C.). Again we notice the touch of pedantry in the poet.
As for the play, the sombre thread in it is lent by the certainty of
Achilles' early death, the fate which drives him from Deidamie's
arms, and from the sea king's isle to the leagues under the fatal
walls of Ilion. Of comic effect there is plenty, for the sisters of
Deidamie imitate all the acts by which Achilles is likely to betray
himself--grasp the sword among the insidious presents of Odysseus,
when he seizes the spear, and drink each one of them a huge beaker
of wine to the confusion of the Trojans. {1} On a Parisian audience
the imitations of the tone of the Odyssey must have been thrown
away. For example, here is a passage which is as near being Homeric
as French verse can be. Deidamie is speaking in a melancholy mood:
"Heureux les epoux rois assis dans leur maison,
Qui voient tranquillement s'enfuir chaque saison -
L'epoux tenant son sceptre, environne de gloire,
Et l'epouse filant sa quenouille d'ivoire!
Mais le jeune heros que, la glaive e son franc!
Court dans le noir combat, les mains teintes de sang,
Laisse sa femme en pleurs dans sa haute demeure."
With the accustomed pedantry, M. De Banville, in the scene of the
banquet, makes the cup-bearer go round dealing out a little wine,
with which libation is made, and then the feast goes on in proper
Homeric fashion. These overwrought details are forgotten in the
parting scenes, where Deidamie takes what she knows to be her last
farewell of Achilles, and girds him with his sword:
"La lame de l'epee, en sa forme divine
Est pareille e la feuille austere du laurier!"
Let it be noted that each of M.
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