Part 11

EUR. Destroy me if thou wilt; to thee I sue not: But on this city, since it spared my life Through pious reverence, and forbore to slay me, Will I bestow an ancient oracle Of Phœbus, which in future times shall prove More advantageous than ye now suppose; For after death, so have the Fates decreed, My corse shall ye inter before the temple Of the Pallenian maid: to you a friend And guardian of your city, shall I rest Beneath this soil for ever; but a foe To those who spring from this detested race When with their armies they invade this land Requiting with ingratitude your kindness: Such strangers ye protect. But thus forewarned, Why came I hither? Through a fond belief That Juno was with far superior power To each oracular response endued, And that my cause she ne’er would have betrayed. On me waste no libations, nor let gore Be poured forth on the spot of my interment, For I to punish these their impious deeds, Will cause them with dishonour to return: From me shall ye receive a double gain, For you I will assist, and prove to them Most baneful e’en in death.

ALC. Why are ye loth To slay this man, if what ye hear be true, That welfare to this city hence will spring, And your prosperity? For he points out The safest road. Alive he is a foe, But after he is dead will prove a friend. Ye servants bear him hence, and to the dogs Cast forth without delay his breathless corse: Think not, presumptuous wretch, that thou shalt live Again t’ expel me from my native land.

CHOR. With this am I well pleased. My followers, go. For hence in our king’s sight shall we stand guiltless.

RHESUS.

PERSONS OF THE DRAMA.

CHORUS OF TROJAN SENTINELS. HECTOR. ÆNEAS. DOLON. A SHEPHERD. RHESUS. ULYSSES. DIOMEDE. PARIS. MINERVA. THE MUSE. THE CHARIOTEER OF RHESUS.

SCENE.—BEFORE HECTOR’S TENT AT THE GATES OF TROY.

CHORUS, HECTOR.

CHOR. Let some swift sentinel to Hector’s tent Go and inquire if any messenger Be yet arrived, who recent tidings bears From those, who during the fourth nightly watch Are by the host deputed. On your arm Sustain your head, unfold those low’ring eyelids, And from your lowly couch of withered leaves, O Hector, rise, for it is time to listen.

HEC. Who comes? art thou a friend? pronounce the watchword. Who are ye, that by night approach my bed? Speak out.

CHOR. We guard the camp.

HEC. Why com’st thou hither With this tumultuous haste?

CHOR. Be of good cheer.

HEC. I am. Hast thou discovered in the camp This night some treachery?

CHOR. None.

HEC. Why then deserting The post where thou art stationed, dost thou rouse The troops, unless thou through this midnight gloom Bring some important tidings? know’st thou not That near the Argive host we under arms Take our repose.

CHOR. Prepare your brave allies: Go to their chambers, bid them wield the spear, Rouse them from slumber, and despatch your friends To your own troop; caparison the steeds. Who bears the swift alarm to Pantheus’ son? Who to Europa’s offspring, Lycia’s chief? Where are the priests who should inspect the victims? Who leads the light-armed squadron to the field? And where are Phrygia’s archers? Let each bow Be strung.

HEC. Thy tidings are in part alarming, In part thou giv’st us courage, though thou speak Nought plainly. By the terrifying scourge Of Pan hast thou been smitten, that thou leav’st Thy station to alarm the host? Explain These clamorous sounds. What tidings shall I say Thou bring’st? Thy words are many, but their drift I comprehend not.

CHOR. All night long, O Hector, The Grecian camp hath kindled fires, the torches Amid their fleet are blazing, and the host Tumultuous rush to Agamemnon’s tent, At midnight calling on the king t’ assemble A council: for the sailors never yet Were thus alarmed. But I, because I fear What may ensue, these tidings hither bring, Lest you should charge me with a breach of duty.

