s: Setting the right at naught.  There is no lot


s: More woeful and more helpless than is hers


s: Who is left a widow in a desolate home."


s: Loud-wailing spake she; but her son replied:


s: "Be of good cheer, my mother; put from thee


s: Beyond his destiny slain.  If my weird be


s: To die in my country's cause, then let me die


s: When I have done deeds worthy of my sire."


s: "O valiant-hearted son, so like thy sire,


s: I know thee strong and valorous; yet, O yet


s: The terrible sea-surge.  Shipmen evermore


s: Hang on destruction's brink.  Beware, my child,


s: From Troy or other shores, such as beset


s: The long sea-ridges, when the sun hath left


s: The Archer-star, and meets the misty Goat,


s: When the wild blasts drive on the lowering storm,


s: Slopes, into Ocean's river sinking slow.


s: Beware the time of equal days and nights,


s: When blasts that o'er the sea's abysses rush,


s: None knoweth whence in fury of battle clash.


s: Beware the Pleiads' setting, when the sea


s: Maddens beneath their power nor these alone,


s: But other stars, terrors of hapless men,


s: As o'er the wide sea-gulf they set or rise."


s: Then kissed he him, nor sought to stay the feet


s: Of him who panted for the clamour of war,


s: Who smiled for pleasure and for eagerness


s: To haste to the ship.  Yet were his hurrying feet


s: Stayed by his mother's pleading and her tears


s: Still in those halls awhile.  As some swift horse


s: Is reined in by his rider, when he strains


s: Unto the race-course, and he neighs, and champs


s: The curbing bit, dashing his chest with foam,


s: And his feet eager for the course are still


s: Never, his restless hooves are clattering aye;


s: His mane is a stormy cloud, he tosses high


s: His head with snortings, and his lord is glad;


s: So reined his mother back the glorious son


s: Were restless, so the mother's loving pride


s: Joyed in her son, despite her heart-sick pain.


s: A thousand times he kissed her, then at last


s: Left her alone with her own grief and moan


s: There in her father's halls.  As o'er her nest


s: For her lost nestlings which, mid piteous shrieks,


s: A fearful serpent hath devoured, and wrung


s: The loving mother's heart; and now above


s: That empty cradle spreads her wings, and now


s: Flies round its porchway fashioned cunningly


s: Now on her son's bed did she cast herself,


s: She leaned, and wept: now laid she in her lap


s: Those childhood's toys yet treasured in her bower,


s: Wherein his babe-heart joyed long years agone.


s: She saw a dart there left behind of him,


s: And kissed it o'er and o'er yea, whatso else


s: Her weeping eyes beheld that was her son's.


s: Naught heard he of her moans unutterable,


s: But was afar, fast striding to the ship.


s: He seemed, as his feet swiftly bare him on,


s: Like some all-radiant star; and at his side


s: With Tydeus' son war-wise Odysseus went,


s: And with them twenty gallant-hearted men,


s: Gave them for henchmen swift to do his will.


s: And these attended Achilles' valiant son,


s: As through the city to the ship he sped.


s: On, with glad laughter, in their midst he strode;


s: And Thetis and the Nereids joyed thereat.


s: Yea, glad was even the Raven-haired, the Lord


s: Of all the sea, beholding that brave son


s: Of princely Achilles, marking how he longed


s: For battle.  Beardless boy albeit he was,


s: His prowess and his might were inward spurs


s: Like to the War-god, when to gory strife


s: He speedeth, wroth with foes, when maddeneth


s: His heart, and grim his frown is, and his eyes


s: Flash levin-flame around him, and his face


s: Is clothed with glory of beauty terror-blent,


s: So seemed Achilles' goodly son; and prayers


s: Went up through all the city unto Heaven


s: To bring their noble prince safe back from war;


s: And the Gods hearkened to them.  High he towered


s: Above all stateliest men which followed him.


s: And found the rowers in the smooth-wrought ship


s: Handling the tackle, fixing mast and sail.


s: Straightway they went aboard: the shipmen cast


s: The hawsers loose, and heaved the anchor-stones,


s: The strength and stay of ships in time of need.


s: Then did the Sea-queen's lord grant voyage fair


s: To these with gracious mind; for his heart yearned


s: And mighty-souled Eurypylus hard-bestead.


s: Those heroes, gladdening his soul with tales


s: Of his sire's mighty deeds--of all he wrought


s: In sea-raids, and in valiant Telephus' land,


s: And how he smote round Priam's burg the men


s: His heart glowed, fain to grasp his heritage,


s: In her bower, sorrowing for her son the while,


s: Or wax, and never did her moaning cease,


s: As o'er the wide sea her gaze followed him.


s: Ay, for her son a mother fretteth still,


s: Though it be to a feast that he hath gone,


s: By a friend bidden forth.  But soon the sail


s: Of that good ship far-fleeting o'er the blue


s: Grew faint and fainter--melted in sea-haze.


s: But still she sighed, still daylong made her moan.


s: On ran the ship before a following wind,


s: And crashed the dark wave either side the prow:


s: Swiftly across the abyss unplumbed she sped.


s: Night's darkness fell about her, but the breeze


s: Held, and the steersman's hand was sure.  O'er gulfs


s: Of brine she flew, till Dawn divine rose up


s: To climb the sky.  Then sighted they the peaks


s: Of Ida, Chrysa next, and Smintheus' fane,


s: Then the Sigean strand, and then the tomb


s: Of Aeacus' son.  Yet would Laertes' seed,


s: The man discreet of soul, not point it out


s: Too high should swell within his breast.  They passed


s: The shade of towery elms; when, soaring high


s: Above the plain, their topmost boughs discern


s: Troy, straightway wither all their highest sprays.


s: Was brought: they saw the long strand fringed with keels


s: Of Argives, who endured sore travail of war


s: Even then about the wall, the which themselves


s: Had reared to screen the ships and men in stress


s: To earth were like to dash it and destroy;


s: But the quick eyes of Tydeus' strong son marked


s: How rained the darts and stones on that long wall.


s: Forth of the ship he sprang, and shouted loud


s: With all the strength of his undaunted breast:


s: "Friends, on the Argive men is heaped this day


s: Sore travail!  Let us don our flashing arms


s: With speed, and to yon battle-turmoil haste.


s: For now upon our towers the warrior sons


s: Of Troy press hard--yea, haply will they tear


s: The long walls down, and burn the ships with fire,


s: And so the souls that long for home-return


s: Shall win it never; nay, ourselves shall fall


s: Before our due time, and shall lie in graves


s: In Troyland, far from children and from wives."


s: All as one man down from the ship they leapt;


s: For trembling seized on all for that grim sight--


s: Whose might was like his father's: lust of war


s: Swept o'er him.  To Odysseus' tent in haste


s: They sped, for close it lay to where the ship


s: Touched land.  About its walls was hung great store


s: Of change of armour, of wise Odysseus some,


s: And rescued some from gallant comrades slain.


s: Then did the brave man put on goodly arms;


s: But they in whose breasts faintlier beat their hearts


s: Must don the worser.  Odysseus stood arrayed


s: In those which came with him from Ithaca:


s: Stripped in time past from mighty Socus slain.


s: Clad him and lo, he seemed Achilles' self!


s: Light on his limbs and lapping close they lay--


s: So cunning was Hephaestus' workmanship--


s: Which for another had been a giant's arms.


s: The massive helmet cumbered not his brows;


s: Yea, the great Pelian spear-shaft burdened not


s: His hand, but lightly swung he up on high


s: The heavy and tall lance thirsting still for blood.


s: Might none draw nigh to him, how fain soe'er,


s: So fast were they in that grim grapple locked


s: Of the wild war that raged all down the wall.


s: But as when shipmen, under a desolate isle


s: Mid the wide sea by stress of weather bound,


s: Chafe, while afar from men the adverse blasts


s: Prison them many a day; they pace the deck


s: With sinking hearts, while scantier grows their store


s: Of food; they weary till a fair wind sings;


s: So joyed the Achaean host, which theretofore


s: Were heavy of heart, when Neoptolemus came,


s: Joyed in the hope of breathing-space from toil.


s: Then like the aweless lion's flashed his eyes,


s: Which mid the mountains leaps in furious mood


s: To meet the hunters that draw nigh his cave,


s: Thinking to steal his cubs, there left alone


s: In a dark-shadowed glen but from a height


s: The beast hath spied, and on the spoilers leaps


s: With grim jaws terribly roaring; even so


s: That glorious child of Aeacus' aweless son


s: Against the Trojan warriors burned in wrath.


s: Where loudest from the plain uproared the fight,


s: There weakest, he divined, must be the wall,


s: The battlements lowest, since the surge of foes


s: Brake heaviest there.  Charged at his side the rest


s: Breathing the battle-spirit.  There they found


s: Eurypylus mighty of heart and all his men


s: Of tearing down the walls, of slaughtering


s: The Gods had to accomplish their desire!


s: In strength and beauty, hailed their javelins down,


s: And thrust them from the wall.  As dogs and shepherds


s: By shouting and hard fighting drive away


s: Strong lions from a steading, rushing forth


s: From all sides, and the brutes with glaring eyes


s: Pace to and fro; with savage lust for blood


s: Of calves and kine their jaws are slavering;


s: Yet must their onrush give back from the hounds


s: And fearless onset of the shepherd folk;


s: Suffered them not to flee far from the ships,


s: But cheered them on to bide the brunt, until


s: The ships be won, and all the Argives slain;


s: For Zeus with measureless might thrilled all his frame.


s: Then seized he a rugged stone and huge, and leapt


s: And hurled it full against the high-built wall.


s: It crashed, and terribly boomed that rampart steep


s: To its foundations.  Terror gripped the Greeks,


s: As though that wall had crumbled down in dust;


s: Yet from the deadly conflict flinched they not,


s: But stood fast, like to jackals or to wolves


s: Bold robbers of the sheep--when mid the hills


s: Hunter and hound would drive them forth their caves,


s: Being grimly purposed there to slay their whelps.


s: Yet these, albeit tormented by the darts,


s: Flee not, but for their cubs' sake bide and fight;


s: So for the ships' sake they abode and fought,


s: Afront of all the ships stood, taunting them:


s: Had given me pause, nor thrust back from your ships,


s: Had not your rampart stayed mine onset-rush.


s: Ye are like to dogs, that in a forest flinch


s: Ye are fighting--nay, are shrinking back from death!


s: But if ye dare come forth on Trojan ground,


s: As once when ye were eager for the fray,


s: None shall from ghastly death deliver you:


s: Slain by mine hand ye all shall lie in dust!"


s: Nor heard Doom's chariot-wheels fast rolling near


s: Bearing swift death at Neoptolemus' hands,


s: Nor saw death gleaming from his glittering spear.


s: Ay, and that hero paused not now from fight,


s: But from the ramparts smote the Trojans aye.


s: From that death leaping from above they quailed


s: Gripped all their hearts.  As little children cower


s: About a father's knees when thunder of Zeus


s: Crashes from cloud to cloud, when all the air


s: Shudders and groans, so did the sons of Troy,


s: With those Ceteians round their great king, cower


s: Ever as prince Neoptolemus hurled; for death


s: Rode upon all he cast, and bare his wrath


s: Straight rushing down upon the heads of foes.


s: Now in their hearts those wildered Trojans said


s: That once more they beheld Achilles' self


s: That horror in their breasts, lest panic fear


s: Should pass from them to the Ceteian host


s: They wavered 'twixt the stress of their hard strait


s: And that blood-curdling dread, 'twixt shame and fear.


s: Look up, and see adown the mountain-slope


s: A torrent rushing on them, thundering down


s: The rocks, and dare not meet its clamorous flood,


s: But hurry shuddering on, with death in sight


s: Holding as naught the perils of the path;


s: So stayed the Trojans, spite of their desire


s: Aye cheered them on to fight.  He trusted still


s: That this new mighty foe would weary at last


s: With toil of slaughter; but he wearied not.


