Page:Tragedies of Euripides (Way 1896) v2.djvu/261

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In vain! Yet could I not endure it so.

I turned, in coming, to his tomb aside,

There kneeling, for its desolation wept,

Poured a drink-offering from the skin I bear

Thy guests, and crowned the tomb with myrtle-sprays.

But—on the grave a black-fleeced ram I saw

New-slain, and blood but short time since outpoured,

And severed locks thereby of golden hair!

I marvelled, daughter, who of men had dared

Draw nigh the tomb: no Argive he, I wot.

Haply thy brother hath in secret come,

And honoured so his father's grave forlorn.

Look on the tress; yea, lay it to thine hair;

Mark if the shorn lock's colour be the same:

For they which share one father's blood shall oft

By many a bodily likeness kinship show.

Not worthy a wise man, ancient, be thy words—

To think mine aweless brother would have come,

Fearing Aegisthus, hither secretly.

Then, how should tress be matched with tress of hair—

That, a young noble's trained in athlete-strife,

This, womanlike comb-sleeked? It cannot be.

Sooth, many shouldst thou find of hair like-hued,

Though of the same blood, ancient, never born.

Nay, but some stranger, pitying his tomb,

Shore it, or some one of this land, by stealth.

Set in his sandal's print thy tread, and mark

If that foot's measure answer, child, to thine.