Book XII

Thus was Eurypylus of pain releas'd.
Mean while the Greeks and Trojans fiercely fought,
Nor could the Argive Wall and Trench (unblest,
For on a Hecatomb they never thought)
Though made their Ships and Booty to defend,
Keep Hector and the Trojans long time out.
For very quickly cometh to an end
Whatere without the Gods Men go about.
I deed while Hector liv'd; and angry lay
Achilles at his Tent and would not fight,
And standing were the Walls and Town of Troy,
The great Wall of the Argives stood upright.
But when the bravest Trojans once were slain,
And many Greeks, and burnt was Ili[…]m
That had almost ten years held out in vain,
And what remained of the Greeks gone home,
Then Neptune and Apollo both devise
The Wall to ruine, and the Rivers all
That in this spacious Mountain Ida rise
Upon this Argive mighty work make fall.
Aresus, Rhesus, Heptaporius,
Aesepus, Rhodius, Scamander, and
Besides these six, the River Granicus,
And Simoeis, upon whose Banks of Sand
Many a Shield and Helmet scatter'd lay,
And many a Demi-God. These Rivers all
Apollo turned from their wonted way,
Directing them unto the Argives Wall.
N[…]ne days perpetually they thither run,
And Jove nine days together pour'd down rain,
To th'end the work might be the sooner done.
And Neptune with his Trident from the Main
Before them went and wrenched out the Stone
And Timber which had there been laid with pain
The deep'st of all for the Foundation,
And made it to the Sea all smooth again.
And strow'd again with sand the ample shore.
And made the Brooks in their own Chanels run
No otherwise than they were wont before.
But this not yet, but afterwards was done.
For Hector had the Greeks with show'rs of Spears
Constrain'd to quit their Walls and Tow'rs so high
That rattled terribly about their Ears,
And back unto their hallow Ships to fly.
As when a Lion or a Boar beset
With Hounds, and Hunters, this and that way tries
(Close as they stand) through them by strength to get,
And passing on their Spears prevails or dies,
And as he goes still makes them to give way;
So Hector 'mongst his friends went here and there
Exhorting them the Trenches to assay.
The Horses when upon the Brink they were
Boggl'd and whinny'd, and refus'd to pass.
For broad it was and not to be leap'd ore;
And to descend into, too deep it was,
And on each side bristled with stakes good store
Fix'd by th' Achaeans to keep off the Foe,
So that for Horse and Charres there was no way.
But very willing were the Foot to go,
And only to receive command did stay.
And then to Hector said Polydamas,
Hector, and you the Princes of our friends,
We strive in vain to make our Horses pass
Ore such great stakes so sharp'ned at the ends,
Having above our heads the Enemy.
Where (though we could get down) we cannot fight
Though Jove unto our side inclined be,
And to the Greeks should bear as much despite,
As I, that wish their Name were rooted out.
Yet if the Greeks, when we encumbred were
For want of room, should turn and face about,
And set upon us in the Ditch, I fear
A man of us would not be lest alive
To tell at Troy what is become of us.
But if you mean to have the bus'ness thrive,
Then hear my Counsel, Let us all do thus.
Till of our Horse and Charrets we have need
Let Servants hold them to the Trenches nigh,
And we on foot fight; for if Jove indeed
Intend us Victory the Greeks will fly.
Thus he advis'd; and Hector thought it best,
And from his Charret leapt unto the Sand
Arm'd as he was; and so did all the rest,
And to their Charretiers they gave command
All in their order near the Trench to stand.
The Trojans in five parts themselves divide.
And Hector of the first took the Command.
But with himself he joyned two beside,
Polydamas and stout Cebriones,
And left a meaner man to hold his Charre.
Of all the Trojan Hoast the best were these.
O'th' second Party Paris had the care
Joyn'd with Agenor and Alcathous.
The third commanded was by Leaders three,
First Helenus, and then Deiphobus,
The third was Asius. From Arisbe he
With mighty Horses colour'd like to flame
Bred on the bank of Sellis came to Troy.
The fourth Command unto Aeneas came;
And he likewise two Seconds had, and they
Two Sons were of Antenor (both well skill'd
In War) Archelochus and Acamas.
Lastly, Sarpedon led into the field
The Trojan aids; and he assisted was
By valiant Glaucus and Asterapaus.
For of the Lycians which he led thither
The ablest and the best men he thought these.
And then with Bucklers joyned close together
Away they march directly to the Foe,
And to the Combat had a great desire.
