles here,

Out from the earth, by sudden rupture rent,

Appear'd in 'semblance of his living form:

Threatening his brow appear'd, as when so fierce

He Agamemnon with rebellious sword

Sought to assail.--"Depart ye then, O, Greeks!"

He cry'd--"of me unmindful? Is the fame

"Of all my yaliant acts with me interr'd?

"Treat me not thus. That honors due my tomb

"May want not, let Polyxena be given

"In sacrifice to soothe Achilles' ghost."

He said; his fellows with the ruthless shade

Complying, from the mother's bosom tore

Her whom she sole had left to cherish. Brave

Than female more, the hapless maid was led

To the dire tomb in sacrificial pomp.

She, of her state still mindful, when before

The cruel altar brought; when all prepar'd

The savage-urg'd oblation of herself

She saw; and Neoptolemus beheld

There stand, the steel there grasping; on his face

Her eyes firm-fixing, spoke.--"My noble blood

"This instant spill. Delay not--plunge thy blade

"Or in my throat, or bosom;"--and her throat

And bosom, as she spoke she bar'd--"for ne'er

"Polyxena, a slavish life had borne.

"Yet grateful is this victim to no god!

"My only wish, that from my mother dear

"May be my death conceal'd: my mother clogs

"My final passage; damps the joys of death.

"Yet should she wail my death not, but my life.

"But distant stand ye all, that to the shades

"Inviolate I sink; if what I ask

"Be just, let every hand of man avoid

"A virgin's touch. Whoe'er your steel prepares

"To move propitiatory with my blood,

"A victim quite untainted best must please.

"And should the final accents that I speak,

"(King Priam's daughter, not a captive sues)

"My corse unransom'd to my mother give.

"Let her not buy the sad sepulchral rites

"With gold, but tears. Yet time has been, with gold

"I might have been redeem'd."--The princess ceas'd,

And save her own no cheek unwet was seen.

And ev'n the priest reluctant, and in tears,

Op'd by a sudden plunge the offer'd breast.

She, to earth sinking, 'neath her tottering limbs,

Wore to the last a face unmov'd; ev'n then

Her final care was in her fall to veil

Limbs that a veil demanded, as she sank;

And decent pride of modesty preserve.

The Trojan dames receive her, and recount

The woes of Priam's house, the streams of blood

That single stock has spent. Thee too, O, maid!

They weep; and thee, a royal spouse so late,

And royal parent stil'd; pride of the realm

Of glorious Asia; now a mournful lot

Amid the spoil; whom Ithacus would scorn

To own, great Hector hadst thou not brought forth:

The name of Hector scarce a master finds,

To claim his mother. She, the lifeless trunk

Embracing, which had held a soul so brave,

Tears pour'd; tears often had she pour'd before,

For country, husband, children--now for her

Those tears gush'd in the wound; lips press'd to lips;

And beat that breast which oft with grievous blows

Was punish'd. Sweeping 'mid the clotted blood

Her silver'd tresses; all these plaints, and more

She utter'd, as she still her bosom rent.

"My child, thy mother's last afflicting grief

"(For who is spar'd me?) low, my child, thou ly'st;

"And in thy wound, I all my wounds behold.

"Yes, lest a single remnant of my race

"Unslaughter'd should expire, thou too must bleed.

"A female, thee, safe from the sword I thought:

"A female, thee the sword has stretch'd in death.

"The same Achilles, ruiner of Troy,

"Bereaver of my offspring, all destroy'd,--

"Yes, all thy brethren, he, now murders thee!

"Yet when by Paris' and Apollo's darts

"He fell,--now, surely,--said I,--now no more

"Pelides need be dreaded! Yet ev'n now,

"Dreadful to me he proves. Inurned, rage

"His ashes 'gainst our hapless race; we feel

"Ev'n in his grave the anger of this foe.

"I fruitful only for Pelides prov'd.

"Low lies proud Iliuem, and the public woe,

"The heavy ruin ends: if ended yet:

"For Troy to me still stands; my sufferings still

"Roll endless on. I, late in power so high,

"Great in my children, in my husband great,

"Am now dragg'd forth in poverty; exil'd

"From all my children's tombs; a gift to please

"Penelope; who, while my daily task

"She gives to Ithaca's proud dames, will taunt,

"And cry;--of Hector, the fam'd mother see!

