Before Hector's tent at the gates of Troy. Enter CHORUS
CHORUS To Hector's couch away, one of you wakeful squires that tend
the prince, to see if he have any fresh tidings from the warriors
who were set to guard the assembled host during the fourth watch of
the night. (Calls to HECTOR in the tent) Lift up thy head! Prop
thine arm beneath it! Unseal that louring eye from its repose; thy
lowly couch of scattered leaves, O Hector, quit! 'Tis time to hearken.
(Enter HECTOR.)
HECTOR Who goes there? Is it a friend who calls? Who art thou? Thy
watchword? Speak! Who in the dark hours comes nigh my couch, must
tell me who he is.
CHORUS Sentinels we of the army.
HECTOR Why this tumultuous haste?
CHORUS Be of good courage.
HECTOR Is there some midnight ambuscade?
CHORUS Nay.
HECTOR Then why dost thou desert thy post and rouse the army, save
thou have some tidings of the night? Art not aware how near the Argive
host we take our night's repose in all our harness clad?
CHORUS To arms! O Hector, seek thine allies' sleeping camp! Bid them
wield the spear! Awake them! thine own company despatch a friend.
Saddle and bridle the steeds. Who will to the son of Panthus? who
to Europa's son, captain of the Lycian band? Where are they who should
inspect the victims? Where be the leaders of the light-armed troops?
Ye Phrygian archers, string your horn-tipped bows.
HECTOR Now fear, now confidence thy tidings inspire; nothing is plainly
set forth. Can it be that thou art smitten with wild affright by Pan,
the son of Cronion, and leaving thy watch therefore dost rouse the
host? What means thy noisy summons? What tidings can I say thou bringest?
Thy words are many, but no plain statement hast thou made.
CHORUS The long night through, O Hector, the Argive host hath kindled
fires, and bright with torches shines the anchored fleet. To Agamemnon's
tent the whole army moves clamorously by night, eager for fresh orders
maybe, for never before have I seen such commotion among yon sea-faring
folk. Wherefore I was suspicious of what might happen and came to
tell thee, that thou mayest have no cause to blame me hereafter.
HECTOR In good season com'st thou, albeit thy tidings are fraught
with terror; for those cowards are bent on giving me the slip and
stealing away from this land in their ships by night; their midnight
signalling convinces me of this. Ah! Fortune, to rob me in my hour
of triumph, a lion of his prey, or ever this spear of mine with one
fell swoop had made an end for aye of yonder Argive host! Yea, had
not the sun's bright lamp withheld his light, I had not stayed my
victor's spear, ere I had fired their ships and made my way from tent
to tent, drenching this hand in Achaean gore. Right eager was I to
make a night attack and take advantage of the stroke of luck by heaven
sent, but those wise seers of mine, who have heaven's will so pat,
persuaded me to wait the dawn, and then leave not one Achaean in the
land. But those others await not the counsels of my soothsayers; darkness
turns runaways to heroes. Needs must we now without delay pass this
word along the line "Arm, arm! from slumber cease!" for many a man
of them, e'en as he leaps aboard his ship, shall be smitten through
the back and sprinkle the ladders with blood, and others shall be
fast bound with cords and learn to till our Phrygian glebe.
CHORUS Thou hastest, Hector, before thou knowest clearly what is
happening; for we do not know for certain whether our foes are flying.
HECTOR What reason else had the Argive host to kindle fires?
CHORUS I cannot say; my soul doth much misgive me.
HECTOR If this thou fearest, be sure there's nought thou wouldst
not fear.
CHORUS Never aforetime did the enemy kindle such a blaze.
HECTOR No, nor ever before did they suffer such shameful defeat and
rout.
CHORUS This thou didst achieve; look now to what remains to do.