My father’s altar doomed to die! the block

From my hot life shall drink the purple stain.

But we shall fall not unavenged: the gods

A mother-murdering shoot shall send from far

To avenge his sire; the wanderer shall return

To pile the cope-stone on these towering woes.

The gods in heaven a mighty oath have sworn,

To raise anew the father’s prostrate fate

By the son’s arm.—But why stand here, and beat

The air with cries, seeing what I have seen;