Page:Homer - Iliad, translation Pope, 1909.djvu/450

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448
THE ILIAD
994—1016

And high In air a sylvan structure raise.
But when the tenth fair morn began to shine,
Forth to the pile was borne the man divine,
And placed aloft : while all, with streaming eyes,
Beheld the flames and rolling smokes arise.
Soon as Aurora, daughter of the dawn,
With rosy lustre streaked the dewy lawn,
Again the mournful crowds surround the pyre,
And quench with wine the yet remaining fire.
The snowy bones his friends and brothers place,
With tears collected, in a golden vase;
The golden vase in purple palls they rolled,
Of softest texture, and inwrought with gold.
Last, o'er the urn the sacred earth they spread,
And raised the tomb, memorial of the dead.
Strong guards and spies, till all the rites were done,
Watched from the rising to the setting sun.
All Troy then moves to Priam's court again,
A solemn, silent, melancholy train:
Assembled there, from pious toil they rest,
And sadly shared the last sepulchral feast.
Such honours Ilion to her hero paid,
And peaceful slept the mighty Hector's shade.