The Rape of Helen, or The Origin of the Trojan War

YE nymphs of Troy, for beauty fam'd, who trace From Xanthus' fertile ſtreams your ancient race, Oft on whoſe ſandy banks your tires are laid, And many a trinket which your hands have made, What time to Ida's hallow'd mount ye throng, To join the feſtive choir in dance and ſong; No longer on your favourite banks repoſe, But come, the judgment of the ſwain diſcloſe. Say from what hills, to trackleſs deeps unknown, Ruſh'd with impetuous zeal the daring clown; Say to what end, with future ills replete, O'er diſtant oceans ſail'd a mighty fleet; What ſeas could this adventurous youth embroil, Sow difcord's ſeeds o'er what diſaſtrous ſoil? Say from what ſource aroſe the dire debate, Which ſwains could end and Goddeſſes create What his deciſion? Of the Grecian dame Who to the ſhepherd's ear convey'd the name Speak, for ye ſaw, on Ida's ſtill retreat, Judicial Paris ſtill his ſhepherd's ſeat; Venus ye ſaw, the Graces' darling queen, As on her judge approv'd ſhe ſmil'd ſerene. What time Hæmonia's lofty mountains rung With hymeneal ſongs for Peleus ſung, Officious Ganymede, at Jove's requeſt, Supplied with ſparkling wine each welcome guest; And all the Gods to Thetis' nuptials came, Siſter of Amphitrite, honour'd dame. Earth-ſhaking Neptune left his azure main, And Jove ſupreme forſook his ſtarry plain : From Helicon, with odorous ſhrubs o'erſpread, The Muſes' tuneful choir Apollo led. Him Juno follow'd, wife of ſovereign Jove: With Harmony the ſmiling queen of Love Haſten'd to join the Gods in Chiron's feſtive grove. Cupid's full quiver o'er her ſhoulder thrown, Perſuaſion follow'd with a bridal crown, Minerva, though to nuptial rites a foe, Came, but no helmet nodded o'er her brow. Diana to the Centaur's grove reſorts, And for one day forgets her rural ſports. His looſe locks ſhaking as the zephyrs play'd, Not long behind convivial Bacchus ſtay'd. War's God, as when to Vulcan's dome he ſped, No ſpear his hand ſuſtain'd, no caſque his head, Such now, without his helmet or his lance; Smiling he look'd, and led the bridal dance. But from theſe blissful ſcenes was Diſcord warn'd; Peleus rejected her, and Chiron ſcorn'd. As by the gadfly ſtung, the heifer ſtrays Far from its fields, through every devious maze; Thus, ſtung with envy, Diſcord roam'd, nor ceas'd Her baneful arts to interrupt the feaſt. Oft from her flinty bed ſhe rush'd amain, Then ſtood, then ſunk into her ſeat again : With deſperate hand ſhe tore her ſnaky head, And with a ſerpent-ſcourge ſhe laſh'd her flinty bed. To dart the forky lightning, and command From hell's abyſs the Titans' impious band, Jove from his throne with rebel-arm to wreſt, Were projects form'd within the fury's breast. But, though incens'd, ſhe dreaded Vulcan's ire, Who forms Jove's bolt, and checks the raging fire. Her purpoſe changing, ſhe with rattling arms Diſſenſion meditates and dire alarms; If haply clattering ſhields can ſtrike diſmay, And from the nuptials drive the Gods away. But Mars ſhe dreaded, oft in arms array'd, And this new project with complacence weigh'd. The burnish'd apples, rich with golden rind, Growth of Heſperian gardens, ſtruck her mind. Reſolv'd contention's baneful ſeeds to ſow, She tore the blushing apple from its bough, Graſp’d the dire ſource whence future battles ſprung, And midſt the Gods the golden mischief flung. The ſtately wife of Jove with wondering eyes Beheld, and wiſh'd to grasp the golden prize. Beauty's fair queen to catch the apple ſtrove; For 'tis the prize of beauty and of love. Jove mark'd the conteſt, and, to