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After the fall of Troy, Helen is pursued by Menelaus up the steps of the palace; an old attendant deprecates and intercepts his vengeance.

Menelaus. Out of my way! Off! or my sword may smite thee Heedless of venerable age. And thou Fugitive! stop. Stand, traitress, on that stair

Thou mountest not another, by the gods!

Now take the death thou meritest, the death

Zeus who presides o'er hospitality,
And every other god whom thou hast
left,

And every other who abandons thee
In this accursed city, sends at last.
Turn, vilest of vile slaves! turn, para-

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With wing at either shoulder,
And smile that never left thy mouth
Until the Hours grew colder:

Then somewhat seem'd to whisper near
That thou and I must part;

I doubted it: I felt no fear,
No weight upon the heart:

If aught befell it. Love was by
And roll'd it off again;
So, if there ever was a sigh,
'Twas not a sigh of pain.

I may not call thee back; but thou
Returnest when the hand

Of gentle Sleep waves o'er my brow
His poppy-crested wand;

Then smiling eyes bend over mine,
Then lips once pressed invite;
But sleep hath given a silent sign,
And both, alas! take flight.

1853.

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years

Have we lived door by door: The Fates have laid aside their shears Perhaps for some few more.

I was indocile at an age

When better boys were taught, But thou at length hast made me sage, If I am sage in aught.

Little I know from other men,

Too little they from me,
But thou hast pointed well the pen
That writes these lines to thee.

Thanks for expelling Fear and Hope,
One vile, the other vain;
One's scourge, the other's telescope,
I shall not see again :

Rather what lies before my feet
My notice shall engage-

He who hath braved Youth's dizzy heat
Dreads not the frost of Age.

1853.

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