Page:Tragedies of Euripides (Way 1896) v2.djvu/434

378 In lowliness most fair! I hate

Age, dark with death's on-coming feet:

Deep be it drowned 'neath storm-waves' stress!

Ah, would that ne'er such visitant

Had come, men's homes and towns to haunt,

That yet its wings flew shelterless!

If wisdom, as of sons of earth,

And understanding, dwelt in heaven,

Twice o'er the boon of youth were given,

Seal manifest of manhood's worth

On all true hearts: these from the grave

To the sun's light again should climb,

To run their course a second time;

One life alone the vile should have.

Then, who are evil, who are good,

By such a sign might all men learn,

As shipmen 'twixt the clouds discern

The star-host's marshalled multitude.

But now, no line clear-severing

'Twixt good and bad the Gods have drawn:

Wealth, as the rolling years sweep on,

Is all the burden that they bring.

The Muses shall for me be twined for ever with the Graces:

For evermore my song shall pour that sweetest union's praises.

No life be mine of songless clown,

But, where for singers shines the crown,

Mine old lips still shall hymn renown of Memory's fair creation.