Page:Sophocles (Storr 1919) v2.djvu/161

 The hopes I had and those I might have had.

In such a case what room is there, my friends,

For patience, what for piety? In sooth

Those in ill plight are driven to evil ways.

Stay, tell me, is Aegisthus nigh at hand,

While thus thou speakest, or is he from home?

From home, of course! Think you, were he within,

I should thus venture forth? He is now afield.

More freely then may I converse with thee,

If this is so.

It is; ask what thou wilt.

’Tis of thy brother I would question thee.

Comes he, or tarries yet? I fain would know.

He says “I come,” but does not what he says.

A man thinks twice with some great work in hand.

I thought not twice when I delivered him.

Take heart, he is loyal and will not fail his friends.

I trust him, else I had not lived so long.

No more for this time; at the doors I see

Chrysothemis, thy sister, of one sire 149