crush debate, Thus counſel’d Hermes, who beſide him ſat: Paris, perchance, from Priam ſprung, you know; 'His herds he grazes on mount Ida's brow, And oft conducts them to the dewy meads, Through which his ſtreams the Phrygian Xanthus leads: Shew him yon prize, and urge him to declare Which of theſe Goddeſſes he deems most fair; 'In whom, of all, his matchleſs ſkill can trace 'The cloſe-arch'd eyebrow and the roundeſt face, 'On ſuch a face, where bends the circling bow, The golden apple, beauty's prize, beſtow.' Thus ſpoke the ſire: the willing ſon obey'd, And to their judge the Deities convey'd. Each anxious fair her charms to heighten tries, And dart new luſtre from her ſparkling eyes. Her veil aſide inſidious Venus flung; Looſe from the claſp her fragrant ringlets hung; She then in golden cauls each curl compreſs’d, Summon'd her little Loves, and thus address'd : Behold, my ſons, the hour of trial near ! 'Embrace, my Loves, and bid me baniſh fear. This day's deciſion will enhance my fame, Crown beauty's queen, or ſink in endleſs ſhame. Doubting I ſtand, to whom the ſwain may ſay, 'Bear thou, moſt fair, the golden prize away. Nurs'd was each Grace by Juno's foſtering hand; And crowns and ſceptres ſhift at her command. Minerva dictates in th' embattled field; 'And heroes tremble when ſhe ſhakes her shield. Of all the Goddeſſes that rule above, Far most defenceleſs is the queen of Love. Without or ſpear or ſhield muſt Venus live; 'And crowns and ſceptres ſhe has none to give. 'Yet why deſpair? though with no falchion grac'd, 'Love's ſilken chain ſurrounds my ſlender waiſt. 'My bow this Ceſtus, this the dart I fling, And with this Ceſtus I infix my ſting. 'My ſting infix'd renews the lover's pain, And virgins languiſh, but revive again." Thus to her Loves the roſy-finger'd queen Told all her fears, and vented all her ſpleen : To every word they lent a willing ear, Round their fond mother clung, and ſtrove to cheer. And now they reach mount Ida's graſſy ſteep, Where youthful Paris ſeeds his father's ſheep : What time he tends them in the plains below, Through which the waters of Anaurus flow, Apart he counts his cattle's numerous ſtock, Apart he numbers all his fleecy flock. A wild goat's ſkin, around his ſhoulders caſt, Looſe fell and flow'd below his girded waist. A paſtoral ſtaff, which ſwains delight to hold, His roving herds protected and controll'd. Accoutred thus, and warbling o'er his ſong, He to his pipe melodious pac'd along. Unnoted oft, while he renews his lay, His flocks deſert him, and his oxen ſtray. Swift to his bower retires the tuneful man, To pipe the praiſe of Hermes and of Pan. Sunk is each animal in dead repoſe; No dog around him barks, no heifer lows : Echo alone rebounds through Ida's hills, And all the air with ſounds imperfect fills. The cattle, ſunk upon their verdant bed, Cloſe by their piping lord repoſe their head. Beneath the ſhades which ſheltering thickets blend, When Paris' eye approaching Hermes ken'd, Back he retires, with ſudden fear impreſs'd, And shuns the presence of the heavenly gueſt; To the thick ſhrubs his tuneful reed conveys, And all unfinish'd leaves his warbled lays. Thus winged Hermes to the ſhepherd ſaid, Who mark'd the God's approach with ſilent dread : 'Diſmiſs thy fears, nor with thy flocks abide; A mighty conteſt Paris muſt decide. 'Haſte, judge announc'd; for whoſe deciſion wait Three lovely females, of celestial ſtate. 