Part 38 (1/2)
So press'd with hunger, from the mountain's brow Descends a lion on the flocks below; So stalks the lordly savage o'er the plain, In sullen majesty, and stern disdain: In vain loud all hiardless, furious, he pursues his way; He foa prey
Resolved alike, divine Sarpedon glows With generous rage that drives him on the foes
He views the towers, andwall; Then casting on his friend an ardent look, Fired with the thirst of glory, thus he spoke:
”Why boast we, Glaucus! our extended reign,(226) Where Xanthus' streae the fruitful field, And hills where vines their purple harvest yield, Our foa boith purer nectar crown'd, Our feasts enhanced with htly sound?
Why on those shores are ith joy survey'd, Adreat acts superior merit prove, And vindicate the bounteous powers above?
'Tis ours, the dignity they give to grace; The first in valour, as the first in place; That ondering eyes ourour con state, Whom those that envy dare not irave, Which claims no less the fearful and the brave, For lust of fae thy soul to war
But since, alas! ignoble age must come, Disease, and death's inexorable dooive to fah we fall, and honour'd if we live, Or let us glory gain, or glory give!”
He said; his words the listening chief inspire With equal warmth, and rouse the warrior's fire; The troops pursue their leaders with delight, Rush to the foe, and claih the stor in the field: Around the walls he gazed, to view fro war, And sahere Teucer with the Ajaces stood, Of fight insatiate, prodigal of blood
In vain he calls; the din of helh the fields, The brazen hinges fly, the walls resound, Heaven treround Then thus to Thoos: ”Hence with speed (he said), And urge the bold Ajaces to our aid; Their strength, united, best may help to bear The bloody labours of the doubtful war: Hither the Lycian princes bend their course, The best and bravest of the hostile force
But if too fiercely there the foes contend, Let Telamon, at least, our towers defend, And Teucer haste with his unerring bow To share the danger, and repel the foe”
Swift, at the word, the herald speeds along The lofty ra, And finds the heroes bathed in sweat and gore, Opposed in combat on the dusty shore
”Ye valiant leaders of our warlike bands!
Your aid (said Thoos) Peteus' son deth, united, best may help to bear The bloody labours of the doubtful war: Thither the Lycian princes bend their course, The best and bravest of the hostile force
But if too fiercely, here, the foes contend, At least, let Tela bow To share the danger, and repel the foe”
Straight to the fort great Ajax turn'd his care, And thus bespoke his brothers of the war: ”Now, valiant Lycoht, And, brave Oileus, prove your force in fight; To you I trust the fortune of the field, Till by this arm the foe shall be repell'd: That done, expect me to complete the day Then with his sevenfold shi+eld he strode away
With equal steps bold Teucer press'd the shore, Whose fatal bow the strong Pandion bore
High on the walls appear'd the Lycian powers, Like so round the towers: The Greeks, oppress'd, their utht: The war renews, roans arise; Tumultuous clamour mounts, and thickens in the skies
Fierce Ajax first the advancing host invades, And sends the brave Epicles to the shades, Sarpedon's friend Across the warrior's way, Rent froes not the strongest swain Could heave the unwieldy burden froh, It fleith force, and labour'd up the sky; Full on the Lycian's hel down, The ponderous ruin crush'd his batter'd crown
As skilful divers fro descend, and shoot into the deep, So falls Epicles; then in groans expires, Andto the shades the soul retires
While to the raed arro; The bearded shaft the destined passage found, And on his naked arm inflicts a wound
The chief, who fear'd soress of his warlike host, Conceal'd the wound, and, leaping froht
Divine Sarpedon with regret beheld Disabled Glaucus slowly quit the field; His beating breast with generous ardour glows, He springs to fight, and flies upon the foes
Alcmaon first was dooed the pointed steel; Then froushi+ng strea sound, His brazen arround
Swift to the battles with full force, and every nerve applies: It shakes; the ponderous stones disjointed yield; The rolling ruins shty breach appears; the walls lie bare; And, like a deluge, rushes in the war
At once bold Teucer draws the twanging bow, And Ajax sends his javelin at the foe; Fix'd in his belt the feather'd weapon stood, And through his buckler drove the tre wood; But Jove was present in the dire debate, To shi+eld his offspring, and avert his fate
The prince gave back, not ht; Then raised with hope, and fired with glory's char squadrons to new fury warth you boast?
Your former fame and ancient virtue lost!
The breach lies open, but your chief in vain Atteain: Unite, and soon that hostile fleet shall fall: The force of powerful union conquers all”
This just rebuke inflamed the Lycian crew; They join, they thicken, and the assault renew: Unmoved the eht of all the war; Nor could the Greeks repel the Lycian powers, Nor the bold Lycians force the Grecian towers