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DRAMATIS PERSONAE CHORUS OF TROJAN SENTINELS ODYSSEUS HECTOR DIOMEDES AENEAS PARIS DOLON ATHENA MESSENGER, a shepherd THE MUSE RHESUS THE CHARIOTEER OF RHESUS
RHESUS
Before Hector's tent at the gates of Troy. Enter CHORUS
CHORUS.
To Hector's couch away, one of you wakeful squires that tend the
prince, to see if he have any fresh tidings from the warriors who were
set to guard the assembled host during the fourth watch of the
night. (Calls to HECTOR in the tent) Lift up thy head! Prop thine
arm beneath it! Unseal that louring eye from its repose; thy lowly
couch of scattered leaves, O Hector, quit! 'Tis time to hearken.
Enter HECTOR.
HECTOR.
Who goes there? Is it a friend who calls? Who art thou? Thy
watchword? Speak! Who in the dark hours comes nigh my couch, must tell
me who he is.
CHORUS.
Sentinels we of the army.
HECTOR.
Why this tumultuous haste?
CHORUS.
Be of good courage.
HECTOR.
Is there some midnight ambuscade?
CHORUS.
Nay.
HECTOR.
Then why dost thou desert thy post and rouse the army, save thou
have some tidings of the night? Art not aware how near the Argive host
we take our night's repose in all our harness clad?
CHORUS.
To arms! O Hector, seek thine allies' sleeping camp! Bid them
wield the spear! Awake them! thine own company despatch a friend.
Saddle and bridle the steeds. Who will to the son of Panthus? who to
Europa's son, captain of the Lycian band? Where are they who should
inspect the victims? Where be the leaders of the light-armed troops?
Ye Phrygian archers, string your horn-tipped bows.
HECTOR.
Now fear, now confidence thy tidings inspire; nothing is plainly
set forth. Can it be that thou art smitten with wild affright by
Pan, the son of Cronion, and leaving thy watch therefore dost rouse
the host? What means thy noisy summons? What tidings can I say thou
bringest? Thy words are many, but no plain statement hast thou made.
CHORUS.
The long night through, O Hector, the Argive host hath kindled
fires, and bright with torches shines the anchored fleet. To
Agamemnon's tent the whole army moves clamorously by night, eager
for fresh orders maybe, for never before have I seen such commotion
among yon sea-faring folk. Wherefore I was suspicious of what might
happen and came to tell thee, that thou mayest have no cause to
blame me hereafter.
HECTOR.
In good season com'st thou, albeit thy tidings are fraught with
terror; for those cowards are bent on giving me the slip and
stealing away from this land in their ships by night; their midnight
signalling convinces me of this. Ah! Fortune, to rob me in my hour
of triumph, a lion of his prey, or ever this spear of mine with one
fell swoop had made an end for aye of yonder Argive host! Yea, had not
the sun's bright lamp withheld his light, I had not stayed my victor's
spear, ere I had fired their ships and made my way from tent to
tent, drenching this hand in Achaean gore. Right eager was I to make a
night attack and take advantage of the stroke of luck by heaven
sent, but those wise seers of mine, who have heaven's will so pat,
persuaded me to wait the dawn, and then leave not one Achaean in the
land. But those others await not the counsels of my soothsayers;
darkness turns runaways to heroes. Needs must we now without delay
pass this word along the line "Arm, arm! from slumber cease!" for many
a man of them, e'en as he leaps aboard his ship, shall be smitten
through the back and sprinkle the ladders with blood, and others shall
be fast bound with cords and learn to till our Phrygian glebe.
CHORUS.
Thou hastest, Hector, before thou knowest clearly what is
happening; for we do not know for certain whether our foes are flying.
HECTOR.
What reason else had the Argive host to kindle fires?
CHORUS.
I cannot say; my soul doth much misgive me.
HECTOR.
If this thou fearest, be sure there's nought thou wouldst not
fear.
CHORUS.
Never aforetime did the enemy kindle such a blaze.
HECTOR.
No, nor ever before did they suffer such shameful defeat and rout.
CHORUS.
This thou didst achieve; look now to what remains to do.
HECTOR.
I have but one word to say, "Arm, arm against the foe!"
CHORUS.
Lo! where Aeneas comes, in hot haste too, as though he hath news
to tell his friends.
Enter ENEAS.
AENEAS.
Why, Hector, have the sentinels in terror made their way through
the host to thy couch to hold a midnight conclave and disturb the
army?
HECTOR.
Case thee in thy coat of mail, Aeneas.
AENEAS.
How now? are tidings come of some secret stratagem set on foot
during the night by the foe?
HECTOR.
They are flying, these foes of ours, and going aboard their ships.
AENEAS.
What sure proof canst thou give of this?
HECTOR.
The livelong night they are kindling blazing torches; methinks
they will not wait for the morrow, but after lighting brands upon
their ships' decks will leave this and to their homes.
AENEAS.
And thou, wherefore dost thou gird thee with thy sword?
HECTOR.
With my spear will I stop them even as they fly and leap aboard
their ships, and my hand shail be heavy upon them; for shameful it
were in us, aye, and cowardly as well as shameful, when God gives them
into our hands, to let our foes escape without a blow after all the
injuries they have done us.
AENEAS.
Would thou wert as sage as thou art bold But lo! among mortals the
same man is not dowered by nature with universal knowledge; each
hath his special gift appointed him, thine is arms, another's is
sage counsel. Thou hearest their torches are blazing, and art fired
with the hope that the Achaeans are flying, and wouldst lead on our
troops across the trenches in the calm still night. Now after crossing
the deep yawning trench, supposing thou shouldst find the enemy are
not flying from the land, but are awaiting thy onset, beware lest thou
suffer defeat and so never reach this city again; for how wilt thou
pass the palisades in a rout? And how shall thy charioteers cross
the bridges without dashing the axles of their cars to pieces? And, if
victorious, thou hast next the son of Peleus to engage; he will
ne'er suffer thee to cast the firebrand on the fleet, no, nor to harry
the Achaeans as thou dost fondly fancy. Nay, for yon man is fierce
as fire, a very tower of valiancy. Let us rather then leave our men to
sleep calmly under arms after the weariness of battle, while we
send, as I advise, whoe'er will volunteer, to spy upon the enemy;
and if they really are preparing to fly, let us arise and fall upon
the Argive host, but if this signalling is a trap to catch us, we
shall discover from the spy the enemy's designs and take our measures;
such is my advice, O King.
