The spear's point, and the burden'd head to wag

Before the stricken body felt the stroke,

Or the strong knees grew lax, or the heart broke.

Breathless they waited; then the failing man

Stiffened anew his neck, and changed and wan

Looked for the last time in the face of day,

And seemed to dare the Gods such might to slay

As this, the sanguine splendid thing he was,

Withal now gray of face and pinched. Alas,

For pride of life! Now he had heard his knell.

His spirit passed, and crashing down he fell,

Mighty Achilles, and struck the earth, and lay

A huddled mass, a bulk of bronze and clay

[11]

Bestuck with gilt and glitter, like a toy.

There dropt a forest hush on watching Troy,

Upon the plain and watching ranks of men;

And from a tower some woman keened him then

With long thin cry that wavered in the air—

As once before one wailed her Hector there.

 Prev. P 15/259 next