Now free from fear our Trojan youth

Crowd round to touch the sacred cords

With joyous hands. Astyanax

Here leads his youthful playmates on,

While 'midst the maidens gaily comes

The maid Polyxena, foredoomed

To bleed upon Achilles' tomb.640

Mothers in festal garments bring

Their votive offerings to the gods,

And sires press gaily round the shrines.645