Rhesus   

him the son of Peleus will ne'er escape or if he fly or meet him spear
to spear.
CHORUS Whenso the gods stand by the burghers staunch and true, the
tide of fortune glides with easy flow to a successful goal.
HECTOR I shall find a host of friends now that fortune smiles upon
my warring and Zeus is on my side. But no need have we of those who
shared not our toils of erst, what time the War-god, driving all before
him, was rending the sails of our ship of state with his tempestuous
blast. Rhesus hath shewn the friendship he then bore to Troy; for
he cometh to the feast, albeit he was not with the hunters when they
took the prey, nor joined his spear with theirs.
CHORUS Thou art right to scorn and blame such friends; yet welcome
those who fain would help the state.
HECTOR Sufficient we who long have kept Ilium safe.
CHORUS Art so sure thou hast already caught the foe?
HECTOR Quite sure I am; to-morrow's light will make that plain.
CHORUS Beware of what may chance; full oft doth fortune veer.
HECTOR I loathe the friend who brings his help too late.
MESSENGER O prince, to turn away allies earns hatred. His mere appearing
would cause a panic amongst the foe.
CHORUS Let him, at least, since he is come, approach thy genial board
as guest, if not ally, for the gratitude of Priam's sons is forfeit
in his case.
HECTOR Thou counsellest aright; thou too dost take the proper view.
Let Rhesus in his gilded mail join the allies of this land, thanks
to the messenger's report. (Exeunt the MESSENGER and HECTOR.)
CHORUS May Nemesis, daughter of Zeus, check the word that may offend;
for lo! I will utter all that my soul fain would say. Thou art come,
O son of the river god, art come, thrice welcome in thy advent, to
the halls of Phrygia; late in time thy Pierian mother and Strymon
thy sire, that stream with bridges fair, are sending thee to us-Strymon
who begat thee his strong young son, that day his swirling waters
found a refuge in the tuneful Muse's virgin bosom. Thou art my Zeus,
my god of light, as thou comest driving thy dappled steeds. Now, O
Phrygia, O my country, now mayst thou by God's grace address thy saviour
Zeus! Shall old Troy once more at last spend the live-long day in
drinking toasts and singing love's praise, while the wildering wine-cup
sends a friendly challenge round, as o'er the sea for Sparta bound,
the sons of Atreus quit the Ilian strand? Ah! best of friends, with
thy strong arm and spear mayst thou this service do me, then safe
return. Come, appear, brandish that shield of gold full in Achilles'
face; raise it aslant along the chariot's branching rail, urging on
thy steeds the while, and shaking thy lance with double point. For
none after facing thee will ever join the dance on the lawns of Argive
Hera; no, but he shall die by Thracians slain, and this land shall
bear the burden of his corpse and be glad. (Enter RHESUS.) Hail,
all bail O mighty prince! fair the scion thou hast bred, O Thrace,
a ruler in his every look. Mark his stalwart frame cased in golden
corslet! Hark to the ringing bells that peal so proudly from his targehandle
hung. A god, O Troy, a god, a very Ares, a scion of Strymon's stream
and of the tuneful Muse, breathes courage into thee. (Re-enter HECTOR.)
RHESUS Brave son of sire as brave, Hector, prince of this land, all
haill After many a long day I greet thee. Right glad am I of thy success,
to see thee camped hard on the foemen's towers; I come to help thee
raze their walls and fire their fleet of ships.
HECTOR Son of that tuneful mother, one of the Muses nine, and of
Thracian Strymon's stream, I ever love to speak plain truth; nature
gave me not a double tongue. Long, long ago shouldst thou have come
and shared the labours this land nor suffered Troy for any help of
thine to fall o'er thrown by hostile Argive spears. Thou canst not
say 'twas any want of invitation that kept thee from coming with thy
help to visit us. How oft came heralds and embassies from Phrygia
urgently requiring thine aid for our city? What sumptuous presents
did we not send to thee? But thou, brother barbarian though thou wert,