s: That desperate battle-travail Pallas saw,


s: And left the halls of Heaven incense-sweet,


s: And flew o'er mountain-crests: her hurrying feet


s: Touched not the earth, borne by the air divine


s: In form of cloud-wreaths, swifter than the wind.


s: She came to Troy, she stayed her feet upon


s: Sigeum's windy ness, she looked forth thence


s: Over the ringing battle of dauntless men,


s: And gave the Achaeans glory.  Achilles' son


s: Beyond the rest was filled with valour and strength


s: Which win renown for men in whom they meet.


s: Peerless was he in both: the blood of Zeus


s: Gave strength; to his father's valour was he heir;


s: So by those towers he smote down many a foe.


s: To lure the fish to their destruction, takes


s: Within his boat the strength of fire; his breath


s: Kindles it to a flame, till round the boat


s: Glareth its splendour, and from the black sea


s: The radiance--for the last time; for the barbs


s: Of his three-pointed spear, as up they leap,


s: Slay them; his heart rejoices o'er the prey.


s: Slew hosts of onward-rushing foes around


s: That wall of stone.  Well fought the Achaeans all,


s: Here, there, adown the ramparts: rang again


s: The wide strand and the ships: the battered walls


s: Groaned ever.  Men with weary ache of toil


s: Fainted on either side; sinews and might


s: Of strong men were unstrung.  But o'er the son


s: Was tireless; never touched by palsying fear


s: He fought on, as with the triumphant strength


s: Of an ever-flowing river: though it roll


s: 'Twixt blazing forests, though the madding blast


s: Roll stormy seas of flame, it feareth not,


s: For at its brink faint grows the fervent heat,


s: The strong flood turns its might to impotence;


s: So weariness nor fear could bow the knees


s: Still as he fought, still cheered his comrades on.


s: Of myriad shafts sped at him none might touch


s: His flesh, but even as snowflakes on a rock


s: Fell vainly ever: wholly screened was he


s: By broad shield and strong helmet, gifts of a God.


s: Stride all along the wall, with ringing shouts


s: Cheering the dauntless Argives to the fray,


s: Being their mightiest far, bearing a soul


s: Burning with one strong purpose, to avenge


s: His father's death: the Myrmidons in their king


s: Exulted.  Roared the battle round the wall.


s: Cunning to hurl the dart, to drive the steed


s: Born at one birth beside Sangarius' banks


s: His boundless wealth enjoyed they, for the


s: Fates Span them a thread of life exceeding brief.


s: As on one day they saw the light, they died


s: On one day by the same hand.  To the heart


s: He smote down with a massy stone that crashed


s: Through his strong helmet, shattered all its ridge,


s: And dashed his brains to earth.  Around them fell


s: Foes many, a host untold.  The War-god's work


s: Till failed the light celestial; then the host


s: Of brave Eurypylus from the ships drew back


s: A little: they that held those leaguered towers


s: Had a short breathing-space; the sons of Troy


s: Had respite from the deadly-echoing strife,


s: From that hard rampart-battle.  Verily all


s: The Argives had beside their ships been slain,


s: Had not Achilles' strong son on that day


s: Withstood the host of foes and their great chief


s: Eurypylus.  Came to that young hero's side


s: Phoenix the old, and marvelling gazed on one


s: And grief swept o'er him--grief, for memories


s: Of that swift-footed father--joy, for sight


s: Of such a son.  He for sheer gladness wept;


s: For never without tears the tribes of men


s: Live--nay, not mid the transports of delight.


s: He clasped him round as father claspeth son


s: Whom, after long and troublous wanderings,


s: The Gods bring home to gladden a father's heart.


s: So kissed he Neoptolemus' head and breast,


s: Clasping him round, and cried in rapture of joy:


s: With a glad heart.  By Heaven's high providence


s: Like a strong sapling waxed he in stature fast,


s: And prowess, my life's blessing, honouring him


s: As though he were the son of mine old age;


s: In spirit: thou hadst deemed us of one blood


s: Who were in heart one: but of nobler mould


s: Was he by far, in form and strength a God.


s: Thou art wholly like him--yea, I seem to see


s: Sharp anguish shrouds me ever.  I waste away


s: In sorrowful age--oh that the grave had closed


s: On me while yet he lived!  How blest to be


s: By loving hands of kinsmen laid to rest!


s: Ah child, my sorrowing heart will nevermore


s: Forget him!  Chide me not for this my grief.


s: But now, help thou the Myrmidons and Greeks


s: In their sore strait: wreak on the foe thy wrath


s: For thy brave sire.  It shall be thy renown


s: To slay this war-insatiate Telephus' son;


s: For mightier art thou, and shalt prove, than he,


s: As was thy father than his wretched sire."


s: Made answer golden-haired Achilles' son:


s: "Ancient, our battle-prowess mighty Fate


s: And the o'ermastering War-god shall decide."


s: But, as he spake, he had fain on that same day


s: Forth of the gates have rushed in his sire's arms;


s: But night, which bringeth men release from toil,


s: Rose from the ocean veiled in sable pall.


s: Him mid the ships the glad Greeks hailed, who had won


s: Courage from that his eager rush to war.


s: With princely presents did they honour him,


s: With priceless gifts, whereby is wealth increased;


s: For some gave gold and silver, handmaids some,


s: Brass without weight gave these, and iron those;


s: Others in deep jars brought the ruddy wine:


s: Yea, fleetfoot steeds they gave, and battle-gear,


s: And raiment woven fair by women's hands.


s: Glowed Neoptolemus' heart for joy of these.


s: A feast they made for him amidst the tents,


s: And there extolled Achilles' godlike son


s: With praise as of the immortal Heavenly Ones;


s: And joyful-voiced Agamemnon spake to him:


s: "Thou verily art the brave-souled Aeacid's son,


s: In beauty, stature, courage, and in soul.


s: Mine heart burns in me seeing thee.  I trust


s: Thine hands and spear shall smite yon hosts of foes,


s: Shall smite the city of Priam world-renowned--


s: So like thy sire thou art!  Methinks I see


s: Himself beside the ships, as when his shout


s: Of wrath for dead Patroclus shook the ranks


s: Of Troy.  But he is with the Immortal Ones,


s: Yet, bending from that heaven, sends thee to-day


s: To save the Argives on destruction's brink."


s: "Would I might meet him living yet, O King,


s: That so himself might see the son of his love


s: Not shaming his great father's name. I trust


s: So shall it be, if the Gods grant me life."


s: And all there marvelled at the godlike man.


s: But when with meat and wine their hearts were filled,


s: And from the feast passed forth unto the tent


s: That was his sire's.  Much armour of heroes slain


s: Lay there; and here and there were captive maids


s: As though its king lived.  When that son beheld


s: Those Trojan arms and handmaid-thralls, he groaned,


s: By passionate longing for his father seized.


s: As when through dense oak-groves and tangled glens


s: Comes to the shadowed cave a lion's whelp


s: Whose grim sire by the hunters hath been slain,


s: And seeth heaps of bones of steeds and kine


s: Slain theretofore, and grieveth for his sire;


s: Even so the heart of brave Peleides' son


s: With grief was numbed.  The handmaids marvelling gazed;


s: Achilles' son, was now right glad at heart,


s: And sorrowed now with memories of the dead.


s: Her soul was wildered all, as though indeed


s: There stood the aweless Aeacid living yet.


s: Extolled Eurypylus the fierce and strong,


s: As erst they had praised Hector, when he smote


s: Their foes, defending Troy and all her wealth.


s: But when sweet sleep stole over mortal men,


s: Then sons of Troy and battle-biding Greeks


s: When from the far sea-line, where is the cave


s: Of Dawn, rose up the sun, and scattered light


s: Cheered on to face the Trojans awelessly;


s: And those the giant strength of Telephus' seed


s: Kindled.  He trusted to dash down the wall


s: With ravening fire, and slay the Argive host.


s: Ah, but his hope was as the morning breeze


s: Delusive: hard beside him stood the Fates


s: Then to the Myrmidons spake Achilles' son,


s: The aweless, to the fight enkindling them:


s: "Hear me, mine henchmen: take ye to your hearts


s: The spirit of war, that we may heal the wounds


s: The child of courage; but fear slayeth strength


s: And spirit.  Gird yourselves with strength for war;


s: Give foes no breathing-space, that they may say


s: That mid our ranks Achilles liveth yet."


s: Then clad he with his father's flashing arms


s: His shoulders.  Then exulted Thetis' heart


s: When from the sea she saw the mighty strength


s: Of her son's son.  Then forth with eagle-speed


s: Afront of that high wall he rushed, his ear


s: Drawn by the immortal horses of his sire.


s: As from the ocean-verge upsprings the sun


s: In glory, flashing fire far over earth--


s: Fire, when beside his radiant chariot-team


s: So flashed upon the eyes of Ilium's host


s: Onward they whirled him, those immortal steeds,


s: The which, when now he longed to chase the foe


s: Back from the ships, Automedon, who wont


s: To rein them for his father, brought to him.


s: With joy that pair bore battleward their lord,


s: So like to Aeacus' son, their deathless hearts


s: Laughing for glee the Argives gathered round


s: Eager for fight as wasps [whose woodland bower


s: The axe] hath shaken, who dart swarming forth


s: Furious to sting the woodman: round their nest


s: Long eddying, they torment all passers by;


s: So streamed they forth from galley and from wall


s: Burning for fight, and that wide space was thronged,


s: And all the plain far blazed with armour-sheen,


s: As shone from heaven's vault the sun thereon.


s: As flees the cloud-rack through the welkin wide


s: Scourged onward by the North-wind's Titan blasts,


s: When winter-tide and snow are hard at hand,


s: So with their thronging squadrons was the earth


s: Covered before the ships.  To heaven uprolled,


s: Dust hung on hovering wings' men's armour clashed;


s: Rattled a thousand chariots; horses neighed


s: On-rushing to the fray.  Each warrior's prowess


s: Kindled him with its trumpet-call to war.


s: As leap the long sea-rollers, onward hurled


s: By two winds terribly o'er th' broad sea-flood


s: Roaring from viewless bournes, with whirlwind blasts


s: Maddens along the wide gulfs of the deep,


s: And moans the Sea-queen with her anguished waves


s: Like precipiced mountains, while the bitter squall,


s: Ceaselessly veering, shrieks across the sea;


s: So clashed in strife those hosts from either hand


s: With mad rage.  Strife incarnate spurred them on,


s: And their own prowess.  Crashed together these


s: Like thunderclouds outlightening, thrilling the air.


s: With shattering trumpet-challenge, when the blasts


s: Are locked in frenzied wrestle, with mad breath


s: Rending the clouds, when Zeus is wroth with men


s: His law.  So grappled they, as spear with spear


s: Clashed, shield with shield, and man on man was hurled.


s: Struck down stout Melaneus and Alcidamas,


s: Who dwelt in Caunus mountain-cradled, nigh


s: The clear lake shining at Tarbelus' feet


s: 'Neath snow-capt Imbrus.  Menes, fleetfoot son


s: Of King Cassandrus, slew he, born to him


s: By fair Creusa, where the lovely streams


s: Of Lindus meet the sea, beside the marches


s: Of battle-biding Carians, and the heights


s: Morys the spearman, who from Phrygia came;


s: He laid, this stabbed to the heart, that pierced between


s: Shoulder and neck: man after man he slew.


s: Earth groaned 'neath Trojan corpses; rank on rank


s: Crumbled before him, even as parched brakes


s: Sink down before the blast of ravening fire


s: When the north wind of latter summer blows;


s: So ruining squadrons fell before his charge.


s: Crashing a great stone down on his head: it brake


s: Helmet and skull together, and fled his life.


s: Fleetfoot Eumaeus Diomede slew; he dwelt


s: In craggy Dardanus, where the bride-bed is


s: Whereon Anchises clasped the Queen of Love.


