Page:Four Plays of Aeschylus (Cookson).djvu/170

158 Who would have turned this kingdom upside down,

Had not a God from heaven braced yonder arm.

Outlawed in death is he, with the same ban

Wherewith the Gods attached him, when he led

An army hither to possess the land.

Therefore it seemeth good that birds of the air

Shall give him burial; and, in dishonour,

He shall have all the honour he hath earned:—

No following of slaves to build his tomb;

No keening note of ceremonial woe;

His own kin shall deny him obsequies.

This touching him is formally resolved

By the good lords that govern Cadmus Town.

Tell your good lords that I will bury him

If none will help me. If it be dangerous

To bury mine own brother, I am ready!

Shame have I none for this rebellion!

A mighty yearning draws me; that great bond

Which binds us, sprung from the same parent's loins,

And makes us joint-heirs of their misery.

Therefore, my soul, make thou his griefs thine own,

Though he can neither hear nor answer thee,

And be a sister to the slumbering dead!

This body never hollow-bellied wolf

Shall tear and rend ! So let no man 'resolve it'!

For I will scoop for him a shallow grave,

Ay, with these woman's hands! I'll fold my robe

And carry him in my lap, and cover him!

Let no 'good lords' 'resolve it' otherwise!

Courage! For what I will I'll find a way!