{"id":2994,"date":"2013-07-13T01:45:12","date_gmt":"2013-07-13T01:45:12","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/localhost\/?p=2994"},"modified":"2013-07-13T01:45:12","modified_gmt":"2013-07-13T01:45:12","slug":"38-two-poems-in-quantitative-hexameters-contd-vol-02-collected-poems","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/worksofthemotherandsriaurobindo.org\/index.php\/01-works-of-sri-aurobindo\/03-cwsa\/02-collected-poems\/38-two-poems-in-quantitative-hexameters-contd-vol-02-collected-poems","title":{"rendered":"-38_Two Poems in Quantitative Hexameters – CONTD.htm"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n\n\n
\n

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\n<\/p>\n

\n\t\t\t<\/font>
\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\tBOOK IX<\/span><\/b><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\n\t\t\tMeanwhile moved by their unseen spirits, led by the immortal<\/span><\/p>\n

\nPhalanxes, who of our hopes and our fears are the reins and the drivers,  \u2014
\n<\/span> <\/p>\n

\n\t\t\tMinds they use as if steam and our bodies like power-driven engines,<\/span><\/p>\n

\nLeading our lives towards the goal that the gods have prepared for our
\n\t\t\tstriving,  \u2014 <\/span> <\/p>\n

\nMen upon earth fulfilled their harsh ephemeral labour.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n\t\t\tBut in the Troad the armies clashed on the plain of the Xanthus.<\/span><\/p>\n

\nSwift from their ships the Argives marched,  \u2014  more swiftly through Xanthus<\/span><\/p>\n

\n\t\t\tDriving their chariots the Trojans came and Penthesilea<\/span><\/p>\n

\nLed and Anchises’ son and Deiphobus the Priamid hero.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n\t\t\tNow ere the armies met, ere their spears were nearer, Apollo<\/span><\/p>\n

\nSent a thought for his bale to the heart of Zethus the Hellene.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n\t\t\tHe to Achilles’ car drew close and cried to the hero:<\/span><\/p>\n

\n“Didst thou not promise a boon to me, son of Peleus and Thetis,<\/span><\/p>\n

\n\t\t\tThen when I guarded thy life-breath in Memnon’s battle from Hades?<\/span><\/p>\n

\nTherefore I claim the proudest of boons, one worthy a Hellene.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n\t\t\tHere in the front I will fight against dangerous Penthesilea.<\/span><\/p>\n

\nThou on our left make war with the beauty and cunning of Paris.”<\/span><\/p>\n

\n\t\t\tBut from his heart dismayed Achilles made answer to Zethus:<\/span><\/p>\n

\n“What hast thou said, O Zethus, betrayed by some Power that is hostile?<\/span><\/p>\n

\n\t\t\tArt thou then hired by the gods for the bale and the slaughter of Hellas?”<\/span><\/p>\n

\nZethus answered him, “Alone art thou mighty, Achilles, in Phthia?<\/span><\/p>\n

\n\t\t\tTyrant art thou of this fight and keepst for thee all of its glory 
\n\t\t\t\u2014 <\/span> <\/p>\n

\nWe are but wheels of thy chariot, reins of thy courser, Achilles.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n\t\t\tWhat though dire be thy lust, yet here thou canst gather not glory,<\/span><\/p>\n

\nOnly thy shame and the Greeks’, if a girl must be matched with Achilles!”<\/span><\/p>\n

\n\t\t\t“Zethus, evil thy word and from death are the wings of its folly.<\/span><\/p>\n

\nEven a god might hesitate fronting the formidable virgin.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n\t\t\tMany the shafts that, borne in her chariot, thirst for the blood-draught.<\/span><\/p>\n

\nPages ride in her car behind and hand to her swiftly<\/span><\/p>\n

\n\t\t\tDeath in the rapid spears and she hurls them and drives and she stays not.<\/span><\/p>\n

\nForty wind-footed men of the mountains race with her chariot<\/span><\/p>\n

\n\t\t\tShielded and armed and bring back the spears from their hearts whom she
\nslaughters.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n\t\t\tSo like the lightning she moves incessantly flashing and slaying,<\/span><\/p>\n

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\nPage \u2013 464<\/font><\/span><\/p>\n

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\nNot like men’s warring her fight who battle for glory and plunder.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n\t\t\tNever she pauses to pluck back her point nor to strip off the armour.<\/span><\/p>\n

