University of Virginia Library

21
PRIAM & ACHILLES

Him then in answer addrest god-like Priam, Ilyon's old king.
‘Truly it is very much, my dear son, as thou opinest;
Yet some god, 'twd appear, vouchsafes me a kindly protection,
Sending upon my journey to meet me so able a helper
As thyself, for in outward mien not comelier art thou
Than thou show'st in mind: blessed & happy are thy parents.’
Then bespake him again God's angel, slayer of Argus.
‘Nay and what thou say'st, sir, is all most rightfully spoken.
But now tell me, I pray, & speak thou truthfully plain words,
If thou'rt convoying thy wealth & costly-treasur'd store
Unto some outland folk to remain safe for thee in hiding,
Or whether all your warrior-folk are abandoning Ilyon
In dismay, since that their bravest champyon is undone,
Thy son, who was fearless afield to resist the Achaeans.’
Him then in answer addrest god-like Priam, Ilyon's old king.
‘Who then, valyant sir, may'st thou be, an' of what parents,
That to me such fair speech hast made of my unhappy son's death?’
Then bespake him again God's angel, slayer of Argus.
‘Thou wouldst prove me, O king, in making question of Hector.
Him many times I have seen scattering with glorious onset
All the battle's nobley: then too when he drave the Achaeans
Back to the ships, & smote with trenchant blade the flying ranks.
That day stood we aloof wond'ring, for not yet Achilles
Would let us out to battle, since Atreides had aggriev'd him.
'Tis to him I give fealty; the same good ship carried us both.
Myrmidon is my nation, a man of plenty, Polyctor,
Is my sire, in his age reverend & grey-headed as thou.
Six sons hath he beside myself, and I, the seventh son,
In the brothers' lotterie was cast for service against Troy.
Now I am come to the plain here scouting, for the Achaeans
Will sally forth at dawn in full puissance to attack you:
Long they chafe sitting idle, an' all their kings are unable
In their impacience any more from fight to withhold them.’
Him then in answer addrest god-like Priam, Ilyon's old king.
‘If that thou indeed be the squire of mighty Achilles,
Tell me the whole truth plainly, I pray, nor seek to delude me.
Lyeth yet by the shipping my son's body, or hath Achilles
Rent and cast it away for beasts piecemeal to devour it?’
Then bespake him again God's angel, slayer of Argus.
‘O good sire, not yet hath foul dog nor ravening bird
Made their prey of him: ev'n as he was, so lies he neglected
Hard by Achilles' ship i' the camp: and already twelve days
There hath lain, nor doth his flesh rot nor the corrupt worms
Touch him, that fatten on mankind nor spare the illustrious.
But when morning appears Achilles cometh & draggeth him forth
Trailing around the barrow builded to his old companyon.
Nor yet is injury done: thou mightest go thither and see
How dew-fresh he lieth, how free from death's blemish or stain:
His blood bathed away, & healed those heavy wounds all
Where many coward spears had pierc'd his fair body fallen.
Such care take the blessed gods for thy dearly belov'd son,
Yea, tho' he live no more; since they full heartily lov'd him.’
Thussed he, & th'old king reassured spake after in answer.
‘See, lad, how good it is to offer due gifts in atonement
Unto the gods: for, sure as he liv'd, my son never injur'd,
Nay nor at home forgat, the powers that rule in Olympos:
Wherefore ev'n i' the grave have they his piety remember'd.
But come, an' at my hands this daintily-wrought flagon accept:
And thou guard & guide me, that I, if so be the gods' will,
Safe may arrive with these my goods to the tent of Achilles.’
Him then in answer addrest high Zeuses favouring angel.
‘Tempt not a young man, sire! Thou wilt not lightly corrupt me,
Thus proffering me presents of worth unknown to Achilles;
Whom I fear, nor ever my heart for shame would allow me
So to defraud, lest haply some ill should come to me after.
But as a guide wd I aid thee; yea, ev'n to illustrious Argos
Faithfully both by land and sea wd accompany thy way;
And not a man for scorn of thine escort shd attack thee.’
Thus saying, on to the car high heav'n's merry fortuner upsprang,
And, with his either hand reins and whip seizing alertly,
Both mules and wearied horses with fresh vigour inspired.
Till to the fosse they came, & rampart, where the defenders
Chanc't to be off their guard, busilie with their supper engaged;
Whom Hermes drowz'd deeply, in senseless slumber immersing
Ev'ryone, and coming up to the gate & thrusting it open
Brought Priam into the camp, & Hector's ransom in his train.
So full soon they arriv'd at Achilles' lofty pavilyon,
That high house which for their king his folk had erected,
Hewing pines o' the hill for timbering, & for a roof-thatch
Harvesting the rushes that grew i' the lowland pastures;
And had around the dwelling fenc't for their chieften a wide court
With thick stakes, & one huge bar clos'd its carriage-entry,
Made of a pine, which three men of his servants, pulling all three
All together, would shift back or forwards, so immense was
His gate-bar, but Peleides would handle it himself.
