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569


not blame. Have the smooth waters covered thee in the depths, swimming in the wet streams of murmuring Eurotas? but even in the rivers and in the depths of the sea the Naiads live and do not slay women.ä

Thus she wailed, and leaning back her neck breathed Sleep who walks with Death; for verily it was ordained that both should have all things in common and pursue the works of the elder brother:a hence women, weighed down with sorrowing eyes, oft-times,while they weep, fall asleep. And wandering amid the deceits of dreams she fancied that she saw her mother; and, amazed, the maiden, in her grief cried out:

ãYesterday to my sorrow thou didst fly from me out of the house and left me sleeping on my fatherâs bed. What mountain have I left alone? What hill have I neglected? Followest thou thus the love of fair-tressed Aphrodite?ä

Then the daughter of Tyndareusb spake to her and said:

ãMy sorrowful child, blame me not, who have suffered terrible things. The deceitful man who came yesterday hath carried me away!ä

So she spake, And the maiden leapt up, and seeing not her mother, uttered a yet more piercing cry and wailed:

ãBirds, winged children of the brood of air, go ye to Crete, and say to Menelaus: ÎYesterday a lawless man came to Sparta and hath laid waste all the glory of thy halls!âä

So spake she with many tears to the air, and seeking for her mother wandered in vain. And to the towns of the Ciconesc and the straits of

NOTES

a Sherburne renders:

Sleep is deathâs twin, and as the younger brother, In every thing does imitate the other.

b Helen.

c Hom. Od. ix. 39; a people of Thrace.








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