"Lo! Priam's spouse!--And thou who sole wast spar'd

"To soothe maternal pangs, so many lost,

"Now bleed'st, atonement to an hostile shade:

"And funeral victims has my womb produc'd

"T' appease a foe. Why holds this stubborn heart?

"Why still delay I? What to me avails

"This loath'd, this long-protracted life? Why spin,

"O, cruel deities! the lengthen'd thread

"Of an old wretch, save that she yet may see

"More deaths? Who e'er could Priam happy deem,

"Iliuem o'erthrown? Yet happy was his death,

"Thy sacrifice, my daughter! not to see;

"At once of life and realm bereft. Yet sure

"O, royal maid! funereal rites await

"Thy last remains; thy corse will be inhum'd

"In ancestorial sepulchres. Ah, no!

"Such fortune smiles not on our house; the tears

"A mother can bestow, are all thy gifts;

"Sprinkled with foreign dust. All have I lost.

"Of the whole stock I could as parent boast,

"To tempt me now still longer to sustain

"This life, my Polydore alone is left;

"Once least of all my manly sons, erst given

"To Thracia's monarch's care, upon these shores.

"But why delay to cleanse that ghastly wound

"With water, and that face, with spouting blood

"Besmear'd."--She ceas'd, and bent her tottering steps,

With torn and scatter'd locks down to the shore.

And as the hapless wretch--"O, Trojans!"--cry'd,

"An urn supply to draw the liquid waves;"--

The corse of Polydore, flung on the beach

She saw, pierc'd deep with wounds of Thracian steel.

Loud shriek'd the Trojan matrons; she by grief

Dumb-stricken stood. Affliction keen suppress'd

Her rising moans, and ready-springing tears:

Stupid, and like a rigid stone she stood.

Now on the earth her eyes are fixt; and now

To heaven her furious countenance she lifts:

Now dwells she on his face, now on the wounds

Her son receiv'd, and on the wounds the most:

And now her bosom with collected rage

Furiously burning, all on vengeance fierce

Her soul is bent, as still in power a queen.

As storms a lioness robb'd of her cub,

The track pursuing of her flying foe,

Whom yet she sees not: rage and grief were mixt

Just so in Hecuba; of her old years

Regardless, mindful of her ire alone.

She Polymnestor seeks, of the dire deed

The perpetrator, and his ear demands--

That more of gold, intended for her boy,

Her wish was to disclose. The Thracian king

Heard credulous; lur'd by his wonted love

Of gain, with her withdrew, and wily thus;

With coaxing words;--"quick, Hecuba!"--exclaim'd,

"Give for thy son the treasure. By the gods!

"I swear, all shall be his; what more thou giv'st,

"And what thou gav'st before."--Him, speaking so,

And falsely swearing, savagely she view'd,

And her fierce bosom swell'd with double rage.

Then instant on him, by the captive dames

Fast held, she flies; in his perfidious face

Digs deep; her fingers (rage all strength supply'd)

Tear from their orbs his eyes; bury'd her hands,

Streaming with blood, where once the eyes had been;

Widening the wounds, for eyes no more remain'd.

Fir'd at their monarch's fate the Thracian crowd

With stones and darts t'attack the queen began.

The queen with harsher voice, as they pursue,

Bites at th' assailing stones, and, trying words,

Barkings her jaws produce. The place remains

Nam'd from the change. She, of her ancient woes

Long mindful, grieving still, Sithonia's fields

With howlings fill'd. Her fate with pity mov'd

Her fellow Trojans; and the hostile Greeks;

Nay, all the gods above; and all deny,

(Ev'n she, the sister-wife of mighty Jove)

That Hecuba so harsh a lot deserv'd.

Nor leisure now Aurora had to mourn

(Though strong their cause she favor'd) the sad fall,

And mournful fate of Hecuba, and Troy.

A nearer case, a more domestic woe,

The loss of Memnon, wrung the goddess' breast:

Whom on the Phrygian plains the mother saw

Beneath the weapon of Achilles sink.

She saw--that color which the blushing morn

Displays, grew pale, and heaven with clouds was hid.

