Page:Agamemnon (Murray 1920).djvu/31

vv. 279–306.

The very night that mothered this hew day.

And who of heralds with such fury came?

A Fire-god, from Mount Ida scattering flame.

Whence starting, beacon after beacon burst

In flaming message hitherward. Ida first

Told Hermes' Lemnian Rock, whose answering sign

Was caught by towering Athos, the divine,

With pines immense—yea, fishes of the night

Swam skyward, drunken with that leaping light,

Which swelled like some strange sun, till dim and far

Makistos' watchmen marked a glimmering star;

They, nowise loath nor idly slumber-won,

Spring up to hurl the fiery message on,

And a far light beyond the Eurîpus tells

That word hath reached Messapion's sentinels.

They beaconed back, then onward with a high

Heap of dead heather flaming to the sky.

And onward still, not failing nor aswoon,

Across the Asôpus like a beaming moon

The great word leapt, and on Kithariron's height

Uproused a new relay of racing light.

His watchers knew the wandering flame, nor hid

Their welcome, burning higher than was bid.

Out over Lake Gorgôpis then it floats,

To Aigiplanctos, waking the wild goats,

Crying for "Fire, more Fire!" And fire was reared,

Stintless and high, a stormy streaming beard,