University of Virginia Library

Ye nymphs of Troy, for beauty fam'd, who trace
From Xanthus' fertile streams your ancient race,
Oft on whose sandy banks your tires are laid,
And many a trinket which your hands have made,
What time to Ida's hallow'd mount ye throng,
To join the festive choir in dance and song;
No longer on your favourite banks repose,
But come, the judgment of the swain disclose.
Say from what hills, to trackless deeps unknown,
Rush'd with impetuous zeal the daring clown;
Say to what end, with future ills replete,
O'er distant oceans sail'd a mighty fleet;
What seas could this adventurous youth embroil,
Sow discord's seeds o'er what disastrous soil?
Say from what source arose the dire debate,
Which swains could end and Goddesses create.
What his decision? Of the Grecian dame
Who to the shepherd's ear convey'd the name?
Speak, for ye saw, on Ida's still retreat,
Judicial Paris fill his shepherd's seat;
Venus ye saw, the Graces' darling queen,
As on her judge approv'd she smil'd serene.

What time Hæmonia's lofty mountains rung
With hymeneal songs for Peleus sung,
Officious Ganymede, at Jove's request,
Supplied with sparkling wine each welcome guest;
And all the Gods to Thetis' nuptials came,
Sister of Amphitrite, honour'd dame.
Earth-shaking Neptune left his azure main,
And Jove supreme forsook his starry plain:
From Helicon, with odorous shrubs o'erspread,
The Muses' tuneful choir Apollo led.
Him Juno follow'd, wife of sovereign Jove:
With Harmony the smiling queen of Love
Hasten'd to join the Gods in Chiron's festive grove.
Cupid's full quiver o'er her shoulder thrown,
Persuasion follow'd with a bridal crown.
Minerva, though to nuptial rites a foe,
Came; but no helmet nodded o'er her brow.
Diana to the Centaur's grove resorts,
And for one day forgets her rural sports.
His loose locks shaking as the zephyrs play'd,
Not long behind convivial Bacchus stay'd.
War's God, as when to Vulcan's dome he sped,
No spear his hand sustain'd, no casque his head,
Such now, without his helmet or his lance,
Smiling he look'd, and led the bridal dance.
But from these blissful scenes was Discord warn'd;
Peleus rejected her, and Chiron scorn'd.

As by the gadfly stung, the heifer strays
Far from its fields, through every devious maze;
Thus, stung with envy, Discord roam'd, nor ceas'd
Her baneful arts to interrupt the feast.
Oft from her flinty bed she rush'd amain,
Then stood, then sunk into her seat again:
With desperate hand she tore her snaky head,
And with a serpent-scourge she lash'd her flinty bed.
To dart the forky lightning, and command
From hell's abyss the Titans' impious band,
Jove from his throne with rebel-arm to wrest,
Were projects form'd within the fury's breast.
But, though incens'd, she dreaded Vulcan's ire,
Who forms Jove's bolt, and checks the raging fire.
Her purpose changing, she with rattling arms
Dissension meditates and dire alarms;
If haply clattering shields can strike dismay,
And from the nuptials drive the Gods away.
But Mars she dreaded, oft in arms array'd,
And this new project with complacence weigh'd.
The burnish'd apples, rich with golden rind,
Growth of Hesperian gardens, struck her mind.
Resolv'd contention's baneful seeds to sow,
She tore the blushing apple from its bough,
Grasp'd the dire source whence future battles sprung,
And midst the Gods the golden mischief flung.
The stately wife of Jove with wondering eyes
Beheld, and wish'd to grasp the golden prize.
Beauty's fair queen to catch the apple strove;
For 'tis the prize of beauty and of love.
Jove mark'd the contest, and, to crush debate,
Thus counsel'd Hermes, who beside him sat:

‘Paris, perchance, from Priam sprung, you know;
‘His herds he grazes on mount Ida's brow,
‘And oft conducts them to the dewy meads,
‘Through which his streams the Phrygian Xanthus leads:
‘Shew him yon prize, and urge him to declare
‘Which of these Goddesses he deems most fair;
‘In whom, of all, his matchless skill can trace
‘The close-arch'd eyebrow and the roundest face,
‘On such a face, where bends the circling bow,
‘The golden apple, beauty's prize, bestow.’

