Page:Tragedies of Euripides (Way 1896) v2.djvu/446

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EURIPIDES.

Woe, anguish and pain!
Woe and alas for the silver hair 900
Of his father!—woe for the mother who bare
His babes in vain!
[Sound of battering and rending within.]
Lo you, lo you!
A whirlwind is shaking the house—its roofs fall crashing—
Ah what, ah what, Zeus' son, wouldst thou do?
Down on thy palace the turmoil of hell art thou dashing,
As the levin from Pallas's hand to the heart of Enkeladus flashing.

Enter Servant from within.

Servant.

O reverend presences hoary-white—

Chorus.

What meaneth thy cry unto me—thy cry of fear? 910

Servant.

Within yon halls is a fearful sight!

Chorus.

No need, to attest thy tale, that we seek to a seer.

Servant.

Dead are the children—woe is me!

Chorus.

Wail! well may ye wail!—slain ruthlessly!—
That their murder the hands of a father should wreak!