Page:Trojan Women (Murray 1905).djvu/59

Rh She cometh first, who bare the seed and well

Of springing sorrow, when to life she brought

Paris: and that old King, who quenchèd not

Quick in the spark, ere yet he woke to slay,

The firebrand's image.—But enough: a day

Came, and this Paris judged beneath the trees

Three Crowns of Life, three diverse Goddesses.

The gift of Pallas was of War, to lead

His East in conquering battles, and make bleed

The hearths of Hellas. Hera held a Throne—

If majesties he craved—to reign alone

From Phrygia to the last realm of the West.

And Cypris, if he deemed her loveliest,

Beyond all heaven, made dreams about my face

And for her grace gave me. And, lo! her grace

Was judged the fairest, and she stood above

Those twain.—Thus was I loved, and thus my love

Hath holpen Hellas. No fierce Eastern crown

Is o'er your lands, no spear hath cast them down.

O, it was well for Hellas! But for me

Most ill; caught up and sold across the sea

For this my beauty; yea, dishonourèd

For that which else had been about my head

A crown of honour. Ah, I see thy thought;

The first plain deed, 'tis that I answer not,

How in the dark out of thy house I fled

There came the Seed of Fire, this woman's seed;

Came—O, a Goddess great walked with him then—

This Alexander, Breaker-down-of-Men,

This Paris, Strength-is-with-him; whom thou, whom—

O false and light of heart—thou in thy room