Page:Sophocles - Seven Plays, 1900.djvu/216

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. Queen Dêanira, mine shall be the tongue

To free thee first from fear. Alcmena’s child

Is living, be assured, and triumphing,

And bringing to our Gods the fruits of war.

. What mean’st thou, aged sir, by what thou sayest?

. That soon thy husband, envied all around,

Will come, distinguished with victorious might.

. What citizen or stranger told thee this?

. Your herald Lichas, where the oxen graze

The summer meadow, cries this to a crowd.

I, hearing, flew off hither, that being first

To bring thee word thereof, I might be sure

To win reward and gratitude from thee.

. And how is he not here, if all be well?

. Crossed by no light impediment, my Queen.

For all the Maliac people, gathering round,

Throng him with question, that he cannot move.

But he must still the travail of each soul,

And none will be dismissed unsatisfied.

Such willing audience he unwillingly

Harangues, but soon himself will come in sight.

. O Zeus! who rulest Oeta’s virgin wold,

At last, though late, thou hast vouchsafed us joy.

Lift up your voices, O my women! ye

Within the halls, and ye beyond the gate!

For now we reap the gladness of a ray,

That dawns unhoped for in this rumour’s sound.

With a shout by the hearth let the palace-roof ring

From those that are dreaming of bridal; and ye,

Young men, let your voices in harmony sing

To the God of the quiver, the Lord of the free!

And the Paean withal from the maiden band

To Artemis, huntress of many a land,

Let it rise o’er the glad roof-tree,