Page:Tragedies of Euripides (Way 1896) v2.djvu/448

"Why, ere I slay Eurystheus, sacrifice,
Father—have cleansing fire and toil twice o'er,
When all in one act I may compass well?
When hither I have brought Eurystheus' head,
For him, with these now slain, I'll purge my hands. 940
Spill ye the water, cast the maunds away!
Ho there—my bow!—the mace of my right hand!
I march against Mycenæ:—I must take
Crowbars and mattocks, that yon Cyclop town,
Yon walls with red line and with gavil squared, 945
May by my bended lever be upheaved."
Then set forth, speaking of his car the while,
Who car had none, sprang to the chariot-rail,
And thrust, as who held in his hand a goad.
His henchmen, half in mirth and half in fear, 950
Were glancing each at other, and one spake:
"Doth our lord make us sport, or is he mad?"
Still was he pacing up and down the house;
Then, to the men's hall rushing, cried, "I have come
To Nisus' town!"^[1]—who stood in his own halls. 955
He casts him on the bare^[2] floor, and prepares
To feast: yet, tarrying there but little space,
He cried, "I go to Isthmus' woodland plains!"
Then from his body cast his mantle's folds,
And wrestled with—no man!—proclaimed himself 960
Unto himself the victor, crying, "Hear!"^[3]—
To none! In fancy at Mycenæ then