Then having headlong rolled the prone-laid valley downpouring,Populous region amid wendeth his gradual way, Sweetest solace of all to the sweltering traveller wayworn,Whenas the heavy heat fissures the fiery fields; Or, as to seamen lost in night of whirlwind a-gloomingGentle of breath there comes fairest and favouring breeze,Pollux anon being prayed, nor less vows offered to Castor:—Such was the aidance to us Manius pleased to afford.He to my narrow domains far wider limits laid open,He too gave me the house, also he gave me the dame,She upon whom both might exert them, partners in love deeds.Thither graceful of gait pacing my goddess white-huedCame and with gleaming foot on the worn sole of the thresholdStood she and prest its slab creakihg her sandals the while;E'enso with love enflamed in olden days to her helpmate,Laodamía the home Protesiléan besought,Sought, but in vain, for ne'er wi' sacrificial blood shedVictims appeased the Lords ruling Celestial seats:Never may I so joy in aught (Rhamnusian Virgin!) That I engage in deed maugrè the will of the Lords.How starved altar can crave for gore in piety poured,Laodamia learnt taught by the loss of her man,Driven perforce to loose the neck of new-wedded help-mate,Whenas a winter had gone, nor other winter had come,Ere in the long dark nights her greeding love was so satedThat she had power to live maugrè a marriage broke off,Which, as the Parcae knew, too soon was fated to happenShould he a soldier sail bound for those llian walls. For that by Helena's rape, the Champion-leaders of ArgivesUnto herself to incite Troy had already begun,Troy (ah, curst be the name) common tomb of Asia and Europe,Troy to sad ashes that turned valour and valorous men!Eke to our brother beloved, destruction ever lamentedBrought she : 0 Brother for aye lost unto wretchedmost me,Oh, to thy wretchedmost brother lost the light of his life-tide,Buried together wi' thee lieth the whole of our house:Perisht along wi' thyself forthright all joys we enjoyèd,Douce joys fed by thy love during the term of our days;Whom now art tombed so far nor 'mid familiar pavestonesNor wi' thine ashes stored near to thy kith and thy kin,But in that Troy obscene, that Troy of ill-omen, entombèdHolds thee, an alien earth-buried in uttermost bourne.Thither in haste so hot ('tis said) from allwhere the Youth-hoodGrecian, farèd in hosts forth of their hearths and their homes,Lest with a stolen punk with fullest of pleasure should ParisFairly at leisure and ease sleep in the pacific bed.Such was the hapless chance, most beautiful Laodamia,Tare fro' thee dearer than life, dearer than spirit itself,Him, that husband, whose love in so mighty a whirlpool of passionWhelmed thee absorbed and plunged deep in its gulfy abyss,E'en as the Grecians tell hard by Phenéus of CylléneDrained was the marish and dried, forming the fattest of soils,Whenas in days long done to delve through marrow of mountains