SHEP. Most gracious monarch, may I ever greet
My lords with tidings such as now I bring!
HEC. Full oft misapprehension clouds the soul
Of simple rustics: to thy lord in arms
Thou of thy fleecy charge art come to speak
At this unseemly crisis: know’st thou not
My mansion, or the palace of my sire?
There ought’st thou to relate how fare thy flock.
SHEP. We shepherds are, I own, a simple race,
Yet my intelligence deserves attention.
HEC. Such fortunes as befall the fold, to me
Relate not, for I carry in this hand
The battle and the spear.
SHEP. I too am come
Such tidings to unfold; for a brave chief,
Your friend, the leader of a numerous host,
Marches to fight the battles of this realm.
HEC. But from what country?
SHEP. Thrace, and he is called
The son of Strymon.
HEC. Didst thou say, that Rhesus
Hath entered Ilion’s fields?
SHEP. You comprehend me,
And have anticipated half my speech.
HEC. Why doth he travel over Ida’s hill,
Deserting that broad path where loaded wains
With ease might move?
SHEP. I have no certain knowledge;
Yet may we form conjectures; ’tis a scheme
Most prudent, with his host to march by night
Because he hears the plain with hostile bands
Is covered: but us rustics he alarmed,
Who dwell on Ida’s mount, the ancient seat
Of Ilion’s first inhabitants, by night
When through that wood, the haunt of savage beasts
The warrior trod: for with a mighty shout
The Thracian host rushed on, but we, our flocks,
With terror smitten, to the summit drove,
Lest any Greek should come to seize the prey,
And waste your crowded stalls: till we discovered
Voices so different from the Hellenian tribes,
That we no longer feared them. I advanced,
And in the Thracian language made inquiry
Of the king’s vanguard, as they moved along
To explore a passage for the host, what name
Their leader bore, sprung from what noble sire,
To Ilion’s walls he came, the friend of Priam.
When I had heard each circumstance I wished
To know, I for a time stood motionless,
And saw majestic Rhesus, like a god,
High in his chariot, drawn by Thracian steeds
Whiter than snow, a golden beam confined
Their necks, and o’er his shoulders hung a shield
Adorned with sculptures wrought in massive gold;
Like that which in Minerva’s Ægis flames,
Bound on the courser’s front, a brazen Gorgon
Tinkled incessant with alarming sound.
The numbers of an army so immense
I cannot calculate; the horse were many,
Many the ranks of troops with bucklers armed,
And archers; and a countless multitude,
Like infantry in Thracian vests arrayed
Brought up the rear. Such is th’ ally who comes
On Troy’s behalf to combat; nor by flight,
Nor by withstanding his protended spear,
Can Peleus’ son escape him.
CHOR. When the gods
Are to a realm propitious, each event
Is easily converted into bliss.
HEC. Since I in battle prosper, and since Jove
Is on our side, I shall have many friends;
But those we need not who in former time
Our toils partook not, with malignant blast
When on the sails of Ilion Mars had breathed.
Rhesus hath shown too plainly what a friend
He is to Troy, for to the feast he comes,
Yet was he absent when the hunters seized
Their prey, nor did he share the toils of war.
CHOR. You justly scorn such friends; yet, O receive
Those who would aid the city.
HEC. We who long
Have guarded Ilion can defend it now.
CHOR. Are you persuaded you have gained already
A triumph o’er the foes?
HEC. I am persuaded,
And when to-morrow’s sun the heaven ascends
This shall be proved.
CHOR. Beware of what may happen;
Jove oft o’erthrows the prosperous.
HEC. I abhor
These tardy succours.
SHEP. O, my lord, ’twere odious,
Should you reject with scorn the proffered aid
Of our allies: the sight of such a host
Will strike the foe with terror.
CHOR. Since he comes
But as a guest, not partner in the war,
Let him approach your hospitable board,
For little thanks are due from Priam’s sons
To such confederates.
HEC. Prudent are thy counsels,
Thou too hast rightly judged: and in compliance
With what the messenger hath said, let Rhesus
Refulgent in his golden arms draw near,
For Ilion shall receive him as her friend.
[_Exit_ SHEPHERD.