DEIANIRA. CHORUS. LICHAS DEI. By Zeus I charge thee, whose clear lightnings shine Down the high glens of OEta, keep back nought. To one not evil-natured wilt thou speak, One who knows well, 'tis human to rejoice Not in the same delight continually. I know, they are not wise, who set themselves To fight with Love, challenging him to blows. For even gods he governs as he will; And me -- why not another, weak like me? Oh, if I blame my husband that he suffers This madness, mad indeed am I myself; Or blame this maiden, cause with him of that Which causes me no shame, does me no wrong. I cannot blame. But now, if taught of him You lie, no noble lesson have you learned; Or, if you school yourself, take heed lest then You be found cruel, when you would be kind. Nay, tell me all the truth. To be called false Is for free men no honourable lot. That you should 'scape discovery, cannot be: Many there are who heard you, and will speak. And if you are afraid, you fear amiss: For, not to know -- this would afflict me; but Fear not my knowing: hath not Heracles Loved many another -- most of all men he? And never any of them bore from me Harsh word or gibe; nor shall, howe'er she be Consumed with love, this maiden; nay, for her Most of them all I pity, having seen That 'twas her beauty that made waste her life -- Poor soul, who sacked, unwitting, and enslaved The city of her home. But now I charge thee -- Heed not what winds blow whither -- but be false To others, if thou wilt, to me speak truth. CHO. Obey good counsel. Cause thou shalt not find To blame this lady, and shalt have thanks of me. LICH. Nay then, dear mistress, since I see, being human, Thou hast a human heart, that knows to feel, I will keep nothing back, but tell thee all. For so indeed it is, as this man says. Huge passion for this maid smote through and through My lord, and for her sake the ruined town, Her home OEchalia, fell beneath his spear. And this -- so much for him I needs must say -- He nor himself denied nor bade conceal; But I, O lady, who feared to grieve thy heart With telling of these tidings, I alone Have sinned, if sin thou holdest it, in this. But, now that all the story thou hast heard, Both for his sake and for thine own no less, Suffer the maiden, and let concerning her The words that thou hast spoken bind thee still. For, as no triumph he hath not won save this, So for her love no bondage he'd not bear. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...THE CLOTE (WATER-LILY) by WILLIAM BARNES STREET LANTERNS by MARY ELIZABETH COLERIDGE ONCE BY THE PACIFIC by ROBERT FROST INLAND by EDNA ST. VINCENT MILLAY BLOOD IS THICKER THAN WATER by WALLACE RICE |