Page:Masterpieces of Greek Literature (1902).djvu/46

16 And wove a twofold web of brilliant hues,

On which were scattered flowers of rare device;

And she had given her bright-haired maidens charge To place an ample caldron on the fire,

That Hector, coming from the battlefield,

Might find the warm bath ready. Thoughtless one!

She knew not that the blue-eyed archer-queen,

Far from the bath prepared for him, had slain

Her husband by the hand of Peleus' son.

She heard the shrieks, the wail upon the tower.

Trembled in every limb, and quickly dropped

The shuttle, saying to her bright-haired maids:

"Come with me, two of you, that I may learn

What now has happened. 'T is my mother's voice

That I have heard. My heart leaps to my mouth;

My limbs fail under me. Some deadly harm

Hangs over Priam's sons; far be the hour

When I shall hear of it. And yet I fear

Lest that Achilles, having got between

The daring Hector and the city gates.

May drive him to the plain alone, and quell

The desperate valor that was ever his;

For never would he keep the ranks, but ranged

Beyond them, and gave way to no man's might."

She spake, and from the royal mansion rushed

Distractedly, and with a beating heart.

Her maids went with her. When she reached the tower

And throng of men, and, standing on the wall,

Looked forth, she saw her husband dragged away

Before the city. Toward the Grecian fleet

The swift steeds drew him. Sudden darkness came

Over her eyes, and in a breathless swoon

She sank away and fell. The ornaments