At all points good, where through the brass brake not,
But back upon the stubborn shield was bent
The point thereof. Anon, with brazen weapon,
The other chief Atrides, Menelaus,
Bestirred himself, and prayed to Father Zeus.
He spake, and poised the lengthy spear,
Launched it, and smote the shield, good at all points,
Of Priamides.
The weighty spear pierced through the brilliant shield,
And through his corselet, richly dight, was planted.
Cut did the spear right through his coat of mail;
He bent aside and so 'scaped gloomy death.
Anon, the son of Atreus plucked him forth
His silver-studded sword, raised it aloft,
And smote the foeman's helmet-peak, whereon,
In pieces three and four from out his hand,
Shattered it fell, and wailed out to Father Zeus.
Then darted on and seized him by the helmet
Bushy with horse-hair, turned about, and now
Was dragging him toward the fair-greaved Argives
And sorely did the rich-embroidered thong,
The helmet's throat-lash, which beneath his chin
Was at full stretch, now press his tender throat.
Sure then both dragged him off had he, and gained
A countless glory. But back again rushed he,
Full bent on destroying him with brazen spear.
But Aphrodite readily, with ease—
As can a goddess,-rescued him, and hid
In a thick, darksome haze, and set him down
Within his fragrant chamber, sweet-perfumed.
Forth went she then to summon Helen.
She likened herself to an aged ancient dame.
Then of her nectarous garments took she hold,
And addressed her, saying: "Lord Paris calls thee."
The fair lady spoke this word aloud:
"Madam why thus art longing to catch me?
Wouldst lead me further still, to some fair towns,
Lovely Mæonia's pleasant towns, or Phrygia's ?
Thenceforth blame would all the Trojan women,
And endless pangs at heart I endure already."
Unto her, then, the goddess Aphrodite
In wrath spake thus: "Anger me not! O cruel!
Lest all in wrath I abandon thee and hate thee,
And haply a sorry death so shouldst thou perish."
She spake, and Jove-sprung Helen was afraid,
And went in silence to Alexander's abode.
Turning her eyes aside, with this word
She chid her lord: "Thou hast come from out the combat!
Would hadst thou perished upon the spot,
Slain by that doughty warrior, my first lord!"
Spake Paris thus in answer: "Chide me not,
O woman, with reproaches hard to bear.
For beaten, indeed, has Menelaus now,
By Athene's help; but I'll beat him hereafter!"
Meanwhile, Atrides, all about the throng,
Went to and fro, like a savage beast,
If haply he might anywhere descry
The godlike Alexander; but not one
Could point out Paris. Then to Menelaus-
Hateful was he become as gloomy death,-
Spake Agamemnon: "Hear me, O Trojans,
And Dardans, and ye allies! The mastery, indeed,
Is clearly shown on side of Menelaus,
The friend of Ares. You, then, give ye up
The Argive Helen, and all her havings with her,
And pay the compensation as 'tis fitting;
Which to our folk shall sure belong, e'en ever."
So spake Atrides; and thereat with shout
Approved the Achaians all, the host throughout.
BATTLE OF THE FROGS AND MICE.
[Sometimes ascribed to Homer, but evidently of later origin, the work of Pigres, and designed to travesty the "Iliad" and the "Odyssey.”—Encyc.]
ONCE upon a time, fatigued and out of breath,
And just escaped the stretching claws of death,
A gentle mouse, whom cats pursued in vain,
Flies, swift of foot, across the neighboring plain,
Hangs o'er a brink, his eager thirst to cool,
And dips his whiskers in the standing pool.
When near a courteous frog advanced his head,
And from the waters, hoarse resounding, said:
"What art thou, stranger? What line you boast?
What chance hath cast thee panting on our coast?
With strictest truth, let all your words agree,
And let me find a faithful mouse in thee.
If worthy friendship, proffered friendship take,
And, ent'ring, view the pleasurable lake;
Range o'er my palace, in my bounty share,
And glad return from hospitable fare.
This silver realm extends beyond my sway,
And me, their monarch, all its frogs obey..
Thee, too, thy form, thy strength, and port proclaim
A sceptred king; a son of martial fame.
Then trace thy line, and aid my guessing eyes."
Thus ceased the frog, and thus the mouse replies:
My name resounds aloft throughout the skies,
In arts I shine, in arms I fight,
Mixed with all the bravest, unknown to flight.
Yet we have foes, grim owls with talons; cats with claws!"
As thus the downy prince his mind expressed,
His answer thus the croaking king addressed:
"We sport in water, or we dance on land,
And, born amphibious, food from both command.
But trust thyself where wonders ask thy view,
And safely tempt those seas; I'll bear thee through.
Ascend my shoulders, firmly keep thy seat,
And reach my marshy court, and feast in state,”
He said, and leaned his back. With nimble bound,
Light leaps the mouse and clasps his arms around;
But when aloft the curling water rides,
And wets with azure wave his downy sides,
He sighs, and chilled with danger, longs for shore.
His tail extended forms a fruitless oar;
Drenched in liquid death his prayers he made
That to reach the land might the frog lend aid.
As thus he sorrows, death ambiguous grows,
Lo, from the deep a water hydra rose,
And rolls his sanguined eyes, his bosom heaves;
And darts with active rage along the waves.
Confused, the monarch sees his hissing foe,
And dives to shun the sable fates below.
Forgetful frog! The friend thy shoulders bore,
Unskilled in swimming, floats remote from shore.
He grasps with fruitless hands to find relief,
Supinely falls and grinds his teeth with grief.`
The prince his rage expressed: "Thou fling'st me from thy back,
As from hard rocks rebounds the shattering wrack;
Nor thou shalt 'scape thy due, perfidious king!
Pursued by vengeance on the swiftest wing.
On land thy strength could never equal mine,
At sea to conquer, and by craft was thine.
But heaven has gods, and gods have searching eyes:
Ye mice, ye mice, my great avengers, rise!"
This said, he, sighing, gasped, and sighing died.
His death the young Lichophinax espied,
As on the flowery brink he passed the day,
Basked in the beam, and loitered life away.
Loud shrieks the mouse, his shrieks the shores repeat;
The nibbling nation learn their hero's fate.
Grief, dismal grief, ensues; deep murmurs sound,
And shriller fury fills the deafened ground;
From lodge to lodge the sacred heralds run,
To fix their council with the rising sun.
When rosy-fingered morn had tinged the clouds,
Around their monarch-mouse the nation crowds.
Slow rose the monarch, heaved his anxious breast,
And thus the council, filled with rage, addressed:
"Our eldest perished by a ravening cat,
As near my court the prince unheedful sat;
The last, his country's hope, his parents' pride,
Plunged in the lake by Physignathus, died.
Rouse all to war, my friends! Avenge the deed,
And bleed the monarch, and his nation bleed."
His words in every breast inspired alarms,
And careful Mars supplied their host with arms.
Dreadful in power the marching mice appear.
The wondering frogs perceive the tumult near,
Forsake the waters, thickening form a ring,
And ask, and hearken, whence the noises spring.
When near the crowd, disclosed to public view
The valiant chief Embasichtyros drew;
The sacred herald's sceptre graced his hand,
And thus his words expressed his king's command:
"Ye frogs! The mice, with vengeance fired, advance,
And decked in armor shake the shining lance;
Their hapless prince by Physignathus slain,
Extends incumbent on the watery plain.
Then arm your host, the doubtful battle try;
Lead forth those frogs that have the soul to die!"
The chief retires, the crowd the challenge hear,
And proudly swelling, yet perplexed, appear;
|