The Night Adventure of Diomed and Ulyffes.
UPON the refusal of Achilles to return to the army, the diftrefs of Agamemnon is defcribed in the most lively manner. He takes no reft that night, but paffes through the camp, awaking the leaders, and contriving all poffible methods for the public fafety. Menelaus, Neftor, Ulyffes, and Diomed, are employed in raifing the rest of the captains. They call a council of war, and determine to fend fcouts into the enemy's camp, to learn their poffure, and discover their intentions. Diomed undertakes this hazardous enterprize, and makes choice of Ulyffes for his companion. In their paffage they furprize Dolon, whom Hector had fent or a like defign to the camp of the Grecians. From him they are informed of the fituation of the Trojan and auxiliary forces, and particularly of Rhefus, and the Thracians who were lately arrived. They pass on with fuccefs; kill Rhefus, with feveral of his officers, and feize the famous borfes of that prince, with which they return in triumph to the camp.
The fame night continues; the fcene lies in the two camps.
LL night the chiefs before their vessels lay, And loft in fleep the labours of the day : All but the king: with various thoughts oppreft, His country's cares lay rolling in his breast.
As when, by lightnings, Jove's atherial power Foretells the rattling hail, or weighty shower, Or fends foft fnows to whiten all the shore, Or bids the brazen throat of war to roar ; By fits one flash fucceeds as one expires, And heaven flames thick with momentary fires.
So bursting frequent from Atrides' breast, Sighs following fighs his inward fears confeft. Now o'er the field, dejected, he furveys From thousand Trojan fires the mounting blaze; Hears in the paffing wind their mufick blow, And marks diftinct the voices of the foe. New looking backwards to the fleet and coaft, Anxious he forrows for th' endanger'd hoft. He rends his hairs in facrifice to Jove, And fues to him that ever lives above: Inly he groans; while glory and defpair Divide his heart, and wage a doubtful war.
With him, in wholesome counfels to debate What yet remains to fave th' afflicted state. He rofe, and firft he caft his mantle round, Next on his feet the fhining fandals bound; A lion's yellow fpoils his back conceal'd; His warlike hand a pointed javelin held. Meanwhile his brother, preft with equal woes, Alike deny'd the gifts of foft repofe, Laments for Greece; that in his caufe before So much had fuffer'd, and must suffer more.
A leopard's fpotted hide his shoulders spread; 35 A brazen helmet glitter'd on his head :
Thus (with a javelin in his hand) he went To wake Atrides in the royal tent.
Already wak'd, Atrides he descry'd,
His armour buckling at his veffel's fide. Joyful they met; the Spartan thus begun: Why puts my brother his bright armour on ? Sends he fome fpy, amidst these filent hours, To try yon camp, and watch the Trojan powers? But fay, what hero fhall fuftain that task? Such bold exploits uncommon courage afk; Guidelefs, alone, through night's dark fhade to
A thousand cares his labouring breast revolves; To feek fage Neftor now the chief refolves,
| And 'midft a hoftile camp explore the foe!
To whom the king: In fuch diftrefs we ftand, No vulgar counfels our affairs demand; Greece to preferve, is now no easy part, But afks high wisdom, deep defign, and art: For Jove averfe our humble prayer denies, And bows his head to Hector's facrifice. What eye has witne's'd, or what ear believ'd, 55 In one great day, by one great arm atchiev'd, Such wondrous deeds as Hector's hand has done, And we beheld, the last revolving fun? What honours the belov'd of Jove adorn! Sprung from no God, and of no Goddefs born, 6o Yet fuch his acts, as Greeks unborn fhall tell, And curfe the battle where their fathers fell.
Now speed thy hafty course along the fleet, There call great Ajax, and the prince of Crete; Ourfelf to hoary Neftor will repair; To keep the guards on duty, be his care; (For Neftor's influence beft that quarter guides, Whofe fon with Merion o'er the watch prefides.) To whom the Spartan: These thy orders borne, Say fhall I stay, or with dispatch return? There fhalt thou stay (the king of men reply'd)) Elfe may we mifs to meet, without a guide, The paths fo many, and the camp fo wide. Still, with your voice, the flothful foldiers raise, Urge, by their father's fame, their future praise.