Thus spoke the sire: the willing son obey'd,
And to their judge the Deities convey'd.
Each anxious fair her charms to heighten tries,
And dart new lustre from her sparkling eyes.
Her veil aside insidious Venus flung;
Loose from the clasp her fragrant ringlets hung;
She then in golden cauls each curl compress'd,
Summon'd her little Loves, and thus address'd:

‘Behold, my sons, the hour of trial near!
‘Embrace, my Loves, and bid me banish fear.
‘This day's decision will enhance my fame,
‘Crown beauty's queen, or sink in endless shame.
‘Doubting I stand, to whom the swain may say,
‘Bear thou, most fair, the golden prize away.
‘Nurs'd was each Grace by Juno's fostering hand;
‘And crowns and sceptres shift at her command.
‘Minerva dictates in th' embattled field;
‘And heroes tremble when she shakes her shield.
‘Of all the Goddesses that rule above,
‘Far most defenceless is the queen of Love.
‘Without or spear or shield must Venus live;
‘And crowns and sceptres she has none to give.
‘Yet why despair? though with no falchion grac'd,
‘Love's silken chain surrounds my slender waist.
‘My bow this Cestus, this the dart I fling,
‘And with this Cestus I infix my sting.
‘My sting infix'd renews the lover's pain,
‘And virgins languish, but revive again.’
Thus to her Loves the rosy-finger'd queen
Told all her fears, and vented all her spleen:
To every word they lent a willing ear,
Round their fond mother clung, and strove to cheer.

And now they reach mount Ida's grassy steep,
Where youthful Paris feeds his father's sheep:
What time he tends them in the plains below,
Through which the waters of Anaurus flow,
Apart he counts his cattle's numerous stock,
Apart he numbers all his fleecy flock.
A wild goat's skin, around his shoulders cast,
Loose fell and flow'd below his girded waist.
A pastoral staff, which swains delight to hold,
His roving herds protected and controll'd.
Accoutred thus, and warbling o'er his song,
He to his pipe melodious pac'd along.
Unnoted oft, while he renews his lay,
His flocks desert him, and his oxen stray.
Swift to his bower retires the tuneful man,
To pipe the praise of Hermes and of Pan.
Sunk is each animal in dead repose;
No dog around him barks, no heifer lows:
Echo alone rebounds through Ida's hills,
And all the air with sounds imperfect fills.
The cattle, slunk upon their verdant bed,
Close by their piping lord repose their head.
Beneath the shades which sheltering thickets blend,
When Paris' eye approaching Hermes ken'd,
Back he retires, with sudden fear impress'd,
And shuns the presence of the heavenly guest:
To the thick shrubs his tuneful reed conveys,
And all unfinish'd leaves his warbled lays.
Thus winged Hermes to the shepherd said,
Who mark'd the God's approach with silent dread:

‘Dismiss thy fears, nor with thy flocks abide;
‘A mighty contest Paris must decide.
‘Haste, judge announc'd; for whose decision wait
‘Three lovely females, of celestial state.
‘Haste, and the triumph of that face declare,
‘Which sweetest looks, and fairest midst the fair:
‘Let her, whose form thy critic eye prefers,
‘Claim beauty's prize, and be this apple hers.’

Thus Hermes spoke; the ready swain obey'd,
And to decide the mighty cause essay'd.
With keenest look he mark'd the heavenly dames;
Their eyes, quick flashing as the lightning's flames,
Their snowy necks, their garments fring'd with gold,
And rich embroidery wrought in every fold;
Their gait he mark'd, as gracefully they mov'd,
And round their feet his eye sagacious rov'd.
But, ere the smiling swain his thoughts express'd,
Grasping his hand him Pallas thus address'd:

‘Regard not, Phrygian youth, the wife of Jove,
‘Nor Venus heed, the queen of wedded love:
‘But martial prowess if thy wisdom prize,
‘Know, I possess it; praise me to the skies.
‘Thee, fame reports, puissant states obey,
‘And Troy's proud city owns thy sovereign sway.
‘Her suffering sons thy conquering arm shall shield,
‘And stern Bellona shall to Paris yield.
‘Comply; her succour will Minerva lend,
‘Teach thee war's science, and in fight defend.’

Thus Pallas strove to influence the swain,
Whose favour Juno thus attempts to gain:

‘Should'st thou with beauty's prize my charms reward,
‘All Asia's realms shall own thee for their lord.
‘Say, what from battles but contention springs?
‘Such contests shun; for what are wars to kings?
‘But him, whose hands the rod of empire sway,
‘Cowards revere, and conquerors obey.
‘Minerva's friends are oft Bellona's slaves,
‘And the fiend slaughters whom the Goddess saves.’

Proffers of boundless sway thus Juno made;
And Venus thus, contemptuous smiling, said:
But first her floating veil aloft she threw,
And all her graces to the shepherd shew;
Loosen'd her little Loves' attractive chain,
And tried each art to captivate the swain.

