Part 11 (1/2)

Then loud laughed Atys, and he said again, ”Father, and did this ugly dream tell thee What day it was on which I should be slain?

As may the G.o.ds grant I may one day be, And not from sickness die right wretchedly, Groaning with pain, my lords about my bed, Wis.h.i.+ng to G.o.d that I were fairly dead;

”But slain in battle, as the Lydian kings Have died ere now, in some great victory, While all about the Lydian shouting rings Death to the beaten foemen as they fly.

What death but this, O father! should I die?

But if my life by iron shall be done, What steel to-day shall glitter in the sun?

”Yea, father, if to thee it seemeth good To keep me from the bright steel-bearing throng, Let me be brave at least within the wood; For surely, if thy dream be true, no wrong Can hap to me from this beast's tushes strong: Unless perchance the beast is grown so wise, He haunts the forest clad in Lydian guise.”

Then Croesus said: ”O Son, I love thee so, That thou shalt do thy will upon this tide: But since unto this hunting thou must go, A trusty friend along with thee shall ride, Who not for anything shall leave thy side.

I think, indeed, he loves thee well enow To thrust his heart 'twixt thee and any blow.

”Go then, O Son, and if by some short span Thy life be measured, how shall it harm thee, If while life last thou art a happy man?

And thou art happy; only unto me Is trembling left, and infelicity: The trembling of the man who loves on earth, But unto thee is hope and present mirth.

”Nay, be thou not ashamed, for on this day I fear not much: thou read'st my dream aright, No teeth or claws shall take thy life away.

And it may chance, ere thy last glorious fight, I shall be blinded by the endless night; And brave Adrastus on this day shall be Thy safeguard, and shall give good heart to me.

”Go then, and send him hither, and depart; And as the heroes did so mayst thou do, Winning such fame as well may please thine heart.”

With that word from the King did Atys go, Who, left behind, sighed, saying, ”May it be so, Even as I hope; and yet I would to G.o.d These men upon my threshold ne'er had trod.”

So when Adrastus to the King was come He said unto him, ”O my Phrygian friend, We in this land have given thee a home, And 'gainst all foes your life will we defend: Wherefore for us that life thou shouldest spend, If any day there should be need therefor; And now a trusty friend I need right sore.

”Doubtless ere now thou hast heard many say There is a doom that threatens my son's life; Therefore this place is stript of arms to-day, And therefore still bides Atys with his wife, And tempts not any G.o.d by raising strife; Yet none the less by no desire of his, To whom would war be most abundant bliss.

”And since to-day some glory he may gain Against a monstrous b.e.s.t.i.a.l enemy And that the meaning of my dream is plain; That saith that he by steel alone shall die, His burning wish I may not well deny, Therefore afield to-morrow doth he wend And herein mayst thou show thyself my friend--

”For thou as captain of his band shalt ride, And keep a watchful eye of everything, Nor leave him whatsoever may betide: Lo, thou art brave, the son of a great king, And with thy praises doth this city ring, Why should I tell thee what a name those gain, Who dying for their friends, die not in vain?”

Then said Adrastus, ”Now were I grown base Beyond all words, if I should spare for aught In guarding him, so sit with smiling face, And of this matter take no further thought, Because with my life shall his life be bought, If ill should hap; and no ill fate it were, If I should die for what I hold so dear.”

Then went Adrastus, and next morn all things, That 'longed unto the hunting were well dight, And forth they went clad as the sons of kings, Fair was the morn, as through the suns.h.i.+ne bright They rode, the Prince half wild with great delight, The Phrygian smiling on him soberly, And ever looking round with watchful eye.

So through the city all the rout rode fast, With many a great black-muzzled yellow hound; And then the teeming country-side they pa.s.sed, Until they came to sour and rugged ground, And there rode up a little heathy mound, That overlooked the scrubby woods and low, That of the beast's lair somewhat they might know.

And there a good man of the country-side Showed them the places where he mostly lay; And they, descending, through the wood did ride, And followed on his tracks for half the day.

And at the last they brought him well to bay, Within an oozy s.p.a.ce amidst the wood, About the which a ring of alders stood.

So when the hounds' changed voices clear they heard With hearts aflame on towards him straight they drew Atys the first of all, of nought afeard, Except that folk should say some other slew The beast; and l.u.s.tily his horn he blew, Going afoot; then, mighty spear in hand, Adrastus headed all the following band.

Now when they came unto the plot of ground Where stood the boar, hounds dead about him lay Or sprawled about, bleeding from many a wound, But still the others held him well at bay, Nor had he been bestead thus ere that day.

But yet, seeing Atys, straight he rushed at him, Speckled with foam, bleeding in flank and limb.

Then Atys stood and cast his well-steeled spear With a great shout, and straight and well it flew; For now the broad blade cutting through the ear, A stream of blood from out the shoulder drew.

And therewithal another, no less true, Adrastus cast, whereby the boar had died: But Atys drew the bright sword from his side,

And to the tottering beast he drew anigh: But as the sun's rays ran adown the blade Adrastus threw a javelin hastily, For of the mighty beast was he afraid, Lest by his wounds he should not yet be stayed, But with a last rush cast his life away, And dying there, the son of Croesus slay.