Page:Tragedies of Euripides (Way 1898) v3.djvu/81

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Whence came on me this curse, and on my son?

Fair question and demand that I show cause.

In that den where the earth-born dragon lay

Watching the streams of Dirkê, must he yield,

Slaughtered, a blood-oblation to the earth;

For Ares, nursing wrath 'gainst Kadmus long,

Now would avenge his earth-born dragon's death.

Do this, and Ares for your champion win.

If earth for seed gain seed, and human blood

For blood, then kindly shall ye prove the earth

Which once sent up a harvest golden-helmed

Of Sown-men. And it needeth that one die

Born of the lineage of the Dragon's Teeth.

And sole survivor art thou of the Sown

Of pure blood both on sire's and mother's side,

Thou and thy two sons. Haimon's spousals bar

His slaughter, for he is not virgin man.

Though sealed the rite be not, betrothed is he.

But this lad, to his city consecrate,

Dying, should yet redeem his fatherland,

And for Adrastus and the Argives make

Bitter return, their eyes with black death palled,

And make Thebes glorious. One of these two fates

Choose: either save the city, or thy son.

Now hast thou all my tale. Lead on, my child,

Homeward. Who useth the diviner's art

Is foolish. If he heraldeth ill things,

He is loathed of those to whom he prophesies.

If, pitying them that seek to him, he lie,