Scaean gate.(172) Beneath the beech-tree's consecrated shades, The Trojan matrons and the Trojan maids Around him flock'd, all press'd with pious care For husbands, brothers, sons, engaged in war. He bids the train in long procession go, And seek the gods, to avert the impending woe. And now to Priam's stately courts he came, Rais'd on arch'd columns of stupendous frame; O'er these a range of marble structure runs, The rich pavilions of his fifty sons, In fifty chambers lodged: and rooms of state,(173) Opposed to those, where Priam's daughters sate. Twelve domes for them and their loved spouses shone, Of equal beauty, and of polish'd stone. Hither great Hector pass'd, nor pass'd unseen Of royal Hecuba, his mother-queen. (With her Laodice, whose beauteous face Surpass'd the nymphs of Troy's illustrious race.) Long in a strict embrace she held her son, And press'd his hand, and tender thus begun: "O Hector! say, what great occasion calls My son from fight, when Greece surrounds our walls; Com'st thou to supplicate the almighty power With lifted hands, from Ilion's lofty tower? Stay, till I bring the cup with Bacchus crown'd, In Jove's high name, to sprinkle on the ground, And pay due vows to all the gods around. Then with a plenteous draught refresh thy soul, And draw new spirits from the generous bowl; Spent as thou art with long laborious fight, The brave defender of thy country's right." "Far hence be Bacchus' gifts; (the chief rejoin'd;) Inflaming wine, pernicious to mankind, Unnerves the limbs, and dulls the noble mind. Let chiefs abstain, and spare the sacred juice To sprinkle to the gods, its better use. By me that holy office were profaned; Ill fits it me, with human gore distain'd, To the pure skies these horrid hands to raise, Or offer heaven's great Sire polluted praise. You, with your matrons, go! a spotless train, And burn rich odours in Minerva's fane. The largest ma