'Haſte, and the triumph of that face declare, Which ſweetest looks, and faireſt midst the fair: Let her, whoſe form thy critic eye prefers, Claim beauty's prize, and be this apple hers." Thus Hermes ſpoke; the ready ſwain obey'd, And to decide the mighty cauſe eſſay'd. With keeneſt look he mark'd the heavenly dames; Their eyes, quick flashing as the lightning's flames, Their ſnowy necks, their garments fring'd with gold, And rich embroidery wrought in every fold; Their gait he mark'd, as gracefully they mov'd, And round their feet his eye ſagacious rov'd. But, ere the ſmiling ſwain his thoughts expreſs'd, Grasping his hand him Pallas thus addreſs'd: 'Regard not, Phrygian youth, the wife of Jove, 'Nor Venus heed, the queen of wedded love: But martial prowess if thy wisdom prize, Know, I poſſeſs it; praiſe me to the ſkies, Thee, fame reports, puiſſant ſtates obey, 'And Troy's proud city owns thy ſovereign ſway. 'Her ſuffering ſons thy conquering arm ſhall ſhield, And ſtern Bellona ſhall to Paris yield. Comply; her ſuccour will Minerva lend, Teach thee war's ſcience, and in fight defend.' Thus Pallas ſtrove to influence the ſwain, Whoſe favour Juno thus attempts to gain: Should'ft thou with beauty's prize my charms reward, All Afia's realms ſhall own thee for their lord. Say, what from battles but contention ſprings?? Such contests ſhun; for what are wars to kings? But him, whoſe hands the rod of empire ſway, Cowards revere, and conquerors obey, 'Minerva's friends are oft Bellona's ſlaves, And the fiend ſlaughters whom the Goddeſs ſaves, Proffers of boundleſs ſway thus Juno made, And Venus thus, contemptuous ſmiling, ſaid: But firſt her floating veil aloft ſhe threw, And all her graces to the ſhepherd ſhewest Looſen'd her little Loves' attractive chain, And tried each art to captivate the ſwain: Accept my boon,' (thus ſpoke the ſmiling dame) 'Battles forget, and dread Bellona's name, Beauty's rich meed at Venus' hand receive, And Aſia's wide domain to tyrants leave. The deathful fight, the din of arms I fear; Can Venus' hand direct the martial ſpear? Women with beauty ſtouteſt hearts aſſail, T Beauty, their beſt defence, their ſtrongest mail. Prefer domestic eaſe to martial ſtrife, And to exploits of war a pleaſing wife To realms extenſive Helen's bed prefer, And ſcoff at kingdoms, when opposed to her, Thy prize with envy Sparta ſhall surveysidonne And Troy to Paris tune the bridal lay. The ſhepherd, who astonish'd ſtood and mute, Y Conſign'd to Venus the Heſperian fruit: The claim of beauty, and the ſource of woes For dire debates from this deciſion roſe. Uplifting in her hand the glowing prize, She rallied thus the vanquiſh’d Deities : 'To me, ye martial dames, the prize reſign'; A Beauty I court, and beauty's prize is mine. 'Mother of mighty Mars and Vulcan too, Fame ſays, the choir of Graces ſprung from you. 'Yet diſtant far, this day, your daughters ſtray'd, 'And no one Grace appear'd to lend you aid. 'Mars too declin'd t' aſſert his mother's right, Though oft his brandiſh'd ſword decides the fight. His boaſted flames why could not Vulcan caſt, And at one blaze his mother's rivals blaſt. Vain are thy triumphs, Pallas, vain thy ſcorn; mort Thou, not in wedlock, nor of woman born, Jove's teeming head the monstrous birth contains, T And the barb'd iron ripp'd thee from his brains. Brac'd with the unyielding plaits of ruthless mails She curſes Cupid and the ſilken veil is too ba Connubial bliſs and concord ſhe abhors,s In diſcord glories and delights in wars. 'Yet know, virago, not in feats of arms 'Triumph weak women, but in beauty's charms. 