Page:Tragedies of Euripides (Way 1896) v2.djvu/351

Numbered among bondservants noble-souled;
So may I have, if not the name of free, 70
The heart: for better this is than to bear
On my one head two ills—to nurse base thoughts
Within, and do in bondage others' bests.

Come, ancient, ofttimes toiling at my side
Hast thou achieved the travail of the shield; 735
And now, partaker in my happy lot,
Go, tidings to our friends left yonder bear
In what plight thou hast found us, and our bliss.
Bid them await, abiding by the strand,
The issue of strife that waits me, as I deem; 740
Bid them, if we by stealth may take her hence,
To watch, that we, in one good fortune joined,
May 'scape from these barbarians, if we may.

This will I do, king. But the lore of seers,
How vain it is I see, how full of lies. 745
So then the altar-flames were utter naught,
The voices of winged things! Sheer folly this
Even to dream that birds may help mankind.
Kalchas told not, nor gave sign to the host,
Yet saw, when for a cloud's sake died his friends: 750
Nor Helenus told; but Troy for nought was stormed!
"Yea, for the God forbade," thou mightest say.
Why seek we then to seers? With sacrifice
To Gods, ask good, and let soothsayings be.
They were but as a bait for greed devise: 755
None idle getteth wealth through divination.
Sound wit, with prudence, is the seer of seers.