s: Agamemnon smote down Stratus: unto Thrace


s: Returned he not from war, but died far off


s: Struck Chlemus down, Peisenor's son, the friend


s: Of god-like Glaucus, and his comrade leal,


s: Honoured him as their king, when reigned no more


s: Glaucus, in battle slain,--all who abode


s: Around Phoenice's towers, and by the crest


s: So man slew man in fight; but more than all


s: Elephenor's godlike comrades.  Fell with these


s: Harpalus, wise Odysseus' warrior-friend;


s: And might not aid his fallen henchman: yet


s: Fierce Antiphus for that slain man was wroth,


s: Yet touched him not; the strong shaft glanced aside,


s: And pierced Meilanion battle-staunch, the son


s: Who bare him where Caicus meets the sea.


s: He plunged amid his comrades; so the spear


s: By the manslaying Cyclops: so it pleased


s: Stern Fate, I know not why.  Elsewhither sped


s: Fell 'neath his spear a multitude untold.


s: As tall trees, smitten by the strength of steel


s: In mountain-forest, fill the dark ravines,


s: The Achaeans 'neath Eurypylus' flying spears--


s: Till heart-uplifted met him face to face


s: Achilles' son.  The long spears in their hands


s: They twain swung up, each hot to smite his foe.


s: But first Eurypylus cried the challenge-cry;


s: "Who art thou?  Whence hast come to brave me here?


s: To Hades merciless Fate is bearing thee;


s: For in grim fight hath none escaped mine hands;


s: But whoso, eager for the fray, have come


s: Hither, on all have I hurled anguished death.


s: By Xanthus' streams have dogs devoured their flesh


s: And gnawed their bones.  Answer me, who art thou?


s: Whose be the steeds that bear thee exultant on?"


s: "Wherefore, when I am hurrying to the fray,


s: Dost thou, a foe, put question thus to me,


s: Son of the man whose long spear smote thy sire,


s: And made him flee--yea, and the ruthless fates


s: Of death had seized him, but my father's self


s: Healed him upon the brink of woeful death.


s: The steeds which bear me were my godlike sire's;


s: These the West-wind begat, the Harpy bare:


s: Skimming its crests: in speed they match the winds.


s: Since then thou know'st the lineage of my steeds


s: And mine, now put thou to the test the might


s: Of my strong spear, born on steep Pelion's crest,


s: Who hath left his father-stock and forest there."


s: He spake; and from the chariot sprang to earth


s: That glorious man: he swung the long spear up.


s: But in his brawny hand his foe hath seized


s: A monstrous stone: full at the golden shield


s: But, no whir staggered by its whirlwind rush,


s: Which all the banded fury of river-floods


s: Can stir not, rooted in the eternal hills;


s: Yet not for this Eurypylus' dauntless might


s: On-spurred by his own hardihood and by Fate.


s: Their hearts like caldrons seethed o'er fires of wrath,


s: Their glancing armour flashed about their limbs.


s: Like terrible lions each on other rushed,


s: Which fight amid the mountains famine-stung,


s: Writhing and leaping in the strain of strife


s: For a slain ox or stag, while all the glens


s: Ring with their conflict; so they grappled, so


s: Clashed they in pitiless strife.  On either hand


s: Long lines of warriors Greek and Trojan toiled


s: In combat: round them roared up flames of war.


s: Like mighty rushing winds they hurled together


s: With eager spears for blood of life athirst.


s: Hard by them stood Enyo, spurred them on


s: Ceaselessly: never paused they from the strife.


s: Now hewed they each the other's shield, and now


s: Thrust at the greaves, now at the crested helms.


s: Reckless of wounds, in that grim toil pressed on


s: Those aweless heroes: Strife incarnate watched


s: And gloated o'er them.  Ran the sweat in streams


s: From either: straining hard they stood their ground,


s: For both were of the seed of Blessed Ones.


s: From Heaven, with hearts at variance, Gods looked down;


s: They fought on, giving ground no more than rock.


s: Of granite mountains.  Rang from side to side


s: Spear-smitten shields.  At last the Pelian lance,


s: Sped onward by a mighty thrust, hath passed


s: Clear through Eurypylus' throat.  Forth poured the blood


s: Torrent-like; through the portal of the wound


s: The soul from the body flew: darkness of death


s: Dropped o'er his eyes.  To earth in clanging arms


s: He fell, like stately pine or silver fir


s: Such space of earth Eurypylus' giant frame


s: Covered in falling: rang again the floor


s: And plain of Troyland.  Grey death-pallor swept


s: Over the corpse, and all the flush of life


s: "Eurypylus, thou saidst thou wouldst destroy


s: The Danaan ships and men, wouldst slay us all


s: Wretchedly--but the Gods would not fulfil


s: Thy wish.  For all thy might invincible,


s: My father's massy spear hath now subdued


s: Thee under me, that spear no man shall 'scape,


s: Though he be brass all through, who faceth me."


s: He spake, and tore the long lance from the corse,


s: While shrank the Trojans back in dread, at sight


s: Of that strong-hearted man.  Straightway he stripped


s: The armour from the dead, for friends to bear


s: To the swift chariot and the tireless steeds


s: Sprang, and sped onward like a thunderbolt


s: That lightning-girdled leaps through the wide air


s: From Zeus's hands unconquerable--the bolt


s: Before whose downrush all the Immortals quail


s: Save only Zeus.  It rusheth down to earth,


s: It rendeth trees and rugged mountain-crags;


s: So rushed he on the Trojans, flashing doom


s: Before their eyes; dashed to the earth they fell


s: Before the charge of those immortal steeds:


s: The earth was heaped with slain, was dyed with gore.


s: As when in mountain-glens the unnumbered leaves


s: Down-streaming thick and fast hide all the ground,


s: So hosts of Troy untold on earth were strewn


s: By Neoptolemus and fierce-hearted Greeks,


s: Shed by whose hands the blood in torrents ran


s: 'Neath feet of men and horses.  Chariot-rails


s: Were dashed with blood-spray whirled up from the tyres.


s: Now had the Trojans fled within their gates


s: Flee from a storm--but murderous Ares came,


s: Unmarked of other Gods, down from the heavens,


s: Red-fire and Flame, Tumult and Panic-fear,


s: His car-steeds, bare him down into the fight,


s: Grim-eyed Erinnys bare, coursers that breathed


s: Life-blasting flame: groaned all the shivering air,


s: As battleward they sped.  Swiftly he came


s: To Troy: loud rang the earth beneath the feet


s: Of that wild team.  Into the battle's heart


s: Tossing his massy spear, he came; with a shout


s: He cheered the Trojans on to face the foe.


s: They heard, and marvelled at that wondrous cry,


s: Not seeing the God's immortal form, nor steeds,


s: Veiled in dense mist.  But the wise prophet-soul


s: Of Helenus knew the voice divine that leapt


s: Unto the Trojans' ears, they knew not whence,


s: And with glad heart to the fleeing host he cried:


s: "O cravens, wherefore fear Achilles' son,


s: Though ne'er so brave?  He is mortal even as we;


s: His strength is not as Ares' strength, who is come


s: That was his shout far-pealing, bidding us


s: Fight on against the Argives.  Let your hearts


s: Be strong, O friends: let courage fill your breasts.


s: Hard-fighting?  Lo, to our help he cometh now!


s: On to the fight!  Cast to the winds your fears!"


s: They fled no more, they faced the Argive men,


s: As hounds, that mid the copses fled at first,


s: Turn them about to face and fight the wolf,


s: Spurred by the chiding of their shepherd-lord;


s: So turned the sons of Troy again to war,


s: Casting away their fear.  Man leapt on man


s: Valiantly fighting; loud their armour clashed


s: Smitten with swords, with lances, and with darts.


s: Spears plunged into men's flesh: dread Ares drank


s: His fill of blood: struck down fell man on man,


s: As Greek and Trojan fought.  In level poise


s: The battle-balance hung.  As when young men


s: In hot haste prune a vineyard with the steel,


s: And each keeps pace with each in rivalry,


s: Since all in strength and age be equal-matched;


s: Level: all Trojan hearts beat high, and firm


s: Stood they in trust on aweless Ares' might,


s: While the Greeks trusted in Achilles' son.


s: Ever they slew and slew: stalked through the midst


s: Deadly Enyo, her shoulders and her hands


s: Blood-splashed, while fearful sweat streamed from her limbs.


s: Revelling in equal fight, she aided none,


s: Lest Thetis' or the War-god's wrath be stirred.


s: Perimedes, who had dwelt by Smintheus' grove;


s: Next Cestrus died, Phalerus battle-staunch,


s: Perilaus the strong, Menalcas lord of spears,


s: Whom Iphianassa bare by the haunted foot


s: Of Cilla to the cunning craftsman Medon.


s: And never kissed his son's returning head:


s: For that fair home and all his cunning works


s: Did far-off kinsmen wrangle o'er his grave.


s: The lance-head pierced him close above the groin,


s: And round the long spear all his bowels gushed out.


s: The dear home-land.  Euryalus hurled a dart,


s: And through Astraeus' breast the death-winged point


s: Flew, shearing through the breathways of man's life;


s: And all that lay within was drenched with blood.


s: And hard thereby great-souled Agenor slew


s: Hippomenes, hero Teucer's comrade staunch,


s: With one swift thrust 'twixt shoulder and neck: his soul


s: Rushed forth in blood; death's night swept over him.


s: Grief for his comrade slain on Teucer fell;


s: He strained his bow, a swift-winged shaft he sped,


s: But smote him not, for slightly Agenor swerved.


s: Yet nigh him Deiophontes stood; the shaft


s: Into his left eye plunged, passed through the ball,


s: And out through his right ear, because the Fates


s: Whither they willed thrust on the bitter barbs.


s: Yet once again the archer's arrow hissed:


s: It pierced his throat, through the neck-sinews cleft


s: Unswerving, and his hard doom came on him.


s: So man to man dealt death; and joyed the Fates


s: And Doom, and fell Strife in her maddened glee


s: Shouted in answer, and with courage thrilled


s: The Trojans, and with panic fear the Greeks,


s: And shook their reeling squadrons.  But one man


s: He scared not, even Achilles' son; he abode,


s: And fought undaunted, slaying foes on foes.


s: As when a young lad sweeps his hand around


s: Flies swarming over milk, and nigh the bowl


s: Here, there they lie, struck dead by that light touch,


s: And gleefully the child still plies the work;


s: Over the slain, and recked not of the God


s: Who spurred the Trojans on: man after man


s: Tasted his vengeance of their charging host.


s: Even as a giant mountain-peak withstands


s: On-rushing hurricane-blasts, so he abode


s: Grew wroth, and would have cast his veil of cloud


s: Away, and met him face to face in fight,


s: To forest-mantled Ida.  Quaked the earth


s: And Xanthus' murmuring streams; so mightily


s: She shook them: terror-stricken were the souls


s: Of all the Nymphs, adread for Priam's town.


s: The hovering lightnings; fearful serpents breathed


s: Fire from her shield invincible; the crest


s: Of her great helmet swept the clouds.  And now


s: She was at point to close in sudden fight


s: Daunted them both, from high heaven thundering


s: His terrors.  Ares drew back from the war,


s: To wintry Thrace he passed; his haughty heart


s: Reeked no more of the Trojans.  In the plain


s: Of Troy no more stayed Pallas; she was gone


s: To hallowed Athens.  But the armies still


s: Strove in the deadly fray; and fainted now


s: The Trojans' prowess; but all battle-fain


s: The Argives pressed on these as they gave ground.


s: As winds chase ships that fly with straining sails


s: Leapeth the fury of flame--as swift hounds drive


s: Deer through the mountains, eager for the prey,


s: So did the Argives chase them: Achilles' son


s: Still cheered them on, still slew with that great spear


s: Till into stately-gated Troy they poured.


