The Seven Plays in English Verse Part 57

NEO. Why dost thou groan aloud, And cry to Heaven?

PHI. To come and save. Kind Heaven!

Oh, oh!

NEO. What is 't? Why silent? Wilt not speak?

I see thy misery.

PHI. Oh! I am lost, my son!

I cannot hide it from you. Oh! it shoots, It pierces. Oh unhappy! Oh! my woe!

I am lost, my son, I am devoured. Oh me!

Oh! Oh! Oh! Oh! Pain! pain! Oh pain! oh pain!

Child, if a sword be to thine hand, smite hard, Shear off my foot! heed not my life! Quick, come!

NEO. What hath so suddenly arisen, that thus Thou mak'st ado and groanest o'er thyself?

PHI. Thou knowest.

NEO. What know I?

PHI. O! thou knowest, my son!

NEO. I know not.

PHI. How? Not know? Ah me! Pain, pain!

NEO. Thy plague is a sore burden, heavy and sore.

PHI. Sore? 'Tis unutterable. Have pity on me!

NEO. What shall I do?

PHI. Do not in fear forsake me.

This wandering evil comes in force again, Hungry as ere it fed.

NEO. O hapless one!

Thrice hapless in thy manifold distress!

What wilt thou? Shall I raise thee on mine arm?

PHI. Nay, but receiving from my hand the bow, As late thou didst desire me, keep it safe And guard it, till the fury of my pain Pa.s.s over me and cease. For when 'tis spent, Slumber will seize me, else it ne'er would end.

I must sleep undisturbed. But if meanwhile They come,--by Heaven I charge thee, in no wise, Willingly nor perforce, let them have this!

Else thou wilt be the slayer of us both; Of me thy suppliant, and of thyself.

NEO. Fear not my care. No hand shall hold these arms But thine and mine. Give, and Heaven bless the deed!

PHI. I give them; there, my son! But look to Heaven And pray no envy smite thee, nor such bane In having them, as fell on me and him Who bore them formerly.

NEO. O grant it, G.o.ds!

And grant us fair and happy voyage, where'er Our course is shaped and righteous Heaven shall guide.

PHI. Ah! but I fear, my son, thy prayer is vain: For welling yet again from depths within, This gory ooze is dripping. It will come!

I know it will. O, foot, torn helpless thing, What wilt thou do to me? Ah! ah! It comes, It is at hand. 'Tis here! Woe's me, undone!

I have shown you all. Stay near me. Go not far: Ah! ah!

O island king, I would this agony Might cleave thy bosom through and through! Woe, woe!

Woe! Ah! ye two commanders of the host, Agamemnon, Menelaus, O that ye, Another ten years' durance in my room Might nurse this malady! O Death, Death, Death!

I call thee daily--wilt thou never come?

Will it not be?--My son, thou n.o.ble boy, If thou art n.o.ble, take and burn me there Aloft in yon all-wors.h.i.+pped Lemnian fire!

Yea, when the bow thou keep'st was my reward, I did like service for the child of Heaven.

How now, my son?

What say'st? Art silent? Where--where art thou, boy?

NEO. My heart is full, and groaning o'er thy woes.

PHI. Nay, yet have comfort. This affliction oft Goes no less swiftly than it came. I pray thee, Stand fast and leave me not alone!

NEO. Fear nought.

We will not stir.

PHI. Wilt thou remain?

NEO. Be sure of it.

PHI. I'll not degrade thee with an oath, my son.

NEO. Rest satisfied. I may not go without thee.

PHI. Thy hand, to pledge me that!

NEO. There, I will stay.

PHI. Now, now, aloft!

NEO. Where mean'st thou?

PHI. Yonder aloft!

NEO. Whither? Thou rav'st. Why starest thou at the sky?

PHI. Now, let me go.

NEO. Where?

PHI. Let me go, I say!

NEO. I will not.

PHI. You will kill me. Let me go!

NEO. Well, thou know'st best I hold thee not.