Page:The poetical works of Matthew Arnold, 1897.djvu/391

Rh ÆPYTUS.

Laias alone; no errand mine for crowds.

MEROPE.

On what relying, to crush such a foe?

ÆPYTUS.

One sudden stroke, and the Messenians' love.

MEROPE.

O thou long-lost, long seen in dreams alone,

But now seen face to face, my only child!

Why wilt thou fly to lose as soon as found

My new-won treasure, thy belovéd life?

Or how expectest not to lose, who com'st

With such slight means to cope with such a foe?

Thine enemy thou know'st not, nor his strength.

The stroke thou purposest is desperate, rash—

Yet grant that it succeeds—thou hast behind

The stricken King a second enemy

Scarce dangerous less than him, the Dorian lords.

These are not now the savage band who erst

Follow'd thy father from their northern hills,

Mere ruthless and uncounsell'd wolves of war,

Good to obey, without a leader nought.

Their chief hath train'd them, made them like himself,

Sagacious, men of iron, watchful, firm,

Against surprise and sudden panic proof.

Their master fall'n, these will not flinch, but band

To keep their master's power; thou wilt find

Behind his corpse their hedge of serried spears.

But, to match these, thou hast the people's love?