Page:Tragedies of Sophocles (Plumptre 1878).djvu/369

Rh Chor. Thou dost not speak of death?

Nurse. My tale is told.

Chor. And is she dead?

Nurse. Again thou hearest it.

Chor. Poor doomed one, and how was it that she died?

Nurse. In way most piteous.

Chor. With what death, I pray?

Nurse. She slew herself.

Chor. What madness or disease

With blow of deadly weapon slew her too?

And how, alone, none with her, did she thus

Add death to death?

Nurse. With stroke of ruthless blade.

Chor. And did'st thou see, Ο babbler, this foul deed?

Nurse. I saw it clear, as standing close at hand.

Chor. What was it ? Tell, I pray.

Nurse. With her own hands

She did the deed.

Chor. What say'st thou?

Nurse. Things too clear.

Chor. Truly this new-found bride

Brings forth, brings forth to those who dwell with us

A great calamity.

Nurse. Too great indeed, and had'st thou stood and seen

What things she did thou would'st have pitied her.

Chor. And could a woman's hand cause woe so great?

Nurse. 'Twas dreadful: but thy witness thou shalt bear,

Hearing my tale, that I have told the truth;]

For when she came alone within the house,

And saw her son, within the palace courts,

A hollowed couch preparing, that he might

Go back to meet his father, she, concealed