\nOnly to slay she cares and only the legions to shatter.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n\t\t\tCome thou not near to her wheels; preserve thy life for thy father.<\/span><\/p>\n

\nPity Arithoa’s heart who shall wait in vain for her children.”<\/span><\/p>\n

\n\t\t\tWroth at Pelides’ scorn made answer Zethus the Hellene,<\/span><\/p>\n

\n“Give me my boon I have chosen and thou fight far from my battle<\/span><\/p>\n

\n\t\t\tLest it be said that Achilles was near and therefore she perished.<\/span><\/p>\n

\nCycnus and I [………………………]1<\/font><\/sup> will strike down the terror of Argos.”<\/span><\/p>\n

\n\t\t\tMoved the mighty Achilles answered him, “Zethus and Cycnus,<\/span><\/p>\n

\nGranted your will; I am bound by my truth, as are you now by Hades.”<\/span><\/p>\n

\n\t\t\tSo he spoke and cried to his steeds, who the wings of the southwind<\/span><\/p>\n

\nRacing outvied to the left where from Xanthus galloping swiftly<\/span><\/p>\n

\n\t\t\tCame in a mass the Ilian chariots loud towards the Hellenes.<\/span><\/p>\n

\nPhoces was with him and Echemus drove and Drus and Thretaon,<\/span><\/p>\n

\n\t\t\tThey were like rays of the sun, but nighest him, close to his shadow<\/span><\/p>\n

\nAscanus, Phrinix’ son, who fought ever near to his war-car.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n\t\t\tAnd from the Trojan battle gleaming in arms like the sungod<\/span><\/p>\n

\nParis beheld that dangerous spear and he cried to the heroes:<\/span><\/p>\n

\n\t\t\t“See now where death on the Trojans comes in the speed of that war-car.<\/span><\/p>\n

\nWarriors, fight not [………………………………………………] Achilles<\/span><\/p>\n

\n\t\t\tBut where you see him guiding his spear or turning his coursers,<\/span><\/p>\n

\nMenace his days and shield the Trojan life that he threatens.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n\t\t\tFighting together hide with your spear-rain his head from the heavens.<\/span><\/p>\n

\nZeus perhaps shall, blinded, forget to cover the hero.”<\/span><\/p>\n

\n\t\t\tSo as he spoke, the armies neared and they clashed in the mellay.<\/span><\/p>\n

\nWho first shed the blood [………] that fell in that combat<\/span><\/p>\n

\n\t\t\tThick with the fall of the mighty, last of the battles of Troya?<\/span><\/p>\n

\nHelenus first, King Priam’s son, smote down in that battle<\/span><\/p>\n

\n\t\t\tPhoces, Amarus’ son, who fought in the front of Pelides.<\/span><\/p>\n

\nHe by the point twixt his brows surprised left the spear he had lifted;<\/span><\/p>\n

\n\t\t\tDown he clanged from his car with his armour sounding upon him.<\/span><\/p>\n

\nEchemus wroth let drive at Helenus, grieved for his comrade.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n\t\t\tHim he missed but Ahites slew who was Helenus’ henchman.<\/span><\/p>\n

\nHelenus wroth in his turn at Echemus aimed and his spear-point<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t1 <\/font> Here and below some words have been lost as a result of damage to the manuscript.  \u2014  Ed.<\/font><\/i><\/span><\/p>\n

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\n
\nPage \u2013 465<\/font><\/span><\/p>\n

\n

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\nBit through the shield and quivering paused,  \u2014  by Ananke arrested.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n\t\t\tBack avoiding death the Hellene shrank from the forefront.<\/span><\/p>\n

\nNor had Achilles mingled yet his strength with the fighters.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n\t\t\tBut like a falconer on a hillock lone in his war-car<\/span><\/p>\n

\nShouting his dreadful cry in the pause ere the shock he had lingered<\/span><\/p>\n

\n\t\t\tWheeling slowly his gaze for the choice of a prey or a victim<\/span><\/p>\n

\nFor with his host was his heart [………………………………] behind Zethus<\/span><\/p>\n

\n\t\t\tHerding in shepherded [………………………………………………]<\/span><\/p>\n

\nIll at ease was his heart [………………………………] or lying<\/span><\/p>\n

\n\t\t\tSlain on the Trojan [……………………………………] Ares.<\/span><\/p>\n

\nForward [………………………………………] towards the Trojans<\/span><\/p>\n

\n\t\t\t[…………………………………………………………………………………] helmet.<\/span><\/p>\n

\nHelenus [……………………………………] his shield from the death-blow.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n\t\t\tBut o’er his […………………………………………………………] Apollo extended.<\/span><\/p>\n

