Page:The poetical works of Matthew Arnold, 1897.djvu/341

Rh POLYPHONTES.

Hear me, then, speak; and let this mournful day,

The twentieth anniversary of strife,

Henceforth be honor'd as the date of peace.

Yes, twenty years ago this day beheld

The king Cresphontes, thy great husband, fall;

It needs no yearly offerings at his tomb

To keep alive that memory in my heart—

It lives, and, while I see the light, will live.

For we were kinsmen—more than kinsmen—friends;

Together we had grown, together lived;

Together to this isle of Pelops came

To take the inheritance of Heracles,

Together won this fair Messenian land—

Alas, that, how to rule it, was our broil!

He had his counsel, party, friends—I mine;

He stood by what he wish'd for—I the same;

I smote him, when our wishes clash'd in arms—

He had smit me, had he been swift as I.

But while I smote him, Queen, I honor'd him;

Me, too, had he prevail'd, he had not scorn'd.

Enough of this! Since that, I have maintain'd

The sceptre—not remissly let it fall—

And I am seated on a prosperous throne;

Yet still, for I conceal it not, ferments

In the Messenian people what remains

Of thy dead husband's faction—vigorous once,

Now crush'd but not quite lifeless by his fall.

And these men look to thee, and from thy grief—

Something too studiously, forgive me, shown—

Infer thee their accomplice; and they say

That thou in secret nurturest up thy son,

Him whom thou hiddest when thy husband fell,