Page:Tragedies of Euripides (Way 1894) v1.djvu/261

Rh The noble, noble; nor 'neath fortune's stress

Marreth his nature, but is good alway. [sic]

By blood, or nurture, is the difference made?

Sooth, gentle nurture bringeth lessoning

In nobleness; and whoso learns this well

By honour's touchstone knoweth baseness too:—

Ah, unavailing arrows of the mind !

But go thou, to the Argives this proclaim,

That none my daughter touch, but that they keep

The crowd thence: in a war-array untold

Lawless the mob is, and the shipmen's license

Outraveneth flame. 'Tis sin if one sin not.

[Exit Talthybius. But, ancient handmaid, take a vessel thou,

And dip, and of the sea-brine hither bring,

That with the last bath I may wash my child,—

The bride unwedded, maid a maid no more, —

And lay her out—as meet is, how can I?

Yet as I may; for lo, what plight is mine!

Jewels from fellow-captives will I gather

Which dwell my neighbour-thralls these tents within,

If haply any, to our lords unknown,

Hath any stolen treasure of her home.

O stately halls, O home so happy once!

O rich in fair abundance, goodliest offspring,

Priam!—and I, a grey head crowned with sons!

How are we brought to nought, of olden pride

Stripped bare! And lo, we men are puffèd up,