பதிப்பு : மனோன்மணியம் - நாடகம்
369
'Shown me the means which may elude the foe, And lead the two that in themselves unite The valour and the sway
Of Scythia where her plains defy besiegers.
700
If the gods bless the escape they thus permit, Braved first, as fitting, by a child of kings, Then the same means will free
Flight for all those who give to siege its terror;
704
Women and infants, wounded men and old,
If few by few, yet night by night, sent forth, Will leave no pang in death
To those reserved to join the souls of heroes.
708
As, in the hush of eve, a sudden wind
Thrills thro' a grove and bows the crest of pines,
So crept a murmured hum
Thro' the grave banquet, and plumed heads bent downward:
712
Till hushed each whisper, and upraised each eye,
As from a door behind the royal dais
Into the conclave came
The priest Teleutias leading the King's daughter.
716
'Lift up thy veil, my child, Argiope,'
Omartes said. 'And look around the board,
And from yon beakers fill
The cup I kiss as in thy hand I place it.
720
'And whosoever from that hand receives
The cup, shaH. be thy husband and my son.' The virgin raised her veil;
Shone on the hall the starlight of her beauty.
724
But to no face amid the breathless guests
Turned downcast lids from which the tears dropped slow: Passive she took the cup,
With passive step led by the whispering augur
728
