Page:Tragedies of Euripides (Way 1896) v2.djvu/83

Rh

Ah me, the torture looming

O'er me, o'er thee!—the coming,

Mother, of what dread thing?

Down, down to the grave!—from our foemen's towers

Ye came: and for several cause unto slaughter

Ye twain be constrainèd. The sentence is ours

That condemneth thee, woman: this boy my daughter

Hermionê dooms. Utter folly it were

For our foemen's avenging their offspring to spare,

When into our hands they be given to slay,

That fear from our house may be banished for aye.

Oh for that hand I cry on!

Ah husband, to rely on

Thy spear, O Priam's scion!

Ah woe is me! What spell

Find I for doom's undoing?

Pray, at thy lord's knees suing,

Child!

Friend, in mercy ruing

My death, of pardon tell!