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HECTOR.
(after a moment of thought)
No! Welcome, friend, with all thy tale of fear!
It shows they mean to fly: they mean to clear
Decks in the dark and so delude my sight . . .
I like that beacon-burning in the night.
55
O Zeus above, who checked my conquering way,
Who baulked the hungry lion of his prey
Or ever I could sweep my country clear
Of these despoilers, dost thou hate my spear?
Had but the sun’s bright arrows failed me not,
I ne’er had rested till the ships were hot
60
With fire, and through the tents upon the plain
This bloody hand had passed and passed again!
Myself, I longed to try the battle-cast
By night, and use God’s vantage to the last,
But sage and prophet, learned in the way
65
Of seercraft, bade me wait for dawn of day,
And then—leave no Greek living in the land.
They wait not, they, for what my prophets planned
So sagely. In the dark a runaway
Beats a pursuer.
Through our whole array
70
Send runners! Bid them shake off sleep and wait
Ready with shield and spear. ’Tis not too late
To catch them as they climb on board, and slash
Their crouching shoulders till the gangways splash
With blood, or teach them, fettered leg and arm,
To dig the stiff clods of some Trojan farm.
75
No! Welcome, friend, with all thy tale of fear!
It shows they mean to fly: they mean to clear
Decks in the dark and so delude my sight . . .
I like that beacon-burning in the night.
55
O Zeus above, who checked my conquering way,
Who baulked the hungry lion of his prey
Or ever I could sweep my country clear
Of these despoilers, dost thou hate my spear?
Had but the sun’s bright arrows failed me not,
I ne’er had rested till the ships were hot
60
With fire, and through the tents upon the plain
This bloody hand had passed and passed again!
Myself, I longed to try the battle-cast
By night, and use God’s vantage to the last,
But sage and prophet, learned in the way
65
Of seercraft, bade me wait for dawn of day,
And then—leave no Greek living in the land.
They wait not, they, for what my prophets planned
So sagely. In the dark a runaway
Beats a pursuer.
Through our whole array
70
Send runners! Bid them shake off sleep and wait
Ready with shield and spear. ’Tis not too late
To catch them as they climb on board, and slash
Their crouching shoulders till the gangways splash
With blood, or teach them, fettered leg and arm,
To dig the stiff clods of some Trojan farm.
75
LEADER.
My Prince, thy words run fast. Nor thou nor I
Have knowledge yet that the Greeks mean to fly.
My Prince, thy words run fast. Nor thou nor I
Have knowledge yet that the Greeks mean to fly.
HECTOR.
What makes them light their beacons? Tell me, what?
What makes them light their beacons? Tell me, what?
LEADER.
God knows! And, for my part, I like it not.
God knows! And, for my part, I like it not.
HECTOR.
What, feared? Thou wouldst be feared of everything!
80
What, feared? Thou wouldst be feared of everything!
80
LEADER.
They never lit such light before, O King.
They never lit such light before, O King.
HECTOR.
They never fled, man, in such wild dismay.
They never fled, man, in such wild dismay.
LEADER
(yielding).
’Twas all thy work.—Judge thou, and we obey.
’Twas all thy work.—Judge thou, and we obey.
HECTOR.
My word is simple. Arm and face the foe.
85
[A sound of marching without.
My word is simple. Arm and face the foe.
LEADER.
Who comes? Aeneas, and in haste, as though
85
Fraught with some sudden tiding of the night.
Enter AENEAS.
Who comes? Aeneas, and in haste, as though
85
Fraught with some sudden tiding of the night.
AENEAS.
Hector, what means it? Watchers in affright
Who gather shouting at thy doors, and then
Hold midnight council, shaking all our men?
Hector, what means it? Watchers in affright
Who gather shouting at thy doors, and then
Hold midnight council, shaking all our men?
HECTOR.
To arms, Aeneas! Arm from head to heel!
90
To arms, Aeneas! Arm from head to heel!
90
AENEAS.
What is it? Tidings? Doth the
Argive
steal
Some march, some ambush in the day’s eclipse?
What is it? Tidings? Doth the
Argive
steal
Some march, some ambush in the day’s eclipse?
HECTOR.
’Tis flight, man! They are marching to the ships.
’Tis flight, man! They are marching to the ships.
AENEAS.
How know’st thou?—Have we proof that it is flight?
