The Rhesus of Euripides Part 10

CAPTAIN.

Right. Ho, every man hold back his spear!-- Then know'st thou where the men are gone?

ODYSSEUS.

We saw them running, somewhere here.

[_He makes off into the darkness._ DIOMEDE _follows, and some Thracians_.

CAPTAIN. [vv. 690-703]

Off every one upon their track!

A MAN.

Or should we rouse the army?

CAPTAIN.

No; To stir the allies in the night and make more panic!

Let us go.

[_The Thracians go off in pursuit. Meantime the original Guards who form the Chorus have hastened back. The two Greeks are presently seen crossing at the back in a different direction._

CHORUS.

Who was the man that pa.s.sed?

Who, that, so madly bold.

Even as I held him fast, Laughed, and I loosed my hold?

Where shall I find him now?

What shall I deem of him, To steal thro' the guards a-row, Quaking not, eye nor limb, On thro' the starlight dim?

Is he of Thessaly, Born by the Locrian sea, Or harvester of some starved island's corn?

What man hath seen his face?

What was his name or race, What the high G.o.d by whom his sires have sworn?

DIVERS GUARDS (_talking_). [vv. 704-724]

This night must be Odysseus' work, or whose?-- Odysseus? Aye, to judge by ancient use.-- Odysseus surely!--That is thy belief?-- What else? It seems he hath no fear Of such as we!--Whom praise ye there?

Whose prowess? Say!--Odysseus.--Nay, Praise not the secret stabbing of a thief!

CHORUS.

He came once, of old, Up thro' the city throng, Foam on his lips, a-cold, Huddled in rags that hung Covering just the sword Hid in his mantle's pleat; His face grimed and scored, A priest of wandering feet, Who begged his bread in the street.

Many and evil things He cast on the brother kings Like one long hurt, who nurseth anger sore; Would that a curse, yea, would The uttermost wrath of G.o.d Had held those feet from walking Ilion's sh.o.r.e!

DIVERS GUARDS (_talking_).

Odysseus or another, 'tis the guard Will weep for this. Aye, Hector will be hard.-- What will he say?--He will suspect.--Suspect?

What evil? What should make you fear?-- [vv. 725-737]

'Twas we that left a pa.s.sage clear.-- A pa.s.sage?--Yea, for these men's way, Who came by night into the lines unchecked.

[_A sound of moaning outside in the darkness, which has been heard during the last few lines, now grows into articulate words._

VOICE.

Woe, woe!

The burden of the wrath of fate!

GUARDS.

Ha, listen! Wait.

Crouch on the ground; it may be yet Our man is drawing to the net.

VOICE.

Woe, woe!

The burden of the hills of Thrace!

LEADER.

An ally? None of h.e.l.lene race.

VOICE.

Woe, woe!

Yea, woe to me and woe to thee, My master! Once to set thine eye On Ilion the accurst, and die!

LEADER (_calling aloud_).

Ho there! What ally pa.s.ses? The dim night Blurreth mine eyes; I cannot see thee right.

VOICE. [vv. 738-756]

Ho, some one of the Trojan name!

Where sleeps your king beneath his s.h.i.+eld, Hector? What marshal of the field Will hear our tale . . . the men who came And struck us and were gone; and we, We woke and there was nought to see, But our own misery.

LEADER.

I cannot hear him right; it sounds as if The Thracians were surprised or in some grief.

[_There enters a wounded man, walking with difficulty; he is the Thracian Charioteer who came with_ RHESUS.

THRACIAN.

The army lost and the king slain, Stabbed in the dark! Ah, pain! pain!

This deep raw wound . . . Oh, let me die By thy side, Master, by thy side!

In shame together let us lie Who came to save, and failed and died.

LEADER.