EURIPIDES.
SEARCHER OF HUMAN HEARTS, TO THEE WAS GIVEN
TO UNSEAL THE FOUNTAINS OF THE SOUL THAT WELL
PITY AND LOVE, IN SYMPATHY TO DWELL
WITH ALL THAT IN LIFE'S AGONIES HAVE STRIVEN:
FETTERS BY MAGIC OF THY MUSIC RIVEN
FROM CAPTIVES DROPPED IN THAT SICILIAN HELL:
THY DEAD LIPS ON THE SPARTAN BREATHED A SPELL
WHENCE BLESSING-INCENSE SOARED TO THAT HIGH HEAVEN
WHERE HE, WHO SANG OF TRIUMPH-CRIMSONED SEAS,
AND THOU, THROUGH WHOM THINGS COMMON TOUCHED THE SPHERES,
TWIN-THRONED, WHILE HAND TO HAND OF BROTHER CLAVE,
SMILED SCORN OF GODS ON ARISTOPHANES,—
A SATYR MOCKING ORPHANED ATHENS' TEARS,—
SAW FROM THE STARS FROGS CROAKING O'ER A GRAVE.
ALCESTIS.
SHE STANDS BETWEEN THE LIVING AND THE DEAD.
THE SMILE HATH SOMEWHAT AWFUL IN THE EYES
WHICH HAVE NOT YET FORGOTTEN MYSTERIES
WHOSE NAMES MAY NEVER BY THE LIPS BE SAID
WHERE LOVE SITS DUMB BESIDE HIS SEALED WELL-HEAD
THREE DAYS, FAR-GAZING O'ER HIS PARADISE,
WAITING THE TOKEN THAT SHALL BID HIM RISE
AND ENTER IN, TO FIND THE BLISS THAT FLED
THREEFOLD REGIVEN, BECAUSE THAT FURTIVE THORN
OUT OF HER HEART IS PLUCKED: HER LOSS IS GAIN,
WHOSE LORD DIED WITH HER, AND NOW STRETCHETH HANDS
WORTHY TO TOUCH HER, BY WHOSE LOVE REBORN
IN RESURRECTION FROM HIS OLD SELF SLAIN,
BETWEEN THE LIVING AND THE DEAD HE STANDS.