Still could the parent not support the sight,

Plac'd on the funeral pyre his limbs, but straight

With locks dishevell'd, not disdain'd to sue

Prostrate before the knees of mighty Jove.

These words her tears assisting.--"Meanest I,

"Of those the golden heaven supports; to me

"The fewest temples through earth's space are rais'd:

"Yet still a goddess sues. Not to demand

"Temples, nor festal days, nor altars warm'd

"With blazing fires; yet if you but behold

"What I, a female, for you all atchieve,

"Bounding night's confines with new-springing light,

"Such boons you might consider but my due.

"But these are not my care. Aurora's mind

"Not now e'en honors merited demands.

"I come, my Memnon lost, who bravely fought,

"But vainly, in his uncle Priam's cause:

"And in his prime of youth (so will'd your fates)

"Fell by the stout Achilles. Lord supreme!

"Of all the deities, grant, I beseech

"To him some honor, solace of his death;

"Allay the smarting of a mother's wounds."

Jove nodded, round the lofty funeral pile

Of Memnon, rose th' aspiring flames; black clouds

Of smoke the day obscur'd. So streams exhale

The rising mists which Phoebus' rays conceal.

Mount the black ashes, and conglob'd in one

They thicken in a body, and a shape

That body takes, and heat and light receives

From the bright flames. Its lightness gave it wings:

Much like a bird at first, and soon indeed

A bird, its pinions sounded. And a crowd

Of sister birds, their pinions sounded too;

Their origin the same. Thrice they surround

The pile, and thrice with noisy clang the air

Resounds; the fourth time all the troop divide:

Then two and two, they furious wage the war

On either side; fierce with their crooked claws

And beaks, they pounce their adversary's breast,

And tire his wings. Each kindred body falls

An offering to the ashes of the dead,

And prove their offspring from a valiant man.

These birds of sudden origin receive

Their name, Memnonides, from him whose limbs

Produc'd them. Oft as Sol through all his signs

Has run, the battle they renew again,

To perish at their parent-warrior's tomb.

Thus, while all others Dymas' daughter weep

In howling shape, Aurora still on griefs

Her own sad brooding, her maternal tears

Sprinkles in dew o'er all th' extent of earth.

Yet fate doom'd not with Iliuem's towers the fall

Of Iliuem's hopes. The Cythereaen prince

Bore off his gods; and on his shoulders bore

A no less sacred, venerable load,

His sire. Of all his riches these preferr'd.

The pious hero, with his youthful son

Ascanius, from Antandros, o'er the main

Borne in the flying fleet, leaves far the shore

Of savage Thrace, still moisten'd with the blood

Of Polydore, and enters Phoebus' port;

Aided by currents, and by gentle gales,

With all his social crew. Anius receives

The exile, in his temple,--in his dome;

Where o'er the land he monarch rul'd; and where,

As Phoebus' priest, he tended due his rites:

The city, and the votive temples shew'd,

And shew'd two trees, once by Latona grasp'd

In bearing throes. The incense in the flames

Distributed, wine o'er the incense thrown,

The entrails of the offer'd bulls consum'd

As wont; the regal roof approach they all;

And high on tapestry reclin'd, partake

Of Ceres' gift, and Bacchus' flowing boon.

Then good Anchises, thus--"O chosen priest

"Of Phoebus! was I then deceiv'd? methought,

"As far as memory aids me to recal,

"When first mine eyes these lofty walls beheld,

"That twice two daughters, and a son were thine."

Old Anius shook his head, begirt around

With snowy fillets, as in grief, he said:--

"No, mighty hero! not deceiv'd art thou,

"Me hast thou seen of five the parent; now

"Thou well-nigh childless see'st me: (such to man

"The varying change of sublunary things)

"For, ah! what can an absent son bestow

"To aid me, who, in Andros' isle now dwells,

"Where for his sire the realm and state he holds?

"Delius on him prophetic art bestow'd;

"And Bacchus, to my female offspring, gave

"A boon beyond all credit, and their hopes.

"For all whate'er, which felt my daughters' touch

"To corn, and wine, and olives, was transformed:

"A mighty treasure in themselves they held.

