Page:Tragedies of Euripides (Way 1894) v1.djvu/41

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For his dear one—nay, but his dearest of all

Shall he see on this day lying dead, while her spirit by Lêthê shivereth.

O look!—look yonder, where forth of the hall

She cometh, and he at her side whose life by her life she delivereth.

Cry, Land Pheraian, shrill the keen!

Lift up thy voice to wail thy best

There dying, and thy queenliest

Slow wasting to the Gates Unseen!

Tell me not this, that wedlock brings

To them that wed more bliss than woe.

I look back to the long-ago;

I muse on these unhappiest things.

Lo, here a king—he forfeiteth

The truest heart, the noblest wife:

And what shall be henceforth his life?

A darkened day, a living death.

O Sun, and the day's dear light,

And ye clouds through the wheeling heaven in the race everlasting flying!