Page:Homer - Iliad, translation Pope, 1909.djvu/128

126 Ilion shall perish whole, and bury all;

Her babes, her infants at the breast, shall fall.

A dreadful lesson of exampled fate,

To warn the nations, and to curb the great."

The monarch spoke; the words, with warmth addressed,

To rigid justice steeled his brother's breast.

Fierce from his knees the hapless chief he thrust;

The monarch's javelin stretched him in the dust.

Then, pressing with his foot his panting heart,

Forth from the slain he tugged the reeking dart.

Old Nestor saw, and roused the warriors' rage;

"Thus, heroes! thus the vigorous combat wage!

No son of Mars descend, for servile gains,

To touch the booty, while a foe remains.

Behold yon glittering host, your future spoil;

First gain the conquest, then reward the toil."

And now had Greece eternal fame acquired,

And frighted Troy within her walls retired,

Had not sage Helenus her state redressed,

Taught by the gods that moved his sacred breast:

Where Hector stood, with great Æneas joined,

The seer revealed the counsels of his mind:

"Ye generous chiefs! on whom the immortals lay

The cares and glories of this doubtful day,

On whom your aids, your country's hopes depend,

Wise to consult, and active to defend!

Here, at our gates, your brave efforts unite,

Turn back the routed, and forbid the flight;

Ere yet their wives' soft arms the cowards gain,

The sport and insult of the hostile train.

When your commands have heartened every band,

Ourselves, here fixed, will make the dangerous stand;

Pressed as we are, and sore of former fight,

These straits demand our last remains of might.

Meanwhile, thou, Hector, to the town retire,

And teach our mother what the gods require:

Direct the queen to lead the assembled train

Of Troy's chief matrons to Minerva's fane;

Unbar the sacred gates, and seek the Power

With offered vows, in Ilion's topmost tower.

The largest mantle her rich wardrobes hold,

Most prized for art, and laboured o'er with gold,

Before the goddess' honoured knees be spread;

And twelve young heifers to her altars led.

If so the Power, atoned by fervent prayer,

Our wives, our infants, and our city spare,

And far avert Tydides' wasteful ire,

That mows whole troops, and makes all Troy retire.

Not thus Achilles taught our hosts to dread,