Page:Tragedies of Euripides (Way 1898) v3.djvu/48

20 But thou, my son, men say, hast made affiance

With strangers: children gotten in thine halls

Gladden thee, yea, thou soughtest strange alliance!

Son, on thy mother falls

Thine alien bridal's curse to haunt her ever.

Thee shall a voice from Laïus' grave accuse.

The spousal torch for thee I kindled never,

As happy mothers use;

Nor for thy bridal did Ismenus bring thee

Joy of the bath; nor at the entering-in

Of this thy bride did Theban maidens sing thee.

A curse be on that sin,

Whether of steel's spell, strife-lust, or thy father

It sprang, or whether revel of demons rose

In halls of Oedipus!—on mine head gather

All tortures of these woes.

Mighty with women is their travail's fruit;

Yea, dear the child is to all womankind.

Wisely, and yet not wisely, have I come,

Mother, mid foes: yet all men are constrained

To love their fatherland; who saith not so,

Sporteth with words, his heart is otherwhere.