Page:Tragedies of Euripides (Way 1898) v3.djvu/236

208 To fight with strangers young and lusty-grown.

So in short time were many mustered there.

Now ceased the stranger's madness-fit: he falls,

Foam spraying o'er his beard. We, marking him

So timely fallen, wrought each man his part,

Hurling with battering stones. His fellow still

Wiped off the foam, and tended still his frame,

And screened it with his cloak's fair-woven folds,

Watching against the ever-hailing blows,

With loving service ministering to his friend.

He came to himself—he leapt from where he lay—

He marked the surge of foes that rolled on him,

And marked the ruin imminent on them,

And groaned: but we ceased not from hurling stones,

Hard pressing them from this side and from that.

Thereat we heard this terrible onset-shout:

"Pylades, we shall die: see to it we die

With honour! Draw thy sword, and follow me."

But when we saw our two foes' brandished blades,

In flight we filled the copses of the cliffs.

Yet, if these fled, would those press on again,

And cast at them; and if they drave those back,

They that first yielded hurled again the stones.

Yet past belief it was—of all those hands,

To smite the Goddess' victims none prevailed.

At last we overbore them,—not by courage,

But, compassing them, smote the swords unwares

Out of their hands with stones. To earth they bowed

Their toil-spent knees. We brought them to the king:

He looked on them, and sent them with all speed

To thee, for sprinkling waters and blood-bowls.

Pray, maiden, that such strangers aye be given

For victims. If thou still destroy such men,