第53章 BOOK VIII(5)

"O Father Zeus, if of thy seed I am, If at thine best I left far-famous Troy For immortality with deathless Gods, O hear me now, whose soul is anguish-thrilled!

I cannot bear to see my fathers' town In flames, my kindred in disastrous strife ?

Perishing: bitterer sorrow is there none!

Oh, if thine heart is fixed to do this thing, Let me be far hence! Less shall be my grief If I behold it not with these mine eyes.

That is the depth of horror and of shame To see one's country wrecked by hands of foes."

With groans and tears so pleaded Ganymede.

Then Zeus himself with one vast pall of cloud Veiled all the city of Priam world-renowned;

And all the murderous fight was drowned in mist, And like a vanished phantom was the wall In vapours heavy-hung no eye could pierce;

And all around crashed thunders, lightnings flamed From heaven. The Danaans heard Zeus' clarion peal Awe-struck; and Neleus' son cried unto them:

"Far-famous lords of Argives, all our strength Palsied shall be, while Zeus protecteth thus Our foes. A great tide of calamity On us is rolling; haste we then to the ships;

Cease we awhile from bitter toil of strife, Lest the fire of his wrath consume us all.

Submit we to his portents; needs must all Obey him ever, who is mightier far Than all strong Gods, all weakling sons of men.

On the presumptuous Titans once in wrath He poured down fire from heaven: then burned all earth Beneath, and Ocean's world-engirdling flood Boiled from its depths, yea, to its utmost bounds:

Far-flowing mighty rivers were dried up:

Perished all broods of life-sustaining earth, All fosterlings of the boundless sea, and all Dwellers in rivers: smoke and ashes veiled The air: earth fainted in the fervent heat.

Therefore this day I dread the might of Zeus.

Now, pass we to the ships, since for to-day He helpeth Troy. To us too shall he grant Glory hereafter; for the dawn on men, Though whiles it frown, anon shall smile. Not yet, But soon, shall Fate lead us to smite yon town, If true indeed was Calchas' prophecy Spoken aforetime to the assembled Greeks, That in the tenth year Priam's burg should fall."

Then left they that far-famous town, and turned From war, in awe of Zeus's threatenings, Hearkening to one with ancient wisdom wise.

Yet they forgat not friends in battle slain, But bare them from the field and buried them.

These the mist hid not, but the town alone And its unscaleable wall, around which fell Trojans and Argives many in battle slain.

So came they to the ships, and put from them Their battle-gear, and strode into the waves Of Hellespont fair-flowing, and washed away All stain of dust and sweat and clotted gore.

The sun drave down his never-wearying steeds Into the dark west: night streamed o'er the earth, Bidding men cease from toil. The Argives then Acclaimed Achilles' valiant son with praise High as his father's. Mid triumphant mirth He feasted in kings' tents: no battle-toil Had wearied him; for Thetis from his limbs Had charmed all ache of travail, making him As one whom labour had no power to tire.

When his strong heart was satisfied with meat, He passed to his father's tent, and over him Sleep's dews were poured. The Greeks slept in the plain Before the ships, by ever-changing guards Watched; for they dreaded lest the host of Troy, Or of her staunch allies, should kindle flame Upon the ships, and from them all cut off Their home-return. In Priam's burg the while By gate and wall men watched and slept in turn, Adread to hear the Argives' onset-shout.