Page:Tragedies of Euripides (Way 1894) v1.djvu/168
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EURIPIDES.
That hath bowed thee with anguish exceeding
160 On thy bed through thy soul's prison-days?
(Epode.)
Or shall this be the discord mournful, weirdly haunting,
That ofttimes jarreth and jangleth the strings of woman's being?
'Tis the shadow of travail-throes nigh, a delirium spirit-daunting:
Yea, I have known it, through mine own bosom have felt it shiver:
But I cried to the Queen of the Bow, to the Helper in travail-throe for refuge fleeing;
170 And by grace of the Gods she hearkeneth ever my fervent request, she is there to deliver.
160 On thy bed through thy soul's prison-days?
(Epode.)
Or shall this be the discord mournful, weirdly haunting,
That ofttimes jarreth and jangleth the strings of woman's being?
'Tis the shadow of travail-throes nigh, a delirium spirit-daunting:
Yea, I have known it, through mine own bosom have felt it shiver:
But I cried to the Queen of the Bow, to the Helper in travail-throe for refuge fleeing;
170 And by grace of the Gods she hearkeneth ever my fervent request, she is there to deliver.
But lo, through the doors where cometh the grey-haired nurse
Leading the stricken one forth of her bowers:
On her brows aye darker the care-cloud lowers.
My spirit is yearning to know what is this strange curse,
Wherefore the queen's cheek ever is paling,
And her strength is failing.
Leading the stricken one forth of her bowers:
On her brows aye darker the care-cloud lowers.
My spirit is yearning to know what is this strange curse,
Wherefore the queen's cheek ever is paling,
And her strength is failing.
Enter Phædra, Nurse, and Handmaids.
Nurse.
O afflictions of mortals, O bitter pain!
What shall I do unto thee, or refrain?
Lo here is the light of the sun, the sky:
Brought forth of the halls is thy bed; hereby 180
Thy cushions lie.
What shall I do unto thee, or refrain?
Lo here is the light of the sun, the sky:
Brought forth of the halls is thy bed; hereby 180
Thy cushions lie.