Page:The Plays of Euripides Vol. 1- Edward P. Coleridge (1910).djvu/175

Rh. I praise thee for thy loyalty to thy wife.

. Come death! if ever I betray her, dead though she be.

. Well, take this maiden to the shelter of thy noble house.

. Spare me, I entreat thee by Zeus, thy sire.

. Be sure, if thou refuse, 'twill be a sad mistake.

. If I comply, remorse will gnaw my heart.

. Yield; for in god's good time maybe thou wilt give me thanks.

. Ah! would thou hadst never won her in the games!

. Yet thou too sharest in my victory.

. True; still let this maiden go away.

. Go she shall, if go she must; but first see if this is needful.

. I needs must, else wilt thou be wroth with me.

. I have a reason good to press the matter thus.

. Have thy way then. Yet know well thy deed I disapprove.

. A day will come that thou wilt praise me; only yield.

. (to his servants). Take her in, if I needs must give her welcome in my house.

. To thy servants will I not hand her over.

. Conduct her then thyself within, if so thou thinkest good.

. Nay, but into thy hands shall mine consign her.

. I will not touch her, though she is free to go within my halls.

. To thy hand, and thine alone I her entrust.

. Prince, against my will thou dost constrain me to this deed.

. Boldly stretch out thy hand and touch the stranger maid.