VARIOUS VOICES.
It is a cloudy but moonlight night on the plain before
Troy
. The Trojans and their allies have won a decisive victory and are camping on the open field close to the Greek outposts. The scene is in front of a rude tent or hut that has been set up for HECTOR, the Trojan leader. A watch-fire burns low in front. Far off at the back can be seen rows of watch-fires in the Greek camp. The road to
Troy
is in front to the left; the road to
Mount Ida
leads far away to the right.
All is silence; then a noise outside. Enter tumultuously a band of Trojan Pickets.
1
On to the Prince’s quarters!—Ho!
1
Who is awake? What man-at-arms,
Or squire or groom?—Let Hector know
New rumour of alarms
From sentinels who stand at mark
The four long watches of the dark,
5
While others sleep.—Uplift thine head,
O Hector! On thine elbow rise,
Unhood the eagle of thine eyes,
Up from thy leaf-strewn bed!—
Lord Hector!
10
HECTOR
(coming out from the tent).
Who goes there? Who cries?
A friend? The watchword! . . . By what right
Do men come prowling in the night
Across my quarters? Come! Speak out.
LEADER.
A picket, Lord.
15
HECTOR.
In such a rout?
LEADER.
Be not afraid, Lord.
HECTOR.
I am not.
Is there an ambush? No? Then what,
In God’s name, brings you from your post
With no clear tale to speak,
To spread this turmoil through a host
That lies in harness—do ye all
20
Know nothing?—out against the wall
And gateways of the Greek?
CHORUS.
(various voices confusedly)
2
To arms! To arms, Lord Hector!—Send
First where the allied armies lie,
Bid them draw sword and make an end
25
Of sleep.—Let someone fly
And get the horses’ armour on!—
Who goes with me to Panthoös’ son?—
Who’s for Sarpêdon and the Lycians?—None
Hath seen the priest
3
go by?—
30
Ho, Captain of the Runners, ho!—
Ho, Trojans of the hornèd bow!
String, string! For need is nigh.
HECTOR.
Ha, silence there! . . .
First words of fear,
35
Then comfort. All an empty swell!
It seems The lash of trembling Pan
4
Hath caught you. Speak, if speak ye can.
What tidings? Not a word is clear
Of the whole tale ye tell.
40
[The turmoil subsides, the LEADER comes forward.
LEADER.
5
Have burned, my chief, through half the night.
The shipyard timbers
7
seemed to shine.
Then, clear against the light,
Toward Agamemnon’s tent the whole
45
Army in tumult seemed to roll,
As stirred by some strange voice, shoal after shoal.
A night of such discord
Was never seen. And we, in dread
What such things boded, turned and sped
50
Hither; dost blame us, Lord?
Rhesus. Euripides. Gilbert Murray (Translator). London. 1913.
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