‘Accept my boon,’ (thus spoke the smiling dame)
‘Battles forget, and dread Bellona's name.
‘Beauty's rich meed at Venus' hand receive,
‘And Asia's wide domain to tyrants leave.
‘The deathful fight, the din of arms I fear;
‘Can Venus' hand direct the martial spear?
‘Women with beauty stoutest hearts assail,
‘Beauty, their best defence, their strongest mail.
‘Prefer domestic ease to martial strife,
‘And to exploits of war a pleasing wife.
‘To realms extensive Helen's bed prefer,
‘And scoff at kingdoms, when oppos'd to her.
‘Thy prize with envy Sparta shall survey,
‘And Troy to Paris tune the bridal lay.’

The shepherd, who astonish'd stood and mute,
Consign'd to Venus the Hesperian fruit,
The claim of beauty, and the source of woes;
For dire debates from this decision rose.
Uplifting in her hand the glowing prize,
She rallied thus the vanquish'd Deities:

‘To me, ye martial dames, the prize resign;
‘Beauty I court, and beauty's prize is mine.
‘Mother of mighty Mars and Vulcan too,
‘Fame says, the choir of Graces sprung from you:
‘Yet distant far, this day, your daughters stray'd,
‘And no one Grace appear'd to lend you aid.
‘Mars too declin'd t' assert his mother's right,
‘Though oft his brandish'd sword decides the fight.
‘His boasted flames why could not Vulcan cast,
‘And at one blaze his mother's rivals blast?
‘Vain are thy triumphs, Pallas, vain thy scorn;
‘Thou, not in wedlock, nor of woman born.
‘Jove's teeming head the monstrous birth contains,
‘And the barb'd iron ripp'd thee from his brains.
‘Brac'd with th' unyielding plaits of ruthless mail,
‘She curses Cupid and the silken veil.
‘Connubial bliss and concord she abhors,
‘In discord glories and delights in wars.
‘Yet know, virago, not in feats of arms
‘Triumph weak women, but in beauty's charms.
‘Nor men nor women are those mungrels base,
‘Like you, equivocal in form and face.’

In terms like these the laughter-loving queen
Rallied her rivals, and increas'd their spleen,
As, lifting high, she view'd with secret joy
Her beauty's triumphs and the bane of Troy.
Inspir'd with love for her, the fair unknown,
By beauty's conquering queen pronounc'd his own,
Ill-fated Paris to the forest's maze
Men vers'd in Pallas' various arts conveys.
At Pericles' command they give the blow,
And lay the glories of the forest low.
He, artist fam'd, his frantic prince obey'd,
And burden'd ocean with the ships he made.
From Ida's summits rush'd the daring swain,
And to its bowery shades prefer'd the boisterous main.
Th' extended beach with choice oblations stor'd,
And his protectress Venus oft implor'd;
The billowy deep his furrowing keel divides,
And in the Hellespont his vessel rides.
But prodigies announce approaching ill,
And with presages sad each bosom fill.
Up-heaving waves heaven's starry concave shroud,
And round each Bear is cast a circling cloud.
Clouds and big waves discharge their watery stores;
Full on the deck the bursting torrent pours.
Their sturdy oars with unabating sweep
Far whitening agitate the angry deep.
Dardanus pass'd, and Ilion's fertile plains,
The mouth of Ismarus' lake the adventurer gains.
Now, far remote, they view Pangræa's height;
Now Phillis' rising tomb attracts their sight,
And the dull round she nine times trode in vain,
To view the faithless wanderer again.
Hæmonia's meads remote, the Trojan spies
Th' Achaian cities unexpected rise:
Phthia, with heroes far-renown'd replete;
Mycenæ, fam'd for many a spacious street.
Beside the meads, where Erymanthus glides,
Sparta aspires, that boasts her beauteous brides;
Sparta with joy th' expecting swain survey'd,
Lav'd by Eurotas, by Atrides sway'd.
Nor distant far, o'ershaded by a wood,
Beneath a mountain's brow Therapnæ stood.
Short was their voyage now: the bending oar
Was heard to lash the foamy surge no more.
The sailors, safe imbosom'd in the bay,
Firm to the beach confine the corded stay.
In purifying waters plung'd the swain,
And, rising thence, pac'd slowly o'er the plain.
For much he fear'd, lest his incautious tread
O'er his wash'd feet the spatter'd mire should spread;
Or lest his hair, beneath his casque confin'd,
Should, if he ran, be ruffled with the wind.
The city's splendor Paris' eye detains,
The citizens' abodes, and glistering fanes:
Here Pallas' form, in mimic gold portray'd,
Here Hyacinthus' image he survey'd.
Him with delight the Amiclæans view'd,
Pursuing Phœbus and by him pursu'd;
But, sore displeas'd at jealous Zephyr's spite,
They urg'd the stripling to unequal fight;
For Phœbus' efforts ineffectual prov'd,
To save from Zephyr's rage the youth he lov'd.
Earth with compassion heard Apollo's cries,
And from her bosom bade a flower arise,
His favourite's name, impress'd upon whose leaf,
Still, as the God contemplates, sooths his grief.
Now Priam's son before Atrides' dome
Exulting stood in beauty's purple bloom.
Not Semele, by Jove's caresses won,
On Jove bestow'd so beautiful a son:
(Forgive me, Bacchus, seed of Jove supreme)
Such peerless graces round his person beam.
Touch'd by fair Helen's hand the bolts recede;
She to the spacious hall repair'd with speed:
Her form distinct th' unfolded portals shew;
She look'd, she ponder'd, and again withdrew.
Then on a radiant seat she bade him rest,
And, still insatiate, gaz'd upon her guest.
Awhile she likens him in graceful mien
To Love, attendant on the Cyprian queen.
But 'tis not Love, she recollects again;
Nor bow nor quiver deck this gallant swain.
'Tis Bacchus sure, the God of wine, she said;
For o'er his cheeks a rosy bloom is spread,
Daring at length her faltering voice to raise,
She thus express'd her wonder and her praise:

