Sectio
misplaced

binden

piliz

Th' adjoining post, Arachne's craggy height,

It scaled, it reddened o'er; the light derived
From Ida's top thus finally diffused

Its beamy splendour o'er the royal house
Of the Atridae: thus it reached our shores.
Torch kindled torch successive, but my heart
Of these the first and last most warmly hails.*
Ch. Lady, my vows are eager to ascend,
In gratitude to heaven, but let thy lips
Repeat once more the glad intelligence.

Cl. The Greeks triumphant reign this day in Troy :
What sounds conflicting in her streets are heard!
Should'st thou on vinegar soft ungents pour
Th' opposing streams would separate, not blend.
Not less opposed the cries distinct which mark
The victors and the vanquish'd; pale in grief,
Stretched on the cold remains of slaughtered friends,

*Of these the first and last, &c. That is to say, I particularly hail the first torch as the original transmitter of this joyful news, and the last as its final transmitter to this city.

N

Wives, sisters weep, and children o'er their sires
Extend in mute despair their captive arms.
The victors, breathing from the toil severe
Of nightly conflict, range the streets for food,
Or in the captured palaces of Troy,

As chance directs their steps, woo soft repose.
May no insatiate lust of things forbidden
O'ercloud their flattering prospects; half their course
Is unaccomplished yet--their safe return.
Should they escape long wanderings o'er the deep,
Who knows but tardy justice yet may claim
Atonement for the blood profusely shed?

Forgive these bodings of a female mind:
May fortune smile and crown my every joy.

CHORUS.

Hail, sovereign Jove! hail, friendly night
With robe of starry lustre bright!*

With robe of starry lustre bright. The original words are-μεγάλων κόσμων κτεάτειρα. This passage is very obscure. The turn given to it in the translation

Aided by thee, the net of fate*
Was cast o'er Troy's devoted state;
Her towery strength, her martial throng,
Youth, age, the helpless, and the strong,
All sunk enthralled; red slaughter woke,
And vengeance framed the captive yoke.
Thee, Jove, whose ire the wretch o'ertakes
Who hospitable pledges breaks,

was first suggested by Stanley. The word kópos is frequently applied to express the glories of the starry heavens, and Bentley, in his Phalaris, has shown that Pythagoras was the first who thus employed it: as Eschylus was a Pythagorean, he probably used it in the same sense. Schutz supposes that the words are not an apostrophe to night in general, but to the particular night in which Troy was taken; but there is nothing in the context which limits thus their application.

*The net of fate. This figure is in the bold style of oriental imagery, and accords with the similies used on similar occasions by the Hebrew prophets. Thus Ezek. xii. 13, in predicting the approaching captivity of Zedekiah, "My net also will I spread upon him, and he shall be taken in my snare, and I will bring him to Babylon.

I hail; by thee directed flew

Th' unerring shaft* which Paris slew.

Their fate was sealed by Jove's decree,

The lightning of his vengeance scathed their race,
The doom before ordained, fulfilled we see,
And link by link the chain of causes trace;
Perish their lore who dare deny
That o'er this world just gods preside,
Avengers of the violated tie,

And spurners of oppressive pride.

*The unerring shaft, &c. Nothing can be more obscure than the Greek original in this passage. Dr. Blomfield, after much learned investigation, abandons it to scholars to deal with as they can. The sentence is probably proverbial. A general meaning glimmers through it corresponding with the translation. It says, literally rendered, that the dart of Jupiter was not shot before the time, or above the stars. The French translator thus elegantly expresses it :-" Mais le trait n'est point parti avant le temps, et ne s'est point egaré dans les airs."

Of this fell race are they, ignobly great,

Who murder breathe, and tower in guilty state;
Mine be the happy lot secure to glide

In calm content and peace down life's tumultuous tide.

No refuge 'gainst the stroke of fate
Can riches yield to them whose feet profane,
Winged with presumption, dare to violate
The shrine of justice, and pollute her fane;
Their course blind frenzy sways,

Shines on their path delusive light,

Like brass, which, proved, a dark alloy betrays, Fades the meteor glare in night;

Thoughtless as boys who urge the feather'd race, They work their country's and their own disgrace; In vain to heaven they look when stung with fear, The angry gods refuse their vows to hear.

Thus Paris when an honoured guest

At the Atrida's hospitable board,

Faithless and perjured more, the more carest,

Beguiled the beauteous Helen from her lord.