Page:House of Atreus 2nd ed (1889).djvu/152

116 She hid beneath the glance of fictive grief

Laughter for what is wrought—to her desire

Too well; but ill, ill, ill besets the house,

Brought by the tale these guests have told so clear.

And he, God wot, will gladden all his heart

Hearing this rumour. Woe and well-a-day!

The bitter mingled cup of ancient woes,

Hard to be borne, that here in Atreus' house

Befel, was grievous to mine inmost heart,

But never yet did I endure such pain.

All else I bore with set soul patiently;

But now—alack, alack!—Orestes dear,

The day and night-long travail of my soul!

Whom from his mother's womb, a new-born child,

I clasped and cherished! Many a time and oft

Toilsome and profitless my service was,

When his shrill outcry called me from my couch!

For the young child, before the sense is born,

Hath but a dumb thing's life, must needs be nursed

As its own nature bids. The swaddled thing

Hath nought of speech, whate'er discomfort come—

Hunger or thirst or lower weakling need,—

For the babe's stomach works its own relief.

Which knowing well before, yet oft surprised,

'Twas mine to cleanse the swaddling clothes—poor I

Was nurse to tend and fuller to make white:

Two works in one, two handicrafts, I took

When in mine arms the father laid the boy.

And now he's dead—alack and well-a-day!

Yet must I go to him whose wrongful power

Pollutes this house—fair tidings these to him!

Say then, with what array she bids him come?