THE 'AGAMEMNON* AND *TRACHINIjE* 29 



But quickly catching herself she bids him not to fear, for Ah, 

 me ! the truth, she says, will not hurt her. 



For doubtfulness is pain, 

 But to know all what hurts it 1 



She almost believes this as she says it. But the man is 

 silent still. Then she thinks he fears for lole, and says with 

 voice of utter nobleness : 



Many a love 



Hath fettered him ere now, and none hath borne 

 Reproach or evil word from me. She shall not, 

 Though he be drowned in affection's spell ; 

 Since most mine eye hath pitied her, because 

 Her beauty was the ruin of her life. 



The man falters, and she concludes : 



Well, this must pass, as Heaven hath willed, but thou, 

 If false to others, still be true to me. 



All her argument issues at last in the direct illogical appeal 

 of nature. She throws herself upon his mercy, and he yields, 

 telling her all the fatal truth, and giving the counsel, little 

 needed, of submission ; and lole must take no harm : 



For he whose might is in all else supreme, 

 Is solely overmastered by her love. 



Deianira bends; she will enter on no bootless strife with Heaven. 

 But the gentle voice sounds bitterly now, as, turning to the 

 herald, she says : 



Come, go we in, that thou mayest bear from me, 

 Such message as is meet ; and also carry 

 Gifts, such as are befitting to return 

 For gifts new given. Thou ought'st not to depart 

 Unladen, having brought so much with thee. 



Here an act ends, for, with the exception of the first ode, the 

 singing of the chorus in this play fills the interval between 

 separate acts. The art with which the antecedents of the story 

 are told is altogether admirable. In the course of the play we 

 learn Deianira's present situation, her wooing, the nature of her 



