Page:Tragedies of Euripides (Way 1894) v1.djvu/78

50 I have searched all truth with mine eyes;

But nought more strong

Than Fate have I found: there is nought

In the tablets of Thrace,

Wither drugs whereof Orpheus taught,

Nor in all that Apollo brought

To Asklepius' race,

When the herbs of healing he severed, and out of their anguish delivered

The pain-distraught.

There is none other Goddess beside,

To the altars of whom

No man draweth near, nor hath cried

To her image, nor victim hath died,

Averting her doom.

O Goddess, more mighty for ill

Come not upon me

Than in days overpast: for his will

Even Zeus may in no wise fulfil

Unholpen of thee.

Steel is molten as water before thee, but never relenting came o'er thee,

Who art ruthless still.

Thee, friend, hath the Goddess gripped: from her hands never wrestler hath slipped.

Yet be strong to endure: never mourning shall bring our belovèd returning

From the nethergloom up to the light.

Yea, the heroes of Gods begotten,

They fade into darkness, forgotten

In death's chill night.