Page:Tragedies of Sophocles (Jebb 1917).djvu/153

428—453] cry of a bird in its bitterness,—even as when, within the empty nest, it sees the bed stripped of its nestlings. So she also, when she saw the corpse bare, lifted up a voice of wailing, and called down curses on the doers of that deed. And straightway she brought thirsty dust in her hands; and from a shapely ewer of bronze, held high, with thrice-poured drink-offering she crowned the dead.

We rushed forward when we saw it, and at once closed upon our quarry, who was in no wise dismayed. Then we taxed her with her past and present doings; and she stood not on denial of aught,—at once to my joy and to my pain. To have escaped from ills one's self is a great joy; but 'tis painful to bring friends to ill. Howbeit, all such things are of less account to me than mine own safety.

. Thou—thou whose face is bent to earth—dost thou avow, or disavow, this deed?

. I avow it; I make no denial.

. (To Guard.) Thou canst betake thee whither thou wilt, free and clear of a grave charge.

[Exit Guard.

(To .) Now, tell me thou—not in many words, but briefly—knewest thou that an edict had forbidden this?

. I knew it: could I help it? It was public.

. And thou didst indeed dare to transgress that law?

. Yes; for it was not Zeus that had published me that edict; not such are the laws set among men by the Justice who dwells with the gods below; nor deemed I that thy decrees were of such force, that