Canto I.]
Orion.
51
The conference, for he was very wise,
And ne'er proposed, nor did a thing that failed.
And ne'er proposed, nor did a thing that failed.
Orion's tale is told; Autarces then
For Merope proposed the lots to draw,
Whereat Orion glared,—but speech refrained
When Harpax fiercely on Autarces turned
With loud reproach, since he had sworn to him
Far different purpose; so Orion smiled,
And of Rhexergon and Biastor sought
Aid in his heavy task. They promised this—
When each one, by an arm, Encolyon
Grasped, and reminded of the darkness. "Night
Is the fit time," Orion cried, "to dig
The pitfalls, throw up mounds with bristling stakes
At top, as barriers, and the nets and toils
Fix and prepare, and choose our clubs and spears."
But still Encolyon urged a day's delay,
For dignity of movements thus combined,
If not for need. To Akinetos now
All turned with reverence, waiting the result
Of silent wisdom and of calm profound;
But from these small things he had long withdrawn
His godlike mind, and was again abstract.
For Merope proposed the lots to draw,
Whereat Orion glared,—but speech refrained
When Harpax fiercely on Autarces turned
With loud reproach, since he had sworn to him
Far different purpose; so Orion smiled,
And of Rhexergon and Biastor sought
Aid in his heavy task. They promised this—
When each one, by an arm, Encolyon
Grasped, and reminded of the darkness. "Night
Is the fit time," Orion cried, "to dig
The pitfalls, throw up mounds with bristling stakes
At top, as barriers, and the nets and toils
Fix and prepare, and choose our clubs and spears."
But still Encolyon urged a day's delay,
For dignity of movements thus combined,
If not for need. To Akinetos now
All turned with reverence, waiting the result
Of silent wisdom and of calm profound;
But from these small things he had long withdrawn
His godlike mind, and was again abstract.
