html.skin-theme-clientpref-night @media(prefers-color-scheme:dark){html.skin-theme-clientpref-os }ll were attentive to the God-like Man;
When from his lofty couch he thus began.
Great Queen, what you command me to relate,
Renews the sad Remembrance of our Fate.
An Empire from its old Foundations rent, 5
And ev'ry Woe the Trojans underwent:
A Peopl'd City made a Desart Place;
All that I saw, and part of which I was:
Not ev'n the hardest of our Foes cou'd hear,
Nor stern Ulysses tell without a Tear. 10
And now the latter Watch of wasting Night,
And setting Stars to kindly Rest invite.
But since you take such Int'rest in our Woe,
And Troy's disast'rous end desire to know:
I will restrain my Tears, and briefly tell 15
What in our last and fatal Night befel.
By Destiny compell'd, and in Despair,
The Greeks grew weary of the tedious War:
And by Minerva's Aid a Fabrick rear'd,
Which like a Steed of monstrous height appear'd; 20
The Sides were plank'd with Pine, they feign'd it made
For their Return, and this the Vow they paid.
Thus they pretend, but in the hollow Side,
Selected Numbers of their Souldiers hide:
With inward Arms the dire Machine they load, 25
And Iron Bowels stuff the dark Abode.
In sight of Troy lies Tenedos, an Isle,
(While Fortune did on Priam's Empire smile)
Renown'd for Wealth, but since a faithless Bay,
Where Ships expos'd to Wind and Weather lay. 30
There was their Fleet conceal'd: We thought for Greece
Their Sails were hoisted, and our Fears release.
The Trojans coop'd within their Walls so long,
Unbar their Gates, and issue in a Throng,
Like swarming Bees, and with Delight survey 35
The Camp deserted, where the Grecians lay:
}The Quarters of the sev'ral Chiefs they show'd,
Here Phœnix, here Achilles made abode,
Here join'd the Battels, there the Navy rode.
Part on the Pile their wond'ring Eyes employ, 40
(The Pile by Pallas rais'd to ruin Troy.)
Thymætes first (tis doubtful whether hir'd,
Or so the Trojan Destiny requir'd)
Mov'd that the Ramparts might be broken down,
To lodge the Monster Fabrique in the Town. 45
But Capys, and the rest of sounder Mind,
The fatal Present to the Flames design'd;
Or to the wat'ry deep: At least to bore
The hollow sides, and hidden Frauds explore:
The giddy Vulgar, as their Fancies guide, 50
With Noise say nothing, and in parts divide.
Laocoon, follow'd by a num'rous Crowd,
Ran from the Fort; and cry'd, from far, aloud;
O wretched Country-men! what Fury reigns? 54
What more than Madness has possess'd your Brains?
Think you the Grecians from your Coasts are gone,
And are Ulysses Arts no better known?
This hollow Fabrick either must inclose,
Within its blind Recess, our secret Foes;
Or tis an Engine rais'd above the Town, 60
T' o'erlook the Walls, and then to batter down.
Somewhat is sure design'd; by Fraud or Force;
Trust not their Presents, nor admit the Horse.
Thus having said, against the Steed he threw
His forceful Spear, which, hissing as it flew, 65
Pierc'd through the yielding Planks of jointed Wood,
And trembling in the hollow Belly stood.
The sides transpierc'd, return a ratling Sound,
And Groans of Greeks inclos'd come issuing through the Wound.
}And had not Heav'n the fall of Troy design'd, 70
Or had not Men been fated to be blind,
Enough was said and done, t'inspire a better Mind:
Then had our Lances pierc'd the treach'rous Wood,
And Ilian Tow'rs, and Priam's Empire stood.
Mean time, with Shouts, the Trojan Shepherds bring
A captive Greek in Bands, before the King: 76
Taken, to take; who made himself their Prey,
T'impose on their Belief, and Troy betray.
Fix'd on his Aim, and obstinately bent
To die undaunted, or to circumvent. 80
About the Captive, tides of Trojans flow;
All press to see, and some insult the Foe.
Now hear how well the Greeks their Wiles disguis'd,
Behold a Nation in a Man compris'd.
Trembling the Miscreant stood, unarm'd and bound;
He star'd, and rowl'd his hagger'd Eyes around: 86
Then said, Alas! what Earth remains, what Sea
Is open to receive unhappy me!