"But Agamemnon, Troy's destroyer learn'd

"This gift (think not but that your overthrow

"In some respect we shar'd,) by ruthless force,

"Tore them unwilling from their parent's arms;

"And stern commanded that the heavenly gift

"Should feed the Grecian fleet. Each as she can

"Escapes. Euboeae two attain, and two

"Fraternal Andros seek. The troops pursue

"And threaten warfare, if withheld the maids.

"Fraternal love was vanquish'd in his breast

"By fear, (that thou this terror mayst excuse,

"Reflect, AEneaes was not there, nor there

"Was Hector, Andros to defend, whose arms

"To the tenth year made Iliuem stand.) And now

"Chains were prepar'd their captive arms to bind.

"While yet unchain'd, those arms to heaven they rais'd,

"O father Bacchus!--crying--grant thy aid.--

"And aid the author of the gift bestow'd:

"If them to lose by an unheard-of mode

"Be aid bestowing. Then could I not know,

"Nor now relate the order of the change

"Which lost their shapes; the summit of my grief

"I know; with plumage were they cloth'd; transform'd

"To snowy doves, thy spouse's favor'd bird."

With these, and tales like these, the feast was clos'd:

The board remov'd, all sought repose. With day

Arising, all Apollo's shrine attend;

Who bids that they their ancient mother seek,

And kindred shores. The king attends them, gives

His presents as they go. Anchises holds

A sceptre, while a quiver and a robe

Ascanius boasts; AEneaes holds a cup,

Erst from Boeoetia's shores to Anius sent,

By Theban Therses. Therses sent the gift;

Sicilian Alcon form'd it, and engrav'd

A copious tale around. A town was there,

And seven wide gates appear'd: for name were these,

What town it was displaying. All without

Its walls were funeral trains, and tombs beheld;

And fires; and piles; and matrons, whose bare breasts,

And locks dishevell'd, shew'd their mournful woe.

Weeping the nymphs appear'd, and seem'd to wail

Their arid streams; the leafless trees were hard;

The goats were browsing on the naked rocks:

And, lo! amid the Theban town was seen

Orion's daughters: this her naked throat

Offering, with more than female courage; that

On the sharp weapon's point forth leaning, dy'd,

To save the people: round the town are borne

Their pompous funerals, they in splendor burn.

Then, lest the race should perish, spring two youths

From out their virgin ashes; which by fame

Are call'd Coronae, and the pomp attend,

When their maternal ashes are interr'd.

Thus far the images on ancient brass

Were grav'n; the bordering summit of the cup

In gold acanthus rough appear'd. Nor gave

The Trojans gifts less worthy than they took.

To hold his incense, they a vase present

The royal priest; a goblet, and a crown,

Shining with gold, and bright with sparkling gems.

Thence, mindful that the Trojan race first sprung

From Teucer's blood, tow'rd Crete their course they bend:

But long Jove's native clime they could not bear.

The hundred-city'd isle now left behind,

Ausonia's port they hope to gain. Rough swell

The wintry storms, and toss them on the main;

And in the port of faithless Strophades

Receiv'd, the wing'd Aello scares them far.

Now had they sail'd beyond Dulichium's bay;

Samos; and Ithaca, Neritus' soil;

The realms Ulysses, so perfidious, sway'd:

And saw Ambracia, for the strife of gods

Renown'd, and stone to which the judge was chang'd;

Now as Apollo's Actium far more fam'd:

And saw Dodona's land with vocal groves;

And deep Chaonia's bay, where vain-urg'd flames

Molossus' sons, on new-sprung pinions 'scap'd.

Phaeaecia's neighbouring country, planted thick

With grateful apples, now they reach; from thence

Epirus and Buthrotus, by the seer

Of Iliuem govern'd, image true of Troy.

Thence of the future certain, full of faith,

In all that Helenus of fate them told,

Sicilia's isle they enter, which extends

Midst of the waves its promontories three.

Pachymos, tow'rd the showery south is plac'd;

And Zephyr soft on Lilybaeum blows:

But 'gainst the Arctic bear that shuns the sea,

And Boreas' rugged storms, Pelorus looks.

By this the Trojans steer; urg'd by their oars,

And favoring tide, by night on Zancle's beach

The fleet is moor'd. Here Scylla on the right;

Charybdis, restless, on the left alarms.