s: Then had the Argives a short breathing-space


s: From war, when they had penned the hosts of Troy


s: In Priam's burg, as shepherds pen up lambs


s: After hard strain, a breathing-space is given


s: To oxen that, quick-panting 'neath the yoke,


s: Up a steep hill have dragged a load, so breathed


s: Then once more hot for the fray did they beset


s: The city-towers.  But now with gates fast barred


s: The Trojans from the walls withstood the assault.


s: As when within their steading shepherd-folk


s: Of storm hath dawned, with fury of lightnings, rain


s: And heavy-drifting snow, and dare not haste


s: Till the great storm abate, and rivers, wide


s: So trembling on their walls they abode the rage


s: Of foes against their ramparts surging fast.


s: And as when daws or starlings drop in clouds


s: Down on an orchard-close, full fain to feast


s: Upon its pleasant fruits, and take no heed


s: Of men that shout to scare them thence away,


s: That makes them bold; so poured round Priam's burg


s: They hurled themselves, they strove to batter down


s: The mighty-souled Earth-shaker's work divine.


s: Yet did tim Troyfolk not, despite their fear,


s: Flinch from the fight: they manned their towers, they toiled


s: Unresting: ever from the fair-built walls


s: Leapt arrows, stones, and fleet-winged javelins down


s: Amidst the thronging foes; for Phoebus thrilled


s: Their souls with steadfast hardihood.  Fain was he


s: To save them still, though Hector was no more.


s: Then Meriones shot forth a deadly shaft,


s: Beneath the jaw; the arrow pierced his throat.


s: Down fell he like a vulture, from a rock


s: By fowler's barbed arrow shot and slain;


s: So from the high tower swiftly down he fell:


s: His life fled; clanged his armour o'er the corpse.


s: With laughter of triumph stalwart Molus' son


s: To smite Polites, ill-starred Priam's son:


s: But with a swift side-swerve did he escape


s: The death, nor did the arrow touch his flesh.


s: O'er sea-gulfs, spies amid the rushing tide


s: The helm about, and turns aside the ship


s: Even as he listeth, that a little strength


s: Foresee and shun the deadly shaft of doom.


s: Ever they fought on; walls, towers, battlements


s: Were blood-besprent, wherever Trojans fell


s: Slain by the arrows of the stalwart Greeks.


s: Yet these escaped not scatheless; many of them


s: Dyed the earth red: aye waxed the havoc of death


s: As friends and foes were stricken.  O'er the strife


s: Now had the Argives burst the gates, had breached


s: The walls of Troy, for boundless was their might;


s: But Ganymedes saw from heaven, and cried,


s: Anguished with fear for his own fatherland:


s: O hear me now, whose soul is anguish-thrilled!


s: In flames, my kindred in disastrous strife


s: Perishing: bitterer sorrow is there none!


s: Oh, if thine heart is fixed to do this thing,


s: Let me be far hence!  Less shall be my grief


s: If I behold it not with these mine eyes.


s: That is the depth of horror and of shame


s: To see one's country wrecked by hands of foes."


s: With groans and tears so pleaded Ganymede.


s: Then Zeus himself with one vast pall of cloud


s: Veiled all the city of Priam world-renowned;


s: And all the murderous fight was drowned in mist,


s: And like a vanished phantom was the wall


s: In vapours heavy-hung no eye could pierce;


s: And all around crashed thunders, lightnings flamed


s: From heaven.  The Danaans heard Zeus' clarion peal


s: Awe-struck; and Neleus' son cried unto them:


s: "Far-famous lords of Argives, all our strength


s: Palsied shall be, while Zeus protecteth thus


s: On us is rolling; haste we then to the ships;


s: Cease we awhile from bitter toil of strife,


s: Lest the fire of his wrath consume us all.


s: Submit we to his portents; needs must all


s: Than all strong Gods, all weakling sons of men.


s: On the presumptuous Titans once in wrath


s: He poured down fire from heaven: then burned all earth


s: Beneath, and Ocean's world-engirdling flood


s: Boiled from its depths, yea, to its utmost bounds:


s: Far-flowing mighty rivers were dried up:


s: Perished all broods of life-sustaining earth,


s: All fosterlings of the boundless sea, and all


s: Dwellers in rivers: smoke and ashes veiled


s: The air: earth fainted in the fervent heat.


s: Therefore this day I dread the might of Zeus.


s: Now, pass we to the ships, since for to-day


s: He helpeth Troy.  To us too shall he grant


s: Though whiles it frown, anon shall smile.  Not yet,


s: But soon, shall Fate lead us to smite yon town,


s: Spoken aforetime to the assembled Greeks,


s: That in the tenth year Priam's burg should fall."


s: Then left they that far-famous town, and turned


s: From war, in awe of Zeus's threatenings,


s: Hearkening to one with ancient wisdom wise.


s: Yet they forgat not friends in battle slain,


s: But bare them from the field and buried them.


s: These the mist hid not, but the town alone


s: And its unscaleable wall, around which fell


s: Trojans and Argives many in battle slain.


s: So came they to the ships, and put from them


s: Their battle-gear, and strode into the waves


s: Of Hellespont fair-flowing, and washed away


s: All stain of dust and sweat and clotted gore.


s: The sun drave down his never-wearying steeds


s: Into the dark west: night streamed o'er the earth,


s: Bidding men cease from toil.  The Argives then


s: Acclaimed Achilles' valiant son with praise


s: High as his father's.  Mid triumphant mirth


s: He feasted in kings' tents: no battle-toil


s: Had wearied him; for Thetis from his limbs


s: Had charmed all ache of travail, making him


s: As one whom labour had no power to tire.


s: When his strong heart was satisfied with meat,


s: He passed to his father's tent, and over him


s: Sleep's dews were poured.  The Greeks slept in the plain


s: Before the ships, by ever-changing guards


s: Watched; for they dreaded lest the host of Troy,


s: Or of her staunch allies, should kindle flame


s: Upon the ships, and from them all cut off


s: Their home-return.  In Priam's burg the while


s: By gate and wall men watched and slept in turn,


s: Adread to hear the Argives' onset-shout.


s: How from his long lone exile returned to the war Philoctetes.


s: When ended was night's darkness, and the Dawn


s: Rose from the world's verge, and the wide air glowed


s: With splendour, then did Argos' warrior-sons


s: Gaze o'er the plain; and lo, all cloudless-clear


s: Stood Ilium's towers.  The marvel of yesterday


s: Seemed a strange dream.  No thought the Trojans had


s: Of standing forth to fight without the wall.


s: A great fear held them thralls, the awful thought


s: That yet alive was Peleus' glorious son.


s: But to the King of Heaven Antenor cried:


s: Hearken my prayer!  Oh turn back from our town


s: That battle-eager murderous-hearted man,


s: For now in heaven-descended Priam's burg


s: O Father Zeus, thou carest not though we


s: Be slaughtered of our foes: thou helpest them,


s: But, if this be the purpose of thine heart


s: That Argives shall destroy us wretchedly,


s: In passionate prayer he cried; and Zeus from heaven


s: Hearkened, and hasted on the end of all,


s: Which else he had delayed.  He granted him


s: This awful boon, that myriads of Troy's sons


s: Should with their children perish: but that prayer


s: Back from the wide-wayed town; nay, all the more


s: He enkindled him to war, for he would now


s: Give grace and glory to the Nereid Queen.


s: Were Greeks and Trojans burning men and steeds


s: In battle slain, while paused the murderous strife.


s: For Priam sent his herald Menoetes forth


s: Asking a truce wherein to burn the dead;


s: And they, of reverence for the slain, gave ear;


s: For wrath pursueth not the dead.  And when


s: They had lain their slain on those close-thronging pyres,


s: Then did the Argives to their tents return,


s: The Trojans, for Eurypylus sorrowing sore:


s: For even as Priam's sons they honoured him.


s: Therefore apart from all the other slain,


s: Before the Gate Dardanian--where the streams


s: Fed by the rains of heavens--they buried him.


s: Aweless Achilles' son the while went forth


s: To his sire's huge tomb.  Outpouring tears, he kissed


s: And groaning clasped it round, and thus he cried:


s: "Hail, father!  Though beneath the earth thou lie


s: In Hades' halls, I shall forget thee not.


s: Oh to have met thee living mid the host!


s: Then of each other had our souls had joy,


s: Then of her wealth had we spoiled Ilium.


s: But now, thou hast not seen thy child, nor I


s: Seen thee, who yearned to look on thee in life.


s: Yet, though thou be afar amidst the dead,


s: Thy spear, thy son, have made thy foes to quail;


s: One like to thee in stature, fame and deeds."


s: He spake, and wiped the hot tears from his face;


s: And to his father's ships passed swiftly thence:


s: With him went Myrmidon warriors two and ten,


s: And white-haired Phoenix followed on with these


s: Night rose o'er earth, the stars flashed out in heaven;


s: So these brake bread, and slept till woke the Dawn.


s: Then the Greeks donned their armour: flashed afar


s: Forth of their gates in one great throng they poured,


s: Like snowflakes thick and fast, which drift adown


s: Heavily from the clouds in winter's cold;


s: So streamed they forth before the wall, and rose


s: Their dread shout: groaned the deep earth 'neath their tramp.


s: The Trojans heard that shout, and saw that host,


s: And marvelled.  Crushed with fear were all their hearts


s: Foreboding doom; for like a huge cloud seemed


s: That throng of foes: with clashing arms they came:


s: Volumed and vast the dust rose 'neath their feet.


s: Then either did some God with hardihood thrill


s: Deiphobus' heart, and made it void of fear,


s: Or his own spirit spurred him on to fight,


s: To drive by thrust of spear that terrible host


s: So there in Troy he cried with heartening speech:


s: "O friends, be stout of heart to play the men!


s: Brings in the end to them that yield to foes.


s: Nor Helen, but for home, for your own lives,


s: For wives, for little ones, for parents grey,


s: For all the grace of life, for all ye have,


s: For this dear land--oh may she shroud me o'er


s: 'Neath foemen's spears--my country!  I know not


s: A bitterer pang than this for hapless men!


s: O be ye strong for battle!  Forth to the fight


s: With me, and thrust this horror far away!


s: Against us: him the ravening fire consumed.


s: Enkindled them to war.  Oh, shame it were


s: If men who fight for fatherland should fear


s: Let us not flinch from war-toil!  have we not


s: What, know ye not that to men sorely tried


s: So after scourging winds and ruining storms


s: After disease new strength comes, after war


s: Peace: all things know Time's changeless law of change."


s: Then eager all for war they armed themselves


s: In haste.  All through the town rang clangour of arms


s: As for grim fight strong men arrayed their limbs.


s: Here stood a wife, shuddering with dread of war,


s: Yet piling, as she wept, her husband's arms


s: Before his feet.  There little children brought


s: To a father his war-gear with eager haste;


s: And now his heart was wrung to hear their sobs,


s: And now he smiled on those small ministers,


s: And stronger waxed his heart's resolve to fight


s: To the last gasp for these, the near and dear.


s: Yonder again, with hands that had not lost


s: Girded a son, and murmured once and again:


s: "Dear boy, yield thou to no man in the war!"


s: And showed his son the old scars on his breast,


s: Proud memories of fights fought long ago.


s: So when they all stood mailed in battle-gear,


s: Forth of the gates they poured all eager-souled


s: For war.  Against the chariots of the Greeks


s: Their chariots charged; their ranks of footmen pressed


s: To meet the footmen of the foe.  The earth


s: Rang to the tramp of onset; pealed the cheer


s: From man to man; swift closed the fronts of war.


s: Loud clashed their arms all round; from either side


s: War-cries were mingled in one awful roar


s: Swift-winged full many a dart and arrow flew


s: From host to host; loud clanged the smitten shields


s: 'Neath thrusting spears, 'neath javelin-point and sword:


s: Men hewed with battle-axes lightening down;


s: Crimson the armour ran with blood of men.


s: And all this while Troy's wives and daughters watched


s: From high walls that grim battle of the strong.


