Page:Tragedies of Euripides (Way 1894) v1.djvu/163

Rh Honouring with songs the Goddess Artemis.

He knows not Hades' gates wide flung for him, And this day's light the last his eyes shall see. [Exit. Enter Hippolytus and Attendant Huntsmen.

Follow on, follow on, ring out the lay Unto Artemis high enthroned in the sky

Zeus' child, in her keeping who hath us aye.

O Majesty, Daughter of Zeus, dread Queen,

I hail thee, Artemis, now,

O Leto's Daughter, O Zeus's child,

Loveliest far of the Undefiled!

In the Hall, "of the Mighty Father" styled,

The palace of Zeus, mid the glory-sheen

Of gold—there dwellest thou.

O Fairest, to theeward in greeting I call, O fairest Artemis thou of all

The Maidens Divine in Olympus' hall!

For thee this woven garland from a mead

Unsullied have I twined, O Queen, and bring.

There never shepherd dares to feed his flock,

Nor steel of sickle came: only the bee

Roveth the springtide mead undesecrate:

And Reverence watereth it with river-dews.

They which have heritage of self-control

In all things,—not taught, but the pure in heart,—

These there may gather flowers, but none impure.