Page:Tragedies of Euripides (Way 1896) v2.djvu/281

Rh Crashed. Shuddered all his frame from head to foot,

Convulsed in throes of agony dying hard.

Straightway the thralls beholding sprang to arms,—

A host to fight with two,—but unafraid

Pylades and Orestes, brandishing

Their weapons, faced them: "Not a foe," he cried,

"To Argos, nor my servants, am I come!

I have avenged me on my father's slayer,—

Orestes I, the hapless! Slay me not,

My father's ancient thralls!" They, when they heard

His words, stayed spear: and recognised was he

Of an old servant, long time of the house.

Straightway a wreath upon thy brother's head

They set, with shouts rejoicing. And he comes

To show the head to thee—no Gorgon's this,

But whom thou hat'st, Aegisthus. Blood for blood,

Bitter repayment, to the slain hath come.

Forth to the dance, O beloved, with feet

That rapture is winging!

Bounding from earth, as a fawn's, let them fleet!

Lo, thy brother comes bringing

Victory-garlands more fair than they gain

By Alpheus' flow! As I dance, be thy strain

Of triumph outringing!

O light, O splendour of the Sun-god's steeds,

O Earth, and Night that filled my gaze till now,

Free are mine eyes now: dawn's wings open free!