Page:Tragedies of Sophocles (Plumptre 1878).djvu/499



Hast thou done fearful evil? Thou must bear

Evil as fearful; and the holy light

Of righteousness shines clearly.

Kings wisdom gain, consorting with the wise.

Man is but breath and shadow, nothing more.

The mightiest and the wisest in their minds

Thou may'st see like to him who standeth here,

Giving good counsel to a man distressed;

But when God's will shall send the scourge on one

Who lived till then as fortune's favourite,

All his fine phrases vanish utterly.

'Neath every stone there lies a scorpion hid.

Hark! some one cries. Or do I vainly call?

The man who fears hears noise on every side.

Be sure, no lie can ever reach old age.