\nAnd from the left and the right the heroes of Ilion gathered.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n\t\t\tDyus and Polites came and Eumachus threatened Achilles.<\/span><\/p>\n

\nParis’ fatal shafts sang joyously now from the bowstring.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n\t\t\tFast from the Hellene […………………………………………………………]<\/span><\/p>\n

\nAres’ iron [………………………………………………………………………]<\/span><\/p>\n

\n\t\t\tNeighing [………………………………………………………………] of the war-cries.<\/span><\/p>\n

\nNor could the Trojan fighters break through the wall of their foemen,<\/span><\/p>\n

\n\t\t\tNor could the mighty Pelides slay in his war-rage the Trojans.<\/span><\/p>\n

\nEver he fought surrounded or drew back compelled to his legions;<\/span><\/p>\n

\n\t\t\tFor to each spear of his strength full twenty hissed round his helmet,<\/span><\/p>\n

\nRang on his shield, attempted his cuirass or leaped at his coursers<\/span><\/p>\n

\n\t\t\tOr at Automedon ran like living things in their blood-thirst.<\/span><\/p>\n

\nGalled the deathless steeds high-neighing pawed in their anger;<\/span><\/p>\n

\n\t\t\tWrathful Achilles wheeled and threatened seeking a victim.<\/span><\/p>\n

\nSo might a fire on the high-piled altar of sacrifice blazing<\/span><\/p>\n

\n\t\t\tSeek for its tongues an offering fit for the gods, but ’tis answered<\/span><\/p>\n

\nOnly by spitting rain that a dense cloud sends out of heaven.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n\t\t\tSibilant hiss the drops on the glowing wood and the altar.<\/span><\/p>\n

\nChill a darkness o’erhangs and its brief and envious spirits<\/span><\/p>\n

\n\t\t\tRail at the glorious flame desiring an end of its brilliance.<\/span><\/p>\n

\nMeanwhile behind by the ranks of the fighters sheltered from Hades<\/span><\/p>\n

\n\t\t\tParis loosed his lethal shafts at the head of the Hellene.<\/span><\/p>\n

\nThen upon Helenus wrath from the gods who are noble descended,<\/span><\/p>\n

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\nPage \u2013 466<\/font><\/span><\/p>\n

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\nSeized on the tongue of the prophet and framed their thoughts in his accents,<\/span><\/p>\n

\n\t\t\tThoughts by men rejected who follow the beast in their reason,<\/span><\/p>\n

\nOnly advantage seek, and honour and pride are forgotten:<\/span><\/p>\n

\n\t\t\t“Paris, not thus shalt thou slay Achilles but only thy glory.<\/span><\/p>\n

\nHast thou no heed that the women should mock in the streets of our city<\/span><\/p>\n

\n\t\t\tThee and thy bow and thy numbers, hearing this shame of the Trojans?<\/span><\/p>\n

\nDost thou not fear the gods and their harms? Not so do they combat<\/span><\/p>\n

\n\t\t\tWho have the awe of their deeds and follow the way of the mighty.”<\/span><\/p>\n

\nParis the Priamid answered his brother: “Helenus, wherefore<\/span><\/p>\n

\n\t\t\tCare should I have for fame, or the gods and their punishments, heeding<\/span><\/p>\n

\nBreath of men when they praise or condemn me? Victory I ask for,<\/span><\/p>\n

\n\t\t\tJoy for my living heart, not a dream and a breath for my ashes.<\/span><\/p>\n

\nWork I desire and the wish of my heart and the fruit of my labour.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n\t\t\tNay, let my fame be crushed into mire for the ages to spit at,<\/span><\/p>\n

\nBut let my country live and her foes be slain on her beaches.”<\/span><\/p>\n

\n\t\t\tSo he spoke and fitted another shaft to the bowstring.<\/span><\/p>\n

\nAlways they fought and were locked in a fierce unyielding combat.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n\t\t\tBut on the Hellene right stood the brothers stark in their courage<\/span><\/p>\n

\nWaiting the Eoan horsehooves that checked at the difficult crossing<\/span><\/p>\n

\n\t\t\tLate arrived through field and through pasture. Zethus exultant<\/span><\/p>\n

