Page:Tragedies of Euripides (Way 1894) v1.djvu/9



SEARCHER OF HUMAN HEARTS, TO THEE WAS GIVEN

TO UNSEAL THE FOUNTAINS OF THE SOUL THAT WELL

PITY AND LOVE, IN SYMPATHY TO DWELL

WITH ALL THAT IN LIFE'S AGONIES HAVE STRIVEN:

FETTERS BY MAGIC OF THY MUSIC RIVEN

FROM CAPTIVES DROPPED IN THAT SICILIAN HELL:

THY DEAD LIPS ON THE SPARTAN BREATHED A SPELL

WHENCE BLESSING-INCENSE SOARED TO THAT HIGH HEAVEN

WHERE HE, WHO SANG OF TRIUMPH-CRIMSONED SEAS,

AND THOU, THROUGH WHOM THINGS COMMON TOUCHED THE SPHERES,

TWIN-THRONED, WHILE HAND TO HAND OF BROTHER CLAVE,

SMILED SCORN OF GODS ON ARISTOPHANES,—

A SATYR MOCKING ORPHANED ATHENS' TEARS,—

SAW FROM THE STARS FROGS CROAKING O'ER A GRAVE.

SHE STANDS BETWEEN THE LIVING AND THE DEAD.

THE SMILE HATH SOMEWHAT AWFUL IN THE EYES

WHICH HAVE NOT YET FORGOTTEN MYSTERIES

WHOSE NAMES MAY NEVER BY THE LIPS BE SAID

WHERE LOVE SITS DUMB BESIDE HIS SEALED WELL-HEAD

THREE DAYS, FAR-GAZING O'ER HIS PARADISE,

WAITING THE TOKEN THAT SHALL BID HIM RISE

AND ENTER IN, TO FIND THE BLISS THAT FLED

THREEFOLD REGIVEN, BECAUSE THAT FURTIVE THORN

OUT OF HER HEART IS PLUCKED: HER LOSS IS GAIN,

WHOSE LORD DIED WITH HER, AND NOW STRETCHETH HANDS

WORTHY TO TOUCH HER, BY WHOSE LOVE REBORN

IN RESURRECTION FROM HIS OLD SELF SLAIN,

BETWEEN THE LIVING AND THE DEAD HE STANDS.