The Poetical Works of John Dryden Volume Ii Part 38

There most; but everywhere thy power is known, 300 The fortune of the fight is all thy own: Terror is thine, and wild amazement, flung From out thy chariot, withers even the strong: And disarray and shameful rout ensue, And force is added to the fainting crew.

Acknowledged as thou art, accept my prayer, If aught I have achieved deserve thy care: If to my utmost power, with sword and shield, I dared the death, unknowing how to yield, And falling in my rank, still kept the field: 310 Then let my arms prevail, by thee sustain'd, That Emily by conquest may be gain'd.

Have pity on my pains; nor those unknown To Mars, which, when a lover, were his own.

Venus, the public care of all above, Thy stubborn heart has soften'd into love: Now, by her blandishments and powerful charms, When yielded she lay curling in thy arms, Even by thy shame, if shame it may be call'd, When Vulcan had thee in his net enthrall'd; 320 (Oh, envied ignominy, sweet disgrace, When every G.o.d that saw thee wish'd thy place!) By those dear pleasures, aid my arms in fight, And make me conquer in my patron's right: For I am young, a novice in the trade, The fool of love, unpractised to persuade: And want the soothing arts that catch the fair, But, caught myself, lie struggling in the snare: And she I love, or laughs at all my pain, Or knows her worth too well; and pays me with disdain. 330 For sure I am, unless I win in arms, To stand excluded from Emilia's charms: Nor can my strength avail, unless by thee Endued with force, I gain the victory!

Then for the fire which warm'd thy generous heart, Pity thy subject's pains, and equal smart.

So be the morrow's sweat and labour mine, The palm and honour of the conquest thine: Then shall the war, and stern debate, and strife Immortal, be the business of my life; 340 And in thy fane, the dusty spoils among, High on the burnish'd roof, my banner shall be hung: Rank'd with my champions' bucklers, and below, With arms reversed, the achievements of my foe: And while these limbs the vital spirit feeds, While day to night, and night to day succeeds, Thy smoking altar shall be fat with food Of incense, and the grateful steam of blood; Burnt-offerings morn and evening shall be thine; And fires eternal in thy temple shine. 350 The bush of yellow beard, this length of hair, Which from my birth inviolate I bear, Guiltless of steel, and from the razor free, Shall fall a plenteous crop, reserved for thee.

So may my arms with victory be blest, I ask no more; let Fate dispose the rest.

The champion ceased; there follow'd in the close A hollow groan: a murmuring wind arose; The rings of iron, that on the doors were hung, Sent out a jarring sound, and harshly rung: 360 The bolted gates flew open at the blast, The storm rush'd in, and Arcite stood aghast: The flames were blown aside, yet shone they bright, Fann'd by the wind, and gave a ruffled light.

Then from the ground a scent began to rise, Sweet smelling, as accepted sacrifice: This omen pleased, and as the flames aspire With odorous incense Arcite heaps the fire: Nor wanted hymns to Mars, or heathen charms: At length the nodding statue clash'd his arms, 370 And with a sullen sound and feeble cry, Half sunk, and half p.r.o.nounced the word of victory.

For this, with soul devout, he thank'd the G.o.d, And, of success secure, return'd to his abode.

These vows thus granted, raised a strife above, Betwixt the G.o.d of War and Queen of Love.

She, granting first, had right of time to plead; But he had granted too, nor would recede.

Jove was for Venus; but he fear'd his wife, And seem'd unwilling to decide the strife; 380 Till Saturn from his leaden throne arose, And found a way the difference to compose: Though sparing of his grace, to mischief bent, He seldom does a good with good intent.

Wayward, but wise; by long experience taught, To please both parties, for ill ends, he sought: For this advantage age from youth has won, As not to be outridden, though outrun.

By fortune he was now to Venus trined, And with stern Mars in Capricorn was join'd: 390 Of him disposing in his own abode, He soothed the G.o.ddess, while he gull'd the G.o.d: Cease, daughter, to complain, and stint the strife; Thy Palamon shall have his promised wife: And Mars, the lord of conquest, in the fight With palm and laurel shall adorn his knight.

Wide is my course, nor turn I to my place, Till length of time, and move with tardy pace.

Man feels me, when I press the ethereal plains, My hand is heavy, and the wound remains. 400 Mine is the shipwreck, in a watery sign; And in an earthy, the dark dungeon mine.

Cold shivering agues, melancholy care, And bitter blasting winds, and poison'd air, Are mine, and wilful death, resulting from despair.

The throttling quinsey 'tis my star appoints, And rheumatisms ascend to rack the joints: When churls rebel against their native prince, I arm their hands, and furnish the pretence; And housing in the lion's hateful sign, 410 Bought senates, and deserting troops are mine.

