Queen of the Sea-gate, Chalkis mine,
On whose bosom-fold
Arethusa gleameth, the fountain divine,—
Have come to behold 170
The Achaian array, and the heroes' oars
That the pine-keels speed
Of a thousand galleys to Troyland's shores,
Whom the two kings lead,—
Who with prince Menelaus the golden-haired,
As our own lords say,
And with King Agamemnon the high-born, fared
On the vengeance-way,
On the quest of her whom the herdman drew
From beside the river 180
Of whispering reeds, his sin-wage due,—
Aphrodite the giver,—
Promised, when into the fountain down
Spray-veiled she descended,[1]
When with Hera and Pallas for beauty's crown
The Cyprian contended.
And through Artemis' grove of sacrifice
Hasting I came,
While swift in my cheeks did the crimson rise
Of my maiden shame:
For to look on the shields, on the tents agleam 190
With arms, was I fain,
And on thronging team upon chariot team.
There marked I twain,
The Oilid Aias and Telamon's child,
Salamis' pride.
- ↑ See Andromache, 284—5.
