 | Poetical Works of Robert Bridges excluding the eight dramas
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‘O God-like Achilles, thy father call to remembrance,
How he is halting as I, i' the dark'ning doorway of old age,
And desolately liveth, while all they that dwell about him
Vex him, nor hath he one from their violence to defend him:
Yet but an heareth he aught of thee, thy wellbeing in life,
Then he rejoiceth an' all his days are glad with a good hope
Soon to behold thee again, his son safe home from the warfare.
But most hapless am I, for I had sons numerous and brave
In wide Troy; where be they now? scarce is one o' them left.
They were fifty the day ye arriv'd hither out of Achaia,
Nineteen royally born princes from one mother only,
While the others women of my house had borne me; of all these
Truly the greater part hath Ares in grim battle unstrung.
But he, who was alone the city's lov'd guardian and stay,
Few days since thou slew'st him alas! his country defending,
Hector, for whose sake am I come to the ships of Achaia
His body dear to redeem, offering thee a ransom abundant.
O God-like Achilles, have fear o' the gods, pity him too,
Thy sire also remember, having yet more pity on me,
Who now stoop me beneath what dread deed mortal ever dar'd,
Raising the hand that slew his son pitiably to kiss it.’
| Poetical Works of Robert Bridges excluding the eight dramas
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