Page:Tragedies of Euripides (Way 1898) v3.djvu/151

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Greek is it still to honour kindred blood.

Yea, and to wish not to o'erride the laws.

Fate's victims are Fate's thralls in wise men's eyes.

Hold thou by that: not I will hold thereby.

Thy rage with grey hairs joined makes not for wisdom.

Debate of wisdom—what is that to him?

If right and wrong be manifest to all,

What man was ever more unwise than this,

He who on justice never turned an eye,

Nor to the common law of Greeks appealed?

When Agamemnon yielded up the ghost,

His head in sunder by my daughter cleft,—

A deed most foul, which ne'er will I commend,—

He ought to have impleaded her for blood

In lawful vengeance, and cast forth the home,

So from disaster had gained self-control,

Had held by law, and by the fear of God.

But now, he but partakes his mother's curse;