Page:Tragedies of Euripides (Way 1898) v3.djvu/250

222 Strangers, shall do you service, and withal

To me; and thus is fair speed best attained,

If the same end be pleasing unto all.

Wouldst thou, if I would save thee, take for me

To Argos tidings to my kindred there,

And bear a letter, which a captive wrote

Of pity for me, counting not mine hand

His murderer, but that he died by law

Of this land, since the Goddess holds it just?

For I had none from Argos come, to go

Back, saved alive, to Argos, and to bear

My letter to a certain friend of mine.

But thou, if thou art nobly-born, as seems,

And know'st Mycenæ, and the folk I mean,

Receive thy life: accept no base reward,

Deliverance, for a little letter's sake.

But this man, since the state constraineth so,

Torn from thee, be the Goddess' sacrifice.

Well say'st thou, save for one thing, stranger maid:—

That he be slain were heavy on my soul.

I was his pilot to calamity,

He sails with me for mine affliction's sake.

Unjust it were that I, in pleasuring thee,

Should seal his doom, and 'scape myself from ills.

Nay, be it thus,—the letter give to him

To bear to Argos; so art thou content:

But me let who will slay. Most base it is

That one should in misfortune whelm his friends,

Himself escaping. This man is my friend,

Whose life I tender even as mine own.