'Nor men nor women are thoſe mungrels baſe,T Like you, equivocal in form and face. In terms like theſe the laughter-loving queen Rallied her rivals, and increas'd their ſpleen, As, lifting high, ſhe view'd with ſecret joy Her beauty's triumphs and the bane of Troy. Inſpir'd with love for her, the fair unknown, By beauty's conquering queen pronounc'd his own, Ill-fated Paris to the foreſt's maze Men vers'd in Pallas' various arts conveys.A At Pericles' command they give the blow, And lay the glories of the foreſt low. He, artiſt fam'd, his frantic prince obey'd, And burden'd ocean with the ſhips he made. From Ida's ſummits ruſh'd the daring ſwain, And to its bowery ſhades prefer'd the boisterous main. The extended beach with choice oblations ſtor'd, And his protectreſs Venus oft implor’d. The billowy deep his furrowing keel divides, And in the Helleſpont his veſſel rides; But prodigies announce approaching ills, And with preſages ſad each bosom fill'd. Up-heaving waves heaven's ſtarry concave ſhroud, And round each Bear is caſt a circling cloud; Clouds and big waves diſcharge their watery ſtores; Full on the deck the bursting torrent pours. Their ſturdy oars with unabating ſweep Far whitening agitate the angry deep. Dardanus paſs'd, and Ilion's fertile plains, The mouth of Iſmarus' lake the adventurer gains. Now, far remote, they view Pangræa's height; Now Phillis' riſing tomb attracts their ſight, And the dull round ſhe nine times trode in vain, To view the faithless wanderer again. Hæmonia's meads remote, the Trojan ſpies Th' Achaian cities unexpected riſe: Phthia, with heroes far-renown'd replete; Mycenæ, fam'd for many a ſpacious ſtreet. Beſide the meads, where Erymanthus glides, Sparta aſpires, that boasts her beauteous brides; Sparta with joy th' expecting ſwain ſurvey'd, Lav'd by Eurotas, by Atrides ſway'd. Nor diſtant far, o'erſhaded by a wood, Beneath a mountain's brow Therapnæ ſtood. Short was thein voyage now: the bending oar Was heard to laſh the foamy ſurge no more. The ſailors, ſafe imboſom'd in the bay, Firm to the beach confine the corded ſtay. In purifying waters plung'd the ſwain, And, riſing thence, pac'd ſlowly o'er the plain. For much he fear'd, leſt his incautious tread. O'er his wash'd feet the ſpatter'd mire ſhould ſpread; Or leſt his hair, beneath his caſque confin'd, Should, if he ran, be ruffled with the wind: The city's ſplendor Paris' eye detains, The citizens' abodes, and gliſtering fanes. Here Pallas' form, in mimic gold portray'd, Here Hyacinthus' image he ſurvey'd. Him with delight the Amiclæans view'd, Pursuing Phœbus and by him purfu'd; But, ſore diſpleas'd at jealous Zephyr's ſpite, They urg'd the ſtripling to unequal fight; For Phœbus' efforts ineffectual prov'd, To ſave from Zephyr's rage the youth he lov'd. Earth with compaſſion heard Apollo's cries,ដូរ And from her boſom bade a flower ariſe, His favourite's name, impreſs'd upon whoſe leaf, Still, as the God contemplates, ſooths his grief. Now Priam's ſon before Atrides' dome Exulting ſtood in beauty's purple bloom. Not Semele, by Jove's careſſes won, On Jove bestow'd ſo beautiful a ſon: (Forgive me, Bacchus, ſeed of Jove ſupreme) Such peerless graces round his perſon beam. Touch'd by fair Helen's hand the bolts recede; She to the ſpacious hall repair'd with ſpeed : Her form diſtinct th' unfolded portals ſhew; She look'd, ſhe ponder'd, and again withdrew. Then on a radiant ſeat ſhe bade him reſt, And, ſtill inſatiate, gaz'd upon her gueſt. Awhile ſhe likens him in graceful mien To Love, attendant on the Cyprian queen. But 'tis not Love, ſhe recollects again; Nor bow nor quiver deck this gallant ſwain. 