Canto II.]
Orion.
111
The sunny vines. Tumult now choaked the city
With adverse crowds, and deafened it with cries
Of slayers, and of those who fled or fell.
The giants led the slaughter, oft commencing
Pillage, then turning yet again to slay,
Having no plan. They paused but to blaspheme
The Gods, like giants doomed to die. Rich spoil
Was found, seized, left—and trampled into mire
By feet that onward sprang for other spoil,
Or to tear down, wrench, overthrow, destroy;
Till thus Rhexergon rendered up his life.
With adverse crowds, and deafened it with cries
Of slayers, and of those who fled or fell.
The giants led the slaughter, oft commencing
Pillage, then turning yet again to slay,
Having no plan. They paused but to blaspheme
The Gods, like giants doomed to die. Rich spoil
Was found, seized, left—and trampled into mire
By feet that onward sprang for other spoil,
Or to tear down, wrench, overthrow, destroy;
Till thus Rhexergon rendered up his life.
All the chief rulers, priests, and sages old,
And heroes most renowned, Rhexergon vowed
Within the temple of Zeus to congregate;
Wall up each means of egress, and from a gap
Made in the roof, pour down a rocky hail
From broken fanes, cliff, quarry and sea-beach,
Upon their heads; nor cease the rattling shower
Until the temple was filled up with stones.
To make the gap, he with his club advanced,
Where central, 'neath the roof, a pillar rose,
Which was its main support. Blow upon blow
And heroes most renowned, Rhexergon vowed
Within the temple of Zeus to congregate;
Wall up each means of egress, and from a gap
Made in the roof, pour down a rocky hail
From broken fanes, cliff, quarry and sea-beach,
Upon their heads; nor cease the rattling shower
Until the temple was filled up with stones.
To make the gap, he with his club advanced,
Where central, 'neath the roof, a pillar rose,
Which was its main support. Blow upon blow
