The Rhesus of Euripides Part 9

Have comfort thou! Doth not the Cyprian's eye Mark all thy peril and keep watch above Thy battles? How shall I forget the love I owe thee, and thy faithful offices?

To crown this day and all its victories, Lo, I have guided here to Troy a strong Helper, the scion of the Muse of song And Strymon's flood, the crowned stream of Thrace.

PARIS (_standing like one in a dream_).

Indeed thy love is steadfast, and thy grace Bounteous to Troy and me. Thou art the joy And jewel of my days, which I to Troy Have brought, and made thee hers.--O Cyprian, I heard, not clearly,--'twas some talk that ran Among the pickets--spies had pa.s.sed some spot Close by the camp. The men who saw them not Talk much, and they who saw, or might have seen, [vv. 659-676]

Can give no sign nor token. It had been My purpose to find Hector where he lay.

ATHENA.

Fear nothing. All is well in Troy's array.

Hector is gone to help those Thracians sleep.

PARIS.

Thy word doth rule me, G.o.ddess. Yea, so deep My trust is, that all thought of fear is lost In comfort, and I turn me to my post.

ATHENA.

Go. And remember that thy fortunes still Are watched by me, and they who do my will Prosper in all their ways. Aye, thou shalt prove Ere long, if I can care for those I love.

[_Exit_ PARIS. _She raises her voice._ Back, back, ye twain! Are ye in love with death?

Laertes' son, thy sword into the sheath!

Our golden Thracian gaspeth in his blood; The steeds are ours; the foe hath understood And crowds against you. Haste ye! haste to fly,-- Ere yet the lightning falleth, and ye die!

[ATHENA _vanishes; a noise of tumult is heard_.

_Enter a crowd of Thracians running in confusion, in the midst of them_ ODYSSEUS _and_ DIOMEDE.

VOICES (_amid the tumult_).

Ha! Ha!--At them! At them! After them! Down with them!--Where are they?

CAPTAIN. [vv. 677-685]

Who is that fellow? Look! That yonder!

A MAN.

Rascal thieves, the sort that crawl And vex an army in the dark!

CAPTAIN.

Ho, this way! Follow! This way all!

[_They pursue_ ODYSSEUS _and_ DIOMEDE; _catch them and bring them back_.

A MAN.

I have them! I have caught them!

CAPTAIN (_to_ ODYSSEUS).

Whence comest thou? What art thou? Say; what captain and what company?

ODYSSEUS (_indignantly_).

'Tis not for thee to know. This day thou diest for thy knavery!

CAPTAIN.

Stop! Give the watchword quick, before I have thy body on my pike.

ODYSSEUS (_in a tone of authority_).

Halt every man and have no fear!

CAPTAIN.

Come, gather round. Be quick to strike.

ODYSSEUS (_to_ CAPTAIN). [vv. 686-689]

'Twas thou that killed King Rhesus!

CAPTAIN.

No: 'tis I that kill the man that killed . . .

[_Flies at_ ODYSSEUS, _but other men hold him back_.

ODYSSEUS.

Hold back all!

VOICES.

No more holding back!

ODYSSEUS (_as they attack him_).

What, strike an ally in the field?

CAPTAIN.

Then give the watchword!

ODYSSEUS.

Phoebus.