This sucks the destin'd ships beneath the waves,

And whirls them up again: fierce dogs surround

The other's sable belly, while she bears

A virgin's face; and, if what poets tell

Be feign'd not all, she had a virgin been.

Her many wooers sought; these all repuls'd,

She join'd the ocean nymphs; by ocean's nymphs

Much favor'd was the maid; and told the loves

Of all the baffled youths. Her, while she gave

Her locks to comb, thus Galatea fair,

Bespoke, but first suppress'd a rising sigh.

"'Tis true, O maid! a gentle race thee seeks,

"Whom safely, as thou dost, thou may'st deny:

"But I, whose sire is Nereus; who was born

"Of blue-hair'd Doris; who am potent too

"In crowds of sisters, refuge only found

"From the fierce Cyclops' love, in my own waves."

Tears chok'd her utterance here; which when the maid

Had wip'd with marble fingers, and had sooth'd

The goddess.--"Dearest Galatea! speak;

"Nor from thy friend this cause of grief conceal:

"Faithful am I to thee." The goddess yields,

And to Crataeis' daughter, thus replies.

"From Faunus and the nymph Symethis sprung

"Acis, his sire's delight, his mother's pride;

"But far to me more dear. For me the youth,

"And me alone, lov'd warmly; twice eight years

"Had o'er him pass'd; when on his tender cheek

"A doubtful down appear'd. Him I desir'd,

"As ceaseless as the Cyclops sought for me.

"Nor should you ask, if in my bosom dwelt

"For him most hate, or most for Acis love,

"Could I inform you: equal both in force.

"O, gentle Venus! with what mighty power

"Thou sway'st; lo! he, the merciless, the dread

"Of his own woods; whom hapless guest ne'er saw

"With safety; spurner of the power of Jove,

"And all the host of heaven, what love is, feels!

"Seiz'd with desire of me he flames, forgets

"His flocks, and caverns. All thy anxious care

"Thy beauty, Polyphemus! to improve,

"And all thy anxious care is now to please.

"And now with rakes thou comb'st thy rugged hair;

"Now with a scythe thou mow'st thy bushy beard:

"Thy features to behold in the clear brook,

"And calm their fire employs thee. All his love

"Of slaughter; all his fierceness; all his thirst

"Cruel of blood, him leaves; and on the coast,

"Ships safely moor, and safe again depart.

"Meantime at Etna Telemus arriv'd,

"Of Eurymus the son, whom never bird

"Deceiv'd; he to dread Polyphemus came,

"And spoke:--Thee, of the single light thou bear'st

"Mid front, Ulysses will deprive.--Loud laugh'd

"The monster, saying;--Stupidest of seers,

"How much thou err'st!--already is it gone.--

"So spurns the truth the prophet told in vain.

"Then moving on along the shore, he sinks

"The sand with heavy steps, or tir'd returns

"To his dark caves. Far stretching in the main

"A wedge-like promontory rears its ridge

"Aloft; on either side the surging waves

"Foam on it. To its loftiest height ascends

"The Cyclops fierce; his station in the midst

"Assumes; his woolly flocks his steps pursue

"Unshepherded. He when the pine immense,

"Which serv'd him for a staff, though fit to serve

"For sailyard, low beneath his feet had thrown;

"And grasp'd the pipe, an hundred 'pacted reeds

"Compos'd; the pastoral whistling all around

"The hills confess'd, and all the waters nigh.

"I, hid beneath a rock, my head reclin'd

"On my dear Acis' bosom, heard these words--,

"And still the words are noted in my breast.--

"O, Galatea! brighter than the leaves

"Of snow-white lilies; fresher than the meads;

"More lofty far than towering alder trees;

"Than chrystal clearer; than the wanton kid

"More gay; than shells, by ocean's constant waves

"Smooth polish'd, smoother; dearer than the shade

"In summer's heat; than winter's sun more dear;

"More than the apple bright; and fairer far

"Than lofty planetrees; clearer than the frost;

"More beauteous than the ripen'd grape; more soft

"Than the swan's plumage; or the new-prest milk:

"And, but thou fly'st, more than the garden fine

"With water'd streamlets. Yet the same art thou,

"Wild Galatea, than the untam'd steer

"More fierce; more stubborn than the ancient oak;

"Than water more deceitful; slippery more

"Than bending willows, or the greenest vines;

"More stubborn than these rocks; than seas more rough;

"Than the prais'd peacock prouder; sharper far

"Than fire; and piercing more than thistles keen.

