Page:Tragedies of Sophocles (Plumptre 1878).djvu/536

438 Nor gain boon little worth

Of seeing one on whom all curses fall!

King Zeus, on thee I call!

My son, come on, come on,

E'en though thou dost thy sacred station keep

There on the valley's edge,

For great Poseidon, Lord of Ocean deep;

For now the stranger-guest

His thanks on thee and on thy state would heap,

And bless thee, being blest.

Come therefore quickly; come, Ο Prince and King,

And timely counsel bring.

If right it be with prayers and litanies

To worship Her who reigns,

Goddess in darkness clad,

Or Thee, Ο King of those

Who dwell 'neath sunless skies,

Aidoneus, Ο Aidoneus, I implore!

Grant that the stranger tread the darkling plains,

The dwellings of the dead and Stygian shore,

With no long agony,

No voice of wailing cry;

For so, though many woes unmerited

Come on him, God, the Just, shall yet lift up his head.

Ye Goddesses who dwell in darkest gloom,

And thou, strange form and dread,