Page:Tragedies of Euripides (Way 1896) v2.djvu/285

Rh 'Tis character abideth, not possessions:

This, ever-staying, lifteth up the head;

But wealth by vanity gotten, held of fools,

Takes to it wings; as a flower it fadeth soon.

For those thy sins of the flesh—for maid unmeet

To name—I pass them by: too clear the hint!

Thou waxedst wanton, with thy royal halls,

Thy pride of goodlihead! Be mine a spouse

Not girl-faced, but a man in mien and port.

The sons of these to warrior-prowess cleave;

Those, the fair-seeming, but in dances shine.

Perish, O blind to all for which at last,

Felon convict, thou'rt punished, caitiff thou!

Let none dream, though at starting he run well,

That he outrunneth Justice, ere he touch

The very goal and gain the bourn of life.

Dread were his deeds; dread payment hath he made

To thee and this man. Great is Justice' might.

Enough: now must ye bear his corpse within,

And hide in shadow, thralls, that, when she comes,

My mother ere she die see not the dead.

Hold:—turn we now unto another theme.

How, from Mycenæ seest thou rescue come?