 | Hector |  |
SCENE VII.
The Walls.Priam
on the wall.
Haste, haste, ye wardens of the city gate,
Set wide your portals to the flying throng.
[Enter Hector.]
Hec.
O Gods! where lies my way? To enter here!
Honor and shame th'ignoble thought cancel.
No—if I e'er return, let me return
Triumphant from my country's terror slain;
Or, if I perish, let her see me fall
In open battle and in her defence.
Priam.
(from above on the wall)
Ah, stay not, stay not, Hector, guardless there—
Hector, my lov'd, my dearest, bravest son,
Yet shun Achilles, enter yet the town
And spare thyself, enter and save us all—
Shelter thy life, or if a soul so brave
Neglect that thought, O save thy dearer fame!
Pity, while yet I live, these silver hairs!
O miserable me! on the last brink
Of helpless age to stand this spectacle,
And drain the bitter dregs of fortune's cup.
He comes, he comes, with unresisted sway,
Achilles comes, and havoc tracks his course.
[Enter Achilles.]
Ach.
Join battle man to man, and arms to arms.
[Exit Hector.
Wretch! thou hast scaped again, once more thy flight
Has saved thee. But not long it shall avail
If any power assist Achilles' hand.
[Exit.
Priam.
(from above)
O Hector, late thy parents' pride and joy
The boast of nations, and thy country's shield—
To whom she owed her safety and her fame,
Her chief, her hero, and almost her God!
O wretched Trojans, hither turn your steps,
And weeping blood, behold you dismal sight,
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Inglorious from the all-subduing foe.
| Hector | |