What Fate a wretched Fugitive attends,
Scorn'd by my Foes, abandon'd by my Friends. 90
He said, and sigh'd, and cast a ruful Eye:
Our Pity kindles, and our Passions dye.
We chear the Youth to make his own Defence,
And freely tell us what he was, and whence:
What News he cou’d impart, we long to know, 95
And what to credit from a captive Foe.
His fear at length dismiss'd, he said, what e'er
My Fate ordains, my Words shall be sincere:
I neither can, nor dare my Birth disclaim,
Greece is my Country, Simon is my Name: 100
Though plung’d by Fortune's Pow'r in Misery,
Tis not in Fortune's Pow’r to make me lye.
If any chance has hither brought the Name
Of Palamedes, not unknown to Fame,
Who suffer'd from the Malice of the times; 105
Accus’d and sentenc'd for pretended Crimes:
Because the fatal Wars he would prevent;
Whose Death the Wretched Greeks too late lament;
}Me, then a Boy, my Father, poor and bare
Of other Means, committed to his Care: 110
His Kinsman and Companion in the War.
While Fortune favour'd, while his Arms support
The Cause, and rul'd the Counsels of the Court,
I made some figure there; nor was my Name
Obscure, nor I without my share of Fame, 115
But when Ulysses, with fallacious Arts,
Had made Impression in the Peoples Hearts;
And forg'd a Treason in my Patron's Name,
(I speak of things too far divulg'd by Fame)
My Kinsman fell; then I, without support, 120
In private mourn'd his Loss, and left the Court.
Mad as I was, I cou'd not bear his Fate
With silent Grief, but loudly blam'd the State:
And curs'd the direful Author of my Woes.
Twas told again, and hence my Ruin rose. 125
}I threaten'd, if indulgent Heav'n once more
Wou'd land me safely on my Native Shore,
His Death with double Vengeance to restore.
This mov'd the Murd'rer's Hate, and soon ensu'd
Th' Effects of Malice from a Man so proud. 130
Ambiguous Rumors thro' the Camp he spread,
And sought, by Treason, my devoted Head:
New Crimes invented, left unturn'd no Stone,
To make my Guilt appear, and hide his own. 134
Till Calchas was by Force and Threatning wrought:
But why———Why dwell I on that anxious Thought?
If on my Nation just Revenge you seek,
And tis t'appear a Foe, t'appear a Greek;
Already you my Name aud Country know,
Asswage your thirst of Blood, and strike the Blow: 140
My Death will both the Kingly Brothers please,
And set insatiate Ithacus at ease.
}This fair unfinish'd Tale, these broken starts,
Rais'd expectations in our longing Hearts,
Unknowing as we were in Grecian Arts. 145
His former trembling once again renew'd,
With acted Fear, the Villain thus pursu'd.
Long had the Grecians (tir'd with fruitless Care,
And weary'd with an unsuccessful War,)
Resolv'd to raise the Siege, and leave the Town; 150
And had the Gods permitted, they had gone.
But oft the Wintry Seas, and Southern Winds,
Withstood their passage home, and chang'd their Minds.
Portents and Prodigies their Souls amaz'd;
But most, when this stupendious Pile was rais'd. 155
Then flaming Meteors, hung in Air, were seen,
And Thunders ratled through a Skie serene:
Dismay'd, and fearful of some dire Event,
Eurypylus, t'enquire their Fate, was sent; 159
}He from the Gods this dreadful Answer brought;
O Grecians, when the Trojan Shores you sought,
Your Passage with a Virgin's Blood was bought:
So must your safe Return be bought again;
And Grecian Blood, once more attone the Main.
The spreading Rumour round the People ran; 165
All fear'd, and each believ'd himself the Man.
Ulysses took th' advantage of their fright;
Call'd Calchas, and produc'd in open sight:
Then bade him name the Wretch, ordain'd by Fate,
The Publick Victim, to redeem the State. 170
Already some presag'd the dire Event,
And saw what Sacrifice Ulysses meant.
For twice five days the good old Seer withstood
Th' intended Treason, and was dumb to Blood.
Till tir'd with endless Clamours, and pursuit 175
Of Ithacas, he stood no longer Mute:
But, as it was agreed, pronounc'd, that I
Was destin'd by the wrathful Gods to die.