This gate for th'old king th'archfortuner easily open'd,
And brought in the treasures of Troy to the house of Achilles;
And there standing awhile turn'd t'wards Priam, & bespake him.
‘O sir, I that accost thee am in good truth the celestial
Hermes, whom great Zeus did charge to attend thee in escort:
But hence must I turn me again, nor now will I enter
Into Achilles' sight; twould make good cause for his anger
Were an immortal god to befriend men so manifestly.
Enter thou, and as thou pray'st, in lowliness embrace
His knees, & by his sire & fair heav'n-born mother implore
And by his son, that thou may'st melt his soul with emotion.’
With these words Hermes sped away for lofty Olympos:
And Priam all fearlessly from off his chariot alighted,
Ordering Idaeus to remain i' the entry to keep watch
Over the beasts: th'old king meanwhile strode doughtily onward,
Where Achilles was then most wont to be, and sitting indoors
Found he him; all his men sat apart; for his only attendance
His squire Automedon and Alkimos in battle upgrown
Mov'd busilie to and fro serving, for late he had eaten,
And the supper-table disfurnish'd yet stood anigh him.
And Priam entering unperceiv'd til he well was among them,
Clasp'd his knees & seized his hands all humbly to kiss them,
Those dread murderous hands which his sons so many had slain.
As when a man whom spite of fate hath curs'd in his own land
For homicide, that he fleeeth abroad & seeketh asylum
With some lord, and they that see him are fill'd with amazement,
Ev'n so now Achilles was amaz'd as he saw Priam enter,
And the men all wer'amaz'd, & lookt upon each other in turn.
But Priam (as Hermes had bade) bow'd down to beseech him.
‘O God-like Achilles, thy father call to remembrance,
How he is halting as I, i' the dark'ning doorway of old age,
And desolately liveth, while all they that dwell about him
Vex him, nor hath he one from their violence to defend him:
Yet but an heareth he aught of thee, thy wellbeing in life,
Then he rejoiceth an' all his days are glad with a good hope
Soon to behold thee again, his son safe home from the warfare.
But most hapless am I, for I had sons numerous and brave
In wide Troy; where be they now? scarce is one o' them left.
They were fifty the day ye arriv'd hither out of Achaia,
Nineteen royally born princes from one mother only,
While the others women of my house had borne me; of all these
Truly the greater part hath Ares in grim battle unstrung.
But he, who was alone the city's lov'd guardian and stay,
Few days since thou slew'st him alas! his country defending,
Hector, for whose sake am I come to the ships of Achaia
His body dear to redeem, offering thee a ransom abundant.
O God-like Achilles, have fear o' the gods, pity him too,
Thy sire also remember, having yet more pity on me,
Who now stoop me beneath what dread deed mortal ever dar'd,
Raising the hand that slew his son pitiably to kiss it.’
Then did Achilles yearn for thought of his ancient father
And from th'old king's seizure his own hand gently disengag'd.
And each brooded apart; Priam o'er victorious Hector
Groan'd, low faln to the ground unnerved at feet of Achilles,
Who sat mourning awhile his sire, then turn'd to bewailing
Patroclus; while loudly the house with their sobbing outrang.
But when Achilles now had sooth'd his soul in affection,
And all his bosom had disburden'd of passion extreme,
Swiftly from off his seat he arose, & old Priam uprais'd,
In pity & reverence for his age & silvery-blancht head,
And making full answer addrest him in airywinged words.
‘Unhappy man! what mighty sorrows must thy spirit endure!
Nay, how durst thou come thus alone to the ships of Achaia,
Into the sight of him who thy sons so many and good
Spoil'd and sent to the grave? Verilie thy heart is of iron.
But come, sit thee beside me upon my couch; let us alwise
Now put away our griefs, sore tho' we be plagued with affliction.
Truly there is no gain in distressful lamentation,
Since the eternal gods have assign'd to us unhappy mortals
Hardship enough, while they enjoy bliss idly without end.
Two jars, say they, await God's hand at th'entry of his court,
Stor'd ready with free gifts, of good things one, one of evil.
If mingling from both heav'n's thunderer equaly dispense,
Then will a man's fortune be chequer'd with both sorrow and joy;
But to' whom Zeus giveth only of evil that man is outcast,
Hunger houndeth him on disconsolate over the brave earth,
Unrespected alike whether of mortals or immortals.
So my sire Peleus was dow'r'd with favour abounding,
And, from birth and cradle honour'd, all men living outshone
In wealth & happiness, king o'er his Myrmidon armies:
And tho' he was but a man, Zeus made him a fair goddess espouse.
But yet an' ev'n to him was an ill thrown in, that he hath not
Sons born into his house to retain its empery,—one son
Only he gat, one doom'd to a fate untimely, nor evn he
Comforts th'old man at home, since exiled far from him I bide
Here in Troy, thy sons' destruction compassing and thine.
Thou too, sir, we have heard enjoy'd'st good fortune aforetime;
From Mytilene in Lesbos away to the boundary eastward
Of Phrygia's highlands, & north to the briny Hellespont.
Thou, sir, didst all men for wealth & progeny excel:
But when once th'high gods let loose this mischief anigh thee,
Thy city was compast with nought but fierce battle and blood.
