Page:Tragedies of Euripides (Way 1894) v1.djvu/111

Rh My life shall be sunlit with glory; for woman the old-time story

Is ended, the slanders hoary no more shall as chains be upon her.

And the strains of the singers of old generations for shame shall falter,

Which sang evermore of the treason of woman, her faithlessness ever.

Alas, that our lips are not touched with the fire of song from the altar

Of Phœbus, the Harper-king, of the inspiration-giver!

Else had I lifted my voice in challenge of song high-ringing

Unto men: for the roll of the ages shall find for the poet-sages

Proud woman-themes for their pages, heroines worthy their singing.

But thou from the ancient home didst sail over leagues of foam,

On-sped by a frenzied heart, and the sea-gates sawest dispart,

The Twin Rocks. Now, in the land

Of the stranger, thy doom is to waken

To a widowed couch, and forsaken

Of thy lord, and woe-overtaken,

To be cast forth shamed and banned.

Disannulled is the spell of the oath: no shame for the broken troth

In Hellas the wide doth remain, but heavenward its flight hath it ta'en.