THE TAKING OF ILIOS 



into the city, and none knew that it was fierce sorrow 



unforgettable that they drew. And gathering flowers 

 from the dewj- river they WTeathed the tresses on 

 the neck of their slayer. The earth torn about the 

 lirazen wheels moaned terribly, and the axles of iron, 

 irrinding in them, groaned with harsh noise. The 

 joining of knit ropes creaked and all the taut coiling 

 chain sent up a fiery smoke." And as they haled, 

 loud rose the din and the vaunting. Groaned shady 

 Ida together ^\-ith her nymph-haunted oaks: the 

 eddying waters of the river Xanthus shrieked, and 

 tlie mouth of Simois rang aloud : and in the heaven 

 the trumpet of Zeus prophesied of the war they 

 drew. But they haled forward ; and the long way 

 Nvaxed heavy, torn with rivers and not like plain 

 lands. And the flashing horse followed them unto 

 the altars dear to Ares, glorying exceedingly ; and 

 Athena set her might thereto, lajing her heavy 

 hands on the newly carven thighs of the horse. So 

 it sped beyond overtaking, and ran on swifter than 

 an arrow, following the Trojans with lightly prancing 

 feet, until it reached the Dardan gates. And for its 

 coming the folding doors were straitened. But 

 Hera set it free once more to run its course, ^vith- 

 (Irawing the doors before it, while from the towers 

 Poseidon with his trident drave back the posts of the 

 opening gates. And the Trojan women throughout 

 the city, some here, some there, brides and maidens 

 unwed *> and mothers experienced of Eileithna* 

 circled about the image with song and dance. 



were ground under the heavj' keel, and round them the dark 

 smoky flame (Xi-yvi's) spurted under the weight." 



* Verg. A. ii. 238 *' pueri circum innuptaeque puellae 

 Sacra canunt funemque manu contingere gaudent." 



* Eileithyia, goddess of birth. 



605 



