Page:Tragedies of Euripides (Way 1896) v2.djvu/417

Rh Base outland upstart, ruleth the New Folk?

Thou shalt not joy in lordship over me,

Nor that which I have gotten by toil of hand

Shalt thou have! Hence with curses whence thou cam'st!

There outrage! Whilst I live, thou ne'er shalt slay

Herakles' sons! Not hidden in earth too deep

For help is he, though he hath left his babes.

Thou, ruin of this land, possessest her;

And he, her saviour, faileth of his due!

Am I a busy meddler then, who aid

Dead friends in plight where friends are needed most?

Ah right hand, how thou yearn'st to grip the spear,

But in thy weakness know'st thy yearning vain!

Else had I smitten thy taunt of bondslave dumb,

And we had ruled with honour this our Thebes

Wherein thou joyest! A city plagued with strife

And evil counsels thinketh not aright;

Else never had she gotten thee for lord.

Fathers, I thank you. Needs must friends be filled

With righteous indignation for friends' wrongs.

Yet for our sake through wrath against your lords

Suffer not scathe. Amphitryon, hearken thou

My counsel, if my words seem good to thee:

I love my sons,—how should I not love whom

I bare and toiled for?—and to die I count

Fearful: yet—yet—against the inevitable