Page:Tragedies of Euripides (Way 1898) v3.djvu/464

436

Why then delay the fate that needs must be?

Daughter, to what dread misery are we come,

Thou—woe is thee!—thy sisters, and thy son!

I must in sorrow visit alien men,

A grey-haired sojourner. I am doomed withal

On Greeks to lead a mingled alien host;

And Ares' child, Harmonia my wife,

In serpent form shall I, a serpent, lead

Against our Hellas' altars and her tombs,

Captaining spears. And I shall find no rest

From woes, alas! nor that down-rushing stream

Of Acheron shall I cross and be at peace!

Robbed of thee, father, exiled shall I be!

Why cast thine arms about me, hapless child?

Like white swan cherishing its helpless sire?

Whither can I turn, outcast from my land?

I know not, child. Small help thy father is.

Farewell, mine home; farewell, ye city-towers

Of fatherland! In anguish of despair

I pass an exile from my bridal bowers.