Page:Tragedies of Euripides (Way 1898) v3.djvu/309

 Rh To Sparta came, his vesture flower-bestarred Gleaming with gold, barbaric bravery, Loved Helen, and was loved, stole her and fled To Ida's steadings, when from home afar Menelaus was. Through Hellas frenzy-stung He sped, invoking Tyndareus' ancient oath, Claiming of all their bond to help the wronged. Thereat up sprang the Hellenes spear in hand, Donned mail of fight, and to this narrow gorge Of Aulis came, with galleys and with shields, And many a horse and chariots many arrayed. And me for Menelaus' sake they chose For chief, his brother. Would some other man Might but have won the honour in my stead! Now when the gathered host together came, At Aulis did we tarry weather-bound. Then the seer Kalchas bade in our despair Slay Iphigeneia, her whom I begat, To Artemis who dwelleth in this land ; So should we voyage, and so Phrygia smite; But if we slew her not, it should not be. I, when I heard this, bade Talthybius Dismiss the host with proclamation loud, Since I would never brook to slay my child. Whereat my brother, pleading manifold pleas, To the horror thrust me. In a tablet's folds I wrote, and bade therein my wife to send Her daughter, as to be Achilles' bride, Extolled therein the hero's high repute, Said, with Achaia's host he would not sail Except a bride of our house came to Phthia. Yea, this I counted should persuade my wife, This framing of feigned spousals for the maid.