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.

To dazzle fierce Pelides’ sight, Before him wave thy golden shield Obliquely raised, that meteor of the field, Vault from thy chariot with unrivalled might, And brandish with each dexterous hand a lance; Whoever strives with thee shall ne’er return To Argive fanes, and join Saturnia’s dance, He by the spear of Thrace in combat slain, Shall lie a breathless corse on Troy’s exulting plain.

Hail, mighty chief! ye Thracian realms, the mien Of him ye bore speaks his exalted rank. Observe those nervous limbs with plated gold Incased, and hearken to those tinkling chains Which on his shield are hung. A god, O Troy, E’en Mars himself, from Strymon’s current sprung, And from the Muse, brings this auspicious gale.

RHESUS, HECTOR, CHORUS.

RHE. Thou brave descendant of a noble sire, Lord of this realm, O Hector, I accost thee After a tedious absence, and rejoice In thy success, for to the turrets reared By Greece, thou now lay’st siege, and I am come With thee those hostile bulwarks to o’erthrow, And burn their fleet.

HEC. Son of the tuneful Muse, And Thracian Strymon’s stream, I ever love To speak the truth, for I am not a man Versed in duplicity; long, long ago, Should you have come to succour Troy, nor suffered, Far as on you depended, by our foes This city to be ta’en. You cannot say That uninvited by your friends you came not, Because you marked not our distress. What heralds, What embassies to you did Phrygia send, Beseeching you, the city to protect, What sumptuous presents did she not bestow? But you, our kinsman, who derive your birth From a barbarian stem, to Greece betrayed Us, a barbarian nation, though from ruling Over a petty state, by this right arm I raised you to the wide-extended throne, When round Pangæum and Pæonia’s realm Rushing upon the hardiest Thracian troops I broke their ranks of battle, and subdued The people to your empire: but you spurn My benefits, nor come with speed to succour Your friends in their distress. Though they who spring not From the same ancestors, observed our summons; Of whom full many in yon field of death Have tombs heaped o’er them, a most glorious proof Of faith unshaken; others under arms Their chariots mount, and steadfastly endure The wintry blasts, the parching flames of heaven, Nor on a gay convivial couch reclined Like you, O Rhesus, drain the frequent bowl. That you may know I yet can stand alone, Such conduct I resent; this to your face I speak.

RHE. I also am the same: my language Is plain and honest; I am not a man Of mean duplicity. My soul was tortured With greater anguish far than thou couldst feel, Because I was not present in this land; But Scythia’s tribes who near our confines dwell Made war against me just as I to Troy Was journeying; I had reached the Euxine shore To sail with Thracia’s host, the Scythian blood There stained our spears, and my brave troops expired ’Midst intermingled slaughter: this event Hindered my reaching Troy, and aiding thee In battle. Having conquered them, and taken For hostages their children, them I bound To pay me annual tribute; with my fleet Then crossed the Hellespont, and marched on foot Through various realms, nor, as thou proudly say’st, Drained the intoxicating bowl, nor slept Beneath a gilded roof, but to such blasts As cover with thick ice the Thracian wave, Or through Pæonia howl, was I exposed Wrapped in this mantle many a sleepless night. But I, though late, am in due season come: For this is the tenth year since thou hast waged An ineffectual war, day after day By thee is idly lavished, while the die Of battle ’twixt the Argive host and thine Spins doubtful ere it fall. But it for me Will be sufficient that the sun once mount The heavens, while I their bulwarks storm, invade Their fleet, and slay the Greeks. To my own home I the next day from Ilion will return, Thy toils soon ending: let no Trojan bear A shield: for with this spear will I subdue The boasters, though ’twas late ere I arrived.

CHOR. My soul this language doth approve, Such friends as thou art sent by Jove, But humbly I that god beseech, To pardon thy presumptuous speech. The navy launched from Argos’ strand, Though freighted with a daring band, Neither in former times, nor now Contained a chief more brave than thou. How shall Achilles’ self withstand, Or Ajax meet, thy vengeful hand? O may the morn with orient ray Exhibit that auspicious day, When thou the victor’s prize shalt gain And dye with crimson gore the plain.

RHE. Soon with exploits like these will I atone For my long absence: but, with due submission To Nemesis, I speak; when from the foe We have delivered this beleaguered city And seized their spoils for offerings to the gods; With thee to Argos will I go, invade, And ravage with victorious arms, all Greece, To teach them in their turn what ’tis to suffer.

HEC. Could I escape from the impending stroke, And with that safety which we erst enjoyed These walls inhabit, I to Heaven should pay Full many a grateful vow: but as for Argos, As for the Grecian states, to lay them waste By arms were far less easy than you speak of.

RHE. Is it not said the bravest chiefs of Greece Came hither?

HEC. Them I hold not in contempt, But long have kept at bay.

RHE. When these are slain, We therefore each obstruction have removed.

HEC. Forbear to think of distant prospects now, While our immediate interests lie neglected.

RHE. Art thou so tame as to endure such wrongs Without retorting them?

HEC. While I maintain What I possess, my empire is sufficient. But freely take your choice, or in the left Or the right wing, or centre of our host Display your shield, and range your troops around.

RHE. I singly will encounter all our foes, O Hector; but if thou esteem it base Not to assist me when I burn their fleet, Because thou hast already toiled so long, Oppose me to Achilles in the front Of battle.

HEC. We at him no spear must aim.

RHE. Yet was I told he sailed for Troy.

HEC. He sailed, And still is here, but angry with the chiefs, Refuses to assist them.

RHE. In the camp Of Greece, say who is second in renown?

HEC. Ajax, I deem, and Tydeus’ son are equal To any; but most fluent in his speech, And with sufficient fortitude inspired, Is that Ulysses, from whom Troy hath suffered Insults the most atrocious; for by night, Entering Minerva’s fane, he stole her image, And bore it to the Grecian fleet: disguised In tattered vest, that vile impostor next Entered the gates, and cursed the Argive host, Sent as a spy to Ilion; having slain The sentinels, he through the gates escaped, And in some fraudful scheme is ever found: At the Thymbræan temple is he stationed Hard by our ramparts, we in him contend With a most grievous pest.

RHE. The valiant man Is never mean enough to slay his foes By stealth, he loves to meet them face to face; But, as for him, the recreant chief thou nam’st, Who lurking with a thievish purpose frames These dark contrivances, as through the gates I sally forth to combat, I will seize him; Driven through his back, my spear shall leave the miscreant Food for the vultures, for the impious robber Who spoils the temples of the gods deserves No better fate.

HEC. Now choose, for it is night, The spot for an encampment: I will show you A separate quarter where your troops must sleep. But mark me well, Apollo is the watchword; In case of an emergency, announce This signal to the Thracian host.

[_Exit_ RHESUS.

Extend The watch beyond the lines, and there receive Dolon our spy, who sallied forth t’ explore The navy of our foes; if he be safe He, by this time, the trenches must approach.

[_Exit_ HECTOR.

CHORUS.