Page:Tragedies of Sophocles (Plumptre 1878).djvu/326

228 That shall be my choice also, since my joy

I had not of mine own, but gained from thee,

Nor would I cause thee e'en a moment's pain,

Myself to reap much profit. I should fail,

So doing, to work His will who favours us.

What meets us next, thou knowest, dost thou not?

Ægisthos, as thou hearest, gone from home;

My mother there within, of whom fear not

Lest she should see my face look blithe with joy;

For my old hatred eats into my soul,

And, since I've seen thee, I shall never cease

To weep for very joy. How could I cease,

Who in this one short visit looked on thee

Dead, and alive again? Strange things to-day

Hast thou wrought out, so strange that should there come

My father, in full life, I should not deem

'Twas a mere marvel, but believe I saw him.

But, since thou com'st on such an enterprise,

Rule thou as pleases thee. Were I alone,

I had not failed of two alternatives,

Or nobly had I saved myself, or else

Had nobly perished.

Ores. Silence now is best;

I hear the steps of some one from within,

As if approaching.

Elec. [Aloud.] Enter in, my friends,

On many grounds, and chiefly that ye bring,

What none will send away, yet none receive

With any touch of pleasure.

Attend. Ο ye fools,

And blind, bereaved of counsel, care ye now

No longer for your lives? or is there not