The down-fall yet of Ilium's lofty tow'rs,
For that the thund'rer with uplifted arm
Protects her, and her courage hath revived.
Bear ye mine answer back, as is the part
Of good ambassadors, that they may frame
Some happier plan, by which both fleet and host
May be preserved; for, my resentment still
Burning, this project is but premature.
Let Phoenix stay with us, and sleep this night
Within my tent, that, if he so incline,
Embarking on the morrow we may seek
Our home together; but I leave him free.
XXXIII. The Trojan council admonished by Połyda mus and by Hector, on the appearance of Achilles.
IN council one excell'd,
And one still more in feats of high renown.
My friends! weigh weil the occasion. Back to Troy E'en now by my advice, nor wait the morn Here, on the plain, from Ilium's walls remote. Long as resentment of his wrongs sustain'd From Agamemnon, fired Achilles' breast, Our task was easier, and well-pleased I slept Fast by the ships, for I could hope that soon Success should make them ours; but terror, now, Lest Peleus' mighty son come forth again To battle, seizes me, and I despair. A spirit proud as his will scorn the plain On which the adverse hosts prevail by turns, And will at once strike at your citadel, Impatient till he make your wives his prey. Haste-let us home-else thus shall it befall; Night's balmy influence in his tent detains Achilles now, but rushing arm'd abroad To-morrow, should he find us ling'ring here, None shall mistake him then; then happiest he Who soonest shall escape to sacred Troy, For dogs shall make and vultures on our flesh
Plenteous repast. Oh spare mine ears the tale!
But if, though troubled, ye can yet receive
My counsel, here assembled we will hold
The host all night; meantime, her gates and tow'rs
With all their mass of solid timbers, smooth
And cramp'd with bolts of steel, will keep the town.
But early on the morrow we will stand
All arm'd on Ilium's tow'rs. Then, if he choose,
His galleys left, to compass Troy about,
He shall be task'd enough; his lofty steeds
Shall have their fill of coursing to and fro
Beneath, and gladly shall to camp return.
But waste the town he shall not, nor attempt
With all the utmost valour that he boasts
To force a pass; dogs shall devour him first.
Hector.
Polydamus, I like not thy advice
Who wouldst confine the Trojan host again
Within their bulwarks. Is confinement there
So pleasant then, that still ye covet more?
Time was, when in all regions under heav'n
Men prais'd the wealth of Priam's city stored
With gold and brass; but all our houses now
Stand emptied of their hidden treasures rare.
Jove in his wrath hath scatter'd them; our wealth
Is marketted, and Phrygia hath a part
Obtain'd, and part Maconia's lovely land.
But since the son of wily Saturn old
Hath giv'n me glory now, and to inclose
The argives where the ocean hems them in,
Fool! taint not with such talk the public mind
For not a Trojan here will thy advice
Pursue, or shall; it hath not my consent.
But thus I counsel. Take we, band by band,
Throughout the host our supper, and let all
Prepared against nocturnal danger, watch.
And if a Trojan here he rack'd in mind
Lest his possessions perish, let him cast
His golden heaps into the public maw,
Far better so consumed than by the Grecks,
Then, with the morrow's dawn, all fair array'd
In battle, we will give them at their feet
Sharp onset, and if Peleus' noble son
Have ris'n indeed to conflict for the ships,
I shall not for his sake
Avoid the deep-toned battle, but abide
His force, undaunted. Either he shall gain
Mars his favours deals
Impartial, and the slayer oft is slain.
XXXIV. Agamemnon's apology for his behaviour to Achilles.
FRIENDS! Grecian heroes! ministers of Mars!
Arise who may to speak, he claims your ear.
Even the ablest orator is wrong'd
And hurt by interruption. Who can hear
Amid the roar of tumult, or who speak?
The clearest voice, best utt'rance, both are vain.
I shall address Achilles. Hear my speech,
Ye argives, and with understanding mark.
This censure is not new; the Greeks have oft
Condemn'd me thus; yet am not I to blame;
But Jove, and fate, and she who roams the shades
Erynnis, made me furious on that day
In council, when I seized Achilles' prize.
For what could I? All things obey the gods.
Jove's daughter, Ate, most pernicious pow'r!
By whom all suffer, challenges from all
Rev'rence and fear. Delicate are her feet
Which scorn the ground, and over human heads
She glides, injurious to the race of man,
Of two who strive, at least entangling one.
XXXV. Achilles exhorting the Greeks to battle.
Of the Achaians! stand not now aloof,
My noble friends! but foot to foot let each
Fall on courageous, and desire the fight.
The task were difficult for me alone,
Brave as I boast myself, to chase a foc
So num'rous, and to combat with them all.
For though immortal, neither Mars himself,
Nor even Pallas could suffice, at once
To chase and slaughter multitudes like these.
With hands, with feet, with spirit, and with might,
All that I can I will; right through I go,
And not a Trojan who shall chance within
Spear's reach of me, shall, as I judge, rejoice.
XXXVI. Hector animating the Trojans to oppose Achilles.
FEAR not this chief, ye valiant men of Troy!. I dare oppose with words, though not in arms, For they are mightier far, the gods themselves; : Nor shall Achilles full performance give To all his vaunts, but, if he some fulfil, Shall others unaccomplish'd leave and vain. I will assail him, though his hands be fire, Though fire his hands, and hammer'd steel his heart..
XXXVII. Entreaties of Priam and Hecuba to persuade Hector to retreat within the walls of Troy.
HECTOR, my son! Oh wait not there, alone,
Yon dreadful chief lest, all thy friends remote,
Thou perish, for his strength surpasses thine.
Would that the gods so valued him as I!
Soon then should dogs and vultures with his flesh
Their hunger sate, and all my sorrow cease.
He hath unchilded me of many a son,
All valiant youths, whom he hath slain or sold
To distant isles; nor, searching, can I find
Lycaon, even now, within the walls,
Or Polydorus, youngest of my sons,
And children by Laothoë the fair.
But if they still in yonder camp survive
I will redeem them with the gold and brass
By noble Altes to his daughter giv'n,
Large store, and still reserved.
Already slain, have journey'd to the shades,
We, then, from whom they sprang have cause to moura And mourn them long; but shorter shall the grief
Of other Trojans prove, if thee, at least,
Enter then, my child!
Save young and old, save all of either sex
In Ilium; nor thy future happy years
Resign but to enhance Achilles' fame.
Commis'rate also thy unhappy sire
Ere yet distracted; whom Saturnian Jove
Ordains to perish overwhelm'd with woe
In the extremity of age; to see
Sons slaughter'd, daughters captive, torn and stripp'd
The matrimonial chamber, infants dash'd
Against the ground in dire hostility,
And matrons dragg'd by ruthless Grecian hands.
Me, haply, last of all, shall dogs devour
In my own vestibule, when once the spear
Or faulchion of some Greek hath laid me low.
The very dogs that sat beside my board,
My portal-guards, drinking their master's blood
To drunkenness, shall wallow in my courts.
Fair falls the warlike youth in battle slain,
And when all mangled by the spear he lies
His death becomes him well; he rests secure,
Though dead, from shame, whatever next befalls
But when the silver locks and silver beard
Of an old man slain by 'the sword, from dogs
Receive dishonour, of all ills that wait
On miserable mortals, that is worst.
My Hector! rev'rence this, and pity me. If ever, drawing forth this breast, thy griefs Of infancy I sooth'd, oh now, my son! Acknowledge it, and from within the walls Repulse this adversary; stând not there
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