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SHEPHERD.
I know not rightly, though one well may guess.
1
’Tis hard to land at night, with such a press
285
Of spears, on a strange coast, where rumours tell
Of foes through all the plain-land. We that dwell
On Ida, in the rock, Troy’s ancient root
And hearth-stone, were well frighted, through the mute
And wolfish thickets thus to hear him break.
A great and rushing noise those Thracians make,
290
Marching. We, all astonied, ran to drive
Our sheep to the upmost heights. ’Twas some
Argive
,
We thought, who came to sweep the mountain clear
And waste thy folds; till suddenly our ear
Caught at their speech, and knew ’twas nothing Greek.
Then all our terror fled. I ran to seek
295
Some scout or pioneer who led the van
And called in Thracian:
Ho, what child of man
Doth lead you? From what nation do ye bring
This host with aid to
Ilion
and her king?
He told me what I sought, and there I stood
300
Watching; and saw one gleaming like a God,
Tall in the darkness on a Thracian car.
A plate of red gold mated, like a bar,
His coursers’ necks, white, white as fallen snow.
A carven targe, with golden shapes aglow,
305
Hung o’er his back. Before each courser’s head
A Gorgon, to the frontlet riveted,
With bells set round-like stories that they tell
Of Pallas’ shield-made music terrible.
The numbers of that host no pen could write
Nor reckon; ’tis a multitudinous sight,
310
Long lines of horsemen, lines of targeteers,
Archers abundant; and behind them veers
A wavering horde, light-armed, in Thracian weed.
A friend is come to
Ilion
in her need
’Gainst whom no
Argive
, let him fly or stand,
315
Shall aught avail nor ’scape his conquering hand.
I know not rightly, though one well may guess.
1
’Tis hard to land at night, with such a press
285
Of spears, on a strange coast, where rumours tell
Of foes through all the plain-land. We that dwell
On Ida, in the rock, Troy’s ancient root
And hearth-stone, were well frighted, through the mute
And wolfish thickets thus to hear him break.
A great and rushing noise those Thracians make,
290
Marching. We, all astonied, ran to drive
Our sheep to the upmost heights. ’Twas some
Argive
,
We thought, who came to sweep the mountain clear
And waste thy folds; till suddenly our ear
Caught at their speech, and knew ’twas nothing Greek.
Then all our terror fled. I ran to seek
295
Some scout or pioneer who led the van
And called in Thracian:
Ho, what child of man
Doth lead you? From what nation do ye bring
This host with aid to
Ilion
and her king?
He told me what I sought, and there I stood
300
Watching; and saw one gleaming like a God,
Tall in the darkness on a Thracian car.
A plate of red gold mated, like a bar,
His coursers’ necks, white, white as fallen snow.
A carven targe, with golden shapes aglow,
305
Hung o’er his back. Before each courser’s head
A Gorgon, to the frontlet riveted,
With bells set round-like stories that they tell
Of Pallas’ shield-made music terrible.
The numbers of that host no pen could write
Nor reckon; ’tis a multitudinous sight,
310
Long lines of horsemen, lines of targeteers,
Archers abundant; and behind them veers
A wavering horde, light-armed, in Thracian weed.
A friend is come to
Ilion
in her need
’Gainst whom no
Argive
, let him fly or stand,
315
Shall aught avail nor ’scape his conquering hand.
LEADER.
Lo, when the Gods breathe gently o’er a town,
All runs to good, as water-streams run down.
Lo, when the Gods breathe gently o’er a town,
All runs to good, as water-streams run down.
Rhesus. Euripides. Gilbert Murray (Translator). London. 1913.
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