Page:Tragedies of Euripides (Way 1894) v1.djvu/142

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Now what hath happed that calleth for such flight?

Dead is the princess even now, and dead

Kreon her father, by thy poison-drugs.

A glorious tale thou tellest: thou henceforth

Art of my benefactors and my friends.

What say'st?—Of sound mind art thou, and not mad,

Who, hearing of the havoc of the hearth

Of kings, art glad, and hast no fear for this?

O yea; I too with words of controversy

Could answer thee:—yet be not hasty, friend,

But tell how died they: thou shouldst gladden me

Doubly, if these most horribly have perished.

When, with their father, came thy children twain,

And passed into the halls for marriage decked,

Glad were we thralls who sorrowed for thy woes.

And straightway buzzed from ear to ear the tale

Of truce to old feuds 'twixt thy lord and thee.

The hand one kisseth, one the golden head

Of those thy sons: myself by joy on-drawn

Followed thy children to the women's bowers.

Now she which had our worship in thy stead,