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Classic and Contemporary Poetry


THE POWER OF AN OATH by DELPHIC ORACLE

First Line: HEAR, EPICYDES' SON: 'TWERE MUCH TO THY PRESENT ADVANTAGE
Last Line: BETTER ENDURETH THE LINE OF THE MAN THAT SWEARETH NOT FALSELY.
Subject(s): OATHS;

HEAR, Epicydes' son: 'twere much to thy present advantage
Could'st thou prevail by an oath and ravish the stranger's possessions:
Swear, an thou wilt; death waits for the just no less than the unjust.
Ay -- but an oath hath a son, a nameless avenger of evil:
Hands hath he none, nor feet; yet swiftly he runneth pursuing,
Grippeth his man at the last and maketh an end of his offspring.
Better endureth the line of the man that sweareth not falsely.



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