Page:Masterpieces of Greek Literature (1902).djvu/33

Rh Of Placos, in the Hypoplacian town

Of Thebè, ruled Cilicia and her sons,

And gave his child to Hector, great in arms.

She came attended by a maid, who bore

A tender child—a babe too young to speak—

Upon her bosom—Hector's only son.

Beautiful as a star, whom Hector called

Scamandrius, but all else Astyanax—

The city's lord—since Hector stood the sole

Defence of Troy. The father on his child

Looked with a silent smile. Andromache

Pressed to his side meanwhile, and, all in tears,

Clung to his hand, and, thus beginning, said:

"Too brave! thy valor yet will cause thy death.

Thou hast no pity on thy tender child,

Nor me, unhappy one, who soon must be

Thy widow. All the Greeks will rush on thee

To take thy life. A happier lot were mine,

If I must lose thee, to go down to earth.

For I shall have no hope when thou art gone,—

Nothing but sorrow. Father have I none,

And no dear mother. Great Achilles slew

My father when he sacked the populous town

Of the Cilicians,—Thebè with high gates.

'T was there he smote Eëtion, yet forbore

To make his arms a spoil; he dared not that.

But burned the dead with his bright armor on,

And raised a mound above him. Mountain-nymphs,

Daughters of Aegis-bearing Jupiter,

Came to the spot and planted it with elms,—

Seven brothers had I in my father's house.

And all went down to Hades in one day.

Achilles, the swift-footed, slew them all

Among their slow-paced bullocks and white sheep.