kid which they slay for sacrifice,
putting a bridle upon her lips, that she should not cry aloud. Then she
let fall to the earth her saffron veil, being fair to see as a very
lovely picture, and smote all that stood by with a look exceeding
piteous: yea, and would fain have spoken to them, for often had they
heard her voice when she sang in the guest-hall of her father. But of
the end what need to speak? Who knoweth it not? For indeed the counsels
of Calchas were fulfilled."

While they talked these things one to another the Queen Clytaemnestra
came forth from the palace, and they asked her, "Hast thou heard good
news, O Queen, that thou biddest them burn incense on the altars?"

"Good news, indeed," she said, "for the Greeks have taken the great city
of Troy."

And when they doubted if this could be so, and would know when the thing
had happened, and how she had heard it so speedily, she set the matter
forth to them, as the king had ordered it. "For first," she said, "they
made a great fire on Mount Ida, which is over Troy; and from Ida the
light passed to the island of Lemnos, and from Lemnos to the mountain of
Athos. But Athos sent it on southward across the sea, on a path of gold
like the sunshine, even to Makistus in Euboea, and Makistus to
Messapius, and Messapius, kindling a great pile of heath, sent it,
bright as is the moon, across the plain of the Asopus to the cliffs of
Cithaeron. And from Cithaeron it travelled, brighter than before, by the
lake Gorgopis to the hill of AEgiplanctus, which looketh down upon the
Saronic gulf, and hence to Arachneues, which is hard by the city. Thus
hath the King sent the tidings to me."

"Tell us more," said the old man, "for we can scarcely believe this
thing."

"Of a truth," said the Queen, "this day the Greeks possess the city of
Troy, wherein, I trow, are many things which ill agree. For women are
making lamentation for husbands and brothers slain with the sword, while
the conquerors feast and live softly, being quit of hunger and cold and
watchings. Only let them do honour to the gods of the city, nor lay
hands greedy of gain on that which is holy. So shall they have a safe
return. But if they anger the Gods, haply there shall come upon them the
vengeance of them that are slain."

Then the Queen departed, and the old men spake again among themselves.
"Now are the sinners, the men of Troy, caught in the net of destruction!
Long since did Zeus bend the bow and make