Part 6 (1/2)

All hail!

Sweet words and faithful heart!

Only may Zeus avert From those proud lips the Wrath that none may bear!

Never a galleon bore, Now, nor in days of yore, Prince like to thee, so valiant and so fair.

How shall Achilles, how Shall Ajax bear him now, Or face thy lance? May I but stand that day Watching to see him reel Broken beneath thy steel, And once in blood his many murders pay!

RHESUS.

Yea, more atonement thou shalt take from me For this slow help.--May Adrasteia see My heart and pardon!--When we two have set Troy free from these who compa.s.s her with hate, Soon as the G.o.ds have had their first-fruits, I With thee will sail--so help me Zeus on high!-- And sack all h.e.l.las with the sword, till these Doers of deeds shall know what suffering is.

HECTOR. [vv. 474-491]

By heaven, could I once see this peril rolled Past us, and live in Ilion as of old, Untrembling, I would thank my G.o.ds! To seek Argos and sack the cities of the Greek-- 'Twere not such light work as thou fanciest.

RHESUS.

These Greeks that face thee, are they not their best?

HECTOR.

We seek not better. These do all we need.

RHESUS.

When these are beaten, then, we have done the deed.

HECTOR.

Lose not thy path watching a distant view.

RHESUS.

Thou seem'st content to suffer, not to do?

HECTOR.

I have a kingdom large by mine own right. . . .

What station will best please thee in this fight To ground the targe and stablish thine array?

Right, left, or midmost in the allies? Say.

RHESUS.

'Twould please me best to fight these Greeks alone.

Yet, if 'twould irk thine honour not to have thrown One firebrand on the s.h.i.+ps with me, why, then Set us to face Achilles and his men.

HECTOR. [vv. 492-509]

Achilles? Nay, his spear ye cannot meet.

RHESUS.