Page:Choëphoroe (Murray 1923).djvu/53

Rh

Ah me,

So cometh the last wreck in spite of all!

Curse of this House, thou foe that fear'st no fall,

How dost thou spy my hidden things and mar

Their peace with keen-eyed arrows from afar,

Till all who might have loved me, all, are gone!

And now Orestes; whom I had thought upon

So wisely, walking in free ways, his gait

Unsnarèd in this poison-marsh of hate!

The one last hope, the healing and the prayer

Of this old House, 'twas writ on empty air!

For me, in a great House and favoured thus

By fortune, 'tis by tidings prosperous

I fain were known and welcomed. Pleasantest

Of all ties is the tie of host and guest.

But my heart told me 'twere a faithless thing

To fail a comrade in accomplishing

His charge, when I had pledged both word and hand.

Not for our sorrow shall thy portion stand

The lowlier, nor thyself be less our friend.

Another would have told us; and the end

Is all one. But 'tis time that strangers who

Have spent long hours in travel should have due

Refreshment. Ho, there! Lead him to our broad

Guest-chambers, and these comrades of his road

Who follow. See they find all comfort there