CHORUS.
It likes me well; so change thy mind and adopt this counsel. I
love not hazardous commands in generals. What better scheme could be
than for a fleet spy to approach the ships and learn why our foes
are lighting fires in front of their naval station?
HECTOR.
Since this finds favour with you all, prevail. (To AENEAS.) Go
thou and marshal our allies; mayhap the host hearing of our midnight
council is disturbed. Mine shall it be to send one forth to spy upon
the foe. And if I discover any plot amongst them, thou shalt fully
hear thereof, and at the council-board shalt learn our will; but in
case they be starting off in flight, with cager ear await the
trumpet's call, for then I will not stay, but will this very night
engage the Argive host there where their ships are hauled up.
AENEAS.
Send out the spy forthwith; there's safety in thy counsels now.
And thou shalt find me steadfast at thy side, whene'er occasion call.
Exit AENEAS.
HECTOR.
What Trojan now af all our company doth volunteer to go and spy
the Argive fleet? Who will be that patriot? Who saith "I will"? Myself
cannot at every point serve my country and my friends in arms.
DOLON.
(Comes from the rear). I for my country will gladly run this
risk and go to spy the Argive fleet, and when I have learnt fully
all that the Acheans plot I will return. Hear the conditions on
which I undertake this toil.
HECTOR.
True to his name in sooth, his country's friend is Dolon. Thy
father's house was famed of yore, but thou hast made it doubly so.
DOLON.
So must I toil, but for my pains a meet reward should I receive.
For set a price on any deed, and then and there it gives to it a
double grace.
HECTOR.
Yea, that is but fair; I cannot gainsay it. Name any prize for
thyself save the sway I bear.
DOLON.
I covet not thy toilsome sovereignty.
HECTOR.
Well then, marry a daughter of Priam and become my good brother.
DOLON.
Nay, I care not to wed amongst those beyond my station.
HECTOR.
There's gold, if this thou'lt claim as thy guerdon.
DOLON.
Gold have I in my home; no sustenance lack I.
HECTOR.
What then is thy desire of all that Ilium stores within her?
DOLON.
Promise me my gift when thou dost conquer the Achaeans.
HECTOR.
I will give it thee; do thou ask anything except the captains of
the fleet.
DOLON.
Slay them; I do not ask thee to keep thy hand off Menelaus.
HECTOR.
Is it the son of Oileus thou wouldst ask me for?
DOLON.
Ill hands to dig and delve are those mid luxury nursed.
HECTOR.
Whom then of the Acheans wilt thou have alive to hold to ransom?
DOLON.
I told thee before, my house is stored with gold.
HECTOR.
Why then, thou shalt come and with thine own hands choose out some
spoil.
DOLON.
Nail up the spoils for the gods on their temple walls.
HECTOR.
Prithee, what higher prize than these wilt ask me for?
DOLON.
Achilles' coursers. Needs must the prize be worth the toil when
one stakes one's life on Fortune's die.
HECTOR.
Ah! but thy wishes clash with mine anent those steeds; for of
immortal stock, they and their sires before them, are those horses
that bear the son of Peleus on his headlong course. Them did king
Poseidon, ocean's god, break and give to Peleus, so runs the
legend-yet, for I did urge thee on, I will not break my word; to
thee will I give Achilles' team, to add a splendour to thy house.
DOLON.
I thank thee; in receiving them I avow I am taking a fairer gift
than any other Phrygian for my bravery. Yet thee it needs not to be
envious; countless joys besides this will glad thy heart in thy
kingship o'er this land. Exit HECTOR.
CHORUS.
Great the enterprise, and great the boon thou designest to
receive. Happy, ay, happy wilt thou be, if thou succeed; fair the fame
thy toil shall win. Yet to wed with a prince's sister were a
distinction high. On Heaven's decrees let Justice keep her eye! what
man can give thou hast, it seems, in full.
DOLON.
Now will I set forth, and going within my house will don such garb
as suits, and then will hasten to the Argive fleet.
CHORUS.
Why, what dress in place of this wilt thou assume?
DOLON.
Such as suits my task and furtive steps.
CHORUS.
One should ever learn wisdom from the wise; tell me wherewith thou
wilt drape thy body.
DOLON.
I will fasten a wolf skin about my back, and o'er my head put
the brute's gaping jaws; then fitting its fore-feet to my hands and
its hind-feet to my legs I will go on all-fours in imitation of its
gait to puzzle the enemy when I approach their trenches and barriers
round the ships. But whenever I come to a deserted spot, on two feet
will I walk; such is the ruse I have decided on.
CHORUS.
May Hermes, Maia's child, escort thee safely there and back,
prince of tricksters as he is! Thou knowest what thou hast to do; good
luck is all thou needest now.
DOLON.
I shall return in safety, and bring to thee the head of Odysseus
when I have slain him, or maybe the son of Tydeus, and with this clear
proof before thee thou shalt avow that Dolon went unto the Argive
fleet; for, ere the dawn appear, I will win back home with
bloodstained hand.
Exit DOLON.
CHORUS.
