Part 54 (1/2)
Still raged the conflict round the hero dead, And heaps on heaps by mutual wounds they bled
”Cursed be the man (even private Greeks would say) Who dares desert this well-disputed day!
Firstearth before our eyes Gape wide, and drink our blood for sacrifice; First perish all, ere haughty Troy shall boast We lost Patroclus, and our glory lost!”
Thus they: while with one voice the Trojans said, ”Grant this day, Jove! or heap us on the dead!”
Then clash their sounding arours rise, And shake the brazen concave of the skies
Meantime, at distance froreat Achilles stood: Their Godlike master slain before their eyes, They wept, and shared in human miseries(248) In vain Automedon now shakes the rein, Now plies the lash, and soothes and threats in vain; Nor to the fight nor hellespont they go, Restive they stood, and obstinate in woe: Still as a toood ht; or fix'd, as stands A rave Along their face The big round drops coursed doith silent pace, Conglobing on the dust Their manes, that late Circled their arched necks, and waved in state, Trail'd on the dust beneath the yoke were spread, And prone to earth was hung their languid head: Nor Jove disdain'd to cast a pitying look, While thus relenting to the steeds he spoke:
”Unhappy coursers of ie, and deathless, now in vain; Did we your race on mortal man bestow, Only, alas! to share in mortal woe?
For ah! what is there of inferior birth, That breathes or creeps upon the dust of earth; What wretched creature of retched kind, Than man more weak, calamitous, and blind?
A miserable race! but cease to h on the splendid car: one glorious prize He rashly boasts: the rest our will denies
Ourself will swiftness to your nerves i spirits swell your heart
Autoh the store o'er The field, and spread her slaughters to the shore; The sun shall see her conquer, till his fall With sacred darkness shades the face of all”
He said; and breathing in the ied thehchariot through the parted war: So flies a vulture through the claeese, that screaer noith swiftest speed they flew, And now to conquest with like speed pursue; Sole in the seat the charioteer remains, Now plies the javelin, now directs the reins: Him brave Alcimedon beheld distress'd, Approach'd the chariot, and the chief address'd:
”What God provokes thee rashly thus to dare, Alone, unaided, in the thickest war?
Alas! thy friend is slain, and Hector wields Achilles' arms triumphant in the fields”
”In happy tireets my eyes; No Greek like him the heavenly steeds restrains, Or holds their fury in suspended reins: Patroclus, while he lived, their rage could tame, But now Patroclus is an en The ruling charge: the task of fight be mine”
He said Alcimedon, with active heat, snatches the reins, and vaults into the seat
His friend descends The chief of Troy descried, And call'd aeneas fighting near his side
”Lo, to ht, beyond our hope restored, Achilles' car, deserted of its lord!
The glorious steeds our ready arh the fight
Can such opponents stand e assail?
Unite thy force, my friend, and we prevail”
The son of Venus to the counsel yields; Then o'er their backs they spread their solid shi+elds: With brass refulgent the broad surface shi+ned, And thick bull-hides the spacious concave lined
Them Chromius follows, Aretus succeeds; Each hopes the conquest of the lofty steeds: In vain, brave youths, with glorious hopes ye burn, In vain advance! not fated to return
Unht, Iht
Then turning to his friend, with dauntlesscoursers close behind!
Full on ht, determined is the foe; 'Tis Hector comes: and when he seeks the prize, War knows no h the field he sends his voice aloud, And calls the Ajaces froreat Atrides ”Hither turn, (he said,) Turn where distress deo, And save the living froe The force of Hector, and aeneas' rage: Yet hty as they are, s to Jove”
He spoke, and high the sounding javelin flung, Which pass'd the shi+eld of Aretus the young: It pierced his belt, emboss'd with curious art, Then in the lower belly struck the dart
As when a ponderous axe, descending full, Cleaves the broad forehead of sos with round: Thus fell the youth; the air his soul received, And the spear trembled as his entrails heaved