Page:Sophocles - Seven Plays, 1900.djvu/85

267–302]

Or share with them in one commingled pain?

. The two-fold trouble is more terrible.

. Then comes our torment now the fit is o’er.

. How mean’st thou by that word? I fail to see.

. He in his rage had rapture of delight

And knew not how he grieved us who stood near

And saw the madding tempest ruining him.

But now ’tis over and he breathes anew,

The counterblast of sorrow shakes his soul,

Whilst our affliction vexeth as before,

Have we not double for our single woe?

. I feel thy reasoning move me, and I fear

Some heavenly stroke hath fallen. How else, when the end

Of stormy sickness brings no cheering ray?

. Our state is certain. Dream not but ’tis so.

. How first began the assault of misery?

Tell us the trouble, for we share the pain.

. It toucheth you indeed, and ye shall hear

All from the first. ’Twas midnight, and the lamp

Of eve had died, when, seizing his sharp blade,

He sought on some vain errand to creep forth.

I broke in with my word: ‘Aias, what now?

Why thus uncalled for salliest thou? No voice

Of herald summoned thee. No trumpet blew.

What wouldst thou when the camp is hushed in sleep?’

He with few words well known to women’s ears

Checked me: ‘The silent partner is the best.’

I saw how ’twas and ceased. Forth then he fared

Alone.—What horror passed upon the plain

This night, I know not. But he drags within,

Tied in a throng, bulls, shepherd-dogs, and spoil

Of cattle and sheep. Anon he butchers them,

Felling or piercing, hacking or tearing wide,

Ribs from breast, limb from limb. Others in rage

He seized and bound and tortured, brutes for men.

Last, out he rushed before the doors, and there

Whirled forth wild language to some shadowy form,

Flouting the generals and Laërtes’ son