Alone;
Toward Hector's quarters, as I deem, he plies
His message. He hath heard some tale of spies.
Diomede.
Then he shall be the first dead Trojan!
Athena.
No;
Beyond the ordainèd end thou canst not go.
Fate hath not willed that Paris by thy deed
Shall die; it is another who must bleed
To-night. Therefore be swift!
[Exeunt Odysseus and Diomede.
For me, my guise
Shall melt and change in Alexander's eyes,
Yea, till he dream 'tis Cypris, his delight
And help in need, that meets him in the night,
And soft shall be my words to him I hate.
So speak I; but on whom my spell is set
He hears not, sees not, though so near I stand.
[She becomes invisible where she stands.
Enter Paris.
Paris.
Ho, Hector! Brother! General of the land!
Sleepest thou still? We need thy waking sight.
Our guards have marked some prowler of the night,
We know not if a mere thief or a spy.
[Athena becomes visible again, but seems changed and her voice softer.
Athena.