Why leanest thou on idle spear?
Why is thy dreadful helmet bent
Heavy upon thy breast, O virgin?
What sorrow is so great, O thought,
As to touch thee? Are there no more
Of thunder-bearing enemies
To yield thee trophies new? No pomp
Athenian to guide thy ship
On to the sacred Rock? I see
Some pain holds Pallas fixed upon
A gravestone. Some great blow moves her:
Is it thy sacred city's loss,
Or seest thou all Greece--alas--
Of now and yesterday entombed?
_1896._