And wove a twofold web of brilliant hues,
On which were scattered flowers of rare device;
And she had given her bright-haired maidens charge
To place an ample caldron on the fire, 546
That Hector, coming from the battlefield,
Might find the warm bath ready. Thoughtless one!
She knew not that the blue-eyed archer-queen,[1]
Far from the bath prepared for him, had slain 550
Her husband by the hand of Peleus' son.
She heard the shrieks, the wail upon the tower.
Trembled in every limb, and quickly dropped
The shuttle, saying to her bright-haired maids:
"Come with me, two of you, that I may learn 555
What now has happened. 'T is my mother's voice
That I have heard. My heart leaps to my mouth;
My limbs fail under me. Some deadly harm
Hangs over Priam's sons; far be the hour
When I shall hear of it. And yet I fear 560
Lest that Achilles, having got between
The daring Hector and the city gates.
May drive him to the plain alone, and quell
The desperate valor that was ever his;
For never would he keep the ranks, but ranged 565
Beyond them, and gave way to no man's might."
She spake, and from the royal mansion rushed
Distractedly, and with a beating heart.
Her maids went with her. When she reached the tower
And throng of men, and, standing on the wall, 570
Looked forth, she saw her husband dragged away
Before the city. Toward the Grecian fleet
The swift steeds drew him. Sudden darkness came
Over her eyes, and in a breathless swoon
She sank away and fell. The ornaments 575
- ↑ Pallas Athena (Minerva)