'Tis Bacchus ſure, the God of wine, ſhe ſaid; For o'er his cheeks a roſy bloom is ſpread. Daring at length her faltering voice to raiſe, She thus expreſs'd her wonder and her praiſe: Whence art thou, ſtranger? whence thy comely racé ? Thy country tell me, and thy natal place. 'In thee I mark the majeſty of kings: But not from Greece thy lofty lineage ſprings. Not ſandy Pyle thine origin can ſhew; 'I know not thee, though Neftor's ſon I know. Phthia, the nurse of heroes, train'd not thee; For known are all th' Æacidæ to me. 'Peleus, and Telamon renown'd in fight, Patroclus' courtesy, Achilles' might.' Inſpir'd by love, thus ſpoke the gentle dame; And he, thus anſwering, fann'd the rising flame: If e'er recording fame, illustrious maid, "Hath to thine ear great Ilion's name convey'd, Ilion, whoſe walls on Phrygian frontiers ſtand, Rear'd by Apollo's and by Neptune's hand; Him if thou know'ſt, moſt opulent of kings, Who reigns o'er Ilion, and from Saturn ſprings; " I to hereditary worth aſpire; The wealthy Priam is my honour'd ſire. My high deſcent from Dardanus I prove; And ancient Dardanus deſcends from Jove. Th' Immortals thus forſake the realms of light, And mix with mortals in the ſocial rite. Neptune and Phœbus thus forſook the ſphere, Firm on its baſe my native Troy to rear. " But know, on three fair Goddeſſes, of late, Sentence I paſs'd, and clos'd the long debate. "On Venus, who with charms ſuperior ſhone, " I laviſh'd praiſes and conferr'd my boon. "The Cyprian Goddess, pleas'd with my decree, "Reſerv'd this recompence, O queen, for me; "Some faithful fair, poſſeſs'd of heavenly charms, "Should, ſhe proteſted, bleſs my longing arms; "Helen her name, to beauty's queen ally'd; Helen, for thee I ſtemm'd the troubled tide. " Unite we now in Hymen's myſtic bands; Thus love inſpires, and Venus thus commands. "Scorn not my ſuit, nor beauty's queen deſpiſe : "More need I add to influence the wife? For well thou know'ſt, how daſtardly and baſe "Is Menelaus's degenerate race. And well I know, that Græcia's ample coaſt "No fair like thee, for beauty fam'd, can boaſt." He ſaid; on earth her ſparkling eyes ſhe cast, Embarraſs'd paus'd awhile, and ſpoke at laſt: 'To viſit Ilion, and her towers ſurvey, 'Rear'd by the God of ocean and of day, (Stupendous labours by Celestials wrought) Hath oft, illustrious gueſt, employ'd my thought. Oft have I wish'd to ſaunter o'er the vales, 'Whoſe flowery paſture Phœbus' flocks regales; Where, beneath Ilion's walls, along the meads, The ſhepherd-God his lowing oxen ſeeds. 'To Ilion I'll attend thee: haſte, away; 'For beauty's queen forbids our long delay. 'No huſband's threats, no huſband's ſearch I dread, Though he to Troy ſuſpect his Helen fled. The Spartan dame, of matchless charms poſſeſs'd, Proffer'd theſe terms to her conſenting gueſt. Night, which relieves our toils, when the bright ſun, In ocean ſunk, his daily courſe has run, Now gives her ſofteſt ſlumbers, ere the ray Of riſing morn proclaims th' approach of day. Two gates of airy dreams ſhe opens wide; Of poliſh'd horn is this, where truths abide: Voices divine through this mysterious gate Proclaim th' unalterable will of fate. But through the ivory-gate inceſſant troop Of vain, deluſive dreams a faithless group. Helen, ſeduc’d from Menelaus' bed, Th' adventurous ſhepherd to his navy led; To Troy with ſpeed he bears the fatal freight; For Venus' proffers confidence create. At morning's dawn Hermione appears, With treſſes diſcompos'd and bath'd in tears. She rous'd her menial train; and thus expreſs'd The boding ſorrows of her troubled breaſt Where, fair attendants, is my mother fled, Who left me ſleeping in her lonely bed? For yeſternight