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.