\nWatched their advent stern and encouraged the legions behind him.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n\t\t\t“Now is the hour of your highest fame, O ye sons of the Hellenes.<\/span><\/p>\n

\nThese are the iron squadrons, these are the world-famed fighters.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n\t\t\tHere is a swifter than Memnon, here is a greater than Hector.<\/span><\/p>\n

\nWho would fight with the war-wearied Trojans, the Lycian remnants,<\/span><\/p>\n

\n\t\t\tWhen there are men in the world like these? O Phthians, we conquer<\/span><\/p>\n

\nAsia’s best today. And you, O my brothers, with courage<\/span><\/p>\n

\n\t\t\tReap all the good I have won for our lives this morn from Achilles.<\/span><\/p>\n

\nGlad let our fame go before us to our mother Arithoa waiting<\/span><\/p>\n

\n\t\t\tLonely in Phthia, desiring death or the eyes of her children.<\/span><\/p>\n

\nSoon will our sails pursue their herald Fame, with our glory<\/span><\/p>\n

\n\t\t\tBellying out and the winds. They shall bear o’er the murmurs of Ocean<\/span><\/p>\n

\nHeaped up Ilion’s wealth and the golden bricks of King Priam<\/span><\/p>\n

\n\t\t\tAnd for the halls of our fathers a famous and noble adornment<\/span><\/p>\n

\nSevered the beautiful head of the virgin Penthesilea.”<\/span><\/p>\n

\n\t\t\tSo he cried and the Hellenes shouted, a savage rumour,<\/span><\/p>\n

\nProud of their victories past and incredulous grown of disaster.<\/span><\/p>\n

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\n
\nPage \u2013 467<\/font><\/span><\/p>\n

\n

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\nNow from the Xanthus dripping-wheeled came the Eoan war-cars<\/span><\/p>\n

\n\t\t\tRolling thunder-voiced with the tramp of the runners behind them,<\/span><\/p>\n

\nDust like a flag and dire with the battle-cry, full on the Hellenes.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n\t\t\tThey to the mid-plain arrived where the might of the Hellene brothers<\/span><\/p>\n

\nWaited their coming. Zethus first with his cry of the cascade<\/span><\/p>\n

\n\t\t\tHurrying-footed, headlong that leaps far down to the valley:<\/span><\/p>\n

\n“Curb, but curb thy advance, O Amazon Penthesilea!<\/span><\/p>\n

\n\t\t\tThese are not Gnossus’ ranks and these are not levies from Sparta.<\/span><\/p>\n

\nHellas’ spears await thee here and the Myrmidon fighters.”<\/span><\/p>\n

\n\t\t\tBut like the northwind high and clear answered Penthesilea,<\/span><\/p>\n

\nHigh like the northwind racing and whistling over the icefields,<\/span><\/p>\n

\n\t\t\tDeath at its side and snow for its breath in the pitiless winter:<\/span><\/p>\n

\n“Who art thou biddest to pause the horsehooves of Penthesilea?<\/span><\/p>\n

\n\t\t\tHellene, thou in thy strength who standest forth from thy shielders,<\/span><\/p>\n

\nTurn yet, save thy life; for I deem that thou art not Achilles.”<\/span><\/p>\n

\n\t\t\t“Zethus the Hellene I am and Cycnus and Pindus, my brothers,<\/span><\/p>\n

\nStand at my either side, and thou passest no farther, Bellona.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n\t\t\tLioness, turn thou back, for thou canst not here be a hunter.”<\/span><\/p>\n

\n“Zethus and Cycnus and Pindus, little you loved then your mother<\/span><\/p>\n

\n\t\t\tWho in this field that is wide must needs all three perish together<\/span><\/p>\n

\nPiled on one altar of death by the spear-shafts of Penthesilea.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n\t\t\tEmpty for ever your halls shall be, childless the age of your father.”<\/span><\/p>\n

\nHigh she rose to the spear-cast, poised like a thunderbolt lifted,<\/span><\/p>\n

\n\t\t\tForward swung to the blow and loosed it hissing and ruthless<\/span><\/p>\n

\nStraight at the Hellene shield, and it tore through the bronze and groaning<\/span><\/p>\n

\n\t\t\tButted and pushed through the cuirass and split the breast of the hero.<\/span><\/p>\n

\nRound in his car he spun, then putting his hands out before him,<\/span><\/p>\n

\n\t\t\tEven as a diver who leaps from the shed of the bath to the current,<\/span><\/p>\n