s: All trembled as they prayed for husbands, sons,


s: And brothers: white-haired sires amidst them sat,


s: And gazed, while anguished fear for sons devoured


s: Their hearts.  But Helen in her bower abode


s: Amidst her maids, there held by utter shame.


s: So without pause before the wall they fought,


s: While Death exulted o'er them; deadly Strife


s: Shrieked out a long wild cry from host to host.


s: With blood of slain men dust became red mire:


s: Here, there, fast fell the warriors mid the fray.


s: Of Nestor, Hippasus' son: from that high car


s: Down fell he 'midst the dead; fear seized his lord


s: Lest, while his hands were cumbered with the reins,


s: He too by Priam's strong son might be slain.


s: Melanthius marked his plight: swiftly he sprang


s: Shaking the reins, goading them with his spear,


s: Seeing the scourge was lost.  But Priam's son


s: Left these, and plunged amid a throng of foes.


s: There upon many he brought the day of doom;


s: For like a ruining tempest on he stormed


s: Through reeling ranks.  His mighty hand struck down


s: Foes numberless: the plain was heaped with dead.


s: As when a woodman on the long-ridged hills


s: Plunges amid the forest-depths, and hews


s: With might and main, and fells sap-laden trees


s: To make him store of charcoal from the heaps


s: The trunks on all sides fallen strew the slopes,


s: While o'er his work the man exulteth; so


s: Before Deiphobus' swift death-dealing hands


s: In heaps the Achaeans each on other fell.


s: The charging lines of Troy swept over some;


s: Some fled to Xanthus' stream: Deiphobus chased


s: Into the flood yet more, and slew and slew.


s: As when on fish-abounding Hellespont's strand


s: Forth of the depths to land; but, while it trails


s: Yet through the sea, one leaps amid the waves


s: To deal the sword-fish death, and here and there,


s: Fast as he meets them, slays them, and with blood


s: The waves are reddened; so were Xanthus' streams


s: Impurpled by his hands, and choked with dead.


s: Yet not without sore loss the Trojans fought;


s: For all this while Peleides' fierce-heart son


s: Of other ranks made havoc.  Thetis gazed


s: As great as was her grief for Achilles slain.


s: For a great host beneath his spear were hurled


s: Down to the dust, steeds, warriors slaughter-blent.


s: And still he chased, and still he slew: he smote


s: Bore down on him, but of his horsemanship


s: Small profit won.  The bright spear pierced him through


s: From navel unto spine, and all his bowels


s: Gushed out, and deadly Doom laid hold on him


s: Even as he fell beside his horse's feet.


s: His spear, the other stabbed he 'neath the throat


s: Where a wound bringeth surest doom to man.


s: Whomso he met besides he slew--the names


s: What man could tell of all that by the hands


s: With strong hands toiling in a fruitful field


s: The livelong day, rains down to earth the fruit


s: Of olives, swiftly beating with his pole,


s: And with the downfall covers all the ground,


s: So fast fell 'neath his hands the thronging foe.


s: And other chieftains of the Danaans toil


s: With fury in the fight.  Yet never quailed


s: The mighty men of Troy: with heart and soul


s: They also fought, and ever stayed from flight


s: Their chiefs, but fled, cowed by the Achaeans' might.


s: Now at the last Achilles' strong son marked


s: How fast beside Scamander's outfall Greeks


s: Were perishing.  Those Troyward-fleeing foes


s: Whom he had followed slaying, left he now,


s: And bade Automedon thither drive, where hosts


s: Were falling of the Achaeans.  Straightway he


s: Hearkened, and scourged the steeds immortal on


s: To that wild fray: bearing their lord they flew


s: Swiftly o'er battle-highways paved with death.


s: Fares forth, and round his onrush quakes the ground,


s: While on the God's breast clash celestial arms


s: Outflashing fire, so charged Achilles' son


s: Against Deiphobus.  Clouds of dust upsoared


s: About his horses' feet.  Automedon marked


s: The Trojan chief, and knew him.  To his lord


s: Straightway he named that hero war-renowned:


s: The man who from thy father fled in fear.


s: Some God or fiend with courage fills him now."


s: Naught answered Neoptolemus, save to bid


s: Drive on the steeds yet faster, that with speed


s: He might avert grim death from perishing friends.


s: But when to each other now full nigh they drew,


s: Stayed, as a ravening fire stays when it meets


s: Water.  He marvelled, seeing Achilles' steeds


s: And that gigantic son, huge as his sire;


s: And his heart wavered, choosing now to flee,


s: As when a mountain boar from his young brood


s: Halts in his furious onset, loth to advance,


s: Loth to retreat, while foam his jaws about


s: His whetted tusks; so halted Priam's son


s: Car-steeds and car, perplexed, while quivered his hands


s: About the lance.  Shouted Achilles' son:


s: "Ho, Priam's son, why thus so mad to smite


s: Those weaker Argives, who have feared thy wrath


s: And fled thine onset?  So thou deem'st thyself


s: Far mightiest!  If thine heart be brave indeed,


s: Of my spear now make trial in the strife."


s: Borne by the steeds and chariot of his sire.


s: And now full soon his lance had slain his foe,


s: Him and his charioteer--but Phoebus poured


s: A dense cloud round him from the viewless heights


s: Of heaven, and snatched him from the deadly fray,


s: Stab but the empty air; and loud he cried:


s: "Dog, thou hast 'scaped my wrath!  No might of thine


s: Saved thee, though ne'er so fain!  Some God hath cast


s: Night's veil o'er thee, and snatched thee from thy death."


s: Then Cronos' Son dispersed that dense dark cloud:


s: Mist-like it thinned and vanished into air:


s: Straightway the plain and all the land were seen.


s: He saw the Trojans: seeming like his sire,


s: He sped against them; they at his coming quailed.


s: As shipmen tremble when a wild wave bears


s: Down on their bark, wind-heaved until it swings


s: Broad, mountain-high above them, when the sea


s: Terror clad all those Trojans as a cloak,


s: The while he shouted, cheering on his men:


s: "Hear, friends!--fill full your hearts with dauntless strength,


s: The strength that well beseemeth mighty men


s: Who thirst to win them glorious victory,


s: To win renown from battle's tumult!  Come,


s: Brave hearts, now strive we even beyond our strength


s: Till we smite Troy's proud city, till we win


s: Our hearts' desire!  Foul shame it were to abide


s: Long deedless here and strengthless, womanlike!


s: Ere I be called war-blencher, let me die!"


s: Then unto Ares' work their spirits flamed.


s: Down on the Trojans charged they: yea, and these


s: Fought with high courage, round their city now,


s: And now from wall and gate-towers.  Never lulled


s: The rage of war, while Trojan hearts were hot


s: To hurl the foemen back, and the strong Greeks


s: To smite the town: grim havoc compassed all.


s: Then, eager for the Trojans' help, swooped down


s: Out of Olympus, cloaked about with clouds,


s: Bare him in golden armour clad; and gleamed


s: With lightning-splendour of his descent the long


s: Highways of air.  His quiver clashed; loud rang


s: His tireless feet by Xanthus.  Pealed his shout


s: Dreadly, with courage filling them of Troy,


s: Scaring their foes from biding the red fray.


s: But of all this the mighty Shaker of Earth


s: Greeks Fierce valour, and the fight waxed murderous


s: Through those Immortals' clashing wills.  Then died


s: Hosts numberless on either side.  In wrath


s: In the same place where erst he smote his sire;


s: But birds of boding screamed to left, to stay


s: His mood, and other signs from heaven were sent;


s: Those portents.  Swiftly drew Earth-shaker nigh


s: In mist celestial cloaked: about his feet


s: Quaked the dark earth as came the Sea-king on.


s: Then, to stay Phoebus' hand, he cried to him:


s: Slay not!  Olympus' Lord himself shall be


s: Wroth for his death, and bitter grief shall light


s: On me and all the Sea-gods, as erstwhile


s: For Achilles' sake.  Nay, get thee back to heights


s: Celestial, lest thou kindle me to wrath,


s: And so I cleave a sudden chasm in earth,


s: To darkness.  Thine own soul were vexed thereat."


s: Then, overawed by the brother of his sire,


s: And fearing for Troy's fate and for her folk,


s: Poseidon.  But the sons of men fought on,


s: And slew; and Strife incarnate gloating watched.


s: At last by Calchas' counsel Achaea's sons


s: Drew back to the ships, and put from them the thought


s: Of battle, seeing it was not foreordained


s: The Achaean host.  This had the prophet learnt.


s: From birds of prosperous omen, or had read


s: In hearts of victims.  Wise in prophecy-lore


s: Was he, and like a God knew things to be.


s: Trusting in him, the sons of Atreus stayed


s: Of stately mansions, sent they Tydeus' son


s: Fast by the Fire-god's city sped they on


s: To vine-clad Lemnos, where in far-off days


s: The wives wreaked murderous vengeance on their lords,


s: In fierce wrath that they gave them not their due,


s: But couched beside the handmaid-thralls of Thrace,


s: The captives of their spears when they laid waste


s: The land of warrior Thracians.  Then these wives,


s: Their hearts with fiery jealousy's fever filled,


s: Murdered in every home with merciless hands


s: Their husbands: no compassion would they show


s: To their own wedded lords--such madness shakes


s: The heart of man or woman, when it burns


s: With jealousy's fever, stung by torturing pangs.


s: So with souls filled with desperate hardihood


s: In one night did they slaughter all their lords;


s: To hallowed Lemnos came those heroes twain;


s: They marked the rocky cave where lay the son


s: When they beheld the hero of their quest


s: Groaning with bitter pangs, on the hard earth


s: Lying, with many feathers round him strewn,


s: Into a cloak, a screen from winter's cold.


s: For, oft as famine stung him, would he shoot


s: The shaft that missed no fowl his aim had doomed.


s: Their flesh he ate, their feathers vestured him.


s: And there lay herbs and healing leaves, the which,


s: Spread on his deadly wound, assuaged its pangs.


s: Wild tangled elf-locks hung about his head.


s: He seemed a wild beast, that hath set its foot,


s: To bite with fierce teeth through the prisoned limb


s: Ere it could win back to its cave, and there


s: In hunger and torturing pains it languisheth.


s: So in that wide cave suffering crushed the man;


s: And all his frame was wasted: naught but skin


s: Covered his bones.  Unwashen there he crouched


s: With famine-haggard cheeks, with sunken eyes


s: Glaring his misery 'neath cavernous brows.


s: The ulcerous black wound, eating to the bone,


s: Festered with thrills of agonizing pain.


s: As when a beetling cliff, by seething seas


s: Aye buffeted, is carved and underscooped,


s: For all its stubborn strength, by tireless waves,


s: Till, scourged by winds and lashed by tempest-flails,


s: The sea into deep caves hath gnawed its base;


s: So greater 'neath his foot grew evermore


s: The festering wound, dealt when the envenomed fangs


s: Tare him of that fell water-snake, which men


s: When the hot sun hath parched it as it crawls


s: Over the sands; and so that mightiest man


s: Lay faint and wasted with his cureless pain;


s: And from the ulcerous wound aye streamed to earth


s: For hunting, some to smite his foes withal;


s: With deadly venom of that fell water-snake


s: Were these besmeared.  Before it, nigh to his hand,


s: Lay the great bow, with curving tips of horn,


s: Wrought by the mighty hands of Hercules.


s: Now when that solitary spied these twain


s: Draw nigh his cave, he sprang to his bow, he laid


s: Fierce memory of his wrongs awoke against


s: These, who had left him years agone, in pain


s: Yea, and his heart's stem will he had swiftly wrought,


s: He gazed, Athena caused his bitter wrath


s: To melt away.  Then drew they nigh to him


s: With looks of sad compassion, and sat down


s: And of his deadly wound and grievous pangs


s: Asked; and he told them all his sufferings.


