Page:Sophocles (Storr 1912) v1.djvu/299



Aye, so he wishes:—but I must not yield.

O woe is me! but say, will any dare,

Hearing his prophecy, to follow thee?

I shall not tell it; a good general

Reports successes and conceals mishaps.

Misguided youth, thy purpose then stands fast!

’Tis so, and stay me not. The road I choose,

Dogged by my sire and his avenging spirit,

Leads me to ruin; but for you may Zeus

Make your path bright if ye fulfil my hest

When dead; in life ye cannot serve me more.

Now let me go, farewell, a long farewell!

Ye ne’er shall see my living face again.

Ah me!

Bewail me not.

Who would not mourn

Thee, brother, hurrying to an open pit!

If I must die, I must.

Nay, hear me plead.

It may not be; forbear. 277