Page:Tragedies of Sophocles (Plumptre 1878).djvu/255

Rh

Chor. Ο Love, in every battle victor owned;

Love, rushing on thy prey,

Now on a maiden's soft and blooming cheek,

In secret ambush hid;

Now o'er the broad sea wandering at will,

And now in shepherd's folds;

Of all the Undying Ones none 'scape from thee,

Nor yet of mortal men

Whose lives are measured as a fleeting day;

And who has thee is frenzied in his soul.

Thou makest vile the purpose of the just,

To his own fatal harm;

Thou hast stirred up this fierce and deadly strife,

Of men of nearest kin;

The charm of eyes of bride beloved and fair

Is crowned with victory,

And dwells on high among the powers that rule,

Equal with holiest laws;

For Aphrodite, she whom none subdues,

Sports in her might and majesty divine,

I, even I, am borne

Beyond the appointed laws;

I look on this, and cannot stay

The fountain of my tears.

For, lo! I see her, see Antigone

Wend her sad, lonely way

To that bride-chamber where we all must lie.

Antig. Behold, Ο men of this my fatherland,

I wend my last lone way,

Seeing the last sunbeam, now and nevermore;

He leads me yet alive,