Page:Masterpieces of Greek Literature (1902).djvu/33

Of Placos, in the Hypoplacian town
Of Thebè, ruled Cilicia and her sons,
And gave his child to Hector, great in arms. 515
She came attended by a maid, who bore
A tender child—a babe too young to speak—
Upon her bosom—Hector's only son.
Beautiful as a star, whom Hector called
Scamandrius, but all else Astyanax— 520
The city's lord—since Hector stood the sole
Defence of Troy. The father on his child
Looked with a silent smile. Andromache
Pressed to his side meanwhile, and, all in tears,
Clung to his hand, and, thus beginning, said: 525
⁠"Too brave! thy valor yet will cause thy death.
Thou hast no pity on thy tender child,
Nor me, unhappy one, who soon must be
Thy widow. All the Greeks will rush on thee
To take thy life. A happier lot were mine, 530
If I must lose thee, to go down to earth.
For I shall have no hope when thou art gone,—
Nothing but sorrow. Father have I none,
And no dear mother. Great Achilles slew
My father when he sacked the populous town 535
Of the Cilicians,—Thebè with high gates.
'T was there he smote Eëtion, yet forbore
To make his arms a spoil; he dared not that.
But burned the dead with his bright armor on,
And raised a mound above him. Mountain-nymphs, 540
Daughters of Aegis-bearing Jupiter,
Came to the spot and planted it with elms,—
Seven brothers had I in my father's house.
And all went down to Hades in one day.
Achilles, the swift-footed, slew them all 545
Among their slow-paced bullocks and white sheep.