Bear up, allow thy temper awhile some respite of anguish:
Thou wilt not benefit thy dear son vainly bewailing,
Nor restore him alive ere thou taste further affliction.’
Him then in answer addrest god-like Priam, Ilyon's old king.
‘Bid me not, O heav'nborn, to be seated, while ever Hector
Lyeth i' the camp dishonour'd, nay rather quickly with all speed
Fetch him here to my eyes; & this great ransom apportion'd
Unto his worth accept: may it serve thy good pleasure, & thou
Safely return to thy home & sire, since now thou allow'st me
Still to renew my days i' the light o' the sun to behold it.’
Then glancing full dourly bespake him swift-foot Achilles.
‘O sir, vex me no more: myself I am already minded
Now to restore him. Awhile Zeus sent one here to command me,
My mother,—& the wizard who hometh in Ocean is her sire.
Yea, an' I know, Priam, also of thee,—think not to deceive me—
That 'twas a god who brought thee hither to the ships of Achaia,
Since no mortal alive would dare, nay not one in his prime,
Here to' intrude, neither cd he pass our senteries unseen,
Nor the resistant bars of my doors easily undo.
Spare then again to provoke my soul o'erstrain'd in affliction,
Lest, old king, I do thee a wrong in thine enemy's camp,
Lest I in anger offend mine own honour & sin against God.’
‘Thy son now, sir, is ev'n as thou hast pray'd to me restor'd.
His body lies on a bier, with dawn thou'rt free to behold him
And to depart with him home: take thought now but to refresh thee.
Nay nor was grand-tress'd Niobe disdainful of eating,
When her twelve children lay dead in her palace outstretch'd.
Six blossoming daughters had she 'and six lusty growing sons,
But her boys did Apollo in silvery archery destroy
Wrathful against her, an' all her daughters Artemis o'erthrew,
For that against Leto the goddess their great mother had she
Vaunted, “thou'st two only, but I have borne many myself.”
Then they, tho' but a pair, all her fair quantity fordid.
Nine days lay they on earth expos'd in butchery, no one
Could bury them, for men smitten in God's fury were as stones.
Then the 'high gods themselves came down & their burial made.
But Niobe took thought to renounce not food in affliction;
And somewhere ev'n now, on a mountain pasture among rocks,
On Sipylus, where, as 'tis told, all-nightly the nymphs lie,
Who by day go dancing along splendent Achelous,
There in stone the mother sits brooding upon the goddes wrong.
But come, now let us also remember, most reverend guest,
Our food. After again, at what time thou carry him home,
Thou may'st weep thy son; heavy too will that sorrowing be.’
Thussed he, & forthwith went out, & seizing a white sheep
Kill'd it, an' his followers skinning & dismembering aptly
Into lesser portions cut it up, which fixing upon spits
Laid they anigh to the fire, & drew off daintily roasted.
Meanwhile Automedon set fine loaves out on a table
In baskets, but Achilles made the apportioning of flesh.
Then leapt forth their hands to the good cheer outspread afore them.
But when anon they had ta'en their fill of drinking an' eating,
Then Priam in wonder sat mute as he gaz'd on Achilles,
In what prime, yea a man whom no god's beauty cd excel;
And Achilles on comely Priam look'd, marvelling also,
Considering his gracious address and noble bearing:
Till their hearts wer' appeas'd gazing thus on each other intent.
When first broke silence god-like Priam, Ilyon's old king.
‘Lead me to bed, heav'n-born, as soon as may be, let us both
In kind slumber awhile forgetfully drowse our senses:
For never hath sweet sleep seal'd mine eyelids for a moment
Since the sad hour when aneath thy hand mine unhappy son fell:
But ever o'erbrooding the deluge of my sorrow I lay
'Mong the cattle grovelling disgraced i' the mire o' the courtyard.
But now bread have I eaten again, & pour'd the mellow wine
Down my throat: but afore until now nought had I eaten.’
Thus sed he, & Achilles bade his handmaids an' attendants
Place bedsteads i' the south corridor, with mattresses & rugs
Of fair scarlet dye, and counterpanes spread above them:
Also ther'on for night-apparel two warm woolly mantles.
So the women came torches in hand forth from the inner rooms,
And working busilie laid out very quickly the two beds.
Then laughingly to godly Priam spake swift-foot Achilles.
‘I must lodge thee without, dear sir; lest someone of our folk
Haply come in: 'tis ever some councillor asking an audience.
And ther' is old counsel when they sit with me debating.
If one of all that flock chanc'd here i' the swift-shadowing night
Thee to espy, 'twd reach the shepherd, their great Agamemnon,
And there might be delay in accomplishing our agreement.
But come, tell thy mind to me nor make scruple about it,
How many days thou'rt fain to devote to the mourning of Hector,
That for so long a time I await & from battle abstain.’
Whom answer'd then again god-like Priam, Ilyon's old king.
‘If thou nobly desire me to bate my son's honour in nought,
Scarce, Achilles, couldst thou with a greater kindness attach me. . . .