HEC. Full seasonably thou com’st, although thou speak Words fraught with terror: for these dastards hope They in their barks shall from this shore escape Ere I discover them: their kindled fires Prove this suspicion. Thou, O partial Jove, Hast robbed me of my triumph, like the prey Torn from the lion, ere I have destroyed With this avenging spear the Grecian host. Had not the sun withdrawn his radiant beams, I the successful battle had prolonged Till I had burnt their ships, and hewn a way Through their encampments, and in slaughter drenched My bloody hand. I would have fought by night And taken my advantage of the gales Sent by auspicious fortune: but the wise, And seers who knew the will of Heaven, advised me To wait but till to-morrow’s dawn appeared, And then sweep every Grecian from the land. But now no longer will they stay to prove The truth of what my prophets have foretold: For cowards in the midnight gloom are brave. Instantly therefore through the host proclaim These orders: “Take up arms, and rouse from sleep;” Pierced through the back as to the ships he flies, So shall full many a dastard with his gore Distain the steep ascent; the rest fast bound In galling chains shall learn to till our fields.

CHOR. O Hector, ere you learn the real fact, You are too hasty: for we know not yet That they are flying.

HEC. Wherefore then by night Are those fires kindled through the Grecian camp?

CHOR. I am not certain, though my soul full strongly Suspects the cause.

HEC. If thou fear this, thou tremblest At a mere shadow.

CHOR. Such a light ne’er blazed Before among the foes.

HEC. Nor such defeat In battle, did they e’er till now experience.

CHOR. This have you done; look now to what remains.

HEC. I give this short direction: take up arms Against the foe.

CHOR. Behold! Æneas comes: Sure, from his haste, some tidings, which deserve His friends’ attentive ear, the warrior brings.

ÆNEAS, HECTOR, CHORUS.

ÆNE. What mean the watch, O Hector, who by night Were to their stations in the camp assigned, That they, with terror smitten, at your chamber In a nocturnal council have assembled? And why is the whole army thus in motion?

HEC. Put on thy arms, Æneas.

ÆNE. What hath happened? Are you informed that in this midnight gloom The foe hath formed some stratagem?

HEC. They fly! They mount their ships.

ÆNE. What proof have you of this?

HEC. All night their torches blaze; to me they seem As if they would not wait to-morrow’s dawn: But, kindling fires upon their lofty decks, They sure fly homeward from this hostile land.

ÆNE. But why, if it be thus, prepare your troops For battle?

HEC. As they mount the deck, this spear Shall overtake the dastards; I their flight Will harass: for ’twere base, and prejudicial As well as base, when Heaven delivers up The foe into our hands, to suffer those Who wronged us to escape without a conflict.

ÆNE. Ah! would to Heaven you equally stood foremost In wisdom, as in courage: but one man By bounteous Nature never was endued With knowledge universal: various gifts Doth she dispense, to you the warrior’s palm, To others sapient counsels: now you hear Their torches blaze, you thence infer the Greeks Are flying, and would lead the troops by night Over the trenches: but when you have passed The yawning fosse, should you perceive the foes Instead of flying from the land, resist, With dauntless courage, your protended spear, If you are vanquished, to these sheltering walls You never can return: for in their flight How shall the troops o’er slanting palisades Escape, or, how the charioteer direct Over the narrow bridge his crashing wheels? If you prevail, you have a foe at hand, The son of Peleus, from your flaming torches Who will protect the fleet, nor suffer you Utterly to destroy the Grecian host As you expect; for he is brave. Our troops Let us then leave to rest from martial toils, And sleep beside their shields. That we despatch Amid the foe some voluntary spy, Is my advice: if they prepare for flight, Let us assail the Greeks; but if those fires Are kindled to ensnare us, having learned The enemy’s intentions, let us hold A second council on this great emprise. Illustrious chief, I have declared my thoughts.

CHORUS.

I.

These counsels I approve: thy wayward scheme, O Hector, change, and think the same: For perilous commands I deem, Given by the headstrong chief, deserve our blame. Why send not to the fleet a spy, Who may approach the trenches, and descry With what intent our foes upon the strand Have kindled many a flaming brand?

