Page:Tragedies of Sophocles (Plumptre 1878).djvu/252

154 For noblest deed must die the foulest death,

Who her own brother, fallen in the fray,

Would neither leave unburied, nor expose

To carrion dogs, or any bird of prey,

May she not claim the meed of golden praise?"

Such is the whisper that in secret runs

All darkling. And for me, my father, nought

Is dearer than thy welfare. What can be

A nobler prize of honour for the son

Than a sire's glory, or for sire than son's?

I pray thee, then, wear not one mood alone,

That what thou say'st is right, and nought but that;

For he who thinks that he alone is wise,

His mind and speech above what others have,

Such men when searched are mostly empty found.

But for a man to learn, though he be wise,

Yea to learn much, and know the time to yield,

Brings no disgrace. When winter floods the streams,

Thou see'st the trees that bend before the storm,

Save their last twigs, while those that will not yield

Perish with root and branch. And when one hauls

Too tight the mainsail rope, and will not slack,

He has to end his voyage with deck o'erturned.

Do thou then yield; permit thyself to change.

Young though I be, if any prudent thought

Be with me, I at least will dare assert

The higher worth of one, who, come what will,

Is full of knowledge. If that may not be,

(For nature is not wont to take that bent,)

'Tis good to learn from those who counsel well.

Chor. My king! 'tis fit that thou should'st learn from him,

If he speaks words in season; and, in turn,

That thou [To ] should'st learn of him, for both speak well.