Page:Sophocles - Seven Plays, 1900.djvu/287

1263–1294]

. What noise again is troubling my poor cave?

Why do ye summon me? What crave ye, sirs?

Ha! ’tis some knavery. Are ye come to add

Some monster evil to my mountainous woe?

. Fear not, but hearken to what now I speak.

. I needs must fear thee, whose fair words erewhile

Brought me to bitter fortune.

. May not men

Repent and change?

. Such wast thou in thy talk,

When thou didst rob me of my bow,—so bright

Without, so black within.

. Ah, but not now,

Assure thee! Only let me hear thy will,

Is ’t constant to remain here and endure,

Or to make voyage with us?

. Stop, speak no more!

Idle and vain will all thine utterance be.

. Thou art so resolved?

. More firmly than I say.

. I would I might have brought thee to my mind,

But since my words are out of tune, I have done.

. Thou wert best. No word of thine can touch my soul

Or win me to thy love, who by deceit

Hast reft my life away. And then thou com’st

To school me,—of noblest father, basest son!

Perish, the Atridae first of all, and then

Laërtes’ child, and thou!

. Curse me no more,

But take this hallowed weapon from my hand.

. What words are these? Am I again deceived?

. No, by the holiest name of Zeus on high!

. O voice of gladness, if thy speech be true!

. The deed shall prove it. Only reach thy hand,

And be again sole master of thy bow.

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. But I make protest, in the sight of Heaven,

For Atreus’ sons, and all the Achaean host.