Page:Tragedies of Euripides (Way 1896) v2.djvu/260

204 And thou slewest the chieftain. O Tyndareus' daughter,

That captained such heroes, so godlike and proud!

'Twas thy bridal that slew him, O thou false-hearted!

Therefore the Dwellers in Heaven shall repay

Death unto thee in the on-coming day.

I shall see it—shall see when the life-blood hath started

From thy neck at the kiss of the steel that shall slay!

Enter Old Man.

Where shall the princess, my young mistress, be,

Agamemnon's daughter, nursed erewhile of me?

How steep ascent hath she to this her home

For mine eld-wrinkled feet to attain thereto!

Howbeit to those I love must I drag on

Mine age-bowed spine, must drag my tottering knees.

Daughter,—for now I see thee at thy door,—

Lo, I am come: I bring thee from my flocks

A suckling lamb, yea, taken from the ewe,

Garlands, and cheeses from the presses drawn,

And this old treasure-drop of the Wine-god's boon,

Rich-odoured—scant store; yet the weaker draught

Is turned to nectar, blent with a cup of this.

Let one bear these unto thy guests within;

For with this tattered vesture am I fain

To wipe away the tears that dim mine eyes.

Whence to thine eyes, grey sire, this sorrow-rain?

Have mine ills wakened memories long asleep?

Or for Orestes' exile groanest thou,

And for my sire, whom in thine arms of old

Thou fosteredst?—all in vain for thee and thine!