Page:Tragedies of Euripides (Way 1894) v1.djvu/284

248 With their blood, and a banquet of wild beasts make me,

Requiting their outrage well

With grimmer revenge?—Woe! where am I borne

Forsaking my fenceless babes to be torn

Of the bacchanals of hell,

Butchered and cast away for the dogs' blood-boultered prey

On a desolate mountain-fell?

Ah, where shall I stand?—whither go?—where rest?

As a ship furls sail that hath havenward pressed,

I would dart into that death-haunted lair,

I would shroud my babes in my linen vest,

I would guard them there!

Wretch! wreaked on thee are ills intolerable:

Foul deeds thou didst, and awful penalty

A God hath laid on thee with heavy hand.

What ho! spear-brandishers, nation arrayed in warrior's weed!

Thracians possessed of the War-god, lords of the gallant steed!

What ho, ye Achaians!—Atreus' seed!

Rescue! Rescue! I raise the cry.

O come, in the name of the Gods draw nigh!

Hears any man?—wherefore delay?—will no man help me nor heed?

Of women undone, destroyed, am I—

The women of Troy's captivity.