s: And they spake hope and comfort; and they said:


s: "Thy woeful wound, thine anguish, shall be healed,


s: If thou but come with us to Achaea's host--


s: The host that now is sorrowing after thee


s: With all its kings.  And no man of them all


s: Was cause of thine affliction, but the Fates,


s: The cruel ones, whom none that walk the earth


s: Unseen; and day by day with pitiless hearts


s: To honour--none knows why; for all the woes


s: After their pleasure."  Hearkening he sat


s: And all the hoarded wrath for olden wrongs


s: And all the torturing rage, melted away.


s: Straight to the strand dull-thundering and the ship,


s: Laughing for joy, they bare him with his bow.


s: There washed they all his body and that foul wound


s: With sponges, and with plenteous water bathed:


s: So was his soul refreshed.  Then hasted they


s: And made meat ready for the famished man,


s: And in the galley supped with him.  Then came


s: The balmy night, and sleep slid down on them.


s: Till rose the dawn they tarried by the strand


s: Of sea-girt Lemnos, but with dayspring cast


s: The hawsers loose, and heaved the anchor-stones


s: They strained the sail with either stern-sheet taut;


s: Seaward they pointed the stout-girdered ship;


s: O'er the broad flood she leapt before the wind;


s: Broken to right and left the dark wave sighed,


s: While thronging dolphins raced on either hand


s: Full soon to fish-fraught Hellespont they came


s: And the far-stretching ships.  Glad were the Greeks


s: To see the longed-for faces.  Forth the ship


s: With joy they stepped; and Poeas' valiant son


s: On those two heroes leaned thin wasted hands,


s: Who bare him painfully halting to the shore


s: Staying his weight upon their brawny arms.


s: As seems mid mountain-brakes an oak or pine


s: By strength of the woodcutter half hewn through,


s: Which for a little stands on what was left


s: Of the smooth trunk by him who hewed thereat


s: Hard by the roots, that its slow-smouldering wood


s: Might yield him pitch--now like to one in pain


s: It groans, in weakness borne down by the wind,


s: Which from the earth bear up its helpless weight;


s: Leaned he on those brave heroes, and was borne


s: Compassionated that great archer, crushed


s: By anguish of his hurt.  But one drew near,


s: Podaleirius, godlike in his power to heal.


s: Swifter than thought he made him whole and sound;


s: For deftly on the wound he spread his salves,


s: And soon the Achaeans shouted all for joy,


s: All praising with one voice Asclepius' son.


s: Lovingly then they bathed him, and with oil


s: And misery vanished by the Immortals' will;


s: And glad at heart were all that looked on him;


s: Over the bloodless face the flush of health


s: Glowed, and for wretched weakness mighty strength


s: Thrilled through him: goodly and great waxed all his limbs.


s: Which erst had drooped, by rains of ruining storm


s: Down beaten flat, but by warm summer winds


s: Requickened, o'er the laboured land it smiles,


s: Was all requickened:--in the galley's hold


s: He seemed to have left all cares that crushed his soul.


s: As one re-risen from the dead: it seemed


s: So was it verily, as their hearts divined;


s: For 'twas the glorious Trito-born that shed


s: He stood, before calamity struck him down.


s: Did all their mightiest men bring Poeas' son,


s: And set him chief in honour at the feast,


s: Extolling him.  When all with meat and drink


s: Were filled, spake Agamemnon lord of spears:


s: "Dear friend, since by the will of Heaven our souls


s: Were once perverted, that in sea-girt Lemnos


s: We left thee, harbour not thine heart within


s: Fierce wrath for this: by the blest Gods constrained


s: We did it; and, I trow, the Immortals willed


s: To bring much evil on us, bereft of thee,


s: With shafts of death all foes that face thee in fight.


s: For all the tangled paths of human life,


s: By land and sea, are by the will of Fate


s: Hid from our eyes, in many and devious tracks


s: Are cleft apart, in wandering mazes lost.


s: Along them men by Fortune's dooming drift


s: Like unto leaves that drive before the wind.


s: Stumble, the brave finds not a prosperous path;


s: And none of earth-born men can shun the Fates,


s: And of his own will none can choose his way.


s: So then doth it behove the wise of heart


s: Though on a troublous track the winds of fate


s: Since we were blinded then, and erred herein,


s: With rich gifts will we make amends to thee


s: Hereafter, when we take the stately towers


s: Of Troy: but now receive thou handmaids seven,


s: Fleet steeds two-score, victors in chariot-race,


s: And tripods twelve, wherein thine heart may joy


s: Through all thy days; and always in my tent


s: Shall royal honour at the feast be thine."


s: He spake, and gave the hero those fair gifts.


s: Then answered Poeas' mighty-hearted son;


s: "Friend, I forgive thee freely, and all beside


s: Whoso against me haply hath trangressed.


s: I know how good men's minds sometimes be warped:


s: Ever, and nurse mean rancours: sternest wrath


s: Now pass we to our rest; for better is sleep


s: Than feasting late, for him who longs to fight."


s: He spake, and rose, and came to his comrades' tent;


s: Then swiftly for their war-fain king they dight


s: The couch, while laughed their hearts for very joy.


s: Gladly he laid him down to sleep till dawn.


s: So passed the night divine, till flushed the hills


s: In the sun's light, and men awoke to toil.


s: 'Gan whet the spear smooth-shafted, or the dart,


s: Or javelin, and they brake the bread of dawn,


s: And foddered all their horses.  Then to these


s: Spake Poeas' son with battle-kindling speech:


s: The glorious walls of Ilium stately-towered


s: Be shattered, and her palaces be burned!"


s: Then at his words each heart and spirit glowed:


s: They donned their armour, and they grasped their shields.


s: Forth of the ships in one huge mass they poured


s: Arrayed with bull-hide bucklers, ashen spears,


s: And gallant-crested helms.  Through all their ranks


s: Shoulder to shoulder marched they: thou hadst seen


s: No gap 'twixt man and man as on they charged;


s: So close they thronged, so dense was their array.


s: Now were the Trojans all without the town


s: And chariot-steeds; for still they burnt their dead,


s: And still they feared lest the Achaean men


s: Should fall on them. They looked, and saw them come


s: With furious speed against the walls. In haste


s: They cast a hurried earth-mound o'er the slain,


s: For greatly trembled they to see their foes.


s: Then in their sore disquiet spake to them


s: How we may find deliverance from our strait.


s: Still bide the Danaans here, still gather strength:


s: Now therefore let us man our stately towers,


s: And thence withstand them, fighting night and day,


s: To Sparta, or, renownless lingering here


s: Beside the wall, lose heart.  No strength of theirs


s: Shall breach the long walls, howsoe'er they strive,


s: Weakness is none.  Food, drink, we shall not lack,


s: For in King Priam's gold-abounding halls


s: Is stored abundant food, that shall suffice


s: For many more than we, through many years,


s: Though thrice so great a host at our desire


s: Should gather, eager to maintain our cause."


s: Then chode with him Anchises' valiant son:


s: "Polydamas, wherefore do they call thee wise,


s: Cooped within walls?  Never, how long soe'er


s: The Achaeans tarry here, will they lose heart;


s: But when they see us skulking from the field,


s: More fiercely will press on.  So ours shall be


s: The sufferance, perishing in our native home,


s: No food, if we be pent within our walls,


s: Though the great wall stand firm.  Nay, though our lot


s: Should be to escape that evil death and doom,


s: For children and grey fathers!  Haply Zeus


s: Will help us yet; of his high blood are we.


s: Shouted they all who heard that gallant rede.


s: Swiftly with helms and shields and spears they stood


s: In close array.  The eyes of mighty Zeus


s: From heaven beheld the Trojans armed for fight


s: Courage in these and those, that there might be


s: Strain of unflinching fight 'twixt host and host.


s: That day was Paris doomed, for Helen's sake


s: To one place Strife incarnate drew them all,


s: The fearful Battle-queen, beheld of none,


s: But cloaked in clouds blood-raining: on she stalked


s: Rushed through Troy's squadrons, through Achaea's now;


s: Panic and Fear still waited on her steps


s: From small to huge that Fury's stature grew;


s: Her arms of adamant were blood-besprent,


s: The deadly lance she brandished reached the sky.


s: Earth quaked beneath her feet: dread blasts of fire


s: Flamed from her mouth: her voice pealed thunder-like


s: Kindling strong men.  Swift closed the fronts of fight


s: Drawn by a dread Power to the mighty work.


s: Loud as the shriek of winds that madly blow


s: In early spring, when the tall woodland trees


s: Put forth their leaves--loud as the roar of fire


s: Blazing through sun-scorched brakes--loud as the voice


s: Beneath the howling blast, with thunderous crash


s: Of waves, when shake the fearful shipman's knees;


s: So thundered earth beneath their charging feet.


s: Strife swooped on them: foe hurled himself on foe.


s: With godlike Prothoenor.  'Neath his waist


s: Aeneas stabbed, and reft sweet life from him.


s: For the barbed javelin pierced through Hyllus' throat


s: In Crete: sore grieved Idomeneus for his fall.


s: Twelve Trojan warriors with his father's spear.


s: First Cebrus fell, Harmon, Pasitheus then,


s: Among Troy's mighties: with a countless host


s: To Troy he came: for Priam Dardanus' son


s: Promised him many gifts and passing fair.


s: Ah fool!  his own doom never he foresaw,


s: Whose weird was suddenly to fall in fight


s: Ere he bore home King Priam's glorious gifts.


s: Doom the Destroyer against the Argives sped


s: Wild courage spurred him on, that he might slay


s: Many--and then fill death's cup for himself.


s: Man after man he slew like some fierce beast,


s: And foes shrank from the terrible rage that burned


s: On his life's verge, nor reeked of imminent doom.


s: Yea, peerless deeds in that fight had he done,


s: Had not his hands grown weary, his spear-head


s: Bent utterly: his sword availed him not,


s: Snapped at the hilt by Fate.  Then Meges' dart


s: Smote 'neath his ribs; blood spurted from his mouth,


s: And in death's agony Doom stood at his side.


s: Even as he fell, Epeius' henchmen twain,


s: Chilled their hot hearts in death beside the dead.


s: Kills wasps that dart about his ripening grapes,


s: And so, ere they may taste the fruit, they die;


s: So smote he them, ere they could seize the arms.


s: Both goodly men.  Paris slew Hippasus' son


s: The stream deep-flowing, and to Troy he came


s: The shaft of Paris smote him unto death,


s: Driving his soul forth like a scattering breath.


s: Teucer slew Zechis, Medon's war-famed son,


s: Who dwelt in Phrygia, land of myriad flocks,


s: Below that haunted cave of fair-haired Nymphs


s: Where, as Endymion slept beside his kine,


s: And slid from heaven to earth; for passionate love


s: Drew down the immortal stainless Queen of Night.


s: Still 'neath the oaks; for mid the copses round


s: Was poured out milk of kine; and still do men


s: Marvelling behold its whiteness.  Thou wouldst say


s: Far off that this was milk indeed, which is


s: A well-spring of white water: if thou draw


s: A little nigher, lo, the stream is fringed


s: As though with ice, for white stone rims it round.


s: And drave his spear beneath his fluttering heart.


s: Loosed were the cords of sweet life suddenly,


s: And his sad parents longed in vain to greet


s: Who pours the full blood of his clamorous flow


s: Odeus' son closed in the fight, and stabbed


s: Over the shield-rim, and the cruel spear


s: Passed through his shoulder, and drenched his shield with blood.


s: Howbeit he slew him not, whose day of doom


s: Of his own city; for when Illium's towers


s: Were brought low by that swift avenging host


s: Alone; and when he drew nigh to the town,


s: The thronging women met and questioned him


s: Touching their sons and husbands; and he told


s: How all were dead. They compassed him about,


s: And stoned the man with great stones, that he died.


s: But the stones muffled up his dying groans,


s: And of the same his ghastly tomb was reared


s: Beside Bellerophon's grave and holy place


s: In Tlos, nigh that far-famed Chimaera's Crag.


