Page:Trojan Women (Murray 1905).djvu/39

Rh A towering Steed of golden rein—

O gold without, dark steel within!—

Ramped in our gates; and all the plain

Lay silent where the Greeks had been.

And a cry broke from all the folk

Gathered above on Ilion's rock:

"Up, up, O fear is over now!

To Pallas, who hath saved us living,

To Pallas bear this victory-vow!"

Then rose the old man from his room,

The merry damsel left her loom,

And each bound death about his brow

With minstrelsy and high thanksgiving!

O, swift were all in Troy that day,

And girt them to the portal-way,

Marvelling at that mountain Thing

Smooth-carven, where the Argives lay,

And wrath, and Ilion's vanquishing:

Meet gift for her that spareth not,

Heaven's yokeless Rider. Up they brought

Through the steep gates her offering:

Like some dark ship that climbs the shore

On straining cables, up, where stood

Her marble throne, her hallowed floor,

Who lusted for her people's blood.

A very weariness of joy

Fell with the evening over Troy:

And lutes of Afric mingled there

With Phrygian songs: and many a maiden,

With white feet glancing light as air,