Forget we now our state and lofty birth; Not titles here, but works must prove our worth. To labour is the lot of man below; And when Jove gave us life, he gave us woe.
This faid, each parted to his feveral cares; 80 The king to Neftor's fable fhip repairs; The fage protector of the Greeks he found Stretch'd in his bed with all his arms around; The various-colour'd scarf, the fhield he reais, The fhining helmet, and the pointed fpears: The dreadful weapon of the warriour's rage, That, old in arms, difdain'd the peace of age. Then, leaning on his hand his watchful head, The hoary monarch rais'd his eyes and faid:
What art thou, fpeak, that on defigns unknown,
While others fleep thus range the camp alone? Seek'st thou fome friend, or nightly centinel? Stand off, approach not, but thy purpose tell. O fon of Neleus (thus the king rejoin'd) Pride of the Greeks, and glory of thy kind! Lo here the wretched Agamemnon ftands, Th' unhappy general of the Grecian bands; Whom Jove decrees with daily cares to bend, And wees, that only with his life shall end! Scarce can my knees thefe trembling limbs fuftain,
And fearce my heart fupport its load of pain. No taste of fleep these heavy eyes have known; Confus'd, and fad, I wander thus alone, With fears distracted, with no fix'd design; And all my people's miferies are mine. If aught of ufe thy waking thoughts fuggeft, (Since cares, like mine, deprive thy foul of reft) Impart thy counfel, and affift thy friend; Now let us jointly to the trench defcend, At every gate the fainting guard excite, Tir'd with the toils of day and watch of night:
Elfe may the fudden foe our works invade, So near, and favour'd by the gloomy fhade. To him thus Neftor: Truft the powers above, Nor think proud Hector's hopes confirm'd by Jove:
How ill agree the views of vain mankind, And the wife counfels of th' Eternal Mind! Audacious Hector! if the Gods ordain That great Achilles rife and rage again. What toils attend thee, and what woes remain !
Lo faithful Neftor thy command obeys; The care is next our other chiefs to raise : Ulyffes, Diomed, we chiefly need; Meges for ftrength, Oileus fam'd for speed. Some other be dispatch'd of nimbler feet, 125 To thofe tall fhips, remoteft of the fleet, Where lie great Ajax, and the king of Crete. To roufe the Spartan I myself decree; Dear as he is to us, and dear to thee,
Yet muft I tax his floth, that claims no fhare 130 With his great brother in this martial care : Him it behov'd to every chief to fue, Preventing every part perform'd by you; For ftrong neceffity our toils demands, Claims all our hearts, and urges all our hands.
To whom the king: With reverence we allow Thy juft rebukes, yet learn to fpare them now. My generous brother is of gentle kind, He feems remifs, but bears a valiant mind; Through too much deference to our fovereign fway,
Content to follow when we lead the way. But now, our ills induftrious to prevent, Long ere the reft, he rofe, and fought my tent. The chiefs you nam'd, already at his call, Prepare to meet us near the navy wall; Affembling there, between the trench and gates, Near the night-guard's, our chofen council waits. Then none (faid Neftor) fhall his rule with-
For great examples justify command. With that the venerable warriour rofe; The thining greaves his manly legs inclofe; His purple mantle golden buckles join'd, Warm with the fofteft wool, and doubly lin'd. Then, ruthing from his tent, he fnatch'd in hafte His fee.v lance, that lighten'd as he paft. 155 The camp he travers'd through the fleeping croud,
Stopp'd at Ulyffes' tent, and call'd aloud. Ulyfies, fudden as the voice was fent, Awakes, ftarts up, and iffues from his tent. What new diftrefs, what fudden caufe of fright,
Without his tent, bold Diomed they found, All theath'd in arms, his brave companions round: Each funk in fleep, extended on the field, His head reclining on his boffy fhield. A wood of fpears stood by, that, fix'd upright, Shot from their flashing points a quivering light. 175
A bull's black hide compos'd the hero's bed; A fplendid carpet roll'd beneath his head. Then, with his foot, old Neftor gently shakes The flumbering chief, and in thefe words awakes: Rife, fon of Tydeus! to the brave and ftrong 180
Reft feems inglorious, and the night too lon”. But fleep'ft thou now? when from yon hill the
Hangs o'er the fleet, and fhades our walls below? At this, soft slumber from his eye-lids fled ; The warrior faw the hoary chief, and faid, 185 Wondrous old man! whofe fcul no refpite knows, Though years and honours bid thee feek repofe. Let younger Greeks our fleeping warriours wake; Il fits thy age thefe toils to undertake.
