An eagle, broken-winged and drooping in a cage, he sat within the goat-herd's hut and gloomed upon his lot, and cursed the vital force within that would not let him die.
To fall asleep with all the world within one's grasp and waken empty-handed--that is small bane to one who may spring up again, and by sheer might wrest all his treasures back from Fortune.

But to wake helpless as well as empty-handed, the strength for ever gone from arms that were invincible; to crawl, a poor crushed worm, the mark for all men's pity, where one had thought to win the meed of all men's praise, ah, then to live is agony! Each breath becomes a venomed adder's sting.
Most of all Aldebaran thought of Vesta.

The stroke that marred his comeliness and took his strength had robbed him of all power to win his happiness.

It was written "by the hearth of him who is the bravest she shall keep eternal vigil." As yet he had not risen above the level of his forbears' bravery, only up to it.

Now 'twas impossible to show the world a greater courage, shorn as he was of strength.