O send me, G.o.ds! ere that sad day shall come, A willing ghost to Pluto"s dreary dome!"
He said, and feebly drives his friends away: The sorrowing friends his frantic rage obey.
Next on his sons his erring fury falls, Polites, Paris, Agathon, he calls; His threats Deiphobus and Dius hear, Hippothous, Pammon, Helenes the seer, And generous Antiphon: for yet these nine Survived, sad relics of his numerous line.
"Inglorious sons of an unhappy sire!
Why did not all in Hector"s cause expire?
Wretch that I am! my bravest offspring slain.
You, the disgrace of Priam"s house, remain!
Mestor the brave, renown"d in ranks of war, With Troilus, dreadful on his rushing car,(293) And last great Hector, more than man divine, For sure he seem"d not of terrestrial line!
All those relentless Mars untimely slew, And left me these, a soft and servile crew, Whose days the feast and wanton dance employ, Gluttons and flatterers, the contempt of Troy!
Why teach ye not my rapid wheels to run, And speed my journey to redeem my son?"
The sons their father"s wretched age revere, Forgive his anger, and produce the car.
High on the seat the cabinet they bind: The new-made car with solid beauty shined; Box was the yoke, emboss"d with costly pains, And hung with ringlets to receive the reins; Nine cubits long, the traces swept the ground: These to the chariot"s polish"d pole they bound.
Then fix"d a ring the running reins to guide, And close beneath the gather"d ends were tied.
Next with the gifts (the price of Hector slain) The sad attendants load the groaning wain: Last to the yoke the well-matched mules they bring, (The gift of Mysia to the Trojan king.) But the fair horses, long his darling care, Himself received, and harness"d to his car: Grieved as he was, he not this task denied; The h.o.a.ry herald help"d him, at his side.
While careful these the gentle coursers join"d, Sad Hecuba approach"d with anxious mind; A golden bowl that foam"d with fragrant wine, (Libation destined to the power divine,) Held in her right, before the steed she stands, And thus consigns it to the monarch"s hands:
"Take this, and pour to Jove; that safe from harms His grace restore thee to our roof and arms.
Since victor of thy fears, and slighting mine, Heaven, or thy soul, inspires this bold design; Pray to that G.o.d, who high on Ida"s brow Surveys thy desolated realms below, His winged messenger to send from high, And lead thy way with heavenly augury: Let the strong sovereign of the plumy race Tower on the right of yon ethereal s.p.a.ce.
That sign beheld, and strengthen"d from above, Boldly pursue the journey mark"d by Jove: But if the G.o.d his augury denies, Suppress thy impulse, nor reject advice."
""Tis just (said Priam) to the sire above To raise our hands; for who so good as Jove?"
He spoke, and bade the attendant handmaid bring The purest water of the living spring: (Her ready hands the ewer and bason held:) Then took the golden cup his queen had fill"d; On the mid pavement pours the rosy wine, Uplifts his eyes, and calls the power divine:
"O first and greatest! heaven"s imperial lord!
On lofty Ida"s holy hill adored!
To stern Achilles now direct my ways, And teach him mercy when a father prays.
If such thy will, despatch from yonder sky Thy sacred bird, celestial augury!
Let the strong sovereign of the plumy race Tower on the right of yon ethereal s.p.a.ce; So shall thy suppliant, strengthen"d from above, Fearless pursue the journey mark"d by Jove."
Jove heard his prayer, and from the throne on high, Despatch"d his bird, celestial augury!
The swift-wing"d chaser of the feather"d game, And known to G.o.ds by Percnos" lofty name.
Wide as appears some palace-gate display"d.
So broad, his pinions stretch"d their ample shade, As stooping dexter with resounding wings The imperial bird descends in airy rings.
A dawn of joy in every face appears: The mourning matron dries her timorous tears: Swift on his car the impatient monarch sprung; The brazen portal in his pa.s.sage rung; The mules preceding draw the loaded wain, Charged with the gifts: Idaeus holds the rein: The king himself his gentle steeds controls, And through surrounding friends the chariot rolls.
