The Rhesus of Euripides Part 2

HECTOR.

To arms, Aeneas! Arm from head to heel!

AENEAS. [vv. 91-109]

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 s.h.i.+ps.

AENEAS.

How know'st thou?--Have we proof that it is flight?

HECTOR.

They are burning beacon-fires the livelong night.

They never mean to wait till dawn. Behind That screen of light they are climbing in the blind Dark to their s.h.i.+ps--unmooring from our coast.

AENEAS (_looking toward the distant fires: after a pause_).

G.o.d guide them!--Why then do you arm the host?

HECTOR.

I mean to lame them in their climbing, I 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 G.o.d gives them to us here.

AENEAS.

Brother, I would thy wit were like thy spear!

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: [vv. 110-136]

"They fly! Out horse and chariots!"--Out withal Past stake and trench, while night hangs like a pall!

Say, when we cross that coiling depth of d.y.k.e, 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 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 s.h.i.+ps with fire 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 s.h.i.+eld, Sleep off its long day's labour in the field: Then, send a spy; find someone who will dare 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.

CHORUS. [_Strophe._

'Tis good! 'Tis wisdom! Prince, give heed And change the word thy pa.s.sion gave.

No soldier loveth, in his need, The glory of a chief too brave.

A spy is best: a spy, to learn For what strange work those beacons burn All night beside the guarded wave.

HECTOR. [vv. 137-157]

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 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 s.h.i.+pward and plan to escape, one trumpet call Shall warn thee, and I wait no more, but fall 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.

HECTOR (_turning to the Guards and other soldiers_).

Ye gathered Trojans, sharers of my word, Who dares to creep through the Greek lines alone?

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._

DOLON.

I, Prince!--I offer for our City's sake To go disguised to the Greek s.h.i.+ps, to make Their counsels mine, and here bring word to thee.

If that be thy full service, I agree.

HECTOR. [vv. 158-171]

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.

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.

HECTOR.

So be it: an honest rule. Do thou lay down What guerdon likes thee best--short of my crown.

DOLON.

I care not for thy crowned and care-fraught life.

HECTOR.

Wouldst have a daughter of the King to wife?

DOLON.

I seek no mate that might look down on me.

HECTOR.

Good gold is ready, if that tempteth thee.

DOLON.