‘Whence art thou, stranger? whence thy comely race?
‘Thy country tell me, and thy natal place.
‘In thee I mark the majesty of kings:
‘But not from Greece thy lofty lineage springs.
‘Not sandy Pyle thine origin can shew;
‘I know not thee, though Nestor's son I know.
‘Phthia, the nurse of heroes, train'd not thee;
‘For known are all th' Æacidæ to me.
‘Peleus, and Telamon renown'd in fight,
‘Patroclus' courtesy, Achilles' might.’

Inspir'd by love, thus spoke the gentle dame;
And he, thus answering, fann'd the rising flame:
“If e'er recording fame, illustrious maid,
“Hath to thine ear great Ilion's name convey'd,
“Ilion, whose walls on Phrygian frontiers stand,
“Rear'd by Apollo's and by Neptune's hand;
“Him if thou know'st, most opulent of kings,
“Who reigns o'er Ilion, and from Saturn springs;
“I to hereditary worth aspire;
“The wealthy Priam is my honour'd sire.
“My high descent from Dardanus I prove;
“And ancient Dardanus descends from Jove.
“Th' Immortals thus forsake the realms of light,
“And mix with mortals in the social rite.
“Neptune and Phœbus thus forsook the sphere,
“Firm on its base my native Troy to rear.
“But know, on three fair Goddesses, of late,
“Sentence I pass'd, and clos'd the long debate.
“On Venus, who with charms superior shone,
“I lavish'd praises and conferr'd my boon.
“The Cyprian Goddess, pleas'd with my decree,
“Reserv'd this recompence, O queen, for me;
“Some faithful fair, possess'd of heavenly charms,
“Should, she protested, bless my longing arms;
“Helen her name, to beauty's queen ally'd;
“Helen, for thee I stemm'd the troubled tide.
“Unite we now in Hymen's mystic bands;
“Thus love inspires, and Venus thus commands.
“Scorn not my suit, nor beauty's queen despise:
“More need I add to influence the wise?
“For well thou know'st, how dastardly and base
“Is Menelaus's degenerate race.
“And well I know, that Græcia's ample coast
“No fair like thee, for beauty fam'd, can boast.”

He said; on earth her sparkling eyes she cast,
Embarrass'd paus'd awhile, and spoke at last:

‘To visit Ilion, and her towers survey,
‘Rear'd by the God of ocean and of day,
‘(Stupendous labours by Celestials wrought)
‘Hath oft, illustrious guest, employ'd my thought.
‘Oft have I wish'd to saunter o'er the vales,
‘Whose flowery pasture Phœbus' flocks regales;
‘Where, beneath Ilion's walls, along the meads,
‘The shepherd-God his lowing oxen feeds.
‘To Ilion I'll attend thee: haste, away;
‘For beauty's queen forbids our long delay.
‘No husband's threats, no husband's search I dread,
‘Though he to Troy suspect his Helen fled.

The Spartan dame, of matchless charms possess'd,
Proffer'd these terms to her consenting guest.

