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Rh Often and often did I charge thee; 'Go,

My daughter; go thy ways. My sons will know

New loves. I will give aid, and steal thee past

The Argive watch. O give us peace at last,

Us and our foes!' But out thy spirit cried

As at a bitter word. Thou hadst thy pride

In Alexander's house, and O, 'twas sweet

To hold proud Easterns bowing at thy feet.

They were great things to thee! And comest thou now

Forth, and hast decked thy bosom and thy brow,

And breathest with thy lord the same blue air,

Thou evil heart? Low, low, with ravaged hair,

Rent raiment, and flesh shuddering, and within—

O shame at last, not glory for thy sin;

So face him if thou canst! Lo, I have done.

Be true, O King; let Hellas bear her crown

Of Justice. Slay this woman, and upraise

The law for evermore: she that betrays

Her husband's bed, let her be judged and die.

Be strong, O King; give judgment worthily

For thee and thy great house. Shake off thy long

Reproach; not weak, but iron against the wrong!

Thy thought doth walk with mine in one intent.

'Tis sure; her heart was willing, when she went

Forth to a stranger's bed. And all her fair

Tale of enchantment, 'tis a thing of air!