Page:The poetical works of Matthew Arnold, 1897.djvu/405

Rh Her son, heart-stricken, eyed her.

The Gods had pity, made them Stars.

Stars now they sparkle

In the northern Heaven—

The guard Arcturus,

The guard-watch'd Bear.

So, o'er thee and thy child,

Some God, Merope, now,

In dangerous hour, stretches his hand.

So, like a star, dawns thy son,

Radiant with fortune and joy.

POLYPHONTES.

O Merope, the trouble on thy face

Tells me enough thou know'st the news which all

Messenia speaks! the prince, thy son, is dead.

Not from my lips should consolation fall;

To offer that, I come not; but to urge,

Even after news of this sad death, our league.

Yes, once again I come; I will not take

This morning's angry answer for thy last.

To the Messenian kingdom thou and I

Are the sole claimants left; what cause of strife

Lay in thy son is buried in his grave.

Most honorably I meant, I call the Gods

To witness, offering him return and power;

Yet, had he lived, suspicion, jealousy,

Inevitably had surged up, perhaps,

'Twixt thee and me—suspicion, that I nursed

Some ill design against him; jealousy,

That he enjoy'd but part, being heir to all.

And he himself, with the impetuous heart