Night, which relieves our toils, when the bright sun,
In ocean sunk, his daily course has run,
Now gives her softest slumbers, ere the ray
Of rising morn proclaims th' approach of day.
Two gates of airy dreams she opens wide;
Of polish'd horn is this, where truths abide:
Voices divine through this mysterious gate
Proclaim th' unalterable will of fate.
But through the ivory-gate incessant troop
Of vain, delusive dreams a faithless group.
Helen, seduc'd from Menelaus' bed,
Th' adventurous shepherd to his navy led;
To Troy with speed he bears the fatal freight;
For Venus' proffers confidence create.

At morning's dawn Hermione appears,
With tresses discompos'd and bath'd in tears,
She rous'd her menial train; and thus express'd
The boding sorrows of her troubled breast:

‘Where, fair attendants, is my mother fled,
‘Who left me sleeping in her lonely bed?
‘For yesternight she took her trusty key,
‘Turn'd the strong bolt, and slept secure with me.’
Her hapless fate the pensive train deplore,
And in thick circles gather round the door;
Here all contend to moderate her grief,
And by their kind condolence give relief:

‘Unhappy princess, check the rising tear;
‘Thy mother, absent now, will soon appear.
‘Soon as thy sorrow's bitter source she knows,
‘Her speedy presence will dispel thy woes.
‘The virgin-cheek, with sorrow's weight o'ercome,
‘Sinks languid down and loses half its bloom.
‘Deep in the head the tearful eye retires,
‘There sullen sits, nor darts its wonted fires.
‘Eager, perchance, the band of nymphs to meet,
‘She saunters devious from her favourite-seat,
‘And, of some flowery mead at length possess'd,
‘Sinks on the dew-bespangled lawn to rest.
‘Or to some kindred stream perchance she strays,
‘Bathes in Eurotas' streams, and round its margin plays.’

‘Why talk ye thus?’ (the pensive maid replies,
The tears of anguish trickling from her eyes)
‘She knows each roseate bower, each vale and hill,
‘She knows the course of every winding rill.
‘The stars are set; on rugged rocks she lies:
‘The stars are up; nor does my mother rise.
‘What hills, what dales thy devious steps detain?
‘Hath some relentless beast my mother slain?
‘But beasts, which lawless round the forest rove,
‘Revere the sacred progeny of Jove.
‘Or art thou fallen from some steep mountain's brow,
‘Thy corse conceal'd in dreary dells below?
‘But through the groves, with thickest foliage crown'd,
‘Beneath each shrivel'd leaf that strews the ground,
‘Assiduous have I sought thy corse in vain:
‘Why should we then the guiltless grove arraign?
‘But have Eurotas' streams, which rapid flow,
‘O'erwhelm'd thee bathing in its deeps below?
‘Yet in the deeps below the Naiads live,
‘And they to womankind protection give.’

Thus spoke the sorrowing, and reclin'd her head;
And sleeping seem'd to mingle with the dead.
For sleep his elder brother's aspect wears;
Lies mute like him, and undisturb'd by cares.
Hence the swoln eyes of females, deep distress'd,
Oft, when the tear is trickling, sink to rest.
In this delusive dream the sleeping maid
Her mother saw, or thought she saw, portray'd.
Aloud she shriek'd, distracted and amaz'd,
And utter'd thus her anguish as she gaz'd:

‘Last night, far distant from your daughter fled,
‘You left me slumbering in my father's bed.
‘What dangerous steeps have not I strove to gain?
‘And stroll'd o'er hills and dales for thee in vain?’

“Condemn me not; (replied the wandering dame)
“Pity my sufferings, nor augment my shame.
“Me yesterday a lawless guest beguil'd,
“And distant tore me from my darling child.
“At Cytherea's high command I rove;
“And once more revel in the walks of love.”

She said: her voice the sleeping maid alarms;
She springs to clasp her mother in her arms.
In vain: no mother meets her wistful eyes;
And now her tears redouble and her cries:

‘Ye feathery race, inhabitants of light,
‘To Crete's fam'd isle direct your rapid flight.
‘There to my sire th' unwelcome truth proclaim,
‘How yesterday a desperate vagrant came,
‘Tore all he dotes on from his bridal bed,
‘And with his beauteous queen abruptly fled.’

The restless fair, her mother to regain,
Thus to the winds bewail'd and wept in vain.
The Thracian town diminish'd from their view,
And fleet o'er Helle's strait the vessel flew.
The bridegroom now his natal coast descry'd,
And to the Trojan port conducts his bride.
Cassandra from her tower beheld them sail,
And tore her locks, and rent her golden veil.
But hospitable Troy unbars her gate,
Receives her citizen and seals her fate.