Page:Sophocles - Seven Plays, 1900.djvu/291

1402–1436]

. Lean thy steps on mine.

. As firmly as my foot will strength afford.

. Ah! but how shall I escape Achaean anger?

. Do not care!

. Ah! but should they spoil my country!

. I to shield thee will be there.

. How to shield me, how to aid me?

. With the shafts of Heracles

I will scare them.

. Give thy blessing to this isle, and come in peace.

. First, son of Poeas, wait till thou hast heard

The voice of Heracles, and weighed his word.

Him thou beholdest from the Heavenly seat

Come down, for thee leaving the blest retreat,

To tell thee all high Zeus intends, and stay

Thy purpose in the journey of to-day.

Then hear me, first how after my long toils

By strange adventure I have found and won

Immortal glory, which thine eyes perceive;

And the like lot, I tell thee, shall be thine,

After these pains to rise to glorious fame.

Sailing with this thy comrade to Troy-town,

First thou shalt heal thee from thy grievous sore,

And then, being singled forth from all the host

As noblest, thou shalt conquer with that bow

Paris, prime author of these years of harm.

And capture Troy, and bear back to thy hall

The choicest guerdon, for thy valour’s meed,

To Oeta’s vale and thine own father’s home.

But every prize thou tak’st be sure thou bear

Unto ray pyre, in memory of my bow.

This word, Achilles’ offspring, is for thee

No less. For, as thou could’st not without him,

So, without thee, he cannot conquer Troy.

Then, like twin lions hunting the same hill,