Page:Homer - Iliad, translation Pope, 1909.djvu/194

192 Loud, and more loud, the clamours strike their ear

Of hounds, and men; they start, they gaze around,

Watch every side, and turn to every sound.

Thus watched the Grecians, cautious of surprise,

Each voice, each motion, drew their ears and eyes;

Each step of passing feet increased the affright;

And hostile Troy was ever full in sight.

Nestor with joy the wakeful band surveyed,

And thus accosted through the gloomy shade:

"'Tis well, my sons! your nightly cares employ,

Else must our host become the scorn of Troy.

Watch thus, and Greece shall live." The hero said;

Then o'er the trench the following chieftains led.

His son, and godlike Merion, marched behind;

For these the princes to their council joined;

The trenches passed, the assembled kings around

In silent state the consistory crowned.

A place there was yet undefiled with gore,

The spot where Hector stopped his rage before,

When night, descending, from his vengeful hand

Reprieved the relics of the Grecian band;

The plain beside with mangled corps was spread,

And all his progress marked by heaps of dead.

There sat the mournful kings: when Neleus' son,

The council opening, in these words begun:

"Is there," said he, "a chief so greatly brave,

His life to hazard, and his country save?

Lives there a man, who singly dares to go

To yonder camp, or seize some straggling foe?

Or, favoured by the night, approach so near,

Their speech, their counsels, and designs, to hear?

If to besiege our navies they prepare,

Or Troy once more must be the seat of war?

This could he learn and to our peers recite,

And pass unharmed the dangers of the night:

What fame were his through all succeeding days,

While Phœbus shines, or men have tongues to praise!

What gifts his grateful country would bestow!

What must not Greece to her deliverer owe!

A sable ewe each leader should provide,

With each a sable lambkin by her side;

At every rite his share should be increased,

And his the foremost honours of the feast."

Fear held them mute: alone, untaught to fear,

Tydides spoke: "The man you seek is here.

Through yon black camps to bend my dangerous way,

Some god within commands, and I obey.

But let some other chosen warrior join,

To raise my hopes and second my design;