Page:Tragedies of Euripides (Way 1896) v2.djvu/329
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HELEN.
273
Eurotas!—true was the word that came 350
That my lord on the earth is no more seen?
Chorus.
Wild words and whirling—ah, what should they mean?
Helen.
The death-dealing cord
Round my neck will I twine,
Or the thirst of the sword
In this heart's blood of mine
Shall be quenched, through the flesh of my neck as I plunge it to life's deep shrine,
For a sacrifice to the Goddesses three,
And to Paris, whose pipe's wild melody
Floated afar over Ida, and round still steadings of kine.
Round my neck will I twine,
Or the thirst of the sword
In this heart's blood of mine
Shall be quenched, through the flesh of my neck as I plunge it to life's deep shrine,
For a sacrifice to the Goddesses three,
And to Paris, whose pipe's wild melody
Floated afar over Ida, and round still steadings of kine.
Chorus.
Far hence averted may mischief flee, 360
And fortune fair abide upon thee!
Helen.
Woe, hapless Troy, for thee, woe!
Thou hast perished for sins not thine own,[1] under misery's load brought low!
And the gifts of Kypris to me for their fruit have borne
Rivers of blood and of tears, and to them that mourn
Anguish is added, and grief to the grief-forlorn.
There are mothers for dead sons weeping;
Thou hast perished for sins not thine own,[1] under misery's load brought low!
And the gifts of Kypris to me for their fruit have borne
Rivers of blood and of tears, and to them that mourn
Anguish is added, and grief to the grief-forlorn.
There are mothers for dead sons weeping;
- ↑ Barnes's interpretation.