defence—gilded rafters, the stately ornaments of elder

days, they are hurling down; while others, their swords

drawn, are stationed at the doors at the bottom, and 35

guarding them in close array. The fire revived within

me, to bring succour to the royal roof, and relieve those

brave men, and breathe new daring into the vanquished.

“A door there was, a hidden entrance, a thoroughfare

through Priam’s palace, a postern which you leave in the

rear; by it the hapless Andromache,[134] while yet the throne

was standing, used often to repair unattended to her husband’s 5