Meleager.

  O sweet new heaven and air without a star,
  Fair day, be fair and welcome, as to men
  With deeds to do and praise to pluck from thee,
  Come forth a child, born with clear sound and light,
  With laughter and swift limbs and prosperous looks;
  That this great hunt with heroes for the hounds
  May leave thee memorable and us well sped.

  Althaea.

  Son, first I praise thy prayer, then bid thee speed;
  But the gods hear men’s hands before their lips,
  And heed beyond all crying and sacrifice
  Light of things done and noise of labouring men. 
  But thou, being armed and perfect for the deed,
  Abide; for like rain-flakes in a wind they grow,
  The men thy fellows, and the choice of the world,
  Bound to root out the tusked plague, and leave
  Thanks and safe days and peace in Calydon.

  Meleager.

  For the whole city and all the low-lying land
  Flames, and the soft air sounds with them that come;
  The gods give all these fruit of all their works.

  Althaea.

  Set thine eye thither and fix thy spirit and say
  Whom there thou knowest; for sharp mixed shadow and wind
  Blown up between the morning and the mist,
  With steam of steeds and flash of bridle or wheel,
  And fire, and parcels of the broken dawn,
  And dust divided by hard light, and spears
  That shine and shift as the edge of wild beasts’ eyes,
  Smite upon mine; so fiery their blind edge
  Burns, and bright points break up and baffle day.

  Meleager.

  The first, for many I know not, being far off,
  Peleus the Larissaean, couched with whom
  Sleeps the white sea-bred wife and silver-shod,
  Fair as fled foam, a goddess; and their son
  Most swift and splendid of men’s children born,
  Most like a god, full of the future fame.

  Althaea.

  Who are these shining like one sundered star?

  Meleager.

  Thy sister’s sons, a double flower of men.

  Althaea.

  O sweetest kin to me in all the world,
  O twin-born blood of Leda, gracious heads
  Like kindled lights in untempestuous heaven,
  Fair flower-like stars on the iron foam of fight,
  With what glad heart and kindliness of soul,
  Even to the staining of both eyes with tears
  And kindling of warm eyelids with desire,
  A great way off I greet you, and rejoice
  Seeing you so fair, and moulded like as gods. 
  Far off ye come, and least in years of these,
  But lordliest, but worth love to look upon.

  Meleager.