Page:The Dramas of Aeschylus (Swanwick).djvu/138

68 Shall sound no notes of wailing;—no,

But him, with blandishments, shall meet

Iphigenia; by the rapid streams

Of Acheron, his daughter, as beseems,

Facing her father, shall around him throw

Her loving arms, and him with kisses greet.

That taunt still answers taunt we see.

Here to adjudge is hard indeed.

Spoiled be the spoiler; who sheds blood must bleed.

While Zeus surviveth shall this law survive.

Doer must suffer; 'tis the Fates' decree;

Who from the house the fated curse may drive?

The race is welded to calamity.

Ay! now on Truth thou dost alight!

I with the demon of this race—

The Pleisthenid—an oath will plight.

My doom, though grievous, I embrace.

But for the rest, hence let him haste!

Leaving this house, let him another race

Harass with kindred murders. For myself,

When from these halls blood-frenzy I have chased,

Small pittance shall I crave of worldly pelf.

Hail, joyous light of justice-bearing day!

At length I can aver that Gods supernal,