All prais'd the Sentence, pleas'd the storm should fall
On one alone, whose Fury threaten'd all. 180
The dismal day was come, the Priests prepare
Their leaven'd Cakes; and Fillets for my Hair.
I follow'd Nature's Laws, and must avow
I broke my Bonds, and fled the fatal blow.
Hid in a weedy Lake all Night I lay, 185
Secure of Safety when they sail'd away.
But now what further Hopes for me remain,
To see my Friends or Native Soil again?
My tender Infants, or my careful Sire;
Whom they returning will to Death require? 190
Will perpetrate on them their first Design,
And take the forfeit of their Heads for mine?
Which, O if Pity Mortal Minds can move!
If there be Faith below, or Gods above!
If Innocence and Truth can claim desert, 195
Ye Trojans from an injur'd Wretch avert.
False Tears true Pity move: the King commands
To loose his Fetters, and unbind his Hands:
Then adds these friendly Words; Dismiss thy Fears,
Forget the Greeks, be mine as thou wert theirs. 200
But truly tell, was it for Force or Guile,
Or some Religious End, you rais'd the Pile?
Thus said the King. He full of fraudful Arts,
This well invented Tale for Truth imparts.
Ye Lamps of Heav'n! he said, and lifted high 205
His hands now free, thou venerable Sky,
}Inviolable Pow'rs, ador'd with dread,
Ye fatal Fillets, that once bound this head,
Ye sacred Altars, from whose flames I fled!
Be all of you abjur'd; and grant I may, 210
Without a Crime, th' ungrateful Greeks betray!
Reveal the Secrets of the guilty State,
And justly punish whom I justly hate!
But you, O King, preserve the Faith you gave,
If I to save my self your Empire save. 215
The Grecian Hopes, and all th' Attempts they made,
Were only founded on Minerva's Aid.
But from the time when impious Diomede,
And false Ulysses, that inventive Head,
Her fatal Image from the Temple drew, 220
The sleeping Guardians of the Castle slew,
Her Virgin Statue with her bloody Hands
Polluted, and prophan'd her holy Bands;
From thence the Tide of Fortune left their Shore,
And ebb'd much faster than it flow'd before: 215
Their Courage languish'd, as their Hopes decay'd,
And Pallas, now averse, refus'd her Aid.
Nor did the Goddess doubtfully declare
Her alter'd Mind, and alienated Care:
When first her fatal Image touch'd the Ground, 230
She sternly cast her glaring Eyes around;
That sparkl'd as they rowl'd, and seem'd to threat:
Her Heav'nly Limbs distill'd a briny Sweat.
Thrice from the Ground she leap'd, was seen to wield
Her brandish'd Lance, and shake her horrid Shield. 235
Then Calchas bad our Host for flight prepare,
And hope no Conquest from the tedious War:
Till first they fail'd for Greece; with Pray'rs besought
Her injur'd Pow'r, and better Omens brought.
}And now their Navy ploughs the Wat'ry Main, 240
Yet, soon expect it on your Shoars again,
With Pallas pleas'd; as Calchas did ordain.
But first, to reconcile the blue-ey'd Maid,
For her stoln Statue, and her Tow'r betray'd;
Warn'd by the Seer, to her offended Name 245
We rais'd, and dedicate this wond'rous Frame:
So lofty, lest through your forbidden Gates
It pass, and intercept our better Fates.
For, once admitted there, our hopes are lost;
And Troy may then a new Palladium boast. 250
For so Religion and the Gods ordain;
That if you violate with Hands prophane
Minerva's Gift, your Town in Flames shall burn,
(Which Omen, O'ye Gods, on Grecia turn!)
But if it climb, with your assisting Hands, 255
The Trojan Walls, and in the City stands;
Then Troy shall Argos and Mycenæ burn,
And the reverse of Fate on us return.
With such Deceits he gain'd their easie Hearts,
Too prone to credit his perfidious Arts. 260
}What Diomede, nor Thetis greater Son,
A thousand Ships, nor ten years Siege had done:
False Tears and fawning Words the City won.
}A greater Omen, and of worse portent,
Did our unwary Minds with fear torment; 265
Concurring to produce the dire Event.
