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Page 15
MELEAGER.
For thy name's sake and awe toward thy chaste head,
O holiest Atalanta, no man dares
Praise thee, though fairer than whom all men praise,
And godlike for thy grace of hallowed hair
And holy habit of thine eyes, and feet
That make the blown foam neither swift nor white
Though the wind winnow and whirl it; yet we praise
Gods, found because of thee adorable
And for thy sake praiseworthiest from all men:
Thee therefore we praise also, thee as these,
Pure, and a light lit at the hands of gods.
TOXEUS.
How long will ye whet spears with eloquence,
Fight, and kill beasts dry-handed with sweet words?
Cease, or talk still and slay thy boars at home.
PLEXIPPUS.
Why, if she ride among us for a man,
Sit thou for her and spin; a man grown girl
Is worth a woman weaponed; sit thou here.
MELEAGER.
Peace, and be wise; no gods love idle speech.
PLEXIPPUS.
Nor any man a man's mouth woman-tongued.
MELEAGER.
For my lips bite not sharper than mine hands.
PLEXIPPUS.
Nay, both bite soft, but no whit softly mine.
MELEAGER.
Keep thine hands clean; they have time enough to stain.
PLEXIPPUS.
For thine shall rest and wax not red to-day.
MELEAGER.
Have all thy will of words; talk out thine heart.
ALTHAEA.
Refrain your lips, O brethren, and my son,
Lest words turn snakes and bite you uttering them.
TOXEUS.
Except she give her blood before the gods,
What profit shall a maid be among men?
PLEXIPPUS.
Let her come crowned and stretch her throat for a knife,
Bleat out her spirit and die, and so shall men
Through her too prosper and through prosperous gods;
But nowise through her living; shall she live
A flower-bud of the flower-bed, or sweet fruit
For kisses and the honey-making mouth,
And play the shield for strong men and the spear?
Then shall the heifer and her mate lock horns,
And the bride overbear the groom, and men
Gods, for no less division sunders these;
Since all things made are seasonable in time,
But if one alter unseasonable are all.
But thou, O Zeus, hear me that I may slay
This beast before thee and no man halve with me
Nor woman, lest these mock thee, though a god,
Who hast made men strong, and thou being wise be held
Foolish; for wise is that thing which endures.
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