The Seven Plays in English Verse Part 59

Rude face of rock, back I return to thee And thy twin gateway, robbed of arms and food, To wither in thy cave companionless:-- No more with these mine arrows to destroy Or flying bird or mountain-roving beast.

But, all unhappy! I myself must be The feast of those on whom I fed, the chase Of that I hunted, and shall dearly pay In b.l.o.o.d.y quittance for their death, through one Who seemed all ignorant of sinful guile.

Perish,--not till I am certain if thy heart Will change once more,--if not, my curse on thee!

CH. What shall we do, my lord? We wait thy word Or to sail now, or yield to his desire.

NEO. My heart is pressed with a strange pity for him, Not now beginning, but long since begun.

PHI. Ay, pity me, my son! by all above, Make not thy name a scorn by wronging me!

NEO. O! I am troubled sore. What must I do?

Would I had never left mine island home!

PHI. Thou art not base, but seemest to have learnt Some baseness from base men. Now, as 'tis meet, Be better guided--leave me mine arms, and go.

NEO. (_to Chorus_).

What shall we do?

_Enter_ ODYSSEUS.

ODYSSEUS. What art thou doing, knave?

Give me that bow, and haste thee back again.

PHI. Alas! What do I hear? Odysseus' voice?

OD. Be sure of that, Odysseus, whom thou seest.

PHI. Oh, I am bought and sold, undone! 'Twas he That kidnapped me, and robbed me of my bow.

OD. Yea. I deny it not. Be sure, 'twas I.

PHI. Give back, my son, the bow; release it!

OD. That, Though he desire it, he shall never do.

Thou too shalt march along, or these shall force thee.

PHI. They force me! O thou boldest of bad men!

They force me?

OD. If thou com'st not willingly.

PHI. O Lemnian earth and thou almighty flame, Hephaestos' workmans.h.i.+p, shall this be borne, That he by force must drag me from your care?

OD. 'Tis Zeus, I tell thee, monarch of this isle, Who thus hath willed. I am his minister.

PHI. Wretch, what vile words thy wit hath power to say!

The G.o.ds are liars when invoked by thee.

OD. Nay, 'tis their truth compels thee to this voyage.

PHI. I will not have it so.

OD. I will. Thou shalt.

PHI. Woe for my wretchedness! My father, then, Begat no freeman, but a slave in me.

OD. Nay, but the peer of n.o.blest men, with whom Thou art to take and ravage Troy with might.

PHI. Never,--though I must suffer direst woe,-- While this steep Lemnian ground is mine to tread!

OD. What now is thine intent?

PHI. Down from the crag This head shall plunge and stain the crag beneath.

OD. (_to the Attendants_.) Ay, seize and bind him. Baffle him in this.

PHI. Poor hands, for lack of your beloved string, Caught by this craven! O corrupted soul!

How thou hast undermined me, having taken To screen thy quest this youth to me unknown, Far worthier of my friends.h.i.+p than of thine, Who knew no better than to obey command.

Even now 'tis manifest he burns within With pain for his own error and my wrong.

But, though unwilling and mapt for ill, Thy crafty, mean, and cranny spying soul Too well hath lessoned him in sinful lore.

Now thou hast bound me, O thou wretch, and thinkest To take me from this coast, where thou didst cast me Outlawed and desolate, a corpse 'mongst men.

Oh!

I curse thee now, as ofttimes in the past: But since Heaven yields me nought but bitterness, Thou livest and art blithe, while 'tis my pain To live on in my misery, laughed to scorn By thee and Atreus' sons, those generals twain Whom thou art serving in this chase. But thou With strong compulsion and deceit was driven Troyward, whilst I, poor victim, of free will Took my seven s.h.i.+ps and sailed there, yet was thrown Far from all honour,--as thou sayest, by them, But, as they turn the tale, by thee.--And now Why fetch me hence and take me? To what end?

I am nothing, dead to you this many a year.

How, O thou Heaven-abhorred! am I not now Lame and of evil smell? how shall ye vaunt Before the G.o.ds drink-offering or the fat Of victims, if I sail among your crew?

For this, as ye professed, was the chief cause Why ye disowned me. Peris.h.!.+--So ye shall, For the wrong done me, if the Heavens be just.

And that they are, I know. Else had ye ne'er Sailed on this errand for an outcast wretch, Had they not p.r.i.c.ked your heart with thoughts of me.

Oh, if ye pity me, chastising powers, And thou, the Genius of my land, revenge, Revenge this crime on all their heads at once!

My life is pitiable; but if I saw Their ruin, I would think me well and strong.

CH. How full of bitterness is his resolve, Wrathfully spoken with unbending will!

OD. I might speak long in answer, did the time Give scope, but now one thing is mine to say.

I am known to vary with the varying need; And when 'tis tried, who can be just and good, My peer will not be found for piety.

But though on all occasions covetous Of victory, this once I yield to thee, And willingly. Unhand him there. Let go!

Leave him to stay. What further use of thee, When we have ta'en these arms? Have we not Teucer, Skilled in this mystery? Yea, I may boast Myself thine equal both in strength and aim To wield them. Fare thee well, then! Thou art free To roam thy barren isle. We need thee not.

Let us be going! And perchance thy gift May bring thy destined glory to my brow.

PHI. What shall I do? Alas, shalt thou be seen Graced with mine arms amongst Achaean men?

OD. No more! I am going.

PHI. O Achilles' child!

Wilt thou, too, vanish? Must I lose thy voice?

OD. Come on, and look not, n.o.ble though thou be, Lest thou undo our fortune.

PHI. Mariners, Must ye, too, leave me thus disconsolate?

Will ye not pity me?