Laocoon, Neptune's Priest by Lot that Year,
With solemn Pomp then sacrific'd a Steer.
}When, dreadful to behold, from Sea we spy'd
Two Serpents rank'd abreast, the Seas divide, 270
And smoothly sweep along the swelling Tide.
Their flaming Crests above the Waves they show,
Their Bellies seem to burn the Seas below:
Their speckled Tails advance to steer their Course, 274
And on the sounding Shoar the flying Billows force.
And now the Strand, and now the Plain they held,
Their ardent Eyes with bloody streaks were fill'd;
Their nimble Tongues they brandish'd as they came,
And lick'd their hissing Jaws, that sputter'd Flame.
We fled amaz'd; their destin'd way they take, 280
And to Laocoon and his Children make:
And first around the tender Boys they wind,
Then with their sharpen'd Fangs their Limbs and Bodies grind.
The wretched Father, running to their Aid
With pious Haste, but vain, they next invade: 285
Twice round his Waste their winding Volumes rowl'd,
And twice about his gasping Throat they fold.
The Priest, thus doubly choak'd, their Crests divide,
And tow'ring o'er his Head, in Triumph ride.
With both his Hands he labours at the Knots, 290
His Holy Fillets the blue Venom blots:
His roaring fills the flitting Air around.
Thus, when an Ox receives a glancing Wound,
He breaks his Bands, the fatal Altar flies, 294
And with loud Bellowings breaks the yielding Skies.
Their Tasks perform'd, the Serpents quit their Prey,
And to the Tow'r of Pallas make their way:
Couch'd at her Feet, they lie protected there,
By her large Buckler, and protended Spear.
Amazement seizes all; the gen'ral Cry 300
Proclaims Laocoon justly doom'd to die,
Whose hand the Will of Pallas had withstood,
And dar'd to violate the Sacred Wood.
All Vote t'admit the Steed, that Vows be paid,
And Incense offer'd to th' offended Maid. 305
Plate 38: Illustration of Aeneis 2, line 290 A spacious Breach is made, the Town lies bare,
Some hoisting Leavers, some the Wheels prepare,
And fasten to the Horses Feet: the rest
With Cables haul along th' unwieldly Beast.
Each on his Fellow for Assistance calls: 310
At length the fatal Fabrick mounts the Walls,
Big with Destruction. Boys with Chaplets crown'd,
And Quires of Virgins sing, and dance around.
Thus rais'd aloft, and then defending down,
It enters o'er our Heads, and threats the Town. 315
O sacred City! built by Hands Divine!
O valiant Heroes of the Trojan Line!
Four times he struck; as oft the clashing sound
Of Arms was heard, and inward Groans rebound.
Yet mad with Zeal, and blinded with our Fate, 320
We hawl along the Horse, in solemn state;
Then place the dire Portent within the Tow'r.
Cassandra cry'd, and curs'd th' unhappy Hour;
Foretold our Fate; but by the Gods decree
All heard, and none believ'd the Prophecy. 325
With Branches we the Fanes adorn, and wast
In jollity, the Day ordain'd to be the last.
Mean time the rapid Heav'ns rowl'd down the Light,
And on the shaded Ocean rush'd the Night:
Our Men secure, nor Guards nor Centries held, 330
But easie Sleep their weary Limbs compell'd.
The Grecians had embark'd their Naval Pow'rs
From Tenedos, and sought our well known Shoars:
Safe under Covert of the silent Night,
And guided by th'Imperial Galley's light. 335
When Sinon, favour'd by the Partial Gods,
Unlock'd the Horse, and op'd his dark abodes:
Restor'd to vital Air our hidden Foes,
Who joyful from their long Confinement rose.
Tysander bold, and Sthenelus, their Guide, 340
And dire Ulysses down the Cable slide:
Then Thoas, Athamas, and Pyrrhus hast;
Nor was the Podalyrian Heroe last:
Nor injur'd Menelaus, nor the fam'd
Epeus, who the fatal Engine fram'd. 345
A nameless Crowd succeed; their Forces join
T' invade the Town, oppress'd with Sleep and Wine.
Those few they find awake, first meet their Fate,
Then to their Fellows they unbar the Gate.
