Page:Tragedies of Euripides (Way 1898) v3.djvu/97

Rh

What shall I do? Weeping shall I bemoan

Myself, or Thebes whom such a cloud o'erpalls

That she through Acheron's night is passing now?

Dead is my son! He died for fatherland,

Winning a glorious name, but woe for me.

Him from the Dragon's crags but now I caught

Self-slain, and woefully bare him in mine arms.

My whole house wails. I for my sister come,

Jocasta,—come, the old to seek the old,—

To bathe and lay out this no more my son.

For he who hath not died must reverence

The Nether-gods by honouring the dead.

Gone is thy sister, Kreon, forth the house;

And with her went her child Antigonê.

Whither?—for what mischance? Declare to me.

The purpose of her sons she heard, to fight

In single combat for the royal halls.

How sayest thou? Lo, tending my son's corse,

I came not to the knowledge of this deed.