Page:Tragedies of Euripides (Way 1896) v2.djvu/462

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406
EURIPIDES.

Theseus.

Woe! when was man by fate so ill-bestead?


Amphitryon.

None other of mortal men shalt thou see
Who hath burden of heavier griefs, was more dreadly misguided than he.


Theseus.

Why doth he veil with cloaks his hapless head?


Amphitryon.

For shame that thine eyes such sight should win,
Shame for the pitying love of kin, 1200
For his sons' blood shame—for the madness, the sin!


Theseus.

Unveil—'twas sympathy my steps that led.


Amphitryon.

Son, cast from thine eyes thy mantle's veil;
Fling it hence; thy face to the sun forth show.
Lo, a weight that outweigheth thy tears bears down grief's scale![1]
I bow me in suppliance low
At thy beard, at thy knee, at thine hand, till thou hear:
And mine old eyes drop the tear.
O son, refrain thou the furious lion's mood! 1210

  1. ↑ The claims of sympathizing friendship may well outweigh those of absorbing grief.
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