Twas in the dead of Night, when Sleep repairs 350
Our Bodies worn with Toils, our Minds with Cares,
When Hector's Ghost before my sight appears:
A bloody Shrowd he seem'd, and bath'd in Tears.
Such as he was, when, by Pelides slain,
Thessalian Coursers drag'd him o'er the Plain. 355
Swoln were his Feet, as when the Thongs were thrust
Through the bor'd holes, his Body black with dust.
Unlike that Hector, who return'd from toils
Of War Triumphant, in Æacian Spoils:
Or him, who made the fainting Greeks retire, 360
And lanch'd against their Navy Phrygian Fire.
His Hair and Beard stood stiffen'd with his gore;
And all the Wounds he for his Country bore,
}Now stream'd afresh, and with new Purple ran:
I wept to see the visionary Man: 365
And while my Trance continu'd, thus began.
O Light of Trojans, and Support of Troy,
Thy Father's Champion, and thy Country's Joy!
O, long expected by thy Friends! from whence
Art thou so late return'd for our Defence? 370
Do we behold thee, weary'd as we are,
With length of Labours, and with Toils of War?
After so many Fun'rals of thy own,
Art thou restor'd to thy declining Town?
But say, what Wounds are these? What new Disgrace
Deforms the Manly Features of thy Face? 376
To this the Spectre no Reply did frame;
But answer'd to the Cause for which he came:
And, groaning from the bottom of his Breast,
This Warning, in these mournful Words express'd.
O Goddess-born! escape, by timely flight, 381
The Flames, and Horrors of this fatal Night.
The Foes already have possess'd the Wall,
Troy nods from high, and totters to her fall.
Enough is paid to Priam's Royal Name, 385
More than enough to Duty and to Fame.
If by a Mortal Hand my Father's Throne
Cou'd be defended, 'twas by mine alone:
Now Troy to thee commends her future State,
And gives her Gods Companions of thy Fate: 390
From their assistance happier Walls expect,
Which, wand'ring long, at last thou shalt erect.
He said, and brought me, from their blest abodes,
The venerable Statues of the Gods:
With ancient Vesta from the sacred Quire, 395
The Wreaths and Relicks of th' Immortal Fire.
Now peals of Shouts come thund'ring from afar,
Cries, Threats, and loud Laments, and mingl'd War:
The Noise approaches, though our Palace stood
Aloof from Streets, encompass'd with a Wood. 400
Louder, and yet more loud, I hear th' Alarms
Of Human Cries distinct, and clashing Arms:
}Fear broke my Slumbers; I no longer stay,
But mount the Terrass, thence the Town survey,
And hearken what the frightful Sounds convey. 405
Thus when a flood of Fire by Wind is born,
Crackling it rowls, and mows the standing Corn:
}Or Deluges, descending on the Plains,
Sweep o'er the yellow Year, destroy the pains
Of lab'ring Oxen, and the Peasant's gains: 410
Unroot the Forest Oaks, and bear away
Flocks, Folds, and Trees, an undistinguish'd Prey.
The Shepherd climbs the Cliff, and sees from far,
The wastful Ravage of the wat'ry War.
Then Hector's Faith was manifestly clear'd; 415
And Grecian Frauds in open light appear'd.
The Palace of Deiphobus ascends
In smoaky Flames, and catches on his Friends.
Ucalegon burns next; the Seas are bright
With splendor, not their own; and thine with Trojan light.
New Clamours and new Clangors now arise, 421
The sound of Trumpets mix'd with fighting cries.
With frenzy seiz'd, I run to meet th' Alarms,
Resolv'd on death, resolv'd to die in Arms.
But first to gather Friends, with them t'oppose, 425
If Fortune favour'd, and repell the Foes.
Spurr'd by my Courage, by my Country fir'd;
With sense of Honour, and Revenge inspir'd.
Pantheus, Apollo's Priest, a sacred Name,
Had scap'd the Grecian Swords, and pass'd the Flame;
With Reliques loaden, to my Doors he fled, 431
And by the hand his tender Grand-son led.
What hope, O Pantheus! whither can we run?
Where make a stand? and what may yet be done?
Scarce had I said, when Pantheus, with a groan, 435
Troy is no more, and Ilium was a Town!
The fatal Day, th' appointed Hour is come,
When wrathful Jove's irrevocable Doom
Transfers the Trojan State to Grecian Hands.
