Page:Sophocles - Seven Plays, 1900.djvu/189

871–906]

. Driven by delight, dear sister, I am come,

Reckless of dignity, with headlong speed.

For news I bear of joy and sweet relief

From ills that drew from thee thy ceaseless moan.

. Whence couldst thou hear of succour for my woes,

That close in darkness without hope of dawn?

. Here is Orestes, learn it from my mouth,

As certainly as you now look on me.

. What? Art thou mad, unhappy one, to laugh

Over thine own calamity and mine?

. No, by our father’s hearth, I say not this

In mockery. I tell you he is come.

. Me miserable! Who hath given thine ear

The word that so hath wrought on thy belief?

. Myself am the eyewitness; no one else

Gained my belief, but proofs I clearly saw.

. What sign hath so engrossed thine eye, poor girl?

What sight hath fired thee with this quenchless glow?

. But list to me, I pray thee, that henceforth

Thou mayest account me clear-eyed, or a fool!

. By all means, if it pleasure thee, say on.

. Well, I will tell thee all I saw:—I came

Unto the ancient tomb that holds our sire;

And from the topmost mound I marked a stream

Of milk fresh-flowing, and his resting-place

Ringed round with garlands of all flowers that blow.

I marvelled at the sight, and peered about,

Lest some one might be nearer than we knew.

But finding all was quiet in the spot,

I ventured closer to the tomb, and there,

Hard by the limit, I beheld a curl

Of hair new-shorn, with all the gloss of youth.

And straight it struck my heart, as with a sense

Of something seen, ah me! long, long ago,

And told me that my sight encountered here

The token of Orestes, dearest soul.

Then, clasping it, I did not cry aloud,

But straight mine eyes were filled with tears of joy.