My friend (he answer'd) generous is thy care, 190 Thefe toils, my fubiects and my fon might bear, Their loyal thoughts and pious loves confpire To eafe a fovereign, and relieve a fire. But now the laft defpair furrounds our hoft; No hour muft pafs, no moment must be loft; 195 Each fingle Greek, in this conclufive ftrife, Stands on the harpeft edge of death or life; Yet, if my years thy kind regard engage, Employ thy youth as I employ my age: Succeed to thefe my cares, and rouze the reft; 200
He ferves me moft, who ferves his country best. This faid, the hero o'er his shoulders flung A lion's fpoils, that to his ancles hung; Thẹn feiz'd his ponderous lance, and strode along.
Meges the bold, with Ajax fam'd for speed, 205 The warriour rouz'd, and to th' entrenchments led.
And now the chiefs approach the nightly guard; A wakeful fquadron, each in arms prepar'd: Thunweary'd watch their littening leaders keep, And, couching clofe, repel invading fleep. So faithful dogs their fleecy charge maintain, With toil protected from the prowling train, When the gaunt lionefs, with hunger bold, Springs from the mountains tow'rd the guarded fold:
Through breaking woods her rustling courfe they
Tis well, my fons! your nightly cares employ;
Elfe muft our hoft become the fcorn of Troy. Watch thus, and Greece fhall live-The hero faid; Then o'er the trench the following chieftains led. His fon, and god-like Merion march'd behind (For thefe the princes to their council join'd); 230
The trenches past, th' affembled kings around In filent state the confiftory crown'd.
A place there was yet undefil'd with gore, The fpot where Hector ftopp'd his rage before; When night defcending, from his vengeful hand 235
Repriev'd the relicks of the Grecian band: (The plain befide with mangled corpfe was spread, And all his progrefs mark'd by heaps of dead.) There fat the mournful kings: when Neleus' fon The council opening, in these words begun : 240 Is there (faid he) a chief fo greatly brave, His life to hazard, and his country fave ? Lives there a man, who fingly dares to go To yonder camp, or feize fome straggling foe? Or, favour'd by the night, approach so near, 245 Their speech, their counfels, and designs, to hear? If to befiege our navies they prepare,
Or Troy once more must be the feat of war? This could he learn, and to cur peers recite, And pafs unharm'd the dangers of the night; 250 What fame were his through all fucceeding days, While Phobus fhines, or men have tongues to
Contending leaders at the word arofe: Each generous breaft with en ulation glows: 270 So brave a task each Ajax strove to fhare, Bold Merion ftrove, and Neftor's valiant heir; The Spartan wifh'd the fecond place to gain, And great Ulyffes with'd; nor with'd in vain. Then thus the king of men the conteft ends: 275. Thou first of warriours, and thou beft of friends, Undaunted Diomed! what chief to join In this great enterprize, is only thine. Just be thy choice, without affection made; To birth, or office, no respect be paid; Let worth determine here. The monarch fpake, And inly trembled for his brother's fake.
Then thus (the god-like Diomed rejoin'd): My choice declares the impulse of my mind,
How can I doubt, while great Ulyffes ftands 285 Then help'd by thee, and cover'd by thy fhield, To lend his counfels, and affift our hands?