HEC. Ye have prevailed, because ye all concur In one opinion: but depart, prepare Thy fellow-soldiers, for perhaps the host May by the rumours of our nightly council Be put in motion. I will send a spy Among the Greeks; and if we learn what schemes They have devised, the whole of my intentions To thee will I immediately reveal In person. With confusion and dismay But if the foe precipitate their flight, Give ear, and follow where the clanging trump Summons thee forth, for then I cannot wait, But will this night attack the Grecian host, Storm their entrenchments, and destroy their fleet.

ÆNE. Despatch the messenger without delay. For you now think discreetly, and in me Shall find, when needed, in your bold emprise A firm associate.

[_Exit_ ÆNEAS.

HEC. What brave Trojan, present At this our conference, as a spy will go T’ explore the Grecian navy? to this land What generous benefactor will arise? Who answers? for I singly cannot serve The cause of Troy and its confederate bands In every station.

DOL. For my native realm, Facing this danger, to the fleet of Greece I as a spy will go; and when I’ve searched Into the progress of our foes, return: But I on these conditions undertake The toilsome enterprise——

HEC. Thou well deserv’st Thy name, and to thy country art a friend, O Dolon; for this day thy father’s house, Which is already noble, thou exalt’st With double fame.

DOL. I therefore ought to strive: But after all my labours let me reap A suitable reward. If gain arise From the performance of the task enjoined, We feel a twofold joy.

HEC. This were but just: I contradict thee not: name thy reward; Choose what thou wilt, except the rank I bear.

DOL. Your rich domains I wish not to possess.

HEC. To thee a daughter of imperial Priam In marriage shall be given.

DOL. With my superiors I will not wed.

HEC. Abundant gold is ours, If thou prefer this stipend.

DOL. My own house With wealth is furnished, I am far remote From want.

HEC. What then dost thou desire that Troy Contains?

DOL. When you have conquered the proud Greeks, Promise to give me——

HEC. I will give thee all That thou canst ask, except my royal captives.

DOL. Slay them; I seek not to withhold your arm From cutting off the vanquished Menelaus.

HEC. Is it thy wish, Oileus’ son to thee Should be consigned?

DOL. The hands of princes, nurtured Effeminately, are not formed to till The stubborn soil.

HEC. From which of all the Greeks Taken alive wouldst thou receive his ransom?

DOL. Already have I told you, that at home I have abundant riches.

HEC. Thou shalt choose Among our spoils.

DOL. For offerings let them hang High in the temples of the gods.

HEC. What gift Greater than these canst thou from me require?

DOL. Achilles’ steeds: for when I stake my life On Fortune’s die, ’twere reasonable to strive For such an object as deserves my toils.

HEC. Although thou in thy wishes to possess Those steeds hast interfered with me: for sprung From an immortal race themselves immortal They bear Pelides through the ranks of war, Neptune, ’tis said, the king of ocean, tamed them And gave to Peleus: I, who prompted thee To this emprise, will not bely thy hopes, But to adorn thy noble father’s house, On thee Achilles’ generous steeds bestow.

DOL. This claims my gratitude: if I succeed, My courage will for me obtain a palm, Such as no Phrygian ever won before: Nor should you envy me, for joys unnumbered And the first station in the realm, are yours.

[_Exit_ HECTOR.

CHORUS.

II.

The danger’s great, but great rewards allure Thee, generous youth, t’ assert thy claim, Thrice blest if thou the gift procure, Yet will thy toils deserve immortal fame: Th’ allies of kings let grandeur tend, May Heaven and Justice thy emprise befriend, For thou already seem’st to have acquired All that from man can be desired.

DOL. I am resolved to go: but my own doors First must I enter, and myself attire In such a garb as suits my present scheme, Thence will I hasten to the Argive fleet.

CHOR. What other dress intend’st thou to assume Instead of that thou wear’st?

DOL. Such as befits My errand and the stealth with which I travel.