The Greeks (they thought) as fast as they could go
Would presently unto their Ships retire
But Asius would not his Horses leave
And Man, without the Trench, as others did.
Fool as he was himself so to deceive.
Upon his Charret tow'rds the Ships he rid.
But never came Triumphant back again
For all his flaming Horses and his Charre,
But by Idomeneus h[…]s Spear was slain.
When Hector to the Ships had brought the War
The Greeks had in their Wa[…]l a Gate whereat
Their Horses to the Field were us'd to pass,
And Asius with his Charret drave to that.
Which now left open by the Argives was
Their people chas'd by Hector to let in.
And all his Party with a mighty cry
Marcht after him as if they sure had been
The Argives to their hollow Ships would fly.
But were deceiv'd. For at the Gate they found
Two mighty men that like two great Oaks stood
With deep and large Roots fixed in the ground,
That many Winds and Storms had long withstood.
And Lapiths they were both; Leontes one,
The other Polypoetes gotten by
Pirithous. Both saw them coming on,
And staying on their hands and strength rely.
The Trojans led by Asius came on
With mighty noise, Orestes, Adamas,
(This Adamas of Asius was the Son)
Thoon, Iamenas, and Oenomaus,
And ore their heads they held their Shields on high,
For fear of Stones and Spears from off the Wall.
The Greeks within to one another cry
To save the Ships, the Tents, Themselves and All.
But when they saw the Trojans went about
To scale the Wall they roar'd and frighted were;
But the two Lapiths presently leapt out,
And furiously fell on the Trojans there.
As if two Boars the Men and Hounds withstood,
You'd often hear the Boughs before them snap
While with their bended necks they tear the Wood;
So thick they did the Trojan Armours rap.
For valiantly they fought, in part relying
Upon their strength, and partly on the Showrs
Of mighty Stones perpetually flying
Upon the Trojans from the Wall and Tow'rs
As thick as to the ground fall flakes of Snow
When by a cold wind stirred is the Cloud,
Their Weapons from their hands on both sides go,
And Shields and Helmets crack apace and loud.
But Asius at this vext to the heart
Then spake to Jove, and clapping of his thigh,
Ay me, said he, Thou too a Lyer art
That mad'st us to believe the Greeks would fly;
Who like so many motly Wasps or Bees
That in the hollow way their Houses build
And for their young resist their Enemies,
Till they repel them or themselves be kill'd,
Still sharply fight and will not quit the place.
Thus Asius said, but Jove unmoved sate,
And none that day but Hector meant to grace.
And as at this, they fought at ev'ry Gate.
I cannot like a God relate it all,
The flaming Stones that from the Trojans flew
With fire divine up to the Argive Wall
On ev'ry side. How th'Argives no way knew
To save themselves but for the Ships to fight;
And how the Gods that with the Greeks took part
Sate discontent in Heav'n and full of spight
To see Jove so severely make them smart.
But for the fight without, 'twas first begun
By the bold Lapiths, though but two they were.
For Polypoetes Pirithous Son
At Damasus threw first a heavie Spear,
And through his Helmets brazen cheeks it went,
And through the Bone into the Brain went on;
And when unto the Shades he him had sent,
He killed Orminus and Pyloon.
And then a deadly Spear Leontes threw,
Which through the body pierc'd Hippolochus.
And on Antiphates his Sword he drew
And killed him, and then Iamenus,
Orestes, Menon, one upon another.
But whilst they stay'd to strip these and the rest;
Hector, Polydamas, and many other
That of the Trojan Army were the best,
Were at the Trench, and stood upon the brink
The Wall to break, and set the Ships on fire.
But as they stood a little while to think
There came a Bird not suting their desire.
An Eagle in his Pounces held a Snake,
And over Hectors Soldiers carri'd it
Alive, but that could yet resistance make,
And by and by the Snake the Eagle bit.
The Eagle smarting cri'd and flew away,
And 'mongst the Trojans lets the Serpent fall,
And there amazed they, and gaping stay
To see Joves Prodigy before them crall.
O Hector, said Polydamas, though you
In Courts and Councils cross whatere I say,
How good soere it for you be and true,
Unless in ev'ry thing I go your way,
(Which is not well done, for your Counsel ought
In Peace and War to have their Voices free,
And never give advice against their thought,
But always for the publick good to be;)
Yet now I'll tell you, if this Bird be sent
Unto the Trojans as a Prodigy,
'Tis not uneasie to foresee th'vent.