O Apollo, blest godhead, lord of Thymbra and of Delos, who
hauntest thy fane in Lycia, come with all thy archery, appear this
night, and by thy guidance save our friend now setting forth, and
aid the Dardans' scheme, almighty god whose hands in days of yore
upreared Troy's walls! Good luck attend his mission to the ships!
may he reach the host of Hellas and spy it out, then turn again and
reach the altars of his father's home in Ilium! Grant him to mount the
chariot drawn by Phthia's steeds, when Hector, our master, hath sacked
Achae's camp, those steeds that the sea-god gave to Peleus, son of
Aeacus; for he and he alone had heart enough for home and country to
go and spy the naval station; his spirit I admire; how few stout
hearts there be, when on the sea the sunlight dies and the city
labours in the surge; Phrygia yet hath left a valiant few, and bold
hearts in the battle's press; 'tis only Mysia's sons who scorn us as
allies.
Which of the Achaeans will their four-footed murderous foe slay in
their beds, as he crosses the ground, feigning to be a beast? May he
lay Menelaus low or slay Agamemnon and bring his head to Helen's
hands, causing her to lament her evil kinsman, who hath come against
my city, against the land of Troy with his countless host of ships.
DOLON reappears disguised and departs for the Greek camp.
Enter MESSENGER.
MESSENGER (a Shepherd).
Great king, ever in days to come be it mine to bring my masters
such news as I am bearing now unto thine ears.
Enter HECTOR.
HECTOR.
Full oft the rustic mind is afflicted with dulness; so thou, as
like as not, art come to this ill-suited place to tell thy master that
his flocks are bearing well. Knowest thou not my palace or my father's
throne? Thither thou shouldst carry thy tale when thou hast
prospered with thy flocks.
MESSENGER.
Dull herdsmen are; I do not gainsay thee.
But none the less I bring thee joyful news.
HECTOR.
A truce to thy tale of how the sheep-fold fares; I have battles to
fight and spears to wield.
MESSENGER.
The very things of which I, too, came to tell thee; for a
chieftain of a countless host is on his way to join thee as thy friend
and to champion this land.
HECTOR.
His country? and the home that he hath left?
MESSENGER.
His country, Thrace: men call his father Strymon.
HECTOR.
Didst say that Rhesus was setting foot in MESSENGER. Thou hast it;
and savest me half my speech.
HECTOR.
How is it that he comes to Ida's meadows, wandering from the broad
waggon track across the plain?
MESSENGER.
I cannot say for certain, though I might guess. To make his
entry by night is no idle scheme, when he hears that the plains are
packed with foemen's troops. But he frightened us rustic hinds who
dwell alog the slopes of Ida, the earliest settlement in the land,
as he came by night through yon wood where wild beasts couch. On
surged the tide of Thracian warriors with loud shouts; whereat in wild
amaze we drove our flocks unto the heights, for fear that some Argives
were coming to plunder and harry thy steading, till that we caught the
sound of voices other than Greek and ceased from our alarm. Then
went I and questioned in the Thracian tongue those who were
reconnoitring the road, who it was that lead them, and whose he avowed
him to be, that came to the city to help the sons of Priam. And when I
had heard all I wished to learn, I stood still awhile; and lo! I see
Rhesus mounted like a god upon his Thracian chariot. Of gold was the
yoke that linked the necks of his steeds whiter than the snow; and
on his shoulders flashed his targe with figures welded in gold;
while a gorgon of bronze like that which gleams from the aegis of
the goddess was bound upon the frontlet of his horses, ringing out its
note of fear with many a bell. The number of his host thou couldst not
reckon to a sum exact, for it was beyond one's comprehension; many a
knight was there, and serried ranks of targeteers, and archers not a
few, with countless swarms of light-armed troops, in Thracian garb
arrayed, to bear them company. Such the ally who comes to Troy's
assistance; him the son of Peleus will ne'er escape or if he fly or
meet him spear to spear.
CHORUS.
Whenso the gods stand by the burghers staunch and true, the tide
of fortune glides with easy flow to a successful goal.
HECTOR.
I shall find a host of friends now that fortune smiles upon my
warring and Zeus is on my side. But no need have we of those who
shared not our toils of erst, what time the War-god, driving all
before him, was rending the sails of our ship of state with his
tempestuous blast. Rhesus hath shewn the friendship he then bore to
Troy; for he cometh to the feast, albeit he was not with the hunters
when they took the prey, nor joined his spear with theirs.
CHORUS.
Thou art right to scorn and blame such friends; yet welcome
those who fain would help the state.
HECTOR.
Sufficient we who long have kept Ilium safe.
CHORUS.
Art so sure thou hast already caught the foe?
HECTOR.
Quite sure I am; to-morrow's light will make that plain.
CHORUS.
Beware of what may chance; full oft doth fortune veer.
HECTOR.
I loathe the friend who brings his help too late.
MESSENGER.
O prince, to turn away allies earns hatred. His mere appearing
would cause a panic amongst the foe.
CHORUS.
Let him, at least, since he is come, approach thy genial board
as guest, if not ally, for the gratitude of Priam's sons is forfeit in
his case.
HECTOR.
Thou counsellest aright; thou too dost take the proper view. Let
Rhesus in his gilded mail join the allies of this land, thanks to
the messenger's report.
Exeunt the MESSENGER and HECTOR.
CHORUS.
May Nemesis, daughter of Zeus, check the word that may offend; for
lo! I will utter all that my soul fain would say. Thou art come, O son
of the river god, art come, thrice welcome in thy advent, to the halls
of Phrygia; late in time thy Pierian mother and Strymon thy sire, that
stream with bridges fair, are sending thee to us-Strymon who begat
thee his strong young son, that day his swirling waters found a refuge
in the tuneful Muse's virgin bosom. Thou art my Zeus, my god of light,
as thou comest driving thy dappled steeds. Now, O Phrygia, O my
country, now mayst thou by God's grace address thy saviour Zeus! Shall
old Troy once more at last spend the live-long day in drinking
toasts and singing love's praise, while the wildering wine-cup sends a
friendly challenge round, as o'er the sea for Sparta bound, the sons
of Atreus quit the Ilian strand? Ah! best of friends, with thy
strong arm and spear mayst thou this service do me, then safe
return. Come, appear, brandish that shield of gold full in Achilles'
face; raise it aslant along the chariot's branching rail, urging on
thy steeds the while, and shaking thy lance with double point. For
none after facing thee will ever join the dance on the lawns of Argive
Hera; no, but he shall die by Thracians slain, and this land shall
bear the burden of his corpse and be glad.