CHOR. We ought to gain instruction from the wise. What covering hast thou chosen for thy body?

DOL. I to my back will fit the tawny hide Of a slain wolf, will muffle up my front With the beast’s hairy visage, fit my hands To his fore-feet, thrust into those behind My legs, and imitate his savage gait; Approaching undiscovered by the foe, The trenches and the ramparts that defend The navy: but whenever I shall come To desert places, on two feet I mean To travel: such deception have I framed.

CHOR. May Hermes, Maïa’s offspring, who presides O’er well-conducted fallacies, assist Thy journey thither, and with safety lead Thy homeward steps! for well thou understand’st The business; there is nought which yet thou need’st But good success.

DOL. I shall return in safety, And having slain Ulysses, or the son Of Tydeus, bring to you their ghastly heads: For omens of assured success are mine: Then say that Dolon reached the Grecian fleet. These hands distained with gore, my native walls Will I revisit ere the sun arise.

[_Exit_ DOLON.

CHORUS.

ODE.

I. 1.

O thou, who issuing with majestic tread From Delian, Lycian, or Thymbræan fanes, Twang’st thy unerring bow; on Phrygia’s plains, Apollo, thy celestial influence shed, Hither come with nightly speed, The enterprising chief to lead Through mazes undiscovered by our foes; Aid thy loved Dardanian line, For matchless strength was ever thine, Constructed by thy hand Troy’s ancient bulwarks rose.

I. 2.

Speed Dolon’s journey to the Grecian fleet, Let him espy th’ entrenchments of their host; Again in triumph from the stormy coast Conduct the warrior to his native seat; May he mount that chariot drawn By steeds that browsed the Phthian lawn When our brave lord, the Mars of Greece, hath slain; Coursers of unrivalled speed, Which erst to Eacus’ seed To Peleus, Neptune gave who rules the billowy main.

II. 1.

His country, his paternal walls, to save, The generous youth explores the anchored fleet: From me such worth shall due encomiums meet. How few with hardy bosoms stem the wave, When Hyperion veils his face, And cities tremble on their base! At this dread crisis Phrygian heroes rise, Mysian chiefs, uncurbed by fear, Brandish with nervous arm the spear, Curst be the lying tongue that slanders my allies.

II. 2.

In savage guise now Dolon stalks arrayed, With step adventurous o’er the hostile ground: What Grecian chief shall feel the deadly wound, While the wolf’s hide conceals his glittering blade? Weltering first in crimson gore, May Menelaus rise no more; Next may the victor, Agamemnon’s head Bear to Helen, stung with grief At her affinity to that famed chief Who in a thousand ships to Troy his squadrons led.

A SHEPHERD, HECTOR, CHORUS.

SHEP. Most gracious monarch, may I ever greet My lords with tidings such as now I bring!

HEC. Full oft misapprehension clouds the soul Of simple rustics: to thy lord in arms Thou of thy fleecy charge art come to speak At this unseemly crisis: know’st thou not My mansion, or the palace of my sire? There ought’st thou to relate how fare thy flock.

SHEP. We shepherds are, I own, a simple race, Yet my intelligence deserves attention.

HEC. Such fortunes as befall the fold, to me Relate not, for I carry in this hand The battle and the spear.

SHEP. I too am come Such tidings to unfold; for a brave chief, Your friend, the leader of a numerous host, Marches to fight the battles of this realm.

HEC. But from what country?

SHEP. Thrace, and he is called The son of Strymon.

HEC. Didst thou say, that Rhesus Hath entered Ilion’s fields?

SHEP. You comprehend me, And have anticipated half my speech.

HEC. Why doth he travel over Ida’s hill, Deserting that broad path where loaded wains With ease might move?