How know’st thou?—Have we proof that it is flight?
HECTOR.
They are burning beacon-fires the livelong night.
95
They never mean to wait till dawn. Behind
That screen of light they are climbing in the blind
Dark to their ships—unmooring from our coast.
They are burning beacon-fires the livelong night.
95
They never mean to wait till dawn. Behind
That screen of light they are climbing in the blind
Dark to their ships—unmooring from our coast.
AENEAS.
(looking toward the distant fires: after a pause)
God guide them!—Why then do you arm the host?
God guide them!—Why then do you arm the host?
HECTOR.
I mean to lame them in their climbing, I
100
And my good spear, and break them as they fly.
Black shame it were, and folly worse than shame,
To let these spoilers go the road they came
Unpunished, when God gives them to us here.
I mean to lame them in their climbing, I
100
And my good spear, and break them as they fly.
Black shame it were, and folly worse than shame,
To let these spoilers go the road they came
Unpunished, when God gives them to us here.
AENEAS.
Brother, I would thy wit were like thy spear!
1
105
But Nature wills not one man should be wise
In all things; each must seek his separate prize.
And thine is battle pure. There comes this word
Of beacons, on the touch thy soul is stirred:
They fly! Out horse and chariots!—Out withal
110
Past stake and trench, while night hangs like a pall!
Say, when we cross that coiling depth of dyke,
We find the foe not fled, but turned to strike;
One check there, and all hope of good return
Is gone. How can our men, returning, learn
115
The tricks of the palisade? The chariots how
Keep to the bridges on the trenches’ brow,
Save with jammed wheels and broken axles? Aye,
And say thou conquer: other wars yet lie
Before thee. Peleus’ son, for all his ire,
Will never let thee touch the ships with fire
120
Or pounce on his Greek lambs. The man will bide
No wrong and standeth on a tower of pride.
Nay, brother, let the army, head on shield,
Sleep off its long day’s labour in the field:
Then, send a spy; find someone who will dare
125
Creep to yon
Argive
camp. Then, if ’tis clear
They mean flight, on and smite them as they fly.
Else, if the beacons hide some strategy,
The spy will read it out, and we can call
A council.—Thus speak I, my general.
130
131
Brother, I would thy wit were like thy spear!
1
105
But Nature wills not one man should be wise
In all things; each must seek his separate prize.
And thine is battle pure. There comes this word
Of beacons, on the touch thy soul is stirred:
They fly! Out horse and chariots!—Out withal
110
Past stake and trench, while night hangs like a pall!
Say, when we cross that coiling depth of dyke,
We find the foe not fled, but turned to strike;
One check there, and all hope of good return
Is gone. How can our men, returning, learn
115
The tricks of the palisade? The chariots how
Keep to the bridges on the trenches’ brow,
Save with jammed wheels and broken axles? Aye,
And say thou conquer: other wars yet lie
Before thee. Peleus’ son, for all his ire,
Will never let thee touch the ships with fire
120
Or pounce on his Greek lambs. The man will bide
No wrong and standeth on a tower of pride.
Nay, brother, let the army, head on shield,
Sleep off its long day’s labour in the field:
Then, send a spy; find someone who will dare
125
Creep to yon
Argive
camp. Then, if ’tis clear
They mean flight, on and smite them as they fly.
Else, if the beacons hide some strategy,
The spy will read it out, and we can call
A council.—Thus speak I, my general.
130
CHORUS.
2
’Tis good! ’Tis wisdom! Prince, give heed
And change the word thy passion gave.
No soldier loveth, in his need,
The glory of a chief too brave.
A spy is best: a spy, to learn
135
For what strange work those beacons burn
All night beside the guarded wave.
137
’Tis good! ’Tis wisdom! Prince, give heed
And change the word thy passion gave.
No soldier loveth, in his need,
The glory of a chief too brave.
A spy is best: a spy, to learn
135
For what strange work those beacons burn
All night beside the guarded wave.
HECTOR.
Ye all so wish it?—Well, ye conquer me.
(To AENEAS) Go thou and calm the allies. There will be
Some stir among them, hearing of these high
And midnight councils.—I will seek the spy
140
To send to the Greek camp. If there we learn
Of some plot hatching, on the man’s return
I straight will call thee and share counsels. So.