s: Yet, though he thus fulfilled his day of doom,


s: By Phoebus' hest, and never his honour fades.


s: Yea, a great host of strong men laid he low.


s: On, like the War-god, through his foes he rushed,


s: Down from the mountains swelled by rain it pours


s: Whose foaming crests over its forelands sweep;


s: Whose breast with battle-fury was fulfilled,


s: Whose limbs were clad in mighty Hercules' arms


s: Gleamed bears most grim and savage, jackals fell,


s: And panthers, in whose eyes there seems to lurk


s: A deadly smile.  There were fierce-hearted wolves,


s: And boars with flashing tusks, and mighty lions


s: All seeming strangely alive; and, there portrayed


s: Through all its breadth, were battles murder-rife.


s: With all these marvels covered was the belt;


s: And with yet more the quiver was adorned.


s: There Hermes was, storm-footed Son of Zeus,


s: Slaying huge Argus nigh to Inachus' streams,


s: Argus, whose sentinel eyes in turn took sleep.


s: And there was Phaethon from the Sun-car hurled


s: Ablaze, and black smoke hovered on the air.


s: By the stars' baths and utmost bounds of earth


s: And fountains of deep-flowing Ocean, where


s: Night in the far west meets the setting sun.


s: His liver unconsumed--he seemed to groan!


s: All these Hephaestus' cunning hands had wrought


s: Most near of friends and dear, he gave to bear.


s: So glorying in those arms he smote the foe.


s: But Paris at the last to meet him sprang


s: Fearlessly, bearing in his hands his bow


s: Now met himself.  A flying shaft he sped


s: Forth from the string, which sang as leapt the dart,


s: Which flew not vainly: yet the very mark


s: It missed, for Philoctetes swerved aside


s: A hair-breadth, and it smote above the breast


s: Cleodorus war-renowned, and cleft a path


s: Clear through his shoulder; for he had not now


s: The buckler broad which wont to fence from death


s: Its bearer, but was falling back from fight,


s: Being shieldless; for Polydamas' massy lance


s: Had cleft the shoulder-belt whereby his targe


s: Hung, and he gave back therefore, fighting still


s: With stubborn spear.  But now the arrow of death


s: Fell on him, as from ambush leaping forth.


s: For so Fate willed, I trow, to bring dread doom


s: Of Amphiale, in Rhodes the fertile land.


s: Marked him by Paris' deadly arrow slain,


s: Swiftly he strained his bow, shouting aloud:


s: "Dog!  I will give thee death, will speed thee down


s: To the Unseen Land, who darest to brave me!


s: And so shall they have rest, who travail now


s: For thy vile sake.  Destruction shall have end


s: When thou art dead, the author of our bane."


s: Then to his breast he drew the plaited cord.


s: The great bow arched, the merciless shaft was aimed


s: Straight, and the terrible point a little peered


s: Above the bow, in that constraining grip.


s: Loud sang the string, as the death-hissing shaft


s: Leapt, and missed not: yet was not Paris' heart


s: Stilled, but his spirit yet was strong in him;


s: For that first arrow was not winged with death:


s: It did but graze the fair flesh by his wrist.


s: Then once again the avenger drew the bow,


s: And the barbed shaft of Poeas' son had plunged,


s: Ere he could swerve, 'twixt flank and groin.  No more


s: He abode the fight, but swiftly hasted back


s: At first, then fleeth terror-stricken back.


s: So he, his very heart with agony thrilled,


s: Fled from the war.  Still clashed the grappling hosts,


s: Man slaying man: aye bloodier waxed the fray


s: As rained the blows: corpse upon corpse was flung


s: Confusedly, like thunder-drops, or flakes


s: Of snow, or hailstones, by the wintry blast


s: At Zeus' behest strewn over the long hills


s: And forest-boughs; so by a pitiless doom


s: Slain, friends with foes in heaps on heaps were strown.


s: Sorely groaned Paris; with the torturing wound


s: Fainted his spirit.  Leeches sought to allay


s: His frenzy of pain.  But now drew back to Troy


s: The Trojans, and the Danaans to their ships


s: Swiftly returned, for dark night put an end


s: To strife, and stole from men's limbs weariness,


s: Pouring upon their eyes pain-healing sleep.


s: But through the livelong night no sleep laid hold


s: On Paris: for his help no leech availed,


s: Though ne'er so willing, with his salves.  His weird


s: Death's doom, if so she willed.  Now he obeyed


s: The prophecy, and he went--exceeding loth,


s: But grim necessity forced him thence, to face


s: Shrieked o'er his head, or darted past to left,


s: Still as he went.  Now, as he looked at them,


s: His heart sank; now hope whispered, "Haply vain


s: Their bodings are!" but on their wings were borne


s: Visions of doom that blended with his pain.


s: Amazed her thronging handmaids looked on him


s: As at the Nymph's feet that pale suppliant fell


s: Faint with the anguish of his wound, whose pangs


s: Stabbed him through brain and heart, yea, quivered through


s: His very bones, for that fierce venom crawled


s: Through all his inwards with corrupting fangs;


s: And his life fainted in him agony-thrilled.


s: As one with sickness and tormenting thirst


s: Consumed, lies parched, with heart quick-shuddering,


s: With liver seething as in flame, the soul,


s: Scarce conscious, fluttering at his burning lips,


s: Longing for life, for water longing sore;


s: So was his breast one fire of torturing pain.


s: "O reverenced wife, turn not from me in hate


s: Not of my will I did it: the strong Fates


s: Ere I embraced her--in thine arms had died!


s: All, by the Gods I pray, the Lords of Heaven,


s: Lay on my deadly wound those healing salves


s: Which only can, by Fate's decree, remove


s: This torment, if thou wilt.  Thine heart must speak


s: My sentence, to be saved from death or no.


s: This venom's might is swiftly bringing death!


s: Heal me, while life yet lingers in my limbs!


s: Low fallen at thy feet!  This should offend


s: With vengeance, and the Erinnys executes


s: Their wrath.  My queen, I sinned, in folly sinned;


s: Yet from death save me--oh, make haste to save!"


s: So prayed he; but her darkly-brooding heart


s: Was steeled, and her words mocked his agony:


s: "Thou comest unto me!--thou, who didst leave


s: Erewhile a wailing wife in a desolate home!--


s: Didst leave her for thy Tyndarid darling!  Go,


s: Lie laughing in her arms for bliss!  She is better


s: Than thy true wife--is, rumour saith, immortal!


s: Make haste to kneel to her but not to me!


s: Weep not to me, nor whimper pitiful prayers!


s: Oh that mine heart beat with a tigress' strength,


s: That I might tear thy flesh and lap thy blood


s: For all the pain thy folly brought on me!


s: Vile wretch!  where now is Love's Queen glory-crowned?


s: Hath Zeus forgotten his daughter's paramour?


s: Have them for thy deliverers!  Get thee hence


s: Far from my dwelling, curse of Gods and men!


s: Yea, for through thee, thou miscreant, sorrow came


s: On deathless Gods, for sons and sons' sons slain.


s: Hence from my threshold!--to thine Helen go!


s: There whimper, pierced to the heart with cruel pangs,


s: Until she heal thee of thy grievous pain."


s: So from her doors she drave that groaning man--


s: Ah fool!  not knowing her own doom, whose weird


s: Was straightway after him to tread the path


s: Of death!  So Fate had spun her destiny-thread.


s: Then, as he stumbled down through Ida's brakes,


s: Where Doom on his death-path was leading him


s: Painfully halting, racked with heart-sick pain,


s: Throned in the Olympian palace-court of Zeus.


s: And seated at her side were handmaids four


s: Whom radiant-faced Selene bare to the Sun


s: In form and office diverse each from each;


s: For of these Seasons one was summer's queen,


s: Of spring the third, of autumn-tide the fourth.


s: So in four portions parted is man's year


s: Ruled by these Queens in turn--but of all this


s: And of those issues now these spake with her


s: Which baleful Fate in her all-ruining heart


s: Was shaping to the birth the new espousals


s: For that fair bride, and how, when he had fled,


s: Wroth with the Trojans, to the mountain-height,


s: Achaea's sons would seize him and would hale


s: Unto their ships--how, by his counselling


s: Strong Tydeus' son should with Odysseus scale


s: The great wall, and should slay Alcathous


s: Pallas the Gracious, with her free consent,


s: Whose image was the sure defence of Troy;--


s: Yea, for not even a God, how wroth soe'er,


s: Had power to lay the City of Priam waste


s: While that immortal shape stood warder there.


s: But Cronos' Son himself had cast it down


s: From heaven to Priam's gold-abounding burg.


s: Of these things with her handmaids did the Queen


s: Of Heaven hold converse, and of many such,


s: But Paris, while they talked, gave up the ghost


s: Loud wailed the Nymphs around him; for they still


s: Remembered how their nursling wont to lisp


s: His childish prattle, compassed with their smiles.


s: And with them mourned the neatherds light of foot,


s: Sorrowful-hearted; moaned the mountain-glens.


s: Then unto travail-burdened Priam's queen


s: A herdman told the dread doom of her son.


s: Wildly her trembling heart leapt when she heard;


s: With failing limbs she sank to earth and wailed:


s: "Dead!  thou dead, O dear child!  Grief heaped on grief


s: Hast thou bequeathed me, grief eternal!  Best


s: Of all my sons, save Hector alone, wast thou!


s: While beats my heart, my grief shall weep for thee.


s: The hand of Heaven is in our sufferings:


s: Had lived not to endure it, but had died


s: In days of wealthy peace!  But now I see


s: Worse things--my children slain, my city sacked


s: And burned with fire by stony-hearted foes,


s: Daughters, sons' wives, all Trojan women, haled


s: So wailed she; but the King heard naught thereof,


s: For most of all his sons he honoured him,


s: His mightiest, the defender of his land.


s: Nothing of Paris knew that pierced heart;


s: Those wails were but for Trojan ears; her soul


s: With other thoughts was busy, as she cried:


s: "Husband, to me, to Troy, and to thyself


s: Oh that the Spirits of the Storm had snatched


s: Me from the earth when first I fared with thee


s: Drawn by a baleful Fate!  It might not be;


s: The Gods have meted ruin to thee and me.


s: With shuddering horror all men look on me,


s: All hate me!  Place of refuge is there none


s: For me; for if to the Danaan host I fly,


s: With torments will they greet me.  If I stay,


s: Troy's sons and daughters here will compass me


s: And rend me.  Earth shall cover not my corpse,


s: But dogs and fowl of ravin shall devour.


s: Oh had Fate slain me ere I saw these woes!"


s: So cried she: but for him far less she mourned


s: Than for herself, remembering her own sin.


s: Yea, and Troy's daughters but in semblance wailed


s: For him: of other woes their hearts were full.


s: Some thought on parents, some on husbands slain,


s: These on their sons, on honoured kinsmen those.


s: One only heart was pierced with grief unfeigned,


s: Oenone.  Not with them of Troy she wailed,


s: Moaning she lay on her lost husband's bed.


s: As when the copses on high mountains stand


s: White-veiled with frozen snow, which o'er the glens


s: The west-wind blasts have strown, but now the sun


s: And east-wind melt it fast, and the long heights


s: With water-courses stream, and down the glades


s: Slide, as they thaw, the heavy sheets, to swell


s: The rushing waters of an ice-cold spring,


s: So melted she in tears of anguished pain,


s: And cried to her heart with miserable moans:


s: "Woe for my wickedness!  O hateful life!


s: I loved mine hapless husband--dreamed with him


s: To pace to eld's bright threshold hand in hand,


s: And heart in heart!  The gods ordained not so.


s: Oh had the black Fates snatched me from the earth


s: My living love hath left me!--yet will I


s: Dare to die with him, for I loathe the light."