For this I think the end of it will be:
As th'Eagle in his Pounces bore the Snake,
But could not to her young ones bear it home;
So if the Trojans this attempt shall make,
They'll back unto the City smarting come,
And many good Companions leave behinde,
Whom th'Argives to defend their Ships will kill.
And this (I think) will any Augur finde
That in's profession has any skill.
Then Hector sowrely looking thus repli'd.
Polydamas, this counsel I like not;
You have a better which you from me hide.
But if indeed it be your very thought,
The Gods have sure depriv'd you of your Sense,
That bid me not on Jove to set my rest,
But feather'd Fowls, that fly I care not whence,
Nor whither, right or left, or East or West.
But we to Jove the greatest God will trust,
That all the other Gods excells in might.
He one B[…]rd has, that still observe we must,
And that is, For our Country well to fight.
But why are you so much afraid? For though
You ne're so many see before you slain,
You of your self will have a care I know
And not adventure where you may abstain.
But if you stay or counsel other men
To stay behinde, my Spear shall strike you dead.
This said, he led them further on; and then
They all with mighty clamour followed.
And Jove a mighty wind from Ida sent,
Which to the Ships directly blew the dust,
That to the Trojans gave encouragement,
But to the Argives horror and distrust.
Encourag'd thus unto the Wall they go
And brake down Battlements, and Posts pluckt out,
And Piles that had been planted by the Foe
With Leavers strong they wring up by the Root.
Thus at the Wall the Trojans laboured,
And hope they had the same to overthrow.
Before the Battlements the Argives spread
Cow-hides, and thence threw stones on them below.
The Ajaxes then ran from Tow'r to Tow'r
Endeavouring to give the Argives heart,
Some with sweet words, and some of them with sowr,
According as they each one did his part.
Fellows (said they) you that excel in War,
And you that great strength have, and you that small
(For well you know, all men not equal are)
Now play the men, there's bus'ness for you all.
Fear not the clamour of this threatning man;
Indure this brunt, which if you overcome,
As (if Jove hinder not) I know you can,
We'll course him to the Gates of Ilium.
Thus they encouraged the Greeks. And now,
As when great Jove to show his Armory
Upon a Winters day sends down his Snow,
Innumerable are the flakes that fly
And cover Hills and Woods and Pastures green,
And all the fruitful works of Husbandry,
And cover would (but that the Sea comes in)
Both Ports and Shores; for there Snow cannot lye.
The Wall with Stones resounded round about.
Yet Hector ne're had broken Wall nor Gate
But by the Greeks had still been kept without,
Had not Jove sent (the Trojans t'animate)
His Son Sarpedon. With his Shield of brass
Lined with many folds of strong Cow-hide,
And which with golden Circles strength'ned was,
And two Spears in his hand to th'Wall he hi'd.
And as a Lion that had fasted long
Comes from the Hill upon a flock of sheep,
Will try what he can do, for all the throng
Of Men and Dogs that them are set to keep;
So boldly goes Sarpedon to the Walls
With mighty hand the Battlements to tear.
And as he going was to Glaucus calls.
Glaucus, said he, what cause think you is there
That we in Lycia more honour'd are
Than other men, and lookt upon like Gods,
And higher set at Feasts, and better Fare,
And drink best Wine, and more Land have by odds?
Is't not because we foremost are in fight?
'Tis not in va[…]n (they'll say) our Princes have
More honour, since they are of greater might,
And their lives venture other men to save.
Glaucus, if we could death eschew and age
By running from the Battle cowardly,
D'ye think I foremost would my self engage,
Or ever counsel you to follow me?
You know the ways to death are infinite.
Though we ne're fight we cannot always live.
Therefore come on and let us bravely fight,
And either honour gain or honour give.
So said Sarpedon. Glaucus him obey'd;
And tow'rds the Greeks well followed they went.
Then Mnesteus was terribly afraid.
For to assault his Tower he saw them bent.
And lookt about what Heroes he could spy
On other Towers unto his aid to call.
He saw th'Ajaxes two, and Teucer by,
But too far off to hear. For at the Wall
Of Shields and Helmets so great Thumping was
That 'twas impossible to hear him call.
The Gates resounded no less than the Brass;
For fiercely they were fighting at 'em all.
Then Mnesteus to the Squire Thootes said,
Run quickly call the Ajaxes to me,
Both, if they can be spar'd. I am afraid
Against these men I shall not able be
To keep my place. Keen Warriours they are
But if they be themselves distressed there,
Let Telamonius of this place take care,
And Teucer use his Bow and Arrows here.
