FIRST PERIOD
Reading edition
HECTOR AND ANCROMACHE. [11]
[Footnote 11: This and the following poem are, with some alterations, introduced in the play of "The Robbers."]
ANDROMACHE.
Will Hector leave me for the fatal plain, Where, fierce with vengeance for Patroclus slain, Stalks Peleus' ruthless son? Who, when thou glidest amid the dark abodes, To hurl the spear and to revere the Gods, Shall teach shine Orphan One?
HECTOR.
Woman and wife belovèd—cease thy tears; My soul is nerved—the war-clang in my ears! Be mine in life to stand Troy's bulwark, fighting for our hearths—to go, In death, exulting to the streams below, Slain for my fatherland!
ANDROMACHE.
No more I hear thy martial footsteps fall— Thine arms shall hang, dull trophies, on the wall— Fallen the stem of Troy! Thou go'st where slow Cocytus wanders—where Love sinks in Lethe, and the sunless air Is dark to light and joy!
HECTOR.
Sinew and thought—yea, all I feel and think May in the silent sloth of Lethe sink, But my love not! Hark, the wild swarm is at the walls!—I hear! Gird on my sword—beloved one, dry the tear— Lethe for love is not!
AMALIA.
Fair as an angel from his blessed hall— Of every fairest youth the fairest he! Heaven-mild his look, as maybeams when they fall, Or shine reflected from a clear blue sea! His kisses—feelings rife with paradise! Ev'n as two flames, one on the other driven— Ev'n as two harp-tones their melodious sighs Blend in some music that seems born of heaven; So rush'd, mix'd, melted—life with life united! Lips, cheeks burn'd, trembled—soul to soul was won! And earth and heaven seem'd chaos, as delighted Earth—heaven were blent round the belovèd one! Now, he is gone! vainly and wearily Groans the full heart, the yearning sorrow flows— Gone! and all zest of life, in one long sigh, Goes with him where he goes.
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