Page:Tragedies of Euripides (Way 1898) v3.djvu/309

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To Sparta came, his vesture flower-bestarred
Gleaming with gold, barbaric bravery,
Loved Helen, and was loved, stole her and fled 75
To Ida's steadings, when from home afar
Menelaus was. Through Hellas frenzy-stung
He sped, invoking Tyndareus' ancient oath,
Claiming of all their bond to help the wronged.
Thereat up sprang the Hellenes spear in hand, 80
Donned mail of fight, and to this narrow gorge
Of Aulis came, with galleys and with shields,
And many a horse and chariots many arrayed.
And me for Menelaus' sake they chose
For chief, his brother. Would some other man 85
Might but have won the honour in my stead!
Now when the gathered host together came,
At Aulis did we tarry weather-bound.
Then the seer Kalchas bade in our despair
Slay Iphigeneia, her whom I begat, 90
To Artemis who dwelleth in this land ;
So should we voyage, and so Phrygia smite;
But if we slew her not, it should not be.
I, when I heard this, bade Talthybius
Dismiss the host with proclamation loud, 95
Since I would never brook to slay my child.
Whereat my brother, pleading manifold pleas,
To the horror thrust me. In a tablet's folds
I wrote, and bade therein my wife to send
Her daughter, as to be Achilles' bride, 100
Extolled therein the hero's high repute,
Said, with Achaia's host he would not sail
Except a bride of our house came to Phthia.
Yea, this I counted should persuade my wife,
This framing of feigned spousals for the maid. 105