The Seven Plays in English Verse Part 73

He shall be vanquished. Our land's chivalry Are valiant, valiant every warrior son Of Theseus.--On they run?

Frontlet and bridle glancing to the light, Forward each steed is straining to the fight, Forward each eye and hand Of all that mounted band, Athena's knighthood, champions of her name And his who doth the mighty waters tame, Rhea's son that from of old Doth the Earth with seas enfold.

Strive they? Or is the battle still to be? II 1 An eager thought in me Is pleading, 'Soon must they restore The enduring maid, whose kinsmen vex her sore!'

To-day shall Zeus perform his will.

The n.o.ble cause wins my prophetic skill.

Oh! had I wings, and like a storm-swift dove Poised on some aery cloud might there descry The conflict from above, Scouring the region with mine eye!

Sovran of Heaven, all-seeing Zeus, afford II 2 Unto this nation's lord Puissance to crown the fair emprise, Thou, and all-knowing Pallas, thy dread child!

Apollo, huntsman of the wild, --Thou and thy sister, who doth still pursue Swift many-spotted stags,--arise, arise, With love we pray you, be our champions true!

Yea, both together come To aid our people and our home!

LEADER OF CH.

Ah! wanderer friend, thou wilt not have to accuse Thy seer of falsehood. I behold the maids This way once more in safe protection brought.

OED. Where? Is it true? How say you?

ANT. Father, father!

Oh that some G.o.d would give thee once to see The man whose royal virtue brings us. .h.i.ther!

OED. My daughters, are ye there?

ANT. Saved by the arm Of Theseus and his most dear ministers.

OED. Come near me, child, and let your father feel The treasure he had feared for ever gone.

ANT. Not hard the boon which the heart longs to give.

OED. Where are ye, where?

ANT. Together we draw near.

OED. Loved saplings of a solitary tree!

ANT. A father's heart hides all.

OED. Staves of mine age!

ANT. Forlorn supporters of an ill-starred life!

OED. I have all I love; nor would the stroke of death Be wholly bitter, with you standing by.

Press close to either side of me, my children; Grow to your sire, and ye shall give me rest From mine else lonely, hapless, wandering life.

And tell your tale as briefly as ye may, Since at your age short speaking is enough.

ANT. Here is our saviour. He shall tell thee all, And shorten labour both for us and thee.

OED. Think it not strange, dear friend, that I prolong The unhoped-for greeting with my children here.

Full well I know, the joy I find in them Springs from thee only, and from none beside.

Thou, thou alone hast saved them. May the G.o.ds Fulfil my prayer for thee and for thy land!

Since only in Athens, only here i' the world, Have I found pious thought and righteous care, And truth in word and deed. From a full heart And thankful mind I thus requite thy love, Knowing all I have is due to none but thee.

Extend to me, I pray thee, thy right hand, O King, that I may feel thee, and may kiss, If that be lawful, thy dear head! And yet What am I asking? How can one like me Desire of thee to touch an outlawed man, On whose dark life all stains of sin and woe Are fixed indelibly? I will not dare-- No, nor allow thee!--None but only they Who have experience of such woes as mine May share their wretchedness. Thou, where thou art Receive my salutation, and henceforth Continue in thy promised care of me As true as to this moment thou hast proved.

THE. I marvel not at all if mere delight In these thy daughters lengthened thy discourse, Or led thee to address them before me.

That gives me not the shadow of annoy.

Nor am I careful to adorn my life With words of praise, but with the light of deeds.

And thou hast proof of this. For I have failed In nought of all I promised, aged King!

Here stand I with thy children in full life Unharmed in aught the foe had threatened them.

And now why vaunt the deeds that won the day, When these dear maids will tell them in thine ear?

But let me crave thy counsel on a thing That crossed me as I came. Small though it seem When told, 'tis worthy of some wonder, too.

Be it small or great, men should not let things pa.s.s.

OED. What is it, O son of Aegeus? Let me hear, I am wholly ignorant herein.

THE. We are told One, not thy townsman, but of kin to thee, Hath come in unawares, and now is found Kneeling at great Poseidon's altar, where I sacrificed, what time ye called me hither.

OED. What countryman, and wherefore suppliant there?

THE. One thing alone I know. He craves of thee Some speech, they say, that will not hold thee long.

OED. His kneeling there imports no trivial suit.

THE. All he desires, they tell me, is to come, Have speech with thee, and go unharmed away.

OED. Who can he be that kneels for such a boon?

THE. Think, if at Argos thou a kinsman hast Who might desire to obtain so much of thee.

OED. Dear friend! Hold there! No more!

THE. What troubles thee?

OED. Ask it not of me!

THE. What? Speak plainly forth.

OED. Thy words have shown me who the stranger is.

THE. And who is he that I should say him nay?

OED. My son, O King,--hateful to me, whose tongue Least of the world I could endure to hear.

THE. What pain is there in hearing? Canst thou not Hear, and refuse to do what thou mislikest?

OED. My Lord, I have come to loathe his very voice.

I pray thee, urge me not to yield in this.

THE. Think that the G.o.d must be considered too, The right of suppliants may compel thy care.

ANT. Father, give ear, though I be young that speak.

Yield to the scruple of the King, who claims This reverence for his people's G.o.d, and yield To us who beg our brother may come near.