Page:Tragedies of Euripides (Way 1896) v2.djvu/450

He speeds to add to victims twain a third. 995
But first the wretched mother snatched the child,
And bare within, and barred the chamber-door.
But he, as though at siege of Cyclop walls,^[1]
Mines, heaves up doors, and hurls the door-posts down,
And with one arrow laid low wife and child: 1000
Then charges down to spill his old sire's blood.
But a Shape came,—as seemed unto our eyes,
Pallas with plumed helm, brandishing a spear;—
And against Herakles' breast she hurled a rock
Which stayed him from his murder-frenzy, and cast 1005
Into deep sleep. To earth he fell, and dashed
His back against a pillar, cleft in twain
By the roof's ruin, on the pavement thrown.
Then we, from flight of panic breathing free,
Wrought with the old man, binding him with cords 1010
Unto the pillar, that, awaked from sleep,
He might not add ill deeds to ill deeds done.
There sleeps he, wretched man, a sleep unblest,
Who hath slaughtered sons and wife. For me, I know not
Of mortals any man more fortune-crost. 1015

That murder which Argos remembereth
Was aforetime through Hellas most famous, the strange tale told
Of Danaus' daughters, the workers of death:—
But this hath surpassed, hath outrun, that horror of old. 1020