The Fire consumes the Town, the Foe commands:
And armed Hosts, an unexpected Force, 441
Break from the Bowels of the Fatal Horse.
Within the Gates, proud Sinon throws about
The Flames, and Foes for entrance press without.
With thousand others, whom I fear to name, 445
More than from Argos, or Mycenæ came.
To sev'ral Posts their Parties they divide;
Some block the narrow Streets, some scour the wide.
The bold they kill, th' unwary they surprise; 449
Who fights finds Death, and Death finds him who flies.
The Warders of the Gate but scarce maintain
Th' unequal Combat, and resist in vain.
I heard; and Heav'n, that well born Souls inspires,
Prompts me, thro' lifted Swords, and rising Fires
To run, where clashing Arms and Clamour calls, 455
And rush undaunted to defend the Walls.
Ripheus and Iph'itas by my side engage,
For Valour one Renown'd, and one for Age.
Dymas and Hypanis by Moonlight knew 459
My Motions, and my Meen, and to my Party drew;
With young Choræbus, who by Love was led
To win Renown, and fair Cassandras Bed;
And lately brought his Troops to Priam's aid:
Forewarn'd in vain, by the Prophetic Maid.
Whom, when I saw, resolv'd in Arms to fall, 465
And that one Spirit animated all;
Brave Souls, said I, but Brave, àlas! in vain:
Come, finish what our Cruel Fates ordain.
You see the desp'rate state of our Affairs;
And Heav'ns protecting Pow'rs are deaf to Pray'rs. 470
The passive Gods behold the Greeks defile
Their Temples, and abandon to the Spoil
Their own Abodes: we, feeble few, conspire
To save a sinking Town, involv'd in Fire.
Then let us fall, but fall amidst our Foes, 475
Despair of Life, the Means of living shows.
So bold a Speech incourag'd their desire
Of Death, and added fuel to their Fire.
As hungry Wolves, with raging appetite,
Scour thro' the Fields, nor fear the Stormy Night; 480
Their Whelps at home expect the promis'd Food,
And long to temper their dry Chaps in Blood:
So rush'd we forth at once, resolv'd to die,
Resolv'd in Death the last Extreams to try.
}We leave the narrow Lanes behind, and dare 485
Th' unequal Combat in the publick Square:
Night was our Friend, our Leader was Despair.
What Tongue can tell the Slaughter of that Night?
What Eyes can weep the Sorrows and Affright!
An ancient and imperial City falls, 490
The Streets are fill'd with frequent Funerals:
Houses and Holy Temples float in Blood,
And hostile Nations make a common Flood.
Not only Trojans fall, but in their turn,
The vanquish'd Triumph, and the Victors mourn. 495
Ours take new Courage from Despair and Night;
Confus'd the Fortune is, confus'd the Fight.
All parts resound with Tumults, Plaints, and Fears,
And grisly Death in sundry shapes appears.
Androgeos fell among us, with his Band, 500
Who thought us Grecians newly come to Land:
From whence, said he, my Friends this long delay?
You loiter, while the Spoils are born away:
Our Ships are laden with the Trojan Store,
And you like Truants come too late ashore. 505
He said, but soon corrected his Mistake,
Found, by the doubtful Answers which we make:
Amaz'd, he wou'd have shun'd th' unequal Fight,
But we, more num'rous, intercept his flight.
As when some Peasant in a bushy Brake, 510
Has with unwary Footing press'd a Snake;
}He starts aside, astonish'd, when he spies
His rising Crest, blue Neck, and rowling Eyes;
So from our Arms, surpriz'd Androgeos flies.
}In vain; for him and his we compass'd round, 515
Possess'd with Fear, unknowing of the Ground;
And of their Lives an easie Conquest found.
Thus Fortune on our first Endeavour smil'd:
Choræbus then, with youthful Hopes beguil'd,
Swoln with Success, and of a daring Mind, 520
This new Invention fatally design'd.
My Friends, said he, since Fortune shows the way,
Tis fit we shou'd th' auspicious Guide obey.
For what has she these Grecian Arms bestow'd,
But their Destruction, and the Trojans good? 525
Then change we Shields, and their Devices bear,
Let Fraud supply the want of Force in War.
Plate 39: Illustration of Aeneis 2, line 545