Page:Tragedies of Sophocles (Jebb 1917).djvu/278

266 . When the season serves not, do not wish to speak too much.

. Nay, who could fitly exchange speech for such silence, when thou hast appeared? For now I have seen thy face, beyond all thought and hope!

. Thou sawest it, when the gods moved me to come.…

. Thou hast told me of a grace above the first, if a god hath indeed brought thee to our house; I acknowledge therein the work of heaven.

. I am loth, indeed, to curb thy gladness, but yet this excess of joy moves my fear.

. O thou who, after many a year, hast deigned thus to gladden mine eyes by thy return, do not, now that thou hast seen me in all my woe—

. What is thy prayer?

. —do not rob me of the comfort of thy face; do not force me to forego it!

. I should be wroth, indeed, if I saw another attempt it.

. My prayer is granted? . Canst thou doubt?

. Ah, friends, I heard a voice that I could never have hoped to hear; nor could I have restrained my emotion in silence, and without a cry, when I heard it.

Ah me! But now I have thee; thou art come to me with the light of that dear countenance, which never, even in sorrow, could I forget.