Part 11 (2/2)

What man of yours was slain or wounded when Your Greek spies came? Not one; 'tis we, behind, Are wounded, and some worse than wounded, blind Forever to the sunlight. When we seek Our vengeance, we shall go not to the Greek.

What stranger in that darkness could have trod Straight to where Rhesus lay--unless some G.o.d Pointed his path? They knew not, whispered not, Rhesus had ever come. . . . 'Tis all a plot.

HECTOR (_steadied and courteous again_).

Good allies I have had since first the Greek Set foot in Troy, and never heard them speak Complaint of Hector. Thou wilt be the first.

I have not, by G.o.d's mercy, such a thirst For horses as to murder for their sake.

[_He turns to his own men._ Odysseus! Yet again Odysseus! Take All the Greek armies, is there one but he Could have devised, or dared, this devilry? [vv. 862-876]

I fear him; yea, fear in mine own despite, Lest Dolon may have crossed him in the night And perished; 'tis so long he cometh not.

THRACIAN.

I know not who Odysseus is, nor what.

I know it was no Greek that wounded us.

HECTOR.

To think thus pleasures thee? Well, have it thus.

THRACIAN.

Home, home! To die at home and rest my head!

HECTOR.

Nay, die not, friend. We have enough of dead.

THRACIAN.

How can I live? Lost, and my master slain.

HECTOR.

My house will shelter thee and heal thy pain.

THRACIAN.

Thy house? Will murderers' nursing give me peace?

HECTOR.

Still the same tale! This man will never cease.

THRACIAN.

My curse rest--not on Hector, but on those Who stabbed us, as thou say'st.--Ah, Justice knows!

HECTOR. [vv. 877-891]

There, lift him.--Bear him to my house. Take pains, If care can do it, that the man complains No more of Troy.--Ye others, bear withal To Priam and the Elders of the Wall My charge, that, where the cart-road from the plain Branches, they make due burial for our slain.

[_One party of Guards lifts carefully the wounded_ THRACIAN _and goes off bearing him: another departs with the message to Troy_.

CHORUS.

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