Page:Sophocles - Seven Plays, 1900.djvu/221

349–384]

. What? Tell me thy full meaning clearly forth.

That thou hast uttered is all mystery.

. I heard this herald say, while many thronged

To hearken, that this maiden was the cause,

Why lofty-towered Oechalia and her lord

Fell before Heracles, whom Love alone

Of heavenly powers had warmed to this emprise,

And not the Lydian thraldom or the tasks

Of rigorous Omphalè, nor that wild fate

Of rock-thrown Iphitus. Now he thrusts aside

The Love-god, contradicting his first tale.

When he that was her sire could not be brought

To yield the maid for Heracles to hold

In love unrecognized, he framed erelong

A feud about some trifle, and set forth

In arms against this damsel’s fatherland

(Where Eurytus, the herald said, was king)

And slew the chief her father; yea, and sacked

Their city. Now returning, as you see,

He sends her hither to his halls, no slave,

Nor unregarded, lady,—dream not so!

Since all his heart is kindled with desire.

I, O my Queen! thought meet to show thee all

The tale I chanced to gather from his mouth,

Which many heard as well as I, i’ the midst

Of Trachis’ market-place, and can confirm

My witness. I am pained if my plain speech

Sound harshly, but the honest truth I tell.

. Ah me! Where am I? Whither am I fallen?

What hidden woe have I unwarily

Taken beneath my roof? O misery!

Was she unknown, as he that brought her sware?

. Nay, most distinguished both in birth and mien;

Called in her day of freedom Iolè,

Eurytus’ daughter,—of whose parentage,

Forsooth as ignorant, he ne’er would speak.

. I curse not all the wicked, but the man

Whose secret practices deform his life.