Page:Tragedies of Euripides (Way 1896) v2.djvu/394

Amidst our toil, men watching all, I trow,
Shipmates of Menelaus, Hellenes they,
Came down the strand, in garb of shipwreck clad,
Stalwart, yet weather-beaten to behold. 1540
And, seeing these at hand, spake Atreus' seed,
Making a wily show of pity feigned:
"Hapless, from what Achaian bark, and how,
Come ye from making shipwreck of her hull?
Would ye help bury Atreus' perished son, 1545
To whom yon Tyndarid queen gives empty tomb?"
They, shedding tears of counterfeited grief,
Drew nigh the ship, and bare the offerings
For Menelaus. Now mistrust awoke
In us, and murmurings for the added throng 1550
Of passengers: yet still we held our peace,
Heeding thy words,—for thou didst ruin all
In bidding that the stranger captain us.
Now all the victims lightly in the ship
We set, unrestive; only the bull strained 1555
Backward, nor on the gangway would set foot,
But bellowed still, and, rolling fierce eyes round,
Arching his back, and levelling his horns,
Would let none touch him. Thereat Helen's lord
Cried, "Ye who laid the city of Ilium waste, 1560
Come, hoist aloft in fashion of our Greeks
Yon bull's frame on your shoulders strong with youth,
And cast down in the prow"—and with the word
Drew ready his sword—"a victim to the dead."
They came, and at a signal hoisted high 1565
The bull, and bare, and 'neath the half-deck thrust.
But Menelaus stroked the war-steed's neck
And forehead, and so gently drew it aboard.
When now the ship had gotten all her freight,