Page:Tragedies of Euripides (Way 1896) v2.djvu/396

Rang from the stern—"Where is your Trojan fame?
Show it against the aliens!" Furious-grappling,
Men fell,—men struggled up,—some hadst thou seen 1605
Laid dead. But Menelaus all in mail,
Marking where'er his helpers were hard pressed,
Thither in right hand ever bore his sword,
That from the ship we dived, and of thy men
He swept the thwarts: and, striding to the helm, 1610
He bade the helmsman steer the ship for Greece.
They hoisted sail, the breezes favouring blew;
And they are gone. I, fleeing from the death,
Slid by the anchor down into the sea.
Even as my strength failed, one cast forth a rope,^[1] 1615
And drew me aboard, so set me on the land,
To tell thee this. Nought is of more avail
For mortals' need than wise mistrustfulness.

King, I had dreamed not Menelaus had 'scaped
Thy ken or mine, here tarrying unknown. 1620

Woe is me, by wiles of woman cozened, caught as in the net!
Lo, my bride hath fled me! If their galley might be taken yet
By pursuers, I had done mine utmost, had the aliens caught:—
Nay, but now upon my traitress sister be my vengeance wrought,—