Page:Atalanta in Calydon - a tragedy (IA atalantaincalydo00swinrich).pdf/118

SECOND MESSENGER.

Straightway the crown slid off and smote on earth,

First fallen; and he, grasping his own hair, groaned
And cast his raiment round his face and fell.

SEMICHORUS.

⁠Alas for visions that were,

⁠And soothsayings spoken in sleep.

SECOND MESSENGER.

But the king twitched his reins in and leapt down

And caught him, crying out twice “O child” and thrice,
So that men’s eyelids thickened with their tears.

SEMICHORUS.

⁠Lament with a long lamentation,

⁠Cry, for an end is at hand.

SECOND MESSENGER.

O son, he said, son, lift thine eyes, draw breath,

Pity me; but Meleager with sharp lips
Gasped, and his face waxed like as sunburnt grass.