Page:House of Atreus 2nd ed (1889).djvu/149

Rh

Speak on, strangers: have ye need of aught?

Here is whate'er beseems a house like this—

Warm bath and bed, tired Nature's soft restorer,

And courteous eyes to greet you; and if aught

Of graver import needeth act as well,

That, as man's charge, I to a man will tell.

A Daulian man am I, from Phocis bound;

And as with mine own travel-scrip self-laden

I went toward Argos, parting hitherward

With travelling foot, there did encounter me

One whom I knew not and who knew not me,

But asked my purposed way nor hid his own,

And, as we talked together, told his name—

Strophius of Phocis; then he said, "Good sir,

Since in all case thou art to Argos bound,

Forget not this my message, heed it well,

Tell to his own, Orestes is no more.

And—whatsoe'er his kinsfolk shall resolve,

Whether to bear his dust unto his home,

Or lay him here, in death as erst in life

Exiled for aye, a child of banishment—

Bring me their hest, upon thy backward road;

For now in brazen compass of an urn

His ashes lie, their dues of weeping paid."

So much I heard, and so much tell to thee,

Not knowing if I speak unto his kin

Who rule his home; but well, I deem, it were,

Such news should earliest reach a parent's ear.