Page:The poetical works of Matthew Arnold, 1897.djvu/408

370 POLYPHONTES.

I pity thee, and wish thee calmer mind.

MEROPE.

Pity thyself; none needs compassion more.

POLYPHONTES.

Yet, oh! couldst thou but act as reason bids!

MEROPE.

And in my turn I wish the same for thee.

POLYPHONTES.

All I could do to soothe thee has been tried.

MEROPE.

For that, in this my warning, thou art paid.

POLYPHONTES.

Know'st thou then aught, that thus thou sound'st the alarm?

MEROPE.

Thy crime! that were enough to make one fear.

POLYPHONTES.

My deed is of old date, and long atoned.

MEROPE.

Atoned this very day, perhaps, it is.

POLYPHONTES.

My final victory proves the Gods appeased.