Page:Tragedies of Euripides (Way 1894) v1.djvu/80

52 I blame thee, thus mishandled, yea, I blame thee.

Yet nowise is my will to gall thy grief.

But wherefore hither turning back I come,

This will I tell. Take, guard for me this maid,

Till, leading hitherward the Thracian mares,

I come from slaughter of Bistonia's lord.

But if—not that, for I would fain return,—

I give her then, for service of thine halls.

Prize of hard toil unto mine hands she came:

For certain men I found but now arraying

An athlete-strife, toil-worthy, for all comers,

Whence I have won and bring this victor's meed.

Horses there were for them to take which won

The light foot's triumph; but for hero-strife,

Boxing and wrestling, oxen were the guerdon:

A woman made it richer. Shame it seemed

To hap thereon, and slip this glorious gain.

But, as I said, this woman be thy care:

For no thief's prize, but toil-achieved, I bring her.

Yea, one day thou perchance shalt say 'twas well.

Not flouting thee, nor counting among foes,

My wife's unhappy fate I hid from thee.

But this had been but grief uppiled on grief,

Hadst thou sped hence to be another's guest;

And mine own ills sufficed me to bewail.

But, for the woman—if in any wise

It may be, prince, bid some Thessalian guard her,

I pray thee, who hath suffered not as I.

In Pheræ many a friend and host thou hast.

Awaken not remembrance of my grief.

I could not, seeing her mine halls within,