Mine is the privy poisoning; I command Unkindly seasons, and ungrateful land.

By me kings' palaces are push'd to ground.

And miners crush'd beneath their mines are found.

'Twas I slew Samson, when the pillar'd hall Fell down, and crush'd the many with the fall.

My looking is the sire of pestilence, That sweeps at once the people and the prince.

Now weep no more, but trust thy grandsire's art, 420 Mars shall be pleased, and thou perform thy part.

'Tis ill, though different your complexions are, The family of heaven for men should war.

The expedient pleased, where neither lost his right; Mars had the day, and Venus had the night.

The management they left to Chronos' care; Now turn we to the effect, and sing the war.

In Athens all was pleasure, mirth, and play, All proper to the spring, and spritely May: Which every soul inspired with such delight, 430 'Twas jesting all the day, and love at night.

Heaven smiled, and gladded was the heart of man; And Venus had the world as when it first began.

At length in sleep their bodies they compose, And dreamt the future fight, and early rose.

Now scarce the dawning day began to spring, As at a signal given, the streets with clamours ring: At once the crowd arose; confused and high, Even from the heaven, was heard a shouting cry; For Mars was early up, and roused the sky. 440 The G.o.ds came downward to behold the wars, Sharpening their sights, and leaning from their stars.

The neighing of the generous horse was heard, For battle by the busy groom prepared: Rustling of harness, rattling of the shield, Clattering of armour, furbish'd for the field.

Crowds to the castle mounted up the street, Battering the pavement with their coursers' feet: The greedy sight might there devour the gold Of glittering arms, too dazzling to behold: 450 And polish'd steel, that cast the view aside, And crested morions, with their plumy pride.

Knights, with a long retinue of their squires, In gaudy liveries march, and quaint attires.

One laced the helm, another held the lance: A third the shining buckler did advance.

The courser paw'd the ground with restless feet, And snorting foam'd, and champ'd the golden bit.

The smiths and armourers on palfreys ride, Files in their hands, and hammers at their side, 460 And nails for loosen'd spears, and thongs for shields provide.

The yeomen guard the streets, in seemly bands; And clowns come crowding on, with cudgels in their hands.

The trumpets, next the gate, in order placed, Attend the sign to sound the martial blast; The palace-yard is fill'd with floating tides, And the last comers bear the former to the sides.

The throng is in the midst: the common crew Shut out, the hall admits the better few; In knots they stand, or in a rank they walk, 470 Serious in aspect, earnest in their talk; Factious, and favouring this or the other side, As their strong fancy or weak reason guide: Their wagers back their wishes; numbers hold With the fair freckled king, and beard of gold: So vigorous are his eyes, such rays they cast, So prominent his eagle's beak is placed.

But most their looks on the black monarch bend, His rising muscles, and his brawn commend; His double-biting axe, and beamy spear, 480 Each asking a gigantic force to rear.

All spoke as partial favour moved the mind; And, safe themselves, at others' cost divined.

Waked by the cries, the Athenian chief arose, The knightly forms of combat to dispose; And pa.s.sing through the obsequious guards, he sate Conspicuous on a throne, sublime in state; There, for the two contending knights he sent; Arm'd cap-a-pie, with reverence low they bent; He smiled on both, and with superior look 490 Alike their offer'd adoration took.

The people press on every side to see Their awful prince, and hear his high decree.

Then signing to their heralds with his hand, They gave his orders from their lofty stand.

Silence is thrice enjoin'd; then thus aloud The king-at-arms bespeaks the knights and listening crowd:

Our sovereign lord has ponder'd in his mind The means to spare the blood of gentle kind; And of his grace, and inborn clemency, 500 He modifies his first severe decree!

The keener edge of battle to rebate, The troops for honour fighting, not for hate: He wills, not death should terminate their strife, And wounds, if wounds ensue, be short of life: But issues, ere the fight, his dread command, That slings afar, and poniards hand to hand, Be banish'd from the field; that none shall dare With shorten'd sword to stab in closer war; But in fair combat fight with manly strength, 510 Nor push with biting point, but strike at length; The tourney is allow'd but one career, Of the tough ash, with the sharp-grinded spear; But knights unhorsed may rise from off the plain, And fight on foot their honour to regain; Nor, if at mischief taken, on the ground Be slain, but prisoners to the pillar bound, At either barrier placed; nor (captives made), Be freed, or arm'd anew the fight invade.

The chief of either side, bereft of life, 520 Or yielded to his foe, concludes the strife.

Thus dooms the lord: now, valiant knights and young, Fight each his fill with swords and maces long.

The herald ends: the vaulted firmament With loud acclaims and vast applause is rent: Heaven guard a prince so gracious and so good, So just, and yet so provident of blood!

This was the general cry. The trumpets sound, And warlike symphony is heard around.

