12 JUNE 1886, Page 13

POETRY.

DOLON, Eumedes son, was swift of foot, But mean of form, nor in the battle-field Of count, nor in the councils of the chiefs, And greed possessed his soul. Though countless store Of brass and gold was in his father's house, And he the only heir to all his wealth, Yet lust of riches ever drave him on, As Earns drives a galleon o'er the sea Of some fond merchant, who for love of gain Barters his life. So Dolon ; for when night Was gathered round the Trojans on the plain, Spake Hector, ":Now, since darkness stays our path, And these cowed Greeks, till morning dawn, are safe Within their fencework, who among you all Is bold to grasp the prize I offer him ?

Whoso across the plain to yonder ships Shall win his unseen way, and bring report, Whether the wonted watchmen pace their round, Or haply hope forsake them, and they plan Some instant flight, him shall the choicest steeds, His prize, and costliest chariot of the Greeks Bear through the opened Small gate to Troy, And men of after years shall praise his name."

So Hector spake, standing by Ilus' tomb, Because he knew not that the gods ordained Short breathing time to Troy, and sudden doom.

But straight.in Dolon's mind arose a strife As, at the issuing forth of some great stream, This way and that the meeting waters strive, The river and the sea, and toss their waves, And mingle tumult, till the one prevails ; So coward love of life, and greed of gain, Battled in Dolon's heart, till, at the last, Greed conquered, and the man stood forth, and spake : "Hector, my manly soul within me prompts To seek the ships, and hither bring report, Whether the wonted watch be set, or hope Forsake them, and they plan some instant flight ; But do thou take thy sceptre in thy hand, And swear me a great oath that thou wilt give Achilles' chariot and his steeds, my prize, To bear me through the Scan gate to Troy, That men of after years may praise my name.

Then will I bring true tidings, and will go, Yea, if need be, to Agamemnon's ship, Where sit, belike, the princes in debate, Whether to fly or battle to the end."

So spake he, feigning manhood ; for he knew Xanthus and Balius, Achilles' steeds, Swift as the wind, one bay, one flecked with white, Beyond all price. And Hector aware the oath : And round his shoulders Dolon slung his bow, And donned a grey wolf's hide, and on his head A marten's fur, close fitted, to beseem Some prowling beast of night, and, spear in hand, Shoreward through darkness took his treacherous way ; Not to return. For near the bivouac lurked Tydeides, with the comrade of his choice, Odysseus, versed in wiles; they from the ships, At Nestor's bidding, had come forth to spy The Trojans' purpose ; now, upon the sand, Strewn with the slain, they crouched, while Dolon passed ; Then, when his path had measured such a space, As two stout mules, straining a deep-plunged plough May outstrip oxen in a furrow's length, Sprang in pursuit. And Dolon fled; but they,

As wary hounds that chase a fleet-foot hare,

Follow untiring, nor does bush, nor ditch, Foil them, nor mazy threaclinge of the wood ; So they, untiring, chased their fleet-foot prey, Checking, with hunters' skill, his backward path.

And now they neared the ships, and Diomede Was strengthened by Athene, lest some Greek, Loitering without the trench, should snatch his prize ; And stretched his hand, and grasped his caitiff foe, And, after short stern question, and return Of traitorous answer, and relentless scoff At proffered ransom and at piteous prayer, Shore, with one stroke, e'en as he spake, his head From off his shoulders, as a woodman shears An undergrowth that twines about his feet.

And Dolon fell, as a snake falls, that lies Coiled on a wayside bank, and rears its head, Hissing, and some chance traveller, passing by, Strikes with his staff, and sunders, and the coils Straightway are loosened, and the thing lies dead.

So Dolon's limbs were loosened, and the life Fled from him, and his slayers went their way. 0. OGLII.