Page:Tragedies of Euripides (Way 1894) v1.djvu/262

226 One of us for the riches of his house,

And one for honour in the mouths of men!

These things be nought. All vain the heart's devisings,

The vauntings of the tongue! Most blest is he

To whom no ill befalls as days wear on.

(Str.) My doom of disaster was written,

The doom of mine anguish was sealed,

When of Paris the pine-shafts were smitten

Upon Ida, that earthward they reeled,

To ride over ridges surf-whitened

Till the bride-bed of Helen was won,

Woman fairest of all that be lightened

By the gold of the sun.

(Ant.) For battle-toils, yea, desolations

Yet sorer around us close;

And the folly of one is the nation's

Destruction; of alien foes

Cometh ruin by Simois' waters.

So judged is the doom that was given

When on Ida the strife of the Daughters

Of the Blessed was striven,

(Epode) For battle, for murder, for ruin

Of mine halls:—by Eurotas is moan,

Where with tears for their homes' undoing

The maidens Laconian groan,

Where rendeth her tresses hoary

The mother for sons that are dead,

And her cheeks with woe-furrows are gory,

And her fingers are red.