128
Translations, &c.
"And court-retinue; but my traitress wife
"On female honour hath diffus'd a stain
"Indelible; and her pernicious arts, 490
"Recorded for reproach on all the sex,
"Shall wound soft Innocence with touch of blame.”
I answer'd; "O ye Pow'rs! by women's wiles
"Jove works sure bane to all th' imperial race
"Of Atreus still; for Helen's vagrant lust 495
"Greece mourns her states dispeopled; and you fell
"By your adult'ress!" Plaintive he reply'd:
"By my disasters warn'd, to woman's faith
"Unbosom nought momentuous; tho' she peal
"Your ear, (by nature importune to know) 500
"Unlock not all your secrets. But your wife,
"Of prudent meek deport, no train of ills
"Will meditate for you by force or guile:
"Her, when we led th' embattled Greeks to Troy,
"We left in blooming beauty fresh; your son 505
"Then hanging on her breast, who now to man
"Full grown, with men associates; your approach
"With rapture he will meet, and glad his fire
"With filial duty dear; a bliss to me
"Not deign'd; my son I saw not ere I fell 510
"A victim to my wife! Then, timely warn'd,
"Trust not to woman's ken the time prefix'd
"For your return to Greece. But say sincere,
“Aught have you heard where my Orestes bides?
"In rich Orchomenus or sandy Pyle? 515
"On female honour hath diffus'd a stain
"Indelible; and her pernicious arts, 490
"Recorded for reproach on all the sex,
"Shall wound soft Innocence with touch of blame.”
I answer'd; "O ye Pow'rs! by women's wiles
"Jove works sure bane to all th' imperial race
"Of Atreus still; for Helen's vagrant lust 495
"Greece mourns her states dispeopled; and you fell
"By your adult'ress!" Plaintive he reply'd:
"By my disasters warn'd, to woman's faith
"Unbosom nought momentuous; tho' she peal
"Your ear, (by nature importune to know) 500
"Unlock not all your secrets. But your wife,
"Of prudent meek deport, no train of ills
"Will meditate for you by force or guile:
"Her, when we led th' embattled Greeks to Troy,
"We left in blooming beauty fresh; your son 505
"Then hanging on her breast, who now to man
"Full grown, with men associates; your approach
"With rapture he will meet, and glad his fire
"With filial duty dear; a bliss to me
"Not deign'd; my son I saw not ere I fell 510
"A victim to my wife! Then, timely warn'd,
"Trust not to woman's ken the time prefix'd
"For your return to Greece. But say sincere,
“Aught have you heard where my Orestes bides?
"In rich Orchomenus or sandy Pyle? 515
