Page:Tragedies of Sophocles (Plumptre 1878).djvu/596

498 Then may the men who see with clearest eyes,

Look out ahead for sore perplexities.

Yes, boy, 'tis come, the hour;

Sightless the man lies there,

Stretched as in midnight's power,

No friend or helper near,

(Yea, sleep is sound and sweet

Beneath the noontide heat,)

And hath lost all command

Of limb, or foot, or hand,

But looks as one to Hades drawing nigh;

See to it that thou speakest seasonably:

Far as I search around

The toil that wakes no fear is still the noblest found.

Ο cave of hollow grot,

Now in the noontide hot,

Now cold with icy breath,

I may not then leave thee at any time,

But thou must still be with me e'en till death.

Ah miserable me!

Ο dwelling fullest known

Of pain and wailing moan

From me, ah misery!

What now shall be my daily lot of life?

What hopes to me remain

My daily food to gain?

The timid birds will fly