Page:Tragedies of Euripides (Way 1896) v2.djvu/144

Consenting for her brethren's sake to die?
What man could utter nobler words than these,
Or who do nobler deed henceforth for ever?

O child, thine heart is of none other sire—
Thou art his own seed, of that godlike soul, 540
Herakles, sprung!—No shame, no shame, is mine
For these thy words, but grief for this hard lot.
Yet how 'twere done more justly will I tell:
Hither be all this maiden's sisters called;
Then for her house let whom the lot dooms die: 545
But that thou die without lot is not just.

I will not perish by the lot's doom, I;
For then is no free grace: thou, name it not.
But if ye will accept me, and consent
To take an eager victim, willingly 550
I give my life for these, nowise constrained.

Ah, marvellous one!
Nobler thy latter speech is than thy first.
Perfect was that, but thou o'erpassest now
Courage with courage, word with noble word! 555
Yet, daughter, thee I bid not, nor forbid
To die:—thy brethren dost thou, dying, help.

Thou dost bid—wisely. Fear not thou to take
Guilt-stain of me: but let me die—die free.