Page:Tragedies of Euripides (Way 1896) v2.djvu/321

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HELEN.
265

How shall I agonize forth my lament?—to what Muse draw nigh
With tears, with death-dirges, or moanings of misery?
Woe's me, woe's me!
(Str. 1)
Come, Sea-maids, hitherward winging,
Daughters of Earth's travail-throes,
Sirens, to me draw nigh,
That your flutes and your pipes may sigh 170
In accord with my wailings, and cry
To my sorrows consonant-ringing
With tears, lamentations, and woes.
Oh would but Persephonê lend
Fellow-mourners from Hades, to blend
Death-dirges with mine!—I would send
Thank-offering of weeping and singing
Of chants to her dead, unto those
On whom Night's gates close.

Enter Chorus.

Chorus.

(Ant. 1)
I was spreading, where grass droops trailing
In the river-flood's darkling gleam, 180
Purple-dyed robes 'neath the blaze
Of the sun, and his golden rays,
Overdraping the bulrush-sprays;[1]—
Then heard I a pitiful wailing;
Mournful and wild did it seem
As the shriek of a Naiad's despair
Far-borne on the mountain air,

When she moans faint-fleeing the snare,
  1. ↑ The colours of fabrics dyed with the sea-purple of Tyre were improved by exposure to sunlight, after wetting with fresh water. Cf. Hippolytus, 125.
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