tes' city, but to
lead her away, his wedded wife, to his own home; and she dreamed that
herself contended with the oxen and wrought the task with exceeding
ease; and that her own parents set at naught their promise, for it was
not the maiden they had challenged to yoke the oxen but the stranger
himself; from that arose a contention of doubtful issue between her
father and the strangers; and both laid the decision upon her, to be as
she should direct in her mind. But she suddenly, neglecting her parents,
chose the stranger. And measureless anguish seized them and they shouted
out in their wrath; and with the cry sleep released its hold upon her.
Quivering with fear she started up, and stared round the walls of her
chamber, and with difficulty did she gather her spirit within her as
before, and lifted her voice aloud:

"Poor wretch, how have gloomy dreams affrighted me! I fear that this
voyage of the heroes will bring some great evil. My heart is trembling
for the stranger. Let him woo some Achaean girl fair away among his own
folk; let maidenhood be mine and the home of my parents. Yet, taking to
myself a reckless heart, I will no more keep aloof but will make trial
of my sister to see if she will entreat me to aid in the contest,
through grief for her own sons; this would quench the bitter pain in my
heart."

She spake, and rising from her bed opened the door of her chamber,
bare-footed, clad in one robe; and verily she desired to go to her
sister, and crossed the threshold. And for long she stayed there at the
entrance of her chamber, held back by shame; and she turned back once
more; and again she came forth from within, and again stole back; and
idly did her feet bear her this way and that; yea, as oft as she went
straight on, shame held her within the chamber, and though held back by
shame, bold desire kept urging her on. Thrice she made the attempt and
thrice she checked herself, the fourth time she fell on her bed face
downward writhing in pain. And as when a bride in her chamber bewails
her youthful husband, to whom her brothers and parents have given her,
nor yet does she hold converse with all her attendants for shame and for
thinking of him; but she sits apart in her grief; and some doom has
destroyed him, before they have had pleasure of each other's charms; and
she with heart on fire silently weeps, beholding her widowed couch, in
fear lest the women should mock and revile her: like, to her did Medea
lamen