"More savage than a nursing bear; more deaf

"Than raging billows; than the trodden snake

"More pitiless; and, what I more than all

"Would wish thou wast not, fleeter than the deer,

"Chas'd by shrill hunters; fleeter than wing'd air,

"Or winds. If well thou knew'st me, much thou'dst grieve

"That e'er thou fled'st; thou'dst blame thy dull delay,

"And sue and labor to retain my love.

"Caverns I have, scoop'd in the living rock

"Beneath the mountain's side, where never sun

"In mid-day heat, nor winter's cold can come.

"My apples bend the branches; grapes are mine

"On the long vine-trees clustering; some like gold;

"Some of a purple teint; and these and those

"Will I preserve for thee. Thy own fair hands

"Shall gather strawberries soft, beneath the shade;

"Autumnal cornels; and the purple plumb,

"Dark with its juice, and that still nobler kind

"Like new-made wax in hue. Nor shalt thou lack

"The chesnut; nor the red arbutus' fruit:

"Be but my spouse. All trees shall thee supply.

"Mine are these flocks, and thousands more besides

"Which roam the vallies; thousands like the woods;

"And thousands shelter in the shady caves:

"Nor could I, should'st thou ask, their numbers tell.

"Poor he who counts his store. Believe not me

"When these I praise; before thine eyes behold

"How scarce their legs the swelling udder bear.

"Mine are the tender lambs, in the warm fold

"Secure; and mine are kids of equal age

"In folds apart. The whitest milk have I;

"But still for drink shall serve, and thicken'd, part

"Shall harden into cheese. Nor wilt thou find

"But cheap delights, and common vulgar gifts:

"For deer, and hares, and goats, thou shalt possess;

"Pigeons in pairs, and nests from mountains gain'd.

"Upon the hills, a shaggy bear's twin cubs

"I found; so like, no difference could be seen,

"With thee to play I found them: these, I said,

"These will I force my mistress to obey.

"O Galatea! raise thy lovely head

"Above the azure deep; come! only come;

"Nor scorn my gifts. Right well myself I know:

"I view'd me lately in the liquid stream;

"And much my image satisfy'd my view.

"Behold, how vast my bulk! Jove, in his heaven,

"(For of some Jove ye oft are wont to tell

"Who rules there) towers not in a mightier size.

"Thick bushy locks o'er my stern forehead hang,

"And like a forest down my shoulders spread.

"Nor deem my body, with hard bristles rough,

"Unseemly; most unsightly is the tree,

"Without a leaf; unsightly is the steed,

"Save on his neck the flowing mane is spread:

"Plumes clothe the feather'd race; and their own wool

"Becomes the sheep; so beards become mankind,

"And bushy bristles, o'er their limbs bespread.

"True in my forehead but one light is plac'd;

"But huge that light, and like a mighty shield

"In size. Yet does not Sol from heaven's high round

"All view? and Sol possesses lights no more.

"Remember too, my father o'er your realm

"Rules sovereign; I in him a sire-in-law

"Would give thee. Only pity me, I pray,

"And hear my suppliant vows. To thee alone

"I bend: and while I scorn your mighty Jove,

"His heaven, and piercing thunder, thee, O nymph!

"I fear: than fiercest lightnings dreading more

"Thy anger. Far more patient should I rest

"With this contempt, all didst thou thus contemn.

"But how, the Cyclops first repuls'd, dar'st thou

"This Acis love? this Acis dare prefer

"To my embraces? Yet may he himself

"Delight; nay let him Galatea please,

"If so it must be, though what most I'd spurn:

"Let but the scope be given, soon should he prove

"My strength is equal to my mighty bulk.

"Living his entrails would I tear, and spread

"His mangled members o'er the fields, and o'er

"Thy waters: let him mingle with thee so.