Enter RHESUS.
Hail, all bail O mighty prince! fair the scion thou hast bred, O
Thrace, a ruler in his every look. Mark his stalwart frame cased in
golden corslet! Hark to the ringing bells that peal so proudly from
his targehandle hung. A god, O Troy, a god, a very Ares, a scion of
Strymon's stream and of the tuneful Muse, breathes courage into thee.
Re-enter HECTOR.
RHESUS.
Brave son of sire as brave, Hector, prince of this land, all haill
After many a long day I greet thee. Right glad am I of thy success, to
see thee camped hard on the foemen's towers; I come to help thee
raze their walls and fire their fleet of ships.
HECTOR.
Son of that tuneful mother, one of the Muses nine, and of Thracian
Strymon's stream, I ever love to speak plain truth; nature gave me not
a double tongue. Long, long ago shouldst thou have come and shared the
labours this land nor suffered Troy for any help of thine to fall o'er
thrown by hostile Argive spears. Thou canst not say 'twas any want
of invitation that kept thee from coming with thy help to visit us.
How oft came heralds and embassies from Phrygia urgently requiring
thine aid for our city? What sumptuous presents did we not send to
thee? But thou, brother barbarian though thou wert, didst pledge
away to Hellenes us thy barbarian brethren, for ill the help thou
gavest. Yet 'twas I with this strong arm that raised thee from thy
paltry princedom to high lordship over Thrace, that day I fell upon
the Thracian chieftains face to face around Pangaeus in Paeonia's land
and broke their serried ranks, and gave their people up to thee with
the yoke upon their necks; but thou hast trampled on this great favour
done thee, and comest with laggard step to give thine aid when friends
are in distress. While they, whom no natural tic of kin constrains,
have long been here, and some are dead and in their graves beneath the
heaped-up cairn, no mean proof of loyalty to the city, and others in
harness clad and mounted on their cars, with steadfast soul endure the
icy blast and parching heat of the sun, not pledging one another, as
thou art wont, in long deep draughts on couches soft. This is the
charge I bring against thee and utter to thy face, that thou mayst
know how frank is Hector's tongue.
RHESUS.
I too am such another as thyself; straight to the point I cut my
way; no shuffling nature mine. My heart was wrung with sorer anguish
than ever thine was at my absence from this land; I fumed and
chafed, but Scythian folk, whose borders march with mine, made war
on me on the very eve of my departure for Ilium; already had I reached
the strand of the Euxine sea, there to transport my Thracian army.
Then did my spear pour out o'er Scythia's soil great drops of bloody
rain, and Thrace too shared in the mingled slaughter. This then was
what did chance to keep me from coming to the land of Troy and joining
thy standard. But soon as I had conquered these and taken their
children as hostages and appointed the yearly tribute they should
pay my house, I crossed the firth, and lo! am here; on foot I
traversed all thy borders that remained to pass, not as thou in thy
jeers at those carousals of my countrymen hintest, nor sleeping soft
in gilded palaces, but amid the frozen hurricanes that vex the
Thracian main and the Paeonian shores, learning as I lay awake what
suffering is, this soldier's cloak-my only wrap. True my coming hath
tarried, but yet am I in time; ten long years already hast thou been
at the fray, and naught accomplished yet; day in, day out, thou
riskest all in this game of war with Argives. While I will be
content once to see the sungod rise, and sack yon towers and fall upon
their anchored fleet and slay the Achaeans; and on the morrow home
from Ilium will I go, at one stroke ending all thy toil. Let none of
you lay hand to spear to lift it, for I, for all my late arrival, will
with my lance make utter havoc of those vaunting Achaeans.
CHORUS.
Joy, joy! sweet champion sent by Zeus! Only may Zeus, throned on
high, keep jealousy, resistless foe, from thee for thy presumptuous
words! Yon fleet of ships from Argos sent, never brought, nor formerly
nor now, among all its warriors a braver than thee; how I wonder
will Achilles, how will Aias stand the onset of thy spear? Oh! to live
to see that happy day, my prince, that thou mayest wreak vengeance
on them, gripping thy lance in thy deathdealing hand!
RHESUS.
Such exploits am I ready to achieve to atone for my long
absence; (with due submission to Nemesis I say this;) then when we
have cleared this city of its foes and thou hast chosen out
firstfruits for the gods, I fain would march with thee against the
Argives' country and coming thither, lay Hellas waste with war, that
they in turn may know the taste of ill.
HECTOR.
If thou couldst rid the city of this present curse and restore
it to its old security, sure I should feel deep gratitude towards
heaven. But as for sacking Argos and the pasture-lands of Hellas, as
thou sayest, 'tis no easy task.
RHESUS.
Avow they not that hither came the choicest chiefs of Hellas?
HECTOR.
Aye, and I scorn them not; enough have I to do in driving them
away.
RHESUS.
Well, if we slay these, our task is fully done.
HECTOR.
Leave not the present need, nor look to distant schemes.
RHESUS.
Thou art, it seems, content to suffer tamely and make no return.
HECTOR.
I rule an empire wide enough, e'en though I here abide. But on the
left wing or the right or in the centre of the allies thou mayst plant
thy shield and marshal thy troops.
RHESUS.
Alone will I face the foe, Hector. But if thou art ashamed,
after all thy previous toil, to have no share in firing their ships'
prows, place me face to face at least with Achilles and his host.
HECTOR.
'Gainst him thou canst not range thy eager spear.
RHESUS.
Why, 'twas surely said he sailed to Ilium.
HECTOR.
He sailed and is come hither; but he is wroth and takes no part
with the other chieftains in the fray.
RHESUS.
Who next to him hath won a name in their host?
HECTOR.
