Page:The poetical works of Matthew Arnold, 1897.djvu/339

Rh O Laias, Laias, let the heart speak here—

Shall I not greet her? shall I not leap forth?

LAIAS.

Not so! thy heart would pay its moment's speech

By silence ever after, for, behold!

The King (I know him, even through many years)

Follows the approaching Queen, who stops, as call'd.

No lingering now! straight to the city I;

Do thou, till for thine entrance to this house

The happy moment comes, lurk here unseen

Behind the shelter of thy father's tomb;

Remove yet further off, if aught comes near.

But, here while harboring, on its margin lay,

Sole offering that thou hast, locks from thy head;

And fill thy leisure with an earnest prayer

To his avenging Shade, and to the Gods

Who under earth watch guilty deeds of men,

To guide our vengeance to a prosperous close.

POLYPHONTES. (To THE CHORUS.)

Set down your pitchers, maidens, and fall back!

Suspend your melancholy rites awhile;

Shortly ye shall resume them with your Queen.—

(To MEROPE.)

I sought thee, Merope; I find thee thus,

As I have ever found thee; bent to keep,

By sad observances and public grief,

A mournful feud alive, which else would die.