A chief, whofe fafety is Minerva's care; So fam'd, fo dreadful, in the works of war: Bleft in his conduct, I no aid require;
Wisdom like his might pafs through flames of fire. 290
It fits thee not, before thefe chiefs of fame, (Reply'd the fage) to praife me, or to blame: Praife from a friend, or cenfure from a foe, Are loft on hearers that our merits know. But let us hafte-Night rolls the hours away, 295 The reddening Orient fhows the coming day, The ftars fhine fainter on th' æthereal plains, And of Night's empire but a third remains.
Thus having fpoke, with generous ardour preft, In arms terrific their huge limbs they dreft. 300 A two-ed g'd faulchion Thi afymed the brave, And ample buckler, to Tydides gave: Then in a leathern helm he cas'd his head, Short of its creft, and with no plume o'erfpread: (Such as by youths unus'd to arms are worn; 305 No fpoils enrich it, and no ftuds adorn.) Next him Ulyffes took a fhining fword, A bow and quiver, with bright arrows ftor'd: A well-prov'd ca que, with leather braces bound, (Thy gift, Meriones) his temples crown'd; 310 Soft woo 1 within; without, in order fpread, A boar's white teeth grinn'd horrid o'er his head. This from Amyntor, rich Ormenus' fon, Autolychus by fraudful rapine won,
He fought with numbers, and made numbers
So now be prefent, Oh celestial Maid! So ftill continue to the race thine aid! A youthful fteer shall fall beneath the stroke, Untam'd, unconfcious of the galling yoke, With ample forehead, and with spreading horns, Whofe taper tops refulgent gold adorns. 350
The heroes pray'd; and Pallas from the fkies Accords their vow, fucceeds their enterprize. Now, like two lions panting for the prev, With dreadful thoughts they trace the dreary way, Through the black horrours of th' enfanguin'd plain,
Through duft, through blood, o'er arms, and hills of flain.
Nor lefs bold Hector, and the fons of Troy, On high defigns the wakeful hours employ ; Th' affembled peers their lofty chief inclos'd; Who thus the counfels of his breaft propos'd: 360 What glorious man, for high attempts prepar'd, Dares greatly venture, for a rich reward, Of yonder fleet a bold discovery make, What watch they keep, and what refolves they
If now fubdued they meditate their flight, 365 And fpent with toil neglect the watch of night His be the chariot that fhall please him most, Of all the plunder of the vanquish'd hoft; His the fair steeds that all the reft excel,
And gave Amphidamas; from him, his prize 315 And his the glory to have ferv'd fo well.
Molus receiv'd, the pledge of focial ties; The helmet next by Merion was poffefs'd, And now Ulyffes' thoughtfu' temples prefs'd. Thus fheath'd in arms, the council they forfake, And dark through paths oblique their progrefs take.
Juft then, in fign fhe favour'd their intent, A long-wing'd heron great Minerva fent: This, though furrounding shades obfcur'd their view,
By the thrill clang, and whiftling wings, they
As from the right fhe foar'd, Ulyffes pray'd, 325 Hail'd the glad omen, and addrefs'd the Maid:
O daughter of that God, whofe arm can wield Th' avenging bolt, and thake the dreadful shield! O thou! for ever prefent in my way, Who all my motions, all my toils, furvey ! 330 Safe may we pafs beneath the gloomy fhade, Safe by thy fuccour to our fhips convey'd; And let fome deed this fignal night adorn, To claim the tears of Trojans yet unborn." Then god-like Diomed preferr'd his prayer:
370 A youth there was among the tribes of Troy, Delon his name, Eumedes' only boy (Five girls beside the reverend herald told) Rich was the fon in brass, and rich in gold; Not bleft by nature with the charms of face, 375 But fwift of foot, and matchleis in the race. Hector! (he faid) my courage bids me meet This high atchievement, and explore the fleet: But firft exalt thy fceptre to the skies, And fwear to grant me the demanded prize; 380 Th' immortal courfers, and the glittering car, That bear Pelides through the ranks of war, Encourag'd thus, no idle scout I go, Fulfil thy with, their whole intention know, Ev'n to the royal tent purfue my way, And all their counfels, all their aims betray.
