Page:Sophocles (Storr 1912) v1.djvu/301



Then woe is me,

If I must lose thee.

Nay, that rests with fate,

Whether I live or die; but for you both

I pray to heaven ye may escape all ill;

For ye are blameless in the eyes of all.

[Exit.

Ills on ills! no pause or rest!

Come they from our sightless guest?

Or haply now we see fulfilled

What fate long time hath willed?

For ne’er have I proved vain

Aught that the heavenly powers ordain.

Time with never sleeping eye

Watches what is writ on high,

Overthrowing now the great,

Raising now from low estate.

Hark! How the thunder rumbles! Zeus defend us!

Children, my children! will no messenger

Go summon hither Theseus my best friend?

And wherefore, father, dost thou summon him?

This winged thunder of the god must bear me

Anon to Hades. Send and tarry not. 279