\nLaunched out so headlong, struggled, sideward collapsed, then was quiet,<\/span><\/p>\n

\n\t\t\tDead on Trojan earth. But dismay and grief on his brothers<\/span><\/p>\n

\nYet alive now seized, then rage came blinding the eyeballs.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n\t\t\tBlindly they hurled, yet attained, for Athene guided the spear-shafts;<\/span><\/p>\n

\nDeath like a forest beast yet played with the might of the virgin.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n\t\t\tOne on her shield and one on her cuirass rang, but rejected<\/span><\/p>\n

\nFell back like reeds that are thrown at a boulder by boys on the seashore.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n\t\t\tShe unmoved replied; her shafts in their angry succession<\/span><\/p>\n

\nHardly endured delay between. Like trees the brothers,<\/span><\/p>\n

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\nPage \u2013 468<\/font><\/span><\/p>\n

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\nFelled, to each side sank prone. So lifeless these strong ones of Hellas<\/span><\/p>\n

\n\t\t\tLay on their couch of the hostile soil reunited in slumber<\/span><\/p>\n

\nAs in their childhood they lay in Hellas watched by their mother,<\/span><\/p>\n

\n\t\t\tThree of them side by side and she dreamed for her darlings their future.<\/span><\/p>\n

\nBut on the ranks of the Hellenes fear and amazement descended,  \u2014
\n<\/span> <\/p>\n

\n\t\t\tMessengers they from Zeus to discourage the pride and the blood-lust.<\/span><\/p>\n

\nBack many yards their foremost recoiled in a god-given terror,<\/span><\/p>\n

\n\t\t\tAs from a snake a traveller scorned for a bough by the wayside,<\/span><\/p>\n

\nBut it arises puffing its hood and hisses its hatred.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n\t\t\tForward the henchmen ran and plucked back the spears from the corpses;<\/span><\/p>\n

\nOnward the Eoan thousands rolled o’er the ground that was conquered<\/span><\/p>\n

\n\t\t\tTrampling the fallen men into earth with the wheels of their war-cars.<\/span><\/p>\n

\nBut in her speed like the sea or the stormwind Penthesilea<\/span><\/p>\n

\n\t\t\tDrove towards the ranks of the foe and her spear-shafts hastened before her,<\/span><\/p>\n

\nMessengers whistling shrilly to Death; he came like a wolfhound<\/span><\/p>\n

\n\t\t\tCalled by his master’s voice and silently fell on the quarry.<\/span><\/p>\n

\nHyrtamus fell, Admetus was wounded, Charmidas slaughtered;<\/span><\/p>\n

\n\t\t\tCirrhes died, though he faced not the blow while he hastened to shelter.<\/span><\/p>\n

\nItylus, bright and beautiful, went down to night and to Hades.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n\t\t\tBack, ever back the Hellenes recoiled from the shock of the Virgin,<\/span><\/p>\n

\nSlain by her prowess fierce, alarmed by the might of her helpers.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n\t\t\tFor at her right Surabdas threatened and iron Surenas,<\/span><\/p>\n

\nAnd at her left hill-shouldered Pharatus slaughtered the Hellenes.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n\t\t\tThen in the ranks of the Greeks a shouting arose and the leaders<\/span><\/p>\n

\nCried to their hosts and recalled their unstained fame and their valour<\/span><\/p>\n

\n\t\t\tNever so lightly conquered before in the onsets of Ares<\/span><\/p>\n

\nAnd of Achilles they spoke and King Peleus waiting in Phthia,<\/span><\/p>\n

\n\t\t\tListening for Troy o’erthrown not his hosts overcome by a woman.<\/span><\/p>\n

\nAnd from the right and the left came heroes mighty to succour.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n\t\t\tChiefs of the Dolopes Ar and Aglauron came mid the foremost,<\/span><\/p>\n

\nHillus fair as a drifting moon but fierce as the winter;<\/span><\/p>\n

\n\t\t\tPryas came the Thessalian and Sebes whom Pharsalus honoured,<\/span><\/p>\n

\nVictors in countless fights who had stood against Memnon and Hector.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n\t\t\tBut though their hands were mighty, though fierce their obdurate natures,<\/span><\/p>\n

\nMightier strengths they met and a sterner brood of the war-god.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n\t\t\tLight from the hand of the Virgin the spear ran laughing at Sebes,<\/span><\/p>\n

\nCrashed through his helmet and left him supine on the pastures of Troya;<\/span><\/p>\n