The marching troops through Athens take their way, 530 The great earl-marshal orders their array.

The fair from high the pa.s.sing pomp behold; A rain of flowers is from the windows roll'd.

The cas.e.m.e.nts are with golden tissue spread, And horses' hoofs, for earth, on silken tapestry tread.

The king goes midmost, and the rivals ride In equal rank, and close his either side.

Next after these, there rode the royal wife, With Emily, the cause, and the reward of strife.

The following cavalcade, by three and three, 540 Proceed by t.i.tles marshall'd in degree.

Thus through the southern gate they take their way, And at the list arrived ere prime of day.

There, parting from the king, the chiefs divide, And wheeling east and west, before their many ride.

The Athenian monarch mounts his throne on high, And after him the queen and Emily: Next these, the kindred of the crown are graced With nearer seats, and lords by ladies placed.

Scarce were they seated, when with clamours loud 550 In rush'd at once a rude promiscuous crowd; The guards, and then each other overbear, And in a moment throng the s.p.a.cious theatre.

Now changed the jarring noise to whispers low, As winds forsaking seas more softly blow; When at the western gate, on which the car Is placed aloft, that bears the G.o.d of war, Proud Arcite entering arm'd before his train, Stops at the barrier, and divides the plain.

Red was his banner, and display'd abroad 560 The b.l.o.o.d.y colours of his patron G.o.d.

At that self moment enters Palamon The gate of Venus, and the rising Sun; Waved by the wanton winds, his banner flies, All maiden white, and shares the people's eyes.

From east to west, look all the world around, Two troops so match'd were never to be found; Such bodies built for strength, of equal age, In stature sized; so proud in equipage: The nicest eye could no distinction make, 570 Where lay the advantage, or what side to take.

Thus ranged, the herald for the last proclaims A silence, while they answer'd to their names: For so the king decreed, to shun the care, The fraud of musters false, the common bane of war.

The tale was just, and then the gates were closed; And chief to chief, and troop to troop opposed.

The heralds last retired, and loudly cried-- The fortune of the field be fairly tried!

At this, the challenger with fierce defy 580 His trumpet sounds; the challenged makes reply; With clangour rings the field, resounds the vaulted sky.

Their vizors closed, their lances in the rest, Or at the helmet pointed, or the crest, They vanish from the barrier, speed the race, And spurring see decrease the middle s.p.a.ce.

A cloud of smoke envelops either host, And all at once the combatants are lost: Darkling they join adverse, and shock unseen, Coursers with coursers jostling, men with men: 590 As labouring in eclipse, a while they stay, Till the next blast of wind restores the day.

They look anew: the beauteous form of fight Is changed, and war appears a grisly sight.

Two troops in fair array one moment show'd, The next, a field with fallen bodies strow'd: Not half the number in their seats are found; But men and steeds lie grovelling on the ground.

The points of spears are stuck within the shield, The steeds without their riders scour the field. 600 The knights, unhorsed, on foot renew the fight; The glittering falchions cast a gleaming light: Hauberks and helms are hew'd with many a wound, Out spins the streaming blood and dyes the ground.

The mighty maces with such haste descend, They break the bones, and make the solid armour bend.

This thrusts amid the throng with furious force; Down goes, at once, the horseman and the horse: That courser stumbles on the fallen steed, And floundering throws the rider o'er his head. 610 One rolls along, a foot-ball to his foes; One with a broken truncheon deals his blows.

This halting, this disabled with his wound, In triumph led, is to the pillar bound, Where by the king's award he must abide: There goes a captive led on the other side.

By fits they cease; and leaning on the lance, Take breath a while, and to new fight advance.

Full oft the rivals met, and neither spared His utmost force, and each forgot to ward. 620 The head of this was to the saddle bent, The other backward to the crupper sent: Both were by turns unhorsed; the jealous blows Fall thick and heavy, when on foot they close.

So deep their falchions bite, that every stroke Pierced to the quick; and equal wounds they gave and took.

Borne far asunder by the tides of men, Like adamant and steel they meet again.

So when a tiger sucks the bullock's blood, A famish'd lion issuing from the wood 630 Roars lordly fierce, and challenges the food: Each claims possession, neither will obey, But both their paws are fasten'd on the prey; They bite, they tear; and while in vain they strive, The swains come arm'd between, and both to distance drive.

At length, as Fate foredoom'd, and all things tend By course of time to their appointed end; So when the sun to west was far declined, And both afresh in mortal battle join'd, The strong Emetrius came in Arcite's aid, 640 And Palamon with odds was overlaid: For turning short, he struck with all his might Full on the helmet of the unwary knight.

Deep was the wound; he stagger'd with the blow, And turn'd him to his unexpected foe; Whom with such force he struck, he fell'd him down, And cleft the circle of his golden crown.