Page:Tragedies of Euripides (Way 1894) v1.djvu/60

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And now, with the tears from his eyes fast-raining,

Thrown wide are his palace-doors to the guest,

While newly his heart 'neath its burden is straining,

For the wife that hath died in his halls distressed.

For to honour's heights are the high-born lifted,

And the good are with truest wisdom gifted;

And there broods on mine heart bright trust unwaning

That the god-reverer shall yet be blest.

O kindly presence of Pheraian men,

This corpse even now, with all things meet, my servants

Bear on their shoulders to the tomb and pyre.

Wherefore, as custom is, hail ye the dead,

On the last journey as she goeth forth.

Lo, I behold thy sire with aged foot

Advancing, and attendants in their hands

Bear ornaments to deck the dead withal.

[Enter Pheres with Attendants bearing gifts.

I come in thine afflictions sorrowing, son:

A noble wife and virtuous hast thou lost,

None will gainsay: yet these calamities

We needs must bear, how hard to bear soever.

Receive these ornaments, and let her pass

Beneath the earth: well may the corpse be honoured

Of her who for thy life's sake died, my son;

Who made me not unchilded, left me not