Thootes then unto th'Ajaxes ran
Along the Argive Wall, and to them said,
Mnesteus entreats both of you, if you can,
To come unto his Tow'r and give him aid.
Keen Warriours (he says) these Lycians are.
But if you be your selves distressed here
Let Telamonius of the place take care,
And Teucer use his Bow and Arrows there.
This said, great Ajax said unto the less,
Aeliades stay here a while, till I
Deliver Mnesteus from his distress.
That done, I shall be with you presently.
Ajax and Teucer then together go
Unto the Tow'r of Mnesteus with all speed,
Pandion with them carry'ng Teucers Bow,
And at their coming found him in great need.
The Lycians like a black and lowring Cloud
Ascended to the Wall and fiercely fought.
The Greeks resist. The noise is mighty loud.
And with a heavy Stone stood Ajax out
That two men scarce could carry, such as now
The Earth brings forth, and with the same he stroke
Epicles on the Helmet such a blow
As Head and Helmet both in pieces broke.
Down like a Diver from the Wall fell he
Headlong, and dead upon the ground he lay.
At Glaucus Teucer lets an Arrow flee
Which through his Arm unarmed made its way.
Glaucus no longer able now to fight,
Leapt from the Wall unseen unto the ground,
For fear, if of his hurt they had a sight,
The Greeks would make a Triumph of his wound.
Griev'd was Sarpedon to see Glaucus gone,
But not so grieved but that still he fought,
And fixt a heavie Spear in Alcmaon,
And with the same his life and all pluckt out.
Sarpedon then tore down a Battlement,
And wider for the Lycians made the way.
But Teucer then an Arrow to him sent.
But Jupiter to save his Son that day
The Shaft unto his Shield and Belt directed,
So that it passed not unto the skin.
The Shield and Belt together him protected.
And then with Spear in hand came Ajax in,
And with a Push that pierc'd his Shield clean through
His coming on a little while he stay'd.
But with Sarpedon that could little do,
That honour sought. Then to his friends he said,
Ye Lycians what makes you thus remiss?
Can I make way unto the Ships alone?
Strong as I am, impossible it is.
For many hands much better are than one.
This said the Lycians heavier than before
(To please their Prince) upon the Argives lay.
The Greeks within their broken Ranks restore,
And terrible the Battle was that day.
For neither could the Lycians passage make
Unto the Ships and break the Argives Wall,
Nor Greeks compel the Lycians to forsake
The battlements, so fiercely fought they all.
As two men on the Confines of their ground
At two ends of a measure tugging stand,
Contending earnestly about their bound,
And each of them would fain enlarge his land:
So for the Battlement they striving stood,
And wounded one another Back and Brest,
And sprinkled was the Battlement with bloud,
Nor was it certain yet who had the best.
But as a woman that is fain to spin
To find her self and Children sorry food,
In one scale Wooll, in th'other Weight puts in
Till they hang ev'n, so ev'n the Battle stood
Till Hector came, to whom Jove chiefly meant
To give the honour of the Victory.
Then Hector up the Wall the formost went,
And thence unto his Trojans loud did cry,
Trojans come on, and break me down this Wall,
And set the Argives hollow ships on flame.
This said, he he heard was by the Trojans all,
And streight unto the Battlements they came.
Then Hector at the Gate took up a stone
Great and sharp-pointed; two men such as now
Could scarce have lifted up so great a one:
But Hector with one hand the same could throw;
For Jupiter to him had made it light.
And as unto a Shepherd is a Fleece
Of Wooll, that to be born needs little might;
So eas'ly born the stone by Hector is;
And standing at the Gate well fortifi'd
With Planks well joyn'd, and two cross-bars within,
And taking with his right foot back a stride
Out flew the stone and at the Gate went in.
The Gate then roar'd; the Hinges broken were;
The Bars upon the ground asunder lay;
And pieces of the Planks flew here and there;
And to the Ships now open was the way.
And Hector with a countenance like night
Flew in. And fire appeared in his eyes:
His Armour as he marched shined bright,
And light reflected up unto the Skies;
And two good Spears he grasped in his Fist.
And then the Greeks were mightily afraid;
For none except a God could him resist.
And then unto the Trojans turning said,
Now Trojans to the Wall. And presently
Great numbers of the Trojans that way pass,
And others at the Gate. The Argives fly
Unto their ships. And great the Tumult was.