Page:Tragedies of Euripides (Way 1896) v2.djvu/167

Left of thy foe the lion,—wisely rather
Hadst let them dwell in Argos?—I trow not.
Now therefore since, when I was fain to die,
They slew me not, by all the Hellene laws 1010
My death pollution brings on whoso slays.
Wisely did Athens spare me, honouring more
God, far above all enmity of me.
Thou art answered. I must be hereafter named
The Haunting Vengeance, and the Heroic Dead. 1015
Thus is it with me—I long not for death,
Yet to forsake life nowise shall I grieve.

Suffer one word of exhortation, queen.
Let this man go; for so the city wills.

But—if he die, and I obey her still? 1020

This should be best: yet how can this thing be?

This will I lightly teach thee:—I will slay,
Then yield him dead to friends that come for him.
Touching his corpse I will not cheat the state;
But die he shall, and do me right for wrong. 1025

Slay: I ask not thy grace. But I bestow
On Athens, who hath spared, who shamed to slay me,
An ancient oracle of Loxias,
Which in far days shall bless her more than seems.
Me shall ye bury where 'tis fate-ordained, 1030
Before the Virgin's shrine Pallenian;