Page:Tragedies of Euripides (Way 1896) v2.djvu/273

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Grant for our father vengeance upon these!

Father, by foul wrong dweller 'neath the earth,

And thou, Earth, Queen, on whom I lay mine hands,

Help, help us, these thy children best-beloved.

Now come thou, bringing all the dead to aid,

All them whose spears with thee laid Phrygians low,

And all which hate defilers impious!

Hear'st thou, O foully-entreated of my mother?

Our sire hears all, I know:—but time bids forth.

And for this cause I warn thee, die he must,—

If thou, o'ermastered, fall a deadly fall,

I die too; count me then no more alive:

For I with sword twin-edged will pierce mine heart.

Now pass I in, to set in order all,

That, if there come fair tidings touching thee,

The house may shout its joy: but, if thou die,

Far other shall betide. Thus charge I thee.

All know I.

Wherefore must thou play the man.

And ye, girls, beacon-like raise signal-cry