Page:Masterpieces of Greek Literature (1902).djvu/268

238 238 EURIPIDES

Wrote itself down upon : nor remedy

Which Phoibos gave to the Asklepiadai ; ^

Cutting the roots of many a virtuous herb mo

To solace overburdened mortals. None !

Of this sole goddess, never may we go

To altar nor to image : sacrifice

She hears not. All to pray for is — 'Approach !

But, oh, no harder on me, awful one, nis

Than heretofore ! Let life endure thee still !

For, whatsoe'er Zeus' nod decree, that same

In concert with thee hath accomplishment.

Iron, the very stuff o' the Chaluboi,^

Thou, by sheer strength, dost conquer and subdue ; 1720

Nor, of that harsh abrupt resolve of thine.

Any relenting is there ! '

" Ο my king ! Thee also, in the shackles of those hands, Not to be shunned, the Goddess grasped ! Yet, bear ! Since never wilt thou lead from underground 1725

The dead ones, wail thy worst ! If mortals die, — The very children of immortals, too, Dropped 'mid our darkness, these decay as sure ! Dear indeed was she while among us : dear, Now she is dead, must she forever be : 1730

Thy portion was to clasp, within thy couch, The noblest of all women as a wife. Nor be the tomb of her supposed some heap That hides mortality : but like the Gods Honored, a veneration to a world 1735

Of wanderers ! Oft the wanderer, struck thereby, Who else had sailed past in his merchant-ship, Ay, he shall leave ship, land, long wind his way

^ Sons, that is, followers, of Aesculapius, the god of healing. 2 See Prometheus, page 117, line 834.