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\nAr to Surabdas fell and the blood-spirting head of Aglauron<\/span><\/p>\n

\n\t\t\tDropped like a fruit from a branch by its weight to the discus of Sambus;<\/span><\/p>\n

\nIron Surenas’ mace-head shattered the beauty of Hillus;<\/span><\/p>\n

\n\t\t\tPryas by Pharatus slain lay still and had rest from the war-cry.<\/span><\/p>\n

\nBack, ever back reeled the Hellene host with the Virgin pursuing.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n\t\t\tStorm-shod the Amazon fought and she slew like a god unresisted.<\/span><\/p>\n

\nNone now dared to confront her burning eyes; the boldest<\/span><\/p>\n

\n\t\t\tShuddered back from her spear and the cry of her tore at their heart-strings.<\/span><\/p>\n

\nFear, the daughter of Zeus, had gripped at the hearts of the Hellenes.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n\t\t\tSo as their heroes yielded before her, Penthesilea<\/span><\/p>\n

\nLifted with victory cried to her henchman, Aurus of Ellae,<\/span><\/p>\n

\n\t\t\tWho had the foot of the wind and its breath that scants not for running,<\/span><\/p>\n

\n“Hasten, hasten, Aurus; race to the right where unwarring<\/span><\/p>\n

\n\t\t\tValarus leads his host; bid him close with the strength of the Hellenes.<\/span><\/p>\n

\nSoon will they scatter like chaff on the threshing-floor blown to the beaches.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n\t\t\tBut when he sees their flight by Sumalus shepherded seaward,<\/span><\/p>\n

\nSwift let him turn like the wind in its paths and follow me, pouring<\/span><\/p>\n

\n\t\t\tAll in a victor flood on the Myrmidon left and Achilles.<\/span><\/p>\n

\nThen shall no Hellene again dare embark in ships for the Troad.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n\t\t\tCursed shall its beaches be to their sons and their sons and for ever.”<\/span><\/p>\n

\nSo she spoke and Aurus ran by the chariots protected.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n\t\t\tThen had all Hellas perished indeed on the beaches of Troas,<\/span><\/p>\n

\nBut from the Argives’ right where she battled Pallas Athene<\/span><\/p>\n

\n\t\t\tSaw and was wroth and she missioned her thought to Automedon speeding.<\/span><\/p>\n

\nSplendid it came and found him out mid the hiss of the spear-shafts<\/span><\/p>\n

\n\t\t\tGuiding, endangered, Achilles’ steeds in the thick of the battle.<\/span><\/p>\n

\nShaped like a woman clad in armour and fleeing from battle,<\/span><\/p>\n

\n\t\t\tHelmed with the Hellene crest it knocked at the gates of his spirit<\/span><\/p>\n

\nShaking the hero’s heart with the vision that came to his eyeballs;<\/span><\/p>\n

\n\t\t\tSilent he stared aghast and turned his ear to the war-din.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n“Dost thou not hear to our right, Achilles, these voices of Ares?<\/span><\/p>\n

\n\t\t\tHigh is the sound of Eoan battle, a woman’s war-cry<\/span><\/p>\n

\nRings in my ears, but faint and sparse come the shouts of our nation.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n\t\t\tFar behind is their call and nearer the ships and the beaches.”<\/span><\/p>\n

\nGreat Pelides heard and groaned in the caves of his spirit:<\/span><\/p>\n

\n\t\t\t“It is the doom that I feared and the fatal madness of Zethus;<\/span><\/p>\n

\nSlain are the men of my nation or routed by Penthesilea.<\/span><\/p>\n

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\nDrive, Automedon, drive, lest shame and defeat upon Hellas<\/span><\/p>\n

\n\t\t\tFasten their seal and her heroes flee from the strength of a woman.”<\/span><\/p>\n

\nAnd to the steeds divine Automedon called and they hearkened,<\/span><\/p>\n

\n\t\t\tRose as if seeking their old accustomed paths in the heavens,<\/span><\/p>\n

\nThen through the ranks that parted they galloped as gallops the dust-cloud<\/span><\/p>\n

\n\t\t\tWhen the cyclone is abroad and the high trees snap by the wayside,<\/span><\/p>\n

\nAnd from the press of the Hellenes into the plain of the Xanthus<\/span><\/p>\n

\n\t\t\tThundering, neighing came with the war-car borne like a dead leaf<\/span><\/p>\n

