"With him, Achilles' charioteer and squire, Automedon, huge Periphas and all The Scyrian youth rush up, and flaming fire Hurl to the roof, and thunder at the wall.
He in the forefront, tallest of the tall, Poleaxe in hand, unhinging at a stroke The brazen portals, made the doorway fall, And wide-mouthed as a window, through the oak, A panelled plank hewn out, a yawning rent he broke.
LXV.

"Bared stands the inmost palace, and behold, The stately chambers and the courts appear Of Priam and the Trojan Kings of old, And warders at the door with shield and spear.
Moaning and tumult in the house we hear, Wailings of misery, and shouts that smite The golden stars, and women's shrieks of fear, And trembling matrons, hurrying left and right, Cling to and kiss the doors, made frantic by affright.
LXVI.

"Strong as his father, Pyrrhus onward pushed, Nor bars nor warders can his strength sustain.
Down sinks the door, with ceaseless battery crushed.
Force wins a footing, and, the foremost slain, In, like a deluge, pours the Danaan train.
So when the foaming river, uncontrolled, Bursts through its banks and riots on the plain, O'er dyke and dam the gathering deluge rolled, From field to field sweeps on with cattle, flock and fold.
LXVII.

"These eyes saw Pyrrhus, rioting in blood, Saw on the threshold the Atridae twain, Saw where among a hundred daughters, stood Pale Hecuba, saw Priam's life-blood stain The fires his hands had hallowed in the fane.
Those fifty bridal chambers I behold (So fair the promise of a future reign) And spoil-deckt pillars of barbaric gold, A wreck; where fails the flame, its place the Danaans hold.
LXVIII.

"Haply the fate of Priam thou would'st know.
Soon as he saw the captured city fall, The palace-gates burst open, and the foe Dealing wild riot in his inmost hall, Up sprang the old man and, at danger's call, Braced o'er his trembling shoulders in a breath His rusty armour, took his belt withal, And drew the useless falchion from its sheath, And on their thronging spears rushed forth to meet his death.
LXIX.