Page:Writings of Henry David Thoreau (1906) v5.djvu/409

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Thou wilt bear dark Epaphus, who will reap

As much land as broad-flowing Nile doth water;

And fifth from him, a band of fifty children

Again to Argos shall unwilling come,

Of female sex, avoiding kindred marriage

Of their cousins; but they, with minds inflamed,

Hawks by doves not far left behind,

Will come pursuing marriages

Not to be pursued, but heaven will take vengeance on their bodies;

For them Pelasgia shall receive by Mars

Subdued with woman's hand with night-watching boldness.

For each wife shall take her husband's life,

Staining a two-edged dagger in his throat.

Such 'gainst my foes may Cypris come.—

But one of the daughters shall love soften

Not to slay her bedfellow, but she will waver

In her mind; and one of two things will prefer,

To hear herself called timid, rather than stained with blood;

She shall in Argos bear a royal race.—

Of a long speech is need this clearly to discuss.

From this seed, however, shall be born a brave,

Famed for his bow, who will release me

From these sufferings. Such oracle my ancient

Mother told me, Titanian Themis;

But how and by what means, this needs long speech

To tell, and nothing, learning, wilt thou gain. Io. Ah me! ah wretched me!

Spasms again and brain-struck