On his slow wheels the following people wait, Mourn at each step, and give him up to fate; With hands uplifted eye him as he pa.s.s"d, And gaze upon him as they gazed their last.
Now forward fares the father on his way, Through the lone fields, and back to Ilion they.
Great Jove beheld him as he cross"d the plain, And felt the woes of miserable man.
Then thus to Hermes: "Thou whose constant cares Still succour mortals, and attend their prayers; Behold an object to thy charge consign"d: If ever pity touch"d thee for mankind, Go, guard the sire: the observing foe prevent, And safe conduct him to Achilles" tent."
The G.o.d obeys, his golden pinions binds,(294) And mounts inc.u.mbent on the wings of winds, That high, through fields of air, his flight sustain, O"er the wide earth, and o"er the boundless main; Then grasps the wand that causes sleep to fly, Or in soft slumbers seals the wakeful eye: Thus arm"d, swift Hermes steers his airy way, And stoops on h.e.l.lespont"s resounding sea.
A beauteous youth, majestic and divine, He seem"d; fair offspring of some princely line!
Now twilight veil"d the glaring face of day, And clad the dusky fields in sober grey; What time the herald and the h.o.a.ry king (Their chariots stopping at the silver spring, That circling Ilus" ancient marble flows) Allow"d their mules and steeds a short repose, Through the dim shade the herald first espies A man"s approach, and thus to Priam cries: "I mark some foe"s advance: O king! beware; This hard adventure claims thy utmost care!
For much I fear destruction hovers nigh: Our state asks counsel; is it best to fly?
Or old and helpless, at his feet to fall, Two wretched suppliants, and for mercy call?"
The afflicted monarch shiver"d with despair; Pale grew his face, and upright stood his hair; Sunk was his heart; his colour went and came; A sudden trembling shook his aged frame: When Hermes, greeting, touch"d his royal hand, And, gentle, thus accosts with kind demand:
"Say whither, father! when each mortal sight Is seal"d in sleep, thou wanderest through the night?
Why roam thy mules and steeds the plains along, Through Grecian foes, so numerous and so strong?
What couldst thou hope, should these thy treasures view; These, who with endless hate thy race pursue?
For what defence, alas! could"st thou provide; Thyself not young, a weak old man thy guide?
Yet suffer not thy soul to sink with dread; From me no harm shall touch thy reverend head; From Greece I"ll guard thee too; for in those lines The living image of my father shines."
"Thy words, that speak benevolence of mind, Are true, my son! (the G.o.dlike sire rejoin"d:) Great are my hazards; but the G.o.ds survey My steps, and send thee, guardian of my way.
Hail, and be bless"d! For scarce of mortal kind Appear thy form, thy feature, and thy mind."
"Nor true are all thy words, nor erring wide; (The sacred messenger of heaven replied;) But say, convey"st thou through the lonely plains What yet most precious of thy store remains, To lodge in safety with some friendly hand: Prepared, perchance, to leave thy native land?
Or fliest thou now?--What hopes can Troy retain, Thy matchless son, her guard and glory, slain?"
The king, alarm"d: "Say what, and whence thou art Who search the sorrows of a parent"s heart, And know so well how G.o.dlike Hector died?"
Thus Priam spoke, and Hermes thus replied:
"You tempt me, father, and with pity touch: On this sad subject you inquire too much.
Oft have these eyes that G.o.dlike Hector view"d In glorious fight, with Grecian blood embrued: I saw him when, like Jove, his flames he toss"d On thousand ships, and wither"d half a host: I saw, but help"d not: stern Achilles" ire Forbade a.s.sistance, and enjoy"d the fire.
For him I serve, of Myrmidonian race; One ship convey"d us from our native place; Polyctor is my sire, an honour"d name, Old like thyself, and not unknown to fame; Of seven his sons, by whom the lot was cast To serve our prince, it fell on me, the last.
To watch this quarter, my adventure falls: For with the morn the Greeks attack your walls; Sleepless they sit, impatient to engage, And scarce their rulers check their martial rage."
"If then thou art of stern Pelides" train, (The mournful monarch thus rejoin"d again,) Ah tell me truly, where, oh! where are laid My son"s dear relics? what befals him dead?
