Page:Tragedies of Euripides (Way 1896) v2.djvu/77

Rh

Woman, these are but trifles, all unworthy

Of my state royal,—thou say'st it,—and of Greece.

Yet know, when one hath set his heart on aught,

More than to take a Troy is this to him.

I stand my daughter's champion, for I count

No trifle robbery of marriage-right.

Nought else a wife may suffer matcheth this.

Losing her husband, she doth lose her life.

Over my thralls her lord hath claim to rule,

And over his like right have I and mine:

For nought that friends have, if true friends they be,

Is private: held in common is all wealth.

Waiting the absent, if I order not

Mine own things well, weak am I, and not wise.

But I will make thee leave the Goddess' shrine.

For, if thou die, this boy escapeth doom;

But, if thou wilt not die, him will I slay.

One of you twain must needs bid life farewell.

Woe! Dire lot-drawing, bitter choice of life,

Thou giv'st me! If I draw, I am wretched made;

And if I draw not, all unblest I am.

O thou for paltry cause that dost great wrong,

Hearken: why slay me?—for what crime?—what town

Have I betrayed?—have slain what child of thine?—

Have fired what home? Beside my lord I couched

Perforce—and lo, thou wilt slay me, not him,

The culprit; but thou passest by the cause,

And to the after issue hurriest.

Woe for these ills! O hapless fatherland,