Page:Tragedies of Euripides (Way 1898) v3.djvu/177

Rh That to Tantalus, father of ancient time,

I might shriek with laments wild-ringing;

For of his loins came those sires of our name

Who looked upon that infatuate crime

Wrought when the car-steeds' winged feet chased,

When the four-horsed chariot of Pelops raced

By the strand, and his hand dashed Myrtilus down

Unto hell, in the swell of the sea to drown,

When the race was o'er

Of the wheels that sped

By the white foam-fringe of the surf-lashed shore

Of Geraistum's head.

For a curse heavy-burdened with mourning

Fell on mine house for the deed,

When Maia's son from his fold

Brought the lamb of the fleece of gold,

A portent whence ruin was rolled

Upon Atreus, a king's overturning:

And the sun-car's wingèd speed

From the ghastly strife turned back,

Changing his westering track

Through the heavens unto where, blush-burning,

Rose Dawn with her single steed.

Lo, Zeus to another star-highway bending

The course of the sailing Pleiads seven!

Lo, death after death in succession unending

By the banquet, named of Thyestes, given,

And by Cretan Aeropê's couch of shame

And treason!—the consummation came

Of all, upon me and my father descending

In our house's affliction foredoomed in heaven.