Page:Tragedies of Euripides (Way 1896) v2.djvu/217

For with scant state in Argos didst thou dwell;
But, Sparta left afar, the Phrygians' town
Thou hopedst, till^[1] with gold it flowed, to flood 995
With torrent waste: Menelaus' halls sufficed
Not thee for all thine insolence of pomp.
And my son, say'st thou, haled thee hence by force!
What son of Sparta heard? What rescue-cry
Didst thou upraise, though Kastor, yet a youth, 1000
Lived, and his brother, starward rapt not yet?
And when to Troy thou cam'st, and on thy track
The Argives, and the strife of raining spears,
If tidings of his prowess came to thee,
Menelaus wouldst thou praise, to vex my son 1005
Who in his love such mighty rival had:
But, if the Trojans prospered, naught was he.
Still watching fortune's flight, 'twas aye thy wont
To follow her—not virtue's path for thee!
And thou with cords wouldst steal thy liberty, 1010
From the towers climbing, as one loth to stay!
Where wast thou found with noose about thy neck,
Or whetting steel, as a true-hearted wife
Had done for yearning for her spouse of old?
Yet many a time and oft I counselled thee:— 1015
"Daughter, go forth from Troy: my sons shall wed
New brides; and thee to the Achaian ships
Will I send secretly: so stay the war
'Twixt Greece and us." But this was gall to thee.
For thou didst flaunt in Alexander's halls, 1020
Didst covet Asia's reverent courtesies—
Proud state for thee!—And yet hast thou come forth
Costly arrayed, looked on the selfsame sky