Page:Tragedies of Euripides (Way 1898) v3.djvu/366

I know all—yea, thy purposed crime have learnt.
Thy very silence and thy groan on groan
Are thy confession. Labour not with speech.

Lo, I am silent. Wherefore utter lies,
And add unto misfortune shamelessness? 1145

Give ear now; for I will unfold my pleas,
Nor use half-hinting riddles any more.
First,—that with this I may reproach thee first—
By force, not of my will, didst thou wed me:
Thou slewest Tantalus my sometime lord; 1150
Didst dash my living babe against the stones,^[1]
Even from my breast with violence tearing him.
Then did the Sons of Zeus, my brethren twain,
Flashing on white steeds come to war with thee.
But mine old father Tyndareus begged thy life, 1155
Who cam'st his suppliant, and thou keptest me.
So reconciled to thee and to thine house,
A blameless wife was I,—be witness thou,—
Chaste in desires, increasing in thine halls
Thy substance still, so that thine enterings-in 1160
Were joy, and thine outgoings happiness.
Rare spoil is this for man to win such spouse:
Of getting worthless wives there is no lack.
This son, with daughters three, to thee I bare;
And of one wilt thou rob me ruthlessly! 1165