\nChased by the blast. Then Athene opened the eyes of Achilles,<\/span><\/p>\n

\n\t\t\tEyes that in all of us sleep, yet can see the near and the distant,<\/span><\/p>\n

\nEyes that the gods in their pity have sealed from the giant confusion,<\/span><\/p>\n

\n\t\t\tSealed from the bale and the grief. He saw like one high on a summit<\/span><\/p>\n

\nNear him the Eoans holding the plain and out in the distance<\/span><\/p>\n

\n\t\t\tBreaking the Hellene strengths. Like a dream in the night he regarded<\/span><\/p>\n

\nHigh-crested Sumalus fight, Somaranes swift in the onset,<\/span><\/p>\n

\n\t\t\tBull-shouldered Tauron’s blows and the hero Artavoruxes.<\/span><\/p>\n

\nBut in the centre fiercest the cry and the death and the fleeing.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n\t\t\tThere were his chieftains ever reforming vainly resistance,  \u2014
\n\t\t\t<\/span> <\/p>\n

\nEven in defeat these were Hellenes and fit to be hosts of Achilles,  \u2014
\n<\/span> <\/p>\n

\n\t\t\tBut like a doom on them thundered the war-car of Penthesilea,<\/span><\/p>\n

\nPharatus smote and Surabdas and Sambus and iron Surenas.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n\t\t\tDown the leaders fell and the armies reeled towards the Ocean.<\/span><\/p>\n

\nWroth he cried to his coursers and fiercely they heard and they hastened;<\/span><\/p>\n

\n\t\t\tSwift like a wind o’er the grasses galloped the car of Achilles.<\/span><\/p>\n

\nEchemus followed, Ascanus drove and Drus and Thretaon:<\/span><\/p>\n

\n\t\t\tPhoces alone in the dust of the Troad lay there and moved not.<\/span><\/p>\n

\nYet brought not all of them help to their brothers oppressed in the combat:<\/span><\/p>\n

\n\t\t\tFor from the forefront forth on the knot of the swift-speeding war-cars<\/span><\/p>\n

\nHigh an Eoan chariot came drawn fast by its coursers<\/span><\/p>\n

\n\t\t\tBearing a mighty chieftain, Valarus son of Supaures.<\/span><\/p>\n

\nFire-footed thundered past him the hooves of the heavenly coursers,<\/span><\/p>\n

\n\t\t\tNor to his challenging shout nor his spear the warlike Pelides<\/span><\/p>\n

\nAnswered at all, but made haste like a flood to the throng and the mellay.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n\t\t\tBut twixt the chariots behind and their leader the mighty Eoan<\/span><\/p>\n

\nDrove his dark-maned steeds and stood like a cliff to their onset.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n\t\t\t“Great is your haste, O ye Kings of the Greeks! Abide yet and converse.<\/span><\/p>\n

\nScatheless your leader has fled from me borne by the hooves of his coursers;<\/span><\/p>\n

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\n

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\nYe, abide! For we meet from far lands on this soil of the Trojans.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n\t\t\tAll of us meet from afar, but not all shall return to their hearthsides.<\/span><\/p>\n

\nValarus stays you, O Greeks, and this is the point of his greeting.”<\/span><\/p>\n

\n\t\t\tSo as he spoke he launched out his spear as a cloud hurls its storm-flash;<\/span><\/p>\n

\nNor from that fatal hand parted vainly the pitiless envoy,<\/span><\/p>\n

\n\t\t\tBut of its blood-thirst had right. Riven through and through with the
\ndeath-stroke<\/span><\/p>\n

\n\t\t\tDrus fell prone and tore with dying fingers the grasses.<\/span><\/p>\n

\nSobbing his soul fled out to the night and the chill and the silence.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n\t\t\tThey like leaves that are suddenly stayed by the fall of a wind-gust<\/span><\/p>\n

\nCeased from their headlong speed. And Echemus poising his spear-shaft:<\/span><\/p>\n

\n\t\t\t“Sharp are thy greetings, chieftain Eoan. Message for message<\/span><\/p>\n

\n\t\t\tEchemus son of
\n\t\t\tA\u00ebtes, one of the mighty in Hellas,<\/span><\/p>\n

\nThus returns. Let Ares judge twixt the Greek and the Eastern.”<\/span><\/p>\n

\n\t\t\tFast sped the spear but Valarus held forth his shield and rebutted<\/span><\/p>\n

