BOOK IX. (continued 1)
Project Gutenberg EPUB3 edition
Homer, Southey, Robert, and Cowper, William
He ceased, and silent, by a nod enjoin’d Patroclus to prepare an easy couch For Phœnix, anxious to dismiss the rest775 Incontinent; when Ajax, godlike son Of Telamon, arising, thus began.
Laertes’ noble son, for wiles renown’d: Depart we now; for I perceive that end Or fruit of all our reasonings shall be none.780 It is expedient also that we bear Our answer back (unwelcome as it is) With all dispatch, for the assembled Greeks Expect us. Brave Achilles shuts a fire Within his breast; the kindness of his friends,785 And the respect peculiar by ourselves Shown to him, on his heart work no effect. Inexorable man! others accept Even for a brother slain, or for a son Due compensation;[18] the delinquent dwells790 Secure at home, and the receiver, soothed And pacified, represses his revenge. But thou, resentful of the loss of one, One virgin (such obduracy of heart The Gods have given thee) can’st not be appeased795 Yet we assign thee seven in her stead, The most distinguish’d of their sex, and add Large gifts beside. Ah then, at last relent! Respect thy roof; we are thy guests; we come Chosen from the multitude of all the Greeks,800 Beyond them all ambitious of thy love.
To whom Achilles, swiftest of the swift. My noble friend, offspring of Telamon! Thou seem’st sincere, and I believe thee such. But at the very mention of the name805 Of Atreus’ son, who shamed me in the sight Of all Achaia’s host, bearing me down As I had been some vagrant at his door, My bosom boils. Return ye and report Your answer. I no thought will entertain810 Of crimson war, till the illustrious son Of warlike Priam, Hector, blood-embrued, Shall in their tents the Myrmidons assail Themselves, and fire my fleet. At my own ship, And at my own pavilion it may chance815 That even Hector’s violence shall pause.[19]
He ended; they from massy goblets each Libation pour’d, and to the fleet their course Resumed direct, Ulysses at their head. Patroclus then his fellow-warriors bade,820 And the attendant women spread a couch For Phœnix; they the couch, obedient, spread With fleeces, with rich arras, and with flax Of subtlest woof. There hoary Phœnix lay In expectation of the sacred dawn.825 Meantime Achilles in the interior tent, With beauteous Diomeda by himself From Lesbos brought, daughter of Phorbas, lay. Patroclus opposite reposed, with whom Slept charming Iphis; her, when he had won830 The lofty towers of Scyros, the divine Achilles took, and on his friend bestow’d.
But when those Chiefs at Agamemnon’s tent Arrived, the Greeks on every side arose With golden cups welcoming their return.835 All question’d them, but Agamemnon first.
Oh worthy of Achaia’s highest praise, And her chief ornament, Ulysses, speak! Will he defend the fleet? or his big heart Indulging wrathful, doth he still refuse?840
To whom renown’d Ulysses thus replied. Atrides, Agamemnon, King of men! He his resentment quenches not, nor will, But burns with wrath the more, thee and thy gifts Rejecting both. He bids thee with the Greeks845 Consult by what expedient thou may’st save The fleet and people, threatening that himself Will at the peep of day launch all his barks, And counselling, beside, the general host To voyage homeward, for that end as yet850 Of Ilium wall’d to heaven, ye shall not find, Since Jove the Thunderer with uplifted arm Protects her, and her courage hath revived. Thus speaks the Chief, and Ajax is prepared, With the attendant heralds to report855 As I have said. But Phœnix in the tent Sleeps of Achilles, who his stay desired, That on the morrow, if he so incline, The hoary warrior may attend him hence Home to his country, but he leaves him free.860
He ended. They astonish’d at his tone (For vehement he spake) sat silent all. Long silent sat the afflicted sons of Greece, When thus the mighty Diomede began.
Atrides, Agamemnon, King of men!865 Thy supplications to the valiant son Of Peleus, and the offer of thy gifts Innumerous, had been better far withheld. He is at all times haughty, and thy suit Hath but increased his haughtiness of heart870 Past bounds: but let him stay or let him go As he shall choose. He will resume the fight When his own mind shall prompt him, and the Gods Shall urge him forth. Now follow my advice. Ye have refresh’d your hearts with food and wine875 Which are the strength of man; take now repose. And when the rosy-finger’d morning fair Shall shine again, set forth without delay The battle, horse and foot, before the fleet, And where the foremost fight, fight also thou.880
He ended; all the Kings applauded warm His counsel, and the dauntless tone admired Of Diomede. Then, due libation made, Each sought his tent, and took the gift of sleep.
There is much in this book which is worthy of close attention. The consummate genius, the varied and versatile power, the eloquence, truth, and nature displayed in it, will always be admired. Perhaps there is no portion of the poem more remarkable for these attributes.—Felton.