The Fall of Troy. active 4th century Smyrnaeus Quintus

The Fall of Troy - active 4th century Smyrnaeus Quintus


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      I How died for Troy the Queen of the Amazons,

       Penthesileia.

       II How Memnon, Son of the Dawn, for Troy's sake fell

       in the Battle.

       III How by the shaft of a God laid low was Hero Achilles.

       IV How in the Funeral Games of Achilles heroes contended.

       V How the Arms of Achilles were cause of madness and

       death unto Aias.

       VI How came for the helping of Troy Eurypylus,

       Hercules' grandson.

       VII How the Son of Achilles was brought to the War

       from the Isle of Scyros.

       VIII How Hercules' Grandson perished in fight with the

       Son of Achilles.

       IX How from his long lone exile returned to the war

       Philoctetes.

       X How Paris was stricken to death, and in vain sought

       help of Oenone.

       XI How the sons of Troy for the last time fought from

       her walls and her towers.

       XII How the Wooden Horse was fashioned, and brought

       into Troy by her people.

       XIII How Troy in the night was taken and sacked with fire

       and slaughter.

       XIV How the conquerors sailed from Troy unto judgment

       of tempest and shipwreck.

       Table of Contents

      How died for Troy the Queen of the Amazons, Penthesileia.

      When godlike Hector by Peleides slain

       Passed, and the pyre had ravined up his flesh,

       And earth had veiled his bones, the Trojans then

       Tarried in Priam's city, sore afraid

       Before the might of stout-heart Aeacus' son:

       As kine they were, that midst the copses shrink

       From faring forth to meet a lion grim,

       But in dense thickets terror-huddled cower;

       So in their fortress shivered these to see

       That mighty man. Of those already dead

       They thought of all whose lives he reft away

       As by Scamander's outfall on he rushed,

       And all that in mid-flight to that high wall

       He slew, how he quelled Hector, how he haled

       His corse round Troy;—yea, and of all beside

       Laid low by him since that first day whereon

       O'er restless seas he brought the Trojans doom.

       Ay, all these they remembered, while they stayed

       Thus in their town, and o'er them anguished grief

       Hovered dark-winged, as though that very day

       All Troy with shrieks were crumbling down in fire.

      Then from Thermodon, from broad-sweeping streams,

       Came, clothed upon with beauty of Goddesses,

       Penthesileia—came athirst indeed

       For groan-resounding battle, but yet more

       Fleeing abhorred reproach and evil fame,

       Lest they of her own folk should rail on her

       Because of her own sister's death, for whom

       Ever her sorrows waxed, Hippolyte,

       Whom she had struck dead with her mighty spear,

       Not of her will—'twas at a stag she hurled.

       So came she to the far-famed land of Troy.

       Yea, and her warrior spirit pricked her on,

       Of murder's dread pollution thus to cleanse

       Her soul, and with such sacrifice to appease

       The Awful Ones, the Erinnyes, who in wrath

       For her slain sister straightway haunted her

       Unseen: for ever round the sinner's steps

       They hover; none may 'scape those Goddesses.

       And with her followed twelve beside, each one

       A princess, hot for war and battle grim,

       Far-famous each, yet handmaids unto her:

       Penthesileia far outshone them all.

       As when in the broad sky amidst the stars

       The moon rides over all pre-eminent,

       When through the thunderclouds the cleaving heavens

       Open, when sleep the fury-breathing winds;

       So peerless was she mid that charging host.

       Clonie was there, Polemusa, Derinoe,

       Evandre, and Antandre, and Bremusa,

       Hippothoe, dark-eyed Harmothoe,

       Alcibie, Derimacheia, Antibrote,

       And Thermodosa glorying with the spear.

       All these to battle fared with warrior-souled

       Penthesileia: even as when descends

       Dawn from Olympus' crest of adamant,

       Dawn, heart-exultant in her radiant steeds

       Amidst the bright-haired Hours; and o'er them all,

       How flawless-fair soever these may be,

       Her splendour of beauty glows pre-eminent;

       So peerless amid all the Amazons Unto

       Troy-town Penthesileia came.

       To right, to left, from all sides hurrying thronged

       The Trojans, greatly marvelling, when they saw

       The tireless War-god's child, the mailed maid,

       Like to the Blessed Gods; for in her face

       Glowed beauty glorious and terrible.

       Her smile was ravishing: beneath her brows

       Her love-enkindling eyes shone like to stars,

       And with the crimson rose of shamefastness

       Bright were her cheeks, and mantled over them

       Unearthly grace with battle-prowess clad.

      Then joyed Troy's folk, despite past agonies,

       As when, far-gazing from a height, the hinds

       Behold a rainbow spanning the wide sea,

       When they be yearning for the heaven-sent shower,

       When the parched fields be craving for the rain;

       Then the great sky at last is overgloomed,

       And men see that fair sign of coming wind

       And imminent rain, and seeing, they are glad,

       Who for their corn-fields' plight sore sighed before;

       Even so the sons of Troy when they beheld

       There in their land Penthesileia dread

       Afire for battle, were exceeding glad;

       For when the heart is thrilled with hope of good,

       All smart of evils past is wiped away:

      


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