triumphed in his neighbour's woes; and it came to pass that a man like unto me, and of like mood, beheld him, and spake such words as these: 'Man, do not evil to the dead; for, if thou dost, be sure that thou wilt come to harm.' So warned he the misguided one before him; and know that I see that man, and methinks he is none else but thou: have I spoken in riddles?
Me. I will go:—it were a disgrace to have it known that I was chiding when I have the power to compel.1160
Teu. Begone then! For me 'tis the worse disgrace that I should listen to a fool's idle prate.
Ch. a dread strife will be brought to the trial. But thou, Teucer, with what speed thou mayest, haste to seek a hollow grave for yon man. where he shall rest in his dark, dank tomb, that men shall ever hold in fame.
Enter Tecmessa and Child.
Teu. Lo, just in time our lord's child and his wife draw nigh,1170 to tend the burial of the hapless corpse.
My child, come hither: take thy place near him, and lay thy hand, as a suppliant, upon thy sire. And kneel as one who implores help, with locks of hair in thy hand,—mine, hers, and thirdly thine,—the suppliant's store. But if any man of the host should tear thee by violence from this dead, then, for evil doom on evil deed, may he perish out of the land and find no grave, and with him be his race cut off, root and branch, even as I sever this lock.1180 Take it, boy, and keep; and let no one move thee, but kneel there, and cling unto the dead.
