Page:Choëphoroe (Murray 1923).djvu/71

Rh Unseeing, like some broken charioteer,

By curbless visions borne. And at my heart

A thing of terror knocketh, that will start

Sudden a-song, and she must dance to hear.

But while I am still not mad, I here declare

To all who love me, and confess, that I

Have slain my mother, not unrighteously;

Who with my father's blood hath stained the sod

Of Argos and drawn down the wrath of God.

And the chief spell that wrought me to the deed

Is Loxias, Lord of Pytho, who decreed

His high commandment: if this thing I dare,

He lays on me no sin: if I forbear

I cannot speak his judgment: none can know

The deeps thereof, no arrow from the bow

Out-top it. Therefore here ye see me, how

I go prepared, with wreaths and olive bough,

To kneel in supplication on the floor

Of Loxias, touch the fire that evermore

Men call the undying, and the midmost stone

Of Earth, flying this blood which is mine own.

And how these evil things were wrought, I pray

All men of Argos on an after day

Remember, and bear witness faithfully

When Meneläus comes. And take from me,

Living or dead, a wanderer and outcast

For ever, this one word, my last, my last.

Nay, all is well. Leave no ill omen here,

Nor bind upon thy lips the yoke of fear.

All Argos thou hast freed, and with one sweep

Two serpents' heads hurled reeking to the deep.