Page:Tragedies of Euripides (Way 1894) v1.djvu/102

70 But the dread doom of mortals, the anguish heart-rending—

Never minstrel by music hath breathed on them peace,

Nor by song with his harp-notes in harmony blending;

Albeit of these cometh death's dark ending

Unto many a home that is wrecked of these.

And yet were it surely a boon to bring healing

Of sorrow to mortals with song: but in vain

Mid the fulness of feasting ring voices clear-pealing,

And the banquet itself hath a glamour, concealing

From mortals their doom, flinging spells over pain.

[Exit Nurse.

I have heard it, the sigh-laden cry of the daughter

Of Kolchis, the woe-shrilling anguish of wailing

For the traitor to love who with false vows caught her,

Who in strength of her wrongs chideth Heaven, assailing

The Oath-queen of Zeus, who with cords all-prevailing

Forth haled her, and brought her o'er star-litten water,

Where the brine-mists hover o'er Pontus' Key,

Unto Hellas far over the boundless sea.

[Enter Medea.

Corinthian dames, I have come forth my doors

Lest ye should blame me. Many folk I know

Accounted haughty, some, for proud staid mien,

Some, stranger-shy: and some, that softly go,