Aias and the son of Tydeus are, I take it, no whit his
inferiors; there is Odysseus too, a noisy knave to talk, but bold
enough withal, of all men he country. For he her image he made his a
vagrant in a beggar's garb, and loudly did he curse the Argives,
sent as a spy to Ilium; and then sneaked out again, when he had
slain the sentinels and warders at the gate. He is ever to be found
lurking in ambush about the altar of Thymbraean Apollo nigh the
city. In him we have a troublous pest to wrestle with.
RHESUS.
No brave man deigns to his foe in secret, but to meet him face
to face. If I can catch this knave alive, who, as thou sayest,
skulks in stealthy ambuscade and plots his mischief, I will impale him
at the outlet of the gates and set him up for vultures of the air to
make their meal upon. This is the death he ought to die, pirate and
temple-robber that he is.
HECTOR.
To your quarters now, for night draws on. For thee I will myself
point out a spot where thy host can watch this night apart from our
array. Our watchword is Phorbus, if haply there be need thereof;
hear and mark it well and tell it to the Thracian army. Ye must
advance in front of our ranks and keep a watchful guard, and so
receive Dolon who went to spy the ships, for he, if safe he is, is
even now approaching the camp of Troy.
Exeunt HECTOR and RHESUS.
CHORUS.
Whose watch is it? who relieves me? night's earlier stars are on
the wane, and the seven Pleiads mount the sky; athwart the firmament
the eagle floats. Rouse ye, why delay? Up from your beds to the watch!
See ye not the moon's pale beam? Dawn is near, day is coming, and
lo! a star that heralds it.
SEMI-CHORUS.
Who was told off to the first watch?
The son of Mygdon, whom men call Coroebus.
Who after him?
The Paconian contingent roused the Cilicians;
And the Mysians us.
Is it not then high time we went and roused the Lycians for the
fifth watch, as the lot decided?
CHORUS.
Hark! hark! a sound; 'tis the nightingale, that slew her child,
singing where she sits upon her bloodstained nest by Simois her
piteous plaint, sweet singer of the many trills; already along Ida's
slopes they are pasturing the flocks, and o'er the night I catch the
shrill pipe's note; sleep on my closing eyelids softly steals, the
sweetest sleep that comes at dawn to tired eyes.
SEMI-CHORUS.
Why doth not our scout draw near, whom Hector sent to spy the
fleet?
He is so long away, I have my fears.
Is it possible he hath plunged into a hidden ambush and been
slain?
Soon must we know.
My counsel is we go and rouse the Lycians to the fifth watch, as
the lot ordained. Exit SEMI-CHORUS.
Enter DIOMEDES and ODYSSEUS cautiously with drawn swords.
ODYSSEUS.
Didst not hear, O Diomedes, the clash of arms? or is it an idle
noise that rings in my ears?
DIOMEDES.
Nay, 'tis the rattle of steel harness on the chariot-rails; me,
too, did fear assail, till I perceived 'twas but the clang of
horses' chains.
ODYSSEUS.
Beware thou stumble not upon the guard in the darkness.
DIOMEDES.
I will take good care how I advance even in this gloom.
ODYSSEUS.
If however thou shouldst rouse them, dost know their watchword?
DIOMEDES.
Yea, 'tis "Phorbus"; I heard Dolon use it.
They enter the tent, then return.
ODYSSEUS.
Ha! the foe I see have left this bivouac.
DIOMEDES.
Yet Dolon surely said that here was Hector's couch, against whom
this sword of mine is drawn.
ODYSSEUS.
What can it mean? Is his company withdrawn elsewhere?
DIOMEDES.
Perhaps to form some stratagem against us.
ODYSSEUS.
Like enough, for Hector now is grown quite bold by reason of his
victory.
DIOMEDES.
What then are we to do, Odysseus? we have not found our man
asleep; our hopes are dashed.
ODYSSEUS.
Let us to the fleet with what speed we may. Some god, whiche'er it
be that gives him his good luck, is preserving him; 'gainst fate we
must not strive.
DIOMEDES.
Well, we twain must go against Eneas or Paris, most hateful of
Phrygians, and withour swords cut off their heads.
ODYSSEUS.
How, pray, in the darkness canst thou find them amid a hostile
army, and slay them without risk?
DIOMEDES.
Yet 'twere base to go unto the Agrive ships if we have worked
the enemy no harm.
ODYSSEUS.
What! no harm! Have we not slain Dolon who spied upon the anchored
fleet, and have we not his spoils safe here? Dost thou expect to
sack the entire camp? Be led by me, let us return; and good luck go
with us!
ATHENA appears.
ATHENA.
Whither away from the Trojan ranks, with sorrow gnawing at your
hearts, because fortune granteth not you twain to slay Hector or
Paris? Have ye not heard that Rhesus is come to succour Troy in no
mean sort? If he survive this night until to-morrow's dawn, neither
Achilles nor Aias, stout spearman, can stay him from utterly
destroying the Argive fleet, razing its palisades and carrying the
onslaught of his lance far and wide within the gates; slay him, and
all is thine; let Hector's sleep alone, nor hope to leave him a
weltering trunk, for he shall find death at another hand.
ODYSSEUS.
Queen Athena, 'tis the well-known accent of thy voice I hear;
for thou art ever at my side to help me in my toil. Tell us where
the warrior lies asleep, in what part of the barbarian army he is
stationed.
ATHENA.
Here lies he close at hand, not marshalled with the other
troops, but outside the ranks hath Hector given him quarters, till
night gives place to day. And nigh him are tethered his white steeds
to his Thracian chariot, easy to see in the darkness; glossy white are
they like to the plumage of a river swan. Slay their master and bear
them off, a glorious prize to any home, for nowhere else in all the
world is such a splendid team to be found.
ODYSSEUS.
Diomedes, either do thou slay the Thracian folk, or leave that
to me, while thy care must be the horses.
DIOMEDES.
