Page:Atalanta in Calydon - a tragedy (IA atalantaincalydo00swinrich).pdf/97

 Refresh again; much costlier than fine gold, And more than many lives of wandering men.

O queen, thou hast yet with thee love-worthy things, Thine husband, and the great strength of thy son.

Who shall get brothers for me while I live? Who bear them? who bring forth in lieu of these? Are not our fathers and our brethren one, And no man like them? are not mine here slain? Have we not hung together, he and I, Flowerwise feeding as the feeding bees, With mother-milk for honey? and this man too, Dead, with my son’s spear thrust between his sides, Hath he not seen us, later born than he, Laugh with lips filled, and laughed again for love? There were no sons then in the world, nor spears, Nor deadly births of women; but the gods Allowed us, and our days were clear of these. I would I had died unwedded, and brought forth No swords to vex the world; for these that spake Sweet words long since and loved me will not speak Nor love nor look upon me; and all my life