Page:Writings of Henry David Thoreau (1906) v5.djvu/429

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In secret votes the Danaans aided Ulysses;

And Ajax, deprived of golden arms, struggled with death.

Surely, wounds of another kind they wrought

In the warm flesh of their foes, waging war

With the man-defending spear.

Virtue increases, being sustained by wise men and just,

As when a tree shoots up with gentle dews into the liquid air.

There are various uses of friendly men;

But chiefest in labors; and even pleasure

Requires to place some pledge before the eyes.

Once they led to seven-gated Thebes an army of men,

not according

To the lucky flight of birds. Nor did the Kronian,

Brandishing his lightning, impel to march

From home insane, but to abstain from the way.

But to apparent destruction

The host made haste to go, with brazen arms

And horse equipments, and on the banks

Of Ismenus, defending sweet return,

Their white-flowered bodies fattened fire.

For seven pyres devoured young-limbed