But wait attentive. If he says they go
Shipward and plan to escape, one trumpet call
Shall warn thee, and I wait no more, but fall
145
On camp and hulls, or ever dawn can rise.
Ye all so wish it?—Well, ye conquer me.
(To AENEAS) Go thou and calm the allies. There will be
Some stir among them, hearing of these high
And midnight councils.—I will seek the spy
140
To send to the Greek camp. If there we learn
Of some plot hatching, on the man’s return
I straight will call thee and share counsels. So.
But wait attentive. If he says they go
Shipward and plan to escape, one trumpet call
Shall warn thee, and I wait no more, but fall
145
On camp and hulls, or ever dawn can rise.
AENEAS.
Aye, haste and send him. Now thy plans are wise,
And when need comes I am with thee, sword by sword.
[Exit AENEAS.
Aye, haste and send him. Now thy plans are wise,
And when need comes I am with thee, sword by sword.
[Exit AENEAS.
HECTOR
(turning to the Guards and other soldiers).
Ye gathered Trojans, sharers of my word,
Who dares to creep through the Greek lines alone?
150
Who will so help his fatherland?
Doth none
Offer? Must I do everything, one hand
Alone, to save our allies and our land?
[A lean dark man pushes forward from the back.
Ye gathered Trojans, sharers of my word,
Who dares to creep through the Greek lines alone?
150
Who will so help his fatherland?
Doth none
Offer? Must I do everything, one hand
Alone, to save our allies and our land?
DOLON
3
I, Prince!—I offer for our City’s sake
To go disguised to the Greek ships, to make
155
Their counsels mine, and here bring word to thee.
If that be thy full service, I agree.
I, Prince!—I offer for our City’s sake
To go disguised to the Greek ships, to make
155
Their counsels mine, and here bring word to thee.
If that be thy full service, I agree.
HECTOR.
Dolon the Wolf! A wise wolf and a true!
Thy father’s house was praised when first I knew
Troy
: this shall raise it twofold in our eyes.
160
Dolon the Wolf! A wise wolf and a true!
Thy father’s house was praised when first I knew
Troy
: this shall raise it twofold in our eyes.
160
DOLON.
’Tis wise to do good work, but also wise
To pay the worker. Aye, and fair reward
Makes twofold pleasure, though the work be hard.
164
’Tis wise to do good work, but also wise
To pay the worker. Aye, and fair reward
Makes twofold pleasure, though the work be hard.
HECTOR.
So be it: an honest rule. Do thou lay down
What guerdon likes thee best—short of my crown.
165
So be it: an honest rule. Do thou lay down
What guerdon likes thee best—short of my crown.
165
DOLON.
I care not for thy crowned and care-fraught life.
I care not for thy crowned and care-fraught life.
HECTOR.
Wouldst have a daughter of the King to wife?
Wouldst have a daughter of the King to wife?
DOLON.
I seek no mate that might look down on me.
I seek no mate that might look down on me.
HECTOR.
Good gold is ready, if that tempteth thee.
Good gold is ready, if that tempteth thee.
DOLON.
We live at ease and have no care for gold.
170
We live at ease and have no care for gold.
170
HECTOR.
Well,
Troy
hath other treasures manifold.
Well,
Troy
hath other treasures manifold.
DOLON.
Pay me not now, but when the Greeks are ta’en.
Pay me not now, but when the Greeks are ta’en.
HECTOR.
The Greeks! . . . Choose any save the Atridae twain.
The Greeks! . . . Choose any save the Atridae twain.
DOLON.
Kill both, an it please thee. I make prayer for none.
Kill both, an it please thee. I make prayer for none.
HECTOR.
Thou wilt not ask for Ajax, Ileus’ son
4
?
175
Thou wilt not ask for Ajax, Ileus’ son
4
?
175
DOLON.
A princely hand is skilless at the plough.
A princely hand is skilless at the plough.
HECTOR.
’Tis ransom, then? . . . What prisoner cravest thou?
’Tis ransom, then? . . . What prisoner cravest thou?
DOLON.
I said before, of gold we have our fill.
I said before, of gold we have our fill.
HECTOR.
For spoils and armour . . . thou shalt choose at will.
For spoils and armour . . . thou shalt choose at will.
DOLON.
Nail them for trophies on some temple wall.
180
Nail them for trophies on some temple wall.
180
HECTOR.
What seeks the man? What prize more rich than all?
