Page:Tragedies of Euripides (Way 1898) v3.djvu/175

Rh Shall bring no guilt on wives, make haste to die;

Else must ye live in thraldom to your wives,

And so transgress against all rightfulness.

For now the traitress to my father's couch

Is dead: but if ye shall indeed slay me,

Law is annulled: better men died straightway;

Since for no crime shall wives lack daring now."

They would not hear, though well he spake, meseemed.

That knave prevailed, who to the mob appealed,

Who called on them to slay thy brother and thee.

Hapless Orestes scarce could gain the boon

By stoning not to die. By his own hand

He pledged him to leave life on this same day

With thee. Now from the gathering Pylades

Bringeth him weeping; and his friends attend

Lamenting with strong crying. So he comes

To thee, sight bitter and woeful to behold.

Prepare the sword, or halter for thy neck:

For thou must leave the light. Thy princely birth

Nought hath availed thee, nor the Pythian King

Apollo tripod-throned; nay, ruined thee.

O misery-burdened maiden, how art thou

Speechless, with veiled head bowed unto the earth,

As who shall run her course of moans and wails!

(Str.) Land of Pelasgia, I waken the wailing,

Scoring red furrows with fingers white

In my cheeks, as with blood-streaks I mar them, and hailing