Page:Eumenides (Murray 1925).djvu/60

Rh The judgement fell, in honesty of thought,

Not scorn of thee. From Zeus on high was brought

A shining witness; and the god, who gave

The word to slay, himself was here to save,

Lest this man for obedience to his will

Should perish. And for this ye fain would spill

Your poison? Ah, take thought! Nor on our heads

Rain the strange dew a spirit's anger sheds,

Seed-ravening blight and mildews merciless,

Till all the land lie waste in fruitlessness.

Spare us, and, lo, I promise: here shall be

A home your own, a caverned mystery,

Where alway ye shall sit, enthroned in pride

And shining, by my people glorified.

Woe on you, woe, ye younger gods!

Ye have trampled the great Laws of old

Beneath your chariots! Ye have broke the rods

Of justice, yea and torn them from my hold!

Mine office gone, unhappy and angered sore,

I rage alone. What have I any more

To do? Or be? Shall not mine injury turn

And crush this people? Shall not poison rain

Upon them, even the poison of this pain

Wherewith my heart doth burn?

And up therefrom there shall a lichen creep,

A leafless, childless, blight,

A stain in the earth man-slaying. O just

Throne of Right!

Have ye not suffered deep,

Deep, ye unhappy children of old Night,

Born to be scorned and weep!