Page:Electra of Euripides (Murray 1913).djvu/45

Rh There came a man from Troy, and told

Here in the haven,

How, orb on orb, to strike with cold

The Trojan, o'er that targe of gold,

Dread shapes were graven.

All round the level rim thereof

Perseus, on wingèd feet, above

The long seas hied him;

The Gorgon's wild and bleeding hair

He lifted; and a herald fair,

He of the wilds, whom Maia bare,

God's Hermes, flew beside him.

But midmost, where the boss rose higher,

A sun stood blazing,

And wingèd steeds, and stars in choir,

Hyad and Pleiad, fire on fire,

For Hector's dazing:

Across the golden helm, each way,

Two taloned Sphinxes held their prey,

Song-drawn to slaughter:

And round the breastplate ramping came

A mingled breed of lion and flame,

Hot-eyed to tear that steed of fame

That found Pirênê's water.

The red red sword with steeds four-yoked

Black-maned, was graven,

That laboured, and the hot dust smoked

Cloudwise to heaven.