Page:Tragedies of Euripides (Way 1898) v3.djvu/328

And the unhappy maid—why name her maid? 460
Hades meseems shall take her soon for bride.
O me, the pity of it! I hear her pray—
"Ah father, wilt thou slay me! Now such bridal
Mayst thou too find, and all whom thou dost love!"
Orestes at her side shall wail the grief 465
Unmeaning, deep with meaning, of the babe.
Alas, how Priam's son hath ruined me,
Paris, whose sin with Helen wrought all this!

I also—far as alien woman may
Mourn for the griefs of princes—pity thee. 470

Brother, vouchsafe to me to grasp thine hand.

I give it. Thine the triumph, mine the pang.

I swear by Pelops, of my sire and thine
Named father, and by Atreus our own sire,
That from mine heart's core I will speak to thee, 475
To serve no end, but all mine inmost thought.
I, seeing how thine eyes are streaming tears,
Pity thee, and the answering tear I shed;
And from the words erst uttered I draw back,
Thy foe no more: lo, in thy place I stand. 480
And I exhort thee, neither slay thy child,
Nor choose my good for thine. Unjust it were
That thou shouldst groan, and all my cup be sweet,