I will do the killing, and do thou look to the steeds. For thou
art well versed in clever tricks, and hast a ready wit. And 'tis right
to allot a man to the work he can best perform.
ATHENA.
Lo! yonder I see Paris coming towards us; he hath heard maybe from
the guard a rumour vague that foes are near.
DIOMEDES.
Are others with him or cometh he alone?
ATHENA.
Alone; to Hector's couch he seems to wend his way, to announce
to him that spies are in the camp.
DIOMEDES.
Ought not he to head the list of slain?
ATHENA.
Thou canst not o'erreach Destiny. And it is not decreed that he
should fall by thy hand; but hasten on thy mission of slaughter
fore-ordained, (exeunt ODYSSEUS and DIOMEDES) while I feigning to be
Cypris, his ally, and to aid him in his efforts will answer thy foe
with cheating words. Thus much I have told you, but the fated victim
knoweth not, nor hath he heard one word, for all he is so near.
Enter PARIS.
PARIS.
To thee I call, general and brother, Hector! Sleep'st thou?
shouldst not thou awake? Some foeman draws anigh our host, or
thieves maybe, or spies.
ATHENA.
Courage! lo! Cypris watches o'er thee in gracious mood. Thy
warfare is my care, for I do not for the honour thou once didst me,
and I thank thee for thy good service. And now, when the host of
Troy is triumphant, am I come bringing to thee a powerful friend,
the Thracian child of the Muse, the heavenly songstress, whose
father's name is Strymon.
PARIS.
Ever unto this city and to me a kind friend art thou, and I am
sure that decision I then made conferred upon this city the highest
treasure life affords in thy person. I heard a vague report, and so
I came, for there prevailed amongst the guard a rumour that Achaean
spies are here. One man, that saw them not, saith so, while another,
that saw them come, cannot describe them, and so I am on my way to
Hector's tent.
ATHENA.
Fear naught; all is quiet in the host, and Hector is gone to
assign a sleeping-place to the Thracian army.
PARIS.
Thou dost persuade me, and I believe thy words, and will go to
guard my post, free of fear.
ATHENA.
Go, for 'tis my pleasure ever to watch thy interests, that so I
may see my allies prosperous. Yea, and thou too shalt recognize my
zeal. Exit PARIS.
Enter ODYSSEUS and DIOMEDES.
O son of Laertes, I bid you sheathe your whetted swords, ye
warriors all too keen; for dead before you lies the Thracian chief,
his steeds are captured, but the foe have wind thereof, and are coming
forth against you; fly with all speed to the ships' station. Why delay
to save your lives when the foemen's storm is just bursting on you?
CHORUS.
On, on! strike, strike, lay on, lay on! deal death in every blow!
SEMI-CHORUS.
Who goes there?
Look you, that man I mean. There are the thieves who in the
gloom disturbed this host. Hither, come hither, every man of you! I
have them-I have clutched them fast.
What is the watchword? Whence cam'st thou? Thy country?
ODYSSEUS.
'Tis not for thee to know.
SEMI-CHORUS.
Speak, or thou diest as a vile traitor this day.
Wilt not the watchword declare, ere my sword finds its way to
thy heart?
ODYSSEUS.
What! hast thou slain Rhesus?
SEMI-CHORUS.
Nay, I am asking thee about him who came to slay us.
ODYSSEUS.
Be of good heart, approach.
SEMI-CHORUS.
Strike every man of you, strike, strike home!
ODYSSEUS.
Stay every man of you!
SEMI-CHORUS.
No, no, lay on!
ODYSSEUS.
Ah! slay not a friend.
SEMI-CHORUS.
What is the watchword, then?
ODYSSEUS.
Phoebus.
SEMI-CHORUS.
Right! stay every man his spear! Dost know whither those men are
gone?
ODYSSEUS.
Somewhere here I caught a sight of them.
SEMI-CHORUS.
Close on their track each man of you, or else must we shout for
aid.
ODYSSEUS.
Nay, 'twere conduct strange to disturb our friends with wild
alarms by night.
Exeunt ODYSSEUS and DIOMEDES.
CHORUS.
Who was that man who slipped away? Who was he that will loudly
boast his daring in escaping me? How shall I catch him now? to whom
liken him? the man who came by night with fearless step passing
through our ranks and the guard we set. Is he a Thessalian or a
dweller in some seacoast town of Locris, or hath he his home amid
the scattered islands of the main? Who was he, and whence came he?
What is his fatherland? What god doth he avow as lord of the rest?
SEMI-CHORUS.
Whose work is this? is it the deed of Odysseus?
If one may conjecture from his former acts, of course it is.
Dost think so really? Why, of course.
He is a bold foe for us.
Who is? whom art thou praising for valiancy?
Odysseus.
Praise not the crafty weapons that a robber uses.
CHORUS.
Once before he came into this city, with swimming bleary eyes,
in rags and tatters clad, his sword hidden in his cloak. And like some
vagrant menial he slunk about begging his board, his hair all
tousled and matted with filth, and many a bitter curse he uttered
against the royal house of the Atreidae, as though forsooth he were to
those chiefs opposed. Would, oh! Would, oh! would he had perished,
as was his due, or ever he set foot on Phrygia's soil!
SEMI-CHORUS.
Whether it were really Odysseus or not, I am afeard.
Aye surely, for Hector will blame us sentinels.
What can he allege?
He will suspect.
What have we done? why art afeard?
By us did pass-
Well, who?
They who this night came to the Phrygian host.
Enter CHARIOTEER.
CHARIOTEER.
O crue! stroke of fate. Woe, woe!
CHORUS.
Hush! be silent all! Crouch low, for maybe there cometh someone
into the snare.
CHARIOTEER.
Oh, oh! dire mishap to the Thracian allies.
CHORUS.
Who is he that groans?
CHARIOTEER.
Alack, alack! Woe is me and woe is thee, O king of thrace! How
curst the sight of Troy to thee! how sad the blow that closed thy
life!
CHORUS.
