Perfidity

The day that Thetis wedded Peleus, soon

Apollo, rising at the splendid nuptial feast,

acclaimed the newlyweds on their expected blest event,

the offspring that would issue from their union.

Said he, "Subject to sickness he will never be;

and he will have long life".--And this

pleased Thetis greatly, for Apollo was

at home with prophecy, and so his words

to her were certain warrant for the child.

Thus, while Achilles was maturing, with such loveliness

that had become the pride of Thessaly,

the great god's words by Thetis always were recalled.

But then one day some older men brought news,

the story that Achilles had been slain at Troy.

Now Thetis rent her purple robes,

cast down her rings and bracelets to the ground,

and in her deep distress recalled the god's old words

and asked, what was the wise Apollo doing at the time?

Where was the poet who at banquets spoke

so eloquently? Where was he, the prophet, wandering

when they laid low her son in his first prime?

And these old men responded that the god

had come in person down to Troy,

and with the Trojans slain her son.