s: So cried she, weeping, weeping piteously,


s: Remembering him whom death had swallowed up,


s: Wasting, as melteth wax before the flame


s: Yet secretly, being fearful lest her sire


s: Should mark it, or her handmaids till the night


s: Rose from broad Ocean, flooding all the earth


s: With darkness bringing men release from toil.


s: Then, while her father and her maidens slept,


s: She slid the bolts back of the outer doors,


s: And rushed forth like a storm-blast.  Fast she ran,


s: As when a heifer 'mid the mountains speeds,


s: Her heart with passion stung, to meet her mate,


s: The herdman, as her wild rush bears her on,


s: So she but find her mate amid the woods;


s: So down the long tracks flew Oenone's feet;


s: Seeking the awful pyre, to leap thereon.


s: Her feet flew faster ever, onward spurred


s: By fell Fate, and the Cyprian Queen.  She feared


s: No shaggy beast that met her in the dark


s: Who erst had feared them sorely--rugged rock


s: And precipice of tangled mountain-slope,


s: She trod them all unstumbling; torrent-beds


s: She leapt.  The white Moon-goddess from on high


s: Looked on her, and remembered her own love,


s: In that wild race, and, shining overhead


s: In her full brightness, made the long tracks plain.


s: Through mountain-gorges so she won to where


s: Wailed other Nymphs round Alexander's corpse.


s: Roared up about him a great wall of fire;


s: For from the mountains far and near had come


s: Shepherds, and heaped the death-bale broad and high


s: For love's and sorrow's latest service done


s: To one of old their comrade and their king.


s: Sore weeping stood they round.  She raised no wail,


s: The broken-hearted, when she saw him there,


s: But, in her mantle muffling up her face,


s: Leapt on the pyre: loud wailed that multitude.


s: There burned she, clasping Paris.  All the Nymphs


s: Marvelled, beholding her beside her lord


s: Flung down, and heart to heart spake whispering:


s: Who left a leal true wife, and took for bride


s: Ah fool, who recked not of the broken heart


s: Of a most virtuous wife, who more than life


s: Loved him who turned from her and loved her not!"


s: So in their hearts the Nymphs spake: but they twain


s: The dayspring.  Wondering herdmen stood around,


s: As once the thronging Argives marvelling saw


s: Capaneus, slain by Zeus' dread thunderbolt.


s: But when the blast of the devouring fire


s: Had made twain one, Oenone and Paris, now


s: One little heap of ashes, then with wine


s: Quenched they the embers, and they laid their bones


s: In a wide golden vase, and round them piled


s: The earth-mound; and they set two pillars there


s: For the old jealousy in the marble lives.


s: How the sons of Troy for the last time fought from her walls and


s: Troy's daughters mourned within her walls; might none


s: From high-built Troy it lay.  But the young men


s: In fight wherein from slaughter rest was none,


s: Though dead was Paris; for the Achaeans pressed


s: Yet these charged forth--they could not choose but so,


s: For Strife and deadly Enyo in their midst


s: Stalked, like the fell Erinyes to behold,


s: Breathing destruction from their lips like flame.


s: Beside them raged the ruthless-hearted Fates


s: Fiercely: here Panic-fear and Ares there


s: Stirred up the hosts: hard after followed


s: Dread With slaughter's gore besprent, that in one host


s: Might men see, and be strong, in the other fear;


s: And all around were javelins, spears, and darts


s: Murder-athirst from this side, that side, showered.


s: Aye, as they hurled together, armour clashed,


s: As foe with foe grappled in murderous fight.


s: Whom Lycia nurtured by fair Xanthus' stream,


s: The stream revealed to men by Leto, bride


s: Of Thunderer Zeus, when Lycia's stony plain


s: Of travail-throes wherein she brought to light


s: Mid bitter pangs those babes of birth divine.


s: Crashed through his jaw, and clear through mouth and tongue


s: Passed: on the lance's irresistible point


s: Shrieking was he impaled: flooded with gore


s: His mouth was as he cried.  The cruel shaft,


s: Sped on by that strong hand, dashed him to earth


s: In throes of death.  Evenor next he smote


s: Above the flank, and onward drave the spear


s: He quelled Hippomedon, Hippasus' bold son,


s: Sangarius' river-flow.  Ne'er welcomed she


s: Her son's returning face, but ruthless Fate


s: With anguish thrilled her of her child bereaved.


s: Of Cnossus this, of hallowed Lyctus that:


s: On one spot both from their swift chariots fell;


s: This gasped for breath, his throat by the long spear


s: Transfixed; that other, by a massy stone,


s: Sped from a strong hand, on the temple struck,


s: Breathed out his life, and black doom shrouded him.


s: The startled steeds, bereft of charioteers,


s: Fleeing, mid all those corpses were confused,


s: And princely Aeneas' henchmen seized on them


s: With hearts exulting in the goodly spoil.


s: The tendons twain behind the knee it snapped,


s: And palsied all his speed.  A Danaan marked,


s: And leapt on that maimed man with sweep of sword


s: Shearing his neck through.  On the breast of earth


s: The headless body fell: the head far flung


s: Went rolling with lips parted as to shriek;


s: And swiftly fleeted thence the homeless soul.


s: And Cleon with his spear.  From Syme came


s: With Nireus' following these: cunning were both


s: In craft of fisher-folk to east the hook


s: The net, from the boat's prow with deftest hands


s: Swiftly and straight to plunge the three-forked spear.


s: But not from bane their sea-craft saved them now.


s: Eurypylus battle-staunch laid Hellus low,


s: Cleito the fair-cheeked.  Face-down in the dust


s: Outstretched he lay: shorn by the cruel sword


s: From his strong shoulder fell the arm that held


s: His long spear.  Still its muscles twitched, as though


s: Fain to uplift the lance for fight in vain;


s: For the man's will no longer stirred therein,


s: But aimlessly it quivered, even as leaps


s: The severed tail of a snake malignant-eyed,


s: Which cannot chase the man who dealt the wound;


s: So the right hand of that strong-hearted man


s: With impotent grip still clutched the spear for fight.


s: Ceteians both; this perished by his spear,


s: That by his sword death-dealing.  Sthenelus


s: On through his throat and shuddering nape it rushed:


s: Stopped were his heart-beats, all his limbs collapsed.


s: Far from Peneius' river.  Crushed by fate,


s: Love's nursing-debt to parents ne'er he paid.


s: Looked down Corycia's ridge, and that great rock


s: Of the wise Fire-god, marvellous in men's eyes;


s: For thereon, nightlong, daylong, unto him


s: Laden with fruit around it palm-trees grow,


s: While mid the stones fire plays about their roots.


s: Gods' work is this, a wonder to all time.


s: By Teucer princely Hippomedon's son was slain,


s: Rushed he to smite him; but already hand


s: And eye, and bow-craft keen were aiming straight


s: On the arching horn the shaft.  Swiftly released


s: It leapt on the hapless man, while sang the string.


s: Stricken full front he heaved one choking gasp,


s: Because the fates on the arrow riding flew


s: Right to his heart, the throne of thought and strength


s: For men, whence short the path is unto death.


s: Far from his brawny hand Euryalus hurled


s: A massy stone, and shook the ranks of Troy.


s: As when in anger against long-screaming cranes


s: A watcher of the field leaps from the ground,


s: In swift hand whirling round his head the sling,


s: And speeds the stone against them, scattering


s: Before its hum their ranks far down the wind


s: Outspread, and they in huddled panic dart


s: With wild cries this way and that, who theretofore


s: Swept on in ordered lines; so shrank the foe


s: To right and left from that dread bolt of doom


s: Hurled of Euryalus.  Not in vain it flew


s: Fate-winged; it shattered Meles' helm and head


s: Down to the eyes: so met him ghastly death.


s: Still man slew man, while earth groaned all around,


s: As when a mighty wind scourges the land,


s: And this way, that way, under its shrieking blasts


s: Through the wide woodland bow from the roots and fall


s: Great trees, while all the earth is thundering round;


s: So fell they in the dust, so clanged their arms,


s: So crashed the earth around.  Still hot were they


s: For fell fight, still dealt bane unto their foes.


s: For these against the mighty Achaeans fought


s: Shoulder to shoulder, as two strong oxen, matched


s: In age, yoked to a wain; nor ever ceased


s: From battling.  Suddenly spake the God to these


s: In Polymestor's shape, the seer his mother


s: By Xanthus bare to the Far-darter's priest:


s: 'Twere shame if ye should flinch from Argives!  Nay,


s: Not Ares' self should joy to encounter you,


s: An ye would face him in the fray; for Fate


s: Hath spun long destiny-threads for thee and thee."


s: He spake, and vanished, mingling with the winds.


s: But their hearts felt the God's power: suddenly


s: Flooded with boundless courage were their frames,


s: Maddened their spirits: on the foe they leapt


s: Like furious wasps that in a storm of rage


s: Swoop upon bees, beholding them draw nigh


s: In latter-summer to the mellowing grapes,


s: Or from their hives forth-streaming thitherward;


s: So fiercely leapt these sons of Troy to meet


s: War-hardened Greeks.  The black Fates joyed to see


s: Their conflict, Ares laughed, Enyo yelled


s: Horribly.  Loud their glancing armour clanged:


s: They stabbed, they hewed down hosts of foes untold


s: With irresistible hands.  The reeling ranks


s: Fell, as the swath falls in the harvest heat,


s: When the swift-handed reapers, ranged adown


s: The field's long furrows, ply the sickle fast;


s: So fell before their hands ranks numberless:


s: With corpses earth was heaped, with torrent blood


s: Was streaming: Strife incarnate o'er the slain


s: Gloated.  They paused not from the awful toil,


s: But aye pressed on, like lions chasing sheep.


s: Then turned the Greeks to craven flight; all feet


s: Unmaimed as yet fled from the murderous war.


s: Smiting foes' backs with his avenging spear:


s: On pressed Eurymachus, while glowed the heart


s: Draw nigh his ripening corn, before the sheaves


s: Fall neath the reapers' hands, and harketh on


s: Against them his strong dogs; as down they rush,


s: The spoilers see and quake; no more think they


s: Of feasting, but they turn in panic flight


s: Huddling: fast follow at their heels the hounds


s: Biting remorselessly, while long and loud


s: Squealing they flee, and joys the harvest's lord;


s: So rejoiced Phoebus, seeing from the war


s: Fleeing the mighty Argive host.  No more


s: Cared they for deeds of men, but cried to the Gods


s: For swift feet, in whose feet alone was hope


s: To escape Eurymachus' and Aeneas' spears


s: Which lightened ever all along their rear.


s: But one Greek, over-trusting in his strength,


s: Or by Fate's malice to destruction drawn,


s: Curbed in mid flight from war's turmoil his steed,


s: And strove to wheel him round into the fight


s: To face the foe.  But fierce Agenor thrust


s: Shore though his shoulder; yea, the very bone


s: Of that gashed arm was cloven by the steel;


s: The tendons parted, the veins spirted blood:


s: Down by his horse's neck he slid, and straight


s: Fell mid the dead.  But still the strong arm hung


s: With rigid fingers locked about the reins


s: Like a live man's.  Weird marvel was that sight,


s: The bloody hand down hanging from the rein,


s: Scaring the foes yet more, by Ares' will.


s: Thou hadst said, "It craveth still for horsemanship!"


s: So bare the steed that sign of his slain lord.


s: Aeneas hurled his spear; it found the waist


s: Of Anthalus' son, it pierced the navel through,


s: Dragging the inwards with it.  Stretched in dust,


s: Clutching with agonized hands at steel and bowels,


s: Horribly shrieked he, tore with his teeth the earth


s: Groaning, till life and pain forsook the man.


s: Scared were the Argives, like a startled team


s: Of oxen 'neath the yoke-band straining hard,


s: What time the sharp-fanged gadfly stings their flanks


s: Athirst for blood, and they in frenzy of pain


s: Start from the furrow, and sore disquieted


s: The hind is for marred work, and for their sake,