Who art thou? an ally? which? night's gloom hath dulled these
eyes, I cannot clearly recognize thee.
CHARIOTEER.
Where can I find some Trojan chief? Where doth Hector take his
rest under arms? Alack and well-a-day! To which of the captains of the
host am I to tell my tale? What sufferings ours! What dark deeds
someone hath wrought on us and gone his way, when he had wound up a
clew of sorrow manifest to every Thracian!
CHORUS.
From what I gather of this man's words, some calamity, it seems,
is befalling the Thracian host.
CHARIOTEER.
Lost is all our host, our prince is dead, slain by a treacherous
blow. Woe worth the hour! woe worth the day! O the cruel anguish of
this bloody wound that inly racks my frame! Would I were dead! Was
it to die this inglorious death that Rhesus and I did come to Troy?
CHORUS.
This is plain language; in no riddles he declares the disaster;
all too clearly he asserts our friends' destruction.
CHARIOTEER.
A sorry deed it was, and more than that a deed most foul; yea,
'tis an evil doubly bad; to die with glory, if die one must, is
bitterness enough I trow to him who dies; assuredly it is; though to
the living it add dignity and honour for their house. But we, like
fools, have died a death of shame. No sooner had great Hector given us
our quarters and told us the watchword than we laid us down to sleep
upon the ground, o'ercome by weariness. No guard our army set to watch
by night. Our arms we set not in array, nor were the whips hung
ready on the horses' yokes, for our prince was told that you were
masters now, and had encamped hard on their ships; so carelessly we
threw us down to sleep. Now I with thoughtful mind awoke from my
slumber, and with ungrudging hand did measure out the horses' feed,
expecting to harness them at dawn unto the fray; when lo! through
the thick gloom two men I see roaming around our army. But when I
roused myself they fled away, and were gone once more; and I called
out to them to keep away from our army, for I thought they might be
thieves from our allies. No answer made they, so I too said no more,
but came back to my couch and slept again. And lo! as I slept came a
strange fancy o'er me: I saw, methought as in a dream, those steeds
that I had groomed and used to drive, stationed at Rhesus' side,
with wolves mounted on their backs; and these with their tails did
lash the horses' flanks and urge them on, while they did snort and
breathe fury from their nostrils, striving in terror to unseat their
riders. Up I sprang to defend the horses from the brutes, for the
horror of the night scared me. Then as I raised my head I heard the
groans of dying men, and a warm stream of new-shed blood bespattered
me where I lay close to my murdered master as he gave up the ghost. To
my feet I start, but all unarmed; and as I peer about and grope to
find my sword, a stalwart hand from somewhere nigh dealt me a
sword-thrust beneath the ribs. I know the sword that dealt that blow
from the deep gaping wound it gave me. Down on my face I fell, while
they fled clean away with steeds and chariot. Alack, alack! Tortured
with pain, too weak to stand, a piteous object I know what happened,
for I saw it; but how the victims met their death I cannot say, nor
whose the hand that smote them; but I can well surmise we have our
friends to thank for this mischance.
CHORUS.
O charioteer of Thrace's hapless king, never suspect that any
but foes have had a hand in this. Lo! Hector himself is here, apprized
of thy mischance; he sympathizes as he should with thy hard fate.
Enter HECTOR.
HECTOR.
Ye villains who have caused this mischief dire, how came the
foemen's spies without your knowledge, to your shame, and spread
destruction through the host, and you drove them not away as they
passed in or out? Who but you shall pay the penalty for this? You, I
say, were stationed here to the host. But they are gone without a
wound, with many a scoff at Phrygian cowardice, and at me their
leader. Now mark ye this-by father Zeus I swear at least the
scourge, if not the headsman's axe, awaits such conduct; else count
Hector a thing of naught, a mere coward.
CHORUS.
Woe, woe is me! A grievous, grievous woe came on me, I can see,
great lord of my city, in the hour that I brought my news to thee that
the Argive host was kindling fires about the ships; for by the springs
of Simois I vow my eye kept sleepless watch by night, nor did I
slumber or sleep. O be not angered with me, my lord; I am guiltless of
all; yet if hereafter thou find that I in word or deed have done
amiss, bury me alive beneath the earth; I ask no mercy.
CHARIOTEER.
Why threaten these? Why try to undermine my poor barbarian wit
by crafty words, barbarian thou thyself? Thou didst this deed; nor
they who have suffered ail, nor we by wounds disabled will believe it
was any other. A long and subtle speech thou'lt need to prove to me
thou didst not slay thy friends because thou didst covet the horses,
and to gain them didst murder thine own allies, after bidding them
come so straitly. They came, and they are dead. Why, Paris found
more decent means to shame the rights of hospitality than thou, with
thy slaughter of thy allies. Never tell me some Argive came and
slaughtered us. Who could have passed the Trojan lines and come
against us without detection? Thou and thy Phrygian troops were camped
in front of us. Who was wounded, who was slain amongst thy friends,
when that foe thou speak'st of came? 'Twas we were wounded, while some
have met a sterner fate and said farewell to heaven's light.
Briefly, then, no Achaean do I blame. For what enemy could have come
and found the lowly bed of Rhesus in the dark, unless some deity
were guiding the murderers' steps? They did not so much as know of his
arrival. No, 'tis thy plot this!
HECTOR.
'Tis many a long year now since I have had to do with allies, aye,
ever since Achoea's host settled in this land, and never an ill word
have I known them say of me; but with thee I am to make a beginning.
Never may such longing for horses seize me that I should slay my
friends! This is the work of Odysseus. Who of all the Argives but he
would have devised or carried out such a deed? I fear him much; and
somewhat my mind misgives me lest he have met and slain Dolon as well;
for 'tis long since he set out, nor yet appears.
CHARIOTEER.
I know not this Odysseus of whom thou speakest. 'Twas no foe's
hand that smote me.
HECTOR.
Well, keep that opinion for thyself, if it please thee.
CHARIOTEER.
