and by others called Percnos, with wings as broad as is the door Skilfully fashioned for the lofty hall Of some rich man, and fastened with a bolt. Such ample wings he spread on either side As townward on the right they saw him fly. They saw and they rejoiced; their hearts grew light Within their bosoms. Then the aged king Hastened to mount the polished car, and drave Through vestibule and echoing porch. The mules, Harnessed to draw the four-wheeled car, went first, Driven by the sage Idaeus; after them, The horses, urged by Priam with the lash Rapidly through the city. All his friends Followed lamenting, as for one who went To meet his death. And now when they had reached The plain descending from the town, the sons And sons-in-law of Priam all returned To Ilium, and the twain proceeded on, Yet not unmarked by all-beholding Jove, Who, moved with pity for the aged man, Turned to his well-beloved son and said:—
“Hermes, who more than any other god Delightest to consort with human kind, And willingly dost listen to their prayers, Haste, guide King Priam to the Grecian fleet, Yet so that none may see him, and no Greek Know of his coming, till he stand before Pelides.” Thus he spake: the messenger Who slew the Argus hearkened and obeyed; And hastily beneath his feet he bound The fair, ambrosial, golden sandals worn To bear him over ocean like the wind, And o’er the boundless land. His wand he took Wherewith he seals in sleep the eyes of men, And opens them at will. With this in hand, The mighty Argus-queller flew, and soon Was at the Troad and the Hellespont. Like to some royal stripling seemed the god, In youth’s first prime, when youth has most of grace. And there the Trojans twain, when they had passed The tomb of Ilus, halted with their mules And horses, that the beasts might drink the stream; For twilight now was creeping o’er the earth. The herald looked, and saw that Mercury Was near, and thus, addressing Priam, said:—
“Be on thy guard, O son of Dardanus, For here is cause for wariness. I see A warrior, and I think he seeks our lives. Now let us urge our steeds and fly, or else Descend and clasp his knees, and sue for grace.”