Page:Tragedies of Euripides (Way 1894) v1.djvu/99

Rh Of the misery-stricken; nor yet is she stilled. Now the tale of her tell,

Grey woman; for moaned through the porch from her chamber the wail of her sighing;

And I cannot, I cannot be glad while the home in affliction is lying,

The house I have loved so well.

Home?—home there is none: it hath vanished away:

For my lord to a bride of the princes is thrall;

And my lady is pining the livelong day

In her bower, and for nought that her friends' lips say

On her heart may the dews of comfort fall.

Would God that the flame of the lightning from heaven descending, descending,

Might burn through mine head!—for in living wherein any more is my gain?

Alas and alas! Would God I might bring to an ending, an ending,

The life that I loathe, and behind me might cast all its burden of pain!

O Zeus, Earth, Light, did ye hear her,

How waileth the woe-laden breath

Of the bride in unhappiest plight?

What yearning for vanished delight,

O passion-distraught, should have might

To cause thee to wish death nearer—

The ending of all things, death?