“‘O thou! whose glory fills th’ ethereal throne, And all ye deathless powers, protect my son! Grant him, like me, to purchase just renown, To guard the Trojans, to defend the crown, Against his country’s foes the war to wage, And rise the Hector of the future age! So when, triumphant from successful toils, Of heroes slain he bears the reeking spoils, Whole hosts may hail him with deserved acclaim, And say, This chief transcends his father’s fame.’” The grief of the venerable Priam upon learning of the death of his favorite son, Hector, at the hands of Achilles, and his journey to the Grecian camp to beg of Achilles the body of Hector for burial, are portrayed with equal force (Iliad, xxiv.). The Trojan monarch, prostrating himself before the warrior, “Embraced his knees, and bathed his hands in tears; Those direful hands his kisses pressed, imbrued E’en with the best, the dearest of his blood.” In the course of his entreaty, which completely softens Achilles, the suppliant says: “Think of thy father, and this face behold! See him in me, as helpless and as old! Though not so wretched: there he yields to me, The first of men in sovereign misery! Thus forced to kneel, thus grovelling to embrace The scourge and ruin of my realm and race; Suppliant my children’s murderer to implore, And kiss those hands yet reeking with their gore!” * * * * * Virgil gives us a picture similar to that of Hector when bidding farewell to his child. Æneas, having recovered from a dangerous wound, returns to the combat with Turnus, first bestowing his blessing upon his son Ascanius (Æneid, xii.): “Then with a close embrace he strained his son, And, kissing through his helmet, thus begun: ‘My son! from my example learn the war, In camps to suffer, and in fields to dare: But happier chance than mine attend thy care! This day my hand thy tender age shall shield, And crown with honors of the conquered field; Thou, when thy riper years shall send thee forth To toils of war, be mindful of thy worth: Assert thy birthright; and in arms be known For Hector’s nephew, and Æneas’ son.’” Turning from the camp to the sweets of domestic life, we find in the same charming poet (Georg. ii. 523) these lines: “His cares are eased with intervals of bliss: His little children, climbing for a kiss, Welcome their father’s late return at night; His faithful bed is crowned with chaste delight.” * * * * *