"For oh! I burn; more fierce my injur'd love

"Now rages: in ray breast I seem to bear

"All Etna and its fires. But all my pains

"Can nought, O Galatea! thee affect.--

"Thus with vain 'plainings (for the whole I saw)

"He rises, raging like a furious bull

"Robb'd of his heifer; paces restless round,

"And bounds along the forests and the coasts.

"When me and Acis, heedless of such fate,

"And unsuspecting, he beheld, and roar'd:--

"I see ye! but the period of your love

"Will I accomplish.--Loud his threats were heard,

"As all the Cyclops' power of voice could raise.

"All Etna trembled at the sound. In fright

"I plung'd for safety in the neighbouring waves;

"While fair Symethis' son for flight prepar'd;

"And--help me, Galatea!--he exclaim'd--

"Help me, O help! and ye, my parents, aid;

"And, perishing, receive me in your realm.--

"Close at his heels the Cyclops comes, and hurls

"A mighty fragment from a mountain rent;

"A corner only of the mighty rock

"Him reach'd: that corner Acis all o'erwhelm'd.

"But I, what fate alone would grant, perform'd,

"That Acis still his ancestorial race

"Should join: his purple gore flow'd from the rock;

"And soon the redness pal'd; it seem'd a stream

"Disturb'd by drenching showers; and soon this stream

"Was clear'd to limpid purity. The rock

"Gap'd wide, and living reeds sprung up erect,

"On either brink. Loud roars the pressing flood

"In the rock's hollow womb, and (wond'rous sight!)

"A youth, his new-form'd horns with reeds begirt,

"Sudden appear'd, 'mid waist above the waves;

"Who but in stature larger, and his skin

"Of azure teint, might Acis well be deem'd.

"Acis indeed it was, Acis transform'd

"To a clear stream which still his name retains."

Here Galatea ceas'd, the listening choir

Dividing, all depart. The Nereid train

Swim o'er the placid waves. Scylla returns;

Fearful to venture 'mid the boundless main,

And vestless roams along the soaking sand;

Or weary'd; finding some sequester'd pool,

Cools in the shelter'd waters her fair limbs.

Lo! Glaucus, lately of the mighty deep

An 'habitant receiv'd, his shape transform'd

Upon Boeoetia's shores, cleaves through the waves;

And feels desire as he the nymph beholds.

All he can urge to stay her flight he tries;

Yet still she flies him, swifter from her fear.

She gains a mountain's summit, which the shore

O'erhung. High to the main the lofty ridge

An undivided sbrubless top presents,

Down shelving to the sea. In safety here

She stood; and, dubious monster he, or god,

Admir'd his color, and the locks which spread

Adown his shoulders, and his back below:

And that a wreathing fish's form should end

His figure from his groin. He saw her gaze;

And on a neighbouring rock his elbow lean'd,

As thus he spoke.--"No monstrous thing am I,

"Fair virgin! nor a savage of the sea;

"A watery god I am; nor on the main

"Has Proteus; Triton; or Palaemon, son

"Of Athamas, more power. Yet time has been

"When I was mortal, yet even then attach'd

"To the deep water, on the ocean I,

"Still joy'd to labor. Now the following shoal

"Of fishes in my net I dragg'd; and now,

"Plac'd on a rock, I with my flexile rod

"Guided the line. Bordering a verdant mead

"A bank there lies, the waves its circuit bound

"In part; in part the virid grass surrounds;

"A mead which ne'er the horned herd had cropp'd:

"Where ne'er the placid flock, nor hairy goats

"Had brows'd; nor bees industrious cull'd the flowers

"For sweets: no genial chaplets there were pluck'd

"To grace the head; nor had the mower's arm

"E'er spoil'd the crop. The first of mortals, I

"On the turf rested. As my nets I dry'd;

"And as my captur'd scaly prey to count,

"Upon the grass I spread,--whatever the net

"Escape prevented, and the hook had snar'd

"Through their own folly. (Like a fiction sounds

"The fact, but what avails to me to feign?)

"Soon as the grass they touch, my captiv'd prey

"Begin to move, and on their sides to turn;

"And ply their fins on earth as in the main.

