Page:Tragedies of Seneca (1907) Miller.djvu/370

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And their bright zenith had the Bears o'ercome.
Then came to my afflicted soul a calm 440
Long since unknown, and o'er my weary eyes,
For one brief hour did drowsy slumber steal,
If that be sleep—the stupor of a soul
Forespent with ills: when suddenly I saw
Before mine eyes the shade of Hector stand;
Not in such guise as when, with blazing torch,
He strove in war against the Grecian ships, 445
Nor when, all stained with blood, in battle fierce
Against the Danai, he gained true spoil
From that feigned Peleus' son; not such his face,
All flaming with the eager battle light;
But weary, downcast, tear-stained, like my own,
All covered o'er with tangled, bloody locks. 450
Still did my joy leap up at sight of him;
And then he sadly shook his head and said:
"Awake from sleep and save our son from death,
O faithful wife. In hiding let him lie;
Thus only can he life and safety find.
Away with tears—why dost thou mourning make
For fallen Troy? I would that all had fall'n. 455
Then haste thee, and to safety bear our son,
The stripling hope of this our vanquished home,
Wherever safety lies."
⁠So did he speak,
And chilling terror roused me from my sleep.
Now here, now there I turned my fearful eyes.
Forgetful of my son, I sought the arms
Of Hector, there to lay my grief. In vain:
For that elusive shade, though closely pressed, 460
Did ever mock my clinging, fond embrace.
O son, true offspring of thy mighty sire,
Sole hope of Troy, sole comfort of our house,
Child of a stock of too illustrious blood,
Too like thy father, thou: such countenance
My Hector had, with such a tread he walked, 465
With such a motion did he lift his hands,
Thus stood he straight with shoulders proudly set,