What seeks the man? What prize more rich than all?
DOLON.
Achilles’ horses!
5
Murmurs of surprise.
Yes, I need a great
Prize. I am dicing for my life with Fate.
Achilles’ horses!
5
Murmurs of surprise.
Yes, I need a great
Prize. I am dicing for my life with Fate.
HECTOR.
’Fore God, I am thy rival, if thy love
Lies there. Undying was the breed thereof,
185
And these shall never die, who bear to war
Great Peleus’ son, swift gleaming like a star.
Poseidon, rider of the wild sea-drift,
Tamed them, men say, and gave them for his gift
To Peleus.—None the less, since I have stirred
Hopes, I will baulk them not. I pledge my word,
Achilles’ steeds, a rare prize, shall be thine.
190
’Fore God, I am thy rival, if thy love
Lies there. Undying was the breed thereof,
185
And these shall never die, who bear to war
Great Peleus’ son, swift gleaming like a star.
Poseidon, rider of the wild sea-drift,
Tamed them, men say, and gave them for his gift
To Peleus.—None the less, since I have stirred
Hopes, I will baulk them not. I pledge my word,
Achilles’ steeds, a rare prize, shall be thine.
190
DOLON.
I thank thee.—’Tis indeed a prize more fine
Than all in
Troy
.—
Grudge me not that; there be
Guerdons abundant for a Prince like thee.
Exit HECTOR.I thank thee.—’Tis indeed a prize more fine
Than all in
Troy
.—
Grudge me not that; there be
Guerdons abundant for a Prince like thee.
CHORUS.
6
O peril strange, O fearful prize!
195
Yet win it and thy life hath wings:
A deed of glory in men’s eyes,
A greatness, to be wooed of kings.
If God but hearken to the right,
Thou drinkest to the full this night
200
The cup of man’s imaginings.
201
O peril strange, O fearful prize!
195
Yet win it and thy life hath wings:
A deed of glory in men’s eyes,
A greatness, to be wooed of kings.
If God but hearken to the right,
Thou drinkest to the full this night
200
The cup of man’s imaginings.
DOLON.
He stands waiting a moment looking out into the dark.
There lies the way.—But first I must go find
At home some body-shelter to my mind;
Then, forward to the ships of
Argolis
!
There lies the way.—But first I must go find
At home some body-shelter to my mind;
Then, forward to the ships of
Argolis
!
LEADER.
What other raiment wilt thou need than this?
What other raiment wilt thou need than this?
DOLON.
A garb for work, for night; a thieving guise.
205
A garb for work, for night; a thieving guise.
205
LEADER.
’Tis good to learn the wisdoms of the wise.
What will thy wrapping be?
’Tis good to learn the wisdoms of the wise.
What will thy wrapping be?
DOLON.
A grey wolf’s hide
Shall wrap my body close on either side;
My head shall be the mask of gleaming teeth,
My arms fit in the forepaws, like a sheath,
210
My thighs in the hinder parts. No Greek shall tell
’Tis not a wolf that walks, half visible,
On four feet by the trenches and around
The ship-screen. When it comes to empty ground
It stands on two.—That is the plan, my friend!
215
A grey wolf’s hide
Shall wrap my body close on either side;
My head shall be the mask of gleaming teeth,
My arms fit in the forepaws, like a sheath,
210
My thighs in the hinder parts. No Greek shall tell
’Tis not a wolf that walks, half visible,
On four feet by the trenches and around
The ship-screen. When it comes to empty ground
It stands on two.—That is the plan, my friend!
215
LEADER.
Now Maian Hermes guide thee to thy end
And home safe! Well he loves all counterfeit . . .
Good work is there; may good luck go with it!
Now Maian Hermes guide thee to thy end
And home safe! Well he loves all counterfeit . . .
Good work is there; may good luck go with it!
DOLON
(to himself, gazing out toward the Greek camp).
There, and then back! . . . And on this belt shall bleed
Odysseus’ head—or why not Diomede?—
220
To prove my truth. Ere dawn can touch the land
I shall be here, and blood upon my hand.
7
Exit DOLON.There, and then back! . . . And on this belt shall bleed
Odysseus’ head—or why not Diomede?—
220
To prove my truth. Ere dawn can touch the land
I shall be here, and blood upon my hand.
Rhesus. Euripides. Gilbert Murray (Translator). London. 1913.
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