Collected Poems - Sri Aurobindo Ashram

436 Pondicherry, c. 1910 – 1920
New were his feet to the Trojan sands from the ships and from Scyros:
Led to this latest of all his father’s fights in the Troad
He for his earliest battle waited, the son of Achilles.
So in her mood had Fate brought them together, the son and the father,
Even as our souls travelling different paths have met in the ages
Each for its work and they cling for an hour to the names of affection,
Then Time’s long waves bear them apart for new forms we shall know not,
So these two long severed had met in the shadow of parting.
Often he smote his hand on the thigh-piece for sound of the armour,
Bent his ear to the plains or restless moved like a war-horse
Curbed by his master’s will, when he stands new-saddled for battle
Hearing the voice of the trumpets afar and pawing the meadows.
Over the sands Acirrous came to them running and toiling,
Known from far off, for he ran unhelmeted. High on the hero
Sunlike smiled the golden Achilles and into the tent-space
Seized by the hand and brought him and seated. “War-shaft of Troezen,
Whence was thy speed, Acirrous? Com’st thou, O friend, to my tent-side
Spurred by thy eager will or the trusted stern Diomedes?
Or from the Greeks like the voice still loved from a heart that is hollow?
What say the banded princes of Greece to the single Achilles?
Bringest thou flattery pale or an empty and futureless menace?”
But to the strength of Pelides the hero Acirrous answered:
“Response none make the Greeks to thy high-voiced message and challenge;
Only their shout at thy side will reply when thou leapst into Troya.
So have their chieftains willed and the wisdom calm of Odysseus.”
But with a haughty scorn made answer the high-crested Hellene:
“Wise is Odysseus, wise are the hearts of Achaia’s chieftains.
Ilion’s chiefs are enough for their strength and life is too brittle
Hurrying Fate to advance on the spear of the Phthian Achilles.”
“Not from the Greeks have I sped to thy tents, their friendship or quarrel
Urged not my feet; but Tiryns’ chieftain strong Diomedes
Sent me claiming a word long old that first by his war-car
Young Neoptolemus come from island Scyros should enter
Far-crashing into the fight that has lacked this shoot of Achilles,
Pressing in front with his father’s strength in the playground of Ares,
Shouting his father’s cry as he clashed to his earliest battle.
So let Achilles’ son twin-carred fight close by Tydides,