Page:Tragedies of Euripides (Way 1896) v2.djvu/372
Who, that beholdeth the decrees of Heaven
This way and that in hopeless turmoil swayed?
Daughter of Zeus art thou, to Leda given,
Helen, by Him in plumes of swan arrayed;
Yet wert thou cursed—"Unrighteous, god-despising,
Traitress, and faithless," Hellas deemed thy due!
Nought I find certain, for all man's surmising:
Only Gods' words have I found utter-true. 1150
(Ant. 2)
Madmen, all ye who strive for manhood's guerdons
Battling with shock of lances, seeking ease
Senselessly so from galling of life's burdens!
Never, if blood be arbitress of peace,
Strife between towns of men shall find an ending:
Lo, how its storm o'er homes of Ilium brake,[1]
Yea, though fair words might once have wrought amending,
Helen, of wrong, of quarrel for thy sake! 1160
Now are her sons in depths of Hades lying;
Flame o'er her walls leapt, like Zeus' levin-glare:
Woes upon woes, and unto captives sighing
Sorer afflictions still—thy gifts they were.
Enter Theoklymenus, with hounds, and attendants carrying weapons, nets, spoils of the chase, etc.
Theoklymenus.
Hail, my sire's tomb!—for at my palace-gate, 1165
Proteus, I buried thee, to greet thee so:
Still as I enter and pass forth mine halls,
- ↑ The text seems hopelessly corrupt. I have followed Jerram's conjecture as to general sense.