SHEP. I have no certain knowledge; Yet may we form conjectures; ’tis a scheme Most prudent, with his host to march by night Because he hears the plain with hostile bands Is covered: but us rustics he alarmed, Who dwell on Ida’s mount, the ancient seat Of Ilion’s first inhabitants, by night When through that wood, the haunt of savage beasts The warrior trod: for with a mighty shout The Thracian host rushed on, but we, our flocks, With terror smitten, to the summit drove, Lest any Greek should come to seize the prey, And waste your crowded stalls: till we discovered Voices so different from the Hellenian tribes, That we no longer feared them. I advanced, And in the Thracian language made inquiry Of the king’s vanguard, as they moved along To explore a passage for the host, what name Their leader bore, sprung from what noble sire, To Ilion’s walls he came, the friend of Priam. When I had heard each circumstance I wished To know, I for a time stood motionless, And saw majestic Rhesus, like a god, High in his chariot, drawn by Thracian steeds Whiter than snow, a golden beam confined Their necks, and o’er his shoulders hung a shield Adorned with sculptures wrought in massive gold; Like that which in Minerva’s Ægis flames, Bound on the courser’s front, a brazen Gorgon Tinkled incessant with alarming sound. The numbers of an army so immense I cannot calculate; the horse were many, Many the ranks of troops with bucklers armed, And archers; and a countless multitude, Like infantry in Thracian vests arrayed Brought up the rear. Such is th’ ally who comes On Troy’s behalf to combat; nor by flight, Nor by withstanding his protended spear, Can Peleus’ son escape him.

CHOR. When the gods Are to a realm propitious, each event Is easily converted into bliss.

HEC. Since I in battle prosper, and since Jove Is on our side, I shall have many friends; But those we need not who in former time Our toils partook not, with malignant blast When on the sails of Ilion Mars had breathed. Rhesus hath shown too plainly what a friend He is to Troy, for to the feast he comes, Yet was he absent when the hunters seized Their prey, nor did he share the toils of war.

CHOR. You justly scorn such friends; yet, O receive Those who would aid the city.

HEC. We who long Have guarded Ilion can defend it now.

CHOR. Are you persuaded you have gained already A triumph o’er the foes?

HEC. I am persuaded, And when to-morrow’s sun the heaven ascends This shall be proved.

CHOR. Beware of what may happen; Jove oft o’erthrows the prosperous.

HEC. I abhor These tardy succours.

SHEP. O, my lord, ’twere odious, Should you reject with scorn the proffered aid Of our allies: the sight of such a host Will strike the foe with terror.

CHOR. Since he comes But as a guest, not partner in the war, Let him approach your hospitable board, For little thanks are due from Priam’s sons To such confederates.

HEC. Prudent are thy counsels, Thou too hast rightly judged: and in compliance With what the messenger hath said, let Rhesus Refulgent in his golden arms draw near, For Ilion shall receive him as her friend.

[_Exit_ SHEPHERD.

CHORUS.

ODE.

I. 1.

Daughter of Jove, forbear to wreak Impending vengeance, though the tongue, O Nemesis, its boastful strain prolong: I the free dictates of my soul will speak. Thou com’st, brave son of that illustrious spring, Thou com’st thrice welcome to our social hall: At length doth thy Pierian mother bring Her favoured child, while ling’ring in his fall, Adorned by many a bridge, thee with paternal call.

I. 2.

Doth Strymon summon to the field: of yore When he the tuneful Muse addressed, A gliding stream he sought her snowy breast, Thee, lovely youth, the yielding goddess bore: To us thou com’st a tutelary power Yoking thy coursers to the fervid car: O Phrygia! O my country! at this hour Hastes thy deliverer glittering from afar, Him may’st thou call thy Jove, thy thunderbolt of war.

II. 1.

While swiftly glides th’ unheeded day, Again shall Troy without control Chant the young loves, and o’er the foaming bowl The sportive contest urge ’midst banquets gay; But Atreus’ sons desponding cross the wave, And sail from Ilion to the Spartan strand. Accomplish what thy friends foretold, O save These menaced walls by thy victorious hand, Return with laurels crowned, and bless thy native land.

II. 2.