Have dogs dismember"d (on the naked plains), Or yet unmangled rest, his cold remains?"
"O favour"d of the skies! (thus answered then The power that mediates between G.o.d and men) Nor dogs nor vultures have thy Hector rent, But whole he lies, neglected in the tent: This the twelfth evening since he rested there, Untouch"d by worms, untainted by the air.
Still as Aurora"s ruddy beam is spread, Round his friend"s tomb Achilles drags the dead: Yet undisfigured, or in limb or face, All fresh he lies, with every living grace, Majestical in death! No stains are found O"er all the corse, and closed is every wound, Though many a wound they gave. Some heavenly care, Some hand divine, preserves him ever fair: Or all the host of heaven, to whom he led A life so grateful, still regard him dead."
Thus spoke to Priam the celestial guide, And joyful thus the royal sire replied: "Blest is the man who pays the G.o.ds above The constant tribute of respect and love!
Those who inhabit the Olympian bower My son forgot not, in exalted power; And heaven, that every virtue bears in mind, Even to the ashes of the just is kind.
But thou, O generous youth! this goblet take, A pledge of grat.i.tude for Hector"s sake; And while the favouring G.o.ds our steps survey, Safe to Pelides" tent conduct my way."
To whom the latent G.o.d: "O king, forbear To tempt my youth, for apt is youth to err.
But can I, absent from my prince"s sight, Take gifts in secret, that must shun the light?
What from our master"s interest thus we draw, Is but a licensed theft that "scapes the law.
Respecting him, my soul abjures the offence; And as the crime, I dread the consequence.
Thee, far as Argos, pleased I could convey; Guard of thy life, and partner of thy way: On thee attend, thy safety to maintain, O"er pathless forests, or the roaring main."
He said, then took the chariot at a bound, And s.n.a.t.c.h"d the reins, and whirl"d the lash around: Before the inspiring G.o.d that urged them on, The coursers fly with spirit not their own.
And now they reach"d the naval walls, and found The guards repasting, while the bowls go round; On these the virtue of his wand he tries, And pours deep slumber on their watchful eyes: Then heaved the ma.s.sy gates, removed the bars, And o"er the trenches led the rolling cars.
Unseen, through all the hostile camp they went, And now approach"d Pelides" lofty tent.
On firs the roof was raised, and cover"d o"er With reeds collected from the marshy sh.o.r.e; And, fenced with palisades, a hall of state, (The work of soldiers,) where the hero sat.
Large was the door, whose well-compacted strength A solid pine-tree barr"d of wondrous length: Scarce three strong Greeks could lift its mighty weight, But great Achilles singly closed the gate.
This Hermes (such the power of G.o.ds) set wide; Then swift alighted the celestial guide, And thus reveal"d--"Hear, prince! and understand Thou ow"st thy guidance to no mortal hand: Hermes I am, descended from above, The king of arts, the messenger of Jove, Farewell: to shun Achilles" sight I fly; Uncommon are such favours of the sky, Nor stand confess"d to frail mortality.
Now fearless enter, and prefer thy prayers; Adjure him by his father"s silver hairs, His son, his mother! urge him to bestow Whatever pity that stern heart can know."
Thus having said, he vanish"d from his eyes, And in a moment shot into the skies: The king, confirm"d from heaven, alighted there, And left his aged herald on the car, With solemn pace through various rooms he went, And found Achilles in his inner tent: There sat the hero: Alcimus the brave, And great Automedon, attendance gave: These served his person at the royal feast; Around, at awful distance, stood the rest.
Unseen by these, the king his entry made: And, prostrate now before Achilles laid, Sudden (a venerable sight!) appears; Embraced his knees, and bathed his hands in tears; Those direful hands his kisses press"d, embrued Even with the best, the dearest of his blood!
As when a wretch (who, conscious of his crime, Pursued for murder, flies his native clime) Just gains some frontier, breathless, pale, amazed, All gaze, all wonder: thus Achilles gazed: Thus stood the attendants stupid with surprise: All mute, yet seem"d to question with their eyes: Each look"d on other, none the silence broke, Till thus at last the kingly suppliant spoke: