Page:Tragedies of Euripides (Way 1898) v3.djvu/368

Oh impious thought! What child shall meet thy look,
If thou have given up one of them to death?
Hast ta'en account of this? Or is it thine
Only to flaunt a sceptre, lead a host? 1195
This righteous proffer shouldest thou have made—
"Will ye, Achaians, sail to Phrygia-land?
E'en then cast lots whose daughter needs must die."
This had been fair—not that thou choose thine own
The Danaans' victim, rather than that he 1200
Whose quarrel this is, Menelaus, slay
Hermionê for her mother. Now must I,
The loyal wife, be of my child bereft,
While she, the harlot, brings her daughter home
To dwell in Sparta mid prosperity! 1205
Herein if I plead ill, thou answer me:
But if my words ring true, ah, slay not thou^[1]
Thy child and mine, and so shalt thou be wise.

Heed her; for good it is thou join to save
Thy child, Agamemnon: none shall gainsay this. 1210

Had I the tongue of Orpheus, O my sire,
To charm with song the rocks to follow me,
And witch with eloquence whomsoe'er I would,
I had essayed it. Now—mine only cunning—
Tears will I bring, for this is all I can. 1215
And suppliant will I twine about thy knees
My body, which this mother bare to thee