Page:Tragedies of Sophocles (Plumptre 1878).djvu/544

446 And unto many cheats of blinded love;

Subtly it creeps upon the unconscious boy,

Until his feet wax bold

To tempt the blazing fire.

For wisely was it said by one of old,

True speech, far-famed, for all men to admire,

That evil seems as good

To him whom God would slay,

Through doom of evil passion in the blood;

And he without that doom scarce passeth e'en a day.

Ο Erôs, irresistible in fight,

Thou rushest on thy prey,

Or on fair maiden's blushing cheeks

All night dost lurking stay;

Over the sea thou roamest evermore,

Or through the huts of shepherds rough and poor:

None of the deathless Ones can flee,

Nor mortal men escape from thee;

And mad is he who comes beneath thy sway.

Minds of the righteous, true and faithful found,

Thou turn'st aside to ill,

And now this strife of nearest kin

Thou stirrest at thy will.

Mighty is Love in glance of beauteous bride,

Enthroned it sits with great laws at its side;

And One, in wondrous might,

Makes merry at the sight,

The Goddess Aphrodite, conquering still.