Page:Tragedies of Euripides (Way 1896) v2.djvu/166
On her that nursed for woman thoughts too high:
Yet shall this deed by me be brought to pass. 980
Chorus.
A fearful hatred, yet a righteous, queen,
Thou hast against this man, I know full well.
Eurystheus.
Woman, be sure I will not cringe to thee,
Nor utter any word beside, to save
My life, whence cowardice might stain my name. 985
Yet of my will this feud I took not up.
I knew myself born cousin unto thee,
And kinsman unto Herakles thy son.
But, would I or would not, it was the God:—
Hera with this affliction burdened me. 990
But when I had made him once mine enemy,
And knew that I must wrestle out this strife,
Deviser I became of many pains,
Aye scheming—Night sat by, and counselled me—[1]
How I might scatter and destroy my foes, 995
And have thenceforth for housemate fear no more,
Knowing thy son no cipher, but a man
In very deed; for, though he be my foe,
Praise shall he have, a very hero he.
But, rid of him, was I not even constrained— 1000
Abhorred of these, ware of that heritage
Of enmity—to move each scorpion-stone,
By slaying, banishing, and plotting still?
While this I did, my safety was assured.
But thou, forsooth, had but my lot been thine, 1005
Hadst spared to persecute the infuriate whelps
- ↑ Cf. "And Guilt was my grim chamberlain,
That lighted me to bed."—Hood.