Thus Father, Mother, Brethren, all is gone,
But they feem all alive in you alone.
To gain you, those Endearments I have fold,
And like the Purchase- if the Title hold.
Have pity then, here in this Tower abide,
And round the Walls and Works your Troops divide.
But now the Greeks, by both their Generals led,
Ajax, Idomeneus, Diomede,
With all their most experienc'd Chiefs, and brave,
Three fierce Attacks upon the Out-works gave;
Some God their Courage to this pitch did raife,
Or this is one of Troy's unlucky Days.
Hector reply'd, This you have faid and more, I have revolv'd in ferious Thoughts before, But I not half fo much thofe Grecians fear,
As Carpet Knights, State Dames, and Flatterers
For they, if ever I dec'ine the Fight,
Mifcall wife Conduct Cowardise and Flight;
I must add fomething to our ancient Fame.
Embarqu'd in Ilium's Caufe, I cannot fly,
Will Conquer with it, or must for it die :
But ftill fome boding Genius does portend
Toils an unfuccessful end,
For bow can Man with heavenly Powers contend?
The Day advances with the swiftesi pate,
Which Troy, and all her Glories, shall deface,
Which A fia's facred Empire fhall confound,
And thefe proud Towers lay level with the ground:
But all compar'd with you does scarce appear,
When I prefage your cafe, I learn to fear:
When you by fome proud Conqu'ror fhall b led
Amournful Captive to a Mafter's Bed.
Perhaps fome haughty Dame your hands shall doom,
To Weave Troy's Downfal, in a Grecian Loom.
Or lower yet, you may be forc'd to bring
Water to Argos, from Hiperia's Spring;
And as you measure out the tedious way,
Some one fball, pointing to his Neighbour, fay,
See to what Fortune Hector's Wife is brought,
That famous General, that for Ilium fought.
This will renew your Sorrows without end,
Depriv'd in fuch a Day, of fuch a Friend.
But this is Fancy, or before it I
Low in the Duft will with my Country lie.
Then to his Infant he his Arms addreft, The Child clung, crying, to his Nurse's Breast, Scar'd at the burnish'd Arms, and threat'ning Creft.
This made them fimile, whilft Hector doth unbrace
His fhining Helmet, and difclos'd his Face: Then dancing the pleas'd Infant in the Air, Kifs'd him,and to the Gods conceiv'd this Pray`r:
Jove, and you Heavenly Powers, whoever hear
Hector's Request with a Propitious Ear,
Grant, this my Child in Honour and Renown
May equal me, wear, and deferve the Crown:
And when from fome great Action he shall come
Laden with Hoftile Spoils in Triumph home,
May Trojans fay, Hector great things hath done,
But is furpafs'd by his Illuftrious Son.
This will rejoyce his tender Mother's Heart,
And fenfe of Joy to my pale Ghost impart.
Then in the Mother's Arms he puts the Child,
With troubl'd Joy, in flowing Tears the fmild.
Beauty and Grief fhew'd all their Pomp and
Pride,
Whilft thofe foft Paffions did her Looks divide.
This Scene even Hector's Courage melted down,
But foon recovering, with a Lover's Frown:
Madam (fays he) these Fancies put away, fatal Day.
I cannot Die before my
Heaven, when we fi ft take in our vital Breath,
Decrees the way, and moment of our Death.
Women should fill their Heads with Womens Cares,
And leave to Men (unqueftion'd) Mens affairs.
ATruncheon futes not with a Ladies Hand,
War is my Province that in chief Command.
The Beauteous Princefs filently withdrew, Turns oft, and with fad, wishing Eyes, does her Lord's Steps pursue,
Penfive to her Apartment fhe returns,
And with Prophetick Tears approaching Evils
Then tells all to her Maids, officious they
His Funeral Rites to living Hector pay,
Whilft forth he rushes through the * Scaan Gate, Does his own part, and leaves the reft to Fate.
The Left Gate, accounted Ominous.
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