Page:Homer - Iliad, translation Pope, 1909.djvu/59

312—360 Think not the Greeks to shameful flight to bring,

Nor let those lips profane the name of king.

For our return we trust the heavenly Powers;

Be that their care; to fight like men be ours.

But grant the host with wealth the general load,

Except detraction, what hast thou bestowed?

Suppose some hero should his spoils resign,

Art thou that hero, could those spoils be thine?

Gods! let me perish on this hateful shore,

And let these eyes behold my son no more;

If, on thy next offence, this hand forbear

To strip those arms thou ill deservest to wear,

Expel the council where our princes meet,

And send thee scourged and howling through the fleet."

He said, and cowering as the dastard bends,

The weighty sceptre on his back descends,

On the round bunch the bloody tumours rise;

The tears spring starting from his haggard eyes:

Trembling he sat, and, shrunk in abject fears,

From his vile visage wiped the scalding tears.

While to his neighbour each expressed his thought:

"Ye gods! what wonders has Ulysses wrought!

What fruits his conduct and his courage yield,

Great in the council, glorious in the field!

Generous he rises in the crown's defence,

To curb the factious tongue of insolence.

Such just examples on offenders shewn

Sedition silence, and assert the throne."

'Twas thus the general voice the hero praised,

Who, rising, high the imperial sceptre raised:

The blue-eyed Pallas, his celestial friend,

In form a herald, bade the crowds attend;

The expecting crowds in still attention hung,

To hear the wisdom of his heavenly tongue.

Then, deeply thoughtful, pausing ere he spoke,

His silence thus the prudent hero broke:

"Unhappy monarch! whom the Grecian race

With shame deserting, heap with vile disgrace.

Not such at Argos was their generous vow,

Once all their voice, but, ah! forgotten now:

Ne'er to return, was then the common cry,

Till Troy's proud structure should in ashes lie.

Behold them weeping for their native shore!

What could their wives or helpless children more?

What heart but melts to leave the tender train,

And, one short month, endure the wintry main?

Few leagues removed, we wish our peaceful seat,

When the ship tosses, and the tempests beat:

Then well may this long stay provoke their tears,