Page:The poems of Emma Lazarus volume 1.djvu/87

To fill with glory. Who, when he is gone,
Will call you gentlest names this side of heaven,—
Father and mother? Knew ye not this man
Ere he was royal,—a poor, helpless child,
Crownless and kingdomless? One birth alone
Sufficeth not, Clymene: once again
You must give life with travail and strong pain.
Has he not lived to outstrip your swift hopes ?
What mother can refuse a second birth
To such a son? But ye denying him,
What after-offering may appease the gods?
What joy outweigh the grief of this one day?
What clamor drown the hours myriad tongues,
Crying, Your son, your son? where is your son,
Unnatural mother, timid, foolish man? "
Then Pheres gravely: " These are graceless words
From you our daughter. Life is always life,
And death comes soon enough to such as we.
We twain are old and weak, have served our time,
And made our sacrifices. Let the young
Arise now in their turn and save the king."
" O gods ! look on your creatures! do ye see?
And seeing, have ye patience? Smite them all,
Unsparing, with dishonorable death.
Vile slaves ! a woman teaches you to die.
Intrepid, with exalted steadfast soul,
Scorn in my heart, and love unutterable,