THE BOOK OF THE HOMELESS
of Iphigenia, sacrificed in order that the Greek army might sail from Aulis and reach its destination:
O father! Were the tongue of Orpheus mine,
To charm the stones with song to follow me,
And throw the spell of words on whom I would,
So should I speak. But now, as I am wise
In tears, and only tears, I speak through these.
This body which my mother bore to thee,
Low at thy knees I lay, imploring thus
To spare my unripe youth. Sweet is the light
To human eyes; oh! force me not to see
Those dark things under earth! I first of all
Called thee by name of "father"; heard "my child";
first here on thy knees gave and received
The little, dear, caressing joys of love.
And I recall thy words: "O girl," thou saidst,
"Shall ever I behold thee in thy home
Happy and prosperous as becomes thy sire?"
And my words too, while then my tiny hand
Clung to thy beard, as now I cling: "And I,
Some day when thou art old, within my halls,
Dearer for this, shall I receive thee, father;
And with such love repay thy fostering care?"
These words still in my memory lodge; but thou
Must have forgotten, willing now my death.
By Pelops and thy father Atreus, oh.
And by my mother, who a second time
Must travail for my life, oh, hear my prayer!
Why should the wrongs of Helen fall on me.
Or why came Paris for my evil fate?
Yet turn thine eyes upon me, look and kiss,
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