Page:The poems of Emma Lazarus volume 1.djvu/83

So that the king may live?" And she: "You ask?
Nay, who will live when life clasps hands with shame,
And death with honor ? Lo, you are a god;
You cannot know the highest joy of life,—
To leave it when t is worthier to die.
His parents, kinsmen, courtiers, subjects, slaves,—
For love of him myself would die, were none
Found ready; but what Greek would stand to see
A woman glorified, and falter? Once,
And only once, the gods will do this thing
In all the ages: such a man themselves
Delight to honor, holy, temperate, chaste,
With reverence for his daemon and his god."
Thus she triumphant to the very door
Of King Admetus chamber. All there saw
Her ill-timed gladness with much wonderment.
But she: "No longer mourn! The king is saved:
The Fates will spare him. Lift your voice in praise;
Sing paeans to Apollo; crown your brows
With laurel; offer thankful sacrifice! "
"O Queen, what mean these foolish words misplaced?
And what an hour is this to thank the Fates? "
"Thrice blessed be the gods!—for God himself
Has sued for me,—they are not stern and deaf.