"Then, while with wonder struck I pause, all fly

"The shore in heaps, and their new master quit,

"Their native waves regaining. I, surpriz'd,

"Long doubtful stand to guess the wond'rous cause.

"Whether some god, or but the grasses' juice

"Accomplish'd this. What herb--at last, I said--

"Can power like this possess?--and with my hand

"Pluck'd up, and with my teeth the herbage chew'd.

"Scarce had my throat th' untasted juice first try'd,

"When all my entrails sudden tremblings shook,

"And with a love of something yet unknown

"My breast was mov'd; nor could I longer keep

"My place.--O earth! where I shall ne'er return--

"Farewel! I cry'd,--and plung'd below the waves.

"Worthy the ocean deities me deem'd

"To join their social troop, and anxious pray'd

"To Tethys, and old Ocean, Tethys' spouse,

"To purge whate'er of mortal I retain'd.

"By them lustrated, and the potent song

"Nine times repeated, earthly taints to cleanse,

"They bade me 'neath an hundred gushing streams

"To place my bosom. No delay I seek;

"The floods from numerous fountains pour'd, the main

"O'erwhelm'd my head. Thus far what deeds were done

"My memory helps me to relate; thus far

"Alone can I remember; all the rest

"Dark to my memory seems. My sense restor'd,

"I found my body chang'd in every part;

"Nor was my mind the same. Then first I saw

"This beard of dingy green, and these long locks

"Which through the seas I sweep; these shoulders huge;

"Those azure arms and thighs in fish-like form

"Furnish'd with fins. But what avails this shape?

"What that by all the deities marine

"I dear am held? a deity myself?

"If all these honors cannot touch thy breast."

These words he spoke, and more to speak prepar'd,

When Scylla left the god. Repuls'd, he griev'd

And sought Titanian Circe's monstrous court.

*The Fourteenth Book.*

Scylla transformed to a monster by Circe through jealousy; and

ultimately to a rock. Continuation of AEneas' voyage. Dido.

Cercopians changed to apes. Descent of AEneas to hell. The Cumaean

Sybil. Adventures of Achaemenides with Polyphemus: and of Macareus

amongst the Lestrigonians. Enchantments of Circe. Story of the

transformation of Picus to a woodpecker; and of the nymph Canens

to air. The Latian wars. Misfortunes of Diomede. Agmon and others

changed to herons. Appulus to a wild olive. The Trojan ships

changed to sea-nymphs. The city Ardea to a bird. Deification of

AEneas. Latin kings. Vertumnus and Pomona. Story of Iphis and

Anaxarete. Wars with the Sabines. Apotheoesis of Romulus; and of

his wife Hersilia.

THE *Fourteenth Book* OF THE METAMORPHOSES OF OVID.

Now had Euboean Glaucus, who could cleave

The surging sea, left Etna, o'er the breasts

Of giants thrown, and left the Cyclops' fields,

Unconscious of the plough's or harrow's use;

And unindebted to the oxen yok'd.

Zancle he left, and its opposing shore

Where Rhegium's turrets tower; and the strait sea

For shipwreck fam'd, which by incroaching shores

Press'd narrow, forms the separating bound

Betwixt Ausonia's and Sicilia's land.

Thence glides he swift along the Tyrrhene coast,

By powerful arms impell'd, and gains the dome,

And herbag'd hills of Circe Phoebus sprung:

(The dome with forms of wildest beasts full cramm'd)

Whom, soon as greeting salutations pass'd,

He thus address'd:--"O powerful goddess! grant

"Thy pity to a god; and thou alone,

"If worth that aid thou deem'st me, canst afford

"Aid to my love. For, O Titanian maid!

"To none the power of plants is better known

"Than me, who by the power of plants was chang'd.

"But lest the object of my lore, to thee

"Unknown, be hid; I Scylla late beheld

"Upon th' Italian shore: Messenia's walls

"Opposing. Shame me hinders to relate

"What promises, what prayers, what coaxing words

"I us'd: my words all heard with proud contempt.

"Do thou with magic lips thy charms repeat,

"If power in charms abides: or if in herbs

"More force is found, then use the well-try'd strength

"Of herbs of power. I wish thee not to soothe

"My heart; I wish thee not these wounds to cure;

"Still may they last, let her such flames but feel."