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CHORUS. What speed could be the herald of this news? | |
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| CLYTEMNESTRA. The fire, that from the height of Ida sent | |
| Its streaming light, as from the announcing flame | |
| Torch blazed to torch. First Ida to the steep | |
| Of Lemnos; Athos’ sacred height received | 5 |
| The mighty splendor; from the surging back | |
| Of the Hellespont the vigorous blaze held on | |
| Its smiling way, and like the Orient sun, | |
| Illumes with golden-gleaming rays the head | |
| Of rocky Macetas; nor lingers there, | 10 |
| Nor winks unheedful, but its warning flames | |
| Darts to the streams of Euripus, and gives | |
| Its glittering signal to the guards that hold | |
| Their high watch on Mesapius. These enkindle | |
| The joy-denouncing fires, that spread the blaze | 15 |
| To where Erica hoar its shaggy brow | |
| Waves rudely. Unimpaired the active flame | |
| Bounds o’er the level of Asopus, like | |
| The jocund moon, and on Cithæron’s steep | |
| Wakes a successive flame; the distant watch | 20 |
| Agnize its shine, and raise a brighter fire, | |
| That o’er the lake Gorgopis streaming holds | |
| Its rapid course, and on the mountainous heights | |
| Of Ægiplanctus huge, swift shooting spreads | |
| The lengthened line of light. Thence onward waves | 25 |
| Its fiery tresses, eager to ascend | |
| The crags of Prone, frowning in their pride | |
| O’er the Saronic gulf: it leaps, it mounts | |
| The summit of Arachne, whose high head | |
| Looks down on Argos: to this royal seat | 30 |
| Thence darts the light that from the Idæan fire | |
| Derives its birth. Rightly in order thus | |
| Each to the next consigns the torch that fills | |
| The bright succession, whilst the first in speed | |
| Vies with the last; the promised signal this | 35 |
| Given by my lord to announce the fall of Troy. | |
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