So up the steep sides of Taygetus They fared, and to the windy hollows came, While from the streams of deep Oceanus The sun arose, and on the fields did flame;And through wet glades the huntsmen drave the game, And with them Paris sway'd an ashen spear, Heavy, and long, and shod with bronze to tame The mountain-dwelling goats and forest deer.
XXVIII.
Now in a copse a mighty boar there lay, For through the boughs the wet winds never blew, Nor lit the bright sun on it with his ray, Nor rain might pierce the woven branches through, But leaves had fallen deep the lair to strew:
Then questing of the hounds and men's foot-fall Aroused the boar, and forth he sprang to view, With eyes that burn'd, at bay, before them all.
XXIX.
Then Paris was the first to rush on him, With spear aloft in his strong hand to smite, And through the monster pierced the point; and dim The flame fell in his eyes, and all his might With his last cry went forth; forgetting fight, Forgetting strength, he fell, and gladly then They gather'd round, and dealt with him aright;Then left his body with the serving men.
XXX.
Now birds were long awake, that with their cry Were wont to waken Helen; and the dew Where fell the sun upon the lawn was dry, And all the summer land was glad anew;And maidens' footsteps rang the palace through, And with their footsteps chimed their happy song, And one to other cried, "A marvel new That soft-wing'd Sleep hath held the Queen so long!"XXXI.
Then Phylo brought the child Hermione, And close unto her mother's side she crept, And o'er her god-like beauty tumbled she, Chiding her sweetly that so late she slept, And babbling still a merry coil she kept;But like a woman stiff beneath her shroud Lay Helen; till the young child fear'd and wept, And ran, and to her nurses cried aloud.
XXXII.
Then came the women quickly, and in dread Gather'd round Helen, but might naught avail To wake her; moveless as a maiden dead That Artemis hath slain, yet nowise pale, She lay; but Aethra did begin the wail, And all the women with sad voice replied, Who deem'd her pass'd unto the poplar vale Wherein doth dread Persephone abide.
XXXIII.
Ah! slowly pass'd the miserable day In the rich house that late was full of pride;Then the sun fell, and all the paths were grey, And Menelaus from the mountain-side Came, and through palace doors all open wide Rang the wild dirge that told him of the thing That Helen, that the Queen had strangely died.
Then on his threshold fell he grovelling, XXXIV.
And cast the dust upon his yellow hair, And, but that Paris leap'd and held his hand, His hunter's knife would he have clutch'd, and there Had slain himself, to follow to that land Where flit the ghosts of men, a shadowy band That have no more delight, no more desire, When once the flesh hath burn'd down like a brand, Drench'd by the dark wine on the funeral pyre:
XXXV.
So on the ashen threshold lay the king, And all within the house was chill and drear;The women watchers gather'd in a ring About the bed of Helen and her bier;And much had they to tell, and much to hear, Of happy queens and fair, untimely dead, -Such joy they took amid their evil cheer, -While the low thunder muttered overhead.
