Page:Trojan Women (Murray 1905).djvu/46

44 Parley of women never passed my door.

The thoughts of mine own heart I craved no more

Spoke with me, and I was happy. Constantly

I brought fair silence and a tranquil eye

For Hector's greeting, and watched well the way

Of living, where to guide and where obey.

And, lo! some rumour of this peace, being gone

Forth to the Greek, hath cursed me. Achilles' son,

So soon as I was taken, for his thrall

Chose me. I shall do service in the hall

Of them that slew How? Shall I thrust aside

Hector's belovèd face, and open wide

My heart to this new lord? Oh, I should stand

A traitor to the dead! And if my hand

And flesh shrink from him lo, wrath and despite

O'er all the house, and I a slave!

One night,

One night aye, men have said it  maketh tame

A woman in a man's arms. O shame, shame!

What woman's lips can so forswear her dead,

And give strange kisses in another's bed?

Why, not a dumb beast, not a colt will run

In the yoke untroubled, when her mate is gone—

A thing not in God's image, dull, unmoved

Of reason. O my Hector! best beloved,

That, being mine, wast all in all to me,

My prince, my wise one, O my majesty

Of valiance! No man's touch had ever come

Near me, when thou from out my father's home

Didst lead me and make me thine. And thou art dead,

And I war-flung to slavery and the bread