O land of my fathers, would I might die in thee!
HECTOR.
Die! No! Enough are those already dead.
CHARIOTEER.
Where am I to turn, I ask thee, reft of my master now?
HECTOR.
My house shall shelter thee and cure thee of thy hurt.
CHARIOTEER.
How shall murderers' hands care for me?
HECTOR.
This fellow will never have done repeating the same story.
CHARIOTEER.
Curses on the doer of this deed! On thee my tongue doth fix no
charge, as thou complainest; but justice is over all.
HECTOR.
Ho! him hence! Carry him to my palace and tend him carefully, that
he may have no fault to find. And you must go to those upon the walls,
to Priam and his aged councillors, and tell them to give orders for
the burial of the dead at the place where folk turn from the road to
rest.
CHARIOTEER is carried off.
CHORUS.
Why, with what intent doth fortune change and bring Troy once
again to mourning after her famous victory? See, see! O look! What
goddess, O king, is hovering o'er our heads, bearing in her hands as
on a bier the warrior slain but now? I shudder at this sight of woe.
THE MUSE appears.
THE MUSE.
Behold me, sons of Troy! Lo! I the Muse, one of the sisters
nine, that have honour among the wise, am here, having seen the
piteous death his foes have dealt my darling son. Yet shall the crafty
Odysseus, that slew him, one day hereafter pay a fitting penalty. O my
son, thy mother's grief, I mourn for thee in self-taught strains of
woe! What a journey thou didst make to Troy, a very path of woe and
sorrow! starting, spite of all my warnings and thy father's earnest
prayers, in defiance of us. Woe is me for thee, my dear, dear son! Ah,
woe! my son, my son!
CHORUS.
I, too, bewail and mourn thy son, as far as one can who hath no
common tie of kin.
THE MUSE.
Curses on the son of Oeneus! Curses on Laertes' child! who hath
reft me of my fair son and made me childless! and on that woman,
too, that left her home in Hellas, and sailed hither with her Phrygian
paramour, bringing death to thee, my dearest son, 'neath Ilium's
walls, and stripping countless cities of their heroes brave. Deep,
deep the wounds, son of Philammon, hast thou inflicted on my heart, in
life, nor less in Hades' halls. Yea, for 'twas thy pride, thy own
undoing, and thy rivalry with us Muses that made me mother of this
poor son of mine. For as I crossed the river's streams I came too nigh
to Strymon's fruitful couch, that day we Muses came unto the brow of
Mount Pangaeus with its soil of gold, with all our music furnished
forth for one great trial of minstrel skill with that clever
Thracian bard, and him we reft of sight, even Thamyris, the man who
oft reviled our craft. Anon, when I gave birth to thee, because I felt
shame of my sisters and my maiden years, I sent thee to the swirling
stream of thy sire, the water-god; and Strymon did not entrust thy
nurture to mortal hands, but to the fountain nymphs. There wert thou
reared most fairly by the maiden nymphs, and didst rule o'er Thrace, a
leader amongst men, my child. So long as thou didst range thy native
land in quest of bloody deeds of prowess I feared not for thy death,
but I bade thee ne'er set out for Troy-town, for well I knew thy doom;
but Hector's messages and those countless embassies urged thee to go
and help thy friends. This was thy doing, Athena; thou alone art to
blame for his death (neither Odysseus nor the son of Tydeus had
aught to do with it); think not it hath escaped mine eye. And yet we
sister Muses do special honour to thy city, thy land we chiefly haunt;
yea, and Orpheus, own cousin of the dead whom thou hast slain, did for
thee unfold those dark mysteries with their torch processions.
Musaeus, too, thy holy citizen, of all men most advanced in lore,
him did Phoebus with us sisters train. And here is my reward for this;
dead in my arms I hold my child and mourn for him. Henceforth no other
learned man I'll bring to thee.
CHORUS.
Vainly it seems the Thracian charioteer reviled us with plotting
this man's murder, Hector.
HECTOR.
I knew it; it needed no seer to say that he had perished by the
arts of Odysseus. Now I, when I saw the Hellene host camped in my
land, of course would not hesitate to send heralds to my friends,
bidding them come and help my country; and so I sent, and he as in
duty bound came my toils to share. It grieves me sorely to see him
dead; and now am I ready to raise a tomb for him and burn at his
pyre great store of fine raiment; for he came as a friend and in
sorrow is he going hence.
THE MUSE.
He shall not descend into earth's darksome soil; so earnest a
prayer will I address to the bride of the nether world, the daughter
of the goddess Demeter, giver of increase, to release his soul, and
debtor, as she is to me, show that she honours the friends of Orpheus.
Yet from henceforth will he be to me as one dead that seeth not the
light; for never again will he meet me or see his mother's face, but
will lurk hidden in a cavern of the land with veins of silver,
restored to life, no longer man but god, even as the prophet of
Bacchus did dwell in a grotto 'neath Pangaeus, a god whom his votaries
honoured. Lightly now shall I feel the grief of the sea-goddess, for
her son too must die. First then for thee we sisters must chaunt our
dirge, and then for Achilles when Thetis mourns some day. Him shall
not Pallas, thy slayer, save; so true the shaft Loxias keeps in his
quiver for him. Ah me! the sorrows that a mother feels! the troubles
of mortals! whoso fairly reckons you up will live and die a
childless man and will have no children to bury.
THE MUSE disappears.
CHORUS.
His mother now must see to this her son's burial; but for thee,
Hector, if thou wilt carry out any scheme, now is the time, for day is
dawning.
HECTOR.
Go, bid our comrades arm at once; yoke the horses; torch in hand
ye must await the blast of the Etrurian trumpet; for I hope with
this day's mounting sun to pass beyond their lines and walls and
fire ships of the Acheans, restoring freedom's light once more to
Troy.
CHORUS.
Obedience to our prince! let us array ourselves in mail, and go
forth and these orders tell to our allies, and haply the god who is on
our side will grant us victory.
THE END