The chief then heav'd the golden fceptre high, Attefting thus the monarch of the sky: Be witnefs thou ! immortal lord of all ! Whofe thunder shakes the dark aerial hall: 390 By none but Dolon hall this prize be borne, And him a'one th' immortal steeds adorn.
When, on the hollow way, th' approaching tread Ulyffes mark'd, and thus to Diomed:
O friend! I hear fome ftep of hoftile feet, 405 Moving this way, or haftening to the fleet; Some ipy perhaps, to lurk befide the main; Or nightly pillager that trips the flain. Yet let him país, and win a little space: Then rush behind him, and prevent his pace. 410 But if too fwift of foot he flies before, Confine his courfe along the fleet and fhore, Betwixt the camp and him our spears employ, And intercept his hop'd return to Troy.
with that they stepp'd afide, and ftoop'd their
(As Dolon pafs'd) behind a heap of dead: Along the path the fpy unwary flew: Soft, at juft diftance, both the chiefs purfue. So diftant they, and fuch the space between, As when two teams of mules divide the green 420 (To whom the hind like shares of land allows), When now new furrows part th' approaching ploughs.
Now Dolon liftening heard them as they paft; Hector (he thought) had fent, and check'd his hafte,
Till fcarce at diftance of a javelin's throw, No voice fucceeding, he perceiv'd the foe. As when two fkilful hounds the leveret wind; Or chace through woods obfcure the trembling hind;
Now loft, now feen, they intercept his way, And from the herd ftill turn the fiving prey: 430 So faft, and with fuch fears, the Trojan flew ; So close, fo conftant, the bold Greeks purue. Now almoft on the fleet the daftard falls, And mingles with the guards that watch the walls; When brave Tydides ftopp'd; a generous thought
(Infpir'd by Pallas) in his bofom wrought, Left on the foe fome forward Greek advance, And fnatch the glory from his lifted lance. Then thus aloud: Whoe'er thou art remain ; This javelin elfe fhall fix thee to the plain. He faid, and high in air the weapon cast, Which wilful err'd, and o'er his shoulder past; Then fix'd in earth. Against the trembling wood The wretch ftood propp'd, and quiver'd as he food;
A fudden palfy feiz'd his turning head;
His loose teeth chatter'd, and his colour filed: The panting warriours feize him as he stands, And with unmanly tears his life demands.
O fpare my youth, and for the breath I owe, Large gifts of price my father fhall bestow. 450 Vaft heaps of brafs fhall in your fhips be told, And steel well-temper'd, and refulgent gold.
To whom Ulyffes made this wife reply; Whoe'er thon art, be bold, nor fear to die. What moves thee, fay, when fleep has clos'd the fight,
To roam the filent fields in dead of night? Cam'ft thou the fecrets of our camp to find, By Hector prompted, or thy daring mind: Or art fome wretch by hopes of plunder led Through heaps of carnage to defpoil the dead?
Safe in their cares, th' auxiliar forces fleep, Whofe wives and infants, from the danger far, Difcharge their fouls of half the fears of war.
Then fleep thofe aids among the Trojan train,. (Enquir'd the chief) or fcatter'd o'er the plain? 495
To whom the spy: Their powers they thus difpofe :
The Pæons, dreadful with their bended bows, The Carians, Caucons, the Pelafgian hoft, And Leleges, encamp along the coaft. Not diftant far, lie higher on the land The Lycian, Myfian, and Mæonian band, And Phrygia's horfe, by Thymbras' ancient wall; The Thracians utmoft, and apart from all. Thefe Troy but lately to her fuccour won, Led on by Rhefus, great Eioneus' fon : I faw his courfers in proud triumph go, Swift as the wind, and white as winter fnow: Rich filver plates his fhining car infold; His folid arms, refulgent, flame with gold; No mortal fhoulders fuit the glorious load, Celestial Panoply, to grace a God! Let me, unhappy, to your fleet be borne, Or leave me here, a captive's fate to mourn, In cruel chains: till your return reveal, The truth or falfehood of the news I tell. To this Tydides, with a gloomy frown: Think not to live, though all the truth be fhown :
« PreviousContinue » |