Page:Sophocles - Seven Plays, 1900.djvu/289

1330–1368]

While the same Sun-god rears him from the cast

And droops to west again, till thou be come

Of thine own willing mind to Troia’s plain,

Where our physicians, sons of Phoebus’ child,

Shall soothe thee from thy sore, and thou with me

And with this bow shalt take Troy’s citadel.

How do I know this? I will tell thee straight.

We have a Trojan captive, Helenus,

Both prince and prophet, who hath clearly told

This must be so; yea, and ere harvest-time

This year, great Troy must fall; else if his words

Be falsified, who will may slay the seer.

Now, since thou know’st of this, yield thy consent;

For glorious is the gain, being singled forth

From all the Greeks as noblest, first to come

To healing hands, and then to win renown

Unrivalled, vanquishing all-tearful Troy.

. Oh how I hate my life! Why must it keep

This breathing form from sinking to the shades?

How can I prove a rebel to his mind

Who thus exhorts me with affectionate heart?

And yet, oh misery! must I give way?

Then how could I endure the light of heaven?

With whom could I exchange a word? Ay me!

Eyes that have seen each act of my sad life,

How could ye bear it, to behold the sons

Of Atreus, my destroyers, comrades now

And friends! Laërtes’ wicked son, my friend!

And less I feel the grief of former wrong

Than shudder with expectance of fresh harm

They yet may work on me. For when the mind

Hath once been mother of an evil brood,

It nurses nought but evils. Yea, at thee

I marvel. Thou should’st ne’er return to Troy,

Nor suffer me to go, when thou remember’st

What insult they have done thee, ravishing

Thy father’s rights from thee. And wilt thou then

Sail to befriend them, pressing me in aid?

Nay, do not, son; but. even as thou hast sworn,

Convey me home, and thou, in Scyros dwelling,