Page:Tragedies of Euripides (Way 1896) v2.djvu/300

From Wikisource
Jump to navigation Jump to search
This page has been proofread, but needs to be validated.
244
EURIPIDES.

With the mantle I veil thee over: here
May the curse of the house have end and healing!


Kastor and Pollux appear in mid air above the stage.


Chorus.

Lo, lo, where over the roof-ridge high
Demigods gleam;—or from thrones in the sky
Stoop Gods?—it is not vouchsafed unto men
To tread yon path: why draw these nigh
Unto mortal ken?


Kastor.

Hear, child of Agamemnon: Sons of Zeus,
Twin brothers of thy mother, call to thee;
I Kastor, this my brother Polydeukes. 1240
Even now the sea's shipwrecking surge have we
Assuaged, and come to Argos, having seen
The slaying of our sister, of thy mother.
She hath but justice;—yet not just thine act.
Phœbus is Phœbus: since he is my king, 1245
I am dumb. He is wise:—not wise his hest for thee!—
We must needs say "'Tis well." Henceforth must thou
Perform what Fate and Zeus ordain for thee.
To Pylades Electra give to wife:
But thou, leave Argos; for thou may'st not tread 1250
Her streets, since thou hast wrought thy mother's death.
The dread Weird Sisters,[1] hound-eyed Goddesses,
Shall drive thee mad, and dog thy wanderings.

  1. The Eumenides, or Erinyes, (Lat. Furies,) whose special office was to avenge such as had the claim of kindred, or some claim equally holy, upon the offender.