Page:The poetical works of Matthew Arnold, 1897.djvu/349

Rh POLYPHONTES.

Doubtless thou reckonest on the help of friends.

MEROPE.

Not help of men, although, perhaps, of Gods.

POLYPHONTES.

What Gods? the Gods of concord, civil weal?

MEROPE.

No! the avenging Gods, who punish crime.

POLYPHONTES.

Beware! from thee upbraidings I receive

With pity, nay, with reverence; yet, beware!

I know, I know how hard it is to think

That right, that conscience pointed to a deed,

Where interest seems to have enjoin'd it too.

Most men are led by interest; and the few

Who are not, expiate the general sin,

Involved in one suspicion with the base.

Dizzy the path and perilous the way

Which in a deed like mine a just man treads,

But it is sometimes trodden, oh! believe it.

Yet how canst thou believe it? therefore thou

Hast all impunity. Yet, lest thy friends,

Embolden'd by my lenience, think it fear,

And count on like impunity, and rise,

And have to thank thee for a fall, beware!

To rule this kingdom I intend; with sway

Clement, if may be, but to rule it—there

Expect no wavering, no retreat, no change.

And now I leave thee to these rites, esteem'd

Pious, but impious, surely, if their scope