ſhe took her truſty key, 'Turn'd the ſtrong bolt, and ſlept ſecure with mel Her hapless fate the penſive train deplore, And in thick circles gather round the door; Here all contend to moderate her grief, And by their kind condolence give relief: Unhappy princeſs, check the riſing tear,... Thy mother, abſent now, will ſoon appear. Soon as thy forrow's bitter ſource ſhe knows, Her ſpeedy preſence will diſpel thy woes. The virgin-cheek, with forrow's weight o'ercome, Sinks languid down and loses half its bloom. Deep in the head the tearful eye retires, There ſullen ſits, nor darts its wonted fires. Eager, perchance, the band of nymphs to meet, She ſaunters devious from her favourite-ſeat, And, of ſome flowery mead at length poſſeſs'd, 'Sinks on the dew-beſpangled lawn to reſt. Or to ſome kindred ſtream perchance ſhe ſtrays, Bathes in Eurotas ſtreams, and round its margin plays; 'Why talk ye thus?" (the penſive maid replies, The tears of anguiſh trickling from her eyes) She knows each roſeate bower, each vale and hill, 'She knows the course of every winding rill. 'The stars are ſet; on rugged rocks ſhe lies: 'The ſtars are up; nor does my mother riſe. 'What hills, what dales thy devious ſteps detain? Hath ſome relentless beaſt my mother ſlain? 'But beasts, which lawless round the foreſt rove, Revere the ſacred progeny of Jove. Or art thou fallen from ſome ſteep mountain's brow, Thy corſe conceal'd in dreary dells below? 'But through the groves, with thickeſt foliage crown'd, 'Beneath each ſhrivel'd leaf that ſtrews the ground, Aſſiduous have I ſought thy corſe in vain : Why should we then the guiltless grove arraign? But have Eurotas' ſtreams, which rapid flow, 'O'erwhelm'd thee bathing in its deeps below? Yet in the deeps below the Naiads live, And they to womankind protection give... Thus ſpoke the ſorrowing, and reclin'd her head; 'And ſleeping ſeem'd to mingle with the deada OT' For ſleep his elder brother's aſpect wears; Lies mute like him, and undisturb'd by tears; Hence the ſwoln eyes of females, deep diſtreſs'd, Oft, when the tear is trickling, ſink to reſt; In this deluſive dream the ſleeping maid Her mother ſaw, or thought ſhe ſaw, portray’d. Aloud ſhe ſhriek'd, diſtracted and amaz'd, And utter'd thus her anguiſh as ſhe gaz'd: Last night, far diſtant from your daughter fled, 'You left me ſlumbering in my father's bed. What dangerous ſteeps have not I ſtrove to gain And ſtroll'd o'er hills and dales for thee in vain? "Condemn me not; (replied the wandering dame) "Pity my ſufferings, nor augment my shame. "Me yesterday a lawless gueſt beguil'd, " And diſtant tore me from my darling child. "At Cytherea's high command I rove; "And once more revel in the walks of love." She said: her voice the ſleeping maid alarms She ſprings to claſp her mother in her arms. In vain : no mother meets her wiſtful eyes; And now her tears redouble and her cries: The feathery race, inhabitants of light, To Crete's fam'd iſle direct your rapid ſights; There to my ſire th' unwelcome truth proclaim, How yesterday a deſperate vagrant came, Tore all he dotes on from his bridal bed, 'And with his beauteous queen abruptly fled. The reſtleſs fair, her mother to regain, Thus to the winds bewail'd and wept in vain.com H The Thracian town diminiſh'd from their view, And fleet o'er Helle's ſtrait the veſſel flew. The bridegroom now his natal coaſt deſcry'd, And to the Trojan port conducts his bride. Caſſandra from her tower beheld them ſail, And tore her locks, and rent her golden veil. A But hoſpitable Troy unbars her gate, Receives her citizen and ſeals her fate.