Some news is
brought?
Euripides - Electra
The wet clouds to Northward beat;
And Lord Ammon's desert seat
Crieth from the South, unslaken,
For the dews that once were sweet,
For the rain that God hath taken.
'Tis a children's tale, that old [_Antistrophe_ 2.
Shepherds on far hills have told;
And we reck not of their telling,
Deem not that the Sun of gold
Ever turned his fiery dwelling,
Or beat backward in the sky,
For the wrongs of man, the cry
Of his ailing tribes assembled,
To do justly, ere they die!
Once, men told the tale, and trembled;
Fearing God, O Queen: whom thou
Hast forgotten, till thy brow
With old blood is dark and daunted.
And thy brethren, even now,
Walk among the stars, enchanted.
LEADER.
Ha, friends, was that a voice? Or some dream sound
Of voices shaketh me, as underground
God's thunder shuddering? Hark, again, and clear!
It swells upon the wind. --Come forth and hear!
Mistress, Electra!
ELECTRA, _a bare sword in her hand, comes from the house. _
ELECTRA.
Friends!
Some news is brought?
How hath the battle ended?
LEADER.
I know naught.
There seemed a cry as of men massacred!
ELECTRA.
I heard it too. Far off, but still I heard.
LEADER.
A distant floating voice . . . Ah, plainer now!
ELECTRA.
Of Argive anguish! --Brother, is it thou?