\nShouting the deadly point that could pierce not his iron refusal.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n\t\t\t“Echemus, surely thy vaunt has reached me, but unfelt is thy spear-point.<\/span><\/p>\n

\nWeak are men’s arms, it seems, in Hellas; a boy there Ares<\/span><\/p>\n

\n\t\t\tAims with reeds not spears at pastoral cheeses not iron.<\/span><\/p>\n

\nJudge now my strength.” Two spears from him ran at the hearts of his foemen.<\/span><\/p>\n

\nCrouching Thretaon heard the keen death over him whistle;<\/span><\/p>\n

\n\t\t\tAscanus hurt in the shoulder cried out and paused from his war-lust.<\/span><\/p>\n

\nEchemus hurled now again and hurled with him stalwart Thretaon.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n\t\t\tStrong Thretaon missed, but Echemus’ point at the helmet<\/span><\/p>\n

\nBit and fastened as fastens a hound on the ear of the wild-boar<\/span><\/p>\n

\n\t\t\tWroth with the cry and the hunt that gores the pack and his hunters.<\/span><\/p>\n

\nValarus frowning tugged at the heavy steel; yet his right hand<\/span><\/p>\n

\n\t\t\tSmote at Echemus. Him he missed but valiant Thretaon<\/span><\/p>\n

\nSat back dead in his seat and the chariot wild with its coursers<\/span><\/p>\n

\n\t\t\tSnorting and galloping bore his corpse o’er the plains to the Hellenes.<\/span><\/p>\n

\nBut while yet Valarus strove with the shaft, obscured and encumbered,<\/span><\/p>\n

\n\t\t\tAscanus sprang down swift from his car and armed with his sword-point<\/span><\/p>\n

\nClove the Eoan’s neck as the lightning springs at an oak-trunk<\/span><\/p>\n

\n\t\t\tSeized in the stride of the storm and severs that might with its sharpness.<\/span><\/p>\n

\nSlain the hero fell; his mighty limbs the spirit<\/span><\/p>\n

\n\t\t\tMightier released to the gods and it rose to the heavens of the noble.<\/span><\/p>\n

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\n
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\n

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\nAscanus gathered the spear-shafts; loud was his shout as exulting<\/span><\/p>\n

\n\t\t\tBack he leaped to the car triumphant o’er death and its menace.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n“Lie there, Valarus, king of the East, with imperial Troya.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n\t\t\tSix rich feet of her soil she gives thee for couch of the nuptials.<\/span><\/p>\n

\nRest then! talk not again on the way with the heroes of Hellas.”<\/span><\/p>\n

\n\t\t\tSo delivered they hastened glad to the ranks of their brothers.<\/span><\/p>\n

\nAfter them rolled the Eoan war-cars, Arithon leading,<\/span><\/p>\n

\n\t\t\tLoud with the clamour of hooves and the far-rolling gust of the war-cry;<\/span><\/p>\n

\nWroth at their chieftain’s fall they moved to the help of their nation<\/span><\/p>\n

\n\t\t\tNow by the unearthly horses neared and the might of Achilles.<\/span><\/p>\n

\nThen from the Hellenes who heard the noise and the cry of their coming,<\/span><\/p>\n

\n\t\t\tLifted eyes dismayed, but saw the familiar war-car,<\/span><\/p>\n

\nSaw the heaven-born steeds and the helm unconquered in battle,<\/span><\/p>\n

\n\t\t\tCry was of other hopefulness. Loud as the outbursting thunder<\/span><\/p>\n

\nRises o’er lower sounds of the storm, o’er the din of the battle<\/span><\/p>\n

\n\t\t\tRose the Hellene shout and rose the name of Achilles.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

 <\/p>\n

\n\t\t\t <\/p>\n

\n
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\t\t\t<\/font><\/font><\/td>\n

\n\t\t\t <\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/table>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

  BOOK IX   Meanwhile moved by their unseen spirits, led by the immortal Phalanxes, who of our hopes and our fears are the reins…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[57],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2994","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-02-collected-poems","wpcat-57-id"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/worksofthemotherandsriaurobindo.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2994","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/worksofthemotherandsriaurobindo.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/worksofthemotherandsriaurobindo.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/worksofthemotherandsriaurobindo.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/worksofthemotherandsriaurobindo.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2994"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/worksofthemotherandsriaurobindo.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2994\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/worksofthemotherandsriaurobindo.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2994"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/worksofthemotherandsriaurobindo.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2994"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/worksofthemotherandsriaurobindo.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2994"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}