Page:Tragedies of Euripides (Way 1894) v1.djvu/103

Rh Have gotten ill repute of indolence.

For justice sits not in the eyes of man,

Who, ere he hath discerned his neighbour's heart,

Hates him at sight, albeit nowise wronged.

The sojourner must learn the city's wont;

Nor praise I citizens-born, law to themselves,

Mannerless churls, which flout their fellow-folk.

But me—unlooked-for fell this blow on me,

And brake mine heart. Undone I am; have lost

All grace of life, and long to die, my friends.

For he that was mine all,—thou know'st it well,—

My lord, of all men basest hath become.

Surely, of creatures that have life and wit,

We women are of all things wretchedest,

Who, first, must needs, as buys the highest bidder,

Thus buy a husband, and our body's master

So win—for deeper depth of ill is this.

Nay, risk is dire herein,—or shall we gain

An evil lord or good? For change is shame

To woman, nor may she renounce her spouse.

And, coming to new customs, habits new,

Seer need she be, to know the thing unlearnt,

What manner of man her couch's mate shall be.

But if we learn our lesson, if our lord

Dwell with us, plunging not against the yoke,

Happy our lot: if not—no help but death.

For the man, when at home they fret his soul,

Goes forth, and stays his loathing heart's disgust,

Unto a friend or age-mate turning him.

We have but one, one heart to seek for comfort.

But we, say they, live an unperilled life