Page:Tragedies of Sophocles (Plumptre 1878).djvu/353

Rh Lichas. I said I heard it, but 'tis not the same

To speak one's guess, and vouch the matter true.

Mess. "One's guess!" And did'st not thou assert with oath

That thou did'st bring her, bride for Heracles?

Lichas. "His bride!" By all the Gods, my mistress dear,

Tell of this stranger, who and what he is.

Mess. One who was by and heard thee, when thou said'st

How through desire for her the city fell,

And how 'twas not the Lydian dame, but love

For this fair maid that brought it to the dust.

Lichas. Bid the man go, dear lady. Thus to prate

With one of mind diseased is hardly sane.

Deian. Now, by great Zeus, who flashes forth his fire

On yon high glens of Œta, cheat me not,

I charge thee, of the truth. Thou dost not tell

Thy tale to wife of evil mood, nor one

Who does not know men's ways, and how their wont

Is not to love the same for evermore;

And one who stands in combat against Love,

As athlete in close conflict, scarce is wise.

For he reigns high, supreme above the Gods,

And sways them as he will; (yea, sways my soul,

And why not then another's, like to me?)

So, should I blame my husband for his fate

In catching this disease, I should indeed

Have lost my reason; or if I should blame

This woman, guilty of no shameful deed,

Or wrong against me. No. It is not so;

But if, being taught by him, thou speakest false,

Then thou hast learnt a lesson far from good,

And, if thou art self-taught in this deceit,