Page:Masterpieces of Greek Literature (1902).djvu/256

226 226 EURIPIDES

" If so be — Why didst tbou hide what destiny was here, When one came that was kindly, as thou say'st ? "

" He never would have willed to cross my door

Had he known aught of my calamities. 88o

And probably to some of you I seem

Unwise enough in doing what I do ;

Such will scarce praise me : but these halls of mine

Know not to drive off and dishonor guests."

And so, the duty done, he turned once more ess

To go and hiisy him about his dead.

As for the sympathizers left to muse.

There was a change, a new light thrown on things.

Contagion from the magnanimity

O' the man whose life lay on his hand so light, 89o

As up he stepped, pursuitig duty still

" Higher and harder^'' as he laughed and said.

Somehow they found no folly noio in the act

They blamed erewhile : Admetos* private grief

Shrank to a someiohat pettier obstacle 895

/' the way o' the world: they saw good days had

been. And good days, peradventure, still might be, Noio that they overlooked the pfresent cloud Heavy upon the palace opposite. And soon the thought took loords and music thus. 900

" Harbor of many a stranger, free to friend.

Ever and always, Ο thou house o' the man

ΛΥβ mourn for 1 Thee, Apollon's very self,

The lyric Puthian, deigned inhabit once,

Become a shepherd here in thy domains,^ 905

^ See page 201, line 5.